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2024-03-31-accounts

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Company registration number: 03639406 Charity registration number: 1072394

AGE UK NORTHUMBERLAND

(A company limited by guarantee)

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

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Age UK Northumberland

Contents

Trustees Report 1 to 13
Independent Auditors' Report 14 to 17
Statement of Financial Activities 18
Statement of Financial Activities 19
Balance Sheet 20
Statement of Cash Flows 21
Notes to the Financial Statements 22 to 41

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Age UK Northumberland

Trustees Report

The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present the annual report together with the financial statements and auditors' report of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Structure, governance and management

Nature of governing document

Age UK Northumberland was established in September 2010 and is a brand partner of Age UK England, however, the organisation has been in existence since the 1950’s.

Age UK Northumberland is a company limited by guarantee and is a registered charity with the Charity Commission. It owns the one and only share of Age UK Northumberland Trading Ltd, which has remained dormant since 1 April 2020. The company is operated by a Board of Trustees. The powers, duties and responsibilities of the Board of Trustees are laid down in the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company.

Age UK Northumberland aims to promote the well-being of older people in and around Northumberland. It is the ambition of Age UK Northumberland that everyone in later life:

Recruitment and appointment of trustees

Applications to become a Trustee are welcomed from any individual who can empathise with the objectives of Age UK Northumberland. Applicants are given full details of the charity and an outline of what is expected of them in their role as a Trustee. They are then interviewed, and Trustees are appointed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for an initial period of two years and may be reappointed for up to two further terms of three years each. The Board of Trustees has the power to co-opt Trustees between AGM’s but the co-opted Trustee must submit themselves to election at the next AGM.

Induction and training of trustees

Newly appointed Trustee undertake a full induction programme including DBS checks. All Trustees operate in a voluntary capacity and receive no benefits from the Charity. All expenses re-claimed from the charity are set out in the financial statements.

Arrangements for setting key management personnel remuneration

The board, who give their time freely, and did not receive any remuneration in the year, have identified the Key Management Personnel (KMP) of the charity, as noted in the Reference and Administration section. Together with the Board, these KMP are those in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating the activities of the charity on a day-to-day basis. The pay of the KMP is reviewed annually and normally increased in accordance with average earnings. The trustees benchmark against pay levels of other charities and similar organisations within the sector and the region. Pay levels are set using this information together with the budget and forecast information, ensuring that the charity can afford any proposed increases. The Board then agree any uplift to remuneration.

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Age UK Northumberland

Trustees Report

Organisational structure

The Board of Trustees sets the policy, strategy, direction and governance of the charity. Board meetings take place monthly or quarterly depending on the needs of the charity. Operationally the charity is divided into two services - Home Care, care services provided within the home, and Charitable Services, funded projects to support older people such as Information, Advice and Befriending. The Board is supported by a Sub-Committee for each of these services whose members comprise of a minimum of two trustees, in addition to other advisors by invitation.

It is through these Sub-Committees that the Senior Leadership Team engage with Trustees in a constant conversation about current performance and the implications of external factors that may impact the charities sustainability and ability to meet its Objects. The day-to-day operations of the Charity are delegated to The Chief Executive who is supported by the senior leadership team, ensuring the smooth running of all aspects of the Charity.

Risk and Risk Management

The Board of Trustees continuously assesses all types of risk to the organisation. The strategic risk register is reviewed at each Board meeting and is an integral part of the strategic planning review process as part of Age UK Northumberland’s governance arrangements. This is supplemented by a number of operation risk registers by the Sub-Committees.

The Board receive periodic risk and audit assessments from appropriate external bodies to support its risk management. This includes Age UK Quality Assurance, Health & Safety, Grant Impact Assessments, ISO9001 and appropriate regulatory bodies.

Employment of disabled persons

Age UK Northumberland welcomes applications for employment from all prospective employees regardless of disabilities. Age UK Northumberland is committed to developing practices that not only meet the requirements of equalities legislation, but which actively promote equality of opportunity and maximise the abilities, skills and experience of all employees. This includes ensuring that employees are managed in an inclusive way, considering individual differences and giving employees the confidence to disclose a disability should they so wish. If an employee discloses that they have a disability, we will engage in a discussion with them to determine training, specialist technology or equipment, for example. In deciding what is reasonable, the practicalities and resources available to Age UK Northumberland are considered.

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Age UK Northumberland

Trustees Report

Objectives and activities

Objects, aims and values

The objects, for which AUKN is established, are stated in the Articles of Association as amended by Special Resolution 14 December 2022 and are as follows:

To promote the following purposes for the benefit of the public and for older people in and around Northumberland:

• Promoting the human rights of older people in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Assisting older people in need by reason of ill-health, social exclusion or other disadvantage and;

• Such other charitable purposes for the benefit of older people as the Trustees from time to time decide

There are no restrictions specified in the Articles of Association other than the geographical restriction and the fact that its activities must be for the benefit of older people. The reference to Northumberland refers to the administrative County of Northumberland.

We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commissions general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning future activities. In particular, the Trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set. All strategic objectives are linked to the aims and values as set out in the Articles of Association.

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Age UK Northumberland

Trustees Report

When you engage with Age UK Northumberland, we pride ourselves on delivering against our Brand Promise - To support, enable and inspire the local community to age well, empowering older people to thrive.

The core Organisational Principles (our underlying DNA) upon which we govern and make our decisions shall focus on:

• Deliver Information and Advice Services that meet the needs of the most vulnerable older members of our local community regardless of funding source

• Be a self-sustaining organisation by raising funds and generating income through trading activities for the purposes of delivering charitable services free to older people in need

• Use a geographical asset-based approach to work in partnership with others in the delivery of care and support to older people within our local community

• Become a key partner in improving outcomes for older people and as influencers of policy

• Be the trusted provider of choice for older people, in delivering person centred, flexible, accessible and equitable services that meet the needs of our local community, whilst building our knowledge base

• Recruit, develop and value our team of volunteers, staff and trustees who when working effectively together will continuously improve our services for older people

Our strategic objectives are to:

  1. Deliver person centred services

  2. Improve health & wellbeing of older people in our communities

  3. Reduce Loneliness - our ultimate goal is to eliminate unwanted loneliness

  4. Be the first port of call and trusted advisor - for all matters relating to older people in Northumberland

  5. Protect and promote older people's rights

During 2023/2024 the organisation continued to progress in line with the strategic plan, ensuring that the needs of older people living in Northumberland were met.

As we enter 2024/25 our Strategic Plan focuses on the opportunities for development and widening our accessibility across the County. Seeking to eradicate unwanted loneliness and making a measurable social impact in our community.

2023/24 Performance

During 2023/24 the Board continued to pursue its strategy, albeit adapting services to the challenges that arose as our community struggled with the cost of living crisis.

National demographics continue to show the older population of Northumberland increasing by over 33% by 2026 resulting in even greater need for our services, in particular, tackling loneliness, dementia, advocacy, welfare, health & wellbeing and homecare.

The cost of living crisis has impacted considerably on the economic, social and health conditions facing older people and our communities. This has resulted in greater pressure placed on our charity due to increased demand for our support, greater competition for grants & funds, changes in minimum wage affecting our wage bill, increased competition for each charitable donation, battle for talent across all our services, changes in legislation, training and quality standards.

Having already come a long way towards completing our transition back to long term sustainable operations we ended the financial year in a much stronger position both financially and operationally, having invested time and resources in developing and reviewing protocols to ensure that our staff and clients are supported and kept safe. We have seen our income stream and ability to generate a small surplus improve and we are optimistic that this will continue into 2024/2025.

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Age UK Northumberland

Trustees Report

The development of services is at the core of achieving our ambitions. We maintained our focus on delivering tailored services and continued to listen to our client base, working collaboratively with our wider Age UK colleagues, experts, sub-contractors, volunteers, partners (including Ageing Well Network, The Older Persons Pathway, Alzheimer's Society, Carers Northumberland, CNTW, Parish Councils, Community led organisations, Corporate Businesses) and wider stakeholders.

Increasing our visibility and encouraging greater support from our wider community has been key during the year and we have continued to invest in our marketing and corporate engagement activities.

Our staff and volunteers went above and beyond in their contribution to support the needs of older people across Northumberland.

The restructuring of our leadership team was completed in March 2022, with the appointment of a Chief Executive, who is responsible for overseeing and co-ordinating the operations of our Homecare and Charitable Services arms of the business, strengthening the organisation's strategic drive for increased impact and financial resilience.

We are proud to have continued to have a considerable impact within our older community across Northumberland during 2023/2024, through the provision of services that our older people need to improve their quality of life.

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Age UK Northumberland

Trustees Report

Age UK Northumberland Achievement in 2023/2024

The key highlights include:

• Our Homecare service, rated Good by CQC, delivered 4,874 care hours per week and completed 337,000 individual calls to customers.

• Our Information and Advice Team recorded 6,007 contacts with 1,863 clients assisting with housing and social care queries, signposting, future planning advice and welfare benefits applications being the key reasons for contact. Our team accessed £2.338 million of welfare benefits for clients living in the county that otherwise would not have been claimed.

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Age UK Northumberland

Trustees Report

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Age UK Northumberland

Trustees Report

We are proud to have continued to deliver the charitably services needed by our older people to help them to live their best lift. Just some of our achievements include:

• Provided a programme of 12-weekly bereavement counselling sessions to 74 people living in Northumberland.

• Ran four Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (MCST) groups in Ashington, Morpeth, Alnwick and Ponteland, supporting people living with mild to moderate dementia and their carers.

• Launched a further 2 new social groups across Northumberland, bringing our total to ten, located in Ashington, Amble, Bedlington, Blyth, Cramlington, Haltwhistle, Morpeth, Ponteland, Lesbury and Woodhorn.

• Maintained Age UK Charity Quality Standard

• Celebrated the tremendous contribution that our volunteers make to our organisation and our clients with a special event in their honour.

• Volunteers donated 16,896 hours of support to deliver services for older people. Using the Real Living Wage as a benchmark, this equates to £202,752 of time donated by our volunteers.

• Re-opened our Day Centre in Blyth, providing support and social activities five days per week.

• Collaborated with local businesses, charities and community organisations to ensure our older people had access to the services that they needed.

• Created and distributed 6,000 activity packs, to help keep people entertained and provide health and wellbeing advice and encouragement during the winter months.

• Made over 3,143 friendship calls to clients who were lonely, isolated and unable to join our social groups and activities.

• Delivered 30 face-to-face exercise classes per week across the county and two weekly Zoom sessions for those who are unable to attend our classes in the community.

• Reached out to our community through social media campaigns, sharing health and wellbeing advice, exercises to keep moving, and reminding people that we are here to help.

• Attracted funding from key grant holders to fund our Charitable Services work.

• Issued 555 Emergency Household Grants to clients who were struggling to pay for heating or food.

• Provided over 1,468 warm welcome meals to help people through the cost of living crisis Demand for our services has been extremely high and we are very proud of the support and commitment that our teams have demonstrated in order to ensure that we have the greatest impact possible across the county.

Fundraising disclosures

During 2023/24 the charity did not use a professional fundraiser or commercial participator to raise funds. Any monies raised direct from the public follows all guidelines set out by the Charity Commission and UK law in every respect. We respect the privacy and contact preferences of all public donors.

Public benefit

The trustees have referred to the guidance in the Charities Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the aims and objectives in planning future activity. The charitable objectives are set out to ensure clear and demonstrable public benefit.

Age UK Northumberland aims to improve the quality of lives for older people across the county.

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Age UK Northumberland

Trustees Report

Our Homecare services provide high quality health and social care for people in their homes, for example help with dressing, washing and managing their home. This enables people to remain independent in the place that they are most comfortable for as long as they wish/are able. We consult with people, planning what they need and helping them to enjoy life, feel valued and for some, we provide their only regular contact with the outside world.

Our Day Care service in Blyth, which had been closed since the beginning of the pandemic, was re-opened five days a week, supporting vulnerable older people with transport, meals, activities and social interaction to help them remain active and tackle loneliness and social isolation.

The Information and Advice team provided free confidential advice to 1,863 older people on a wide range of issues, including state benefits – of which our team secured £2.338m in annualised benefits for older people in 2023/24, they also helped with finding appropriate accommodation and care services, Will writing, staying warm and safe at home, social activities and future life planning advice. We would like to thank the National Lottery for their funding support, which not only enabled us to increase the number of clients that we were able to support but helped us to increase the value of benefits accessed by 48.5%.

All our advice services enable people to make decisions that affect their well-being, rights and enjoyment of life based on independent information.

We are delighted that our older people have embraced the opportunity to socialise again and in reaction to demand for social activities, we have opened two additional social groups this year. With thanks to grant funding from the Kellett Fund, our groups have enjoyed outings, craft sessions speakers and health and wellbeing visits during the year.

We provide a Non-Statutory Advocacy service that aims to empower people to have their voice heard on issues that are important to them, to ensure that their views and wishes are genuinely considered and to defend and secure their rights. This service helps to reduce peoples’ anxiety and gives them a voice in decisions that affect their lives. The advocacy service fills the gaps for older vulnerable people who do not have a statutory right to advocacy support.

The Health and Wellbeing team delivered over 30 face to face weekly classes across the county and three weekly zoom groups. In addition, the team ran the NHS How Fit Project, working with local care homes and residents in sheltered accommodation to increase strength, balance and mobility for older people.

Our Bereavement Counselling Service, which offers 12-weeks of free counselling support to over 50s who may be struggling with the loss of a loved one, grew substantially, with the support of Volunteer Counsellors to ensure that we have county-wide coverage with this service.

Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (MCST) Dementia Groups continued to operate in Ashington, Alnwick, Ponteland and Morpeth. The groups are designed to help people living with mild to moderate dementia and have been proven to improve mood, mental health and cognitive function through a range of activities and peer support and interaction. In addition, the groups facilitate peer support for carers and provide access to our advice and support services. Thanks to support from the community and our corporate Partners, we raised £9,003 to support the running of our Dementia Groups during 2024.

We hosted our first Diwali celebration at The Gosforth Park Hotel for over 130 guests.

Our Volunteers provide a priceless contribution to our organisation and our ability to support older people across the county and we work to ensure that they also benefit from training and learning new skills, socialising and having fun. Many of our services rely heavily on our excellent team of volunteers.

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Age UK Northumberland

Trustees Report

The role of volunteers in Age Northumberland

During 2023/24 our 87 volunteers, including trustees, have supported health promotion, friendship line and social groups, scams awareness, bereavement counselling, information and advice, reception and back office, and have continued to support us with delivery of 6,000 activity packs and support at events.

Volunteers accounted for 16,896 hours of time over the year, the equivalent of £202,752 at Living Wage.

Going concern

The charity meets its day to day working capital requirements through cash generated from operations.

The charity's forecasts and projections for the next twelve months show that the charity should be able to continue in operational existence for that period, taking into account possible changes in trading performance. This also considers the effectiveness of available measures to assist in mitigating the impact.

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Age UK Northumberland

Trustees Report

Financial Review - policy on reserves

Age UK Northumberland‘s reserves amounted to £1,071,247 at 31 March 2024, of which £139,771 were restricted funds. The organisation recognises that the restricted funds are monies held subject to specific conditions set by the donor or funder.

The Trustees have examined the requirements of the Charity to identify free reserves in accordance with the definition included within the charity statement of recommended practice (SORP). Free reserves are calculated as unrestricted reserves that are freely available and are the net current assets of the charity, excluding any funds relating to restricted funds. As at 31 March 2024 free reserves are calculated as totalling £288,260 (2023 - £302,585).

The Trustees consider that unrestricted and undesignated funds should be kept between £200,000 and £450,000. This allows for the organisation to react to unforeseen circumstances, appropriately managing uncertain funding streams and always operating with the best interest of the charity’s beneficiaries at the heart of decision making. Salaries are the most significant expenditure for our service driven charity and therefore the lower end of this range reflects three month salaries for our charitable and support services arm of the organisation. The higher end of the range reflects the need to build a reserve to protect the charity’s large Homecare service provision in the event of a sudden loss of funding.

Free reserves at 31 March 2024 fall towards the lower end of the target range however the charity’s annual budgeting and forecasting processes include financial targets, which have now been in place for a number of years and have supported a gradual replenishment of the charity’s reserves. The charity is committed to continually reviewing its income streams and cost base to ensure it balances the need to hold free reserves, meet an increasing need for existing and new services and to ensure we provide competitive remuneration to our staff.

This replenishment of reserves, including designated funds, continued during this last year despite financial pressures from general inflationary increases, in particular the rising cost of employment. The charity continues to be part of Northumberland County Council’s Wage Support Scheme for Care at Home which means our Homecare salaries throughout the year have reflected at least the Real Living Wage as set out by the Real Living Wage Foundation.

At their Board meeting in March 2024 the Trustees approved additional transfers to be made to one of the designated reserves that was set up in 2023. £115,611 (2023: £60,000) continues to be set aside to allow for the continuation of key services to vulnerable customers in the event of a cessation in funding. In an environment where there is ever greater need, rising costs and funding is harder to come by the Trustees wish to hold a reserve which could be used, should the need arise to bridge any gaps until longer term funding is secured. This fund is therefore intended to protect services where, if they were to cease without careful management and wind down we would risk leaving vulnerable older people without the support they need.

£15,908 of the designated fund (protection of services for Vulnerable Customers) was spent during 2023/24, primarily to support some of our dementia services, and £71,519 has been transferred in at the end of the financial year. At their strategy day in October 23 the Board approved that this designation should also be used to provide much needed additional Information & Advice support with the aim of reducing waiting times for this service.

During 2023 £10,309 of the renewal fund (IT and Planned Maintenance) has been used and this has provided improvements to our main office, The Round House, bringing it up to a good standard of repair. The Round House, as well as acting as office space, is also a community hub and Café for our customers to meet and socialise in.

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Age UK Northumberland

Trustees Report

Over the years the organisation has been fortunate in receiving various legacies, donations and grants to finance some of its activities. These are usually given for specific purposes and are treated as restricted funds in the financial statements. The movement in these funds during the financial year to 31 March 2024 can be seen in the financial statements. Further details on the restricted funds created by donations and legacies can be found at Note 20 to these accounts.

Investment policy and objectives

In accordance with the Articles of Association the Board of Trustees is empowered to invest monies not immediately required for the charity's own purposes in such investments, securities or property that it deems fit, provided that the Board seeks written expert advice from a person of standing who is authorised to give investment advice under the Financial Services Act 1986 or other relevant Legislation.

In recent years, the level of reserves held has not been sufficient to hold long term investments and therefore, the current strategy continues to be to hold reserves on short term deposits managing the best possible return. Following the stabilisation and gradual rebuild of the level of free reserves held by the charity, it is the intention to move an element of these reserves into medium term cash deposits during the next financial year.

Plans for future periods

To develop our impact by supporting a greater number of older people across Northumberland To increase our impact across Northumberland

To increase our awareness across the county To continue to develop services in line with the needs of our clients To listen and act on the needs of the older people that we serve To continue to deliver person-centred care and support to our clients

Disclosure of information to auditor

Each trustee has taken steps that they ought to have taken as a trustee in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity's auditor is aware of that information. The trustees confirm that there is no relevant information that they know of and of which they know the auditor is unaware.

Reappointment of auditor

In accordance with section 485 of the Companies Act 2006, a resolution for the re-appointment of Azets Audit Services as auditors of the charity is to be proposed at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 11/12/2024.................... and signed on its behalf by:

.........................................Roger Francis 11 Dec 2024 13:18:32 GMT (UTC +0) R M Francis Trustee

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Age UK Northumberland

Trustees Report

Statement of Responsibilities

The trustees (who are also the directors of Age UK Northumberland for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland".

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that can disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

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Age UK Northumberland

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Age UK Northumberland

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Age UK Northumberland (the 'charity') for the year ended 31 March 2024, which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet, Statement of Cash Flows, and Notes to the Financial Statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is United Kingdom Accounting Standards, comprising Charities SORP - FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and applicable law (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements were authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

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Age UK Northumberland

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Age UK Northumberland

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees Report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Responsibilities (set out on page 13), the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

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Age UK Northumberland

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Age UK Northumberland

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

Because of the field in which the client operates, we identified the following areas as those most likely to have a material impact on the financial statements: Care Quality Commission (CQC), health and safety and food hygiene regulations, anti-bribery and corruption, and compliance with the UK Companies Act, and the Charities Act.

Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that some material misstatements in the financial statements may not be detected, even though the audit is properly planned and performed in accordance with the ISAs (UK). For instance, the further removed non-compliance is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the auditor is to become aware of it or recognise the non-compliance.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

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Age UK Northumberland

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Age UK Northumberland

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and its trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Simon Brown 11 Dec 2024 13:18:33 GMT (UTC +0) ...................................... Simon Brown BA ACA DChA (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of Azets Audit Services Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor Bulman House Regent Centre Gosforth Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3LS

Date:.............................11/12/2024

Azets Audit Services is a trading name of Azets Audit Services Limited

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Age UK Northumberland

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)

Note
Income and Endowments from:
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Investment income
5
Total Income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
6
Total Expenditure
Net income
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
20		 Unrestricted
£
133,371
6,420,699
9,175
6,563,245
(6,450,844)
(6,450,844)
112,401
(73)
112,328
819,148
931,476		 Restricted
£
344,618
-
-
344,618
(323,425)
(323,425)
21,193
73
21,266
118,505
139,771		 Total
2024
£
477,989
6,420,699
9,175
6,907,863
(6,774,269)
(6,774,269)
133,594
-
133,594
937,653
1,071,247		 Total
2023
£
521,107
5,881,867
2,967
6,405,941
(6,240,720)
(6,240,720)
165,221
-
165,221
772,432
937,653

All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods.

The funds breakdown for 2023 is shown in note 20.

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Age UK Northumberland

Comparative Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 (Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)

Recognised Gains and Losses)
Note
Income and Endowments from:
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Investment income
5
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
6
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
20		 Unrestricted
£
332,775
5,881,867
2,967
6,217,609
(6,042,642)
(6,042,642)
174,967
1,473
176,440
642,708
819,148		 Restricted
£
188,332
-
-
188,332
(198,078)
(198,078)
(9,746)
(1,473)
(11,219)
129,724
118,505		 Total
2023
£
521,107
5,881,867
2,967
6,405,941
(6,240,720)
(6,240,720)
165,221
-
165,221
772,432
937,653

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Age UK Northumberland

(Registration number: 03639406) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2024

2024 2023
Note £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 13 594,744 544,945
Investments 14 1 1
594,745 544,946
Current assets
Debtors 15 471,353 389,738
Cash at bank and in hand 16 914,052 865,735
1,385,405 1,255,473
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 17 (791,712) (714,383)
Net current assets 593,693 541,090
Total assets less current liabilities 1,188,438 1,086,036
Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year 18 (117,191) (148,383)
Net assets 1,071,247 937,653
Funds of the charity:
Restricted 139,771 118,505
Unrestricted income funds
Designated funds 165,783 120,000
Unrestricted funds 765,693 699,148
Total unrestricted funds 931,476 819,148
Total funds 20 1,071,247 937,653

The financial statements on pages 18 to 41 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue 11/12/2024 on .................... and signed on their behalf by:

Roger Francis 11 Dec 2024 13:18:32 GMT (UTC +0) ......................................... R M Francis Trustee

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Age UK Northumberland

Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Note
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash income
Adjustments to cash flows from non-cash items
Depreciation
Investment income
5
Working capital adjustments
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
15
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
17
Decrease in deferred income
18
Net cash flows from operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Interest receivable and similar income
5
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
13
Sale of tangible fixed assets
Net cash flows from investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment of loans and borrowings
17
Advance of new HP and repayments within the year
19
Net cash flows from financing activities
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 April
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 March		 2024
£
133,594
20,198
(9,175)
144,617
(81,615)
86,733
(8,800)
140,935
9,175
(73,578)
3,581
(60,822)
(26,271)
(5,525)
(31,796)
48,317
865,735
914,052		 2023
£
165,221
34,742
(2,967)
196,996
277,653
(390,425)
(200,706)
(116,482)
2,967
(14,744)
-
(11,777)
(26,640)
(5,526)
(32,166)
(160,425)
1,026,160
865,735

All of the cash flows are derived from continuing operations during the above two periods.

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Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

1 Charity status

The charity is limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales, and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the trustees is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.

The address of its registered office is: The Round House, Lintonville Parkway, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9JZ

2 Accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Statement of compliance

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). They also comply with the Companies Act 2006 and Charities Act 2011.

Basis of preparation

Age UK Northumberland meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.

The charity’s forecasts and projections for the next twelve months show that the charity should be able to continue in operational existence for that period, taking into account reasonable possible changes in trading performance. The charity has strong positive cash balances and is forecasting for this to continue to be the case. The trustees have stress tested their forecasts, taking into account various scenarios, and remain confident that the uncertainties do not cast significant doubt on the company’s ability to continue as a going concern. For these reasons the trustees have continued to prepare the accounts on a going concern basis.

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Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Estimation uncertainty and judgements

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported.

There are considered to be no significant judgements (apart from those involving estimations) that management has made in the process of applying the entity's accounting policies which effect the amounts recognised in the financial statements.

Accounting estimates and assumptions are made concerning the future and, by their nature, will rarely equal the related actual outcome. The key assumptions and other sources of estimation uncertainty have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are as follows:

Depreciation is estimated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset. An estimate of the useful economic life of assets is detailed in the depreciation accounting policy.

Income and endowments

All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of the income receivable can be measured reliably.

Donations and legacies

Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance by the charity before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that these conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.

Legacy gifts are recognised on a case by case basis following the grant of probate when the administrator/executor for the estate has communicated in writing both the amount and settlement date. In the event that the gift is in the form of an asset other than cash or a financial asset traded on a recognised stock exchange, recognition is subject to the value of the gift being reliably measurable, with a degree of reasonable accuracy and the title to the asset having been transferred to the charity.

Grants receivable

Grants are recognised when the charity has an entitlement to the funds and any conditions linked to the grants have been met. Where performance conditions are attached to the grant and are yet to be met, the income is recognised as a liability and included on the balance sheet as deferred income to be released.

Deferred income

Deferred income represents amounts received for future periods and is released to incoming resources in the period for which, it has been received. Such income is only deferred when:

Other trading activities

Income from commercial trading activities is recognised as earned (as the related goods and services are provided) and as rental and service charges fall due.

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Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Investment income

Dividends are recognised once the dividend has been declared and notification has been received of the dividend due.

Expenditure

All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.

Charitable activities

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Support costs

Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, for example, allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.

Governance costs

These include the costs attributable to the charity’s compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements, including audit, strategic management and trustees' meetings and reimbursed expenses.

Taxation

The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

Tangible fixed assets

Individual fixed assets costing £500 or more are initially recorded at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses. Where more than one item is purchased at the same time and the total cost exceeds £500 this may be capitalised.

The charity took advantage of the deemed cost provision on the transition to FRS102.

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Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Depreciation and amortisation

Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:

Asset class Depreciation method and rate Furniture and equipment 12.5% straight line Furniture and equipment - computer equipment 33.3% straight line Motor vehicles 25% reducing balance Buildings 2.5% straight line

Impairment of fixed assets

Buildings were impaired during the year ended 31st March 2010 by £1,527,404. A subsequent valuation report was obtained during April 2015 which did not change this original impairment.

In prior periods, subsequent to impairing the building, the board agreed to calculate depreciation and charge this annually based on the building’s original cost. This had the effect of further reducing the Net Book Value of the building below £500k. The board have since agreed (during the year ended 31 March 2021) to revise the depreciation policy to that stated below, which has had the effect of no depreciation being charged on buildings since the 31 March 2021 year end (which would otherwise have been £64k).

The depreciation policy on buildings is changed to; Depreciation will be calculated on the cost of the building at a rate of 2.5% per annum. However, the board will not depreciate the building further once its carrying value is reduced below £500k. The board believe that the residual value of the building will not reduce below £500k, and that all ongoing repairs and maintenance charged to the S.O.F.A during the period reflect the cost of using the building.

Trade debtors

Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for merchandise sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business.

Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the charity will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

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Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Trade creditors

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if the charity does not have an unconditional right, at the end of the reporting period, to defer settlement of the creditor for at least twelve months after the reporting date. If there is an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least twelve months after the reporting date, they are presented as non-current liabilities.

Trade creditors are recognised initially at the transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Borrowings

Interest-bearing borrowings are initially recorded at fair value, net of transaction costs.

Interest expense is recognised on the basis of the effective interest method and is included in interest payable and similar charges.

Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the charity has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least twelve months after the reporting date.

Provisions

Provisions are recognised when the charity has an obligation at the reporting date as a result of a past event, it is probable that the charity will be required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.

Fund structure

Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside for specific purposes at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.

Pensions and other post retirement obligations

Eligible staff are automatically enrolled into the Peoples Pension. The regular cost of providing retirement pensions and related benefits for these members of staff is charged to the Statement of Financial Activities over the employees' service lives on the basis of percentage of earnings.

Financial instruments

Classification

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the charity after deducting all of its liabilities.

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Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Recognition and measurement

All financial assets and liabilities are initially measured at transaction price (including transaction costs), except for those financial assets classified as at fair value through profit or loss, which are initially measured at fair value (which is normally the transaction price excluding transaction costs), unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction. If an arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, the financial asset or financial liability is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are only offset in the statement of financial position when, and only when there exists a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and the charity intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Financial assets are derecognised when and only when a) the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire or are settled, b) the charity transfers to another party substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial asset, or c) the charity, despite having retained some, but not all, significant risks and rewards of ownership, has transferred control of the asset to another party.

Financial liabilities are derecognised only when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expires.

Investments

Investments in subsidiaries and associates are measured at cost less impairment. For investments in subsidiaries acquired for consideration including the issue of shares qualifying for merger relief, cost is measured by reference to the nominal value of the shares issued plus fair value of other consideration. Any premium is ignored.

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Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

3 Income from donations and legacies

Unrestricted
funds
General
£
Donations and legacies;
Donations from individuals
30,235
Grants, including capital grants;
Grants from other charities
103,136
133,371
Age UK National
Armed Forces Covenant Fund
Community Chest
Community Foundation
Sir James Knott Trust
Sporting Force (Veterans)
National Lottery
NHS Contracts
Other
Hadrian Trust
Heart of Blyth
The Lesley & Lilian Manning Charitable Trust
Bowey Foundation
Rise North East
NCC		 Restricted
funds
£
-
344,618
344,618		 Total
2024
£
30,235
447,754
477,989
2024
£
127,728
3,558
5,000
56,554
10,000
17,857
96,817
101,240
-
3,000
-
1,000
-
-
25,000
447,754		 Total
2023
£
72,609
448,498
521,107
2023
£
77,144
22,533
5,000
54,240
-
18,633
21,963
234,765
1,622
1,000
1,000
1,000
4,602
4,996
-
448,498

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Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

4 Income from charitable activities

Charitable activities
5
Investment income
Interest receivable and similar income;
Interest receivable on bank deposits
6
Expenditure on charitable activities
Charitable activities
Charitable activities		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
6,420,699
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
9,175
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
6,456,844
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
6,042,642		 Total
2024
£
6,420,699
Total
2024
£
9,175
Restricted
funds
£
317,425
Restricted
funds
£
198,078		 Total
2023
£
5,881,867
Total
2023
£
2,967
Total
2024
£
6,774,269
Total
2023
£
6,240,720

Included in the expenditure analysed above, there are governance costs of £285,631 (2023 - £250,013) which relate directly to charitable activities. See note 7 for further details.

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Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

7 Analysis of governance and support costs

Support costs allocated to charitable activities

Employment costs
Audit and accounting fees
Legal and other professional costs
Trustee expenses and indemnity insurance
Employment costs
Audit and accounting fees
Legal and other professional costs
Trustee expenses and indemnity insurance
8
Net incoming/outgoing resources
Net incoming resources for the year include:
Audit fees
Depreciation of fixed assets		 Governance
costs
£
257,416
14,180
13,959
76
285,631
Governance
costs
£
219,720
15,270
14,947
76
250,013
2024
£
12,300
20,198		 Total
2024
£
257,416
14,180
13,959
76
285,631
Total
2023
£
219,720
15,270
14,947
76
250,013
2023
£
11,400
34,742

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Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

9 Trustees remuneration and expenses

No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.

No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the charity during the year.

10 Staff costs

The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:

Staff costs during the year were:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2024
£
5,309,377
432,279
103,766
5,845,422		 2023
£
4,935,106
400,248
97,437
5,432,791

The monthly average number of persons (including senior management team) employed by the charity during the year was as follows:

Employees 2024
No
253		 2023
No
275

The number of employees whose emoluments fell within the following bands was:

£60,001 - £70,000
£70,001 - £80,000		 2024
No
-
1		 2023
No
1
-

The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £158,320 (2023 - £159,124).

11 Auditors' remuneration

Audit of the financial statements 2024
£
12,300		 2023
£
11,400

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Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

12 Taxation

The charity is exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

13 Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 April 2023
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2024
Depreciation
At 1 April 2023
Charge for the year
Eliminated on disposals
At 31 March 2024
Net book value
At 31 March 2024
At 31 March 2023		 Land and
buildings
£
2,693,369
-
-
2,693,369
2,201,927
-
-
2,201,927
491,442
491,442		 Furniture and
equipment
£
380,445
30,320
-
410,765
357,285
9,670
-
366,955
43,810
23,160		 Motor
vehicles
£
97,204
43,258
(43,000)
97,462
66,861
10,528
(39,419)
37,970
59,492
30,343		 Total
£
3,171,018
73,578
(43,000)
3,201,596
2,626,073
20,198
(39,419)
2,606,852
594,744
544,945

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Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Revaluation

The charity's Building was impaired on 31 March 2010. A subsequent update during April 2015 did not change this impairment. The charity took advantage of the deemed cost provision on the transition to FRS102.

Had this class of asset been measured on a historical cost basis without the impairment, their carrying amounts would have been £1,953,559 (2022 - £1,953,559).

Included in the above Land and Buildings net book value is: Land £65,290 Leasehold buildings £nil Freehold buildings £426,152

The trustees have considered the value of the Land and Buildings above as at the year end and have concluded that the value of these would not be lower than £491,442. They have therefore decided not to depreciate the asset any further.

Assets held under finance leases and hire purchase contracts

The net carrying amount of tangible assets includes the following amounts in respect of assets held under finance leases and hire purchase contracts:

2024 2023
£ £
Motor Vehicles 15,940 20,522

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Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

14 Fixed asset investments

Shares in group undertakings and participating interests

Shares in group undertakings and participating interests
Cost
At 1 April 2023
At 31 March 2024
Net book value
At 31 March 2024
At 31 March 2023		 Subsidiary
undertakings
£
1
1
1
1		 Total
£
1
1
1
1

Details of undertakings

The charity owns 100% share capital of Age UK Northumberland Trading Limited.

Subsidiaries

The profit for the financial period of Age UK Northumberland Trading Limited was £Nil (2023 - £Nil) and the aggregate amount of capital and reserves at the end of the period was £(1) (2023 - £(1)).

The subsidiary has been dormant throughout the 2024 and 2023 accounting period thus there is no requirement to prepare consolidated accounts.

15 Debtors

15 Debtors
Trade debtors
Prepayments
Accrued Income		 2024
£
298,249
87,681
85,423
471,353		 2023
£
331,748
43,208
14,782
389,738

Included in trade debtors are bad debt provisions totalling £3,025 (2023 - £3,848).

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Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

16 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash on hand
Cash at bank
17 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Bank loans
Trade creditors
Hire purchase and finance leases
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals
Deferred income
Deferred income at 1 April 2023
Resources deferred in the period
Amounts released from previous periods
Deferred income at year end		 2024
£
633
913,419
914,052
2024
£
28,399
73,972
5,526
162,084
329,811
134,795
57,125
791,712
2024
£
65,925
57,125
(65,925)
57,125		 2023
£
200
865,535
865,735
2023
£
29,004
64,020
5,525
149,061
297,362
103,486
65,925
714,383
2023
£
266,631
65,925
(266,631)
65,925

Deferred income relates to amounts paid for contractual services due in the next financial period

Included within other creditors is a pension creditor of £16,536 (2023: £15,452).

18 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year

Bank loans
Hire purchase and finance leases		 2024
£
111,414
5,777
117,191		 2023
£
137,080
11,303
148,383

The bank loan is secured with a fixed charge over the Land on the south side of Lintonville Parkway, Ashington. The loan attracts interest at Bank of England Base Rates plus 3.5%.

35

VirtualSignature Transaction Ref. 82Q6-S39N-N744 11 Dec 2024 13:18:35 GMT (UTC +0) D 1/3 P 38/43

Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

19 Obligations under leases and hire purchase contracts

Operating lease commitments

Total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

Other
Within one year
Between one and five years
20 Funds
Unrestricted funds
General
General Fund
Designated
Protection of Services for
Vulnerable Customers
Renewal Fund (IT and
Planned Maintenance)
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Armed Forces Covenant
Fund
Asian Fund
Winter Warmth
Programme funded by
Centrica
CJW Blackett Holiday
Fund
Cost of Living Project
Big Give 2023 for
Dementia
Dementia MCST*
Friendship Line		 Balance at
1 April
2023
£
699,148
60,000
60,000
120,000
819,148
-
-
-
95,787
-
-
-
10,371		 Incoming
resources
£
6,563,245
-
-
-
6,563,245
3,558
203
4,065
-
36,915
9,584
16,442
-		 Resources
expended
£
(6,424,627)
(15,908)
(10,309)
(26,217)
(6,450,844)
(3,558)
(203)
(4,065)
(281)
(36,915)
(8,028)
(16,442)
(9,094)		 2024
£
38,019
50,780
88,799
Transfers
£
(72,073)
72,000
-
72,000
(73)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 2023
£
23,647
23,577
47,224
Balance at
31 March
2024
£
765,693
116,092
49,691
165,783
931,476
-
-
-
95,506
-
1,556
-
1,277

36

VirtualSignature Transaction Ref. 82Q6-S39N-N744 11 Dec 2024 13:18:35 GMT (UTC +0) D 1/3 P 39/43

Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

EDF Energy Green Rigg
Wind Farm Community
Benefit
Kellet Fund
More Money for You
The National Lottery
Community Fund RC
North East and Cumbria
Region
Prime Fund*
Scams Prevention
Sporting Force (Veterans)
Waiting Well
Winter Health
EDF Blyth
Ventient Sisters
Versus Arthritis
Alnwick Friendship Club
John Swan Charlton Fund
Vehicles funded by capital
grant
RH Renovations
Bereavement
Café
Hadrian Trust
National Lottery Awards
for All
Scams Awareness
Sir James Knott Trust
Total restricted funds
Total funds**		 Balance at
1 April
2023
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,353
9,994
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
118,505
937,653		 Incoming
resources
£
3,200
26,494
18,600
86,817
546
30,897
17,857
1,120
1,000
4,825
8,954
4,733
-
-
25,000
5,000
5,000
1,000
3,000
10,000
9,808
10,000
344,618
6,907,863		 Resources
expended
£
(3,200)
(26,494)
(18,600)
(86,817)
(546)
(30,897)
(17,930)
(1,120)
(1,000)
(4,825)
(8,954)
(4,733)
-
-
(776)
(139)
(5,000)
(1,000)
(3,000)
(10,000)
(9,808)
(10,000)
(323,425)
(6,774,269)		 Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
73
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
73
-		 Balance at
31 March
2024
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,353
9,994
24,224
4,861
-
-
-
-
-
-
139,771
1,071,247

37

VirtualSignature Transaction Ref. 82Q6-S39N-N744 11 Dec 2024 13:18:35 GMT (UTC +0) D 1/3 P 40/43

Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

The specific purposes for which the restricted funds are to be applied are as follows:

Armed Forces Covenant Fund - To provide advice, support and friendship to local veterans

CJW Blackett Holiday Fund - To provide events, day trips and holidays for older people in the rural areas of the County

Big Give 2023 for Dementia - Specific donations received to supplement the costs of our Dementia services

Friendship Line - Specific donations received to supplement the costs of this service

The National Lottery Community Fund RC North East and Cumbria Region – Back to Life, Back to Activity - To provide a range of services for older people across Northumberland, supporting them to live their best life and improve their wellbeing through activities and support including information, advice and advocacy, health and wellbeing classes, social groups and friendship.

Sporting Force (Veterans) - A partnership with Age UK North Tyneside to engage and support our older veterans living across North Tyneside and Northumberland

Alnwick Friendship Group - Interest to be donated to the Alnwick Friendship Club

John Swan Charlton Fund – A legacy left to Age UK for the benefit of older people in the Bedlington area

Vehicles funded by capital grant – Capital grant awarded by Northumberland County Council to purchase additional fleet vehicles to assist with access to remote clients in the Coastal area

RH Renovations – Capital grant awarded by Community Chest to assist with kitchen refit

Hadrian Trust – Grants to support the delivery of our Dementia services

The National Lottery Awards for All – Helping over 50s live through the cost of living crisis

Sir James Knott Trust – Contribution towards our advocacy services

38

VirtualSignature Transaction Ref. 82Q6-S39N-N744 11 Dec 2024 13:18:35 GMT (UTC +0) D 1/3 P 41/43

Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

*Community Foundation Grants:

EDF Energy Green Rigg Wind Farm Community Benefit - To provide services for older people across the Greenrigg area

Kellet Fund - To allow the expansion and extension of Friendship and activity groups across Northumberland

Prime Fund - To provide exercise classes in the community

EDF Blyth - To support older people living in Blyth through our range of services

Ventient Sisters - To support older people living in the catchment of the Ventient Sisters and North Streads Windfarm area through our range of services

Versus Arthritis - To support the reduction in long term impact and aid recovery from the COVID 19 pandemic and the widening of the inequalities in sport and physical activity in older people.

Bereavement - to deliver Bereavement Counselling services

Small Grants - these grants (all less than £5,000) have allowed us to support older people in a variety of ways including: provision of exercise classes in the community; supporting people waiting for surgery with exercise classes and wellbeing support; providing warm lunches for people struggling with the cost of living

**Age UK National Grants:

Winter Warmth Programme funded by Centrica - To promote access to benefits checks and energy savings

Cost of Living Project - Cost of Living Response Funded by Age UK National - A one year project designed as a response to the impact of the current cost of living crisis on older people across Northumberland

Dementia MCST - Age UK - Support for people living with mild to moderate dementia through a programme of Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, which is proven to improve mood, cognitive function and memory

More Money for You - To help people across Northumberland to maximise their income through benefits checks

Scams Prevention - A two year programme of practical one to one advice and presentations to help build awareness of scams and how to avoid them, funded by Age UK via Lloyds Bank

Winter Health - To provide support for people struggling with the cost of living - soup, support and social

Scams Awareness - A further two years’ worth of funding to build on our Scams Prevention project. Continuing to provide one to one advice and presentations to build awareness of scams and how to avoid them

39

VirtualSignature Transaction Ref. 82Q6-S39N-N744 11 Dec 2024 13:18:35 GMT (UTC +0) D 1/3 P 42/43

Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Designated Funds

Protection of Services for Vulnerable Customers - to provide for the continuation of key services to vulnerable customers, in the short term, in the event of a cessation in funding.

Renewal Fund (IT and Planned Maintenance) - to support improvements to the office and community space at The Round House.

21 Analysis of net assets between funds

Tangible fixed assets
Fixed asset investments
Net current assets/(liabilities)
Creditors over 1 year
Total net assets
Tangible fixed assets
Fixed asset investments
Net current assets/(liabilities)
Creditors over 1 year
Total net assets
22 Analysis of net funds
Cash at bank and in hand
Debt due within one year
Debt due after more than one
year
Finance leases and hire
purchase contracts
Net funds		 Unrestricted
General
£
Designated
£
594,744
-
1
-
288,139
165,783
(117,191)
-
765,693
165,783
Unrestricted
General
£
Designated
£
544,945
-
1
-
302,585
120,000
(148,383)
-
699,148
120,000
At 1 April
2023
£
Financing
cash flows
£
865,735
48,317
(29,004)
605
(137,080)
25,666
(16,828)
5,525
682,823
80,113		 Restricted
£
-
-
139,771
-
139,771
Restricted
£
-
-
118,505
-
118,505
New finance
leases
£
-
-
-
-
-		 Total funds
£
594,744
1
593,693
(117,191)
1,071,247
Total funds
at 31 March
2023
£
544,945
1
541,090
(148,383)
937,653
At 31 March
2024
£
914,052
(28,399)
(111,414)
(11,303)
762,936

40

VirtualSignature Transaction Ref. 82Q6-S39N-N744 11 Dec 2024 13:18:35 GMT (UTC +0) D 1/3 P 43/43

Age UK Northumberland

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Cash at bank and in hand
Debt due within one year
Debt due after more than one
year
Finance leases and hire
purchase contracts
Net funds		 At 1 April
2022
£
1,026,160
(28,010)
(164,714)
(22,354)
811,082		 Financing
cash flows
£
(160,425)
(994)
27,634
5,526
(128,259)		 New finance
leases
£
-
-
-
-
-		 At 31 March
2023
£
865,735
(29,004)
(137,080)
(16,828)
682,823

23 Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in the year.

Age UK (Northumberland) Trading Limited was dormant during the year.

41