Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit
Charity No. 1074557
Company No. 03626105
Trustees' Report and Unaudited Accounts
31 March 2024
Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit Contents
| Pages | ||
|---|---|---|
| Trustees' Annual Report | 2 | |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 5 | |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 6 | |
| Balance Sheet | 7 | |
| Notes to the Accounts | 8 | |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 15 |
Page 1
Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit Trustees Annual Report
The trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Company No. 03626105
Charity No. 1074557
Principal Office
135 Cardiff Rd Reading Berkhire RG1 8JF
Registered Office
135 Cardiff Rd Reading RG1 8JF
Directors and Trustees
The Directors of the charitable company are its Trustees for the purposes of charity law. The following Directors and Trustees served during the year:
M. Ayub S. Boyt J.L. Hughes P.G. Kayes R. McEwan M. O'Connell L.K. Owen P. Thomas
Key Management Personnel
Chair Peter Kayes Chief Executive Matt Harrison Officer Accountants
Lambert Martin Ltd 33 Old Bath road Sonning Reading Berkshire RG4 6SY
Page 2
Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit Trustees Annual Report
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The objectives of the service are to benefit the population of Greater Reading by the relief of poverty, sickness and distress. These objectives are achieved by giving advice and assistance to people in respect of their rights to benefits as required.
The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit both when reviewing the service's aims and objectives and when planning its future activities.
RCWRU provides advice and support to people on their benefits claims, including to people in work, not in work and to those seeking to get into work. Examples of when the support is needed are when people are wrongly denied benefits by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), when people have their benefits cut after a review where the assessment is faulty, or where the process of completing the complex paperwork is beyond the individual applicant’s capabilities. Support can consist of simply providing advice including what their entitlement should be but more often involves helping clients make formal appeals and taking unresolved cases to tribunals where we will work with the clients to make their case.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
The 2023-24 financial year has seen Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit (RCWRU) continue to provide its service to clients across Reading. Methods of working have been developed to be a more flexible service to clients which includes continuing to meet clients by appointment at our office, as well as providing support over the telephone or email but also meeting clients at other venues which are easier for them to get to, including visiting them at home where necessary.
We continue to work in partnership with six other charities in Reading, The Tackling Poverty Partnership, in order to strengthen our ability to support people in a wider variety of ways through the work of these other charities to whom we can pass clients on as well as receiving referrals from these charities to us. In addition we have been successful in gaining a grant from the Henry Smith Charity to expand our work and a number of other smaller grants from local charities.
In the 14 months ending 31st march 2024 we secured £2.2million in benefits from the DWP, money which is paid directly by DWP to the people we have supported. This is a significant contribution to our clients' ability to live independently, avoiding poverty and getting into debt.
Once again I must thank our staff and volunteers, including trustees, for their commitment to our work, which is often life saving for our clients.
Page 3
Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit Trustees Annual Report
PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS
Looking to the future RCWRU is aware of an excess in demand for our services and anticipates a significant increase in demand post pandemic. We trust we will be able to continue to support our community in years to come
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
RCWRU is controlled by its governing document, The memorundum and Articles of Association, and constitutes a limited company, limite by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006. In accordance with the Memorandum of Association each present member has undertaken to contribute the sum of £1 in the event of winding up. As the service is a registered charity, any surplus upon a winding up would be distributed to another charity with similar objects, as the members are prohibited from benefiting from the company.
The Board seeks to recruit new trustees from the wider community in Reading to provide a range of skills and views.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The above report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime as set out in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102).
Signed on behalf of the board
P.G. Kayes Trustee 29th September 2024
Page 4
Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit Independent Examiners Report
Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit for the year ended 31 March 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the Charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's financial statements as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I can confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 386 of the 2006 Act ; or
-
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
-
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements under section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the financial statements give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
-
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
Rachel Eden Holy Brook Accountants Curious Lounge, 1st Floor, Pinnacle Building Tudor Road Reading RG1 1NH
Date: 2024-10-31
Page 5
Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit Statement of Financial Activities
for the year ended 31 March 2024
| Notes Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 4 Charitable activities 5 Total Expenditure on: Other 6 Total Net gains on investments Net (expenditure)/income 7 Transfers between funds Net (expenditure)/income before other gains/(losses) Other gains and losses Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds 2024 £ 4,325 5,620 |
Restricted funds 2024 £ - 167,859 |
Total funds 2024 £ 4,325 173,499 |
Total funds 2023 £ 2,525 137,302 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9,945 100 |
167,859 177,658 |
177,824 177,758 |
139,827 132,029 |
|
| 100 - |
177,658 - |
177,758 - |
132,029 - |
|
| 9,845 2,589 |
(9,779) (2,589) |
66 - |
7,798 - |
|
| 66 | 7,798 | |||
| 12,434 9,531 |
(12,368) 23,193 |
32,724 66 |
7,798 24,926 |
|
| 21,965 | (10,825) | 32,790 | 32,724 |
Page 6
Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit Balance Sheet
at 31 March 2024
| at 31 March 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Company No. 03626105 |
Notes | 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ | ||
| Current assets | |||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 54,568 | 74,986 | |
| 54,568 | 74,986 | ||
| Creditors:Amount falling due within one year | 9 | (21,778) | (42,262) |
| Net current assets | 32,790 | 32,724 | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | 32,790 | 32,724 | |
| Net assets excluding pension asset or liability | 32,790 | 32,724 | |
| Total net assets | 32,790 | 32,724 | |
| The funds of the charity | |||
| Restricted funds | 10 | ||
| Restricted income funds | (10,825) | 23,193 | |
| (10,825) | 23,193 | ||
| Unrestricted funds | 10 | ||
| General funds | 21,965 | 9,531 | |
| 32,790 | 9,531 | ||
| Reserves | 10 | ||
| Total funds | 32,790 | 32,724 |
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
For the year ended 31 March 2024 the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
Approved by the board on 19th July 2024
And signed on its behalf by:
P.G. Kayes Trustee
29th September 2024
Page 7
Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit Notes to the Accounts
for the year ended 31 March 2024
- 1 Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
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 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Change in basis of accounting or to previous accounts
There has been no change to the accounting policies (valuation rules and method of accounting) since last year and no changes have been made to accounts for previous years.
Fund accounting
-
Unrestricted funds These are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objects of the charity.
-
Designated funds These are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes. Revaluation funds These are unrestricted funds which include a revaluation reserve representing the restatement of investment assets at their market values.
-
Restricted funds These are available for use subject to restrictions imposed by the donor or through terms of an appeal.
Income
-
Recognition of Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity income becomes entitled to, and virtually certain to receive, the income and the amount of the income can be measured with sufficient reliability.
-
Income with related Where income has related expenditure the income and related expenditure is expenditure reported gross in the SoFA. Donations and Voluntary income received by way of grants, donations and gifts is included in the legacies the SoFA when receivable and only when the Charity has unconditional entitlement to the income.
-
Tax reclaims on Income from tax reclaims is included in the SoFA at the same time as the donations and gifts gift/donation to which it relates. Donated services These are only included in income (with an equivalent amount in expenditure) and facilities where the benefit to the Charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and material.
Volunteer help The value of any volunteer help received is not included in the accounts. Investment income This is included in the accounts when receivable. Gains/(losses) on This includes any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market value revaluation of fixed at the end of the year. assets Gains/(losses) on This includes any gain or loss on the sale of investments. investment assets
Page 8
Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit Notes to the Accounts
Expenditure
-
Recognition of Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis. Expenditure includes any VAT which expenditure cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.
-
Expenditure on These comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income, fundraising raising funds trading costs and investment management costs. Expenditure on These comprise the costs incurred by the Charity in the delivery of its activities and charitable activities services in the furtherance of its objects, including the making of grants and governance costs.
-
Grants payable All grant expenditure is accounted for on an actual paid basis plus an accrual for grants that have been approved by the trustees at the end of the year but not yet paid.
-
Governance costs These include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the Charity, including any audit/independent examination fees, costs linked to the strategic management of the Charity, together with a share of other administration costs.
-
Other expenditure These are support costs not allocated to a particular activity.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
Trade and other debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and on hand, demand deposits with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts. In the statement of financial position, bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings or current liabilities. In the Statement of Cash Flows, cash and cash equivalents are shown net of bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the company's cash management.
Trade and other creditors
Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
Page 9
Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit Notes to the Accounts
Research and development
Expenditure on research and development is written off in the year in which it is incurred.
Pension costs
The charity operates a defined contribution plan for its employees. A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which the company pays fixed contributions into a separate entity. Once the contributions have been paid the company has no further payments obligations. The contributions are recognised as expenses when they fall due. Amounts not paid are shown in accruals in the balance sheet. The assets of the plan are held separately from the company in independently administered funds.
Receipt of donated goods, facilities and services
All donated goods, facilities and services received are recognised within incoming resources and expenditure at an estimate of the value to the charity.
2 Company status
The company is a private company limited by guarantee and consequently does not have share capital.
Page 10
Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit Notes to the Accounts
3 Statement of Financial Activities - prior year
| 3 Statement of Financial Activities - prior year |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies Charitable activities Total Expenditure on: Other Total Net income Net income before other gains/(losses) Other gains and losses: Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward 4 Income from donations and legacies 5 Income from charitable activities Contract Income Grant Income |
Unrestricted £ - 5,620 5,620 |
Unrestricted funds 2023 £ 2,525 - 2,525 (56) (56) 2,581 2,581 2,581 6,950 9,531 Unrestricted £ 4,325 4,325 Restricted £ 81,500 86,379 167,879 |
Restricted funds 2023 £ - 137,302 137,302 132,095 132,095 5,207 5,207 5,207 17,986 23,193 Total 2024 £ 4,325 4,325 Total 2024 £ 81,500 91,999 173,499 |
Total funds 2023 £ 2,525 137,302 |
| 139,827 132,039 |
||||
| 132,039 | ||||
| 7,788 | ||||
| 7,788 | ||||
| 7,788 24,936 |
||||
| 32,724 | ||||
| Total 2023 £ 2,525 |
||||
| 2,525 | ||||
| Total 2023 £ 79,066 58,236 |
||||
| 137,302 |
Page 11
Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit Notes to the Accounts
6 Other expenditure
| 6 | Other expenditure | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| Employee costs | 0 | 151,957 | 151,957 | 105,857 | ||
| Motor and travel costs | 0 | 50 | 50 | - | ||
| Premises costs | 0 | 3,329 | 3,329 | 3,039 | ||
| Amortisation, depreciation, | ||||||
| impairment, profit/loss on | - | - | - | 2,258 | ||
| disposal of fixed assets | ||||||
| General administrative costs | - | 16,001 | 16,001 | 15,018 | ||
| Legal and professional costs | 100 | 6,321 | 6,421 | 5,857 | ||
| 100 | 177,658 | 177,758 | 132,029 | |||
| 7 | Net (expenditure)/income before transfers | |||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| This is stated after charging: | £ | £ | ||||
| Depreciation of owned fixed assets | - | 2,258 | ||||
| 8 | Staff costs | |||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Salaries and wages | 134,951 | 99,175 | ||||
| Social security costs | 7,812 | 4,053 | ||||
| Pension costs | 7,254 | 2,475 | ||||
| 150,017 | 105,703 | |||||
| No employee received emoluments in excess | of £60,000. | |||||
| The average monthly number of full time equivalent employees | during the year | was as follows: | ||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Number | Number | |||||
| Manager/Caseworker | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Caseworker/ specialist advisor |
4 | 3 | ||||
| Volunteers | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Office Administration | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Assistant | ||||||
| Accountant | - | - | ||||
| 6 | 5 |
Page 12
Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit Notes to the Accounts
9 Creditors:
amounts falling due within one year
| Trade creditors Other taxes and social security Other creditors Deferred income |
2024 £ 727 (10) (436) 21,498 21,778 |
2023 £ 259 - 861 41,142 |
|---|---|---|
| 42,262 |
10 Movement in funds
| 10 Movement in funds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At 1 April 2023 14,697 |
Incoming resources (including other gains/losses) £ 79,000 |
Resources expended £ |
Gross transfers £ ( 9,389) (2,589) 10,200 (3,400) 2,589 - |
At 31 March 2024 £ 5,001 860 2,500 2,464 |
|
| Restricted funds: Restricted income funds: Reading Borough Council |
|||||
| (98,896) | |||||
| National Lottery | 8,496 | 52,978 | (55,611) | ||
| Henry Smith charity | - | 33,401 | (23,152) | ||
| Reading Borough Council Total Unrestricted funds: General funds Total funds |
- 23,193 9,531 32,724 |
5,000 170,379 26,646 |
(2,500) | ||
| (180,158) (100) (177,758) |
|||||
| 10,825 | |||||
| 36,077 | |||||
| 177,824 | 32,790 |
| Purposes and restrictions in relation to the funds: | Purposes and restrictions in relation to the funds: |
|---|---|
| Restricted funds: | |
| Reading Borough Council | Closing the Gap |
| National Lottery | Staff Funding |
| Henry Smith charity | Staff Funding |
| Reading Borough Council | Other |
11 Analysis of net assets between funds
Net current assets
| Restricted funds £ 32,790 32,790 |
Total £ 32,790 |
|---|---|
| 32,790 |
Page 13
Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit Notes to the Accounts
12 Reconciliation of net debt
| Reconciliation of net debt | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash and cash equivalents Net debt |
At 1 April 2023 £ |
Cash flows £ |
At 31 March 2024 £ |
| 74,986 | (20,418) | 54,568 | |
| 74,986 74,986 |
(20,418) (20,418) |
54,568 | |
| 54,568 |
13 Commitments
Operating lease commitments
Annual commitments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:
| 2024 Land and buildings £ Operating leases with expiry date: Pension commitments The pension cost charge to the company amounted to: 14 Related party disclosures Controlling party |
2024 2023 Other Land and buildings £ £ 2024 £ 7,254 |
2023 Other £ 2023 £ 2,475 |
|---|---|---|
The company is limited by guarantee and has no share capital; thus no single party controls the company.
Page 14
Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
for the year ended 31 March 2024
| Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies Charitable activities Contract Income Grant Income Total income and endowments Expenditure on: Employee costs Salaries/wages Employer's NIC Pension costs Staff training Staff welfare Motor and travel costs Travel and subsistence Premises costs Rent Premises repairs and maintenance General administrative costs, including depreciation and amortisation Depreciation of Bank charges General insurances Software, IT support and related costs Stationery and printing Subscriptions Sundry expenses Telephone, fax and broadband |
Unrestricted funds 2024 £ 4,325 4,325 - 5,620 5,620 9,945 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Restricted funds 2024 £ - - 81,500 86,379 167,879 167,879 134,951 7,812 7,254 400 1,540 151,957 50 50 3,329 - 3,329 - 295 717 8,687 139 1,967 1,037 3,159 16,001 |
Total funds 2024 £ 4,325 4,325 81,500 91,999 173,499 177,824 134,951 7,812 7,254 400 1,540 151,957 50 50 3,329 - 3,329 - 295 717 8,687 139 1,967 1,037 3,159 16,001 |
Total funds 2023 £ 2,525 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,525 | ||||
| 79,066 58,236 |
||||
| 137,302 | ||||
| 139,827 99,175 4,053 2,475 - 154 |
||||
| 105,857 | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| 3,003 36 |
||||
| 3,039 | ||||
| 2,258 291 2,207 5,476 579 2,405 669 3,391 |
||||
| 17,276 |
Page 15
Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
| Legal and professional costs Audit/Independent examination fees Accountancy and bookkeeping Other legal and professional costs Total of expenditure of other costs Total expenditure Net gains on investments Net (expenditure)/income Transfers between funds Net (expenditure)/income before other gains/(losses) Other Gains Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
- 100 - 100 100 100 - 9,859 2,589 12,434 - 12,434 9,531 21,965 |
360 5,961 - 6,321 177,658 177,658 - (9,779) (2,589) (12,368) - (12,368) 23,193 10,825 |
360 6,061 - 6,421 177,758 177,758 - - - 66 32,724 66 66 32,790 |
- 5,607 250 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,857 | ||||
| 132,029 | ||||
| 132,029 - |
||||
| 7,798 - |
||||
| 7,798 - |
||||
| 7,798 | ||||
| 24,926 | ||||
| 32,724 |
Page 16
Signature Certificate
Reference number: HEZCW-MNSKG-YHWA8-A32RW
----- Start of picture text -----
Signer . Timestamp Signature
Sa @ Se 0 i a a ee ae a ae a Sa se.
----- End of picture text -----
Rachel Eden
Email: rachel.eden@holybrook.com
Sent: Viewed: Signed:
31 Oct 2024 18:38:43 UTC 31 Oct 2024 20:38:37 UTC 31 Oct 2024 20:38:50 UTC
Recipient Verification:
✔ Email verified
31 Oct 2024 20:38:37 UTC
IP address: 94.174.147.205 Location: Reading, United Kingdom
Peter Kayes
Email: pgkayes@gmail.com
Sent: Viewed: Signed:
31 Oct 2024 18:38:43 UTC 31 Oct 2024 21:32:18 UTC 31 Oct 2024 21:33:19 UTC
Recipient Verification:
✔ Email verified
31 Oct 2024 21:32:18 UTC
IP address: 92.10.195.145 Location: Reading, United Kingdom
Document completed by all parties on: 31 Oct 2024 21:33:19 UTC
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