Registered number: 03677361 Charity number: 1074906
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Trustees' report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Reference and administrative details of the Company, its Trustees and advisers | 1 |
| Trustees' report | 2 - 13 |
| Independent auditor's report on the financial statements | 14 - 17 |
| Statement of financial activities | 18 |
| Balance sheet | 19 - 20 |
| Statement of cash flows | 21 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 22 - 44 |
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Reference and administrative details of the Company, its Trustees and advisers for the year ended 31 March 2025
| Trustees | Neil Churchill OBE, Chair |
|---|---|
| Richard Pearson | |
| Graham Turner | |
| Geoffrey Munn | |
| Natasha Burrows | |
| Company registered number 03677361 Charity registered number 1074906 Registered office Faraday House 1 Faraday Close Eastbourne England BN22 9BH Company secretary Jennifer Twist Chief executive officer Jennifer Twist Independent auditor Kreston Reeves LLP Chartered Accountants Nile House Nile Street Brighton East Sussex BN1 1HW Solicitors Keeleys LLP 28 Dam Street Lichfield Staffordshire ES13 6AA |
Page 1
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Trustees' report for the year ended 31 March 2025
The Trustees present their annual report together with the audited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The Trustees confirm that the Annual report and financial statements of the charity comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charity’s governing document and the provision of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) as amended by Update Bulletin 1 (effective 1 January 2019).
Since the charity qualifies as small under section 383, the strategic report required of medium and large companies under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Director’s Report) Regulations 2013 is not required.
Objectives and activities
a. Policies and objectives
In setting objectives and planning for activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit.
The objects of the charity are to provide support, advice and information to any carer, of any age, living in East Sussex, Brighton and Hove or who is caring for someone living in East Sussex, Brighton and Hove. A carer is a relative, partner or friend, of any age, who within the past three years has provided essential care or support to someone who is disabled whether through mental or physical ill health, learning disability or frailty. This includes a parent or sibling caring for a disabled child and a child caring for an adult.
There are many reasons why caring for someone else leaves the carer needing support:
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Caring reduces the physical and mental health and wellbeing of many carers.
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Caring can lead to poverty, with many carers needing to give up work to care, managing on benefits or finding themselves covering additional expenditure to support the person they care for.
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Caring often impacts on carers’ ability to sustain employment, friendships and hobbies.
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Many carers face isolation and loneliness.
Care for the Carers addresses these issues by providing direct support and information to carers, by raising awareness of the issues they face and influencing local and national policy affecting carers.
"I have lost my job, given up my career, have my own mental health concerns as a result of all of this, nearly broke my marriage apart because our family life has been so strained .”
b. Vision and mission
Our vision: we will work with carers until all East Sussex carers have recognition, choices, influence and access to quality support and services that they need and want.
Our mission: we represent East Sussex carers, enable their voices to be heard and provide services in response to what they need and want.
"You have made me feel a lot less burdened and I feel so much better”
- “It meant a lot to have someone like you caring for me as a carer”
Page 2
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
Objectives and activities (continued)
c. Main activities undertaken to further the Company's purposes for the public benefit
All activities are delivered in line with our Strategic Plan, which was coproduced with carers and is refreshed annually, guided by carers’ feedback on the support they require and the issues impacting them. Our Business Plan sets out how the charity will deliver the strategy, to guide the work of the management team and Board. We are working to:
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Maintain & grow our commissioned services
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Grow our discretionary services
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Reach more carers – in particular carers most needing our support
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Build our capacity to support more carers – sustainably
Achievements and performance
a. Main achievements of the Company
Support, Advice and Guidance
During the year we supported 11,786 (2024: 10,860) carers across East Sussex. Of these:
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3,134 (2024: 3,489) were newly identified carers
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449 (2024: 381) were young carers aged 5-17 years
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4,856 (2024: 4,991) carers accessed Carers Hub, our single access point for information, advice and support
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884 (2024: 695) carers accessed one to one Coaching or Directions sessions with specialist Carer Support Workers
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991 (2024: 241) carers accessed our Time to Talk counselling service.
Particular highlights this year:
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Mental Health Carers Project provided support to 308 (2024: 337) carers alongside specialist carers group meetings, activities and mental health and awareness activity. The project links closely with specialist mental health providers, running groups and clinics in their services to ensure that carers’ needs are met. Group members value the peer and social support offered by this project whilst also sharing their skills, knowledge and experiences to improve the wider outcomes for mental health carers. Examples of this include a group of our carers recently starting an independent piece of qualitative research which we will support to be circulated to specialist NHS mental health providers on completion.
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Carers Assessment Reviews are undertaken on behalf of East Sussex County Council, providing carerswith a space to explore their caring role and often leading to additional support from either Care for the Carers or external agencies. In 2024-25 we completed 496 (2024: 367) Carer Reviews, with 299 (2024: 245) carers going on to receive further support from Care for the Carers, 138 (2024: 157) carers referred to partner organisations and 94 (2024: 91) receiving additional support from Adult Social Care.
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Carers Health Programme has evolved to include 3 NHS funded projects in 2024-25 supporting 689 (2024: 689) carers in total.
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Hastings and Havens Primary Care Projects supported 734 carers with more complex needs predominantly via casework. We also completed Carer Awareness and Quality Marker training with GP surgeries in those areas. We deliver the Hospital Discharge Project as part of the Sussex Carers Partnership which comprises Care for the Carers, Carers Support West Sussex and the Carers Centre for Brighton and Hove. 297 newly identified carers were supported over the year via casework with issues related to hospital discharge.
Page 3
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
Achievements and performance (continued)
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Young Carers Project supports local young carers to access respite clubs and activities. 449 young carers are registered to receive information. Of those, 98 have attended one of the three monthly young carers clubs and a range of holiday activities including outings and whole family activities. Highlights this year include a 3-day residential course for 12 young carers which was facilitated at a local YHA where young carers enjoyed a range of outdoor activities and a break from their caring roles.
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Carers Money Matters Project , started in January 2025 and supported 218 carers, including 45 through indepth casework. We estimate the overall financial benefit to East Sussex carers in just 3 months has been £76,432.18, an average of £350.60 per carer. The project with VCS partners to establish a dedicated stream of funding for carers within the local Household Support Fund Round 6. In less than 4 weeks we supported 95 carers experiencing financial hardship to access £17,890 of new grants.
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Carers in Touch is now a much-valued project. In 2024-25, the project provided invaluable support to carers via regular social phone calls providing a listening ear, alleviating loneliness and helping carers feel valued in their caring role. 120 (2024: 110) carers were supported by a dedicated team of 8 volunteers.
Groups and Activities
249 carers (2024: 248) attended one of our 17 (2024: 19) carers groups in 2024-25. Groups are a highly valued opportunity for carers to meet with one another and take some time out from caring. Alternatively, some groups are used to share expertise, access information from specialist Carer Support Workers and guest speakers on topics selected by the group or engage in wellbeing activities in a friendly environment.
Highlights included:
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Provision of social and wellbeing activities is now embedded into our mix of services. These are funded through the kind support of the local community via donations and grants and enable carers to take a hugely valued short break from their caring role. 285 (2024: 252) carers benefited from taking a break and attending one of 61 (2024: 39) wellbeing or social activities. Our programme for carers included Spa breaks, hand massage, mindfulness sessions, creative courses, art sessions, days out, Christmas activities, meals and theatre and cinema visits.
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Our two local centres became established in the communities of Uckfield and Hastings serving growing number of local carers. In a 12-month period 200 carers accessed support, activities and a break via the centres.
“I love our meetings and informal chats with other carers. I’ve found the information helpful and made friends who understand which has helped.”
Tools and Resources
The East Sussex Carers Card is available to all carers including young carers and parent carers of children. It helps to identify carers in an emergency and entitles them to discounts from a range of businesses. Adult carers of another adult can also link their Carers Card to a backup emergency care plan through East Sussex County Council’s Carers Respite Emergency Support Scheme. 2,254 (2024: 2,674) carers signing up during the year.
Other highlights in tools and resources include:
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Administering the Healthcare Appointments Respite Grant (HARG) on behalf of East Sussex County Council (ESCC). These grants enabled 16 carers (2024: 10) to attend much needed healthcare appointments, training courses or engagement opportunities, by funding replacement care for the person they support.
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Administering the ‘Small Grants for Carers Groups’ fund on behalf of ESCC, helping to seed fund community peer support groups for carers.
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Being commissioned by ESCC and NHS Sussex to act as their Strategic Partner, which includes commissioning a range of carer wellbeing and respite services from the local voluntary sector.
“Taking a break is a necessity not a luxury. I can’t imagine not being able to take a break, I would be in a terrible state without, carers fatigue they call it. It can catch up with you, even if you are getting other help.”
Page 4
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
Achievements and performance (continued)
Awareness, Information and Communications
Raising awareness of carers’ needs helps identify carers early, supporting them to access support ahead of their needs escalating. We achieve this through our communications and media work, Carer Friendly Community programme, recruitment of volunteers and Carers Card businesses, and provision of “Think Carer” training to employers and health, social care and community service providers. Highlights this year:
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Carer Friendly Scheme was awarded to East Sussex MSK Community Partnership (ESMSK) with 5 patient and staff sites across East Sussex. A new partnership secured at the end of 2024 between Horder Healthcare and East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust means that further sites are now delivering their service with ‘thinking carer’ firmly at the forefront of their delivery. Patients with MSK account for around 30% of GP consultations and with ESMSK receiving over 150,000 referrals a year, this partnership can reach many carers.
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Further two Carer Friendly Scheme were awarded to Sussex Support Service (Uckfield) and Friends of Bishopstone (FOBs) – a local community organisation run by and for residents of Bishopstone in the Havens area.
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Our Carers Week & Carers Rights Day campaigns grew in their reach, with a 60% increase in our social media reach during Carers Week.
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Think Carer training was delivered to 270 (2024: 393) health, social care and voluntary sector professionals.
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We developed bespoke workplace training for staff in line management roles, to raise awareness and understanding of how to identify and effectively support carers in the workplace. Three online sessions were delivered to 15 managers at East Sussex County Council, which resulted in Think Carer sessions being organised for large teams by the managers trained.
“I feel everything was covered and the awareness of carers was at the front of the training. It was clear the trainer was passionate about carers and the service delivered.”
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We actively celebrated and marked Carers Week & Carers Rights Day campaigns offering carers a break, events, and launching social media campaign with increased reach and new podcasts.
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We worked with 344 volunteers (2024: 363), in a range of voluntary roles supporting isolated carers, Young Carers, providing counselling, as well as in micro volunteering Carers Champions roles, and written and published Volunteering Strategy.
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CareLine Magazine went out to 3,300 recipients by post, mainly carers and 7,000 people receive it electronically, while our monthly e-Newsletter reaches on average 7,300 carers and professionals.
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Our website received 40,000 unique visitors, and we can report very successful engagement through our social media, with content reach and reactions up by 94% to 225% depending on platform, as well as growth in followers.
Page 5
Care for the Carers (A company limited by guarantee)
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
Achievements and performance (continued)
Engagement and Representation
Carers who are part of the Carers Voices Network contribute to consultations, focus groups and campaigns. We aim to make this as accessible as possible, and keep the Network informed via a monthly strategic e-Newsletter and targeted communications. This helps the charity to keep Carers Voices at the heart of everything we do, and to speak with local carers and advocate for them within health, social care and voluntary sector strategic planning.
Our partnerships are a powerful asset in this - Care for the Carers is a Network Partner of Carers Trust, where our CEO is a Trustee, and we are a member of Carers UK. This requires adherence to shared operational standards and values, enables us to help local carers’ voices shape national policy, brings eligibility for a range of grants for carers, good practice learning and support, and partnership opportunities. Locally we develop a range of partnerships, specifically focusing on reaching out to hidden carers and those unrepresented among our clients.
We have been present in areas of financial disadvantage in Newhaven, and in the rural village of Isfield, where following funding received from the local community group, we have started a regular lunchtime meet-up for carers in Isfield and neighbouring villages. We had a strong presence at Eastbourne Pride, giving talks to LGBTQ+ groups and are members of Sussex-wide LGBTQ+ Community Research group. We offer carers information through ‘Unity in the Community’ cafe in Hastings, taking part in Diwali and the Chinese New Year celebrations, the Sanctuary Festival in Alexandra Park with partners Arts on Prescription and the Refugee Buddy Project and working with Hastings and St Leonards Men’s Health and Well Being project ‘Mr Hastings and St Leonards’.
Strategically, our membership of the East Sussex VCSE Alliance, which our CEO chairs, and Sussex Carers Partnership are key alliances enabling us to influence local policy and planning, and to partner to develop new service responses.
Highlights included:
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We held Annual Carers Voices Conference (June 2024), attended by 136 carers and professionals making it the biggest carers event in the county bringing together carers with decision makers shaping local services. Carers Week Wellbeing and Celebration event at the local carers centre in Uckfield attended by 50 people, including 30 carers. Insight shared by carers contributed to the East Sussex Carers Partnership developments in carers support at the hospitals as well as working with MPs during and after the general election. We also incorporated insights from 164 local carers who took part in our Annual Carers Survey.
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278 carers (2024: 270) were members of the Carers Voices Network this year.
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Carers Voices report
“A huge thank you for giving me the platform to speak up and share my experience – it has brought so many positives; you have no idea.”
- We continued growing community outreach, attending 80 networking events (reaching approximately 1,086 professionals and members of the community) (2024: 107 networking events (2,943 people reached)) and 82 public events (attended by approx. 49,152 people) (2024: 56 public events (attended by c.7,838 people)), speaking directly to 268 carers (2024: 402 carers) new to our services, generating 148 new referrals.
Page 6
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
Achievements and performance (continued)
Fundraising
All the money raised goes to ensuring that no one is left to care alone.
Donations directly fund some of our essential services for carers. Our Young Carers service and Adult Carers activities programme are solely funded by donations and non-statutory grants. They provide a break to carers, helping them connect with others in a similar role, develop peer support, take care of their wellbeing or physical health, recharge to be able to keep on caring. This support for carers would not be possible without the donations and grants.
Independent fundraising also enables us to enhance and grow other services such as our local carers’ centres, community engagement work, and volunteering programme including the volunteer-led Carers in Touch project which supports the most isolated carers. By diversifying our funding streams, we can respond more swiftly and flexibly to what carers are telling us they need, and what is not available elsewhere.
We have received wonderful support from the local community over the past year, this included being nominated as one of the three charities at Eastbourne Airbourne, as well as benefiting from Isfield Fete and Eastbourne Carnival.
We would like to thank all our individual and regular givers, challenge event participants, and raffle supporters. Thanks also to Tesco in Crowborough, Bexhill , Eastbourne and Uckfield, Tanya at Waitrose Lewes, Sainsburys in The Beacon, Crane Garden Buildings, Haulaway Ltd, Eastbourne and Eastbourne Sovereign Rotary Clubs, Newhaven, Peacehaven and Seaford Lions Club, Hastings winkle club, NHS Retirement Fellowship (Eastbourne and District Branch), Beavers 1st Seaside, YHA, Lewes Football Club, East Sussex Partners in Care, Uckfield, Seaford and Hailsham Town Councils and the students and staff at East Sussex College.
Thanks to the following Trusts and Foundations for their support over the year; The Foreshore Trust, Ian Askew Charitable Trust, Mrs A Lacy Tate Trust, Alchmey Foundation, Roy Hudson Trust, Anthony Mayew Charitable Trust, Ranmore Charitable Trust, Edna Johnson Will Trust, Sussex Community Foundation, Deerfold Trust, The Francis and Eric Ford Charitable Trust, Douglas Arter Foundation and Dorothy Wharton Trust.
Finally, we would like to thank the National Lottery Community Fund for their ongoing support of our local carer centres in Uckfield and Hastings.
Every penny raised and donated makes a real difference to the lives of local carers.
Page 7
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
Financial review
a. Going concern
Having reviewed the latest financial position as well as forecasts and projections through to August 2026, and made appropriate enquiries, the Trustees consider that the charity is in a stable, healthy financial position and remains a going concern; the accounts have been prepared on this basis.
b. Overall financial review
The charity was in a good financial position at the year end, with cash balances of £1,031,196 (2024: £796,183) and reserves totalling £1,946,263 (2024: £2,352,135).
The charity generated an accounting deficit of £405,872 for the financial year ended 31 March 2025 (2024: deficit of £52,500). The deficit was planned to enable to Charity to fund much needed support to Carers by drawing on Designated Reserves of £299,937 during the year.
The principal funding sources of income to the charity were from grants and contract related income of £1,656,561 (2024: £1,695,063). A second major source was funding drawn down from the Designated Reserves of £299,937. Donations received amounted to £34,761 (2024: £19,598). A further funding source to the charity; Other Income which includes interest received and this decreased to £17,673 (2024: £19,414).
The contract to deliver the East Sussex Carers Centre, jointly funded by ESCC and NHS Sussex, remains secure, and has now been extended until 2027. The contract’s annual value is £650,066. This is the charity’s largest contract, and – as a result of our fundraising strategy aiming to diversify our income streams – is now complemented by several additional multi-year contracts.
During the year, the charity generated additional income through dividend payments from the shareholding investment generously gifted by Catharine House Trust in 2019-20. The shareholding investment is held as designated funds, with the generated additional income held as unrestricted funds and used to increase activity that supports carers. During the year, the charity engaged an Independent Financial Advisor to review the shareholding and make any alternative recommendations.
The reserves of the charity comprise restricted, designated and unrestricted funds:
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Restricted funds are those which may only be spent on the purpose specified by the donor. This year, the charity had restricted funds of £66,517 (2024: £140,084).
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Designated funds are those set aside by the Trustees to finance particular projects which cannot be met from future income alone. The charity had designated funds of £1,610,670 (2024: £1,944,711). These designated funds include the shareholding investment.
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Unrestricted funds are those which are available for use to further the charity’s purposes. The charity had unrestricted funds of £269,076 (2024: £267,340).
Page 8
Care for the Carers (A company limited by guarantee)
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
c. Reserve policy
The Trustees have reviewed and adjusted the reserves policy considering the following factors:
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an increasingly uncertain financial landscape, and stretched health and social care system,
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the increasing number of carers in East Sussex,
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our experience that more carers in the county are managing more complex caring roles,
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learning that carers with the most complex caring roles are more likely to be from diverse and less heard groups, have their own health inequalities and / or live in more deprived areas of the county,
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ensuring that reserve funds are set at an appropriate amount to meet any unforeseen emergency,
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and to support salary increases reflecting cost of living increases and the strategic developments set out in our Strategic Plan and Business Plan, to enable us to best support the needs of local carers.
New Services for Carers Reserve
Trustees have allocated £270,770 (2024: £111,087) to fund new services to support carers to meet local need.
Current areas of focus are:
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developing our programme of wellbeing, activities and voices work for Young Carers,
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developing our volunteering programme, including our volunteer led Carers in Touch project,
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seed funding a series of specialist and community services, in particular for diverse and less heard carers, including investing in partner organisations to develop and grow their services for Carers.
Staffing Reserve
£127,140 (2024: £166,486) has been allocated to enable Care for the Carers to meet the cost of expected increases to salaries, and to support staff development and training. The Trustees value highly our dedicated staff team, the backbone of the charity, and recognise the impact on staff of financially uncertain times. The Board has therefore prioritised ensuring employees receive fair remuneration, maintaining the charity’s alignment to the National Joint Council (NJC) pay scales which includes an annual cost of living increase. We also reward excellent performance by providing a route for staff to access an annual salary increase within their salary band.
Digital Carer Support Reserve
This fund has a balance of £172,797 (2024: £190,563), which has been set aside to develop digital support for carers, including information and support, education and online resources.
Key aims include:
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reaching more carers from diverse and less heard groups by partnering with carers and professionals in touch with those communities and resourcing them with information and advice,
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providing an additional route of support for carers who prefer to self-serve, complementing our current in person and telephone offers and catering better to young adult carers and working carers.
Capital Reserve
This fund has a balance of £1,039,963 (2024: £1,476,575), this includes a loss on investment of £10,392 (2024: gain on investment of £35,967), held within a shareholding investment with Transact. This reserve has been created to enable the charity to acquire a property to serve as a central Carers Centre, enabling us to further grow face to face carers’ services carers and provide a central location for carers to come together and access support.
Page 9
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
General Reserve
This reserve comprises of unrestricted general funds, has been set at £269,076 which equates to our current ‘wind up’ costs as well as approximately 2½ months unrestricted expenditure. This has been set aside to:
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Aid cash-flow, as expenditure can sometimes precede receipt of the corresponding income and to mitigate against delays in funding;
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Cover unforeseen expenditure and operational costs that may accumulate throughout the year;
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Provide transitional funding for core programmes which suffer a short-term shortfall in funds.
d. Asset cover for funds
Note 18 sets out an analysis of the assets attributable to the various types of funds and a description of the funds is included in note 17. These assets are sufficient to meet the charity’s obligations on a fund by fund basis.
Structure, governance and management
a. Constitution
The charity is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee and was incorporated on 2nd December 1998. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. Membership is open to individual carers, groups, organisations and individuals who are interested in caring issues or who wish to support Care for the Carers.
The Trustees, who are the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year were:
Dr Neil Churchill OBE (Chair from 28th May 2021) Mr Richard Pearson Mr Geoffrey Munn Mr Graham Turner Ms Natasha Burrows Mr Stephen Toomey (Appointed 26th November 2024) Ms Polly Evans (Resigned 27th January 2025) Cllr Mrs Mary Barnes (Resigned 26th November 2024) Ms Jane Lawrence (Resigned 26 November 2024) Mr Alan Botterill (Resigned 26th November 2024)
b. Methods of appointment or election of Trustees
The Board of Trustees are all volunteers, and the majority bring lived experience of caring. The Board may coopt Trustees either to fill a vacancy or as an additional Trustee, who may serve until the next annual general meeting when Trustees recommend new co-opted Trustees to the Membership for appointment. Following the ending of several Trustees' terms, the Charity is currently actively recruiting to strengthen the skill and diversity of the Board.
c. Policies adopted for the induction and training of Trustees
The Trustees receive an induction to brief them on their legal obligations under charity and company law, the committee and decision making processes, carers’ needs and experiences, the Strategic Plan and the financial performance of the charity. Periodic training is provided, informed by an annual skills audit, and opportunities to meet the senior management team, and shadow the delivery of services are offered.
Page 10
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
Structure, governance and management (continued)
d. Pay policy
The remuneration of staff and key management personnel is guided by the National Joint Council (NJC) pay scales. The charity aims keep the salaries of staff and key management personnel aligned to these scales, which include annual cost of living increases and the opportunity of incremental salary increases in recognition of excellent performance.
e. Organisational structure and decision making
The Board of Trustees administer the charity with the appointment of a Chief Executive, who has delegated authority to manage the day to day operations of the charity. The charity’s senior management team is comprised of the Chief Executive, Head of Services, Head of Communities and Head of Resources.
f. Risk management
The Trustees assess on a regular basis, throughout the year, the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to these risks.
Plans for future periods
With the public purse increasingly stretched, we continue to see local carers being called on to undertake more complex caring roles, and the number of carers continue rising. Where possible utilising our Designated Reserves to fund investments together with seeking external funding, over the next 12 months we aim to:
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Maintain & grow our commissioned services
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Identify and support more carers, including more carers from diverse and less heard groups
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Build the range of specialist services available to carers, by delivering support or in partnership
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Support and prevent carers experiencing financial hardship and ill health as a result of caring
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Leverage our role as ESCC and NHS Sussex’ Strategic Partner to advocate for local carers and achieve strategic change
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Grow the offer to carers through economies of scale
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Maximise the insights gained through our commissioned services to amplify carers’ voices and inform service development and fundraising
2. Grow our discretionary services
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Support more carers to take a break from their caring role by continuing to offer a rich and varied range of social and wellbeing opportunities
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Maintain our independent voice by delivering projects supported by a diverse range of funders
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Speaking up with and for carers to improve services and shape policy and improve the lives of carers and the people they care for
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Act as an independent voice supporting carers seeking to raise specific concerns
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Build detailed and current insight into carers’ needs and experiences
Page 11
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
Plans for future periods (continued)
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Reach more carers – in particular carers most needing our support
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Reach and support more carers earlier, in particular the most hidden carers
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Maintain our local presence/delivery (local carers centres)
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Grow specialist services and support tailored to the needs of specific communities
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Increase digital engagement, and offer more to carers who are digital natives
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Create a Carer Friendly East Sussex
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Raise the profile of carers within communities – of geography, identity and experience as well as online networks and groups
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Build our presence and the profile of carers within communities – of geography, identity and experience as well as online networks and groups
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Use national campaigns to maximise the impact of our awareness raising, adding value by empowering carers and volunteers to add their voices and influence
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Build our capacity to support more carers – sustainably
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Continue to build and support our volunteer team
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Use our reserves to develop new services close to carers’ homes or accessed online anytime.
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Explore purchasing a building to enable us to develop face to face support and co-site with other carers’ services supporting the development of our local partnerships
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Continue to strengthen the charity by fundraising and diversifying our income streams and offering more services to local carers
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Evaluate, build and celebrate our impact
"You have been truly amazing in your support and the activities you have provided. A big thank you to all the team at Care for the Carers for helping me be a better carer and allowing me to meet some amazing people. Through your hard work you have achieved so much and have been such an important person to so many people."
Members' liability
There are currently 119 members (2024: 120), each of whom agrees to contribute £1 in the event of the Company winding up.
Page 12
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
Statement of Trustees' responsibilities
The Trustees (who are also the directors of the Company 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).
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 Company and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP (FRS 102);
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make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statement 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.
Disclosure of information to auditor
Each of the persons who are Trustees at the time when this Trustees' report is approved has confirmed that:
-
so far as that Trustee is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charity's auditor is unaware, and
-
that Trustee has taken all the steps that ought to have been taken as a Trustee in order to be aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity's auditor is aware of that information.
Auditor
The auditor, Kreston Reeves LLP, has indicated his willingness to continue in office. The designated Trustees will propose a motion reappointing the auditor at a meeting of the Trustees.
Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
................................................
Neil Churchill OBE
Chair Date:
Page 13
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Independent auditor's report to the Members of Care for the Carers
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Care for the Carers (the 'charitable company') for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the Statement of financial activities, the Balance sheet, the Statement of cash flows and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
-
give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure for the year then ended;
-
have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
-
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
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's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council'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 charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are 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.
Page 14
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Independent auditor's report to the Members of Care for the Carers (continued)
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the Annual report other than the financial statements and our Auditor's report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the Annual report. 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. 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 course of 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 this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. 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.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
-
the information given in the Trustees' report is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or
-
sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
-
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
-
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the Trustees' responsibilities statement, the Trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) 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 charitable company'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 charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Page 15
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Independent auditor's report to the Members of Care for the Carers (continued)
Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
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:
Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities, including fraud
Based on our understanding of the charity and the sector as a whole, and through discussion with the Trustees and other management (as required by auditing standards), we identified that the principal risks of noncompliance with laws and regulations related to health and safety and employment law. We considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect on the financial statements. We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the Companies Act 2006 and other relevant charity legislation. We communicated identified laws and regulations throughout our team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit. We evaluated Trustees' and management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of controls) and determined that the principal risks related to posting inappropriate journal entries to increase income or reduce expenditure. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:
-
Discussions with management and assessment of known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud, and review of the reports made by management; and
-
Assessment of identified fraud risk factors; and
-
Challenging assumptions and judgements made by management in its significant accounting estimates; and
-
Confirmation of related parties with management, and review of transactions throughout the period to identify any previously undisclosed transactions with related parties outside the normal course of business; and
-
Reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance; and
-
Performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships, including related party transactions, that may indicate risks of material mistatement due to fraud; and
-
Identifying and testing journal entries, in particular any manual entries made at the year end for financial statement preparation.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance.
Page 16
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Independent auditor's report to the Members of Care for the Carers (continued)
As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK), we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:
-
Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
-
Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion of the effectiveness of the charitable company's internal control.
-
Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the Trustees.
-
Conclude on the appropriateness of the Trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in my Auditor's report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of my Auditor's report. However, future events or conditions may cause the charitable company to cease to continue as a going concern.
-
Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charitable company's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company'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 members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Kreston Reeves LLP
Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor Brighton
Date: 26 September 2025
Kreston Reeves LLP are eligible to act as auditors in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
Page 17
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Statement of financial activities (incorporating income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2025
| Note Income from: Donations and legacies 4 Charitable activities 5 Other income 6 Total income Expenditure on: Raising funds 7 Charitable activities 8 Total expenditure Net expenditure before net (losses)/gains on investments Net (losses)/gains on investments Net expenditure Transfers between funds 17 Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Net movement in funds Total funds carried forward |
Restricted funds 2025 £ 14,741 381,708 - 396,449 - 532,759 532,759 (136,310) - (136,310) 62,743 (73,567) 140,084 (73,567) 66,517 |
Unrestricted funds 2025 £ 20,020 1,274,853 51,777 1,346,650 65,372 1,540,448 1,605,820 (259,170) (10,392) (269,562) (62,743) (332,305) 2,212,051 (332,305) 1,879,746 |
Total funds 2025 £ 34,761 1,656,561 51,777 1,743,099 65,372 2,073,207 2,138,579 (395,480) (10,392) (405,872) - (405,872) 2,352,135 (405,872) 1,946,263 |
Total funds 2024 £ 19,598 1,695,063 70,416 1,785,077 59,623 1,813,921 1,873,544 (88,467) 35,967 (52,500) - (52,500) 2,404,635 (52,500) 2,352,135 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
The notes on pages 22 to 44 form part of these financial statements.
Page 18
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee) Registered number: 03677361
Balance sheet as at 31 March 2025
| Note Fixed assets Tangible assets 13 Investments 14 Current assets Debtors 15 Cash at bank on notice 20 Cash at bank and in hand 20 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 16 Net current assets Total net assets Charity funds Restricted funds 17 Unrestricted funds Designated funds 17 General funds 17 Total unrestricted funds 17 Total funds |
1,211,526 341,059 690,137 2,242,722 (1,624,010) 1,610,670 269,076 |
2025 £ 16,634 1,310,917 1,327,551 618,712 1,946,263 66,517 1,879,746 1,946,263 |
149,275 372,561 423,622 945,458 (93,354) 1,944,711 267,340 |
2024 £ 23,456 1,476,575 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,500,031 852,104 |
||||
| 2,352,135 | ||||
| 140,084 2,212,051 |
||||
| 2,352,135 |
Page 19
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Balance sheet (continued)
as at 31 March 2025
The entity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.
The members have not required the entity to obtain an audit for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
However, an audit is required in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011.
The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
................................................ Neil Churchill OBE Chair Date:
The notes on pages 22 to 44 form part of these financial statements.
Page 20
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
| Statement of cash flows for the year ended 31 March 2025 Cash flows from operating activities Net cash used in operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Dividends and interest received Purchase of tangible assets Proceeds from sale of investments Purchase of investments Net cash provided by investing activities Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year The notes on pages 22 to 44 form part of these financial statements |
2025 £ (25,522) 51,777 (4,367) 1,691,575 (1,478,449) 260,536 235,014 796,182 1,031,196 |
2024 £ (139,016) 70,417 (20,556) - - 49,861 (89,155) 885,337 796,182 |
|---|---|---|
Page 21
Care for the Carers (A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
1. General information
The charity is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The members of the company are the Trustees named on page 1. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity.
The registered office and principal place of business of the charity is:
Faraday House 1 Faraday Close Eastbourne England BN22 9BH
2. Accounting policies
2.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - 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), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Care for the Carers 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.
2.2 Going concern
At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Whilst the impact of the current general economy has been assessed by the Trustees, so far as is reasonably possible, due to its unprecedented impact on the worldwide economy it is difficult to evaluate with any certainty the potential outcomes on the Charity's future activities. However, taking into consideration the Charity's level of reserves, the Trustees believe that the Charity will be able to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.
2.3 Income
All income is recognised once the Company has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
Grant income is recognised over the period for which it is granted.
Donations and gifts are recognised when receivable.
Investment income is recognised when receivable.
Page 22
Care for the Carers (A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
2. Accounting policies (continued)
2.4 Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent.
Support costs are those costs incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity and include project management carried out at Headquarters. Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
Costs of generating funds are costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.
Charitable activities and Governance costs are costs incurred on the charity's operations, including support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.
Grant expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a partner, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
2.5 Interest receivable
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the Charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.
2.6 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
A review for impairment of a fixed asset is carried out if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of any fixed asset may not be recoverable.
Tangible fixed assets are carried at cost, net of depreciation and any provision for impairment. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following bases:
- Short-term leasehold property Over the period of the lease - Fixtures and fittings 25% straight line - Computer equipment 25% straight line
Page 23
Care for the Carers (A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
2. Accounting policies (continued)
2.7 Investments
Fixed asset investments which consist of listed investments are a form of financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction cost and subsequently measured at fair value at the Balance sheet date, unless fair value cannot be measured reliably in which case it is measured at cost less impairment. Investment gains and losses, whether realised or unrealised, are combined and shown in the heading ‘Gains/(losses) on investments’ in the Statement of financial activities incorporating income and expenditure account.
Investments held as fixed assets are shown at cost less provision for impairment.
2.8 Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.
2.9 Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
Cash at bank on notice includes cash which is held with a notice period in excess of 60 days.
2.10 Liabilities and provisions
Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably. Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide. Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised within interest payable and similar charges.
2.11 Financial instruments
The Charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
2.12 Employee Benefits
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee's services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
2.13 Operating leases
Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of financial activities on a straightline basis over the lease term.
Page 24
Care for the Carers (A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
2. Accounting policies (continued)
2.14 Pensions
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the charity to the fund in respect of the year.
2.15 Fund accounting
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Company and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Company for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
3. Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgment
Estimates and judgments are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
Critical accounting estimates and assumptions:
Allocation of wages to the correct fund.
The Charity makes estimates and assumptions in relation the allocation of wages to funds. Allocation is based on staff members estimated time split between each of the charity's activities. These estimates and assumptions are completed by informed members of management and management accounts are reviewed by the Board monthly.
4. Income from donations and legacies
| Restricted | Unrestricted | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | funds | |
| 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Donations | 14,741 | 20,020 | 34,761 |
Page 25
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
4. Income from donations and legacies (continued)
| Donations 5. Income from charitable activities Support, advice and information to Carers Support, advice and information to Carers 6. Investment income |
Restricted funds 2024 Unrestricted funds 2024 £ £ 9,361 10,237 Restricted funds 2025 Unrestricted funds 2025 £ £ 381,708 1,274,853 Restricted funds 2024 Unrestricted funds 2024 £ £ 429,518 1,265,545 |
Total funds 2024 £ 19,598 |
|---|---|---|
| Total funds 2025 £ 1,656,561 |
||
| Total funds 2024 £ 1,695,063 |
||
| Interest received Investment income |
Unrestricted funds 2025 £ 17,673 34,104 51,777 |
Total funds 2025 £ 17,673 34,104 |
|---|---|---|
| 51,777 |
Page 26
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
6. Investment income (continued)
| Interest received Investment income |
Unrestricted funds 2024 £ 19,414 51,002 70,416 |
Total funds 2024 £ 19,414 51,002 |
|---|---|---|
| 70,416 |
7. Expenditure on raising funds
Costs of raising voluntary income
| Unrestricted funds 2025 £ Other fundraising costs 22,074 Fundraising staff costs 38,812 Costs of raising voluntary income - NI 3,507 Costs of raising voluntary income - pension costs 979 65,372 Unrestricted funds 2024 £ Other fundraising costs 13,808 Fundraising staff costs 40,965 Costs of raising voluntary income - NI 3,855 Costs of raising voluntary income - pension costs 995 59,623 |
Total funds 2025 £ 22,074 38,812 3,507 979 |
|---|---|
| 65,372 | |
| Total funds 2024 £ 13,808 40,965 3,855 995 |
|
| 59,623 |
Page 27
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
8. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities
Summary by fund type
| Support, advice and information to Carers Support, advice and information to Carers |
Restricted funds 2025 Unrestricted funds 2025 £ £ 532,759 1,540,448 Restricted funds 2024 Unrestricted funds 2024 £ £ 477,356 1,336,565 |
Total funds 2025 £ 2,073,207 |
|---|---|---|
| Total funds 2024 £ 1,813,921 |
9. Analysis of expenditure by activities
| Support, advice and information to Carers Support, advice and information to Carers |
Activities undertaken directly 2025 £ 1,506,861 Activities undertaken directly 2024 £ 1,277,799 |
Grant funding of activities 2025 £ 267,900 Grant funding of activities 2024 £ 274,072 |
Support costs 2025 £ 298,446 Support costs 2024 £ 262,050 |
Total funds 2025 £ 2,073,207 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total funds 2024 £ 1,813,921 |
Page 28
Care for the Carers (A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
9. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)
Analysis of direct costs
| Staff costs Activities Project costs Healthcare Appointment Respite Grants Carers card Staff costs Activities Project costs Healthcare Appointment Respite Grants Carers card |
Support, advice and information to Carers 2025 £ 1,029,318 65,358 406,771 2,818 2,596 1,506,861 Support, advice and information to Carers 2024 £ 967,695 8,181 295,745 2,315 3,863 1,277,799 |
Total funds 2025 £ 1,029,318 65,358 406,771 2,818 2,596 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,506,861 | ||
| Total funds 2024 £ 967,695 8,181 295,745 2,315 3,863 |
||
| 1,277,799 |
Page 29
Care for the Carers (A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
9. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)
Analysis of support costs
| Staff costs Depreciation Premises costs Postage, stationary and telephone IT, technical and website Other staff costs Other costs Governance costs Staff costs Depreciation Premises costs Postage, stationary and telephone IT, technical and website Other staff costs Other costs Governance costs |
Support, advice and information to Carers 2025 £ 117,296 11,189 55,585 25,878 20,641 27,090 13,197 27,570 298,446 Support, advice and information to Carers 2024 £ 110,615 14,766 44,088 23,668 21,216 10,412 10,403 26,882 262,050 |
Total funds 2025 £ 117,296 11,189 55,585 25,878 20,641 27,090 13,197 27,570 |
|---|---|---|
| 298,446 | ||
| Total funds 2024 £ 110,615 14,766 44,088 23,668 21,216 10,412 10,403 26,882 |
||
| 262,050 |
Page 30
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
10. Analysis of grants
| Grants to Institutions 2025 Grants to Individuals 2025 £ £ Grants, Support, advice and information to Carers 265,400 2,500 Grants to Institutions 2024 Grants to Individuals 2024 £ £ Grants, Support, advice and information to Carers 270,058 4,014 The Company has made the following material grants to institutions during the year: 2025 £ Name of institution Association of Carers - St Wilfrid's Hospice 30,000 Motor Neurone Disease Association 7,500 Dementia Information & Support Courses CIC 30,000 St Michael's Hospice 15,000 Sussex Support Service CIC 15,000 Phil Hicks 2,075 Culture Shift 29,980 Community Chef 15,000 Coastal Wellbeing 14,457 The Good Company People 10,000 Amaze 15,000 Diversity Resource International 30,000 St Peter & St James Hospice 10,000 Creative force 900 224,912 Other grants to institutions 40,488 265,400 |
Total funds 2025 £ 267,900 |
|---|---|
| Total funds 2024 £ 274,072 |
|
| 2024 £ 25,079 30,000 7,500 30,000 15,000 15,000 - 29,980 15,000 13,710 9,745 15,000 30,000 10,000 - |
|
| 246,014 24,044 |
|
| 270,058 |
Page 31
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
11. Auditor's remuneration
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Fees payable to the Company's auditor for the audit of the Company's | ||
| annual accounts | 10,500 | 9,900 |
| Fees payable to the Company's auditor in respect of: | ||
| All non-audit services not included above | 2,640 | 2,520 |
12. Staff costs
| Wages and salaries Social security costs Contribution to defined contribution pension schemes |
2025 £ 1,084,768 82,823 22,321 1,189,912 |
2024 £ 1,029,906 73,813 20,406 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,124,125 |
The average number of persons employed by the Company during the year was as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| No. | No. | |
| Staff | 44 | 43 |
No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in either year.
During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration (2024 - £NIL). During the year, no Trustees received any benefits in kind (2024 - £NIL).
During the year, no Trustee received reimbursement of expenses (2024 - two Trustees received reimbursement of expenses totaling £111).
Page 32
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
13. Tangible fixed assets
| Cost or valuation At 1 April 2024 Additions At 31 March 2025 Depreciation At 1 April 2024 Charge for the year At 31 March 2025 Net book value At 31 March 2025 At 31 March 2024 |
Short-term leasehold property £ 14,007 1,521 15,528 3,374 4,986 8,360 7,168 10,633 |
Office equipment £ 9,864 1,379 11,243 9,864 115 9,979 1,264 - |
Computer equipment £ 119,373 1,467 120,840 106,550 6,088 112,638 8,202 12,823 |
Total £ 143,244 4,367 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 147,611 | ||||
| 119,788 11,189 |
||||
| 130,977 | ||||
| 16,634 | ||||
| 23,456 |
Page 33
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
14. Fixed asset investments
| Cost or valuation At 1 April 2024 Additions Disposals Revaluations At 31 March 2025 Net book value At 31 March 2025 At 31 March 2024 The historical cost of the listed securities is £951,603. Debtors Due within one year Trade debtors Prepayments and accrued income |
Listed investments £ 1,476,575 951,603 (1,476,575) 21,361 972,964 972,964 1,476,575 |
Cash for re- investment £ - 1,512,553 (1,174,600) - 337,953 337,953 - 2025 £ 1,194,762 16,764 1,211,526 |
Total £ 1,476,575 2,464,156 (2,651,175) 21,361 1,310,917 1,310,917 1,476,575 2024 £ 124,009 25,266 149,275 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
15. Debtors
Page 34
Care for the Carers (A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
16. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
| Trade creditors Other taxation and social security Other creditors Accruals and deferred income Deferred income at 1 April 2024 Resources deferred during the year Amounts released from previous periods Deferred income at 31 March 2025 |
2025 £ 76,865 19,266 5,499 1,522,380 1,624,010 2025 £ - 1,507,910 - 1,507,910 |
2024 £ 53,748 20,452 5,813 13,341 93,354 2024 £ 245,000 - (245,000) - |
|---|---|---|
Deferred income arises from grants received in the financial year that relate to services to be provided in subsequent financial years.
Page 35
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
17. Statement of funds
Statement of funds - current year
| Unrestricted funds Designated funds Staffing Reserve New Services for Carers Reserve Capital Reserve Digital Carer Support Reserve General funds General Funds Total Unrestricted funds |
Balance at 1 April 2024 £ 166,486 111,087 1,476,575 190,563 1,944,711 267,340 2,212,051 |
Income £ - - - - - 1,346,650 1,346,650 |
Expenditure £ - (27,215) - (17,766) (44,981) (1,560,839) (1,605,820) |
Transfers in/out £ (39,346) 186,898 (426,220) - (278,668) 215,925 (62,743) |
Gains/ (Losses) £ - - (10,392) - (10,392) - (10,392) |
Balance at 31 March 2025 £ 127,140 270,770 1,039,963 172,797 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,610,670 | ||||||
| 269,076 | ||||||
| 1,879,746 |
Page 36
Care for the Carers (A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
17. Statement of funds (continued)
| Restricted funds Making Carers Count Young Adult Carers Carers Card Carers Grant Rother Dementia Lunch Club Small Grant for Carers Health Appointment Respite Grants Carer in Touch Artist in residence Social Opportunities for Older Carers Access to work Activities Project Money Matters ESCC Small grants NHS Health Inequalities Sussex digital hub Young carers Volunteering Big Lottery Total of funds |
Balance at 1 April 2024 £ - 341 362 (1,823) 878 233 27 - 5,300 (4) (1,044) 3,834 - 6,625 606 18,134 17,521 67 89,027 140,084 2,352,135 |
Income £ - 2,240 1,809 43,883 - 2,500 4,000 - - - 7,155 19,680 50,000 238,644 444 - 26,094 - - 396,449 1,743,099 |
Expenditure £ (1,322) (308) (2,596) (40,489) - (2,500) (2,818) (7,110) (5,257) - (6,264) (20,183) (24,743) (224,911) (763) - (104,468) - (89,027) (532,759) (2,138,579) |
Transfers in/out £ 1,322 - - - - - - 3,410 (43) 4 - (3,483) (11,602) (5,967) (444) - 79,613 (67) - 62,743 - |
Gains/ (Losses) £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (10,392) |
Balance at 31 March 2025 £ - 2,273 (425) 1,571 878 233 1,209 (3,700) - - (153) (152) 13,655 14,391 (157) 18,134 18,760 - - 66,517 1,946,263 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Page 37
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
17. Statement of funds (continued)
Statement of funds - prior year
| Unrestricted funds Designated funds Staffing Reserve New Services for Carers Reserve Capital Reserve Digital Carer Support Reserve General funds General Funds Total Unrestricted funds |
Balance at 1 April 2023 £ 201,697 210,612 1,440,608 200,000 2,052,917 261,685 2,314,602 |
Income £ - - - - - 1,346,198 1,346,198 |
Expenditure £ - (9,000) - (9,437) (18,437) (1,377,751) (1,396,188) |
Transfers in/out £ (35,211) (90,525) - - (125,736) 37,208 (88,528) |
Gains/ (Losses) £ - - 35,967 - 35,967 - 35,967 |
Balance at 31 March 2024 £ 166,486 111,087 1,476,575 190,563 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,944,711 | ||||||
| 267,340 | ||||||
| 2,212,051 |
Page 38
Care for the Carers (A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
17. Statement of funds (continued)
| Restricted funds Young Adult Carers Carers Card Carers Grant Rother Dementia Lunch Club Small Grant for Carers Health Appointment Respite Grants Artist in residence Social Opportunities for Older Carers Access to work Activities Project ESCC Small grants NHS Health Inequalities Sussex digital hub Young carers Volunteering Big Lottery Making Carers Count Total of funds |
Balance at 1 April 2023 £ 590 517 354 878 233 27 - - - 10,886 - - 18,134 25,123 67 33,224 - 90,033 2,404,635 |
Income £ 323 3,708 21,867 - 1,000 2,315 5,300 - - 10,878 255,653 4,120 - 35,307 - 81,464 16,944 438,879 1,785,077 |
Expenditure £ (140) (3,863) (24,044) - (1,000) (2,315) - (4) (1,044) (18,362) (249,028) (3,514) - (96,226) - (60,872) (16,944) (477,356) (1,873,544) |
Transfers in/out £ (432) - - - - - - - - 432 - - - 53,317 - 35,211 - 88,528 - |
Gains/ (Losses) £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 35,967 |
Balance at 31 March 2024 £ 341 362 (1,823) 878 233 27 5,300 (4) (1,044) 3,834 6,625 606 18,134 17,521 67 89,027 - 140,084 2,352,135 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Page 39
Care for the Carers (A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
17. Statement of funds (continued)
Designated Funds
Staffing Reserve - Funds which have been set aside to support the expected increase to salaries, and to support staff development and training.
New Services for Carers Reserve (previously called Sustainable Development of Non-Statutory Services Reserve) – Funds which have been set aside to enable development of new services to support carers, in line with carers’ feedback and responding to identified gaps locally.
Capital Reserve (previously called Capital Fund Reserve) – Funds initially received from Catharine House Trust, which has been set aside to enable the charity to explore purchasing a property to serve as a central Carers Centre, enabling us to further grow face to face carers’ services and provide a central location for carers to come together and for partner organisations to co-site with us.
Digital Carer Support Reserve (previously called Sustainable Development of Digital Reserves) – Funds to support developing new ways of supporting and identifying carers through digital technologies and to development the charity’s systems and processes to enable us to support more carers and to enhance the quality of our services.
Restricted Funds
Young Adult Carers - Donations from various donors to enable Young Adult Carers to get together and engage in a range of activities.
Carers Card - A grant from the local authority to finance the production and distribution of the Care for the Carers 'Carers Card'. A negative balance has arisen here due to expenditure being incurred prior to income received, income is expected to be received in 25/26.
Carers Grants - on receipt of an awarding notice from the funding body, Care for the Carers releases the grant to the Carer to avoid any additional delay for the Carer in receiving their grant. Care for the Carers receives the actual grant monies approximately 10 days later and this process can lead to a negative balance showing on the fund however, by the end of month 1 in the following financial year the negative balance would have cleared.
Rother Dementia Lunch Club - Donations from various donors towards a lunch club held for carers and those they care for with dementia, and administered by Care for the Carers.
Small Grants for Carers - A grant from the local authority which supports set up costs for new groups that directly benefit carers and helps established groups to develop their offer.
Activities Project - Grants and donations from various funders and donors to enable an Activities Facilitator to organise activities for carers all over East Sussex. The transfer out of this fund represents the overhead wages incurred on this project. A negative balance has arisen here due to expenditure being incurred prior to income received, income is expected to be received in 25/26.
Social Opportunities for Older Carers - Funding from the Ex Pat Foundation to provide social activities for older carers.
Health Appointment Respite Grants - A Grant from the local authority which allows carers to access respite to enable them to attend healthcare appointments,training courses or engagement opportunities.
Artist in Residence - Additional funding from various funders to enable carers to reflect on their caring role and share their experiences of caring and tap into their creativity through photography workshops and exhibitions of their work.
Access to Work - Care for the Carers purchases the recommended equipment to support staff and then
Page 40
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
17. Statement of funds (continued)
reclaims the amount from the DWP. A negative balance has arisen as we are awaiting confirmation of reimbursement following a purchase of equipment. The reimbursement was actually received in full in the first quarter of 2024/25.
Volunteering - Funding to enable development of our volunteering programme and embed volunteering across the whole organisation.
Big Lottery (Local Carers Centres) - Grant from Big Lottery to enable two additional local carers centres to be opened in Hastings and Uckfield areas. These centres will enable us to reach and support more unpaid carers and also build and strengthen local partnerships so we can work in a more community focused, localised way.
Making Carers Count - This project is led by our partners, Carers Support West Sussex and funded by Carers Trust. The project is delivered by the existing Sussex Carers Partnership which includes Carers Support West Sussex, The Carer Centre Brighton and Hove and Care for the Carers. The aim of this project is to focus on deprived areas, with a higher concentration of diverse ethnic groups, to enhance the current engagement offer and support partnering organisations to create a consistent approach to working with ethnic minority communities across Sussex.
ESCC Small Grants – A local authority grant to enable funding to partner organisations to support delivery of their Carer focused services. The transfer out of this fund represents the overhead wages incurred on this project.
NHS Health Inequalities – Funding received to develop or expand sustainable mechanisms for reaching and hearing from most marginalised groups and communities, giving insight into how to reduce health inequalities between the most and least deprived communities. A negative balance has arisen here due to expenditure being incurred prior to income received, income is expected to be received in 25/26.
Sussex Digital Hub – Grant received to scope, explore and plan support services for Carers and their local system with a digital emphasis.
Young Carers – Donations and Grants from various funders and donors to support our Young Carers Service to provide monthly clubs and holiday activities for Young Carers.
Money Matters – This project is funded by Carers Trusts. We work in partnership with local voluntary and statutory sector partners to seek ways to support carers to be informed about how they can maximise their income and build financial resilience. The transfer out of this fund represents the overhead wages incurred on this project.
Carer in Touch – Through this project, carers receive a regular phone call with a trained volunteer, to have a friendly chat, make sure they are coping and that they don’t require any further support. The service aim is to reduce carer’s isolation and gives them a chance to have a break from their caring role and consider their own needs. The regular check in call, often helps prevent carers getting into crisis and is an opportunity for us to ensure carers are receiving the support they need, with the ability to refer to other services if needed. A negative balance has arisen here due to expenditure being incurred prior to income received, income is expected to be received in 25/26.
Page 41
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
18. Analysis of net assets between funds
Analysis of net assets between funds - current year
| Restricted funds 2025 Unrestricted funds 2025 £ £ Tangible fixed assets - 16,634 Fixed asset investments - 1,310,917 Current assets 66,517 2,176,205 Creditors due within one year - (1,624,010) Total 66,517 1,879,746 Analysis of net assets between funds - prior year Restricted funds 2024 Unrestricted funds 2024 £ £ Tangible fixed assets - 23,456 Fixed asset investments - 1,476,575 Current assets 140,084 805,374 Creditors due within one year - (93,354) Total 140,084 2,212,051 19. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities 2025 £ Net expenditure for the year (as per Statement of Financial Activities) (405,872) Adjustments for: Depreciation charges 11,189 Loss/(Gain) on investments (47,467) Dividends, interests and rents from investments (51,777) (Increase)/Decrease in debtors (1,062,251) (Decrease)/Increase in creditors 1,530,656 Net cash used in operating activities (25,522) |
Total funds 2025 £ 16,634 1,310,917 2,242,722 (1,624,010) 1,946,263 Total funds 2024 £ 23,456 1,476,575 945,458 (93,354) 2,352,135 2024 £ (52,500) 14,766 (35,967) (70,417) 233,667 (228,564) (139,015) |
|---|---|
Page 42
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
20. Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
| Cash in hand Cash on notice Total cash and cash equivalents |
2025 £ 690,137 341,059 1,031,196 |
2024 £ 423,621 372,561 |
|---|---|---|
| 796,182 |
21. Analysis of changes in net debt
| Cash at bank and in hand Liquid investments |
At 1 April 2024 £ 423,622 372,561 796,183 |
Cash flows £ 266,515 (31,502) 235,013 |
At 31 March 2025 £ 690,137 341,059 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,031,196 |
22. Pension commitments
The charity operates one defined contribution scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund. The charity contributes a specified percentage of payroll costs to the retirement benefit scheme to fund the benefits. The only obligation of the charity with respect to the scheme is to make the specified contributions.
The charge to the statement of financial activities in respect of the defined contribution scheme was £21,342 (2024: £20,405). At the 31 March 2025 the amount outstanding in relation to pension contributions was £5,032 (2024: £5,260).
23. Operating lease commitments
At 31 March 2025 the Company had commitments to make future minimum lease payments under noncancellable operating leases as follows:
| Not later than 1 year Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years |
2025 £ 31,859 15,126 46,985 |
2024 £ 34,680 46,985 |
|---|---|---|
| 81,665 |
Page 43
Care for the Carers
(A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
24. Related party transactions
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2024: none).
For both financial years the key management personnel comprises of the Chief Executive Officer, the Head of Services, the Head of Communities and the Head of Resources. The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows:
Aggregate compensation £204,429 (2024: £195,229)
Page 44