OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2025-03-31-accounts

1

Annual report and accounts

For the year ended 31 March 2025 VoiceAbility Advocacy: Charity number in England 1076630, Charity number in Scotland SC050036, Company number 3798884.

2

Contents

Welcome from our Chair of Trustees ................................................3 Welcome from our Chief Executive ..................................................4 Who we are ......................................................................................5 Why we’re here ................................................................................6 Our approach ..................................................................................7 What we do ......................................................................................8 Spotlight on Oliver McGowan training ............................................9 Where we work ..............................................................................10 Delivering our 5 year strategy .......................................................12 Facing into challenges ...................................................................13 What we achieved: 2019-2025 ......................................................14 Spotlight on Advocacy in Scotland ................................................15 Reflecting on 2024-2025 ...............................................................16 What we set out to do in 2024-2025 .............................................18 Spotlight on self-advocate Fahmina ..............................................20 Our next 5 year strategy ................................................................21 Built to last: VoiceAbility’s strategy for change .............................22 Our commitment to progress over the next 12 months .................23 Reference and administrative information ....................................24 Governance structure and management ....................................... 26 Financial review .............................................................................31 Independent auditor’s report to the members of VoiceAbility ......34 Financial statement .......................................................................38

3

Welcome from our Chair of Trustees

This is my first full year with VoiceAbility and it’s been a busy one.

The challenges charities across the UK are facing through increased costs has been huge, with many having to reduce or cut services.

But thankfully, due to incredibly effective stewardship and forward thinking in financial management, VoiceAbility has a different story to tell.

We’ve been able to absorb these costs while growing our workforce and supporting more people across England and Scotland to be heard in decisions about their health, care and wellbeing.

This is some achievement, and I’m proud of how our teams have worked together with innovation and speed to make this a reality. A summary of these achievements, often involving the use of advancing technologies, are captured in this report.

Alongside this positive financial and operational picture, further stability has come through the appointment of Richard Jones as our new Chief Executive. Seeing Richard take up the role in September was a great delight.

Since then, the Board of Trustees has been meeting in person to work together on VoiceAbility’s next 5-year strategy and set out our ambitions.

These are still centred around the belief that everyone should be able to live life to the full in the manner of their choosing, with a real focus at the end of this year’s report on what these ambitions look out and the first steps we’re taking to achieve them.

This starts with our own staff and volunteers, with a strengths-based approach to help everyone to give their best, and to build on their skills.

The trustees and leadership team have seen this first-hand through newly set up ‘working groups’, which bring together experts and support teams to have a clearer voice and greater influence over how things get done.

This approach is vital in supporting a vibrant and dynamic place to work, and has enabled trustees to better connect and engage with staff.

Times continue to be tough for so many, and I wish to thank everyone at VoiceAbility for their continued commitment, passion and expertise to make a positive difference in people’s lives.

Ali Reid

4 Welcome from our Chief Executive y The past year has been big for VoiceAbility.

We’ve supported more people than ever before, we’ve delivered on a bold 5-year strategy, and we’ve built a financially stable model as we look ahead to an exciting future.

Significant investment from 2019-2025 has seen real, positive change for VoiceAbility; not just in what we set out to do, but how we did it. Thank you to everyone who has played their part in that.

In 2024-2025 we’ve continued to grow, supporting more people to be heard while still generating a surplus in funds.

The growth has been personal to me, too. 2024-2025 saw a controlled transition from my Chief Finance Officer role to Chief Executive, taking over from Jonathan Senker after many years’ service. It’s a privilege to lead this organisation.

The past year has also seen the strengthening of our leadership team, with the introduction of 3 new roles. Our new Director of Safeguarding ensures emphasis and focus in this essential area; our new Commercial Director recognises that while we are and always will be a purposedriven organisation, we operate in a commercial environment; and our new Director of Innovation will help us navigate and maximise the opportunities available to us.

In this report we set out what we have achieved, and where we are heading.

Over the past year, we have:

2024-2025 marks a pivotal transition for VoiceAbility from one chapter to the next. While our purpose remains unchanged; to ensure everyone is able to live life to the full in the manner of their choosing, the path ahead demands renewed ambition.

Now, it’s about transforming our culture so every member of our team feels empowered, valued and supported, to deliver their best for the people we support.

It’s about growing our impact to reach more people, especially those who have been unseen and under-served.

It’s about changing the system , so that the world in which we work, and our clients live, becomes more accessible and better equipped to support and respect their rights and choices.

Richard Jones

5

Who we are

We are VoiceAbility. We exist to ensure everyone’s voice is heard and their rights are respected.

From community-based advocacy in the 1970s to becoming one of the UK’s largest advocacy providers operating at a national level today, our work has always centred on ensuring that people have a voice, and that their voice matters.

The last 5 years have provided VoiceAbility with opportunities to embrace real and substantive change. We’re facing into the future stronger, more resilient and more ambitious than ever.

We’re able to respond quickly to internal and external challenges, work creatively, and deliver high-quality services, even in complex or tough environments. We’ve flourished under pressure, transforming our service delivery, adopting best practice and utilising innovation and technology to scale with consistency.

We’ve grown rapidly without compromising our values or quality, and continue to build the internal capability for agility and continuous improvement, through listening, taking action and investing for the future.

At our core, we believe everyone should be able to live life to the full in the manner of their choosing. Having your voice heard is not a privilege, it’s a right.

However, many people experience obstacles and challenges to this being a reality.

That’s where we come in, we build bridges across the gap.

==> picture [596 x 284] intentionally omitted <==

6

Why we’re here

We exist to support people to be heard in decisions about their health, care and wellbeing, especially when barriers like disability, mental health challenges or discrimination stand in the way.

Our aims

Our values

We believe everyone has a right to:

Passionate .

We’re dedicated to strengthening voice, supporting rights and changing lives.

Empowering .

We enable people to live life to the full.

Collaborative .

==> picture [37 x 38] intentionally omitted <==

We listen and shape decisions with others.

Honest .

Our vision

We work with integrity and we stick to our principles.

Everyone has a voice which is heard and responded to. No-one has to face life-changing decisions alone.

Resourceful .

We think ahead and find effective ways to achieve our mission.

This includes:

7

Our approach

At VoiceAbility, our purpose drives everything we do. From how we work with clients, collaborate with partners and how we support our own people to thrive.

Client-centred

Across all our services, we are continually striving for a truly client-centred approach, amplifying the individual voices and lived experiences of the people we support, removing barriers where possible to help clients get what they need and ultimately, what they are entitled to.

Deliver well

VoiceAbility is also committed to providing value for money alongside the safest, best practice delivery of service. Working in genuine partnership with commissioners, we’re transforming contract management into a driver of insight, innovation and impact.

By capturing the right data at the right moment, building strong relationships, and working alongside local teams to understand real-world challenges, we offer recommendations that are informed, strategic and grounded in lived experience.

Every pound spent on advocacy should deliver more. More value. Better services. Stronger outcomes. And that’s exactly what we’re helping our partners achieve.

Whether we’re re-imagining training or redesigning referral routes, we co-create what works and we do not settle for “good enough”.

“ I have always wanted to be the person that I didn’t have when I needed it and to be the person that others should have when they need it.

Advocate Lisa, whose own mental illness diagnosis has shaped her life and career – where she now specialises in statutory advocacy under the Mental Capacity Act and Mental Health Act.

8

What we do

Advocacy

Advocacy is at the heart of what we do at VoiceAbility. We provide free, independent advocacy across England and Scotland, ensuring children, young people and adults are involved in decisions that affect their lives.

We provide advocacy across a wide range of areas; including mental health, learning disability, benefits and healthcare complaints often under specific legislation.

Our team of advocates are skilled, specialist professionals who work with purpose, confidence and compassion to navigate often difficult and complex situations.

Whether we’re helping to challenge a care decision, navigate a benefits tribunal, or raise concerns about treatment, our focus is always the same: helping people to be heard, understand their rights, and access the support they’re entitled to.

Connections services

Through our Connections services, we create meaningful opportunities for people with lived experience to shape the support they receive and the systems they use.

Influencing policy

People’s voices should shape not only their own care, but the systems and policies that affect their lives. At VoiceAbility, we remain committed to ensuring that the client voice reaches the heart of national decision-making.

Over the years, VoiceAbility has influenced significant policy reform, from access to advocacy in mental health settings to national safety investigations and disability payment reviews. This year, we built on that legacy.

Our Use Your Power campaign was showcased at the Labour Party Conference, calling on politicians to end long-term hospital detention for autistic people and people with a learning disability. We were commissioned by NHS England to produce a lived experience report on inpatient care for autistic people. We supported individuals to give direct evidence to the Health Select Committee, contributed to amendments to the Mental Health Act , and helped shape the independent review of Adult Disability Payment in Scotland.

At every opportunity, we use real stories, real data, and trusted relationships to influence.

We partner with local authorities, NHS trusts, care providers and national bodies to design and deliver bespoke projects that amplify the voices of people who could, should, or already do access services. By working together, we help shape those services to be more effective, accessible and inclusive.

9

==> picture [233 x 9] intentionally omitted <==

Spotlight on... Oliver McGowan training

Embedding person-centred and inclusive approaches is at the heart of everything we do, and in October 2024 we reached a significant milestone in our commitment to inclusivity and support for people with learning disabilities and autistic people when we were approved to deliver Tier 1 Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training.

We have since expanded our reach and are authorised to deliver Tier 2 training sessions and we now deliver both Tier 1 and Tier 2 training across England, working with organisations of all sizes to increase knowledge and understanding, build confidence and create change.

Why it’s an important step for VoiceAbility

People with learning disabilities and autistic people continue to face preventable harm and exclusion, which ultimately lead to poorer outcomes. The training aims to save lives by ensuring the health and social care workforce have the right skills and knowledge to provide safe, compassionate and informed care to autistic people and people with a learning disability.

As we continue to invest in our capability to deliver Oliver McGowan training at scale, we’re excited about the positive impact it will have both internally and among the broader community. This is a huge achievement for the team involved and moves us forward against our ongoing commitment to diversity, inclusion, and creating a supportive environment for all.

==> picture [55 x 132] intentionally omitted <==

We continue to be trusted to deliver highquality, high-impact partnerships that create real change, defining what services look like, how they’re designed, governed and sustainable for the long term.

10

Where we work

==> picture [60 x 78] intentionally omitted <==

Where we worked in Scotland in 2024-2025

We have included where our advocates are based currently but we service nationwide.

==> picture [256 x 348] intentionally omitted <==

Aberdeen City Aberdeenshire Argyll and Bute Ayrshire Clackmannanshire Dumfries and Galloway Dunbartonshire Dundee Edinburgh Falkirk Fife Forth Valley Greater Glasgow and Clyde Inverclyde Highland Kinross Lothian and Borders Morayshire North and South Lanarkshire Perth Shetland Stirling Western Isles

89%

increase in cases compared to last year due in part to stronger partnerships and more visibility of services

11

Where we work

Where we worked in England in 2024-2025

Bedford / Central Bedfordshire Blackburn Bolton Bradford Cambridge Cheshire Coventry and Warwickshire Dudley East Riding of Yorkshire Essex Hampshire Lincolnshire Manchester North Northampton Oldham Oxfordshire Peterborough Preston (Guild Lodge setting only) Sefton Shropshire South Gloucestershire Sunderland Swindon Tameside Telford and Wrekin Wakefield Wiltshire Wolverhampton

London boroughs Camden Ealing Merton Newham Redbridge Thurrock

10%

increase in cases compared to last year

12

Delivering our5 year strategy

The past 5 years have been a time of bold ambition and real change for VoiceAbility, not just in what we set out to do, but how we did it.

In 2019, we launched a strategy to grow, professionalise and embed the client journey at the heart of everything we do. It was a decisive plan to reshape who we were and how we worked, focused around 5 pillars:

==> picture [53 x 38] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----

----- End of picture text -----

As this period comes to an end, we want to take a moment to reflect and celebrate the substantial progress and impact VoiceAbility has made both internally and externally.

Sam Breckell, Chief Operating Officer

13

Facing into challenges

While the last 5 years have seen significant progress, it’s not been without significant challenges.

What we could not have predicted was the extraordinary context that followed: a global pandemic, a political and economic reset, and seismic shifts in the way public services operate.

Like many in our sector, we’ve seen increasing demand for our services, with more complexity of need; particularly around mental health, autism and learning disabilities. This, combined with funding pressures, cuts and increased costs, continues to create a challenging backdrop in which to provide vital services.

There’s been a continuously shifting and often uncertain political landscape, with the first 2 years of the strategy dominated by the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We closed our final office just before the first lockdown, not out of necessity, but as part of our plan to deliver better value for clients. We had already invested in remote tech and home-based working, which meant we were ready when it mattered most. While others were furloughing staff, we were front-loading improvements, handing iPads through windows, sourcing protective gear, and continuing to be there for people whose voices might otherwise have been lost.

We challenged unfair discharges from hospitals, held local authorities to account when statutory protections were suspended, and kept advocacy active when the risks were greatest and the stakes were highest.

At the same time, we grew. We expanded our reach across England and Scotland, won new contracts, and launched innovative services. We introduced Connections services, delivered national benefits advocacy, became accredited providers of Oliver McGowan training, and built our own practitioner-led quality framework – setting a new standard for advocacy delivery.

As this strategic period ends, the scale of what’s been achieved is clear. In the most difficult of circumstances, we did not just deliver; we transformed. And we did it with purpose, clarity, and authenticity.

14

What we achieved: 2019-2025

Diversify services

We have expanded our geographic reach and service offering across both England and Scotland, enabling us to support tens of thousands more people each year. By utilising the skills and experience we have, we’ve successfully ‘diversified our services’; launching Connections services to shape and run involvement and participation projects, embedding Experts by Experience, delivering benefits advocacy as a national service in Scotland, and becoming accredited to deliver Oliver McGowen training.

Value our people

We have continued to invest in our people over the last 5 years, with specific focus on scaling our fantastic volunteer network. Their dedication has created strong connections within communities, amplifying the voices of those who are seldom heard. We are especially proud that 6 of our volunteers have gone on to become permanent members of staff, reflecting the powerful impact of volunteering as a pathway to personal and professional growth.

Drive quality

In 2019 we committed to ‘drive quality’. In response to this challenge, we have bolstered our Outcomes Framework and reporting access, meaning we can robustly and confidently evidence our impact through data and facilitate continuous improvement. We’re equipping commissioners, local authorities, devolved and national government with the insight needed to better understand people’s needs and requirements, and make meaningful change.

Lead the market and grow authority

We have taken a leadership role in influencing national policy, securing vital wins such as opt-out advocacy in Mental Health Act reform, and leading the call for improved advocacy for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

==> picture [56 x 44] intentionally omitted <==

Build the basics

Internally, we invested time and resource over the last 5 years into ‘building the basics’. This includes launching a national advocacy helpline, building our central referrals system, introducing standardised case management tools, and aligning our service delivery under a single national model to ensure consistent, high quality and person-centred practice across all of our contracts.

==> picture [123 x 101] intentionally omitted <==

15

Spotlight on... Advocacy in Scotland

From a standing start, we have driven the development of a new national advocacy service so that over 10 times more disabled people across Scotland were supported in 2024 than in our launch year of 2022.

Commissioned by the Scottish Government and delivered by us, our independent service supports disabled people across the country to access Social Security Scotland benefits and is unique in a UK context.

If you identify as disabled in Scotland, our independent advocacy service provides free 1-1 support to access benefits from Social Security Scotland and is available from the moment anyone wants to start a benefits application. This support is also available to parents, guardians or carers accessing benefits for a disabled child.

In the 3 years from launch to the end of 2024, our advocacy service has received 11,385 referrals, leading to over 9,878 advocacy cases. In total, the service has supported 8,704 disabled people in Scotland (we have supported 1,174 disabled people with more than 1 case).

Much of that growth is attributable to the strong partnerships VoiceAbility has created with a wide range of community and statutory organisations in localities across Scotland. We have also successfully developed and trained a new workforce in Scotland, ensuring our service is accessible nationwide, from major cities to the Highlands and Islands.

Paul, who’s profoundly deaf, “didn’t know who to turn to for help” for benefits support for himself and his son after Paul’s father sadly passed away.

“Luckily, I came across VoiceAbility and had a 1-to-1 appointment with [my advocate] Lynn at home. I opened up and went through all the problems that I’ve had, the disabilities that I have and spoke about my son who’s disabled as well. I got some help and information to move things forward.

“It’s taken me 53 years to get benefits support, which I should have had from birth. I cannot thank VoiceAbility enough for what they’ve done for me and my son.”

That growth is predicted to continue during 2025, as more benefits are devolved to Scotland including the new Pension Age Disability Payment. This brings new groups of people to serve, demanding new partnerships and ways of working.

16

Reflecting on 2024-2025

2024-2025 was a deliberate and decisive transition year. It marked a turning point that ensured VoiceAbility is well positioned for the future.

We moved from 2 years of planned investment from reserves into a financially sustainable model, generating a surplus while continuing to improve our services. With stabilised leadership through the appointment of our new Chief Executive, Richard Jones, and continued guidance from our Board of Trustees, we delivered confident, values-led growth.

We embedded cultural transformation, strengthened our operating model, and delivered steady, strategic improvements across teams, systems and services.

Since launching our volunteer programme in April 2021, we’ve created rewarding and inspiring opportunities for community members to get involved in our work. This was a continued focus in 2024-2025 as we expanded our volunteer network and deepened our engagement across communities.

Our 154 volunteers (and growing) are now supporting communities in 23 areas of England and Scotland, working in an impressive 11 different roles. Over the last 12 months we’ve created 7 distinct volunteer roles to offer diverse opportunities for involvement, implemented a new recruitment system, streamlining the process for prospective volunteers and enhanced our use of customer relationship management tool Salesforce to record volunteer hours and contributions across casework and noncasework, allowing us to better understand and celebrate the impact of our volunteers.

VoiceAbility has continued to deliver our mission despite the many external

challenges over the last 12 months. This includes ongoing financial pressures in public service funding, policy delays with Liberty Protection Safeguards, further political change and preparing for rising National Insurance costs.

Safeguarding progress

Safeguarding at VoiceAbility has undergone a transformative shift in 2024-2025, following a comprehensive audit. Moving beyond compliance, we have entered a phase of strategic implementation.

A new Director of Safeguarding was appointed to lead structural and cultural change, supported by the creation of a unified Safeguarding and Quality Assurance department and a cross-organisational Safeguarding Support and Protection group.

In December, 4 people who work with VoiceAbility shared their experiences of disability as part of an inquiry into the UK government’s new 10-Year Health Plan for the NHS.

“What an amazing opportunity for people with lived experience to take their personal stories in their own words and in person to the heart of government. Well done to all and to VoiceAbility colleagues for facilitating.”

Toni Bawden, Commissioning Manager for Learning Disabilities and Autism at Cambridgeshire County Council.

17

Our year in numbers

In 2024-2025, we supported:

38,994 adults

==> picture [107 x 209] intentionally omitted <==

4,883 children and young people

==> picture [96 x 182] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [64 x 44] intentionally omitted <==

Marking a

24% increase in cases from the previous year

This reflects the growing need, and the trust placed in us across the communities we serve.

==> picture [88 x 108] intentionally omitted <==

Our growing team of 664

is made up primarily of professional advocates and volunteers , who bring deep sector knowledge , many with lived experience in health, care, disability rights and mental health. Their dedication and expertise ensure that people are supported effectively and compassionately every day.

We are governed by a Board of Trustees who bring diverse professional and lived experience.

They guide our strategic direction , ensure accountability, and uphold our mission and values.

==> picture [85 x 132] intentionally omitted <==

18

What we set out to do in 2024-2025

Diversify services

Lead the market and grow authority

What we said we’d do:

What we said we’d do:

What we did:

What we did:

19

Build the basics

Drive quality

What we said we’d do:

What we said we’d do:

What we did:

What we did:

Value our people

What we said we’d do:

What we did:

20

Spotlight on... Self-advocate Fahmina

Fahmina was looking for advocacy support, but learned she could become a self-advocate herself.

Here Fahmina tells her self-advocacy story, which started with a conversation with a VoiceAbility team leader in December 2022 and now sees her chairing working groups for the Hampshire Learning Disability Partnership and speaking at high-profile learning disability events.

More about me

I’m Fahmina, I live in Hampshire and have a learning disability. I like going to Mencap and the Friday Network with Speakeasy Advocacy, and when I’m at home I like watching TV and playing board games. I live independently with my partner Mehdi, who I married in 2023.

My story

I contacted social services after first moving to Hampshire because I was in search of an advocate. After social services said that I wasn’t entitled to an advocate, they referred me to VoiceAbility because I was interested in advocacy.

Making a difference

I decided that I would attend 2 working groups – the adult social care working group and the health and wellbeing working group.

Since becoming a selfadvocate, I have grown in confidence and use my voice to help others.

“I have now chaired an adult social care working group meeting, attended Hampshire Learning Disability Partnership meetings and spoken at Learning Disability Network London event during Learning Disability Week.”

I am finding out lots of good information that is really helpful to me, but also giving back my ideas to the working groups.

I find this very important, because I know that I am speaking on behalf of people that also have learning disabilities and that have no voice in Hampshire.

We know how we would like to be supported and to make things better, like all the information that we have provided to the website that we have been designing.

21

Our next 5 year strategy

We are proud of who we are, and how far we’ve come, but we know the world around us is becoming even more challenging for the people we support.

We have spent the last 5 years transforming ourselves, culturally, structurally and operationally. We’re here not just to survive, but to lead. Through investment, resilience and a relentless focus on client voice, we’ve built firm foundations. Now, while others are retreating, reducing quality or folding altogether, we are stepping forward.

==> picture [505 x 353] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Our 2025 to 2030 strategy sets a clear course, with 3 areas of focus. Each year will build on
the last, from strong foundations in 2025 to scaled, transformational impact by 2030.
Transform Grow Change
our our the
culture impact system
eee
We’re not just here to do more of the same.
We’re here to grow, not by asking for more, but by doing what truly matters.
We will listen carefully, partner differently and act boldly
to meet real needs in a fast-changing world.
----- End of picture text -----

VoiceAbility is built for this.

22

Built to last: VoiceAbility’s strategy for change

Transforming our culture

Growing our impact

Create a values-led, inclusive and high-performing environment that supports our people to do their best work.

By 2030 we’ll have a culture where all our staff:

Expand and improve what we do in advocacy, co-production and influence so we reach more people with greater effect. By 2030 we will:

Changing the system

Use insight, data and voice to push for change where it matters most, from care homes to cabinet meetings alone.

By 2030 we will:

23

Our commitment to progress over the next 12 months

Transforming our culture

What we’ll do in 2025-2026:

Growing our impact

What we’ll do in 2025-2026:

Changing the system

What we’ll do in 2025-2026:

24

Reference and administrative information

Trustees

Alison Reid – Chair / Investment Committee Member

Susan Brown – Safeguarding Governance Committee Chair (resigned 28/01/25) Andrew Weston – Safeguarding Governance Committee Member (resigned 27/03/25) Matthew Smith – Audit and Risk Committee Member / Remuneration Committee Member James Alistair Schofield – Audit and Risk Committee Chair

Viral Shah – Audit and Risk Committee Member

Gavin Sumner – Safeguarding Governance Committee Member (resigned 27/03/25) Izaro Arbelaiz-Teresa

Anthony Osijo – Audit and Risk Committee Member / Remuneration Committee Member Mahua Nandi – Safeguarding Governance Committee Member

Fiona Beyer –Safeguarding Governance Committee Member

Liam Cunningham – Safeguarding Governance Committee Chair

Ria Davies – Remuneration Committee Member

Elizabeth Debnam – Audit and Risk Committee Member / Remuneration Committee Chair

==> picture [138 x 113] intentionally omitted <==

25

Secretary

Richard Jones (resigned 02/09/24) Kerry Duke (appointed 02/09/24 / resigned 09/06/25) Kirsty Farrand (appointed 09/06/25)

Chief Executive Officer

Jonathan Senker (resigned 02/09/24) Richard Jones (appointed 02/09/24)

Registered Office

c/o Sayer Vincent 110 Golden Lane London, EC1Y 0TG

Incorporated in United Kingdom, Company Number 03798884 Registered in England and Wales, Charity Number 1076630 Registered in Scotland, Charity Number SC050036

Auditors

Sayer Vincent LLP 110 Golden Lane London, EC1Y 0TG

Bankers

National Westminster Bank Plc 21 Petty Cury Cambridge, CB2 3NE

Solicitors

Rradar Limited 6 Beacon Way Hull, HU3 4AE

Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP 134 Edmund Street Birmingham, B3 2ES

26

Governance structure and management

Governing document

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 30th June 1999 and registered as a charity on 19th July 1999. The Company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the Company. It is governed by its Articles of Association which, following changes introduced by the Companies Act 2006, now also contain its objects and powers. The trustees present their report (including the strategic report) and audited financial statements for the year ended date. Reference and administrative information set out on page 24 forms part of this report. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.

The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the memorandum and articles of association and the Statement of Recommended Practice — Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102. This trustees’ annual report includes a directors’ report as required by company law.

Appointment of trustees

As set out in the Articles of Association, members of the Board of Trustees must be appointed by an ordinary resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the trustees and must be appointed for a term of 3 years. On ceasing to be a trustee a person may be reappointed provided that no one may serve as a trustee for more than a maximum of 3 consecutive terms, after which they must cease to be a trustee for at least 12 months before they are eligible to be reappointed.

The Board members bring insight from their own lived experience of disability, understanding of the charity’s social mission, and business and commercial skills. The range of experience is kept under review and in the event of any shortfalls, new trustees are sought to fill the gaps.

Trustee induction and training

New trustees undergo a period of induction to brief them on the values, direction and work of VoiceAbility, their legal obligations under charity and company law and good practice duties, the contents of the Articles of Association, the Board and decision-making processes, the business plan and recent financial performance of the charity. During the induction they view our services and meet with key employees and other trustees. Trustees are encouraged to participate in external and internally-run training and development where this will facilitate the undertaking of their role.

27

Organisational structure

The Board of Trustees administers the charity. The Board meets once per quarter with additional meetings when required to deal with issues of strategy in more depth. VoiceAbility also has within its constitution a number of Board sub-committees.

Audit and Risk Committee

Audit and Risk Committee members meet once per quarter in advance of the Board meetings to review and discuss matters such as management and statutory accounts, risk and governance.

Safeguarding Committee

The purpose of the Safeguarding Committee is to ensure quality safeguarding practices and approaches are developed and implemented, and to support the charity in discharging its statutory and good practice duties and responsibilities both as an employer and a provider in relation to safeguarding.

Remuneration Committee

The purpose of the remuneration committee is to ensure leadership succession planning and appraise organisational pay and benefit policies, ensuring pay equality. The committee was formed in 2024-25.

Day-to-day responsibility

The trustees have delegated the day-to-day responsibility for the provision of services to the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for recommending strategy to the Board, for the management of its external profile and influencing work, ensuring that the charity delivers the services in line with its mission and requirements and ensuring that key performance indicators are met across the range of social and business objectives. The Chief Executive Officer leads an executive leadership team whose members are the executive managers of the charity.

Risk management

The principal risks and uncertainties facing the organisation are centred around 5 key areas:

28

The steps to manage these risks are set out below.

The trustees are responsible for setting the tone and influencing the culture of risk management within VoiceAbility.

The executive leadership team have established a risk register, identifying the types of risks faced and prioritising them in terms of potential impact and likelihood of occurrence. Having due regard to the strength of the current internal controls and procedures already in place, a series of mitigating actions have been identified to appropriately address these risks.

The executive leadership team, the Audit and Risk Committee, and the Board of Trustees periodically review the risks and the risk management strategies to ensure they continue to meet the needs of the organisation.

Public benefit

We have referred to the guidance in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.

Directors’ liabilities

There are no specific provisions relating specifically to directors’ liabilities to report.

There are no qualifying third-party indemnity provisions which are the direct responsibility of the charity.

There are no qualifying pension scheme indemnity provisions, due to the charity operating a Defined Contribution scheme.

Fundraising

We’re not a fundraising charity, with our income deriving primarily from local government, NHS and central government contracts. We do not solicit donations, but do receive them from time to time and do approach grant-giving bodies. We’re therefore registered with the fundraising regulator and follow their guidance. There were no issues of compliance with the guidance of the fundraising regulator. We received no complaints about fundraising activities carried out by the charity (2023-24: none). VoiceAbility does not use any professional fundraisers and no fundraising is undertaken on our behalf by third parties.

29

Disabled employees

We recognise the importance and benefits of having disabled people involved in and leading the organisation’s work at every level including in governance roles, as employees and as volunteers. In relation to employment, the expertise in various aspects of our work which disabled people bring is valued strongly. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria for posts are guaranteed interviews and we encourage applicants to identify any adjustments which are needed to ensure that they can participate equally in selection processes. Training has been provided to managers on equality and employment, including specifically on disability equality.

The organisation has a full policy on diversity and employment, which underlines our approach to exceed legal requirements in relation to diversity as we recognise the importance and value to the organisation and to people using our services of a workforce which is diverse in relation to all protected characteristics, including disability. We’re continuing to work to improve the experience of and contribution by all employees, including disabled employees and are recognised as a Disability Confident employer. We have paid posts which specifically require personal insights that come from having a learning disability, particularly Expert by Experience posts and our Speak Out leaders. Additionally, we have roles of peer mentors and peer supporters which have provided work skills and therefore routes into employment for people who have used long-term mental health and substance use services.

Employee involvement

VoiceAbility’s trustees and directors recognise employee engagement to be one of the most powerful drivers of organisational performance and of our success in enabling people who use our services to achieve their outcomes. It is central to our strategy, as outlined in this report.

The following are among the measures which we take to promote effective employee involvement and engagement, as well as to ensure that colleagues throughout the organisation are well-informed:

30

Pay policy

VoiceAbility operates an objective outcome pay policy. Staff are placed within bandings dependent on skillset and experience and, upon successful completion of agreed annual objectives, have the opportunity to progress in the banding by way of incremental ‘spine points’. Regular supervisions and appraisals ensure that pay progression is measurable within a band, ensuring greater transparency and understanding of pay-related decisions. Although the executive leadership team are covered by the banding pay, ultimately decisions regarding the remuneration of these roles, and that of the Chief Executive Officer, are made by the Board.

31

Financial review

Overview

The Trustees are delighted to report that the Charity delivered a surplus of £488,785, despite the challenging economic climate.

2024-25 saw another year of significant growth, generating a total income of £15,894,583 – a 18% increase on prior year (2023-2024: £13,503,953).

Despite significant growth, total expenditure increased only 3% on last year to £15,400,679 (2023-24: £14,913,705), demonstrating the benefits and efficiencies from the planned strategic investment in fit-for-purpose structures, systems, processes and equipment over the last five year strategy, and the Charity’s ability to sustainably scale.

Having generated deficits the last two years due to planned strategic investment funded from reserves, the return to a surplus generating model with reserves replenished to policy compliant levels provides a financially stable platform on which the 2025-30 strategy can be driven forward.

Cash and cash equivalents held at the end of the year was £969,833 (2023-24: £61,370).

Reserves

The unrestricted reserves are those funds that are available to be used on the charitable objects, to be spent as the trustees see fit.

The trustees hold unrestricted reserves as either general reserves or designated reserves. General reserves are there to support the day-to-day operations of the organisation and to ensure that VoiceAbility can meet its future financial obligations. Designated reserves are held as unrestricted funds that have been earmarked for a particular purpose by the trustees.

The fixed assets replacement designated fund, which is in place to ensure that VoiceAbility has fit-for-purpose equipment and systems on a long-term basis, has been reassessed and now stands at £280,000. Laptop and mobile phone purchases are recorded against the designated fund and, upon review of the charity’s equipment requirements, transfers are then made from general funds to ensure the correct level of funds have been designated.

The remaining £382,583 is the balance of the tangible fixed assets which are not liquid and therefore removed from the undesignated, unrestricted reserves in the interest of prudence when calculating our reserve cover requirements.

VoiceAbility adopts a risk-based approach to determine the value of general reserves necessary to meet its future financial obligations, taking into account the reliability of income streams and the extent to which expenditure is committed, as well as the major risks to which the charity is exposed.

To inform decision-making over the value of general reserves required in any one year, VoiceAbility places a financial value on facing the key unmitigated risks identified in the risk register.

32

The approach used is to aggregate the assessed financial impact of the key unmitigated risks identified in the VoiceAbility risk register and assume that these risks occur either concurrently or sequentially over a timeframe that does not allow recovery between events. The quantification of those risks is assessed by the executive leadership team and validated by the Audit and Risk Committee alongside the annual review of the risk register.

Based on the outcome, the Audit and Risk Committee will make recommendations to the Board of Trustees on the required value of the general reserves for each financial year as part of the approval of the annual budget. The level of general reserves required at 31 March 2025 is £1,000,000.

The total reserves carried forward as at 31 March 2025 stand at £2,089,470, of which £1,426,887 is held as free reserves, excluding fixed assets and designated funds (2023-24: £888,829).

Investments and bank accounts

VoiceAbility’s Investment Committee manages its investment portfolio with the support of management company CCLA. In 2024-25, the charity sold units with disposal proceeds totalling £250,000. The performance of the portfolio in 2024-25 generated an unrealised loss of £5,119 (2023-24: gain £58,300).

Events since the balance sheet date

There are no significant post-balance sheet events to note.

Going concern

The trustees have assessed whether the use of the going concern basis is appropriate and have considered possible events or conditions that might cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The trustees have made this assessment for a period of at least 1 year from the date of approval of the financial statements. The trustees and the executive leadership team have reviewed all budgets and expected income and expenditure projections and have concluded that, together with the reserves established to help in such circumstances, there is a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The charity, therefore, continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing its financial statements.

Statement of trustees’ responsibilities

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period.

33

In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate 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.

They are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Disclosure of information to the auditors

So far as each person who was a director at the date of approving this report is aware, there is no relevant audit information, being information needed by the auditor in connection with preparing its report, of which the auditor is unaware. Having made enquiries of fellow directors and the charity’s auditor, each director has taken all the steps that they are obliged to take as a director in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.

This report along with the financial statements was approved by the trustees on: and signed on their behalf by:

James Alistair Schofield – Audit and Risk Committee Chair

17 July 2025

34

Independent auditor’s report to the members of VoiceAbility

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of VoiceAbility (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, balance sheet, statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including

FRS 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:

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 UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

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

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on VoiceAbility’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.

35

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

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ annual report, including the strategic 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.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

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

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ annual report, including the strategic report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

36

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the statement of trustees’ responsibilities set out in the trustees’ annual report, 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.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and under the Companies Act 2006 and report in accordance with regulations made under those Acts.

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 are set out below.

Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following:

37

financial statements or that had a fundamental effect on the operations of the charity from our professional and sector experience

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. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

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

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members 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 the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Farrah Kitabi (Senior Statutory Auditor) 06 October 2025

for and on behalf of Sayer Vincent LLP, Statutory Auditor 110 Golden Lane, LONDON, EC1Y 0TG

Sayer Vincent LLP is eligible to act as auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006

38

Financial statement

VoiceAbility Advocacy

Statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account)

For the year ended 31 March 2025

General

£
3,587
15,756,945
19,738
Designated
£
-
-
-
Restricted
£
-
114,313
-
2025
Total
£
3,587
15,871,258
19,738
General
£
1,192
13,376,034
27,602
Designated
£
-
-
-
Restricted
£
-
99,125
-
2024
Total
£
1,192
13,475,159
27,602
15,780,270 - 114,313 15,894,583 13,404,828 - 99,125 13,503,953
15,286,366 - 114,313 15,400,679 14,062,405 752,174 99,125 14,913,705
15,286,366 - 114,313 15,400,679 14,062,405 752,174 99,125 14,913,705
(5,119)
493,904
-
-
-
-
(5,119)
493,904
58,300
(657,577)
-
(752,174)
-
-
58,300
(1,409,752)
488,785
49,273
-
(49,273)
-
-
488,785
-
(599,277)
90,912
(752,174)
(90,912)
- (1,351,452)
-
538,058
888,829
(49,273)
711,856
-
-
488,785
1,600,685
(508,366)
1,397,195
(843,086)
1,554,942
-
-
(1,351,452)
2,952,137

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in Note 17a to the financial statements.

39

VoiceAbility Advocacy

Balance sheet

Company no. 03798884

As at 31 March 2025

Note
10
11
12
13
15
16a
0
Fixed assets:
Tangible assets
Investments
Current assets:
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Liabilities:
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Provision for liabilities
Net assets
Funds:
Restricted income funds
Unrestricted income funds:
Designated funds
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
2025
£
382,583
6,533
2024
£
471,856
261,652
389,116
1,561,955
969,833
733,508
1,551,632
61,370
2,531,788
(811,434)
1,613,002
(716,793)
1,720,354 896,209
2,109,470
(20,000)
1,629,717
(29,032)
2,089,470 1,600,685
-
662,583
1,426,887
-
711,856
888,829
2,089,470 1,600,685
2,089,470 1,600,685

Approved by the trustees on 17 July 2025

and signed on their behalf by

James Alistair Schofield Trustee

40

VoiceAbility Advocacy

Statement of cash flows

Statement of cash flows
For the year ended 31 March 2025
Net income / (expenditure) for the reporting period
(as per the statement of financial activities)
Depreciation charges
Losses/(gains) on investments
Dividends and interest from investments
(Decrease)/increase in provisions
(Increase) in debtors
Increase in creditors
Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Sale of investment units
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Dividends and interest from investments
Purchase of fixed assets
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the
year
£
£
488,785
218,863
5,119
(19,738)
(9,032)
(10,323)
94,641
768,315
19,738
250,000
(129,590)
140,148
908,463
61,370
969,833
2025
£
£
(1,351,452)
176,552
(58,300)
(27,602)
12,000
(69,309)
10,085
(1,308,025)
27,602
1,050,000
(163,466)
914,136
(393,890)
455,259
61,370
2024
768,315
140,148
(1,308,025)
914,136
908,463
61,370
(393,890)
455,259
969,833 61,370

41

VoiceAbility Advocacy

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

1 Accounting policies

a) Statutory information

VoiceAbility Advocacy is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is incorporated in England & Wales. The registered office address is c/o Sayer Vincent, 110 Golden Lane, London, EC1Y 0TG.

b) 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) (September 2015) and the Companies Act 2006/Charities Act 2011.

The Charity has a subsidiary, Advocacy Experience Limited. The subsidiary is currently dormant and therefore consolidated financial statements have not been prepared.

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note.

In applying the financial reporting framework, the trustees have made a number of subjective judgements, for example in respect of significant accounting estimates. Estimates and judgements 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. The nature of the estimation means the actual outcomes could differ from those estimates. Any significant estimates and judgements affecting these financial statements are detailed within the relevant accounting policy below.

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.

c) Public benefit entity

The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

d) Going concern

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

e) Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

Income received in advance of the provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.

42

VoiceAbility Advocacy

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

f) 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.

Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources received or generated for the charitable purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.

h) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

Support and governance costs are re-allocated to charitable activities in full.

0 0 0

Rental charges are charged on a straight line basis over the term of the lease.

k) Tangible fixed assets

Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £500 for an individual purchase. Depreciation costs are allocated to activities on the basis of the use of the related assets in those activities. Assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their carrying value may exceed their net realisable value and value in use.

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:

over the life of the lease

l) Listed investments

Investments are a form of basic financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their fair value as at the balance sheet date using the closing quoted market price. Any change in fair value will be recognised in the statement of financial activities. Investment gains and losses, whether realised or unrealised, are combined and shown in the heading “Net gains/(losses) on investments” in the statement of financial activities. The charity does not acquire put options, derivatives or other complex financial instruments.

Investments in subsidiaries Investments in subsidiaries are at cost.

43

VoiceAbility Advocacy

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

m) 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.

n) Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash 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.

o) Creditors and provisions

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.

p) 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.

q) Pensions

After three months of employment, employees are auto enrolled in the group stakeholder pension scheme (Aviva), via a salary exchange method. Employees are required to opt out should they not wish to be enrolled. The charity contributes 5% of gross salary and employees make a minimum contribution of 3% of gross salary. Employees joining the stakeholder pension contract directly with the insurance company. In addition to its own contribution the charity acts as agent in collecting and paying over employee pension contributions.

44

==> picture [233 x 9] intentionally omitted <==

VoiceAbility Advocacy

Notes to the financial statements

==> picture [41 x 34] intentionally omitted <==

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Income from donations and legacies
2025 2024
Total Total
£ £
Donations (unrestricted) 3,587 1,192
Advocacy Services:
Connections
London
Midlands & South East
North East
North West
Scotland
South West
Support Services
Total income from charitable
activities
Grants
£
31,538
-
60,000
-
-
-
-
2025
£
604,974
1,164,386
3,016,924
3,419,155
2,794,763
3,327,308
1,421,054
Earned
income
contracts
Total
£
636,512
1,164,386
3,076,924
3,419,155
2,794,763
3,327,308
1,421,054
Grants
£
31,350
-
45,000
-
-
-
-
2024
£
702,615
1,318,360
2,265,977
3,233,101
2,164,650
2,379,398
1,310,440
Earned
income
contracts
Total
£
733,965
1,318,360
2,310,977
3,233,101
2,164,650
2,379,398
1,310,440
91,538
22,775
15,748,564
8,381
15,840,102
31,156
76,350
22,775
13,374,541
1,494
13,450,891
24,269
114,313 15,756,945 15,871,258 99,125 13,376,034 13,475,159

All earned income is unrestricted and all grant income is restricted.

45

==> picture [233 x 9] intentionally omitted <==

VoiceAbility Advocacy

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

4a Analysis of expenditure (current year)

Direct staff costs
Indirect staff costs
Total staff costs (note 6)
Sub contractor Costs
Recruitment, Training and Welfare
Travel & Subsistence
Rent, Rates and Homeworking Allowance
Professional
Insurances
Depreciation
Software, Systems and Licensing
Other direct costs
Business Development
CEO and related expenses
Finance
Human resources
IT and Office Admin
Trustee and AGM costs
Audit and accountancy costs
Support costs
Governance costs
Investment costs
Total expenditure 2025
Total expenditure 2024
Advocacy
Services
£
10,293,057
-
Governance
costs
£
-
-
Support
costs
2025 Total
£
£
0
-
10,293,057
2,264,368
2,264,368
2,264,368
12,557,425
-
69,386
-
170,758
-
541,220
-
153,991
-
27,704
-
89,910
-
164,153
-
713,812
-
310,157
198,959
198,959
48,260
48,260
28,560
28,560
158,260
158,260
139,662
139,662
-
10,942
-
17,520
2,838,069
15,400,679
(2,838,069)
-
-
-
-
15,400,679
-
-
Support
costs
2025 Total
£
£
0
-
10,293,057
2,264,368
2,264,368
2,264,368
12,557,425
-
69,386
-
170,758
-
541,220
-
153,991
-
27,704
-
89,910
-
164,153
-
713,812
-
310,157
198,959
198,959
48,260
48,260
28,560
28,560
158,260
158,260
139,662
139,662
-
10,942
-
17,520
2,838,069
15,400,679
(2,838,069)
-
-
-
-
15,400,679
-
-
2024
Total
£
9,391,520
2,632,950
10,293,057
69,386
170,758
541,220
153,991
27,704
89,910
164,153
713,812
310,157
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
10,942
17,520
2,264,368
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
198,959
48,260
28,560
158,260
139,662
-
-
12,557,425
69,386
170,758
541,220
153,991
27,704
89,910
164,153
713,812
310,157
198,959
48,260
28,560
158,260
139,662
10,942
17,520
12,024,470
206,609
139,409
466,374
148,720
199,066
81,370
136,553
664,097
343,963
254,672
42,096
32,073
109,756
19,473
28,323
16,680
12,534,147
2,838,069
28,462
-
28,462
-
(28,462)
2,838,069
(2,838,069)
-
15,400,679
-
-
14,913,705
-
-
-
15,400,679 - - 15,400,679 -
14,913,705 - - - 14,913,705

46

==> picture [234 x 9] intentionally omitted <==

VoiceAbility Advocacy

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Direct staff costs
Indirect staff costs
Total staff costs (note 7)
Sub contractor Costs
Recruitment, Training and Welfare
Travel & Subsistence
Rent, Rates and Homeworking Allowance
Professional
Insurances
Depreciation
Software, Systems and Licensing
Other direct costs
Business Development
CEO and related expenses
Finance
Human resources
IT and Office Admin
Trustee and AGM costs
Audit and accountancy costs
Support costs
Governance costs
Investment costs
Total expenditure 2024
Advocacy
Services
£
9,391,520
-
Strategic
Investment
costs
£
-
456,599
Governance
costs
£
-
-
Support costs
2024 Total
£
£
0
-
9,391,520
2,176,351
2,632,950
2,176,351
12,024,470
-
206,609
-
139,409
-
466,374
-
148,720
-
199,066
-
81,370
-
136,553
-
664,097
-
343,963
254,672
254,672
42,096
42,096
32,073
32,073
109,756
109,756
19,473
19,473
-
28,323
-
16,680
2,634,422
14,913,705
(2,634,422)
-
-
-
-
14,913,705
Support costs
2024 Total
£
£
0
-
9,391,520
2,176,351
2,632,950
2,176,351
12,024,470
-
206,609
-
139,409
-
466,374
-
148,720
-
199,066
-
81,370
-
136,553
-
664,097
-
343,963
254,672
254,672
42,096
42,096
32,073
32,073
109,756
109,756
19,473
19,473
-
28,323
-
16,680
2,634,422
14,913,705
(2,634,422)
-
-
-
-
14,913,705
9,391,520
206,609
137,528
432,637
146,079
13,071
79,174
133,783
646,638
295,066
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
456,599
-
1,881
33,737
2,641
185,995
2,196
2,770
17,459
48,897
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
28,323
16,680
2,176,351
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
254,672
42,096
32,073
109,756
19,473
-
-
12,024,470
206,609
139,409
466,374
148,720
199,066
81,370
136,553
664,097
343,963
254,672
42,096
32,073
109,756
19,473
28,323
16,680
11,482,106
2,634,422
45,003
752,174
752,174
(752,174)
45,003
-
(45,003)
2,634,422
(2,634,422)
-
14,913,705
-
-
14,913,705 - - 14,913,705

47

VoiceAbility Advocacy

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

This is stated after crediting / (charging):

This is stated after crediting / (charging):
2025 2024
£ £
Depreciation 218,863 176,552
Operating lease rentals:
Property - -
Auditor's remuneration (excluding VAT):
Audit 14,600 13,900

Staff costs were as follows:

Staff costs were as follows:
Other staff costs
Social security costs
Salaries and wages
Employer’s contribution to defined contribution pension schemes
Redundancy and termination costs
2025
£
10,778,708
115,805
857,722
803,711
1,479
2024
£
10,264,051
101,676
841,649
774,548
42,546
12,557,425 0
12,024,470

The redundancy and termination costs were accrued at the balance sheet date.

The following number of employees received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs and employer's national insurance) during the year between:

2025 2024
No. No.
£60,000 - £69,999 2 4
£70,000 - £79,999 1 1
£80,000 - £89,999 1 1
£90,000 - £99,999 1 1

The total employee benefits (including pension contributions and employer's national insurance) of the key management personnel were £300,572 (2024: £285,758).

The charity trustees were neither paid nor received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2024: £nil). No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2024: £nil).

Trustees' expenses represents the payment or reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs totalling £2,280 (2024: £464) incurred by 8 members (2024: 10) relating to attendance at meetings of the trustees.

48

VoiceAbility Advocacy

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

7 Staff numbers

The average number of employees (head count based on number of staff employed) during the year was 481 (2024: 434) and based on full-time equivalent was 406 (2024: 377).

8 Related party transactions

There are no related party transactions to disclose for 2025 (2024: none).

There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related parties.

9 Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.

10 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets
Disposals in year
Net book value
Depreciation
Charge for the year
Cost
At the start of the year
At the start of the year
Eliminated on disposal
At the end of the year
At the start of the year
Additions in year
At the end of the year
At the end of the year
Computer
Equipment
£
635,734
101,702
-
Telephones
£
253,579
27,888
(78,186)
Software &
Systems
£
133,658
-
-
Total
£
1,022,971
129,590
(78,186)
737,436 203,281 133,658 1,074,375
363,670
105,770
-
126,662
87,196
(78,186)
60,783
25,897
-
551,115
218,863
(78,186)
469,440 135,672 86,680 691,792
267,995 67,609 46,978 382,583
272,064 126,917 72,875 471,856

All of the above assets are used for charitable purposes.

49

VoiceAbility Advocacy

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

11 Investments held as fixed assets

11
Investments held as fixed assets
12
13
Fair value at the start of the year
Trade creditors
Debtors
COIF Charities Investment Fund
Accruals
Additions at cost
Investments comprise:
Other creditors
Other debtors
Deferred income (note 14)
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Accrued income
Prepayments
Disposal proceeds
Net gain / (loss) on change in fair value
Trade debtors
Taxation and social security
Fair value at the end of the year
2025
£
261,652
-
(250,000)
(5,119)
2024
£
1,253,352
-
(1,050,000)
58,300
6,533 261,652
6,533 261,652
2025
£
6,533
2024
£
261,652
2025
£
1,056,999
103,791
292,388
108,778
2024
£
946,337
89,589
373,070
142,636
1,561,955 1,551,632
2025
£
235,285
197,340
212,302
64,838
101,668
2024
£
91,012
227,242
223,598
122,991
51,950
811,434 716,793

50

VoiceAbility Advocacy

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

14 Deferred income

Deferred income comprises income invoiced in advance of work not undertaken by year end

Balance at the beginning of the year
Amount released to income in the year
Amount deferred in the year
Balance at the end of the year
2025
£
51,950
(51,950)
101,668
2024
£
59,095
(59,095)
51,950
101,668 51,950

15 Provisions for liabilities

Provisions for liabilities comprises

Provisions for liabilities comprises
Balance at the beginning of the year
Increase/(decrease) in provision in the year
Balance at the end of the year
Dilapidations provision
Customer refund provision
Staffing provision
2025
£
29,032
(9,032)
2024
£
17,032
12,000
20,000 29,032
-
-
20,000
1,750
7,282
20,000
20,000 29,032

Staffing Provision

To provide for HR issues identified pre 31st March 2025.

51

VoiceAbility Advocacy

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Analysis of net assets between funds (current year)
Net current assets
Investments
Provisions
Tangible fixed assets
Net assets at 31 March 2025
General
unrestricted
£
-
6,533
1,440,354
(20,000)
£
382,583
-
280,000
-
Designated
funds
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-

Total funds
£
382,583
6,533
1,720,354
(20,000)
1,426,887 662,583 - 2,089,470

16b Analysis of net assets between funds (prior year)

Analysis of net assets between funds (prior year)
Investments
Net current assets
Provisions
Net assets at 31 March 2024
Tangible fixed assets
General
unrestricted
£
-
261,652
656,209
(29,032)
£
471,856
-
240,000
-
Designated
funds
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-

Total funds
£
471,856
261,652
896,209
(29,032)
888,829 711,856 - 1,600,685

52

VoiceAbility Advocacy

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

17a Movements in funds (current year)

a
Movements in funds (current year)


** Voluntary Action Coventry
Total restricted funds
Total designated funds
General funds
Department of Health (via National
Autistic Society)
Total funds
Designated funds:
Total unrestricted funds
Tangible Fixed Assets
Restricted funds:
Fixed Assets Replacement
NHS Nene and Corby CCG
Unrestricted funds:
£
-
-
-
At 1 April
2024
£
22,775
31,538
60,000
Income &
gains
£
(22,775)
(31,538)
(60,000)
Expenditure &
losses
£
-
-
-
Transfers
£
-
-
-
At 31 March
2025
- 114,313 (114,313) - -
240,000
471,856
-
-
-
-
40,000
(89,273)
280,000
382,583
711,856 - - (49,273) 662,583
888,829 15,775,150 (15,286,366) 49,273 1,426,887
1,600,685 15,775,150 (15,286,366) - 2,089,470
1,600,685 15,889,463 (15,400,679) - 2,089,470

The Fixed Assets Replacement designated fund is to ensure that VoiceAbility has fit for purpose equipment and systems on a long term basis.

The Tangible Fixed Assets designated fund removes the non-cash element.

53

VoiceAbility Advocacy

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

For the year ended 31 March 2025
17b


**
Total restricted funds
Total designated funds
General funds
Restricted funds:
NHS Nene and Corby CCG
Department of Health (via National
Autistic Society)
Total funds
Fixed Assets Replacement
Total unrestricted funds
Investment in Development
Voluntary Action Coventry
Tangible Fixed Assets
Movements in funds (prior year)
Designated funds:
Unrestricted funds:
£
-
-
At 1 April
2024
£
22,775
31,350
45,000
Income &
gains
£
(22,775)
(31,350)
(45,000)
Expenditure &
losses
£
-
-
-
Transfers
£
-
-
-
At 30 March
2024
- 99,125 (99,125) - -
950,000
120,000
484,942
-
-
-
(752,174)
-
-
(197,826)
120,000
(13,086)
-
240,000
471,856
1,554,942 - (752,174) (90,912) 711,856
1,397,195 13,463,128 (14,062,405) 90,912 888,829
2,952,137 13,463,128 (14,814,580) - 1,600,685
2,952,137 13,562,253 (14,913,705) - 1,600,685

Investment in Development has now been concluded with the balance transferred back to general funds.

The Fixed Assets Replacement designated fund is to ensure that VoiceAbility has fit for purpose equipment and systems on a long term basis.

The Tangible Fixed Assets designated fund removes the non-cash element.

5426

27

0300 303 1660

helpline@voiceability.org

voiceability.org @VoiceAbility

About VoiceAbility

We make sure you’re heard when it matters most. We’ve been supporting people to have their say in decisions about their health, care and wellbeing for over 40 years. We’re an independent charity and one of the UK’s largest providers of advocacy and involvement services.