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← St Pauls Advice Centre

2025-03-31-accounts

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Transformation and resilience in challenging times Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025

Contents

Contents
A note from the Chair of Trustees 3
A new home for St Pauls Advice Centre 4
Executive Director’s report 5
The stories behind the numbers 6
Who we supported over 2024-25 7
Our impact over 2024-25 8
Our clients’ experiences of St Pauls Advice Centre 9
In-year strategic updates and service developments 10
The impact of our work via Bristol Court Advice Network 11
Strategic report 12
Finance summary 15
Trustees’ report 16
Independent Examiner’s report 19
Statement of fnancial activities 20
Balance sheet 21
Notes to the fnancial statements 23

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11
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A note from the Chair of Trustees

For over half a century, St Pauls Advice Centre has stood alongside the people of Ashley and East Bristol. We have been a trusted source of support in moments of crisis; a guide through complex legal and welfare systems; and an advocate for equality and justice. That commitment has remained unwavering in 2024–25, a year marked by resilience, transformation, and deepened impact.

Transformation and resilience

We have invested in St Pauls Advice Centre’s future. In March 2025, we moved into our new home at Junction 3 Library – a modern, accessible, and welcoming space that embodies our values and better enables us to meet client needs. We have grown our team; expanded our volunteer base; and created new pathways for people with lived experience to shape and deliver our services. We progressed two of our Advocato volunteers – people with lived experience of the welfare benefit system – into paid roles, reflecting our commitment to building the next generation of advisers from within the communities we serve.

Partnership

Partnerships remain central to our mission. We continue to play a leading role in the Bristol Advice Partnership and have been instrumental in shaping the city’s ‘Future of Advice’ strategy.

New initiatives, such as the Bristol Court Advice Network, our Wise Women project, and the eVisa Transition Programme, are reaching people who have historically been excluded from mainstream services. They reflect our belief that access to justice must be available to everyone, regardless of income, status, or circumstance.

Continuing challenging times for clients

However, this year, we faced another period of sustained hardship for the people we serve. The cost-of-living crisis continued to hit hardest in our communities, where poverty, insecure work, poor housing, and health inequalities converge. Yet, amid these challenges, St Pauls Advice Centre has delivered its most impactful year to date. Overall, we put around £2.7 million back into people’s pockets – the highest we’ve ever achieved. This money meant rent could be paid, food could be bought, and heating could stay on.

And in a year when so many were pushed to the edge, we helped manage nearly £1 million worth of debt, helping bring people back from crisis point and giving them space to breathe.

As we look ahead, we do so with determination and optimism. With the continued trust of our clients; the dedication of our staff and volunteers; and the support of our partners and funders, I am confident that St Pauls Advice Centre will continue to be a lifeline, and a catalyst for change, in the years to come.

Pauline Sandell, Chair of Trustees

St Pauls Advice Centre has delivered its most impactful year to date. Overall, we put around £2.7 million back into people’s pockets

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

3

A new home for St Pauls Advice Centre

After 53 years at Albert Villa on Grosvenor Road, we left our long-standing home in early March 2025. As Rob France, our Executive Director, reflected, “Given the supportive role we’ve played for generations of people in our former neighbourhood, this was not a decision we took lightly at all.”

St Pauls Advice Centre first opened its doors in 1972, created in response to deep inequalities affecting residents across St Pauls and Ashley. From the beginning, we became a trusted place for people seeking support with welfare rights, debt, and immigration – standing alongside communities experiencing systemic disadvantage. Our connection to St Pauls strengthened further through the 1980s. During the St Pauls Uprising, we worked closely with local people in the community-led defence campaign, which helped shape our long-term commitment to justice and racial equality. This period also saw us launch some of Bristol’s first targeted outreach services for racially minoritised communities, Disabled people, and older residents. Throughout the 1990s

and 2000s, we expanded our specialist advice work, secured one of the city’s earliest legal aid franchises, and developed the multi-lingual, rights-focused service recognised today, all from our base on Grosvenor Road.

By the mid-2010s, it had become clear that the old building, though loved, could no longer support the scale or accessibility requirements of a modern advice service. With demand increasing, we needed a more spacious, suitable, and fully accessible environment. Our new offices at Junction 3 Library meet those needs while keeping us just a ten-minute walk from our original home, along a fully wheelchair-accessible route.

On 8 May 2025, our new Office was formally opened by Roger Griffith MBE. Speaking at the event, Rob France reaffirmed our commitment: “Our history is deeply rooted in St Pauls, and that connection will never fade.”

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St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

4

Executive Director’s report

This year has been one of significant progress, resilience, and growth for St Pauls Advice Centre. Against the backdrop of sustained economic hardship and increasing demand for our service, we have remained focused on what matters most: supporting our clients through the most challenging moments in their lives with care, dignity, and expert advice.

Financial outcomes

In 2024–25, we helped transform our clients’ financial wellbeing. We secured £2.5 million in additional household income through welfare benefits, tax credits, and lump-sum payments – money that directly improved families’ ability to cover essentials and plan for the future.

We also helped clients to manage nearly £1 million of debt by setting up affordable and sustainable repayment plans. We helped completely write off over £165,000 through Debt Relief Orders and negotiated settlements.

Together, this work has had a lasting impact – reducing financial stress, preventing crisis, and helping people regain control and confidence over their finances.

Caseload and client needs

Demand for advice remains high, with complexity deepening each year. We supported 694 people across 797 cases. Our clients came to us with increasingly complex issues: benefit delays, caring responsibilities, and overwhelming debt. A disproportionately high number of our clients were Disabled or living with long-term illness; from racially minoritised communities; and/or spoke English as a second language.

Societal barriers can limit these groups’ access to opportunity and support, highlighting the importance of our accessible service.

Investing in people and place

In March 2025, we moved into our new home at Junction 3 Library. This move enabled more agile working and space for expanded client-facing delivery – an essential step in helping us meet the ever-growing demand for our service. Our team has grown from 10 to 15 staff and from 3 to 7 volunteers, significantly increasing our capacity to take on more complex work and provide a more holistic service.

Impact of our volunteer programme

Through our Advocato volunteer programme, volunteers with lived experience of benefits, debt, and immigration issues support our clients with simpler tasks, freeing up our advisers to work on more complex casework. The programme remains a vital part of how St Pauls Advice Centre extends its reach, builds trust, and delivers impact in the communities we serve.

In 2024–25, 14 volunteers supported 145 clients across 171 cases, helping them complete benefit applications, navigate complex systems, and access their rights. Our volunteers’ contribution

secured over £404,000 in financial gains for clients – including successful awards of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Universal Credit, and Pension Credit. Our volunteers bring personal experience, cultural understanding, and language skills that break down barriers with clients who might otherwise be excluded from services. Beyond immediate outcomes, the volunteer team provides reassurance and peer support to people in crisis; prevents hardship and homelessness; and strengthens resilience in our communities.

Rob France, Executive Director

We moved into our new home at Junction 3 Library. This enabled more agile working and space for expanded client-facing delivery.

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

5

The stories behind the numbers

Carlos*

Carlos struggled with dyslexia, which severely impacted his ability to read and write, leaving him dependent on others for assistance. He told us he often felt like a burden, especially when it came to seeking help. We worked with Carlos for several years and learned how to communicate with him in ways that helped him to understand, and to work with us.

Carlos first came to us for help with completing a PIP claim form. Unfortunately, despite his needs, his PIP application was turned down, and he needed help to appeal this decision.

With the assistance of our volunteers, Carlos collected the necessary documentation for the case and submitted his appeal. Whilst we waited to hear of the outcome, our Debt Adviser worked with Carlos and helped him to write off debts of over £1,000.

Recognising his need for continued support with his PIP appeal, we referred Carlos to our partners at Bristol Law Centre for

representation at his hearing. With our help and that of Bristol Law Centre, Carlos was awarded Standard Daily Living PIP, with arrears of approximately £6,000 and ongoing weekly support of £72.65.

This case highlights the importance of taking the time to understand each of our clients’ needs and adapt our support to meet them.

*All featured client names have been changed to protect their identity

Salma, an older Disabled woman from Bangladesh, came to us after spending a long time in emergency accommodation. She had been told she lacked sufficient income to move into social housing, leaving her in distress and uncertainty.

Our Debt Adviser worked closely with Salma to complete a financial statement, which proved that – despite her low income – she could indeed afford to move into social housing. With this evidence, the team advocated on her behalf, ensuring she could move forward.

Our volunteer team helped Salma call the Department for Work and Pensions to claim Universal Credit, securing an advance payment that covered the deposit for her new flat. When communication with her housing association stalled, the volunteers stepped in, making multiple calls which fast-tracked her move-in date. Our volunteers also helped Salma access financial aid from Bristol City Council’s Local Crisis Prevention Fund and Bristol Charities. She received a cooker, fridge-freezer, furniture, and £250 in vouchers to help her settle in.

Next, our Benefits Adviser helped resolve Salma’s outstanding Housing Benefit issues, leading to a repayment after discovering her account was in credit. The adviser also identified that she was likely eligible for a higher rate of PIP, which the team is now supporting her to claim.

Beyond financial support, our volunteers empowered Salma to manage her affairs independently. They encouraged her to make calls to Universal Credit herself and assisted her with negotiating direct debit payments for her energy bills. With this ongoing support, Salma started feeling much calmer and gained confidence, financial stability, and independence in her new home.

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

6

Who we supported over 2024-25

The neighbourhoods we serve have experienced decades of systemic exclusion. Cuts to public services, the pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis only deepened existing inequalities over last year.

Two areas of our focus – St Pauls and Easton – have some of the highest levels of poverty and racial inequality in Bristol. In St Pauls, 36% of children live in poverty – far above the national average of 22%. The two-child benefits cap prevents parents from claiming child tax credits and Universal Credit support for any more than two children. This had a big impact on our clients last year: 46% of those responsible for children cared for three or more.

Even working families began struggling more: low wages, insecure employment, and cuts to in-work benefits made it harder for people to meet basic needs – even those working full time.

Our clients often face intersecting challenges like poverty, discrimination, and mental health struggles. Many can’t access most welfare benefits due to their immigration status.

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38% were Disabled or had a long-term health condition

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69% were from
racially minoritised
communities
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16% had mental health struggles

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23% spoke English as a
26% were responsible
second language
for children
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13% were sole caregivers for children

Age range

16% aged 18-35 38% aged 35-49 30% aged 50-64 16% aged 65+

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Common issues

31% debt 25% immigration 20% welfare benefits 24% generalist

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Nearly half (48%) of all matters required in-depth casework support

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Around 30% of clients lived in the BS2 postcode area and 34% in BS5

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

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Our impact over 2024-25

We achieved strong financial and immigration outcomes last year. We also asked clients to give feedback. Not all responded, but the responses received demonstrate a high level of satisfaction with the service we provide.

We got £165,000 worth of debt written off for our clients

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62% of clients with immigration struggles were successful with their applications with our support

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88.7% found information easy to understand

We helped clients manage almost £1 million worth of debt e.g., via debt repayment plans

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We secured households around £2.5 million in additional income and welfare benefits

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71.7% said they were no longer worried about the issue they came to us with

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94.4% felt St Pauls Advice Centre helped well with their main issue

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94.3% felt communication was helpful

90.6% felt we listened well to them

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94.3% of clients felt they were treated fairly

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98.1% are likely to recommend St Pauls Advice Centre

96.2% of respondents were satisfied overall

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

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Our clients’ experiences of St Pauls Advice Centre

“I am a unique person and normally get judged, but they did not judge me. People understand what it’s like to be different at St Pauls Advice Centre.”

“The service is perfect and helped me with all my needs.”

“The forms were confusing, so the staff explained everything: anything I needed, they helped with.”

“Everything was handled very professionally. Everybody was very helpful.”

“The adviser considered what we were saying and explained exactly what was happening, much better than other centres.”

“They treated me with respect and listened to me. I recommend everyone who needs help to come here.”

“[The adviser] spoke my language, which helped me feel welcome and use the service more easily.”

“Words cannot express how much you have helped me during this overwhelming, frustrating, incomprehensible, depressing and anxiety inducing time dealing with my Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment applications.

[The adviser] has been astounding with her support, kindness and expertise during this 3-year period...I always felt safe and that everything would work out in the end and it did...I was granted the money to pay for my psychotherapy and some other things to get my life on track. I was also very honoured to be invited to the [opening of St Pauls Advice Centre’s new venue]...I was extremely nervous but...I was carried along by the warmth and kindness of everybody I met. It felt like being in a new world of positivity and possibility...and I can never thank you enough...”

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

9

In-year strategic updates and service developments

Throughout 2024-25, St Pauls Advice Centre continued to progress our four strategic priorities: being inclusive and person-centred; local and collaborative; robust and sustainable; and focused on voice and influence. These ambitions were brought to life through major developments, both internally and across the city’s advice landscape.

New premises

We successfully transitioned into our new premises at Junction 3 Library, reinforcing our identity as a welcoming, community-rooted advice service whilst creating a modern, accessible working environment for staff, volunteers, and clients.

Developing people

Staffing and volunteer development were significant areas of investment. The appointment of a Deputy Executive Director, a new Immigration Supervisor, and three trainees in welfare rights and debt marked a year of strategic growth. We strengthened our volunteer base, particularly through the Advocato programme which focused on immigration support and reception capacity. Several volunteers progressed to paid roles, a reflection of our commitment to inclusive development pathways.

New partnerships

We built new partnerships and invested in long-term sustainability. We secured funding from Independent Age to start our new ‘Wise Women’ project in East Bristol (in partnership with Housing Matters): supporting older, racially minoritised women with housing, immigration,

benefits, and debt. The ‘Whole Person, Whole Community’ project funding concluded this year, having enabled us to broaden our lens to better understand how clients’ wider life circumstances shape their advice needs. We embedded our learnings from it into our strategic objectives to ensure we keep providing a holistic service. We helped initiate the System Change Bristol group to drive cross-sector transformation to better meet the needs of communities facing disadvantage. We continued to play a leading role in Bristol Advice Partnership and the Future of Advice in Bristol strategy development.

eVisa Project

Meanwhile, our eVisa Transition Project brought over 150 new clients through our doors, reshaping quarterly demographics and strengthening our links with digitally excluded communities.

Bristol Court Advice Network

We continued our role as a partner in the Housing Roundtable, alongside Housing Matters, Shelter Bristol, Bristol Law Centre, St Mungo’s, Citizens Advice, and Bristol City Council and their Welfare Rights and Money Advice Service (WRAMAS). One of the key outputs of the forum was the Bristol Court Advice Network (Bristol CAN), which was funded by PPL. In response to

an increase in homelessness following eviction proceedings, we began attending Bristol County Court twice a month through the project.

We supported those facing eviction, providing on-the-spot advice and helping people to understand the language used in court proceedings. We achieved an excellent success rate, preventing homelessness in 96% of cases. 58% of Bristol CAN clients were taken on as longer-term casework clients – indicating the complexity of people’s situations and the benefit of Bristol CAN in enabling St Pauls Advice Centre to reach them. We supported Bristol CAN clients with over £303,000 worth of debt and secured them around £25,000 in additional income e.g., in the form of benefits.

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Through Bristol
CAN, we prevented
homelessness in 96%
of cases
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St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

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The impact of our work via Bristol Court Advice Network

Rene*

Sarah*

Rene was facing eviction due to £10,000 worth of rent arrears. She’d fallen behind whilst she had no recourse to public funds due to her immigration status after migrating from Cameroon.

When we met her via the Bristol CAN project, her situation was dire. Recognising the complexity of her case, the judge adjourned the proceedings to give her time to seek specialist advice.

We quickly arranged an appointment. Rene arrived at St Pauls Advice Centre overwhelmed, carrying plastic bags filled with paperwork. Along with her rent arrears, she also had a water debt, which we helped her manage by applying for a social tariff and debt support scheme.

We helped Rene put together a debt repayment plan for her rent arrears. Unfortunately, her landlord rejected it due to her low income. We explained to Rene that her only alternative was a Debt Relief Order, which would write off her debt but impact her credit score. She felt in despair – shocked that this was her only option.

Thankfully, Rene’s immigration status changed so that she became eligible to work and she secured a 15-hour-a-week job. Now we were able to re-negotiate a repayment plan with her landlord. This time, it was a success – she could stay in her home as long as she kept up with the payments. Rene felt so relieved, attending her next court hearing eager to tell the judge that she was enjoying her new job and planned to increase her hours to pay off her debts even faster.

Due to her determination and our support via Bristol CAN, homelessness was prevented and Rene regained financial stability, putting her in a much more secure position to deal with any future stresses.

Sarah was facing eviction with £5,300 worth of rent arrears. A possession hearing had been scheduled but the case was unexpectedly heard earlier in the day.

Sarah arrived at court to find out her landlord had been granted possession in her absence. Following a duty solicitor’s recommendation, Sarah applied to have the decision set aside and requested a new hearing, both of which were granted.

Feeling overwhelmed, Sarah came to St Pauls Advice Centre for support in the meantime. We offered a listening ear and sat down with her to review her finances. It became clear that she had debts of over £10,000.

We explained her options, and Sarah chose to apply for a Debt Relief Order, which she was eligible for due to low income. This would write off her qualifying debts, including the rent arrears, and prevent her landlord from continuing possession proceedings based on those arrears. We worked with our partners at Bristol Law Centre to help Sarah complete court forms ahead of her hearing. We also helped Sarah completed a Restart and Assist application to tackle significant water arrears. Both applications were successful: the Debt Relief Order was approved and the water company agreed to help with her arrears.

Through Bristol CAN, we accompanied Sarah to her court hearing alongside a solicitor from Bristol Law Centre. We presented the Debt Relief Order to the landlord and the judge.

The outcome was a complete success: the landlord could take no further action. Sarah kept her home, became debt free, and left court with hope for the future.

*All featured client names have been changed to protect their identity

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

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Strategic report

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Mission

Values

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Client focus

We take time to listen and understand our clients’ stories. Our advice and support helps people solve urgent challenges. We also help clients develop their skills and knowledge so that they’re equipped to solve their own problems.

Justice

We champion the legal rights of individuals. We pursue fair and just outcomes for them. We challenge discrimination and disadvantage, and tackle systemic inequality.

Community

We listen to and prioritise the needs of the communities we serve, ensuring good accessibility and availability of services. We work with partners that share our vision and make change happen for the community.

Integrity

We behave honestly, ethically, and openly with clients, colleagues, and partners. We are consistent in our actions, principles, expectations, and outcomes.

Expertise

We are professional, organised, and competent. We adapt to changes in policy and the law, keeping our advice and support as helpful as possible. We value and support our experienced and skillful team.

Respect

We treat people kindly, fairly, and consistently. We focus on giving the right advice rather than judging the people who need it.

We aim to treat everyone equally whilst valuing diversity and respecting people’s differences. Where possible, we adapt our services to take account of different needs.

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

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Strategic Report

2024-26 strategic plan

We have three overall, key aims for our clients. These are grounded in a strength-based, holistic approach that recognises empowerment as the foundation for helping clients meet their own needs in the future.

Key aims

Focused objectives

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Develop resilience
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Increase wellbeing
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Improve clients’ financial, housing, and immigration situations, thus providing a more stable platform from which they can deal with any future issues.

Increase clients’ physical and mental wellbeing through reducing their risk of debt, eviction, homelessness, or abuse.

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Enable independence
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Increase clients’ understanding of their rights and responsibilities, whilst building their skillset and confidence – thus empowering them to better deal with any future issues themselves.

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St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

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Strategic Report

Progress against our strategic priorities

1. Inclusive and person-centred

We continued to embed a holistic approach across all our work. Most clients arrived with more than one issue, often linked to poverty, ill health, or disability. We adapted our services to meet these complex needs, from supporting clients with learning disabilities to navigate PIP appeals, to helping older women from racially minoritised backgrounds secure housing and benefits. Our Advocato volunteer programme, now supporting clients with immigration and reception services, embodies our inclusive approach and creates pathways from lived experience into paid roles.

2. Local and collaborative

Partnership working remains central to our model. We strengthened our collaborations with community organisations, GP surgeries, and housing providers, and continued to co-design solutions with local partners. As a partner in the Housing Roundtable, we helped launch the Bristol Court Advice Network (Bristol CAN), offering on-the-spot advice in eviction hearings and achieving a 96% homelessness prevention rate. Our eVisa Transition Project supported more than 150 clients facing barriers to digital immigration processes, while new partnerships, such as with Independent Age on the Wise Women project, are extending our reach into underserved communities.

3. Robust and sustainable

Our move to Junction 3 Library was a milestone in our organisational development, creating a welcoming, accessible space for clients and a modern working environment for staff and volunteers. We invested in workforce development, appointing a Deputy Executive Director, a new Immigration Supervisor, three trainee advisers, and several volunteers. These roles not only increase our capacity but also contribute to workforce sustainability in a sector facing national shortages.

4. Voice and influence

We continued to amplify the voices of the communities we serve, advocating for systemic change and equitable access to justice. Through the Bristol Advice Partnership and System Change Bristol, we contributed to citywide strategies and influenced how advice services respond to structural inequalities. Our casework and client stories – from preventing wrongful evictions to supporting people with no recourse to public funds – highlight the broader injustices in welfare, housing, and immigration systems, and inform our policy and campaigning work.

Looking ahead

As we enter 2025–26, we are focused on deepening our impact and strengthening our sustainability. We will build on the foundations laid this year to:

Our vision remains steadfast: a thriving community where people feel secure, knowing they have a good standard of life built on equality and justice.

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

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Finance summary

Supporters and partners

We extend our thanks to the many organisations, local and national grant makers, project partners, and individuals that work with us to support the communities of St Pauls, Ashley, and East Bristol.

Income £567,732

73% Donations and Grants

18% Bristol City Council

Expenditure £494,881

40% Welfare Benefits 34% Debt Advice 16% Generalist Advice 10% Immigration Advice

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

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St Pauls Advice Centre Trustees’ report 2024-25

The Trustee Board presents its report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025. These have also been prepared to meet the requirements of a Directors’ Report and Accounts under the Companies Act.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts. They comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, and the Statement of Recommended Practice Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP FRS 102), effective from 1 January 2019.

The company has taken advantage of the exemption which allows charitable companies to omit a separate Strategic Report in accordance with The Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2013.

Our purposes and activities

The charity’s objects and principal activities are to:

In practice, St Pauls Advice Centre fulfils these objects by providing free, confidential and independent advice, information, and casework to individuals and families across Bristol, with a particular focus on residents of St Pauls, Easton, and the wider East Bristol area, where levels of deprivation and inequality remain among the highest in the city.

Our advice work primarily covers welfare rights, debt, and immigration alongside linked social welfare issues such as energy. We also provide early intervention and triage services, helping people resolve problems before they escalate into crisis, and ensuring that residents can access the right service at the right time.

The Centre plays a vital role in enabling people to secure their income, stay in their homes, and maintain financial stability, often preventing homelessness, destitution, and serious hardship. Our work helps local people to exercise their legal rights, challenge unfair decisions, and navigate complex systems, outcomes which in turn improve wellbeing, health, and community resilience.

Beyond individual casework, St Pauls Advice Centre works to increase awareness of rights and entitlements through outreach, community education, and partnership initiatives. These include advice sessions in community venues, collaborative projects with local organisations, and the training and development of volunteers drawn from the local area.

We are committed to a “whole person” approach that recognises the interconnection between financial, social, and emotional wellbeing. This approach underpins our partnerships with a wide range of organisations across Bristol’s advice, health, and voluntary sectors, ensuring clients receive coordinated and holistic support.

Through this combination of direct advice, community engagement, and systems influence, St Pauls Advice Centre advances its charitable purpose of relieving poverty and promoting equality, inclusion, and justice for all members of our community.

Public benefit

The Trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when planning and reviewing the charity’s activities. They confirm that all of the Centre’s work is directed towards furthering its charitable purposes for the public benefit.

Financial review

The charity achieved a net surplus of £72,851 during the year ended 31 March 2025 (2024: £9,442). At the year end, the charity’s net assets stood at £295,623 (2024: £222,722).

This figure includes £67,309 of designated reserves, as set out in note 20 to the accounts. Movements on restricted funds are also detailed in note 20.

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

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Trustees’ Report

Principal funding sources

The charity’s principal sources of funding during the year were Bristol City Council, The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), Clarion Housing Group, and The Henry Smith Foundation.

We are grateful to these funders and to all supporters who enable the continued delivery of our advice and community services.

Risk management

The Management Committee regularly reviews the major risks to which the charity is exposed. A risk framework is in place and updated at each Management Committee meeting.

Where relevant, systems and procedures are established to mitigate identified risks. This includes the development of a strategic plan addressing service development, diversification, and sustainability.

Internal controls are strengthened through clear financial authorisation processes and project management procedures. Compliance with health and safety standards for staff, clients, and visitors is actively monitored.

The charity holds the Advice Quality Standard (AQS) in debt and welfare rights, ensuring consistency and quality across service delivery. The AQS is reassessed every two years.

We also meet Bristol City Council baseline standards, with formal monitoring twice a year. Charity procedures are periodically reviewed to ensure they remain effective and appropriate.

Investment policy

The charity maintains prudent reserves and has historically not invested surplus cash. The Trustees review the potential for suitable investment opportunities on an ongoing basis.

Reserves policy

The Management Committee has reviewed the charity’s reserves requirements in light of its main financial and operational risks.

The Committee’s policy is to maintain free reserves (unrestricted funds not committed or invested in fixed assets) at a level equivalent to a minimum of four months’ running and salary costs, based on the forthcoming year’s budget. For 2025–26, this equates to approximately £180,000, considered sufficient to allow for an orderly wind-down if ever required.

As at 31 March 2025, free reserves stood at £228,314 (2024: £174,078). Trustees will continue to seek further financial support to maintain this minimum target and to provide capacity for future capital expenditure or unforeseen costs.

The Trustees confirm that the charity’s assets are available and adequate to meet its obligations on a fund-by-fund basis.

Structure, governance and management

The charity is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated and registered as a charity in 2000, and operating since 1972. It is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association, which set out its charitable objects and powers.

In the event of winding up, members are required to contribute no more than £1.

Recruitment and appointment of the Management Committee

The directors of the company also act as charity Trustees and are referred to as members of the Management Committee.

Under the Articles, committee members serve for 12 months and are re-elected annually at the AGM. All current members have offered themselves for re-election.

Given the charity’s location and purpose, serving the diverse communities of Ashley and East Bristol, the Management Committee aims to reflect this diversity within its composition. Trustees are recruited through local networks, community promotion, and existing service user engagement.

The Committee maintains a broad range of skills, including legal, financial, community, and livedexperience perspectives. Trustees are invited to record their areas of expertise, and where gaps arise, targeted recruitment ensures the necessary skills are maintained.

Trustee induction and training

Most Trustees are already familiar with the charity’s work, having visited the Centre or participated in its annual planning day.

New Trustees receive an induction pack including:

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

17

Trustees’ Report

This ensures Trustees are fully informed of their responsibilities and the charity’s operating environment.

Organisational structure

As at 31 March 2025, the Management Committee comprised five members. The Committee meets at least six times per year and sets the charity’s strategic direction and policies. Members come from a range of professional and community backgrounds, including former service users.

A clear scheme of delegation is in place. The Executive Director holds day-to-day responsibility for operational management, service delivery, staff supervision, and development, as well as ensuring compliance with funder requirements and performance targets.

Advice Supervisors oversee the adviser team, ensuring casework quality and adherence to AQS and internal standards.

Strategic partners

Where appropriate, the charity works closely with both national and local partners. Nationally, it aligns with AdviceUK policy and practice frameworks. Locally, it is an active member of ACFA Advice Centres for Avon – a network of advice agencies that share best practice, coordinate funding applications, and engage in social policy work.

During 2024–25, St Pauls Advice Centre played a key role in supporting the coordination and development of ACFA activities across Bristol.

Responsibilities of the Management Committee

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements each year that give a true and fair view of the charity’s financial position and performance. In preparing the statements, Trustees must:

The Trustees are responsible for maintaining accurate accounting records that reflect the charity’s financial position and ensure compliance with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the charity’s assets and taking reasonable steps to prevent and detect fraud or other irregularities.

Trustees are further responsible for the integrity and maintenance of financial information published on the charity’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from that in other jurisdictions.

Members of the Management Committee

Members of the Trustee Board, who are directors for the purpose of company law and Trustees for the purpose of charity law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report were:

Helen Sipthorp (Secretary)

Pauline Sandell (Chair)

Eve Barnes (resigned in July 2024)

Philip McCabe

Derek McConnell

Matthew Skuse (Treasurer)

Nzinga Akinshegun (resigned in September 2024) Salha Juma (appointed on 10th April 2025) Aliza Baber (appointed on 10th April 2025)

In accordance with company law, as the charity’s Trustees, we certify that:

Approved by the Trustee Board on 28th November 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

Helen Sipthorp, Trustee and Secretary

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

18

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of St Paul's Advice Centre (‘the Company’)

I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s Trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

Since the Company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the

Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Joshua Kingston BSc FCA

Date 28th November 2025

Burton Sweet Chartered Accountants

The Clock Tower, 5 Farleigh Court, Old Weston Road , Flax Bourton, Bristol BS48 1UR

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

19

Statement of financial activities (including income & expenditure account) For the year ended 31 March 2025

==> picture [610 x 31] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Note Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds 2025 Total funds 2024
Income and expenditure
£ £ £ £
----- End of picture text -----

Income and expenditure Note Unrestricted funds
£		 Restricted funds
£		 Total funds 2025
£		 Total funds 2024
£
Income from:
Donations and grants
Charitable activities		 2
3		 449,887
64,020		 53,369
456		 503,256
64,476		 400,532
59,813
Total income 513,907 53,825 567,732 460,345
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities		 5
6		 12,036
429,020		 -
53,825		 12,036
482,845		 13,527
437,376
Total expenditure 441,056 53,825 494,881 450,903
Net income/(expenditure) and
net movement in funds
Total funds at start of year		 10
20		 72,851
222,772		 -
-		 72,851
222,772		 9,442
213,330
Total funds at end of year 20 295,623 - 295,623 222,772

The Charity has no recognised gains or losses other than the results for the year as set out above. All of the activities of the charity are classed as continuing.

The notes on pages 23 to 33 form part of these financial statements.

See note 13 for fund-accounting comparative figures.

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

20

Financial Report

Balance Sheet

As at 31 March 2025

Fixed Assets
Tangible assets
Investments		 Note
14		 2025
£
23,130		 2024
£
3,694
~~fT~~ 23,130
~~fT~~		 3,694
Current assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand		 15
~~fT~~		 17,611
280,525
~~fT~~		 93,335
142,574
~~T_~~ 298,136
~~T_~~		 235,909
Liabilities
Creditors: Amounts falling
due within oneyear		 16
~~T_~~
~~a~~		 (25,643)
~~T_~~		 (16,831)
Net current assets or liabilities ~~a~~ 272,493 219,078
Total assets less current liabilities ~~a~~
~~fs~~		 295,623
~~fs~~		 222,772
Net assets in 295,623
in		 222,772
Funds
Unrestricted funds
General
Designated
Restricted funds		 21
21
21
in		 228,314
67,309
-
in		 174,078
48,694
-
Total funds ~~sf~~ 295,623
~~sf~~		 222,772

For the year ended 31 March 2025 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the period in question in accordance with section 476.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act applicable to small companies subject to the small companies regime and in accordance with FRS102 SORP. These financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 28th November 2025 and are signed on their behalf by:

H Sipthorp (Trustee and Secretary) Company number - 03920535

The notes on pages 23 to 33 form part of these financial statements.

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

21

Cash flow statement

Year ended 31 March 2025

==> picture [374 x 49] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Note 2025 2024
£ £
Net cash inflow / (outflow) from
18 159,152 (54,688)
----- End of picture text -----

Net cash infow / (outfow) from
ti tiiti		 Note
18		 2025
£
159,152		 2024
£
(54,688)
operang acves
Non-operational cash fows:
Investing activities
Payments for tangible fxed assets		 (21,201) (1,026)
(21,201) (1,026)
Net cash infow/(outfow) for the year 19 137,951 (55,714)

Cashflow Restrictions

Charity law prohibits the use of net cash inflows on any endowed or other restricted fund to offset net cash outflows on any fund outside its own objects, except on special authority. In practice, this restriction has not had any effect on cash flows for the year.

The notes on pages 23 to 33 form part of these financial statements.

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

22

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. Accounting policies

Accounting Convention

The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued in October 2019 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Practice as it applies from 1 January 2019.

The charity is a public benefit entity as defined under FRS102. The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties affecting the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern.

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

Income

Income from donations and grants is included in income when these are receivable, except as follows:

Legacies are included on a receivable basis

where charity is entitled to the income, it can be measured reliably and receipt is probable. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is not included in income but is treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material.

Investment income is included on a receivable basis.

Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised in the period in which it is incurred. Expenditure includes attributable VAT which cannot be recovered.

Raising funds

Raising funds expenditure include those costs incurred in seeking voluntary contributions, costs of goods sold and other costs which include the costs of running and participating in fundraising events and collections and cost of goods purchased for resale.

Charitable activities

Grants awarded are allocated to charitable activities.

Grants awarded are treated as expenditure and a liability in the accounts as soon as they become legal or constructive obligations. In the case of multi-year grant awards, the funding for all years is immediately recognised unless there are conditions which need to be met by the recipient to enable the release of subsequent years’ funding.

Governance costs

Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include examination fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity. Governance costs are included within support costs.

Allocation and apportionment costs

Certain expenditure is directly attributable to specific activities and this has been included in those cost categories. Other costs, which are attributable to more than one category, are apportioned across cost categories on the basis of an assessment of workload carried out from time to time.

Overhead support costs have been allocated between fundraising costs and charitable activity costs. The apportionment has been allocated on the basis of usage and is analysed in note 8.

Pension costs and other

post-retirement benefits

The charity contributes to defined contribution pension schemes. Contributions payable to the charity’s pension schemes are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

23

Notes to the financial statements

Tangible fixed assets

Fixed assets are held at cost less accumulated depreciation. Assets costing less than £1,000 are not capitalised. Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its estimated ultimate residual value, over the useful life of that asset as follows:

Furniture, fittings and equipment - 25% reducing balance Computer equipment - 25% straight line

Website development costs and software licence costs are written off in the year incurred.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the Trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Designated funds form part of unrestricted funds and have been identified as being for particular purposes by the Trustees. They are not restricted and can be transferred to general funds at any time at the discretion of the Trustees.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in note of the financial statements.

2 Income from donations and grants

Note Unrestricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total funds
2025
£
Current year
Donations
Grants receivable		 4 6,900
442,987		 -
53,369		 6,900
496,356
449,887 53,369 503,256
Note Unrestricted
funds £		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total funds
2024
£
Prior year
Donations
Grants receivable		 4 5,535
223,559		 -
171,438		 5,535
394,997
229,094 171,438 400,532

Donation income in the prior year was comprised of unrestricted funds only.

3 Income from charitable activities

Note Unrestricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total funds
2025
£
Current year
Contracts and commissions
Other income		 4 63,864
156		 456
-		 64,320
156
64,020 456 64,476
Note Unrestricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total funds
2024
£
Prior year
Contracts and commissions
Other income		 4 57,141
2,672		 -
-		 57,141
2,672
59,813 - 59,813

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

24

Notes to the financial statements

4 Grants receivable

==> picture [361 x 43] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Total funds
funds funds 2025
£ £ £
----- End of picture text -----

Unrestricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total funds
2025
£
Bristol City Council
Bristol City Council - Advice and
Mental Health project
Citizens Advice Bristol -
Household Support Fund
Quartet Community Foundation
Society of Merchant Venturers
Medlock Charitable Trust
The Trusthouse Charitable
Foundation
Clarion Housing Group
The Henry Smith Foundation
Postcode Lottery Trust
The Nisbet Trust
AVIVA Foundation
Talking Money
National Benevolent Society
John James Bristol Foundation
National Lottery Community
Fund
Society of Holy Child Jesus CIO
Energy Saving Trust
Housing Matters (Bristol) -
Bristol Court Advice Network
Home Ofce
Other grants < £5,000		 100,825
-
63,068
23,025
-
-
-
53,015
70,000
-
15,000
74,592
-
20,000
8,000
-
-
-
5,937
-
9,525		 -
-
-
5,000
5,000
5,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
20,000
-
10,680
-
7,689
-		 100,825
-
63,068
28,025
5,000
5,000
-
53,015
70,000
-
15,000
74,592
-
20,000
8,000
20,000
-
10,680
5,937
7,689
9,525
442,987 53,369 496,356

==> picture [367 x 44] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Total funds
funds £ funds 2024
£ £
----- End of picture text -----

Unrestricted
funds £		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total funds
2024
£
Bristol City Council
Bristol City Council - Advice and
Mental Health project
Citizens Advice Bristol -
Household Support Fund
The Trusthouse Charitable
Foundation
Clarion Housing Group
The Henry Smith Foundation
Postcode Lottery Trust
The Nisbet Trust
AVIVA Foundation
John James Bristol Foundation
National Lottery Community Fund
Society of Holy Child Jesus CIO
Energy Saving Trust
Other grants < £5,000		 100,825
-
10,000
10,000
-
-
14,583
15,000
74,501
7,000
-
-
-
1,650		 -
27,027
-
-
51,964
-
-
-
-
-
45,366
15,000
18,405
13,676		 100,825
27,027
10,000
10,000
51,964
-
14,583
15,000
74,501
7,000
45,366
15,000
18,405
15,326
233,559 171,438 404,997

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

25

Notes to the financial statements

5 Expenditure on raising funds

Total funds
2025
£		 Total funds
2024
£
Current year
Direct fundraising costs		 12,036 13,527
12,036 13,527

6 Expenditure on charitable activities

==> picture [654 x 165] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Staff Direct Grant funding of Support Costs Total funds
Current year costs costs activities (Note 7) (Note 8) 2025
£ £ £ £ £
Advice and information 312,867 15,572 40,542 113,864 482,845
312,867 15,572 40,542 113,864 482,845
Staff Direct Grant funding of Support Costs Total funds
Prior year costs costs activities (Note 7) (Note 8) 2025
£ £ £ £ £
Advice and information 316,117 17,647 35,388 68,224 437,376
316,117 17,647 35,388 68,224 437,376
----- End of picture text -----

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

26

Notes to the financial statements

7 Analysis of grants

The total grants awarded to institutions during the year was as follows

==> picture [377 x 31] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
£ £
----- End of picture text -----

2025
£		 2024
£
Housing Matters
Bristol Citizens Advice
National Citizens Advice
South Bristol Advice Services		 23,742
16,800
-
-		 16,800
16,800
682
1,106
Total grants commitments made in the year 40,542 35,388

Reconciliation of grants payable

==> picture [377 x 31] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
£ £
----- End of picture text -----

2025
£		 2024
£
Commitments brought forward
Net commitments made in the year
Payments during the year		 -
40,542
(32,142)		 -
35,388
(35,388)
Commitments carried forward 8,400 -

8 Support costs

Support costs are allocated to charitable activities on the basis of usage. Support costs, included in note 6, are as follows:

==> picture [375 x 31] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
£ £
----- End of picture text -----

2025
£		 2024
£
Premises and ofce costs
Professional fees
Bank charges
Sundry costs
Governance costs (note 9)		 85,316
22,146
162
3,804
2,436		 50,797
10,135
332
1,736
5,224
113,864 68,224

9 Governance costs

==> picture [375 x 31] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
£ £
----- End of picture text -----

Independent examiner’s remuneration
- for examination services
- for other services		 2,400
36		 5,224
-
2,436 5,224

10 Net income/(expenditure) for the year

This is stated after charging:

==> picture [376 x 31] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
£ £
----- End of picture text -----

2025
£		 2024
£
Independent examiner’s remuneration
- for examination services
- for other services
Trustees’ travel, meeting and training expenses
Depreciation		 2,400
36
-
1,765		 5,224
-
-
2,182

No Trustees have been reimbursed for their out of pocket travel expenses (2024: none). No Trustee received any remuneration during the year.

Aggregate donations from Trustees, key management personnel, and other related parties was £nil (2024: £nil)

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

27

Notes to the financial statements

11 Staff costs and numbers

The aggregate payroll costs were:

==> picture [376 x 32] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
£ £
----- End of picture text -----

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension contributions		 280,611
19,135
13,121		 281,833
20,827
13,457
312,867 316,117

No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000.

The average weekly number of employees during the year was 12 (2024: 11), calculated on the basis of average headcount. The key management personnel of the charity comprise the Trustees and the Manager. The total employment benefits received by key management personnel including employer national insurance and employer pension were £57,497 (2024: £49,791).

12 Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

28

Notes to the financial statements

13 Statement of Financial Activities comparative figure

For the year ended 31 March 2024

==> picture [516 x 43] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Total funds
funds £ funds 2024
£ £
----- End of picture text -----

Unrestricted
funds £		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total funds
2024
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities		 229,094
59,813		 171,438
-		 400,532
59,813
Total income 288,907 171,438 460,345
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities		 13,527
265,938		 -
171,438		 13,527
437,376
Total expenditure 279,465 171,438 450,903
Net income/(expenditure) for the year and net movement in funds
Total funds at start of year		 9,442
213,330		 -
-		 9,442
213,330
Total funds at end of year 222,772 - 222,772

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

29

Notes to the financial statements

14 Tangible fixed assets

==> picture [375 x 46] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Furniture, fittings &
equipment Total
£ £
----- End of picture text -----

Furniture, fttings &
equipment
£		 Total
£
Cost or valuation
At 1 April 2024
Additions		 48,044
21,201		 48,044
21,201
At 31 March 2025 69,245 69,245
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024
Charge for year		 44,350
1,765		 44,350
1,765
At 31 March 2025 46,115 46,115
Net book value
At 31 March 2025		 23,130 23,130
At 31 March 2024 3,694 3,694

15 Debtors

==> picture [376 x 32] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
£ £
----- End of picture text -----

2025
£		 2024
£
Due in less than one year:
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
Other debtors		 -
15,805
1,806		 2,165
90,313
857
17,611 93,335

16 Creditors

==> picture [376 x 31] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
£ £
----- End of picture text -----

2025
£		 2024
£
Amounts falling due within one year:
Trade creditors
Grant commitments
Accruals and deferred income
Other creditors
Other taxation and social security		 5,073
8,400
4,406
1,673
6,091		 2,737
-
8,679
-
5,415
25,643 16,831

17 Commitments under operating leases

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

2025
£		 2024
£
Premises rent
Within 1 year
Two to fve years		 23,583
110,842		 -
-
Total 134,425 -

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

30

Notes to the financial statements

18 Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash inflow from operating activities

==> picture [374 x 31] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
£ £
----- End of picture text -----

2025
£		 2024
£
Statement of Financial Activities:
Net movement in funds
Depreciation
Increase / (decrease) in creditors: current
liabilities
Decrease / (increase) in debtors		 72,851
1,765
8,812
75,724		 9,442
2,182
(11,985)
(54,327)
Net cash infow / (outfow) from operating
activities		 159,152 (54,688)

19 Analysis of changes in cash during the year

==> picture [371 x 104] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024 Change
Note
£ £ £
Cash at bank and in hand 280,525 142,574 137,951
2024 2023 Change
Note
£ £ £
Cash at bank and in hand 142,574 198,288 (55,714)
----- End of picture text -----

20 Movement in funds

==> picture [377 x 56] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
At 1 At 31
April March
Current year
2024 Income Expenditure Transfers 2025
£ £ £ £ £
----- End of picture text -----

Current year At 1
April
2024
£		 Income
£		 Expenditure
£		 Transfers
£		 At 31
March
2025
£
Restricted funds
Home Ofce
Warm and Well
project
Bristol City Council
– Advice and Mental
Health Project
Quartet
Communications
Project
Society of Merchant
Venturers
The Medlock
Charitable Trust
The National Lottery		 -
-
-
-
-
-
-		 7,689
10,680
456
5,000
5,000
5,000
20,000		 (7,689)
(10,680)
(456)
(5,000)
(5,000)
(5,000)
(20,000)		 -
-
-
-
-
-
-		 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
- 53,825 (53,825) - -
Unrestricted funds
Tangible fxed assets
Building development
reserve
Revenue & Capital
fundraising
General funds		 3,694
25,000
20,000
174,078		 -
-
-
513,907		 (1,765)
(9,850)
(20,000)
(409,441)		 21,201
29,029
-
(50,230)		 23,130
44,179
-
228,314
222,772 513,907 (441,056) - 295,623
Total funds 222,772 567,732 (494,881) - 295,623

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

31

Notes to the financial statements

20 Movement in funds (continued)

Restricted funds

Home Office - This funding is for an immigration advice eVisa Project.

Aashyana Project - This funding provides housing, benefits and debt advice to the south Asian communities in Bristol.

Warm and Well Project - This funding enables us to deliver energy saving advice and energy debt support to inner city and east Bristol.

Bristol City Council - Advice and Mental Health Project: Provides advice to members of the BME communities in inner city and east Bristol who are experiencing financial issues and poor mental health.

Quartet Communications Project - This fund is restricted toward website development.

Society of Merchant Venturers - The fund is restricted towards Advocato volunteers offering support with benefits and reception services.

The Medlock Charitable Trust - The fund is restricted towards Advocato peersupport volunteer project.

The National Lottery - restricted towards Welfare Benefits Advice.

Designated funds

Tangible fixed assets - these funds represent the value of tangible fixed assets held in the Balance Sheet and are included within a separate designated fund to indicate that these funds are not available to be spent within general funds or free reserves without the sale of the assets.

Building development reserve - This fund was used to support the relocation of the advice centre to new premises in March 2025. The remainder of the fund is allocated to rent liabilities for the 1st year of tenancy.

Revenue & Capital Fundraising -This fund was used to support the relocation of the advice centre to new premises in March 2025 and to purchase essential office equipment.

==> picture [377 x 55] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
At 1 At 31
April March
Prior year
2023 Income Expenditure Transfers 2024
£ £ £ £ £
----- End of picture text -----

Prior year At 1
April
2023
£		 Income
£		 Expenditure
£		 Transfers
£		 At 31
March
2024
£
Restricted funds
Aashyana Project
Advice and mental
health project
Immigration project
The National Lottery
Community fund -
Cost of Living fund
Warm and Well
project		 -
-
-
-
-		 51,964
30,027
3,963
45,366
40,118		 (51,964)
(30,027)
(3,963)
(45,366)
(40,118)		 -
-
-
-
-		 -
-
-
-
-
- 171,438 (171,438) - -
Unrestricted funds
Tangible fxed assets
Building development
reserve
Revenue & Capital
fundraising
General funds		 -
25,000
20,000
168,330		 -
-
288,907		 -
-
(279,465)		 3,694
-
-
(3,694)		 3,694
25,000
20,000
174,078
213,330 288,907 (279,465) - 222,772
Total funds 213,330 460,345 (450,903) - 222,772

Restricted funds

Advice and Mental Health Project - This funding provides advice to members of the BME communities in inner city and east Bristol who are experiencing financial issues and poor mental health.

Immigration Project - This funding supports the provision of advice and information on immigration matters.

The National Lottery - Cost of Living Fund - This funding is for additional costs of the charity arising from the cost-of-living crisis.

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

32

Notes to the financial statements

21. Analysis of net assets between funds

As at 31 March 2025 Restricted
funds
£		 Unrestricted
designated
funds
£		 Unrestricted
general
funds
£		 Total
£
Tangible fxed assets
Other net assets		 -
-		 23,130
44,179		 -
228,314		 23,130
272,493
- 67,309 228,314 295,623
As at 31 March 2024 Restricted
funds
£		 Unrestricted
designated
funds
£		 Unrestricted
general
funds
£		 Total
£
Tangible fxed assets
Other net assets		 -
-		 3,694
45,000		 -
174,078		 3,694
219,078
- 48,694 174,078 222,772

22 Related party transactions

There are no transactions with Trustees or other related parties other than those disclosed as required by the SORP elsewhere in the financial statements.

St Pauls Advice Centre Annual Report 2024-25

33

St Pauls Advice Centre is a local independent charity and voluntary donations are an important part of our income.

There are many ways that people, businesses, or organisations can support our work:

Financial support

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Donate
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Volunteer

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Here!
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Raise awareness

Contact us to find out more

www.stpaulsadvice.org.uk

Reg. Charity No: 1083010. Ltd Co. 03920535. IAA Reg. No. N200400032