•ai',ei's 2024-2(0)25 *AEF5510J' 211111￿25 CCAIPANIES HOUSE A7 #15 Carers First Company Inforniation Registered Charity 1085430 Company Number 04144820 Registered Office Unit 4 Michael Gill Buildin8 Tolgate Lane Strood Kent ME2 4TG Bankers Lloyds Bank Pk 82 Mount Pleasant Road Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1RP Auditors Lindeyer Francis Ferguson Limited Nonh House 198 High Street Tonbridge Kent TN91BE Cai"ei's Fii'st Page 2 Carers First Contents: Structure, Governance and Management Chair s Introduction Objectives and Activ5ties io Achievements and Perforniance 13 Independent auditors report 29 Statement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet 35 Statement of Cash Flows Notes to the financial Statements Cai"ei's Page 3 Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025 The Director% who are also the Trustee5 of the charitable cornpany. present their Annual Report with the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025. This Trustees. reporL prepared in accordarKe with Part 15'of the Companies Att 2006. is also the Trustees. report as required by Part 8 of the Charities Act 2011. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the 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 1021 (effective l January 20191 in preparing this annual report and financial statements. Structure, Governance and Management Status Carers First is a company limited byguarantee and a registered charity {No.1085430) and was incorporated on 19 January 2001. The Charity's governing document is its Articles of Association, which have been approved by the Charity Commission. and its affairs are administered by its Trustees. Trustees The Trustees %¥tho held office during the year and since are as foll0v￿.. Mr. Peter Daws (Chair- resigned 18 Oaober 2024) Ms. Vicki Wells IVice-Chair} Mr. Sukwinder Bassi {resigned 31 December 2024) Ms. Georgina Hoare {resigned 18 October 2024) Mr. Peterjenkins c￿"eI.S Fii"st Page 4 Mr. Marcus Shaw (resigned 6 March 2025) Ms. Susannah Botting {resigned 6 Au8USt 20241 Mr. Clive Sparrow M5. Roberta Heys Dr. Manir Hussain Ms. Semantha Neal (Chair from 18 Ottober 20241 Ms. Daniela Cecchini {appointed 25.October 2024) The Trustees are elected. or re-elected. by rotation by the Companies Act Members of Carers First at the Annual General Meeting. c￿"e1'S First P?gÈ S Chair's Introduction This year has been one of grovrth and progression for Carers First. We launched our ambitious 2024-2027 Strategy and began delNery against a backdrop of economic uncertainty, pressures on social care. and a rapidly changing funding environment. Despite these challenges. we 5tren8thened our foundations and expanded our reach. ensuring that more carers than ever before could access personalised, life-changing support. Thanks to the dedication of our staff. volunteers. trustees, partners and funder5. we have continued to deliver real impatt for carers and their families. We have responded with innovation and resilience. rnobili5ing new.contracts, further embedding co-production into our worl and increasing the number of carers we reach and support. We are particularly proud of the progress made since securing our new contract in Merton. which supports both adult and young carers. Since be8innin8 delwery, have significantty increased the number of carers receiving support. while developing a strong local team that is already making a real difference in the communty. The success in Merton is just one example of how our strategy is driving meaningful change across all our serNices. The results speak for theMSe￿te5- across the charity in the last year over 57.300 carers re￿stered with Carers Flr5t and we reathed over 283.800 carers and professionals to provide information aboLrt unpaid carers. changing more INes for the better. Caring has a profound impacr on peopl¥s INes. WhiL5t many carers want to care and find caring rewardin& nevertheless millions of unpaid carers face poverty,, stress, and isolation as a result of their caring responsibilities. According to Carers UK data in 2024- 1.2 million unpaid carers Iwe in poverty. and 400,000 live in deep poverty in the UK: 61% of carers are worried about INing costs and whether they can manage in the future. 68% of carers cut back on hobbieslleisure actNities, compared to 58% in 2023 and 47% in 2022. Carers First has stepped up to meet these challenges. providing tailored-support that improves carerg wellbein& confidence. and ability to balance their own lives with their caring role. This report tells the story of that impact- of partnerships forged. barriers broken down. and lives imFiroved, and l am extremely proud to be able to share it with you. Page 6 Fi15t "I￿e coredfor ry brother since I wos séven ond he was nine. He hos suffered neglett abuse ond bultying throughout his lif¢ and it's been myjob to look ofter ondprotetthim. He is outlstic which afferts his obility to communicote effertivety with othefS ond this mokes him vulneroble...I have olso mode huge efforts to help him secure bou￿n8 closer to where I live. considering the sUPPOrt I provide. l om beingsupportedbyCorer5 FiASrto engage withAdultSociol Core tosetlurther5UPPOrt for my brothers needs.- Vanessa Carers First will continue to work direttty with. and for carers. providing personalised information and tailored support in the way rhat suit5 them, helping them find balance. and to live their lives to the fullest. "Being oble to speok to reol people [at Carers First]. People thot understond and hove ernputhy with rlje stresses ondfrustrations of doy to doy.coringond rhe dijficulties of nowgating the 5yStem.- lononymous) This vital work is made possible not only by our dedicated staff but a150 by the incredible contribution of our volunteers, whose time and commitment extend the reach and impart of everything we do. Our volunteers are a hugely generous group of people who gwe up their time to do so much for Carer5 First. In 2024-25. 136 volunteers delivered over 205 hours per month providing 50 much to the carer5 we supporL We W￿uldn't bè nearly as successful without them. Board, Leadership and Governance This year also brought important changes to our Board of Trustees. several lon8stsnding rnembers steppeddown aftermanyyears ofcommittedvoluntaryservice. Our previouschair. Peter Davis. Stepped down from his role after nine years of guiding the charity to uphold our mission. vision and strategic direction. We are very grateful for all that he has done during his tenure. We welcomed new trustees bringing fresh perspectives and expertise. Following our annual skills audit. new trustees were appointed through an open recruitment process and were supported through a planned onboarding proce55. We recognise the growing challenge of balancing trustee responsibilities with professional and personal commitments- particularly as many of our Board members hold roles elsewhere. We are immensely grateful for their time. insight. and continued commitrnenL Fii'st Pège 7 In line with the recommendations from our recent Governance Review. we took steps to further strengthen our governance framework - refining the role and remit of our Finance & Risk Committee and our People & Governance Committee to improve oversight and strategic effectiveness. The Trustee Board and both Committees meet quarterly. Day to day running of the charity is delegated to our Chief Executive, Alison Taylor. who adeptty drNes forward the delivery of our strategy, with the supporr of the Senior Leadership Team. Like many or8anisations. we also faced unplanned cost p￿sSUre% with changes to voluntary income generation. making it harder to secure funding through our previous routes. significant unexpected cost pressure was preparin8 for the rise in Ernployerg National Insurance contributions from April 2025. This added £141,000 to our costs overnight an unexpected challenge that we are continuing to work hard to meet. Despite these financial pressures, the declication and resilience of our staff remained unwavering, and their commitment is reflected.in the positive results of our annual staff survey. Our yearty staff survey shows year on year improvements which is somethin8 we are Immensely proud of, as without the hard work of colleagues across Carers First we wouldnt be able to deliver for carers and the people they look after. lovemyjob. Its 50P05itive when we hearfrom carers th0ttheY￿ enjoyed an eventor that Carers First has supported them when thing5 ht7ve been tough. l 0150 reollyenjoysupportingmy team ond seeing them progress."Avril Doyle, Operations Manager. Menon, Carers First. Equality, Dlversity and Inclusion (Etx) Equality. Diversity and Inclusion IEDII remain central to how Carers First operates as both an employer and a service provider. During the year. the Board assessed itself against Principle 6 of the Charity Governance Code and was assured that EDI is embedded both in our day- to-day work and in our focused Strategic actNty- It continues to be an area of importance for the Board and the ￿der charity. Building on this strong foundation. we worked across our wider management groupto develop a refreshed EDI Artion Plantoensure our policyis fully implemented in practice. This plan sets out clear attions and measures. supporting us to challenge ourselves and continuously improve the way we champion equalty, dwersity and inclusion for staff. volunteers and the carers we support. As a Board. we receive regular reports on the diversity of our staff tearn and the carers we support. c￿"e1'S Fii"st Page 8 Environmental Sustainability , In our new three-year strategy W￿ committed to better understand the impact of our operations on the environment byiundertaking an impart assessment. As a result, we are developing an action plan to rnitigate against the risks identified to deliver over the three- year period. We rook part in the first national Environmenral, Social and Governance IESG} Survey for charities, developed by Eastside People. to reflect on our performance as a charity in relation to E5G, to access benchmarked data and obtain examples of good practice. We now have a better understanding and an action plan to work to. Thank You As the new Chair of Carer5 FirsL I want to offer-a hearrfelt thank you to every volunteer and member of staff. Collettwety. your hard work and.enthu5iasm has delivered so much for carers. My thanks also go to our Chief Executive. Alison-Taylor. the Senior Leadership Team and my fellow Trustees for their viisdorn. 5UPPOrt and many hours of service. A special thank you to Peter Davis, our prewous Chair. for all that he has done for Carers First during his term. Finally, to the carers we serve, we understand that you give your all in the hardest circumstances often with little resL and we thank you for all that you do. 5emantha Neal Chalr of Trustees c￿"e1'S Fii"st Pttge 9 Objectives and Activities The charitys Objects are to "relieve the needs of carers and persons who are 5icK infirm, disabled or who have social care need5 in particular but not exclusively. by the prowsion of information. advice and support and by the prowsion of resplte care.- In accordance with Settion 17 of the Charities Att 2011. the Trustees have had due regard to the guidance published by the Charity Commission on public benefit when reviewing the charitys objectives and planning future activrties. Our Mission Carers First prowde5 suppoo for carers. with carers- so they can live their live5 to the fullest. Our Ambition To enable carer5 to thrive in their role and achieve the.balance in their lives they wish to achieve. Our Values Our core values underpin all ourwork. These values are.. Positive: We are dedicated to V￿rkIng with carers to make a positive. material difference in their lives. We celebrate diversty and work in an inclusr¥e. posltNe and supportive way, actively listening and valuing everyone's contribution. Collaborative: We recognise the importance and strength of wot1(ing in collaboration with local and national organisations to deliver improved support to carers. We also know rhe importance of collaboratingwith our Carers First collea8ue5. sharing knowledge and learning, being curious. respetting differences and workn'ng wtth integrty and transparency. Ambftlous: We are ambitious and tenacious in our determination to support more carers in- better ways. We wll innovate and develop our programmes of support, so more carers are able to obtain the support they need at the time they need IL to achieve a balance in their Iwes and enable them to live their lives to the fullesL Cai"ei:s Page 10 What we do In the UK. about 5.8 million people are prowding unpaid care to a friend or famity mernber. and any one of us could see our INes change overnighr if someone close to us suddenly needed extra support. In the UK tr40 in three of us will become a carer at some point in our lrfetime. Unpaid carers save the UK around £162 billion each year. this Is a huge contribution to our economy. We understand that being a carer can be a rewarding role. but it can come at significant personal cost with huge fi'nancial pressures and often finding the right support adds ro the daily challenges. Carers First Is here to change thai making sure every carer can find the help they need. when they need IL and know how much their contribution matters. Where we wvrk Our service model is based on earlyidentrfication and prevention. increasin8 carergwellbeing and reducing the impact of caring. We work with carers of all a8e5. using a 5trengths-ba5ed approach to sustain caring roles and to provide high quality, personalisèd information. advice and supporL so carers to have choice and control. We have stsff deliverin8 local commissioned carers services in the following areas: Essex Hackney Harin8ey Lincolnshire Medway Merton Southend-on-sea Waltham Forest We also continue to build our online digital offer. within and beyond the regions where we operate, so thatwe can offer all ￿rerS the information and sUPPOrt they need. Cai"ei"s Fii"st Page11 In 2024125 we Successful￿ navi8ated several 5ignfficant transitions. We secured a new contract in Merton with 27% more carers registered. expanding our reach into areas where we had not previously worked and securing new funding for young carers. diversifying our income base. In Croydon. we secured a contract and started mobilisation to enable us to launch the service in the next financial year. In EsseK we retendered and secured a new contract for Mid and South Essex under a new sermce specification. which required us to establish a dedicated counselling service. We also worked Close￿ with the Southend commissioner to expand statutory carers assessments and to create a small but 8rowing young carers service tailored to local needs. Essex Counselling Service: Carers First launched a counselling service in Essex in April 2024. as part of a new commissioned service with Essex County Council. Counsellors can provide solution-focused counselling for six weeks to adults and children in mid and south EsseK with the goal of supporting carers whose mentsl health troubles are.impacting on their caring role. One carer who gave their feedback said". "I'd felt so trapped-and stuck and didnt see how counselling could help me. They couldn't change an￿hing. But I besan to realise why I was feelin8 this way. I learned all about agency and that I had the power to make changes. I have learned so much about myself." The service meets the standards set out in the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy IBACP) Ethical Framey￿r -corers first hove definitety helped me espeaolty when my son bvos very ill in hospitt71 and I wos visited regulortyby 171¢7dyfrom Corer5 Fi￿¢ withotrt her supportlwouldnthove coped. A150. the day trips and events h¢M beenfantosric ond hove ullowedme tofeel like o normalperson ogain bect7Use (75 0 coreryou do loseyour identity.- (anonymous) .C￿"ei.S Page 12 Achievements and Performance In 2024125 we set ourseKTes fNe arnbitious objectives - and delivered tangible progress in every area. Reach and engage more carers early in their caring role Develop new innovatNe models of collaboration, delivery and programmes with the potential to scale our reach and impact Achiewng the highest quality of support possible, so we can maximise the difference made to carers, Irves Champion talent and diver5ty Grow and diversify our income to enable us to achieve more for carers Strategic Objective l. Reach and engage.more carers early in their carAng role Every year v4e work hard to reach more carers. We know that the earlier we reach them the more supportwe can provide to them. One ofthe challenges is that many carers dont identify as carers 50 our campaigns are essential for helping raise awareness and understanding of the support we can promde. We support carers from all communities, so we wnrk to ensure our information is culturalty sensitive. accessible and inclusive. In 2024125 we reached over283.800 carers and professlonals to prowde information about unpaid carer5. includin8 the remarkable role and value carers contribute to our local communities. and how to best support them. We have worked across the health and care system and with professionals to Think Carer<. prioritising working with employers. GP surgeries. hospitals. collea8ue5 Wlthin health, social care. education. housing faith. sportin8 and community organisations. We were successful in prowding more support to carers earlier in their carin8 journey- 44% had been carlng for less than three years before registeringwith Carers Flrst- a quarter of these had been caring for less than a year. Over 57.300 carer5 re8i5tered with Carer5 First- givingthem access to information. advice and 5UPPOrt- based on their needs and ensuring that carers can aicess a range of practical. finar5cial. counsellin& health and v4ellbeing supporrlattivtties. know their rights and are assisted with employThent, education and learning opportunities. c￿"e1'S Fii"st Page13 Sph of carers registered provide over 50+ hour5 a week of care. This shows that we are reaching and working Vdith some carers with very intensive caring roles. Being available for carers when they need us is essential to the service we provide. In 202412S we Supported 13.500 carers through personalised. tailored sUPPOrt in their community or home and spoke to over 18.000 carers throu8h our Helpline. Our Carer5 Online Communitycontinues tts be active and thrives. with over 1.700 member5 providing peer- 10-peer 5UPPOrt. Communications campaigns supporting reaching and engaging more carers: Our communications campaigns were at the heart of our efforts to reach more carers early. Our activities for Carersweek 2024 truly put carers on the map. bringing together 346 carer5 and professionals at events, reaching morethan 76,000 people on social media. and engaging over 20,QKJO carers through a special e•newsletter. Influencers Jess and Norma. who sadly died in 2025. amplified our message online, while.broadcaster Kate Garraway shared our research on Instagram. highlighting that 70% of carers feel unsupported by health and social care. The campaign not only raised awareness but also generated valuable insights to strengthen future actwity. We also marked Carers Rlghts Day by co-producing a prattical Carers Ri8hts Checklist with carers and delivering events across our local areas. Young Carers Artlon Day featured vibrant local artivities and films promoted widely on social media. celebrating young carers and connetting them to support. Our bi-annual Puttins Carers Flr5t magazine continued to provide vital information and powerful ￿OrieS of lived experience. Following the General Election. we wrote to every new MP in our areas to highlight the number of carers in their constituencies, outline their needs, and introduce Carers First as a trusted partner. As a member of the Carers Poverty Coalltlon. we signed letter5 to senior ministers. including Rachel Reeves and Liz Kendall. making the case for stronger financial support for carers, as well as an open letter to the Prime Minister. Together. these efforts ensured carer¥ voices were heard nationally and locally. influencing both policy and public awareness. Carers Fii"st Page 14 rer.5 US.. Medway F(x)dbank Campaign We worked in (￿PrOdUtt10n with carers and Medway Foodbank. which is part of Trussell Tru5L to highlight that 1 in 7 carers are having to access Foodbanks. The campaign featured carerg stories, was promoted on local billboards and an Arriva bus and got picked up by the local TV station. NOT"JUST A SON" Lucy s Story Lucy cares for her mother, who has recently experienced two bleeds on the brain which have resulted in long term health problems. Her mother now experiences seizures. memory loss. poor mobilty and has mental health difficultie5 due to previou5 trauma. Lucys carlng role Lucy is an only child. and nobody else lives at home with them. Her role as a young carer does not involve completing too many domestic tasks. but her role is more apparent when her mum is suddenly unv4ell. When this happens. Lucy must make quick decisions about her motherfs health and care. She has had to call ambulances to help her mother when she is having seizures or is unconscious. She has also been prewou51y told by paramedics to 'say goodbye. to her mother. impacting her emotional wellbeing. Lucy has had to help put her mother into the recovery position. feed her when she has been poorly and provide emotional support to her mother. How we have helped Lucy was referred to Carers First by her motherf5 phy5iOtherapist. and we intervened to provide support for Lucy in her caring role and at school. Firstty, we completed assessments to inform us of the type of 5UPPOrt Lucy required. Following this. we put together an emergency plan to provide urgent support for Lucy and completed some one-tr>one work wtth her. c￿"eI.S First Page 15 We then liaised with her school. to ensure that she could continue getting the most out of her education while caring for'her mum. We also provided a range of groups and activities for Lucy. to help her to meetotheryoung carers and engage in peersupportand informative sessions. Lucywas referred tolloLyLL a nats.onal youngcarers charitywho provide countryside respite breaks. and Off The Record who provide counselling servlces. The Merton Household Support Grant Scheme also provided Lucy with a £200 voucher to help her and her famity financially. Strategic Objective 2. Developing innovative collaborations aiid scalable programmes At Carers First, we know we achieve more for carers vthen we work together. In 2024125. we continued to prioritise collaboration with partners across the statutory. voluntary and private sectors to deliver innovative. scalable programmes that extend our reach and impart. Our teams are deeply embedded in the local communities we sefft and actively collaborate with a wide range of organisations-from h05Pitals. sch¢)ol& and.GP practices to food banks and large corporate organisations. These partnerships allow us to connect with more carer tailor support to local contexts, and deliver services that are grounded in community need. A strong example of this is our partnership with Legal & General. which has seen the development of a mentoring programme for young carers. Volunteers from Legal & General provided dedicated. structured mentoring to young carers to support their confidence. aspirations and personal development This collaboration demonstrates the real impact that private sector partnerships can have when aligned to our mission, with overwhelmingly positive feedback. We also took part in the first national Environmentsl. Social and Governance {ESGI Survey for eharities, developed by Eastside People. As one of just 78 organisations participating nationalty. we were able ro benchmark our performance. access examples of good practice. and gain insight into how we can better align our work with ESG principles. This is helping to inform our plans to undertake a full environmental impact assessmenL through which we aim to identify and mitigate environmentsl risk5 a550Ciated with our operations. Cai"ei's Fii'st Page 16 Through 2024125. we developed and delivered several short-term projects that exemplify scalable innovation. These programmes show our abilty to tesL evaluate and scale approaches that respond to carers. real-world needs supporting ourambition to growour impact acr055 diverse geographies and communities. The Hospital to Home Projett trialled new wnual wards support and delivered Significant Care Tool trainin& helping carers communicate effectwely with health and care Staff. and to identify. monitor and art on early signs of deterioration in the person they care for. In partrsership with health colleagues, we produced a Virtual Ward awareness film. This film helps to ensure carers are identified and supported when relative5 are discharged from hospital. One carer said. -Ifeellike Ihove token power bockosa corerondleelc0nf￿enttO discus5 with health profeS￿On￿lS obout the pe￿on I corefor.. We saw some very positwe outcomes from The Me(hvay Carer Wellbeing Programme with 97% of partlcipants reporting reduced stre$5 and 89% reporting improved confidence. Accelerating Reform Fund {ARFkfvnded initiatives enabled the recruitment of dedicated roles across Southend, Waltham ForesL Croydon and Merton, which.will support co-produttion of our services and engagement with carers and other stakeholders. Strategle Objective 3. Achieving the highest quality ofsupport possible, so we can maximise the difference made to carers, lives We are committed to delivering the highest quality of supporT to unpaid carers. helping them sustain their caring role while maintaining their own wellbeing, independence and quality of life. In 2024125. we built on the strong foundations of our existing services to enhance and expand whatwe offer. We delivered tailored. 5trengths-ba5ed support that prioritised carerg choices and circumstances. Carers accessed a wide range of information. advice. advocacy and practical support, including-. One-to-one a(fvice and guidance Carer5 Assessments and Support Plans Informal advocacy and help navigating complex systems Access to financial suppor( benefts and grants Counsellin& coaching and wellbeing artivities Support groups, peer networks and specialist workshops Trips. respite activities and creative opportunities to recharge Fii"st Ppge 17 Our Programmes of Support develr)ped in CO•production with carers and peer-reviewed by clinical and specialist organisations. continued to evolve. These high-quality, modular programmes address carer5' needs by topic or carin8 Sltuation. ensuring relevant, structured, evidencfrbased 5UPPOrt. In 2024125, these programmes were showcased at both the Carers UK and Carers Trust national conferences. We expanded our delegated authorty to undertake Statutory Carers Assessments on behalf of local authorities, with more councils trusting us to lead on this Vital work. We also focused on demonstrating the drfference vle make through robust outcome5 data. Headline results from carers supported this year include: 90% improved or sustained their carer assessment outcome 88% improved or sustained their health 92% improved or sustained their work situation 84% said they had more time forthemselves In additlon, independent arkity5is by Apteligen showed: 94% felt listened to and that their own needs were taken into account 92% felt more confident and informed 94QA felt more resilient in their caring role 79% felt equipped with knowledge and skills to care 95% would recommend Carers First We atso continued to uphold external quality and compliance.standard5. includin8 reaccreditation for: ISO 9001 Quality Management Cyber E55entials and Cyber Essentials Plus NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit Together, these achievements Teflect our relentless focus on qualty, continuou5 improvemen( and delivering the best possible outcomes for the carers we support. Page 18 Sarah's Story You ore not olone. Seeking 5UPPOrtis noto sign olweakne55- Itis essen¢iul.- Sarah has been receiving support from Carers FirsL slnce 2018. My name is Sarah. I'm a full-rime carer for my husband. Jonathan, who lost both his le85 to meningitis when he was just 19. We IDie with our two children. Maisie and Harry. and our beloved cockap005. Our days are a mix of routine. challenges. and moments of joy. I becamejonathan's carer in 2￿8 vthen we firsi mei. My role covers everyrhlng- making tea and breakfasL mana8in8 the laundry. tidyin8 the house, and homeschooling the kid5. l also help Jonathan with daily tasks, like taking hls medication and assistlng hlm with showering and getting in and out of the.car. Jonathan is Incredib￿ stron& but I can always sense when he's struggling. Thavs when I know I need to step in and encourage him to resL My health isn't always Breat either - I have fibromyalgia. osteoarthritbs. and PTSD. Some days. I'm drained. but I do my best to push through for my family. I'm thankful when Maisie steps in to help- she loves it. Occasionally. l steal a moment for myself when I visit the hairdresser - ifs a little slrce of bliss in rny busy life. Being a carer isn't just physical irs emotional. Some days. fm proud of what I do. knowing I'm making a difference. Other days, I feel invisible. as rf my needs come last. The feeling5 of isolation, exhaustion. and guilt can feel overwhelming. But I remind myself that doing my best is enough- One of my biggest passions is football: I'm a huge Lincoln City FC fan. and I dream of meeting my favourite players. especially Freddie Draperl These moments of joy. no matter how small. help me slay grounded. I have found comfort in online communities and Carers First support groups and local activities, where I can share my experiences with people who genuinely understand. Organisations like Carers First offer prartical advice, helplines. and emotional support for those who need it. The charity has been a lifeline for me. "Even Something as simple os o short wolk or a cup of tea in peace can make a drfference." This is just a glimpse into my life as a carer- a role filled with love. Struggles, and dreams for the future. It is not always easy. but I take it with an open heart. C￿"eI.S First Pagg 19 Strateglc Objective 4. Championing talent and diversity We are proud of our incredible staff and volunteer team. who bring lived experience, compassion and professionalism to their work every day. In 2024125. we continued to foster a culture that champions diversity. SUPPOrts career development and value5 everyone's contribution. Within our Carers First team 40% have personal experience of being a carer. We model carer-friendly practices through flexible workin& a Carers Policy. Carers Passports. a staff carers neI￿OrK and paid carers leave. Our rrfth annual staff suNey showed continued year- on-year improvement, refletting our supportive internal culture: 93% enjoy their work 92% feel respetted 9096 feel treated fairty 88% feel supported 94% understand their contribution to the strategy 86% feel they have the right training and development At the 2024 Away Day. over 100 Staff. volunteers and trustees came together to share learnin& celebrate succes& and hear from inspiring keynote speaker Mark Agnew. European Explorer of the Year, who spoke about team success resilience and creative problem-solving. We invested in staff development. both in-house and through accredited external learning., including Level 5 apprenticeships in leadership and data. Members of our team have actively supported kr￿Wledge-SharIng across the organisation, encouraging the development of collea8ues and increasins individual learning opportunities and resilience across Carers First. We are proud of our inclusive w￿rkplaCe. Colleagues have shared powerful stories of how supportive working practices helped (hem thrNe. C￿"el"S Fii"st Pago 20 One team member reflected on the -powerful import of genuinely listening ro corer feedbock through recent surveys." They highlighted that actions taken were ~directty informed ty survry insights, sgnificontfy enhoncing the carer experience. Thefeedbock we reCe￿[rOM corers hos improved in quontrty and qu171ity. which cun onty be due to teomwork ond knowing we are oll working together.- Volunteers: Enabling us to do more Our volunteers are so important and help us to deliver more 5UPPOrt to the carers we support. Many are former carers or professionals from our local and national partners. In 2024125 we Y￿re grateful to have the 5UPPOrt of 136 volunteers gave their time to Carers First initiatives. 72 volunteers were artive each month donating a total of 205 hours per month on average. During their voluntary hours they supported: Group artiwties Befriending and peer support Coun5ellin8 and mentoring Community engagement and events Fundraising and awareness campaign5 Our work was also recognised through our continued Dlsabillty Comrnitted and Disability Confident Employer accreditations. underlining our values of inclusion and accessibility. However, we know thi5 is a journey. and we are committed to continuous improvement in equity. drversity and inclusion across all areas of our work. C￿"erS First Page 21 Strategic Objective 5. Growing and diversifying our income to enable us to achieve more for carers In 2024125, we continued to grow and dtversify our income base to deliver more for carers and to respond to increasing demand. complexity and change in the extemal environment. We built strong trusted relationships with comrnissioners. secured major new contracts, and adapted quickty to challenges in voluntary income. Contract success and expansion We successfulty delivered existing contracts and met all major KPIS. reinforcing Carers FirsY5 reputation as a reliable. outcomes-driven.partner. Where commissioners have expanded or redesigned contracts based on need. we have stepped up wtth or extended seNice models. Notsble achievements include- Re-securing the London Borough of Haringey contract.to continue providing carer support services. Launching new contracts in the London Borough of Merton (April 20241, with a 27% increase in carers registered in the first year of delivering the setvice. The new team implemented an outreach-ba5ed model. deepened local partnerships, and secured additional funding to enhance support for carer5. Winning a new contract in Mid and South Essex including the introduction of counselling and mental health support for carers. Commissioner quote- ￿ne of the moin prioritiesfor Essex County Counol is to enhonce seThices for unpt7id carers. Corers First are a keypartner orgonisotion in helping us to ochieve our oims to support more carer5 Wlth higher quolity services, ond have shown collGborotion. dedicotion ond odoptubility in responding to rhe chollenges foced by corers ond in doing so ore moking o significant irnpart to ¢(7re￿.- Ben Ne8us. Essex County Council Securing a new seven-year contrart with the London Borough of Croydon, launching April 2025. for adult and young carer5. This will enable us to work with local partners in Croydon to provide more face-to-face and localised support to carers within the community. Concluding our contrart in Hackney. ensuring a well-managed and professional handover process. Page 22 Fii:st VolunLqry income: navigating challenges 2024125 presented considerable challenses in voluntary income. A number of Trusts and Foundations changed their focus toward Smaller or grassroots chortties. paused funding rounds. or reported they had Spent our. Noiably. V￿10St funding from Children in Need, due to their new threshold exduding charities with an income over £2m. Despite this, we secured new funding from new sources. including: The National Lottery Garfield Weston Foundation Peter Harrison Foundation This enabled us to maintain ouryoung carerg,support services and expand delivery in several areas. Innovating to meet need We secured Accelerating Reforrn Fund (ARF) fvndin8 for projects that directly respond to arerg needs, including.. H05Pltal discharge support Co-production with carers to shape seNices Dirett wellbein8 grants to carers Strengthening local engagement capacity in multiple regions We also continued working with the Carers Poverty Coalition, a(fvocatin8 for increased financial support for carers amidst rising cost-of-living pressures. As ststutory funding becomes more comwitwe and the voluntsry income landscape shifts, Carer5 First remains committed to building a financialty resilient organisation seeking new partner& diversifying income 5tream5 and demonstrating our impact clearly to funders and commissioners alike. Risks and Challenges Like many organisations operating in the social care sector. Carers First faced a range of risks and challenges in 2024-25. These included external economic pressures. workforce capacity, di8ltal inclusion. and changing government policy. We remain wgilant in Identi￿'ng and mitigating these risks to ensure long-term sustainability and impatt. Page 23 Fii"st Fundin8 volatillty.. The grant fundraisin8 enwronment has become in¢rea5in8ly challenging. Some lon8-term funder5 changed their eligibility or strategic focus. so we responded by securing alternative income through other funding streams. Unbudgeted cost increases.. Changes to employerg National In5vrance contributions and rises in the National Minimum Wage will increase our costs by an additional £141.000 next year. We contlAue to y￿rk hard to mitigate the impatt for the coming year. Recruitment and retention= Specialist roles have been hard to recruit. We have focused on retaining and developing internal talent and invested in our regional leadership capacity. Digital disengagement and exclusion'.)Despite our strong digital offer, some carers remain digitally excluded. We continued to offer blended services and increased outreach to meet people byhere they are. Underrepresentation of speclflc groups: We continue.to monitor potential areas of under-representation for carers such as ethnicity. gender, LGBTQ+ working with local organisations. community and faith groups to foster relationships and increase registrations. Cyber and data securlty.. We maintained key accredttations - Cyber Essentials. Cyber Essentials Plus, and NHS Data Protection Toolkit to ensure robust digital security and data protection compliance. Our risk register is reviewed quarterty by the Senior Leadership Team and Board. supported by clear mitigation plans. As we move forward. we remain agile and proactive in managing risks while staying focused on delNering excellent SUPPOrt for carers. Looking Ahead As we move into 2025-26, Carers ftrst will continue to deliver againsr the ambitions of our 2024-2027 Strategy- reaching more ca￿r$. strengthening our partnerships, and improvin8 the quality and impart of support for unpaid carers. Our key priorities for the year ahead include: Mobilising our new seven-year contrart In Croydon. launching in April 2025. to deliver services for adult and young carers. This represents a significant opportunity to embed an innovative. carer-centred Model of support from the outset. CaJ"ei's First Page 24 Deepening carer voice and involvement, by embedding co-production across all areas of our work and invesring in the capacity of carers to shape servTrces at both local and Strategic levels. Growing our peer support offer. building new ne￿orkS and groups that foster connertion. shared experience and emotional resilience. Extendlng our reach through digital and community-based 5UPPOrt, ensuring that all carers regardless of age. background or digital access. can find and use the help they need. Building financial resilience, by working wtth commissioners and diver5ifyin8 income through fundraising partnerships and innovation. he teom has focused t)n 5trensthening relotionship5 and portnerships so thar we con ochieve more for corer5. 1 enjoy my role ot Corers First and.it hos been great to see the teom moking improvements to our serwce5 month on month. Thry are.50 passionote obout the work thot they do. etre worked hord ro develop our doshboord with commissioners gnd the sernice is performing reolty highty in all KPIs. We ore reoching more Core￿ through new events ond networking.-Vic Skeldon. Head of knncolnshire Services, Carers First We will also continue to monitor the external policy and funding environment closety. particularty in light of the new 8overnmenL We will work with sector partners to ensure carers. voice5 are heard in policy debates and that their needs are recognised in any emerging reforms to social care. health or benefits system& With a clear strate8y. Strong foundations and a dedicated team of staff and volunteers Carers First is well positioned to 8row our impact and help more carers live their lives to the fullest. Our Thanks To our staff, volunteers, carers. commissioners, partners. funders and supporters- thank you. Together, we are creating a society in which carers are supported. empowered. and never overlooked. c￿"eI.S Fii'st Page 25 Financial review The charitys incoming resources for the year ended 31 March 2025 totalled £5,289.24312024 £4,931,3621. Resources expended totalled £5.114.80512024 - £5.056.341 } and net 1055 on investments was £29,793 (2024 - £54.581 Gain). The net surplus came to £144.64512024 - £70,398 Deficit). Our Reserves Policy is risked-based and assesses the financial risks on an ongoing basis and monetises the possible impart within a reserve range befften £1.3m, and £1.8m. The Trustees consider this level of reserves as sufficient to cover our operational commitments in the event of any changes e.g.105s of a significant contract. The level of reserves a150 allows investments to develop and enhance our seNices for carers. At 31 March 2025 the unrestri(ted fund balaAce was £1.235.74012024- £1,373,952} and the restricted £632,25212024- £349.3951 which are in line with the Reserves Policy. Investnients Carers First investments are held as a reserve against any future shortfall in income against expenditure. They seek to maintain and, if possible. enhance. the real value of the funds represented by its investments in line VI￿th the bu5ines5 plan. We seek to meet these objertives by maintsining an appropriate balance between maximising ion8-term returns and avoidin8 undue risk and volatility in capitsl values. Our Investment of Financial Assets Policysets out that our financial assets should be invested in line with our aims and charitable objectives. The Trustee5 do not wish to adopt an exclusionary policy. However, individual investments may be excluded if perceived to conflict with the charitable purpose of the organisation. The portfolio is split between UK quoted investments {investment trusts, REifs and EtF51 and holdings in uniuopen ended investment companies IOEIC's). There are no dirett foreign investments. Throughout the year we have increased our Environmental. Social and Governance (ESGI holdings in our investments from 21.6% to 24.5%. Audilors In accordance viith section 485 of the Companies Act 2006. a resolution proposing that Lindeyer Francis Fersv50n Limited be reappointed as auditors of the charitable company will be put to the Annual General Meetin8. Page 26 Fii"st Statement of Trnstee ReSp￿sibIlItieS The Trustees are responsible for preparing financial statements in accordance wirh applicable law and regulations. Company and charrty law requi￿$ the Trustees are also the dirertors of Carers First for the purposes of company lawl to prepare financial statement5 for each fiscal year. Under that law the Trustees have elected to prepare financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Praaice (United Kingdom Accountin8 Standards and applicable law), including the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 102). Under company law the Trustees must not. approve the financial ststements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charicable company and of the surplus or deficit for that period. In preparing those financial ststements they have.. Selecred SU￿ble accounting policies and then applied them consistently. Made judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudenL Prepared the financial statements on the going concem basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in bU￿ness. Stated vthether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed. subjett to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial sfateinen The Trustees are responsible for maintaining adequate accountin8 record5 which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements cornp￿ with the Companies Att 2006. They have general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonabty open to them to safeguard the assets of the Company and to prevent and detect fraud and other irre8ularitie5. The Trustee5 are responsible for the maintenance and integriry of the charitable companys website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in otherjurisdittions. Cai"ei"s Fii"st Page 27 Statement of Disclosure to Auditors So far as the Trustees are aware. there is no rdevant audit informatK)n which has not been disclosed to the companys auditors..They havetaken all the 5tepsthatthey ought to have taken as Trustees to make theMSe￿e5 aware of any matters which would be relevant for audit purposes and to ensure that 5uth inforynation has been communicated to the companls auditors. Small Company Exemptions This report has been prepared in accordance with the prowsions applicable to companies subject to the small companieg regime in'Part 15 of the Companies Act 2￿6. Approved by the Trustees and signed on th*r behalf ty. Semantha Neal Chair of Trustees c￿"e1'S Fii'st P￿e 28 Independent Auditors, Report to the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2025 Opinion We have audited thefinancial ststements of Carers First Ithe'charttable compan￿} forthe year ended 31 Morch 2025 which comprise the statement of financial attivitie5, balance sheet. statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements. including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accountin8 Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reportin8 Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Prartice). In our opinion. the financial statements- give a true and fair view of the stste of the charitable companls affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of its incoming resources and application-of resources for the year then ended.. have been property prepared in accordance with United Kingdom General￿ Accepted Accounting Practice.. and have been prepared in accordance with (he requirements of the Companies Act 2006. Basis for opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing lu￿ IISAS IUKI} and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditorf5 responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements settion of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance wtth the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audir 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 obtsined 15 sufficient and appropriate to prowde a basis for our opinion. Conclusions relating to going LM)ncern We have nothing to report in respett of the following matters in relation to which the ISAS {UKI require us to report where.. the trustees. use of the going concern basis of accountin8 in the preparation of the financial statements is not appropriate.. or Cai"ei"s Fii'st Page 29 the trustees have not disclosed in the financial statements any identified material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt about the charitable companys ability to continue to adopt rhe going concern basis of accounting for a period of at least twelve months from the date when the financial statements are authori5ed for i55ue. Other inforniation The other information comprises the infomiation included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditors report thereon. The tru5tee5 are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and. except to the extent otherwise explicttly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance condusion thereon. In connettion with our audit of the financial statementx our responsibility is to read the other information and. in doins 50. consider whether the other information 15 materially inconsistent wth the financial statements or our kno￿edge obtsined in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconslStencie5 or apparent material misststements. we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in thefinancial statements or a material misstatement of the other infomation. If. based on the work we have perfom)ed. V￿ 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 thmpanies Act 2006 In our opinion. based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: the information given in the tru5tees' report which include5 the director> report prepared for the PLtrposes of company law. forthefinancial year forwhich the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements,. and the directors. report included within the trustees. report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. Matters on whith we are required to re￿rt on by exception In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its ertvironment obtained in the course of the audit we have not idencified material misstatements in the dirertorg report included wrthin the trustees. report. We have nothing to report in re5pert of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2CKJ6 requires us to report rf, in our opinion- adequate accounting records have not been kept or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us,- or C￿"el"S Fii'st Page 30 the financial statements are rK)t in a8reementwith the accounting records and returns,. or certain disclosures of trustees. remuneration specified by law are not made; or we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit: or the trustees were not entitled (o prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies. regime and take advantage ofthe small companie¥ exemptions in preparing the directorg report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic reporE. Responsibilities of the trustees As explained more fulty in the trustee¥ responsibilities statemenL the trustees (who are also the dirertors of the charttable company for the purposes of company lawl 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 misstatemenL whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements. the trustees are responsible.for assessingthe charitable companys ability to conunue 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. Auditors responsibilities for the a￿lIt ofthe financlal statements Our objettives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as whole are free from material misstatemenL whether due to fraud or error. and to issue an auditorfs report that include5 our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAS IUIQ will always detect material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if. individually or in the a88re8ate. they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decision5 of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. Irregularities. including fraud. are instances of nonnniThJ ofthe year 460.178 590.729 Cash and cash •qulv4¢nts at the end of tho ye 1,127,9 460.178 Representedty.. Long temi cash deFK)5its Cash at bank and in harKI 190.967 269.211 gJ7.491 1.127.930 460,178 R•condlia¢ion of n•t In¢om¢ to Det Il¢yw fr¢•m op¥*ing xlivilies Net incomellèxwndituiel for the year As per the stalen￿nI of FinancialActMfyes 144.645 170.3981 AdjUstM￿tS for. Depreuation charge5 Net lossesllgains) investments Interest and dividends rec*ivable Decreaselllncreasel ￿ deb IrKreasellDecreas$l Trn treditors 35.657 29.793 130.434) 100.712 102.591 46.023 { 54.5811 {36.0111 294.8461 (61,6711 238.319 1401.086) Net cash provided byllused in) ￿1r￿j activities 382.964 1471,484) Page 36 Fi13L Carers First STATEMENTOF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued) . Analysis of ¢h•nges in nel debt Cash and Llquld equfvalents Inveslments 41fKI.178 1.118.509 667.752 1272,2941 { 29.7931 Al WinniTrJ of the year Cash llows Gains At the end of the year 1.127.930 816.422 c￿'eI.S Fii"st Page 37 Carers First NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Accounting policies The principal acc(yJnling Fdioes adcpled. judgements and key swces of estimatiw unwtainty in the preparation of the finan(ial slatements are as follows: 1.1 Basis of preparation The financial ststemenls have been prepar&J in acecKdance Nvith "Accrxmting atKI Reporbng by Charities: Ststemenl of Recommentjed Practice applicable lo charities preparing their a￿Ount9 in accordance with the Finanaal Rwbng Standard appluble in the UK and Republic of Irdand {FRS 1021" leffe¢live 1 January ￿l91- (Charities SORP {FRS 10211, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK aThJ Reput4ic of Ireland (FRS 1021 * Ihe Companies Act 2006. Carers First meets the thfinIti￿ of a wbiic benefrt entsty undw FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised al historical cost or tranSa¢b￿ value.unless olherwise slated in the relevant acc(yJnling nole(s). The financial ststanenls are presented sterling arKI rounded to the nearest pC￿nd. 1.2 Income Income from donations aKI grants is wyJntsed th the charity is entitled to the fvnds, Ihe receipt 15 probable and the amwnl can be Measur￿ reliably. For d￿atrOn$, this is usually on receipt. For grants, this is usually Nthen a formal offer is rnad8 in wriliffJ. unless the grant contains lems and condili¢)n$ outside of the chanlls c(xrtrd vknich must be rrel bef￿e Ihe charity is entiued to the fund5. Where grants are received in response lo a proposal includiThJ a budgeted timescale, such that the timescale the expenditu￿ is implicit in tr* grant agreemenL the incom8 is recognised in accL¥dance with that tIMe￿Ie. Income from contracted service5, and services to users. is recc•3nise(I wthen th8 serytces are provided. Income from SLKh scrfjrces received in advance of the service prOVi￿On is accounted for as (leferrwj income. Investment incom is recognised %¥hen receivable. 1.3 Expendlturg Expenditure is recognised kn a present Wl or constnjctive c*ligation exisls at the bala sheet date as a result of a past event. it is probable that a transfer of ec(￿IC benefits will be uired lo setue the ot4igatson. and Ihe anu)unt &in be estimated relrably. Expenditure on charitatle acbwties ccrfnprises ts dir￿1 costs in￿rr￿j by the charity in ijelNering its charilable r*Jjectives. Support costs are those functicffis Ihat assist the wor1( of the charity bul do not directy relate to the charitable ￿lm￿eS. These costs have been all¢xated lo the charitable actNity. Staff costs are alhxated to diwt costs (y SUPFQrt costs on the basis of staff time. Fii"st Page 38 Carers First NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 A￿)UntIng policies {¢ontlnu•dl 1.4 Penslons The charity makes contributions lo the person81 pensi￿ $Ch￿ne$ of its employees. The pension cost in the financial statements represents Ihg ￿ltrIbutionS par4bk by the charity durir@ the year. 1.5 Taxatlon The charity is exempt from c(YKX)ralK)n lax on ils inccn* axl gains to the extent that these applithd to its charitable rt¥jectives. 1.6 Fund accounting Unreslncled funds can t* useo in a¢￿￿1￿¢8 wth the charit*le obieclNes at the discretion of the Trustees. Restrided fvnds cw ￿lY be used lor the portwlar restricted pur[*)￿ the objects of the charity. Reslricti¢Ms arise Y•hen speofied ty the dLwor or vknen funds 8re raised f¢x partiojlar reslricled purposes. 1.7 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation Tangible fixed assets are slated al cost less d￿1011￿. t)ep￿lat￿ ￿ provided al rales calculated lo wyite off the cost less estimated ￿811$*￿e value of each asset over its expected useful lrfe. as fdlows.. Fixtures. fittings and ￿uipment 8et*8en 33% straight line Assets costiThJ less than £5(Kl are *￿tten off in.ts yEar tlw are acquired tr 1.8 Investments Lisloj investments are staled at market value. Gains and losses arisng cm the revalualKJn of investments are tsken to the Statwr*nl of Financial ActNities. 1.9 Cash and ush equfvaleDts Cash on instant access arKI cash held on deFosit V*ith an initial maliirity of appr0￿ma￿lY threez months (Y less is ¥)duded as cash ano cash ￿Ul¥alents in the Statement of Cash Rtrws. Long lemi cash (W held solely fcf investh￿t purFoses 8re class￿j.89 fix61 asset investments on the Balance Sheet. 1.10 FSnancial instruments The charity cfily has finarrial instruments v*ich are dassified as basic finwal instrurrffjnts. Short-tefm debtors and credilors are nwsured at the setllemenl value. Any losses from impaimient are recognis&J in the ststement of finanua aclivits& Fii:st Page 39 Carers First NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Accountlng pollcles lcontinued) 1.11 status Carers First is a charitable company limited by guarantee inc(xporated in England and Wales. In the event of the company being up. the liability in respect of Ihe guarantee is limited lo £1 per member of the charity. The address of the regsterexl office is Unit 4. Michael Gill BU1￿1ng, Tolg8te Lane. Rochester. Kent. ME2 4TG. 1.12 Prior year reslatement In the prior year, an amount of £190.967 was inclvded wthin current assets in cash al bank and in hand. This has been reclassified to long tem cash deF4)sits as the funds are held for long lemi investment purposes rather than lo meet shcx1-temi cash commilments as they fall due. In additi￿. It was noted that in last years financial statemenls. £131.339 of stsff cosls were incorrectly included thin direct wosect costs. These have been redassified to fundraising. d1￿Ct. and support staff costs. There was no i￿act on the pfior peri¢)d net assets'nor ¢¥)ening reseNes at 1 April 2024. Income from donatlons •nd1ogacles 2025 2024 Grants Donatic￿$ Legacies J9.472 32.187 111.111 786.813 34.952 275.000 712.770 1.096.765 Income frC￿ restricted funds in the comparalive period was £694,511. Page 40 Fii"st Carers First NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STAT,EMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Income from charitsble actlvili¢s 2025 2024 Activity." Carers sgrvices Medway CoJncil Medway PCN Lincolnshire Cwnty Council Waltham Forest BOr￿gh Counol Hackney Borough Council Haring8y Borough Council Nevtham Borc¥Jgh Council Essex County C(yJwl NHS Kent & Med¥Yay CCG southend-on.sea BOr￿jgh CLwncil Merton Council 330.950 69,971 1.614.624 196.152 192.013 109,635 339.736 99,775 1.619.984 185,000 195.933 1(K),S71 17.385 927.000 181.S02 131.7C 1,174,639 250.821 192.844 414.3 3,798.586 Incomè frcrfn reslricled fiThls in the Gomparative *?s £187.810. Exp•ndituro on ralslng funds As restated 2024 2025 Stsff costs Fundraising costs Investment charges 66.243 19,698 8,255 71,003 24,542 8.511 94.196 104,056 EXpendit￿e on charltsble activiti•s A$ rnstated 2024./ 2025 Direct costs costs 4.364,597 ..656,012 4,247.100 705,185 5.020.609 4.952,285 Expenditure restrict&J f￿￿S in the cL¥rwaralive PWbC#J was £937,498." Cai'ei's Fii"st P?ge 41 Carers First NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STAT,EMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Dlr•ct costs of charitable adlvllles As restated 2Q24 2025 Staff rnsls Staff expenses. ￿¢rU1trnenI ar¥J training Projttl cosls Grants paid lo individuals 3.312.448 22.& 907.450 121.809 3.345.149 15,414 746,595 139.942 4.364.597 4.247.100 AS restated 2024 2025 staff Costs Staff expenses, recruitrnent aThJ tr•niThJ Rent and service charges Othw premises expenses Insurance orr¢ce and tT costs Legal and professional fees Audit and aecc*Jntancy fees Payroll processing fees Trustee expenses. meelirwJs. recruitment arKI trainN Bad debts Bank charges Professional membérship fees Dq>reciation 233.497 21,768 275,443 54,101 24.971 21,712 16,556 207,702 26,275 11,554 26.118 15,115 235.102 18.028 21.715 3.413 24 625 9,790 46,023 35.657 ,012 705.185 Net income l {expenditurn) 2025 2024 Net inc￿ne is stated after charging: Audit fees Accc4Jntsncy fees Depreaal¢on Net Ilossesygains on investments Rent paid under operabng leases --11,300 6.728 35.657 129.793) 26.008 10.9)0 654 46.023 54,581 24,971 The audit fee charged in the year Ivas £11,300 (2024.. £10.￿￿). c￿'erS Page 42 Carers First NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 As rnststed 2024 2025 Gross salaries Employefs National Insurarte c(M)tribulions and heallhcare costs 3,241,589 3.308.544 278.987 .083 91.612 114.g68 3.612.188 3.691.595 Three members of staff received emplo￿nent benefils (excluding employpr pension contributions) in excess of £60,000 during the year12024: 21. During the year 165 wnployees and former employees receivgJ employer ¢￿ibUt￿m to Iheir p￿S(￿al pension sc￿￿eS12024. 161). The average number of emFAoyees dwing the year ￿ a headcwnt ba￿$ was as follows.. 2025 2024 Management Central SeM¢es Outreach and carer sUp￿)rt 10 127 124 138 142 Fii"st Page 43 Carers First NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 10 TaThJible fixed assets fittings & equlpment Cost At l April 2024 Additions OisF*)sals 212,694 17,940 122,981) At 31 March 2025 207.653 Deweciation Al 1 April 2024 Charge for the year DeFfeciation eliminated cfft disFKwIs 160.879 35.657 122.9811 At 31 Ma￿h 2025 173,555 Net book At 31 March 2025 34.098 At 31 March 2024 51,815 11 Investrn•nts 2025 2024 Market value Al 1 April 2024 Addity'ons Sales proceeds Unrealised {lossesyg*ns on lnvestrn￿ts Reaised losses on inveslffthts 1.118.509 1.393.214 385.833 129.106 { 658.1271 { 458,3921 (25,607) 60.522- {4,186} 15.9411 At 31 March 2025 816,422- 1.118.509 The portfdio is splil bets*Een UK quoted investsnenls {inve5trnent tnjsts. RErrs and ETFs}, holdings in univopen investswt conwies {OEICsl and overseas equib'e5 arKI funds. cai.eis Page 44 Carers First NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 12 Oebtors 2025 2024 Trade deblors Prepayments and attrued income 388.846 80.392 238.138 331,812 469.238 569,950 13 Creditors: amounts falling dug within one,year 2025 2024 Trade cre(fitors Taxation and srKad s￿Vrity Deferred income Other creditors Accruals 86.299 225,127 190.262 24.095 53.913 80.099 214.612 57,240 17,024 108.130 S79,6f 477.105 l)eferred Incomg: Incoming resources defe￿ed in the prevityJ5 peric*J Released to the Stslemenl of Financial Aclivth'es 57.240 11S.931 157.240) (115.9311 Incoming resources deferred in the tsjrrenl wiod: Grants and ¢￿tract 190,262 57.240 190,262 57.240 Caiti's Fii'st Page 45 Carers First NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 14 Movemenl on fvnds Gains / A¢3f Inco￿ EXPendi￿re flosses) Mar¢h 2025 2024 Unr•strlcted ￿ndS General fund 1,373.952 4,075.115 { 4.183.534) 129,7931 1.235.740 1,373,952 4.075.115 { 4.183.$34) 129,7931 1.235,740 Restrlctod Incomo fw NHS Carers arKI Crisi$ Swwce pilot 41.213 133.xlo 1107,9501 66.763 35.￿0 28.753 (29.6￿) 114.702) 61,169 21.711 Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust Other donations and grants Health and Wellbwng MereeTS Southend on Sea Children in Need Mid Essex BCF I￿rtsJal Wards) John Swire Foundation National Lottery Essex Wdlbeing Grants Essex Enhance(l Grants ARF Project 101.924 231.181 1122'.775) 210.330 47.646 2,378 58,152 17321 9.329 64.583 29.822 i eK).940) 124,521) 51.289 7.679 98,152 30.235 27.9(Kl 129,S)3) { 37.229) 7.676 18.290 22.785 72.507 57.804 431.906 8.152 { 15.793) { $4.542} { 43.077} (387.946} 2.6031 (931.2711 14.668 36.255 14,727 43.960 5.549 349.395 1,214.128 632.252 Total funds 1,723,347 5.289.243 (5.114,80511 129.793) 1,867.992 Z Reslricted funds have received fc¢ the fdknving purposes: NHS Carers and Crisis Servi To Pfovid8 supFx)rt to carers in crisis in Swale aThJ Darfford. Gravesham & Swanley for a 2 week perio¢J lo prevent hospitsl admisgon and supFx)rt hospital dischanJe. The Medway Carers sUpportI￿llbe1rwj funding is to make pay￿￿nts to carers to enable them to maintain their caiing role and lo prev￿1 ￿Ter breakdown. The amunt Pabd per carer is based c Cai".eis Fii"st Page 46_ Carers First NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 14 Mtsvernent on funds (continued) Carers Trust This incl(Kles grants to provide V￿￿kShC￿s. supwt ￿ xtivities for yowwJ adult carers. ColyerFergusson Charitable Trust This fvnding allows Ihg empbymwt of slaff to supwrt wurKJ aduli carers lo transition from children's seNces into &JJlthLKd and suppthng tr*m into further education and ern￿o￿￿ent. Donaelons Various donatRJns and Iwies r￿e1¥￿J thr(whcMJl year to provide sFecific activities andlor support to carers. Grants Various grants to enabk the provish￿ of additional a¢liviligs carers Ihal are not fuThJed Iwthin core eonlracts and grants awarded to indiwdual carers lo en8ble Ihem to take a hc4iday or wchase something for th8 hoTh lo assist them in their caring rcle. Health and Wellbeing To employ care c¢J)rdinatLVS to PCVS across to offer SUPFth and twlth checks to carer5. Funding to ena￿e the recruitrnentftrainir¥J sUpeTri9￿ of vduntegrs lo wwJage *ilh older carers to combat lonelir*ss. Making Carers Counf The Making Carers Count grants irnproves access to support for carers from the T￿￿lsh and Kurdish cc#mmunity by working closdy vAlh TUr￿$h and Kur(1ish organisalions wth in the LK)roughs of Hackney and Haringey. Carefs Fir51 wowde aclivibes. group meetings. 1..1 support. infomialion advice ￿ guidance in Turkish and Kurdish language to i￿￿tsfy hKldw and hard to reach carers. Southend on Se• Funds to promde carers break including supp)rt lo ￿ble Carers to attend medical apwntments. Chlldren In Ne8d This furKling is lo provide WPFQrt to ￿rtg carern in ￿￿. Mid Essex 8CF (ifjrtuol Wards) Th8 fund is used to provbje suP￿t to carer5 after their outstienls have been discharg&J Ircrfn John Swlrn Foundall( The fund is to b8 used I￿rdS the salary of Young Adult Carw Adviser. Cai"ei's Page 47 Carers First NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 14 Mov•rnent on funds {continued) National Lottery The funding is to provide swrt to a minimum of 7.600 carws in th8 L￿OrnshITe rn. Medway MVA Funds to provide a telephone befriending service. Essex Wellbelng Grants Grants up to £500 to support carers n th￿r caring rde to Frfe￿t carei bjm￿l. Essex Enhan¢ed Grants As Essex Wellbeing Granls iKrt the liw#t is £2.CKKi'. ARFProiect A Departmnt of Health and Social Care {DHSCI inib"ative..these are gants paid through IrKal authorities to wpport innovation in adult soaal care. A number of key pri(xilies for the funding focus on innovalions targetted at surpxb'ThJ unpaid carers. Cai'ei's First Page 48 Carers First NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STAT,EMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 14 Movement on funds (continued) Af l Apn"I 2023 Galns I At31 {losse$) Alarch 2024 Income ExwKlfture Unrestrlcted fund5 Genwal fund 1.389.173 4,049.041 (4.118.843) 54.581 1.373.952 1.389.173 4,049.041 14.118.843) 54.581 1,373,952 Rostricted income funds NHS ca￿rS and Crisis Service pilot Medway carers $￿pOrt Carws Trust Colyer-Fergusson Charilabfe Trust Othw donaltcffjs and grants Healih and Wdlbwng Mercers Making Carers CcMJnt Soulhend on Sea Children in Ne Mid Essex BCF Ivthal Wards) John Swre Foundatir National Lott Medway MVA 27.488 112.810 { 99,0851 { 57.9441 14001 41,213 78.803 35.LJOO 55.859 5.507 7.660 157.2TJ 391,495 (446.794) (68.669) (48.110) 164.822) (18.291) (29,259) (10,61X)) 113.039) 154,890) 120.0881 1 { 937.4981 101.924 51.732 47,646 2.378 20.376 58,152 17321 9.329 377 28.19) 19.929 20.715 73.180 20.(188 7,676 18.290 404.572 882.321 349,395 Tol81 funds 1.793.745 4.931,362 15.056.341 } 54.581 P3ge_49_ Fii"st Carers First NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STAT,EMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 15 Analysis of net assets b•tw••n funds Total funds funds funds Fun¢J balances * 31 March 2025 are rvesw1￿ as fdlowE.' Tangible fixed assets Investmenls Long term cash deFogts Net eurrenl assets 34.098 816.422 220.439 164.781 34.098 816.422 220,439 797,033 632.252 1.235.740 632,252 1.867.992 Fund Wan￿$ at 31 Marth 2024 are represented as fc410￿. Tangible fixed assets Investments Long lenn cash depo&ts Net current assets 51..815 1.118.509 190.967 12.661 51.815 1,118,509 1￿.967 362.056 349.395 1.373,952 1.723.347 16 Financial commilments Al 31 March 2025 the tharity was ccrfnmitted k) future minimum lease payments uThJer rth- cancellable cperating leases as fdlovts: 2025 2024 Land and buildi Due Ml later than year Later than one year not later than Jears Other Due Tr)t latsr than one y 20.018 11,375 20.018 30.875 53 156 *" 31.446 - 51.049 17 Contingent assets The charity is entl￿ed to 8 legacy but there is uncertainty as lo Ihe amount ol the payrnenl al the lime of approving th& financial statemwits. The expected infitw of economic b&*fit$ to Ihe charity is considgred probable, allhough rwnains to realisati￿ of overseas a5set5 by the Exewlors to the Estate. Cai"ei"s Page SO_ Carers First NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 18 Pon$lon Commitments The charity operates C￿e[2024. one) defined C(￿tribUtI)n pens￿￿ schemes available lo the majority of its pemlanent empk)yees. The schem& funds are administered by Trustees of the pension scheme and are independent of the charitys finan￿S. During the year. £91.61212024.. £114,968) emptyers. contllbutions were made. Conth"bubons totslling £16.80212024.. £16,278) were payable lo the funds at the balance sheet date arKI are includwj in othw ￿edit(*s. 19 Related party transacllons The Board of Trustees and the five {2024:Isevenl rrwt*rs of the Senior Leadership Team are congdered lo be the charitys key rnanagemenl perK￿n￿. The lolal arr￿rIt ol employee benefits including empl￿5 natK)nal insurance and emplo￿$ pension ¢L￿tribUti￿S) received by key management per￿ne1 during the ypar was £332.971 {2024: £322.967). There wras no Trustees. wiuneralirm othw benefits during Ihe current or prior wiod. Expenses lotalling £378 we r￿Mt￿r8ed to three Iruslees in relation to"xtiwty costs {2024.. £832). c￿'eI.S Page 51 Office: Central Office: Unit 4 Michael Gill Buildin& Tolgate Lane. Strood. KentME2 4TG Carers Fii"st Car￿511rsLo￿￿,llk., 0.500 .30.3 1.5.55