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2023-03-31-accounts

DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

Company No. 4174250

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

Company No. 4174250

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

Page
Report of the Directors and Trustees 3-13
Independent Examiner’s Report 14-15
Statement of Financial Activities 16
Balance Sheet 17
Cash Flow Statement 18
Notes to the Accounts 19-27

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

Company No. 4174250

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

The Trustees (who are also the Directors for the purpose of Company Law) have pleasure in presenting their annual report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023. The Trustees confirm that the Annual Report and financial statements of the charitable company comply with the current statutory requirements, the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Articles of Association, and the charities Statement of Recommended Practice (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland; FRS 102) issued in October 2019.

1. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Charity Name: Dacorum District Citizens Advice Bureau Charity Registration: 1085882 Company Registration: 4174250 Registered Office: The Forum, Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 1DN Chief Executive: Mrs. A Fox Bank: CAF Bank Limited, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, West Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ Independent Examiner: Hillier Hopkins LLP, 51 Clarendon Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD17 1HP

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

Company No. 4174250

The directors who served during the period and up to the date of this report are set out below.

DIRECTORS/
TRUSTEES		 ROLE APPOINTED RESIGNED
**Mr. R Coxage ** Trustee 13.11.07 16.06.23
Mr. M Mercer-
Deadman		 Trustee, Treasurer, Company
Secretary, Vice Chair		 8.10.14 31.12.22
Ms. A Foster Trustee 20.05.15
Mr.J Salisbury Trustee 20.05.15
Mr. M Egan Trustee -Resigned as Chair
08.06.2022		 7.02.18
Mr. D Payne Trustee 7.02.18
Mr. S Bolton Trustee 04.06.18 24.05.23
Mr. L Lichman Chair 8.06.22
Ms. C Miles Treasurer 8.06.22
Mr. N Rouse Trustee 8.06.22
Mr. P Templeman Trustee 8.06.22

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

Company No. 4174250

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

2. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing Document

Dacorum District Citizens Advice Bureau (known as ‘Citizens Advice Dacorum’) was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in March 2001 at which date the assets and liabilities of the unincorporated Dacorum District Citizens Advice Bureau were acquired. The Centre is a registered charity and is entered in the Central Charities Register (registration number 1085882).

At 31st March 2023 it had 15 members and the maximum liability of each member is limited to one pound.

Its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 1st April 2001 (amended - as agreed by the Charity Commission in 2008 and in 2023) governs Dacorum District Citizens Advice Bureau.

Recruitment, Appointment of Trustees

Trustees, who are also Directors of the Company, are elected by the Members from the local community and usually either reside or work in Dacorum or the surrounding areas. As stated in the Articles of Association up to 15 are elected at the Annual General Meeting for the forthcoming year. During the year the Trustees seek to recruit suitable trustees to the Board. The Chair oversees the process for Board appointments, and prospective trustees go through a formal selection process undertaken by the Chief Executive, Trustee Board Chair and one other Director. If necessary, individuals can then be co-opted onto the Board until the next AGM. A separate process agreed by the Trustee Board is followed for the election of the Chair and Officers. No persons or bodies external to the charity are entitled to appoint persons to the Trustee Board.

Induction of Trustees

Newly appointed Trustees to Citizens Advice Dacorum undergo an induction process in accordance with a written procedure. They are regularly circulated with reading material from the national Citizens Advice and the Charities Commission regarding their legal obligations as well as being kept informed about available training courses. A Register of Trustees Interests is maintained at the registered office and is available to the public.

Organisational Structure

The Trustee Board, which governs Citizens Advice Dacorum, is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organisation and the policy of the charity. It meets at least quarterly. The Trustees carry the ultimate responsibility for the

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

Company No. 4174250

conduct of Citizens Advice Dacorum and for ensuring that the charity satisfies its legal and contractual obligations.

There are two sub-committees, Personnel & Operations and Finance, which meet a minimum of four times a year or more, if decided by the Board.

The Trustee Board delegates day-to-day management of the organisation to the Chief Executive, Mrs. A Fox and other senior staff.

Related Parties

Citizens Advice Dacorum is a member of Citizens Advice, the operating name of the National Association of Citizens Advice which provides a framework for standards of advice and casework management as well as monitoring progress against these standards. Citizens Advice Dacorum is reviewed every year under the Citizens Advice leadership self-assessment scheme. Additionally, the Company’s operating policies are independently determined by its Trustee Board in order to fulfil its charitable objects and meet national membership requirements.

The charity also co-operates and liaises with a number of other advisory services, local charities and statutory bodies on behalf of clients. Provisions are in place to avoid conflicts of interest of Trustees.

Statement of Internal Control

The Trustee Board oversees the information security of all personal information of our clients, staff, funders and strategic partners that is processed. Citizens Advice Dacorum holds joint responsibility for client data that is held in our case management system, with Citizens Advice. An information assurance management team exists to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of all personal and sensitive data is maintained to a level which is compliant with the requirements the General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018.

The Chair’s Report

In my first year as Chair of Citizens Advice Dacorum, I have been impressed by the professionalism and commitment of the CEO, Angela Fox, and her team, both staff and volunteers. In my years with Citizens Advice in various capacities, the enthusiasm and dedication to providing the best possible service to clients is always so encouraging and this certainly the case here.

It has been another difficult year for us with the Cost-of-Living crisis impacting not only clients but staff and volunteers as well. We have also suffered the loss of

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

Company No. 4174250

some sources of income whilst continuing to work within the confines of our base funding which was set in 2016. We are looking forward to the opportunity to put in place a new funding contract with Dacorum Borough Council which will enable us to plan for the following few years with confidence.

Despite having to set a deficit budget for 2022/23, we are very pleased to have ended the year with a small surplus for which we have to thank Angela and her team.

During the year and up to now, we have lost the services of 3 trustees – Mark Mercer-Deadman, Sean Bolton and Ron Coxage. I would like to take the opportunity to thank them for their dedication to Citizens Advice Dacorum over many years. Since the board has been reduced to only 8 trustees, we are seeking new trustees to augment a very good and hard-working trustee board.

Major Risks

The Trustees recognise that the major risks to which the charity may be exposed need to be reviewed and systems maintained to mitigate them. To that end Citizens Advice Dacorum continually monitors and manages its risk and ensures mitigating plans are in place.

The principal external risk relates to funding. The Charity is aware of the financial pressures experienced by its major funders, and in view of this it continues to seek economies and efficiencies in operational procedures and increase and diversify additional sources of funding for its services. This is kept under continual review.

3. OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Charitable Objects

The charity’s objectives as set out in the company’s Articles of Association are to promote any charitable purpose for the benefit of the community in the Borough of Dacorum and surrounding areas, by the advancement of education, the protection and preservation of health and the relief of poverty, sickness and stress.

Public Benefit

When reviewing our Aims and Objectives, and in planning our activities in their furtherance, we take careful account of the Charity Commission’s General Guidance on Public Benefit.

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

Company No. 4174250

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

Aims, Objectives, Strategies and Activities for the Year

Citizens Advice Dacorum aims to provide free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. It values diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. The service aims to provide the advice people need for the problems they face and to improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives through social policy via its Research and Campaigns work.

Our main objective this year has been to help support clients impacted by the cost of living crisis as well as continuing the delivery of our services to clients in our community in line with the Service Level Agreement we have held since 2016 with Dacorum Borough Council (DBC). The contract has been extended twice due to Covid-19 restrictions and has now been extended till March 2024. The additional two year SLA funding provided by DBC using Covid-19 funds ended at the end of March 2023. This funding enabled us to increase our capacity to support clients at specialist level in debt and housing.

Our community service level contract is outcomes based, which includes financial outcomes in the form of financial gains generated for clients, as well as client outcomes such as improved health and well-being as a direct result of our advice. In the last year we have supported 6,767 clients with 16,308 presented issues. Of those clients providing feedback on our service, 8 in 10 people said they felt less stressed or anxious as a direct result of our advice. We have recorded financial gains for our clients across the year of over £5 million albeit this figure presents a mere snapshot of the benefit we bring to clients and the local community.

Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) continues to provide funding through the Hertfordshire Crisis Intervention Project for clients experiencing crisis in their lives and via the Crisis Enhancement project which supports those struggling with the cost of living crisis. Many of our Dacorum residents require Food Bank food vouchers to provide them and their families with basic essential food provision and increasingly fuel bank vouchers to enable them to top-up their pre-payment utility meters. We are increasingly seeing people with deficit budgets.

HCC also provided funding to us via the Household Support Fund in the form of supermarket vouchers for clients who are engaging with us on an advice issue and who will greatly benefit from this help whilst we are supporting them in dealing with their presenting issues. These could include claiming disability benefits, and addressing family breakdown, debt, health, utility arrears and housing issues.

In partnership with local community group Berkhamsted & Tring Ukrainian Host

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

Company No. 4174250

Network, we started a local outreach advice support clinic for Ukrainian guests in November 2022 to help them settle into life in the UK. As the financial year drew to an end we started a new DBC Healthy Hub advice service in March to support people with health and wellbeing issues by providing them with generalist advice. We also received at this time some funding through National Citizens Advice to increase our capacity by enabling us to recruit and train more volunteers.

Our co-location with Dacorum Borough Council, the Dacorum First Credit Union and Dacorum Community Trust, alongside our continued collaboration with Community partners has supported partnership working and joint funding applications with the ongoing aim of delivering cohesive voluntary services across the Borough, developing new services and reaching our entire community. This has meant we can react quickly to the changing needs of our community.

We are particularly grateful to Dacorum Borough Council for our core funding, and we look forward to continued partnership working for the benefit of the community.

Additionally, Citizens Advice Dacorum has been a member of the Hertfordshire Citizens Advice Service, an umbrella body formed to represent the ten Hertfordshire Local Citizens Advice offices, which met regularly to share expertise, experience and knowledge, including IT and training, and have successfully obtained project funding for the benefit of clients across Hertfordshire. Recently, it has been decided that this body will be replaced with a less formal model.

Contribution of Volunteers

The charity receives help and support in the form of voluntary assistance in advising the public, administering the charity and delivering the service. This year we have managed to increase our volunteer base to 61 Volunteers who contributed approximately 20,792 hours per year of largely advisory work to the Centre. The estimated public value of that advice and volunteering was £12,329,430.

4. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable Activities

The Charity achieved an outright pass on their Citizens Advice Organisational Audit and was awarded the Advice Quality Mark back in 2016, the mark of quality for independent advice organisations.

In 2022/2023 Citizens Advice Dacorum helped 6,767 clients with 16,308 issues, this is a slight reduction on last year. This is due to clients presenting with increasingly complex issues that take more staff time and resources to progress as well as the

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

Company No. 4174250

loss of funding projects and the resources that these provided that reduce our capacity to support clients. We issued 469 food vouchers with a total value of £24,800 and 192 supermarket vouchers for a total sum of £26,790.

The total value of benefits advice (financial outcomes) to individuals in the year 2022/23 was £5,000,000. Nearly 7 in 10 people found it easy to access our service and 85% would recommend us to a friend. A huge 87% of clients say they would not have resolved their problem without us and 8 in 10 people say they felt less stressed, depressed or anxious as a direct result of our advice.

Investment Activities

The charity does not currently hold material investments.

Factors Affecting the Achievement of Objectives

We depend on several sources other than our major funder to support the services needed by the community, the range and volume of which grows continuously. Failure to obtain such funding risks the withdrawal of important services.

5. FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial Position

Incoming resources in the year were £364,594 (2022: £411,161), of which £194,527 (2022: £250,468) related to project restricted activities. The decreased income was due to Covid-19 related grants received in 2022.

A surplus of £1,461 was generated in the year (2022: surplus £40,153). At the end of the year there were no carry-forward funding balances relating to the restricted activities.

Staff expenditure decreased compared to the previous year. This is related to the income decrease for the year and natural staff wastage. Overall the number of employees decreased from 16 to 15 as the 31 March 2023. There was also a reduction in administrative and other costs.

At 31 March 2023 total reserves were £230,760, comprising only unrestricted funds (2022: £229,299 comprising only unrestricted funds).

Reserves Policy

Citizens Advice Dacorum is required to ensure the financial sustainability of the charity by providing the resources to meet any reasonably foreseeable contingency. The charity’s reserve policy is reviewed at least once every financial

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

Company No. 4174250

year by the Trustee Board. The reserves policy was last reviewed in June 2023. The policy was revised in the light of potential closure costs, income projections and identified risks.

In determining the level of unrestricted funds to be held, the Trustees have calculated:

Trustees have also stipulated that funds should be maintained at least equal to six months of normal (non-project) operating expenditure.

This calculation reaches a required reserves level of £178,000 (2021/22 £155,000). The increase in required reserves reflects the Trustees’ concerns about future risks to funding.

At 31 March 2023, total reserves were £230,760, showing a surplus to the required level agreed in the policy. The charity’s Trustees believe that this surplus is appropriate to ensure the continued sustainability of the charity, as the charity expects to report a deficit in 2023/24.

Principal Funding Sources

The Directors extend their gratitude to Dacorum Borough Council who continued to support the core operating capacity of the charity, and to fund a Money Advice Service. Dacorum Borough Council also provides the offices in Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted to Dacorum Citizens Advice at minimal financial cost to the charity.

6. FUTURE PLANS

In view of the constantly changing social and economic climate, the Trustees regularly review the operation.

During 2023/2024, the Centre will concentrate on the following:

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

Company No. 4174250

be used to develop and attract additional project funding to address identified

7. DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBLITIES

The Trustees (who are also directors of Dacorum District Citizens Advice Bureau for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company and charity law require the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

Company No. 4174250

with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice – Accounting and reporting by Charities and with the provisions the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

L Lichman, Chairman

----- Start of picture text -----
………………………………..2023
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DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

Company No. 4174250

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER TO THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023

Independent Examiner’s Report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity 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 company’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

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

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

  2. or

  3. the accounts do not accord with those records;

  4. or

  5. 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;

  6. or

  7. 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.

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

Company No. 4174250

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.

Grant Franklin ACA

Hillier Hopkins LLP Chartered Accountants Radius House 51 Clarendon Road Watford Herts WD17 1HP Date: 28-11-2023 | 02:23 PST

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

Company No. 4174250

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023

Note(s)
Income from :
Donations and Legacies
2
Investments
Charitable Activities
3
Other income
Total Income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
4
Total Expenditure
Transfers between Funds
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds at 1st April 2022
Total funds carried forward at 31st
March 2023
Net Income /(Expenditure) for the
Year		 Unrestricted
Funds
2023
£
13,976
-
154,500
1,591
170,067
168,606
168,606
1,461
-
1,461
229,299
230,760
 Restricted
Funds
2023
£
-
194,527
194,527
194,527
194,527
-
-
-
-
-		 Total Funds
2023
£
13,976
-
349,027
1,591
364,594
363,133
363,133
1,461
-
1,461
229,299
230,760		 Total Funds
2022
£
2,833
41
405,518
2,769
411,161
371,008
371,008
40,153
-
40,153
189,146
229,299

The Company has no other recognised gains, or losses other than the deficit/surplus for the year as stated above.

All of the above amounts relate to continuing operations.

The reconciliation of movement in funds is shown in Notes 13- 14 .

The notes on pages 19 to 27 form part of the accounts.

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

Company No. 4174250

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST MARCH 2023

BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31ST MARCH 2023
Note(s)
Fixed Assets
Tangible Assets
9
Current Assets
Debtors and Prepayments
10
Cash at Bank and In Hand
Total current assets
Creditors: Amounts Falling
Due Within One Year
11
Net Current Assets
Net Assets
Charity Funds
Restricted Funds
13
Unrestricted Funds
Designated Funds
13
General Fund
13		 2023
£
£
-

11,478
250,066
261,544
30,784
230,760
230,760
-
178,000
52,760
230,760
230,760		 2022
£
£
2,029
5,375
255,488
260,863
33,593
178,000
52,760		 227,270
229,299
-
155,000
74,298
229,299
229,299

The Trustees consider that the company is entitled to exemption from the requirement to have an audit under the provisions of section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 ("the Act") and members have not required the company to obtain an audit for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Act. The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at 31 March 2023 and of its profit or loss for the year then ended in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 of the Act and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to the financial statements so far as applicable to the company.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

The Financial Statements on pages 16-27 were approved by the board of directors and authorised for issue on 2023 and are signed on its behalf by

L Lichman: Chairman

Date:

The notes on page 19-27 form part of the Accounts

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

Company No. 4174250

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

STATEMENT OF CASHFLOWS
AS AT 31ST MARCH 2023
Cash flow from operating activities
17
Cash flow from investing activities
Interest received
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Net cash flow from investing activities
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at start of period
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
Cash and cash equivalents consists of:
Cash at Bank and In hand		 2023
£		 2022
£
(5,422) (10,123)
-
-		 41
-
- 41
(5,422) (10,084)
255,488 265,573
250,066
250,066
255,488
255,488

The notes on pages 19 to 27 form part of the Accounts.

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

Company No. 4174250

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1.1 Basis of preparation

Dacorum District Citizens Advice Bureau (also known as DCAB) is a charity limited by guarantee in the United Kingdom. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity. The address of the registered office is given in the charity information on page 3 of these financial statements. The nature of the charity’s operations and principal activities are in providing advice and counselling to the general public .

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102 and Charities SORP FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

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

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.

1.2 Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.

No amount is included in the financial statements for volunteer time in line with the SORP (FRS 102).

Voluntary income by way of grants, donations and gifts is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable and when the amounts are known with certainty and are measurable. Grants, where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charitable company, are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.

Donated facilities and donated professional services are recognised in income at their fair value when their economic benefit is probable, it can be measured reliably and the charity has control over the item. Fair value is determined on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity. For example the amount the charity would be willing to pay in the open market for such facilities and services. A corresponding amount is recognised in expenditure.

Incoming resources from grants, where related to performance and specific deliverables, are accounted for as the charitable company earns the right to consideration by its performance. Where income is received in advance of performance it is treated as deferred income and included within creditors.

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DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

Company No. 4174250

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023 (CONTINUED)

1.3 Resources Expended

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charitable company in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries.

1.4 Fund Accounting

Restricted funds

Restricted funds represent grants and donations received which are subject to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Unrestricted funds and designated funds

Unrestricted funds represent funds that are expendable at the discretion of the directors in the furtherance of the objects of the charitable company. Such funds may be held in order to finance both working capital and capital investment.

Designated funds are those funds which are unrestricted in nature but which have been designated by the directors to be used in a particular manner.

1.5 Tangible Fixed Assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off assets over their useful life.

Fixtures, Fittings & Equipment 20% on reducing balance Telephone & Computer Equipment 33% on cost

1.6 Debtors and Creditors Receivable/Payable within one year

Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in expenditure.

1.7 Recognition of liabilities

Liabilities are recognised when an obligation arises to transfer economic benefits as a result of past transactions or events.

1.8 Employee Benefits

When employees have rendered service to the charity, short-term employee benefits to which the employees are entitled are recognised at the undiscounted amount expected to be paid in for that service.

1.9 VAT

The charity is not VAT registered, hence VAT is not recoverable. VAT is included within the relevant costs in the Statement of Financial Activities.

1.10 Tax

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

20

DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

Company No. 4174250

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023 (CONTINUED)

1.11 Leases

Assets acquired under finance leases are capitalised and depreciated over the shorter of the lease term and expected useful life of the asset. Minimum lease payments are apportioned between the finance charge and the reduction of the outstanding lease liability using the effective interest method. The related obligations, net of future charges, are included in creditors.

1.12 Going Concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe that no material uncertainties, that would affect the charity's going concern status, exist. The trustees have considered the level of reserves held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The trustees believe that projected reserves are sufficient for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.

2 Donations and Legacies

Donations
Total donations and legacies		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Funds
Total Funds
2023
2023
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
13,976
-
13,976
2,833
13,976
-
13,976
2,833
Grants and Commisioning
Dacorum Council for Voluntary Services
Citizens Advice
Winter Fuel
Kick start
Clothsworks
Hertfordshire Community Fund
Stop Loan Sharks
Other
Total income from charitable activities
Dacorum Borough Council -Core Service &
Money Advice
Dacorum Borough Council -Additional Funding
Dacorum Borough Council -Health Hub
Herts County Council		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Funds
Total Funds
2023
2023
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
154,500
22,500
177,000
177,000
38,760
38,760
38,000
-
-
15,070
4,000
4,000
47,903
47,903
113,252
66,428
66,428
36,338
-
9,500
8,011
8,011
10,808
-
5,000
4,925
4,925
2,000
2,000
-
550
154,500
194,527
349,027
405,518

A Service Level Agreement with Dacorum Borough Council supports the majority of the charity's objectives. This funding is received quarterly. A review of performance against the agreed indicators is carried out each quarter and at the end of each financial year.

21

DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

Company No. 4174250

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023 (CONTINUED)

5 Expenditure on Charitable Activities

Basis of
Unrestricted
Funds
Allocation
2023
£
Charitable Activities
Costs directly related to activities
Staff costs
Direct
137,322
Premises costs
Direct
-
Administrative and other
costs
Direct
-
137,322
Support costs allocated to activities
Staff costs
Judgemental
5,986

Premises costs
Judgemental
6,053

Administrative and other
costs
Judgemental
25,373
37,412
Governance costs
Judgemental
1,872
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED
176,606
Total Resources Expended
Staff costs
143,308
Premises costs
6,053
Administrative and other costs
25,373
Governance costs
1,872
176,606		 Basis of
Unrestricted
Funds
Allocation
2023
£
Charitable Activities
Costs directly related to activities
Staff costs
Direct
137,322
Premises costs
Direct
-
Administrative and other
costs
Direct
-
137,322
Support costs allocated to activities
Staff costs
Judgemental
5,986

Premises costs
Judgemental
6,053

Administrative and other
costs
Judgemental
25,373
37,412
Governance costs
Judgemental
1,872
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED
176,606
Total Resources Expended
Staff costs
143,308
Premises costs
6,053
Administrative and other costs
25,373
Governance costs
1,872
176,606		 Restricted
Funds
2023
£		 Total
Funds
2023
£
301,111
-
357
301,468
12,706
8,005
38,468
59,179
2,486		 Total Funds
2022
£
322,434
137,322 163,789
- -
- 357 (1,702)
137,322 164,146 320,732
5,986

6,053

25,373
37,412		 6,720
1,952
13,095
21,767		 20,509
5,375
19,802
45,686
4,590
1,872 614
176,606
143,308
6,053
25,373
1,872
176,606		 186,527 363,133 371,008
170,509
1,952
13,452
614
186,527		 313,817
8,005
38,825
2,486
363,133
343,446
4,775
20,598
2,189
371,008

6

Basis of Support costs allocation

Support costs have been allocated proportionately, based on an estimate of time spent by permanent staff on different activities and projects undertaken by the charity.

7 Employee numbers and costs

Permanent Staff

2023 2022
No. No.
15 16

As of 31 March 2023 the centre had 15 employees. Additionally the services of 52 volunteers were utilised, of which 95% were regular scheduled attendees during the year (2022, 58 volunteers of which 95% were regular attendees).

The staff salary costs were as follows:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2023
£
286,090
21,603
6,124
313,817		 2022
£
307,137
20,866
6,506
334,510

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

22

DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

Company No. 4174250

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023 (CONTINUED)

8 Trustees and key Management personnel remuneration and expenses

No trustee received any remuneration during the year in respect of services as a Trustee (2022:£nil).Travel expenses of £189 (2022: £35) were reimbursed to 1 Trustee (2022: 1).

The total amount of employee benefits received by key management personnel is £ 34,373.

9 Tangible Fixed Assets

COST
Balance brought forward
Additions
Disposals
Balance carried forward
DEPRECIATION
Balance brought forward
Charge in the year
On disposals
Balance carried forward
NET BOOK VALUE AT 31ST MARCH 2023
NET BOOK VALUE AT 31ST MARCH 2022
10
Debtors
Accrued Income
11
Creditors
Taxation and Social Security
Deferred Income
Accruals and other amounts payable
12
Deferred Income
National Citizens Advice Donation Fund
DBC Money Advice
Helping Herts Fund
Covid Recovery Fund
Household Support Fund		 Furniture &
Equipment
£
£
289
42,545
-
-
-
-
289
42,545
289
40,517
-
2,029
-
-
289
42,546
-
-
-
2,029
2023
£
11,478
11,478
2023
£
4,763
20,625
5,396
30,784
Telephone &
Computer
Equipment		 Furniture &
Equipment
£
£
289
42,545
-
-
-
-
289
42,545
289
40,517
-
2,029
-
-
289
42,546
-
-
-
2,029
2023
£
11,478
11,478
2023
£
4,763
20,625
5,396
30,784
Telephone &
Computer
Equipment		 Total
2023
£
42,834
-
-
289 42,834
289
-
-		 40,806
2,029
-
289 42,835
- -
- 2,029
2022
£
5,375
5,375
2022
£
5,271
24,070
4,254
33,595
2023
£
15,000
5,625
-
-
-
20,625		 2022
£
-
5,625
10,445
4,500
3,500
24,070

23

DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

Company No. 4174250

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023 (CONTINUED)

13
Movement in Funds
Restricted Funds:
Dacorum Borough Council-Money Advice
Dacorum Borough Council-Additional Funding
Dacorum Council for Voluntary Services
Citizens Advice - Energy costs and cost of living
Herts CC Crisis funding
HCF
Stop loan sharks
Kick Start
Total Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds:
Designated funds
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
14
Movement in Funds Prior year
Restricted Funds:
Dacorum Borough Council-Money Advice
Dacorum Borough Council-Additional Funding
Citizens Advice- Best Energy Deal Extra
Citizens Advice- Help to Claim
Citizens Advice- Help to CBEIS
HCF
Maps
Winter Fuel
Clothsworks
Kick Start
Dacorum Borough Council-Heathy Hub
Total Restricted Revenue funds
Unrestricted funds:
Designated funds
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
Herts County Council-Crisis Intervention Service		 At
Incoming
Outgoing
At
31st March
Resources
Resources
31st March
2022
2023
£
£
£
£
-
22,500
(22,500)
-
-
38,760
(38,760)
-
4,000
(4,000)
-
47,903
(47,903)
-
-
58,428
(58,428)
-
-
4,925
(4,925)
-
-
2,000
(2,000)
-
-
8,011
(8,011)
-
-
186,527
(186,527)
-
155,000
23,000
178,000
74,299
170,067
(191,606)
52,760
229,299
170,067
(168,606)
230,760
229,299
356,594
(355,133)
230,760
At
Incoming
Outgoing
At
31st March
Resources
Resources
31st March
2021
2022
£
£
£
£
-
22,500
(22,500)
-
-
38,000
(38,000)
-
-
14,300
(14,300)
-
-
36,338
(36,338)
-
-
67,615
(67,615)
-
-
18,600
(18,600)
-
2,640
-
(2,640)
-
-
12,737
(12,737)
-
-
9,500
(9,500)
-
-
5,000
(5,000)
-
-
10,808
(10,808)
-
-
15,070
(15,070)
-
2,640
250,468
(253,108)
-
155,000
-
-
155,000
31,506
160,693
(117,901)
74,299
186,506
160,693
(117,901)
229,299
189,146
411,161
(371,009)
229,299

24

DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

Company No. 4174250

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023 (CONTINUED)

Restricted Funds

The charity’s restricted funding comprises:

Dacorum Borough Council-Money Advice

To help address the issue of DBC tenants in rent arrears. This project provides priority support and advice to clients on debt issues with face to face and telephone advice and specialist casework support.

Dacorum Borough Council -Additional Funding

Funding to increase capacity for specialist debt and housing advice due to the additional pressures on households caused by the pandemic.

Dacorum Council for Voluntary Services

Funding to support volunteer activities.

Citizens Advice – Energy Costs and Cost of Living

To provide consumers facing fuel poverty with advice and information on alleviating their situation, including energy and thermal efficiency measures, accessing additional support from suppliers, understanding bills, switching tariffs and government support schemes, dealing with debt and claiming appropriate benefits.

Herts County Council-Crisis Intervention

To provide people with urgent or complex needs experiencing crisis food and grant support detailed advice on a range of issues, including debt, budgeting and income maximisation. This funding enables us to provide specialist benefit advice; applications and appeals.

Hertfordshire Community Fund - Advice in Translation

Funding to support the cost of telephone translation services during advice sessions in person or by telephone

Stop Loan Sharks

Short-term event, treasure trail through Hemel Hempstead to raise awareness of loan sharks as the cost of living crisis continues.

Kickstart

Allowed us to create employment for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment.

Unrestricted funds

Unrestricted funds are those reserves which are freely available for expenditure within the charity's purposes.

25

DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

Company No. 4174250

Designated funds

Within the balance of unrestricted funds, the trustees have designated reserves to cover the potential statutory liabilities which would arise on closing the charity, as follows:

Designated reserve Description Value
£
Contractual commitment A reserve to ensure that the £108,000
reserve charity is able to cover
contracted payments to staff
such as redundancy
Charity Closure reserve A reserve to cover other costs £10,000
of closure that may arise
Operational sustainability A reserve to cover unfunded £60,000
staffing and operational costs
arising from shortfalls in
cashflow, loss of contracts and
other unpredicted events
Total Designated reserve £178,000

15 Analysis of Net Assets between funds

Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Funds
Total Funds
2023
2023
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
Tangible fixed assets
Debtors and prepayments
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors due in one year
Net assets at 31st March 2023		 -
-
2,029
11,478
-
11,478
5,375
250,066
-
250,066
255,488
(30,784)
-
(30,784)
(33,593)
230,760
-
230,760
229,299

16 Analysis of Net Assets between funds Prior year

Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Funds
Total Funds
2022 #
2022
2022
2021
£
£
£
£
2,029
-
2,029
3,041
5,375
-
5,375
10,205
255,488
-
255,488
265,573
(33,593)
-
(33,593)
(89,673)
Tangible fixed assets
Debtors and prepayments
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors due in one year
Net assets at 31st March 2022 229,299
-
229,299
189,146

26

DocuSign Envelope ID: CA3A9A56-2CA2-4015-AC4F-367E24262131

Company No. 4174250

DACORUM DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023 (CONTINUED)

17 Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure) to net cash flow from operating activities

Net income/( expenditure) for the year
Interest Receivable
Depreciation of tangible Fixed Assets
Movement in multi-employer benefit liability
(Increase) / Decrease in Debtors
(Decrease )/Increase in creditors
Net Cash Flow from operating Activities		 £
2,995
-
2,029
-
(6,103)
(4,343)
(5,422)		 £
40,153
(41)
1,013
0
4,830
(56,078)
(10,123)

18 Members

The charity is incorporated as a company limited by guarantee having no share capital and in accordance with the Memorandum of Association, every member is liable to contribute a sum of £1 in the event of the company being wound up. At 31 March 2023 there were 15 members (2022: 16 members).

19 Pension Scheme

Between 1 April 2016 and 30 June 2016, Citizens Advice Dacorum(CAB) offered to make contributions to employees' individual pension schemes held with various companies. CAB as the employer, paid contributions at 8% of salary for those that wanted to take up the offer. After 3 July 2016, these staff were also offered the option of accessing the NEST pension scheme described below. All staff employed after 3 July 2016 have been automatically enrolled in the NEST pension scheme, with the contributions calculated on yearly salaries. A 5% contribution is made by the Company and the employee makes a 4% contribution. NEST (National Employment Savings Trust ) is a defined contribution workplace pension scheme .

27