Carers Choices•
peace of mind
TRUST
Annual Report & Accounts
202312024
jr
## **On the cover**
Pictured is Josie and Eileen in the communal garden at Benfleet
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## **Contents**
|**Contents**||
|---|---|
|**Welcome**|**4-5**|
|Chairman’s Foreword|4|
|CEO’s Foreword|5|
|**Year At A Glance**|**6-7**|
|**Who We Are**|**9**|
|**What We Do**|**10**|
|What is our Mission?|10|
|Our Purpose|10|
|**What do we want to achieve?**|**12**|
|**How we do it**|**13**|
|**Looking Forward**|**14-15**|
|**Rainbow Centre**|**16**|
|**Silver Birch Centres**|**17**|
|**Home Help and Community Care**|**18**|
|**Young Carers**|**19**|
|**Men’s Shed**|**20**|
|**Fundraising**|**21**|
|**Financial Review**|**22-24**|
|Principal Funding Sources|24|
|Future Periods|24|
|**How we are Governed**|**25-26**|
|**Organisational Structure**|**27**|
|**Statement of Responsibilities**|**28**|
|**Independent auditors report**|**29-31**|
|**Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities**|**33-37**|
|Balance Sheet|34-37|
|Statement of Cash Flows|37|
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|**38-56**|
|**Who’s Who**|**57**|
|**Our Thanks**|**58**|
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## **Chair’s Foreword**
**Prior to writing this year’s annual report, I thought it would be helpful to reflect on what I wrote in the previous year. I suppose it comes as no surprise, that the major issues identified, are as relevant now as a year ago, despite the work undertaken by the organisation in the year 2023/2024. This report covers the work carried out within the organisation, during last year and what I would consider the issues, and the way ahead, for Carers Choices in 2024/2025 and beyond.**
The charity retained its relatively healthy financial situation, considering the rising costs across all parts of the charity. This is mainly thanks to the CEO and the managers plus the regular oversight of the Finance and Risk Committee. The work of the charity is scrutinised regularly by the Services Committee to ensure the Charity meets its service objectives.
The other main issue to be managed is the workforce, and the charity made a conscious decision to pay above the real living wage to ensure that we were able to maintain a stable workforce. This was achieved throughout the year despite the challenges we faced, and thanks must be given to all the managers, who have successfully maintained and recruited staff to meet the needs of the organisation.
The Finance and Risk Committee monitored and implemented changes to ensure the charity could meet both its service and financial objectives. The work of this committee was essential and on behalf of the trustees I would like to acknowledge their work during this period. The charity increased the number of trustees on the Services Committee, which has improved the effectiveness and the scrutiny of the committee, and I would like to thank these trustees for their commitment and work.
report were:
- Cost of living in the U.K.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the local authorities who have supported the charity during this year, because their help and financial support enabled us to get through one of the most challenging times for Carers Choices.
- Financial implications for the charity sector
- Major workforce issues
The charity in 2023/2024 continued implementing its plan, devised in the previous year, by strengthening governance arrangements and ensuring any changes implemented, maintain control over external
Finally – the Way Ahead. It is clear the charity still faces significant challenges, especially financial, and the way it is envisaged that charities will be funded by statutory authorities. It has been agreed that these financial changes may impact on our current plans and these will be reviewed and changed as necessary by the Board.
The new governance arrangements included increasing the number of Finance and Risk Committee meetings as well as monthly Governance meetings. This action has improved the speed of decision making, enabling the charity to react effectively to the rapidly evolving environment. We increased the number of trustees by four, improving the diversity and equality within the Board, and the range of skills and expertise of the trustees. This has helped give a wider range to the Board’s perspectives.
However, it is my belief that we have the procedures and processes in place to ensure that Carers Choices is in a good place for the next few years. This will be enhanced by the work the Board is going to carry out around developing services to meet the needs of a very rapidly changing care environment.
TTT **BRIAN R TERRY** Chair
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## **CEO’s Foreword**
**The last year has been a good year for the charity. The impact of COVID has now largely gone – we still have people catching it, but this has become the same as other illnesses. This has meant that we have been able to keep developing our services and expanding.**
A major detriment has been the risk posed with the building; however, a plan is now in place for the repairs to happen as we progress into 2024. The impact upon us cannot be underestimated as it is our Head Office and contains two of our three-day centres. At one point we had water pouring through ceilings after the builders had left it in such a poor state. My sincere thanks go to Cllr Steve Mountford who got things moving and apologised on behalf of the Council (landlord).
Together we transform people’s lives daily. The most important outcome that I look for is, after our service has been delivered, are people happier. And we strive to ensure that our services continue to flex to accommodate everyone’s personal needs.
attrition rates remain exceptionally low, and we continue to invest in the staff, supporting them with health and fitness classes and purchasing equipment for our own Carers Choices Gym.
Coming out of 23/24 we are in a strong place to invest more to grow. Our Strategic Objectives have been revised and updated and include this appetite for new buildings in other parts of Essex to expand our day centre delivery.
Equally, we are pushing our Home Help services as an essential element of our homecare offering. So many people realise that they need help and this is often the start of our support programme. Alongside this, we want to develop a new service in the coming year to assist people to leave hospital sooner. This is an exciting prospect as we all know that there are people stuck in hospital when they should be and want to be at home.
I’m sure 2024/25 holds many challenges, but also many opportunities, and we look forward to solving problems, and capitalising on our strategic ambitions, to provide even more respite care to people in Essex.
Best wishes
Over the year we were successful in recruiting new Trustees to strengthen and diversify the Board. I am ever grateful for the support, counsel and objectivity I get from the Chair, Vice Chair and all the Trustees.
**PAUL RAMSDEN** Chief Executive
I have the pleasure to work in an environment where the overriding ambition is to respond to need and support more people in existing and new geographical areas. That’s what drives us all forward and I thank each and every one for this spirit of determination.
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## **Year at a Glance**
## **245**
##
clients supported accessing the day centres or within the home
## **10,363**
##
##
**78**
day centre attendances
Young Carers supported across Castle Point and Basildon
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## **12,482**
hours supporting clients within the community
## **7,184**
journeys transporting clients to the day centres
## **Case Study**
Thank you for the companionship service that you provide to my dad, it allows my Mum 3.5 hours a week to go out and do her shopping or meet a friend for a coffee and get some time away from caring for my dad, which can be quite challenging at times. Your service has been a life-changer for my Mum, and we are incredibly grateful for your help. **JS**
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0300 3
PJOW OPEN
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## **Who We Are**
## **At Carers Choices we provide the practical care and support for Carers and the people they care for. We respond to changing needs and develop services that help and support people in our community.**
The Charity was formed in 1981 in **Thundersley, Essex** to support Carers through practical respite solutions. Originally just offering Respite in the Home (sitting service) we added Young Carers in the 1990’s followed by the first Day Centre for Adults with Disabilities (Rainbow Centre).
Over the following years we moved from Thundersley to Canvey Island and back again, to **Kiln Road** .
In 2014 we recognised the crisis in **Dementia Care** and created an innovative solution with the Silver Birch Centres. We now have a combined department to deliver both centres, sharing resources and working together efficiently.
In 2019 we developed a new service in the **Men’s Shed** , providing a resource preventing isolation of Men in the community.
In 2020 we added a new **Home Help service** . This service is already helping out a number of people in South Essex and is integral to our Homecare services.
**Overnight Respite** to give clients a great night away.
Our aim is to relieve the burden on Carers for a few hours whilst at the same time providing a rewarding experience for the client. **Quality is second to none** .
Visit our website at **www.carerschoices.org** for more information.
## **Case Study**
Without your services, I would not be able to continue to live in my home. This has made such a difference to me, especially of late when my confidence has gone and I became too frightened to go out on my own, having someone with me for appointments or shopping trips has been so good for me and keeping me independent also. **KB**
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## **What Do We Do**
**Carers Choices is the leading Essex based Charity supporting Carers and the people they care for through dedicated and specialist respite services. We provide services in the home and in our innovative day centre settings to meet the needs of Carers.**
## **What is our Mission?**
Our Mission is to deliver **high quality respite** .
## **Our Purpose**
All charities have charitable objectives, accepted by the Charity Commission as the purpose of the organisation. It sets out our goals and those who will benefit, specifically:
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## **Carers**
Any person or people involved in the provision of care for a person or people who have care needs as a result of a disability, illness or age.
##
Any person or people who have care needs as a result of a disability, illness or age.
Just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to you, Lisa and Heidi, for everything over the last week (extra dates and visits) for Mum (and Dad).
You were all kind and caring and we are very grateful to you. It meant that I was able to enjoy a week’s holiday away at my daughters, knowing Mum & Dad were being looked after and safe.
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## **What do we want to achieve?**
**We have set and developed some overriding Strategic Planning Objectives. These are:**
**Ensure that Carers Choices continues to provide the client support and services both near term and in the future**
**Continuous facility development, recognising changes in client needs, numbers and locations**
**to achieve the plan objectives and ensure the longevity of Carers Choices as an organisation**
## **And to deliver these objectives we have a set of values:**
## **Empathetic**
We stand in your shoes and take your place with our services
## **Care**
We care about each other, treating everyone fairly, with dignity and respect
## **Integrity**
We deliver person centred care based upon our assessments
## **Excellence**
We strive to be the best, innovating and providing services responding to the needs of our community
## **How we do it**
**areas:**
## **Home Help and Community Care**
service helping Carers to take a break, supporting clients with multiple calls and providing help in the home including domestic tasks
## **Young Carers**
Operating in Castle Point and Basildon supporting 78 Young Carers through weekly support clubs and one to one’s.
## **Men’s Shed**
An innovative support mechanism for men in the community that are either isolated or in danger of being isolated.
## **Day Opportunities**
**Rainbow Centre** ; for Adults with Disabilities supporting over 41 clients over a 5-day period, specialising in more profound disabilities.
**Overnight Respite** service for clients to stay at the White House in custom made bedrooms.
**Silver Birch Centre** ; specialist dementia centres in Essex operating 5 days a week giving Carers a quality 6-hour break and providing cognitive stimulation therapy to clients, supporting 81 clients.
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## **Looking Forward**
**Our Strategic Objectives are reviewed and amended annually to remain relevant and steer our operations.**
**Secure Appropriate Building(s) for the continuation of the Charities building based services**
## **Expand and Develop Home Care Services**
Grow the size and scope of our Home Care services through geographical areas such as Maldon and continuing to develop our offering.
## **Grow existing Silver Birch locations and explore new locations**
Open Silver Birch Wickford 5 days a week and increase client numbers at both centres. Search for new suitable locations to open up new Silver Birch Centres.
**4** ©
## **An additional Rainbow Centre location**
local community.
**5** ©
## **Gain additional funding to expand Young Carers Groups**
Develop and expand the Young Carers groups, particularly around Basildon and attract new funding.
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## **Increase Grant Funding**
new funding streams for the charity.
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## **Financial Strategy**
Ensure that reserves are maximised by investing them and receiving a return as a new revenue stream.
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## **Rainbow Centre**
## **Our Rainbow Centre is for Adults with Disabilities serving 41 clients over a 7-day period, specialising in more profound disabilities.**
The 23/24 year has seen quite a few changes with two clients moving into residential settings, one into supported living, all thanks to the support that they have received from the Rainbow staff. This had an impact on our respite service, which saw its sessions reduced.
Our reputation for dealing with the most challenging clients continued and we saw 3 new male clients join us, who had all been excluded from other provisions, so we were their last chance saloon! We have worked hard to support these clients and have achieved successes with all of them. New equipment has been sourced and additional training implemented.
quite badly in Rainbow with regular ingresses of water through the ceilings when we had heavy rain combined with strong winds. We had to close both bedrooms for a few months until the issue with the guttering was finally fixed.
The appointment of an Activities Co-ordinator just before Xmas meant that monthly activity planners were re-introduced and we now have structured days, with clients knowing weeks in advance what they will be doing and when they are going out etc.
Our biggest achievement during the last year was the start of our own slimming club, open to all staff and clients. Everyone had access to the Slimming World App, weekly weigh ins and a group chat to share recipes, good days and bad days and to encourage each other to keep going. This has really improved team morale and had a positive impact on everyone’s health and wellbeing. A weekly Zumba class was also started to encourage everyone to exercise alongside healthy eating.
Sarah I am so grateful for your teams help and support you always go above and beyond. I would be totally lost without you xxx
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## **Silver Birch Centres**
**Our Silver Birch Centres provide 6 hours of respite for carers whilst simultaneously giving our clients a day out with activities specifically tailored to keeping the brain stimulated for someone either with Dementia or who is perhaps lonely or isolated.**
our clients to enjoy. Keeping the brain stimulated is vital to aid slowing down of the rate of deterioration for an older adult who is isolated or who has a diagnosis of Dementia.
We have facilities to support all our clients from Early Onset to Later Stage Dementia and are lucky enough to share space with The Rainbow Centre, so we can support any adults with mobility needs.
In January 2024 the Poppy Pavilion re opened 5 days a week having undergone renovations, initially we reopened 3 days a week but with the existing clients increasing their days and gaining new clients we quickly managed to achieve our 5 days a week goal. The families of our clients love the space at Wickford and with the right use of marketing we are confident the centre will continue to grow.
We still have our strong relationship with the “Hug in a shrug” group who in February raised over £500 for our centres. This allowed us to purchase two karaoke machines which is now a fundamental time of their day. We are also in the planning stage of using the remaining money to fund a day trip out for the clients to enjoy.
In December 2023 we organised and delivered its first ‘open afternoon’ which was a roaring success. This allowed our carers to gain insight into what their loved one does in a day, see the artwork they have produced over the year, speak and get to know staff better and overall get involved in an afternoon filled with games, music, food and fun!
an activities coordinator to further develop the current 2 centres and also allow time to be freed up from management to expand on our current model.
We receive very positive feedback in many forms from our carers including client survey results, comments on our social media and face to face comments. Our carers tell us that they rely on our services to keep them from being at crisis point and to keep their loved ones independent and in their own homes for as long as possible.
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## **Home Help and Community Care**
**Our focus for this year has been as always providing vital support to Carers and their loved ones within the community and tailor making the service to meet the individual needs.**
Keeping clients living independently in their homes for longer with the support that meets their needs has been proven to enhance their mental wellbeing and independence.
We have seen an increase in Home Help hours, and these seem to be continuing to increase.
We have had some of our community care clients end their journey with our services and are now in residential care. We still get updates from their loved ones to let us know how they are doing, which has been nice to be still in contact with them.
We are continuing to expand our Home Help, Care Companion & Community Care services throughout the year.
Area and the client’s husband talks very highly of the Care Companion allocated to them and informs us that he can now have a few hours a week to himself knowing that his wife is in safe hands and that his wife does not seem so anxious now and looks forward to Wendy coming to their home each week.
of the service, recruitment has been a challenge this year, but we are on the right track again now.
Our CQC rating remains at “GOOD” and the CQC has had no cause to re-inspect us.
year, however we have now taken on some more staff to help with this matter.
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## **Young Carers**
## **We support our Young Carers here at The White House on a Monday and Tuesday Evenings 5.30pm -7.30pm.**
We continue to receive referrals from the Essex Youth Service and have increased our numbers attending our sessions. We have on average 15 – 25 attend each session.
Over the last year we have had some trips to Colchester Zoo, Theatre Shows, Adventure Island, Wat Tyler Park, Brands Hatch, Picnics in the Park.
We had a visit from David Holmes, the injured stunt man from Harry Potter Films, which was a truly inspirational evening for our Young Carers and Staff. David very kindly had a Table Tennis Table delivered to our Young Carers the following day, which the Young Carers are making incredibly beneficial use of.
Our sessions have covered Yoga Sessions, Acrylic Painting, Arts & Crafts, Cooking & Baking, Quizzes, Games Night, Musical Theatre & indoor and outdoor sports.
We successfully secured some funding for our Basildon Young Carers Group and also to provide an all-age carers cookery course in the Rochford & Castle Point Areas. New Venues have been sourced to hold these sessions,
We have held numerous Fundraising Events – meals at the Tandoori Parlour, Easter Fun Day, and have more in the pipeline.
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## **Men’s Shed**
**Our numbers have been growing steadily and we now have 15 members. We are a cohesive workforce with referrals by word of mouth. We have a wide range of skills, and we look after each other as we have a number of medical conditions.**
Over the year we have successfully repaired or re-fettled a wide range of items which we are very proud. We delight in being able to turn our hands to repairing furniture and other items for Carers Choices and other charities, before more deterioration occurs and occasionally providing bespoke solutions.
We have also had several repeat requests to repair antique furniture, including a Victorian surround, we like to do this sympathetically with the consideration of not harming the provenance of the item.
We have also carried out bespoke work making and erecting a food safe at St George’s Church, assembling planters to tidy up the old Crown pub site in Hadleigh, making easels to support signs, a Jenga and white boards.
In the last year we have repaired a large variety of power tools, drills, angle grinders, jigsaws, lawnmowers (electric and petrol), hedge trimmers, a portable generator, table lamps, an iron and vacuum cleaners.
We are looking at expanding the services we can provide for people less fortunate than ourselves, such as items to improve the mobility of those with dementia. We intend to look critically at items that can be passed to them for finishing, such as sanding and painting bird boxes and bug hotels by those unable to safely use power, sharp or otherwise dangerous tools.
Our mantra is, Reduce, Repair, Repurpose and when all else fails we separate out scrap items that enable us to maximise scrap value.
We have repurposed nitrous oxide cylinders into table lamps and passed them on to those working with drug and alcohol abuse amongst teenagers.
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## **Fundraising**
## **Donations and Grants add to funds particularly for Young Carers and Men’s Shed.**
As in previous years our donations and grants has reduced further. In the coming year the intention is to invest in some extra capacity to start applying to trusts and foundations, particularly to support the Men’s Shed and Young Carers groups.
Over the year we have received support from several organisations, and we gratefully thank them. These include:
- Castle Point Borough Council
- Douglas Allen Estate Agents
- Hadleigh Castle Rotary Club
- Hockley Chamber of Trade
- Cooperative Retail Group
- United in Kind
- Southend Tangent Club • Plume Adult Music School
We also received gifts in kind, of materials and skills at our Young Carers Groups which were very pleased to accept and enabled the Young Carers to experience other activities.
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## **Financial Review**
Both revenue and surplus has exceeded expectations. With the close of the trading company trading activities will be removed in the current year and we hope to start to increase donations and grants.
The **Balance Sheet** is strengthened by the performance.
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**Restricted reserves** the funds were made available. This could be for a particular project or purchase of as asset.
**Designated funds** have been allocated by the Trustees for a particular purpose. These have
**Unrestricted funds** are those reserves that remain once restricted and designated funds have been accounted for. They include fixed assets at cost less depreciation.
As the Charity continues to grow from existing bases our challenge is to look at other areas in Essex to open new centres. We have reflected this in our Strategic Plan and our reserves policy. We need to hold 3 months expenditure which increases each year with inflation and the growth in turnover.
We also recognise the cost of setting up new centres, from either purchase and deposit, or committing to rental agreements, as well as the fit out needed for delivery. Once set up, as with any organisation, initial years will be loss making. Consequentially the Trustees have increased the Designated Fund to £450k with a target of £600k when unrestricted reserves allow.
## **Reserves Policy**
The Trustees have determined that, in line with good practice, 3 month’s operating expenditure should be held as reserves.
£289,250 of unrestricted funds has been designated for the delivery of the Strategic Plan. During the coming year some of these funds will be released to deliver the strategic objectives. The intention of the board is to increase this designated fund for future strategic plans.
and provide an additional source of revenue prior to release for strategic initiatives.
An analysis of the funds:
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## **Principal Funding Sources**
Our Principal Funding is through paid services either by individuals or through spot contracts with public commissioners. We are commissioned by all local authorities in Essex as well as the NHS. The split between commission and non-commissioned services is shown here:
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Rainbow:
£661,330
Transport
Charitable £125,780
Other
Activities
Income:
£24,245
Total: Home
£1,493,627 Help:
£124,558
Community Care:
Silver Birch: £160,725
£396,989
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## **Future Periods**
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Commissioned:
57%
Private:
43%
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the White House and that it will be repaired so that we can continue to deliver our services from it. This means our focus can be put onto developing our services further, marketing effectively to increase the number of clients and Carers that we support.
to the Charity and took the decision to rejoin Carers Trust as they have now an offering that is attractive to us. This will start from the 1st April 2024 and we hope to gain significant value from it.
Fundraising has been low on the agenda as we recovered from COVID and made a conscious decision to focus on service development. There are now opportunities that we are missing, and we expect to develop in-house resource to attempt to capitalise upon this.
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## **How we are Governed**
Carers Choices is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. It was formed in 1981 and incorporated in 2001, with a memorandum and articles of association. The Directors of the Company are also Charity Trustees that serve a three-year term. Each year at the AGM there is an election where new Trustees can be appointed or existing ones to be re-elected.
## **Subsidiary**
In line with Charity Commission Guidance, the Charity has a trading subsidiary – Carers Choices Trading Company Ltd – for non-primary purpose trading, operating one Charity shop in the year. As the lease came to an end the Directors took the decision to close the trading company as it was not financially prudent to continue with it. It closed on the 31st March 2024.
The Directors of this are Mr R Smale, Mr L McKeogh, Mr C Pitts (Trustees of the Charity) and Mr P Ramsden (Chief Executive of the Charity).
## **Our Trustees**
The Board of Trustees meet approximately 4 times a year to look at financial matters and progress against objectives set out in the Corporate Plan. The Board’s role is clear and has determined the following five areas of responsibility:
- Vision, Mission and Strategic Direction
- Performance and corporate Behaviour
- Legal and Regulatory Compliance
- Guardian of the Charity’s Assets
- Capacity to Govern
Board Trustees are appointed for 3-year terms and serve up to 3 terms of 3 years. After the latest recruitment the board is now constituted of 10 Trustees. The board must have between 3 and 17 Trustees.
All the Trustees are non-remunerated and give their time freely.
##
Charity Commission in section 17(5) of the 2011 Charities Act and the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, including the guidance ‘public benefit: running a charity (PB2)’. For most of the Charity’s services a charge is levied otherwise the service could not run. These charges are set at a reasonable level to ensure that they offer good value for money and are affordable by the public.
## **Board Committees**
The Board has delegated tasks to three sub committees – the Finance and Risk committee, the Services Committee and the Governance Committee.
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The **Finance and Risk Committee** provides specialist support and scrutiny to the Board. Meetings are held prior to Board meetings to scrutinise financial activities and performance against budget.
The **Services Committee** hears and discusses operational delivery in each service area. This then makes recommendations to the main Board.
The **Governance Committee** is constituted of the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive and meets bi-monthly to progress matters ahead of Board Meetings. All committees report to the Board.
## **Trustee Induction and Training**
All new Trustees receive an induction with a meeting with the CEO, meet with the Senior Management Team and a visit around our centres. Further documentation is available for them including the Strategic Plan, previous Annual Reports and access to meeting minutes etc.
undertaken to enhance the skills and expertise of trustees. Trustees are encouraged to attend sessions to gain a greater understanding of the charity’s work.
## **Risk Management**
A Strategic Risk Register has been produced and approved by the Board. This is monitored and red risks are presented at Board Meetings. It is reviewed at least annually by the committees before presentation to the Board.
## **Our Auditors**
Our current auditors are Haslers.
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## **Organisational Structure**
The Directors of the company delegate Operational Management to the Chief Executive. The Board have responsibilities to monitor and consider the Strategic direction of the Organisation. The Chief Executive is accountable to the Directors for performance against the Strategic Plan and within the approved budget.
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Trading Company: 3 Young Carers: 1
8
Executive Office:
Active staff
In the Community: 24 as at 31.03.24 Day Centre: 43
Total: 79
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Our two main areas relate to care in the home and care in our day centres. These make up the majority of our service delivery. Over the last year we have continued to increase our staffing to enable us to grow our Homecare delivery and particularly support re-opening of the Poppy Pavilion. By the end of March, we had 79 staff (75 2023) and 3 volunteers (6 2023).
## Board of Trustees
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Chief Executive
Officer
Home Help,
PA To CEO/Office Day Opps
Comm Care & YC
Manager Manager
Manager
Assistant HH & Young Carers
Marketing and Senior Finance Assistant Day
Comm Care Assistant
Admin Officer Officer Opps Manager
Manager Manager
Senior/ Specialist
Support Workers
Support Workers
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## **Statement of Responsibilities**
Statement of responsibilities of the Trustees of Carers Choices in respect of the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements
##
The Trustees (who are also directors of Carers Choices 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).
year. Under company law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the 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:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
to show and explain the charitable company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial 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.
In preparing this report, the Trustees have taken advantage of the small companies’ exemptions provided by section 415A of the Companies Act 2006.
This report was approved by the Trustees on 5th September 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
**BRIAN R TERRY** Chair of Trustees
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## **Independent auditors report**
company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities, the Consolidated Balance Sheet, the Charity Balance Sheet, the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
- give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the parent charitable company’s affairs as at 31 March 2024 and of the Group’s incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure for the year then ended;
- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
## **Basis for opinion**
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Group in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
## **Conclusions relating to going concern**
concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Group’s or the parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
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## **Other information**
The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our Auditors’ Report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the Annual Report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements, or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception**
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- the information given in the Trustees’ Report is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or
-
- accounting records and returns; or
- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
## **Responsibilities of trustees**
As explained more fully in the Trustees’ Responsibilities Statement, the Trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
and the parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the Group or the parent charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
30
##
We have been appointed as auditor under section 151 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an Auditors’ Report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
Based on our understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the entity we have considered those that have a direct and indirect material impact on the financial statements and operations of the company. These include but are not limited to the Charities Act 2011, GDPR, and Employment and Health & Safety legislation.
We obtained an understanding of how the company are complying with those legal and regulatory frameworks by making inquiries to the management. We corroborated our inquiries through our review of documentation generated and assessing the extent of compliance with the relevant laws and regulations.
We discussed among the audit engagement team regarding the opportunities and incentives, including management override of controls, that may exist within the organisation for fraud and how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements.
misstatements due to fraud are in the following areas, and our specific procedures performed to address these are described below:
most susceptible to material misstatement due to fraud. In addition, the key principle risks related to the existence of inappropriate journal entries to impact the profit for the year and management bias in accounting estimates.
31
Procedures performed to address these were as follows:
- to prevent and detect fraud, including known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations, and fraud;
- Understanding how those charged with governance considered and addressed the potential for override of controls or other inappropriate influence over the financial reporting process;
- accounting estimates;
- Identifying and testing journal entries, in particular any unusual journal entries posted around the year-end and journal entries posted by infrequent system users; and
- Ensuring that funds have been stated correctly and no misappropriation has occurred
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Auditors’ Report.
## **Use of our report**
This report is made solely to the charitable company’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditors’ Report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and its members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
## **Haslers**
Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditors Old Station Road Loughton Essex IG10 4PL
Date: 5th September 2024
Haslers are eligible to act as auditors in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
32
## **Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities**
Incorporating income and expenditure account for the year ended 31 March 2024.
|**Note**
**Income from:**
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Other trading activities
5
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
Charitable activities
**Total expenditure**
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
Net movement in funds
**Total funds carried forward**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**36,820**
**1,493,627**
**67,932**
**1,598,379**
**197**
**1,473,107**
**1,473,304**
**125,075**
**889,686**
**125,075**
**1,014,761**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**4,483**
**-**
**-**
**4,483**
**-**
**20,829**
**20,829**
**(16,346)**
**22,011**
**(16,346)**
**5,665**|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**41,303**
**1,493,627**
**67,932**
**1,602,862**
**197**
**1,493,936**
**1,494,133**
**108,729**
**911,697**
**108,729**
**1,020,426**|_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_104,375_
_1,152,475_
_70,489_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||_1,327,339_|
|||||_31_
_1,286,972_|
|||||_1,287,003_|
|||||_40,336_|
|||||_871,361_
_40,336_|
|||||_911,697_|
The Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
The notes on pages 38 to 55 form part of these financial statements.
33
## **CARERS CHOICES (A Company Limited by Guarantee) REGISTERED NUMBER: 04320986**
## **CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024**
|**Note**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
9
**Current assets**
Debtors
11
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
12
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Total net assets**
**Charity funds**
Restricted funds
13
Unrestricted funds
13
**Total funds**|**178,392**
**678,992**
**857,384**
**(155,676)**|**2024**
**£**
**318,717**
**318,717**
**701,708**
**1,020,425**
**1,020,425**
**5,665**
**1,014,760**
**1,020,425**|_204,540_
_538,056_
_742,596_
_(103,823)_|_2023_
_£_
_272,924_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||_272,924_
_638,773_|
|||||_911,697_|
||||||
|||||_911,697_|
|||||_22,011_
_889,686_|
||||||
|||||_911,697_|
The Charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.
The members have not required the entity to obtain an audit for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
However, an audit is required in accordance with section 151 of the Charities Act 2011.
The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees on 5�� ��������� ���� and signed on their behalf by:
34
## **CARERS CHOICES**
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee) REGISTERED NUMBER: 04320986**
**CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (CONTINUED) AS AT 31 MARCH 2024**
**B R Terry**
The notes on pages 38 to 55 form part of these financial statements.
35
## **CARERS CHOICES (A Company Limited by Guarantee) REGISTERED NUMBER: 04320986**
## **CHARITY BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024**
|**Note**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
9
Investments
10
**Current assets**
Debtors
11
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
12
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Total net assets**
**Charity funds**
Restricted funds
13
Unrestricted funds
13
**Total funds**|**183,467**
**662,749**
**846,216**
**(153,277)**|**2024**
**£**
**318,717**
**2**
**318,719**
**692,939**
**1,011,658**
**1,011,658**
**5,665**
**1,005,993**
**1,011,658**|_202,250_
_533,492_
_735,742_
_(97,636)_|_2023_
_£_
_272,924_
_2_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||_272,926_
_638,106_|
|||||_911,032_|
||||||
|||||_911,032_|
|||||_22,011_
_889,021_|
||||||
|||||_911,032_|
The Charity's net movement in funds for the year was _£_ 100,626 _(2023 - £42,753)_ .
The Charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.
The members have not required the entity to obtain an audit for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
However, an audit is required in accordance with section 151 of the Charities Act 2011.
The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime.
36
## **CARERS CHOICES**
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee) REGISTERED NUMBER: 04320986**
**CHARITY BALANCE SHEET (CONTINUED) AS AT 31 MARCH 2024**
**B R Terry**
The notes on pages 38 to 55 form part of these financial statements.
## **CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
||**2024**|**2024**|_2023_|_2023_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**£**||_£_||
|**Cash flows from operating activities**|||||
|Net cash used in operating activities|**195,499**||_42,576_||
|**Cash flows from investing activities**|||||
|Purchase of tangible fixed assets|**(55,652)**||_(50,740)_||
|Proceeds from sale of investments|**1,089**||_34,889_||
|**Net cash used in investing activities**|**(54,563)**||**(15,851)**||
|**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year**|**140,936**||**26,725**||
|Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year|**538,056**||_511,331_||
|**Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year**|**678,992**||_538,056_||
|The notes on pages38to55form part of these financial statements|||||
37
## **Notes to the Financial Statements**
## **1. General information**
Carers Choices is a company, limited by guarantee and incorporated in England and Wales, United Kingdom, with a registration number 04320986. The address of the registered office is The White House, Kiln Road, Benfleet, Essex, SS7 1BU.
## **2. Accounting policies**
##
(FRS 102) - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.
The Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) and Consolidated Balance Sheet consolidate the financial statements of the Charity and its subsidiary undertaking. The results of the subsidiary are consolidated on a line by line basis.
The Charity has taken advantage of the exemption allowed under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not presented its own Statement of Financial Activities in these
## **2.2 Income**
All income is recognised once the Charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
The recognition of income from legacies is dependent on establishing entitlement, the probability of receipt and the ability to estimate with sufficient accuracy the amount receivable. Evidence of entitlement to a legacy exists when the Charity has sufficient evidence that a gift has been left to them (through knowledge of the existence of a valid will and the death of the benefactor) and the executor is satisfied that the property in question will not be required to satisfy claims in the estate. Receipt of a legacy must be recognised when it is probable that it will be received and the fair value of the amount receivable, which will generally be the expected cash amount to be distributed to the Charity, can be reliably measured.
38
Income tax recoverable in relation to investment income is recognised at the time the investment income is receivable.
Other income is recognised in the period in which it is receivable and to the extent the goods have been provided or on completion of the service.
## **2.3 Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Expenditure on raising funds includes all expenditure incurred by the Charity to raise funds for its charitable purposes and includes costs of all fundraising activities events and noncharitable trading.
Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the Charity’s objectives, as well as any associated support costs.
## **2.4 Interest receivable**
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the Charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the institution with whom the funds are deposited.
All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT
##
economic benefits are probable and the cost or value of the asset can be measured reliably.
Tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the cost model, tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the measurement of cost.
value over their estimated useful lives, using the straight-line method.
Depreciation is provided on the following basis:
- Short-term leasehold property – 4% Straight line
- Motor vehicles – 12.5% Straight line
- • Fixtures and fittings – 20% Straight line
39
## **2.6 Investments**
their transaction cost and subsequently measured at fair value at the balance sheet date, unless the value cannot be measured reliably in which case it is measured at cost less impairment. Investment gains and losses, whether realised or unrealised, are combined and presented as ‘Gains/(Losses) on investments’ in the consolidated statement of financial activities.
## **2.7 Debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
## **2.8 Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
## **2.9 Liabilities and provisions**
Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.
Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the Charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.
Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the consolidated
## **2.10 Pensions**
represents the amounts payable by the Group to the fund in respect of the year.
40
## **2.11 Fund accounting**
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Group and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the
imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Group for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim
Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund.
41
## **CARERS CHOICES**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **3. Income from donations and legacies**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
Donations
36,820
_Total 2023_
_54,990_|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
4,483
_49,385_|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**41,303**
_104,375_|_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_104,375_|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
## **4. Income from charitable activities**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
Home Help
124,558
Community Care
160,725
Rainbow Day Centre
661,330
Silver Birch Centres
396,989
Transport
125,780
Hire of meeting rooms
275
Other Services & Recharges
23,970
**Total 2024**
1,493,627
_Total 2023_
_1,152,475_|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**124,558**
**160,725**
**661,330**
**396,989**
**125,780**
**275**
**23,970**
**1,493,627**
_1,152,475_|_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_103,860_
_159,104_
_563,078_
_226,943_
_86,820_
_10,750_
_1,920_|
|---|---|---|
|||_1,152,475_|
||||
42
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **CARERS CHOICES**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **5. Income from other activities**
## **Income from fundraising events**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
Other fundraising activites
1,589
Interest received
1,089
Income from Trading subsidiary
65,254
67,932
_Total 2023_
_70,489_|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**1,589**
**1,089**
**65,254**
**67,932**
_70,489_|_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_874_
_718_
_68,897_|
|---|---|---|
|||_70,489_|
||||
## **6. Analysis of expenditure by activities**
|Project costs
_Total 2023_|**Activities**
**undertaken**
**directly**
**2024**
**£**
1,462,376
_1,258,089_|**Support**
**costs**
**2024**
**£**
31,561
_28,883_|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**1,493,937**
_1,286,972_|_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_1,286,972_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||
43
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **CARERS CHOICES**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **6. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)**
## **Analysis of direct costs**
|Staff costs
Depreciation
Advertising
Rent
Project costs
Travel
Training courses
Equipment and repairs
Printing, postage and stationery
Bank charges
Water, light and heat
Insurance
Premises expenses
Sundry expenses
Photocopier and franking
Telephone
Computer expenses
Subscriptions
Staff entertainment and Benefits
Repairs and Maintenance
Profit on disposal of assets
**Total 2024**|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**1,198,190**
**9,860**
**5,605**
**42,815**
**28,408**
**60,736**
**2,285**
**14,625**
**2,035**
**5,017**
**56,316**
**7,252**
**3,506**
**6,124**
**999**
**1,809**
**216**
**10,794**
**3,998**
**1,786**
**-**
**1,462,376**|_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_1,043,568_
_6,000_
_6,778_
_45,291_
_22,866_
_51,814_
_1,839_
_17,715_
_1,492_
_880_
_23,722_
_5,730_
_6,683_
_10,634_
_1,433_
_1,971_
_2,313_
_8,213_
_-_
_1,328_
_(2,181)_
_1,258,089_|
|---|---|---|
44
## **CARERS CHOICES**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **6. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)**
## **Analysis of support costs**
|Staff costs
Governance
Auditors remuneration
**Total 2024**|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**11,178**
**11,283**
**9,100**
**31,561**|_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_12,822_
_6,161_
_9,900_|
|---|---|---|
|||_28,883_|
## **7. Auditors' remuneration**
||**2024**|_2023_|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|_£_|
|Fees payable to the Charity's auditor for the audit of the Charity's annual|||
|accounts|**9,100**|_9,900_|
## **8. Staff costs**
|Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Contribution to defined contribution pension
schemes|**Group**
**2024**
**£**
**1,115,215**
**58,937**
**35,214**
**1,209,366**|_Group_
_2023_
_£_
_968,407_
_57,450_
_30,533_
_1,056,390_|**Charity**
**2024**
**£**
**1,085,347**
**57,461**
**34,133**
**1,176,941**|_Charity_
_2023_
_£_
_927,741_
_57,450_
_28,982_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||_1,014,173_|
45
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **CARERS CHOICES**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **8. Staff costs (continued)**
The average number of persons employed by the Charity during the year was as follows:
|Executive Office
Home Help & Community Care
Day Centres - Silver Birch & Rainbow
Young Carers
Trading Company|**Group**
**2024**
**No.**
**8**
**24**
**43**
**1**
**3**
**79**|_Group_
_2023_
_No._
_8_
_26_
_35_
_2_
_3_|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||_74_|
The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was:
|||**Group**|_Group_|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**2024**|_2023_|
|||**No.**|_No._|
|In the band £60,001|- £70,000|**-**|_1_|
|In the band £70,001|- £80,000|**1**|_-_|
The key management personnel of the charity comprise the senior management. The total amount of employee benefits received by key management personnel for their services to the charity was £70,225 (2023: £69,940).
46
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **CARERS CHOICES**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **9. Tangible fixed assets**
## **Group and Charity**
|**Cost or valuation**
At 1 April 2023
Additions
At 31 March 2024
**Depreciation**
At 1 April 2023
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2024
**Net book value**
At 31 March 2024
_At 31 March 2023_|**Short-term**
**leasehold**
**property**
**£**
**113,962**
**-**
**113,962**
**13,621**
**4,557**
**18,178**
**95,784**
_100,341_|**Motor**
**vehicles**
**£**
**257,192**
**47,990**
**305,182**
**98,807**
**-**
**98,807**
**206,375**
_158,385_|**Fixtures and**
**fittings**
**£**
**22,671**
**7,662**
**30,333**
**8,473**
**5,302**
**13,775**
**16,558**
_14,198_|**Total**
**£**
**393,825**
**55,652**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**449,477**|
|||||**120,901**
**9,859**|
|||||**130,760**|
|||||**318,717**|
|||||_272,924_|
47
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **CARERS CHOICES**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **10. Fixed asset investments**
||||**Investments**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**in**|
||||**subsidiary**|
||||**companies**|
|**Charity**|||**£**|
|**Cost or valuation**||||
|At 1 April 2023|||**2**|
|At 31 March 2024|||**2**|
|**Net book value**||||
|At 31 March 2024|||**2**|
|_At 31 March 2023_|||_2_|
|**Principal subsidiaries**||||
|The following was a subsidiary undertaking of the Charity:||||
|**Name**|**Holding**|**Included in**||
|||**consolidation**||
|Carers Choices Trading Company Ltd|100%|Yes||
|The financial results of the subsidiary for the year were:||||
|**Name**|**Profit/(Loss)**||**Net assets**|
||**/ Surplus/**||**£**|
||**(Deficit) for**|||
||**the year**|||
||**£**|||
|Carers Choices Trading Company Ltd|**8,924**||**8,768**|
48
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **CARERS CHOICES**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **11. Debtors**
|**Due within one year**
Trade debtors
Amounts owed by group undertakings
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income|**Group**
**2024**
**£**
**133,520**
**-**
**1,209**
**43,663**
**178,392**|_Group_
_2023_
_£_
_153,102_
_-_
_33,929_
_17,509_
_204,540_|**Charity**
**2024**
**£**
**133,520**
**6,098**
**314**
**43,535**
**183,467**|_Charity_
_2023_
_£_
_153,102_
_-_
_33,032_
_16,116_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||
|||||_202,250_|
## **12. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
|Trade creditors
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income|**Group**
**2024**
**£**
**74,528**
**16,495**
**20,720**
**43,933**
**155,676**|_Group_
_2023_
_£_
_10,479_
_12,127_
_38,228_
_42,989_
_103,823_|**Charity**
**2024**
**£**
**74,973**
**16,494**
**18,896**
**42,914**
**153,277**|_Charity_
_2023_
_£_
_10,473_
_11,812_
_36,688_
_38,663_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||
|||||_97,636_|
49
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **CARERS CHOICES**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **13. Statement of funds**
## **Statement of funds - current year**
|**Unrestricted funds**
**Designated funds**
Designated Funds
**General funds**
General Funds
Carers Choices Trading Company Ltd
**Total Unrestricted funds**
**Restricted funds**
Men's Shed
Youth Violence Project
Dana Tinson Fund
Carers Group
Poppy Pavilion Reopening
**Total of funds**|**Balance at 1**
**April 2023**
**£**
**289,250**
**599,772**
**664**
**600,436**
**889,686**
**Balance at 1**
**April 2023**
**£**
**1,719**
**105**
**6,700**
**8,863**
**4,624**
**22,011**
**911,697**|**Income**
**£**
**-**
**1,533,124**
**65,254**
**1,598,378**
**1,598,378**
**Income**
**£**
**4,483**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**4,483**
**1,602,861**|**Expenditure**
**£**
**-**
**(1,416,154)**
**(57,150)**
**(1,473,304)**
**(1,473,304)**
**Expenditure**
**£**
**(4,338)**
**(105)**
**(2,899)**
**(8,863)**
**(4,624)**
**(20,829)**
**(1,494,133)**|**Balance at**
**31 March**
**2024**
**£**
**289,250**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**716,742**
**8,768**|
|||||**725,510**|
|||||**1,014,760**|
|||||**Balance at**
**31 March**
**2024**
**£**
**1,864**
**-**
**3,801**
**-**
**-**|
|||||**5,665**|
|||||**1,020,425**|
50
## **CARERS CHOICES**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **13. Statement of funds (continued)**
Designated funds - Funds designated by the Trustees for delivery of the Strategic Plan and in particular objectives as referenced in the Trustees Report.
Minibus Fund - This represents funds set aside for the purchase of new minibuses at the Silver Birch Centres.
Men's Shed - This represents funds set aside to help fund the Mens Shed project.
Youth Violence Fund - Youth Violence Project for Young Carers.
Domicilliary Care Fuel Subs - A grant from Essex County Council to assist with higher fuel costs for care staff.
Dana Tinson Fund - A grant to aid expansion of Home Help and Community Care Services into the Maldon District.
Children in Need - A grant supporting our Young Carers projects.
Carers Group - A National Lottery grant supporting unpaid carers post covid with information, advice and respite.
Recruitment Fund - A grant from Essex County Council to assist with high recruitment costs aiding increased capacity.
Poppy Pavilion Reopening - A grant to support reopening costs for the Silver Birch Wickford at the poppy pavilion.
Locase - A grant to support the purchase of an electric vehicle and install energy efficient lighting in the day centres.
Kickstart - A fund supporting 16-24 year olds to move into employment .
Restricted Funds Transfer - A transfer has been made where a new minibus was purchased in the year, where no restrictions has been placed on this following the purchase.
Designated Funds Transfer - A transfer has been made from unrestricted to designated funds for future investments.
51
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **CARERS CHOICES**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **13. Statement of funds (continued)**
## **Statement of funds - prior year**
|**Unrestricted funds**
**Designated funds**
Designated Funds
**General funds**
General Funds
Carers Choices Trading
Company Ltd
**Total Unrestricted funds**
**Restricted funds**
Minibus Fund
Men's Shed
Youth Violence Project
Domicilliary Care Fuel Subs
Dana Tinson Fund
Children in Need
Carers Group
Recruitment fund
Poppy Pavilion Reopening
Locase
Kickstart
**Total of funds**|_Balance at_
_1 April 2022_
_£_
_250,000_
_592,485_
_3,082_
_595,567_
_845,567_
_20,000_
_794_
_5,000_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_25,794_
_871,361_|_Income_
_£_
_-_
_1,209,057_
_68,897_
_1,277,954_
_1,277,954_
_-_
_2,740_
_-_
_59_
_7,500_
_9,875_
_9,920_
_3,485_
_5,000_
_7,713_
_3,093_
_49,385_
_1,327,339_|_Expenditure_
_£_
_-_
_(1,185,760)_
_(68,075)_
_(1,253,835)_
_(1,253,835)_
_-_
_(1,815)_
_(4,895)_
_(59)_
_(800)_
_(9,875)_
_(1,057)_
_(3,485)_
_(376)_
_(7,713)_
_(3,093)_
_(33,168)_
_(1,287,003)_|_Transfers_
_in/out_
_£_
_39,250_
_(16,010)_
_(3,240)_
_(19,250)_
_20,000_
_(20,000)_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_(20,000)_
_-_|_Balance at_
_31 March_
_2023_
_£_
_289,250_|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||_599,772_
_664_|
||||||_600,436_|
||||||_889,686_|
||||||_-_
_1,719_
_105_
_-_
_6,700_
_-_
_8,863_
_-_
_4,624_
_-_
_-_|
||||||_22,011_|
||||||_911,697_|
52
## **CARERS CHOICES**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **14. Summary of funds**
## **Summary of funds - current year**
|Designated funds
General funds
Restricted funds|_Balance at_
_1 April 2022_
_£_
_250,000_
_595,567_
_25,794_
_871,361_|**Balance at 1**
**April 2023**
**£**
**289,250**
**600,436**
**22,011**
**911,697**
_Income_
_£_
_-_
_1,277,954_
_49,385_
_1,327,339_|**Income**
**£**
**-**
**1,598,378**
**4,483**
**1,602,861**
_Expenditure_
_£_
_-_
_(1,253,835)_
_(33,168)_
_(1,287,003)_|**Expenditure**
**£**
**-**
**(1,473,304)**
**(20,829)**
**(1,494,133)**
_Transfers_
_in/out_
_£_
_39,250_
_(19,250)_
_(20,000)_
_-_|**Balance at**
**31 March**
**2024**
**£**
**289,250**
**725,510**
**5,665**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||**1,020,425**|
||||||_Balance at_
_31 March_
_2023_
_£_
_289,250_
_600,436_
_22,011_|
|**Summary of funds - prior year**||||||
|Designated funds
General funds
Restricted funds||||||
||||||_911,697_|
## **15. Analysis of net assets between funds**
## **Analysis of net assets between funds - current period**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
Tangible fixed assets
318,717
Current assets
851,719
Creditors due within one year
(155,676)
**Total**
1,014,760|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
-
5,665
-
5,665|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**318,717**
**857,384**
**(155,676)**|
|---|---|---|
|||**1,020,425**|
53
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **CARERS CHOICES**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **15. Analysis of net assets between funds (continued)**
## **Analysis of net assets between funds - prior period**
|Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors due within one year
**Total**|_Unrestricted_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_272,924_
_720,585_
_(103,823)_
_889,686_|_Restricted_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_-_
_22,011_
_-_
_22,011_|_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_272,924_
_742,596_
_(103,823)_
_911,697_|
|---|---|---|---|
## **16. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities**
|Net income for the period (as per Statement of Financial Activities)
**Adjustments for:**
Depreciation charges
Disposal of fixed assets
Increase in debtors
Increase in creditors
Interest received
**Net cash provided by operating activities**
**17.**
**Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**
Cash in hand
**Total cash and cash equivalents**|**Group**
**2024**
**£**
**108,729**
**9,859**
**-**
**27,790**
**61,760**
**(1,089)**
**207,049**
**Group**
**2024**
**£**
**678,992**
**678,992**|_Group_
_2023_
_£_
_40,336_
_6,000_
_2,181_
_(44,123)_
_38,182_
_-_
_42,576_
_Group_
_2023_
_£_
_538,056_
_538,056_|
|---|---|---|
54
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **CARERS CHOICES**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **18. Analysis of changes in net debt**
|Cash at bank and in hand|**At 1 April**
**2023**
**£**
**538,056**
**538,056**|**Cash flows**
**£**
**140,936**
**140,936**|**At 31 March**
**2024**
**£**
**678,992**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**678,992**|
## **19. Operating lease commitments**
At 31 March 2024 the Group and the Charity had commitments to make future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows:
|Not later than 1 year
Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years
Later than 5 years|**Group**
**2024**
**£**
**31,343**
**113,486**
**-**
**144,829**|_Group_
_2023_
_£_
_28,100_
_120,475_
_147,500_
_296,075_|**Charity**
**2024**
**£**
**31,343**
**113,486**
**-**
**144,829**|_Charity_
_2023_
_£_
_28,100_
_120,475_
_147,500_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||
|||||_296,075_|
## **20. Related party transactions**
During the year the charity received a donation from the trading subsidiary amounting to £821 (2023 £3,828).
At year end, the following balance was due from the subsidiary trading company:
|Trading subsidiary|**2024**
**£**
**6,098**
**6,098**|_2023_
_£_
_-_|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||_-_|
## **21. Post balance sheet events**
The trading subsidiary, Carers Choices Trading Company Limited has ceased trading post year end. The assets and liabilities of the company have been transferred to Carers Choices post year end.
55
## **Who’s Who**
## **Patron**
## **Rebecca Harris MP**
## **Trustees**
**B R Terry R R Smale** Chairman Vice Chair
## **G Gault**
Trustee
**M P Hayes** Trustee
**L H McKeogh T V Oladosu** Trustee Trustee
## **S P Parry**
Trustee (Resigned)
**C A Pitts**
Trustee
**C Roberts R Salter** Trustee Trustee
**C Simpson** Trustee
**E Smith** Trustee (Resigned)
## **Our Accountants**
## **Our Solicitors**
## **Haslers Chartered Accountants**
Old Station Road Loughton Essex IG10 4PL
## **Pinney Talfourd LLP**
54 Station Road Upminster Essex RM14 2TU
## **Bankers**
**CAF Bank Nat West Bank Cooperative Bank** 25 Kings Hill Avenue 250 Bishopsgate P.O. Box 101 West Malling Spitalfields 1 Balloon Street Kent ME19 4JQ London EC2M 4AA Manchester M60 4EP
## **Executive Leadership Team**
## **Paul Ramsden**
Chief Executive
## **Sarah Fogarty**
Day Opportunities Manager
## **Sharon Box**
Home Help, Community Care & Young Carers Manager
**Laura Watts**
57
## **Our Thanks**
## **Castle Point Borough Council**
www.castlepoint.gov.uk
## **Essex County Council**
www.essex.gov.uk
## **Southend Borough Council**
www.southend.gov.uk
**Thurrock Council** www.thurrock.gov.uk
## **Essex Community Foundation**
www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk
## **Perry Watlington Trust**
**NHS** www.nhs.uk
**National Lottery** www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk
**Children in Need** www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk
58
59
## **For More Information**
## **Carers Choices**
The White House Kiln Road Benfleet Essex SS7 1BU
0300 302 1212 www.carerschoices.org www.facebook.com/carerschoices
Charity Number 1093483 Company Number 04320986. Company registered in England and Wales.
60