Carers Choices• peace of mind AllthiorkP3rtnerof CARERS TRUST Annual Report & Accounts 202412025 -} ## **On the cover** Pictured is Jean in the garden at Benfleet 2 ## **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**| |**Financial Review**|**21-23**| |Principal Funding Sources|23| |Future Periods|23| |**How we are Governed**|**24-25**| |**Organisational Structure**|**26**| |**Statement of Responsibilities**|**27**| |**Independent auditors report**|**28-31**| |**Statement of Financial Activities**|**32-34**| |Balance Sheet|32-33| |Statement of Cash Flows|34| |**Notes to the Financial Statements**|**35-47**| |**Who’s Who**|**49**| |**Our Thanks**|**50**| 3 ## **Chair’s Foreword** ## **I’m proud to share that the charity has experienced a truly positive and productive year, continuing to make a meaningful difference. There were a few challenges, which provided opportunities for growth, innovation, and resilience.** While these factors have shaped the landscape we’re operating in, they’ve also strengthened our determination and inspired new ways of working. The charity has remained focused, adaptable, and committed to its mission — and we’re proud of the progress we’ve made. We remain cognisant of four issues, namely: - Cost of living in the U.K. - Financial implications for the charity sector - Workforce challenges - National health care and social care restructuring has been announced* * This issue commenced in 2024/2025 but will have a major impact this year and for the foreseeable future. Despite rising costs across all areas, the charity maintained a relatively strong financial position. This was largely due to the efforts of the CEO and management team, along with consistent oversight from the Finance and Risk Committee. Additionally, the Services Committee regularly reviews the charity’s work to ensure it continues to meet its service objectives. We expanded our board of Trustees during the year recruiting in specific areas of expertise, which has further strengthened the governance of the organisation. And I am grateful for the support from all the Trustees. Another key area of focus has been workforce management. The charity remains committed to paying above the Real Living Wage, supporting our goal of maintaining a stable and motivated team. Special thanks go to our dedicated managers, whose efforts in recruiting and retaining staff have ensured we continue to meet the needs of the organisation effectively. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the people and organisations who have supported the charity during this year, because their help and financial support enabled us to continue delivering excellent services to our client base. I am confident that the necessary procedures and processes are firmly in place to ensure that Carers Choices is well-positioned for the years ahead. This strong foundation will be further reinforced by the strategic initiatives the Board intends to undertake in developing services that respond effectively to the demands of an increasingly dynamic care environment. **BRIAN R TERRY** Chair 4 ## **CEO’s Foreword** **This year’s annual report is again a good news story. We have achieved financial targets and increased our reach to support more Carers and the people they care for.** This doesn’t mean that it hasn’t been challenging at times but I’m fortunate to be supported by a great team who constantly rise to the challenge. This is my formal opportunity to say well done and thank you. Thank you to my staff for their unfailing commitment and to my Trustees for all the support they provide to me and the organisation. Thank you in particular to the Chair and Vice Chair for their support and our strategic conversations steering the organisation to further success. To achieve this, we need more referral partners across the whole health and social care sector. We need more positive news stories about the difference we make to carers lives daily. This isn’t about resources, it’s about ensuring that the people working in these roles consider the needs of every person to make sure that they aren’t left to cope alone. Government policy changes regarding employment, national insurance and welfare benefits continues to have a negative impact upon recruitment. This remains a challenge; finding the right people that understand us, what we are about, and how we support people. I challenge myself as to whether we expect too much from staff, but then I see how our current staff go the extra mile to care for our clients and assist carers. It may sound cliché but it’s not a job but a vocation; if you don’t completely believe in what we do then it won’t work. And this is the magic formula. Things don’t just go according to plan, but when we hit the obstacles, we navigate around them. There’s no time for bemoaning negatives, because every problem we solve only catalyses a desire to be able to support more people. Our services flex and alter to changing needs with a ‘yes’ to ‘can we do something differently’ as opposed to the ‘no’ from other providers. This provides the springboard for this next year. We want to make sure that more people know about our services and how we can help. It is so frustrating when people find out too late – ‘if only I had known about you before’ is a mantra we don’t like to hear. But we don’t expect to wait for others. Our social media will ramp up significantly to profile our services particularly in our day centres, and we will apply for funding to support an outreach worker. If successful, this person will be able to support carers directly and aim to influence people in the health and social care sector. This is part of our drive to support more carers this year more than ever. Best wishes **PAUL RAMSDEN** Chief Executive 5 ## **Year at a Glance** clients **261** supported accessing the day centres or within the home **10,927** day centre attendances **54** Young Carers supported across Castle Point and Basildon 6 **13,778** hours supporting clients within the community **8,044** journeys transporting clients to the day centres Our 90 year old mum with dementia, has been attending The Silver Birch club since February and we can honestly say it’s not only changed her life it’s also changed ours, knowing that she’s happy there and being looked after with excellent care, she is normally a shy person and we had our concerns that she would settle in , but from day one she loved it, and comes home so happy and talks about the lovely day she’s had, nothing is too much trouble and excellent communication with Tracy is another bonus, our only regret is that we didn’t know of The Silver Birch club a few years ago. 7 ## **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 moved to Canvey Island into the old Council Offices before relocating to an industrial unit just up the road. This enabled us to add a **Young Carers** project in the 1990’s followed by the first Day Centre for Adults with Disabilities (Rainbow Centre). In 2011 we realised that space was limiting our capacity to meet the need, and we found a **Kiln Road** . We took over the new location back in Thundersley behind the Council Offices on whole of the ground floor in the White House developing the space to cater for existing and new clients. 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, and expanded our dementia services with another centre in Wickford Memorial Park – **The Poppy Pavilion** . In 2020 we added a new **Home Help service** . This service is already assisting a significant number of people in South Essex and is integral to our Homecare services. In 2023 we introduced a new regulated service in our Rainbow Centre by offering **Overnight Respite** to give clients a great night away. We constructed two bedrooms that are now utilised during the week and weekends. 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. Dad stated ‘he wanted to say how thankful he is, not just for respite but for daytime too, for being Moyo’s safe space and looking after her so well. Without people and spaces like us, he wouldn’t be able to do normal things .... we allow him to sleep, to go shopping, to drive around Canvey and so much more. He is eternally grateful to everyone! 9 ## **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: ## **To relieve the stresses experienced by Carers and Beneficiaries** ## **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. ## **Beneficiaries** Any person or people who have care needs as a result of a disability, illness or age. My mum was never really one for joining clubs but since joining Silver Birch Club she has had a new lease of life. She absolutely loves it and would go every day if she could. As a family it gives us comfort to know our mum is happy and well looked after. Tracey and her team do a wonderful job, thank you. 10 11 COURT C ## **What do we want to achieve?** **We have set and developed some overriding Strategic Planning Objectives. These are:** **1** **Ensure that Carers Choices continues to provide the client support and services both near term and in the future** **2** re **Continuous facility development, recognising changes in client needs, numbers and locations 3** @e **Provide the necessary funding and financial management** **Provide the necessary funding and financial management 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 12 ## **How we do it** ## **We deliver our support for Carers through several different service areas:** ## **Home Help and Community Care** Trained staff providing a CQC registered 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 54 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. ## **Rainbow Centre** Rainbow Centre; for Adults with Disabilities supporting over 37 clients over a 5-day period, specialising in more profound disabilities. ## **Overnight Respite** Overnight Respite service for clients to stay at the White House in custom made bedrooms. ## **Silver Birch Centre** 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 108 clients. 13 ## **Looking Forward** **Our Strategic Objectives are reviewed and amended annually to remain relevant and steer our operations.** **----- Start of picture text -----**
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## **Identify and add new Silver Birch Centres** Actively pursue new location in the North of Essex to open another Dementia Centre. **----- Start of picture text -----**
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## **Develop the Overnight Respite Service in the Rainbow Centre** Employ a dedicated manager to develop and provide the service for existing clients and new clients. 14 ## | **3** © **Deliver Young Carers projects across Castle Point and Basildon, seeking additional funds to grow the reach** Gain additional funding to expand the opportunities for the group and to reach more ’hidden’ young carers. **4** @®e **Significantly increase Grant Funding for the Charity** — Submit higher value grant applications to add further value to our services. **5** @e **Support the Health and Wellbeing of** — **our Staff, aiding recruitment and retention** Continue to assist staff to make healthy decisions that keep them fit and well. 15 ## **Rainbow Centre** ## **Our Rainbow Centre is for Adults with Disabilities serving 37 clients over a 7-day period, specialising in more profound disabilities.** The 24/25 year has been a very mixed year. Unusually, we lost a couple of clients, who moved into residential care or moved out of the area with their family and had very few new referrals. The scaffolding we had on the outside of the building was finally removed late last year and this clearly had a negative impact on our ability to interest and secure new clients. Since then, we have been able to slowly start the process of returning our centre to its former glory, not only aesthetically, but by employing new staff to bring new ideas and energy to our staff team. We employed a Positive Behaviour Trainer, who also took the role of our second Senior. She has enhanced the staffs understanding of living with disabilities providing them with additional skills and knowledge. We have also been attending Transition events at local schools to promote our centre and the fantastic work we do. Our reputation for providing support to the more challenging clients continues to grow and my staff team rise to the challenge admirably each time a more colourful client arrives at our door! Our respite service has been very busy, providing a welcome break for our unpaid carers, whose loved ones attend our centre. We have provided several extended stays for these clients, ranging from a couple of nights each month to a few weeks and for one client, a few months. We pride ourselves on being an extension to the families we support, which means that each client is given a very personal and individual service when they stay. Our slimming club for the staff is still going strong and those that lost weight in the previous year, managed to keep that weight off last year! Our Zumba class continues every Friday at 5.15pm and we are always looking for more people to come along and join in the fun!! Since D has been attending the All Ages Cooking Sessions his confidence has grown so much and he is coping better at school also. D is now cooking at home with confidence and as a family we are loving seeing the difference in him and of course the lovely dishes that he is creating also. Thank you all for your time, support and patience in getting D where he is today. - **Young Carers Mum** 16 ## **Silver Birch Centres** ## **Our Silver Birch Centres are a service providing six hours of respite for carers whilst simultaneously delivering brainstimulating activities for our clients.** By keeping clients engaged and mentally active, we support in slowing the progression of cognitive decline, particularly for those who are isolated or living with a diagnosis of dementia. Our centres are equipped to support individuals at all stages-from early onset to later stage dementia-and through our shared space with the Rainbow Centre, we are also able to accommodate adults with physical and mobility needs. This year has been defined by a clear focus on growth, visibility, and building strong collaborative foundations. We have proactively begun viewing venues in North Essex with a view to expanding our reach and replicating our successful model in underserved areas. These early-stage steps signal our commitment to broadening our impact while maintaining the quality and integrity of our services. We held a highly successful Christmas Open Day, featuring a professional DJ, which brought together families, carers, clients, and members of the wider community. The event was exceptionally well received, with positive feedback highlighting not just the quality of the event, but also the sense of connection and joy it created. In terms of financial sustainability and long-term growth, we are now working closely with Troika, a professional fundraising organisation, to identify and apply for grant funding opportunities. This strategic partnership reflects our forward-thinking approach to securing new resources to enhance the service for current and future clients. Operationally, we have renovated our Benfleet Centre, creating a brighter, more welcoming environment. Improvements have included repainting walls, refreshing furnishings, and introducing chair covers to lift the visual feel of the space—efforts that have not gone unnoticed by clients and families. We also strengthened our ties with local care homes, improving the coordination of client transitions, referrals, and collaborative care. These partnerships help ensure continuity for individuals as their needs evolve and allow us to advocate for community-based support as a preferable alternative to premature residential admission wherever possible. 17 ## **Home Help and Community Care** ## **Our focus for this year has been to continue to provide vital support to Carers and their loved ones within the community.** We provided vital support to 6 clients after leaving hospital and tailormaking a service to fit the individual’s needs. These clients then chose to continue their support within our other Community Services, mainly Home Help. We spent time working with a client with a hoarding issue and managed to de-clutter, clean and re-arrange their home, so that equipment could be delivered and the home was made wheelchair friendly, enabling the client to be discharged home from hospital. We continued with our Home Help Service to ensure that the home was kept to a reasonable standard. Once again, our biggest challenge this year has been recruitment, which at times has had an effect on hours provided. There will always be challenges within the Community Services, but we are always recruiting and aim to provide the best care possible. We had one member of staff retire and another move out of the area, and they were a great loss to our service - dedicated workers, who always went the extra mile. It has to be said that without our excellent team of community workers, delivering our services would not be possible and we appreciate their dedication to our organisation and clients, they always go over and above. We continue to aim to expand our services and continue to provide vital support to all our clients with a tailor-made service to meet their needs. Continuing to promote our services and build on our profile in the community is also priority for this coming year. We have received some positive feedback from our clients regarding our services, one of our clients’ families were very grateful for our Home Help raising the alarm when their mother was unwell and she was rushed into hospital with Sepsis, because we attend daily to this client we were able to act quickly on the matter. 18 ## **Young Carers** ## **Castle Point** We have seen a decline in the number of Young Carers attending our Castle Point Young Carers Groups this year. This has been due to the age group who are in their final year of education taking time away to concentrate on their studies. However, the young carers that we are supporting have continued to grow in confidence and skills whilst developing great peer support networks. We have taken our Young Carers out litter picking in our local community as we feel it is important to give something back to the local community, and it is a good environmental project for us to be involved in; protecting our environment is paramount. We have two very talented young carers who are thriving in their cooking skills, producing some really lovely dishes, improved confidence, and they have become good friends, who support each other. Our numbers are now increasing again with the number of Young Carers that we are supporting from regular referrals being received. ## **Basildon Young Carers** We were successful in applying for funding from Essex County Council to sustain the Basildon group. Numbers are increasing each week now (we started the group sessions with just 2 - 3 young carers attending) but we are now seeing each week between 10 - 14 young carers, with more being referred on a regular basis. Even though we have some restrictions with the types of activities that we can achieve at the premises we use in Basildon, we still have lots of fun and entertainment that all ages can join in. And the challenges make it even more interesting in coming up with activities and overcoming boundaries. ## **All Age Cooking Project** Our All Age Cooking Project has seen us supporting Carers of all ages to learn to cook some budget meals and batch baking to help with the cost of living. We have seen some really talented cooking skills amongst the groups and incredible support for each other regardless of ages. 19 ## **Men’s Shed** **Our numbers continue to grow year on year and we now have 19 members. Not all are necessarily craftsmen, but all contribute in their way from making tea to painting or sanding down projects and some gardening. Ages vary from our oldest at 94, to our “youngsters” in their 60’s.** Combating isolation and creating a social hub twice a week has been invaluable to a number of our members. Over the year we have successfully repaired or created a wide range of items. We thrive in being able to turn our hands to repairing furniture and other items for Carers Choices and have been approached on a number of occasions to assist with community projects. A giant Jenga set and Bean Bag Tossing game have all been made for clients to enjoy along with items made for various Carers Choices events throughout the year such as domino clocks, bird boxes and bug hotels. A large gate was made to secure the decked area for Rainbow Centre clients at the White House. It was nicely finished off by the Centre staff painting the balustrades in bright colours. Community projects involved working with Westerings Primary School in Hockley, Essex to build a small shed and work bench for children to play in and making cardboard cut outs of life size barrels mounted on freestanding structures for the Royal Naval Association of Rayleigh, so they could be displayed at functions such as Trafalgar Day. Our mantra is, Reduce, Repair, Repurpose and when all else fails we separate out scrap items that enable us to maximise scrap value. A frequent visitor and supporter to our shed is our charity patron Dame Rebecca Harris who has donated several items for restoration. **----- Start of picture text -----**
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## **Financial Review** Overall, the organisation has performed well, increasing in turnover and producing a surplus to offset increased costs. Inflation, increases to the minimum wage and changes in National Insurance will impact from the 1st April 2025. Our total grants and donations from Fundraising amounts to around £75k, which we hope to increase over the coming year. We are ever grateful for the support from Castle Point Borough Council, Essex County Council and individual donations directly or from our events that we have run through the year. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Depreciation on the Motor Vehicles restarted to ensure that the book value is aligned to a
real-world value, which reduced the surplus to just under £75k.
2024/2025 2023/2024
Donations and Gifts £76,073 £42,124
Day Centres £1,401,448 £1,184,099
Community Services £329,984 £285,283
Other Income £18,342 £24,245
Other Trading Activities £3,262 £1,589
Investment Income £14,603 £1,089
Total £1,843,712 £1,538,429
Expenditure £1,772,380 £1,437,803
Deficit/Surplus £71,330 £100,626
Other: £18,342 Home Help: £166,154
Transport:
£142,249
Community
Charitable
Care:
Activities
£146,545
Silver Birch:
£503,070 Total: Rainbow
£1,749,774 Centre:
£756,129
. Hospital Discharge: Oo
£17,285
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21 The **Balance Sheet** is further strengthened by the performance with an overall increase in funds, careful management of debtors and a slight increase in tangible assets. We have a minibus on order that will change the cash situation in the next year and increase tangible assets. The analysis of the funds is presented here with a reduction in restricted funds as they are spent and an increase in unrestricted balance. Throughout the year there was investment from designated funds in both Fundraising and the Hospital Discharge functions. The increase overall will enable the Trustees to replenish designated funds as we pursue our objective of delivering services in North Essex and the purchase of a building. **Restricted reserves** are those funds that the donor has specified must be undertaken when 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 been taken from the cash unrestricted reserves so exclude fixed assets. **Unrestricted funds** are those reserves that remain once restricted and designated funds have been accounted for. They include fixed assets at cost less depreciation. **Free unrestricted funds** are those unrestricted reserves less fixed assets and designated funds. We wouldn’t be without silver birch; my mum is so happy there, all the staff are amazing and absolutely lovely - **Claire Timpson** = . ~ . 22 ## **Reserves Policy** The Trustees have determined that, in line with good practice, 3 month’s operating expenditure should be held as reserves. This equates to £437,278 and reduces the free unrestricted balance to £93,187. ## **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 social care authorities in Essex as well as the NHS. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Commissioned:
52%
Private:
48%
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The split between private and commissioned services is shown here: ## **Future Periods** We continue to develop our services, to reach more people in existing and new areas. We are actively looking for grant investment to assist this process and have engaged consultants to bring the capacity and expertise to apply for higher amounts. Equally we are actively looking for properties in the North of the County for an additional centre. This will be a major expenditure item that we have built up reserves to afford. My wife has been going to Silver Birch over 2 years now. They deliver an excellent service _ —_ look after Linda with care, she loves coming to Silver Birch and even with Alzheimer’s loves -— <_ every minute of the time she spends there 3 days. = 23 ## **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. ## **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 9 Trustees. The board must have between 3 and 17 Trustees. All the Trustees are non-remunerated and give their time freely. ## **Significant Activities for Public Benefit** The Trustees have had due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the 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. I feel completely supported by you, I feel listened to, and I trust you that you are all working so hard to support Flynn and myself and have our best interests at heart. I definitely wouldn’t have got through without you all. 24 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. All Trustees complete a skills audit table to ensure that gaps are identified, and training 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 Maynard Heady LLP. 25 ## **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. ## **Staffing** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Young Carers: 2
10
Executive Office:
Day Centres -
Silver Birch & Active staff Home Help &
Rainbow: 42 as at 31.03.25 Community Care: 22
Total: 76
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The Main Office is located at the White House, where our two day centres run from; the Silver Birch Centre and the Rainbow Centre (including Overnight Respite). Young Carers utilise the facilities in the evening but also meet in a rented building in Basildon each week. The Men’s Shed is in the grounds of the White House. We also have a satellite operation of the Silver Birch Centre in Wickford. This is based in the Poppy Pavilion in Memorial Park and provides services for those local to Wickford and the surrounding areas. 26 ## **Statement of Responsibilities** Statement of responsibilities of the Trustees of Carers Choices in respect of the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements ## **Trustees Responsibilities in relation to 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). Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial 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; - prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient 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 7th October 2025 and signed on their behalf by: **BRIAN R TERRY** Chair of Trustees 27 ## **Independent auditors report** We have audited the financial statements of Carers Choices (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). In our opinion, the financial statements: - give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, 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 Companies Act 2006. ## **Basis for opinion** We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. ## **Conclusions relating to going concern** In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’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. 28 ## **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 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 in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: - the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the Trustees report; or - sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or - the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or - we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. ## **Responsibilities of trustees** As explained more fully in the statement of Trustees responsibilities, the trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 29 ## **Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements** We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder. Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an 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 financial statements. 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. As a result of performing the above, we identified the greatest potential for material misstatements due to fraud are in the following areas, and our specific procedures performed to address these are described below: The risk of management override of controls is the area where the financial statements were most susceptible to material misstatement due to fraud. In addition, the key principal risks related to the existence of inappropriate journal entries to impact the profit for the year and management bias in accounting estimates. I am very pleased with the Home Help cover sent to me at short notice yesterday. Nothing was too much trouble for her and she cleaned my fridge out and it now looks and smells lovely. I am very happy. 30 Procedures performed to address these were as follows: - Identifying and assessing the design effectiveness of controls management has in place 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; - Challenging assumptions and judgements made by management in its significant 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. A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report. ## **Use of our report** This report is made solely to the charity’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 charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. ## **Mr David Smith FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)** For and on behalf of Maynard Heady LLP, Statutory Auditor Chartered Accountants Matrix House 12-16 Lionel Road Canvey Island Essex SS8 9DE 7 October 2025 **Maynard Heady LLP** is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006. 31 ## **Statement of Financial Activities** Including income and expenditure account for the year ended 31 March 2025. |**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2025**
**Notes**
**£**
**£**
**Income from:**
Donations and legacies
**3**
52,276
23,797
Charitable activities
**4**
1,749,774
-
Other trading activities
**5**
3,262
-
Investments
**6**
14,603
-
**Total income**
1,819,915
23,797
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
**7**
6,123
-
Charitable activities
**8**
1,739,924
26,333
**Total expenditure**
1,746,047
26,333
Net gains/(losses) on
investments
**13**
(2)
-
**Net income/(expenditure) and**
**movement in funds**
73,866
(2,536)
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Fund balances at 1 April 2024
1,005,993
5,665
**Fund balances at 31 March**
**2025**
1,079,859
3,129|**Total**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
76,073
37,641
4,483
1,749,774
1,493,627
-
3,262
1,589
-
14,603
1,089
-
1,843,712
1,533,946
4,483
6,123
197
-
1,766,257
1,416,777
20,829
1,772,380
1,416,974
20,829
(2)
-
-
71,330
116,972
(16,346)
1,011,658
889,021
22,011
1,082,988
1,005,993
5,665|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
42,124
1,493,627
1,589
1,089| |---|---|---| |||1,538,429| |||197
1,437,606| |||1,437,803| |||-| |||100,626
911,032| |||1,011,658| The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities. 32 ## **CARERS CHOICES** ## **BALANCE SHEET** ## _**AS AT 31 MARCH 2025**_ ||||**2025**|||**2024**|| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||**Notes**|**£**||**£**|**£**||**£**| |**Fixed assets**|||||||| |Tangible assets||||289,690|||318,717| |Investments||||-|||2| |||||289,690|||318,719| |**Current assets**|||||||| |Debtors||225,155|||183,468||| |Cash at bank and in hand||683,763|||662,749||| |||908,918|||846,217||| |**Creditors: amounts falling due within**|||||||| |**one year**||(115,620)|||(153,278)||| |**Net current assets**||||793,298|||692,939| |**Total assets less current liabilities**||||1,082,988|||1,011,658| |**The funds of the charity**|||||||| |Restricted income funds||||3,129|||5,665| |Unrestricted funds||||1,079,859|||1,005,993| |||||1,082,988|||1,011,658| The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, but an audit has been carried out under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 for the year ended 31 March 2025. The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 7 October 2025 **BRIAN R TERRY** Chair of Trustees Company registration number 04320986 (England and Wales) 33 ## **CARERS CHOICES** ## **STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_ |**Notes**
**Cash flows from operating activities**
Cash generated from operations
**24**
**Investing activities**
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Investment income received
**Net cash generated from/(used in) investing**
**activities**
**Net cash generated from financing activities**
**Net increase in cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
**Cash and cash equivalents at end of year**|**2025**
**£**
(9,081)
14,603|**£**
15,492
5,522
-
21,014
662,749
683,763|**2024**
**£**
(55,651)
1,089|**£**
183,819
(54,562)
-
129,257
533,492
662,749| |---|---|---|---|---| 34 ## **Notes to the Financial Statements** ## **1. Accounting policies** ## **Charity information** Carers Choices is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is The White House, Kiln Road, Thundersley, Benfleet, Essex, SS7 1BU, United Kingdom. ## **1.1 Accounting convention** The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” and the Charities SORP “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)”. The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, [modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value]. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below. ## **1.2 Going concern** At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. ## **1.3 Charitable funds** General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Company and which have not been designated for other purposes. Designated funds comprises 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 financial statements. Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Company for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements. 35 ## **1.4 Income** Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received. Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation. Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset. ## **1.5 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 are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. ## **1.6 Tangible fixed assets** Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses. Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases: - Leasehold land and buildings - 4% straight line - Fixtures and fittings - 20% straight line - Motor vehicles - 13% straight line with 10% residual value The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities. ## **1.7 Fixed asset investments** Fixed asset investments are initially measured at transaction price excluding transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred. 36 ## **1.8 Impairment of fixed assets** At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). ## **1.9 Cash and cash equivalents** Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities. ## **1.10 Financial instruments** The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments. Financial instruments are recognised in the charity’s balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously. ## **Basic financial assets** Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised. ## **Basic financial liabilities** Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised. Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method. Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. ## **Derecognition of financial liabilities** Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled. 37 ## **1.11 Employee benefits** The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received. Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits. ## **1.12 Retirement benefits** Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due. ## **2. Critical accounting estimates and judgements** In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods. 38 ## **CARERS CHOICES** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_ ## **3 Income from donations and legacies** ||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||**funds**|**funds**||**funds**|**funds**|| ||**2025**|**2025**|**2025**|**2024**|**2024**|**2024**| ||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**| |Donations and gifts|52,276|23,797|76,073|37,641|4,483|42,124| ## **4 Income from charitable activities** |||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**| |---|---|---|---| |||**funds**|**funds**| |||**2025**|**2024**| |||**£**|**£**| ||**Charitable activity**||| ||Total income from charitable activities|1,749,774|1,493,627| ||**Breakdown of activities**||| ||Home Help|166,154|124,558| ||Community Care|146,545|160,725| ||Rainbow Day Centre|756,129|661,330| ||Silver Birch Centre|503,070|396,989| ||Transport|142,249|125,780| ||Hospital Discharge|17,285|-| ||Other services & Recharges|18,342|24,245| |||1,749,774|1,493,627| |**5**|**Income from other trading activities**||| |||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**| |||**funds**|**funds**| |||**2025**|**2024**| |||**£**|**£**| ||Fundraising events|3,262|1,589| |**6**|**Income from investments**||| |||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**| |||**funds**|**funds**| |||**2025**|**2024**| |||**£**|**£**| ||Interest receivable|14,603|1,089| 39 ## **CARERS CHOICES** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_ ## **7 Expenditure on raising funds** |||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**| |---|---|---|---| |||**funds**|**funds**| |||**2025**|**2024**| |||**£**|**£**| ||**Fundraising and publicity**||| ||Other fundraising costs|6,123|197| |**8**|**Expenditure on charitable activities**||| |||**Charitable**|**Charitable**| |||**activity**|**activity**| |||**2025**|**2024**| |||**£**|**£**| ||**Direct costs**||| ||Staff costs|1,407,447|1,165,763| ||Depreciation and impairment|38,109|9,859| ||Advertising|3,831|5,390| ||Rent|29,422|27,172| ||Activity expenses|15,420|12,134| ||Client food purchases|15,743|12,970| ||Travel|86,098|60,736| ||Training costs|15,442|2,285| ||Equipment and repairs|15,566|14,534| ||Printing postage and stationery|3,774|2,860| ||Bank charges|6,453|4,396| ||Water, light and heat|33,326|52,874| ||Insurance|10,502|6,962| ||Premises expenses|27,756|2,820| ||Sundry expenses|7,152|9,387| ||Telephone|2,092|1,699| ||Computer expenses|150|216| ||Subscriptions|11,064|10,002| ||Staff entertaining|4,515|3,999| |||1,733,862|1,406,058| ||**Share of support and governance costs (see note 9)**||| ||Support|32,395|31,548| |||1,766,257|1,437,606| ||**Analysis by fund**||| ||Unrestricted funds|1,739,924|1,416,777| ||Restricted funds|26,333|20,829| |||1,766,257|1,437,606| 40 ## **CARERS CHOICES** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_ ## **9 Support costs allocated to activities** |**Charitable**
**activity**
**2025**
**£**
Staff costs
9,153
Governance
23,242
**2025**
**Governance costs comprise:**
**£**
Audit fees
10,800
Legal and professional
12,442
23,242
**10**
**Net movement in funds**
**2025**
**£**
The net movement in funds is stated after charging/(crediting):
Fees payable for the audit of the charity's financial statements
10,800
Depreciation of owned tangible fixed assets
38,109|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
11,178
20,370| |---|---| ||**2024**
**£**
9,100
11,270| ||20,370| ||**2024**
**£**
9,100
9,859| ## **11 Trustees** None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year. ## **12 Employees** The average monthly number of employees during the year was: ||**2025**|**2024**| |---|---|---| ||**Number**|**Number**| |Executive Office|10|8| |Home Help & Community Care|21|24| |Day Centres - Silver Birch & Rainbow|42|43| |Young Carers|2|1| |Hospital Discharge|1|-| |Total|76|76| 41 ## **CARERS CHOICES** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_ |**12**
**Employees**
**Employment costs**
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs|**(Continued)**
**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
1,297,288
1,085,347
78,927
57,461
40,385
34,133
1,416,600
1,176,941|**(Continued)**
**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
1,297,288
1,085,347
78,927
57,461
40,385
34,133
1,416,600
1,176,941| |---|---|---| |||1,176,941| |The number of employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000||| |---|---|---| |is as follows:||| ||**2025**|**2024**| ||**Number**|**Number**| |In the band £70,001 - £80,000|-|1| |In the band £80,001 - £90,000|1|-| ## **Remuneration of key management personnel** The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows: The key management personnel of the charity comprises the senior management. The total amount of employee benefits received by key management personnel for their services to the charity was £81,406 (2024: £70,225) ## **13 Gains and losses on investments** ||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**| |---|---|---| ||**funds**|**funds**| ||**2025**|**2024**| |Gains/(losses) arising on:|**£**|**£**| |Sale of investments|(2)|-| ## **14 Taxation** The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes. 42 ## **CARERS CHOICES** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_ |**15**
**Tangible fixed assets**
**Leasehold**
**land and**
**buildings**
**Fixtures and**
**fittings**
**£**
**£**
**Cost**
At 1 April 2024
113,962
30,333
Additions
-
9,081
At 31 March 2025
113,962
39,414
**Depreciation and impairment**
At 1 April 2024
18,178
13,775
Depreciation charged in the year
4,558
6,647
At 31 March 2025
22,736
20,422
**Carrying amount**
At 31 March 2025
91,226
18,992
At 31 March 2024
95,784
16,558
**16**
**Fixed asset investments**
**Cost or valuation**
At 1 April 2024
Disposals
At 31 March 2025
**Carrying amount**
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024|**Motor**
**vehicles**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
305,183
449,478
-
9,081
305,183
458,559
98,807
130,760
26,904
38,109
125,711
168,869
179,472
289,690
206,375
318,717
**Unlisted**
**investments**
**£**
2
(2)
-
-
2| |---|---| The trading subsidiary, Carers Choices Trading Company Limited ceased trading during the period. 43 ## **CARERS CHOICES** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_ ## **17 Debtors** |**Debtors**||| |---|---|---| |**Amounts falling due within one year:**
Trade debtors
Amounts owed by fellow group undertakings
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income|**2025**
**£**
173,605
-
326
51,224
225,155|**2024**
**£**
133,522
6,098
314
43,534| |||183,468| ## **18 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year** |Other taxation and social security
Trade creditors
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income|**2025**
**£**
19,819
34,556
14,846
46,399
115,620|**2024**
**£**
16,494
74,973
18,896
42,915| |---|---|---| |||153,278| ## **19 Restricted funds** The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. ||**At 1 April**|**Incoming**|**Resources**|**At 31 March**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||**2024**|**resources**|**expended**|**2025**| ||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**| |Dana Tinson Fund|3,801|-|(3,801)|-| |Mens Shed|1,864|3,974|(2,709)|3,129| |All Age Cooking|-|9,980|(9,980)|-| |Community Carers Fund|-|9,843|(9,843)|-| ||5,665|23,797|(26,333)|3,129| 44 ## **CARERS CHOICES** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_ |**19**
**Restricted funds**
**Previous year:**
Dana Tinson Fund
Men's Shed
Youth Violence Project
Carers Group
Poppy Pavilion Reopening|**(Continued)**
**At 1 April**
**2023**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Resources**
**expended**
**At 31 March**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
1,719
4,483
(4,338)
1,864
105
-
(105)
-
6,700
-
(2,899)
3,801
8,863
-
(8,863)
-
4,624
-
(4,624)
-
22,011
4,483
(20,829)
5,665|**(Continued)**
**At 1 April**
**2023**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Resources**
**expended**
**At 31 March**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
1,719
4,483
(4,338)
1,864
105
-
(105)
-
6,700
-
(2,899)
3,801
8,863
-
(8,863)
-
4,624
-
(4,624)
-
22,011
4,483
(20,829)
5,665| |---|---|---| |||5,665| ## **20 Unrestricted funds** The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes. |Designated
Funds
General Funds
**Previous year:**
Designated
Funds
General Funds|**At 1 April**
**2024**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
**£**
**£**
289,250
-
-
716,743
1,819,915
(1,746,047)
1,005,993
1,819,915
(1,746,047)
**At 1 April**
**2023**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
**£**
**£**
289,250
-
-
599,771
1,533,946
(1,416,974)
889,021
1,533,946
(1,416,974)|**Transfers**
**Gains and**
**losses**
**At 31 March**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
**£**
(29,546)
-
259,704
29,546
(2)
820,155
-
(2)
1,079,859
**Transfers**
**Gains and**
**losses**
**At 31 March**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
-
289,250
-
-
716,743
-
-
1,005,993|**Transfers**
**Gains and**
**losses**
**At 31 March**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
**£**
(29,546)
-
259,704
29,546
(2)
820,155
-
(2)
1,079,859
**Transfers**
**Gains and**
**losses**
**At 31 March**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
-
289,250
-
-
716,743
-
-
1,005,993| |---|---|---|---| ||||1,005,993| 45 ## **CARERS CHOICES** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_ ## **21 Analysis of net assets between funds** |**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
**At 31 March 2025:**
Tangible assets
289,690
-
Current assets/(liabilities)
790,169
3,129
1,079,859
3,129
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**At 31 March 2024:**
Tangible assets
318,717
-
Investments
2
-
Current assets/(liabilities)
687,274
5,665
1,005,993
5,665|**Total**
**2025**
**£**
289,690
793,298| |---|---| ||1,082,988| ||**Total**
**2024**
**£**
318,717
2
692,939| ||1,011,658| ## **22 Operating lease commitments** ## **Lessee** At the reporting end date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows: |Within one year
Between two and five years|**2025**
**£**
31,343
82,143
113,486|**2024**
**£**
31,343
113,486| |---|---|---| |||144,829| 46 ## **CARERS CHOICES** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_ ## **23 Related party transactions** **(Continued)** ## **Transactions with related parties** During the year the charity entered into the following transactions with related parties: |Entities over which the entity has control, joint control or significant influence|**Donations**
**2025**
**£**
10,580
10,580|**2024**
**£**
821| |---|---|---| |||821| The trading subsidiary, Carers Choices Trading Company Limited ceased trading during the year. The assets of the company have been transferred to Carers Choices in the form of a donation. |**24**
**Cash generated from operations**
Surplus for the year
**Adjustments for:**
Investment income recognised in statement of financial activities
Loss on disposal of investments
Depreciation and impairment of tangible fixed assets
**Movements in working capital:**
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
(Decrease)/increase in creditors
**Cash generated from operations**|**2025**
**£**
71,330
(14,603)
2
38,109
(41,688)
(37,658)
15,492|**2024**
**£**
100,626
(1,089)
-
9,859
18,782
55,641| |---|---|---| |||183,819| ## **25 Analysis of changes in net funds** The charity had no material debt during the year. 47 ## **Who’s Who** ## **Patron** ## **Dame Rebecca Harris MP** ## **Trustees** **B R Terry** Chairman **R R Smale** Vice Chair **M P Hayes** Trustee **L H McKeogh T V Oladosu C A Pitts** Trustee Trustee Trustee **C Roberts R Salter C Simpson** Trustee Trustee Trustee ## **Our Accountants** ## **Our Solicitors** **Maynard Heady LLP** Matrix House 12-16 Lionel Road Canvey Island Essex SS8 9DE **Pinney Talfourd LLP** 54 Station Road Upminster Essex RM14 2TU ## **Bankers** **CAF Bank** 25 Kings Hill Avenue West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ ## **Nat West Bank** 250 Bishopsgate Spitalfields London EC2M 4AA ## **Executive Leadership Team** **Paul Ramsden** Chief Executive **Sarah Fogarty** Rainbow Centre Manager ## **Sharon Box** Home Help, Community Care & Young Carers Manager **Laura Watts** PA to CEO and Office Manager ## **Cerys Ramsden** Silver Birch Manager **Keely Abbott** Finance Manager 49 ## **Our Thanks** **Castle Point Borough Council** www.castlepoint.gov.uk **Essex County Council** www.essex.gov.uk **----- Start of picture text -----**
Southend Borough Council
www.southend.gov.uk
Thurrock Council
www.thurrock.gov.uk
NHS
www.nhs.uk
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
My mum loves coming here and staff are amazing with her - Keely Law
**----- End of picture text -----**
50 -n 51 ## **For More Information** ## **Carers Choices** The White House Kiln Road Benfleet Essex SS7 1BU phone 0300 302 1212 mouse-pointer www.carerschoices.org facebook www.facebook.com/carerschoices Charity Number 1093483 Company Number 04320986. Company registered in England and Wales. 52