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2025-03-31-accounts

Company registration number: 04501827 Charity registration number: 1094825

Sefton Advocacy

(A company limited by guarantee) Annual Report and Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Sefton Advocacy

Contents

Reference and Administraton 1
Trustees’ Report 2 to 3
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilites 4
Independent Examiners Report 5
Statement of Financial Actvites 6 to 7
Balance Sheet 8
Notes to the Financial Statements 9 to 15

Sefton Advocacy

Reference and Administrative Details

Secretary A S Ayres
Senior Management/Leadership Team A Booth, Chief Executve
A S Ayres, Deputy Chief Executve
Charity Registraton Number 1094825
Company Registraton Number 04501827
The charity is incorporated in England and Wales
Registered Ofce 11 Hoghton Street
Southport
Merseyside
PR9 0NS
Independent Examiner IMB Accountants Limited
5 Wilmcote Grove
Southport
Merseyside
PR8 2SP
Bankers HSBC Bank plc
Bootle
197 Stanley Road
Bootle
L20 3DX

Page 1

Sefton Advocacy

Trustees’ Report

The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present the annual report together with the financial statement of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Objectives and activities

Objects and aims

The Charity is constituted as a company limited by guarantee, and is therefore governed by a memorandum and articles of association. Its objectives are to relieve vulnerable people in the Sefton area who a socially excluded, empowering them to make their own choices and to give them the confidence to speak out.

In order to further these objects, the following policies have been adopted:

Public benefit

The Charities objectives are to relieve vulnerable people in the Sefton area who are socially excluded, empowering them to make their own choices and to give them the confidence to speak out.

The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

Financial review

Principal funding sources

The principal funding sources are South Sefton CCG, Southport and Formby CCG and Sefton MBC.

Page 2

Sefton Advocacy

Trustees’ Report

Trustees and officers

The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:

Trustees: I D Parker H Robins S Bell L S Johnson I Jones Secretary: A S Ayres Senior Management/Leadership Team: A Booth A S Ayres

Financial instruments

Objectives and policies

The charity’s activities expose it to a number of financial risks including credit risk, cash flow risk and liquidity risk. The use of financial derivatives is governed by the charity’s policies approved by the board of trustees, which provide written principles on the use of financial derivatives to manage these risks. The charity does not use derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.

The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 10 June 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

…………………………………………… I D Parker Chairman and Trustee

Page 3

Sefton Advocacy

Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

The trustees (who are also the directors of Sefton Advocacy for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees’ report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations.

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 its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

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.

Approved by the trustees of the charity on 10 June 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

…………………………………………….

I D Parker

Chairman and Trustee

Page 4

Sefton Advocacy

Independent Examiner’s Report of the trustees of Sefton Advocacy (“the Company”)

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

Responsibilities and basis of report

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

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

Independent examiner’s statement

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

…………………………………………………………………………… Ian Burton - ICAEW

IMB Accountants Limited 5 Wilmcote Grove Southport Merseyside PR8 2SP Date 10 June 2025

Page 5

Sefton Advocacy

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

(Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)

Unrestricted Restricted Restricted Total
funds funds 2025
£ £ £
Note
Income and Endowments from:
Donatons and gifs 3 280 - 280
Grants received 4 328,981 120,700 449,681
Investment income 5 314 - 314
Total income 329,575 120,700 450,275
Expenditure on:
Raising funds 6 (30,543) - (30,543)
Charitable actvites 7 (257,098) (51,596) (308,694)
Total expenditure (287,641) (51,596) (339,237)
Net income 41,934 69,104 111,038
Transfers between funds - - -
Net movement in funds 41,934 69,104 111,038
Reconciliaton of funds
Total funds brought forward 78,494 3,068 81,562
Total funds carried forward 15 120,428 72,172 192,600

The notes on pages 9 to 15 form an integral part of these financial statements

Page 6

Sefton Advocacy

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

(Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)

Unrestricted
funds
£
Restricted
funds
£
Total
2024
£
Note
Income and Endowments from:
Donatons and gifs
Grants received
Investment income
Total income
3
4
5
1,509
313,255
43
314,807
-
50,000
-
50,000
1,509
363,255
43
364,807
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable actvites
Total expenditure
6
7
(30,073)
(245,741)
(275,814)
-
(46,932)
(46,932)
(30,073)
(292,673)
(322,746)
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
38,993
-
3,068
-
42,061
-
Net movement in funds
38,993
3,068
42,061
Reconciliaton of funds
Total funds brought forward
39,501
-
39,501
Total funds carried forward
15
78,494
3,068
81,562
Unrestricted
funds
£
Restricted
funds
£
Total
2024
£
Note
Income and Endowments from:
Donatons and gifs
Grants received
Investment income
Total income
3
4
5
1,509
313,255
43
314,807
-
50,000
-
50,000
1,509
363,255
43
364,807
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable actvites
Total expenditure
6
7
(30,073)
(245,741)
(275,814)
-
(46,932)
(46,932)
(30,073)
(292,673)
(322,746)
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
38,993
-
3,068
-
42,061
-
Net movement in funds
38,993
3,068
42,061
Reconciliaton of funds
Total funds brought forward
39,501
-
39,501
Total funds carried forward
15
78,494
3,068
81,562
Unrestricted
funds
£
Restricted
funds
£
Total
2024
£
Note
Income and Endowments from:
Donatons and gifs
Grants received
Investment income
Total income
3
4
5
1,509
313,255
43
314,807
-
50,000
-
50,000
1,509
363,255
43
364,807
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable actvites
Total expenditure
6
7
(30,073)
(245,741)
(275,814)
-
(46,932)
(46,932)
(30,073)
(292,673)
(322,746)
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
38,993
-
3,068
-
42,061
-
Net movement in funds
38,993
3,068
42,061
Reconciliaton of funds
Total funds brought forward
39,501
-
39,501
Total funds carried forward
15
78,494
3,068
81,562

(322,746)

42,061
-
42,061
39,501

81,562

All of the charity’s activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods.

The funds breakdown for 2024 is shown in note 15.

The notes on pages 9 to 15 form an integral part of these financial statements

Page 7

Sefton Advocacy

(Registration number: 04501827)

Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025

Note
2025
£
2024
£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
10
7,177
Current assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
11
12
4,404
182,339

186,743
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
13
(1,320)
Net current assets / (liabilites)
185,423
Net assets
192,600

Funds of the charity:
Unrestricted income funds
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
72,172
120,428

Total funds
15
192,600
Note
2025
£
2024
£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
10
7,177
Current assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
11
12
4,404
182,339

186,743
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
13
(1,320)
Net current assets / (liabilites)
185,423
Net assets
192,600

Funds of the charity:
Unrestricted income funds
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
72,172
120,428

Total funds
15
192,600
Note
2025
£
2024
£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
10
7,177
Current assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
11
12
4,404
182,339

186,743
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
13
(1,320)
Net current assets / (liabilites)
185,423
Net assets
192,600

Funds of the charity:
Unrestricted income funds
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
72,172
120,428

Total funds
15
192,600
9,569
4,391
68,862


73,253
(1,260)

71,993

81,562
3,068
78,494


81,562

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

Directors’ responsibilities:

The financial statements on pages 6 to 15 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on 10 June 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

…………………………………………………………………………………

I D Parker

Chairman and Trustee

The notes on pages 9 to 15 form an integral part of these financial statements

Page 8

Sefton Advocacy

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

1 Charity status:

The charity is limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales, and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the trustees is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.

The address of its registered office is: 11 Houghton Street Southport Merseyside PR9 ONS

The financial statements were authorised for issue by the trustees on 10 June 2025

2 Accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

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

Statement of compliance

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities; Statement of Recommended Practice (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)) (issued in October 2019) – (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Basis of preparation

Sefton Advocacy meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

Going concern

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern nor any significant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets held by the charity.

Income and endowments

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 the income receivable can be measured reliably.

Donations and legacies

Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance by the charity before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that these conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.

Page 9

Sefton Advocacy

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Expenditure

All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.

Raising funds

These are costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, the management of investments and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.

Charitable activities

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Support costs

Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, for example, allocating property costs by floor area, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.

Governance costs

These include the costs attributable to the charity’s compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements, including audit, strategic management and trustee’s meetings and reimbursed expenses.

Taxation

The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for the UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

Tangible fixed assets

Individual fixed assets costing £100.00 or more are initially recorded at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

Depreciation and amortisation

Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:

Asset class Depreciation method and rate Fixtures and fittings 15% reducing balance basis Office equipment 25% reducing balance basis

Page 10

Sefton Advocacy

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

Trade creditors

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if the charity does not have an unconditional right, at the end of the reporting period, to defer settlement of the creditor for at least twelve months after the reporting date. If there is an unconditional right or defer settlement for at least twelve months after the reporting date, they are presented as non-current liabilities.

Trade creditors are recognised initially at the transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Fund structure

Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustee’s discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.

Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.

Pensions and other post-retirement obligations

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme which is a pension plan under which fixed contributions are paid into a pension fund and the charity has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions even if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.

Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when they are due. If contribution payments exceed the contribution due for service, the excess is recognised as a payment.

3
Income from donatons and legacies
Unrestricted
Funds
General
£
Donatons and legacies;
Donatons from individuals
280
Total for 2025
Total for 2024
280
1,509
Total
Funds
£
280
280
1,509

Page 11

Sefton Advocacy

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

4 Income from charitable actvites
Unrestricted
Funds Restricted Total
General Funds Funds
£ £ £
Grants Received 328,981 120,700 449,681
Total for 2025 328,981 120,700 449,681
Total for 2024 313,255 50,000 363,255
5 Investment income
Total
Funds
£
Total for 2025 314
Total for 2024 43
6 Expenditure on raising funds Unrestricted
Note Funds Total
General Funds
£ £
Allocated support costs 30,543 30,543
Total for 2025 30,543 30,543
Total for 2024 30,073 30,073

Page 12

Sefton Advocacy

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

7
8
Expenditure on charitable actvites
Staf costs
Allocated support costs
Governance costs
Total for 2025
Total for 2024
Staf costs
The aggregate payroll costs were as
follows:
Staf costs during the year were:
Wages and salaries
Pension costs
Note
Unrestricted
Funds
General
£
93,117
33,538
130,443
257,098
245,741
Restricted
Funds
£
41,332
10,264
-
51,596
46,932
2025
£
215,156
34,690
249,846
Total
Funds
£
134,449
43,802
130,443
308,694
292,673
2024
£
200,109
30,322
230,431
7
8
Expenditure on charitable actvites
Staf costs
Allocated support costs
Governance costs
Total for 2025
Total for 2024
Staf costs
The aggregate payroll costs were as
follows:
Staf costs during the year were:
Wages and salaries
Pension costs
Note
Unrestricted
Funds
General
£
93,117
33,538
130,443
257,098
245,741
Restricted
Funds
£
41,332
10,264
-
51,596
46,932
2025
£
215,156
34,690
249,846
Total
Funds
£
134,449
43,802
130,443
308,694
292,673
2024
£
200,109
30,322
230,431
7
8
Expenditure on charitable actvites
Staf costs
Allocated support costs
Governance costs
Total for 2025
Total for 2024
Staf costs
The aggregate payroll costs were as
follows:
Staf costs during the year were:
Wages and salaries
Pension costs
Note
Unrestricted
Funds
General
£
93,117
33,538
130,443
257,098
245,741
Restricted
Funds
£
41,332
10,264
-
51,596
46,932
2025
£
215,156
34,690
249,846
Total
Funds
£
134,449
43,802
130,443
308,694
292,673
2024
£
200,109
30,322
230,431

230,431

The monthly average number of persons (including senior management / leadership team) employed by the charity during the year expressed as full-time equivalents was as follows:

2025 2024
No No
Employees 8 8

9 (2024 – 9) of the above employees participated in the Defined Contribution Pension Schemes.

Contributions to the employee pension schemes for the year totalled £40,858 (2024 - £35,738).

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

9 Taxation

The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.

Page 13

Sefton Advocacy

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

10 Tangible fxed assets
Furniture and
equipment Total
£ £
Cost
At 1 April 2024 55,107 55,107
Additons - -
At 31 March 2025 55,107 55,107
Depreciaton
At 1 April 2024 45,538 45,538
Charge for the year 2,392 2,392
At 31 March 2025 47,930 47,930
Net book value
At 31 March 2025 7.177 7,177
At 31 March 2024 9,569 9,569
11 Debtors
2025 2024
£ £
Prepayments 4,404 4,391
12 Cash and cash equivalents
2025 2024
£ £
Cash on hand 54 54
Cash at bank 182,285 68,808
182,339 68,862
13 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2025 2024
£ £
Trade creditors - -
Other creditors - -
Accruals 1,320 1,260
1,320 1,260

Page 14

Sefton Advocacy

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

14 Pension and other schemes

Defined contribution pension scheme

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost charge for the year represents contributions payable by the charity to the scheme and amounted to £34,690 (2024 - £30,322).

15
Funds
Unrestricted funds
General
Designated
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Total funds
Balance at
1 April 2024
£
33,494
45,000
78,494
3,068
81,562
Incoming
Resources
£
329,575
-
329,575
120,700
450,275
Resources
Expended
£
(287,641)
-
(287,641)
(51,596)
(339,237)
Unrestricted funds
General
Designated
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Total funds
Balance at
1 April 2023
£
14,501
25,000
39,501
-
39,501
Incoming
Resources
£
314,807
-
314,807
50,000
364,807
Resources
Expended
£
(275,814)
-
(275,814)
(46,932)
(322,746)
Transfers
£
(20,000)
20,000
-
-
-
Balance at
31 March
2025
£
55,428
65,000
120,428
72,172
192,600
Transfers
£
(20,000)
20,000
-
-
-
Balance at
31 March
2024
£
33,494
45,000
78,494
3,068
81,562
Transfers
£
(20,000)
20,000
-
-
-
Balance at
31 March
2025
£
55,428
65,000
120,428
72,172
192,600
Transfers
£
(20,000)
20,000
-
-
-
Balance at
31 March
2024
£
33,494
45,000
78,494
3,068
81,562


78,494
3,068

81,562

The specific purposes for which the funds are to be applied are as follows:

The designated fund is a contingency fund. It is the aspiration of the board that the fund is build up to a level such that it would meet three months expenses of the charity.

Page 15