**Charity registration number 1100024 (England and Wales)**
**Company registration number 04556657**
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
# **ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
|**Trustees**|C Strevens|
|---|---|
||E Hawkings|
||B Pocklington|
||R Robinson|
||C Marchand|
|**Secretary**|G Strevens|
|**Charity number (England and Wales)**|1100024|
|**Company number**|04556657|
|**Registered office**|Unit 3|
||160 Marlowes|
||Hemel Hempstead|
||Hertfordshire|
||HP1 1BA|
|**Independent examiner**|John Wilson FCA ATII|
||Howard Wilson Chartered Accountants|
||36 Crown Rise|
||Watford|
||Hertfordshire|
||WD25 0NE|
|**Bankers**|Co-operative Bank|
||5 - 7 Market Street|
||Watford|
||Herts|
||WD18 0PD|
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
## **CONTENTS**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' report|1 - 2|
|Statement of trustees' responsibilities|3|
|Independent examiner's report|4|
|Statement of financial activities|5|
|Balance sheet|6|
|Notes to the financial statements|7 - 17|
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, 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)".
## **Objectives and activities**
The charity’s objectives are to offer life-changing emotional and practical support to anyone facing pregnancy related challenges.
Alternatives Watford’s primary role is a pregnancy crisis and support centre offering emotional support to people facing unplanned pregnancy, ante-natal anxiety, miscarriage, post-abortion stress postnatal depression, infertility and still birth. We provide qualified counsellors who meet with the clients on a one-to-one basis offering unbiased, confidential support. All sessions are offered free of charge however we actively invite clients to make a donation per session based on a sliding scale of income. The pandemic transformed our counselling services as they were delivered via phone and zoom calls and this method of counselling along with in person visits continues to this day. We have seen a continuing demand for our services during the pandemic and our counselling team consists of 5 counsellors.
The Baby Box project received some funding from Hertfordshire Community Housing and individual people & we delivered 74 boxes in this year. We continue to provide filled Baby Boxes to families in need and there is an increasing demand for this service.
The relocation from the Watford shop to a smaller more bijou shop also in Watford has gone well & helped build further relationships in the community.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake and our mission statement was clearly defined to help us see where new activities fit into our aims and objectives.
The charity is grateful to the dedicated staff, volunteers and supporters who each play a vital role in the work that we do and for the determination and dedication shown throughout a very difficult year.
## **Achievements and performance**
During the course of the year the charity engaged with clients over 950 counselling hours for pregnancy-related challenges.
## **Financial review**
The financial results are set out in the following statement of financial activities. The year ended 31 March 2025 shows a net deficit amounting to £31,154 (2024 deficit of £40,943) giving the charity carry forward a reserves of £35,615 (2024 - £66,769) to be used in furtherance of its charitable objects.
The trustees are aware of the financial situation & have plans in place to deal with the deficit & at the time of writing we feel in a stable position, we will continue to make every effort to increase funding in order to secure a sustainable future.
The trustees consider it prudent to maintain unrestricted reserves equivalent to six months of operating costs approx. £36,000, in a general fund. This level offers the charity the capacity to manage unforeseen financial difficulties to beneficiaries, funders and the public. This includes – but is not limited to – the cost of continuing to employ counsellors in the short term, while any counselling programmes are concluded. The current level of funds exceeds this amount, and in conjunction with the agreed budget aims to maintain at least this level of unrestricted funds.
Under the charity’s governing document, the charity has the power to make any investment that the Trustees see fit.
- 1 -
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. These are reviewed regularly.
## **Structure, governance and management**
The charity is a company limited by guarantee, which was incorporated on 8th October 2002.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
C Strevens
E Hawkings
B Pocklington
R Robinson
C Marchand
The process of identifying new trustees tends to be by word of mouth. When a need arises the choice of trustee is often determined by identifying specific skill gaps. The individual would normally be approached by the Chair and invited to meet trustees at a management meeting following which the trustees would decide whether or not it would be appropriate to offer the appointment.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
The Charity is overseen by a board of trustees who meet regularly at Trustees and Management Committee meetings. The Charity is managed by Head of Operations Laura Moreno and we also employ a part time Head of Counselling - Angela Such, 1 part time administrator and 4 part time shop managers. We have a team of approximately 15 volunteers.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
## Chris Strevens
## **C Strevens**
Trustee Dated: 10 December 2025
- 2 -
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
The trustees, who are also the directors of Alternatives Watford for the purpose 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 which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
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 judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity 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 charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
- 3 -
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Alternatives Watford (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law), you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
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 that in any material respect:
- 1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
- 2 the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
- 3 the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
- 4 the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their financial statements 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 financial statements to be reached.
## Howard Wilson
## **John Wilson FCA ATII**
Howard Wilson Chartered Accountants 36 Crown Rise Watford Hertfordshire WD25 0NE 10 December 2025
- 4 -
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
## **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**
47,547
7,630
Other trading activities
**4**
10,733
-
**Total income**
58,280
7,630
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
**5**
436
-
Charitable activities
**6**
89,164
7,464
**Total expenditure**
89,600
7,464
**Net income/(expenditure)**
(31,320)
166
Transfers between
funds
(14)
14
**Net movement in**
**funds**
**7**
(31,334)
180
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Fund balances at 1 April 2024
59,747
7,022
**Fund balances at 31 March**
**2025**
28,413
7,202|**Total**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
55,177
43,735
87
10,733
2,746
-
65,910
46,481
87
436
1,507
-
96,628
84,770
1,234
97,064
86,277
1,234
(31,154)
(39,796)
(1,147)
-
-
-
(31,154)
(39,796)
(1,147)
66,769
99,543
8,169
35,615
59,747
7,022|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
43,822
2,746
46,568
1,507
86,004
87,511
(40,943)
-
(40,943)
107,712
66,769|
|---|---|---|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
- 5 -
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## _**AS AT 31 MARCH 2025**_
|**Notes**
**Fixed assets**
Investments
**11**
**Current assets**
Debtors
**12**
Cash at bank and in hand
**Creditors: amounts falling due within**
**one year**
**13**
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**The funds of the charity**
Restricted income funds
**15**
Unrestricted funds
**16**|**2025**
**£**
30,187
9,368
39,555
(3,941)|**£**
1
35,614
35,615
7,202
28,413
35,615|**2024**
**£**
60,841
8,999
69,840
(3,072)|**£**
1
66,768|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||66,769|
|||||7,022
59,747|
|||||66,769|
The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, 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.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.
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 10 December 2025
## Chris Strevens
C Strevens
## **Trustee**
Company registration number 04556657 (England and Wales)
- 6 -
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Charity information**
Alternatives Watford is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Unit 3, 160 Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 1BA.
## **1.1 Accounting convention**
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015)”.
The accounts have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a true and fair view. This departure has involved applying “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015)” rather than the version of the Statement of Recommended Practice which is referred to in the Regulations but which has since been withdrawn.
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. 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**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
## **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.
The value of services provided by the voluteers are not included in the Statement of Financial Activities.
## **1.5 Expenditure**
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.
Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the audit or independent examination fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity.
- 7 -
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **(Continued)**
## **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:
Plant and machinery
25% on cost
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.
A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the charity. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.
## **1.8 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.
## **1.9 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.
- 8 -
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
**(Continued)**
## _**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.
## **1.10 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.
## **1.11 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.
## **3 Income from donations and legacies**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
Donations and gifts
47,547
2,130
Grants
-
5,500
47,547
7,630|**Total**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
49,677
43,735
87
5,500
-
-
55,177
43,735
87|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
43,822
-|
|---|---|---|
|||43,822|
- 9 -
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
|**3**
**Income from donations and legacies**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
**Donations and gifts**
Donations
29,729
2,130
Distribution from
Subsidiary company
under gift aid
17,818
-
47,547
2,130
**Grants**
Watford & Three Rivers
Trust
-
2,000
Herts Community No 1
-
1,500
Watford Borough Council
-
2,000
-
5,500
**4**
**Income from other trading activities**|**Total**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2024**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**(Continued)**
31,859
20,619
87
20,706
17,818
23,116
-
23,116
49,677
43,735
87
43,822
2,000
-
-
-
1,500
-
-
-
2,000
-
-
-
5,500
-
-
-|**Total**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2024**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**(Continued)**
31,859
20,619
87
20,706
17,818
23,116
-
23,116
49,677
43,735
87
43,822
2,000
-
-
-
1,500
-
-
-
2,000
-
-
-
5,500
-
-
-|
|---|---|---|
|||43,822|
|||-
-
-|
|||-|
||||
||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|
|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|
||**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Fundraising events|10,733|2,746|
## **5 Expenditure on raising funds**
||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|
|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|
||**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|
|**Fundraising and publicity**|||
|Advertising|395|251|
|Other fundraising costs|41|1,256|
||436|1,507|
- 10 -
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **6 Expenditure on charitable activities**
|**Direct costs**
Staff costs
Counselling costs
Premises costs
Insurance
Office costs
Computer costs
Project costs
Travel
General costs
Legal and professional costs
Governance costs
**Analysis by fund**
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
**7**
**Net movement in funds**
The net movement in funds is stated after charging/(crediting):
Fees payable for the independent examination of the charity's financial
statements|**2025**
**£**
61,607
14,167
6,502
1,511
4,704
2,235
1,450
304
340
2,608
1,200
96,628
89,164
7,464
96,628
**2025**
**£**
1,200|**2024**
**£**
59,553
11,371
1,806
1,932
5,914
-
1,234
-
61
2,560
1,573|
|---|---|---|
|||86,004|
|||84,770
1,234|
|||86,004|
|||**2024**
**£**
1,573|
## **8 Trustees**
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
- 11 -
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **9 Employees**
## **Number of employees**
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
||**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|
||**Number**|**Number**|
|Direct charitable work|5|3|
|**Employment costs**|**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Wages and salaries|60,364|58,511|
|Other pension costs|1,243|1,042|
||61,607|59,553|
There were no employees whose annual remuneration was £60,000 or more.
## **10 Taxation**
The activities of the charity are exempt from Corporation Tax under Section 505 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 to the extent that they are applied to the organisation's charitable objects.
- 12 -
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **11 Fixed asset investments**
||||**Other**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**investments**|
|**Cost or valuation**||||
|At 1 April 2024 & 31 March 2025|||1|
|**Carrying amount**||||
|At 31 March 2025|||1|
|At 31 March 2024|||1|
|||**2025**|**2024**|
|Other investments comprise:|**Notes**|**£**|**£**|
|Investments in subsidiaries||1|1|
The charity holds 1 share of £1 each in its wholly owned trading subsidiary company, Alternatives Trading Limited, which is incorporated in the United Kingdom. These are the only shares allotted, called up and fully paid.
## **12 Debtors**
|**Amounts falling due within one year:**
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income|**2025**
**£**
30,049
138
30,187|**2024**
**£**
60,841
-|
|---|---|---|
|||60,841|
## **13 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
|Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income|**2025**
**£**
582
307
3,052
3,941|**2024**
**£**
1,279
382
1,411|
|---|---|---|
|||3,072|
- 13 -
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
|**14**|**Retirement benefit schemes**|||
|---|---|---|---|
|||**2025**|**2024**|
||**Defined contribution schemes**|**£**|**£**|
||Charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes|1,243|1,042|
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
- 14 -
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **15 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.
|||**Movement in funds**|**Movement in funds**||**Movement in funds**|**Movement in funds**|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Balance at**|**Incoming**|**Resources**|**Balance at**|**Incoming**|**Resources**|**Transfers**|**Balance at**|
||**1 April 2023**|**resources**|**expended**|**1 April 2024**|**resources**|**expended**||**31 March 2025**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Baby Box Project|8,169|87|(1,234)|7,022|1,630|(1,450)|-|7,202|
|Herts Community No. 1|-|-|-|-|1,500|(1,514)|14|-|
|Queens Road Fund|-|-|-|-|2,500|(2,500)|-|-|
|Watford & Three Rivers Trust|-|-|-|-|2,000|(2,000)|-|-|
||8,169|87|(1,234)|7,022|7,630|(7,464)|14|7,202|
The Baby Box Project provides a specially designed box filled with essential items for the first few months of the baby's life. It is given free to any mum-to-be who meet certain criteria.
The grants from Watford & Three Rivers Trust and Herts Community No.1 were to fund counselling costs.
The Queens Road Fund was to cover set up costs of the new shop.
- 15 -
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **16 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.
|||**At**|**1 April**|**Incoming**|**Incoming**|**Resources**|**Resources**|**Transfers**|**Transfers**|**At**|**31 March**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||**2024**|**resources**||**expended**|||||**2025**|
||||**£**||**£**||**£**||**£**||**£**|
||General funds||59,747||58,280|(89,600)||(14)|||28,413|
||**Previous year:**|**At**|**1 April**|**Incoming**||**Resources**||**Transfers**||**At**|**31 March**|
||||**2023**|**resources**||**expended**|||||**2024**|
||||**£**||**£**||**£**||**£**||**£**|
||General funds||99,543||46,481|(86,277)|||-||59,747|
|**17**|**Analysis of net assets between funds**|||||||||||
||||||**Unrestricted**|||**Restricted**|||**Total**|
|||||||**funds**||**funds**||||
|||||||**£**||**£**|||**£**|
||Fund balances at 31 March 2025 are represented|||by:||||||||
||Investments|||||1||-|||1|
||Current assets/(liabilities)|||||28,412||7,202|||35,614|
|||||||28,413||7,202|||35,615|
||||||**Unrestricted**|||**Restricted**|||**Total**|
|||||||**funds**||**funds**||||
|||||||**£**||**£**|||**£**|
||Fund balances at 31 March 2024 are represented|||by:||||||||
||Investments|||||1||-|||1|
||Current assets/(liabilities)|||||50,706||3,657|||66,768|
|||||||50,707||3,657|||66,769|
## **18 Related party transactions**
## **Transactions with related parties**
During the year the charity entered into the following transactions with related parties:
||**Purchase of goods**|**and**|
|---|---|---|
||**services**||
||**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Frank Taylor & Associates Limited|-|1,806|
- 16 -
## **ALTERNATIVES WATFORD**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **18 Related party transactions**
**(Continued)**
The property from which the activities of the charitable company (and its subsidiary) are undertaken, is owned by Acton & Strevens Pension Fund via Rowanmoor. Frank Taylor & Associates holds the head lease & sub leases. Mr C Strevens, who is a director of the charitable company, is one of four directors of Frank Taylor & Associates Limited. The charity moved out of the property in 2024.
The charitable company is paying an annual rent of £1,806 on the property. The open market rental value of this property is considered to be £22,000 per annum.
As at 31 March 2025 Alternatives Trading Limited, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alternatives, owed the charity £30,049 (2024: £60,841).
- 17 -
## Alternatives Full Accounts 2025
Final Audit Report
2025-12-11
Created: 2025-12-10 By: Howard Wilson (campbell@howardwilson.co.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAA2Kh93bMoMtGEauHRF7YGbb4IFvgmRirP
## "Alternatives Full Accounts 2025" History
- Document created by Campbell Wilson (campbell@howardwilson.co.uk)
2025-12-10 - 6:26:58 PM GMT- IP address: 157.125.232.90
Document emailed to Chris Strevens (chris.strevens@ft-associates.com) for signature
2025-12-10 - 6:27:02 PM GMT
- Email viewed by Chris Strevens (chris.strevens@ft-associates.com)
2025-12-10 - 7:20:04 PM GMT- IP address: 34.194.155.81
- Document e-signed by Chris Strevens (chris.strevens@ft-associates.com)
Signature Date: 2025-12-11 - 12:48:32 PM GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 195.11.180.10
- Document emailed to Campbell Wilson (campbell@howardwilson.co.uk) for signature
- 2025-12-11 - 12:48:33 PM GMT
- Email viewed by Campbell Wilson (campbell@howardwilson.co.uk)
- 2025-12-11 - 1:56:38 PM GMT- IP address: 104.47.11.126
- Signer Campbell Wilson (campbell@howardwilson.co.uk) entered name at signing as Howard Wilson 2025-12-11 - 1:57:02 PM GMT- IP address: 157.125.232.90
- Document e-signed by Howard Wilson (campbell@howardwilson.co.uk)
Signature Date: 2025-12-11 - 1:57:04 PM GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 157.125.232.90
Agreement completed.
2025-12-11 - 1:57:04 PM GMT