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2024-03-31-accounts

Charity Registration No. 1100450

Company Registration No. 04794809 (England and Wales)

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees Mr B Culshaw Miss L Evans (Vice Chair 08/02/24, Co Chair 08/08/24) Ms A M Gibbon (Chair to 08/02/24) Ms L Heap (Treasurer) Mr G Hignett (Co-chair from 08/02/24) Mr D Kilroy (Appointed 7 November 2024) Ms V Roberts Secretary Ms P A Killen Charity number 1100450 Company number 04794809 Registered office 297 Knowsley Road Bootle Merseyside L20 5DF Auditor DSG Audit Castle Chambers 43 Castle Street Liverpool L2 9TL

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

CONTENTS

Page
Trustees' report 1 - 6
Statement of trustees' responsibilities 7
Independent auditor's report 8 - 10
Statement of financial activities 11
Balance sheet 12
Statement of cash flows 13
Notes to the financial statements 14 - 26

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024.

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 charitable company's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019).

Objectives and activities

The charity's objects are to promote any charitable purpose for the public benefit by the advancement of education, the protection and preservation of health and the relief of poverty, sickness, and distress in particular, but without limitation, for the benefit of the community in Merseyside and surrounding areas.

Aims, objectives, strategies and activities for the year

The aims of Citizens Advice Sefton are to provide advice people need for the problems they face and to improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives. We abide by the principles that the service we offer to the public should be free, independent, confidential, and impartial. We also strive to ensure that as an organisation we value diversity, promote equity and challenge discrimination.

For 85 years we have been part of a Citizens Advice network that has been helping to shape society that is fairer for everyone. People face challenges throughout their lives such as the rising cost of living, relationship breakdown or employment and housing issues for example. We are here to support people to navigate these stressful, complicated, or intimidating problems. We aim to give people the knowledge, support, and confidence they need to find their way forward, whoever they are and whatever their problem.

We offer advice services to people through a range of channels and outlets. People can contact us via the national telephone helpline Adviceline, or through email via our website. During the year we offered face to face advice services at our offices in Southport and Bootle from Monday to Friday. We also work within Clock View, a Mersey Care NHS (Mental Health) Trust hospital. In addition, we work in outreach in South Sefton foodbanks and in the L30 Community centre in Netherton. We also provided a new service at the beginning of the year in the offices of Sefton at Work in the shopping centre in Bootle. We continued to work alongside partners within Living Well Sefton to provide social welfare advice and wellbeing support for people in Sefton supporting the promotion of health and wellbeing in the borough.

Welfare benefits and debt problems continue to dominate the demand, and this is not surprising given that the cost of living is still a very real issue across the UK. We are a partner in the Greater Merseyside Money Advice Partnership and this enables us to provide a money advice service. The support of The Freshfield Foundation enables us to represent clients at tribunals when they need support to challenge decisions.

We don’t just provide advice; we support people over a longer period with building personal and financial resilience. The Mind and Money programme is a partnership of multiple agencies in the Liverpool city region designed to respond to the cost-of-living crisis and support people. It is supported by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and led by the Women's Organisation in Liverpool. In Sefton, we aim to provide intense support to individuals with a focus on building confidence, maximising income, and reducing debt.

We also provided energy advice through the Citizens Advice Energy Advice Programme a service supported by funding from The National Grid to give one to one advice to people who were in or at risk of fuel poverty and struggling to pay bills. Complementary to this service we offered people information and advice through community events reaching with energy efficiency advice, advice on tariffs, switching and income maximisation. We are grateful to Riverside and the Riverside Foundation Community Fund who funded the provision of goody bags to give away at these events providing practical assistance with energy efficiency.

In December we piloted a new service providing housing advice using innovation funding from Citizens Advice to recruit a dedicated adviser, to begin to address the increase in demand for housing advice.

We repeated the successful campaign work with Bootle MP Peter Dowd to raise awareness of pension credit and encourage constituents to claim the benefit by running community events supported by the MPs office.

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Public benefit

The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charitable company should undertake.

The principal activity of Citizens Advice Sefton is the provision of free, confidential, independent, and impartial advice, information, and counsel for members of the public.

Contribution of volunteers

The contribution of volunteers cannot be overstated. We are grateful that volunteers take on the challenge of working both directly with members of the public as receptionists or advisers or behind the scenes providing support with administration and technical issues. Volunteers also collate evidence for research and campaigns. Our directors/trustees volunteer their time to the charity to ensure sound governance, financial and strategic direction.

It is challenging to recruit, train and retain the numbers of volunteers we need to meet demand for the service. This is an issue across the network and prompted the national organisation Citizens Advice to commission research with the Centre for Charity Effectiveness at Bayes Business School and Sonnet Advisory and Impact. The research published in 2024 points to the importance of five key principles for enhancing or developing volunteering, and that is that volunteering is most effective when it is balanced, impactful, inclusive, supported and valued. The report found that the contribution of volunteering is substantial and key to the delivery of services.

Our volunteers make a positive impact on the lives of local people, and they add social value for society through the advantages and savings associated with having happier, healthier, and more productive members of the community.

In 2023-4, thirty-eight volunteers were actively engaged throughout the year. We have used the value tool created from the research to evaluate that donated time to Citizens Advice in Sefton was worth £291,110 in 2023-4. Volunteers on average work one day per week, a serious commitment to the charity. The value of the time donated is proxied by the average hourly cost of employing a worker in the UK economy (This is a typical approach used in academic and grey literature when valuing volunteers time).

Volunteers also directly contribute to outcomes from the work we undertake with our clients, whether that is increased income, a reduction in debt or a feeling that a weight has been lifted because a volunteer has listened to the clients' problems and helped them to find a way forward.

Our employees

From April 2023 to March 2024, we employed thirty people with six people joining the service during the year. Our employees provide advice and support to clients across a range of subjects but primarily in benefits, debt and housing. They also mentor clients in terms of wellbeing as well as work with clients longer term to increase their confidence in dealing with money and other issues that may be having a negative impact on their lives. Our employees work alongside volunteers and partners and their work is essential to the successful outcomes achieved on behalf of clients.

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Achievements and performance

Our capacity to help people is dependent upon the numbers of volunteers and employees we have available to work with the general public. Despite a decline in the number of volunteers who have completed training and were ready to advise we saw an increase in numbers of clients seen of 7% but more significantly there was a substantial increase in the number of issues those clients asked us to help them with. Last year we helped people with 21,775 enquiries but in 2023-4 that number increased by over 55% to 33,897. This would indicate that people are seeking help on multiple related issues.

Welfare benefits enquiries rose by 41% on the previous year and this is reflected in the level of income gain obtained by advisers of £7,523,703. We also achieved other outcomes to the value of £511,332 and this includes lump sum payments, advice leading to the maintenance of benefits and debt management plans. Advice work also led to £1,008,108 debts written off and £13,736 debts rescheduled. Advisers achieved re-imbursements for clients of £28,330.

People who seek our service range from age 16-19 right up to 90-94 during the year. However, the vast majority of our clients are of working age with 23% of clients over the age of 65. We aim to help people most in need and this is reflected in the numbers of people who seek our help who have a long-term health condition (56%) or disability (11%).

Our partnership with the L30 Community Centre in Netherton was further strengthened in 2023 with the extension of an outreach service supported by Fun 4 Kidz and the Cadent Foundation.

Factors affecting the achievements of objectives

We are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain both employees and volunteers and need to address the issue of how we develop and sustain a pipeline of talent so we can develop the services we provide to reach demand. This is an issue we are addressing alongside our partner Citizens Advice in the Liverpool City region.

Financial review

The results for the year and the charity's financial position at the end of the year are shown in the attached financial statements.

Total income for the year ended 31 March 2024 was £1,134,189 (2023: £809,052) which included unrestricted income of £289,380 (2023: £258,879) and restricted income of £844,809 (2023: £550,173).

Total expenditure for the financial year was £1,115,152 (2023: £883,137) which included unrestricted expenditure of £270,343 (2023: £332,964) and restricted expenditure of £844,809 (2023: £550,173).

The result is a net surplus for 2023/24 of £19,037 (2022/23: deficit of £74,084).

Reserves policy

The general unrestricted funds of the charity at 31 March 2024 were £521,303 (2023: £494,472). There are no restricted funds at the year end. The trustees continue to comply with the policy of being capable of funding 3-6 months working capital requirements.

The designated premises reserve at 31 March 2024 was £77,535 (2023: £85,329 ). These reserves have been designated by the trustees for premises improvements and are being written off over the life of the refurbishments of the new office.

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Principal funding sources

The Directors extend their gratitude to:

Sefton Borough Council continues to support the core operating capacity of the charity and who also support the work of Citizens Advice Sefton through public health funding for Living Well Sefton.

The Trustees of The Freshfield Foundation who fund Citizens Advice Sefton and Citizens Advice Liverpool to provide tribunal representation and support to people who would otherwise find themselves without access to justice as this works falls outside the scope of the legal aid scheme.

Integrated Care Partnership Merseyside and Cheshire for supporting vital work with a vulnerable client group in Clock View in-patient mental health hospital.

Money Advice and Pensions Service who fund the Greater Merseyside Money Advice Partnership which enables Citizens Advice Sefton to deliver money advice services in Sefton.

L30’s Million supported through Big Local and administered by Local Trust for the Big Lottery Fund which supported an advice outreach session in Netherton until October 2023.

The Cadent Foundation who are funding the continuation of an outreach service in L30 Community Centre.

Trussell Trust and South Sefton Foodbank for supporting advice outreach sessions in Bootle.

Liverpool Combined Authority for funding The Mind and Money programme, a city region partnership led by The Women's Organisation and aimed at providing support, advice and guidance to people impacted by the cost-ofliving crisis across the region.

Citizens Advice Innovation grants for provision of Adviceline services and the development of housing advice.

Citizens Advice (supported by the National Grid) for funding for fuel poverty advice.

Investment policy

As required in its governing document paragraph 5.11 in furtherance of its objects, and for no other purposes, the charity has the power to invest the monies of the charity not immediately required for its purposes in or upon such investments, securities or property as may be thought fit, subject nevertheless to such conditions and such consents as may for the time being imposed or required by law.

Risk policy

Citizens Advice Sefton has worked on a risk management exercise. A risk management strategy and risk register are agreed by the board. The trustees recognise that any major risks to which the charity is exposed need to be reviewed and systems put in place to mitigate those risks. To that end Citizens Advice Sefton is continually monitoring and managing the risk and reviewing the risk register to ensure action plans are put in place to mitigate key risks.

Citizens Advice Sefton has adopted the recommended Citizens Advice Information Risk policy. The trustees review any non-compliance with procedures and any data breaches. There were no incidences to report in 2023-24.

Plans for future periods

Volunteering is important to the charity, and we plan to improve recruitment and retention of volunteers by reviewing how we engage with volunteers. This is not an isolated venture and steps are already in progress with our partners in the Liverpool City region to improve our learning and development offer. We also find that our community work in outreach is highly effective and would like to sustain this model of delivery.

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Structure, governance and management

Citizens Advice Sefton is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. It is also known and referred to as Sefton CAB.

It is governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association 2003 as amended on 15th January 2008 and October 2022 and was incorporated under the Companies Act as a private company on 11th June 2003. The changes made in October 2022 have increased the maximum liability of each member to £10.

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:

Mr B Culshaw Miss L Evans (Vice Chair 08/02/24, Co Chair 08/08/24) Ms A M Gibbon (Chair to 08/02/24) Ms L Heap (Treasurer) Mr G Hignett (Co-chair from 08/02/24) Mr R Mathew (Resigned 29 January 2024) Ms E Mercer (Resigned 21 September 2023) Ms S K Misra (Co-chair from 08/02/24-08/08/24) (Appointed 4 July 2023 and resigned 30 September 2024) Mr D Kilroy (Appointed 7 November 2024) Ms V Roberts

Recruitment, appointment and induction of trustees

Trustees, who are also Directors of the Company, are elected in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association. An Executive Group made up of Trustees and chaired by the Chair is established to oversee the elections process for Board appointments. A separate process agreed by the Trustee Board is followed for the election of the Chair. No other persons or bodies external to the charity were entitled to appoint persons to the Trustee Board.

New Trustees follow a programme of induction into the Citizens Advice service and are issued with an induction pack.

Organisational structure

Citizens Advice Sefton is governed by its Trustee Board which is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organisation and the policy of the charity. The Trustees carry the ultimate responsibility for the conduct of Citizens Advice Sefton and for ensuring that the charity satisfies its legal and contractual obligations. Trustees meet at a minimum quarterly and delegate the day-to-day operation of the organisation to senior management. The Trustee Board is independent from management. A register of Directors' interests is maintained at the registered office and is available to the public.

Key management remuneration

Pay scales for senior staff are benchmarked against similar posts in the Citizens Advice network.

Related parties

Citizens Advice Sefton is a member of Citizens Advice, the operating name of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, which provides a quality framework for standards including advice and casework management as well as assessing compliance against these standards. Operating policies are independently determined by the Trustee Board of Citizens Advice Sefton in order to fulfil its charitable objects and comply with the national membership requirements.

The charity also co-operates and liaises with a number of other statutory and voluntary services, local and national charities on behalf of clients. Where one of the Trustees holds the position of Trustee/Director of another charity they may be involved in discussions regarding that other charity but not in the ultimate decision-making process.

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Auditor

DSG resigned as auditor on 11 September 2024. DSG Audit were appointed on 11 September 2024 and in accordance with section 485 of the Companies Act 2006, a resolution proposing that they be re-appointed will be put at a General Meeting.

Disclosure of information to auditor

Each of the trustees has confirmed that there is no information of which they are aware which is relevant to the audit, but of which the auditor is unaware. They have further confirmed that they have taken appropriate steps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the auditor is aware of such information.

Small company provisions

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

Miss Laura Helen Evans (Co-chair) Trustee

Mr Graham Hignett (Co-chair) Trustee

19 November 2024

19 November 2024

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The trustees, who are also the directors of Citizens Advice Sefton 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 charitable company 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:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that 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.

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Citizens Advice Sefton (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and the notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

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 charitable company 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 charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE MEMBERS OF CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors' report included within the trustees' report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the statement of trustees' responsibilities, the trustees, who are also the directors of the charitable company 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 charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

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 auditor's 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.

Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities, including fraud

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE MEMBERS OF CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

Discussions with and enquiries of management and those charged with governance were held with a view to identifying those laws and regulations that could be expected to have a material impact on the financial statements. During the engagement team briefing, the outcomes of these discussions and enquiries were shared with the team, as well as consideration as to where and how fraud may occur in the entity.

The following laws and regulations were identified as being of significance to the entity:

Audit procedures undertaken in response to the potential risks relating to irregularities (which include fraud and noncompliance with laws and regulations) comprised of: inquiries of management and the Trustees as to whether the entity complies with such laws and regulations; enquiries with the same concerning any actual or potential litigation or claims; inspection of relevant legal correspondence; review of Trustee meeting minutes; testing the appropriateness of journal entries; and the performance of analytical review to identify unexpected movements in account balances which may be indicative of fraud.

No instances of material non-compliance were identified. However, the likelihood of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is limited by the inherent difficulty in detecting irregularities, the effectiveness of the entity’s controls, and the nature, timing and extent of the audit procedures performed. Irregularities that result from fraud might be inherently more difficult to detect than irregularities that result from error. As explained above, there is an unavoidable risk that material misstatements may not be detected, even though the audit has been planned and performed in accordance with ISAs (UK).

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https:// 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 charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members 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 charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Andrew Moss BA FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of DSG Audit

19 November 2024

Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor

Castle Chambers 43 Castle Street Liverpool L2 9TL

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Unrestricted Restricted **Total ** Unrestricted Restricted Restricted Total
funds funds funds funds
2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023
Notes £ £ £ £ £ £
Income from:
Donations and legacies 3 3,380 - 3,380 1,751 - 1,751
Charitable activities 4 280,676 844,809 1,125,485 254,536 550,173 804,709
Other trading activities 5 2,249 - 2,249 2,045 - 2,045
Investments 6 3,075 - 3,075 547 - 547
Total income 289,380 844,809 1,134,189 258,879 550,173 809,052
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities 7 270,343 844,809 1,115,152 332,964 550,173 883,137
Total expenditure 270,343 844,809 1,115,152 332,964 550,173 883,137
Net income/(expenditure) for
the year/
Net movement in funds 19,037 - 19,037 (74,085) - (74,085)
Reconciliation of funds
Fund balances at 1 April 2023 579,801 - 579,801 653,886 - 653,886
Fund balances at 31 March
2024 598,838 - 598,838 579,801 - 579,801

The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 31 MARCH 2024

2024 2023
Notes £ £ £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 13 46,880 55,332
Current assets
Debtors 14 29,945 15,806
Cash at bank and in hand 594,062 537,919
624,007 553,725
Creditors: amounts falling due within 15
one year (72,049) (29,256)
Net current assets 551,958 524,469
Total assets less current liabilities 598,838 579,801
The funds of the charitable company
Unrestricted funds 18 598,838 579,801
598,838 579,801
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 19 November 2024
Miss Laura Helen Evans (Co-chair) Ms Linda Heap (Treasurer) Mr Graham Hignett (Co-chair)
Trustee Trustee Trustee

Company registration number 04794809 (England and Wales)

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

2024 2023
Notes £ £ £ £
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from/(absorbed by) 21
operations 57,254 (60,699)
Investing activities
Purchase of tangible fixed assets (4,186) (2,070)
Investment income received 3,075 547
Net cash used in investing activities (1,111) (1,523)
Net cash used in financing activities - -
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents 56,143 (62,222)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 537,919 600,141
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 594,062 537,919

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1 Accounting policies

Charity information

Citizens Advice Sefton is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 297 Knowsley Road, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 5DF.

1.1 Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charitable company's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) 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)" (effective 1 January 2019). The charitable company is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charitable company. 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 charitable company 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.

Designated funds comprise funds which have been set aside at the discretion of the trustees for specific purposes. The purposes and uses of the designated funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

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 Incoming resources

Income is recognised when the charitable company 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 charitable company 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.

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1 Accounting policies

(Continued)

Grants receivable to finance the bureau's activities are credited to the income and expenditure account in the period to which they relate. Revenue grants received in advance are held as deferred income within creditors in the balance sheet and released to income and expenditure account in the relevant period.

Capital grants are credited to restricted funds when receivable and transferred to unrestricted funds when the asset is purchased. Depreciation on the fixed assets purchased with such grants is charged against unrestricted funds.

Bank interest, donations and the proceeds of fundraising events are credited as income on receipt. Lottery subscriptions are credited in the period to which they relate, with advance payments held in the balance sheet within creditors.

The bureau also benefits enormously from voluntary assistance in carrying out its activities. This voluntary contribution is not included in the financial statements but its value to the bureau has been estimated and is disclosed in the Directors' report.

1.5 Resources expended

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. Direct staff costs relating to each area of service provision are attributed to the relevant activity. Other costs including general management, finance and administration, together with overhead costs, have been apportioned to the core activities on the basis of their actual or estimated share of resource utilisation, as appropriate.

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 improvements 10% (or life of lease if shorter) Straight Line Fixtures, fittings & equipment 33.3% Straight Line

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 Impairment of fixed assets

At each reporting end date, the charitable company 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).

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1 Accounting policies

(Continued)

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.

If the recoverable amount of an asset is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in income/ expenditure for the year, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.

Recognised impairment losses are reversed if, and only if, the reasons for the impairment loss have ceased to apply. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried in at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.

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 charitable company 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 charitable company's balance sheet when the charitable company 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.

Impairment of financial assets

Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through income and expenditure, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting date. Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected.

If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.

If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1 Accounting policies

(Continued)

Derecognition of financial assets

Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the charitable company transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.

Basic financial liabilities

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors 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 charitable company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

1.10 Taxation

The charity benefits from various exemptions from taxation afforded by tax legislation and is not liable to corporation tax on income or gains falling within those exemptions.

1.11 Provisions

Provisions are recognised when the charitable company has a legal or constructive present obligation as a result of a past event, it is probable that the charitable company will be required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.

The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the reporting end date, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the amount expected to be required to settle the obligation is recognised at present value. When a provision is measured at present value, the unwinding of the discount is recognised as a finance cost in net income/(expenditure) in the period in which it arises.

1.12 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 charitable company is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

1.13 Retirement benefits

The charity offers defined contributions to employees' personal pension funds at the rate of 7% of gross salary and these are charged to expenditure in the period to which they relate.

1.14 Leases

Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged as an expense on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease.

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of the charitable company’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. The trustees consider that there are no key sources of estimation uncertainty.

3 Donations and legacies

**Unrestricted ** Unrestricted
funds funds
2024 2023
£ £
Donations and gifts 2,380 1,751
Legacies receivable 1,000 -
3,380 1,751

4 Charitable activities

2024 2023
£ £
Services provided under contract 1,125,485 804,709
1,125,485 804,709
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds 280,676 254,536
Restricted funds 844,809 550,173
1,125,485 804,709

5 Other trading activities

**Unrestricted ** Unrestricted
funds funds
2024 2023
£ £
Activities for generating funds 2,249 2,045

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

6 Investments

**Unrestricted ** **Unrestricted ** Unrestricted Unrestricted
funds funds
2024 2023
£ £
Interest receivable 3,075 547
7 Charitable activities
2024 2023
£ £
Staff costs 742,532 567,384
Depreciation and impairment 11,627 16,140
Premises costs 63,247 55,895
Telephone 11,321 10,867
Printing, postage and stationery 7,839 5,998
Training and travel 11,335 11,422
Publicity and information 9,124 8,815
Equipment, support and leases 26,700 18,632
Sundry expenses 18,204 13,639
Bank charges 340 312
Partner payments 122,097 104,356
1,024,366 813,460
Share of support costs (see note 8) 78,457 61,660
Share of governance costs (see note 8) 12,329 8,017
1,115,152 883,137
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds 270,343 332,964
Restricted funds 844,809 550,173
1,115,152 883,137

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

8 Support costs allocated to activities

8 Support costs allocated to activities
2024 2023
£ £
Staff costs 64,568 49,338
Depreciation 1,011 1,403
Premises costs 5,063 4,860
Telephone 984 945
Printing, post and stationery 682 522
Training and travel 986 993
Publicity and information 793 766
Equipment, support and leases 2,322 1,620
Sundry expenses 2,021 1,186
Bank charges 27 27
Governance costs 12,329 8,017
90,786 69,677
Analysed between:
Charitable activities 90,786 69,677
2024 2023
Governance costs comprise: £ £
Audit fees 10,200 6,417
Payroll fees 2,129 1,600
12,329 8,017
9 Net movement in funds 2024 2023
£ £
The net movement in funds is stated after charging/(crediting):
Fees payable for the audit of the charity's financial statements 10,200 6,417
Depreciation of owned tangible fixed assets 12,638 17,543

10 Trustees

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charitable company during the year (2023: £nil).

During the year, the trustees received a total of £nil (2023: £nil) in expenses from the charity.

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

11 Employees

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
2024 2023
Number Number
Direct charitable activities 23 18
Management and administration 4 4
Total 27 22
Employment costs 2024 2023
£ £
Wages and salaries 701,511 536,392
Social security costs 63,224 44,239
Other pension costs 42,365 36,091
807,100 616,722
There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000.
Remuneration of key management personnel
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
2024 2023
£ £
Aggregate compensation 200,285 191,172

12 Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

13 Tangible fixed assets
Leasehold Fixtures, Total
improvements fittings &
equipment
£ £ £
Cost
At 1 April 2023 110,511 29,798 140,309
Additions - 4,186 4,186
At 31 March 2024 110,511 33,984 144,495
Depreciation and impairment
At 1 April 2023 58,483 26,494 84,977
Depreciation charged in the year 7,794 4,844 12,638
At 31 March 2024 66,277 31,338 97,615
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2024 44,234 2,646 46,880
At 31 March 2023 52,028 3,304 55,332
14 Debtors
2024 2023
Amounts falling due within one year: £ £
Other debtors 2,821 2,468
Prepayments and accrued income 27,124 13,338
29,945 15,806
15 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2024 2023
£ £
Other creditors 4,763 3,556
Accruals and deferred income 67,286 25,700
72,049 29,256
16 Retirement benefit schemes
2024 2023
Defined contribution schemes £ £
Charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes 42,365 36,091

The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charitable company in an independently administered fund.

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

17 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 At 1 April
Incoming
Incoming
Resources
Resources
At 31 March
At 31 March
2023 resources expended 2024
£ £ £ £
Greater Merseyside Money Advice Project - 201,256 (201,256) -
The Mind and Money Programme - 103,849 (103,849) -
The Freshfield Foundation - 205,000 (205,000) -
Citizens Advice (Housing Advice) - 18,332 (18,332) -
Citizens Advice (Energy Advice) - 31,850 (31,850) -
St Leonard's Foodbank - 41,881 (41,881) -
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care
Board - 40,280 (40,280) -
Advice Skills Academy - 3,209 (3,209) -
L30 Community Centre/Cadent North West - 17,771 (17,771) -
L30's Millions supported through Big Local
Trust - 6,438 (6,438) -
Living Well Sefton - 167,000 (167,000) -
Other funds - 7,943 (7,943) -
- 844,809 (844,809) -
Previous year: At 1 April
Incoming
Resources
At 31 March
2022 resources expended 2023
£ £ £ £
Greater Merseyside Money Advice Project - 155,689 (155,689) -
The Freshfield Foundation - 171,731 (171,731) -
Advice Skills Academy - 18,223 (18,223) -
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care
Board - 38,279 (38,279) -
Living Well Sefton - 161,239 (161,239) -
Other funds - 5,012 (5,012) -
- 550,173 550,173 -

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

17 Restricted funds

(Continued)

Greater Merseyside Money Advice Project - a restricted fund for the provision of money advice services.

The Mind and Money Programme is a restricted fund for the provision of support for people facing challenges as a result of the cost-of-living crisis through financial resilience support, welfare benefits and money advice as well confidence building The Financial Resilience programme is led by the Women's Organisation who are responsible to Liverpool City region Combined Authority for delivering the project.

The Freshfield Foundation - a restricted fund for the provision of welfare rights advice with Liverpool Citizens Advice Partnership.

Citizens Advice Energy Advice is a restricted fund for one to one energy advice appointments to Sefton residents who are in or at risk of fuel poverty, often vulnerable and may be struggling to pay their bills.

Citizens Advice Housing Advice - a restricted fund for the provision of housing advice for Sefton residents around disrepair, illegal, s.21 and s.8 eviction, homelessness, tenant deposits and tenancy agreements working in partnership with Sefton Councils Housing Commissioner and Housing Options Team and the development of workshop for residents and frontline third and public sector staff and volunteers on housing rights.

St Leonards Foodbank - a restricted fund for the provision of welfare benefits advice within the foodbank.

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) - a restricted fund for an NHS standard contract.

L30’s Millions is supported through Big Local and administered by Local Trust for the Big Lottery Fund to support an advice outreach session in Netherton until October 2023.

Other funds include the Energy Advice Programme - a restricted fund for the provision of energy advice to advise clients on energy related matters. Also included is Community Foundation for Lancashire and - Merseyside a restricted fund to provide face to face welfare benefits advice within Southport Community Centre; and Sefton at Work - a restricted fund to provide welfare benefits advice within the offices of Sefton at Work.

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

18 Unrestricted funds

The income funds of the charity include the following designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes:

At 1 April At 1 April
Incoming
Incoming
Resources
Resources
Transfers
Transfers		 At 31 March At 31 March
2023 resources expended 2024
£ £ £ £ £
Designated premises fund 85,329 - - (7,794) 77,535
General funds 494,472 289,380 (270,343) 7,794 521,303
579,801 289,380 (270,343) - 598,838
Previous year: At 1 April
Incoming
Resources
Transfers		 At 31 March
2022 resources expended 2023
£ £ £ £ £
Designated premises fund 93,330 - - (8,001) 85,329
General funds 560,556 258,879 (332,964) 8,001 494,472
653,886 258,879 332,964 - 579,801

Designated premises fund - these reserves have been designated by the trustees for premises improvements and are being written off over the life of the refurbishments of the new office.

CITIZENS ADVICE SEFTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

19 Operating lease commitments

At the reporting end date the charitable company had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:

2024 2023
£ £
Within one year 56,835 49,223
Between two and five years 143,445 161,056
In over five years 40,000 62,000
240,280 272,279

20 Related party transactions

There have been related party transactions in accordance with FRS 102. There were transactions between Citizens Advice Sefton and Citizens Advice in relation to membership, insurance and information systems.

There were no other related party transactions in the year.

21 Cash generated from operations 2024 2023
£ £
Surplus/(deficit) for the year 19,037 (74,085)
Adjustments for:
Investment income recognised in statement of financial activities (3,075) (547)
Depreciation and impairment of tangible fixed assets 12,638 17,543
Movements in working capital:
(Increase)/decrease in debtors (14,139) 4,907
Increase/(decrease) in creditors 42,793 (8,517)
Cash generated from/(absorbed by) operations 57,254 (60,699)