**REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 05030345 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1102536** **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** ## **FOR** ## **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED** Ainsworths Limited Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors Charter House Stansfield Street Nelson Lancashire BB9 9XY **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED** ## **CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** |||**Page**|| |---|---|---|---| |**Reference and Administrative Details**||1|| |**Report of the Trustees**|2|to|7| |**Report of the Independent Auditors**|8|to|11| |**Statement of Financial Activities**||12|| |**Balance Sheet**||13|| |**Cash Flow Statement**||14|| |**Notes to the Cash Flow Statement**||15|| |**Notes to the Financial Statements**|16|to|24| **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED** **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** |**TRUSTEES**|A Connell| |---|---| ||P D Heneghan (resigned 16.4.2025)| ||A Pirbhai| ||Dr L Vallance| ||M Walker| ||Cllr A Warren (resigned 21.5.2024)| ||L P Conheeney (resigned 3.12.2024)| ||R M Tyzzer| ||J L Walker (Chair)| ||M J Ascroft (appointed 14.5.2024)| ||D J Gorton (Treasurer) (appointed 14.5.2024)| ||D O'Brien (appointed 14.5.2024)| |**COMPANY SECRETARY**|G Malcomson| |**REGISTERED OFFICE**|1 Victoria Plaza| ||Oxford Street| ||Bolton| ||BL1 1RD| |**REGISTERED COMPANY**|05030345 (England and Wales)| |**NUMBER**|| |**REGISTERED CHARITY**|1102536| |**NUMBER**|| |**AUDITORS**|Ainsworths Limited| ||Chartered Accountants| ||and Statutory Auditors| ||Charter House| ||Stansfield Street| ||Nelson| ||Lancashire| ||BB9 9XY| |**BANKERS**|The Royal Bank of Scotland| ||1 Hardman Boulevard| ||Manchester| ||M3 3AQ| Page 1 **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 05030345)** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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** ## **About Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton** The charitable company (Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton Limited) is established 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 Bury and Bolton, and surrounding areas. Our aim is to provide free, confidential, impartial and independent advice and information, to exercise a responsible influence on the developments of social policies and services, and to ensure individuals do not suffer through lack of knowledge or an inability to express their needs effectively. The main activities undertaken to further our charitable purposes for public benefit are to provide the advice people need for the problems that they face and improve the policies and practices that affect peoples' lives. Our highly trained team (mixture of paid staff and volunteers) deliver information, advice and casework services. Services are provided through town-centre premises in both Bury & Bolton, multiple outreach/ community spaces across the area, complemented by telephone, webchat and video advice. ## **Our objective** We are the people's champion. We exist to shape a society where people face far fewer problems. ## **Our mission** We're driven: - By our ambition to make things better for people, individually and collectively as part of the Citizens Advice - - network. - By the power of high quality, independent advice to help people solve their problems. - To change the underlying causes of problems, through working in partnership with local, regional and national - - organisations. The trustees confirm that they have referred to the information contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when planning activities and setting policies and priorities for the year ahead. ## **Equality, diversity, inclusion & belonging (EDI&B)** We recognise inequalities are entrenched in our society. We work to remove barriers and design approaches that are inclusive and meet the needs of marginalised groups. We are a collaborative, innovative and high-performing service that actively promotes equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging, and challenges discrimination - through all levels of the organisation. ## **Who we helped in 2024 - 2025** During this period, we have supported 16,745 individuals (2024: 16,653) with 55,671 issues (2024: 52,815) - an increase of 5% more issues from the previous 12 months. The predominant issues during this period were Welfare Benefits. Our website (cabb.org.uk) had 37,569 visits and 70,356 page views. We have continued to extend our reach using social media too. Page 2 **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 05030345)** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** ## **Our value to society** Every year, we support thousands of people with the knowledge and confidence to find a way forward. We do this by providing advice, support and influencing the policies and practices that affect our clients and wider communities. We collect feedback to give us the evidence we need to measure, and demonstrate, our impact. During 2024-2025, for every £1 invested in our services, we generated: - £22.06 in wider economic and social benefits (public value) - £17.47 in financial value to the people we help - £2.22 in savings to government and public services (fiscal benefits) Although a number of contracts during this financial year have extended our reach across a national footprint, we have continued to be embedded within our local communities across Bury & Bolton. This has been achieved through local community engagement projects, recruitment of paid staff and volunteers within local authority areas, the continuation of weekly face to face drop-in sessions and reception provision across both boroughs on a daily basis. ## **Client feedback** We review both quantitative and qualitative feedback from our clients' and record all compliments and complaints, incorporating them into our quarterly Service Impact & Quality Committee meetings. The direct feedback we receive from clients and other stakeholders (both locally, regionally and nationally), directly informs in our service delivery, team training and wider organisational developments. ## **Financial outcomes for clients** A core part of our service is looking at how we can maximise the income for those accessing our services by ensuring they receive all the benefits they are entitled to. During 2024 - 2025, we helped people access over £21,798,738 in one-off and ongoing additional income. We also supported clients to write off £322,740 of debts. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **Financial position** The key features of the year, from a financial point of view, were the cessation of work on immigration (and the transfer of cases to another provider) and the winning of new contracts and sources of grant funding. The unexpected scale of new contracts and grant funding secured allowed income to be increased, despite the removal of immigration income, and this together with the stemming of the substantial losses from immigration activity converted the prior year deficit into a substantial surplus. There was also a substantial cash benefit as the investment into immigration cases was realised. On an ongoing basis, unless further substantial new contracts are secured on favourable terms, it is expected that the surplus will significantly reduce and much more closely align with expenditure. Overall, the trustees are pleased to report a net surplus in the year of £360,642 as against a deficit in 2024 of £46,832. This arose from income increasing 9% from £1,921,592 in the previous year to £2,098,511in the current year and expenditure decreasing 12% from £1,968,424 to £1,737,869. The cash position improved dramatically from £511,863 to £1,155,077. Such a surplus is not anticipated to be realised in the following year to 31 March 2026 as expenditure on services will more closely align with anticipated income, and surplus will be reinvested into the delivery of local services for local people. Page 3 **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 05030345)** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **Our funding & income generation strategy** We take a collaborative approach to our income generation, developing strategic relationships with key partners and stakeholders. All colleagues across the charity have a responsibility for identifying funding opportunities, but the overall responsibility for developing and sharing applications sits with the Chief Executive Officer. All funding application bid/ no bid decisions are aligned to our charity mission, vision and values and are aligned to the Citizens Advice Collaboration Protocol. We do not carry out any significant fundraising activities. ## **Reserves policy** The trustees believe that the charity should hold financial reserves in order to ensure that the charity can continue to operate effectively and meet the needs of clients in the event of unforeseen and potentially damaging circumstances arising. Trustees consider that it is prudent to set aside unrestricted reserves at an amount that is the higher of 3 to 6 months operating costs and £500,000. At 31 March 2025 total funds of the charitable company (which are also the free reserves of the charitable company) were £1,151,276 (2024: £790,634). The free reserves equate to 7.9 (2024: 4.8) months operating expenditure. The trustees are satisfied that the free reserves are sufficient to meet their policy for holding reserves and should continue to be sufficient even if modest deficits are suffered in the short term. The Senior Leadership Team and Trustees are actively considering the appropriate steps to take to ensure that the funds held by the charity are properly applied to meet the charity's objectives in effective and sustainable ways. This is anticipated to lead to investment related deficits in future years which will reduce the free reserves of the charity to the level required by the reserves policy. ## **Pension scheme** CABB operates a defined contribution pension scheme. It does not, and has never operated a final salary pension scheme, and therefore has no long-term pension liabilities. ## **Going concern** The trustees are confident that the charity is a going concern, able to meet its debts as they fall due for the foreseeable future. The charity has significant reserves and its financial performance has improved in the period since 31st March 2024 such that it is expected to generate a surplus. ## **FUTURE PLANS** We aim to continually review and improve our services, ensuring all aspects of the charity are effective and continue to demonstrate best value for clients and use of the monies received from funders. During this period, we have continued to work in active partnership with other Local Citizens Advice (LCA) across Greater Manchester and key stakeholders across Bury & Bolton, and the wider regional footprint. Page 4 **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 05030345)** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Structure, governance and management** Citizens Advice Bury and Bolton Limited is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee (with the maximum liability of each member limited to £1). The charitable company is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended, dated 24th May 2022. The charitable company was incorporated on 30 January 2004. It commenced operations on 1 April 2004 at which date the assets and liabilities of the unincorporated Bolton Citizens Advice Bureau were acquired. ## **Board of trustees** The directors of the charitable company are also the charity trustees for the purpose of charity law. Under the charitable company's articles of association, they are referred to as the 'Board of Trustees'. The majority of board of trustee members continue to be elected from the local community and should either reside or work in Bury or Bolton. The articles provide that the board of trustees shall consist of members who are elected, representative and co-opted. Trustees are elected for a period of three years but may be re-elected. Trustees are elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). The Articles of Association provide for a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 15 Trustees. The Trustees seek a Bury Council and Bolton Council representative to become co-opted members to the Board. During 2024 - 2025, Councillor Liam Barnard was the representative for Bolton Council. Councillor Jodie Hook was Bury Council representative (from December 2024). Council representatives are co-opted onto the board, they are no longer registered as full trustees. Any person may resign from the committee by giving one months' notice in writing, to either the Chair, or Secretary, of their intention and stating the date when their resignation is to take effect. The Board of Trustees have the power to declare a vacancy in the office if a committee member: - Becomes bankrupt, - Moves residence to a distance more than fifty miles from the registered address, - Is absent from three consecutive ordinary meetings of the committee. ## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees** The trustees retain overall responsibility and control of the process for recruiting members of the trustee board. Prospective trustees are selected for their ability to make an effective contribution to the charitable company through their skills, knowledge and experience. In addition, consideration is given as to how representative the trustee board is of the community. The trustees consider the make-up of the trustee board and assess whether further areas of competence are needed to enable it to function effectively and whether the membership reflects and has knowledge of the communities and areas in which it operates. Newly appointed trustees are provided with a comprehensive induction to Citizens Advice Bury and Bolton through the provision of training courses and mentoring by established trustees. No members of the trustee board are in paid employment at Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton, or acting as a volunteer in the charity. There were no ex-officio members who served as trustees during the year. Page 5 **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 05030345)** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **Organisational structure** The trustee board sets the strategic vision and gives strategic direction to the charity. The board is committed to high governance standards and complies with the principles and practices set out in the Charity Governance Code. The trustees carry the ultimate responsibility for the conduct of Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton and for ensuring that the charity satisfies its legal and contractual obligations. The trustees meet, as a minimum, quarterly and delegate the implementation of the strategy and day-to-day operations to the Chief Executive Officer and broader Senior Leadership Team. The board of trustees is independent from management. A register of members' interests is maintained at the registered office and is available to the public. To support the governance work of the Board of Trustees, there are three formal committees (each meeting quarterly, as minimum): - Finance Committee - People, Operations & Risk - Service Impact & Quality Committee. ## **Senior leadership team (SLT)** SLT is responsible for delivering the board of trustees visions and for the day-to-day operation of the charity. The SLT consists of the following roles: - Chief Executive Officer - Deputy CEO & Head of Advice - Head of People & Operations ## **Related parties** Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton is a member of Citizens Advice, the operating name of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, which provides a framework for standards of advice and casework management as well as monitoring progress against these standards. Operating policies are independently determined by the trustee board in order to fulfil its charitable objects and comply with the national membership requirements. CABB Trustees and key management staff are required to declare any interests and disclose any potential conflicts as per legal requirements and Charity Commission guidance. CABB Trustees (limited to a maximum of two) hold Trustee/directorships on the board of another local Citizens Advice - Citizens Advice Greater Manchester (CAGM), which is a collective body of local Citizens Advice organisations operating within Greater Manchester communities in furtherance of mutual charitable objectives. Notwithstanding the relationship with National Citizens Advice and CAGM described above, CABB also co-operates and liaises with a number of advisory services, local charities and social services departments 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. ## **Quality standards** The Performance and Quality Framework (PQF) is part of our membership agreement with Citizens Advice and sets out the standards all local Citizens Advice services must meet. The PQF consists of five parts: - Quality of advice assessment, conducted quarterly - Client experience survey, conducted quarterly - Financial health monitoring, conducted quarterly - People management survey, conducted annually - Leadership self-assessment, conducted annually. The Citizens Advice audit team check compliance with the PQF. We are holders of the Advice Quality Standard (AQS) and the Specialist Quality Mark (SQM), which were renewed in January 2024 and April 2025, both for a 3-year period. Page 6 **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 05030345)** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **Major risks** CABB has a risk management strategy and risk register, agreed by trustee board. The trustees recognise that any major risks to which the charitable company is exposed need to be reviewed and systems put in place to mitigate those risks. To that end the charitable company is continually monitoring and managing its risk, reviewing the corporate risk register and ensuring action plans are in place to mitigate its key risks. Included in external risks is that of loss of funding. The effects of this have been minimised by the procedures in place which have resulted in funding being secured from a variety of sources. The charitable company continues to seek to diversify its funding sources. Internal risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for authorisation of all transactions and projects and to ensure consistent quality of delivery for all operational aspects of the charity. These procedures are periodically reviewed to ensure that they still meet the needs of the charitable company. ## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES** The trustees (who are also the directors of Citizens Advice Bury and Bolton Limited for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees 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 period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to - select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP; - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. In so far as the trustees are aware: - there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company's auditors are unaware; and - the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information. ## **AUDITORS** The auditors, Ainsworths Limited, will be proposed for re-appointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. Approved by order of the board of trustees on 23rd September 2025 and signed on its behalf by: ## Jamie Walker Jamie Walker (Sep 26, 2025 14:29:50 GMT+1) J L Walker - Trustee Page 7 **REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED** ## **Opinion** We have audited the financial statements of Citizens Advice Bury and Bolton Limited (the 'charitable company') for the year ended 31st March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement and 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 (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). In our opinion the financial statements: - give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31st March 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended; - have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and - have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. ## **Basis for opinion** We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' 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 trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our Report of the Independent Auditors thereon. 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. In connection with our audit of the financial statements, 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 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. ## **Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006** In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: - the information given in the Report of the Trustees, which includes the Directors' Report and Strategic Report for the purposes of company law, for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and - the Strategic Report and the Directors' Report included within the Report of the Trustees has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. Page 8 **REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED** ## **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 Report of the Trustees. We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: - adequate and proper accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received - from branches not visited by us; or - the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or - certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or - we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or - the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemption from the requirement to prepare a Strategic Report or in preparing the Report of the Trustees; or - material misstatement in the Strategic Report or Directors' Report included within the Report of the Trustees. ## **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 purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 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. Page 9 **REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED** ## **Our 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 a Report of the Independent Auditors that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below: ## Identifying and assessing potential risks related to irregularities - In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, we considered the following: - the nature of the industry and sector, control environment and business performance; - results of our enquiries of management about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities; - any matters we identified having made enquiries of management about their policies and procedures relating to: > identifying, evaluating and complying with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of noncompliance; - detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud; - the internal controls established to mitigate risks of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations; - revenue recognition and whether income is recognised accurately and in the correct period; - - the matters discussed among the audit engagement team regarding how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud. As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud. In common with all audits under ISAs (UK), we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override. We also obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that the company operates in, focusing on provisions of those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The key laws and regulations we considered in this context included the UK Companies Act and local tax legislation. In addition, we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements, but compliance with which may be fundamental to the company's ability to operate. ## Audit response to risks identified - As a result of performing the above our procedures to respond to the risks identified included the following: - reviewing the financial statements disclosure and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with provisions of relevant laws and regulations described as having a direct effect on the financial statements; - - enquiring of management about actual and potential litigation and claims; - - performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risk of material misstatement due to fraud; - in addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, testing the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments; assessing whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias; and evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business. We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit. A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Independent Auditors. Page 10 **REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED** ## **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 auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. ## Michael Heys Michael Heys (Sep 26, 2025 14:36:54 GMT+1) Michael Heys (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Ainsworths Limited Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors Charter House Stansfield Street Nelson Lancashire BB9 9XY 23rd September 2025 Page 11 **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED** ## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING AN INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** |Notes
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
3
**Charitable activities**
5
Legal and financial advice and services
Investment income
4
Other income
**Total**
**EXPENDITURE ON**
**Charitable activities**
6
Legal and financial advice and services
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**|**31.3.25**
Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
funds
funds
**funds**
£
£
**£**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**1,089,242**
**997,108**
**2,086,350**
**9,753**
**-**
**9,753**
**2,408**
**-**
**2,408**
**1,101,403**
**997,108**
**2,098,511**
**740,761**
**997,108**
**1,737,869**
**360,642**
**-**
**360,642**
**790,634**
**-**
**790,634**
**1,151,276**
**-**
**1,151,276**|31.3.24
Total
funds
£
10,000
1,889,529
6,761
15,302
1,921,592
1,968,424
(46,832)
837,466
790,634| |---|---|---| The notes form part of these financial statements Page 12 **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 05030345)** ## **BALANCE SHEET 31ST MARCH 2025** |Notes
**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**
**NET ASSETS**
**FUNDS**
14
Unrestricted funds:
General fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Unrestricted
funds
£
**177,153**
**1,155,077**
**1,332,230**
**(180,954)**
**1,151,276**
**1,151,276**
**1,151,276**|Restricted
funds
£
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**31.3.25**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**177,153**
**1,155,077**
**1,332,230**
**(180,954)**
**1,151,276**
**1,151,276**
**1,151,276**
**1,151,276**
**1,151,276**|31.3.24
Total
funds
£
472,395
511,863
984,258
(193,624)
790,634
790,634
790,634
790,634
790,634| |---|---|---|---|---| These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime. The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 23rd September 2025 and were signed on its behalf by: ## Jamie Walker Jamie Walker (Sep 26, 2025 14:29:50 GMT+1) J L Walker - Trustee ## David Gorton David Gorton (Sep 24, 2025 12:58:40 GMT+1) D J Gorton - Trustee The notes form part of these financial statements Page 13 ## **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED** ## **CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** |Notes
**Cash flows from operating activities**
Cash generated from operations
1
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
**Cash flows from investing activities**
Sale of tangible fixed assets
Net cash provided by investing activities
**Change in cash and cash equivalents in**
**the reporting period**
**Cash and cash equivalents at the**
**beginning of the reporting period**
**Cash and cash equivalents at the end of**
**the reporting period**|**31.3.25**
**£**
**643,214**
**643,214**
**-**
**-**
**643,214**
**511,863**
**1,155,077**|31.3.24
£
(180,202)
(180,202)
181,621
181,621
1,419
510,444
511,863| |---|---|---| The notes form part of these financial statements Page 14 **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED** ## **NOTES TO THE CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** |**1.**
**RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) TO NET CASH FLOW FROM**
**OPERATING ACTIVITIES**
**31.3.25**
**£**
**Net income/(expenditure) for the reporting period (as per the**
**Statement of Financial Activities)**
**360,642**
**Adjustments for:**
Depreciation charges
**-**
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
**-**
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
**295,242**
(Decrease)/increase in creditors
**(12,670)**
**Net cash provided by/(used in) operations**
**643,214**
**2.**
**ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET FUNDS**|31.3.24
£
(46,832)
2,142
18,664
(247,712)
93,536| |---|---| ||(180,202)| ||| |**Net cash**
Cash at bank and in hand
**Total**|At 1.4.24
£
**511,863**
**511,863**
**511,863**|Cash flow
£
**643,214**
**643,214**
**643,214**|**At 31.3.25**
**£**
**1,155,077**| |---|---|---|---| ||||**1,155,077**| ||||**1,155,077**| The notes form part of these financial statements Page 15 **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED** **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** ## **1. STATUTORY INFORMATION** Citizens Advice Bury and Bolton Limited is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. The charity's registered number and registered office address can be found within the reference and administrative details section of the Report of the Trustees. ## **2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** ## **Basis of preparing the financial statements** The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. Citizens Advice Bury and Bolton Limited meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. ## **Income** All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. Income is the amount derived from ordinary activities and is stated net of VAT. Grants receivable are accounted for when due. Income is deferred when it is received in advance of the period to which it relates. Investment income is recognised on a receivable basis. ## **Expenditure** Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. ## **Allocation and apportionment of costs** Support costs are those costs incurred in the general running of the charitable company. They do not include the costs of direct service provision, but are allocated to charitable activities as they are all incurred in support of the advice given by the charitable company. Such costs include wages including those of key management personnel and administrative staff, and establishment costs. ## **Tangible fixed assets** Depreciation was provided in the prior year at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. Freehold property - 2% on cost Fixtures and fittings - 10% on cost All assets were disposed in the prior year therefore no depreciation has been charged in the current year. ## **Taxation** The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities. Page 16 continued... **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED** **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** ## **2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued** ## **Fund accounting** Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements. ## **Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits** The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate. ## **Debtors** Short term debtors are measured at transaction price, less any impairment. ## **Creditors** Short term creditors are measured at transaction price. ## **Amounts recoverable on contracts** Services provided to clients during that year that remain unbilled as at the year end are recognised as turnover in the Statement of Financial Activities and amounts recoverable on contracts in the Balance Sheet. The amount at which those services are recognised is billable amount. A provision is made against any balance that is considered to be irrecoverable. ## **Significant judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty** The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make significant judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported for assets and liabilities as at the balance sheet date and the amounts reported for revenues and expenses during the year. However, the nature of estimation means that actual outcomes could differ from those estimates. The following judgement (apart from those involving estimates) has had the most significant effect on amounts recognised in the financial statements. ## Debtors Debtors are included in the financial statements in accordance with the accounting policy given. Amounts recoverable on contracts is measured according to the contracts but judgement has to be taken whether the full amount is recoverable and whether any amounts need writing off. This is considered by management on a regular basis to ensure that such amounts are recoverable and are not overstated in the financial statements. The following is considered to be the charitable company's key source of estimation uncertainty: ## Provision for bad debts Management review debtors on a regular basis, chasing up any overdue balances, and subsequently estimating whether any of those remaining might be irrecoverable, in which case a provision is made against the debtor which is expensed in the Statement of Financial Activities. If the debt is subsequently recovered, the amount recovered, net of VAT, is credited to the Statement of Financial Activities. ## Revenue recognition Certain funders pay fixed fees for work performed on individual cases which may be completed across the year end. The proportion of revenue recognised in each period is determined by management based on estimates of the levels and timing of work on cases. continued... Page 17 **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED** **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** |**3.**
**DONATIONS AND LEGACIES**
Donations
**4.**
**INVESTMENT INCOME**
Bank interest received
**5.**
**INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**
Activity
Non-contract income
Legal and financial advice and services
Contract income
Legal and financial advice and services
Grants
Legal and financial advice and services
Grants received, included in the above, are as follows:
Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
Bury Metropolitan Borough Council
The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux
Access to Justice
The National Lottery Community Fund: Community Organisations Cost of
Living Fund
MacMillan
Energy Saving Trust
Bolton CVS
Irwell Valley|**31.3.25**
**£**
**-**
**31.3.25**
**£**
**9,753**
**31.3.25**
**£**
**26,723**
**272,280**
**1,787,347**
**2,086,350**
**31.3.25**
**£**
**143,215**
**240,000**
**1,041,334**
**94,998**
**-**
**64,183**
**200,784**
**2,000**
**833**
**1,787,347**|31.3.24
£
10,000
31.3.24
£
6,761
31.3.24
£
29,973
182,798
1,676,758| |---|---|---| |||1,889,529| |||31.3.24
£
141,098
163,664
966,759
7,917
71,800
49,194
267,784
8,542
-| |||1,676,758| continued... Page 18 **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED** **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** ## **6. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS** ||**31.3.25**|31.3.24| |---|---|---| ||**£**|£| |Direct costs|**1,429,083**|1,621,350| |Support costs (see note 7)|**308,786**|347,074| |||| |||| ||**1,737,869**|1,968,424| |||| The split between direct costs and support costs has been re-examined by the directors in the current year and the allocation changed. This changed allocation has been reflected in the previous year, increasing the support costs shown for that year from £26,174. ## **7. SUPPORT COSTS** ||**31.3.25**|31.3.24| |---|---|---| ||**£**|£| |Wages|**185,139**|186,210| |Social security|**19,625**|19,044| |Pensions|**4,038**|3,996| |Rent, rates and water|**29,388**|27,279| |Insurance|**4,453**|3,972| |Light and heat|**9,443**|14,005| |Telephone|**8,247**|10,605| |Sundries|**5,037**|5,798| |Computer expenses|**14,402**|13,268| |Subscriptions|**6,500**|8,371| |Staff training|**3,267**|4,681| |Staff welfare|**5,781**|5,803| |Repairs and renewals|**8,275**|15,726| |Depreciation|-|2,142| |Bank charges|**998**|1,887| |Loss on sale of tangible fixed assets|**-**|18,664| |Trustees recruitment and trivial gifts|**64**|180| |Auditors' remuneration|**4,129**|4,143| |Legal and professional fees|**-**|1,300| |||| ||**308,786**|347,074| |||| continued... Page 19 **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED** **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** ## **8. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)** Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting): ||**31.3.25**|31.3.24| |---|---|---| ||**£**|£| |Auditors' remuneration|**4,129**|4,143| |Depreciation - owned assets|**-**|2,142| |Deficit on disposal of fixed assets|**-**|18,664| ## **9. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS** There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024. ## **Trustees' expenses** There were no trustee expense reimbursements during the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024. ## **10. STAFF COSTS** |Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs|**31.3.25**
**£**
**1,221,459**
**104,707**
**22,095**
**1,348,261**|31.3.24
£
1,284,861
104,264
22,448| |---|---|---| |||1,411,573| Total employee benefits paid to the charity's key management personnel for the year ended 31st March 2025 was £159,850 (2024: £158,000). The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: |Key management personnel
Legal and advice
Administrative and support|**31.3.25**
**3**
**44**
**4**
**51**|31.3.24
3
46
3
52| |---|---|---| The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was: |||**31.3.25**|31.3.24| |---|---|---|---| |£60,001|- £70,000|**-**|1| continued... Page 20 **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** |**11.**|**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**|**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**|||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |||Unrestricted|Restricted||Total| |||funds|funds||funds| |||£|£||£| ||**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**||||| ||Donations and legacies|10,000||-|10,000| ||**Charitable activities**||||| ||Legal and financial advice and services|905,480|984,049||1,889,529| ||Investment income|6,761||-|6,761| ||Other income|15,302||-|15,302| ||**Total**|937,543|984,049||1,921,592| ||**EXPENDITURE ON**||||| ||**Charitable activities**||||| ||Legal and financial advice and services|984,375|984,049||1,968,424| ||**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**|(46,832)||-|(46,832)| ||**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**||||| ||Total funds brought forward|837,466||-|837,466| ||**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**|790,634||-|790,634| ||The above figures are for the year ended 31st March 2024 and are|considered comparable to||the|figures for the| ||current year.||||| |**12.**|**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**||||| ||||**31.3.25**||31.3.24| ||||**£**||£| ||Trade debtors||**44,228**||43,877| ||Amounts recoverable on contract||**109,601**||387,304| ||Other debtors||**721**||10,563| ||VAT||**-**||3,171| ||Prepayments and accrued income||**22,603**||27,480| ||||**177,153**||472,395| continued... Page 21 **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED** **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** ## **13. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR** |**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**||| |---|---|---| |Trade creditors
Social security and other taxes
VAT
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income|**31.3.25**
**£**
**4,132**
**23,691**
**22,227**
**648**
**130,256**
**180,954**|31.3.24
£
189
21,230
-
4,289
167,916| |||193,624| Accruals and deferred income above included income of £95,375 (2024: £69,351) that has been deferred to the following accounting period. The amount recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities as income in the year, released from deferred income brought forwards was £69,351 (2024: £1,763). ## **14. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS** |**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Money Advisory Services
Help to Claim
Help Through Hardship
Macmillan
**TOTAL FUNDS**|At 1.4.24
£
**790,634**
**790,634**
Incoming
resources
£
**1,101,403**
**279,930**
**330,553**
**322,442**
**64,183**
**997,108**
**2,098,511**|| |---|---|---| |||| continued... Page 22 **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** ## **14. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued** **Comparatives for movement in funds** |At 1.4.23
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
837,466
**TOTAL FUNDS**
837,466
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
937,543
**Restricted funds**
Money Advisory Services
279,300
Help to Claim
222,359
Help Through Hardship
361,396
Macmillan
49,194
National Lottery
71,800
984,049
**TOTAL FUNDS**
1,921,592|| |---|---| ||| continued... Page 23 **CITIZENS ADVICE BURY AND BOLTON LIMITED** **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** ## **14. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued** |**Name of fund**|**Description, nature and purposes of the fund**| |---|---| |**Unrestricted funds:**|| |General fund:|Funds available for the trustees to use at their discretion to further the charitable| ||company's objects.| |**Restricted funds:**|| |Money Advisory Services|Provision of money advice service, either digitally or face to face to the residents| |(MaPS):|of Bury & Bolton. The subgrant is provided by The National Association of| ||Citizens Advice Bureau (NACAB) on behalf of the Money and Pensions Service.| |Help to Claim (HtC):|Provision of universal credit application support and advice, delivered via phone| ||and webchat through a national queue, with a freephone telephone number.| ||Webchat will be delivered through the national platform. The subgrant is| ||provided by The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureau (NACAB) on| ||behalf of Department of Work & Pensions.| |Help Through Hardship|Provision of telephone advice and support to tackle the root causes of poverty| |(HTH):|across England. The subgrant is provided by NACAB on behalf of Trussell| ||Trust.| |Macmillan:|Provision of advice and support to those living with, and affected by cancer.| |The National Lottery|| |Community Fund:|| |Community Organisations|Assistance with increases in the cost of living allowing for the continuation and| |Cost of Living Fund|expansion of the services delivered.| ## **15. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES** There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31st March 2025. ## **16. COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE** The company is limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital. The liability of each trustee by way of their guarantee to the company is to contribute a sum not exceeding £1 towards the company's assets if so required on the winding up of the company. Page 24 ## C118-Charities report - 25.2-CHAMH-20250923 Final Audit Report 2025-09-26 Created: 2025-09-23 By: Michael Heys (mickheys@ainsworths.co.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAA-hDQc016qpznaOSAPlMBhPBnOSrz5CAD ## "C118-Charities report - 25.2-CHA-MH-20250923" History - Document created by Michael Heys (mickheys@ainsworths.co.uk) 2025-09-23 - 8:15:24 AM GMT - Document emailed to Jamie Walker (jwalker@cabb.org.uk) for signature 2025-09-23 - 8:15:28 AM GMT - Document emailed to David Gorton (davidjgorton@outlook.com) for signature 2025-09-23 - 8:15:28 AM GMT - Document emailed to Michael Heys (mickheys@ainsworths.co.uk) for signature 2025-09-23 - 8:15:29 AM GMT - Email viewed by David Gorton (davidjgorton@outlook.com) 2025-09-24 - 11:51:36 AM GMT - Document e-signed by David Gorton (davidjgorton@outlook.com) Signature Date: 2025-09-24 - 11:58:40 AM GMT - Time Source: server - Email viewed by Jamie Walker (jwalker@cabb.org.uk) 2025-09-26 - 1:29:15 PM GMT - Document e-signed by Jamie Walker (jwalker@cabb.org.uk) Signature Date: 2025-09-26 - 1:29:50 PM GMT - Time Source: server - Document e-signed by Michael Heys (mickheys@ainsworths.co.uk) Signature Date: 2025-09-26 - 1:36:54 PM GMT - Time Source: server - Agreement completed. - 2025-09-26 - 1:36:54 PM GMT