**REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 05190146 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1106738**
## **Report of the Trustees and**
**Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
**for**
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
|||**Page**||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Report of the Trustees**|1|to|8|
|**Report of the Independent Auditors**|9|to|12|
|**Statement of Financial Activities**||13||
|**Balance Sheet**||14||
|**Cash Flow Statement**||15||
|**Notes to the Cash Flow Statement**||16||
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|17|to|27|
|**Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**||28||
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
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 31 March 2023. 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**
## **Objectives and aims**
The objectives of Citizens Advice Bedford are:
• To provide free, confidential, impartial and independent advice and information for the benefit of the local community.
• To exercise a responsible influence on the development of social policies and services.
• To ensure individuals do not suffer through a lack of knowledge or an inability to express their needs effectively.
In addition to the continuing provision of high-quality advisory services to the local community, the objective is to work to enable the Bureau to expand its services where possible.
The principal activity of the Bureau remained the provision of free, confidential, independent and impartial advice,information and counsel for members of the public. In addition to generalist advice the following specialist advisory services were provided:
i) Specialist Welfare Benefits Advice to clients of Bedford Borough Social Services, funded by Bedford Borough Council
ii) Specialist Welfare Benefits Advice funded by the Harpur Trust
iii) Specialist Welfare Reform/Debt Advice funded by the House of Industry
iv) Specialist Housing Debt Advice and Court Desk funded by the House of Industry
v) Specialist Debt Advice funded by the Money Advice Service
vi) Benefit Advice Services to help people resolve concerns around public involvement in health research,design and delivery funded by a number of Health Agencies.
vii) Generalist Services funded by the Trussell Trust
viii) Energy Advice services funded by the Climate Change Fund through the Bedford Borough Mayor
ix) General Advice services
Advisory services were provided through a hybrid of face-to-face and remote consultations as well as email, although advice was also delivered through the use of telephone and social media.
## **Public benefit**
The Trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the aims and objectives and in planning the future activities. In particular, the Trustees considered how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set and believe the Charity has complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2011.
Page 1
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Volunteers**
The Charity receives help and support in the form of voluntary assistance in advising the public and administering the Charity.
As at 31 March 2023, we had 13 volunteers and are actively recruiting more. The pandemic and lockdown has had an effect on our volunteer numbers who have not wished to continue remote working. We will continue to develop ways to engage and maintain new volunteer numbers.
The Trustee Board and Senior Management Team recognise the invaluable contribution made by our volunteers without whom the service could not operate.
## **STRATEGIC REPORT Achievement and performance**
## **Charitable activities**
Citizens Advice Bedford is the recognised advice agency in Bedford Borough; the Citizens Advice brand is widely recognised and trusted at national and local level. It is recognised as an organisation that provides good quality advice without charge to anyone in need.
The office is located in the Harpur Centre, in the centre of town and benefits from staff and volunteers who are well trained,enthusiastic, and committed. As well as benefiting from nationally provided knowledge and reference sources, they also have specialist local knowledge which is valuable to clients.
Citizens Advice Bedford saw a total of 3,367 unique clients with 14,580 issues. In addition, we responded to 4,835 emails and the local advice telephone service received 5,806 telephone calls.
The charity generated £1,887,880 in welfare benefit income and wrote off £184,415 worth of debt.
## **Fundraising activities**
The charity did not undertake any fundraising activities during the year.
Page 2
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **STRATEGIC REPORT**
## **Achievement and performance**
## **Restrictions and Investment Powers**
As required in its Memorandum paragraph in furtherance of its objects, and for no other purposes, the Company has the power to invest the monies of the Company 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 be imposed or required by law. The Trustee Board has agreed an investment policy, which includes;
• No bank (plus any of its subsidiaries) shall have more than £85,000 of Citizens Advice Bedford funds for a period greater than 28 days.
• The Company will actively invest funds currently held on deposit into a mix of business investment funds offered by UK based banks or Building Societies covered by the UK Financial Compensation Scheme. For clarity there would be no investments in institutions where the compensation scheme is covered by a country abroad. No investment would exceed £85,000 in any one bank or its subsidiaries.
• The Company will retain flexibility within either the current account and/or linked deposit account to meet its day-to-day needs.
• The Company will consider investing in shares and/or similar investments but will not commit more than 25% of available reserves in these types of investments.
• No investment will be made where access to funds would be greater than 60 days’ notice.
At 31st March 2023 the Company Charity had £93,022 invested with the Cambridge and Counties Bank in a 31-day notice account and an easy access savings account. The investment in Cambridge and Counties slightly exceeded the £85,000 per bank requirement of the policy but is considered to be a small risk.
The Memorandum of Association authorises the charity to receive income by way of grants, donations, gifts and legacies provided that it does not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising funds for its primary objectives. The Memorandum of Association authorises investment of surplus monies not immediately required, subject only to conditions and consents imposed by law.
## **Financial review**
## **Financial position**
The unrestricted and undesignated general free reserves at 31 March 2023 was £204,864 (2022:£165,988) after designating reserves of £169,748 (2022: £127,746). Restricted reserves at the end of the year amount to £69,935 (2022: £27,030).
During the 2022/23 financial year, CAB delivered a financial surplus of £123,783 (2021/22: £9,803). This increase in surplus arose primarily through staff vacancies and changes, and increased funding. Income overall increased by 22.3% to £641,986 compared to £524,680 in 2021/22, while over the same period expenditure slightly increased by 0.6% to £518,203 from £514,877 in 2021/22.
Expenditure on fixed assets capitalised during the year amounted to £48,581 (2021/22: £Nil) in congruence with our policy. Fixed assets are used for charitable purposes and enable staff and volunteers to capitalisation provide an optimum service to the public.
There is an end of year restricted fund balance of £69,935 (2021/22: £27,030). These funds are expected to be fully spent or returned by 31 March 2024.
Page 3
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **STRATEGIC REPORT Financial review**
## **Principal funding sources**
CAB delivered the fourth year of a 5-year contract on behalf of Bedford Borough Council and continued with The Harpur Trust funded project for welfare benefit advice. CAB continued delivery of MaPS contracts and the Benefits Advice Service continues to provide funding for clients across England and Wales undergoing research into health and social issues. Borough Council provides a continuous running welfare benefit contract and the House of Industry provides grants for both debt relief and housing contracts. CAB secured funding for 2 years through the Mayoral Climate Change Fund, starting in January 2023. CAB also started to deliver year 1 of a 3-year partnership with the Trussell Trust, operating in Foodbanks within the Borough. A one-off payment was also received to support clients facing Homelessness from Bedford Borough Council. Lastly, in March 2023 a payment of £15,000 was secured from Citizens Advice to support core activity - this has been used to provide addition phone assessment support.
The Trustees extend their gratitude to all funders for their continued support.
## **Reserves policy**
Citizens Advice Bedford is required to ensure that free monies are available in each financial year to meet any reasonable foreseeable contingency. The Company will maintain a projection of income for at least two years ahead and will ensure that this continues to be derived from as wide a variety of sources possible. They will take all necessary steps to ensure that at no time within this period would it be possible for the cessation of one or more funding streams to present so serious a challenge to the future of the organisation that it could not be managed so as to continue to provide a best value advice service.
In reviewing the potential costs that could arise should a significant reduction in income be incurred the Trustees have determined that a designated unrestricted reserve should be maintained equal to 3 months’ budgeted operating expenditure,which currently equates to £169,748 (2022: £127,746 based on 3 months’ normal operating expenditure). The Trustees continually monitor this target, a key KPI for the Charity.
The unrestricted and undesignated general free reserves at 31 March 2023 was £204,864 (2022: £165,988) after designating reserves of £169,748 (2022: £127,746). Restricted reserves at the end of the year amount to £69,935 (2022: £27,030).
## **Going concern**
The Charity reported a cash inflow of £122,487 for the year and went through a transition period in 2022/23. Whilst the year ending 31 March 2023 was not affected by Lockdown, nonetheless the impact of Covid-19 was still evident. The affect on project work was minimal from a financial point of view overall. Whilst having returned to providing some face-to-face services, CAB are still providing telephone support to those needing our support/advice and have increased our capacity to deliver services in this way.
We expect funding next year in 2023/24 to remain similar to the current year but are reviewing our expenditure base and accommodation to reduce costs to match any reduction in funding, whilst continuing to look for further funding opportunities. Different funding streams have been identified in 2022/23 which have offered the organisation the chance to develop new expertises.
After making further appropriate enquiries, together with reserves and expenditure control, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the twelve months from the date of signing this report. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.
## **Political Donations**
No donations of monies or donated goods were made to any political parties or political campaigns in the year 2022/23 (2021/22: £NIL).
Page 4
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
**Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **STRATEGIC REPORT**
## **Principal risks and uncertainties**
The trustees have a duty to identify and review risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place.
The Charity has worked on a Corporate Risk Management exercise. A risk management strategy and risk register were agreed by the Trustee 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. The last full risk assessment was carried out in November 2023, and approved by Trustees at the November 2023 Trustee Board Meeting,
## **Future plans**
CAB's main priority is the provision of an accessible advice service to the community in Bedford Borough. The move to the Harpur Centre is completed which has increased the local profile of the organisation. New funding streams have been obtained, which has enabled outreach work to be carried out at local Foodbank venues, as well as funding for a new Energy Advice role in response to the Cost of Living Crisis. As well as the new outreach sessions, clients are still able to contact us face to face, by telephone and email - we are looking to extend these services with the recruitment of more volunteers. CAB is also recruiting a dedicated telephone assessor to meet client demand, and plans to start additional outreach work.
In summary CAB will continue to:
o provide good quality advice and information to the communities in Bedford and in particular to the most the most vulnerable;
o provide advice that is available at both a general help level and specialist advice in debt, welfare benefits and homelessness prevention;
o provide accessible channels to contact the service;
o be a key partner to the local authority through, in particular, the provision of data about community needs and a leading player in the Bedford Advice and Third Sectors.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing document**
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
The Charity (which has the working name of ‘Citizens Advice Bedford (CAB)’) was formed as a Company limited by guarantee on 27 July 2004 (Company Number: 05190146). The full name of the charity is The Bedford and District Citizens Advice Bureau and was registered with the Charity Commission on 12 November 2004 (Charity Number: 1106738).
It is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association, as last updated on 24 March 2011.
## **Organisational structure**
Citizens Advice Bedford 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 the Bureau and for ensuring that the charity satisfies its legal and contractual obligations.Trustees meet as 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 members’ interests is maintained at the registered office and is available to the public.
## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees**
Trustees, who are also Directors of the Company, are appointed by the current Trustee Board. A separate process agreed by the Trustee Board is followed for the election of the Chair and Treasurer. No other persons or bodies external to the charity were entitled to appoint persons to the Trustee Board.
Newly appointed Trustees are provided with a comprehensive induction to Citizens Advice Bedford through the provision of CAB training courses and support by established Trustees.
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**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Key management remuneration**
The Trustees regularly benchmark the pay of Senior Management in similar sized charity organisations in the locality and also across similar sized Local Citizens Advice organisations
No member of staff was paid more than £60,000.
## **Related parties**
Citizens Advice Bedford subscribes to the membership scheme of The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (Citizens Advice), the national charity (Charity Number: 279057) 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 of the Bureau in order to fulfil its charitable objects and comply with the national membership requirements.
During the 2022/23 financial year, payments were made to Citizens Advice to the value of £7,849 (2021/22: £8,510) in respect of subscriptions and sundries. Receipts from Citizens Advice for contracts and grant funding totalled £141,540 (2021/22: £170,630).
The charity also co-operates and liaises with a number of other advisory services, local charities and social services departments on behalf of clients. Where any of the Trustees holds the position of a Trustee/Director of another charity they would declare a conflict of interest and then may be involved in discussions regarding that other charity but not in the ultimate decision-making process.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Company number**
05190146 (England and Wales)
## **Registered Charity number**
1106738
## **Registered office**
8 Harpur Centre Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1TP
## **Trustees**
Jane Margret Mordue -Chair Duncan Albert Lance Gear -Treasurer (appointed 3.11.22) Dr Thomas Greville Inskip Mark Smith Elizabeth Borland (appointed 3.11.22)
## **Company Secretary**
Francesca Marritt
## **Auditors**
George Hay Partnership LLP Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor Brigham House High Street Biggleswade Bedfordshire SG18 0LD
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**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Bankers:**
Unity Trust Bank Plc, 9 Brindley Place, Birmingham, B1 2HB
## **Senior Management Team:**
Gillian E. Grimes Chief Executive (until 14/11/2022)
Francesca J. Marritt, Chief Executive Officer (from 16/01/2023)
Daniel C. Deacon Service Delivery Manager (until 29/4/2022)
Joanne Gurner, Service Delivery Manager (until 28th February 2023), Operations Manager (from 1st March 2023)
Lucy Barnes, Business Administrator (from 6th September 2023 until 28th February 2023), Business Manager (from 1st March 2023)
Simon Kelly, Operations Supervisor (from 1st March 2023)
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FRN: 617505
## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES**
The trustees (who are also the directors of The Bedford and District Citizens Advice 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, George Hay Partnership LLP, will be proposed for re-appointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.
Page 7
The Bedford and Dl8tsl¢t Advlce
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**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
Report of the trustees, incorporating a strategic report, approved by order of the board of trustees, as the company directors, on ............................................. and signed on the board's behalf by:
................................................................. Trustee
Page 8
**Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of The Bedford and District Citizens Advice (the 'charitable company') for the year ended 31 March 2023 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 31 March 2023 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.
## **Emphasis of matter**
The Financial Statements for the year to 31 March 2022 were not audited. The comparative information for the year to 31 March 2023 was not therefore audited.
## **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 for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
- the Report of the Trustees has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Page 9
## **Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **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 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 take advantage of the small companies exemption from the requirement to prepare a Strategic Report or in preparing 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 10
## **Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **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:
In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non compliance with laws and regulations, we considered the following:
1. The nature of the entity and sector, control environment and performance
2. Key drivers for the remuneration policies of Key employee's remuneration, bonus levels and performance targets
3. Enquiries with management about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities.
4. The matters discussed among the audit team regarding how and where fraud might occur and fraud indicators.
In common with all audits under ISA's (UK), we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override. The assessment of the risk of fraud in terms of misappropriation of assets highlighted fraudulent payments as a focus area.
In addition we considered the legal and regulatory framework that the company operates in, focusing on provisions of these law and regulations that had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Key laws considered include the UK Companies Act and the Charities Act.
## **Audit response to risks identified:**
Standard procedures were pursued to test management override including the review of year end journals and whether the judgments made in making accounting estimates are indicative of potential bias.
To cover the assessed risks in relation to fraudulent payments, we ensure that transactions are conducted in line with the company's authority matrix, together with a review of expenses in the statement of financial activity to ensure that they are genuine business expenses. We also perform analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationship that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud.
We remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance throughout the entire audit process.
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.
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## **Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **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.
Colin Airey FCCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of George Hay Partnership LLP Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor Brigham House High Street Biggleswade Bedfordshire SG18 0LD
Date: .............................................
Page 12
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
|Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
3
5,150
**Charitable activities**
5
General Advice
152,500
Debt Advice
-
Benefits & Welfare
16,548
Energy Advice
-
Food Advice
-
Investment income
4
1,026
**Total**
175,224
**EXPENDITURE ON**
**Charitable activities**
6
General Advice
73,456
Debt Advice
-
Benefits & Welfare
-
Energy Advice
-
Food Advice
-
**Total**
73,456
**NET INCOME**
101,768
**Transfers between funds**
18
(20,890)
**Net movement in funds**
80,878
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
293,734
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
374,612|Restricted
funds
£
-
24,842
264,012
89,954
50,000
37,954
-
466,762
28,493
263,481
108,712
4,721
39,340
444,747
22,015
20,890
42,905
27,030
69,935|2023
Total
funds
£
5,150
177,342
264,012
106,502
50,000
37,954
1,026
641,986
101,949
263,481
108,712
4,721
39,340
518,203
123,783
-
123,783
320,764
444,547|2022
Total
funds
£
126
192,572
219,184
111,715
-
-
1,083|
|---|---|---|---|
||||524,680|
||||255,539
167,916
91,422
-
-|
||||514,877|
||||9,803
-|
||||9,803
310,961|
||||320,764|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 13
The 8gdfor(l and Dlstrlct Clltrens Ad¥l¢•
Balance S?et
31 March 2023
2023
Total
funds
2022
Totsl
funds
funds
funds
FIXED ASSETS
Tangib assets
13
42,418
42.418
2,913
CURREKf ASSETS
Debtors
Investments
Cash al bank and in hand
14
15
28.294
93.022
28,294
93,022
352,471
66,709
91,820
229,984
69.935
69.935
473,787
388,513
CREDITORS
Amounts falling thje wthin one ye
16
(71.658)
171,6581
(70.6621
NET CURRENT ASSErs
332,194
69,935
402,129
317.851
TOTAL ASSET3 LE88 CURRENT
LIABILMES
374.612
69,935
444,547
320.764
NET ASSErs
374.612
69,935
444,547
320,764
FUNDS
UnstrICted funds
Rg$lrlcted fijnds
18
374,612
69,935
293,734
27,030
TOTAL FUNDS
444.547
320.764
These financial stal6m&nts have b8èn wepared bn aeeA)rdanc8 with Iho PfOVbSW)ns apF4lcabl8 lo charilab
¢ompanies wbjecl io the small ¢))mpanies regmè.
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Pag• 14
## **The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Balance Sheet 31 March 2023**
|Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
13
42,418
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors
14
28,294
Investments
15
93,022
Cash at bank and in hand
282,536
403,852
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
16
(71,658)
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
332,194
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**
374,612
**NET ASSETS**
374,612
**FUNDS**
18
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
69,935
69,935
-
69,935
69,935
69,935|2023
Total
funds
£
42,418
28,294
93,022
352,471
473,787
(71,658)
402,129
444,547
444,547
374,612
69,935
444,547|2022
Total
funds
£
2,913
66,709
91,820
229,984
388,513
(70,662)
317,851
320,764
320,764
293,734
27,030
320,764|
|---|---|---|---|
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 ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by:
............................................. Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 14
## **The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
|**Cash Flow Statement**
**for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
2023
Notes
£
**Cash flows from operating activities**
Cash generated from operations
1
171,244
Net cash provided by operating activities
171,244
**Cash flows from investing activities**
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
(48,581)
Movement in short term investment
(1,202)
Interest received
1,026
Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities
(48,757)
**Change in cash and cash equivalents**
**in the reporting period**
122,487
**Cash and cash equivalents at the**
**beginning of the reporting period**
229,984
**Cash and cash equivalents at the end**
**of the reporting period**
352,471|2022
£
2,170|
|---|---|
||2,170|
||-
53,871
1,083|
||54,954|
|||
||57,124
172,860|
||229,984|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 15
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Notes to the Cash Flow Statement for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
|**1.**|**RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES**|**RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES**|**RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES**|**RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES**|**RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||2023|2022|
|||||£|£|
||**Net income for the reporting period (as per the Statement of**|||||
||**Financial Activities)**|||123,783|9,803|
||**Adjustments for:**|||||
||Depreciation charges|||9,076|1,788|
||Interest received|||(1,026)|(1,083)|
||Decrease/(increase) in debtors|||38,415|(25,932)|
||Increase in creditors|||996|17,594|
||**Net cash provided by operations**|||171,244|2,170|
|**2.**|**ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET FUNDS**|||||
|||At|1.4.22|Cash flow|At 31.3.23|
||||£|£|£|
||**Net cash**|||||
||Cash at bank and in hand|229,984||122,487|352,471|
|||229,984||122,487|352,471|
||**Liquid resources**|||||
||Deposits included in cash||-|-|-|
||Current asset investments|91,820||1,202|93,022|
|||91,820||1,202|93,022|
||**Total**|321,804||123,689|445,493|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 16
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **1. CHARITABLE COMPANY INFORMATION**
The Bedford and District Citizens Advice Bureau is a private limited charitable company, limited by guarantee, by not having share capital incorporated and domiciled in England and Wales. The registered office is 8 Harpur Centre, Bedford, MK40 1TP and the company registration number is: 05190146.
The financial statements are prepared in Sterling and rounded to the nearest £1.
## **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.
The Bedford and District Citizens Advice Bureau meets the definition of a public benefit under FRS102.
## **Going Concern**
After making further appropriate enquiries, together with reserves and expenditure control, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the twelve months from the date of signing this report. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.
## **Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty**
In preparing the Financial Statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions which affect reported income, expenses, assets, liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Use of available information and application of judgement are inherent in the formation of estimates, together with expectations of future events that are
believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results in the future could differ from such estimates.
## Judgements
Impairment testing is carried out for all tangible assets at the year end date where there is an indication that impairment exists. For the purposes of impairment testing, the carrying amounts of the tangible assets are reviewed and an impairment
loss is recognised where the carrying amounts exceed the assets recoverable amount.
## Estimates
Depreciation methods, useful lives and residual values are reviewed at each balance sheet date. The gain or loss arising on the disposal or retirement of an item of property, plant and equipment is determined as the difference between the sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the assets and is recognised in Statement of Financial Activities.
The directors consider that there are no significant areas of key judgement or estimation uncertainty other than those identified in the accounting policies above.
## **Income**
All income is included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the funds and the amount can be measured with reasonable certainty. Income is deferred only when the charity has to fulfil conditions before becoming entitled to it or where the donor has specified that the income is to be expended in a future period.
Page 17
continued...
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued**
## **Income**
Voluntary income is received by way of grants, donations and gifts, including gift aid income where applicable, and is included in full in the statement of financial activities when receivable. Income from government and other grants, where related to performance and specific deliverables, are accounted for when it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.
Donated services and facilities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified and is material. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included in these accounts.
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the company; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the Bank.
## **Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.
Expenditure on raising funds; comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income. Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. The primary functional activity of the charity is the giving of free and confidential advice to the public. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to this activity and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Support costs include all those overhead costs of office and bureau accommodation, utility services, and other services and costs, which are in support of the activity. They also include those costs not associated with the other two headings and includes costs of meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity, the audit fees and costs linked to the strategic
management of the charity. They have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources.i.e, by time spent.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Improvements to property - 20% on cost Computer equipment - 33% on cost
All assets individually or paid for as one invoice, costing £1,000 or more are capitalised
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
## **Fund accounting**
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the company and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds reserved by the trustees for particular purposes or if there are funds not easily available for use in liquidity terms.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the company for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statement
Page 18
continued...
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued**
## **Debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued a t the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
## **Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
## **Creditors**
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
## **3. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES**
|Donations
**4.**
**INVESTMENT INCOME**
Deposit account interest
**5.**
**INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**
Activity
Bedford Borough Council -
Core Contract
General Advice
Universal Credit Support
-Help to claim
General Advice
Other Grants
General Advice
Bedford Borough Council-
Homeless Prevention
General Advice
Money and Pensions
Service
Debt Advice
House of Industry- Debt
Housing
Debt Advice
Bedford Borough Council-
Welfare Benefits
Benefits & Welfare
The Harpur Trust
Benefits & Welfare
Benefits Advice Service
Benefits & Welfare
Energy Advisor
Energy Advice
Trussell Trust
Food Advice|2023
£
5,150
2023
£
1,026
2023
£
152,500
(5,158)
-
30,000
157,797
106,215
40,005
49,949
16,548
50,000
37,954
635,810|2022
£
126
2022
£
1,083
2022
£
152,500
24,487
15,585
-
146,143
73,041
40,005
54,000
17,710
-
-|2022
£
126|
|---|---|---|---|
||||2022
£
1,083|
|||523,471||
Page 19
continued...
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **6. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS**
|**CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|General Advice
Debt Advice
Benefits & Welfare
Energy Advice
Food Advice|Direct
Costs
£
8,002
106,594
49,004
1,405
17,566
182,571|Support
costs (see
note 7)
£
93,947
156,887
59,708
3,316
21,774
335,632|Totals
£
101,949
263,481
108,712
4,721
39,340|
||||518,203|
## **7. SUPPORT COSTS**
|Governance
Management
costs
£
£
General Advice
83,430
10,517
Debt Advice
154,591
2,296
Benefits & Welfare
58,898
810
Energy Advice
3,282
34
Food Advice
20,931
843
321,132
14,500
Support costs are allocated on the basis of labour hours.
Support costs, included in the above, are as follows:
General
Debt
Advice
Advice
£
£
Wages and salaries
48,316
95,476
Premises costs
11,336
22,399
Office costs
17,078
35,285
Other costs
43
89
Staff and volunteer
6,657
1,342
Governance costs
10,517
2,296
93,947
156,887
2023
Energy
Food
Total
Advice
Advice
activities
£
£
£
Wages and salaries
2,155
14,945
198,417
Premises costs
181
755
42,012
Office costs
896
5,027
71,759
Other costs
-
18
184
Staff and volunteer
50
186
8,760
Governance costs
34
843
14,500
3,316
21,774
335,632|Totals
£
93,947
156,887
59,708
3,316
21,774
335,632
Benefits
& Welfare
£
37,525
7,341
13,473
34
525
810
59,708
2022
Total
activities
£
79,650
41,327
48,680
1,730
9,645
8,592
189,624|
|---|---|
Page 20
continued...
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **8. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):
||2023|2022|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Depreciation - owned assets|9,076|1,788|
|Operating lease|18,019|36,942|
|Independent examiner's remuneration|-|3,000|
|Auditor's remuneration|9,600|-|
## **9. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
During the current or previous year no remuneration or benefits for services as a director/trustee have been paid or were payable, directly or indirectly, out of the funds of the charity to any trustee or to any person known to be connected with them.
## **Trustees' expenses**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2023 nor for the year ended 31 March 2022.
Reimbursement of travel and incidental expenses to the trustees came to £NlL during the year to 31 March 2023, (2021/22: £37 paid to one trustee). Trustees’ expenses related to costs of Trustees’ meetings including the AGM totalled £Nil (2021/22: £NIL).
## **10. EMPLOYEES**
|Wages and salaries
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
Advice workers and support staff
Key management personnel|2023
£
379,219
379,219
2023
13
4
17|2022
£
381,535|
|---|---|---|
|||381,535|
|||2022
13
4
17|
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
The key management personnel of the Charity comprise the Chief Executive Officer and Service Delivery Managers (2021/22: Chief Executive Officer, Deputy Chief Executive and Service Delivery Managers). The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the Charity were £81,612 (2021/22:£102,645).
Page 21
continued...
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
|**11.**
**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
Unrestricted
funds
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
126
**Charitable activities**
General Advice
153,085
Debt Advice
-
Benefits & Welfare
17,710
Investment income
1,083
**Total**
172,004
**EXPENDITURE ON**
**Charitable activities**
General Advice
214,372
Debt Advice
-
Benefits & Welfare
-
**Total**
214,372
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
(42,368)
**Transfers between funds**
121,447
**Net movement in funds**
79,079
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
214,655
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
293,734|Restricted
funds
£
-
39,487
219,184
94,005
-
352,676
41,167
167,916
91,422
300,505
52,171
(121,447)
(69,276)
96,306
27,030|Total
funds
£
126
192,572
219,184
111,715
1,083|
|---|---|---|
|||524,680|
|||255,539
167,916
91,422|
|||514,877|
|||9,803
-|
|||9,803
310,961|
|||320,764|
## **12. VOLUNTEERS**
The Charity receives help and support in the form of voluntary assistance in advising the public and administering the Charity. As at 31 March 2023, we had 13 volunteers and are actively recruiting more. We will continue to develop ways to engage and maintain new volunteer numbers. The Trustee Board and Senior Management Team recognise the invaluable contribution made by our volunteers without whom the service could not operate. In accordance with FRS 102 and the Charities SORP, the economic contribution of volunteers is not recognised in the financial statements.
Page 22
continued...
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **13. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
|Improvements
to
Computer
property
equipment
£
£
**COST**
At 1 April 2022
-
5,365
Additions
48,581
-
At 31 March 2023
48,581
5,365
**DEPRECIATION**
At 1 April 2022
-
2,452
Charge for year
7,287
1,789
At 31 March 2023
7,287
4,241
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 31 March 2023
41,294
1,124
At 31 March 2022
-
2,913
**14.**
**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
2023
£
Trade debtors
-
Other debtors
-
Accrued income
27,000
Prepayments
1,294
28,294
**15.**
**CURRENT ASSET INVESTMENTS**
2023
£
Short term investment deposits
93,022
**16.**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
2023
£
Trade creditors
7,636
Social security and other taxes
7,160
Other creditors
6,762
Deferred income
30,000
Accrued expenses
20,100
71,658||Totals
£
5,365
48,581|
|---|---|---|
|||53,946|
|||2,452
9,076|
|||11,528|
|||42,418|
|||2,913|
|||2022
£
38,125
101
27,177
1,306|
|||66,709|
|||2022
£
91,820|
|||2022
£
2,735
7,125
-
33,289
27,513|
|||70,662|
Deferred income comprises of income received for the following projects for which performance is expected in the following year or else to be returned to funder.
Page 23
continued...
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **17. LEASING AGREEMENTS**
Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases fall due as follows:
|Within one year
Between one and five years|2023
£
27,081
75,663
102,744|2022
£
16,833
95,064|
|---|---|---|
|||111,897|
## **18. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
Benefits Advice Service
Designated Funds:Reserve policy
**Restricted funds**
Universal Credit - Help to Claim
Money and Pension Service
House of Industry
Bedford Borough Welfare Benefits
The Harpur Trust
Trussell Trust
Homeless Prevention
Energy Advisor
**TOTAL FUNDS**|At 1.4.22
£
165,988
-
127,746
293,734
-
-
-
-
27,030
-
-
-
27,030
320,764|Net
movement
in funds
£
85,220
16,548
-
101,768
(5,158)
14,877
(14,346)
7,098
(25,856)
(1,386)
1,507
45,279
22,015
123,783|Transfers
between
funds
£
(62,892)
-
42,002
(20,890)
5,158
-
14,346
-
-
1,386
-
-
20,890
-|At
31.3.23
£
188,316
16,548
169,748|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||374,612
-
14,877
-
7,098
1,174
-
1,507
45,279|
|||||69,935|
|||||444,547|
Page 24
continued...
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **18. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
Benefits Advice Service
**Restricted funds**
Universal Credit - Help to Claim
Money and Pension Service
House of Industry
Bedford Borough Welfare Benefits
The Harpur Trust
Trussell Trust
Homeless Prevention
Energy Advisor
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Incoming
resources
£
158,676
16,548
175,224
(5,158)
157,797
106,215
40,005
49,949
37,954
30,000
50,000
466,762
641,986|Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(73,456)
85,220
-
16,548
(73,456)
101,768
-
(5,158)
(142,920)
14,877
(120,561)
(14,346)
(32,907)
7,098
(75,805)
(25,856)
(39,340)
(1,386)
(28,493)
1,507
(4,721)
45,279
(444,747)
22,015
(518,203)
123,783|
|---|---|---|
## **Comparatives for movement in funds**
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
Benefits Advice Service
Other
Designated Funds:Reserve policy
**Restricted funds**
Universal Credit - Help to Claim
Money and Pension Service
House of Industry
Bedford Borough Welfare Benefits
The Harpur Trust
Other
**TOTAL FUNDS**|At 1.4.21
£
69,735
-
-
144,920
214,655
40,472
-
42,055
(10,084)
22,563
1,300
96,306
310,961|Net
movement
in funds
£
(60,663)
17,710
585
-
(42,368)
-
32,914
18,354
(1,884)
4,467
(1,680)
52,171
9,803|Transfers
between
funds
£
156,916
(17,710)
(585)
(17,174)
121,447
(40,472)
(32,914)
(60,409)
11,968
-
380
(121,447)
-|At
31.3.22
£
165,988
-
-
127,746|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||293,734
-
-
-
-
27,030
-|
|||||27,030|
|||||320,764|
Page 25
continued...
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **18. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
||Incoming|Resources|Movement|
|---|---|---|---|
||resources|expended|in funds|
||£|£|£|
|**Unrestricted funds**||||
|General fund|153,709|(214,372)|(60,663)|
|Benefits Advice Service|17,710|-|17,710|
|Other|585|-|585|
||172,004|(214,372)|(42,368)|
|**Restricted funds**||||
|Universal Credit - Help to Claim|24,487|(24,487)|-|
|Money and Pension Service|146,143|(113,229)|32,914|
|House of Industry|73,041|(54,687)|18,354|
|Bedford Borough Welfare Benefits|40,005|(41,889)|(1,884)|
|The Harpur Trust|54,000|(49,533)|4,467|
|Other|15,000|(16,680)|(1,680)|
||352,676|(300,505)|52,171|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|524,680|(514,877)|9,803|
## **Designated Funds**
There is a new designated fund of £169,748 to match the reserves policy of 3 months' budgeted operating costs (2021/22:£127,746).
## **Restricted Funds**
**Universal Credit** - Help to Claim: Citizens Advice nationally has contracted with Citizens Advice Bedford to assist people to make a new claim for Universal Credit, from assessment of eligibility for the benefit up to receipt of their first payment.This service is funded until 31 March 2023.
**Money and Pensions Service** : Citizens Advice nationally has contracted with Citizens Advice Bedford to provide specialist debt advice and support to clients who reside in Bedford Borough. This service is funded until 31March 2025.
**House of Industry:** Specialist debt advice for people at risk of becoming homeless. This service is currently funded until 31March 2025.
**Bedford Borough Welfare Benefits:** To provide specialist welfare benefit advice to clients of Bedford Borough Social Services clients. This service is currently funded until 31 March 2024.
**The Harpur Trust** : To provide for a specialist Welfare Benefits advisor. This service is currently funded until 31 March 2026
**The Trussell Trust.** Two year partnership with food bank operating within the Borough.
**Energy Advisor.** Two years funding from the Climate Change Fund starting January 2023
**Homeless Prevention** One off 18 Month contract to 30 September 2022
## **Transfers between funds**
Funds transferred into unrestricted funds from restricted funds represent funds not expected to be repaid and therefore no longer restricted.
Page 26
continued...
**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **19. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS**
There is a defined contribution pension scheme for employees. The basis for allocating the employer expense between activities is based on the salary cost of staff working on that activity. The CAB automatically enrols eligible job holders into a qualifying scheme in accordance with pensions legislation. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an independently administered fund. The fund is a Group Personal Pension Scheme with Standard Life. The pension cost charge for the year represents contributions payable by the charitable company to the fund and amounted to £9,092 (2021/22: £10,017).The cost of the pension is allocated to each individual project within which an employee works. At the year-end £Nil was owed to the pension scheme (2021/22: £Nil).
## **20. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
Citizens Advice Bedford subscribes to the membership scheme of The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (Citizens Advice), the national charity (Charity Number: 279057) 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 of the Bureau in order to fulfil its charitable objects and comply with the national membership requirements.
During the 2022/23 financial year, payments were made to Citizens Advice to the value of £7,849 (2021/22: £8,510) in respect of subscriptions and sundries. Receipts from Citizens Advice for contracts and grant funding totalled £141,540 (2021/22: £170,630).
The charity also co-operates and liaises with a number of other advisory services, local charities and social services departments on behalf of clients. Where any of the Trustees holds the position of a Trustee/Director of another charity they would declare a conflict of interest and then may be involved in discussions regarding that other charity but not in the ultimate decision-making
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**The Bedford and District Citizens Advice**
## **Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**
**Donations and legacies**
Donations
**Investment income**
Deposit account interest
**Charitable activities**
Bedford Borough Council - Core Contract
Universal Credit Support -Help to claim
Other Grants
Money and Pensions Service
House of Industry- Debt Housing
Bedford Borough Council- Welfare Benefits
The Harpur Trust
Benefits Advice Service
Trussell Trust
Bedford Borough Council- Homeless
Prevention
Energy Advisor
**Total incoming resources**
**EXPENDITURE**
**Charitable activities**
Salaries and wages
Premises costs
Office costs
Other costs
Staff and volunteers
**Support costs**
**Management**
Wages and salaries
Premises costs
Office costs
Other costs
Staff and volunteer
**Governance costs**
Governance costs
Total resources expended
**Net income**|2023
£
5,150
1,026
152,500
(5,158)
-
157,797
106,215
40,005
49,949
16,548
37,954
30,000
50,000
635,810
641,986
180,802
-
1,071
(344)
1,042
182,571
198,417
42,012
71,759
184
8,760
321,132
14,500
518,203
123,783|2022
£
126
1,083
152,500
24,487
15,585
146,143
73,041
40,005
54,000
17,710
-
-
-|
|---|---|---|
|||523,471|
|||524,680
301,885
16,269
4,455
411
2,233|
|||325,253
79,650
41,327
48,680
1,730
9,645|
|||181,032
8,592|
|||514,877|
|||9,803|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
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