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← People First Dorset

2025-03-31-accounts

Company registration number: 05189356 Charity registration number: 1106963

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Chartered Accountants

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

CONTENTS

Reference and Administrative Details 1
Trustees' Report 2 to 11
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities 12
Independent Examiner's Report 13
Statement of Financial Activities 14
Balance Sheet 15
Notes to the Financial Statements 16 to 26

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Trustees Jeremy Howe, Chair
Laura Dunne
Deborah Holyer
Richard Maxfield
Paul St Quintin
Charity Registration Number 1106963
Company Registration Number 05189356
The charity is incorporated in England and Wales.
Registered Office 2 Herringston Barn
Herringston
DORCHESTER
Dorset
DT2 9PU
Principal Office 2 Herringston Barn
Herringston
DORCHESTER
Dorset
DT2 9PU
Independent Examiner Edwards and Keeping Limited
Unity Chambers
34 High East Street
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 1HA
Bankers The Co-operative Bank
CCLA Fund Managers Limited
CAF Bank Limited

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

TRUSTEES' REPORT

The Trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2025. The Trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report, are set out on page 1.

We welcome another opportunity to share in our Annual Report how we have continued to empower and enable adults with learning disabilities across Dorset.

People First Dorset has been able to use its established position of trust within our Dorset community and support individuals, notably where needs were less well served by mainstream provision, to keep individuals safe and well. This has predominantly been achieved through addressing beneficiaries’ social isolation, managing health and wellbeing, opportunities to speak up, community integration, developing confidence and independent living skills, and addressing inequalities and individual concerns at an early stage.

Structure and membership

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee (05189356), incorporated on 26 July 2004, and registered as a charity (1106963) on 24 November 2004 as Dorset People First. The name was changed to People First Dorset on 20 March 2014.

The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which sets out the objects of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. The company updated its Memorandum of Association in September 2018. Under the Articles, the Directors are re-elected or elected at the AGM each year and there must always be a minimum of 3 directors.

The liability of members is limited to a sum not exceeding £1, being the amount that each member undertakes to contributes to the assets of the charity in the event of it being wound up while he, she or it is a member or within one year after he, she or it ceases to be a member.

Anyone with a learning disability can apply to become a member of the charity, People First Dorset. Members of the People First Dorset charity are entitled to vote at AGM meetings.

We invite carers, professionals, and organisations to join us as 'charity members' and contribute to our mission, while our ‘members’ are beneficiaries are people with learning disabilities who attend our activities and benefit directly from our services.

Objectives and activities (Articles of Association)

The company is a charity and exists to promote any charity purpose (including the promotion of education and social inclusion) for the benefit of individuals with learning disabilities (“Individuals”) assisting these Individuals to integrate into society, in particular (but not exclusively) by:

(1) enabling Individuals to be self-advocates providing workshops, forums and general support,

(2) providing local support groups that encourage and enable Individuals to integrate and participate more effectively with the wider community and build confidence in themselves;

(3) enabling and supporting Individuals to learn new skills that will assist them in progressing towards a more independent and full life, participating more effectively with the wider community and improving their health and wellbeing,

(4) providing social and educational opportunities for Individuals within the community which promote social inclusion and independence,

(5) increasing, or co-ordinating, opportunities for Individuals to engage better with the bodies which provide any services that Individuals use and to enable those providers to better meet the needs of Individuals,

(6) raising public awareness of the issues affecting Individuals, both generally and in relation to their social exclusion, and

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

TRUSTEES' REPORT

(7) offering guidance, support and assistance to the families and supporters of Individuals in relation to the care and support of Individuals (to the extent that it benefits the Individual).

People First Dorset - what we do

People First Dorset is a ‘self-advocacy’ organisation, led and run by people with learning disabilities, with support from staff and volunteers. We develop self-advocacy in three stages. It starts by coming together at our Friendship Club events; individuals then tend to join one of our Speaking Up Groups, and finally come together to lead change through our developing Action Groups. Our mission is to support people learning disabilities to be independent, have their voices heard and to be included in community life. Anyone with a learning disability is welcome to join our activities, which are currently aimed at adults with a learning disability.

Governance at People First Dorset

Our governance structure remained strong, with a Board of 7 Trustees, reducing to 5 at the AGM, meeting every 6-8 weeks (including an individual with a learning disability) and a Management Committee of 8 elected individuals with learning disabilities. Together, these bodies oversaw our strategy and operations, ensuring that our work remained member-led and inclusive. With the support of a dedicated Trustee, the Management Committee met monthly to review and discuss current projects, as well as plan for the future.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Hazel Morgan and Graham Waters for their contributions to the board of People First Dorset.

Our Trustees and Management Committee have provided vital leadership and oversight through a challenging year.

Board of Trustees

Over the past year, the Board of Trustees have:

• Made difficult decisions in response to reduced income, including authorising a number of staff redundancies.

• Ensured the charity remained sustainable through careful financial management - with minimal impact on members, thanks to many departing staff continuing to volunteer and maintain services.

• Supported the remaining staff to manage workloads and continue delivering services with a significantly reduced team.

Management Committee

Over the past year, the Management Committee (MC) has:

• Continued to engage with members through ‘Talk to the MC’ sessions and a feedback board at Friendship Club and Speaking Up events - helping us understand which activities are most popular and what new activities members would like to see.

• Written to Dorset Council to raise concerns about local bus services, and plan to meet with representatives once their consultation is complete.

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

TRUSTEES' REPORT

• Agreed that ongoing work stemming from the Social Finance report is essential to the long-term success of the charity.

Key Challenges Affecting Members

Throughout the past year, our members have faced several significant challenges that have shaped our service priorities and response strategies.

Benefits System

The transition to Universal Credit has created substantial difficulties for many members, with unanticipated consequences including the loss of additional benefits previously received. Members requiring multi-agency support across housing, health, and employment have found the complex assessment processes and extensive online-only documentation particularly challenging to navigate. This complexity has also created additional pressure for parents and carers supporting our members.

While we have facilitated access to Citizens Advice services, even these specialist advisors have encountered difficulties with the more complex cases affecting our membership. This highlights the vulnerability of people with learning disabilities within current benefit system changes.

Health Service Access and Advocacy

Several members experienced significant health challenges during the year. Although appropriate referrals were made to relevant services, our staff conducted extensive follow-up work in at least two cases to ensure members received necessary support, demonstrating the ongoing need for advocacy within healthcare systems.

Organisational resilience and activity continuation

Despite operating with reduced staffing levels, the impact on members has been minimised through the dedication of many former staff members who continued contributing as volunteers. This commitment has enabled us to maintain core activities in areas of highest demand. Additionally, one staff member independently established a social club for local members in their area, helping sustain community engagement while maintaining our connection with participants.

Digital exclusion and financial access

We have observed a notable increase in members affected by scams and digital crime, coinciding with an widening digital divide as cashless payment systems become increasingly prevalent. Many local facilities including cafés, pubs, and hotels now refuse cash payments, creating additional barriers for members who do not use payment cards. This situation is exemplified by one of the town's few accessible cafés - featuring wheelchair-friendly facilities - that no longer accepts cash, effectively excluding many of our members from using the service.

Strategic response and adaptations

In response to these challenges, we have strategically refocused our programming to address members' most pressing needs through three core approaches:

a) Community connections:

Supporting members to maintain and develop social connections within their local communities, recognising the fundamental importance of social inclusion for wellbeing.

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

TRUSTEES' REPORT

b) Health and wellbeing:

Delivering physically active events and programmes that promote both physical and mental health outcomes for participants.

c) Practical life skills development:

Equipping members with essential capabilities through targeted workshops covering budgeting and money management, Speaking Up groups that build self-advocacy skills, and comprehensive signposting to relevant specialist support services.

Our team maintains regular communication with members, actively listening to their concerns and responding with swift, creative, and compassionate support tailored to individual and community needs.

Activities Overview: Achievements and Performance

Our dedicated and talented staff team continued their commitment to supporting members throughout the year, adapting services to meet evolving needs while maintaining programme quality and accessibility.

Core Programme Delivery

Friendship Club: Our flagship project maintained its exceptional popularity, with full resumption of regular programming including the beloved disco events and community social evenings, all consistently well-attended and creating opportunities for joy and connection.

Big Night Out: Our bi-annual nightclub event in Bournemouth, delivered in partnership with People First Forum, successfully returned with approximately 400 attendees with learning disabilities, demonstrating the continued demand for inclusive social opportunities and the power of collaborative working.

Speaking Up Groups: We delivered an average of six Speaking Up groups monthly across Dorset, maintaining our responsive approach by listening carefully to members' concerns - which vary significantly across different county locations and group demographics - and developing targeted activities and workshops to explore, understand, and take action on identified priority issues. This programming reflects our continued commitment to member-led service development, ensuring our activities remain relevant, accessible, and impactful in supporting people with learning disabilities across our communities.

Activities - overview of achievements and performance

Our talented and committed staff continued to work hard during the last year to support members. Activities considered to be restricted projects are shown in more detail on page 24 and unrestricted activities on page 24.

Our biggest project, the Friendship Club, continued to be extremely popular. Discos were back in full swing, as was Big Night Out (our bi-annual nightclubbing event in Bournemouth, run with People First Forum, and an attendance of around 400 people with learning disabilities), and the regular social evenings out in the local community were ever well attended and fun.

We ran, on average, 6 Speaking Up groups each month across Dorset . The team listened to members, to find out their pressing concerns, which vary considerably across the county with different groups, and responded with activities and workshops to better understand, explore and take action in these areas.

Friendship Club and Speaking Up Projects: Annual Programme Overview

Throughout the year, our Friendship Club and Speaking Up projects delivered targeted support across multiple areas, responding directly to feedback from members who identified these topics as priorities requiring information, discussion, and practical assistance.

Financial Security and Awareness

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

TRUSTEES' REPORT

Benefits Support: We provided ongoing guidance on current benefit issues affecting members, including updates on government and DWP policy changes. Our approach includes signposting to CAB or social care, and follow-up support to ensure members received appropriate assistance.

Scam Prevention: Our anti-fraud programme helped members understand and recognise various scam types through interactive workshops with engaging, educational quizzes. Case Study: We supported a member who had been unknowingly giving away vouchers as part of a scam. Our team worked with them using accessible communication methods to help them understand the situation, develop confidence in recognising future scams, and share their learning with other members.

Money Management: Addressing the ongoing need for financial literacy support, we partnered with Southampton University to deliver co-designed workshops led by members themselves. These sessions focused on practical money management skills and budgeting techniques using engaging role-play, games, and other interactive methods to ensure accessibility and engagement.

Communication and Social Skills

Speaking Up: We delivered focused training on communication skills, helping members develop confidence in raising concerns and communicating effectively with peers.

Friendship Development: Beyond our regular group support, we provided targeted workshops and individual conversations which enabled members to develop, manage, and sustain friendships, offering bespoke support as needed.

Managing Online: We addressed members' struggles with online communication breakdowns and conflicts through individual support and group discussions. This area has been identified as an increasing priority for expanded programming in the coming year. Notably difficulties with breakdown in communications using social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp and other online groups.

Health and Wellbeing

Mental health support: Thanks to funding from NHS funding administered by Dorset Community Foundation, we delivered comprehensive wellbeing workshops featuring interactive activities on mental health awareness, recognising warning signs, accessing help, and implementing home-based wellbeing strategies. We partnered with Access Wellbeing to provide members with direct experience of Weymouth's wellbeing hub services. Whilst these groups were popular, the learning was that, to best support members mental health and wellbeing, that activities to prioritise this are best incorporated into the main activities of Friendship Club and Speaking Up.

Physical health management: We maintained our focus on preventive healthcare, encouraging flu and COVID vaccinations, annual health checks, and early intervention for emerging health concerns. Case Study: We provided ongoing advocacy for a member during their hospital admission and deteriorating health, following up consistently and raising concerns when improvement was not evident. Case Study: We successfully signposted two members to become Oliver McGowan trainers, who now deliver regular educational sessions to hospital and social care staff.

Physical activity: Recognising the importance of staying active, we integrated movement into as many sessions as possible. Summer programmes included outdoor games, football, cricket, outdoor gym sessions, activity centres, beach activities, and walks. Winter programming featured discos, walks, and educational history tours.

Healthy eating: Responding to significant member interest and weight management concerns, we provided educational talks, interactive quizzes, and workshops delivered in partnership with Dorset Healthcare to broaden understanding of nutritional principles and practical healthy eating strategies.

Emotional regulation: We worked with members individually and in groups to develop strategies for managing difficult emotions, particularly in challenging moments. Peer support and strategy sharing proved particularly valuable, and this remains a priority area for programme expansion.

Safety, online, bullying

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

TRUSTEES' REPORT

Online safety: We assessed members' existing digital knowledge and delivered practical workshops providing essential tips and safety advice for internet use.

Anti-Bullying support: We provided peer group support for members who experienced bullying, offering guidance on management strategies, reporting procedures, and hate crime identification, with appropriate individual signposting as needed.

Community Participation and Rights

Civic engagement: Our voting education support covered the electoral system at Speaking Up events, including the importance of voting, candidate evaluation skills, decision-making processes, and accessibility features including easy-read manifestos, registration procedures, and proxy voting options.

Accessibility advocacy: Members participated actively in the Dorchester Access Group, attending meetings and conducting community assessments of access barriers. We addressed practical accessibility challenges, such as the growing number of cashless businesses that exclude members who rely on cash payments, including accessible venues that paradoxically cannot serve disabled customers. Members successfully advocated for infrastructure improvements, including writing to local MPs about train station closure threats - resulting in refurbishment rather than closure.

Employment and volunteering: We provided practical sessions on volunteering opportunities, connected members with relevant organisations, and facilitated peer sharing of volunteering experiences. Programming linked volunteering experience to potential employment pathways.

Relationship Support

Healthy relationships: While not providing dating services, we recognised that many members form relationships through our events. We offered confidential support for relationship challenges, including boundary-setting guidance for members with limited prior experience. Our approach emphasised listening, supporting autonomous decision-making, encouraging use of trusted networks, and signposting to specialist services when intensive support was required. Programming included interactive educational activities using matching games to distinguish healthy and unhealthy relationship and friendship patterns.

Transport accessibility: Events focused in understanding members' transport concerns, addressing public transport challenges, rural access issues, bus timetable comprehension, train accessibility, and specific requirements such as mobility scooter bus access and certification processes.

This comprehensive programme demonstrates our commitment to responsive, member-led programming that addresses real-world challenges while building individual capacity and community connection. Other Friendship Club activities included art nights, pub nights, games, quizzes and discos. The monthly online group remained popular for a group of members, with activities ranging from bingo to financial skills workshops.

We also continued to offer our Easy Read service, where information is put into an accessible format, so people with learning disabilities can read and understand it.

The number of sessions held over the last accounting year, as well as the number of attendees, and number of magazines sent is as follows: -

We ran 101 events between 1st April 2024 and 31st March 2025

Of these 18 were online, 22 were Speaking Up, 51 were Friendship Club, and 10 were bespoke workshops

Total number of attendances was 943 at FC, 253 at Speaking Up, 180 online Total number of individual members regularly attending: 157 Total number of individual members regularly attending Speaking Up: 67

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

TRUSTEES' REPORT

Other outcomes

• We were pleased to support two members to attend the launch of the ‘Independent Advocacy for Independent Lives’ report, hosted by MP Liam Conlan, at the Houses of Parliament in February 2025. This report was the result of a thorough 3-year independent review, carried out by Social Finance who were commissioned by Henry Smith Charity, to independently evaluate 14 groups similar to People First Dorset, across the UK. A key finding was that for every £1 spent on our work, that £12 savings are created to health and social care budgets. One of our members Kerry Martin, sat on a panel, to discuss the report findings.

• These two members have continued their work, linking with another two self-advocates at the London briefing, to create MAKE (their initials) and continue a conversation with Liam Conlon regarding ensuring that these findings are taken forward, and to help address some of the systemic barriers that create the very inequalities that our members experience on the ground.

• Thanks to Sport England, we ran several sports activities at community sports clubs and centres, enabling members to try their hand at a range of sports they identified. This gave members a chance to try sports they otherwise would find extremely difficult to take part in and develop links with these venues to establish how individuals can continue to take part in a particular activity.

• We stepped down from events in North Dorset, aside from the Christmas meal, due to difficulties with members being able to attend due to rurality and provider staffing issues

• Connect, our accessible booklet listing activities and updates, continued to be produced bi-monthly and circulated by post, email or on social media to over 300 people with learning disabilities’, and circulated by email to a further 200 plus stakeholders.

• We continued to ensure the voices of members were heard and valued in a number of boards, notably the Health Action Group, Learning Disability Partnership Board and Dorset Healthcare Engagement Forum. Updates include

• Three members co-wrote a children’s book ‘Not Lost’ based on a local cat Susie, who has over 10,000 followers on Facebook, and who likes to explore Dorchester. Over 1000 copies have been sold, raising funds for PFD and raising awareness of people with a learning disability.

• Three members continued to write a weekly column in the local newspaper, the Dorset Echo, now having written over 560 consecutive columns over the last 10 years.

• We are meeting regularly with providers to create better outcomes for individuals - in turn creating a provider network that is meeting regularly

Other groups, projects and research

We receive many requests to take part in interesting and important research, projects, panels, workshops etc. Although we are sadly unable to do them all, we are pleased that this year we have - been able to take part in the following:

a) Manchester Metropolitan University Older People’s Research -one of our colleagues with a learning disability was employed to sit on two Steering Groups in this research project, which aims to find out how people with learning disabilities can be better supported when they grow older.

b) Warwick University Medication Support Interventions Research - one of our colleagues with a learning disability sat on the Project Advisory Group of this research which seeks to advance knowledge in helping people with learning disabilities and/or their carers to benefit from medication they need while minimising unintended effects from these treatments.

Challenges over the last year

Charity - The past year also presented significant challenges for People First Dorset like many charities due to financial constraints, resulting in a reduction of our team. Despite these difficulties, we were still able to continue all planned activities for members and remain committed in our mission to empower individuals with learning disabilities.

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

TRUSTEES' REPORT

Sector- members more likely to have moved out of larger homes and into smaller accommodation, making it more difficult to have access to transport in evenings, and the ability to attend events. Also, for those living in supported accommodation with others, also reliant on transport. Others living in group homes, reduced support in evenings means that if anyone in the home does not want to attend events, then all must stay as not possible for others to get there.

Strengthening the charity

The team continued to work hard to ensure the core of the charity remains strong and robust, reviewing policies, systems and best practice at every level of the organisation. This included:

Collaboration and networking

We have continued to closely collaborate and partner with several local organisations such as the Local Authority, NHS Dorset, Dorset Healthcare, Dorset County Hospital, the Volunteer Centre, providers, local businesses and many others. These relationships are vital, enabling us to improve services, share outcomes and ideas.

We have continued to link, thanks to organisations like Learning Disability England, with many other self-advocacy organisations around the country to find out how they are managing and sharing best practice.

What we have learnt this year.

  1. Continually listening to members and their changing needs is imperative in being able to offer effective activities and solutions.

  2. That continued support continues to be essential, enabling individuals to speak up at an early stage, enabling support to kick in quickly and preventing any crisis.

  3. With the right support members are resilient.

  4. That it is important to work with others to trial solutions for harder to reach people i.e. people with profound and multiple learning disabilities

  5. That the cost-of-living crisis and changes to benefits continue to adversely impact our members, but individuals have managed by speaking up about their concerns, in turn enabling us to provide activities and support to meet their most pressing needs.

  6. 9 -

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

TRUSTEES' REPORT

  1. That members are still facing many inequalities, and with funding more competitive to secure for PFD, a cost-of-living crisis, it is even more imperative that we continue to support individuals to be resilient and work collectively with other organisations to deliver cost effective, sustainable and robust solutions.

  2. That it is still very hard for people with learning disabilities to understand information, such as deciding how to vote. Much reinforcement and easy read ways of demonstrating such messages are vital.

That with low-cost, timely, engaging, focused activities and support, many people with learning disabilities can avoid crisis and thrive.

Our sincere gratitude and thanks to funders, donors and supporters

We want to take this opportunity to share our heartfelt thanks, to all our funders, and donors, who have generously enabled us to continue supporting members in the different ways they have needed. Thanks also to those who give time to support us in many ways and offer encouragement and practical help.

What next?

Our primary concern going forward is primarily supporting our members to continue speaking up, managing friendships and social inclusion, developing independence, and ongoing signposting and support. Support for individuals to manage their health and wellbeing, as well as maintaining friendships, is imperative.

With individuals trusting staff, and feeling safe to speak up, we have caught more concerns early again in the last year. This will be key going forward, notably with advocacy services more difficult to secure.

Peer support continues to prove effective, so we will create more opportunities for members to listen and share experiences, developing skills to support each other and improve their general well-being.

Continued conversations with members and their supporters tell us that the reason that they do so well, is often largely down to activities, interaction and support from People First Dorset. For some, it’s a disco to look forward to each month, for others it’s a safe place to talk about their worries, while some gain huge benefits from being socially included and doing physical activity.

It is extremely difficult, if impossible, to meaningfully calculate the financial value of our work and intervention, but it is very possible that if even a small group of members had reached crisis point, that the costs of support would have been substantially greater than the costs of our intervention.

Financial Review

The incoming resources for the year amounted to £275,809 of which £210,372 represented restricted funds. The outgoing expenditure amounted to £133,500 of which £116,855 was in respect of restricted projects. There was an overall surplus of £142,309 for the year.

The total reserves on 31 March 2025 were £160,755 of which £44,045 represented restricted funds. There was therefore a £116,710 balance of unrestricted funds at the year end.

The results are summarised on page 14 and shown in more detail on pages 19 - 26.

The charity held £2,473 on deposit with CCLA Investment Management, £458 with CAF Bank and £58,514 in a Co-operative Bank Deposit Account at the year end. This was in addition to funds held within Co-operative and CAF bank current accounts for day to day needs.

Trustees and officers

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

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

TRUSTEES' REPORT

Trustees: Jeremy Howe, Chair (appointed 7 November 2024)
Ruth Bettenson (ceased 15 June 2025)
Laura Dunne (appointed 7 November 2024)
Deborah Holyer
Richard Maxfield
Hazel Morgan (resigned 7 November 2024)
Paul St Quintin
Graham Waters (resigned 7 November 2024)

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees (who are also the directors of People First Dorset for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland". The report and accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions in the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that can disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Approved by the trustees of the charity on 12 December 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

...................................... Paul St Quintin Trustee

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

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

Responsibilities and basis of report

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

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

Independent examiner’s statement

Since People First Dorset's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.

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

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

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

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

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

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

H E Jones BA (Hons) FCCA

Edwards and Keeping Unity Chambers 34 High East Street Dorchester Dorset DT1 1HA

18 December 2025

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT AND STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES)

Note
Income and Endowments from:
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Investment income
5
Other income
6
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
7
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
17		 Unrestricted
£
23,178
37,636
313
4,310
65,437
(16,645)
(16,645)
48,792
48,792
67,918
116,710		 Restricted
£
-
210,372
-
-
210,372
(116,855)
(116,855)
93,517
93,517
(49,472)
44,045		 Total
2025
£
23,178
248,008
313
4,310
275,809
(133,500)
(133,500)
142,309
142,309
18,446
160,755		 (As restated)
Total
2024
£
12,437
174,661
2,006
13,896
203,000
(293,393)
(293,393)
(90,393)
(90,393)
108,839
18,446

All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2024 is shown in note 17.

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

(REGISTRATION NUMBER: 05189356) BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2025

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
13
Current assets
Debtors
14
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
15
Net current assets
Net assets
Funds of the charity:
Restricted income funds
Restricted funds
17
Unrestricted income funds
Unrestricted funds
Total funds
17		 2025
£
1,195
12,019
169,872
181,891
(22,331)
159,560
160,755
44,045
116,710
160,755		 2024
£ (As
restated)
2,827
12,926
25,540
38,466
(22,847)
15,619
18,446
(49,472)
67,918
18,446

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

Directors' responsibilities:

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements on pages 14 to 26 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on 12 December 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

Paul St Quintin Trustee

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1 Charity status

The charity is limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales, and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the trustees is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.

The address of its registered office is: 2 Herringston Barn Herringston DORCHESTER Dorset DT2 9PU

2 Accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

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

Statement of compliance

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). They also comply with the Companies Act 2006 and Charities Act 2011.

Basis of preparation

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

Going concern

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

Exemption from preparing a cash flow statement

The charity opted to early adopt Bulletin 1 published on 2 February 2016 and have therefore not included a cash flow statement in these financial statements.

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Prior period adjustments

The trustees have restated the prior period to correct the allocation of staff costs between restricted and unrestricted funds. This is to more accurately reflect the consumption of multi-period restricted grant income.

In total, staff costs of £74,198 have been reallocated from unrestricted fund expenditure to restricted fund expenditure.

The prior period adjustment does not impact the previously reported surplus for the comparative year of £90,393, nor the charity's overall funds carried forward at the end of the prior period of £18,446.

However, following the reallocation of costs between funds, the closing balance of unrestricted funds at the end of prior period has been revised from negative £6,280 to positive £67,918. Correspondingly, the closing balance of restricted funds at the end of the prior period has been revised from positive £24,726 to negative £49,472.

This reflects an overspend in respect of restricted grant income in the prior period, primarily due to excess staff costs. For restricted fund projects that were ongoing at the end of the prior year, this overspend was rectified in the year ended 31 March 2025 by a substantial reduction in the Charity's staffing levels, resulting in a surplus in the current year which countered the deficit for the prior period.

The effect of the prior period adjustment can be seen in note 17.

Income and endowments

All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of the income receivable can be measured reliably.

Donations and legacies

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

Grants receivable

Income from government and other grants are recognised when the charity has entitlement, after any performance conditions have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. If entitlement is not met then these amounts are deferred.

Investment income

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

Expenditure

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

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Charitable activities

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

Governance costs

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

Taxation

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

Tangible fixed assets

Individual fixed assets are initially recorded at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

Depreciation and amortisation

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

Asset class Depreciation method and rate Office equipment Straight line over 4 years

Trade debtors

Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for services performed in the ordinary course of business.

Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the charity will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables.

Cash and cash equivalents

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

Trade creditors

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

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

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

Fund structure

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

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

Pensions and other post retirement obligations

The charity operates a defined contribution plan for the benefit of its employees. Contributions are expensed as they become payable.

3 Income from donations and legacies

Donations and legacies;
Donations from individuals
Donations and legacies;
Donations from individuals		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
23,178
23,178
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
12,437
12,437		 Total
2025
£
23,178
23,178
Total
2024
£
12,437
12,437

4 Income from charitable activities

Grants and contracts
Work done
Grants and contracts
Work done		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
35,000
2,636
37,636
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
16,250
3,425
19,675		 Restricted
funds
£
210,372
-
210,372
Restricted
funds
£
154,986
-
154,986		 Total
2025
£
245,372
2,636
248,008
Total
2024
£
171,236
3,425
174,661

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

5 Investment income

Interest receivable and similar income;
Interest receivable on bank deposits
Interest receivable and similar income;
Interest receivable on bank deposits
6
Other income
Access to Work expense reimbursement claims
Total for 2025
Total for 2024
7
Expenditure on charitable activities
Note
General administration
Premises
Repairs
Travel and subsistence
Contribution to overheads
Depreciation, amortisation and other
similar costs
Staff costs
Governance costs
8		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
34,451
8,196
410
1,699
(32,077)
1,632
-
2,334
16,645		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
313
313
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
2,006
2,006
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
4,310
4,310
13,896
Restricted
funds
£
5,223
-
-
1,255
32,077
-
78,300
-
116,855		 Total
2025
£
313
313
Total
2024
£
2,006
2,006
Total
funds
£
4,310
4,310
13,896
Total
2025
£
39,674
8,196
410
2,954
-
1,632
78,300
2,334
133,500

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Note
General administration
Premises
Repairs
Travel and subsistence
Contribution to overheads
Depreciation, amortisation and other
similar costs
Staff costs
Governance costs
8		 Unrestricted
funds
General
(As restated)
£
50,522
14,858
62
2,469
(13,628)
2,488
22,246
2,280
81,297		 Restricted
funds
(As restated)
£
6,931
-
-
2,322
13,628
-
189,215
-
212,096		 Total
2024
£
57,453
14,858
62
4,791
-
2,488
211,461
2,280
293,393

Refer to note 2 regarding the prior period adjustment included above.

8 Analysis of governance and support costs

Governance costs
Independent examiner fees
Examination of the financial statements
Independent examiner fees
Examination of the financial statements
9
Net incoming/outgoing resources
Net incoming/(outgoing) resources for the year include:
Operating leases - plant and machinery
Depreciation of fixed assets		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
2,334
2,334
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
2,280
2,280
2025
£
-
1,632		 Total
2025
£
2,334
2,334
Total
2024
£
2,280
2,280
2024
£
3,514
2,488

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

10 Trustees remuneration and expenses

During the year the charity made the following transactions with trustees:

Ruth Bettenson

Ruth Bettenson invoiced the charity a total of £nil (2024 - £160) in respect of consultancy fees during the year.

No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the charity during the year.

11 Staff costs

The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:

Staff costs during the year were:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2025
£
74,140
945
3,215
78,300		 2024
£ (As
restated)
192,427
10,452
8,582
211,461

The monthly average number of persons (including senior management team) employed by the charity during the year was as follows:

Employees 2025
No
5		 2024
No
10

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

12 Independent examiner's remuneration

2025 2024
£ £
Examination of the financial statements 2,334 2,280

13 Tangible fixed assets

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Cost
At 1 April 2024
At 31 March 2025
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2025
Net book value
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024
14 Debtors
Trade debtors
Prepayments
Accrued income
15 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Other taxation and social security
Accruals		 Furniture and
equipment
£
12,380
12,380
9,553
1,632
11,185
1,195
2,827
2025
£
10,000
373
1,646
12,019
2025
£
1,032
3,508
17,791
22,331		 Furniture and
equipment
£
12,380
12,380
9,553
1,632
11,185
1,195
2,827
2025
£
10,000
373
1,646
12,019
2025
£
1,032
3,508
17,791
22,331		 Total
£
12,380
12,380
9,553
1,632
11,185
1,195
2,827
2024
£
10,180
1,431
1,315
12,380
9,553
1,632
11,185
1,195
2,827
2025
£
10,000
373
1,646
12,019
2025
£
1,032
3,508
17,791
22,331
12,926
2024
£ (As
restated)
1,323
2,034
19,490
22,847

16 Pension and other schemes

Defined contribution pension scheme

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost charge for the year represents contributions payable by the charity to the scheme and amounted to £3,215 (2024 - £8,582).

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

17 Funds

Unrestricted
General
General fund
Core - Easy Read
SU - Easy Read
Restricted
SU - Dorset Council User
Led
SU - Dorset Healthcare
FC - Dorset Council
Community and Culture
Fund Round 6
FC - Peoples Health Trust
Sept 2022
SU - Henry Smith Charity
SU - Sport England 24
SU - SW Community Matters
Fund
DC Cost of Living Fund
FC - Alice Ellen Cooper
Dean
FC - Bailey Thomas 2025
FC - DC Cost of Living Fund
Lottery Community Fund
Postcode Lottery
SU - Wessex Water 2025
FC - Community Wellbeing
& Mental Health Fund
Total restricted
Total funds		 Balance at
1 April
2024
£
64,950
2,158
810
67,918
(23,817)
-
2,583
(2,973)
(29,614)
3,515
834
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(49,472)
18,446		 Incoming
resources
£
65,437
-
-
65,437
41,000
3,585
-
2,973
60,000
-
-
15,000
10,000
12,000
10,000
19,972
25,000
3,146
7,696
210,372
275,809		 Resources
expended
£
(16,645)
-
-
(16,645)
(17,183)
(3,585)
(2,583)
-
(30,386)
(3,515)
(834)
(15,000)
(7,500)
(2,000)
(10,000)
(4,161)
(15,278)
(982)
(3,848)
(116,855)
(133,500)		 Transfers
£
2,968
(2,158)
(810)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Balance at
31 March
2025
£
116,710
-
-
116,710
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,500
10,000
-
15,811
9,722
2,164
3,848
44,045
160,755

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Unrestricted funds
General
General fund
Core - Lloyds Bank
Foundation
Core - Dorset Council
Resilience Fund
Core - Easy Read
SU - Easy Read
Restricted
SU - Dorset Council User
Led
Core - Mencap Let's Get
Digital
SU - Nationwide Community
Grant
SU - CCG Annual Health
Check
SU - Dorset Healthcare
FC - Dorset Council
Community and Culture
Fund
FC - Dorset Council
Community and Culture
Fund Round 6
FC - Peoples Health Trust
Sept 2022
SU - Active Dorset Together
Fund
SU - DC EDI Reference
Group
SU - Henry Smith Charity
SU - Sport England 24
SU - SW Community Matters
Fund
Total restricted funds
Total funds		 Balance at
1 April
2023
£
88,780
10,247
(623)
2,158
-
100,562
-
579
2,238
-
625
-
-
-
421
-
4,414
-
-
8,277
108,839		 Incoming
resources
£
40,954
2,250
4,000
-
810
48,014
41,000
-
-
5,000
2,500
-
5,000
17,837
8,750
3,500
60,000
10,399
1,000
154,986
203,000		 Resources
expended
£
(67,051)
(10,247)
(4,000)
-
-
(81,298)
(64,817)
(579)
(2,238)
(5,000)
(3,125)
219
(2,417)
(20,810)
(8,750)
(3,500)
(94,028)
(6,884)
(166)
(212,095)
(293,393)		 Transfers
£
2,267
(2,250)
623
-
-
640
-
-
-
-
-
(219)
-
-
(421)
-
-
-
-
(640)
-		 Balance at
31 March
2024
£ (As
restated)
64,950
-
-
2,158
810
67,918
(23,817)
-
-
-
-
-
2,583
(2,973)
-
-
(29,614)
3,515
834
(49,472)
18,446

Refer to note 2 regarding the prior period adjustment included above.

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

Restricted funds are held for the purpose of the specific project or other purpose set out in the respective grant agreements.

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

PEOPLE FIRST DORSET

18 Analysis of net assets between funds

18 Analysis of net assets between funds
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
1,195
137,846
(22,331)
116,710
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
2,827
87,938
(22,847)
67,918		 Restricted
funds
£
-
44,045
-
44,045
Restricted
funds
£
-
(49,472)
-
(49,472)		 Total funds
at 31 March
2025
£
1,195
181,891
(22,331)
160,755
Total funds
at 31 March
2024
£
2,827
38,466
(22,847)
18,446

19 Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in the year.