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2024-03-31-accounts

Registered company number - 05316853 Registered charity number - 1108967

DOVER, DEAL & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU TRUSTEES REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

DOVER, DEAL & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

CONTENTS

Pages
Report of the trustees 1 - 4
Independent Examiner's report 5
Statement of financial activities 6
Balance sheet 7
Notes to the accounts 8 - 15

DOVER, DEAL & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Page 1

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and the unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors' report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.

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

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Charity name

Dover, Deal & District Citizens Advice Bureau (a company limited by guarantee)

Company number Charity number 5316853 1108967 Registered office Maison Dieu Gardens Dover Kent CT16 1TG

Chief executive and Company Secretary Jan Stewart

Trustees/Directors Gillian Plummer David Pestell Donnie Farago Pauline Goldsack Guy Banyard Jillian Harrison (resigned 24.1.24) Nathanael Theisen Daniel Friend

Council representatives Cllr H Williams

Bankers

Lloyds Bank Plc 43-45 Sandgate Road Folkestone Kent CT20 1RZ

Independent examiner

Mr S J Wren FCCA Accountancy Matters (Kent) Limited The Marlowe Innovation Centre Marlowe Way Ramsgate Kent CT12 6FA

DOVER, DEAL & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Page 2

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document

Dover, Deal & District Citizens Advice Bureau (DDCAB) is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. The company has 12 members whose liability is limited to £1 each. The bureau is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. DDCAB was incorporated on 20 December 2004, to take over the assets, liabilities and operations of Dover Citizens Advice Bureau and Deal & District Citizens Advice Bureau. The bureaux had operated as one organisation since April 2004 and the bureau took the operations of both bureaux on 1 August 2005. This report and the work and aims contained herein must be read against this background.

Recruitment and appointment of trustee directors

Directors are elected at the Annual General Meeting by the members of the bureau in accordance with the Articles of Association. The constitution contains provisions for the co-option of directors and the nomination of corporate representatives (subject to maxima) which have yet to be exercised. The directors elect a chair from amongst their number. The Bureau's principal funder (Dover District Council) appointed 2 representatives to supervise its interests.

Induction of trustee directors

Directors are provided with Citizens Advice publications on their duties and receive training from Citizens Advice.

Organisational structure

The Bureau is governed by its Board of Directors which is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organisation and the policy of the charity. The directors carry the ultimate responsibility for the conduct of the bureau and for ensuring that the charity satisfies its legal and contractual obligations. Directors meet quarterly as a minimum and delegate the day to day operation of the organisation to management. The Board of Directors is independent of management. Directors' interests must be declared and noted in the minutes of Board Meetings. The directors have delegated day to day management of the charity to the Chief Executive. The Directors, Jan Stewart (Chief Executive), Natasha James (Service Manager) are the Key Management Personnel as defined by the Charites SORP FRS 102.

Related parties

The Bureau is a member of Citizens Advice, the operating name of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, which provides a framework for the standards of advice and casework managements as well as monitoring progress against these standards. Operating policies are independently determined by the bureau's Board of Directors in order to fulfil its charitable objects and comply with the national membership requirements.

The Bureau operates and liaises with a number of other advisory services, local charities and social services departments on behalf of itself and its clients. Where one of the directors holds the position of trustee/director of another charity, he/she may be involved in discussions regarding that other charity but not in the ultimate decision making process.

Major risks

The directors recognise that any major risks to which the charity is exposed need to be reviewed regularly. To that end, the bureau is continually monitoring and managing its risks and ensuring action plans are in place to mitigate its key risks.

DOVER, DEAL & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Page 3

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Major risks - Cont'd

Included in external risks is that of the loss of funding. The charity continues to seek to diversify its funding sources. Internal risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for authorisation of all transactions and projects and to ensure consistent quality of delivery for all operational aspects of the charity. These procedures are periodically reviewed to ensure that they still meet the needs of the charity.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives

The charity's objectives are to promote any charitable purpose for the benefit of the community in Dover, Deal and District by the advancement of education, the protection and preservation of health and the relief of poverty, sickness and distress.

Aims

Dover and Deal Citizens Advice aims 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 and to ensure individuals do not suffer through lack of knowledge or an inability to express their needs effectively.

Activities, achievements, performance and factors affecting achievement of objectives

Dover and Deal Citizens Advice has capitalised on it's move to the new offices in Deal and the expanded offices in Dover. We have currently 12 new trainees undertaking our extensive training which will make a huge difference to our service offer. They all do a brilliant job and without them we wouldn’t exist.

We are working with our sister Citizens Advice offices in Kent to investigate the possibility of merging the 6 offices into one stronger and more streamlined entity. This will enable us to look into achieving larger grants for substantial projects. We have working group investigating this plan to report back 2025.

We have dealt with over 10,000 issues and we have brought in £1,189,383 to the district. For every £1 of our grant from DDC we have provided 12.5 times as much back in financial gain to the district. We have seen a 3 fold increase in people reporting domestic abuse in our area and dealt with debt benefits and housing as our top three issues.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Short-term funding has effectively improved over the last financial year. Nevertheless, we remain entirely dependent on our core funding from Dover District Council, without which we could not offer a service. We have also been able to offer substantial help through the household fund to those in the greatest hardship. We have received national funding to develop our energy advice services and our adviceline services. We continue to maintain and where possible increase the availability of our services with the help of our funders where we are in a financially viable position to do so .

DOVER, DEAL & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Page 4

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Reserves policy and going concern

The Trustees are required to ensure that unrestricted monies are available in each financial year to meet any reasonable foreseeable contingency. As such, we keep sufficient reserves to enable us to wind up the Charity without a deficit, should that prove necessary. In reviewing the potential costs that could arise should a significant reduction in income be incurred, the directors have determined that unrestricted reserves should be maintained equal to approximately 3 months normal operating expenditure. At 31 March 2024 our unrestricted general reserves exceeded this amount. We are always alert to the possibility that our Service could face reduced funding and in those circumstances unrestricted reserves would be reduced if activities were to continue at the same level

The accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis on the expectation that the charity will receive sufficient funding for at least one year from the date these accounts are formally approved. The Charity is heavily dependent on Dover District Council and a three year service level agreement which although is due to expire on 31 March 2025, a further three agreement with the Council has been agreed in principle.

Principal funding sources

We are reliant on Dover District Council for funding and we thank them for their support. We have also again received household funding to distribute to clients who are struggling in the present climate.

Short term funding has been achieved this year but the projects usually only last for twelve months. We do have the ongoing Money Advice Service funding and several other funding bids in place. This is also the reason that we are considering merger.

Investment policy and activities

The governing document gives power of investment to directors as they may decide fit. The directors believe that any investments should be in the lowest risk category. Apart from the designated funds, other cash funds arise because the Local Authority Grant is now paid in one instalment across the financial year, for which we are grateful. Accordingly, the trustees consider any investment to be short term in nature and that bank deposits are the most appropriate investment vehicle. Only our designated Charity Closure fund is held in the form of a bond.

FUTURE PLANS

We are continuing to develop our services with the use of technology and AI. We have put more resources into our telephone and email services and added a useful BOT to our website to give clients direct access to our appointments and information systems.

Over the next two years we will look to merge with our sister organisations in East Kent while protecting our local service offer.

PUBLIC BENEFIT

The trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty as prescribed by section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to the Charity Commission public benefit guidance.

Signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees by :

Jan Stewart - Company secretary

Date : 19 December 2024

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF

Page 5

DOVER, DEAL & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2024 which are set out on pages 6 to 15.

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 the Company'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:

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.

S J Wren FCCA Accountancy Matters (Kent) Limited Chartered Certified Accountants The Marlowe Innovation Centre Marlowe Way Ramsgate Kent CT12 6FA

Date : 27 December 2024

DOVER, DEAL & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Page 6

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (incorporating an Income and Expenditure Account) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Notes Unrestricted
funds
£
INCOME
Donations and grants
2a
42,369
Charitable activities
2b
215,631
Income from other trading activities
2c
-
Investment income
2d
887
TOTAL INCOME
258,887
EXPENDITURE
Costs of raising funds
3
7,711
Charitable activities
3
269,746
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
277,457
NET (EXPENDITURE)/INCOME FOR THE YEAR
BEFORE TRANSFERS
4
(18,570)
Transfers between funds
10
14,613
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS FOR THE YEAR
(3,957)
Balances as at 1 April 2023
128,967
BALANCES AT 31 MARCH 2024
125,010
Restricted
funds
£
70,375
55,860
-
-
126,235
-
98,950
98,950
27,285
(14,613)
12,672
45,414
58,086
Total
Total
funds
funds
2024
2023
£
£
112,744
100,345
271,491
210,382
-
(325)
887
276
385,122
310,678
7,711
7,087
368,696
282,252
376,407
289,339
8,715
21,339
-
-
8,715
21,339
174,381
153,042
183,096
174,381

DOVER, DEAL & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Page 7

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024

Notes
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
6
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors and prepayments
7
Balances at bank:
Shawbrook Bank Limited
Lloyds Bank Plc
Cash in hand
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
8
NET ASSETS
9
Represented by:
FUNDS OF THE CHARITY
Unrestricted general fund
10
Designated funds
10
Restricted funds
10
TOTAL FUNDS
12,283
35,226
128,645
186
176,340
(15,964)
2024
£
22,720
2,403
35,158
138,425
247
176,233
(22,308)
160,376
183,096
67,290
57,720
58,086
183,096
2023
£
20,456
153,925
174,381
73,511
55,456
45,414
174,381

For the financial year ended 31 March 2024 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under s.477 Companies Act 2006 and no members have deposited a notice under s.476 requiring an audit.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with s.386 of the Act for preparing accounts which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year and of its profit or loss for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to accounts, so far as applicable to the company.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies and in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102).

Approved and signed for issue by the trustees on 19 December 2024.

Gillian Plummer - Chair

David Pestell - Vice Chair

Company number - 05316853

DOVER, DEAL & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Page 8

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

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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 the 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) and the Companies Act 2006.

Dover, Deal & District Citizens Advice Bureau 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 note.

The principal accounting policies adopted are as follows:

b) Income

Grants receivable - grants made to finance the activities of the bureau are credited to the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) in the period to which they relate.

Bank interest - bank interest is included in the SOFA on receipt. Other income - other income, including donations and gifts are included as they were received. Gifts and intangible income - in addition to the above, the charity also receives help and support in the form of voluntary assistance in advising the public. This help and support is not included in the financial statements.

Deferred income - grants received in advance of the period in which the funder requires the expenditure to be applied will be reflected within deferred income on the balance sheet.

d) Depreciation of fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets costing more than £200 are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life as follows :

Leasehold improvements 20% straight line Computers, software and equipment 33% straight line Furniture and fittings 25% straight line

Rental costs are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities as incurred.

f) Pensions

The pension cost charge in the Statement of Financial Activities represent the contributions payable by the bureau in the relevant year.

DOVER, DEAL & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Page 9

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

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

g) Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are grants, donations and other incoming resources receivable by the charity without further specified purpose and are available as general funds.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the Trustees for particular purposes.

Restricted funds relates to income to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor.

h) Significant judgements and estimates

No significant judgements have had to be made by the Trustees in preparing these financial statements

2 INCOME

INCOME
Unrestricted
funds
£
a)
Donations and grants
Estimated market rent value of premises provided by
Dover District Council at no cost:
Dover premises
14,900
Dover District Council
-
Cit - A -Out of Area Pilot project
25,160
Cit - A - Debt Modernisation
-
DWP - Kickstart
-
Donations
2,309
42,369
b) Charitable activities
Dover District Council
97,000
Dover District Council - Employment service
Money Advice Service
CA in North & West Kent - Mental Health
44,413
CA in North & West Kent - Advice Line
-
The Trussell Trust - Deal Food Bank
12,325
Dover Outreach Centre - Dover Foodbank
4,862
CA Oxfordshire South and Vale
5,000
Cit - A - Energy Advice Project
5,906
Cit - A - Cost of living funding
15,000
Cit - A - Remote Service Delivery
31,125
215,631
c)
Income from other trading activities
Share of running costs of Deal premises
-
Fundraising
-
-
d) Investment income
Bank interest received
887
Restricted
funds
£
-
68,870
-
1,505
-
-
70,375
-
55,860
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
55,860
-
-
-
-
2024
Total
funds
£
14,900
68,870
25,160
1,505
-
2,309
112,744
97,000
-
55,860
44,413
-
12,325
4,862
5,000
5,906
15,000
31,125
271,491
-
-
~~.~~
-
887
2023
Total
funds
£
10,000
80,000
-
-
4,177
6,168
100,345
97,000
30,000
54,233
11,041
13,072
5,036
-
-
-
-
-
210,382
(325)
-
(325)
276

DOVER, DEAL & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Page 10

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

3
EXPENDITURE
Unrestricted
funds
£
Costs of raising funds :
Wage costs
7,711
Charitable activities :
Wage costs
118,593
Subcontract
-
Travel and other staff and volunteer costs
3,801
Hardship Support costs
-
Publicity
581
Telephone charges
3,844
Printing, postage and stationery
6,982
Copier lease
1,941
Information and training
2,774
CAB subscription and reference materials
5,005
Computer & office equipment support and
maintenance
7,825
Property maintenance
2,160
Covid PPE and cleaning
-
Estimated market value of premises provided by
Dover District Council at no cost:
Dover premises
14,900
Rent
5,760
Utility costs
643
Sundries
-
Depreciation
12,252
Support costs
Wage costs
69,651
Insurance
407
Bank charges and interest
134
Accountancy fees
2,103
Payroll costs
640
Governance costs
Wage costs
8,142
Trustee and AGM expenses
-
Legal and professional
48
Independent Examiner's fee
1,560
269,746
Total Expenditure
277,457
Restricted
funds
£
-
70,928
3,961
-
22,242
-
-
-
-
1,222
-
597
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
98,950
98,950
2024
2023
Total
Total
funds
funds
£
£
7,711
7,087
189,521
131,303
3,961
3,571
3,801
3,150
22,242
14,836
581
549
3,844
3,702
6,982
3,597
1,941
2,044
3,996
3,105
5,005
6,009
8,422
2,956
2,160
810
-
519
14,900
10,000
5,760
3,600
643
590
-
150
12,252
11,234
69,651
67,742
407
1,371
134
136
2,103
1,627
640
714
8,142
7,292
-
-
48
85
1,560
1,560
368,696
282,252
376,407
289,339

Of the total expenditure in 2023 of £289,339, £195,244 was unrestricted and £94,095 was restricted.

DOVER, DEAL & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Page 11

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

4
NET EXPENDITURE IS STATED AFTER CHARGING
Depreciation
Independent Examiner's remuneration :
Management accounts/payroll
Independent Examiners' fee
5
INFORMATION REGARDING EMPLOYEES
Wages and salaries
Redundancy
Social security costs
Employer pension contributions
Employment Allowance
The average monthly head count was 12 staff (2023 - 10 staff).
The average number of employees based on full time equivalents analysed by
Advisory services
Management and administration
2024
2023
£
£
12,252
11,234
2,743
2,341
1,560
1,560
2024
2023
£
£
253,961
198,928
-
-
21,432
16,244
4,632
3,252
(5,000)
(5,000)
275,025
213,424
function was:
2024
2023
Number
Number
8
6
2
2
10
8
2023
£
11,234
2,341
1,560
2023
£
198,928
-
16,244
3,252
(5,000)
213,424

No employee received remuneration of more than £60,000 during the year or the preceding year. No trustees received remuneration or expenses from the charity during the year (2023 - £Nil). The total employee benefits (including employers national insurance) of the key management personnel of the charity were £76,863 (2023 - £73,550)

FIXED ASSETS
Cost
As at 1 April 2023
Additions
Disposals
As at 31 March 2024
Depreciation
As at 1 April 2023
Disposals
Charge for the year
As at 31 March 2024
Net book value
As at 31 March 2024
As at 31 March 2023
Leasehold
Furniture &
Improvements fittings
£
£
21,395
12,624
3,280
759
-
(698)
24,675
12,685
8,558
6,387
-
(698)
4,935
2,790
13,493
8,479
11,182
4,206
12,837
6,237
£
41,143
10,476
(25,362)
26,257
39,761
(25,362)
4,526
18,925
7,332
1,382
software &
equipment
Computers,
Total
£
75,162
14,515
(26,060)
63,617
54,706
(26,060)
12,251
40,897
22,720
20,456

6 FIXED ASSETS

DOVER, DEAL & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Page 12

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

7
DEBTORS
2024
£
Other debtors
3,242
Accrued income
6,972
Prepayments
2,069
12,283
8
CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
2024
£
Taxation and social security
7,039
Other creditors
6,182
Accruals
2,743
Deferred income
-
15,964
9
ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUND
General Designated
Restricted
funds
funds
funds
£
£
£
Fixed assets
-
22,720
-
Current assets
83,254
35,000
58,086
Current liabilities
(15,964)
-
-
Net assets as at 31 March 2024
67,290
57,720
58,086
ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUND - PREVIOUS YEAR
General Designated
Restricted
funds
funds
funds
£
£
£
Fixed assets
-
20,456
-
Current assets
95,819
35,000
45,414
Current liabilities
(22,308)
-
-
Net assets as at 31 March 2023
73,511
55,456
45,414
2023
£
-
-
2,403
2,403
2023
£
-
3,366
2,935
16,007
22,308
Total
£
22,720
176,340
(15,964)
183,096
Total
£
20,456
176,233
(22,308)
174,381

DOVER, DEAL & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Page 13

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

10 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Restricted funds
Money Advice Service
Hardship Support Fund
Video Equipment
Debt Modernisation Fund
Cost of Living Impact Fund
Total restricted funds
Designated funds
Charity closure
Fixed assets fund
Total designated funds
Unrestricted general funds
Total funds
As at
1 04 2023
£
-
44,114
1,300
-
-
45,414
35,000
20,456
55,456
73,511
174,381
Income Expenditure
£
£
55,860
(59,382)
68,570
(39,568)
(1,300)
-
1,505
-
1,600
-
126,235
(98,950)
-
-
-
-
-
-
258,887
(277,457)
385,122
(376,407)
As at
Transfers
31 03 2024
£
£
3,522
-
(15,030)
58,086
-
-
(1,505)
-
(1,600)
-
(14,613)
58,086
-
35,000
2,264
22,720
2,264
57,720
12,349
67,290
-
183,096

RESTRICTED FUNDS

Money Advice Service

Money Advice Service Hardship Support Fund in partnership with central Citizens Advice. This project is to deliver first tier debt advice to 22 clients per month, completing an initial assessment and offering help and referral within Citizens Advice service and our own debt specialist. The transfer of £3,522 from general funds relates to an overspend on the fund.

Hardship Support Fund

We operated a hardship fund with funding received from Dover District Council which gives us the opportunity to provide essentials to people in the greatest need throughout the current financial climate. We work with our partnership of voluntary organisations to assist those in the most need with financial support and financial guidance to ensure that those in the most need are helped in order to avoid future issues. In agreement with Dover District Council, some of the Fund has been used to sustain our core services for the benefit of the local population. The transfer to general funds relates to a contribution towards the charity's overheads of £13,714 and capital expenditure of £1,316.

Video Equipment

A grant received in a previous year from Dover District Council to fund video/publishing equipment to allow us to create help videos to be embedded on our revised website. As this grant has not been used it has been returned to the District Council

Debt Modernisation Fund

This project is to work with those in need to maximise their income. The funds were used to update our IT equipment and therefore is shown a fixed asset and therefore a transfer has been made to unrestricted funds.

Cost of living Community Impact Fund

This fund allows us to purchase four advice tablet hubs for the district to allow clients direct access to our services. As these tablets are fixed assets they are shown as a transfer to unrestricted funds.

DOVER, DEAL & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Page 14

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

DESIGNATED FUNDS

Charity closure

The Trustees have created a fund to represent the estimated costs of the charity if it had to close due to a lack of funding.

Fixed assets

A fund created by the Trustees and represents the net book value of the charity's fixed assets at the balance sheet date. The fund was created as the carrying value of the assets cannot be utilised for future expenditure.

MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - PREVIOUS YEAR

Restricted funds
Money Advice Service
Hardship Support Fund
Video Equipment
Employment Service
Total restricted funds
Designated funds
Charity closure
Fixed assets fund
Total designated funds
Unrestricted general funds
Total funds
As at
1 04 2022
£
-
12,601
1,300
-
13,901
35,000
26,501
61,501
77,640
153,042
Income Expenditure
£
£
54,233
(49,259)
80,000
(14,836)
-
-
30,000
(30,000)
164,233
(94,095)
-
-
-
-
-
-
146,445
(195,244)
310,678
(289,339)
As at
Transfers
31 03 2023
£
£
(4,974)
-
(33,651)
44,114
-
1,300
-
-
(38,625)
45,414
-
35,000
(6,045)
20,456
(6,045)
55,456
44,670
73,511
-
174,381

RESTRICTED FUNDS - PREVIOUS YEAR

Money Advice Service

Money Advice Service funded Debt Advice Project in partnership with central Citizens Advice. This project is to deliver first tier debt advice to 35 clients per month, completing an initial assessment and offering help and referral within Citizens Advice service and our own debt specialist. The transfer of £4,974 to general funds is a contribution towards office and utility costs.

Hardship Support

We operated a hardship fund with funding received from Dover District Council which gives us the opportunity to provide essentials to people in the greatest need throughout the current financial climate. We work with our partnership of voluntary organisations to assist those in the most need with financial support and financial guidance to ensure that those in the most need are helped in order to avoid future issues. In agreement with Dover District Council, some of the Fund has been used to sustain our core services for the benefit of the local population. The transfer to unrestricted funds is in respect of the wage cost (£17,599) in administering the Fund, contribution towards fixed assets (£3,421) , other non direct financial support costs (£631) and an agreed contribution towards the charity's office costs (£12,000).

DOVER, DEAL & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Page 15

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

RESTRICTED FUNDS - PREVIOUS YEAR - Cont'd

Video Equipment

A grant from Dover District Council to fund video/publishing equipment to allow us to create help videos to be embedded on our revised website. As at the year end this grant has not been used and therefore will be carried forward to next year.

Employment service

Dover District Council funded an employment specialist for two years from April 2021. They will work with those in the greatest need following employment issues to ensure they do not suffer from a lack of support or knowledge.

DESIGNATED FUNDS - PREVIOUS YEAR

Charity closure

The Trustees have created a fund to represent the estimated costs of the charity if it had to close due to a lack of funding.

Fixed assets

A fund created by the Trustees and represents the net book value of the charity's fixed assets at the balance sheet date. The fund was created as the carrying value of the assets cannot be utilised for future expenditure.

11 FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS

At 31 March 2024 the Charity had future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows:

leases as follows:
2024 2023
£ £
within one year 2,977 1,365
within two to five years 1,089 756
after five years - -

12 MEMBERS LIABILITY

The company is a company limited by guarantee. The members' liability is limited to £1 each.

13 CORPORATION TAXATION

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

14 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

There were no transactions with related parties during the year under review or the preceding year.