OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator. This document is also available as Markdown.

2025-03-31-accounts

Abbey Community Association Limited

Annual Report and Financial Statements

31 March 2025

Company Registration Number 05373711 (England and Wales) Charity Registration Number 1109442

Contents

Reports
Reference and administrative details 1
Trustees’ report 2
Independent auditor’s report 11
Financial statements
Consolidated statement of financial
activities 15
Balance sheet 16
Consolidated statement of cash flows 17
Principal accounting policies 18
Notes to the financial statements 20

Abbey Community Association Limited

Reference and administrative details of the charitable company and its trustees

Trustees Mr J Buckingham (Chair)
Mr D Gilchrist
Mr R Perera
Ms G Arrindell (resigned 22 November 2024)
Ms T Brown
Ms C Vince (Treasurer) (appointed 25 June 2024)
Ms Y Agyei (appointed 4 July 2025)
Ms S Sauvel (appointed 13 August 2025)
Observer Cllr T Mitchell
Senior Management Team Mr M Linehan
Ms G Deadman
Mr A Greenhalgh (resigned 13 December 2024)
Ms H Kasman (appointed 6 January 2025)
Address 34 Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BU
Website https://www.theabbeycentre.org.uk
Company registration number 05373711
Charity registration number 1109442
Auditor Buzzacott Audit LLP
130 Wood Street
London
EC2V 6DL
Bankers CAF Bank Ltd
25 Kings Hill Avenue
Kings Hill
West Malling
Kent
ME19 4JQ

Abbey Community Association Limited 1

Trustees’ report 31 March 2025

The Board of Trustees submits its report together with the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025. This report is prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, Charities Act 2011 and the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2015), issued by the Charity Commission.

Structure, governance and management

Governing document

The organisation (‘the Charity’) is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 23 February 2005. The Charity was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. The Articles of Association were reviewed by the Trustees in early 2018 and new Articles adopted by special resolution in March 2018.

Prior to the establishment of Abbey Community Association Limited, the activities of the company were carried through an unincorporated association and registered charity, Abbey Community Association, first established in 1948.

Recruitment and appointment of Board

The directors of the Charity are directors for the purposes of company law and are also Charity trustees for the purposes of Charity law and under the Charity’s Articles are known as members of the Board (‘Board’). The Board reviews its membership annually, undertaking trustee appraisals, to ensure that it reflects the diversity of the community it serves and has the broad set of skills and experience required for the effective management of the Charity. The Chair meets with and is in regular communication with members of the Board. Working groups, acting under delegation of the Board, can be convened to meet to deal with particular Board work-streams such as finance, business development and strategic planning.

Risk management

The Board records the major risks to which the Charity is exposed, updating its risk register for review at every Board meeting. The Charity continues to review its health and safety policies during the year, as part of the Board’s regular review of risk. Policies and procedures are regularly reviewed and where appropriate, systems and procedures are updated and training delivered to staff. Major contracts with external suppliers are reviewed during the year and where appropriate, opened up to competitive procurement on renewal.

The CEO and Board of Trustees review the revenue of the café and commercial room hire business (operated by its trading subsidiary, Abbey Community Services Limited, company registration number 02980473), comparing it to previous years and the budget, to ensure it remains profitable and continues to provide unrestricted funds to the charity through gift aid.

Abbey Community Association Limited 2

Trustees’ report 31 March 2025

Structure, governance and management (continued)

Organisational structure

The Articles of Association provide that the Charity has a Board of no fewer than three and no more than nine members who meet every two months and are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the Charity. At present the Board has six members and one observer, from a range of backgrounds relevant to the work of the Charity. In 2023, the Chair conducted an audit of skills and experience of Board members, which informed recruitment and succession planning, leading to the appointment of three new members (with two existing members standing down) to ensure the Board retains the necessary skills and is representative of the community the Charity serves.

The Board meets every two months and the CEO attends but has no voting rights. The Board retains the option to convene time-limited “working groups” to pursue more detailed work such as budget development, financial management, strategic planning and organisational development rather than maintaining standing sub-committees. Each group is chaired by a member of the Board and is open to other volunteers and staff members, where appropriate, is time-limited, bound by agreed delivery objectives and reports back to the Board with recommendations.

The Board delegates day to day responsibility for the provision and management of the services to the CEO and the Senior Management Team, which comprises the Head of Community Programmes and the Business and Events Manager.

Remuneration of key management personnel

The pay of the Senior Management Team and all staff is reviewed annually in March and normally increased in accordance with average earnings to reflect a cost-of-living adjustment, with the option of additional pay awards being made in line with changes to the responsibilities of individual staff. A recommendation on the level of the cost-of-living increase is made by the CEO for approval by the Board. Those staff earning the London Living Wage receive an increase determined by the Living Wage Foundation. The Charity is a Living Wage Employer.

New staff appointments are made where there is provision for new posts in restricted funds, or where a business case for new appointments covered by core funds is made by the CEO and approved by the Board.

Public Benefit Statement

The Charity works for the benefit of residents of south Westminster by providing activities, programmes and services that improve their health, wellbeing, opportunities and employability, in line with the objects set out in the Articles of Association. The Board members confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit, “Charities and Public Benefit”.

Abbey Community Association Limited 3

Trustees’ report 31 March 2025

Structure, governance and management (continued)

Mission, vision and values

The charity’s mission, vision and values were reviewed by staff and Trustees during 2023 and agreed.

Mission: To support a healthy and cohesive community in south Westminster by providing the space, services and opportunities to the people who need it most.

Vision: A south Westminster community that feels healthier, happier and fully supported.

Values:

Achievements and performance

The following section presents the key achievements and achievements of services and activities of the Abbey Community Association for the year ended 31 March 2025. The Charity manages the Abbey Centre as the vibrant community hub for south Westminster, in line with its mission and vision:

Mission – to support a healthy and cohesive community in south Westminster by providing the space, services and opportunities to the people who need it most.

Vision – a south Westminster community that feels healthier, happier and fully supported.

The Charity is committed to ensuring its employment practices are consistent with its values, and continues to be a London Living Wage employer, certified with the Living Wage Foundation.

Staff members ensure that the Charity undertakes a strategic role locally by participating in and facilitating a range of networks that develop local services and policy including:

The charity engages with service users and the wider community through an E bulletin to the community every two weeks, an E bulletin to partners every two weeks, E-bulletins, printed posters, flyers, and activity leaflets social media (Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn), website, outreach by staff, and word of mouth.

Abbey Community Association Limited

4

Trustees’ report 31 March 2025

Structure, governance and management (continued)

Achievements and performance (continued)

During the year we saw growth in the number of members, the number of people using the charity’s services, and the number of attendances at the charity’s activities. A large part of this growth came from the new Community Health and Wellbeing Worker programme, through which workers were deployed to households in areas of greatest health inequalities to encourage residents to access healthcare opportunities, whilst trying to understand the reasons why they often don’t. This programme saw workers engage with 1,627 households on 8,286 occasions, and there will be some cases of “double counting” where these residents are accessing other Abbey Centre service, so the “total service users” figure below is presented with this caveat.

is presented with this caveat.
2024/25 2023/24 Change
Members 6,534 5,193 +1,341
Total service users 11,161 8,193 +2,968
Attendances 33,846 32,198 +1,648

For the second year running, the number of volunteers increased during the year, with a notable increase in those coming from corporate partners under “corporate social responsibility” or “social value” programmes. This also resulted in an increase in the amount of time volunteers donated during the year.

2024/25 2023/24 Change
Volunteers 403 217 +186
Volunteer hours 14,364 13,693 +671

The Charity managed and delivered (either directly or through community partners) a diverse range of services and activities in 2024/25 in support of its charitable objectives, and these included:

Children and Young People

Community Champions and Maternity Champions

Abbey Community Association Limited 5

Trustees’ report 31 March 2025

Structure, governance and management (continued)

Achievements and performance (continued)

Community Champions and Maternity Champions (continued)

Community Health and Wellbeing Workers

Health and Wellbeing:

Westminster Adult Education funded sessions:

Women Off to Work

Abbey Community Association Limited 6

Trustees’ report 31 March 2025

Structure, governance and management (continued) Achievements and performance (continued)

Women Off to Work (continued)

Young At Heart:

Other services:

Sessions provided by community partners:

Abbey Community Association Limited 7

Trustees’ report 31 March 2025

Structure, governance and management (continued)

Statement on fundraising

The Charity is aware of the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016 and the Trustees support the aims of this legislation. The majority of the Charity's income comes from other charitable bodies and local authorities or from its own trading activities. The Charity undertakes very little direct fundraising activity involving individual donors. Examples include our online JustGiving page and events which are promoted through general communications, rather than targeting specific individuals. The Charity considers the origin of unsolicited donations and legacies. The Charity does not share or purchase any donor data with or from third parties. During the year ended 31 March 2025 the Charity did not receive any complaints in relation to fundraising or raise any matter with regulators.

Operating lease

The charity is in the second year of a 15-year lease (with a break clause after 10 years) with Westminster City Council for tenancy of 34 Great Smith Street, which was signed on 5[th] September 2024. Under the terms of the lease the rent is fixed at £112,000 per annum for the first ten years, and includes provision for the interest-free repayment over five years of rent arrears accumulated during the Covid-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2021 totalling £172,705.

The charity is in the third year of a 10-year service level agreement agreed with Westminster City Council that began on 1[st] April 2023 and includes a grant of £170,000 per annum, linked to inflation.

Financial review

The results for the year ended 31 March 2025 are shown in the attached Statement of Financial Activities. The net deficit for the year was £146,874 (2024 surplus - £126,229), of which there was a deficit of £48,460 (2024 – surplus of £102,739) on unrestricted funds and a deficit of £98,414 (2024 – surplus of £23,490) on restricted funds.

Abbey Community Services generated income of £639,176, the highest figure recorded, a profit of £231,867 (2024: profit of £205,920) and made a Gift Aid donation of £231,870 (2024 – 205,920) to support the activities of the charity.

Principal Funding Sources

Apart from the income generated by the Abbey Community Services Limited, (the trading subsidiary of the Charity), the principal funding sources for the Charity continue to be grants and contracts from Westminster City Council and a range of other funders and commissioners.

Investment Policy

The Charity has no investments apart from the trading subsidiary and therefore there is no immediate need for an investment policy. This continues to be reviewed in the light of twelvemonth cash flow forecasts.

Reserves Policy

At 31 March 2025 the group had reserves of £268,204, of which £125,246 were restricted and £43,401 were designated. Designated funds represent the net book value of the group’s fixed assets. General undesignated reserves were £99,556.

Abbey Community Association Limited

8

Trustees’ report 31 March 2025

Structure, governance and management (continued)

Reserves Policy (continued)

The Board has examined the Charity’s requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation. It has established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets should be at least 3 months of unrestricted charitable expenditure and closure costs. Free reserves, as defined above, at the end of the year were £99,556 which currently represents just under 2 months of unrestricted expenditure. The Board regularly reviews the level of reserves and has seen free reserves fall from £154,491 at 31 March 2024 to £99,556 at 31 March 2025. This has been a result of some one-off capital costs relating to the building and the general increase in the charity’s core costs related to the general increase in the “cost of living”. The Board will continue to examine the reserves on a monthly basis and take appropriate action if it believes the Charity is no longer on track to fulfil its reserves policy.

Going concern statement

In the light of the level of income generated by the trading subsidiary in the year ended 31 March 2025, and based on income to date and projections up until November 2026, the Trustees believe there are no material uncertainties in respect of the Charity’s financial position. They acknowledge pressures on unrestricted income from increasing core costs in the current financial climate, and recognise the ongoing need to bring in restricted funds to support the charity’s community work at the current level, and so they will continue to monitor income on an ongoing basis.

Plans for the future

Having posted the best trading figures – for its room hire and catering activities – in its history, and income from grants and contracts well ahead of budget, the Board are confident about the Charity’s future.

The Charity continues to work towards its strategic vision to be “better, more focused, and bigger” by investing in staff training, development and wellbeing (following extensive consultation with the team), by prioritising all popular activities and services for people who live or have children at school in south Westminster, and by gradually expanding its work to accommodate more service users.

The Charity has also invested in the building at 34 Great Smith Street, following the signing of the 15-year lease, installing an air source heat pump and with planned installation of solar panels (both funded by Westminster City Council’s Carbon Management Plan); and completely refurbishing all public bathrooms, replacing external doors to the rear, and upgrading essential fire safety facilities (all funded by Westminster City Council’s Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy).

Statement of responsibilities of the Board Members

The Board members, who are also directors of the Charity for the purposes of company law and are trustees for the purposes of Charity 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).

Abbey Community Association Limited 9

Trustees’ report 31 March 2025

Structure, governance and management (continued)

Statement of responsibilities of the Board Members (continued)

Company law requires the Board members 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 the group and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable group for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Board members are required to:

The Board Members are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time of 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 the group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Each Board member confirms that:

Board Members have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information. This confirmation is given, and should be interpreted in accordance with, the small companies provisions of S418 of the Companies Act 2006.

Approved by the Board on

and signed on its behalf by:

Mr J Buckingham (Trustee)

17 November 2025

Abbey Community Association Limited 10

Independent auditors’ report 31 March 2025

Independent auditor’s report to the members of Abbey Community Association Limited

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Abbey Community Association Limited (the ‘charitable parent company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which the comprise the group statement of financial activities, the group and charitable parent company balance sheets and statement of cash flows, the principal accounting policies and the notes to the financial statements. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group 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 group and charitable parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

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

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report and financial statements, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report,

Abbey Community Association Limited 11

Independent auditors’ report 31 March 2025

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 there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the charitable parent company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ report.

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

Abbey Community Association Limited 12

Independent auditors’ report 31 March 2025

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement, 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 group’s and the charitable parent 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 group or the charitable parent company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

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

Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:

We assessed the susceptibility of the charitable company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:

Abbey Community Association Limited 13

Independent auditors’ report 31 March 2025

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements (continued)

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:

There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the trustees and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

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 auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Edward Finch (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of Buzzacott Audit LLP, Statutory Auditor 130 Wood Street London EC2V 6DL Date: 17 November 2025

Abbey Community Association Limited 14

Consolidated statement of financial activities Year to 31 March 2025

(incorporating an income and expenditure account)

Notes
Un-
restricted
funds
£
Restricted
funds
£
Total
funds
2025
£
Un-
restricted
funds
£
Restricted
funds
£
Total
funds
2024
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
1
Trading activities
2
Investment income
Charitable activities:
. Hire of accommodation
. Activity income
. Other income
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities:
. Community activities
Total expenditure
3
Net (expenditure) income
Transfer between funds
Movement of funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Fund balances brought forward
13
at 1 April 2024
Fund balances carried forward
13
at 31 March 2025

224,205

639,177
829
86,329
28,446
2,883
982,872




1,207,077
639,177
829
86,329
28,446
2,883
264,324
530,371
825
83,518
3,528
5,898
665,717



27,688
930,041
530,371
825
83,518
31,216
5,898
981,869 982,872 1,964,741 888,464 693,405 1,581,869
331,374
848,169

932,069
331,374
1,780,238
260,532
696,077

499,031
260,532
1,195,108
1,179,543 932,069 2,111,612 956,609 499,031 1,455,640
(197,674)
149,217
50,803
(149,217)
(146,871)
(68,145)
170,884
194,374
(170,884)
126,229
(48,457)

191,418
(98,414)
223,660
(146,871)
415,078
102,739
88,679
23,490
200,170
126,229
288,849

142,961
125,246 268,207 191,418 223,660 415,078

All income and expenditure relates to continuing operations. There are no recognised gains and losses in the year other than shown above.

The accompanying pages numbered 22 to 29 form part of these financial statements.

Abbey Community Association Limited 15

Balance sheet 31 March 2025

2025 2025 2024 2024
Charity Group Charity Group
Notes £ £ £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets 7 10,297 43,401 15,937 36,927
Investments 8 2 2
10,299 43,401 15,939 36,927
Current assets
Stocks 6,739 4,352
Debtors 9 439,492 233,234 494,657 176,316
Cash at bank 76,125 278,596 147,752 456,607
515,617 518,569 642,409 637,275
Creditors:amounts falling due
within one year 10 (155,193) (186,349) (248,165) (259,124)
Net current assets 360,424 332,220 394,244 378,151
Creditors: amounts falling due after
more than one year
11 (107,414) (107,414)
Net assets 263,309 268,207 410,183 415,078
Represented by:
Unrestricted funds
. General 11 127,766 99,560 170,586 154,491
. Designated fund – fixed assets 11 10,297 43,401 15,937 36,927
138,063 142,961 186,523 191,418
Restricted funds 12 125,246 125,246 223,660 223,660
Total funds 263,309 268,207 410,183 415,078

These financial statements were approved and authorised for issue, by the Board, on and signed on its behalf by

Jonathan Buckingham

Date: 17 November 2025

Company Registration Number: 05373711

Abbey Community Association Limited 16

Consolidated statement of cash flows 31 March 2025

Notes
2025
£
2024
£
Cash (used in) provided by provided by operating activities
A
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Net cash used in investing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 April 2024
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 March 2025

**(151,988) **
95,011


**(26,023) **
(11,960)
**(26,023) ** (11,960)

(178,011)

456,607
83,051
373,556
278,596 456,607

Notes to the statement of cash flows for the year ended 31 March 2025

A Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash provided by operating activities

2025
£
2024
£
Net movement in funds (as per the statement of financial activities)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charge
(Increase) decrease in debtors
(Increase) decrease in stock
Increase (decrease) in creditors
Net cashprovided by (used in) operating activities
(146,874)
19,549
(56,918)
(2,382)
34,637
126,229
17,094
(20,204)
(1,988)
(26,120)
(151,988) 95,011

B Analysis of cash and cash equivalents

Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
2025
£
2024
£
Cash at bank and in hand
Total cash and cash equivalents
278,596 456,607
278,596 456,607

No separate reconciliation of net debt has been prepared as there is no difference between the net cash (debt) of the charity and the above cash and cash equivalents.

Abbey Community Association Limited 17

Principal accounting policies 31 March 2025

Basis of preparation

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) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Abbey Community Association Limited meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value. The presentation currency is pound sterling.

Preparation of accounts on a going concern basis

The Trustees have assessed whether the use of the going concern assumption is appropriate in preparing these financial statements. The Trustees have made this assessment in respect of a period of one year from the date of approval of these financial statements.

The Board assesses the performance of the Charity on an ongoing basis. Based on income figures from trading activities in both the year ended 31 March 2025 and up until November 2025, on projected trading figures, and on ongoing successful funding applications, the Trustees do not believe there are any material uncertainties in respect of the Charity’s financial position.

The Board will monitor income, expenditure and cash flow monthly on an ongoing basis.

Consolidation

The accounts consolidate the results, assets and liabilities of Abbey Community Association Limited and its subsidiary, Abbey Community Services Limited on a line by line basis. Intra group transactions and balances are eliminated on consolidation. A separate Statement of Financial Activities or Statement of Cash Flows are not included for the charity only.

Fixed assets

Fixed assets are recognised initially at cost and subsequently depreciated over the useful economic lives at rates of 25% per annum on a straight-line basis.

Stock

Stock is included in the financial statements at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

Creditors and provisions

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.

Abbey Community Association Limited 18

Principal accounting policies 31 March 2025

Income

Incoming resources are included on an accruals basis in the Statement of Financial Activities when the criteria of entitlement, probability of receipt and measurability have been met. Donated facilities income represents the rental cost of the Westminster City Council premises which is matched by an equal amount of grant.

Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis. Direct costs are charged to costs of generating funds, community activities or governance as appropriate. Support costs are allocated to cost of generating funds or charitable activities on the basis of estimated usage of the related services.

Funds

Unrestricted funds

These funds are expendable at the discretion of the Board of Trustees in furtherance of the objects of the Association and include the Property Fund to provide for expenditure required under the terms of the lease and the Core Projects Fund.

Designated funds

This fund is set aside by the trustees out of unrestricted funds to reflect the amount tied up in fixed assets.

Restricted funds

The Restricted Funds are to record grant income which is to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors and used for particular purposes. Further details have been provided in note 12.

Operating leases

Expenditure arising from operating leases is charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which the lease payment relates.

Abbey Community Association Limited 19

Notes to the financial statements 31 March 2025

1 Donations and legacies

Unrestricted
funds
£



Restricted
funds
£



Year ended
31 March
2025
£




Unrestricted
funds
£



Restricted
funds
£



Year ended
31 March
2024
£
WCC core grant
Grants
Other donations
Total funds
170,000
48,862
5,343



972,710

10,162

170,000
1,021,572

15,505
170,000
89,423
4,901

661,820
3,897

170,000

751,243

8,798
224,205
982,872
1,207,077 264,324 665,717
930,041

The charity received a core grant from Westminster City Council which relates to the service level agreement with City of Westminster. A full breakdown of the restricted grants received can be found in note 12.

2 Trading activities

Trading activities
Unrestricted
Year ended
31 March
2025
£
Year ended
31 March
2024
£
Room hire
Café catering income
Conference catering income
Other trading income
Total funds
335,566
108,094
154,203
41,314
260,636
108,161
131,260
30,314
639,177 530,371

This income is generated entirely from Abbey Community Services Limited.

3 Analysis of expenditure

Analysis of expenditure
Direct
costs
£

Support
costs
£

Governance
costs
£

Total
2025
£
Costs of generating funds
Trading expenses
Charitable expenditure
Community activities
329,249
1,589,697
81,945
98,438
2,125
10,158
413,319
1,698,293
1,918,946 180,383 12,283 2,111,612
Direct
costs
£

Support
costs
£

Governance
costs
£

Total
2024
£
Costs of generating funds
Trading expenses
Charitable expenditure
Community activities
258,732
1,014,898
70,973
96,439
1,800
12,798
331,505
1,124,135
1,273,630 167,412 14,598 1,455,640

Only the audit fees and direct expenses have been included within Governance costs. The Chief Executive and senior management’s time have been recognised within Community activities.

Abbey Community Association Limited 20

Notes to the financial statements 31 March 2025

4 Analysis of support costs and governance costs

Finance,
management
&
administration
£


Premises
£
2025
Total
£
Trading expenses
Community expenditure
Governance costs
51,746
47,253
12,283
30,199
133,130
81,945
180,383
12,283
111,282 163,329 274,611
Finance,
management &
administration
£
Premises
£
2024
Total
£
Trading expenses
Community expenditure
Governance costs
45,472
10,564
14,598
25,501
85,875
70,973
96,439
14,598
70,634 111,376 182,010

5 Staff costs

Staff costs
Total
2025
£
Total
2024
£
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pensions
1,121,465
95,629
46,855
687,954
62,021
33,655
1,263,949 783,630

Average staff numbers for the year:

2025
No.
2024
No.
Charitable activities
Trading
Support
26
8
9
14
9
7
43 30

Members of the Council did not receive any fees or other emoluments for their services nor did they receive any reimbursed expenses.

The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the Group were £227,614 (2024: £202,428). All senior management also perform a role in the direct operational activities of the charity.

During the year, one employee received remuneration falling within the £80,000 to £90,000 banding (2024: £70,000 to £80,000 banding - one).

Abbey Community Association Limited 21

Notes to the financial statements 31 March 2025

6 Net expenditure

Net expenditure is stated after charging:

Auditor’s remuneration (excluding VAT)

Total
2025
£
11,845
Total
2024
£
9,929

7 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets
Furniture &
equipment
£
2025
Charity
Total
£

Furniture &
equipment –
Abbey
Community
Services
£
71,035
26,023
97,058
50,045
13,909
63,954
33,104
20,990
2025
Group
Total
£
Cost
At beginning of year
Additions in year
At end of year
Depreciation
At beginning of year
Charge for the year
At end of year
Net book value
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024
80,251
80,251
151,286
26,023
80,251 80,251 177,309
64,314
5,640
64,314
5,640
114,359
19,549
69,954 69,954 133,908
10,297 10,297 43,401
15,937 15,937 36,927

8 Investments

The investment consists of all the share capital of Abbey Community Services Limited, a company registered in England and Wales. The investment was transferred at cost from Abbey Community Association, the company’s predecessor body.

For the year ended 31 March 2025, Abbey Community Services Limited had turnover of £641,351 (2024: £536,262) and made a profit of £231,870 (2024: profit of £205,920) before a gift aid donation of £231,870 (2024: £205,920). The net assets at 31 March 2025 were £4,896 (2024: £4,896).

9 Debtors

Debtors
2025
Charity
£
Group
£
73,593
193,371
37,161
39,863
328,738

439,492
233,234
2024
Charity
£
Group
£
52,602
144,072
29,544
32,244
412,511

494,657
176,316
Trade debtors
Sundry debtors and prepayments
Amount due from Abbey Community
Services Limited
73,593
37,161
328,738
144,072
32,244
439,492 176,316

Abbey Community Association Limited 22

Notes to the financial statements 31 March 2025

10 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

2025
Charity
£
Group
£
64,537
77,242
30,750
30,750
5,446
5,446
39,503
39,503
14,957
33,408
155,193
186,349
2025
Charity
£
Group
£
64,537
77,242
30,750
30,750
5,446
5,446
39,503
39,503
14,957
33,408
155,193
186,349
2024
Charity
£
Group
£
201,299
206,095


4,523
4,523
29,551
29,440
12,792
19,066
248,165
259,124
2024
Charity
£
Group
£
201,299
206,095


4,523
4,523
29,551
29,440
12,792
19,066
248,165
259,124
Trade creditors
Rental creditor
Other creditors
Other taxes and social security
Accruals
64,537
30,750
5,446
39,503
14,957
77,242
30,750
5,446
39,503
33,408
201,299

4,523
29,551
12,792
206,095

4,523
29,440
19,066
155,193 186,349 248,165 259,124

11 Creditors: amounts falling due in more than one year

2025
Charity
£
Group
£
107,414
107,414
107,414
107,414
2025
Charity
£
Group
£
107,414
107,414
107,414
107,414
2024
Charity
£
Group
£



2024
Charity
£
Group
£



Rental creditor 107,414 107,414
107,414 107,414

12 Unrestricted funds

Unrestricted funds
General fund 2025
Charity
£
Group
£
170,586
154,494
(197,677)
(197,677)
149,217
149,217
5,640
(6,474)
127,766
99,560
2024
Charity
£
Group
£
67,089
46,618
(68,091)
(68,145)
170,884
170,884
705
5,134
170,586
154,491
Balance at start of year
Deficit for the year
Transfer from (to) restricted fund
Transfer to (from) designated fund arising
from movement in value of fixed assets
Balance at end ofyear
170,586
(197,677)
149,217
5,640
154,494
(197,677)
149,217
(6,474)
67,089
(68,091)
170,884
705
46,618
(68,145)
170,884
5,134
127,766 99,560 170,586 154,491
Designated funds 2025
Charity
£
Group
£
15,937
36,927
(5,640)
6,474
10,297
43,401
2025
Charity
£
Group
£
15,937
36,927
(5,640)
6,474
10,297
43,401
2024
Charity
£
Group
£
16,642
42,061
(705)
(5,134)
15,937
36,927
2024
Charity
£
Group
£
16,642
42,061
(705)
(5,134)
15,937
36,927
Balance at start of year
Transfer (to) from designated fund arising
from movement in value of fixed assets
Balance at end ofyear
15,937
(5,640)
36,927
6,474
16,642
(705)
42,061
(5,134)
10,297 43,401 15,937 36,927

The designated fund represents the net book value of the charity / groups fixed assets.

Abbey Community Association Limited 23

Notes to the financial statements 31 March 2025

13 Restricted funds

Restricted funds
1 April
2024
£

Income
£

Expenditure
£

Transfers
£

At 31
March
2025
£
Pimlico Million – SWAN
WCC Public Health – Community Champions
Monday Club
Imperial College London - Volunteer Expenses
Abbey Centre Community Food Pantry
TNLCF- Women Off to Work (WOW)
Everyone Active- Physical Activities
Awards For All - Cycling/Athlefit
Social Media - AG/GW
After School Club TF
WCC - Westminster Sings Choir TF
WAES - Building Resilience and Opportunities
WCC - Cost of Living Support
Ambassadeurs Group - Refugee Meals
Ambassadeurs Group - Homeless Meals
WCC - Apprenticeship Scheme
WCC - Rights Care - Feb 24
WCC - Community Contribution Fund
Ambassadeurs Group - Wellbeing
WCC - Holiday Activities Programme
Eden & Partners - Toilet Donation
Community Health & Wellbeing Workers Project
SFSN - Pantry
WCC - WITC Warm Meals Project
Friday Sewing Club
CHWW Events
ManShed
Homework Club
NCIL
8,345
17,051
21,745
2,390
28,125
35,675

15,849
229
29,192
117
(13,552)
1,455
10,969
24,057
1,310
233
4,261
4,805
452
213
24,019


6,720




2,000

57,786

33,856

(2,390)

109,475

61,673

4,088

268

(229)

15,970

9,443

35,718

32,525

10,454

25,000

15,668

(233)

2,438

(2,438)

(332)

(213)

491,681

(177)

8,419

(6,720)

13,500

9,984

14,719

40,939

(8,727)

(54,144)

(35,029)



(91,933)

(83,716)

(2,875)

(3,580)



(25,267)

(5,332)

(18,438)

(28,114)

(21,423)

(18,187)

(13,385)



(4,505)

(2,367)

(120)



(441,388)

177

(8,419)



(3,829)

(4,902)

(8,627)

(47,939)



(12,476)

(1,100)



(23,870)

(13,562)







(2,704)

(1,435)

(2,602)

(5,866)



(5,500)

(2,820)











(74,312)







(2,970)






1,618

8,217

19,472



21,797

70

1,213

12,537



17,191

2,793

1,126





25,370

773



2,194















6,701

5,082

6,092

(7,000)
223,660
982,872

(932,069)
(149,217) 125,246

The most significant funds are:

The WCC Public Health funded Community Champions project recruits, trains and supports local residents to identify health and wellbeing issues that affect the community and develop initiatives to address these.

The Monday Club is a weekly opportunity for isolated and vulnerable older people to spend time together, socialise, take part in a variety of activities, and enjoy refreshments. It is funded by a range of trusts and foundations.

The Community Pantry is funded from a variety of sources, but most significantly by Westminster City Council, and provides affordable food and essential cleaning products and toiletries to households that are struggling financially.

The National Lottery Community Fund supported WOW project supports “hard to reach” women, particularly those from the Muslim community and those not speaking English as a first language through the provision of volunteering and work experience placements, help with job search, application and interview skills and assistance with setting up businesses and entering self-employment.

The National Lottery Community Fund’s Award for All programme funds two women-only physical activities – Athlefit classes are aimed at women of all levels of fitness and ability to encourage them to take exercise, whilst cycling classes are aimed at beginner and women who do not normally cycle, giving them the confidence to get exercise and have access to cheap and sustainable transport.

Abbey Community Association Limited 24

Notes to the financial statements 31 March 2025

The After-School Club is aimed at primary school children in south Westminster, particularly those who qualify for free school meals, and provides them with a mix of physical, creative and cultural activities immediately after school, along with access to healthy snacks and refreshments. The club is funded by a range of trusts and foundations.

The Homeless Meals project is funded by a corporate donation from the Ambassadeurs Group and provides a freshly cooked healthy meal to rough sleepers and homeless people in the charity’s café, giving them an opportunity to relax away from the streets, and find help and support from staff and volunteers.

Healthcare Central London funds the Community Health and Wellbeing Worker project through which workers based in the community contact and support residents in deprived communities who are not accessing primary and preventative health services.

Negative income transfers represent internal reallocations of income to other projects, carried out in accordance with the funder's conditions and constraints. Transfers to unrestricted funds occur where a funder has agreed that a proportion of overheads and management charges may be covered within the funding, to support the core costs associated with a specific project.


associated with a specific project.
1 April
2023
£

Income
£

Expenditure
£

Transfers
£

At 31
March
2024
£
Pimlico Million – SWAN
BME Health Forum – Emotional Wellbeing for the BME
Community
WCC Public Health – Community Champions
Monday Club
Imperial College London - Volunteer Expenses
Abbey Centre Community Food Pantry
Athlefit - WCC Active Westminster
TNLCF- Women Off to Work (WOW)
CAF Resilience Fund
Everyone Active - Physical Activities
Awards For All - Cycling/Athlefit
Social Media - AG/GW
After School Club TF
WCC - Westminster Sings Choir TF
WAES - Building Resilience and Opportunities
Ambassadeurs Group - Womens Activities
WCC - Healthy Winter Grant Support
WCC - Cost of Living Support
Ambassadeurs Group - Refugee Meals
Ambassadeurs Group - Community Alliance Grant
Ambassadeurs Group - Homeless Meals
Shaftsbury Food Poverty
WCC - Apprenticeship Scheme
WCC - Rights Care - Feb 24
WCC - Community Contribution Fund
Ambassadeurs Group - Wellbeing
WCC - Holiday Activities Programme
Eden & Partners - Toilet Donation
WCC - Black History Month
Community Health & Wellbeing Workers Project
SFSN - Pantry
WCC - WITC Warm Meals Project
United Living - Pimlico Angels Activities
Greater London Authority Community Insights Hub Content
Friday Sewing Club
1,813

16,460
3,258
2,612
2,833
741
63,569
6,336
(1,110)
6,122
347
9,600
(2,908)
(758)
3,200
2,490
5,663

59,800
102
20,000













10,000



57,221

46,383



126,348

89

117,900

(5,384)

2,370

20,375



42,940

11,863

10,832

(240)

192

25,120

40,425

(60,000)

52,515

(15,600)

18,469

6,000

9,623

6,563

10,764

213

1,737

138,792

3,436

4,709

2,000

750

7,000

(1,964)



(44,154)

(20,028)

(222)

(84,713)

(830)

(103,702)

(90)

(1,260)

(4,992)

(118)

(6,535)

(7,759)

(18,423)

(2,960)

(2,482)

(24,345)

(18,294)



(20,868)



(17,159)

(4,447)

(3,245)

(1,758)

(7,848)



(1,737)

(88,283)

(3,076)

(4,709)

(2,000)

(750)

(280)

(1,504)



(12,476)

(7,868)


(16,343)



(42,092)

(862)



(5,656)



(16,813)

(1,079)

(5,203)



(200)

(4,983)

(11,162)

200

(7,692)

(4,400)



(1,320)

(2,117)



(2,464)





(26,490)

(360)







8,345



17,051

21,745
2,390

28,125



35,675





15,849

229

29,192

117

(13,552)





1,455

10,969



24,057



1,310

233

4,261

4,805

452

213



24,019









6,720
200,170
693,405

(499,031)
(170,884) 223,660

Abbey Community Association Limited 25

Notes to the financial statements 31 March 2025

14 Analysis of net assets by fund

Analysis of net assets by fund
Group General
fund
£

Designated
funds
£

Restricted
funds
£

Total
2025
£
Fixed assets
Net current assets

99,556
43,401

125,246
43,401
224,802
99,556 43,401 125,246 268,203
Charity General
fund
£

Designated
funds
£

Restricted
funds
£

Total
2025
£
Fixed assets
Investments
Net current assets


127,765
10,297
2


125,246
10,297
2
253,011
127,765 10,299 125,246 263,310

Comparative of net assets by fund:

Comparative of net assets by fund:
Group General
fund
£

Designated
funds
£

Restricted
funds
£

Total
2024
£
Fixed assets
Net current assets

154,491
36,927

223,660
36,927
378,151
154,491 36,927 223,660 415,078
Charity General
fund
£

Designated
funds
£

Restricted
funds
£

Total
2024
£
Fixed assets
Investments
Net current assets


170,584
15,937
2


223,660
15,937
2
394,244
170,584 15,939 223,660 410,183

15 Related party transactions

In the year, trustees received a total of £nil in expenses (2024 – £nil).

During the year, three family members of key management personnel worked in the café and were remunerated for a value of £3,644 (2024 - £1,622).

Abbey Community Association Limited 26

Notes to the financial statements 31 March 2025

16 Operating lease

On 1 April 2023 the Charity entered into a ten-year service level agreement with Westminster City Council for the services delivered at the Abbey Centre which are directly tied to the occupancy of the building with an annual payment of £170,000 (reviewed annually in line with inflation) to be received by the Charity. On 5[th] September 2024 the Charity signed a 15-year lease (with a break clause after 10 years) for 34 Great Smith Street, with rent payable at the rate of £112,000 per annum. During the Covid-19 pandemic the Charity agreed with Westminster City Council to suspend rent payments due under the previous lease for a period of 21 months, leading to a rent arrears with the landlord of £172,705.48, to be repaid – interest-free – in monthly instalments over the first five years of the new lease.

The amounts payable under the current lease agreement at 31 March 2025 are as follows:

Property
2025
£
Equipment
2025
£

Equipment
2024
£
Less than one year
Between two and five years
Over 5 years
146,541
551,623
**504,000 **
5,651
12,715
340
1,202,164 18,366 340

17 Capital commitments

At 31 March 2025, the charity had entered into contractual arrangements for capital expenditure relating to a multi-phase development project. The total capital commitment at the reporting date amounted to £384,061, exclusive of VAT.

Abbey Community Association Limited 27