FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD {A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31st March 2024 REGISTERED NUMBER: 4241965 CHARITY NUMBER: 1112796 *ADIIIIHLE* 2411212024 COMPANIES HOUSE A47 FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD Annual Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2024 Contents Page Company Information Report of the Trustees Auditorfs Report 13 Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) 18 Comparative Statement of Financial Activities Ilncluding Income and Expenditure Account) 19 Balance Sheet 20 Statement of Cash Flows .21 Notes to the Accounts 22 FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD Company Infomiation 31st March 2024 Company number: 4241965 Charlty number: 1112796 Trustees: P R Bostock (Chair) P M Freeman Mord A Hughes Secretary: S Roberts Chlef Executfve: S Roberts Registered office: Conleach Road Speke Liverpool L24 OTW Bankers: Co-operative Bank plc Po Box 250 Delf House Southway Skelmersdale WN8 6wr Solicitors: Hill Dickinson LLP No.1 St. Paul's Square Liverpool L3 9SJ Auditor: Mitchell Charlesworth {Auditl Limited Accountants Statutory Auditor 5 Temple Square Temple Street Liverpool L2 SRH FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2024 The trustees (who are also the directors of the companyforthe purposes of company lawl present their report together with the audited accounts of the charity forthe year ended 31st March 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice ISORP) "Accounting and Reportin8 by Charities" in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out In the notes to the accounts and comply with the charity's governing document. the Companies Act 2006 and Accountin8 and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparin8 their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS1021 (effective l January 20191. Trustees The trustees who served durlng the year are detailed on page l. A Hughes retires by rotation and bein8 eligible. offers herself for re-election. Objerts and actlvitSes The objects of the charity are to: Promote the physical, intellectual and social development and education of pre-school and young children particularlv those who are disadvantaged or who have special needs and to ensure that they are ready to flourish when thev get to school by working with families. foster and surrogate familie5 and carln8 for and nurturing children. Advance the education of the public in all aspects of the development of young children including speech and language. Relieve poverty, sickness and distres5 among those in necessitOU5 circumstances. Relieve unemployment In such ways as may be thought fit including assistance to find employment, and Carry out such other exclusively charitable purposes a5 may be conveniently or advantsgeously carried out in conjunction with the primary objects. The charlty has the general alm of working in partnership to deliver better outcomes for chlldren and families. The main objectives for the year continue to be the delivery of our children centre contract, particularly focusin8 on enhanced family support through our parent mentor prolect, improvlng access to employment and the promotion of healthy Ilfestyles, In particular focusin8 on mental wellbeing and diet and nutrition. FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2024 (contlnued) Strategic Report Achlevements and performance Children Centre Artivities Our Focus on Poverty l in 4 children living in the Speke Garston nei8hbourhood is a child aged under 16,. Child poverty stands at 40% for Speke and 36% for Garston. We know that the concentration of poverty within the Speke district is higher and that families with a child aged under 5 are at an increased of poverty. Oata sets have changed but previous analysis indicates that poverty can be as hi8h as 80% within the early year's cohort. These statistics are reflected in our nursery make slightly over 40% of our total 3 and 4 year Cohort are in receipt of pupil premium. More than a third of our total cohort receive 2 year fundin8. These places are allocated to famllles who are on very low Incomes. Specifically within the total two year cohort the free places made up 79% of our allocations Indicating very high levels of poverty in the early years. In this financial year we: Worked directly with 2,303 indlvlduals requirlng support with poverty, this Is a 60% increase on the previous year This work included distribution of food and fuel vouchers, employability support and referrals to partners for debt advice Provldlng food at our actlvltles In addition we distrlbuted £IOOK of Asda Vouchers across Llverpool Chlldren Centres Support to access grants. Disability Living Allowance and childcare funding Within the year 657 carers and $07 new children re8iStered for our service5 across our children centres, we worked with 2,061 families with an average of just under 4 contacts per family. We saw 1,266 children aged under 5 year old. 72% of our child contacts are children aged 2 and under. We had a total of 13.963 individual client contacts in year which is consistent with the previous financial year. Overall in the past two year5 we have seen a reduction in the percentage of families re8iStered with the Chlldren Centre, accessin8 our services, however we are delivering more intensive targeted support. In the context of poverty, 60% of all children seen, live in the 1-5% most deprlved communlties. Overall the children centre activities included the followin8 contacts: 953 contacts to support healthy weight including a new Infant Feeding service delivered by Alder Hey128% increase) 1667 individual face to face contacts were made for Family support Imar8inally lower than prevlou5 yearl 177 contacts were specific to a child with special educational needs and or disability 288 child contacts were recorded for targeted SEN groups including Early Communication Groups, most of these children were referred to Speech and Language Therapy Trends remain positive in terms of the take up of Active Play session5 Wlth 801 contacts recorded this is an increase of 34% contacts recorded We dellvered community learning courses included Women's Empowerment, Counselling Level I, SEND Level 3, The Nurturin8 programme, You and Me Mum, Bump Birth and Beyond, Baby Massa8e and Early Communication Group5 Liverpool Women's Hospital Trust had 3,081 contatt5 antenatal and Saw 416 babie5 for New-born Hearing Screening 31Page FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD Report of the Trustees lor the year ended 31st March 2024 (continued) Strategic Report (contlnued) Our Focus on Poverty (contlnued) We continue to work with Statutory and Community this includes: Liverpool City Council - Family Hubs, targeted youth service, early help, children services. public health. adult Learnin8 Service et pss Crosby Training Citizen's Advice Liverpool Perinatal Mental Health Service Alder Hey Infant Feeding Service Shelter Kinship Carers Liverpool ADHD Foundation Merseycare Liverpool LWHT STEC Speke and Garston Adventure Playgrounds YPAS Alder Hey Perinatal Mental Health Service School Improvement Liverpool National Trust - Speke Soclal Landlords Local Schools and Training providers Our role as lead organisation for Youth and Play locally came to an end In August 2024 as Llverpool shlfted how It fund5 Youth and Play. returning autonomy to the sector, In the last six months, acting as lead, FCFT assisted in the achievement of £1.4 million YoLtth Investment Funding and supported with applications to LCC for a five year investment in both Adventure Play8rounds. We continue to support local youth and play providers through board representation, providing support and advice on a range of matters such as HR, Fundraisin8, and Safeguarding etc. We have been an actSve participant In the roll out of LCC Neighbo(rrhood Model and currently lead on a number of task and finish group5 related to Neighbourhood prlorltles, In particular a Thrivin8 Community and Voluntary Sector and Redurtion in Anti-social behaviour. Our New Futures Group continue to support us in our work and in addition both Children Centres now have active parent 8roups who provide informal support and signposting, 5UPPOrt with events and activities and broker in specific training that is wanted and needed by parents. We were approached in year to 5UPPOrt Speke Parents, a parent led group with a broad focus across all ages. The group has arranged a number of thematic talks which have included supportin8 neuro-diversity. menopause, and school refusers (post Covidl. We have provided free accommodation and supported with resources. PractStloners have been able to access training to deliver a range of new evidence based courses which include Triple P, Welcome to the World, PEEP, Parental Conflict and Lighthouse MBT. Lighthouse will be delivered as part of a partnership with Alder Hey perinatal services. CAMHS, PSS and FC￿. It 15 an intensive 20 week programme that is underpinned by mentalisation based therapy as an approach that is supported by the Anna Freud Centre, who shape and lead practice across England's Family Hub Networks. We encourage our families to participate in research projects and have supported the Children Growin8 Up in Liverpool ICGUL) research project. School Improvement Liverpool. development of an ACES strategy and training programme. National Trust- Speke Poverty Proofing project and LCC Housin8 Strategy. FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2024 (continued) Strate8ic Report (continued} Flve Chlldcare We have had a significant setback to our childcare operation. Muddy Footprints Garston remains closed, initially to enable GAP to complete their refurbishment, we received a rental income from them in support of this. More latterly we have raised objections wlth the Office of Traffic Controller IOTCI and Liverpool City Council ILCCI planning department in relation to a planning application to establish a Builders Yard and Heavy Goods Operating Centre immediately adjacent to the nursery. We believe that if this is approved it will compromise both the safety of children and quality of the care we can offer. We are aware that there is a Public Enquiry planned and we have political support in relation to our objections for the proprietor to be granted an operating license. The CEO for LCC has raised an objection with the OTC. However LCC has to remaln neutral with regard to planning applications. We have taken advice and are confident that the prop0531 breaches the Liverpool Local Plan 2013-2033 in a number of areas and furthermore the proposal has no strategic significance to the plan. We have also shifted our chlldren centre dellvery to our Muddy Footprints, Parklands site due to issues In relation to the provision of sufficient toilets on site for the nursery operation. This has resulted in a net loss of 19 childcare places in Speke, at a point when we were planning expansion. We are working proactively with LCC A55et Management and Chlldcare Sufficiency teams to resolve thls matter. It is our Intention to enter into a S year lease once a resolution has been achieved. Our Childcare continues to operate sustalnably and we have reduced staffing through natural movement of staff to other roles in the company, although sadly we have lost some practitioners to the early yearfs sector. We are also mindful of the impact to our community and continue to push for an expedient resolution. Despite these setbacks, our nursery continues to fully inte8rate with the work of our children centre and add value to all aspects of our delivery, In particular SEND, parentin8, safe8uardin8 and poverty work. As indicated above they have delivered 76,376 free childcare hours across the year. Levels of children on roll having an identified special educational need, requirin8 intervention has increased. LCC SEND team acknowledges that levels of need are greater in Speke. Our Childcare Manager contlnues to chair the Early Years Consortia, which consider5 representation from settings In relation to support for SEND children and she is also the representative for South Liverpool Private and Voluntary Sector Nurseries Our settings contlnue to embed best practice approaches in relation to enhancing support for chlldren to develop speech, language and communication skills as more than 50% of our children have mild to moderate delay in speech and language at their 2 year Base Line assessment. SIPa8e FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2024 {contlnued) Public Benefit Statement The Children Centre contract has a 100% focus on public benefit for children and families in Speke Garston and Cressington wards. We support working parents with advice and guidance. ensuring maximum take up of childcare tax credits reducingfees by as much as 80% for the majority of parents and currently our ratio of free childcare provislon stands at 60% compared to 40% fee paying. FCFT always ensures that fees are kept as low as possible without compromising our business sustainabilitv. We maintalned and built on our links with local businesses whosupport our Food Poverty Work and would like to thank: Astrazeneca, Fords, Nandos. Asda, Fords, Cash for Kids and Bid Foods all of whom have supported us to ensure families can have acce55 to food and resources throughout the year and in particular over holiday periods. Through our Children Centre work we also support families to access resources through other charitable trusts and we are workln8 Wlth Torus Housing to dlstribute fuel vouchers to familles. Our SEND Link workers a150 a5$15t with the preparation of Disability Living Allowance applications and appeals on behalf of children with Special Educational Needs and Disability ISENDI. We actively advocate on behalf of SEND children in terms of ensuring they are able to access support through the earlv vearfs consortia and ensure Education and Health Care Plans are in place prlor to them startin8 school. We continue to provide free trainlng and consultancy to other local community organisatlons and 8roups on policv development, HR matters, funding and Safeguarding Children. R15k mana8emont The risk assessment re8lSter has been updated including any risks associated with new proposa15. A summary of kev risks Is set out below whi15t the Ilkelihood of Covid 19 continuing to have the level of impact at the height of the pandemic the Board feels that it is Important to include the risk of a significant outbreak of this or any other emergent viruses not withstanding coronavirus mutations and or potential new contagion: Significant Viral Contagion - risk to employees: Full and immediate indlvidual risk assessment of all staff, in particular those considered as vulnerable to viral infection Board and SMT commitment to maintain 100% of salary payments providing this does not pose a wider financial business risk. Work at home and in work protocols in place Risk assessments agreed based on Department for Education and Local Authority guidellnes Significant Viral Conta8ion - financial Impact.. Government committed to maintaining early years fundlng Funding for all children centre posts maintained through Local Authority Revlew any Government support available Deployment of staff to ensure all aspects of the business function Significant Viral Conta8ion - community impact: Children centre and childcare staff identified as -critical Workers" all settings to remain open to the public All children unable to attend childcare provided with regular key person contact and horne working packs Working practices have been updated to ensure regular contact through new mediums this includes. delivery of Zoom Sessions, regular welfare ca115. provision of food and voucher5, 1.1 contact, delivery of activity packs, maintenance of antenatal services Strong community links established ensure the centre can operate for wider Community benefit Regular review of all risk assessments to ensure staff and community safety at all times FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2024 (continued) Achlevements and performance (continued) Risk management Icontlnued) L055 of revenues: On80in8 joint working across Liverpool Children Centre Network to support joint income generation New tenancies have been maintained Review of childcare waiting lists and allocations process Review of nursery group structure and staffin8 Regular meetings of SMTto ensure places are maximised across the group network Work to support Gar5ton Adventure Playground will result in rental revenues for Muddy Footprints Current plans are in place to create Family Hubs provldin8 longer term security for Children centres and potential for increased revenues and wide community benefit Increase in competition base for childcare All settings are graded good settings by Of5ted. Childcare participate in achievement of externally verifled quality assurance schemes Ambitious tar8ets negotiated to ensure we achieve good outcomes for children Ability to respond effectively and flexibly to 30 hours free funding for workin8 parents Changes to Children Centre's and Childcare Inspection Frameworks Centre works closely with Local Authority Quality Improvement Officers and Children Centre Central Senrfice Team Staff qualifications include Qualified Teacher Status, Early Years Practitioner and a hi8h number of graduate qualifications across the organisation SMT participate in a number of peer support networks to explore best practice approaches All existing policyi procedure, practice and information system5 have been reviewed in line with proposed change5 Board and SMT have revlsed curriculum intent which is consistent with our community aspiration and context SMT and whole staff superlision and appraisal is in plate All nursery settings have been inspected under the new framework and have been graded Good Lack of opportunity to build up adequate resenrfes in line wlth the or8anisatSons reser¥es policv LCC will underwrite any potential redundancy of core children centre staff Nursery recovery plan demonstrated increased income Terms and condit.ions have been reviewed in year Government has introduced a Flexible Support Fund enabling parents to pay upfront childcare costs Government implementation of free childcare for children of working parent5 aged 9 months to 4 years Potential si8nificant maintenance requirements arise in relation to the Children Centre Asset Centre implements a regular maintenance programme Ability to draw down some capital budget through LCC Reviewed tenancy agreements SLH are amenable to discussion In relation to asset transfer in 2024 71Page FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2024 Icontinued) Rlsk mana8efflent {continued) Failure to adequately safeguard children.. Maintain robust policy implementation Re8ular review of safe8uardin8 policy and practlce through case mana8ement Systems and audit arran8ements Completion of childcare safeguarding audits on all sites Participation in multi -agency networks Particlpation in Liverpool Safeguarding Partnership trainln8 programme and policy update service Raising community awareness regarding keeping children Safe Staff, volunteers and board receive appropriate safeguarding trainin8 SMT representatives support Liverpool Safe8uardln8 Children's Board with dlsseminatlon of training Lo55 of key staff and pressures arising on the SMT Focus on team development Identified staff undertakin8 8raduate quallfications Succession planning in place Flnanclal revlew The accounts show an increase in income of £289,170 to £1.808,84112023 £1,519,671). The trustees report a surplus of £65,07312023 deficlt £36,549). This represents a deflclt of E130.24612023 deficit £148,624} on restricted funds and a surplus of £195,31912023 deficit £112,075) on unrestricted funds. Investments powers and pollcy Under the Mernorandum and Articles of Association. the charity has the power to Invest in any way the trustees w15h. Pollcy on remuneratlon of key mana8ement personnel The charity is committed to ensuring that we pay our staff fairly and in a way which ensures we attract and retain the right skills to have the 8reatest impact in delivering our charitable objectives. The Board undertakes an annual revlew of salaries with the CEO in attendance, although the CEO does not participate in the disCU55ions around their own salary. All salary reviews take account of the broader financial position of the organisation. When cafrylng out its reviews, the Board has re8ard to: Industry benchmarks, including the pay grades of similar role5 Within the local authority, where services are commissioned by those bodies; makin8 sure that pay rates are competitive within the sector; the rernuneration package as a whole including pension contributions. and rewarding good performance. 81Page FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2024 (continued) Reserves policy The charitls reserves policy is to build up an unrestricted reserve sufficient to enable the charity's activities to be continued for a period of 3 months should re8ular funding be reduced or become unobtainable. This would provide the trustees with sufficient time to consider how the operations of the charity could be developed to enable its serlices to continue to be provided given the levels of funding available. At present this level of reserves is realistically unobtainable but the trustees are looklng at ways of Increasing its incoming resources that would enable unrestricted reserves to be built up over a period of time. Our business strategy is focused on the creatlon of a mixed economy that Is.. Less reliant on Brant or a sln8le source of income Builds on our existin8 enterprise portfollo and the creation of unrestrlcted reserves Ensures that all projects are based on the prlnclples of full c05t recovery The build-up of a financial reserve is clearly linked to organisational performance and is wholly dependent on the or8anisation's ability to respond, develop and innovate within the context of our enterprise work. Thls Is consistent with our buslness mission: "We will grow our services, innovatively, profitably and in accordance with our charitable mission. In building sufficient reserves, we will be able to respond to potential risks and contin8encies that may arlse from time to tlme enabllng us to Meet flnancial risks associated with any contlngency or uncertainty relatlng to the charlty's operatin8 activities. These include.. The provision for an orderly winding-down of operations in the event of a significant adverse event that IS Outside the control of the charity. Shifts in legislation that may affect existing services provided for by the charity. FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2024 (continued) Structure, governance and management Post balance sheet events There are no slgnificant post balance sheet events to report. Governing document The charity is a company limited by guarantee and is governed by its Memorandum and Artlcles of Association dated 27th June 2001 as amended on 2nd March 2006 to allow for current governance arrangements. The company was registered as a charity on 23rd January 2006. Membership of the charity is open to indivlduals or organisations who qualify in accordance with the policy and criteria for admi55ion of members made by the trustees. Organisation The board of trustees. which can have up to 9 members. administers the charity. The board meets at least four times a year and there are sub-committees coverin8 finance, nominations and human resources. A Chlef Executlve is appolnted by the trustees to manage the day to day operations of the charlty. To facilitate effective operations, the Board has delegated authority to the Chief Executive for all operational malters including finance, employment and performance related activity. Appolntment of trustees As set out in the Articles of AssocSatlon the nominatlons committee will advise the charity on: Identification and Selection of new trustees and making nominations to the AGM for the appointment of new trustees. Policy, criteria and other matters relating to membership of the charity. Appointment of the Chair. Deputy Chalr, Treasurer and any other office holders. The nominations committee has delegated authority to carry out Its role detailed above and to make such nominations as it see5 fit. The charity is committed to the full involvement of parents in its strategic development and we would always Seek to have a third of our membership made up of local parents. Currently 50% of the board is made up of local parents, The trustees have the power to co-opt any person duly qualified to be appointed as a trustee to fill a vacancy in their number or as an additional trustee but a co-opted trustee holds office only until the next AGM. All members are circulated with the invitations to nominate trustees prior to the AGM advisin8 them of the retiring trustees and requesting nominations for the AGM. Nominees appointed by Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Primary Care Trust are subject to the appointment processe5 of those bodies and the guidelines on appointment to public office as they apply to Local Government and Oepartment of Health nominees. 101 Page FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2024 (continued) Structure of Trustee induction and training New trustees undergo an induction to brtef them on: Their legal obligations under charity and company law. The content of the Memorandum and Articles of Association. Decision making processes. The business plan. Recent flnancial performance of the charitv, The Code of Conduct for Board Members. Their responsibilitles for safeguarding chlldren. Durin8 the Induction perlod board members arrangements are made for them to meet key employees and other trustees. Trustees are encoura8ed to attend appropriate external training events where these wlll facllltate the undertaklng of their role. The charity ensures adequate funds are available for trustees to undertake tralning in relation to their roles and responsibilities. Statement of trustees, responsibilitles The trustees (who are also directors of Five Children and Famllles Trust Ltd for the purposes of company lawl are responsible for preparln8 the Trustees, Annual Report lincludin8 the Strategic Report) and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kin8dom Accounting Standards Iunited Kingdom Generally Accepted Accountlng Practice). 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 resource5 and application of resource5, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company'for that period, In preparlng these financlal statements. the trustees are required to: select suitable a¢¢ountin8 policies and then apply them consistently; observe the methods and principles in the charities SORP 2019 IFRS 102}- make Judgements and estlmates that are reasonable and prudent. state whether applicable UK Accountin8 Standards have been followed. subjert to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.. prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation. The trustees are responsible for keepin8 adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at anv time the financial posltion of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Cornpanies Act 2006. The trustees are also responsible for safe8uarding the assets of the charitable companv and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. IIIPa8e FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 20241continued) Trustees. statement of dlsclosure of Information to the audStors Each of the persons who is a trustee at the date of approval of this report confirm in so far as they are aware that.. there is no relevant audit Information of which the charitable company's auditor is unaware. and the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information. v Order ofthe Trustees Mord Trustee 20 December 2024 121Page Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited Accountants 5 Temple Square Temple Street Liverpool L2 5RH FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD Independent Auditorfs Report to the Members of Five Children and Families Trust Ltd For the year ended 31st March 2024 Opinion We have audited the financial statements of Five Children and Families Trust Ltd (the 'charitable companl) for the year ended 31st March 2024 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows and the notes to the financial statements. including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financlal 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 Kln8dom Generally Accepted Accountin8 Practlcel. In our opinion the financial statements., give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31st March 2024 and of its incoming resources and applicatlon of resources, including its income and expenditure. for the year then ended; have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kin8dom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and have been prepared in accordance with the requirement5 of the Companies Act 2006. Bjsls lor oplnlon We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing {UK} IISAS IUKII 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 charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK. includin8 the FRC'S Ethlcal Standard, and we have fulfllled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance wlth these requirements. We believe that the audlt evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. Concluslons relatlni to iolni Concern In auditing the financial 5tatement5, we have concluded that the Irustee5' use of the going concern basi5 of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Based on thework we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relatingtoeventsorconditions that, individually or collectively. may cast signif icant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to goin8 concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. 131Page Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited Accountants 5 Temple Square Temple Street Liverpool L2 5RH FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD Independent Auditorfs Report to the Members of Flve Children and Families Trust Ltd For the year ended 31st March 2024 Icontinwedl Other Information The other information comprises the information included in the trustees, annual report. other than the financial statements and our auditorfs report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial 5tatement5 does not cover the other Information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and. In doin8 so. consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the flnancial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audlt or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material mi55tatements, we are requlred to determine whether thi5 gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothln8 to report in thls re8ard. Oplnlons on other matters pre$crlbed by the Companies Act ZIJ06 In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: the Information given In the tru5tees' report (incorporating the 5trate8ic report and the director5, report prepared for the purposes of company lawl for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared 15 cons1StÈnt with the financial statements: and the strateglc report and the directors, report have been prepared in accordance wlth appllcable legal requirements. Matters on whlch we are required to report by ex¢eptlon In the light of the knowledge and understandin8 of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit. we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report and the directors, report. We have nothing to report in respect of the followin8 matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if. in our opinion.. adequate accountin8 records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and return5,' or certain disclosure5 of trustees. remuneration specified by law are not made; or we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. 141 Page Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited Accountants 5 Temple Square Temple Street Liverpool L2 SRH FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD Independent Auditorfs Report to the Members of Flve Children and Familles Trust Ltd For the year ended 31st March 2024 Icontlnuedl Re$ponslbilltles of trustees As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees, Responsibilities set out on page 11, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company lawl are responsible for the preparation of the flnancial statements and for beln8 satisfled that they 8ive a true and falr vlew, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financlal Statements that are free from material misstaternent, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements. the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company's ability to continue as a goin8 concern, dlsclosin8, as applicable. matters related to 80ing concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to Ilquldate the charitable company or to cease operatlon5, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. Auditor's responslbllStles for the audit of the flnanclal statements Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the flnancial 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 oplnlon. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance. but is not a 8uarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAS IUKI 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 flnancial statements. Irregularities, Including fraud, are instances of non-compliance wlth laws and regulations. We desi8n procedures In Ilne with our responsibilities. outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud, The extent to whlch our procedures are capable of detectin8 Irregularities, Including fraud. is detailed below: Extent to whlch the audlt was consldered capabl• of det•ctln£ Irreiularltles, Includlng fraud We identify and a55e55 the risks of material misstatement of the financial statement5, whether due to fraud or error, and then desi8n and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. Identlfying and.assessln8 Potentlal rlsks related to Irregularltle$ In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non- compliance with laws and re8ulations. we considered the followin8". the nature ofthe Industry and sector, control envlronment and business performance: the charitable companws own assessment of the risks that irregularities may occur either a5 a result of fraud or error; the results of our enquiries of management and members of the Board of Trustees of their own identification of and assessment of the risks of irre8ularities; any matters we identified having obtained and reviewed the charitable company's documentation of their policies and procedures relating to.. 151Page Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited Accountants 5 Temple Square Temple Street Liverpool L2 5RH FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD Independent Auditorfs Report to the Members of Five Children and Families Trust Ltd For the year ended 31st March 2024 Icontlnutdj Identlfylng and assessing potential rlsks related to Irregularltles (contlnued) identifying, evaluatlng and complyirn8 Wlth laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of non