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2022-03-31-accounts

Company number

5866861

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

(formerly North East Suffolk Citizens Advice Bureau)

Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2022

Registered charity number 1115522

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Contents

Page No

10 - 19 Note to the financial statements

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Legal and administrative information

Legal structure The charity is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and
Wales
Charity Registration No. 1115522
Chairman Steven Alderson (Resigned 16 June 2022)
Nick Mayo (Appointed 20 June 2022)
Board of Trustees
- Elected members Peter Stott (Deceased 19 February 2022)
Malcolm Pitchers (Resigned 31 March 2022)
Jan Wickham (Resigned 31 March 2022)
Peggy McGregor (Resigned 31 August 2021)
Steven Alderson (Resigned 16 June 2022)
Stephen Curtis (Resigned 11 August 2022)
Leanne Munro (Resigned 11 August 2022)
Jeremy Caborn (Resigned 31 March 2022)
Rhys Jarvis (Resigned 16 June 2022)
Roger Guthrie (Appointed 11 April 2022)
Ed Day (Appointed 11 April 2022)
David Verney (Appointed 11 April 2022)
Nick Mayo (Appointed 11 April 2022)
Craig Fiddaman (Appointed 11 April 2022)
Susan Robinson (Appointed 11 April 2022)
- Council nominees Tony Cooper (East Suffolk Council)
Keith Robinson (Suffolk County Council)
Company Secretary Janet John (Resigned 21 June 2022)
Craig Fiddaman (Appointed 21 June 2022)
Chief Officer Janet John (to 21 June 2022)
Chiara Saunders (from 21 June 2022)
Principal Address and St Margaret's House
Registered Office Gordon Road
Lowestoft
Suffolk
NR32 1JQ
Independent Examiner Cunninghams
Number Sixty One
Alexandra Road
Lowestoft
Suffolk
NR32 1PL

1

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Trustees' Report for the year ended 31 March 2022

The Trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act, present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the 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)

On 16 March 2022 the company changed its name to Citizens Advice East Suffolk ("CAES") preparatory to the merger with Citizens Advice - Felixstowe and District and Leiston, Saxmundham and District Citizens Advice Bureaux, see Post Balance Sheet Event below. The charity is governed by its Memorandum of Asociation dated 5 July 2006 [as amended by Special Resolution September 2022].

Objectives

CAES' charitable objectives were to promote any charitable purpose for the benefit of the communities in North East Suffolk, southern Norfolk and surrounding areas (" the area of benefit") by the advancement of education, the protection and preservation of health and the relief of poverty, sickness and distress. The area of benefit was widened by a Special Resolution passed in General Meeting on 5 September 2022 to refer to East Suffolk rather than North East Suffolk.

Induction of Trustees

Newly-appointed Trustees are provided with a comprehensive induction to the Bureau through the provision of training courses and mentoring by the Bureau Chief Officer and established Trustees.

Organisational Structure

The Bureau is governed by its Trustee Board which is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organisation and the policy of the charity. The Trustees carry the ultimate responsibility for the conduct of the Bureau and ensuring that the charity satisfies its legal and contractual obligations. Trustees meet, as a minimum, quarterly and delegate the day-to-day operation of the organisation to the Chief Officer. The Trustee Board is independent from management. A register of members' interests is maintained at the registered office and is available on request.

Trustees are elected from the local community. Appointments to the Board are governed by an elections process set out in the Bureau's Quality Manual and overseen by the Trustees, the Company Secretary and the Chairman. A separate process agreed by the Trustee Board is followed for the election of the Chairman. The reference and administrative details for the Bureau identify the date and proposers for each of the current Trustees. No persons or bodies external to the charity were entitled to appoint persons to the Trustee Board.

2

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Trustees' Report for the year ended 31 March 2022

Related Parties

CAES is a member of Citizens Advice, the operating name of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, which provides a framework of advice and case management as well as monitoring progress against those standards. Operating policies are determined independently by the Bureau's Trustee Board in order to fulfil its charitable objectives and to comply with the national membership requirements. The charity also cooperates and liaises with a number of other advisory services, local charities and local and national government bodies on behalf of clients.

Significant activities

Following the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic CAES services have been predominantly delivered remotely via phone and email. In addition to general advice expected of Citizens Advice additional projects have also been undertaken. These have included social prescibing by way of Solutions in conjunction with local health services, the Suffolk Advice and Support Service in partnership with other Local Citizens Advice offices, Anglia Care Trust and Ipswich Housing Action Group.

Achievements and performance

The organisation dealt with more than 20,000 issues presented by more than 5000 individual clients in the year ended 31 March 2022. The major areas of work were Benefits, including Universal Credit, Debt, Housing, Health and Community Care, Relationships and Family, Employment and Financial Services including Capability. Clients were split roughly 60:40 female:male with more than 50% suffering disability or long-term health issues and covered ages from 15-19 to over 100.

Major risks

Whilst the merger with other local offices, see Post Balance Sheet Event below, affords the possibility of better security it is the view of the trustees that the principal risk facing the organisation is that of funding. Whilst the combined reserves of the three organisations affords some comfort in the short term it is only by securing adequate annual funding that the future of the charity can be assured.

Other risks of note include those associated with the bringing together of three organisations with different operational methods and cultures, maintaing a committed group of staff and volunteers and providing a fully integrated and accessible communications and IT structure.

3

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Trustees' Report for the year ended 31 March 2022

Financial review

Incoming resources for the year were £564,662 (2021 - £557,509). A total surplus of £29,757 (2021 - £118,190) was made in the year.

At 31 March 2022 total reserves were £379,601 (2021 - £349,844) of which £336,651 (2021 -£315,651) represented unrestricted funds.

Reserves policy

The Board believe that as at 31 March 2022 reserves of £150,000 are required to hold against the principal risk of reduced funding. Such reserve to include the potential cost of redundancies due to any such reduced funding, such reserve previously treated as designated.

In addition the Board has agreed that a designated fixed asset reserve shoud be created equivalent in value to the net book value of fixed assets at the year end in order to reflect the non-liquid nature of thse assets.

Post balance sheet event

The three boards of North East Suffolk Citizens Advice Bureau, as was, Citizens Advice - Felixstowe & District ("Felixstowe") and Leiston, Saxmundham & District Citizens Advice Bureau ("Leiston") agreed in March 2022 to merge with effect from 1 April 2022. The merger accomplished by the transfer of all assets, liabiities and staff from Leiston and Felixstowe to CAES, as renamed. Net assets of the merged organisation at 1 April 2022 were in excess of £850,000 with budgeted income for the year ending 31 March 2023 in excess of £600,000.

Future plans

The merger is an exciting time and the new merged entity will continue to provide a high level of service by phone, email and appointment or drop-in to residents across the whole of the East Suffolk District. Opportunities will arise to develop specialisms, work with new partners and develop new projects as well as to strengthen our presence across the district.

Contributions of volunteers

Fifteen volunteer advisers contributed a minimum of six hours per week each to the Bureau during the year; other volunteers helped and supported the Bureau in administering the day-to-day aspects of the Bureau.

4

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Trustees' Report for the year ended 31 March 2022

Trustees

The Trustees who served the charity during the period are as shown in the legal and administrative information set out on page 1.

Statement of Trustees' responsibilities in respect of the financial statements

Company and charity law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the surplus or deficit of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

The Trustees have overall responsibility for ensuring that the charity has appropriate systems of controls, financial and otherwise. They are also responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy, at any time, the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 1985 and the Statement of Recommended Practice, "Accounting and Reporting by Charities". They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities and to provide reasonable assurance that:

the charity is operating efficiently and effectively;

the assets are safeguarded against unauthorised use or disposition;

proper records are maintained and financial information used within the charity or for publication is reliable; and

the charity complies with relevant laws and regulations.

By order of the Board

Nick Mayo Director

7 February 2023

5

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S STATEMENT TO THE MEMBERS

ON THE UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS OF

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

This report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2022, which are set out on page 8 to 15, is in respect of an examination carried out under s.145 of the Charities Act 2011.

Respective responsibilities of the charity and the examiner

As members of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 144 of the Act does not apply. It is my responsibility to issue this report on those accounts in accordance with the terms of Regulation 25.

Basis of this Report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(7)(b) of the Act.

That examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes considering any unusual explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements

Ben Lynes FCA Cunninghams Number Sixty One Alexandra Road Lowestoft 09-Feb-23 Suffolk NR32 1PL

6

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Statement of Financial Activities

For the year ended 31 March 2022

Unrestricted
Funds
Notes
£
Income and endowments from
Donations and legacies
2
160,411
Charitable activities
3
71,547
Investments
-
Total Income
231,958
Expenditure on
Raising funds
-
Charitable activities: Support
5
208,958
Total expenditure
208,958
Net income / (expenditure)
23,000
Total Funds brought forward at 1 April 2021
315,651
Total Funds carried forward at 31 March 2022
338,651		 Restricted
Funds
£
233,505
99,199
-
332,704
-
325,947
325,947
6,757
34,193
40,950		 Total
Total
Funds
Funds
2022
2021
Note 4
£
£
393,916
400,071
170,746
157,438
-
-
564,662
557,509
-
-
534,905
439,319
534,905
439,319
29,757
118,190
349,844
231,654
379,601
349,844

During the year there were no recognised gains or losses other than those included above.

All of the results above are derived from continuing activities.

7

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Balance Sheet

Notes
Fixed Assets
Tangible assets
8
Current Assets
Debtors
9
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors:amounts falling due within one year
10
Net Current Assets
Net Assets
Funds
Restricted Funds
11
Unrestricted Funds
12
Designated Funds
General Charitable Funds
Total Funds
As at 31 March 2022		 2022
£
130,031
28,112
262,319
290,431
40,861)
(
249,570
379,601
40,950
180,031
158,620
379,601		 2021
£
140,652
27,263
201,634
228,897
19,705)
(
209,192
349,844
34,193
50,000
265,651
349,844

For the year ending 31 March 2022 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime .

These accounts were approved by the Board of Directors at the Board meeting on 7 February 2023 and signed on its behalf by:-

Nick Mayo Director Company Registration Number 5340083

8

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Cash flow statement

Notes
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations
Loan repayment deducted from funding
Net cash provided by operating activities
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 2021
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 March 2022
14
Reconciliation of cash flows from operating activities
Net income for the year (as per statement of financial activities)
Depreciation
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Net cash provided by operating activities
(see above)
For the year ended 31 March 2022		 2022
2021
£
£
60,684
154,335
-
20,000)
(
60,684
134,335
-
14,714)
(
-
14,714)
(
60,684
119,621
201,634
82,013
262,318
201,634
29,757
118,190
10,621
8,149
849)
(
20,312
21,156
7,684
60,684
154,335

9

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

1 Accounting Policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice, effective 1 January 2015, in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102, applicable UK Accounting Standards and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis. The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below.

Key judgements and assumptions

The nature of the company's affairs is such that the directors believe that there are no areas of significant judgement and no significant assumptions that are required in the preparation of the financial statements other than those relating to going concern. Going concern rests on the availability of future funding and any uncertainty over such income is mitigated by the assessment of reserves that should be held by the company, see below.

Income

All income is included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

Expenditure

Liabiliities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Freehold property 2% on cost Improvements to property 10% on cost Fixtures & furniture 20% reducing balance

10

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

Debtors

Prepayments, relating to expenditure incurred which has economic benefit in future acounting periods, and accrued income, relating to income due and receivable but outstanding at the balance sheet date, are measured at their recoverable amount being the sum that will be received after the balance sheet date.

Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

Accruals, relating to expenditure not paid until after the balance sheet date which confers economic benefit on the current accounting period, is recognised at the amount of that economic benefit. Deferred income, relating to income received in the current accounting period but which relates to future periods, is reognised as the whole of the income in question. Restricted fund income received in the current accounting period which relates to the current and future periods is recognised within restricted funds, see below.

Funds

Funds fall into two categories, restricted, where their use is governed by the wishes of the entity providing the funds or the contractual terms under which the funds are earned and, unrestricted, where there are no pre-conditions to the use of the funds other than the charitable objectives of the organisation.

Funds are transferred from restricted to unrestricted funds as they become free from the relevant restrictions.

Within unrestricted funds designated funds are maintained to meet identified planned future costs which are not capable of being met out annual budgets.

It is the aim of the charity to maintain the balance of unrestricted reserves at a level that would give it the ability to meet the estimated costs associated with the risks identified that the Bureau faces.

11

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

2 Donations, legacies and similar incoming resources

Donations
Grants Receivable
3
Charitable activities
Fundraising events
Money Advice Service
Service Level Agreements
James Paget Hospital - The Big C		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
11,412
148,999
160,411
Unrestricted
Funds
£
-
-
64,917
6,630
71,547		 Restricted
Funds
£
60,351
173,154
233,505
Restricted
Funds
£
-
99,199
-
-
99,199		 2022
£
71,763
322,153
393,916
2022
£
-
99,199
64,917
6,630
170,746		 2021
£
13,870
364,237
378,107
2021
£
51
72,687
77,940
6,760
157,438

12

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

4 Comparative Statement of Financial Affairs

The detailed Statement of Financial Affairs for the year ended 31 March 2021 is set out below

Unrestricted
Funds
£
Income from
Donations and legacies
196,489
Charitable activities
84,751
Investment
-
Total Incoming Resources
281,240
Resources Expended
Costs of generating funds
Charitable activities: Support
208,629
Total Resources Expended
208,629
Net Incoming Resources for the period
72,611
Total Funds brought forward at 1 April 2020
203,370
Total Funds carried forward at 31 March 2021
275,981
Charitable activities costs
Direct costs
Support costs (note 6)		 Restricted
Funds
£
203,582
72,687
-
276,269
230,690
230,690
45,579
28,284
73,863
2022
£
497,122
37,783
534,905		 Total
Funds
2021
£
400,071
157,438
-
557,509
439,319
439,319
118,190
231,654
349,844
2021
£
377,047
37,306
414,353

13

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

6 Support costs

Management
Finance
Governance
7
Staff, volunteers and trustees
The cost of staff was:-
Wages and salaries
Pension costs
Support
The average number of employees during the year was		 2022
£
37,566
217
37,783
2022
£
315,821
4,913
320,735
14		 2021
£
31,685
254
5,367
37,306
2021
£
279,736
10,970
290,706
16

No member of staff received emoluments (excluding employers' pension contributions) of more than £60,000.

No trustee received remuneration or any other benefits from an employment with the charity. No trustee received reimbursed travel expenses (2021 £Nil).

14

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

8 Tangible Fixed Assets

Cost
As at 1 April 2021
Additions
Disposals
As at 31 March 2022
Depreciation
As at 1 April 2021
Charge for the year
Disposals
As at 31 March 2022
Net Book Value
As at 31 March 2022
As at 31 March 2021
9
Debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
10 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Accruals
Deferred income		 Freehold
property
£
101,472
-
-
101,472
6,539
2,030
-
8,569
92,903
94,933		 Property
improvements
£
36,643
-
-
36,643
15,560
3,664
-
19,224
17,419
21,083		 Fixtures
furniture
& IT
£
93,757
-
-
93,757
69,121
4,927
-
74,048
19,709
24,636
2022
£
22,142
5,970
28,112
2022
£
40,861
-
40,861		 Total
£
231,872
-
-
231,872
91,220
10,621
-
101,841
130,031
140,652
2021
£
20,725
6,538
27,263
2021
£
19,705
-
19,705

15

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

11 Restricted funds

Restricted funds
Money Advice Service
Help to Claim
East Suffolk Council - Solutions
Client funding
Other
MAPS
-
Help to Claim
-
Lowestoft Primary Care Network -
Solutions
-
Client funding
Other
-		 At 1 April
At 31 March
2021
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
2022
£
£
£
£
£
2,395
99,199
101,594
-
-
-
36,576
36,576
-
-
19,111
136,578
132,100
-
23,589
2,879
60,351
50,693
-
12,537
9,808
-
4,984
-
4,824
34,193
332,704
325,947
-
40,950
The provision of social prescribing and community based support to
the patients registered with the 8 GP surgeries serving Lowestoft
and the surrounding area.
A UK Government contract awarded to National Citizens Advice and
delivered through the Citizens Advice network to assist claimants in
the completion of applications for Universal Credit.
Funds provided for improvements to the offices at St Margaret's
House
Funding provided by Rope Trust, Barchester Health DRO and others
to support clients suffering hardship.
Funding to provide a caseworker, trainee money adviser and
associated costs to provide advice to those in debt		 At 31 March
2022
£
-
-
23,589
12,537
4,824
40,950

16

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

12 Unrestricted funds

Designated funds
Contractual commitments
Premises
Property reserve
General charitable funds		 At 1 April
2021
£
43,500
6,500
-
265,651
315,651		 Income
£
-
-
-
231,958
231,958		 Expenditure
£
-
-
-
208,958)
(
208,958)
(		 At 31 March
Transfers
2022
£
£
-
43,500
-
6,500
130,031
130,031
130,031)
(
158,620
-
338,651

Contractual commitments - contracted payments to staff including redundancy, provision of locum maternity and sickness cover and the costs of any disciplinary and/or grievance procedures that may arise.

Premises - to provide for terminating leases and the cost of relocating to new premises either at the expiry of the current lease or if larger premises are deemed necessary.

Property reserve - equal to the net book value of fixed assets the designated fund serves to underline the illiquid nature of the investment in fixed assets

Of the general charitable funds £150,000 is considered by the trustees as the minimum level that needs to be retained in order to provide cover against risks that the Bureau faces, particularly that relating to uncertainty over future funding. The funds over and above this level will be used in the forthcoming years to fund improved services provided by the Bureau.

13 Analysis of net assets between funds

Restricted funds
Designated funds
General funds		 Tangible
Fixed
Assets
£
-
130,031
-
130,031		 Net
Current
Assets
Total
£
£
40,950
40,950
50,000
180,031
158,620
158,620
249,570
379,601

17

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

14 Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
Cash in hand
Bank current account
Total cash and cash equivalents		 2022
2021
125
149
262,194
201,485
262,319
201,634

15 Post Balance Sheet Event

By virtue of Merger agreements signed in February 2022 the directors of North East Suffolk Citizens Advice Bureau (Citizens Advice East Suffolk as now is) ("CANES"), Leiston, Saxmundham and District Citizens Advice Bureau (Leiston") and Citizens Advice - Felixstowe and District Limited ("Felixstowe") agreed to merge with effect from 1 April 2022. On that date all assets, liabilities, personnel and contracts of the last two named entities were transferred to Citizens Advice East Suffolk ("CAES"). The pro-forma balance sheet of the newly merged Citizens Advice East Suffolk as at 1 April 2022 was as follows:-

Fixed assets
Cash
Other net current assets/(liabilities)
Net Assets
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
Total funds		 Felixstowe
31 Mar 22
£
4,530
211,605
3,752
219,887
8,591
211,296
219,887		 Leiston
31 Mar 22
£
-
240,986
12,364)
(
228,622
18,272
210,350
228,622		 NESCAB
CAES
31 Mar 22
1 Apr 22
£
£
130,031
134,561
262,319
714,910
12,749)
(
21,361)
(
379,601
828,110
40,950
67,813
338,651
760,297
379,601
828,110

18

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

15 Regulatory and other information

The company is a registered charity, number 1109515, limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales.

The registered office is:St Margaret's House Gordon Road Lowestoft Suffolk NR32 1JQ

The charity is a Public Benefit Entity.

There have been no related party transactions that require disclosure.

19