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2024-03-31-accounts

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EAST DEVON CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by

Operating as

CITIZENS ADVICE EAST DEVON

DIRECTORS’ REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Charity No: 1115963 Company No: 05820956 (England and Wales)

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024


CONTENTS
Page
Report of the directors 3 - 8
Independent examiner’s report to the members 9
Statement of financial activities 10
Balance sheet 11
Notes forming part of the financial statements 12 - 17

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DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS


Registered charity number: 1115963

Registered company number: 05820956 Legal status:

East Devon Citizens Advice Bureau was originally registered as a charity on 13 March 1978. It was incorporated under the Companies Act 1985 as a private Company limited by guarantee on 18 May 2006. As a result, the charity was re-registered from 30 August 2006 to reflect its new legal status, the assets and liabilities of the old charity being transferred to the new charity from 1 December 2006. On 1 April 2008 East Devon CAB merged with Exmouth CAB maintaining the EDCAB Charity and Company registration numbers but changing its name to Citizens Advice Service East Devon. On 18 September 2010 the name reverted to East Devon Citizens Advice Bureau.

Directors/Trustees

Directors and Trustees: Directors of the company are also members of the company. Where a director was in post for part of the year this is shown in parenthesis. Where there is no parenthesis, the director was in post for the whole year.

Mary Punton (Chair) Alexander Alder-Westlake Edwina Bradshaw Andrew Duffy Terence Forman (to 20[th] March 2024) John Holme Dr. Bettina Kluettgens Felicity Liggins (to 1[st] August 2023) Mark Spicer (to 19[th] July 2023) Christopher Ward (from 20[th] March 2024) Sheila Whelan

Company Secretary:

Dean Stewart

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DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 (CONTINUED)

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS


Registered address:

67 Exeter Road Exmouth Devon EX8 1QD

Bankers:

CAF Bank 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ

Independent Examiner:

On Target Accounting Ltd 105, Chineway Gardens Ottery St Mary Devon EX11 1JJ

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DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024


DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Report of the Trustee Directors

The Trustees who are directors for Company Law purposes, have pleasure in presenting their report along with financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 . 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 Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland published on 16 July 2014.

Status

The company is limited by guarantee and has no shareholding. The Charity’s objects and regulations are set out in the company’s memorandum and Articles approved on 19 January 2022 and agreed by National Citizens Advice with the Charity Commission. The company is the successor to the earlier non-incorporated charity which ceased to operate on 30 November 2006 and its assets and funds transferred to the present charity.

Structure, governance and management

Citizens Advice East Devon is a member of the National Association of Citizens Advice (‘Citizens Advice’) and is regulated and inspected by the association. In addition, the charity is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 617590) and registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

The charity is governed by a board of directors/trustees who appoint a manager to execute policies and to be responsible for day to day management of the charity’s activities. The charity’s main office is located in Exmouth.

Objectives and activities

The charity is established for the purpose of benefitting the community in East Devon (the area of benefit)

The main activities in relation to these objectives are

Public Benefit

In planning our activities for the year, we kept in mind Charity Commission guidance on public benefit at our trustees’ meetings.

The focus of our activities remains to provide free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. We value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination. Our aims are to provide the advice people need for the problems the face, and to improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives. This benefits thousands of people each year, in East Devon. Clients often report improved health and increased confidence after receiving advice, both which reduce the demand for health services and contribute to happier, more integrated communities. In fact, the service saves time and money for society and stakeholders in many ways, for example, by preventing homelessness, avoiding legal action and helping people to fill in official forms.

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Our activities remain open to all members of the community regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age or nationality. We provide our services free to all, they are confidential, impartial and independent.

Report of the Chair of Trustees

Firstly, I would like to give my thanks to all of you who put so much effort into Citizens Advice East Devon (CAED).

I know that I am very fortunate to have a loyal group of experienced and dedicated volunteers, a committed and conscientious staff team and an insightful and constructively challenging Board of Trustees who bring a wide range of experience to their role.

2023/24 has been a year of consolidation following the changes of 2022/23 when CAED appointed a new CEO, a new Chair of Trustees, a new Treasurer and some new Trustees. In 2023/24 CAED has become a more settled and stable organisation that has continued to improve its procedures and protocols for interaction with clients. However, improvement requires continuous effort and in that spirit the process for the allocation of clients to advisers is currently being reviewed.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our funders who continue to provide financial support despite having to deal with their own financial challenges. Our main funders, Devon County Council and East Devon District Council actively promote CAED as the primary provider of independent advice that is free at the point of delivery. I am also grateful for the funding that comes from some Town and Parish Councils who recognise the importance of our service to their residents.

In 2023/24 CAED set a deficit budget of just over £50,000. This was a considered and well discussed decision. It was taken as it was not thought to be correct for the citizens of East Devon to potentially receive a reduced service when they were trying to deal with the impact of austerity and CAED had a relatively high level of reserves.

In the event, CAED finished the year with a surplus of just under £48,000. This was primarily due to a large donation that was received late in the financial year and staff costs being less than anticipated due to vacancies. As a general rule, CAED is very cost aware and endeavours to carry out its functions in an efficient, cost-effective manner.

In 2023/24 CAED has become more stable and robust. Processes and policies are clearer and better documented as borne out by a good year 2 Leadership Self Assessment -- an external validation of the progress made.

In 2024/25, to keep pace with the growing complexity of our clients' needs, we must continue to work in a smarter way, improve how we interact with clients and continue to embrace technology in order to increase our efficiency. A new staffing structure has been introduced which should facilitate this.

Once again, thank you for your support in 2023/24.

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DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 (CONTINUED)


Investment policy

The charity has the power to make any investment that the directors see fit.

Reserves policy

The trustees intend that there should be set aside in the medium term an amount equivalent to four months operating expenditure. Unrestricted funds are designated for equipment replacement, contractual commitments e.g. Staff salaries and premises to provide for the possibility of relocating, and, on a temporary basis, unrestricted funds have in addition been designated to fund the delivery of a transformed organization able to meet future challenges, to establish pro-active debt advice and to alleviate poverty

Risk management

The Directors have assessed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the charity and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate their exposure to major risks.

Review of transactions and financial position

The Charity’s income was lower by £87,152 than in 2022/23. This is more than explained by income of £160,141 in that year for the Ukraine Project. Responsibility for this and for the staff whom we had employed for the project transferred back to East Devon District Council at the start of 2023/24. This is also the main reason for a reduction in expenditure of £55,539. The reduction in income would have been greater but late in the year income was recognised from a generous donation of £30,000 intended to fund an enhanced debt advice service and £14,112 for aid to families in poverty. Both amounts are held as designated reserves (see note 15 to the accounts).

Trustees' responsibilities in relation to the financial statements

The trustees (who are also directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company 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 charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

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

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DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 (CONTINUED)


Statement as to disclosure to our Independent Examiners

In so far as the trustees are aware at the time of approving our trustees' annual report:

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime and Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities and was approved by the Directors and signed on their behalf by:

Signed: Signed Date: Date:

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF EAST DEVON CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

__________

I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on the following pages 10-17.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of The Institute of Chartered Accounts in England & Wales (ICAEW).

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

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

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

  3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

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

NAME: Sam Blackford ACA OF: On Target Accounting Ltd ADDRESS: 105 Chineway Gardens, Ottery St. Mary Devon, EX11 1JJ

SIGNED: DATE: 27 August 2024

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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024


Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
2023/24 2023/24 2023/24 2022/23
£ £ £ £
Notes
Incoming from:
Donations 31,879 - 31,879 3,646
Grants and contracts 238,528 18,000 256,528 374,352
Other income 3,584 - 3,584 1,145
_ _ _ _
Total 3 273,991 18,000 291,991 379,143
_ _ _ _
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities 4,5 212,294 31,972 244,266 299,805
_ _ _ _
Total 212,294 31,972 244,266 299,805
Net gains/(losses) on
investments 8 - - - -
_ ______ ______ ______
Net Income/(expenditure) 61,697 (13,972) 47,725 79,338
Transfers between funds 12 (13,972) 13,972 - -
______ ______ ______ ______
Net movement in funds 47,725 - 47,725 79,338
______ ______ ______ ______
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 155,712 - 155,712 76,374
______ ______ ______ ______
Total funds carried forward 11,12 203,437 - 203,437 155,712
====== ====== ====== ======

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BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024


Notes
Current assets
Investments
8
Prepayments and accrued income
9
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: Amount falling due
within one year
10
Net assets
Represented by:
Unrestricted fund
11,13
Restricted funds
11,12
2023/24
£
-
-
204,978
_
204,978
(1,541)
_
203,437
_
203,437
-
_
203,437
_
2022/23
£
-
-
166,033
_
166,033
(10,321)
_
155,712
_
155,712
-
_
155,712
_

For the financial year ended 31 March 2024 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors’ responsibilities:

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

Approved by the Board for issue on:

Director

Director

Company Registration No: 05820956

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


1. Company status

The charity is a company limited by guarantee. The members of the company are named on page 1. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity.

2. Accounting policies

a. Basis of preparation of financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) effective 1 January 2015 – Charities SORP (FRS 102), Charities SORP (FRS 102) updated Bulletin 1, The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

The East Devon Citizens Advice Bureau meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102, Assets and Liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

In preparing the accounts, the trustees have considered whether in applying the accounting policies required by FRS 102 and the Charities SORP FRS 102 the restatement of comparative items was required.

No restatement was considered necessary.

c. Income

Donations and grants

Income from donations and grants, including capital grants, is included in incoming resources when these are receivable, except as follows:

Interest receivable

Interest is included when receivable by the charity.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 (CONTINUED)


2. Accounting policies (continued)

d. Expenditure

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with use of resources. Expenses include VAT which cannot be recovered.

e. Assets and liabilities

These are included in the balance sheet at the following amounts: Other investments are included at fair value based on market value; Current assets at the lower of cost and net realisable value; Liabilities at their settlement value.

Items costing in excess of £1,000 and with an expected useful life of at least 5 years will be recognised as Fixed Assets.

f. Unrestricted funds

Both income and capital may be used for the general purposes of the charity. Funds which are unrestricted are classified in line with the Charity’s reserve policy.

These funds pay for administration of the affairs of the charity and for the various activities with which the charity is involved.

g. Restricted Funds

The charity’s restricted funds represent those funds received for specific purposes, in line with note 2c above.

h. Basic financial instruments

The charity only has financial instruments and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 (CONTINUED)

3. Income 2023 / 2024

Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
2023/24 2023/24 2023/24 2022/23
£ £ £ £
Donations
Grants for clients - - - -
Other donations 31,879 - 31,879 3,646
______ ______ ______ ______
31,879 - 31,879 3,646
______ ______ ______ ______
Grants and contracts
East Devon District Council 73,765 - 73,765 71,093
Devon County Council 69,849 - 69,849 55,414
Town and Parish Councils 9,500 - 9,500 14,442
Parent Support - 5,000 5,000 -
Children’s Centre - 13,000 13,000 10,500
Food and Fuel Fund 14,112 - 14,112 -
Other Grants for Services 63,518 - 63,518 62,763
Ukraine Project 7,784 - 7,784 160,141
______ ______ ______ ______
238,528 18,000 256,528 374,352
______ ______ ______ ______
Other income
Bank Interest received 3,514 - 3,514 1,145
Other income 70 - 70 -
______ ______ ______ ______
3,584 - 3,584 1,145
______ ______ ______ ______
Investment Income - - - -
______ ______ ______ ______
TOTAL INCOME 273,991 18,000 291,991 379,143
======= ======= ======= =======

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 (CONTINUED)


4. Expenditure 2023/24

The categories into which expenditure is analysed differ from those used in previous years.

Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
2023/24 2023/24 2023/24 2022/23
£ £ £ £
Fundraising expenses 0 0 0 Fundraising expenses 0
______ ______ ______ ______
Charitable Activities
Salaries (including NI & Pension) 138,604 24,564 163,168 Salaries (including NI & Pens) 229,502
______ ______ ______ ______
Travel, Expenses and Subsistence 1,997 287 2,284 Subsistence 380
Other Staff & Volunteer costs 1,077 46 1,123 Training 294
IT equipment and support 10,673 923 11,596 Staff and Volunteers Travel 5,572
Insurance 1,864 162 2,026 Photocopying 2090
Payroll / Accounting / Consultancy fees 9,947 454 10,401 Computer and office equipt 7,202
Reference materials, subscriptions 2,047 177 2,224 Heat and Light 3,013
Telephone & Communications 11,900 1,029 12,929 Payroll fees 2,070
Other Office Costs 3,235 162 3,397 Postage 948
Rent 21,839 3,025 24,864 Printing and Stationery 637
Heat & light 1,073 149 1,222 Reference materials 320
Cleaning, repairs and maintenance 1,077 149 1,226 Telephone 11,485
Other Premises Costs 4,245 491 4,736 Cleaning 494
Independent Examiner -500 0 -500 Insurance 378
Bank charges 108 12 120 Rent 15,090
Other Miscellaneous expenses 3,108 342 3,450 Repairs and maintenance 510
CITA charges 3,950
Accountancy 3,480
Legal and professional fees 7,665
Grants to clients 0
Sundry expenses 4,725
_ _ _ _
73,690 7,408 81,098 70,303
_ _ _ _
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 212,294 31,972 244,266 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 299,805
======= ======= ======= =======

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 (CONTINUED)


5. Analysis of Staff Costs and Remuneration of Key Management Personnel

Net Salaries and Wages
Employer's National Insurance Contributions
Employer's Pension Contributions
Total Salaries and Wages
2023 /24
2022 /23
£
£
156,801
217,686
3,699
8,104
2,668
3,712


163,168
229,502

The average number of employees was 12.5 (2022/23:15) with all employee time involved in providing either support to the governance of the charity or support services to charitable activities.

The Bureau considers that its key management personnel comprise the trustees and The Chief Executive Officer. The trustees receive no payment and the total employment benefits including employer pension and employer’s National Insurance contributions were £41,292 (2022/23: £22,678, but our Chief Executive Officer joined us midway through that year, the post having been vacant before then).

No employees had employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2022/23: none)

6. Taxation

The company is a registered charity and as such is not liable for corporation tax.

7. Movement in total funds for the year

This is stated after charging for Independent Examination

2023 /24 2022 /23
£ £
Independent Examiner accrual in 22/23 1,000
Reversal of Accrual in 23/24 (1,000)
Charge for 22/23 received in 23/24 250
Accrual for 23/24 250
Total (500) 1,000

8. Investments

The organisation released its investments into the general reserves in the financial year 2016/17.

9. Debtors £ £
Prepayments and accrued income - -
_ _
10. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year £ £
Accruals and Deferred Income 896 9,104
Other Creditors 645 1,217
______ _____
1,541 10,321

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 (CONTINUED)


11. Funds of the charity

The funds of the charity are composed of the following: -

Unrestricted Restricted Total
£ £ £
Current assets 204,978 - 204,978
Current liabilities
(1,541) - (1,541)
_ _
_
203,437 - 203,437
_ _ _
tricted Funds
At 1 April Income
Expenditure
Transfers At 31 March
2023 2024
£ £
£
£ £

12. Restricted Funds

Children’s Centre - 13,000 15,539 2,539 -
Parent Support - 5,000 16,433 11,433 -
_ _ _ _ _
Total
- 18,000 31,972 13,972 -

13. Designated Funds

These funds are not legally restricted, but are those which the Board of Trustees has decided to dedicate to specific ends.

specific ends.
At 1 April Income Expenditure Transfers At 31 March
2023 2024
£ £ £ £ £
Transformation Delivery Fund 30,000 - - (20,000) 10,000
Debt Advice Fund - 30,000 - - 30,000
Food and Fuel Fund - 14,112 - - 14,112

14. Trustees’ remuneration and expenses

No Trustee received remuneration or expenses during the year.

15. Related Party Transactions

There were no transactions with related parties during the year.