**Registered number: 05979205 Charity number: 1118604**
## **TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK**
**(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **UNAUDITED**
**TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
## CONTENTS
||Page|
|---|---|
|Reference and administrative details of the Company, its Trustees and advisers|1|
|Chairman's statement|2|
|Trustees'report|3-11|
|Trustees' responsibilities statement|12|
|Independent examiner's report|13|
|Statement of financial activities|14|
|Balance sheet|15|
|Notes to the financial statements|16 - 23|
## **TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE COMPANY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
|**Trustees**|Chris Wills, Chair|
|---|---|
||Tim Godfrey|
||Steve Gale|
|**Company registered**
|05979205|
|**number**||
|**Company registered**|13 Hyde Road|
|**office**|Paignton|
||TQ4 5BW|
|**Charity registered**|1118604|
|**number**||
|**Charity registered**|Suite 26|
|**office**|15 Montpellier Road|
||Torquay|
||TQ1 1DL|
|**Accountants**|Accounting 4 Everything SW Ltd|
||13 Hyde Road|
||Paignton|
||TQ4 5BW|
|**Bankers**|National Westminster Bank|
||Paignton|
||Devon|
||TQ4 5DE|
|**Insurance broker**|PolicyBee LLP|
||14 Brightwell Barns|
||Waldringfield Road|
||Brightwell|
||Suffolk|
||IP10 OBJ|
Page 1
## **TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
The chairman presents his statement for the year.
These past twelve months have shown that the continued cost-of-living crisis not only impacts low-income Torbay residents, but we have seen an increase with working families and individuals struggling to pay for dayto-day essentials due to spiralling costs and stagnant incomes.
This has been highlighted in residents coming to our services, seeking advice on entitlements and local support services. Over the past 12 months, we have focussed additional financial capacity to meet demand, as well as developing more collaborative partnerships with VCSO’s in Torbay.
This has worked well in general, such as the Windmill Centre, through our collaborative Advising Torbay service delivery, whereby we pool our financial resources and advisor expertise to meet increased demand and offer one point of contact to reduce duplication of works.
We’re very thankful to all our funders over the past year and very proud of the work we’ve done in the face of continued challenges, as without the continued support from the Lottery, Trusts or Foundations, we wouldn’t be able to offer such transformational support to vulnerable residents in Torbay.
The Trustees remain grateful for the commitment and endeavour of Wayne Johnson and our sessional welfare advisor and trainer Susan and to all those organisations that have supported the charity and enabled us to facilitate the various projects, courses, and programmes during the past year, all of which have been free for advisors, volunteers and community members to attend.
Torbay Advice Network has remained financially stable and secure during the period covered by this report and will continue to identify and seek access to funds to run our tailored programmes on topics where the need is greatest and where the benefit of such training is passed on to the members of our local community.
On a final note, it is with great sadness that we lost one of our valued Trustees, Cristopher Wills in May 2024.
Chris was a staunch advocate for Torbay Advice Network for well over a decade, through his continued passion, knowledge and commitment he has helped to sustain and grow service delivery within the Charity, and it goes without saying, he will be sorely missed by all of us within the Charity.
We would like to pass on our sincere condolences to all of Chris’s family and friends in this sad loss. It will be impossible to replace Chris, but we will have new Trustees coming onboard in 2024 to help with strategic direction and ensure the charity’s work continues to advance its charitable objectives and remain relevant.
Tim Godfrey Date: 29 August 2024
Page 2
## **TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the Company for the 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. The Annual report serves the purposes of both a Trustees' report and a directors' report under company law. The Trustees confirm that the Annual report and financial statements of the charitable company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charitable company's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and· Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019).
Since the Company qualifies as small under section 382 of the Companies Act 2006, the Strategic report required of medium and large companies under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors' Report) Regulations 2013 has been omitted.
## **Objectives and activities**
## • **Policies and objectives**
Torbay Advice Network (TAN) aims to support the advice and information sector in Torbay through signposting services, multi-agency training, lobbying, strategic and developmental work. TAN will collect, collate, monitor and report on the advice and information sector in Torbay identifying gaps in service provision, staff, training and other resources and will support joint working initiatives.
In support of the above TAN will strive to become the natural choice for local people when they need information, training ·and/or advice. It will strive to become a centre of excellence noted for customer service, for going that extra mile. It will aim to be a market leader, at the forefront of new and innovative service delivery within Torbay. TAN will epitomise strong partnership working and ensure equitable resources across the TAN community.
The Objects are:
To advance education for the benefit of the public in Torbay and to promote for the benefit of the public in Torbay those parts of the voluntary sector which provide advice and information services by:
- a) the co-ordination and development of high quality advice and information services with a view to improving the quality and capacity of, and public access to, such services;
- b) the provision of training services, educational materials, support and assistance relating to advice and information services; and
- c) the promotion of co-operation between voluntary sector, advice organisations and all relevant statutory authorities and other bodies in relation to advice and information services.
TAN was set up to implement the recommendations of the Advice Strategy (2006) around Quality, Training, Ac ss, Monitoring, Volunteer recruitment, Strategic Voice and the provision of an Advice Centre.
The main priorities today are to:
1. Deliver multi-agency & community training at basic, skilled advisor and legal advisor levels
2. Monitor the sector and use the information to develop the TAN community
3. Increase the Strategic Voice of the sector as a whole
4. Increase Quality Standards
5. Develop membership standards, criteria and participation
6. Attract new volunteers to TAN and the sector
7. Provide welfare support services to those deemed most in need
Page 3
## **TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **Objectives and activities (CONTINUED)**
- **Policies and objectives (continued)**
Future priorities dependent on funding are to develop single points of entry via an advice hub, telephone signposting line and web portal. One of the main priorities of TAN is to monitor the sector and use the information to develop the TAN community.
Each year we undertake a training needs analysis and this outlines the requirements for the forthcoming year and we regularly receive additional requests throughout the year.
TAN will continue to assess the needs of the community and develop training to ensure that advisers and communities have the most up to date information and skills to underpin our aims to improve the quality of advice available in Torbay.
## **Service Delivery Overview**
We have supported **272 clients** , consisting of 154 women, 114 men and 4 others, with age ranges supported up to 94 years. Our services have helped clients to secure additional income of **£765,533** in total.
Working in collaboration with the Windmill Centre’s Generalist Advisor, we subsequently added a third qualified advisor through our tailored IAG college training and shadowing, with our collective three workers focusing on their own specialty areas.
In addition, we trained 52 people in community and practitioner workshops covering, Introduction to benefits, Identifying entitlement, Making a claim, Personal Independence Payments and Benefits for Carers.
## **Community Focussed IAG (Information, Advice & Guidance)**
We also provided a series of community workshops, focussed on empowering and advising our community, such as “What Benefits Can I Claim” and “Guides to getting the right decision” where our experts provided guidance and valuable insight into their welfare benefit entitlements for both in and out of work scenarios.
## **Person-Centered Model**
Our person-centered service focuses on providing quality advice over quantity. The increasing demand and complexity of clients support needs, has led to us providing an introduction and assessment phase where clients are triaged more thoroughly and meet with our tier 1 advisor to explain the service, process, benefit(s) and identify the exact support that is required.
Here it is assessed how support will be delivered and by whom as well as the client being supported to access all the relevant information needed to have a successful and efficient use of appointment time with our more experienced advisors.
## **Demand-led**
The majority of the need we see is around Personal Independent Payments, with form filling, support for appeals, medical assessments, and Tribunal representation. As a collective, there is currently only a small number of specialist advisors who work on appeals in Torbay, so we worked to upskill our own in-house advisors to build capacity and expertise.
We also delivered drop-ins at The Windmill Centre, Great Parks Community Centre, Paignton Hub, Riviera Life Church and in home settings to further enable access of vulnerable clients.
Page 4
## **TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **Objectives and activities (CONTINUED)**
## **Clients Supported Journey**
Clients can be with us from the start or can join at any point on their support ‘journey’.
In terms of accessing our service, some clients self-refer, generally after a word-of-mouth recommendation, but the majority are referred from other statutory and voluntary services. We take referrals from local Job Centres, Adult Social Care Team including mental health, Mencap, PLUSS, Age UK, What’s your Problem, social prescribers, wellbeing coordinators, community builders, housing associations, food banks, the Community Helpline, NHS, Dimension for Autism, and others.
## **Increasing knowledge of Entitlements**
The cost-of-living crisis continues to impact our clients, who are struggling to pay for day-to-day essentials. We offer all clients a comprehensive online benefit check to ensure they are receiving everything they are entitled to and maximizing their income. We utilise these ‘better off calculations’, where appropriate, to determine what effect moving into work or increasing or sometimes decreasing their working hours would have on their overall financial position. This better off calculation often highlights benefits clients are entitled to, which feeds into continued support and guidance to aid with accessing identified entitlements.
We also provided employment-related support including guidance and templates for reasonable adjustments requests in the workplace and details on how the Access to Work scheme can assist to enable the client to stay in or access employment.
In addition, we also offered benefit related advice such as the pros and cons of becoming a DWP appointee and support with the application process.
## **Increased Overheads**
As non-profit making organisation we rely on funding to facilitate our services, however, we are not funding led but demand led. This doesn’t detract though that one of ours and the voluntary sectors biggest challenges are managing limited capacity with increased demand and funding challenges.
We pride ourselves in being a very lean organisation in terms of how and where we spend our funds as we know every pound secured is invaluable, but we are constantly seeing our operational costs increase, which means the number of people we can support will decrease over time if we don’t secure additional funding to off-set. We have been successful in this regard due to funding from the Lottery’s cost of living fund, but we will need to secure funds moving forward to be able to sustain service delivery.
Page 5
## **TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **Objectives and activities (CONTINUED)**
## **Training Feedback**
We have numerous statements from the surveys received, where we asked what difference this training would make to them, below are just a sample.
- _It will make a great difference as I don't know where else I would get this depth of information._
- _I can now offer more specific advice, guidance, and knowledge to share with both colleagues and clients._
- _To support vulnerable people in the community, to help empower people to ensure they are receiving their full benefit entitlements._
- _I will be able to better support people I work with and help to access benefits that they are eligible for. This could make the difference to their lives in many ways, including their mental health_
- _Better equipped to use online calculators and ask appropriate questions_
- _Support individuals and identify appropriate benefits for them._
- _It will make a big difference in letting me help clients. Especially as I'm new to this and now aware of most of the information._
- _Much better understanding of the systems as a whole and how to help individuals._
- _Support people to be more successful with PIP claims._
- _Better equipped to fill out PIP forms more efficiently and ask better questions._
- _We work with parents who need support stabilizing their lives and this training will help me in my role._
- _PIP training is vital in relation to the clients I am working with. This training has been vital._
- _Working with carers, will be able to make them aware of the benefits available and the criteria for the benefits._
- _Again, very clear, informative session. I will certainly be able to offer more advice, more accurate information._
## • **Public benefit**
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in Section 17(5) of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit in exercising their powers or duties. They have referred to this guidance when reviewing the academy's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities.
Page 6
## **TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **Objectives and activities (CONTINUED)**
## • **People to thank**
Without the trustees, partnership working and financial support of trusts & foundations annually we would be unable to deliver all our work. We are extremely grateful for all the support we receive, especially financially as every pound donated allows us to make a lasting contribution to people we support within our community. Our thanks go to the following supporters
- Bishop Fleming
- Our Trainers, Volunteers & Trustees
Our sincere thanks go to the following funders
- Torbay Council
- Awards For All – The Big Lottery
- Sanctuary Housing Trust
- Norman Family Charitable Trust
- Clare Milne Trust
## **Achievements and performance**
## • **Case studies** & **testimonials**
## **Case Study 1**
**Client A** is a 35-year-old man recently diagnosed with autism and ADHD. He had applied for PIP himself but had only been awarded 6 points for the daily living component (8 points are needed for a standard award). He had approached another local advice service for help with a mandatory reconsideration (first step in the appeal process) but unfortunately, they were unable to help him so again he had to do it himself. This was also unsuccessful, and the case went to tribunal on the 13/10/23 at Newton Abbot Magistrates’ Court (this deals with appeals by Torbay residents).
The client only contacted us on 26/09/23 which did not leave much time to prepare. The adviser called him back the same day, discussed the case at some length on the phone, and agreed to meet him the following day where they went through the appeal ‘bundle’ and prepared a strategy for the hearing. At this meeting they also contacted HMCTS to register her as his official representative. In normal circumstances, a formal, written appeal submission should be submitted to HMCTS online at least two weeks prior to the hearing date. This was not possible in this case, due to time constraints, so the adviser went to the Court on the morning of the hearing and hand delivered the submission to the usher along with a written request for the Judge to allow it as late evidence. She then returned to the Court that afternoon for the hearing, along with the client, where she acted as his representative and subsequently supported the client with a successful PIP award for daily living.
Page 7
## **TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **Achievements and performance (CONTINUED)**
**Case studies** & **testimonials (continued)**
## **Case Study 2**
**Client B** is a 51-year-old man living in a privately rented flat. He has a history of sexual abuse as a child and several periods in care. He began using drugs in his teens and spent many years addicted to heroin. After periods in rehab and supported living he is now drug free, however his mental health is very fragile, and he has been referred to the Community Mental Health Team. There is a long waiting list, and he is receiving regular wellbeing calls as there are concerns about suicide ideation. He also has significant long term physical health conditions, particularly with mobility. He is unable to work so is on a very low income and must use the food bank a couple of times a month. A local service had helped him to apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), but this was turned down and he needed help in appealing against that decision.
The adviser saw him at The Windmill Centre several times and prepared a detailed appeal submission. She attended the tribunal hearing with him and acted as representative. The appeal was allowed, and he was given a maximum 10-year award – enhanced rate for both components. This means ongoing payments of £172.75 pw.
The award was backdated to its original application date, resulting in a back payment of £15,264. The client says this sum will change his life – he will be able to eat much more healthily, buy a decent second-hand car and, most importantly, find somewhere else to live. His current accommodation is a small flat in a building occupied by others with chaotic lifestyles. A local service has been trying to help him move to somewhere more suitable, and less of a risk to his continued sobriety, for over a year but he simply couldn’t afford anywhere else. Now, crucially, he has the means to do this and to maintain the tenancy.
## **Case Study 3**
**Client C** is a 65-year-old married woman with significant physical health conditions, including arthritis in all her joints, and declining mental health. She had worked in education until recently when she retired on health grounds after a student assaulted her. She was subject to long-term domestic abuse in her previous marriage and her anxiety had worsened considerably since that incident. She had applied for PIP herself but been turned down and wanted to appeal. This was her last opportunity to apply for PIP as the cut off for applications is State Pension Age – in her case, just a few months away.
The adviser saw her in the Hub at Paignton Library and had lengthy phone appointments when her health was particularly poor. A detailed appeal submission was prepared, and the adviser was due to attend the tribunal hearing with her and act as representative. The week before the hearing the client said she could not face it – the hearings are held in Newton Abbot Magistrates’ Court and the prospect of going there was too overwhelming. She had had to attend Court as a witness previously and the prospect of going there again was just too much for her. She was on the point of giving up. The adviser organised a telephone hearing with HMCTS and travelled to her home to act as representative on the conference call.
The appeal was allowed, and she was awarded the standard rate for daily living. This means an ongoing payment of £68.10pw, and a back payment of £4,833. This will obviously ease the financial burden, now that she can no longer work, and she is particularly pleased that she will now be able to afford to go swimming as she finds this the only thing that eases the pain in her joints.
Page 8
## **TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **Financial review**
## • **Going concern**
After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the accounting policies.
## **Achievements and performance (CONTINUED)**
## • **Reserves policy**
The Trustees review the reserve levels of the Charity annually. This review encompasses the nature of income and expenditure streams, the need to match income with commitments and the nature of reserves. The Trustees take into consideration the future plans of the Charity, the uncertainty over future income streams and other key risks identified during the risk review. Available reserves at the year-end were £56,854, of which £32,041 relate to restricted funds.
## **Structure, governance and management**
## • **Constitution**
The company is limited by guarantee, having no share capital. Its governing document is a Memorandum and Articles of Association, and it is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. Its Trustees are currently its only members and their liability is limited to £10 each.
Torbay Advice Network 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 Torbay Advice Network and for ensuring that the charity satisfies its legal and contractual obligations. Trustees meet at a minimum quarterly and delegate the day-to-day operation of the organisation to senior management. The day to day management is delegated to Wayne Johnson.
Trustees are elected from the local community and the Trustee board elect the Chairman and Treasurer. The Trustees may at any time co-opt any individual who is 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.
Page 9
## **TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **Structure, governance and management (CONTINUED)**
## • **Trustees**
|**Name**|**Role/s**|**Trustee Bio**|
|---|---|---|
|Tim Godfrey|Trustee|Tim joined Bishop Fleming in 1994. He provides advice and support to a
large number of his local business community. He is also the partner
heading the firm's Care Home sector team - providing audit and accounting
services but most importantly advising a growing number of care home
owners on maximising the profitability and value of their business, as well
as assisting those who want to grow or exit their business.
His client portfolio also includes many of the tourism and leisure businesses
in the area. Having been born and educated in the South West, Tim is keenly
focused on the region's primary owner-managed business sectors.
Tim comments, "My goal is to remove the headache of day-to-day paperwork
whilst facilitating the growth and aspirations of my owner managed business
clients. My focus is on helping core owner- managed sectors to maximize
their business performance and value."|
|Steve Gale|Trustee|Prior to getting involved in the community sector, I worked for over 22 years in
the commercial photographic industry, mostly in the London area, but also for
a short spell in Cairo, and more locally in Torbay. In the early 1990s I decided
to embark on a new career path and was drawn towards the advice sector, as
manager with Torbay Disability Information Service (part of Torbay and
Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust).
After 20+ years I have decided to take early retirement to focus on new VCS
ventures. Over the years I have developed a particular interest in social
security issues and have delivered some of TAN's training sessions on
welfare benefits.|
- **New Trustees (joined since financial year end)**
Matt Fellows Edward Lee
Page 10
## **TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **Structure, governance and management (CONTINUED)**
- **Independent Contractors commissioned by Torbay Advice Network**
## **Charity Manager - Wayne Johnson**
Wayne has worked in the voluntary sector since 2002, predominantly as a Senior Project Manager for a large Charity as well as senior roles within Fundraising, Community and Strategic Development and commissioned works within the private sector.
Wayne supports the Trustees with charity governance, compliance and service delivery, including, point of contact for general enquiries, general administration duties, bid and tender submissions, Partnership & Service Development, Contractor Management and applicable financial processes.
## **Welfare Advisor & Trainer – Susan Bottomley**
Susan has over 20 years’ experience working within this sector, working for organisations such as CAB, as a volunteer advisor and welfare support roles including, Homeless Persons Officer, Acting Housing Needs Manager, Community Outreach Worker, FAIR Coordinator and FAB Team Member.
Since 2018, Susan has been providing specialist information, advice and guidance, helping vulnerable people to understand and access their welfare rights entitlements.
Susan also writes bespoke training modules and delivers tailored training for VCSO staff and volunteers, including topics such as PIP, ESA, Carers Allowance, Universal Credit, GDPR, etc to name just a few.
## **Administrator – Abi Massheder**
Abi has over a decade of experience working in administration for both local and multi-national organizations.
Abi’s enthusiasm and experienced and varied background dealing with all different types of office administration and business support enabled our Charity to facilitate increased service delivery throughout the financial year.
All our contractors and volunteers have been an invaluable asset throughout the year and we would like to thank them in supporting us to meet and exceed our Charitable aims and objectives
- **Related party relationships**
There are no related parties which either control or significantly influence the decisions and operations of Torbay Advice Network.
## **Plans for future periods**
The Charity plans to continues to support the advice and information sector in Torbay, providing front-line support for communities and practitioners.
## **Funds held as custodian**
The Charity and its Trustees do not act as the Custodian Trustees of any other Charity.
Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees on 29 August 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
**Wayne Johnson** (Manager)
Page 11
TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
The Trustees (who are also the directors of the Company for the purposes of company 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).
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 situation of the Company and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.
- observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP (FRS 102).
- make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards (FRS 102) have been followed, subject 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 Company will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the 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 Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees on 29 August 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
**Wayne Johnson** (Manager)
**Tim Godfrey**
Page 12
TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Torbay Advice Network ('the Company')**
I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended **31 March 2024.**
## **Responsibilities and Basis of Report**
As the Trustees of the Company (and its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the Company's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent Examiner's Statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or
4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).
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.
This report is made solely to the Company's Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Company's Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company's Trustees as a body, for my work or for this report.
Signed:
Dated: 29 August 2024
Nicholas Millard
Accounting 4 Everything SW Ltd 13 Hyde Road Paignton TQ4 5BW
Page 13
## TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
|**Income from:**
**Note**
Charitable activities
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
**Total expenditure**
**Net movement in** **funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
Net movement in funds
Transfer between funds
**Total funds carried forward**|**UnrestrictedRestricted**
**Total**
Total
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
funds
**2024**
**2024**
**2024**
2023
£
£
£
£
**-**
**83,782**
**83,782**
37,936
**-**
**83,782**
**83,782**
37,936
**-**
**52,727**
**52,727**
30,128
**-**
**52,727**
**52,727**
30,128
**- 31,055**
**31,055**
7,808
**24,813**
**32,041**
**56,854**
49,046
**- 31,055 31,055**
7,808
**833 (833) - -**
**25,646**
**62,263**
**87,909**56,854|
|---|---|
The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
The notes on pages 17 to 24 form part of these financial statements.
Page 14
## **TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) REGISTERED NUMBER:05979205**
## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024**
|**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
**Current assets**
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Total net assets**
**Note**
8
9
**Charity funds**
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
10
10
**Total funds**|**2024**
2023
£
£
**104**
139
**104**
139
**87,865**
57,435
**87,865**
57,435
**(60)**
(720)
**87,805**
56,715
**87,909**
56,854
**87,909**
56,854
**62,263**
**25,646**
32,041
24,813
**87,909**
56,854|**2024**
2023
£
£
**104**
139
**104**
139
**87,865**
57,435
**87,865**
57,435
**(60)**
(720)
**87,805**
56,715
**87,909**
56,854
**87,909**
56,854
**62,263**
**25,646**
32,041
24,813
**87,909**
56,854|**2024**
2023
£
£
**104**
139
**104**
139
**87,865**
57,435
**87,865**
57,435
**(60)**
(720)
**87,805**
56,715
**87,909**
56,854
**87,909**
56,854
**62,263**
**25,646**
32,041
24,813
**87,909**
56,854|
|---|---|---|---|
||||
|
|||**87,909**||
|||**87,909**||
|||**62,263**
**25,646**||
|||**87,909**||
The Company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of Companies Act 2006.
The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees on 29 August 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
## **Wayne Johnson**
(Manager)
The notes on pages 17 to 24 form part of these financial statements.
Page 15
## **TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **1. General information**
The company is a company limited by guarantee. The members of the company are the Trustees named on page . In the event of the company being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £10 per member of the company.
## **2. Accounting policies**
## **2.1 BASIS OF PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities 0 preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Torbay Advice Network 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.
## **2.2 INCOME**
All income is recognised once the Company has entitlement .to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
## **2.3 EXPENDITURE**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset's use.
Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the Company's objectives, as well as any associated support costs.
All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
## **2.4 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS AND DEPRECIATION**
Tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the cost model, tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the measurement of cost.
Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, on a reducing balance basis.
Depreciation is provided on the following basis:
- _ Office equipment and software - 25% reducing balance
Page 16
**TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **2. Accounting policies (continued)**
## **2.5 CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND**
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
## **2.6 LIABILITIES AND PROVISIONS**
Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.
Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the Company anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.
Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the Statement of financial activities as a finance cost.
## **2.7 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS**
The Company only has financial· assets 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 with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## **2.8 FUND ACCOUNTING**
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Company and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Company for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Page 17
## **TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **3. Income from charitable activities**
|Lottery COL
Awards for All
Casework
Sanctuary Housing
Precept
ASC (Torbay Council)
Claire Milne
Cost of Living - TCDT
NFCT
**TOTAL**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
28,182
**28,182**
**-**
**-**
5,000
**5,000**
38,800
**38,800**
10,000
**10,000**
**-**
**-**
1,800
**1,800**
83,782
**83,782**|Total
funds
2023
£
-
9,396
600
5,000
-
10,000
8,000
4,940
-|
|---|---|---|
|||37.936|
In 2023, of total income £600 was unrestricted and £37,336 was restricted.
## **4. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities**
||**Restricted**|**Total**|Total|
|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|funds|
||**2024**|**2024**|2023|
||**£**|**£**|£|
|Training/professional advice|30,029|**30,029**|16,097|
|Insurance|190|**190**|190|
|Sundry expenditure|731|**731**|722|
|Wages and salaries|21,022|**21,022**|12,352|
|Accountancy fees|720|**720**|720|
|Legal and professional fees|-|**-**|-|
|Depreciation|35|**35**|47|
|**TOTAL**|**52,727**|**52,727**|30,128|
In 2023, of total expenditure on charitable activities £0 was unrestricted and £30,128 was restricted.
Page 18
**TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **5. Independent examiner's remuneration**
||**2024**|2023|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|Fees payable to the Company's independent examiner for the independent|||
|examination of the Company's annual accounts|**720**|720|
|Fees payable to the Company's independent examiner in respect of:|||
|All other services not included above|**nil**|Nil|
## **6. Staff costs**
||**2024**|2023|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|Wages and salaries|**21,022**|12,352|
The average number of persons employed by the Company during the year was as follows:
||**2024**|2023|
|---|---|---|
||**No.**|No.|
|Employees|**2**|2|
No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in either year.
## **7. Trustees' remuneration and expenses**
During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits (2023 - £nil).
During the year ended 31 March 2024, no Trustee expenses have been incurred (2023 - £nil).
Page 19
**TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **8. Tangible fixed assets**
|**COST OR VALUATION**
At 1 April 2023
Additions
At 31 March 2024
**DEPRECIATION**
At 1 April 2023
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2024
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 31 March 2023
At 31 March 2024
**9.**
**Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
**2024**
**£**
Accruals
**60**|**Plant and**
**machinery**
**£**
**2,779**
**-**
**2,779**
**2,640**
**35**
**2,675**
139
**104**
2023
£
720|
|---|---|
Page 20
**TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
**NOTES TO** THE **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **10. Statement of funds**
|**UNRESTRICTED FUNDS**
General Funds - all funds
**RESTRICTED FUNDS**
Gemini FM
Mayor Fund
Awards for All (National Lottery)
Sanctuary Housing
ASC (Torbay Council)
Claire Milne
Cost of Living - TCDT
Lottery COL
NFCT
Precept
**TOTAL OF FUNDS**|**Balance at 1**
**Balance at**
**31 March**
**April 2023**
**Income Expenditure**
**Transfer**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**24,813**
**833**
**25,646**|
|---|---|
||**55**
**55**
**46**
**46**
**9,394**
**(9,394)**
**-**
**2,599**
**5,000**
**(4,472)**
**3,127**
**7,855**
**10,000**
**(10,608)**
**7,247**
**7,152**
**(7,152)**
**-**
**4,940**
**(4,940)**
**-**
**-**
**28,182**
**(8,055)**
**20,127**
**-**
**1,800**
**(592)**
**1,208**
**-**
**38,800**
**(7,514)**
**(833)**
**30,453**|
||**32,041**
**83,782**
**(52,727)**
**(833)**
**62,263**|
||**56,854**
**83,782**
**(52,727)**
**87,909**|
Page 21
**TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **10. Statement of funds (continued)**
|**Funder**|**Grant Overview**|
|---|---|
|NFCT|Specialist welfare advice support to Torbay residents who have a
disability and experiencing Social Challenges & Extreme
Deprivation.|
|Precept|A transformational, fully inclusive, multi-agency Information and
advice (IAG) service for Torbay.|
|Sanctuary|Information advice and Guidance (IAG) and Advisor Training for
Torbay residents.|
|ASC|Provide sources of information, support for people with Autistic
Spectrum Conditions(ASC)& families and carers.|
|C.O.L|Delivery of cost-of-living advice workshops, open to residents
from within Torbay and practitioners who support vulnerable
individuals.|
|Lottery|Funds to increase capacity, maintain service delivery and
sustainability, including Advisor Training & IAG services.|
|Clare Milne|To address the ongoing dual impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
and the cost-of living crisis by offering people identified as having
a disability, with complex support needs, person-centred
assistancerelated towelfare benefits.|
## **11. Analysis of net assets between funds**
**Analysis of net assets between funds** - **current year**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|
||**2024**|**2024**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Tangible fixed assets|81|23|**104**|
|Current assets|25,565|62,300|**87,865**|
|Creditors due within one year||(60)|**(60)**|
|**TOTAL**|25,646|62,263|**87,909**|
Page 22
## **TORBAY ADVICE NETWORK (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **11. Analysis of net assets between funds (continued)**
**Analysis of net assets between funds** - **prior year**
||Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|
|---|---|---|---|
||funds|funds|funds|
||2023|2023|2023|
||£|£|£|
|Tangible fixed assets|108|31|139|
|Current assets|24,705|32,730|57,435|
|Creditors due within one year||(720)|(720)|
|**TOTAL**|24,813|32,041|56,854|
## **12. Controlling party**
The charitable company is controlled by the Trustees.
Page 23