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2023-03-31-accounts

Company Registration No: 07211819 (England & Wales) Charity Registration No: 1135353 (England & Wales)

Ambient Support Limited Annual Report & Consolidated Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2023

Ambient Support Limited

Contents

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Page
Charity and Trustee Information 2
Strategic report:
Achievements and performance 4
Case study 4
Strategic Plan 2020 – 2025 5
Financial review 7
Risk statement and management 8
Investment powers and policy/Reserves policy and Going Concern 9
Directors’ Duties (s172) 10
Trustees’ report:
Structure, governance and management 13
Relationships with other organisations 14
Public benefit statement 14
Objectives and activities 14
Streamlined energy and carbon reporting 15
Governance Code 16
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities 17
Independent Auditor’s report 18
Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities 20
Consolidated and Charity Balance Sheets 21
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 22
Notes to the financial statements 23

1

Ambient Support Limited

Charity and Trustee Information

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Status Ambient Support Limited (“Ambient”) is a Charity and Company Limited by Guarantee. It has one Ambient Support Limited (“Ambient”) is a Charity and Company Limited by Guarantee. It has one
wholly owned trading subsidiary: Amber Housing Limited (“Amber Housing”), a Registered Society
(Reference 30052R) under the Co‐operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014.
Governing document The Charity is governed under its Articles of Association last updated on 24 June 2020.
Company number 07211819
Charity number 1135353
Registered office and Unit 9, Bourne Court
operational address Unity Trading Estate
Southend Road
Woodford Green
Essex
IG8 8HD
Trustees David Brindle Chair
Margaret Lally Deputy Chair (Retired 28 March 2024)
Scott Haldane Treasurer – (Resigned 6 December 2022)
Homiyar Wykes Treasurer (Resigned 29 February 2024)
Alan Bates
Valerie Bennett (Resigned 10 March 2024)
Cheryl Crooks (Retired 29 September 2022)
Samantha Dunlop (Appointed 22 June 2023)
Nigel Fletcher (Retired 3 January 2024)
Pamela Harding (Appointed 22 June 2023)
Richard Jones (Resigned 29 February 2024)
Jeanette Mitchell (Retired 29 September 2022)
Iain O’Neil
Karen Proctor
Lorraine Reynolds (Retired 28 March 2024)
Hari Kumar Shounghur (Appointed 23 March 2023/Resigned 7 November 2023)
Richard Smallwood (Resigned 29 February 2024)
Andrew Tunks (Appointed 13 December 2023)
Dyllon Parkinson Co‐optee (Retired 28 September 2023)
Senior Officers:
Chief Executive and Secretary Mark Milton
Director of Finance Roy Quiddington (Resigned 12 June 2023)
Director of Operations & Tom Harrison (Resigned 10 February 2023)
Business Development
Director of Operations Naomi Atkinson (Appointed 2 May 2023)
Director of People & Culture Sarah Daniel
Director of Sales, Marketing & Davina Sellick Role changed 1 March 2023 to :
Communications Director of Business Development & Communications
Chief Information Officer Lee Hodgson
Chief Executive and Secretary of
Amber Housing Limited (Mark Emelda Livette (Retired 29 April 2022)
Milton ‐ Secretary 30 April – 17
July 2022)

2

Ambient Support Limited

Charity and Trustee Information (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Chief Executive and Secretary of Troy Henshall (Appointed 18 July 2022)
Amber Housing Limited
Bankers Barclays Bank PLC
Level 28
1 Churchill Place
London
E14 5HP
Solicitors Trowers & Hamlins LLP
3 Bunhill Row
London
EC1Y 8YZ
Devonshires
30 Finsbury Circus
London
EC2M 7DT
Brachers LLP
Somerfield House
59 London Road
Maidstone
ME16 8JH
Statutory Auditor RSM UK Audit LLP
25 Farringdon Street
London
EC4A 4AB

3

Heritage Care Limited

Trustees’ Report

For the year ended 31 March 2020

Introduction

The Trustees of Ambient Limited are pleased to present their report and consolidated audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023 for all entities that are part of the Group, which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ and strategic report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.

The reference and administrative information set out on pages 2‐3 form part of this report. The Trustees (who are also its Directors) included in this section of the report have acted in the role of a Trustee during the year and up to the date of signature, except when otherwise indicated. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011, the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) second edition effective 1 January 2019.

STRATEGIC REPORT

Achievements and performance

The last year once again proved to be very challenging both influenced by the wider economic position but also specifically with the exit of workers across the social care sector. The impact of Brexit, Covid and the cost‐of‐living challenges continues to impact on the availability of workers needed to run the services, and we had to turn to agencies to supplement our permanent workforce. We approached Local Authorities, where we were able, to renegotiate rates to reflect the higher workforce cost with some success especially where additional hours were being provided outside of the main contract agreement. However, even though the Trustees agreed to an investment budget for 22/23 the tough financial challenges of higher staff cost and the introduction of new integrated systems together with the retirement of legacy systems our expenditure exceeded that planned and we are reporting a deficit for the year.

Key performance indicators

The type of service provided to each client currently forms the categories in the Statement of Financial Activities under which we report. The performance of the Group is presented quarterly to the Board, and they compare the performance of the Group against the required metrics across not only finance but health & safety, quality, occupancy and training.

Some key achievements during the year were as follows:

Case Study ‐ Fiona

Fiona's journey into an Ambient’s 24‐hour supported living service in Spring 2023 marked a turning point in her life of some 30+ years. Having been in foster care since the age of 8 due to allegations of abuse in her family home, Fiona faced complex challenges with Autism, Epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy, and a Personality Disorder among her diagnoses. Recognising the need for a change, Fiona's transition into Ambient services became a collaborative effort between the Ambient team and her foster carers, who could no longer manage her challenging behaviours. The Ambient team went above and beyond to make Fiona feel at home by involving her in various service events, allowing her to familiarise herself with the environment and the people around her before she moved in.

Though initially nonverbal, Fiona's love for Mickey Mouse emerged through creative communication methods using pictures, leading to a beautifully decorated bedroom that reflected her personality. The team's positive encouragement and time investment soon paved the way for a trusting relationship to blossom between Fiona and the Ambient support staff team.

A bedtime routine, developed collaboratively with the staff, brought stability to Fiona's sleep patterns, signalling to her that the day was winding down. With a history of self‐injury and hitting others, the team, used Positive Behaviour Support de‐escalation strategies and techniques to ensure Fiona's safety and well‐being and to recognise what might trigger these behaviours.

As Fiona's confidence and sense of security have grown, so have her independent living skills. She actively participates in preparing food and has taken charge of maintaining her personal space through cleaning and tidying. The introduction of routine into her life has played a pivotal role in this positive transition, allowing Fiona to make choices about her own life with support from the Ambient team. Fiona's life has expanded beyond the service as she engages in regular day services during the week and has embraced social activities like cinema visits, bowling, and discos.

Building connections with others in the service, Fiona has developed friendships that have enriched her life. Perhaps most remarkable of all, Fiona's journey with Ambient has resulted in a transformation—she has found her voice and now communicates with those around her verbally. This breakthrough has not only impacted Fiona but also brought happiness to everyone involved in her care and support, meaning a brighter and more optimistic chapter of Fiona’s life has begun.

4

Ambient Support Limited

Trustees’ Report (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Strategic Plan (2020‐2025)

Ambient’s 5 Year Plan was agreed at the Board meeting in March 2020 and has been designed to cover the next five‐year period to 2025. It has been designed following extensive engagement with the people we support and a variety of different stakeholders.

The Mission, Values, and strategic pillars of the Charity remain unchanged and will continue to represent the guiding and common thread that underpins all the Charity’s activities.

Our development strategy continued to be to remain sustainable and financially strong; to actively seek to improve the wellbeing of the individuals we support; to enhance the employment experience of our staff; and to develop innovative service offers which serve to enhance our reputation.

Our shared mission for the whole Group:

To provide personalised support that enables individuals to lead valued and meaningful lives in the community.

Our shared values across Ambient and its subsidiary, known as the 5i’s, are:

The key overarching vision will be to work from a position of “Good” to a position of “Great”. The plan is a confident and ambitious statement about where we want to be by the end of the 5‐year plan period. To that end a number of statements have been developed which articulate the scale of that ambition:

By 2025 the people we support will:

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Ambient Support Limited

Trustees’ Report (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

By 2025 the C harity will:

Building on our position of financial strength, significant investment will be drawn down from our balance sheet to enable Ambient to realise its ambition. The five‐year plan is supported by a number of enabling and more detailed functional and operational strategies that will be fed through the committees that have oversight of these work streams.

This will mean that there is resource, capacity and flexibility within these dynamic environments to explore, develop, act decisively and respond to opportunities as they arise. This oversight will enable Ambient to have an agile and responsive approach that will take the steps to firstly modernise and then transform the Charity.

Recent Impact on 2020‐2025 Plan

The plan was agreed just before Covid, and changes were made to the priorities of the Group during the pandemic which had positive impact on Ambient services and the people we support. As we came out of the pandemic some of the changes made to staffing levels and the use of agency staff were slower to change and some services had become over reliant on the use of agencies. This had a significant financial impact during the year.

The Trustees had previously agreed:

See “Risk statement and management” below for more information on how we managed in the post Covid period.

Business Plans

In our services for people with Learning Disabilities (LD) where the focus had been on developing our practice so that the best outcomes are achieved in each service, we have been successful in our Positive Behaviour Support approach. We now have active PBS Coaches and PBS Functional Assessors working in teams across all regions and the person‐centred Active Support approach has been well received. Our Quality Team continues to support services and enable us to improve the levels of involvement and engagement with the people we support. The challenge is to offer meaningful involvement for people with more complex needs and ideas are being progressed.

Ambient currently has four domiciliary care branches, six residential homes and one nursing home within the Learning Disability service portfolio. During the year and into 23/24 Ambient has been reviewing the financial viability of services. If no additional funding is made available or realistic cost savings identified, then we have worked with the Local Authority to either transfer services to another provider in the area or closing the service and finding alternate accommodation for the people being supported.

Our aim is to provide high quality support that enables individuals to be as independent as possible, live the life of their choice, and be in control of their own lives, attaining meaningful citizenship in their local community. Sometimes this requires difficult decisions to be made by the organisation for the benefit of the people being supported.

In our Mental Health (MH) portfolio we have six residential homes, two supported living services and one domiciliary care branch through which we can provide flexible community support. We have been working to review the model of service in some homes, and a transformation working group has been formed to look at the accommodation needs, and the ability to move away from Residential Homes which should allow potential for a move on option for individuals when they feel able to do so. Services are offered as part of wider mental health care pathways with an emphasis on moving through stages of support to achieve a more independent lifestyle including taking up opportunities for voluntary and paid work. We liaise closely with health professionals and other stakeholders as part of multi‐disciplinary teams to ensure that emotional wellbeing, mental health and physical health are considered as part of a holistic support package.

6

Ambient Support Limited

Trustees’ Report (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Older People (OP) – As we said last year these services were the hardest hit by the pandemic and the staffing requirements continue to be high based on the level of support needed for individuals presenting at the home in a frail position. Our focus continues to be keeping the people we support safe and healthy whilst also ensuring the wellbeing of staff teams working in extremely difficult circumstances. We have concentrated on developing systems to maintain quality standards and meet CQC compliance requirements including the latest expectations around infection prevention and control, staff training and working in partnership with other health professionals. The reasons we took a decision last year to close 2 homes has remained, and in 22/23 we again reviewed the sustainability of the OP portfolio and took the decision in liaison with the Local Authority to transfer a home in Buckinghamshire. The process has been quite protracted, and we have worked with the Local Authority throughout the process and the home will now transfer in 23/24 to a new provider. The decision was also made to close a smaller OP home in Kent, and this completed early in 23/24 when all residents had been found alternate provision. The divestment process of all homes has been well planned and sensitively handled.

OP Services currently run five residential homes including one which has nursing and five extra care housing locations, in Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, and Gloucestershire.

Housing Management services – Amber Housing provides a facilities management service to Ambient and acts as a landlord both owning and leasing property which it lets at affordable rents to individuals with a disability. Amber Housing does not work exclusively with Ambient and continues developing its property management services with other landlords and housing associations.

In summary, Ambient and its Amber Housing subsidiary seek involvement from all their clients through engagement in forums, sharing of information in an accessible form as required and inviting participation in decision making across the organisation. Best practice is shared across all areas of the Group, and the Ambient website showcases good news stories and how we can support people to better meet their needs. The voice of the people that we support reaches across the whole charity. The award‐winning Ambient Guardians are championing our Involvement & Co‐Production strategy to ensure that the people that we support have a voice and are actively involved in many of our decision‐making processes. With the support of the Quality Team and Involvement Lead this has meant that people we support are actively involved in the recruitment of staff and Trustees and regularly reviewing the quality of our services through the Quality Checker programme.

Matters of strategic importance

The Company has chosen in accordance with section 414C (11) of the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors' Report) Regulations 2008 to set out in the strategic report information required by schedule 7 of the Large and Medium‐sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. It has done so, where relevant, in respect of financial risk management objectives and policies, exposure to price risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and cash flow risk.

Financial review

The principal funding sources for the year were contractual payments for care and support services from Local Authorities, the NHS and individuals assessed as able to fund their own care and support. For housing‐related services, the funding has been from Housing Benefit for the rent and service charges and from individuals for ineligible service charges and those not eligible for Housing Benefit. There is in addition small amounts of income from voluntary donations and interest on cash deposits.

During the year the Group received income of £36,723k (2022: £39,528k) and had expenditure of £42,144k (2022: £40,163k) resulting in a net deficit of £5,421k (2022: £635k deficit). After taking into account the actuarial pension gains and adjustments of ‐£1,191k (2022: ‐£1,275k) the net movement in funds at the year‐end was a deficit of £4,230k (2022: surplus of £640k), which includes £21k (2022: £56k) from Amber Housing.

The pressure on staff costs has continued in the year following on from the difficult position during the pandemic the year before. This has included staff recruitment and retention difficulties that has resulted in increased use of external agency staff at a premium cost. In 22/23 we paid some additional monies to limit the numbers of staff exiting the organisation, and this was especially valued in rural services. The rising staff costs and recruitment and retention of the care and support staff remains a sector‐wide issue. The appeal of social care work has reduced since the pandemic and changes to work rules through Brexit has not helped the availability of workforce. The lack of adequate funding from some Local Authorities to reflect the increased costs of staff continues to put pressure on our margins, and we have continued to make efficiency savings wherever possible. We have invested in technology to help us better manage staff working, efficiency and effectiveness. This has meant that some of our legacy systems and interim system changes have become defunct. This has necessitated financial adjustments in year to recognise this impairment and added to our operational deficit. We have continued to work successfully with a neutral vendor in relation to our agency staff requirements, targeting improved quality and consistency. However, the timing of approved agency shift costs showing on key reports has had a detrimental impact in year on our accrual process and necessitated an additional amount to be recognised as a 22/23 agency staff cost. We have been working since year end with our neutral vendor and an external organization to identify improvements in both our internal processes and the information we receive to enable a more consistent approach to agency cost reporting.

An increasing level of voids in many OP services has continued this year linked to an increasing level of complexity and dependency of individuals and our ability to safely meet their needs with our current available resources. We have continued to review the sustainability of our OP services and will work with the Local Authorities involved to agree satisfactory resolutions.

7

Ambient Support Limited

Trustees’ Report (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

At the end of the financial year reserves totalled £6,067k (2022: 10,297k) of which £72k (2022: £72k) relates to restricted funds. Further details of the composition of the unrestricted funds are given under the ‘Reserves policy’ section of this report. At the year‐end the Charitable Group has pension liabilities as follows:

The movement in defined benefit pension liabilities has reduced this year, resulting in a positive adjustment of £1,191k against reserves (see note 9). The payment liabilities for all pensions are incorporated into our financial plans as they fall due, but as the total liabilities will not crystallise in the foreseeable future, we are confident our liabilities are being managed and do not have a significant impact on our finances.

The pension deficit on the Buckinghamshire LGPS has been accounted for as zero and the past service deficit liability for the SHPS is subject to an annual payment arrangement. Note 9 of the financial statements provides further detail on how these liabilities are managed and protections that are in place to cover any liability should relevant contracts be terminated early.

Performance of subsidiary:

Amber Housing reported a surplus of £21k (2022: £56k). Their total funds are £1,631k (2022: £1,610k) with designated reserves on 31 March 2022 of £151k (2022: £151k) recognising the future property liabilities they have relating to both owned and leased houses. (Further details can be found in note 12.)

Risk statement and management

The Trustees recognise their responsibility for risk management in Ambient and its subsidiary Amber Housing and are advised of the major risks by the Executive Team at each Board meeting and in the relevant committee meetings. Trustees are satisfied that they have sufficient controls in place to avoid any major exposure to risk associated with the operation of the care and support services, and the financial affairs of the Charity and its subsidiary. Operational management are responsible for local risk assessments and action plans as they would directly impact on provision of services to people within their area of responsibility.

The strategic risk register of Ambient identifies the following risks as being the principal risks, with the mitigations to those risks listed below each risk:

Staffing shortages

Inflation/cost of living

Significant quality/safeguarding/safety event

Remote working/conflict in Eastern Europe – increased risk of cyber security issues

Working with people with increasingly complex needs:

LA funding/Financial sustainability of services

8

Ambient Support Limited

Trustees’ Report (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Failure of Financial Controls

Amber Housing – a separate risk register is shared with Ambient and this details any areas of concern. Failure with statutory compliance by a third‐party landlord or provider remains the highest risk area, although this is mitigated by regular monitoring.

Investment powers and policy

Under the Articles of Association, Ambient has the power to invest its resources in any way the Trustees determine as if it were absolutely entitled to the assets of the Charity.

We have continued this year to retain surplus cash in bank deposit accounts. Our cash resources always seen as giving us strength through our liquidity have been depleted through higher staffing costs, notably agency staff, and the ongoing investment in new integrated systems. We have also acquired a new property in Norfolk that is being used for a Supported Living LD service. The returns this year from cash deposits 4have remained low but we are seeing improvements as the Bank of England Base rate moves upwards.

Reserves policy and Going Concern

The Trustees have reviewed the financial position of the Group during the year at each Business Improvement and Financial Performance Committee (BIFP) meeting, and each Board meeting, and consider this in relation to the expected increase in funds and known, and potential, liabilities. They have taken decisions last year to include impairment losses of £1,324k based on a reduced market value of a property in Nottinghamshire. This property sold post year end for £550k, necessitating an impairment of £911k this year, together with £446k impairment of obsolete IT software systems.

As at 31 March 2023, the total funds held on a consolidated basis are £6,067k. This is made up of:

The restricted funds comprise various donations received for specific services. It is intended that these monies will be spent during the year for the direct benefit of those services.

The designated funds relate to liabilities expected on Amber Housing properties in the coming years.

On 31 March 2023 the Group’s “free reserves” (total reserves excluding restricted and designated funds, funds represented by fixed assets and funds represented by pension) were a deficit of £623k (2022: £3,451k surplus).

The Trustees have carefully considered the reserves position this year, as the value of reserves has significantly reduced, and the result is a negative value of free reserves. The Charity has experienced significant costs in employing agency staff to serve the purpose of the charity during a period of high inflation. In addition, fall in the overall market for commercial property has resulted in significant reductions in the value of its property assets, and impairments have been made in 2022 and this year in one particular care home which has been sold at a loss in that time. The operational environment has also been tough, with many Local Authorities not increasing their fees sufficiently to cover the true cost of the National Living Wage increases and the requirement to be competitive in employee pay to both recruit and retain staff. This has resulted in some areas, notably the more rural settings, where we operate services being over reliant on external agency staff, and this has led to a considerable unplanned overspend in staff costs.

The situation has required Trustees to rethink the approach to reserves, recognising that there is a requirement to hold funds to ensure the stability of the Charity as an employer of staff, with also the need to retain and secure ongoing contract income where the services are financially viable and progress the strategic direction moving forward. The reserves target was previously set to be at a minimum level of

9

Ambient Support Limited

Trustees’ Report (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

£5m, plus other specific reserves as may arise from our sector. The minimum value of £5m remains the target, but this has required more application against the areas of key risk and results in a consequent reduction in the general unrestricted reserve.

General reserve – Total unrestricted reserves(including pension deficit and fixed assets) £3.5m
Growth development and investment fund) £0.1m
Risk of loss of significant contracts £0.3m
Regulator breaches,fines etc. Based on Risk Register(CQC,ICO,Home Office,H&S Executive,GDPR). £0.5m
Reputational damage and consequential loss of core income – based on a potential loss of total income
£3m with a Risk Register Possible Likelihood score of 10%		 £0.3m
Employment related matters £0.1m
Failure of a contractor/breach of contract £0.2m
Total General Reserve Target £5.0m

The reserves policy is reviewed annually at the end of the financial year, or sooner if there are significant changes in the risk register requiring a change to the level of reserves held by the Charity.

On completing a review of going concern looking forward for the coming 12 months the Trustees have determined that a loan is in the best interest of the charity, the people it supports and its staff. Trustees noted that some material uncertainties do remain in relation to a) completion of the final documentation to secure the loan facility; b) ability to meet said funding requirements and covenants which will require close management and control of the working capital and c) multiple actions that are required to deliver against the phased turnaround plan in the coming 12 months, and for which there have been some identified mitigations as may be necessary.

The remaining digital transformation and restructure of the charity will bring additional financial efficiency savings that will continue into future years. The opportunities for targeted growth in the strategic areas of operation together with ongoing consolidation of some services, lead Trustees to be satisfied that the Group meets the “going concern” criteria, albeit with the caveat of material uncertainty.

Directors Duties (s172)

In complying with their duties under s172 of the Companies Act 2006, to promote the success of the organisation for the benefit of its members as a whole, and to achieve its charitable purpose, Trustees have had regard to a number of factors, including the following:

The likely consequences of any decision in the long term

All key decisions that may have a significant impact on the long‐term future of the Charity are discussed with Trustees at the relevant sub‐ committee as well as the Board. In respect of key on‐going projects, initiatives or strategies, Trustees receive regular updates to ensure that there is an appropriate level of oversight. As any plans are developed, Trustees will have regular clear oversight of them, and a number of Trustee and Executive joint “away‐days” were held during the year, to discuss and agree the strategic plan, priorities, and key issues.

The interest of the organisation’s employees

The Charity is committed to proactively involving, supporting and developing its staff.

Our Workforce Development Strategy which has been in place for over a year is a key driver for this with an ambitious programme of work, and a detailed implementation plan with clear outcomes, which is agreed and monitored via our Organisational Development and Resources (ODR) committee. Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, we have largely achieved the actions, to time. The overarching themes are:

Inclusiveness

Engagement

Development

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Ambient Support Limited

Trustees’ Report (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Recruitment

Ambient is strongly committed to engaging in a meaningful way with its workforce, and some examples of how this happens include:

HR – Good Place to Work Accreditation (GPTW)

An initial staff survey ran over a three‐week period from 10 October 2022. The survey, subject to reaching a minimum response threshold, measured our engagement scores which met the requirement for certification. Achievement of this would allow us to use the GPTW logo and advertise ourselves as a Great Place to Work.

We followed up the certification with a very lengthy and time consuming written supporting submission and received confirmation of our accreditation in early 2023. We learnt a lot from this process and scored well on fairness and inclusivity, staff enjoying their work etc but as is an issue across the social care sector, pay and conditions for our front line support staff scored low as they are so close to the National Living Wage, a minimum level of pay.

We are pleased to have achieved success and the results will inform our future workforce plans.

The need to foster the organisation’s business relationships with suppliers, customers and other key stakeholders

The people we support are our key stakeholders. They are why we are here. They are at the centre of, and the focus of, everything we do. We engage with them in care planning, with regular and continual contact and feedback, with their family supporters, and with their GPs and other specialist care professionals involved in their support programme, to ensure we are continuing to give each person the personalised care and support that they desire. The care plans of the people we support are all individually discussed with them and/or their relatives, and regularly updated, so we can work towards the outcomes that are sought for each person, and provide them with the best possible care to support those outcomes. During the year, Trustees visited schemes and had the opportunity to engage directly with the people we support, as well as with our front‐line service staff. This is a valuable tool in understanding how our clients and operational staff feel about the services we are providing, and identifying any potential issues and feeding those back to the Executive. Regional and other

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Ambient Support Limited

Trustees’ Report (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

operational managers also regularly give presentations to Trustees about the services in their areas, often including various case studies, to help Trustees understanding of what’s currently happening in that particular front‐line.

Purchasers of our services, including Commissioners, Integrated Care Boards and Local Authorities, are our key customers. We encourage feedback from customers so we can improve our services. e.g. reshaping service delivery to fit with the requirements and finances of the purchaser, negotiating and agreeing the care support required for specific individuals, or groups of individuals with certain care needs, and agreeing pricing. We always seek to deliver high‐quality services, but frequently have to deliver to a tight price point. Trustees are regularly appraised at the Board and committee meetings of our liaisons with our various customers, and of any particular current issues. These will come to light also in the presentations mentioned above, and are also reported in the quarterly dashboard performance reviews (covering all schemes across all regional areas and all client groups), which all Trustees have presented to them.

Our relationship with our supplier partners is key to our effectiveness in providing quality care services. For example, in relation to accommodation we do not own, we rely on third‐party landlords for quality property provision that is safe, well maintained, and appropriate for the people we support, and we liaise closely with them to ensure that this is the case. Any significant issues that might arise from time to time with particular suppliers are reported to Trustees. We also play an active and vital part within the communities of the key trade bodies that represent us (e.g. National Care Forum (NCF), Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG)).

Regulators (e.g. CQC, HSE) are key stakeholders as we are legally obligated to operate under multiple regulatory regimes. We respond to regulatory reports and findings in a positive way as we always want to improve what we offer, and want to ensure that we continue to operate safe and quality services of the highest level. Regulatory reports are notified to Trustees, and are also reported as part of the quarterly dashboards and performance reviews mentioned above, so Trustees have early sight of any particular issues.

The impact of the organisation’s operations on the community and the environment

Ambient is committed to building social capital within the communities in which it works. For example, Ambient’s Community Engagement and Inclusion Services add flavour and colour to people’s lives, helping to reduce the stigma and isolation of mental ill health.

These projects are an important part of our offering, and allow people to participate in meaningful and enjoyable activities, often together with friends and family, to boost confidence and to help build social and support networks. People who take part can expect to:

We operate the following two projects:

Please also see how we seek to reduce our environmental footprint in the “Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting” on page 15 below.

The desirability of the organisation maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct

It is particularly important, given the nature of Ambient’s work as a leading social care charity, and in liaising with the important stakeholder groups mentioned above, that we ensure the maintenance of our reputation of high standards of conduct in all our business dealings. Further, in relation to organisational risks, our risk registers are reviewed regularly by the Executive and at Trustee committee meetings to determine any impacts arising from the meeting’s discussions, including any impact that might relate to reputational risk, and factors that may mitigate those risks.

The need to act fairly as between members of the organisation

The Board collectively ensures that it acts fairly as between its members, and that all members act in the best interests of Ambient, focused on promoting the success of the organisation in meeting its charitable aims.

In doing so members will exercise independent judgment, reasonable skill, care, and diligence, and avoid (or declare where not avoidable), any conflicts of interest or conflicts of loyalty.

12

Ambient Support Limited

Trustees’ Report (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

GOVERNANCE

Structure, governance and management

Ambient Support Limited is a Charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales and a Company Limited by Guarantee (Charity No. 1135353 and Company No. 07211819). Ambient Support Limited has one active subsidiary: Amber Housing Limited ‐ a Registered Co‐operative and Community Benefit Society (Reference 30052R) and one dormant subsidiary: Amber Housing Ventures Limited – a private company limited by guarantee (Company No. 12181165). Amber Housing Ventures is going through a striking off process at Companies House with the First Gazette publication on 21 November 2023.

As part of a Governance review which became effective from 1 January 2017, and in accordance with the recommendations of CC35 regarding unconflicted Board members, it was agreed that Trustees should not sit on more than one company within the Group as a Trustee. The role of co‐optee was created whereby the skills and experience of an individual could be retained for a period by any part of the Group and they could attend Board meetings but would have no voting rights. The Ambient Board can nominate and/or remove Trustees onto the Boards of its subsidiary and made the relevant changes in relation to Amber Housing. All Trustee appointments are proposed and agreed by the Ambient Board, including those involving nomination to subsidiary Boards.

Ambient is governed by its Articles of Association which were last revised on 24 June 2020. It should have at least seven members and not more than 15, and they will act on a voluntary basis as Trustees and Directors under Company Law. As at 31 March 2023 it had 12 Trustees and one co‐optee. Trustees of Ambient guarantee to contribute a sum not exceeding £1 to the assets of the Charity in the event of it being wound up. The Trustees had no beneficial interest in the charitable company. All Trustees are required to complete “fit and proper person” declarations to meet the requirements of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and HMRC in order to fulfil their role. There are also no persons with significant control identified for Ambient, as all decisions are transacted through the Ambient Board with all Trustees involved.

Amber Housing is governed by its rules which were last revised on 24 January 2024.

All Trustees/members are recruited through advertising the vacancies in suitable publications and online recruitment sites and the skills and experience required of the Trustees are determined by a review of the skills matrix for the Board also recognising a desire for some service user participation on the Board. As part of the last set of Governance changes, all Trustees serving for Ambient or Amber Housing were issued with a new starting term date of 1 January 2017 and an initial term of either two or three years. The maximum term for service is two terms of three years each.

New Trustees undergo an induction during which their legal obligations are outlined by way of a meeting with the Chief Executive to go through the structure of the committees and decision making processes, together with the current business strategy and business plan; and with the Director of Finance to review the recent financial performance, the current budget and any other relevant financial forecasts. These sessions are complemented by visits to services at which they can meet and discuss issues with local operational staff. All Trustees are active in visiting services (virtually if necessary) on an annual basis to see directly the benefit the Charity is bringing to the lives of the individuals they support. Trustees are encouraged to attend internal training courses which cover Safeguarding, Governance and Charity Law. Ongoing training is provided to ensure that all Trustees are familiar with Charity Commission guidance and changes to any statutory requirements that may impact on their role.

The Trustees operate a number of committees to assist them in monitoring the performance of the Charity and to enable the Board to carry out its governance functions. The basis of the committee structure changed in 2017 and the Amber Housing Board now meet separately to Ambient but have representation on each of the committees which continue to operate on a group basis. The committees each have their own terms of reference, and provide great value in their respective areas of expertise, doubly so during the pandemic given the importance of keeping the people we support safe, maintaining quality service delivery, supporting staff wellbeing, driving digital transformation, and maximising access to and use of Covid related grants. The five committees are as follows:

All Trustees are covered in their role through an insurance policy which includes Trustee Indemnity cover. The cost is not separated as it is part of a comprehensive Social Welfare combined policy which includes the employer, public liability, medical malpractice and professional indemnity insurance including management liability insurance which covers the Trustee role.

The day‐to‐day operation of the Charity is delegated to the Chief Executive – Mark Milton, and his respective Executive Management Team detailed as Senior Officers on pages 2 and 3. There are functional managers for each of the key areas of the business. In addition, service managers are registered with CQC where required.

13

Ambient Support Limited

Trustees’ Report (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

The day to day operation of Amber Housing is delegated to their Chief Executive – Troy Henshall, who is accountable to the Board Members of Amber Housing and reports to the Chair of Amber Housing.

The Trustees consider the Board of Trustees of Ambient, the senior officers employed by Ambient and the Chief Executive of Amber Housing comprise the key management personnel of the charitable Group. All Trustees give of their time freely and no Trustee received remuneration in the year.

The Trustees of each entity recognise the important role that all staff have in delivering the services we provide to the people we support. The training received by staff is much valued by them, and the achievement of both statutory training and specialist training to better meet the needs of people we support, forms part of our quarterly benchmark reporting for each entity. At a service level the staff are involved in team meetings at which they can input their ideas and discuss what is working well and what could be improved.

Trustees acknowledge that the pay in the care sector is relatively low, and the decision of central Government to introduce the National Living Wage is one that has benefitted a large number of our employees from April 2016 onwards. Equally in the last few years, changes to sleep‐in payments have resulted in increased pay for many staff doing sleep‐in shifts. The Charity offers a range of benefits to staff, which include access to training opportunities, and we utilise the Apprenticeship Levy very effectively. An Employee Assistance Programme provided by Counselling in Companies (CiC) is available to all staff. The Joint Staff Consultative Forum functions effectively as a representative body and meets quarterly to discuss and review organisational developments, challenges and key issues affecting staff.

Ambient values the diversification in their workforce. We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion (The Diversity Champions’ programme is the leading employers programme for ensuring all staff including LGBTQ staff are free to be themselves in the workplace), a Mindful Employer (Mindful Employer provides organisations with easier access to information and support for staff who experience stress, anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions), and operates in accordance with the requirements of Disability Confident (The Disability Confident scheme aims to help employers make the most of the opportunities provided by employing disabled people). All staff undertake equal opportunities training and awareness as part of their induction programme, and managers are supported to understand what additional requirements are expected of them.

Relationships with other organisations

Public Benefit

The Trustees have taken due regard of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and comment on the main activities undertaken. Ambient works with beneficiaries who are defined by the consequences of old age, disability and illness. Trustees place no discretionary restriction on eligibility or access to services, and so the principles of the public benefit requirements placed on Ambient as a Charity are met, and are reviewed annually by all Trustees.

Amber Housing is not a Registered Charity so is not obliged to make a formal public benefit statement. However, it works with disadvantaged individuals providing affordable housing solutions, and would meet the requirements of the Charity Commission on public benefit.

At each Board meeting and when decisions are taken, the Chair of each entity ensures that any decisions and actions are taken for the public benefit.

Objectives and activities

The objects of Ambient, the Charity, as set out in its Articles of Association are:

14

Ambient Support Limited

Trustees’ Report (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

The aims of the Charity are to support people from diverse backgrounds, who generally have only limited opportunity to participate meaningfully in their communities, despite having a range of abilities, skills and potential. This can be because of the ageing process, mental health issues or having learning and/or a physical disability. It is our aim to help each individual we support to live valued lives within their community and enable them to exercise independence and choice wherever possible.

Through the provision of flexible, person centred support packages that are designed to enable each individual to achieve their agreed outcomes, a variety of service models are offered. These include supporting people in a range of different settings including their own homes, supported living, residential services, short break services and extra care. A wide range of services can be provided including housing‐related support, domiciliary care, community‐based day activities and outreach services. The service provision can be tailored for each type of client need. In essence, the package of support is built around the individual not the structure in which they live.

The objectives of Amber Housing closely align with those of Ambient, as they provide services that support individuals with a learning disability, mental health condition, or those that need support in older age. The services provided by Amber Housing for facilities management are agreed with officers of Ambient each year, and the cycle of repairs and capital renewals and related priorities are reviewed and agreed jointly.

Streamlined energy and carbon reporting

UK Greenhouse gas emissions and energy use data for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023

2023 2022
Energy consumption used to calculate emissions (kWh) 5,830,333 5,916,023
Energy consumption break down (kWh)
‐ Gas
‐ Electricity
‐ Transport fuel		 4,336,988
1,359,677
133,668		 4,362,776
1,472,863
80,384
Scope 1 emissions in metric tonnes CO2e
‐ Gas consumption		 790.16 796.38
Scope 2 emissions in metric tonnes CO2e
‐ Purchased electricity		 259.98 284.82
Scope 3 emissions in metric tonnes CO2e
‐ Business travel in employee owned vehicles		 22.58 13.73
Totalgross emissions in metric tonnes CO2e 1,072.72 1,094.93
Intensity ratio
Tonnes CO2eper service user		 1.28 1.06

Quantification and reporting methodology

We have followed the 2019 HM Government Environmental Reporting Guidelines. We have also used the GHG Reporting Protocol – Corporate Standard and have used the 2021 UK Government’s Conversion Factors for Company Reporting.

Intensity measurement

The chosen intensity measurement ratio is total gross emissions in metric tonnes CO2e per service user.

Measures taken to improve energy efficiency

Ambient is fully committed in its responsibility to care for our environment and to minimise any adverse environmental impact relating to its activities. As a large employer (employing over 250 people) Ambient met its obligation to participate in the Government Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), and has been implementing the findings. Ambient holds a buildings related responsibility including informing external parties where the responsibility for performance is held. In trying to improve our environmental footprint at Ambient, we have a number of on‐going initiatives. These include using recycled and recyclable materials wherever possible, having a recycling policy in our offices, offering our staff access to the cycle‐to‐work scheme, enhancing our online learning and training provision, and making Microsoft Teams and other video conferencing software accessible to our staff to reduce travel and its environmental impact. We also made an investment in heating and climate control at our Head Office that will assist in the reduction of overall energy usage.

15

Ambient Support Limited

Trustees’ Report (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Governance Code

The Trustees have considered the new Charity Governance code which was launched in July 2017 and updated in late 2020. The code is designed to assist charities and their Trustees develop high standards of governance. The new version of the code starts with the assumption that all Trustees are committed to their Charity’s cause and have joined its Board because they want to help the Charity deliver its purposes most effectively for public benefit and understand their roles and legal responsibilities as set out in the Charity Commission’s guidance The Essential Trustee (CC3).

There are seven principles which make up the Code and each section includes recommended practice for larger and smaller charities:

  1. Organisational purpose

  2. Leadership

  3. Integrity

  4. Decision‐making, risk and control

  5. Board effectiveness

  6. Diversity 7. Openness and accountability

Trustees are making good progress in working towards the key recommendations included within the code. For example:

Fundraising

The Charity does not use any external bodies to fundraise on its behalf. Any fundraising undertaken by the Charity was minimal in nature and undertaken at a local level by employees and supporters, and these activities are monitored by management and Trustees. We are subscribed to the Fundraising Preference Service and have received no complaints this year relating to fundraising activities (2022: none).

Auditor

RSM UK Audit LLP was reappointed as the charitable Group’s auditor during the year.

Statement as to disclosure of information to the auditor

The Trustees who were in office on the date of approval of these financial statements have confirmed, as far as they are aware, that there is no relevant audit information of which the auditor is unaware. Each of the Trustees has confirmed that they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as Trustees in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that it has been communicated to the auditor.

The Trustees’ Report and the incorporated Strategic Report were approved by the Trustees (Directors for the purposes of Company Law) on 28 March 2024 and duly signed on their behalf by:

Chair

David Brindle

16

Ambient Support Limited

Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

For the year ended 31 March 2023

The Trustees (who are also directors of Ambient for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report, including the Strategic 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 which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and the Group and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable Group for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the 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 the Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Group and charity financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

17

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF AMBIENT SUPPORT LIMITED

Opinion on financial statements

We have audited the financial statements of Ambient Support Limited (the ‘parent charitable company’) and its subsidiary (the ‘Group’) for the year ended 31 March 2023 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account), the Group and Company Balance Sheets, the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards including FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statement s:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Group and parent charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Material uncertainty related to going concern

We draw attention to note 1 in the financial statements, which indicates that the parent charitable company considers there to be a material uncertainty in respect of achievement of the operational plan, finalisation of the agreement of external finance and its ability to operate within those financing facilities. As stated in note 1, these events or conditions, indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the group’s and parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

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

Other information

The Trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and the parent charitable company and their environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ Report and the incorporated Strategic Report.

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

18

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF AMBIENT SUPPORT LIMITED

Responsibilities of Trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities set out on page 17, the Trustees (who are also the Directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the Group’s and parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the Group or parent charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

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

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is provided on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at http://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

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

NICHOLAS SLADDEN (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of RSM UK AUDIT LLP (Statutory Auditor) Chartered Accountants 25 Farringdon Street London EC4A 4AB

28 March 2024

19

Ambient Support Limited

Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Note
Income from:
Donations, legacies and grants
2
Charitable activities:
3
Registered Services
Supported Living
Domiciliary & Community services
Property & Housing
Other
Investments
4
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities:
Registered Services
Supported Living
Domiciliary & Community services
Property & Housing
Other
Total expenditure
5
Net expenditure
6
Other recognised gains
Actuarial gain on defined benefit pension
schemes
9
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
17		 2023
Unrestricted
funds
£'000
35
17,619
14,829
2,834
1,266
78
62
36,723
20,742
16,198
2,989
2,211
4
42,144
(5,421)
1,191
(4,230)
10,225
5,995		 2023
Restricted
funds
£'000
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
72
72		 2023
Total
funds
£'000
35
17,619
14,829
2,834
1,266
78
62
36,723
20,742
16,198
2,989
2,211
4
42,144
(5,421)
1,191
(4,230)
10,297
6,067		 2022
Unrestricted
funds
£'000
5
18,532
14,867
2,811
1,279
51
2
37,547
19,587
14,083
2,560
1,945
4
38,179
(632)
1,275
643
9,582
10,225		 2022
Restricted
funds
£'000
1,981
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
1,981
1,283
505
187
‐
9
1,984
(3)
‐
(3)
75
72		 2022
Total
funds
£'000
1,986
18,532
14,867
2,811
1,279
51
2
39,528
20,870
14,588
2,747
1,945
13
40,163
(635)
1,275
640
9,657
10,297

20

Ambient Support Limited

Company Registration No.: 07211819 (England and Wales)

Balance Sheets

As at 31 March 2023

Fixed Assets
Note
Intangible assets
10
Tangible assets
11
Total fixed assets
Debtors:
Amounts receivable within one year
13
Current asset investments
Cash at bank and in hand
Current liabilities
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
14
Net current assets
Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year
15
Provisions for liabilities
16
Net assets excluding pension scheme liability
Defined benefit pension scheme liability ‐ LGPS
9
Defined benefit pension scheme liability ‐ SHPS DB
9
Total net assets
Funds
Unrestricted funds
17
Pension reserve
17
Designated funds
17
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
17
Total funds		 Group
2023
£'000
225
8,216
8,441
2,561
738
2,246
5,545
(4,798)
747
(1,335)
(188)
7,665
‐
(1,598)
6,067
7,442
(1,598)
151
5,995
72
6,067		 2022
£'000
590
9,013
9,603
2,202
738
8,965
11,905
(6,509)
5,396
(1,722)
‐
13,277
(1,316)
(1,664)
10,297
13,054
(2,980)
151
10,225
72
10,297		 Charity
2023
£'000
225
6,986
7,211
2,473
738
1,659
4,870
(4,523)
347
(1,335)
(188)
6,035
‐
(1,598)
4,437
5,963
(1,598)
‐
4,365
72
4,437		 2022
£'000
590
7,743
8,333
2,232
738
8,257
11,227
(6,170)
5,057
(1,722)
‐
11,668
(1,316)
(1,664)
8,688
11,596
(2,980)
‐
8,616
72
8,688

As permitted by s.408 of the Companies Act 2006, the Charity has not presented its own Statement of Financial Activities and related notes. The Charity's net deficit for the year was £5,442k (2022: £1,080k) and the net movement in funds was (£4,251k) (2022: £195k).

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 28 March 2024 by:

David Brindle Chair

Karen Proctor Board Member

21

Ambient Support Limited

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Note
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Cash from operations
19
NET CASH (USED IN)/PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Long Term Deposits
Investment income
Purchase of fixed assets
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Repayments of borrowings ‐ bank loan
Repayments of borrowings ‐ other loans
Interest paid
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR
19
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR
19		 2023
£'000
(5,317)
(5,317)
‐
62
(1,254)
(1,192)
(47)
(81)
(82)
(210)
(6,719)
8,965
2,246		 2022
£'000
2,231
2,231
(50)
2
(945)
(993)
(52)
(77)
(60)
(189)
1,049
7,916
8,965

22

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Charitable company information

Ambient Support Limited is a private company limited by guarantee (company number 07211819) and a charity registered in England and Wales (charity number 1135353). Details of the registered office address are given on page 2 of the financial statements. The Group's operations and principal activities are described in the Trustees' Report and incorporated Strategic Report.

The following accounting policies have been applied consistently across the Group in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the Group's financial statements.

Basis of accounting

These financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of investments. They are drawn up in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard Applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements are presented in sterling, which is the functional currency of the Charity and Group. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £’000 except where otherwise indicated.

The Charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

The consolidated financial statements incorporate those of Ambient and its subsidiary company Amber Housing on a line by line basis.

The parent body, under certain circumstances, has the power to appoint and remove the Board members of Amber Housing, thereby establishing a subsidiary relationship, which requires that their results should be consolidated with Ambient and so Amber Housing is deemed to be a subsidiary, as the parent body has ultimate control over Board membership.

The individual Charity financial statements of Ambient are included in these consolidated financial statements and in accordance with FRS 102, the Charity has taken advantage of the exemptions from the following disclosure requirements:

A separate Statement of Financial Activities and income and expenditure account are not presented in this report for the parent following the exemptions afforded by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006.

Going concern

The group incurred a deficit of £5.1m in the year to 31 March 2023 together with a net cash outflow of £6.7m. The Trustees have prepared the financial statements on a going concern basis, having prepared cash flow forecasts to March 2025. The Trustees are in the process of negotiating additional loan finance which as at the date of signing of these financial statements has not been finalised. The group’s ability to operate within said facility and its associated covenants is dependent on achieving the turnaround plan, specifically management of costs in line with the anticipated income profile; and careful working capital management together with the achievement of identified mitigations as may be necessary. The Trustees consider there to be a material uncertainty in relation to the negotiation of the loan finance and the ability of the group to achieve its turnaround plan and identified mitigations as may be necessary.

Income

All income, whether unrestricted or restricted, is credited to the Statement of Financial Activities when received or deemed receivable. Income is recognised on an accruals basis for services provided in accordance with any contractual obligations, and if income is received prior to the future period to which it relates or entitlement is assured, then income is deferred to the relevant period.

Income is recognised when the Group has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably.

23

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Income from donations and legacies

Income from donations and legacies is received by way of donations and gifts and is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable. Income is recognised on an accruals basis where conditions for entitlement have been met, there is probability of receipt (i.e. more likely than not) and the value can be measured with sufficient reliability. Donated goods, services and facilities are included at open market value that Ambient would be willing to pay, where these are reasonably quantifiable and measurable. An equivalent amount is included as expenditure in the Statement of Financial Activities.

Government grants

Government grants are recognised at the fair value of the asset received or receivable when there is reasonable assurance that the grant conditions will be met and the grants will be received. A grant that specifies performance conditions is recognised in income when the performance conditions are met. Where a grant does not specify performance conditions it is recognised in income when the proceeds are received or receivable. A grant received before the recognition criteria are satisfied is recognised as a liability.

Expenditure

Expenditure is allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. Support costs are corporate overheads incurred indirectly in the provision of services which are then apportioned on the basis of the income level for each type of service provided. The support costs include HR, finance, IT, payroll, training and administrative resources, and irrecoverable VAT where applicable. A liability is recognised when the Charity is legally committed at the balance sheet date as a result of a past event.

Governance costs are included in support costs, and are those incurred to comply with constitutional and statutory requirements and include audit fees, legal fees, Trustees’ expenses and Board and AGM meeting costs, including an allocation of officer time where deemed appropriate to support the Committee activity.

Taxation

The Charity transmogrified on 1 April 2010 from an Industrial and Provident Society (Registration: IP27739R) to a company limited by guarantee registered in England (No: 07211819) and a Registered Charity (No: 1135353). It is exempt from corporation tax in so far as the surplus derives from its charitable activities. It also operates a VAT group with its subsidiary.

The subsidiary, Amber Housing Limited, is a Society incorporated under the Co‐operative and Community Benefit Society Act 2014 with charitable rules and is exempt from corporation tax on this basis.

Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Items are only capitalised where the item value is £500 or greater, and has an expected useful life of over one year. Depreciation is charged over the expected useful economic lives of the assets less any residual value at the following rates:

Freehold and leasehold land and buildings ‐ 2% straight line or term of the lease if less (Freehold land is not depreciated) Leasehold property alterations ‐ 10% straight line or term of the lease if less Furniture, fittings and equipment ‐ 20% to 33.33% straight line Computer equipment ‐ 33% straight line Vehicles ‐ 25% straight line

24

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Intangible fixed assets

Intangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation, less any impairment. Items are only capitalised where the item value is £2,500 or greater, and has an expected useful life of over one year. Amortisation is charged over the expected useful economic lives of the assets less any residual value at the following rates:

Enterprise Care System ‐ 20% straight line

This represents the period over which the Trustees believe the intangible assets are expected to give rise to economic benefit.

Assets in the course of construction are not amortised until they are brought into use.

The carrying values of intangible fixed assets are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents includes cash at bank and cash in hand and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of 3 months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account. Other deposits maturing in over 3 months are separated in the cash flow statement.

Current Assets include an amount under “cash at bank and in hand” which relates to bank accounts held in the name of Ambient holding funds held on behalf of third parties. A corresponding creditor balance is shown on the balance sheet.

Leases

Rentals payable under operating leases, where substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership remain with the lessor, are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight‐line basis over the term of the lease.

Employee benefits

Employees are entitled, with management approval, to carry forward up to 5 days (or equivalent for part time staff) of any unused holiday entitlement at the reporting date. The annual leave year runs from 1 April to 31 March. The cost of any unused entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

Termination benefits are payable when employment is terminated, or whenever an employee accepts voluntary redundancy in exchange for these benefits. The Charity recognises termination benefits when it is demonstrably committed to either (i) terminating the employment of current employees according to a detailed formal plan without possibility of withdrawal or (ii) providing termination benefits as a result of an offer made to encourage voluntary redundancy.

Retirement benefits

Retirement benefits to employees are provided by the following pension schemes: Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS) ‐ Defined Benefit; Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS) ‐ Growth Plan; Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS) ‐ Defined Contribution; NHS ‐ Defined Benefit; and Buckinghamshire Local Government Pension Schemes (LGPS) ‐ Defined Benefit. The SHPS Defined Contribution is the only scheme open to new employees.

The defined benefit schemes are contracted out of the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS) and the assets are held separately from those of the Group.

Social Housing Pension Scheme ‐ Defined Benefit, is a multi‐employer defined benefit scheme. It was previously accounted for as a defined contribution scheme in accordance with FRS 102, since sufficient information regarding the scheme was not available to use defined benefit accounting. On 1 April 2018 (the “effective date”), sufficient information became available to use defined benefit accounting. The Charity has early adopted the amendments to FRS 102 (issued May 2019 and effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2020) for multi‐employer defined benefit schemes, and as such has recognised the difference between the defined benefit liability and the carrying value of its liability for the contributions payable arising from an agreement to fund a deficit at the effective date within other comprehensive income.

25

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Retirement benefits (continued)

The Social Housing Pension Scheme ‐ Growth Plan, is a multi‐employer defined benefit scheme which provides benefits to c. 950 non‐ associated participating employers. It is not possible for the Charity to obtain sufficient information to enable it to account for the scheme as a defined benefit scheme. Therefore, it accounts for the scheme as a defined contribution scheme and contributions are recognised in income and expenditure in the period to which they relate.

The defined contribution Social Housing Pension Scheme that is currently open, meets the requirements for auto enrolment, and during the year, Ambient paid a 3% contribution for all eligible employees. Existing members of the defined contribution scheme at 1 December 2013 continue in the scheme with the employer contributions set at the rate agreed when they joined the scheme.

The NHS Pension Scheme is an unfunded, defined benefit scheme in which Ambient operates under a direction status given by the Secretary of State, which allows it to operate as the employing body of staff that were transferred under TUPE from the NHS in previous years. The contributions for employees and the employer are determined by the Government Actuary and are paid to the Exchequer which in turn meets the cost of paying benefits as and when they fall due. As stated in note 9 the NHS Pension Scheme is an unfunded multi‐employer pension scheme operated on a pay‐as‐you‐go basis. The NHS Pension Scheme is therefore treated as a defined contribution scheme and the contributions recognised as they are paid each year.

The LGPS are funded schemes and the assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Group. Pension assets are measured at fair value and the liabilities are measured on an actuarial basis using the projected unit credit method. The actuarial valuations are obtained at least triennially and are updated at each balance sheet date. The amounts charged to net income included as part of staff costs are the current service costs and the costs of scheme introductions, benefit changes, settlements and curtailments. The net interest cost on the net defined benefit liability/asset is charged to net income and included within finance costs. Re‐measurement comprising actuarial gains and losses and the return on scheme assets (excluding amounts included in net interest) are recognised immediately in other recognised gains/(losses).

The subsidiary Amber Housing does not operate any pension scheme as it does not employ any staff directly.

Note 9 gives the latest actuarial information for the Group.

Financial instruments

The Charity has applied the provisions of Section 11 “Basic Financial Instruments” of FRS 102, in full, to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are classified and accounted for according to the substance of the contractual arrangement as financial assets, financial liabilities or equity instruments. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the entity after deducting all of its liabilities.

Financial assets

Basic financial assets, which include investments, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at fair value.

Basic financial assets, which include trade and other debtors, amounts owed by group undertakings and accrued income, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost, being transaction price less amounts settled and less any impairment losses.

Financial liabilities

Basic financial liabilities, which include trade and other creditors, bank loans, other loans, amounts owed to group undertakings and accruals, are initially measured at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost, being transaction price less amounts settled.

26

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Funds

Unrestricted general funds

The general fund represents accumulated surpluses and deficits arising from the Charity’s activities, which can be appropriated for any charitable purpose that is compatible with the Charity’s objects. The purpose and use of the unrestricted general funds are set out in note 17.

Unrestricted designated funds

These comprise funds that have been set aside at the discretion of the Trustees for specific purposes. The purpose and use of the unrestricted designated funds are set out in the note 17.

Restricted funds

These represent income given for particular purposes or income that needs to be treated as restricted through reference to the objects of the Charity, net of related expenditure.

Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

In the application of the Charity’s accounting policies, the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised.

The cost of the LGPS defined benefit pension plans with Buckinghamshire County Council and the SHPs scheme, have been determined by actuarial valuations supplied for use. These were carried out by qualified actuaries independent of the Charity. The actuarial valuations involved making assumptions about discount rates, future salary increases, mortality rates and future pension increases. Due to the complexity of the valuations, the underlying assumptions and the long‐term nature of the schemes, such estimates are subject to significant uncertainty. In determining the appropriate discount rate, the management consider the market yield of AA corporate bonds consistent with the currency and term of the defined benefit obligation. The mortality rate is based on publicly available mortality tables, which uses data for UK self‐administered pension schemes and allowing for unexpected future improvements in longevity. Future salary increases and pension increases are based on expected future inflation rates as determined by the Bank of England spot rate with a consistent term of the defined benefit obligation at the valuation date. Further details are given in note 9.

27

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

2. INCOME FROM DONATIONS, LEGACIES AND GRANTS 2023
Donations
Totals
INCOME FROM DONATIONS, LEGACIES AND GRANTS 2022
Donations
Donated goods
Grants
Totals		 Unrestricted
funds
£'000
35
35
Unrestricted
funds
£'000
5
‐
‐
5		 Restricted
funds
£'000
‐
‐
Restricted
funds
£'000
6
355
1,620
1,981		 Total
funds
£'000
35
35
Total
funds
£'000
11
355
1,620
1,986

During the year the Group received government assistance in the form of grants totalling £0k (2022: £1,620k) for Covid Infection Control, Rapid Testing and Workforce Development and donated goods relating to personal protective equipment for use within the Group of £nil (2022: £355k). There are no unfulfilled conditions or other contingencies attaching to these funds.

3. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

The Group’s income from charitable activities is derived from the provision of services comprising care, support and housing in England to people who are older, have a learning disability or mental health need.

The arrangements the Group has with local authorities are changing in many areas from block contract to spot contracts in line with the move to personalisation of care and support services and self directed support. The Group does have significant partnership arrangements with Buckinghamshire County Council for older people’s services; Lincolnshire County Council, Norfolk County Council, Leicestershire County Council, Staffordshire County Council for Learning Disability services; and London Borough of Bromley and London Borough of Newham for Mental Health Services, in addition to many other contracts with individuals and local authorities in England. Income and expenditure in relation to these contracts is accounted for when receivable.

4. INCOME FROM INVESTMENTS

Income from investments 2023
Interest income from short and long term bank deposits
Income from investments 2022
Interest income from short and long term bank deposits		 Unrestricted
funds
£'000
62
Unrestricted
funds
£'000
2		 Restricted
funds
£'000
‐
Restricted
funds
£'000
‐		 Total
funds
£'000
62
Total
funds
£'000
2

28

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

5. EXPENDITURE

Total expenditure 2023

Direct Costs
Staff costs
Non‐staff costs
SHPS and LGPS pension
adjustment
Governance costs
Impairment losses
Other restricted fund costs
Other unrestricted fund costs
Recharged support costs
Total expenditure on
charitable activities		 Registered
Supported
Domiciliary &
Community Property &
Support
Services
Living
services
Housing
costs * Miscellaneous
Total
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
13,415
13,579
2,476
367
2,650
32,487
3,865
103
561
119
‐
1,657
‐
2,202
(294)
‐
‐
8,404
(191)
‐
‐
‐
11
72
‐
83
911
‐
‐
‐
446
‐
1,357
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
4
4
2,448
2,058
394
176
(5,076)
‐
‐
20,742
16,198
2,989
2,211
‐
4
42,144

The impairment of £1,107k (2022: £1,104k) relates to a specific property and more detail on this can be found in note 11.

Total expenditure 2022

Direct Costs
Staff costs
Non‐staff costs
SHPS and LGPS pension
adjustment
Governance costs
Impairment Losses
Other restricted funds
Other unrestricted Funds
Recharged support costs
Total expenditure on
charitable activities		 Registered
Supported
Domiciliary &
Community Property &
Support Miscellaneous
Services
Living
services
Housing
costs
*
Total
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000**
13,320
12,330
2,270
318
2,508
‐
30,746
4,115
510
147
1,467
2,067
‐
8,306
85
5
‐
‐
(277)
‐
(187)
72
‐
‐
10
99
‐
181
1,104
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
1,104
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
9
9
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
4
4
2,174
1,743
330
150
(4,397)
‐
‐
20,870
14,588
2,747
1,945
‐
13
40,163

** Miscellaneous costs represent ancillary expenditure that has been incurred and relates to Covid related donation income.

29

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

6. NET EXPENDITURE
2023
Net expenditure is stated after charging:
£'000
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
695
Impairment losses on tangible fixed assets
911
Impairment losses on intangible fixed assets
446
Loss on disposal of tangible fixed assets
199
Operating lease rentals
1,764
Net interest on defined benefit pension liabilities (note 9)
77
Interest on bank loans measured at amortised cost
43
Interest on other loans measured at amortised cost
40
Fees payable to RSM UK Audit LLP and its associates in respect of both audit and non audit services are as follows:
Audit services ‐ statutory audit of parent and consolidated accounts
49
Audit services ‐ prior year costs
‐
Other services:
Audit services ‐ statutory audit of subsidiary of the Charity
9
All other non‐audit services
8
66
7. STAFF COSTS
2023
£'000
Wages and salaries
21,137
Social security costs
1,767
Defined benefit pension costs (see note 9)
373
Defined contribution pension costs
593
Agency staff & other staff related costs
8,617
32,487		 2022
£'000
681
1,104
285
32
1,756
87
26
35
42
9
8
9
68
2022
£'000
22,192
1,863
380
621
5,690
30,746

Redundancy and compromise payments across the Group of £214k were paid during the year (2022: £84k).

Eight Ambient employees are seconded full time to Amber Housing which meets the costs in full (2021: eight employees).

The average monthly number of staff employed during the year under contracts of service was:

Senior managers and administrative staff
Care and activities staff		 2023
Number
88
977
1,065		 2022
Number
88
1,092
1,180

The full time equivalent (FTE) number of staff would be lower as a number of staff work part‐time and some casual staff are employed on zero hours contracts. The FTE is estimated at 1,044 staff for 2022 (2021: 1,114 staff).

30

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

7. STAFF COSTS (continued)

Employees earning more than £60,000 per annum

£60,001 ‐ £70,000
£70,001 ‐ £80,000
£80,001 ‐ £90,000
£90,001 ‐ £100,000
£100,001 ‐ £110,000
£110,001 ‐ £120,000
£120,001 ‐ £130,000		 2023
Number
‐
1
2
‐
2
‐
1		 2022
Number
2
‐
2
1
‐
2
‐

Nil employees in 2023 (2022: nil) are member of the SHPS defined benefit scheme; 6 employees in 2023 (2022: 6) are members of the SHPS defined contribution scheme and nil employees in 2023 are in the NHS Pension (2022: nil). Employer pension contributions for 2023 for the above employees were £nil in the defined benefit scheme (2022: £nil); £nil in the NHS Pension (2022: £nil) and £27,688 in the defined contribution scheme (2022: £31,345).

Key management personnel

Key management personnel include the Trustees and the following posts in Ambient: Chief Executive, Director of Finance, Director of Operations & Business Development, Director of People & Culture, Director of Sales, Marketing & Communications, Chief Information Officer. In Amber Housing it is the Chief Executive Amber Housing.

The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the Group during the year, which comprised salary, pension contributions and benefits in kind, was £651k (2022: £665k) and Employer's National Insurance of £68k (2022: £79k).

The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the Charity during the year, which comprised salary, pension contributions and benefits in kind, was £597k (2022: £594k) and Employer's National Insurance of £61k (2022: £71k).

No trustees received any remuneration during the period (2022: nil).

8. TRUSTEES' EXPENSES AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Travel and other out of pocket expenses were reimbursed or paid to third parties on behalf of members of the Board of Trustees for travel to Board meetings and other Charity related activities. These amounted to £10,277 in 2023 for 12 Trustees (2022: £10,931 for 15 Trustees).

Ambient has purchased £643k of facilities management services during the year (2022: £614k) from Amber Housing, a subsidiary. The following amounts are paid by Amber Housing to Ambient: a management fee of £63k per annum (2022: £53k); interest charge of £4k (2022: £4k); property related payments of £20k amount (2022: £nil); Gardening charge of £8k (2022: £8k). During the year, Ambient made purchases on behalf of Amber Housing and paid staff on secondment to the subsidiary totalling £338k (2022: £351k). The amount owed by Amber Housing at the year end is £32k (2022: £131k) which excludes the loan which is now fully paid. Note 13 refers.

31

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

9. RETIREMENT BENEFITS

The Charity operates several pension funds for its staff and details of these are disclosed below. The employer contributions for 2023/24 are expected to be c. £894k across all pension schemes.

Contributions amounting to £165k (2022: £162k) were payable to the schemes at 31 March 2023 and are included within other creditors.

The table below shows the net pension liabilities which are shown in the Balance Sheet and are detailed in the notes that follow:

Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS) (note a)
Buckinghamshire County Council ‐ LGPS (note b)
Total liability		 2023
£000's
Group and
Charity
1,598
‐
1,598		 2022
£000's
Group and
Charity
1,664
1,316
2,980

a) Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS) – Defined Benefit

Ambient participated in the Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS) which was a multi‐employer defined benefit scheme up to 31 March 2016 at which time it was closed and the remaining 6 active employees were transferred to the SHPS defined contribution scheme on terms agreed as part of a consultation process. The SHPS is a funded multi‐employer defined benefit pension scheme, with assets held in separate trustee administered funds. The total contribution made for the year ended 31 March 2023 was £347k (2022: £331k), of which employer's contributions totalled £347k (2022: £331k) and employees' contributions totalled £nil (2022: £nil).

The latest full actuarial valuation was carried out as at 30 September 2020.

Principal actuarial assumptions

The following information is based upon a full actuarial valuation of the fund at 30 September 2020 updated to 31 March 2023 by a qualified independent actuary:

2023 2022
% %
Rate of increase in salaries 3.7 4.2
Rate of increase for pensions in payment 3.7 4.2
Discount rate for scheme liabilities 4.9 2.8
Inflation assumption (CPI) 2.7 3.2
Inflation assumption (RPI) 3.2 3.6
The assumed life expectations on retirement age 65 are: 2023 2022
Years Years
Retiring today
Males 21.0 21.1
Females 23.4 23.7
Retiring in 20 years
Males 22.2 22.4
Females 24.9 25.2

32

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

9. RETIREMENT BENEFITS (continued)

Ambient's share of the assets in the scheme:
Equities
Property
Alternative assets
Absolute return portfolio
Other
Total fair value of assets
Amounts recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities:
Net interest cost
Administration expenses
Total charge
Amounts recognised in other recognised gains and losses:
Return on plan assets in excess of interest
Change in demographic assumptions
Change in financial assumptions
Experience gain/(loss) on defined benefit obligation
Total other recognised (loss)/gain
Changes in the present value of defined benefit obligations:
At 1 April
Administration expenses
Interest cost
Actuarial loss
Benefits paid
At 31 March
Changes in the fair value of Charity's share of scheme assets:
At 1 April
Interest income
Return on plan assets (excluding net interest on the net defined pension liability)
Employer contributions
Benefits paid
At 31 March		 Fair value of assets
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
3,599
5,151
522
549
13
344
77
418
2,922
3,957
7,133
10,419
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
42
43
11
11
53
54
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
(3,636)
(226)
22
201
3,300
827
86
(584)
(228)
218
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
12,083
12,603
11
11
333
266
(3,408)
(444)
(288)
(353)
8,731
12,083
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
10,419
10,444
291
223
(3,636)
(226)
347
331
(288)
(353)
7,133
10,419		 Fair value of assets
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
3,599
5,151
522
549
13
344
77
418
2,922
3,957
7,133
10,419
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
42
43
11
11
53
54
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
(3,636)
(226)
22
201
3,300
827
86
(584)
(228)
218
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
12,083
12,603
11
11
333
266
(3,408)
(444)
(288)
(353)
8,731
12,083
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
10,419
10,444
291
223
(3,636)
(226)
347
331
(288)
(353)
7,133
10,419
10,419
2022
£'000
43
11
54
2022
£'000
(226)
201
827
(584)
218
2022
£'000
12,603
11
266
(444)
(353)
12,083
2022
£'000
10,444
223
(226)
331
(353)
10,419

The total return on scheme assets was £3,345k (2022: loss of £3k).

33

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

9. RETIREMENT BENEFITS (continued)

b) Buckinghamshire County Council ‐ LGPS

Staff who transferred from Buckinghamshire County Council to become employees of the Charity were admitted to the Buckinghamshire County Council Pension Fund (“the Fund”), a defined benefit scheme, which is administered by Buckinghamshire County Council under the regulations governing the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). The LGPS is a funded defined benefit scheme, with assets held in separate trustee administered funds. The total contribution made for the year ended 31 March 2023 was £81k (2022: £51k), of which employer's contributions totalled £74k (2022: £42k) and employees' contributions totalled £7k (2022: £9k). The agreed contribution rates for the future years are 27.1% for employers and between 5.5% to 6.5% for employees.

Principal actuarial assumptions

The following information is based upon a full actuarial valuation of the fund at 31 March 2022 updated to 31 March 2023 by a qualified independent actuary:

Rate of increase in salaries
Rate of increase for pensions in payment
Discount rate for scheme liabilities
Inflation assumption (CPI)
The assumed life expectations on retirement age 65 are:
Retiring today
Males
Females
Retiring in 20 years
Males
Females
The Charity's share of the assets in the scheme:
Gilts
Equities
Other bonds
Property
Cash
Infrastructure
Multi assets
Private debt
Total fair value of assets
Based on the above allocation, Ambient's share of the assets of the fund is less than 1%.
Amounts recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities:
Current service cost
Past service costs, including curtailments
Net interest cost
Administration expenses
Total charge		 2023
%
2022
%
3.8
4.3
2.8
3.3
4.8
2.6
2.8
3.3
2023
2022
Years
Years
21.0
21.6
24.5
25.0
22.3
23.0
25.9
26.5
Fair value of assets
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
708
915
4,710
4,990
905
1,264
448
578
160
316
573
279
793
852
168
54
8,465
9,248
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
49
79
85
‐
35
41
8
7
177
127		 2023
%
2022
%
3.8
4.3
2.8
3.3
4.8
2.6
2.8
3.3
2023
2022
Years
Years
21.0
21.6
24.5
25.0
22.3
23.0
25.9
26.5
Fair value of assets
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
708
915
4,710
4,990
905
1,264
448
578
160
316
573
279
793
852
168
54
8,465
9,248
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
49
79
85
‐
35
41
8
7
177
127
2022
£'000
79
‐
41
7
127

34

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

9. RETIREMENT BENEFITS (continued)

Amounts recognised in other recognised gains and losses:
Return on plan assets in excess of interest
Change in demographic assumptions
Change in financial assumptions
Experience loss on defined benefit obligation
Other actuarial gains on assets
Restriction to level of asset ceiling
Total other recognised gain
Changes in the present value of defined benefit obligations:
At 1 April
Current service cost
Interest cost
Employee contributions
Actuarial losses
Benefits paid
Past service costs, including curtailments
At 31 March
Changes in the fair value of Charity's share of scheme assets:
At 1 April
Interest income
Return on plan assets (excluding net interest on the net defined pension liability)
Other actuarial gains
Administration expenses
Employer contributions
Employee contributions
Benefits paid
At 31 March		 2023
£'000
(773)
531
3,258
(283)
58
(1,372)
1,419
2023
£'000
10,564
49
272
7
(3,506)
(378)
85
7,093
2023
£'000
9,248
237
(773)
58
(8)
74
7
(378)
8,465		 2022
£'000
453
‐
491
(23)
‐
921
2022
£'000
11,133
79
213
9
(468)
(402)
‐
10,564
2022
£'000
8,981
172
453
‐
(7)
42
9
(402)
9,248

The value of the charity's share of net assets has been restricted due to the effect of the asset ceiling being the maximum value of the present of the economic benefits available in the form of the unconditional right to reduced contributions from the plan. A corresponding charge has been made to other comprehensive income for the period.

Present value of defined benefit obligations
Fair value of plan assets
Net asset
Restriction to level of asset ceiling
Net liability recognised in the balance sheet		 2023
£'000
(7,093)
8,465
1,372
(1,372)
‐

The total return on scheme assets was £536k (2022: £625k).

35

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

9. RETIREMENT BENEFITS (continued)

A requirement of the Local Government Pension Scheme is for transferee admitted bodies to obtain an indemnity bond to protect the fund should the contract terminate early leaving a funding deficit or pension strain cost. This is required by the Administering Authority of Buckinghamshire LGPS from Ambient. An indemnity bond meeting the requirements has been arranged by Ambient with Barclays Bank PLC for £688k who has a legal charge over a credit balance of the same amount held in a separate interest earning account with the bank in the name of Ambient Support Limited. This account is ring fenced money not accessible to Ambient. The value of £688k is shown within the current asset investments on the Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2023 (2022: £688k).

c) London Borough of Sutton ‐ LGPS

On 16 January 2022, Ambient exited the scheme. The Charity were advised in May 2023 that the final cessation deficit on leaving the scheme was £295,000. It has subsequently been agreed that the Pension Fund will not seek to recover this deficit from the Charity and instead this balance will be underwritten by Sutton Council who will take on the deficit. If in the future there is a shortfall, Sutton Council will be responsible for making any payments to the members. No liability was recognised in relation to the scheme in the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022.

d) SHPS ‐ Growth Plan

The growth plan is a registered occupational defined contribution pension scheme. It was established in 1946 as a general fund, and it has evolved to take into account changes in the law and economic circumstances. There are now four different series within the one scheme known as the Growth Plan, and it is closed to new employers. The Growth Plan Series 3 has been determined by legislation to be a defined benefit scheme. It is not possible for the Charity to obtain sufficient information to enable it to account for the scheme as a defined benefit scheme. Therefore it accounts for the scheme as a defined contribution scheme.

The treatment of the Series 3 employer debt was reviewed under the Pensions Act 2011 and the Series 3 Growth Plan does create a liability for the employer if they cease to participate in the Plan or the Plan is wound up. A full actuarial valuation for the scheme was carried out at 30 September 2020. This valuation showed assets of £800.3m, liabilities of £831.9m and a deficit of £31.6m. The level of funding has required a recovery plan to be put into place, and this aims to eliminate the deficit via a combination of additional contributions from employers and investment returns for the next year. The contributions agreed by Ambient under the recovery plan for the year from 1 April 2023 will be £933k (2022: £933k) with total recovery plan contributions due of £1,711k (2022: £2,561k).

e) Pension Scheme under NHS Directives

Staff that have transferred into Ambient employment as members of the NHS Pension Scheme, which is a statutory scheme with benefits guaranteed by law and paid for from the Exchequer, have had their pension protected under TUPE. The NHS Pension is a notional fund rather than a real one. Each year employees' and employer's contributions are notionally invested in government stocks recommended by the Government Actuary. This is an unfunded scheme and there can be no deficit or surplus to allocate on the wind up of the scheme or withdrawal from the scheme. The Charity has no liability for other employers in this scheme and the scheme operates on a pay as you go basis so there is no liability to recognise in respect of past service deficits. The Charity has accounted for its contributions to the scheme as if it were a defined contribution scheme.

The employer's pension costs charged to the Statement of Financial Activities during the year amounted to £69k (2022: £75k).

f) Defined contribution pension scheme

The Group operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all new qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Group in an independently administered fund run by The Pensions Trust ‐ SHPS. It is used to administer all the auto enrolment pension requirements. The employer's pension costs charged to the Statement of Financial Activities during the year amounted to £403k (2022: £638k).

36

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

10. INTANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Group and Charity

Cost
At 1 April 2022
Additions
Transfers
At 31 March 2023
Amortisation and impairment
At 1 April 2022
Impairment losses
Amortisation
At 31 March 2023
Net book value
At 31 March 2023
At 31 March 2022		 Enterprise
Care System
£'000
875
246
(32)
1,089
285
446
133
864
225
590

Included within Enterprise Care System are £78k (2022: £590k) of assets currently under construction.

Impairment losses of £446k relate to a Housing Management module of the Enterprise Care System, that whas been superseded by a new system option. (2022: £285k for 2 other system modules).

11. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Group

Group
Cost
At 1 April 2022
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2023
Depreciation
At 1 April 2022
Charge for the year
Impairment losses
Disposals
At 31 March 2023
Net book value
At 31 March 2023
At 31 March 2022		 Freehold
Leasehold
Furniture
Land &
Property
Fittings &
Computer
Buildings
Alterations
Equipment
Equipment
Vehicles
Total
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
£'000
9,488
3,201
1,720
1,302
172
15,883
377
145
334
152
‐
1,008
‐
(433)
(462)
(32)
(52)
(979)
9,865
2,913
1,592
1,422
120
15,912
‐
2,460
1,963
1,300
975
172
6,870
146
205
196
148
‐
695
911
‐
‐
‐
‐
911
‐
(277)
(421)
(30)
(52)
(780)
3,517
1,891
1,075
1,093
120
7,696
6,348
1,022
517
329
‐
8,216
7,028
1,238
420
327
‐
9,013

Details of assets pledged as security for liabilities are disclosed in note 15.

37

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

11. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS (continued)

Charity

Charity
Cost
At 1 April 2022
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2023
Depreciation
At 1 April 2022
Charge for the year
Impairment losses
Disposals
At 31 March 2023
Net book value
At 31 March 2023
At 31 March 2022		 Freehold
Land &
Buildings
Leasehold
Property
Alterations
Furniture
Fittings &
Equipment
£'000
£'000
£'000
8,166
3,105
1,906
377
145
324
‐
(433)
(462)		 Computer
Equipment
Vehicles
Total
£'000
£'000
£'000
1,298
172
14,647
152
‐
998
(32)
(52)
(979)
8,543
2,817
1,768
2,274
1,943
1,544
126
195
176
911
‐
‐
‐
(277)
(421)		 1,418
120
14,666
971
172
6,904
148
‐
645
‐
‐
911
(30)
(52)
(780)
3,311
1,861
1,299
5,232
956
469		 1,089
120
7,680
329
‐
6,986
5,892
1,162
362		 327
‐
7,743

Freehold land & buildings includes land of £727k (2022: £667k) for the Charity and £1,032k (2021: £972k) for the Group. The land value has been calculated based on “deemed cost” under FRS102.

Included within computer equipment are £0k (2022: £30k) and within Property Alterations £0k (2022: £1,122k) of assets currently under construction within the Charity and Group.

In July 2021, the Board of Ambient Support decided to formally consider divestment out of poorly performing Older People’s bedded services. Millbank Care Home was one such service, and after re‐opening in 2012 following its redevelopment and refurbishment (which increased the number of bedrooms), it had not produced the financial returns envisaged. As a result, a business case and Board paper proposing the closure of the home was approved by the Board in December 2021, and the home was closed post‐year end, in July 2022.

After considering the disposal options, the business case agreed by the Board was for the open market sale of the property. Commercial Property Agents were asked to value the property, and in 2022 £1,104k impairment was made. In 2023 the property remained unsold and valuations indicated it should be further impaired and £661k was initially included this year. Since the year end the property was sold for £550k therefore the full value of the impairment was taken to the the SOFA immediately.

38

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

12. SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS

Ambient Support Limited owns 100% of Amber Housing Limited, a Co‐operative and Community Benefit Society (company number IP30052R). It has charitable exemptions and is part of the same VAT group as Ambient Support Limited. It has the same Registered Office address as Ambient Support Limited (see page 2).

Amber Housing Limited provides accommodation to people who are disadvantaged, and facilities management and other housing services on property owned or leased by the Group and for some other external landlords.

The net assets and results of Amber Housing Limited are as follows:

Aggregate assets as at 31 March
Aggregate liabilities as at 31 March
Funds as at 31 March
Income for the year ended 31 March
Expenditure for the year ended 31 March
Surplus for the year ended 31 March		 2023
2022
£'000
£'000
2,206
2,087
(318)
(477)
1,631
1,610
1,930
1,916
(1,909)
(1,860)
21
56

13. DEBTORS

AMOUNTS RECEIVABLE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Trade debtors
Amounts owed by group undertakings
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
AMOUNTS RECEIVABLE AFTER ONE YEAR
Amounts owed by group undertakings		 Group
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
1,207
984
‐
‐
27
35
1,327
1,183
2,561
2,202
Group
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
‐
‐		 Charity
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
1,085
889
32
131
32
35
1,324
1,177
2,473
2,232
Charity
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
‐
‐

Ambient financed the start‐up of its subsidiary, Amber Housing, and transferred two properties to it at cost, which they now lease to people with a Learning Disability. There is an agreement that covers the basis of the arrangement. The value of the loan outstanding to Ambient is secured with a charge over these properties, and loan interest is paid on the value outstanding at a rate of 2% above Bank of England base rate. Each year the Trustees of Ambient review the terms of the loan, and have agreed with the Board of Amber Housing that the loan will be repaid over 10 years at £46k per year starting in 2013/14. An additional loan of £250k was made to Amber Housing to assist them with the purchase of 2 more properties, which are now leased out to people with learning disabilities. The total balance outstanding of £nil (2022: £96k) has now been fully repaid.

39

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

14. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

Bank loan
Other loans
Trade Creditors
Amounts owed to group undertakings
Taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income		 Group
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
45
49
86
81
887
1,132
‐
‐
401
440
527
1,715
2,852
3,092
4,798
6,509		 Charity
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
45
49
86
81
803
990
8
7
402
439
522
1,709
2,658
2,895
4,523
6,170		 Charity
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
45
49
86
81
803
990
8
7
402
439
522
1,709
2,658
2,895
4,523
6,170
4,523 6,170

The deferred income represents the value of income invoiced or payments received relating to services yet to be provided.

Analysis of movement in deferred income:
Brought forward
Released from previous periods
Deferred in the current year
Carried forward		 Group
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
680
183
(680)
(183)
158
680
158
680		 Charity
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
672
183
(672)
(183)
435
672
435
672		 Charity
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
672
183
(672)
(183)
435
672
435
672
672

15. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR

Bank Loan
Other Loans
Other creditors
Included in creditors are:
Amounts repayable by instalments falling due after five
years		 Group
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
858
901
477
563
(0)
258
1,335
1,722
Group
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
867
867		 Charity
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
858
901
477
563
(0)
258
1,335
1,722
Charity
2023
2022
£'000
£'000
867
867

In accordance with the contract with Buckinghamshire County Council a sum of £5.3 million was paid to Ambient in July 2005 to cover the cost of the protected pay for staff transferred on Bucks County Council terms for the life of the contract. The contract length is 30 years, and the formula used for calculation assumes staff turnover and price escalations to estimate a sum transferable to incoming resources under registered services for each year. The sum of £258k shown at present value should be sufficient to meet the obligations as they fall due. Of this balance £258k (2022: £177k) is included within creditors due within one year.

40

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

15. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR (continued)

The outstanding balance as at 31 March 2023 from the bank loan of £1.3 million with the Charity Bank is £903k (2022: £950k). The loan is for a term of 25 years, was at a fixed interest rate of 6.5% which was reviewed by the Trustees and moved to a lower variable rate from 01/11/2016 of 2.5% above base rate, and security has been given in the form of a charge over the two properties located at the site; namely 20 Chilwell Road and 1 Devonshire Avenue. The properties represent less than 50% of the value of the assets over which it has a charge and the amount falling due in more than one year is £858k (2021: £903k). In 2023/24 an amount of 99k (2022: £89k) is payable of which £54k (2022: £43k) is the interest charge based on 6.75% variable.

There is a long term commitment with Riverside ECHG in connection with St Audrey’s, a care home for frail elders located in Hertfordshire, which covers the cost of works undertaken as part of a capital leasehold improvement and as part of the lease agreement these improvement works are secured as a loan. The balance of £563k is outstanding as at 31 March 2022 (2022: £644k). The balances have been included within the creditors notes above. This agreement requires annual payments, including interest, of £121k (2022: £121k) until October 2028. The capital value due within one year is £86k (2022: £81k).

16. PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES

Dilapidations provision
Movement on provisions:
Brought forward
Additional provisions in the year
Carried forward		 Group
2023
£'000
2022
£'000
188
‐
188
‐
Group
2023
£'000
2022
£'000
‐
188
‐
‐
188
‐		 Charity
2023
£'000
188
188
Charity
2023
£'000
‐
188
188		 2022
£'000
‐
‐
2022
£'000
‐
‐
‐

Dilapidations provision

The group and charity has a present obligation to make good lease properties it occupies at the end of each respective property lease. Therefore, a dilapidations provision is required based upon the expected discounted cost to make good the properties.

17. FUNDS

Group
General
Pension ‐ BCC LGPS
Pension ‐ SHPS
Designated funds
Amber Housing ‐ Property Fund
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Reserves of Ambient
Total restricted funds
Total funds		 As at 1
April 2022
£'000
13,054
(1,316)
(1,664)
151
10,225
72
72
10,297		 Income
£'000
36,723
‐
‐
‐
36,723
‐
‐
36,723		 Expenditure
£'000
(42,335)
(103)
294
‐
(42,144)
‐		 Gains/
(losses)
£'000
1,419
(228)
‐
1,191
‐		 Transfers
£'000
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐		 As at 31
March
2023
£'000
7,442
‐
(1,598)
151
5,995
72
‐
(42,144)		 ‐
1,191		 72
6,067

The unrestricted general fund represents funds of the Group which are not designated for particular purposes.

The designated funds of £151k relates to Amber Housing and is to be used to meet the liabilities expected on their properties in the coming years. The gain on BCC LGPS is restricted, please see note 9 for more information.

The restricted funds for Ambient comprise various donations that have been received with reference to different services that we provide for use at that service. It is intended that these monies will be spent during the year for the direct benefit of those services.

41

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

17. FUNDS (continued)

Charity
Unrestricted funds
General
Pension ‐ BCC LGPS
Pension ‐ SHPS
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Donations for services
Total restricted funds
Total funds		 As at 1
April 2022
£'000
11,596
(1,316)
(1,664)
8,616
72
72
8,688		 Income
£'000
35,532
‐
‐
35,532
‐
‐
35,532		 Expenditure
£'000
(41,165)
(103)
294
(40,974)
‐
‐
(40,974)		 Gains/
(losses)
£'000
‐
1,419
(228)
1,191
‐
‐
1,191		 Transfers
£'000
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐		 As at 31
March 2023
£'000
5,963
‐
(1,598)
4,365
72
72
4,437

Group ‐ prior year

Group ‐ prior year
Unrestricted funds
General
Pension ‐ BCC LGPS
Pension ‐ SHPS
Pension ‐ Sutton
Designated funds
Amber Housing ‐ Property Fund
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Reserves of Ambient
Total restricted funds
Total funds
Charity ‐ prior year
Unrestricted funds
General
Pension ‐ BCC LGPS
Pension ‐ SHPS
Pension ‐ Sutton
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Donations for services
Total restricted funds
Total funds		 As at 1
April 2021
£'000
13,868
(2,152)
(2,159)
(131)
‐
156
9,582
75
75
9,657
As at 1
April 2021
£'000
12,469
(2,152)
(2,159)
(131)
8,027
75
75
8,102		 Income
£'000
37,547
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
37,547
1,981
1,981
39,528
Income
£'000
36,334
‐
‐
‐
36,334
1,981
1,981
38,315		 Expenditure
£'000
(38,361)
(85)
277
(5)
‐
(5)
(38,179)
(1,984)		 Gains/
(losses)
£'000
‐
921
218
136
‐
‐
1,275
‐		 Transfers
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
Transfers
£'000
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐		 As at 31
March 2022
£'000
13,054
(1,316)
(1,664)
‐
‐
151
10,225
72
(1,984)
(40,163)
Expenditure
£'000
(37,207)
(85)
277
(5)
(37,020)
(1,984)
(1,984)
(39,004)		 ‐
1,275
Gains/
(losses)
£'000
‐
921
218
136
1,275
‐
‐
1,275		 72
10,297
As at 31
March 2022
£'000
11,596
(1,316)
(1,664)
‐
8,616
72
72
8,688

42

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

18. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN THE FUNDS

Group
Fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Non‐current liabilities
Provisions
Pension scheme liability
Net assets at 31 March 2023
Charity
Fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Non‐current liabilities
Provisions
Pension scheme liability
Net assets at 31 March 2023
Group Prior year
Fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Non‐current liabilities
Pension scheme liability
Net assets at 31 March 2022
Charity Prior year
Fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Non‐current liabilities
Pension scheme liability
Net assets at 31 March 2022		 Unrestricted general
funds
£'000
8,441
5,322
(4,798)
(1,335)
(188)
(1,598)
5,844
Unrestricted general
funds
£'000
7,211
4,798
(4,523)
(1,335)
(188)
(1,598)
4,365
Unrestricted general
funds
£'000
9,603
11,682
(6,509)
(1,722)
(2,980)
10,074
Unrestricted general
funds
£'000
8,333
11,155
(6,170)
(1,722)
(2,980)
8,616		 Designated
funds
£'000
‐
151
‐
‐
‐
‐
151
Designated
funds
£'000
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
Designated
funds
£'000
‐
151
‐
‐
‐
151
Designated
funds
£'000
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐		 Restricted
funds
£'000
‐
72
‐
‐
‐
‐
72
Restricted
funds
£'000
‐
72
‐
‐
‐
‐
72
Restricted
funds
£'000
‐
72
‐
‐
‐
72
Restricted
funds
£'000
‐
72
‐
‐
‐
72		 Total funds
£'000
8,441
5,545
(4,798)
(1,335)
(188)
(1,598)
6,067
Total funds
£'000
7,211
4,870
(4,523)
(1,335)
(188)
(1,598)
4,437
Total funds
£'000
9,603
11,905
(6,509)
(1,722)
(2,980)
10,297
Total funds
£'000
8,333
11,227
(6,170)
(1,722)
(2,980)
8,688

43

Ambient Support Limited

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

19a. RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO NET CASH FROM OPERATIONS

Net expenditure
Adjustments for:
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
Amortisation of Intangible Assets
Transfer of Intangible Asset
Impairment losses on intangible fixed assets
Impairment losses on tangible fixed assets
Investment Income
Interest Payable
Loss on disposal of tangible fixed assets
Defined benefit pension scheme costs less contributions payable
Operating cash flows before movements in working capital
(Increase)/decrease in trade and other debtors
Increase/(decrease) in trade and other creditors
Increase in provisions
Cash from operations
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash at bank and in hand
Current asset investments
Total per Balance Sheet
Less: Deposits maturing in more than 3 months
Cash and cash equivalents in the Statement of Cash Flows		 2023
£'000
(5,421)
695
133
32
446
911
(62)
82
199
(191)
(3,176)
(359)
(1,970)
188
(5,317)
2023
£'000
2,246
738
2,984
(738)
2,246		 2022
£'000
(635)
681
‐
‐
285
1,104
(2)
60
32
(187)

1,338
(133)
1,026
‐
2,231
2022
£'000
8,965
738
9,703
(738)
8,965

Total of cash and cash equivalents and current asset investments shown on the Balance Sheet includes: the bond for Ambient with Buckinghamshire County Council LGPS of £688k and with Bromley Council LGPS of £50k (2021: £688k). It is held in notice accounts maturing in more than 3 months and are excluded from cash balances shown in the Statement of Cash Flows.

19b. ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET DEBT

Cash at bank and in hand
Bank Loans
Other Loans
Debt Due within 1 Year
Bank Loans
Other loans
Debt due after 1 year
Total Net Debt		 At April 1
2022
8,965
(49)
(81)
(130)
(901)
(563)
(1,464)
7,371		 Cash Flow
(6,719)
84
121
205
‐
‐
‐
(6,514)		 Other non‐
cash
movements
‐
(80)
(126)
(206)
43
86
129
(77)		 At 31
March 2023
2,246
(45)
(86)
(131)
(858)
(477)
(1,335)
780

44

Ambient Support Limited

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

20. COMMITMENTS UNDER OPERATING LEASES

The total future minimum lease payments under non‐cancellable operating leases which all relate to property related agreements are as follows:

Group
In less than 1 year
In 2 ‐ 5 years
Over 5 years
Charity
In less than 1 year
In 2 ‐ 5 years
Over 5 years		 2023
£'000
1,307
3,188
6,266
10,761
2023
£'000
792
3,188
5,866
9,846		 2022
£'000
1,324
3,276
6,352
10,952
2022
£'000
923
3,188
5,931
10,042

21. CAPITAL COMMITMENTS

Capital expenditure that had been contracted for at the balance sheet date but that has not been provided for in these financial statements is £nil (2022: £206k).

45