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← Carers In Bedfordshire

2025-03-31-accounts

CARERS IN BEDFORDSHIRE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315! MARCH 2025

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 07140432 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1135507

in bedfordshire

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315* MARCH 2025

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CARERS IN BEDFORDSHIRE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315T MARCH 2025

Contents

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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315T MARCH 2025

Summary

Carers in Bedfordshire has continued to grow and innovate in 2024-25, supporting more carers than ever before. With over 13,490 carers registered and 94,260 interactions, we’ve strengthened our role as a trusted partner for unpaid carers across Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire. Our Early Response service remains the vital first point of contact, while expanded digital tools and targeted outreach have improved access and efficiency.

This year, we launched new initiatives including e-learning for professionals, a monthly newsletter reaching 12,000 recipients, and advanced GP engagement that increased carer identification by 70% in pilot surgeries. We also invested in wellbeing services, dementia support, and young carer programmes, ensuring personalised help for those who need it most.

Looking ahead, we face rising demand and significant contract tenders that will shape our future. Our priorities remain clear: invest in digital services, support carers with the greatest needs, amplify carers’ voices, and expand young carer support. Together, with our partners, funders, and volunteers, we are committed to building a system that recognises and values every carer

About us and how we support

Carers in Bedfordshire is a local charity supporting unpaid carers of all ages to feel recognised, respected, and supported. Our mission is to give carers the knowledge, skills, and support they need to remain in their caring role for as long as they choose.

Strategic priorities

Moving Forward for Change (2024-2029) sets three changes we want to make by 2028 and four delivery objectives:

The difference we want to make:

How we will do it:

Our core services

Early Response: Primarily funded by Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and the ICB (Integrated Care Board), The Early Response service is the main “front door” for carers and professionals

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contacting Carers in Bedfordshire. Its aim is to provide rapid, person-centred first contact, ensuring carers are triaged quickly, receive the right information, and are guided to the most appropriate support pathway for their need.

Support Work: Primarily funded by Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and the ICB, Support Work is the core one-to-one, personalised service for carers with more complex or ongoing needs. It is delivered by trained Support Workers who help carers address the areas of their life they are struggling with most, such as physical or mental health, finances, time for themselves, or coping with the demands of caring.

Workshops & Groups: Multiple funders enable CiB to run Regular sessions and peer groups that help carers build practical skills, share experiences, and connect with others in similar situations.

Caring with Confidence: The ICB fund this flexible course designed for carers at the start of their caring journey, giving them the knowledge, skills, and peer support they need to manage their caring role and look after their own wellbeing.

Treatments: The ICB fund subsidised footcare, massage therapies, and haircuts at locations across Bedfordshire. These treatments are delivered by professional practitioners at a reduced cost, making them accessible to more carers

Carer Hubs (Bedford, Marston Moretain, Biggleswade and Dunstable): The ICB primarily fund monthly drop-in sessions at each location offering information, advice, signposting, and a welcoming space for carers to connect and access support.

Bedford Hospital Hub: Bedford Borough Council fund on-site support for carers at Bedford Hospital, providing immediate information, guidance, and help with registration at the point of need.

Memory Navigation Service: Funded by Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and the ICB this service provides specialist dementia navigation and nurse-led consultations, supporting carers of people with memory loss and the individual themselves to plan, cope, and access the right services.

Wellbeing Practitioners: The Henry Smith Charity fund targeted 1:1 wellbeing support for carers, focusing on emotional health, resilience, and practical coping strategies for both adult and young carers.

Reaching Communities Programme: The National Lottery fund outreach programmes and activities to connect with under-represented carers and communities, ensuring equitable access to our wider support offer.

Online Services & Information: A comprehensive digital offer including resources, newsletters, selfhelp tools, and a “booka call” system for flexible support. This service supported over 36,000 this year.

Benefits Advice: Funded by The House of Industry, Bedfordshire Charitable Trust, and the Wixamtree Charitable Trust, this service provides expert guidance on benefits and entitlements, helping carers maximise their income and navigate complex systems

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Carers Grants: Grants to support Carers maintain their wellbeing. This year we distributed 767 awards totalling £235,778.20. This service is funded through the ICB.

Young Carers: Dedicated support for young carers, including groups, activities, and tailored advice to help them balance caring with education and personal development. This service is funded by multiple funders including Bedford Borough Council.

Our year in numbers

Key initiatives and activities in line with strategic priorities

  1. Identify carers at the point of need

  2. e Early Response & Triage: The Early Response Team audits carer journeys and uses streamlined triage to ensure carers are supported quickly. Volunteers proactively contact hard-to-reach or low-engagement carers.

  3. e Digital Tools: The “Emma” Al chatbot (Memory Navigation Service) and Carers Wheel CRM integration help identify and track carers’ needs more effectively.

  4. e Growing our digital bank of resources in line with carer feedback and need

  5. e Growth in registered carers (now over 13,000), increased self-registrations via GPs, and improved tracking of carer journeys and outcomes.

  6. e Community Engagement: Social media campaigns and targeted communications (monthly bulletins, emails) have increased awareness and engagement, helping more carers self-identify and register.

  7. e Launched e-learning courses for primary care professionals, teachers and employers

  8. e Launched a monthly Professionals’ Newsletter with key insights and information with over 12,000 recipients

  9. e Advanced GP engagement through SMS identification in 4 surgeries seeing a 70% rise in carers identified

  10. Work in partnership to increase capacity

  11. e Introduced a partnership screening tool to ensure those we partner with reflect similar values

  12. e Established partnerships with

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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315T MARCH 2025 

  - Bedford Hospital Hub with PALS support

  - GP surgeries & pharmacies for early recognition

  - Memory Navigation links with MAS and Herbert Protocol

  - BRCC social prescribing, counselling and local VCSE partners

  - Be Positive — helping people into employment

  - BEDOC- sourced and provided a nurse for the Memory Navigation Service

The difference we have made

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Acknowledgements

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has supported Carers in Bedfordshire throughout the year. In particular, we are grateful to the Integrated Care Board (NHS), Central Bedfordshire Council, and Bedford Borough Council for their financial backing and collaborative work to improve carers’ experiences. While we remain an independent charity, the scale and impact of our work would not be possible without their partnership.

Our heartfelt appreciation also goes to our incredible volunteers, staff, and trustees. From those on the frontline to those working tirelessly behind the scenes, every contribution matters. Your dedication, compassion, and commitment ensure that carers receive the support they need, when they need it. Together, you make a real difference every day.

Looking ahead

We anticipate continued growth in carer registrations and remain committed to prioritising those with the greatest needs, Our blended model combining monthly Hubs, targeted outreach, and an enhanced digital self-service platform will enable us to respond quickly and focus resources on the most complex cases. This approach is supported by strengthened back-office systems and the invaluable contribution ofour volunteers, including our Keep-In-Touch[callers] who help maintain meaningful connections at scale.

At the same time, we recognise the broader challenges facing the sector including static or declining funding and a growing demand for support. These pressures require us to be both innovative and resilient. As such, we continue to explore new avenues that better prepare us for these tasks, including diversifying income, strengthening partnerships, and investing in scalable solutions that deliver lasting impact.

The coming year will also bring two major contract tenders for carer support and memory navigation services, which will significantly shape our future delivery. Regardless of these developments, our priorities remain clear:

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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 3157 MARCH 2025

These steps will help us manage rising demand while maintaining quality and impact, keeping us firmly on track to achieve our strategic goals.

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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315" MARCH 2025

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing Document

The Charity is controlled by its governing document, the Articles of Association, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee as defined by the Companies Act 2006. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. The Articles of Association were updated and adopted by the members on 13th March 2024.

Recruitment and appointment of Directors

The Directors of the company, also charity Trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the company’s articles, revised as of 13th March 2024, are known collectively as the Board.

Under the requirements of the Articles of Association, the Board consists of not fewer than four and no more than 14 persons. The members of the Board are initially appointed by the Board to filla vacancy and at the following Annual General Meeting (AGM), appointed directors offer themselves for election. Thereafter at the third annual general meeting after their last election a Trustee Director must retire. They may not serve more than three elected terms.

In order to manage the transition to this new system for resignation and re-election of Trustee Directors, account shall not be taken of any time served by the Trustee director before 25th November 2016 when calculating the timing of the 3-year retirement and re-election.

Phil Taverner has acted as Chair, and Graham Mills and Graham Kemp acted as Treasurer throughout the year. Emma Wilkinson, Graham Mills, Jacqueline Fincham and Mercy Canning retired during the year.

Induction and training of new Directors

All new Directors are required to provide two satisfactory references and are subject to an enhanced DBS check. All new Directors undergo an induction programme to brief them on their obligations and are supplied with an induction pack, which includes written information about:

Directors are encouraged to attend appropriate external! training events to support them in their role.

Organisational structure

Carers in Bedfordshire (CiB) is governed by a Board which meets quarterly and is responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the organisation, ensuring that it is solvent, operating in a professional manner and delivering the outcomes for which it has been set up. The Board met on 5 occasions during the year, including at one strategy meeting. At 31st March 2025, the Board comprised of 9 Trustee Directors from a variety of backgrounds relevant to the work of the charity.

The Board has two sub-committees. The Finance Committee consists of not less than 4 Directors appointed by the main Board of Directors with an appropriate mix of financial and business skills. This group has met 4 times during this financial year. The Nominations Committee deals with Board recruitment, training and succession planning.

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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315T MARCH 2025

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is appointed by the Board to implement the agreed strategy and to manage the day-to-day operations of the charity. To facilitate effective operations, the CEO has delegated authority, with terms of delegation approved by the Board, for operational matters including finance, employment and service delivery. A Senior Leadership Team of three, each reporting to the CEO and overseeing the work of a small team, are responsible for day-to-day operational management, supervision and training of the staff team; ensuring they develop their skills and good working practices. The staffing level for the year was an average of 25.76 full time equivalent employees and there were 31 individuals employed ona full or part time basis by Carers in Bedfordshire on 3ist March 2025.

Related parties

The charity is a Network Partner of Carers Trust and affiliated to Carers UK. In so far as it is complementary to the charity's objectives, the charity is guided by national and local policy. At the national level it is steered by the government's National Carers’ Strategy and relevant National Service Frameworks for a range of illnesses and disabilities. The charity supports the work of Bedford Borough Council, Centra! Bedfordshire Council, and Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group Carers’ Strategies and monitors the outcomes of these strategies using feedback from its membership. The Chief Executive Officer and staff are represented on key local partnerships to deliver the relevant strategies in Bedfordshire.

Membership

Each Member of the Charity undertakes that, if the Charity is wound up while they are a Member, or within one year after they cease to be a Member, they will contribute a sum not exceeding £1 to the assets of the Charity for:

All Members must pay the subscriptions (if any) that the Board decides from time to time. The Board may fix differing rates for subscriptions for members. At present no membership subscription is set.

Members are entitled to attend the annual general meeting of the Charity and may vote in person or by proxy. During the year ending 31 March 2024 in accordance with the Articles of Association, the level of membership fees was set as zero by the Board in order to remove barriers to membership.

Every carer registered with CiB will have access to most of the charity’s services.

As of 31st March 2025 there were 9 Members, 2 Honorary Life Members and 13,640 registered carers. The underlying number of registered carers continues to increase.

Governance

The skills, experience and expertise of the Directors assure the robust governance of the Charity. Directors have experience in strategic management, systems, human resources, finance, project management, risk assessment, education, training, facilities management and an in-depth understanding of carers’ issues. During the year, at least 50% of the Board have had or still have personal experience of caring.

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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315? MARCH 2025

Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety and safeguarding practice of staff, volunteers and visitors to the premises.

The Board is aware of its responsibility to ensure that the charity acts through sustainable means and is responsible for minimising its impact on the environment.

Risk management

The Board maintains a risk register which is reviewed regularly. It acts as a central repository for all significant strategic risks identified by the organisation and, for each risk, includes information such as risk probability, impact, mitigation and risk owner. The risk register was discussed in detail at each Board meeting. The Board has direct responsibility for overseeing non-financial risks, with the Finance Committee providing detailed support to the Board on financial matters including financial risks.

Public benefit

The Board of Directors has regard to the requirement to demonstrate the public benefit of the charity's activity as defined in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006. Most of the charity's services have been offered free of charge to all carers. For some services, carers are asked for a contribution towards its cost of provision.

Unpaid carers in England and Wales contribute a staggering £445 million to the economy everyday (that’s £162 billion per year (source Petrillo and Bennett 2023). The value of unpaid care is equivalent to a second NHS in England and Wales, which in 2020/2021 received an estimated £164 billion in funding (source Petrillo and Bennett 2023). Accordingly, the charity's services are designed to enable those who wish to continue caring to do so; to be informed and enabled to access support and to have a voice; to havea life outside of caring, with equal opportunity to access work, leisure and education. Support is continued even if the individual with care needs is admitted to residential care or if they pass away.

Reserves policy

The Board of Directors has regard to managing its level of reserves effectively. As a not-for-profit organisation it has developed and adopted a policy on reserves, which establishes a level of reserves that is right for the charity.

Reserves are held in three categories for future activity:

CiB targets a minimum of four month’s salary costs of all staff on all projects and four months central organisational costs and a maximum of 150% of this amount in unrestricted reserves. Based on these financial statements the minimum equates to £376,255 and the maximum £564,383.

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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315? MARCH 2025

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Company number 07140432 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

1135507

Registered office

Carers in Bedfordshire Units 153 Bedford Heights

Manton Lane

Bedford

Bedfordshire MK41 7PH

Trustees

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| E Wilkinson Resigned 24" October 2024
G Mills | [Resigned] [24"] [October] [2024]
S Lowe
J Fincham Resigned 31 January 2025
P Taverner
T Palmariellodiviney
N Kidby
M Canning Resigned 4" December 2024
J Ahluwalia
J Preston |
M Evans-Riches ||
G Kemp
H Singh Gosal Appointed 10° September 2025
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Key Management Personnel

Chief Executive Officer — Christopher Stelling

Company Secretary Tracey Gill FMAAT AATOB

Auditors

MDG Business Associates Audit Limited Chartered Certified Accountants & Registered Auditors Room 73, The Mansion House, Wrest Park Silsoe, Bedfordshire, MK45 4HR

Bankers Barclays Bank plc, 111 High Street, Bedford MK40 1NJ

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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315? MARCH 2025

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trustees (who are also the Directors of CiB for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees 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 of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to

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

In so far as the Trustees are aware:

AUDITORS

The auditors, MDG Business Associates Audit Limited, will be proposed for re-appointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD:

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wuee eaneonee ——
P Taverner - Chair
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bate: I Ao/ JoI%

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REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE TRUSTEES OF CARERS IN BEDFORDSHIRE ee eee

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Carers in Bedfordshire for the year ended 31t March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and the related notes. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’.

In our opinion the financial statements:

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 disclosed in the Auditors responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, 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.

Conclusions relating to going concern

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to report to you where:

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 Report of the Independent Auditors 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.

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REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE TRUSTEES OF CARERS IN BEDFORDSHIRE

ss"

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

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

Respective responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities, 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 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 charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Our 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 a Report of the Independent Auditors 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.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

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REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE TRUSTEES OF CARERS IN BEDFORDSHIRE

We have assessed that there is a low risk of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations central to the trading activities of the charity. This assessment has been based upon a substantive testing approach to key identified risk areas, principally being revenue recognition and the threat of override of controls by management. No suspected fraud, breach or other non-compliance with underlying laws and regulations has been identified during the sample testing undertaken during the audit process and no such issues have been raised by the board of trustees or management prior to making this assessment. A full review of available board minutes, and other supporting third-party documentation where available, has been undertaken and no items have come to our attention which require to be reported to the user ofthe financial statements. The charity has strong internal controls, and our audit testing has indicated no instances of managerial override of controls, through the testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness. No transactions have been identified as being made outside the normal course of business from the work we have performed in each key risk area of the audit. The trustees and other key local officers are informed management and as such they make regular reviews to ensure the company is compliant in all instances.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Independent Auditors.

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the companies Act 2006 In our opinion the information given in the Report of the Trustees for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements

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 auditors' 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.

Michael Grange BA (Hons) FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of MDG Business Associates Audit Limited Chartered Certified Accountants & Registered Auditors Room 73, The Mansion House, Wrest Park Silsoe Bedfordshire MK45 4HR

Date: a | wus

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CARERS IN BEDFORDSHIRE

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

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|||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Year|Ended|Year|Ended| |Unrestricted|Designated|Restricted|31.3.25|31.3.24| |Funds|Funds|Funds|Total|Total| |Notes|£|£|£| |Income|from:| |Donations,|legacies and|other|income|2|25,178|2,156|27,334|63,497| |Investments|3|14,477|14,477|3,948| |Charitable|activities|12,280|866,440|630,311|1,509,031|1,574,590| |TOTAL INCOME|51,935|868,596|630,311|1,550,842|1,642,035| |Expenditure|on:| |Charitable|activities|42,504|823,554|634,563|1,500,621|1,588,409| |TOTAL EXPENDITURE|42,504|823,554|634,563|1,500,621|1,588,409| |NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)|9,431|45,042|(4,252)|50,221|53,626| |Total|funds|brought forward|210,294|265,055|8,597|483,946|430,320| |TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD|219,725|310,097|4,345|534,167|483,946|

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All transactions during the year are derived from continuing activities.

MP

CARERS IN BEDFORDSHIRE

BALANCE SHEET AT 31ST MARCH 2025

Company Number: 07140432 (England and Wales)

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||||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |2025|2024| |Unrestricted|and|Restricted|Total|Total| |designated|funds|funds|funds|Funds| |Notes|£|£|£|£| |FIXED|ASSETS| |Tangible|assets|7|3,717|3,717|8,036| |CURRENT ASSETS| |Debtors|8|30,966|30,966|84,227| |Cash|at|bank|and|in|hand|751,006|162,756|913,762|912,405| |781,972|162,756|944,728|996,632| |CREDITORS|9| |Amounts|falling|due|within|one year|255,867|158,411|414,278|520,723| |NET CURRENT ASSETS|526,105|4,345|530,450|475,909| |TOTAL ASSETS|LESS CURRENT|LIABILITIES|529,822|4,345|534,167|483,946| |NET ASSETS|529,822|4,345|534,167|483,946| |FUNDS|13| |Unrestricted|funds|219,725|210,294| |Designated|funds|310,097|265,055| |Restricted|funds|4,345|8,597| |TOTAL FUNDS FUNDS|534,167|483,946|

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TOTAL FUNDS FUNDS

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

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 14 October 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:

—2A_—_“—<——~ eile —. P Taverner - Chair

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CARERS IN BEDFORDSHIRE

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Total Funds
2024/25		 2023/24
Cash Flowsfrom operating activities
Net Cashflows provided from operating activities 1,357 32,242
Cash Flowsfrom investingactivities 0 (2,834)
Purchase offixed assets -
Change in cash in the year 1,357 29,408
Cash atthe beginning of theyear 912,405 882,997
Cash atthe end oftheyear 913,762
912,405
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RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Net incoming/(outgoing) resourcesforthe year, as 50,221 53,626
perthe Statement of Financial Activities
Adjustments for
Depreciation charge 4,320 8,592
(Increase)/decrease indebtors 53,261 (26,018)
Increase/(decrease) in creditors (106,445) (3,958)
NetCash flows provided from operating activities 1,357
32,242
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CARERS IN BEDFORDSHIRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

  1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice, applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 October 2019) and the Companies Act 2006.

The company meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

The Trustees consider there to be no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The review of the financial position, reserves level and future plans give Trustees confidence that the charity remains a going concern for the foreseeable future

Income

All incoming financial resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income, and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis. Expenditure includes attributable VAT, which cannot be recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates. Charitable expenditure comprises of those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Allocation and apportionment of costs

Costs that can attribute to a specific activity or reserve are directly allocated within the Statement of Financial Activities.

Allocations of overheads to individual funds are based on a budget which is set at the commencement of each contract period.

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CARERS IN BEDFORDSHIRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

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  1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued

Tangible fixed assets

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

Office equipment/furniture - 25% on cost Computer equipment -25% on cost

Fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Minor additions of less than £400 are not capitalised.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the Trustees.

Designated funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives under contracted services or specific programmes designated by the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

2. DONATIONS, LEGACIES AND OTHER INCOME

Year Ended Year Ended
31.3.25 31.3.24
£ £
Donations, fundraising and legacies 27,334 63,497
27,334 63,497

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CARERS IN BEDFORDSHIRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

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3. INVESTMENT INCOME

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|||||| |---|---|---|---|---| |Year|Ended|Year|Ended| |31.3.25|31.3.24| |£|£| |Bank|interest|receivable|«14,477|3,948| |NET|INCOME| |These|are|stated|after|charging:| |YearEnded|Year|Ended| |31.3.25|31.3.24| |£|£| |Auditors'|remuneration|4,050|4,000| |Depreciation|- owned|assets|4,320|8,592|

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4. NET INCOME These are stated after charging:

  1. TRUSTEES’ REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS There were no trustees’ remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31st March 2025, nor for the year ended 31st March 2024.

Trustees’ Expenses

Some trustees received reimbursement for travel expenses incurred on behalf of the charity totalling £64 (2024 — £145) but the trustees gave this back to the charity as a donation.

6. STAFF COSTS

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||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |Year|Year| |Ended|Ended| |31.3.25|31.3.24| |£|£| |Wages and|salaries|897,197|932,749| |Social|security|costs|70,000|71,287| |Other|pension|costs|16,886|17,925| |Total|staff costs|984,083|—_—:1,021,961| |Training|and|DBS|checks|12,177|10,861| |Total|human|resources costs|996,260|1,032,822|

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The average monthly number of employees during the year was 36 (2024: 38)

The number of employees whose emoluments exceeded £60,000 during the year was: - £60,001 - £70,000: 1 (2024: Nil)

Key management remuneration

The remuneration of key management personnel was £69,808 (2024: £61,517).

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CARERS IN BEDFORDSHIRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

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7. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

7. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Office
equipment/		 Computer
equipment		 Totals
Furniture
£ £
COST
At 1stApril 2024 31,746 64,837 96,583
Additions - - -
At 31st March 2025 31,746 — 64,837 96,583
DEPRECIATION
At istApril 2024 29,842 58,704 88,546
Charge foryear
_		 1,078 3,242 4,320
At 31st March 2025 30,920 61,946 92,866
NET BOOKVALUE
At 31st March 2025 826 2,891 3,717
At31stMarch 2024 1,904 6,133 8,037
8. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUEWITHIN ONEYEAR
2025 2024
£ £
Trade debtors - 56,198
Prepayments 30,966 28,029
30,966 84,227
9. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUEWITHIN ONEYEAR
2025 2024
£ £
Trade creditors 29,645 9,899
Taxation and social security 16,973 17,743
Carers’ breaks awarded notyet claimed 41,283 24,444
Deferred capitalgrants 252,879 364,165
Other creditorsand accruals 73,498 104,472
414,278 520,723
  1. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions in the year to 31 March 2025 (2024: £nil).

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CARERS IN BEDFORDSHIRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

11. CAPITAL

The company has no share capital. The types of membership were consolidated into one at the Annual General Meeting held in November 2016.

The maximum number of members is 14. Each member of the Charity undertakes that, if the Charity is wound up while they are a member, or within one year after they cease to be a member, they will contribute a sum not exceeding £1 to the assets of the Charity for: e payment of the debts and liabilities of the Charity contracted before they cease to be a member; and

© payment of the costs, charges and expenses of winding up Honorary Life members are members but are exempt from subscription charges if set.

All members must pay the subscriptions (if any) that the Board decides from time to time. The Board may fix differing rates for subscriptions for different members or categories of members. At present no membership subscription is set. Members and Honorary Life Members have voting rights at the AGM. There were 11 (2024: 11) members and 2 honorary life members as of 31 March 2025 (2024: 2).

12. OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS

The following operating lease payments are committed to be paid

2025 2024
Expiring: £ £
Within oneyear 6,667 40,000
Betweenone and fiveyears - 56,667
6,667 96,667

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CARERS IN BEDFORDSHIRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

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|||||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |13.|MOVEMENT|IN|FUNDS| |1/4/2024|Resources|expended|for year|||Transfers|31/03/2025| |||wwame||scouts|sgmand ||Se|||rane|| sess| |RESTRICTED|FUNDS| |Bedford|Carers|Lounge-|BBC|-|47,295|47,295|0|0| |Carers|Grants|226,578|226,578|0|0| |Luton|and|Dunstable|Carers|Lounge|- CBC|-|23,884|23,884|)|0| |Carers|Grants Admin|(81)|46,816|45,991|825|744| |Carers|Cafe|6,911|98,025|100,814|(2,789)|4,122| |Carer Support|(dementia)|2,023|52,741|53,050|(309)|1,714| |Lottery Core|Funding|158|0|158|(158)|0| |BLCF|Beds|Coronavirus|Emergency|Fund|37|0|37|(37)|0| |BLCF|NET|Coronavirus Programme|955|0|955|(955)|0| |Social|Activity for Carers|(4)|6)|(4)|4|¢)| |National|Lottery — Engaging|and|Supporting|0|97,858|97,858|0|0| |Rookery South|32|0|32|(32)|0| |MH|Alliance|0|24,131|24,131|0|0| |BLCF|NGYT|0|12,983|12,983|0|0| |Business Development|(1,435)|0|801|(801)|(2,236)| |Subtoral||8596 ||6a0ai1||cages]|tazsy|||||| |DESIGNATED|FUNDS| |External|designation| |Carer support|(all|carer types)|(161)|523,935|534,973|(11,038)|(11,199)| |Dementia|Services|8,393|76,339|77,474|(1,135)|7,258| |Governance|7,041|0|10,767|(10,767)|(3,726)| |Workshops,|Education|and|Groups|9,421|87,180|96,602|(9,422)|(1)| |Health|Outreach|21,816|98,223|120,039|(21,816)|0| |Community|Engagement|(875)|62,029|57,026|5,003|4,128| |Innovation|Fund|0|0|80|(80)|(80)| |Carer Service|Development|99,072|0|(104,752)|104,752|203,824| |Marketing|0|20,000|18,747|1,253|1,253| |144,707|867,706|810,956|56,750|||201,457 || |tegoesase|||soo |(ase |((anon ||tn 6a|||

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CARERS IN BEDFORDSHIRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

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||||||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |14.|MOVEMENT|IN|FUNDS — continued| |Bedford|Carers Lounge— BBC|Funding|received from|Bedford|Borough|Council|to open|and|runa| |Carers Advice|and|Information|Centre|within|Bedford|Hospital|(South| |Wing)| |Carers|Grants|Funding|received|under contract|from|BLMK CCG|to|allow the|award|of| |grants direct|to|carers whose|emotional|and/or|physical|wellbeing|has| |been|adversely|affected|by their caring|role| |Luton and|Dunstable Carers|Funding|received from|Central|Bedfordshire|Council|to open|and|runa| |Lounge|- CBC|Carers|Advice|and|Information|Centre|within|The|Luton|&|Dunstable| |Hospital| |Volunteering|Bedford|Borough|Council|have|provided|funding to employ a|Volunteer| |Coordinator|to|identify and|support|the|development|of volunteering| |Carers|Café|Weekend|social|activities|for|carers,|treatments|for|individuals|with| |care|needs|and|extended|family| |Carer support (dementia)|A|range|of services|including|identifying and|coordinating|a team|of| |volunteer dementia|befrienders,|and|running|a|weekly group|for carers| |and|people|living|with|dementia|in|Bedfordshire| |Carer support|(all|carer|We|are funded|under contract|by Central|Bedfordshire|Council,|Bedford| |types)|Borough|Council and|the|BLMK CCG|acting together|to|offer carers| |support|services|on|their|behalf| |Memory Navigation|Services|— We|are funded|under contract|by Central|Bedfordshire Council,|Bedford| |Borough|Council|and|the|BLMK CCG|acting|together to|offer support| |services|to|people|affected|by memory|loss or|dementia|and|their| |carers.| |Sibling support|We|are funded|under contract|by Central|Bedfordshire|Council,|Bedford| |Borough|Council|and|the|BLMK CCG|acting|together to|offer support| |services|to young|people|caring|for,|and/or affected|by the|illness|or| |disability|of a|sibling.| |BLCF — Bedfordshire|Funding from|Bedford|and|Luton Community|Foundation|for a|postal| |Emergency|mailing|to|carers,|additional|hours|for Support Workers,|a|social|media| |Coronavirus|Fund|consultant and|laptops|for staff working|from|home| |BLCF|NET Coronavirus|Funding from|Bedford|and|Luton|Community|Foundation|allowed|us|to| |Programme|provide|laptops for|staff who|were working from|home|

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Lottery Core Funding This was awarded during the pandemic helping to fund core costs and purchase equipment

RookerySouth Fundingforyoungcareractivities in the parishes ofAmpthill,
Brogborough, Cranfield, Houghton Conquest, Lidlington, Marston
Moretaine, Maulden, Millbrook, Stewartby orWootton.
Fundingto provide mental health and wellbeing support toyoungadult
BLCFNGYT carers aged 16-25 in Central Bedfordshire—we worked with Next
Generation YouthTheatre and Pathways Still
National Lottery Reaching Communities Fundingfrom the National Lottery to identify,
reach and workwith carerswho are underrepresented such as male
carers and YoungAdult Carers
Mental Health Alliance Fundingfrom BLMK ICBto administer the Bedfordshire Mental Health
Alliance (BedsMHA) is a partnership oflocal organisationsfrom the
voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE).
Itaimsto
make mental health support easier to access, more effective and better
suited to the needs of local people in the boroughs ofBedford and
Central Bedfordshire. We makefunding decisions alongside our
steering group members; BRCC and Mind BLMK
Legacies are received from individualswho gift monies to Carers in
Legacy Bedfordshire in their wills.The Board ofTrusteesthen determine how
these funds can be effectively spent and allocate specific amountsto
projectswithinthisfund.

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CARERS IN BEDFORDSHIRE

DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

31.3.25 31.3.24
INCOME
DonationsAnd Fundraising 27,334 63,497
Contract Income 1,501,928 1,561,277
Grant Release -
Membership
Contributions Received		 3,886 -
10,259
Investment Income 14,477 3,948
OtherIncome 3,217 3,054
1,550,842 1,642,035
EXPENDITURE
Programme Direct Costs
Hall Hire		 340,545 412,791
8,261
RentAnd Rates 61,454 60,195
Taxis
Vehicle Hire 3,635
Travel
Electricity
Gas		 5,842
4,636
3,088		 7,434
5,793
1,805
Water
Printing
Postage
Telephone
Stationery		 1,065
9,328
367
6,833
247		 1,007
5,140
993
8,563
619
Computer 40,408 13,018
Office Maintenance
Repairs
Cleaning		 4,681 3,140
Fuel -
Motor Expenses -
Sundry Office Expenses
Insurance		 8,220
5,996		 3,247
5,810
Refreshments
BankCharges		 26
312		 1,769
300
Salaries WagesandTemporary Staff 967,197 1,004,037
StaffTraining 9,029 7,035
Pensions 18,887 17,925
StaffChecks 1,183 1,356
Legal
Audit&Accountancy		 6,732 2,004
3,905
Professional
Recruitment Expenses 225 35
Depreciation 4,320
1,500,621		 8,592
1,588,409
50,221 53,626

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