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2025-03-31-accounts

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 07448288 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1139926

Report of the Trustees and

Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

for Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Ashmole & Co First Floor 1 St John's Court Upper Fforest Way Enterprise Park Swansea SA6 8QQ

Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended31 March 2025

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Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Report of[the][ Trustees] for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Public benefit, objectives & activities

The constitutional objectives of the charity are to promote any charitable purpose for the benefit of the community in Bridgend and surrounding areas. This is mainly achieved by the provision of centres within the Bridgend County Borough to enable the community to receive advice. The trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing their aims and objectives and in planning their future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.

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Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

STRATEGIC REPORT Achievements and performance

Charitable activities

A positive year both in financial and operational terms as the inflationary effects of international and national disruption of the previous year began to ease. Operations have expanded with a 9% increase in clients helped and a 30% increase in issues addressed, through 10 projects delivered in 8 outreach locations. Significant quality management challenges have been navigated, particularly in adapting to changing funder requirements and complex compliance environments, despite this there were notable successes in maintaining service quality, including high client satisfaction scores and high external audit outcomes. Financial performance has been stable, outturn at £17k surplus closely matching last year's surplus of £14k and with reserves approaching £600k, our overall financial position gives cause for reassurance looking forward.

However, despite signs of a more stable inflationary outlook the forward view is showing signs of a difficult financial environment ahead. The financial situation of ourselves and the public sector in general will be exacerbated by the severe corrective government action taken in the budget in response to unacceptably high budget deficit forecasts, resulting an increase in our staff costs of £30k for the next financial year, caused solely by National Insurance increases. In addition, the funding environment has worsened during the year as well-established projects have drawn to their conclusion at the end of the year, with a shortage of potential replacement projects creating budgetary pinch-points while planning for 2025-26.

Our main funders have continued to support us through this period but the timing of the recommissioning of the highly important SAF (Single Advice Fund) added an element of uncertainty to the budget planning prior to year end. Despite the adverse funding environment at year end, we have procured sufficient new and extended projects such that we are able to Budget for a surplus for year 2025-26, and face the start of the year with substantial liquid reserves.

We continued to receive funding from Bridgend County Borough Council towards the charity's core charitable services. This accounted for around a fifth of grant funding received in the year, for which we are extremely grateful. This has enabled the continuation and extension of our core information and advice services.

Specific projects in the year included:

From 1 January 2020, we were successful in gaining grant funding from the Welsh Government's Single Advice Fund as part of a regional Cwm Taf package in collaboration with our brand partners in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil. This funding replaced a variety of funding streams, and although initially for twelve months was extended for a further two years, ie until the end of calendar 2023, subsequently extended to late 2025.This has enabled advice services under specialist debt and other services, and more generalist community-focused advice, to be established and consolidated. This project has been recommissioned during 2025 at enhanced levels for a period of 3 years commencing early in the financial year, 2025-26.

Funding from Bridgend CBC from the Communities First legacy fund for provision of a Financial Advice & Support Service [FASS] commenced on 1 October 2018 initially for 18 months, but its success has led to further annual extensions. The scheme assists local service users, primarily those who reside within the former Communities First delivery areas of the Borough, who are in poverty or at risk of poverty. Funding has been continued through this year and was recommissioned in November 2024 for a further 2 year period.

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Bridgend County BoroughCitizens Advice Bureau

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Funding via the British Gas Energy Trust has provided advice and assistance to beneficiaries aimed at enabling them to manage their debts and budgets, maximise their income and ability to afford to pay their bills, enabling people to have warm homes through improving energy efficiency and improving their health and wellbeing. This project drew to its close during the year and was replaced by a similar scheme in 2022-2023 supported by Moondance, subsequently entitled Warmer Wales II, which has continued through to the end of this year.

Funding for a Help to Claim service has been allocated, via national funding for Citizens Advice from DWP, to assist in people's initial claims for universal credit from application through to first payment. This was won in a competitive bid in 2021-22 and has become a significant project for the LCA, funding being significantly further increased in 2022-23 and maintained through 2023-24 and 2024-5

A new project associated with Trussell Trust Foodbanks commenced in October 2022, running through 2023-24 under the auspices of a Foodbank Partnership and has continued into 2024-25.

A new innovative project, Multiply, aimed at improving numerical skills in the adult general population without Mathematical qualifications, has also been commissioned during 2023-4 in partnership with the local Council and Further Education College. This has delivered £78k over this year and has now terminated, but has developed valuable transferable skills within the LCA which will be of significant service in the future.

Financial review

Reserves policy

The charity's financial reserves increased by £17,358 in the year (2024 £14,499), giving total reserves at the year-end of £585,865 (2024 £568,507),

It continues to be the policy of the charity to maintain general unrestricted funds, which are the free reserves of the charity, at a minimum level equivalent to approximately three months’, but ideally six months’, expenditure, to provide sufficient funds to cover operating costs including management and administrative support costs, particularly as grant funding is often received in arrears. At the balance sheet date, free reserves for cash-flow purposes [i.e. unrestricted net current assets less designated reserves] had increased to £442,095 (2024 £423,817).

The trustees regularly review their ability to meet obligations with the current level of reserves. The trustees also reviewed the levels of designated reserves which they have decided should be put aside for specific purposes, and have agreed to designate £106,021 (2024 £106,021) to mitigate potential specific risks and to enable the further development of the service within financial constraints.

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Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Burean

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

STRATEGIC REPORT

Future plans

The charity has been able to plan the coming year's activities with a firm funding programme, as set out above, with all projects due to operate unti] 31 March 2026 or beyond. We will continue to seek to deliver services in innovative ways and to reach out to as many people as possible, as the demand for quality independent, impartial, free advice is still growing.

Following another successful audit of our services by national Citizens Advice in April 2025 which gave excellent results on all key service indicators, we have continued to review all key policies and risks, and followed our vision : "To be the go-to advice service within Bridgend County Borough, improving the lives of those within our community and empowering clients across every demographic by providing accessible, impartial, confidential and high-quality advice through multiple channels.” We will continue to drive service growth to meet demand with evidence-based flexible solutions for multichannel delivery, targeting hard-to-reach sectors of our community and meeting client need. We will work with local, regional and national partners to maintain, secure and diversify our funding services.

We are continuing to modemise and develop all aspects of governance. A further drive to recruit additional trustees with the skills and ambition required to take the organisation forward will take place, and trustee induction, development, mentoring and training will be developed further. We regularly review our governance structure in order to maintain effective support for and scrutiny of our staff and volunteers.

We continue to have positive discussions with all of our finders, who have endorsed necessary changes in the way we have had to deliver some services, and the re-designation of some service priorities. Consequently, the trustees have reassessed the charity's ability to continue for at least twelve months from the date that the accounts are signed, and have concluded that no material uncertainties exist which cast doubt upon the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is constituted as a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated on 23 November 2010, and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

The trustees are required to stand down upon 3 years of service, but may stand for re-election.

Structure, governance and management

Day to day management of the charity is delegated to the Chief Officer. Prior to the Pandemic much of the work of the charity has been undertaken by valued volunteers, a situation which is gradually being resumed. Appropriate induction & training is provided for staff, volunteers and trustees.

Risk management

The trustees regularly examine the major strategic, financial and operational risks faced by the charity, and have established procedures to mitigate those risks. A register of both Strategic and Operational risks are held and maintained for regular review at Leadership and Trustee Board meetings. Financial risks will be managed by seeking to agree funding for both core functions and specific projects for periods longer than twelve months and by seeking to build up free reserves as indicated above. Operational procedures for project and financial management are regularly examined at trustee meetings.

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Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice

Bureau

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Company number 07448288 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number 1139926 Registered office Ground Floor 26 Dunraven Place Bridgend CF31 1JD

Trustees Mr P R Crocombe - Chair Ms R M Thompson-Biggs Mr A J Rees -Treasurer Dr I Gray (resigned 12/12/24) S M Jones (resigned 3/9/24) S Hearne (appointed 8/7/25) R J Hicks N Callow (appointed 14/10/25) Mr M N Strange (appointed 12/12/24) (resigned 8/4/25) Mrs E J Moore (resigned 12/12/24)

Auditors Ashmole & Co First Floor 1 St John's Court Upper Fforest Way Enterprise Park Swansea SA6 8QQ

Chief Officer

The charity's chief officer is K Henson.

Bankers

Co-operative Bank, Business Direct, PO Box 250, Skelmersdale. WN8 GWT. Julian Hodge Bank, 29 Windsor Place, Cardiff. CF10 3BZ.

Coventry Building Society, Economic House, PO Box 9, High Street, Coventry.CV15 5QN. Monmouthshire Building Society, John Frost Square, Newport. NP20 1PX.

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees (who are also the directors of Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau 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).

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Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Report ofthe Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES - continued

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law, the trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law).

Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the 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, Ashmole & Co, will be proposed for re-appointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

Report of the trustees, incorporating a strategic report, approved by order of the board of trustees, as the company directors, on ve NAW BO2L cccce and signed on the board's behalf by:

Mr P R Crocombe - Trustee

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Report of the Independent Auditors to the Trustees of Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau (the ‘charitable company') for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement 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 (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Tn 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 described 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

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

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concer for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees 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 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 this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. 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 Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

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.

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Report of the[Independent][Auditors][ to][the][Trustees][of] Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice

Bureau

Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditors under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

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.

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

Irregularities are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. The objectives of our audit are to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding compliance with laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, to perform audit procedures to help identify instances of non-compliance with other laws and regulations that may have a material effect on the financial statement, and to respond appropriately to identified or suspected non-compliance with laws and regulations identified during the audit. In relation to fraud, the objectives of our audit are to identify and assess the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud, to obtain sufficient appropriate evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud through designing and implementing appropriate responses and to respond appropriately to fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit.

However, it is the primary responsibility of management, with the oversight of those charged with govemance, to ensure that the entity's operations are conducted in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations and for the prevention and detection of fraud.

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud, the audit engagement team:

As a result of these procedures we consider the most significant laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the financial statements are FRS 102, and the Companies Act 2006. We performed audit procedures to detect non-compliance which may have a material impact on the financial statements which included reviewing financial statement disclosures.

The audit engagement team identified the risk of management override of controls as the area where the financial statements were most susceptible to material misstatement due to fraud. Audit procedures performed included but were not limited to testing manual journal entries and other adjustments and evaluating the business rationale in relation to any significant, unusual transactions and transactions entered into outside the normal course of business.

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Report of the Independent Auditors to the Trusteesof Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice

Bureau

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.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s trustees 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 trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

S' iceien

Ashmole & Co Eligible to act as an auditor in terms of Section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006 First Floor 1 St John's Court Upper Fforest Way Enterprise Park Swansea SA6 8QQ Date:ALCS oe eeeceseeerteensoereneenseorssnenenaeane14/11 (2025

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:

Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

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|||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |2025|2024| |Unrestricted|—_|Restricted|Total|Total| |Notes|funds£|funds£|funds£|funds£| |INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM| |Donations and|legacies|2|685|-|685|440| |Charitable|activities|4| |Charitable|projects|200,630|834,875|1,035,505|1,036,068| |Investment income|3|17,916|-|17,916|17,884| |Total|219,231|834,875|1,054,106|1,054,392| |EXPENDITURE|ON| |Raising|funds|5|6,264|-|6,264|5,203| |Charitable|activities|6| |Charitable|projects|157,456|873,028|1,030,484|1,034,690| |Total|163,720|873,028|1,036,748|1,039,893| |NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)|55,511|(38,153)|17,358|14,499| |Transfers between|funds|17|(38,705)|38,705|-|-| |Net movement in funds|16,806|552|17,358|14,499| |RECONCILIATION|OF FUNDS| |Total funds|brought forward|531,971|36,536|568,507|554,008| |TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD|548,777|37,088|585,865|568,507|

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CONTINUING OPERATIONS

All income and expenditure has arisen from continuing activities.

The notes form part of these financial statements

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:

Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau (Registered number: 07448288)

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||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |Balance|Sheet| |31 March 2025| |2025|2024| |Notes|£|£| |FIXED|ASSETS| |Tangible|assets|13|661|2,133| |CURRENT|ASSETS| |Debtors|14|18,480|66,167| |Cash|at bank and|in hand|601,206|537,595| |619,686|603,762| |CREDITORS| |Amounts|falling|due within one year|15|(34,482)|(37,388)| |NET CURRENT ASSETS|585,204|566,374| |TOTAL|ASSETS|LESS CURRENT| |LIABILITIES|585,865|568,507| |NET ASSETS|585,865|568,507| |FUNDS|17| |Unrestricted|funds|548,777|531,971| |Restricted|funds|37,088|36,536| |TOTAL FUNDS|585,865|568,507|

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The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The members have not deposited notice, pursuant to Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006 requiring an audit of these financial statements.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

These financial statements have been audited under the requirements of Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011.

The notes form part of these financial statements

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BridgendCounty Borough Citizens Advice Bureau (Revistered number: 07448288)

Balance Sheet-[continued] 31 March 2025

The financial Statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on vd COU ZO2Z and were signed on its behalf by:

Mr P R Crocombe - Trustee

Mr A J Rees - Trustee

The notes form part of these financial statements

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Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Cash FlowStatement for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

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||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |2025|2024| |Notes|£|£| |Cash|flows|from|operating|activities| |Cash|generated|from|operations|1|45,695|(52,428)| |Net cash|provided|by/(used|in)|operating|activities|45,695|(52,428)| |Cash|flows from|investing|activities| |Interest|received|17,916|17,884| |Net cash provided|by|investing|activities|17,916|17,884| |Change|in|cash|and|cash|equivalents| |in|the|reporting period|63,611|(34,544)| |Cash|and|cash|equivalents|at|the| |beginning|of the|reporting|period|537,595|572,139| |Cash|and|cash|equivalents|at|the|end| |of the|reporting period|601,206|537,595|

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The notes form part of these financial statements

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Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Notes to the Cash Flow Statement for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

1, RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

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|||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |2025|2024| |£|£| |Net income for the|reporting|period|(as per the Statement|of| |Financial|Activities)|17,358|14,499| |Adjustments|for:| |Depreciation charges|1,473|2,395| |Interest received|(17,916)|(17,884)| |Decrease/(increase)|in debtors|47,687|(41,299)| |Decrease|in creditors|(2,907)|(10,139)| |Net|cash|provided|by/(used in)|operations|45,695|(52,428)|

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  1. ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET FUNDS

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||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |At|1/4/24|Cash|flow|At|31/3/25| |£|£|£| |Net|cash| |Cash|at bank and|in hand|537,595|63,611|601,206| |537,595|63,611|601,206| |Total|537,595|63,611|601,206|

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The notes form part of these financial statements

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BridgendCounty Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

  1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Basis of preparing the financial statements The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)’, Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)’, Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’, the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item of income have been met or are fully within the control of the charity, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Support costs relate to functions that assist the work of the charity but which do not directly relate to undertaking charitable activities. These costs are allocated between costs of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities, on the basis of staff time devoted to those activities.

Tangible fixed assets

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

Fixtures and fittings - 25% on cost Computer equipment - 33% on cost

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Only assets costing more than £700 are capitalised, unless specifically required by grant funders.

Taxation

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

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Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

  1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES- continued

Fund accounting

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

Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside for specific purposes.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objectives of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

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

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|||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |2.|DONATIONS AND LEGACIES| |2025|2024| |.|£|£| |Donations|685|440| |3.|INVESTMENT INCOME| |2025|2024| |£|£| |Deposit|account|interest|17,916|17,884| |4.|INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES| |2025|2024| |Grants|CharitableActivity|projects|1,035,505£|1,036,068£| |Grants|received,|included|in|the|above,|are|as|follows:| |2025|2024| |£|£| |Bridgend CBC-|Core|funding|(unrestricted|income)|194,190|215,680| |British|Gas|- Warmer Wales|41,479|41,479| |Financial Advice|Support Service|100,000|100,000| |Help|to Claim|200,580|169,050| |Advice|Link Community|Focus|180,092|190,092| |Advice Link Specialist Debt &|Other|109,239|109,239| |Claim|What's|Yours|37,800|37,800| |Department for Work &|Pensions|6,440|7,369| |National|Citizens|Advice|-|48,900| |RCT Basic Income|Pilot|34,553|36,971| |Carried forward|904,373|956,580|

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Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Notes tothe Financial Statements - continued Notes tothe Financial Statements - continued
for theYearEnded 31March 2025
4, INCOMEFROMCHARITABLE ACTIVITIES- continued 2025 2024
£ £
Broughtforward
EnergyAdvice Programme
FoodBankPartnership
Multiply
CSDF 2 Innovation
904,373
-
45,000
74,832
11,300
956,580
1,155
45,000
33,333
-
1,035,505 1,036,068
5. RAISING FUNDS
Othertradingactivities 2025 2024
£ £
Staff costs 6,264 5,203
6. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIESCOSTS
Direct Support
Costs (see costs (see
note 7) note 8) Totals
£ £ £
Charitable projects 822,990 207,494 1,030,484
7. DIRECT COSTSOFCHARITABLEACTIVITIES
2025 2024
£ £
Staffcosts 680,866 666,703
Rent,waterandpremises
Insurance
levy 25,935
6,208
24,597
5,757
Lightand heat
Telephone&communications
Printing, postage&stationery
Advertising
Stafftravel
21,303
14,983
6,316
273
1,587
17,912
13,546
5,167
-
1,607
Staffandvolunteertraining
Staffrecruitment
5,936
1,350
9,231
1,677
Subsistenceandrefreshments §,229 4,436
Volunteer expenses
Otherstaffexpenses
Grantfundingreturned
Premises cleaning,repairs
Reference materials etc.
andmaintenance maintenance 674
154
-
4,496
7,235
-
58
2,779
6,964
7,872
Carriedforward 782,545 768,306

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continued...

Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Notes to theFinancialStatements
- continued
for the YearEnded 31March2025
7. DIRECTCOSTSOF CHARITABLEACTIVITIES -continued
2025 2024
£ £
Broughtforward
OfficeITandconsultancy
Officeequipment
Translation services
Depreciation
782,545
19,113
19,859
-
1,473
768,306
22,975
28,654
14
2,395
822,990 822,344
8. SUPPORTCOSTS
Human Govermance
resources costs Totals
£ £ £
Charitableprojects 199,152 8,342 207,494
Supportcosts, included in theabove, are as follows:
Human resources
2025 2024
Charitable Total
projects activities
£ £
Staffcosts 199,152 202,813
Governance costs
2025 2024
Charitable Total
projects activities
£ £
Audit fee
Professional fees
Bankcharges
6,850
819
369
5,600
2,523
884
Trustees expenses
Sundry
304
-
13
55
Trusteedevelopment costs - 458
8,342 9,533

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Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Notes to the Financial Statements -[continued] for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

==> picture [397 x 38] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
|||||| |---|---|---|---|---| |2025|2024| |£|£| |Depreciation|- owned|assets|1,472|2,395|

----- End of picture text -----

  1. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

No expenses were paid to the Trustees during the year.

Trustees’ expenses

There were no trustees’ expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.

  1. STAFF COSTS

==> picture [405 x 256] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
|||||| |---|---|---|---|---| |2025|2024| |£|£| |Wages and|salaries|801,806|791,311| |Social|security|costs|54,900|56,047| |Other|costs|-|-| |Pension|costs|29,538|27,361| |886,244|874,719| |Key management|personnel| |Salaries|and|benefits|62,636|52,027| |Key management|personnel|comprises|the Chief Officer.| |The|average monthly number of employees|during the year was|as|follows:| |2025|2024| |Management and support staff|5|7| |Advisers|35|31| |40|38|

----- End of picture text -----

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

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Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Notes to the Financial Statements- continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

12. COMPARATIVESFORTHESTATEMENTOFFINANCIALACTIVITIES COMPARATIVESFORTHESTATEMENTOFFINANCIALACTIVITIES COMPARATIVESFORTHESTATEMENTOFFINANCIALACTIVITIES
Unrestricted Restricted Total
funds funds funds
£ £ £
INCOMEANDENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies 440 - 440
Charitable activities
Charitable projects 223,049 813,019 1,036,068
Investmentincome 17,884 - 17,884
Total 241,373 813,019 1,054,392
EXPENDITURE ON
Raisingfunds 5,203 - 5,203
Charitable activities
Charitable projects 202,543 832,147 1,034,690
Total 207,746 832,147 1,039,893
NETINCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
Transfers between funds
33,627
(41,650)
(19,128)
41,650
14,499
-
Netmovementinfunds (8,023) 22,522 14,499
RECONCILIATION OFFUNDS
Total funds broughtforward 539,994 14,014 554,008
TOTALFUNDS CARRIED
FORWARD 531,971 36,536 568,507

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.

  1. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Fixtures
and Computer
fittings equipment Totals
£ £ £
COST
At 1 April2024and3l March2025 9,651 39,576 49,227
DEPRECIATION
At 1 April2024
Charge foryear
9,651
-
37,443
1,472
47,094
1,472
At31 March2025 9,651 38,915 48,566
NETBOOKVALUE
At31 March2025 - 661 661
At31March2024 - 2,133 2,133
Only assetscostingmorethan£700arecapitalised,unless specificallyrequiredby by grantfunders. funders.
14. DEBTORS:AMOUNTSFALLINGDUEWITHINONEYEAR
2025 2024
£ £
Other debtors 9,549 58,064
Prepayments 8,93! 8,103
18,480 66,167
15. CREDITORS: AMOUNTSFALLINGDUEWITHINONEYEAR
2025 2024
£ £
Social securityandothertaxes
Othercreditors
12,383
6,807
10,714
11,480
Accruedexpenses 15,292 15,194
34,482 37,388

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Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

16. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

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----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |2025|2024| |Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Total| |funds|funds|funds|funds| |£|£|£|£| |Fixed|assets|661|-|661|2,133| |Current|assets|582,598|37,088|619,686|603,762| |Current liabilities|(34,482)|-|(34,482)|(37,388)| |548,777|37,088|585,865|568,507| |17.|MOVEMENT|IN FUNDS| |Net|Transfers| |movement|between|At| |At|1/4/24|in|funds|funds|31/3/25| |£|£|£|£| |Unrestricted|funds| |General|fund|425,950|55,511|(38,705)|442,756| |Staffing Contingency|43,995|-|-|43,995| |Premises|Reserve|24,000|-|-|24,000| |Capital Equipment|9,000|-|-|9,000| |Service|sustainability & development| |fund|29,026|-|-|29,026| |531,971|55,511|(38,705)|$48,777| |Restricted|funds| |Financial Advice|Support|Service|-|(1,634)|1,634|-| |Help|to Claim|-|(343)|343|-| |Money Advice|Service|Debt Advice| |Project Redundancy|5,042|-|-|5,042| |Advice Link Community|Focus|5,956|(9,545)|3,589|-| |Advice|Link|Specialist Debt and Other|-|(12,228)|12,228|-| |BEIS|Helping More|People|15|-|-|{5| |Domestic|Violence|8,957|-|-|8,957| |Claim What's|Yours|-|(3,613)|3,613|-| |Warmer Wales|Il|-|(4,551)|4,551|-| |Food Bank|Partnership|-|(1,900)|1,900|-| |Basic Income|Pilot|1,445|7,420|-|8,865| |Energy Advice Program|1,155|-|-|1,155| |Innovation|-|1,650|-|1,650| |Multiply|13,966|(2,562)|-|11,404| |Surplus|Debt|-|(10,847)|10,847|-| |36,536|(38,153)|38,705|37,088| |TOTAL FUNDS|568,507|17,358|-|585,865|

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Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 3! March 2025

17. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

==> picture [404 x 259] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Incoming|Resources|Movement| |resources|expended|in|funds| |£|£|£| |Unrestricted|funds| |General|fund|219,231|(163,720)|55,511| |Restricted|funds| |Financial|Advice|Support|Service|100,000|(101,634)|(1,634)| |Help|to|Claim|200,580|(200,923)|(343)| |Advice|Link Community|Focus|180,092|(189,637)|(9,545)| |Advice Link Specialist Debt and Other|109,239|(121,467)|(12,228)| |Claim|What's|Yours|37,800|(41,413)|(3,613)| |Warmer|Wales|II|41,479|(46,030)|(4,551)| |Food Bank|Partnership|45,000|(46,900)|(1,900)| |Basic|Income|Pilot|34,553|(27,133)|7,420| |Innovation|11,300|(9,650)|1,650| |Multiply|74,832|(77,394)|(2,562)| |Surplus Debt|-|(10,847)|(10,847)| |834,875|(873,028)|(38,153)| |TOTAL FUNDS|1,054,106|(1,036,748)|17,358|

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Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 3] March 2025

17. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Comparatives for movement in funds

==> picture [402 x 402] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Net|Transfers| |movement|between|At| |At|1/4/23|in funds|funds|31/3/24| |£|£|£|£| |Unrestricted|funds| |General fund|433,973|33,627|(41,650)|425,950| |Staffing Contingency|43,995|-|-|43,995| |Premises|Reserve|24,000|-|-|24,000| |Capital Equipment|9,000|-|-|9,000| |Service|sustainability & development| |fund|29,026|-|-|29,026| |Restricted|funds|539,994|33,627|(41,650)|531,971| |Financial Advice|Support Service|-|(2,175)|2,175|-| |Help|to Claim|-|(3,852)|3,852|-| |Money|Advice|Service|Debt Advice| |Project Redundancy|5,042|-|-|5,042| |Advice|Link Community Focus|-|5,956|-|5,956| |Advice Link Specialist Debt and Other|-|(6,016)|6,016|-| |BEIS|Helping More People|15|-|-|15| |Domestic|Violence|8,957|-|-|8,957| |Claim|What's|Yours|-|(250)|250|-| |Warmer Wales|II|-|(4,223)|4,223|-| |Food|Bank Partnership|-|(986)|986|-| |Basic|Income|Pilot|-|1,445|-|1,445| |Energy Advice Program|-|1,155|-|1,155| |Innovation|-|(16,799)|16,799|-| |Multiply|-|13,966|-|13,966| |Surplus|Debt|-|(7,349)|7,349|-| |14,014|(19,128)|41,650|36,536| |TOTAL FUNDS|554,008|14,499|-|568,507|

----- End of picture text -----

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continued,.,

Bridgend County Borough Citizens.Advice Bureau

Notesto the Financial Staternents - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

17. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS- continued

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

==> picture [403 x 272] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Incoming|Resources|Movement| |resources|expended|in|funds| |£|£|£| |Unrestricted|funds| |General|fund|241,373|(207,746)|33,627| |Restricted|funds| |Financial|Advice|Support|Service|100,000|(102,175)|(2,175)| |Help to Claim|169,050|(172,902)|(3,852)| |Advice Link Community Focus|190,092|(184,136)|5,956| |Advice Link Specialist Debt and Other|109,239|(115,255)|(6,016)| |Claim|What's|Yours|37,800|(38,050)|(250)| |Warmer Wales|II|41,479|(45,702)|(4,223)| |Food Bank Partnership|45,000|(45,986)|(986)| |Basic Income|Pilot|36,971|(35,526)|1,445| |Energy|Advice Program|1,155|-|1,155| |Innovation|48,900|(65,699)|(16,799)| |Multiply|33,333|(19,367)|13,966| |Surplus Debt|-|(7,349)|(7,349)| |813,019|(832,147)|(19,128)| |TOTAL FUNDS|1,054,392|(1,039,893)|14,499|

----- End of picture text -----

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Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

  1. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS- continued

Purposes of Restricted Funds:

Money Advice Service Debt Advice Project Redundancy - funding provided to finance redundancy cost following withdrawal of MADCAP funding,

Financial Advice and Support Service [FASH] - funding from October 2018 to March 2023 from Bridgend County Borough Council, predominantly from the Communities First legacy fund, together with some housing benefit funding, in order to assist service users who are in poverty or at risk of poverty due to any number of reasons, which may include debt problems, financial difficulty, unemployment (claiming benefits, including Universal Credit), inability to budget or manage finances effectively and those experiencing ‘in work poverty' or requiring information and support to undertake employment.

Help to Claim - funding for 2022-2023 from national Citizens Advice via the Department of Work & Pensions [DWI] in order to assist claimants to access support via telephone, web chat, online or face-to-face when making an initial claim for Universal Credit, up to time of the first payment. Claim What's Yours - funding for 2022-2023 from the Welsh Assembly Government via the National Citizens advice to support the Welsh Governments income maximaisation and benefit take up campaign.

Advice Link Cymru -Community Focus & Specialist Debt & Other - funding for two projects from the Welsh Assembly Government via the National Citizens advice to support clients in a targeted way across several advice areas, covering a regional footprint and targeting specific client needs/groups/ demographics.

BEIS (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) Funding awarded via Citizens Advice to support local offices to respond to Covid at the outset of the pandemic to build general capacity to help more people. Pot 2 for IT support and equipment Pot 3 Helping more people - this grant, to be spent by March 2023, is to be spent on building capacity to help more people (e.g. equipment, desks, Covid compliance, safety, staffing to answer more calls, and training).

Warmer Wales II (Moondance Foundation) - advising clients in or at risk of fuel poverty on income maximization, debt management and budgeting. We also assist with benefit and grant applications as well as providing practical energy advice on tariff switching and supporting on dealing with suppliers.

Basic Income Pilot -advice and support for Care Leavers taking part in the Basic income Pilot scheme in Bridgend County Borough .

Food Bank Partnership - advising clients who access support from Bridgend Foldable on budgeting and income maximization needs (in partnership with Bridgend Foldable) . Energy Advice Programme - funding from Citizens Advice for the provision of one to one appointments to clients wh o are in or at risk of fuel poverty.

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continued...

Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

17, MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Domestic Violence - support victims of domestic violence

Innovation ~ year long funding from Core Developement Service Fund for innovation in delivering advice (in partnership with National Citizens Advice)

Multiply - part of the government levelling fund to improve numeracy in adults. Funded in conjuction with Employability Bridgend.

Surplus Debt - self funded project to support resilience/staffing levels of trained debt caseworkers

Purposes of Designated Funds:

Staffing contingency - redundancy provision in the event of loss of funding.

Premises reserve - based on the unexpired lease terms of office premises.

Capital equipment - primarily to allow for continued renewal ofIT equipment and software.

Service sustainability and development - to provide funding for the development of core service provision and support.

Fund Transfers

During the year there was a £1,634 transfer from the general fund to the Financial Advice Support Service fund. This was to cover a small overspend in expenditure.

During the year there was a £343 transfer from the general fund to the Help to Claim fund. This was to cover a small overspend in expenditure.

During the year there was a £3,613 transfer from the general fund to the Claim What's Yours fund. Costs of the project workers was around 75-80% of the project cost and the transfers was to cover the overspend in expenditure for overheads.

During the year there was a £4,551 transfer from the general fund to the Warmer Wales II fund. Costs of the project workers was around 75-80% of the project cost and the transfers was to cover the overspend in expenditure for overheads.

During the year there was a £1,900 transfer from the general fund to the Food Bank Partnership fund. Costs of the project workers was around 75-80% of the project cost and the transfers was to cover the overspend in expenditure for overheads.

During the year there was a £3,589 transfer from the general fund to the Advice Link Community Focus fund. There were funds spent on equipment during 2023/24 and a late injection of income in March 24 of £10,000 which was underspent. This was then spent in 2024/25 resulting in the transfer.

During the year there was a £12,228 transfer from the general fund to the Advice Link Specialist Debt and Other fund. Management had decided to fund debt advice at a higher level in 2024/25.

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continued...

Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

17. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

During the year there was a £10,847 transfer from the general fund to the Surplus Debt fund. As this was a self-funded project, there was no income.

18. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS

The pension costs charged in the financial statements represent the contributions payable by the charity during the year.

  1. OTHER FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS

At 31 March 2025 the company had commitments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows:

==> picture [398 x 34] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
||||| |---|---|---|---| |2025|2024| |Amounts|£|£| |due within|12 months|25,022|25,022|

----- End of picture text -----

20. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

Apart from Trustee expenses (Note 10) and remuneration & benefits paid to key management personnel (note 11), there were no further related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Page 29

Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

Detailed Statement ofFinancial Activities
fortheYearEnded 31 March 2025
2025 2024
£ £
INCOME ANDENDOWMENTS
Donations and legacies
Donations
685 440
Investmentincome
Depositaccountinterest 17,916 17,884
Charitable activities
Grants 1,035,505 1,036,068
Totalincoming resources 1,054,106 1,054,392
EXPENDITURE
Other trading activities
Fundraisingwages
6,264 5,203
Charitable activities
Staffcosts 680,866 666,703
Rent,waterandpremises levy
Insurance
25,935
6,208
24,597
5,757
Lightandheat
Telephone&communications
Printing,postage& stationery
Advertising
Stafftravel
21,303
14,983
6,316
273
1,587
17,912
13,546
5,167
-
1,607
Staffandvolunteertraining
Staffrecruitment
Subsistence andrefreshments
5,936
1,350
§,229
9,231
1,677
4,436
Volunteerexpenses
Otherstaffexpenses
Grantfundingreturned
Premises cleaning,repairsandmaintenance
Reference materials etc.
maintenance 674
154
-
4,496
7,235
-
58
2,779
6,964
7,872
Office ITandconsultancy
Officeequipment
Translation services
Depreciation oftangible fixedassets
assets 19,113
19,859
-
1,473
22,975
28,654
14
2,395
822,990 822,344

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 30

Bridgend County Borough Citizens Advice Bureau

==> picture [433 x 264] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
|||||| |---|---|---|---|---| |Detailed Statement of|[Financial]|[Activities]| |for|the|YearEnded|31|March 2025| |2025|2024| |Support|[costs]|£|£| |Human|resources| |Staff|costs|199,152|202,813| |Governance|costs| |Audit fee|6,850|5,600| |Professional|fees|819|2,523| |Bank charges|369|884| |Trustees expenses|304|13| |Sundry|-|55| |Trustee development costs|-|458| |8,342|.|9,533| |Total resources expended|1,036,748|1,039,893| |Net income|17,358|14,499|

----- End of picture text -----

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 31