Surrey Youth Focus
Annual Report and Financial Statements, 2024-25
For year ending: 31[st] March 2025
Registered charity no. 1140934
Independent Examiner: Nick Weller Simmons Gainsford Professional Services Limited 14[th] Floor 33 Cavendish Square London W1G 0PW
Surrey Youth Focus - Annual Report & Financial Statements 2024-25
Contents
From our Chair, Allister McGowan: ........................................................................................... 2 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2024-25 ....................................................................................... 3 Governance ............................................................................................................................ 3 Risk Management .................................................................................................................. 4 Administrative Information 31st March 2025 ...................................................................... 5 Marketing and Communications .......................................................................................... 6 Funders .................................................................................................................................. 6 Looking forward to 2025-26 .................................................................................................. 6 Statement of Public Benefit .................................................................................................. 6 Reserves Policy ...................................................................................................................... 7 Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Surrey Youth Focus .................................. 8 Statement of Financial Activities ............................................................................................. 10 Balance Sheet ........................................................................................................................... 11 Notes to the Financial Statements .......................................................................................... 12
1
Surrey Youth Focus - Annual Report & Financial Statements 2024-25
From our Chair, Allister McGowan:
The year has seen a significant consolidation of Surrey Youth Focus’s role as a systems change advocate and facilitator in the provision of support for young people and their families.
There will be challenges ahead as the environments of both local government and health services experience fundamental change and turbulence in the coming years. Those challenges will also provide opportunities for a team that has strengthened and developed its skill set and grown in confidence as it has adapted to new operational imperatives.
I am impressed by, and grateful for, the creativity and innovation which the staff of Surrey Youth Focus continue to demonstrate in delivering for the benefit of young people and youth support organisations in Surrey.
From our CEO, Cate Newnes-Smith
This was a significantly better year than the previous year for Surrey Youth Focus.
Everyone has pulled together to take Surrey Youth Focus in a new direction, and we are now bringing in most of our funding on a project-by-project basis, rather than being mostly in single grants.
We have learnt new skills and ideas around how to achieve real change in complex systems and have developed marketable ‘products’ which potential customers can grasp and see the benefit in funding.
Several years into ‘complex system change’ work, we continue to gain new insights and ways of approaching this work with a view to achieving better outcomes for children and families.
We have considerable ideas about how we can extend our influence across Surrey and beyond. A key criteria for success is how we balance project delivery with developing new ideas and concepts. In order to maximise our impact we are looking at how we can help others to use our complex system change methodologies and approaches as well as delivering them ourselves.
2
Surrey Youth Focus - Annual Report & Financial Statements 2024-25
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2024-25
Surrey Youth Focus is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The CIO operates under an Association model constitution with voting members other than the trustees.
The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. This financial year was significantly better than last year with a series of project based revenue streams coming on line, albeit still mostly from Surrey County Council and Surrey Heartlands. In practical terms, our unrestricted funding increased substantially as did our restricted funds.
Revenue in this year was £460, 609 as compared to £194, 494 for the previous year. This was largely due to receipt of multi year restricted funds and substantial funds which were largely passed through. There was a surplus of £32, 113 on unrestricted funds and £43, 850 on restricted funds. The former being due to good management of consultancy funds and the latter reflecting multi-year funds received.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's constitution and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their financial statements under FRS102.
Surrey Youth Focus has income between £25,000 and £500,000 and so is subject to Independent Examination, conducted by Simmons Gainsford Professional Services Limited.
The Charity's objects are to benefit young people in Surrey by:
-
Promoting good practice and the efficiency and effectiveness of its member organisations;
-
Supporting and strengthening the work of its members;
-
Helping members to support young people to develop their physical, mental and spiritual capacities to help them mature and have a good quality of life and
-
Ensuring that young people’s voices, concerns and issues are represented wherever it is most appropriate.
Governance
The Directors shall comprise:
-
at least three and not more than ten independent individuals and
-
at least three and not more than ten persons who are representatives of member organisations.
within overall limits of a maximum of fifteen and a minimum of six directors. A Director shall be appointed either:
-
by ordinary resolution of the members at a general meeting;
-
or by the Board of Directors.
Four meetings of the Trustee Board were held during 2024-25.
The Board receives standing quarterly reports on the financial position and on the performance against targets in the business plan. Our internal management controls (time
3
Surrey Youth Focus - Annual Report & Financial Statements 2024-25
and expense collection, monthly reporting) allow us to maintain tight control over all expenditure and to reconcile funds and monitor project progress monthly.
Apart from the main Board of Trustees, we hold meetings of our Management and Finance (M&F) Subcommittee on a quarterly basis. The M&F Committee receives detailed monthly financial management accounts from the Treasurer, and it is here that detailed discussions take place about issues relating to the business plan, governance, risk management and management. Reports and recommendations are then made to the full Board meeting as necessary.
SYF is a membership organisation. Full membership shall be open to any registered charity, voluntary youth organisation, youth social enterprise or sports bodies that are providing services for young people primarily within Surrey, which furthers the objectives of SYF and which has paid the annual subscription for full members.
Risk Management
A review of the Risk Register is a standing item on the M&F Committee with each of the risk areas being addressed on an annual basis. The risk register is then reviewed by the Board as a whole annually.
4
Surrey Youth Focus - Annual Report & Financial Statements 2024-25
Administrative Information 31st March 2025
Registered charity no. 1140934
REGISTERED ADDRESS
Astolat, Coniers Way New Inn Lane Burpham Guildford Surrey GU4 7HL
PRESIDENT
Michael More-Molyneux, Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey
VICE PRESIDENT
Lesley Myles MBE JP DL
TRUSTEES
Independent Trustees Allister McGowan – Chairman Alec Sanderson Paul Cliff Cindy O’Sullivan Holly Mobbs (from 25/4/24)
Member Trustees
Sarah Ings (Girlguiding Surrey West) (from 5/2/25) Lawrence Santcross (Transform Housing) Jude Crome (LYP) Paul Farthing (Shooting Star) (from 25/4/24)
Chief Executive: Cate Newnes-Smith
Staff Team
As the organisation continues to punch well above its weight and achieve a huge amount of work, we have taken on extra staff and are now at the equivalent of approximately 5 FTE worth of staff.
The team now comprises:
----- Start of picture text -----
Chief Executive:
Cate Newnes-Smith
Project Manager: Collaboration Finance Manager: Personal Assistant: Database Impact and Project Manager:
Deb Fish Manager: Su Freeman David Halliwell Rebecca Kenyon Linda Riches Outcomes Manager Sally Stubbings Chelcie Wreford
----- End of picture text -----
5
Surrey Youth Focus - Annual Report & Financial Statements 2024-25
During the year we were sorry to say farewell to Anika Wilson who left for a new role at Surrey County Council. She was ably replaced by Chelcie Wreford (permanent) and Deborah Fish (fixed term contract). Our team administrator Sophie Baldwin was on maternity leave for the year.
It is key to working in complex system environments that we develop and maintain a learning culture – where a key focus of the organisation is ongoing improvement and where it is acceptable to ‘fail’. We encourage all team members to take time to learn and explore.
Marketing and Communications
Most of our communications work is part of our service to charities and the public sector – and is not really marketing with an aim to sell our services.
Our primary marketing approach is through relationships, bulletins and email contact. We also use LinkedIn.
Funders
During the year, aside from our contract funding from Surrey County Council, The Community Foundation for Surrey and member dues, we received grant funding from the following:
-
Surrey County Council
-
The Coleman Trust
-
NHS Surrey Heartlands
-
Active Prospects
-
• NAVCA
for which we would like to record our thanks.
Looking forward to 2025-26
Surrey Youth Focus has uncertain prospects for 2025-26. Due to our trusted relationships, networks and knowledge, Surrey Youth Focus continues to play a unique collaborative leadership role to encourage relationships, collective action and system change by bringing people and organisations together to serve babies, children, young people and families.
However, we now live in a time of great uncertainty with wholesale changes in both local government (affecting funding possibilities from Surrey County Council) and the NHS (affecting funding possibilities from Surrey Heartlands and Surrey and Borders Partnership). Thus we may see a substantial reduction in income for the next financial year while these re-arrangements proceed.
Statement of Public Benefit
The Trustees have considered the guidance provided by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit and its impact on the charity’s work, and in particular the requirement that
6
| 2025 | 2424 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| l,lotes | E | € | E | f, | ||
| FIXED ASSETS | ||||||
| Tangible Assets | 11 | 1,507 | 0 | |||
| CURRENTASSETS | ||||||
| Cash at Bank | 137,995 | 99,845 | ||||
| Debtors | 33,100 | 0 | ||||
| 171,095 | 99,845 | |||||
| CREDITORS | ||||||
| Fallingdue within oneyear | 12 | (11,20/.) | (14,41O) | |||
| NET CURRENTASSETS | 159,891 | 85,435 | ||||
| NETASSETS | 161,398 | 85,435 | ||||
| FUNDS | ||||||
| Unrestricted funds | 47,46 | 15,334 | ||||
| Restricted funds | 1 | 13,951 | 70,141 | |||
| 161 397 | 85,435 |
Surrey Youth Focus - Annual Report & Financial Statements 2024-25
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Surrey Youth Focus
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Surrey Youth Focus (‘the charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and related notes.
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity’s trustees those matters I am required to state to them in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for my work, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
An independent examination does not involve gathering all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently does not cover all the matters that an auditor considers in giving their opinion on the financial statements. The planning and conduct of an audit goes beyond the limited assurance that an independent examination can provide. Consequently, I express no opinion as to whether the financial statements present a ‘true and fair’ view and my report is limited to those specific matters set out in the independent examiner’s statement.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
➢ accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
➢ the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
-
➢ the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
8
Surrey Youth Focus - Annual Report & Financial Statements 2024-25
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
Nicholas Weller FCCA Simmons Gainsford Professional Services Limited 14[th] Floor, 33 Cavendish Square London W1G 0PW
9
Surrey Youth Focus - Annual Report & Financial Statements 2024-25
Statement of Financial Activities
Surrey Youth Focus
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
For the year ended 31 March 2025
| Notes | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total 2025 | Total 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| INCOMING RESOURCES | |||||
| Charitable Activities | |||||
| Subscriptions | 2 | 11,350 | 0 | 11,350 | 12,050 |
| Consultancy Services | 3 | 40,000 | 96,500 | 136,500 | 56,820 |
| Grants Received | 4 | 4,000 | 308,504 | 312,504 | 124,714 |
| Investment Income | 5 | 254 | 0 | 254 | 910 |
| TOTAL INCOME | 55,604 | 405,004 | 460,608 | 194,494 | |
| RESOURCES EXPENDED | |||||
| Charitable Activities | |||||
| Direct Costs | 6 | 0 | 100,418 | 100,418 | 43,265 |
| Staff costs | 7 | 1,649 | 260,736 | 262,385 | 259,733 |
| Office and property costs | 8 | 16,939 | 0 | 16,939 | 16,840 |
| Sundry expenses | 9 | 3,704 | 0 | 3,704 | 4,052 |
| Legal and administrative costs | 10 | 1,200 | 0 | 1,200 | 1,200 |
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE | 23,492 | 361,154 | 384,646 | 325,090 | |
| NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | 32,112 | 43,850 | 75,962 | (130,596) | |
| TOTAL FUNDS AT 1 APRIL 2024 | 15,334 | 70,101 | 85,435 | 216,031 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS AT 31 MARCH 2025 | 47,446 | 113,951 | 161,397 | 85,435 |
10
Surrey Youth Focus - Annual Report & Financial Statements 2024-25
Notes to the Financial Statements
Surrey Youth Focus
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 March 2025
1. Accounting Policies
Basis of Preparation
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 issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom
and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charites Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice
Incoming Resources
Subscriptions and Consultancy Services are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when they are receivable. Grants are recognised in full in the Statement of Financial Activities in the period in which they are receivable, unless they are time related or contain unfulfilled conditions in which case unutilised grants are carried forward in the Balance Sheet.
Resources Expended
Expenditure is included on an accruals basis and includes irrecoverable value added tax. It has been allocated to the activities of the charity on a direct cost basis. Governance costs are those costs .
relating to the running of the charity as an entity
Fixed Assets
Fixed assets are stated at cost and depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off each asset over its expected useful life as follows:
- Office Equipment: 33% straight line
Assets purchased in the year costing in excess of £1,000 are included in the balance sheet
All other assets are written off in the year of purchase.
Liabilities and provisions
Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.
Fund accounting
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance
of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which
have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements. Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund.
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
Financial instruments
The Charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Going concern
The accounts have been prepared under the going concern basis as the Trustees believe that the Charity will be able to operate for the foreseeable future due to receipt of anticipated funds in the near future
12
Surrey Youth Focus - Annual Report & Financial Statements 2024-25
Surrey Youth Focus
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 March 2025
2. Subscriptions
Subscriptions are paid by charities and others who are member organisations and receive benefit.
| £ £ 11,350 12,050 3. Consultancy Services £ £ £ £ Unrestricted Restricted Unrestricted Restricted Surrey County Council 40,000 76,200 40,000 13,570 NHS Surrey & Borders 0 0 0 2,900 Community Foundation for Surrey 20,300 Others 0 350 40,000 96,500 40,000 16,820 4. Grants Received £ £ £ £ Unrestricted Restricted Unrestricted Restricted Surrey County Council 127,019 102,369 NHS Surrey & Borders NHS Surrey Heartlands 124,300 2,045 Community Foundation for Surrey 10,000 Coleman Trust 4,000 3,000 Other Sponsors 0 57,185 200 7,100 4,000 308,504 3,200 121,514 We are grateful for funds received from: Active Prospects and NAVCA as well as the above named 5. Investment Income £ £ Bank interest receivable 254 910 6. Direct Costs These include incurred expenses and third party delivery costs. £ £ £ £ Unrestricted Restricted Unrestricted Restricted Mscll Small Others 2,083 VCSE Alliance 15,031 31,490 LDA 1,400 11,024 SCC Smaller Projects 5,982 21 Workforce Innovation 71,020 730 Additional Needs 110 MHIF 1,526 CFS/RHUL 3,066 Inclusion 200 0 100,418 0 43,265 7. Staff Costs £ £ Salaries 186,872 218,055 Social security costs 10,475 12,263 Pension contributions 65,038 29,415 262,385 259,733 Average number of employees (FTE) Administration 1 1 Direct Service Delivery 4 4 5 5 2025 2024 2025 2024 2025 2024 2025 2024 2025 2024 2025 2024 |
£ £ 11,350 12,050 £ £ £ £ Unrestricted Restricted Unrestricted Restricted 40,000 76,200 40,000 13,570 0 0 0 2,900 20,300 0 350 2025 2024 2025 2024 |
£ £ 11,350 12,050 £ £ £ £ Unrestricted Restricted Unrestricted Restricted 40,000 76,200 40,000 13,570 0 0 0 2,900 20,300 0 350 2025 2024 2025 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 40,000 96,500 40,000 16,820 £ £ £ £ Unrestricted Restricted Unrestricted Restricted 127,019 102,369 124,300 2,045 10,000 4,000 3,000 0 57,185 200 7,100 2025 2024 |
||
| 4,000 308,504 3,200 121,514 |
||
| 0 | 100,418 0 43,265 |
|
| £ £ 186,872 218,055 10,475 12,263 65,038 29,415 262,385 259,733 1 1 4 4 5 5 2025 2024 |
One member of staff received remuneration in the band £60,000 to £69,999 £260,736 was charged to restricted funds (2023-£28,392)
13
Surrey Youth Focus - Annual Report & Financial Statements 2024-25
Surrey Youth Focus
Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2025
8. Office and Property Costs
These costs are allocated between core operations and major projects on an actual basis.
| Insurance Office services/maintenance Printing, postage and stationary Telephone and IT undry Expenses Training Travel/subsistence Marketing Office equipment Meetings Legal & Professional Costs Depreciation Other |
£ £ 924 839 7,227 7,760 76 49 8,712 8,192 16,939 16,840 £ £ 220 74 319 882 0 498 280 813 527 406 0 0 753 0 1,605 1,379 3,704 4,052 2025 2024 2025 2024 |
|---|---|
9. Sundry Expenses
10. Legal and administrative Costs
These include any Trustee expenses and the Independent Examiner's Fee.
| Independent examiner's fee Fixed Assets 1 April 2024 Additions Disposals 31 March 2025 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year Deferred Income Accruals Examiner Fee VAT |
£ £ 1,200 1,200 Cost Depreciation NBV £ £ £ 1,260 1,260 0 2,260 753 1,507 1,260 1,260 0 2025 2024 Office Equipment |
|---|---|
| 2,260 753 1,507 |
|
| £ £ 0 0 5,988 9,684 1,200 1,200 4,016 3,526 11,204 14,410 2025 2024 |
11. Fixed Assets
12. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
13. Trustee Remuneration
No trustee or connected person (who served at any time during the year) received any remuneration or expenses.
14. Independent Examiner's Fee
The fee paid to the Independent Examiner totalled £1, 200 plus VAT
15 Operating Commitments
The Charity has a 3 year lease with Surrey Community Action for the occupation of its office. The cost is a proportion of the building running costs and there is a 6 month break clause after the first year.
At the year end date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| 3,595 | 3,595 |
14
Surrey Youth Focus - Annual Report & Financial Statements 2024-25
Surrey Youth Focus
Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2025
16.Statement of Funds
| Restricted Funds Mscll Small Others VCSE Alliance LDA SCC Smaller Projects Workforce Innovation Additional Needs MHIF CFS/RHUL Inclusion Social Workers Total Restricted Funds Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds Total funds Unresticted Funds |
Balance Incoming Outgoing Transfer* Balance 01/04/2024 Resources Resources 31/03/2025 £ £ £ £ £ 8,632 1,056 -5,830 - 3,858 2,446 56,130 -28,017 - 30,559 15,699 0 -15,699 - 0 10,384 19,100 -29,484 - 0 32,940 91,618 -124,558 - 0 0 41,500 -41,500 - 0 0 124,300 -67,028 - 57,272 0 20,300 -20,300 - 0 0 27,000 -27,000 - 0 0 24,000 -1,739 - 22,261 |
|---|---|
| 70,101 405,004 -361,154 0 113,951 |
|
| 15,334 55,604 -23,492 0 47,446 |
|
| 85,435 460,608 -384,646 0 161,397 |
|
The unrestricted funds are used to cover all costs other than those spent on Restricted funds
Restricted Funds
Mscll Small Others
This relates to various small pieces of work for a number of funders. These are generally under £5, 000 in value
VCSE Alliance
This relates to monies received and spent on behalf of the Surrey VCSE Alliance
LDA
This relates to a grant to support the mobilisation of the Key Worker service in Surrey
SCC Smaller Projects
This relates to various small pieces of work for Surrey County Council. These are generally under £10, 000 in value
Workforce Innovation
Additional Needs
This relates to a grant to support Workforce Development across the childrens workforce in Surrey
This relates to monies received and spent on behalf of the Surrey VCSE Alliance
MHIF
This relates to a grant to support the mobilisation of the Key Worker service in Surrey
CFS/RHUL
This relates to various small pieces of work for Surrey County Council. These are generally under £10, 000 in value
Inclusion
Social Workers
This relates to a grant to support Workforce Development across the childrens workforce in Surrey
This relates to a grant to support Workforce Development across the childrens workforce in Surrey
17. Analysis of net assets between funds
| Tangible fixed assets Cash at bank and in hand Creditors due within one year Total 2025 |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds Total funds 2024 £ £ £ £ 1,507 0 1,507 57,145 113,951 171,096 99,845 -11,204 -11,204 -14,410 |
|---|---|
| 47,448 113,951 161,399 85,435 |
15