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2021-06-30-accounts

Company registration number: 07529286 Charity registration number: 1141411

Bestwood Advice Centre

(A company limited by guarantee)

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the Year Ended 30 June 2021

Community Accounting Plus Units 1 & 2 North West 41 Talbot Street Nottingham NG1 5GL

Bestwood Advice Centre

Contents

Reference and Administrative Details 1
Trustees' Report 2 to 6
Independent Examiner's Report 7
Statement of Financial Activities 8 to 9
Balance Sheet 10
Notes to the Financial Statements 11 to 19

Bestwood Advice Centre

Reference and Administrative Details

Trustees Brian Grocock Christopher Hooper Christopher Easton Sophie Jennings Jay Hayes Ben Allen Ali Javadi-Nowbandegani Kim Pavier (resigned 31/12/2021) Senior Management Team Susan Foster, Manager Charity Registration Number 1141411 Company Registration Number 07529286 Registered Office 21 Gainsford Crescent Bestwood Estates Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG5 5FH Independent Examiner John O'Brien, employee of Community Accounting Plus Units 1 & 2 North West 41 Talbot Street Nottingham NG1 5GL

Page 1

Bestwood Advice Centre

Trustees' Report

The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 30 June 2021.

Trustees and officers

The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:

Trustees: Brian Grocock Christopher Hooper Christopher Easton Sophie Jennings Jay Hayes Ben Allen (appointed 4 October 2021) Ali Javadi-Nowbandegani (appointed 4 October 2021) Kim Pavier (resigned 31/12/2021)

Structure, governance and management

Nature of governing document

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and registered charity. It is operated under the rules of its memorandum and articles of association dated 14/2/11. It has no share capital and the liability of each member in the event of winding-up is limited to £10.

Recruitment and appointment of trustees

Trustees are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Articles of Association or through advertising, application form, observational visit and interview.

Page 2

Bestwood Advice Centre

Trustees' Report

Major risks and management of those risks

Risks

The key financial risk, while not an immediate issue, is of course if funding through Nottingham City Council reduces significantly or altogether in future. This is at present a theoretical risk, given the continuing commitment of the Local Authority to the provision of welfare rights services. Training-related activity is dependent on a range of funding sources which are directly related to successful delivery of adult education opportunities for local citizens.

Objectives and activities

Objects and aims

Page 3

Bestwood Advice Centre

Trustees' Report

Objectives, strategies and activities

During the period July 2020 - June 2021 Bestwood Advice Centre (BAC) has continued to be a key provider of welfare rights and debt advice to residents from Bestwood and surrounding wards of Nottingham City. Since March 2020 we adapted to new ways of working and remained open throughout; being a key source of support and information for the most vulnerable. We have taken on extra staff to meet the increased demand.

BAC is seeing an increase in complex need; our advisers are trained in both debt support and welfare rights. Our approach to all our clients is to offer a holistic service; dealing not only with the issues they present to us but also any surrounding problems. The intention is to try to prevent future problems and empower customers to cope better in the future whether with technology, information or other barriers. Covid-19 has highlighted the amount of people who are digitally excluded and those with literacy problems, many from BAME communities, with the majority in financial difficulties, suffering from food and/or fuel poverty. We have taken this into account when targeting and raising awareness of our service to ensure no individuals lose out through lack of understanding and access issues.

BAC has achieved high levels of outcomes for citizens in the financial year, achieving welfare benefits of over £1.3 million and managed debts of over £448,000. Across all the projects Bestwood Advice Centre has supported over 710 people during the year. Clients’ have also been referred to the local food and clothing banks where such an emergency presents itself. The majority of advice given is in the field of welfare rights, closely followed by debt advice and other categories such as housing issues. We work closely with Bestwood Directions referring people for employment support and training needs.

Bestwood Advice Centre is a long - term, successful local charity which is now in its 36th year. It meets a wide range of needs for citizens and the staff teams' reputation as trusted, helpful, approachable and effective in welfare rights and associated provision continues to be central to its situation on Bestwood Estate. This provision is supported through its committed trustees working alongside the paid employees to continue this provision continues.

Financial review

The trustees are pleased that they have managed to continue the services during the pandemic and retain a healthy financial position.

Policy on reserves

Adequate reserves have been difficult to achieve in the current financial climate, given the tight restrictions on funding. However, it is important that the organisation hold sufficient funds for emergencies and redundancy situations. Therefore Bestwood Advice Centre will aim in the long term to have uncommitted reserves equivalent to between 3 and 4 months average annual expenditure. The reserves are reviewed annually in October each year.

Page 4

Bestwood Advice Centre

Trustees' Report

Public benefit

In line with the aims of Bestwood Advice Centre we provide Social Welfare Rights and Debt advice, guidance, negotiation and representation in a confidential and safe environment, which supports and responds to individual needs without discrimination. We also give advice on housing, education, employment and consumer issues with referrals, where necessary, to specialist advice agencies.

We work to the Advice Quality Standard for ‘General Advice with Casework’ in the areas of Welfare Rights, Benefits and Debt.

By providing sufficient advice and guidance increased knowledge and understanding enables informed decisions to be made; by improving financial capability the individual and the community benefit. The activities contribute towards a reduction in poverty and maximising income.

The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

Page 5

Bestwood Advice Centre

Trustees' Report

Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities

The trustees (who are also the directors of Bestwood Advice Centre for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations. The report and accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions in the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Approved by the trustees of the charity on .................... and signed on its behalf by: 14/03/22

......................................... Sophie Jennings Trustee

Small companies provision statement

This report has been prepared in accordance with the small companies regime under the Companies Act 2006.

Page 6

Bestwood Advice Centre

Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Bestwood Advice Centre

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Bestwood Advice Centre ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 30 June 2021.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

......................................

John O'Brien MSc, FCCA, FCIE, employee of Community Accounting Plus Fellow of the Association of Charity Independent Examiners

Units 1 & 2 North West 41 Talbot Street Nottingham NG1 5GL

15/3/2022 Date:.............................

Page 7

Bestwood Advice Centre

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 30 June 2021 (Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)

Note
Income and Endowments from:
Donations and legacies
2
Charitable activities
3
Total Income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
5
Total Expenditure
Net (expenditure)/income
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
10
Unrestricted
£
8,445
185
8,630
(8,824)
(8,824)
(194)
(194)
16,302
16,108
Restricted
£
-
113,866
113,866
(88,006)
(88,006)
25,860
25,860
29,305
55,165
Total
2021
£
8,445
114,051
122,496
(96,830)
(96,830)
25,666
25,666
45,607
71,273
Total
2020
£
16,121
93,671
109,792
(76,860)
(76,860)
32,932
32,932
12,675
45,607

All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for the period is shown in note 10.

The notes on pages 11 to 19 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 8

Bestwood Advice Centre

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 30 June 2021 (Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)

These are the figures for the previous accounting period and are included for comparative purposes

Note
Income and Endowments from:
Donations and legacies
2
Charitable activities
3
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
5
Total expenditure
Net income
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
10
Unrestricted
funds
£
16,121
142
16,263
(2,964)
(2,964)
13,299
13,299
3,003
16,302
Restricted
funds
£
-
93,529
93,529
(73,896)
(73,896)
19,633
19,633
9,672
29,305
Total
2020
£
16,121
93,671
109,792
(76,860)
(76,860)
32,932
32,932
12,675
45,607

The notes on pages 11 to 19 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 9

Bestwood Advice Centre

(Registration number: 07529286) Balance Sheet as at 30 June 2021

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
7
Current assets
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
8
Net current assets
Net assets
Funds of the charity:
Restricted income funds
Restricted funds
10
Unrestricted income funds
Unrestricted funds
Total funds
10
2021
£
690
71,911
(1,328)
70,583
71,273
55,165
16,108
71,273
2020
£
1,380
45,576
(1,349)
44,227
45,607
29,305
16,302
45,607

For the financial year ending 30 June 2021 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements on pages 8 to 19 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on .................... and signed on their behalf by: 14/03/22

......................................... Sophie Jennings Trustee

The notes on pages 11 to 19 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 10

Bestwood Advice Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2021

1 Accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Statement of compliance

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 (FRS 102)) (issued in October 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Basis of preparation

Bestwood Advice Centre meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.

The trustees assess whether the use of going concern is appropriate i.e. whether there are any material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The trustees make this assessment in respect of a period of one year from the date of approval of the financial statements.

Exemption from preparing a cash flow statement

The charity opted to adopt Bulletin 1 published on 2 February 2016 and have therefore not included a cash flow statement in these financial statements.

Income and endowments

Voluntary income including donations, gifts, legacies and grants that provide core funding or are of a general nature is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.

Donations and legacies

Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance by the charity before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that these conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.

Grants receivable

Grants are recognised when the charity has an entitlement to the funds and any conditions linked to the grants have been met. Where performance conditions are attached to the grant and are yet to be met, the income is recognised as a liability and included on the balance sheet as deferred income to be released.

Page 11

Bestwood Advice Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2021

Expenditure

All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.

Charitable activities

Charitable expenditure comprises 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.

Taxation

The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

Tangible fixed assets

Individual fixed assets costing £500 or more are initially recorded at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

Depreciation and amortisation

Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:

Asset class Depreciation method and rate
Computer equipment 33.3% straight line

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

Page 12

Bestwood Advice Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2021

Fund structure

Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees' discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.

Restricted income funds are those grants for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.

Pensions and other post retirement obligations

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity. Pension costs charges in the Statement of Financial Activities represent the contributions payable by the charity during the year.

2 Income from donations and legacies

Donations and legacies;
Donations from individuals
Grants, including capital grants;
Grants from other charities
Grants from companies
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
20
7,000
1,425
8,445
Total
2021
£
20
7,000
1,425
8,445
Total
2020
£
1,122
8,111
6,888
16,121

3 Income from charitable activities

Grants and donations
Sundry receipts
Fundraising
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
-
185
-
185
Restricted
funds
£
113,866
-
-
113,866
Total
2021
£
113,866
185
-
114,051
Total
2020
£
93,529
40
102
93,671

Page 13

Bestwood Advice Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2021

4 Grants & donations

4
Grants & donations
Bestwood Directions
Coalfields Regeneration Trust
Nottingham & District Citizens Advice Bureau
CO-OP
Nottingham City Transport
St Anns Advice Group
Covid 19 National Lottery
MSE Charity
Groundwork UK
Nottingham City Council
Sundry Donations
Severn Trent PLC
Unrestricted
funds
£
6,000
-
-
1,425
-
-
-
-
1,000
-
20
-
8,445
Restricted
funds
£
2,303
9,295
65,001
-
6,000
17,390
8,358
750
-
2,769
-
2,000
113,866
Total
£
8,303
9,295
65,001
1,425
6,000
17,390
8,358
750
1,000
2,769
20
2,000
122,311

5 Expenditure on charitable activities

Building costs
Business costs
Education expenses
Salaries NI & Pensions
Volunteer expenses
Training
Staff expenses
Sundry expenses
Depreciation
Fundraising
Overheads
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
221
4,889
727
-
-
5
8
269
690
-
2,015
8,824
Restricted
funds
£
330
12,221
-
77,455
-
15
-
-
-
-
(2,015)
88,006
Total
2021
£
551
17,110
727
77,455
-
20
8
269
690
-
-
96,830
Total
2020
£
364
16,340
340
57,329
219
787
549
201
690
41
-
76,860

Page 14

Bestwood Advice Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2021

6 Staff costs

The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:

The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:
Staff costs during the year were:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs
2021
£
75,309
65
2,081
77,455
2020
£
54,809
655
1,865
57,329

The monthly average number of persons (including senior management team) employed by the charity during the year was as follows:

Average number of employees 2021
No
7
2020
No
5

3 (2020 - 2) of the above employees participated in the Defined Contribution Pension Schemes.

Contributions to the employee pension schemes for the year totalled £2,081 (2020 - £1,865).

No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year.

Page 15

Bestwood Advice Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2021

7 Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 July 2020
At 30 June 2021
Depreciation
At 1 July 2020
Charge for the year
At 30 June 2021
Net book value
At 30 June 2021
At 30 June 2020
8
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Other creditors
Computer
equipment
£
2,070
2,070
690
690
1,380
690
1,380
2021
£
1,328
Total
£
2,070
2,070
690
690
1,380
690
1,380
2020
£
1,349

Page 16

Bestwood Advice Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2021

9 Charity status

The charity is a charity limited by guarantee and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the trustees is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.

10 Funds

Unrestricted funds
General
General
Restricted funds
Welfare Rights (NCAB)
Fuel Poverty
Salaries
Covid 19
Nottingham Jobs Fund
Total restricted funds
Total funds
Unrestricted funds
General
General
Restricted
Welfare Rights (NCAB)
Fuel Poverty
Salaries
Case Management
Covid 19
Total restricted funds
Total funds
Balance at 1
July 2020
£
16,302
9,029
13,026
6,750
500
-
29,305
45,607
Balance at 1
July 2019
£
3,003
9,672
-
-
-
-
9,672
12,675
Incoming
resources
£
8,630
65,001
17,390
18,348
10,358
2,769
113,866
122,496
Incoming
resources
£
16,263
61,579
22,400
6,750
2,300
500
93,529
109,792
Resources
expended
£
(8,824)
(43,117)
(17,189)
(20,624)
(4,307)
(2,769)
(88,006)
(96,830)
Resources
expended
£
(2,964)
(62,222)
(9,374)
-
(2,300)
-
(73,896)
(76,860)
Balance at 30
June 2021
£
16,108
30,913
13,227
4,474
6,551
-
55,165
71,273
Balance at 30
June 2020
£
16,302
9,029
13,026
6,750
-
500
29,305
45,607

Page 17

Bestwood Advice Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2021

The specific purposes for which the funds are to be applied are as follows:

Welfare Rights (NCAB)

Provides advice and support to local residents around their welfare rights. This is the main source of income. Fuel Poverty

Supporting families and the community through training. Salaries

A contribution towards additional advice workers. Covid 19

A contribution towards additional costs during the pandemic. Nottingham Jobs Fund To support people back to work.

11 Analysis of net assets between funds

Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets
Unrestricted funds
General
£
Other
£
690
-
15,418
56,493
-
(1,328)
16,108
55,165
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
General
£
funds
£
1,380
-
14,922
30,654
-
(1,349)
16,302
29,305
Total funds at
30 June
2021
£
690
71,911
(1,328)
71,273
Total funds at
30 June
2020
£
1,380
45,576
(1,349)
45,607

12 Fees payable to independent examiner

During the period, the fees payable (excluding VAT) to the charity’s independent examiner Community Accounting Plus are analysed as follows:

Accounting Plus are analysed as follows:
Independent examination
Other financial services
2021
£
820
674
1,494
2020
£
820
756
1,576

Page 18

Bestwood Advice Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2021

13 Taxation

The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.

14 Trustees remuneration and expenses

No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the charity during the year.

15 Related party transactions

During the year the charity made the following related party transactions:

H J Easton

H J Easton is the wife of trustee Christopher Easton. She received £3815 in salaries. At the balance sheet date the amount due to/from H J Easton was £Nil (2020 - £Nil).

Page 19