citizens advice Fareham Fareham atIzensAdvi￿ Bureau Directorg and Trusteeg Report & financial Satements For the year ended 31st M arth 2024 iaered ￿aritY Number.. Company Wiaraiion Number.. 1142745 07653014 (England & Wajes) F￿ehaM at12ens Advice Bureau (A company limited by guaranleel nancid &alemenls lor ihe year ended 31a M arch 2024 Contents O)mpanylBureau Information Fèport of the tireclorg and Tru*eeg 2106 Satemenl of ￿nancia Activities 8dance theel 8t09 Noleslo the finanad gatement¢ 101017 The following does noi form part of the &atutory financia 8atemenis to filed at (l)mpanies Hou*,. Fèporl of the Independent Accountant 18 Fareham atizensAdvirE Bureau IA company limited by guarantee} Q)mpany and Bureau Inforfflation Charity Name and Numbei Fareham Citizens Advice Bureau.. registered charity number 1142745 company number.. 07653014 (England and Wales) Correspondence Address Isl Floor, County Library Building. Osborn Road, Fareham, Hants. P016 7EN TrusteeslDirectors Mr N Carler (Chair) Mr R D Knight (Vice Chair) (resigned 141h March 2024) Mr R G Applegate (Vice chair) (resigned 6th September 2023) Mrs D J Stringfellow (resigned 6th December 2023) Mr l H Currie (Secreiary and Treasurer) (resigned 15th November 2023) Mr J Keating Mr J E Tompkinson (resigned 12th July 2023) Mr L P Hallman (resigned 6th September 20231 Mrs C Sykes (resigned 26th April 2023) Mrs L Rigby (appointed 28th June 2023 resigned 30th May 2024) Mr D Bridger (Treasurer) (appointed 6th December 2023) Mr K Buchanan (appointed 6th December 20231 Mr P Ellison (appointed 15th February 2024 resigned 4th June 2024) Mr J G J Neale (appointed 22nd May 2024) Fareham Borough Council Representatives on Trustee Board Cllr L Clubley air JNeedham Chief Officer and Company Secretary Ms B Mayo Bankers Barclays Bank, 66- 69 Wesl Street, Fareham, Hanis, P016 OAP Independent Examiner: J Meiherell FCA, Palmer Riley & Co, Chartered Accountants, 1st Floor, Unrt E2, Fareham Heights, Standard Way, Fareham, Hants, P016 8XT Page I Fareham Citizens Advice Bureau (A company Ilmlted by guarantee) Directors, and Trustees. Report For the year ended 31st March 2024 The Trustees (who are also the Diiectors for the purpose of Company Law) have pleasure in presenting their report and financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2024. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Staiement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing I heir accou nts in accordance with th e Knancial Report ing Standard for Sm aller Ent ities. Historyi objectlves and activities of the Charity Citizens Advice Fareham (CAFI has been in operation since 1942. 11 was originally run as part ol the WVS and was situated in a small building behind Wesibury Manor, lormerly the old Council Offices. In 1978 the Bureau relocated to 5 Osborn Road South and again moved in 1985, this time to the second floor of Fareham Library. Our latest move in October 2013 was lo the 1st tloor of the library. The company acquired the charitable activities ot Fareham Citizens Advice Bureau, registered charity number 265158, on 1st October 2011. The Fareh am office is m anaged by a volullteer Trustee Board, wit h strateg ic business delegated 10 the Chief Officer. Day-lo-day management of ihe operational aspects of the charity have been delegated to the Chief Officer. There are usually around 50 volunteers and 8 full time equivalent paid staff. CAF is a member of the National Association ol Citizens advice (CitA) and as such is committed to the twin aims ol the Q'tizens Advice service, which are.. To provide the advice people need for the problems they face To im prove the policies and practices that affect people's lives The service provides free, confideniial and impa¥tial advice to everyone regardless of ability, age, gender, gender Identity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation and social or economic status. It recognises the positive value of diverslty, promotes equality, and challenges discriminalion. The Office helps to resolve money, legal and oiher pioblems by providing advice and information, and by influencing policymakers in Fareham and surrounding areas and across Hampshire, as well as contributing to policy debales at a national level via our parent organisation CitA, Page 2 Fareham Citizens Advice Bureau (A company limited by guarantee) Directors. and Trustees. Report For the year ended 31st March 2024 Our vision for CAF is to: be seen and known as a centre of excellence in the provision of Cilizens Advice seivices to the citizens ol Fareham and the surrounding area, working closely with Fareham Borough Council IFBCI and other key local partner organisations., and contiibule to the CitA drive 10 eniich society through becoming a powerful influence on social policy, both locally and nationally. Management and governance arrangements The Constitution document, the Articles ol Association, provides for no fewer than three Trustees and for no more than filleen. The current trustees come from a broad variety of backgrounds, giving ihe Office Ihe benefit of a wide range of skills and experience. Induction training for new Trustees is provided by CilA and includes awareness of a Trustee's responsibilities, and information about the CitA organisalion such as the history and philosoph ical approach of the charity. Specific infolm at ion about CAF is provided by the Chief Off icer, includ ing acces5 to the governing document, information on administrative procedures and copies ol the prev ious year's ann ual report and accounts. New Trustees are also encouraged to access the National CilA intranet www.cilizensadvice.org.uk which contains useful information for trustees, including 'bite size, online training modules. The Trustees annually review Ihe risks that the charity faces. The main risks currently identified relate to the risks being taced due to the reduction in funding and difficulties in Tecruiling volunteers and keeping paid Staff for advice roles such as webchal and email advice. Action is in hand to mitigate as far as possible each of these issues. Page 3 Fareham Citizens Advlce Bureau (A company limited by guarantee) Directors. and Trustees. Report For the year ended 31st March 2024 Achlevements and performance of the Charity We offer full advice via telephone, email and face to lace at Citizens Advice Fareham and at outreach locations and through home visiting appointments. Throughout the whole ot last year we have: Helped ove¥ 2,437 individual clients access advice Given advice on over 8,740 issues Reg istered 1, 007 new clients lo ou r service Seen over 800 people at outreach locations (72% of these were new clients oi existing clients with new issues) Carried out 67 home visits Recorded an income gain for clients lotalling over £386,644 Helped write off debts of over £284,240 Achieved a total financial outcome for 23-24 of £852,182. We continue our Triage Fyocess over the phone. The needs of each client are briefly assessed during a short interview with an expeiienced Adviser. Following the assessment, the client is informed as to the best course of action. Options include the provision of intormation that will help the client to resolve their issue independenily. further advice that day or the booking of an appointment {telephone or face to face) with an Adviser for another day, or referral to our in-house caseworkers for complex matters or for clients who need more help lo navigate through ihe process. We saw the continuation of our core funding by FBC for which we are very grateful. Due lo funding from the National Lottery, Community Fund, outreach services have continued this year where we have seen over 800 clients at hourly outreach sessions per week each in the following locations.. Porlchester Iwoodsey's Foodbank and Portchesler Library), Fareham North West (Hampshire Food Revolution and St Columba Church), Stubbington Library and Titchfield Common {Waypoint Church Hub & pantry). New clients or clients with new issues made up 72U/o of all clients seen at oulreach, showing the importance of outreach to enable increased access to advice for the outlying areas ol the Fareham Borough. An impressive 400/0 of those seen at outreach had their issues resolved with advice given. This is leslimony to the quality and training of the adviser{s) al Outreach. Page 4 Fareham Citizens Advlce Bureau (A company limited by guarantee) Directors. and Trustees, Report For the year ended 31st March 2024 Due to funding from The National Lotiery, Community Fund and Hampshire County Council's Local Solutions Funding, the projects have worked with around 300 clients, with over 1,500 issues, completing complex casework or assisting vulnerable clients and carried out 67 home visits over the year to clients who were unable to gel into the office due io disability, childcare or caring responsibilities. None of this work would be possible without these additional funds. We were delighted lo become pail of the Hampshire Home and Well project in February 2024. This is for the provision of a wraparound service that helps vulnerable patients primarily in hospitals and Primary Care, with energy poveiiy needs and advice or signposiing for related social needs. In turn, the project aims to equip the person with the necessary support to live safely and independently, one adviser 15hrs pw rising to 20hrs pw from 1st April. This two year grant is from Citizens Advice Hampshire in partnership with SSEN, SGN. Portsmouth Water, Souihern Water. South East Water and Hampshire & Isle of Wight I CB. Funding Irom Citizens Advice National - Cost of Living Fund also enabled us to keep our MAPS debi caseworker Ighrs pw for 6 months during the year helping 45 clients write olf over £128k of debt and increase income by almost £IOk. The Remote Service Deliver project. 36.25 hrs pw adviser funding from Citizens Advice Pol 2 - AVIVA funding which began in September 2023 enabled us 10 increase our telephone (6096), email and webchal capability. This project runs over until July 31st 2024. Our generalist advisers maintain a high level of competence and are supported by an up-to-date and comprehensive information system. We are subject lo rigorous and regulai CitA membership audits that cover both the quality of our advice {QAAI and the robustness ol our management systems. We continue to assess 30 cases of advice for audit per quarter and the trustees reviewed Governance and management of the charity through Leadeiship Assesstnent. We had another successful independent Year 3 audit in July 2023. Financial review, investment policy and reserves Our sources of funding are in the form of service agreements and contracts. It has been considered necessary to make provision toi cont ingencies ag ainst a sudden loss of income since some agreements are for fixed periods (a year or less). 11 is hoped, bLtt understood that it may not be the case, that the Trustee Board would receive at least three months, notice of funding withdrawal. Page 5 Fareham Citizens Advlce Bureau (A company limited by guarantee) Directors. and Trustees, Report For the year ended 31st March 2024 li has been agreed to allow for a controlled wind down if specific grants are not renewed and provide resources to enable alternaiive funding to be sourced for a lim iled period. Th is wou Id provide capacity for an orderly closure of th e Office or enable a reduced service. In accordance with Charity Commission guidelines, the Reserves will always be sufticient to cover.. staff notice payments and redundancy payments.. rent due undei the lease., • commitments lor equipment or contracts unpaid., closure and dilapidation costs., a short term opèrating contingency. The adequacy ot the reserves policy is reviewed by the Board annually. At the end of March 2023, three months, operaiing costs were valued at £39,118. The full value of designated reserves io include closure and dilapidation were agreed by the Trustee 8oard in May 2024 to be £66,942. Statement of internal control The trustee board oversees the information security of all personal information of our clients, staff, funders and strategic partners that are processed. As a local Citizens Advice. we have adopted the naiional Citizens Advice recommended Information Assuiance policy on how we manage risk. We hold joint responsibility for client data that is held in our case management system with the national Citizens Advice Service. An information assurance management team exist5 to ensure the confidentialily, integrity and availability of all personal and sensitive data is maintained to a level which is compliant with the requirements the Geneial Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018. Signed on behalf of the cha rusteesldirectors Mr Noah Carter Chair of Truslee Board 9th Sepiembei 2024 Page 6 Fayeham atizensAdvI￿ Bureau {Aa)mpany limile(J by guarantee) 9atement ol Rnanaal Activitiesfor the year ended 31st Marth 2024 Unre*ricted nds ReariGted Funds Total ￿n￿5 2024 Tot8J Iljnds 2023 Note In(oming re￿ur￿< Income from,. Donaiionsand leg￿e¢ Ib 2a 14,115 14,115 5,480 In(x>me from charitable activtties Cl)eralion ol atizensAdvice &Jreau 162,788 121,573 284,361 270,538 Investment income 2b 575 575 72 Told ina)ming r￿ur￿< 177,478 121,573 299,051 276,090 r1e9)ur￿Sexpended Expenditure on.. Faigng fund¢ 13 13 e the Knancid Fèporting gandard applicable in the Uniteil ￿N￿10M and Fèpublic ol Ireland {FfsL021'. and with > the aiariliesN£i 2011. bl Income recognition policies Granis receivable to finanTr the bureau's aiziirties (xedited tD the gatemenl ol Knanaaj Actiwiies in the year to which they relate, Revenue grants re￿iVed in advance &e held a5 deferred income within creditors in the &qIan￿ &eet and relea*d to the gatement ol Nnancid ktiMties In •• the relevant year. capital grants towards Ihe cost of fixed assets are credited in lull in the period of re￿Ipl and shown in the Bq1arn￿ ￿eet 8s desgnated equipment ie*rves [ele￿d to generd funds over the lite of the as*ts 8ank intere# and donations are credited as In￿Me on re￿ipl. cl Expenditure Al expenditure is accoLJnied lor acuuals ba%'s Q'reu #all ¢o#s relaing to eath area ol *rvice promson are attributed to the relevant attivity. Other co*s including generd management, finan ard adminiaration. together with overhead cost. have been 8pportioned to the core ￿1VitieS on the bassol their or eaimated sh*e of resour￿ Utili￿tiOn, as ￿proprIate. d) Off*ttino Thwe ha5 been no ollseiting ol wets and liabilities or income and expen￿$ unles% required or permitted bythe FF6102 9)FPor Ft&EO2. FBge io Fareham QtlzensAdW￿ Bureau IA ￿mp￿Y limited by guarantee) Notesto the ￿nan￿al gatementslor the year endeij 31a March 2024 1 Satement ￿ ac(x)unting pdioes o)niinLJed e) Tangiblefixed as*tsand depreciation xed a*s ￿e gated • o)g less a(tumulated depreriaiion. tkpreciation is charged on a araght line b￿lson the cost of the a*etsover their estimated u￿1￿1 livesat the following rates.. rniture and fitiings offi￿ equipment 4 years 4 years 25%per annum 2596per annurn 11 Fèstricted funds Income received for regriaed purpo*s is induded in a res1r1￿ed fund a￿'n$t which appropriate eJ(penditure Isajlocated. g) Deggnated funds tksgnated funds are pjloraed Iiom unre*riaed funds, by the Iiu*ees, for wealic purpo*s, Ihe use of these fundsisat Ihe discretion ol the truaee5. l)) Pensons Ihe bureau offer5 defined cx)nlributions into a penson fund and the* ale tharged to expenditure in the period to which they relate. il Qjerating leases Payments under oper￿Ing le￿$ are charged ovei the life ol the le￿ in the period to which they rel&e. Il cath flow s&ement The board of trijaees has t3ken advantage of the exemption in sediDn IA ol FF6102 from the requirement to produce a cash flow statement on the woundsthat it isa Sm￿1 company. kl Uability recognition abilities are le￿gnIsed where it is more likely than not that there is a legd or (yJnstru(Xive obliggtion (y)mmitiing the charily 10 pay out re9)ur￿$ and the amount of the obligation Can be measured with Te&4)nable ￿n￿nly. 11 cieditors The ch*ity has ueditorswhich ate meawred at ￿Illement anountsle& anytrade dI￿￿ntS ml Goino concern The linanaaj *atementshave been prepared on a going (Dncern bass. Fage 11 FaJeham atIzensAdvi￿ P￿reaU IA (x)mpany limited by guar￿teel Notesto the Nnancid gatementslor the year ended 31* Marth 2024 2 Incx)me from don￿lOnsand inveaments Unr stiicted 2024 Tot 2023 Tol a) VoluntaJy income.. Generd donation 14,115 14,115 5.480 b) Inve&tment incL)me.' Bank intere 575 575 72 3 In￿me from tharilaNe actiwlies Unre 2024 Toi8J 2023 T Fareham Bc>rough Q)unol.. Gener Hampthire O)unty Q)unal atizensAdviTr Hampthire.. Heathwatth Outrea¢h C*ant - Locd &lutions t-CAMAPsMoneyAdvi (jani - orher ￿ndr&$ng (¥ant- Tne Nationd Lottery *ant - CornmunitiesAga'n* Can Grant- (mpayment- Fèmote worker Grant- CLLpayment- Debt advi9)r Grant- Household ￿ppOrt Fund Gralll - &ergy ￿￿ance Fyogamme ve asyou live luriding Home and Well Ftoject Other income Totd income from charitable aaivities 135,000 135.00 120.000 8,054 2,733 7,789 2,733 7,789 19,772 9,970 18,540 37,892 363 52,409 5,000 19,772 582 582 53,939 53,939 23,917 15,0(X) 23,917 15,OCQ 13,903 6.510 320 2,435 2,461 284.361 13,903 6,510 320 2,435 2.461 162,788 18,310 270,538 121,573 AJI income in the prior year was unrestricted excem lor thefollowing gr￿lS 2023 Toi (￿treach Grani- Ljxa &>lutions Grant - Q)mrnuniiiesAganst Can￿r Grani - CA MAF¥ Money Advi fyant - The Nation￿ Lottery 9.970 18.540 5,000 37,892 52,409 123.811 Page 12 Fareharn aiizensAdVl￿ Bureau IA cnmpany limited by guarantee) Note5to the Hnan(xd 8atementslor the year ended 31s1 Marth 2024 4 Eant debtor Other debtors Fyepaymentsand accrued income 4,868 3.854 1.6(Kl 10,322 1,5CK) 3,779 5,279 All debtorsare rernverablewithln one year. Page 14 Fareham atizensAdvI￿ ￿[eaV (A o)mpany limited by gUar￿teel Notesto the financid 9atementsfor the year ended 31* March 2024 10 at bank and in hand 2024 Totaj 2023 Tot Bank￿rrent aixount Bankdepo%i account Cath in hand 80,979 48,152 75,411 47,579 48 123,038 129,166 11 (Jeditors- amountsfdling duewithin oneyear 2024 Tot 2023 Tot Taxatfron and ￿CIal *curity FÈnson costs Other (xedilors ALxxuals and deferred income 4,756 724 4,594 31,929 42,003 932 11,692 17,756 12 CFediiors- amounlsfalling due after morethan oneyear The bureau had no ￿edItorS Idling due after more than one year. 13 An￿Y9501 nei a￿[SI)e[ween funds Gweral runds r¢1 Tot fund5 funds funds Tangible fixed ￿15 Ojrreni as*is (￿rrent liabilities Nei asseic 17.756 17,7561 121,732 139,488 17,756) 121,732 121,732 Page15 Fareham (JII￿n$AdVI￿ Bureau IA wmpany limited by guarantee) Notesto rhe Ananaal gatementsfor the year ended 31st M ard) 2024 14 Analyssof thariiable funds Analygsof movanentsin reariiled funds Asat 1st Incornin Transfer between funds A5a13L March 2024 ril 2023 re￿￿r re￿￿r￿S Fè*ri¢ted funds ant - The National Lntiery Grani - LOCJ S)lutions l*ani - (x)Lpayment . FèFllOte worker ant - COLpayment- Lkbi advisoi Grani - &ergy As9stan￿ FY(MJramme Home and Well Ftoject Tota re#ricted lund¢ 53,939 19,772 23.917 15.000 6,510 2,435 121,573 55,370 20,417 24,580 15,989 7,589 2,659 126,604 1,431 645 663 989 1,079 224 5,031 Analyss of movementsin unregritted funds Unrestricted funds General funds Desgnated ernployee termination fund Degwated rent fund 141,584 13,175 136,553 5,0311 41,974 2,750 476 55,149 2,750 476 DeSA￿￿ed iJilapid&ionsand do￿re fun Oesignated operating {x)ntin￿nc9 fund Tolaj Unreslrl￿ed lund¢ 5.222 5,222 35,892 86.314 22,719 177,478 58,611 121.732 137,029 5.0311 Totl fund 86.314 299,051 263,633 121.732 Page 16 Fareham atiTrnSAdVi￿ Bureau IAo)rnpany limited by guaranieel Notes10 the finanrid satements lor the year ended 31a March 2024 14 Analysscil tharitablefunds.. (xJntinLEd Name of fund tkxription, nature and puYpo* ol the fund C£nerd fund.. These we the'free reserveg after dlowing lor dl deS￿ated fund& tÈsgnated funds nployee termination fund.. These Te￿rveshave been degwated to meet the co*sof red￿nd￿cY in the event ol the bureau'5 clowre. F*nt lund.. ndshave been set asde to cnver three month¥ Tent on the premi*s in anticipwion of the landlord being able io find anew tenant within rhisperiod atler the bureau ha$Clo￿d. Lea*& This is10 cover the terminatlon COStslor the lea5esrelaténgto the telephone w5tem and photo￿pIer. Dilapidationsand dosure fund.. In the event ol the bureau'sclosure these lundswill be u*d io meet the coasarisng from dowre, Operatillg coniingency.. The* lundshave been designared to mver the cost ol any unlore￿en expen*sand ￿Crlled holiday pay for a period ol ihree months 15 financid commitments al C4)itaJ commitments ND r3pltaJ I￿[nMitMentseX1sled asat 31* DAard) 2024. bl Operating le￿ Commitments Asat 31* M arch 2024 the company had annuaj wtllmitmentsunder non-02n￿ll&b1e operaiing le&esaslollows Land and Ildin 2024 Tot rl and Buildin cxher As*t5 023T t 2024 T 2023 To 2¥piring in lessthan one year Eypiring within one to two years Expiring wiihin fiveye¥s Explring wiihin live to ten year 103 11.000 103 16 Corporation TaKalion The chwity is exempt from tax on inu>me and gains I￿lIng wiihin *ction 505 of ihe Taxes 1988 or seL*ion 252 of the Taxation of (hargeable &in5kt 1992 to the extent that the* are applied to itscharitable objeLI& Page 17 The following does not form part of the statutory financial statements to be filed at Companies House. Independent examiner's report Report to the trusteè5 of the Fareham Cltlzens Advice Bureau leharlty no. 11427451 on the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2024 Sèt on pages 7 to 17 I report 10 the trustees on my examinatK)n of ihe financial Statem￿t5 of the atyove charity I'the Company I for the year ended 31st March 2024 Responsibilities and basS8 of report As the charity's Iruslees. you are responsible for the preparalR)n of the financial statements in accordance with the requlrements of the Charities Acl 20111.the Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Companys financi81 statements carried out under sectk)n 145 of the 2011 Act and in (3trying out my examination, I have followed all the 8pplicable Directions gNen by the Charity Comrnission under section 14515llbl of the Act. Independent examlnerfs statèmènt l am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qUalif￿d member of Institute of Charle￿d Accountants in England & Wales. I have completed my examination. I confiim that no material matters have come lo my attention in connection with Ihe examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. Ihe accounting records We￿ not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act., or the fin8ncial statements did not accord with the accounting records.. or the financial statements did not comply wth the applicable requiiemenls conceining the form and content of financk81 statement5 set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirernenl that the financial statements give a'twe al￿ fair, view which is not a malter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come 8cr058 no other matters in connection with the examination to ¥thich atlention shoukl be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Date.. 11th September 2024 J.Vetherell FCA Palmer Riley & Co., Chartered Accountants Unit E2, Fa￿haffl Heights Standard Way Fareham Hampshire P0168XT Page18