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2025-09-30-accounts

CHARLOTTE’S BRIGHTSIDE C.L.C.

Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the Financial Year ended 21 September 2025

Charity Registration Number 1146024

CHARLOTTE’S BRIGHTSIDE C.L.C. CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 21 SEPTEMBER 2025

CONTENTS Page
Contents 2
Charity Information 3
Report of the Trustees 4 - 8
Report of the Independent Examiner 9
Statement of Financial Activities
 10
Balance Sheet
 11
Notes to the Financial Statements 12 - 18

2

CHARLOTTE’S BRIGHTSIDE C.L.C. CHARITY INFORMATION

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS

Charity Name

Charlotte’s Brightside C.L.C.

Registered Charity Number

1146024

Registered Office

1A Hope Street New Brighton Wallasey Wirral CH45 2LN

Trustees

A Antley S Powell-Wilde M Antley A Jones D O’Brien

Bankers

Barclays Liscard Branch 2 Liscard Village Wallasey CH45 4J

Independent Examiner

Counting for Communities Ltd 16 Holmwood Drive Liverpool L37 1PQ

3

CHARLOTTE’S BRIGHTSIDE C.L.C. TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 21 SEPTEMBER 2025

The trustees present their report and the accounts for the year ended 21 September 2025.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with The Charities Act 2011 and the ‘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)’.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing Document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity. The constitution was adopted on 27 September 2011 and amended on 9 December 2020.

Organisational Structure

Charlotte’s Brightside C.L.C. is a registered charity with The Charity Commission, Charity Number 1146024. It is managed by a Committee of trustees who regularly meet. We have 5 Trustees plus a Treasurer on our committee. Including the above our committee now consists of 24 members.

Risk Management

The Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the Charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. The Trustees are aware of the need to strengthen the committee and are looking to appoint new trustees.

Public Benefit

When planning and programming activities for the local residents the Trustees of Charlotte’s Brightside C.L.C. are mindful of the Charity Commission’s guidelines on Public Benefit.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

As set out in the Constitution, if any vacancy left by a retiring Trustee is not filled at the meeting, the retiring Trustee will be reappointed if willing to continue.

Induction and training of new trustees

New Trustees will be briefed on their legal obligations under charity and company law, the content of the Constitution, the committee and decision-making processes

4

CHARLOTTE’S BRIGHTSIDE C.L.C. TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 21 SEPTEMBER 2025

Objectives and activities

Our charitable purpose is to support children, young people, families, and the wider community by providing accessible, inclusive, and meaningful activities that improve wellbeing, reduce isolation, and enhance life chances. All activities and services during the year were designed to further these aims and ensure that the benefits are available to the public without undue restriction.

The Trustees are satisfied that the organisation’s activities during the year have provided clear and measurable public benefit, demonstrated through high levels of engagement, positive participant feedback, strengthened community connections, and improved wellbeing outcomes.

Achievement and performance

We employ three part-time staff members on temporary one- or two-year contracts (subject to funding):

Wages follow local authority pay scales or Living Wage guidance.

We are supported by 23 regular volunteers who contribute across a wide range of roles. Their commitment is essential to delivering high-quality, community-focused services.

Community Services

Sensory Room

Our sensory room continues to be a highly valued free resource for families and the wider community. Optional donations for refreshments are available. Feedback remains overwhelmingly positive.

Health & Wellbeing Activities

We deliver two weekly sessions of chair fitness and chair yoga, led by a qualified instructor. Participants report improvements in:

5

• Reduced loneliness

CHARLOTTE’S BRIGHTSIDE C.L.C. TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 21 SEPTEMBER 2025

Community Meals

We provide:

Women’s Support Group

Partnerships and Drop - In Services

We also run adult art club, craft club, meditation, and fitness sessions.

Children and Young People

All children’s activities remain free of charge in line with our constitution.

Term-time activities include:

All staff and volunteers working with children are DBS-checked. Food handlers hold at least Level 2 Food Hygiene, and all relevant staff are safeguarding trained.

Safety and Compliance

We maintain regular checks including:

6

• Gas and electrical safety

Insurance (public liability, volunteer, Trustee, and building) is renewed annually in November, with cover up to £5,000,000.

CHARLOTTE’S BRIGHTSIDE C.L.C. TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT - CONTINUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 21 SEPTEMBER 2025

Networking and Community Engagement

As part of the role of our daytime activity coordinator she attends a weekly BNI networking meeting (£50/month). This pilot was successful and renewed for a further year due to the significant financial, practical, and material support received.

Staff also attend the monthly In the Loop networking group.

Challenges

In July 2025, we lost one of our main food suppliers, which negatively impacted our community supermarket. Work is ongoing to secure additional food sources.

Education Partnerships

We have strong partnerships with:

We host students for work placements. Weatherhead pupils selected us as their Charity of the Year and are undertaking fundraising activities on our behalf.

Conclusion

This year has been one of growth, resilience, and strengthened community impact. Despite challenges—particularly the loss of a major food supplier—our staff, volunteers, Trustees, and partners have worked tirelessly to ensure continuity of services for those who need us most. We extend our sincere thanks to all funders, donors, partners, volunteers, and community members whose support enables us to deliver vital services that improve wellbeing, reduce hardship, and strengthen our community.

The Trustees remain committed to ensuring the organisation’s sustainability, effectiveness, and alignment with our charitable objectives in the year ahead.

Future plans

We continue to run over 5 days; our main activities are Monday to Thursday. This includes our social supermarket, welfare advice, clubs for the community, a social cafe, lunch club, supporting loneliness, art club, craft club, chair-based exercise and supporting older people.

Our newly planned activities are Bingo on a Monday afternoon; rEVErse, a domestic abuse drop in for those who want/need advice in relation to healthy relationships, we have commenced and continue to develop our women’s circle, a confidential group run weekly.

We continue to run and develop the following activities for children, after school, young youth club 6yrs – 8yrs, older youth club. 9yrs +, art club, homework club, ukulele, karate and cookery. We have a counsellor who works on an ad hock basis from her own setting, Kirsty Downes.

Since last year we have opened our sensory room, we open this for the community three morning a week with a sessional worker, it is available to use other days if a family, group or

7

school. We are developing the sensory use to hopefully open during weekends for a drop-in basis.

We are now working with Fareshare, Big Help, which we are accessing more, due to our expanding relationship with Big Help we are discussing opening our Social Supermarket more hours per week.

Now that we have bigger premises we will concentrate on the above.

CHARLOTTE’S BRIGHTSIDE C.L.C. TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT - CONTINUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 21 SEPTEMBER 2025

Reserves policy

The Charity holds unrestricted funds for the purpose of supporting its charitable objectives and activities. Where grant income and other incoming resources are received and designated for a specific project, restricted funds are created with incoming resources and resources expended in respect of that project being allocated to the fund. Our overheads have increased due to moving buildings. The revenue from the sale of our old building has secured the staff posts for 2 years from July 2024.

We have also designated £65000 for the basement, this includes site assessment, emptying of all the rubble, damp course, wall studding, plastering, replacing flooring, installing heating and decorating.

Statement of trustees' responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give true and fair view of the fund's financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year.

In preparing accounts giving a true and fair view, the trustees should follow best practice and:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the fund and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the applicable law. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the fund and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

On behalf of the trustees:

……………………………………………………… A Antley – Trustee

8

………………………………………………………

Date

CHARLOTTE’S BRIGHTSIDE C.L.C. REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER TO THE TRUSTEES OF CHARLOTTE’S BRIGHTSIDE C.L.C.

I report on the accounts for the year ended 21 September 2025 which are set out on pages 9 to 17.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is required. It is my responsibility to:

Basis of the independent examiner’s report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

  1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:

  2. a. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and

  3. b. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act

have not been met; or

  1. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: ………………………………………….

Date: …………………………………………

Name: Stephen Leonard

9

Professional qualifications: BA, FCCA Counting for Communities Ltd 16 Holmwood Drive Liverpool L37 1PQ

CHARLOTTE’S BRIGHTSIDE C.L.C. STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 21 SEPTEMBER 2025

Note
INCOMING RESOURCES
Income & endowments from:
Donations and legacies
2
Charitable activities
3
Other trading activities
4
Investments - bank interest
Total income
RESOURCES EXPENDED
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
5
Charitable activities
6
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure) for the year
before transfers
Transfers between funds
13
Net income/(expenditure) for the year
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD		 2025
Unrestricted
Funds
£
14,643
-
44,531
2,983
62,157
230
57,612
57,842
4,315
-
4,315
134,256
138,571		 2025
Restricted
Funds
£
-
31,135
-
-
31,135
-
62,260
62,260
(31,125)
-
(31,125)
65,925
34,800		 2025
Designated
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
65,000
65,000		 2025
2024
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
£
£
14,643
97,622
31,135
75,828
44,531
32,892
2,983
-
93,292
206,342
230
262
119,872
117,028
120,102
117,290
(26,810)
89,052
-
-
(26,810)
89,052
265,181
176,129
238,371
265,181

10

CHARLOTTE’S BRIGHTSIDE C.L.C. BALANCE SHEET AT 21 SEPTEMBER 2025 Charity Number: 1146024

Note
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
9
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
10
Cash at bank and in hand
11
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year
12
NET CURRENT ASSETS
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES
FUNDS
13
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Designated funds
TOTAL FUNDS		 2025
Unrestricted
Funds
£
17,525
2,983
123,184
126,167
(5,121)
121,046
138,571
138,571
-
-
138,571		 2025
Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
34,800		 2025
Designated
Funds
£
-
-
65,000		 2025
2024
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
£
£
17,525
19,630
2,983
-
222,984
251,260
225,967
251,260
(5,121)
(5,709)
220,846
245,551
238,371
265,181
138,571
134,256
34,800
65,925
65,000
65,000
238,371
265,181
34,800
-		 65,000
-
34,800 65,000
34,800
-
34,800
-		 65,000
-
-
65,000
34,800 65,000

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf:

…………………………………………………….

A Antley – Trustee

……………………………………………………

11

Date

CHARLOTTE’S BRIGHTSIDE C.L.C. NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 21 SEPTEMBER 2025

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Accounting Convention

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice for Charities’ 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).

The accounts are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity and monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

Going Concern

At the time of approving the accounts, the trustees have reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the accounts.

Income

Incoming recognition

All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy

Incoming Resources with Related Expenditure

Where incoming resources have related expenditure (as with fundraising or contract income) the incoming resources and related expenditure are reported gross in the SoFA

Grants and Donations

Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the Charity has unconditional entitlement to the resource.

Contractual Income and Performance Related Grants

This is only included in the SoFA once the related goods or services have been delivered.

Volunteer Help

The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts.

Investment Income

This is included in the accounts when receivable.

Expenditure and Liabilities

Liability Recognition

Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure.

Governance Costs

12

These include costs of the preparation and examination of statutory accounts, the costs of trustee meetings and cost of any legal advice to trustees on governance or constitutional matters.

CHARLOTTE’S BRIGHTSIDE C.L.C. NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 21 SEPTEMBER 2025

Grants and Performance Conditions

Where the charity gives a grant with conditions for its payment being a specific level of service output to be provided, such grants are only recognised in the SoFA once the recipient of the grant has provided the specific service or output.

Grants payable without Performance Conditions

These are only recognised in the accounts when a commitment has been made and there are no conditions to be met relating to the grant which remain in the control of the charity

Tangible fixed assets

All IT equipment fixtures & fittings with an original cost of less than £1,000 are written off in the year in which the expenditure was incurred.

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

IT equipment - 20.0% straight line Fixtures & fittings - 20.0% straight line

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.

Fund accounting

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

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

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities and is not registered for VAT.

13

CHARLOTTE’S BRIGHTSIDE C.L.C. NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 21 SEPTEMBER 2025

14

INCOMING RESOURCES
Note
2
Donations and legacies
Riverside Foundation
Mayors Special
Local Giving
Other donations
TK Maxx
Smith & Sons
RSA
3
Charitable activities
Edsential Community
Cheshire Freemasons
Feeding Britain
Onward Homes
BNI Foundation
Rathbone Investment Mgnt
Wirral Council
Koala North West Family Toolbox
Edsential Community
Awards for All
The Grocer Charity
John Moores Foundation
Skipton Building Society
Albert Hunt
4
Other trading activities
Fundraising events
Room Hire
Social Supermarket sales
Recycling Income		 2025
Unrestricted
3,917
1,000
4,441
5,285
-
-
-
14,643
2025
Unrestricted
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2025
Unrestricted
£
2,930
510
40,938
153
44,531		 2025
Restricted
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2025
Restricted
£
9,250
2,000
1,600
1,000
980
1,500
14,805
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
31,135
2025
Restricted
£
-
-
-
-
-		 2025
2024
Total
Total
3,917
-
1,000
-
4,441
6,724
5,285
82,673
-
1,000
-
6,000
-
1,225
14,643
97,622
2025
2024
Total
Total
£
£
9,250
-
2,000
-
1,600
-
1,000
-
980
-
1,500
6,000
14,805
22,600
-
3,000
-
10,835
-
19,968
-
5,000
-
5,000
-
1,425
-
2,000
31,135
75,828
2025
2024
Total
Total
£
£
2,930
4,145
510
610
40,938
27,963
153
174
44,531
32,892

CHARLOTTE’S BRIGHTSIDE C.L.C. NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 21 SEPTEMBER 2025

15

RESOURCES EXPENDED
Note
5
Raising funds
Fundraising events
6
Charitable activities
Activities & HAF
DBS
Electricity & gas
Equipment & Maintenance
Fareshare
Food
Governance
Insurance
IT support & website
Legal & Prof
Licences
Payroll
Pension
Stationery & photocopier
Sundry
Telephone
Volunteer expenses
Wages
Water
Depreciation		 2025
Unrestricted
£
230
230
2025
Unrestricted
£
-
80
-
8,780
2,111
-
680
2,073
2,698
1,324
823
329
-
585
183
830
-
32,347
-
4,769
57,612		 2025
Restricted
£
-
-
2025
Restricted
£
19,256
-
9,617
-
-
12,810
-
-
-
-
-
-
950
-
-
-
175
18,038
1,414
-
62,260		 2025
2024
Total
Total
£
£
230
262
230
262
2025
2024
Total
Total
£
£
19,256
16,338
80
120
9,617
13,793
8,780
4,335
2,111
1,998
12,810
11,028
680
640
2,073
1,846
2,698
2,215
1,324
169
823
507
329
356
950
911
585
924
183
644
830
1,080
175
610
50,385
55,331
1,414
1,127
4,769
3,056
119,872
117,028
2025
2024
7
Included in Governance costs
Independent examiner's fee		 £
£
680
640
680
640

CHARLOTTE’S BRIGHTSIDE C.L.C. NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 21 SEPTEMBER 2025

16

Note
8
Staff Costs and Employees
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension
No employee earned £60,000 or more during the year
The average number of employees during the year was:		 Note
8
Staff Costs and Employees
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension
No employee earned £60,000 or more during the year
The average number of employees during the year was:		 2025
2024
£
£
50,385
55,331
-
-
950
911
51,335
56,242
2025
2024
3.0
4.0
9
Fixed Assets		 IT
Equipment		 Fixtures &
Fittings
Total
£ £
£
Cost
At 21 September 2024
Disposals
Additions
At 21 September 2025
Depreciation
At 21 September 2024
On Disposals
Charge for year
At 21 September 2025
Net Book Value
At 21 September 2025
At 21 September 2024		 1,465
-
-
1,465
366
-
293
659
806
1,099		 21,713
23,178
-
-
2,664
2,664
24,377
25,842
3,182
3,548
-
-
4,476
4,769
7,658
8,317
16,719
17,525
18,531
19,630

CHARLOTTE’S BRIGHTSIDE C.L.C. NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 21 SEPTEMBER 2025

17

Note
10
Debtors
Trade debtors
Accrued income - bank interest
11
Cash at bank and in hand
Current bank account
Deposit bank account
Cash in hand
12
Creditors : amounts falling due within one year
Creditors
HMRC
Accruals		 2025
2024
£
£
-
-
2,983
-
2,983
-
2025
2024
£
£
122,984
251,260
100,000
-
-
-
222,984
251,260
2025
2024
£
£
3,779
4,409
387
381
955
919
5,121
5,709

CHARLOTTE’S BRIGHTSIDE C.L.C. NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 21 SEPTEMBER 2025

18

Note
13
Movement in Funds
Unrestricted Funds
General Fund
Restricted Funds
Cheshire Freemasons
Onward Homes
3 Year Local Donation
Wirral Council
Feeding Britain
Edsential Community
Rathbone Investment Mgnt
Koala North West Family Toolbox
Skipton Building Society
BNI Foundation
The Grocer Charity
John Moores Foundation
Designated funds
Total Funds		 Balance at
21 Sept
2024
£
134,256
5,000
-
50,000
-
-
-
-
2,000
1,425
-
2,500
5,000
65,925
65,000
265,181		 Income
£
62,157
2,000
1,000
-
14,805
1,600
9,250
1,500
-
-
980
-
-
31,135
-
93,292		 Expenditure
£
(57,842)
(2,000)
(1,000)
(25,000)
(14,805)
(1,600)
(4,450)
(1,500)
(2,000)
(1,425)
(980)
(2,500)
(5,000)
(62,260)
-
(120,102)		 Balance at
Transfers
21 Sept
In / (Out)
2025
£
£
-
138,571
-
5,000
-
-
-
25,000
-
-
-
-
-
4,800
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
34,800
-
65,000
-
238,371

14 Trustees' Remuneration and Benefits

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 21 September 2025 nor for the year ended 21 September 2024

15 Trustees' Expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 21 September 2025 nor for the year ended 21 September 2024

16 Capital Commitments

The company had no capital commitments at 21 September 2025 (2024: None) either contracted for or authorised by the directors but not contracted for.

19