CATERHAM AND WARLINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)
ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 MARCH 2021
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Legal and administrative information | 1 |
| Report of the Trustees | 2-4 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 5 |
| Balance Sheet | 6 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 7-8 |
| Report of the Independent Examiner | 9 |
CATERHAM AND WARLINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
| ADDRESS | First Floor | |
|---|---|---|
| Caterham Valley Library | ||
| Stafford Road | ||
| Caterham | ||
| Surrey | ||
| CR3 6JG | ||
| CHARITY NUMBER | 1146060 | |
| COMPANY NUMBER | 07889451 | |
| PRESIDENT | Elizabeth Woodhead | |
| TRUSTEE BOARD | ||
| Trustees | Chairperson | Roderick Stead (to 29 January 2021) |
| Dr Sangeeta Ahuja (from 29 January 2021) | ||
| Treasurer | Richard Fitzpatrick | |
| Mary Tomlin | ||
| Mike Hoban | ||
| Selwyn Fernandes | ||
| Julie Constable | ||
| Cindy Steer (resigned 19 March 2021) | ||
| Observers | Tandridge District Council | Alun Jones (from 24 May 2018) |
| Tandridge District Council | Robin Bloore (from 18 July 2019) | |
| Bureau representatives | Manager | Sarah Henke-Monti |
| Deputy Manager | Richard Davis (to 31 March 2021) | |
| Volunteer Adviser | Richard Payne | |
| BANKERS | Charities Aid Foundation (CAFBank) | |
| 25 Kings Hill Avenue | ||
| Kings Hill | ||
| West Malling | ||
| Kent | ||
| ME19 4JQ | ||
| INDEPENDENT EXAMINER | G J Lowe Limited | |
| 163 Welcomes Road | ||
| Kenley | ||
| Surrey | ||
| CR8 5HB |
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CATERHAM AND WARLINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
The Trustees, who are also Directors for the purposes of Company Law, present their annual report together with the financial statements for the company for the year ended 31 March 2021.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The Caterham and Warlingham Citizens Advice Bureau (‘the Bureau’) is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. The company was incorporated on 01 April 2012. The Bureau is a membership organisation with the maximum liability of each member being £1. The Articles of Association govern the Bureau. The Bureau is managed by the Trustee Board which consists of a minimum three and maximum twelve Trustees who meet at least four times a year. Day-to-day operational management is delegated to the Bureau Manager.
The Bureau is a member of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux which provides a framework for standards of advice and casework management as well as monitoring progress against these standards, and is also a member of Citizens Advice Surrey, a consortium of Citizens Advice operations in Surrey working together on common objectives.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The Bureau exists to provide Citizens Advice Bureau services, providing free, confidential and impartial advice, information and counsel for members of the public in the Caterham, Warlingham and surrounding areas, provided through a team of over 20 trained volunteers.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
The Trustees are grateful for the continuing support of Tandridge District Council and local Parish Councils, without whose financial grant support the Bureau would be unable to deliver its services. The key achievements in the year include:
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We remained open during the pandemic and continued to provide a comprehensive service, giving advice on new emerging advice issues.
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We adapted to a hybrid service of both home and office working.
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We evolved and learned how to use and develop new technology to enable us to recruit 6 new volunteer advisers and deliver essential training through different channels.
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We increased capacity, with many volunteers and staff offering more of their time.
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We helped even more people with a 17.6% increase in unique client numbers.
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We continued to provide the Help to Claim Service moving to the national helpline, when it was not possible to see clients face to face.
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We have participated in the increasing capacity MaPS Debt Advice Project, enabling us to recruit and train a full-time debt adviser, to help meet the increased demands for debt advice as a result of the pandemic.
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We have retained the services of our specialist debt adviser/DRO intermediary to help deal with more complex debt issues.
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We provided help through the SCC Crisis Fund, referring local residents to the scheme.
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We worked in partnership with the local charities to access emergency grants and with the Caterham Foodbank issuing over 320 food vouchers to some of our most vulnerable families.
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CATERHAM AND WARLINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
(A company limited by guarantee)
- The Bureau could not offer any of these services without the dedication and commitment of our volunteers and staff who collectively have over 160 years of experience of giving advice to their local community.
| Unique clients | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | Increase/ (decrease) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 988 | 840 | 17.6% | |
| Client contacts | 2528 | 2380 | 6.2% |
| Advice Issues | |||
| Benefits and Tax Credits | 421 | 686 | (38.6%) |
| Universal Credit | 285 | 275 | 3.6% |
| Consumergoods & services | 133 | 97 | 37.1% |
| Debt | 193 | 358 | (46.1%) |
| Discrimination,hate &gender-based violence and abuse(GVA) | 21 | 10 | 110% |
| Education | 18 | 13 | 38.5% |
| Employment | 272 | 225 | 20.1% |
| Financial services and capability | 37 | 61 | (39.3%) |
| Health & CommunityCare | 46 | 58 | (20.7%) |
| Housing | 431 | 390 | 10.5% |
| Immigration & asylum | 48 | 58 | (17.2%) |
| Legal | 131 | 190 | (31%) |
| Other | 362 | 185 | (95.7%) |
| Relationshipand family | 186 | 246 | (24.4%) |
| Tax | 27 | 26 | 3.8% |
| Travel & Transport | 33 | 42 | (21%) |
| Utilities & communication | 26 | 68 | (67.7%) |
| Total issues dealt with | 2670 | 2988 |
Our client profile showed that 36% of clients had long term health conditions, 17% were from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Total income for the year was £120,900 (2019/20 £92,442), with the increase driven by additional project funding (the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS)) and new fundraising/grants in support of adjusting operational practices in response to the covid-19 pandemic.
Total expenditure for the year was £104,318 (2019/20 £88,859) resulting in an excess of income over expenditure of £16,583 (2018/19 £3,583) for the year.
The Trustees’ policy on reserves is to set aside sufficient funds to avert cash flow problems at the beginning of the next financial year and to provide for any contingencies. If for any reason the Bureau had to cease its activities, it would be possible to meet its statutory and financial obligations until it was wound up.
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CATERHAM AND WARLINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
(A company limited by guarantee)
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES
Company Law and Charity Law require the Trustees to prepare a Report for each financial year on the resources entrusted to it and the activities it undertakes. In preparing those financial statements the Trustees are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue to operate.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enables them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
AUDIT EXEMPTION
The Trustees have taken advantage of the exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies and these financial statements are therefore unaudited.
SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES BY:
Richard Fitzpatrick – Trustee
17/12/21
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CATERHAM AND WARLINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
(A company limited by guarantee)
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
| Note INCOME Grants and Donations Tandridge District Council Parish Councils Other Interest on Bank Deposits TOTAL INCOME 1(b) EXPENDITURE Salaries Rent and Services IT Upgrade IT Support Debt Consultant Telephony, broadband Printing, stationery, literature Furniture and equipment Central Office Information Service Insurance Sundries Travel expenses Training Governance Office Cleaning TOTAL 1(c) Net Income / (Expenditure) Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forwards |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds 2021 2020 £ £ £ £ 66,521 1,000 67,521 64,368 375 3,100 3,475 4,750 10,997 38,831 49,827 23,324 77 77 0 |
|---|---|
| 77,970 42,931 120,900 92,442 |
|
42,861 23,602 66,463 47,987 10,099 2,524 12,623 16,229 0 0 5,284 1,430 1,430 1,388 4,044 4,044 3,211 2,803 312 3,115 2,083 1,702 416 2,118 3,077 2,482 5,940 8,422 2,016 1,375 153 1,528 1,528 1,165 130 1,295 1,287 785 154 939 4,327 0 0 229 204 600 804 160 0 0 53 0 1,536 1,536 0 |
|
| 64,907 39,411 104,318 88,859 |
|
13,063 3,520 16,583 3,583 48,033 1,682 49,715 46,132 |
|
61,096 5,202 66,298 49,715 |
The notes on page 6 form part of the financial statements
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CATERHAM AND WARLINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)
BALANCE SHEET AT 31 MARCH 2021
| CURRENT ASSETS Debtors Cash at bank and in hand CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year TOTAL NET ASSETS FUNDS Unrestricted Funds General Reserve Restricted Funds |
Note 2 3 4 |
2021 £ 4,057 65,851 69,908 (3,610) 66,298 61,096 5,202 66,298 |
2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ 4,560 48,929 |
|||
| 53,489 (3,774) |
|||
| 49,715 | |||
| 48,033 1,682 |
|||
| 49,715 |
The Directors are of the opinion that the company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies for the year ended 31 March 2021. The directors confirm that no member of members have requested an audit in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for:
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a) Ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with Section 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006, and
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b) Preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of each financial year and of its profit or loss for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Section 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements so far as is applicable to the company.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companiesanise2006 relating to small companies.
The Financial Statements were approved by the Trustees on 21[st] September 2021 and signed on their behalf by:-
Richard Fitzpatrick: 17/12/21
Registered company number: 1146060
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CATERHAM AND WARLINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
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a) The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 and follow the recommendation of the Charity Commission in “Charities SORP (FRS 102)”
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b) Income is included under income and expenditure when receivable
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c) Expenditure is included under income and expenditure on an accruals basis. Items of equipment are fully charged in the year of purchase.
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d) The Restricted Funds comprise specific grants and project funding:
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Project funding from the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux in respect of the costs associated with delivering the ‘Help to Claim’ service sponsored by the DWP, and provision of a debt advice service sponsored by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS).
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The Debt Adviser funds arose from grants received from several Parish Councils, Surrey County Council and Tandridge District Council.
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Funding from the Surrey Community Coronavirus Response Fund and BEIS to support our covid-19 response, including remote working.
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e) Unrestricted Funds:
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The general reserve comprises those funds that the Trustees are free to use in accordance with the Bureau’s objectives
| 2. SUNDRY DEBTORS Debtor 3. CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year Sundry creditors Inland Revenue - PAYE |
2021 £ 4,057 4,057 2021 £ 496 3,116 3,610 |
2020 |
|---|---|---|
| £ 4,560 |
||
| 4,560 | ||
| 2020 | ||
| £ 2,237 1,537 |
||
| 3,774 |
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CATERHAM AND WARLINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
(A company limited by guarantee)
| 4. FUNDS Balance at 01.04.20 Incoming Resources £ £ Unrestricted Funds 48,033 77,970 Restricted Funds 1,682 42,931 49,715 120,900 |
Resources Expended Transfers between funds Balance at 31.03.21 £ £ £ (64,907) 0 61,096 (39,411) 0 5,202 (104,318) 0 66,298 |
Resources Expended Transfers between funds Balance at 31.03.21 £ £ £ (64,907) 0 61,096 (39,411) 0 5,202 (104,318) 0 66,298 |
|---|---|---|
| 66,298 |
5. TRUSTEES
No members of the Board of Trustees received any remuneration for their services or expenses during the tear under review or the previous year.
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CATERHAM AND WARLINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU (A company limited by guarantee)
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE CATERHAM AND WARLINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Caterham and Warlingham Citizens Advice Bureau (the Company) for the year ended 31 March 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 2011 Act (“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 material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
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1) Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
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2) The accounts do not accord with those records; or
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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
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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 concern 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.
Gary J. Lowe, FCCA G.J Lowe Limited Welcomes Road, Kenley, Surrey 28 December 2021
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