CITIZENS AOVICE TANDRIDGE DISTRICT IA company limited by guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 MARCH 2024 Page Legal and administrative information Report of the Trustees Statement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet Notes to the Accounts 10 Report of the Independent Examiner 11
CITIZENS ADVICE TANDRIDGE DISTRICT IA 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 Chairperson Treasurer Treasurer Dr Sangeeta Ahuja (to 25 January 20241 Richard Fitzpatrick (from 25 January 2024} Richard Fitzpatrick Ito 25 January 2024) Julie Constable Ifrom 25 January 20241 John Bowers Sue Greenland (to 31 December 20231 Sandra Vegeri5 Catriona Aleppo James Mccaffrey Observers Tandridge District Council Alun Jones Tandridge District Council Robin Bloore (to 25 April 20231 Tandridge District Council Charlotte Swan Ito 25 April 20231 Tandrldge District Council Carole North (from 04 July 2023) Tandridge District Council Peter Damesick Ifrom 04 July 20231 Bureau representatives CEO Volunteer Adviser Volunteer Adviser Sarah Henke-monti Richard Payne (to 03 Ortober 20231 Fiona Smith (to 03 October 2023} BANKERS Charitles Ald Foundation ICAFBank) 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME194JQ INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Tony Martin Stonecroft, Quarry Close Oxted 5urrey RH8 9HG
CITIZENS ADVICE TANDRIDGE DISTRICT IA 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 statement5 for the company for the year ended 31 March 2024. STRucfuRE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENr Citizens Advice Tandridge District (the company) is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. The company was incorporated on 21 December 2011. The company is a membership organisation with the rnaximum liability of each member being £1. The Articles of Association govern the company. The company is managed by the Trustee Board which consist5 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 Chief Executive Officer. The company is a member of the National Association of Cltizens Advice Bureaux which provides framework for standards of advice and casework management as well as monitoring progress against these standards. As noted in the Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023. Citizens Advice Tandridge District was formed on l April 2022 by the merger of The Caterham and Warlingham Citizens Advice Bureau and The Oxted & District Citizens Advice Bureau. Related parties The charity co-operate5 and liaises with several other advisory services, local charities and social services departments on behalf of clients. Where one of the trustees holds the position of trustee/director of another charity. they may be involved in discussions regarding that other charity, but not in the ultimate decision-making process. Rlsk Management The Board of Trustees are responsible for ensuring Citizens Advice Tandridge District has the systems and the means to provide reasonable 355urance against inherent risk5. A risk register covering governance, operational. financial, compliance and external risks is regularly reviewed at each Trustee Board meetin8. OBJEcfivES AND ACTIVITIES Objectlves The company exists to promote any charitable purpose forthe public benefit by the advancement of education, the protection and preservation of health and the relief of poverty, sickness and distress in particular, but without limitations, for the benefit of the community in Tandridge District Council and surrounding areas. The company aims to provide free, confidential, impartial and independent advice and information forthe benefit of the local community and to positively influence the development of research and campaigns activity to ensure individuals do not suffer through a lack of knowledge or an inability to express their needs effectively. We value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination.
CITIZENS ADVICE TANDRIDGE DISTRICT IA company limited by guara nteel Ensuring our work dellvers our aims We review our aims, objectives. and activities each year. The annual review seeks to examlne our achievements and outcome, together with the success of individual key projects and the benefits that have been born from them. In carrying out the review we are ensuring that that our aims, objective5 and activities are in line with our stated purpose. How our activities dellver publlc benefit The trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit in deciding the artivities undertaken by the charity during the year. Our main activities and who we try to help are described below. All our charitable activities focus on providing the advice people need for the problems they face and are undertaken specifically to provide public benefit. The trustee5 are satisfied that the information provided In the report and accounts meets the public benefit reporting requirements. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE The cost-of-living crisis ha5 driven unprecedented demand for our services. The soaring energy prices, increases in interest rates, mortgage and rental costs have meant that we're seeing more people with urgent and complex problems and it'5 getting harder for us to find 501utions for people. We have built on the changes we made as we responded to the pandemic and our merger. adapting and aligning ou r services to support as many people as possible while still giving one to one, and often much needed face to face advice. We've helped record numbers of people in crisis, this year we saw a 153% rise in applications for food vouchers and emer8ency charitable support and a staggering 302% rise in people comingto us for help with problems around utilities and fuel povertv. With spirallin8 Costs and shortfalls in income. more people are coming to us for support with debt, with their Income unable to cover essential costs like food, housing and heating. Dellvery The main areas of charitable activity are: the provision of general advice and information services the provision of specialist advice and casework services in the debt and housing and welfare benefits categories of social welfare law. Throughout the year we have continued to offer Advice and Information in the following ways: Adviceline- Citizens Advlce Tandrldge District participates in the East Surrey Adviceline Service and from September 2023 we joined the Surrey Adviceline, increasing the participation across Surrey Citizens Advice and extending the opening times. The line is open between the hours of 10am and Spm, Monday to Frlday. If an adviser is not available, clients can be supported by another local Cltizens Advice or the national ovethow. We continued to deliver a local telephone admin line across both offlces for existing clients. 31Page
CITIZENS ADVICE TANDRIDGE DISTRIC[ IA company limited by guarantee) Email information - clients can email, and we will then either respond to them through email or. where we have permission, call them back to do a more detailed assessment ahead of giving advice. Information and full advice from partner referrals- general and specialist advice through our team of trained adviser5 and paid staff. We continued our face-to-face service to ensure that the most vulnerable client5 who need that individual support are prioritised. As well a5 general advice, the office also provides specialist advisory and casework services: Our No One Left Behind project where we provide outreach advice to vulnerable people and support with effective debt, budgeting and benefits advice. The objertive is to actively mitigate the impact of poverty and enhance the wider health and wellbeing and life chances for these indivlduals. Our Foodbank Projett deliverin8 Outreach advice at the 2 locations of Caterham Foodbank offers face to face advice for 2 sessions each week, providing general advice on benefrts, debt employment and anything else deemed appropriate in income maximisation. Energy Advice Programme, delivering a dedicated Energy Adviser to helping combat fuel poverty in Tandridge, providing one-to-one advice and support to people experiencing difficultie5 Wlth their energy costs. Our Macmillan Welfare Benefits Service offers welfare benefit advice to anyone affected by cancer living in Surrey. It will also take those with a terminal illness throughout Surrey. They can also help with odditional advice such as housin8 and employfflent and will signpost to other Services where relevant. Meetlng more demand Several activities have been identified to support meeting more demand for the future to help with the expected increase in client numbers because of the cost-of-living Crisis, including.. We continued to progress our work on meeting more demand this year, Including training groups to increase volunteer numbers and knowledge, as well as diversifying our roles. Thi5 included new Advice Assistant role5 and clear learning pathways and sign off processes for caseworkers to progress from advice assistant to adviser. We invested in 211.2 FTEI paid supervisor and debt advisers to help increase capacity and to support succession planning for the future role5 of the organisation. These roles are ongoin& but we have already seen an impact from the staff supportingthe client. We have developed a new website to include a 2417 email advice / call back form to increase our accessiblllty beyond our core opening hours. RESEARCH AND CAMPAIGNS Alongside information and advice, we use our tlient's evidence to advocate for improvements in the policles and practices affecting their live5. Through evidence forms and advice issue codes we capture information and can quickly consolidate it into meaningful analysis as an early warning that there may be issues with local and natlonal policies.
CITIZENS ADVICE TANDRIDGE DISTRICT {A company limited by guarantee) We rnaintained our team of 2 Research and Campaign volunteers and bolstered it with a trustee who took responsibility for Research and Campaigns. During 2023124 the team have participated in the National Consurner Week campaign, the Scam Awareness campaign, raising awarenes5 of the local support to combat the Cost of Living and Energy Crisis, and contributing to monthly articles in the CR3 and equivalent local magazines. CONTRIBUTION OF VOLUNTEERS AND PAID STAFF The charitrfs success could not have been achieved without the hard work and dedication of volunteers and staff. The trustee board and senior management team recognise the tremendous contribution made by the charit¢s volunteers in advising the public and administering the service without which the service could not operate. Volunteers bring many positives to the service and very often the experience gained helps individuals improve their skills and opportunity to find paid work. often within the charity or the larger network. Volunteers represent the indispensable core of the service for without them, there would not be a Citizens Advice service. The volunteers contribute, on average, 210 hours per week. This may be expressed as an annualised value of £124,864. However. their value is inadequately expre55ed in monetary terms. Indeed, volu nteers bring many skills to the service and very often the experience gained helps individuals return to full employment. We are working hard to review our approach to attracting and keeping volunteers by careful monitoring of our training offer, to provide an accessible and welcoming place to volunteer. PRINCIPAL FUNDING SOURCES The trustees extend their gratitude to Tandrldge District Council who continue to 5UPPOrt the core operating capacity of the organisation, but which unfortunately do not meet the entire operating costs of the charity. To meet these costs in full, the company is dependent upon the receipt of additional project-specific funding from other sources, or donations. to supplement local authority funding. The trustees also extend their gratitude to Macmillan Cancer Support, Surrey County Council, the National Lottery Community Fund, our local Parish Councils, Tandridge Together Community Fund, the Community Foundation for Surrey, Caterham Foodbank and the Trussell Trust. Surrey County Council and Surrey County Councillors, Chelsham, Fairleigh & Warlingham Relief in Need and All Saints Church in Warlingham. WHO USED AND BENEFITED FROM OUR SERVICES During the reporting year 2,153 clients12022/23: 1,4751 benefited from the services ofthe company. generating 10,352 activities12022123.' 8,5391. We sUPPOrted people with 7,792 issues clients12022123'. 5.451) and advised on any issue they may face; however, our most common area was Welfare Benefits and Universal Credit which makes up a total of 30% of the issues we have supported on. The service helps clients to secure successful outcome5 to their problern5. 76% of clients told us that the 5UPPOrt we provided helped them find a way fonmard, and 87% said this wouldn't have been possible without the support we gave. Client outcomes were up from £556,127.00 in 2022123 to just over £l.I million in 2023124, representin8 a 107% increase in outcomes this year across the service.
CITIZENS ADVICE TANDRIDGE DISTRICT IA company limited by guarantee) For every £1 invested this represented £1.13 in f15cal benefits, £8.71 in public value and £4.48 in value to the people we help. The Service helps clients to secure successful outcomes to their problems. Key Slalislics Taro-ioge LN¥ri¢i rInwty.-I SumTrary ISGU Cultomes T• qy I Tjll 0#1y1lthj.t¢rffth0aIth Client5 continue to present with multiple problems and on average clients are presenting with 1.5 issues each. On average, we undertake 4.8 activities for every client, this Includes all contacts with the client as well as action with any third parties. Alongside the flnanclal benefits to clients. information and advice has a slgnificant impact on improving people's health. In 2023124 89% of our clients told us that a5 3 result of our help they felt less 5tre55ed, depressed or anxious, and 70% clients felt their physical health had improved. FINANCIAL REVIEW Total income for the year was £300,68912022/23 £181,741}, wlth the increase primarily driven by new project funding. Total expenditure for the year was £261,687 {2022123 £189,795) resulting in an excess of income over expenditure of £39,LK12 {2022123, excess expenditure over Income of £8,054) for the year. The Trustees, policy on reserves is to set aside sufficient funds to avert cash flow problems at the beglnning 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
CITIZENS ADVICE TANDRIDGE DISTRICT (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: Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently. Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements. 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 Irregularlties. AUDIT EXEMPTION The Trustees have taken advantage of the exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relatln8 to small companies and these flnancial statements are therefore unaudited. SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES BY: Richard Fitzpatrick- Trustee 05112124
CITIZENS ADVICE TANDRIOGE DISTRICT (A company limited by guarantee) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AcfiviTIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Unrestricted Funds Restrirted Funds Total 2024 Total 2023 Note INCOME Grants and Donations Tandridge District Council Parish Councils Other Interest on Bank Deposits TOTAL INCOME 122,037 1,920 37.536 2.439 163,932 122,037 3,420 172,793 2,439 300,689 119,802 4.533 56,371 1.035 181.741 1,500 135.257 Ilb) 136,757 EXPENDITURE Salaries Rent and Services IT Support Telephony, broadband Prlnting, stationery, literature Central Office Information Servlce Insurance Sundries Training Office Cleaning Travel Expenses Publicity & AGM 95,102 12,058 4,855 2,222 2,950 1,358 1,636 1,413 1,499 2,339 1,377 353 115,309 5,943 6,333 793 1,209 611 611 407 1.338 885 888 198 210,411 18,001 11,188 3,015 4,159 1,969 2.247 1,820 2,837 3.224 2,265 551 157.413 7,121 6.219 3.688 3.784 3,655 2,033 1,386 1,115 2.123 1,119 139 TOTAL Ilcl 127.162 134,525 261,687 189,795 Net Income l (Expendlture) 36.770 2,232 39.002 (8,054) Reconciliatlon of funds Total funds brought forward 158,576 41,806 21)0,382 208,436 Total funds carried forwards 195,346 44,038 239.384 200,382 The notes on page 6 form part ofthe financial statements
CITIZENS ADVICE TANDRIDGE DISTRI (A company limited by 8uarantee} BALANCE SHEET AT 31 MARCH 2024 Note 2024 2023 CURREThrr ASSETS Debtor5 and prepayments Cash at bank and in hand 10,462 259,380 2,617 254,492 269,842 257,109 CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year (30,458) (56. 727) TOTAL NET ASSErs 239,384 200,382 FUNDS Unrestritted Funds General Reserve 195,346 158,576 Restricted Funds 44.038 41,806 239,384 200,382 The Director5 are of the opinion that the cornpany is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Art 2006 relating to small companies for the year ended 31 March 2024. 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: al Ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with Section 386 and 387 of the Companies Art 2006, and bl 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 profrt 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 5taternents 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 23 July 2024 and signed on their behalf by:" Richard Fitzpatrick: 05112124 Registered company number: 1146060
CITIZENS ADVICE TANDRIDGE DISTRICT IA company limited by guaranteel NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 I. ACCOUNTING POUCIES 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 IFRS 1021" bl Income is Included under income and expenditure when receivable cl Expenditure is included under income and expenditure on an accruals basis. Items of equipment are fully charged in the year of purchase. dl The Restricted Fund5 comprise specific grants and project funding- o Project funding from the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux in respect of the cost5 associated with the provision of an Energy Advice service. o Projert funding from Macmillan Cancer Support via Surrey Citizens Advice for the provision of services to people living With cancer o Fundin8 from Surrey County Council for the "No One Left Behind" project and from the Trussell Trust for the Foodbank project. el Unrestricted Funds: o The general reserve comprises those funds that the Trustees are free to use in accordance with the Bureau's oblectives. 2. SUNDRY DEBTORS 2024 2023 Debtors and prepayments 10.462 2,617 3. CREDrroRS- Amounts falling due within one year 2024 2023 Client Support Income received in advance Sundry creditors Inland Revenue- PAYE, Pension Providers (55) (52,167) (3,093) (1,412) 125,1001 (1,022) (4.336) (30,4581 {56,7271 4. TRUSTEES No members ofthe Board of Trustees recelved any remuneration for theirservices or expenses during the tear under review or the previous year. 10 |Page
CITIZENS ADVICE TANDRIDGE DISTRICT IA company limited by guarantee) INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF CITIZENS ADVICE TANDRIDGE DISTRICT I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Citizens Advice Tandridge District (the Charityl for the year ended 31 March 2024. which are set out on pages 7- 10. RESPONSIBILITIES AND BASIS OF REPORT As the Charity's trustees land also its Directors for the purposes of company lawl you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 20061"the 2006 Act-l. Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Charity 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 the Charitvs accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Art 20111.the 2011 Act"). In carrying out my examination I have followed the directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145151{bl of the 2011 Act. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT I have completed my examination. I confirm that no materlal matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe: 11 Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 ofthe 2006 Art: or 21 The account5 do not accord with those records- or 31 The accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of sertion 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a "true and fairf, view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination: or 41 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 account5 in accordance with the Financial Reportin8 Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021. I have no concern and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in thi5 report in orderto enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Tony Martin Accountant Signature: Date: 05112124 111 Page