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← Healthwatch Essex Limited

2025-03-31-accounts

Company registration number: 08360699 Charity registration number: 1158356

HEALTHWATCH ESSEX LIMITED TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Healthwatch Essex Limited Contents

Page
Reference and Administrative Details 1
Trustees' Report 2—5
Independent Auditor's Report 6—9
Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) 10
Comparative Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) 11
Balance Sheet 12
Statement of Cash Flows 13
Notes to the Statement of Cash Flows 14
Notes to the Financial Statements 15—22
The following pages do not form part of the statutory accounts:
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) 23—24

Healthwatch Essex Limited Reference and Administrative Details For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

Trustees Mr John Blake
Ms Laura Brookes
Dr Steven Carey
Mrs Amanda Cherry
Ms Maria Dixon-Mitchell (appointed 14/11/2024)
Mr Neil Jones
Dr Daniel Taggart
Mrs Dinesh Venkama (appointed 24/04/2024)
Charity Number 1158356
Company Number 08360699
Principal Address 49 High Street
Earls Colne
Colchester
Essex
CO6 2PB
Registered Office 49 High Street
Earls Colne
Colchester
Essex
CO6 2PB
Accountants Gascoynes Limited
Gascoynes House
Moseleys Farm Business Centre
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP28 6JY
Auditors Annatrice Limited
Statutory Auditor
10, The Thoroughfar
Harleston
Norfolk
IP20 9AX
Bankers Barclays Bank Plc
9 High Street
Colchester
Exxes
CO1 1DD

Page 1

Healthwatch Essex Limited Company No. 08360699 Trustees' Report For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Objectives and Activities

Aims and Objectives

‘Healthwatch’ organisations throughout England were created as result of the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Using the powers vested under this legislation, they each have a responsibility to:

  1. Promote and support the involvement of people in the commissioning, provision and scrutiny of local care services.

  2. Obtain the views of people about their needs for, and their experiences of, local care services.

  3. Make reports and recommendations about how local care services could, or ought to be, improved to people responsible for commissioning, providing, managing or scrutinising local care services; and

  4. Provide advice and information about access to local care services and about choices that may be made with respect to aspects of those services.

Healthwatch Essex covers the whole county with the exception of Southend and Thurrock and is part of a network of local Healthwatch organisations in England. The network is overseen and supported by the national umbrella body, Healthwatch England, which provides a formal link to the Department of Health and Secretary of State for Health.

In response to its statutory responsibilities, the company's objects, as set out in its Memorandum of Association, are for “the advancement of health and the relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill- health, disability or financial hardship by:

  1. Providing information and advice to the general public about local health and social care services.

  2. Making the views and experiences of members of the general public known to health and social care providers.

  3. Enabling local people to have a voice in the development, delivery and equality of access to local health and care services and facilities; and

  4. Providing training and the development of skills for volunteers and the wider community in understanding, scrutinizing, reviewing and monitoring local health and care services and facilities.”

The company organises its work under four activity headings: Research, Engagement, Information and Guidance and Communications. In all its activities, the organisation seeks to capture people’s first-hand experience of health and social care services, set against the backdrop of their own lives and personal circumstances. This ‘lived experience’ is then reported, or otherwise presented, to the relevant health and social care provider(s) - including the county’s five NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups, one mental health trust, five acute hospitals and Essex County Council, responsible for social care - to enable them to better empathise and understand the impact their service is having on real lives, allowing them to adapt accordingly.

Achievements and Performance

Main Achievements

The team at Healthwatch Essex has had a busy and successful year ensuring that the lived experiences of health and social care in our communities are shared with our colleagues in the Local Authority and Integrated Care Partnerships and others involved in providing services and support. The information that we share influences many of the decisions and priorities that our colleagues across health and social care are working on to ensure the best possible care is available to everyone.

We have focused on the impact of our work with our key partners asking if we held them to account, whether they used our research findings and if the relationship between our organisations is a positive one. Some of the feedback included “As a critical friend it is important that everyone in the health and care system works together to understand how we can improve together. Being held to account is an important part of that work. “

Our reach across social media has continued to grow. The Hidden Voices podcasts have covered a wide range of subjects including – blood donation in newborn babies, trauma in veterans, functional neurological disorder, adoption, sepsis, financial abuse, people affected by a loved one’s alcohol addiction. Our campaigns have included “Know yourself Grow yourself” during Children’s Mental Health Week when our Young Mental Health Ambassadors used characters from Inside Out to reflect on different emotions in creative ways. “Cyberstalking” was one of the ways that our Trauma Ambassadors maintained a visible presence during 16 Days of Activism to help raise awareness and understanding of the issue of violence against women and girls.

Our Research Team continues to undertake a number of projects which includes Living Beyond Cancer to explore the long term implications of cancer and/or its treatment and life after treatment which comes with many struggles, and the need for follow up care and support.

...CONTINUED

Page 2

Healthwatch Essex Limited Trustees' Report (continued) For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

Main Achievements - continued

Our Supporting Partnerships report was well received at a patient experience group at Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust and a Networks Meeting hosted by the Integrated Care Academy and led to the development of our Co-production Training and a poster with key recommendations.

We are extremely grateful to all our Ambassadors who bravely share their experiences and work with us to offer the best possible support and guidance. Our Podcasts are extremely popula.

The Fella’s Forums continue to be a very popular way to engage with and support men. We asked members about how the Forums have helped them – 100% said they felt less isolated and their mental health had improved, 80% stated that their physical health had improved, 90% of the men are very satisfied and have formed new friendships. We will be having events in two new locations with over 100 new members. We have continued to run Fella’s Fairs, comedy events.

We have continued to work on Community Asset Mapping with NE Essex Health and Wellbeing Alliance, with the focus on five priority health conditions identified by the Suffolk and NE Essex Integrated Care Board. The first report centred on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, the report was used as evidence to support opening a new respiratory clinic. The second report explores Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and based on the evidence that men in a particular area of Essex are affected by loneliness and isolation Healthwatch Essex has secured funding for a Fella’s Forum in this area.

The Trauma Ambassadors Group have discussed how they have used creative outlets on their journey living with trauma, sometimes as therapy, sometimes distraction and as a way of expressing their experiences and feelings. Their creativity included painting, music, sculpture, dance, poetry. A social media post resulted in over 100 people from across the country getting in touch to share their experiences and their art works. We were very fortunate to be offered a space at the Minories Gallery and held our first Expressions of Trauma exhibition showcasing 130 works of art. The exhibitors told us that this had been a hugely empowering experience and had increased their self esteem, the visitors felt that they had learned something valuable and increased their understanding and awareness of trauma. There have been three subsequent exhibitions. Following the success of the Trauma Card which is still widely used and wider discussions about younger survivors of trauma we co-produced a Trauma Key Ring in collaboration with young survivors which they can used to make people aware that they are trauma survivors and how they can be supported e.g. at appointments.

The Information and Guidance team has continued to reach out and support over 1439 people who have made contact including on line, by text and phone, email, letter. The enquiries have included GP complaint, Hospital complaint, Hospital discharge, mental health, carers support. The team regularly attend meetings to include Essex County Council Health Overview, Policy and Scrutiny and People and Families Committees and meetings with Integrated Care Services and Alliances to stay up to date and ensure that lived experience is part of very conversation. Two of the team have been reaching out and supporting carers with workshops and one off carers support meetings as a continuation of the Carers Voices project, they engaged with 3400 carers supporting them by signposting to services and caring organisations relevant to their role. In addition the Healthwatch Essex van has been well used by the team to attend events across the county often in hard to reach areas providing a private space at events for sensitive conversations.

Our work with Herts and West Essex Integrated Care Board has continued to focus on the lived experience of people in relation to their health and wellbeing. This work has included the production of four reports- Healthcare Experiences of the Armed Forces Community, Navigating Digital Health - On line GP Services and Bookings, Children’s Oral Health Experiences, Orthodontic Care

The Future

The outcome of the Dash Report including the abolition of Healthwatch was unexpected and a huge shock to everyone working for Healthwatch. Healthwatch Essex has worked hard to diversify our income streams and is in a good position financially and optimistic about our future and continuing the vital work that we do in a different way. We have been able to reassure our staff and our colleagues across health and social care that we plan to continue our work. We are in a transitional phase and are working on rebranding and a business plan for a new model of working and greater diversity of funding which we hope to launch in the middle of 2026.

Financial Review

Financial Position

Income & Expenditure

Healthwatch Essex is primarily funded by the Department of Health and the Department for Communities & Local Government, via Essex County Council. During the year to 31 March 2025 the Charity received income from this source of £612K (2024: £619K) - see Note 3 to the Financial Statements. Total expenditure for the year amounted to £760K (2024: £668K) - the levels of expenditure attributable to each of the headline activities outlined in Section 1 of this report is presented in Note 4 to the Financial Statements.

Balance Sheet

The company’s year-end Balance Sheet comprises:

· restricted funds £560K (2024: £554K).

...CONTINUED

Page 3

Healthwatch Essex Limited Trustees' Report (continued) For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

Financial Position - continued

· unrestricted funds £219K (2024: £192K).

An analysis of restricted funds by project is presented in Note 16 to the Financial Statements.

Reserves Policy

The company’s restricted funds are required to be used for specific purposes laid down by the funder. It is the Board’s policy, therefore, to use the surpluses gifted to it by its subsidiary company, HWE Insights, to build up, over time, a level of unrestricted funds sufficient to enable the company to meet its statutory obligations in the event of it ceasing to operate. To reduce risk Healthwatch Essex are splitting the reserve fund across several different accounts.

Risk Management

The Board of Directors reviews the company’s key strategic risks at each of its meetings. The biggest risk facing the company is its overreliance on funding from Essex County Council. In order to mitigate this overreliance, it is the company’s policy to develop complementary commercial work to diversify income streams.

Statement of Completeness

Each of the directors has confirmed that there is no information of which they are aware which is relevant to the audit, but of which the auditor is unaware. They have further confirmed that they have taken appropriate steps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the auditors are aware of such information. Full details of the company’s related party transactions are disclosed in Note 14 to the Financial Statements. It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The Trustees considers that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.

Structure, Governance and Management

Structure, governance and management

Healthwatch Essex is a private company limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales, registered company number 8360699. The registered office is 49 High Street, Earls Colne, CO6 2PB. The company is also a registered charity, charity registration number 1158356. The company is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association.

The company’s governance structure comprises:

  1. A Board of Directors responsible for the day to day oversight of the company (including setting strategic direction and budgets) and meeting in public at least twice a year to make decisions that are required to be made in public. The Board is required to consist of:

    • a. At least 5 directors, including the Chair and Vice Chair, appointed by the Board. The directors in place as of 1 April 2016 (the date upon which this governance structure came into effect) were deemed to have been appointed by advise from an Independent Appointment Panel.

  2. b. Up to 3 other directors co-opted by the Board to enhance the mix of skills and experience available to the Board.

  3. A right for anyone who lives in or uses health and social care services in Essex to make representations at public meetings of the Board.

The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were: Ms L Brookes Mrs A Cherry Mr N Jones Dr S Carey Mr John Blake Dr D J Taggart Mr D Venkama

Page 4

Healthwatch Essex Limited Trustees' Report (continued) For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities

The trustees (who are also the directors of Healthwatch Essex Limited for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "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)" (as amended for accounting periods commencing from l January 2019).

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

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at anytime the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Statement of Disclosure of Information to Auditors

Each of the persons who are trustees at the time when this trustees' report is approved has confirmed that:

they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as trustees in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charitable company's auditors are aware of that information.

Independent Auditors

In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Annatrice Limited be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.

The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

Small Company Rules

This report has 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 trustees' report was approved by the board of trustees and signed on its behalf by:

Amanda Cherry

Amanda Cherry (Jan 28, 2026 19:52:33 GMT)

Mrs Amanda Cherry

Trustee Date

28/01/2026

Page 5

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Healthwatch Essex Limited

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Healthwatch Essex Limited (the "charity") for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account), Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland".

In our opinion the financial statements:

give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, for the year then ended;

have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for Opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions Relating to Going Concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other Information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on Other Matters Prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

the information given in the Trustees' Report, which includes the Director's Report prepared for the purposes of company law, for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

the Director's Report included within the Trustees' Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Page 6

Independent Auditor's Report (continued) to the Members of Healthwatch Essex Limited

Matters on Which We Are Required to Report by Exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Director's Report included within the Trustees' Report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of Trustees

As explained more fully in the Trustees' Responsibilities Statement set out on page 2—5, the trustees (who are also directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Page 7

Independent Auditor's Report (continued) to the Members of Healthwatch Essex Limited

Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

The audit tests, including planning procedures, adopted for the audit of these financial statements are designed to assess and detect the risk of irregularities, including fraud. Our risk assessment of the likelihood of irregularities included the high degree of involvement of the experienced directors, which reduces the risk of irregularities. The engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise noncompliance with applicable laws and regulations;

We identified the laws and regulations applicable to the charity through discussions with trustees and other management, and from our commercial knowledge and experience of the sector;

We focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the charity, including the Companies Act 2006, Charities Act 2011, taxation legislation, Employment Law and Data Protection.

We assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management and inspecting legal correspondence. These were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained alert to instances of non-compliance throughout the audit.

We identified the greatest potential for fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations in the following areas, and the specific procedures performed to address them are described below:

In addition to the above, our procedures to respond to the risk identified included the following:

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

Use Of Our Report

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters that we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Mr Anthony James Brice FCCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Annatrice Limited, Statutory Auditor

Date 28/01/2026

...CONTINUED

Page 8

Independent Auditor's Report (continued) to the Members of Healthwatch Essex Limited

Annatrice Limited Statutory Auditor 10, The Thoroughfar Harleston Norfolk IP20 9AX

Page 9

Healthwatch Essex Limited Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

Notes
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:
Charitable activities
3
Investments
4
EXPENDITURE ON:
Charitable activities
6
NET INCOME
Transfers between funds
17
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS:
Total funds brought forward
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
17		 Unrestricted
funds
£
276,162
2,966		 Restricted
funds
£
512,700
-		 2025
Total
funds
£
788,862
2,966		 2024
Total
funds
£
701,698
4,137
279,128 512,700 791,828 705,835
(338,410) (421,757) (760,167) (668,486)
(59,282)
85,319		 90,943
(85,319)		 31,661
-		 37,349
-
26,037
192,486		 5,624
554,451		 31,661
746,937		 37,349
709,588
218,523 560,075 778,598 746,937

The notes on pages 14 to 22 form part of these financial statements.

Page 10

Healthwatch Essex Limited Comparative Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

Notes
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:
Charitable activities
3
Investments
4
EXPENDITURE ON:
Charitable activities
6
NET INCOME
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS:
Total funds brought forward
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
17		 Unrestricted
funds
£
183,708
4,137		 Restricted
funds
£
517,990
-		 2024
Total
funds
£
701,698
4,137
187,845 517,990 705,835
(253,707) (414,779) (668,486)
(65,862) 103,211 37,349
(65,862)
258,348		 103,211
451,240		 37,349
709,588
192,486 554,451 746,937

The notes on pages 14 to 22 form part of these financial statements.

Page 11

Healthwatch Essex Limited Balance Sheet As At 31 March 2025

Notes
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible Assets
11
Investments
12
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
13
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year
14
NET CURRENT ASSETS (LIABILITIES)
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES
NET ASSETS
FUNDS OF THE CHARITY
Restricted Funds
Unrestricted Funds
TOTAL FUNDS
17		 Unrestricted
funds
£
59,312
-		 Restricted
funds
£
-
1		 2025
Total
funds
£
59,312
1		 2024
Total
funds
£
-
1
59,312
110,158
213,127		 1
-
560,074		 59,313
110,158
773,201		 1
116,372
826,819
323,285
(164,074)		 560,074
-		 883,359
(164,074)		 943,191
(196,255)
159,211 560,074 719,285 746,936
218,523 560,075 778,598 746,937
218,523 560,075 778,598 746,937
560,075
218,523		 554,451
192,486
778,598 746,937

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

On behalf of the board

Amanda Cherry

Amanda Cherry (Jan 28, 2026 19:52:33 GMT)

Mrs Amanda Cherry

Trustee Date 28/01/2026

The notes on pages 14 to 22 form part of these financial statements.

Page 12

Healthwatch Essex Limited Statement of Cash Flows For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

Notes
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash generated from operations
1
Interest paid
Net cash generated from operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of tangible assets
Interest received
Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities
(Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
2
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
2		 2025
£
9,889
(554)
9,335
(65,919)
2,966
(62,953)
(53,618)
826,819
773,201		 2024
£
71,378
(651)
70,727
-
4,137
4,137
74,864
751,954
826,818

Page 13

Healthwatch Essex Limited Notes to the Statement of Cash Flows For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

1. Reconciliation of income to cash generated from operations

.
Reconciliation of income to cash generated from operations
Net income
Adjustments for:
Interest expense
Interest income
Depreciation of tangible assets
Movements in working capital:
Decrease/(increase) in trade and other debtors
(Decrease)/increase in trade and other creditors
Net cash generated from operations		 2025
£
31,661
554
(2,966)
6,607
6,214
(32,181)
9,889		 2024
£
37,349
651
(4,137)
-
(101,237)
138,752
71,378

2. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents, as stated in the Statement of Cash Flows, relates to the following items in the Balance Sheet:

2025 2024
£ £
Cash at bank and in hand 773,201 826,819
  1. Analysis of changes in net funds
.
Analysis of changes in net funds
As at 1 April Cash flows As at 31
2024 March 2025
£ £ £
Cash at bank and in hand 826,819 (53,618) 773,201

Page 14

Healthwatch Essex Limited Notes to the Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

1. General Information

Healthwatch Essex Limited is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated in England & Wales, registered number 08360699 and registered charity number 1158356. The registered office is 49 High Street, Earls Colne, Colchester, Essex, CO6 2PB.

2. Accounting Policies

2.1. Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) "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)", Financial Reporting Standard 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Companies Act 2006.

The charitable company is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

2.2. Going Concern Disclosure

The trustees have not identified any material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt about the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern.

2.3. Fund Accounting

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

Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for a specific purpose.

Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

2.4. Incoming Resources

Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.

Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a

2.5. Resources Expended

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use

2.6. Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation

Tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of the fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following bases:

Motor Vehicles 20% reducing balance

2.7. Investments

Fixed asset investments are stated at cost.

2.8. Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand and deposits held at call with banks, other short-term highly liquid investments that mature in no more than three months from the date of acquisition and are readily convertible to a known amount of cash with insignificant risk of change in value, and bank overdrafts.

Page 15

Healthwatch Essex Limited Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

2.9. Financial Instruments

The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets

The company’s financial assets are measured at the cash consideration expected to be received and are not discounted.

Other financial assets, including investments in equity instruments which are not subsidiaries, associates or joint ventures, are initially measured at fair value, which is normally the transaction price. Such assets are subsequently carried at fair value and the changes in fair value are recognised in net income/(expenditure), except that investments in equity instruments that are not publicly traded and whose fair values cannot be measured reliably are measured at cost less impairment.

Basic financial liabilities

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method. Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method

Derecognition of financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

2.10. Taxation

The company is a charity within the meaning of section 506(1) of the Taxes Act 1988. Accordingly, the company is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within the categories covered by Section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that such income or gains are applied to exclusively charitable purposes

2.11. Employee Benefits

The costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are required to be recognised as part of the cost of stock of fixed assets.

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee's services are received.

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charitable company is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

3. Income from Charitable Activities

General
General		 Unrestricted
funds
£
276,162		 Restricted
funds
£
512,700		 2025
Total
funds
£
788,862
Unrestricted
funds
£
183,707		 Restricted
funds
£
517,990		 2024
Total
funds
£
701,697

Page 16

Healthwatch Essex Limited Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

4. Investment Income

.
Investment Income
2025 2024
Unrestricted Unrestricted
funds funds
£ £
Bank interest receivable 2,966 4,137

5. Net Income/(Expenditure)

The net income is stated after charging/(crediting):

Depreciation of tangible fixed assets - owned
.
Analysis of Expenditure
Outreach and engagement
Commissioning and research
Signposting and info
Outreach and engagement
Commissioning and research
Signposting and info		 Activities
undertaken
directly
£
346,669
36,491
225,031		 2025
£
6,607		 2024
£
-
Support
costs
(see note 7)
£
85,776
10,522
55,678		 2025
Total
£
432,445
47,013
280,709
608,191 151,976 760,167
Activities
undertaken
directly
£
51,039
43,197
48,780		 Support
costs
(see note 7)
£
299,521
31,527
194,422		 2024
Total
£
350,560
74,724
243,202
143,016 525,470 668,486

6. Analysis of Expenditure

7. Support Costs

Employee costs
Premises expenses
General administration
Depreciation
Interest payable
Governance costs		 Outreach
and
engagement
£
28,799
13,368
26,159
3,766
316
13,368		 Commissioning
and research
£
3,031
1,407
2,754
396
33
2,901		 Signposting
and info
£
18,693
8,677
16,980
2,445
205
8,678		 2025
Total
£
50,523
23,452
45,893
6,607
554
24,947
85,776 10,522 55,678 151,976

Page 17

Healthwatch Essex Limited Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

2024
Outreach
and
engagement
Commissioning
and research
Signposting
and info
Total
£
£
£
£
Employee costs
250,616
26,380
162,677
439,673
Premises expenses
13,675
1,439
8,876
23,990
General administration
17,545
1,847
11,390
30,782
Interest payable
371
39
241
651
Governance costs
17,314
1,822
11,238
30,374
299,521
31,527
194,422
525,470
8.
Auditor's Remuneration
Remuneration received by the charitable company's auditors and their associates during the year was as follows:
2025
2024
£
£
Audit Services
Audit of the company's financial statements
6,000
5,600
9.
Staff Costs
Staff costs were as follows:
2025
2024
£
£
Wages and salaries
617,274
556,185		 Outreach
and
engagement
£
250,616
13,675
17,545
371
17,314		 Commissioning
and research
£
26,380
1,439
1,847
39
1,822		 Signposting
and info
£
162,677
8,876
11,390
241
11,238		 2024
Total
£
439,673
23,990
30,782
651
30,374
299,521 31,527 194,422 525,470
2024
£
556,185

The Chief Executive Officer who was in post during the year (see section 5 of the Directors’ report) received employee benefits for the year, excluding employer’s pension contributions, of £65,100 (2024: £60,762). No other employees received employee benefits for the year, excluding employer’s pension contributions, of more than £60,000

10. Average Number of Employees

Average number of employees during the year was: 22 (2024: 19)

11. Tangible Assets

Cost
As at 1 April 2024
Additions
As at 31 March 2025
Depreciation
As at 1 April 2024
Provided during the period
As at 31 March 2025		 Motor
Vehicles
£
-
65,919
65,919
-
6,607
6,607

...CONTINUED

Page 18

Healthwatch Essex Limited Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

Net Book Value
As at 31 March 2025
As at 1 April 2024
12.
Investments
Cost or Valuation
As at 1 April 2024
As at 31 March 2025
Provision
As at 1 April 2024
As at 31 March 2025
Net Book Value
As at 31 March 2025
As at 1 April 2024
Subsidiaries
Details of the Charity's subsidiaries as at 31 March 2025 are as follows:
Name of undertaking
Registered Office
Class of shares
held
Direct
holding
HWE Insight Limited
England
Ordinary
100.00%
The aggregate capital and reserves and the result for the year of the subsidiaries listed above was as follows:
Capital and
Reserves
£
HWE Insight Limited
(866)
13.
Debtors
2025
£
Due within one year
Trade debtors
85,290
Amounts owed by group undertakings
137
Other debtors
24,731
110,158
14.
Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year
2025
£
Trade creditors
19,143
Other creditors
33,685
Taxation and social security
20,269
Accruals and deferred income
90,977
164,074		 59,312
-
Subsidiaries
£
1
1
-
-
1
1
Indirect
holding
-
Profit/(loss)
£
-
2024
£
75,500
137
40,735
116,372
2024
£
24,991
46,500
2,971
121,793
196,255

Page 19

Healthwatch Essex Limited Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

15. Deferred Income

Deferred income movements in the year were as follows:

Balance at the start of the period
Income deferred in the current period
Amounts released in income from previous periods
Balance at the end of the period		 2025
£
107,927
74,917
(107,927)		 2024
£
18,232
107,927
(18,232)
74,917 107,927

16. Other Commitments

The total of future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as following:

Not later than one year
Later than one year and not later than five years		 2025
£
15,338
6,898
22,236		 2024
£
15,338
22,517
37,855

17. Movement in Funds

Unrestricted funds
General:
General unrestricted fund
Restricted funds
Essex County Council
Collaborative Essex
Essex Neurology Network
Active Essex
Community asset mapping
National Lottery community funding
University income
TAG Trauma
Mens Health Events ICB
REN MSE 2
Active Braintree Foundation
Total restricted funds
Total funds		 As at 1 April
2024
£
192,486
463,228
-
27,246
(26,755)
58,073
9,403
18,473
4,783
-
-
-		 Income
£
279,128
420,500
44,500
-
4,000
-
-
-
22,500
16,400
1,200
3,600		 Expenditure
£
(338,410)
(335,666)
(42,340)
-
(7,645)
-
-
-
(13,638)
(14,966)
(7,502)
-		 Transfers
£
85,319
-
-
(27,246)
-
(58,073)
-
-
-
-
-
-		 As at 31
March 2025
£
218,523
548,062
2,160
-
(30,400)
-
9,403
18,473
13,645
1,434
(6,302)
3,600
554,451 512,700 (421,757) (85,319) 560,075
746,937 791,828 (760,167) - 778,598

Page 20

Healthwatch Essex Limited Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

Unrestricted funds
General:
General unrestricted fund
Restricted funds
Essex County Council
Collaborative Essex
Essex Neurology Network
Active Essex
Community asset mapping
National Lottery community funding
University income
TAG Trauma
Total restricted funds
Total funds		 As at 1 April
2023
£
258,348
351,326
-
27,246
(26,755)
58,073
18,094
18,473
4,783		 Income
£
187,845
463,740
44,500
-
6,000
-
3,750
-
-		 Expenditure
£
(253,707)
(351,838)
(44,500)
-
(6,000)
-
(12,441)
-
-		 As at 31
March 2024
£
192,486
463,228
-
27,246
(26,755)
58,073
9,403
18,473
4,783
451,240 517,990 (414,779) 554,451
709,588 705,835 (668,486) 746,937

Release of restricted funds

In prior financial years, income received in respect of the Essex Neurology Network and Community Asset Mapping projects was treated as restricted on the basis of the original understanding of the funding arrangements. During the current and prior financial year(s), the Trustees reviewed the terms and conditions attaching to the Community Asset Mapping funding and concluded that the funds do not meet the definition of restricted funds under the Charities SORP. As a result of this change in accounting treatment, the remaining balance previously held within restricted funds has been reclassified to unrestricted funds.

In addition, no funder has made any claim over the surplus funds held in respect of either the Essex Neurology Network or Community Asset Mapping projects, and the Trustees are satisfied that there are no continuing donor-imposed restrictions on the use of these funds.

Accordingly, the balances have been released from restricted funds into unrestricted funds and due to this, are now available to be applied in furtherance of the Charity’s general charitable objectives.

18. Transactions with Trustees

During the year the expenses reimbursed to the trustees or paid directly to third parties were as follows:

2025 2024
£ £

Page 21

Healthwatch Essex Limited Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

19. Related Party Disclosures

Healthwatch Essex is controlled by its Board of Directors. None of the directors (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or any other benefits during the year (2024: £nil).

HWE Insights Limited

HWE Insights Limited is a company limited by shares and wholly owned by Healthwatch Essex (see Structure, Governance and management of the Trustees’ Report and Note 16 to these Financial Statements).

HWE Insights’ Board of Directors comprises one director who is also a director of Healthwatch Essex. None of the directors of HWE Insights received any remuneration from HWE Insights during the year (2024: none) and none had any expenses reimbursed to them (2024: none).

During the course of the year HWE Insights Limited was declared a dormant company and all commercial projects will be undertaken within Healthwatch Essex Limited for the foreseeable future.

During the course of the year to 31 March 2025 HWE Insights received commercial income of £nil (2024: £nil) and incurred expenditure of £nil (2024: £nil) leaving an operating loss of £nil (2023: £nil). At the year end the company had assets of £142 (2024: £142), and liabilities of £1,008 (2024: £1,008) including £137 due to Healthwatch Essex Limited (2024: £137).

20. Company limited by guarantee

The company is limited by guarantee and has no share capital.

Every member of the company undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company, in the event of a winding up, such an amount as may be required not exceeding £1.

Page 22

Healthwatch Essex Limited Detailed Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:
Charitable Activities:
General
Sale of goods or services
Provision of services under contract
Investments
Bank interest receivable
EXPENDITURE ON:
Charitable Activities:
Outreach and engagement
Advertising, marketing, direct mail and publicity
Wages and salaries
Marketing and advertising costs
Wages and salaries
Travel and subsistence expenses
Rent
Other premises costs
Advertising and marketing costs
Legal fees
Other office costs
Depreciation of motor vehicles
Bank charges
Trustees' expenses
Audit fees
Legal fees
Commissioning and research
Wages and salaries
Marketing and advertising costs
Wages and salaries
Travel and subsistence expenses
Rent
Other premises costs
Advertising and marketing costs
Legal fees
Other office costs
Depreciation of motor vehicles
Bank charges		 2025
Total
funds
£
788,862
-		 2024
Total
funds
£
685,930
15,767
701,697
4,137
4,137
705,835
6
(49,179)
(1,866)
(244,147)
(6,469)
(13,675)
-
(3,191)
(513)
(13,841)
-
(371)
(2,055)
(3,192)
(12,067)
(350,560)
(35,367)
(7,830)
(25,699)
(681)
(1,439)
-
(336)
(54)
(1,457)
-
(39)
...CONTINUED
788,862
2,966
2,966
791,828
-
(334,393)
(12,276)
(17,454)
(11,345)
-
(13,368)
(6,202)
-
(19,957)
(3,766)
(316)
-
(3,591)
(9,777)
(432,445)
(35,199)
(1,292)
(1,837)
(1,194)
-
(1,407)
(653)
-
(2,101)
(396)
(33)

Page 23

Healthwatch Essex Limited Detailed Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) (continued) For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

Trustees' expenses
Audit fees
Legal fees
Signposting and info
Wages and salaries
Marketing and advertising costs
Wages and salaries
Travel and subsistence expenses
Rent
Other premises costs
Advertising and marketing costs
Legal fees
Other office costs
Depreciation of motor vehicles
Bank charges
Trustees' expenses
Audit fees
Legal fees
NET INCOME		 (1,494)
(378)
(1,029)		 (216)
(336)
(1,270)
(47,013)
(217,062)
(7,969)
(11,329)
(7,364)
-
(8,677)
(4,026)
-
(12,954)
(2,445)
(205)
-
(2,331)
(6,347)		 (74,724)
(43,315)
(5,465)
(158,478)
(4,199)
(8,876)
-
(2,073)
(333)
(8,984)
-
(241)
(1,334)
(2,072)
(7,832)
(280,709) (243,202)
(760,167) (668,486)
31,661 37,349

Page 24

A11 HWE Ltd final accounts 24-25

Final Audit Report

2026-01-28

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