LOCAL VOICE IN THE COMMUNITY (Limite41 by Guarantee) COMPANY NO.:8786829 CHARITY NO.:1158809 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS for the year ended 30 June 2025 MARGARET TRorrER FCCA 205 WELL STREET LONDON E9 6QU
LOCAL VOICE IN THE COMMUNITY Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2025 Contents Pages Reference and Administrative Details Report of the Board of Trustees Independent Examiner's Report 10 Statement of Financial Activities 11 Balance Sheet 12 Notes to the Accounts 13-16
LOCAL VOICE IN THE COMMUNITY Status: Company Limited by Guaranlee No.8786829 Charity registration No.l158809 The Company's governing document is its Mfflnorandum and Articles of Association dated 22 November 2013. as amended by resolution registered on 27 June 2014. Company nan]e clianged from Healthwatch Tower Hamlcts. Registered Office: 80 Redmans Road IA)ndon El 3AG Trnstee Directo Committee: Professor Tim Oliver. (resTrgned 2 DttemIxr 2025) Mr Randal Smith Stephanie Dowker (resigned 24 Sq)tcmber 2024) Ashton McGregor Naomi Goldberg (appointed 21 June 2025) Bliss Micallef. (appointed 21 June 2025) Michael Kedd& (appointed 21 June 2025) Manager and Company Secretary: Dianne Barham IndepeDdent Examiner: Margaret Trott¢r FCCA 205 Well Street London E9 6QU Bankers. CAF 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill, West Ma]ing Kent ME19 4JQ
LOCAL VOICE IN THE COMMUNITY Report of the Board of Trustees for the year ended 30 June 2025 The Trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year to 30 June 2025. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing Document Healthwatch Tower Hamlets ('The Charity") is a registered charity and was incorporated on 22 November 2013 as a company Limited by guarantee. Its governing document is its Memorandum and Articles of Association that were amended by special resolution reglstered on 27 June 2014. The Charity was registered by the Charity Commission on 7 October 2014. Recruitment and Appointment of the Board of Management The management of the Charity is undertaken by a Board of Trustees that were first appointed folLowing external recruitment in 2013 and elections in 2014. The Chair of Charlty during the year was Mr Randal Smith. All Trustees live or work in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and bring a range of skiLls and experience to the Board. Trustee Induction and Training Trustees are recruited based on an evaluation of the baLance of diverse skills and experience needed to govern the Charity. Potential Trustees attend meetings as obserrfers and advisors and newly appointed Trustees receive induction information which contains information about the Charityj its structure and operations, board structure, Trustee duties, responsibilities and key policies. Trustees are encouraged to participate in activities to obtain a better appreciation of the Charity's operations. Training is provided to the Board as a need is identified. Trustee Directors who served during the year and changes up to the accounts signing date were Tim Oliver (resigned 2 December 2025) Randal Smlth Ashton McGregor Stephanie Dowker (resigned 12 September 2024) Naomi Goldberg (appointed 21 June 2025) Bliss Micallef {appointed 21 June 2025) Michael Kedda (appointed 21 June 2025)
LOCAL VOICE IN THE COMMUNITY Public Benefit The Trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. The Trustees are satisfied that the Charity continues to deliver very tangible public benefit through its activities. Statement of Trustees. Responsibilities The Trustee5 (who are also the directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Board of Trustees and the financiaL statements in accordance with applicable law. Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice {United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law) and adopting the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard FRS 102 (effective l January 2019). Under company law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and the proflt or loss of the company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to: select suitable accounting policies and then apply them conslstently; observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP;. make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; state whether applicable UK Accountlng Standards have been foL(owed, subject to any material departures disc105ed and explained in the financial statements. prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless It is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial p051tion of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the a55ets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of f raud and other irregularities. In so far as the Trustees are aware:
LOCAL VOICE IN THE COMMUNITY there is no reLevant information of which the charity's Independent Examiner is unaware. and the trustees have taken all steps they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the examiner is aware of that information. 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 f rom legislation in other jurisdictions. OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Our mission is to put the voice of patients, carer5, users and the Local community at the centre of service planning, design and delivery. We give residents a stake in the local health and social care landscape to improve health and weLI-being. We support resident5 to navigate health and social care services and understand their journey. Our charitable objects are: The advancement of health and the relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, iLI-health, disability or financiaL hardship by: (a) providing information and advice to the general public about local health and social care service; (b) making the views and experience of members of general pubLic known to health and sociaL care providers; (c) enabling local people to have a voice in the development, delivery and equality of access to local heaLth and care services and faciLitie5 and; (d) providing training and the development of skills for voLunteers and the wider community in understanding, reviewing, scrutinizing and monitorlng local health and care services. The Charity acts as the local independent champion for the public, alming to promote better outcomes in health and social care for all by improving services as they operate today, or shaping how they will look in the future. The Charity also seek5 to advance the education of the public in health and social care issues. At an Extraordinary General Meeting on 31 August 2022 the Board agreed: to dissoLve Healthwatch Tower Hamlets Ltd and establish a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Local Voice in Your Community - to be known a5 Local Voice. to transfer the net assets of registered charity Healthwatch Tower Hamlets (Charity Number 1158809 - Company Number 0878682) to Local Voice in Your Community CIO from the date
LOCAL VOICE IN THE COMMUNITY that our application is approved by the Charity Commissioners and dissolve Healthwatch Tower Hamlets Ltd This change is required as Healthwatch Tower Hamlets Ltd is no longer the contract provider for Healthwatch Tower Hamlets and has expanded its remit to cover a wider geographical area including HeaLthwatch Waltham Forest, North East London Integrated Care Board (NEL ICB) and the wider health and care sector across England. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE During 2024125, Local Voice continued to deliver a high-impact insight and engagement programme across North East London (NEL). Through the NEL Community Insights System, we processed 162,365 experiences and identified 536,048 issues, producing regular quarterly reporting and bespoke analyses for the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Place Based Partnerships. Our insight contributed to measurable improvements in: Maternity equity, including commitments to trauma-informed care, improved interpreting support and a proposed 2417 helpline. Primary care access, informing a clearer and more consistent Same Day Access model across NEL. Health inequallties, enabling the ICB to target comrnunications to specific ethnic and disability groups, improving uptake of screening and immunisation programmes. Healthwatch Waltham Forest Healthwatch WaLtham Forest published 54 reports, heard from 5,530 people and identTfied 21,689 issues. We supported 110 individuals with advice and information. Key areas of work included: GP access and Same Day Access reform Locality Hub design Whipps Cross A&E patient experience Care Home GP service evaluation Safe Surgeries and GP registration barriers Romanian Community Projects We expanded our programme supporting Romanian residents across WaLtham Forest, Newham and Tower Hamlets. This included: A Romanian Vaccine Trust project using Romanian-language online channels moderated by clinicians. Targeted health literacy work to address misinformation arid improve vaccine uptake. Community Insight Researchers delivering insight and outreach, including work on cancer awareness.
LOCAL VOICE IN THE COMMUNITY This work provided the ICB with a replicable model for tackling inequalities through culturally competent communication and community-led insight. FINANCIAL REVIEW The results for the year ended 30 June 2025 are set out in the Statement of Financial Activities on page 11 . The assets and liabillties of the Charity as at 30 June 2025 are given in the Balance Sheet on page 12. The financial statements shouLd be read in conjunction with their related notes which appear on pages 13 to 16. Principal Funding Sources Total income for the year was £252,790 (2024: 300,232) The main source of funding for the Charity during the year was a contract with London Borough of Waltham Forest who commission HeaLthwatch services across the Borough. The 3 year contract comrnenced on 1 May 2022 for £111 ,690 per annum. The Charity also raised grants of £137,921 from NHS North East London CCG and other public heath grants. Expenditure in the year was £260,818 (2024: £241,084). The result was a deficit of £8,028, comprTsing an unrestricted surplus of £34,962 (2024: £46,493) and restricted funds deficit of £42,990 (2024: Surplus £12,655). The charity is carrying forward £32,915 of restricted funds to continue projects that carry over the year end. Reserves The Charity has reserves of £287,381 (2024: £295,409) at 30 June 2025, classified as £32,915 restricted and £254,466 unrestricted. The Board keeps the level of reserves under regular review to ensure that they are adequate and appropriate to meet the requirements of the organisation. The Trustees have agreed a reserve policy, the focus of which is to ensure that the Charity could meet all its commitments in the event that the core contract from the local authorities was cancelled. The Trustees have considered the current and future activitles of the charity and the known levels of income and expenditure and are sat15fied that the charity is a going concern. PLANNING FOR FUTURE PERIODS The Charity will continue to work closely with the London Borough of Waltham Forest to deliver the outcomes and performance indicator5 set out in the Healthwatch contract, monitored through an annual work plan approved by the Board. Alongside borough-based delivery, the Charity WILI continue to operate at system level acr055 North East London, working with the Integrated Care Board and local HeaLthwatch partners to gather, anaLyse and report community insight through the Community Insights System.
LOCAL VOICE IN THE COMMUNITY The Board recognises the Charity's reliance on statutory Healthwatch funding and funding from the North East London Integrated Care Board. The Charity will seek to strengthen financial resilience by expanding our Romanlan community health work into national funding programmes, including the NHS England Vaccine Deployment Programme, and by increasing multi-borough Healthwatch delivery alongside the Community Insights System. PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES The Charity's income is dependent upon funding which is subject to nationaL commissioning (of Healthwatch). The Charity successfully tendered for the Healthwatch Waltham Forest contract that commenced in May 2022. We have begun to broaden our service provision to a wider range of NHS and Local Authority providers from across the North East London area. Our aim is to deliver effective Healthwatch and community insight services which are valued locally and recognised nationally. This will mean expanding our provision to a broader range of organisations and other parts of London and nationally. Promotion of the good work we do will be critical as we seek to put the charity at the front of the drive for improvements in health and social care services. All staff have been working at home effectively and face to face engagement is undertaken by an outreach team. We continue to aLso use phone, online cornmunications and digital engagement with residents and aLI stakehoLders. Restriction5 on Distribution The Memorandum of Association prohibits the distribution of income and property of the Charity to the members. Upon dissolution or winding up of the Charity the assets shall be given or transferred to some similar institution or institutions having objects similar to the Charity. Tax Status and Small Company Provisions Healthwatch Tower Hamlets is a registered charity and is therefore potentially exempt from taxation of its income and gains as it falls within the definition of a Charity as defined in Part 1, Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010. No tax charge has arisen in the period. This report has been prepared in accordance with the special pravisions for small companies and comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities FRS 102
LOCAL VOICE IN THE COWAUNITY Approved by the Board of Management on 2 December 2025. Company Secretary Dianne Barham
Independent Examiners, Report to the Trustees of Local Voice in the Community for the year ended 30 June 2025 Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purpose 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 for this year underpart 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 Charities Act 2011 ("the 2011 Act") (as amended by the Charities Act 2022). 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 The company's gross income exceeded £250,000 and l am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the ACCA. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that: Accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or The accounts do not accord with such records. or The accounts do not comply with relevant accounting requirements other than the accounts give a 'true and fail view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or The accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102). I have no concems 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. Signed Dated 2 December 2025 •/ MARGARET TROTTER FCCA 205 WELL STREET LONDON E9 6QU 10
OCAL VOICE IN THE COIVILlll Statement of Financial Activities Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended 30 June 2025 Total FuDds 2025 Total Fundg 2024 Restricted UreStriCted Restriet Ullrestricted Fund unds Jncomlng resources Investment income Incoming resources from donation5 and charitable activities 1,050 1,050 ,066 ,066 137,921 113,819 251.740 186.725 112,441 299.166 To¢alincoming r0ree$ 137921 114869 25? 790 186.72S 113507 300 232 R¢sour¢es expended Costs of generating funds Cost of generating voluntary income Charitable activities To¢ul resources expended 14.208 52,806 14,208 246.610 260 818 l5.101 15,101 225 983 241084 193.804 193 804 174070 174 070 67.014 Jveé Ineomlng/ouooing resources belore trallsfe beéweenfunds (55,883) 47.855 (8.028) 12.655 46,493 59,148 Transfers between funds 12,893 (12,893) Nef incomd(e-yienrfiltsre) for ilieyeor (42,990) 34,962 (8,028) 12.655 46,493 59.148 Reconciligtion of fund5 I'olal funds brought forward Tolalfunds c(tmerffonwrd 75.905 32.915 219504 2541.466 295.409 287 381 63.250 75.905 173.011 219.504 236.261 295.409 All of the above results are derived from Continuing activilie& There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those staled aboi Movements in fund5 aTe disclosed in Note I I to the financial staiements .
ICE lly THE CO Cowpanv llo. 8786829 Balance sheet 30 June 20?) ote 20?5 2024 Fiied assets Tgible assets TotalfLred Curreot eS Debtors Cash * bank ld in hand Tolal cArrenl uxyets 27.923 ?6) ?10 29i.133 10.000 288.619 ?98.619 Creditors: antS falling due Jyithin one year 3.210 eiirreiil a(liabilItIeS} 287.381 295.409 Total Assets les8 Current liabi]ities 287.)81 29i.409 .Wel assets io 987.381 The fuDds Trf tbe ¢haritJ': Restricted funds Unrewicted fund& Geueral fiind Totafi uERrestricted funds i2.915 75.90) 2)4 466 219504 254.466 295.409 Tolal chdrbyfuxds 29i.409 For ihe year ending 30 June ?02 i Ib¢ company was entiilcd to exemption under sertion 477 of tjie cmpanieS Act 2006 relating to Smler cornpanies. The members have not requireed the company to obt&in an audtt Fn accordance Th ith SelOn 476 of the Compallies Act 2006 with respecl lo acLountiug records and the prepar3tion of accoEinlS. The directors acknowledge their responsi%ilities for complying ivitli the requirements of the Companies Act ?006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts. *The accounts have been prepared trj accordance svith the miLYo-entil)' proTrisioElS and delii'ered in accordance "ith the proi'isions applicabk to companie5 subject to the Small companies regime Approved b}" the board on .4nd signed on their behalf b}. DirecÉor N'ame Signattjre e/,,1 L5
LOCAL VOICE IN THE COI¥qMUNITY Not&q to the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2025 l Aecoullting policies The compaiiy constitutes a piiblic benefit entity as defined by FRSI 02 The principal accounting policies are summarised below. The accoiinting policies have been applied consistently throughout the year and in the preceding year. (i) Basis olaccountin The financial statements have been prepared underthe historical cost convention, and in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ir¢land (¢ffcctive I January 2015) and the Stat¢ment of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities FRS 102. (ii) Fund accountin Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discrection ofthe trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds eannarked by th¢ trust¢¢s for particular purposes. R¢strict¢d funds are subject to restrictions on theirexp¢nditure imposed by the donor orthrough the temis of an appeal. (li i) Incomin All incoming resources are included in th¢ Stat¢ment of Financial Activities when the charity is entitled to the incorne and the amount can be quantified with r¢asonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income: Voluntary incoine is received by way of grant% donations and gifts and is included in full when reccivable. Income is defered wher¢ cntitlem¢nt has not yet been completed. Donated services and facilities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included in these accounts. The main funding is a Heathwatch Grant ]d the company continues to be a going concern and is not wholly reliant on that grant. resources (iv) Resources ex ended Expenditure is accounted on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditiire incliides any VAT which cannol be fully rccovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates. Costs of generating funds comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income. Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities aiid services for its beneficiaries. It incliides both costs that can be allocated direGtly to such activities and thosc costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. Governance costs incliidc those costs associated with meeting th¢ constitutional and statutory requirements of the cliarity and include the examination fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity. All costs are allocated betwcen the expenditure calegories ofth¢ SOFA on a basis designed to reflect the use of the resource. Costs relating to a particular activity ar¢ allocated directly, others ar¢ apportioned on an appropriate basis. (v) Pension costs Payinents under defined contribution pension schemes are accounted for as they fall due.
LOCAL VOICE IN THE COMLIIUNrrY Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2025 (vi) Fixed assets Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. The cost of minor additions or those costing below £1,000 are not capitalised. Depreciation is pmvided at rates calculated to write off the cost of each asset over its ¢xp¢cted useful life. The rates used are as follows: Office FumitUTe and Equipment Incoming rQreeS from eharttable activtties Total Funds 2025 Total Funds 2024 Restri¢ted Fiinds Unrestricted Funds Grants and Donations London Borough of Walthan Forest Healthwatch Charitable activities TH CVS and otber service grants 111.690 111,690 137,921 2,129 111,690 186,725 751 137.921 2,129 Total 137 921 113 819 251 740 299 166 Cost of generating voluntary incorne Salaries & Wag¢s Total 14,208 15.101 Charitable activities Salaries and wages Events and Mai"keting Outreach and volunteering Office expenses, books & publications Community Intelligence professional + consuhanc). Financial managen]ent Training Governance Total 161.616 61 3,681 8.274 18,660 1,374 138 41.637 22 1,293 1,018 6,555 483 48 1.750 203,253 83 4,974 9,292 25.215 1.857 186 1.750 246610 174,977 1,864 5,559 9,134 30,804 1,580 315 1.750 225 983 Staff eosts and numbers 2025 2024 Staff costs were as follow5-. Salaries and wages Social Security costs Pension costs Total 198,226 15,449 175,639 11.278 217461 190 077 One employee received emoluments of Jnore than £60,000 14
LOCAL VOICE IN THE COM[UNrry Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2025 The average number ol etnployees during the year, Calculated on the basi5 of full-time equivalents, was as follows: 25 2024 Advice & guidance Adininistration & management 3,00 3.00 3.00 2.00 Total 6.00 5.00 Trustee and Key Management remuneration and expenses The Chief Executive Dianne Barham Teceives a salary of £56,835 (2024.. £54,184) No trustee5 received any remuneration for the year No trustee or other person related to the charity had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the ctLarity durino the year Ta lloible fixed assets Office Co.¥1 At l July 2024 Disposals Additions AI 30 Junc 2025 6.322 6.322 6.322 ALvimulated dwrecidlion At l July 2024 Ch'ge for thc year Dispostlls At 30 Jiine 2025 6.322 6,3?2 Nel book volue At 30 June 2025 AI 30 June 2024 Debtors 2025 2024 Ti'dd¢ debtors Other debtors Total 27.923 10,000
LOCAL VOICK ffi THE COINIMUNrrY Nolcs to accoiints for the year ended 30 June ?025 Creditors: amoynts falling due within one )'ear 2025 2024 Expense creditors and accruals 5.752 3,210 Total l O Analysis of net &et5 betiveen funds General Fund Restricted Funds Total Funds Tangible fed assets Current assets Cui-rent liabilities 260.218 (5.752) 32,915 293,133 (5,752) Net assets at 30 June 2025 287381 l J Movement5 in funds At l July 2024 Incoming resources Outgoing resourc Transfers ¢t'een funds At 30 Jiine 2025 Resirfcledfunds.. 75,905 137,921 (193.804) 12,893 32,915 Total restricted funds 137921 193804 Unreslriclerffunds.. G¢neral fund 219.504 114.869 (67.014) (12,893) 254,466 Total unrestricted funds 219 504 114869 254 466 Total funds 295.409 260818 287 381 16