SOUTHEND CAP DEBT ADVICE CENTRE
ACCOUNTS AND TRUSTEE REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31" DECEMBER 2024

SOUTHEND CAP DEBT ADVICE CENTRE
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS
2024
2024
Client
Support
2024
2023
General fund
Total
Total
RECEIPTS
Individual giving
Church giving
Gift aid
Fundraiser
Grants received
Other
Ba nk Interest
8,019
12,761
2,697
1,780
1,230
9,249
12,761
2,697
1,780
3,300
380
473
30,639
11,965
14,884
1,346
10,075
2,260
344
40,874
300
473
29,109
1,530
PAYMENTS
Salary
Nest Pension
HMRC
CAP
Insurance
Office expenses
Travel expenses
Client Support- Hampers
Client Support- food & misc
Other
Equipment
18,129
1,714
2,951
8,700
477
1,234
18,129
1,714
2,951
8,700
477
1,234
17,365
10.210
434
983
1,408
1,221
1,402
2,468
30
35,521
1,864
226
1,864
226
1,104
1,104
35.389
2.090
37.479
Opening balance OI/OV2024
Profit / (Loss)
Closlng balance 3111212024
36.647
16,280)
30,367
2,140
1560)
1,580
38,787
(6,840)
31,947
33,434
5,353
38.787

SOUTHEND CAP DEBT ADVICE CENTRE
YEAR ENDED 31" DECEMBER 2024
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABIUTIES
2024
2023
CASH FUNDS
Barclays Current Account
Barclays Active Saver
1,711
30,236
31,947
2,024
36,763
38,787
LIABILITI ES
NET CASH FUNDS
31,947
38,787
General Fund
Client Support Fund ( Restricted)
30,367
1,580
36,647
2,140
Signed
Date .....................
/.?../.a./¥..r........
Mrs Julie Eady- Chairman
Signed
Mr Geoff Fulford- Treasurer

SOUTHEND CAP DEBT ADVICE CENTRE
YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2024
TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT
The charity is a Registered Charity No.1159193 established in 2014. The Charity's principal address is
Shoeburyness and Thorpe Bay Baptist Church, Thorpedene Gardens, Shoeburyness, Essex SS3 9JD.
The Trustees of the Charity are:
Mrs Julie Eady (Chair)
Mrs Melanie Venables {Secretary}
Mr Geoff Fulford {Treasurer)-Appointed 18 September 2024
Mr Robert Briant
Mrs Joanna Hellenbrand
Mr Richard Higgs
Mr Derek Nash- Appointed 18 September 2024
th
th
th
Mr Paul Wilson- retired 18 September 2024
Structure. Governance and Management
Southend CAP Debt Advice Centre has over 190 5UPPOrting members drawn from over 15 churches
acros5 the borough of Southend on Sea. In addition to social events and volunteers meetings, these
members are invited to meet twice a year- one of these occasions being the AGM of the
organisation. Trustees are elected by the members at the AGM. At each AGM one third of the
Trustees- those who have served longest since their last election - must retire but are eligible for re-
election unless they have served three consecutive terms, when they are not eligible for election for
a further two years. The Trustees are responsible for the governance of the CIO.
Southend CAP Debt Advice Centre has a paid, part time manager. The manager is accountable to the
trustees and manages the day to day running of the Centre, including line managing the volunteer
debt coach and approximately 40 volunteers, who act as befrienders for our clients.
The organisation works in partnership with Christians Against Poverty (CAPI, based in Bradford. They
are accredited by the Financial Conduct Authority to provide financial and legal support and advice
to clients. Our role is to explain the advice provided by CAP and provide pastoral sUPPOrt.
Objectives and Activities
The objects of the CIO are
The relief of poverty, including the provision of money management and debt advice;
The advancement of the Christian religion;
within the area of Southend on Sea, including the borough of Southend and parts of Rochford and
Castle Point.
We provide face to face debt advice by visiting clients and potential clients in their own homes. Our
manager and volunteer Debt Coaches are trained to collect information and explain budgets and the
advice drawn up by Christians Against Poverty in Bradford.
We have found the provision of prartical support such as emergency food shops and fuel top-ups
extremely beneficial to clients. Personal encouragement by the debt coaches and befrienders
continues for as long as it takes for the client to become debt free.

The annual Christmas Hampers and Easter gifts to all of our clients is a way of showing God's love in
a practical way. The door-stop deliveries also provided an opportunity to encourage clients on their
journey to being debt free.
We offer to pray with clients and invite them to services and other activities in local churches as
appropriate. We are conscious that many clients are vulnerable, so these offers are made without
pressure. It is always emphasised that we provide our services unconditionally.
All our services are free of charge to clients.
Achievements and Perfomiance
It was our 10 year anniversary in 2024. This occasion was marked by a celebration service at Leigh
Road Baptist Church in September, followed by tea and cake. A Cream Tea before the service was
held for current and past debt coaches, befrienders and Trustees to say a special thank you to them
for their commitment and service to SCDAC over the years.
It was also a time to say goodbye to Richard Leadley as our Centre manager. Richard was the Centre
Manager since the charity was formed, his passion for the charity and clients is one of the reasons
we have been able to celebrate these 10 years. We were delighted when he decided to continue as a
debt coach after handing over the reins to the new Centre Manager Robert Simpson. Robert started
his debt Coach training in March 2024 enabling a hand over period with Richard of the Centre
Manager role. By the end of 2024 we were back to seeing 6 new clients a month.
During the year, we corresponded with 50 potential clients. These were people in debt, all of whom
had contacted us to enquire about our se￿ices. Of these, 46 became clients.
During the year, we celebrated 8 people becomin8 debt free as a result of our work. Since we
started the charity in 2014, 166 have become debt free.
Since the charity started, 16 people have made first time commitments to Jesus Christ.
We owe a huge thank you to the Debt Coaches and befrienders who commit their time and care
working face to face with clients. We have found the client cases are becoming more complex and
therefore require additional support beyond Debt help. These complexities make the Debt Coach
role even more challenging and much patience is required.
Our work has resulted in benefit to the public. From the moment people become clients, all
discussions with creditors are handled by Christians Against Poverty and clients receive a budget to
help them manage their finances. These actions have the effect of relieving clients of a great deal of
stress and pressure. Although the effects of this vary from client to client, for many this results in an
improvement in well-being and a reduction in mental health problems.
Many clients have partners and children. so the beneficial efferts are experienced by a greater
number of individuals than the clients alone. In some cases, potential relationship breakdowns have
been avoided.
Our work has resulted in an increase in social inclusion. A number of clients have begun attending
local churches. There they have built new friendships and gained wider support networks in addition
to finding a degree of spiritual peace and comfort. Every client we deal with is unique with unique
situations.

We are Partnered with the charity Acts435, and have an advocate managing this for client support
items such as Debt Relief Orders and emergency items.
Financial Revlew
The sources of general fund income to the end of 2024 have included donations from partner
churches (approx. 44¥0), donations from individuals and gift aid (approx. 37%), grants IIO%I, fund-
raising events lapprox. 6*0), and Other lapprox. 3%). The restricted Client Support fund raised
£1,530 mainly from individual giving for the Christmas Hamper appeal. This fund ensures Christmas
Hampers and Easter gifts can be provided and adhoc food shops and practical support when needed.
The grants received in 2023 enabled us to have a paid hand over period between the Debt Centre
Managers ensuring continuous service of the centre and client visits.
In October we held a charity fundraising meal and auction raising £1,780 for the 8eneral fund. Due
to the 10 year celebration we only ran one fundraiser in 2024.
We aim to hold a sum equivalent to at least ten months, general fund expenditure in reserve. If, at
any time, reserves were to drop below nine months, costs, the trustees would actively pursue
additional external grant funding and assess the current operational structure of the charity. We are
always actively looking for grants that can be applied for.
Expenditure is used to support key objectives. The two largest Costs are the salary of the Centre
Manager and fees paid to Christians Against Poverty headquarters in Bradford as a contribution
towards their professional financial and legal services on behalf of our client5.
We are fortunate to have capable trustees who provide a good level of governance voluntarily. We
also have enthusiastic volunteers who organise fundraising and manage other administrative
functions. This enables us to spend a very high proportion of our income directly on our charitable
objectives.