REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1160753
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
FOR
HEALTHWATCH NORTH TYNESIDE
BK Plus Limited Chartered Certified Accountants 13 Windsor Terrace Jesmond Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HE
HEALTHWATCH NORTH TYNESIDE
CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 to 6 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 7 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 8 |
| Balance Sheet | 9 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 10 to 15 |
HEALTHWATCH NORTH TYNESIDE
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted 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 applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
Our charitable purpose, as stated in our constitution, is:
The advancement of health and the relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability or financial hardship:
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providing information to the general public about health and social care services;
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making the views and experiences of members of the public known to providers of health and social care services and commissioners;
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enabling local people to have a voice in the development, delivery, improvement and equality of access to local health and social care services and facilities; and
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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.
Significant activities
Our small staff team are supported by volunteers to deliver a range of activities including:
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1) Engaging with residents to understand their views and experiences of Health and Care Services.
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2) Providing information and signposting for residents so they can access the support they need.
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3) Writing reports and recommendations, based on what residents tell us, to improve health and care services.
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4) Bringing residents, services providers and decision makers together to discuss issues and develop services.
Whilst the focus of our work is North Tyneside, we work closely with other Local Healthwatch organisations in our North East and North Cumbria Healthwatch Network. We administer funding, provide administration support, Coordinate activity and run some projects on behalf of the Network.
Public benefit
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with our constitution and guidance issued by the charity commission.
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HEALTHWATCH NORTH TYNESIDE
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Our annual report, published in June 2025, provides full details of the activity of the charity and can be found at Healthwatch-North-Tyneside-Annual-Report-2024-25.pdf.
The highlights of this reporting period include:
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Success in securing the contract to deliver the Healthwatch service in North Tyneside over the next 3 years.
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Engaging with 3,086 people at 106 community outreach events across North Tyneside.
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4,085 local people sharing their views and experiences of Health and care services with us.
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Supporting autistic residents and their families/carers to work with commissioners to develop new support.
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Working with mental health services users and Launchpad North Tyneside to develop mental Health services.
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Working with Age UK North Tyneside to hear from 970 residents about making North Tyneside a more age Friendly Community, creating the basis for an application to become an Age Friendly Community, evidence for a future Ageing Well Strategy and Age UK North Tyneside’s next strategic plan.
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Working with North Tyneside Carers' Centre to hear from 83 young carers and review the young carers support pathways.
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Helping 843 residents have their say about future pharmacy services and influencing the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment for the Health and Wellbeing Board.
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Visiting all 30 of our care homes in North Tyneside and feeding into North Tyneside Council's service quality monitoring.
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Completing our 20 month Hospital to home research project hearing from residents over multiple interviews, to understand their experiences of care after they have left hospital.
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Leading a North East and North Cumbria wide dental access project that heard from over 3,800 residents and supporting the Integrated Care Board to develop their Oral Health and Dentistry strategy.
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Working with other local Healthwatch to hear from 4,500 women across the North East and North Cumbria to influence the Integrated Care Board's Women's Health Strategy.
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Supporting users of Adult Social Care services to feed into quality assurance systems and co-design services.
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Supporting residents to contribute to the NHS North East Ambulance Service's review of the clinical strategy.
We are indebted to our team of dedicated volunteers who gave over 2,200 hours to hearing people's views and improving health and care services.
We also began reviewing our strategic plan to develop our aspirations for the future. The government launched their 10 year plan for the NHS in July 2025 and the Dash Review into Patient Safety, after this reporting period. These will have potentially significant impacts on the work of our charity once legislation is passed in the coming years. Our trustees are keen to secure the long term future of service user voice and the activities of the charity.
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HEALTHWATCH NORTH TYNESIDE
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial position
During this period, we successfully tendered to continue to deliver the core Healthwatch Services in North Tyneside for the next 3 years.
We continued to diversify our income and work with partners to identify new opportunities.
These accounts show a small surplus of £938 during this period. Our balance sheet shows that we hold £122,072 (£121,134 in 2024/5) as well as significant funds for work in the coming year.
Principal funding sources
Our main source of funding continues to be our commissioned Healthwatch service contract with North Tyneside Council.
In addition to this, we received separate project funding from North Tyneside Council, NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Healthwatch England.
Reserves policy
The trustees have examined the charity's reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation. The main focus of our work during this period was the delivery of commissioned services many set out in primary legislation.
Each year we review the amount we should hold to cover winding up the charity, for this period we set aside £50,000. The charity's free reserves amounted to £72,072.
Going concern
Government announcements about changes to legislation relating to statutory Healthwatch activity came after the end of this financial period with the details and timescales of change remaining unclear. The trustees are working closely with other local Healthwatch organisations to monitor this closely and influence future legislation and consider options and opportunities. Implications will be reported in future accounts, however, as things stand, the trustees do not consider there to be any material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
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HEALTHWATCH NORTH TYNESIDE
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Charity constitution
We are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, established in March 2015. Our Trustees are responsible for the overall management of the organisation, with day to day control being exercised by our Director who is assisted by a small team and volunteers. Key decisions are made at our Board meetings. Our meetings are open to the public and agendas and minutes are available on our website, where a copy of our constitution can also be downloaded. Our constitution provides details of our management processes, with further detail provided in our policy and procedure documents published on our website.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
During this period we successfully appointed two new trustees. The vacancies were widely advertised and potential trustees were asked to respond to five questions about their skills, experiences, motivations and interests. Candidates then meet with two trustees and the Director for an informal interview and their application is then discussed with the wider board of Trustees. Candidates are then invited to complete the following induction process prior to formally being appointed as a trustee - this gives both potential trustee and the wider organisation opportunity to get to know each other.
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Meet with the Chair.
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Meet with the director to discuss the workplan, activities and budget/finance position.
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Attend the HWNT induction session.
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Participate in a Board meeting (as an observer).
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Meet members of the staff and volunteer team.
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Complete the Healthwatch England online induction and Board Member online induction.
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Complete the DBS process.
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Complete the Trustee declarations and declarations of interest processes.
All volunteers with HWNT, including Trustees, are expected to undertake:
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Health and Safety Briefing.
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Equalities, diversity and inclusion.
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Safeguarding Adults and Children - renewed every 2 years.
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Dementia awareness.
The Trustee Handbook is also provided electronically or as a hard copy if preferred, together with the following:
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Constitution.
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Latest set of accounts.
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Latest annual report.
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Current year Priorities and Work plan.
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List of current policies and how to access.
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Current year Budget Statement.
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Trustees names and contact details.
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Expenses claim form.
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Charity Commission guidance - 'The Essential Trustee'.
Related parties
We work closely with other Local Healthwatch organisations in our North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Healthwatch Network. We administer funding, provide administration support, coordinate activity and run some projects on behalf of the Network and are funded to do this. In addition, we hold funds for partnership projects with Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Healthwatch Northumberland.
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HEALTHWATCH NORTH TYNESIDE
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Charity name Healthwatch North Tyneside
Registered charity number 1160753
Principal address
2nd Floor, Wallsend Library and Community Hub, 16 The Forum, Wallsend, NE28 8JR
| Trustees | ||
|---|---|---|
| Carol Nevison | Chair | |
| Jackie Doughty | Treasurer | |
| Theresa Culpin | to January 2025 | |
| Dr Joanne Brown | to October 2024 | |
| Paula McCormack | ||
| Bea Groves-McDaniel | ||
| David Slater | ||
| Peter Berrie | ||
| Ian Paul Greenway | ||
| Louise Jones | to April 2024 | |
| Maxine Ulrich Houson | from March 2025 | |
| Paul McKelvie | from March 2025 |
Director Paul Jones
Independent examiner
Nicholas J Liley FCA, BK Plus Limited, 13 Windsor Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HE
Bankers
The Co-operatinve Bank, PO Box 250, Skelmersdale, WN8 6WT The Charity Bank Limited, Fosse House, 182 High Street, Tonbridge, TN9 1BE
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HEALTHWATCH NORTH TYNESIDE
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Charity law requires the trustees 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).
Under charity 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 charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and The Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 10 November 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
C Nevison - Chair
Page 6
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF HEALTHWATCH NORTH TYNESIDE
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Healthwatch North Tyneside
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Healthwatch North Tyneside (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns 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.
Nicholas J Liley FCA
BK Plus Limited Chartered Certified Accountants 13 Windsor Terrace Jesmond Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HE
12 November 2025
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HEALTHWATCH NORTH TYNESIDE
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Total | ||
| funds | funds | ||
| as restated | |||
| Notes | £ | £ | |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS | FROM | ||
| Charitable activities | |||
| Charitable activities | 241,402 | 244,391 | |
| Investment income | 2 | 2,949 | 2,567 |
| Total | 244,351 | 246,958 | |
| EXPENDITURE ON | |||
| Charitable activities | 3 | ||
| Charitable activities | 243,413 | 229,852 | |
| NET INCOME | 938 | 17,106 | |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | |||
| Total funds brought forward | 121,134 | 104,028 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 122,072 | 121,134 |
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 8
HEALTHWATCH NORTH TYNESIDE
BALANCE SHEET 31 MARCH 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Total | ||
| funds | funds | ||
| as restated | |||
| Notes | £ | £ | |
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||
| Debtors | 8 | - | 18,907 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 579,602 | 192,977 | |
| 579,602 | 211,884 | ||
| CREDITORS | |||
| Amounts falling due within one year | 9 | (457,530) | (90,750) |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 122,072 | 121,134 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT | |||
| LIABILITIES | 122,072 | 121,134 | |
| NET ASSETS | 122,072 | 121,134 | |
| FUNDS | 10 | ||
| Unrestricted funds | 122,072 | 121,134 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 122,072 | 121,134 |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 10 November 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
C Nevison - Chair
J Doughty - Treasurer
The notes form part of these financial statements
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HEALTHWATCH NORTH TYNESIDE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, 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 Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
The presentation currency of the financial statements is the Pound Sterling (£).
Going Concern
At the date of approval of these financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue for the foreseeable future and as such the financial statements are prepared on the going concern basis.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, 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 accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
Debtors and prepayments
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
continued...
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HEALTHWATCH NORTH TYNESIDE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand, call deposits and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
Creditors and provisions
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised a their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
Financial instruments
All financial assets and financial liabilities of the charity qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value
2. INVESTMENT INCOME
| Bank interest receivable 3. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS Charitable activities |
Direct Costs £ 122,671 |
2025 2024 as restated £ £ 2,949 2,567 Support costs (see note 4) Totals £ £ 120,742 243,413 |
|---|---|---|
continued...
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HEALTHWATCH NORTH TYNESIDE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
4. SUPPORT COSTS
| Charitable activities The following is included within Legal and Professional Fees. Independent Examiner's remuneration (including irrecoverable VAT) Support costs, included in the above, are as follows: Wages Social security Pensions Staff costs and development Office costs Legal and professional fees Engagement Marketing and communications Volunteers |
Other £ 120,742 2025 2024 £ £ 2,160 500 2025 2024 as restated Charitable Total activities activities £ £ 61,391 59,171 3,770 3,338 3,545 3,442 1,940 3,054 27,020 25,831 7,677 137 6,666 11,945 5,768 3,134 2,965 3,103 120,742 113,155 |
|---|---|
5. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
continued...
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HEALTHWATCH NORTH TYNESIDE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
6. STAFF COSTS
| Wages and salaries Social security costs Other pension costs |
2025 2024 as restated £ £ 171,946 165,242 9,483 8,214 9,948 9,192 191,377 182,648 |
|---|---|
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
| Key Management Other Staff |
2025 2024 as restated 1 1 6 7 7 8 |
|---|---|
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
The charity's key management personnel comprise the Trustees and the Director. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel, including Social Security, were £50,881 (2024 - £51,180).
7. PRIOR YEAR ADJUSTMENT
Funds received on behalf of partner organisations were previously recognised as income in the charity's financial statements, with the related payments classified as expenditure. On review of the contractual terms in relation to these funds, they are now classified as current liabilities until such time payment is made to the partner organisations.
The effect is to reduce both income and expenditure by £264,687 (2024 - £149,006). The effect on prior periods is not stated as there is no net effect on funds as a result of the change in policy.
8. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| as restated | |||
| £ | £ | ||
| Other debtors | - | 18,907 |
continued...
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HEALTHWATCH NORTH TYNESIDE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
9. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
| Social security and other taxes Other creditors Accruals and deferred income |
2025 2024 as restated £ £ 6,807 3,279 383,488 26,536 67,235 60,935 457,530 90,750 |
|---|---|
Included within Accruals and Deferred Income are the following amounts received in advance of delivery of the related services.
| Balance at 1 April 2024 Released to income during the year Amount deferred in year Balance at 31 March 2025 |
£ 59,672 (4,724) 9,127 64,075 |
|---|---|
Included within Other Creditors are defined contribution pension commitments amounting to £1,498 (2024 - £1,405).
10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
| Unrestricted funds General fund Contingency fund TOTAL FUNDS |
At 1/4/24 £ 77,134 44,000 121,134 121,134 |
Net movement in funds £ 938 - 938 938 |
Transfers between funds £ (6,000) 6,000 - - |
At 31/3/25 £ 72,072 50,000 122,072 122,072 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund TOTAL FUNDS |
Incoming resources £ 244,351 244,351 |
Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (243,413) 938 (243,413) 938 |
|---|---|---|
continued...
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HEALTHWATCH NORTH TYNESIDE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Comparatives for movement in funds
| Unrestricted funds General fund Contingency fund TOTAL FUNDS |
At 1/4/23 £ 64,028 40,000 104,028 104,028 |
Net movement in funds £ 17,106 - 17,106 17,106 |
Transfers between funds £ (4,000) 4,000 - - |
At 31/3/24 £ 77,134 44,000 121,134 121,134 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund TOTAL FUNDS |
Incoming resources £ 246,958 246,958 |
Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (229,852) 17,106 (229,852) 17,106 |
|---|---|---|
11. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2025.
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