Charity number 1165798 READING ADVICE NETWORK (A Charitable Incorporated Organisation) Report and Accounts 31 March 2025
READING ADVICE NETWORK IA Charitable Incorporated Or8ani5ation) Report and Accounts Contents Page Charity informaton Trustees annual report Independent examiner's report Statement of Financial Activities Balance sheet Notes to the accounts
Reading Advice Network IA Charitable Incorporated Organisation) Report of the Trustees for the period ended 31 March 2025 Members of the Trustee Board at 31 March 2025 Chair VI-Chair Treasurer Individual member Individual member Individual member Richard Harrison Hazel Wright Peter Kayes Andrea Ekpenyong Francesca Yates Rachel Eden Independent Examiner Julian Ansell FCCA 19 Brooklyn Drive Emmer Green Reading RG4 8SR Bankers CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ Registered Office 13 Albert Road Caversham Reading Berkshire RG4 7AN Registered Charity Number 1165798
Report of the Trustees The Trustee Board presents its report for the period ended 31 March 2025 Structure, Governance and Management The Reading Advice Network (RAN) is a Charitable Incorporated Ofganisation, and was registered by the Charity Commission on 29 February 2016. It has a Trustee Board which was elected at its first Annual General Meeting on 11 October 2016 and is ultimately accountable for the conduct of the organisation. Member organisations must give information or advice to people in Reading. They pay an annual membership fee of £30, and make two commitments - to achieve the RAN Quality Standard, and the 'Safe and Sound, Governance Mark prodUd by Reading Voluntary Action. At 31 March 2025 RAN had twenty-0 member organisations - ABC to read, Acre, Age UK Reading, Age UK Berkshire, Autism Berkshire, Berkshire Vision, BWA, Citizens Advice Reading, Communicare, Dingley's Promise, Graft, Launchpad, No5, PACT, Parenting Special Children, Reading Welfare Rights, Reading Mencap, Reading Students Union Advi Servi, Reading Voluntary Action, Refugee Support Group {Reading), The Mustard Tree and YMCA Reading. Aims and Objectives The Network has bNo aims, with supporting objectives: Aim 1: To improve the quality of information and advice that is available to people in Reading by.. setting, maintaining and publicising a quality standard for RAN members supporting members to achieve this standard 1.3 helping members to share knowledge and expertise to make each other more effective Aim 2: To be a focal point for information and advice services in Reading by.. providing services which enable RAN members to discuss key issues and support each other sharing useful information with RAN members 2.3 publicising RAN to non-members acting as the collective Vol of RAN members to shape SeiCe provision Our Business Plan for the three years 2024-2027 has four strategic priorities.. remaining financially secure continuing to build our membership developing and delivering appropriate services for our members further strengthening our reputation
Activities and achievements During the year RAN.. Held two Advice Forums on: Managing aggression by Servi users at the end of their tether The new Labour Government and the Voluntary Sector Held three meetings for member CEOS to discuss current challenges Held three meetings for staff with lead responsibility for HR in member organisations to discuss current HR issues Updated its 'Booklet for Councillors,, detailing the services offered by RAN member organisations, to help them refer constituents with particular problems to the organisation most able to help them Also updated its b¢Joklet for GPS and Social Prescribers, to help them appropriately refer patients with non-medical problems Continued our programme of Quality Standard assessments, with one member achieving the award and three other members having their awards confirmed for a further four years. Fifteen member organisations, 68 % of the membership, now hold the award. Saved its member CEOS a significant amount of time which, when costed, offset many times over their £30 annual membership fee by, on their behalf, attending and reporting on a number of meetings with staff at Reading Borough Council and other VCS Leaders meetings. Held its ninth Annual General Meeting. Public benefit RAN trustees have regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on reporting how RAN provides 'public benefit,, and in particular to the requirements of the Charities Act & Charty Reporting Regulations. This report from N'S trustees is a summary of the main activities undertaken by the charity in carrying out its charitable purposes for the benefit of the public in and around Reading. These activities are principally providing advice-giving charities and similar public bodies with the support and infomation needed for those organisations to help people disadvantaged by povety, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship, and similar issues. Financial Review The financial accounts for the year ending 31 March 2025 are set out on pages 6-10. The Statement of Financial Activities shows a surplus for the year of £232.42. The total reserve at the year end stands at £8,504.77. The Charity employs no staff, being operated by volunteers, holds no significant fixed assets, propety or leases, so has no ongoing financial liabilities. The Board therefore considers that there is no requirement for a reserve fund. Projected income is £660 a year based on the present membership. The budget for the coming year envisages expenditure of around £525, which will enable the present cash balan to sustain the charity for the foreseeable future.
Statement of Trustees, responsibiliti83 The Trustees are required by law to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity as at the end of the financial year and of the surplus or deficit of the Charity- In preparing those financial statements the Trustees are required to select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently-, observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP., - state whether the applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements- make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent., and prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue tts work. The trustees are also responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and which are sufficient to show and explain the Charity's transactions and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006 1 Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the charity's constitution They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hen for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. This report was approved by the Board of Trustees on September 22, 2025 4T• Richard Harrison Chair
READING ADVICE NETWORK (A Charitable Incorporated Organisationl Independent Examiner's Report I report on the account$ of the Reading Advice Neork for the 12 months ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 6 to 10. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity Iruslees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charilies Act 2011 ('Ihe Act'i. I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Chanty Commission under sethion 145{5llb} of the Act. Independent examinerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confimi that no malenal matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any maleiial respect.. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act., or the accounts do not accord with those records., or the accounts do not mplY with the applicable requirements concerning the form and conlenl of accounts sel out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'lrue and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. 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. J M Ansell FCCA Chartered Certified Accountant 19 Brooklyn Drive Emmer Green READING RG4 85R 7 Ortober 2025
READING ADVICE NEfwoRK IA Charitable Incorporated Organisatiot)) Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31st March 2025 Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total 2025 Total 2024 Note Income and endowments from: Donations- Members, Contribution5 Interest incorne Reading Voluntary Action for assessments 660 16 2,873 660 16 2,873 630 16 4.825 Total 3,549 3,549 5,471 Expendlture on: Charitable activities 3,317 3,317 5,388 Total 3,317 3.317 5,388 Net Income I (Expenditure) for the year 232 232 83 Fund balance brought forward at l April 2024 2,275 5,997 ,272 8,189 Transfer between funds Balance carried forward at 31 March 2025 2,507 5.997 8.504 8.272 All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. The notes on pages 8 tolo form part of these financial statements
READING ADVICE NETWORK IA Charitable Incorporated Organisationl Balance Sheet at 31st March 2025 Note 2025 2024 Current Assets Debtors and prepayments Cash at bank Total current assets 123 8,381 8,504 247 8,025 8,272 Creditors- amounts falling due within one year Accruals and deferred income Net assets 8.504 8,272 Fund5 of the Charity Restricted Unrestricted 5,997 2,507 5,997 2,275 Total Funds 8,504 8,272 The Trustees consider that the charity is entitled to exemption from the requirement to have an audit under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and that members have not required the charity to obtain an audit The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of Section 130 of the Charities Act 2011 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts These account5 were approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf. Richard Harrison - Chair 7 October 2025
READING ADVICE NETWORK (Acharflab Incorporated Oryanlsatlonl Notss tothe Fln4rKlal Statefflentsyeario 31 Marth 2025 Attountirypollcles Thefollowin8accounring policies have been used In deillngwlth items which are¢ondered material In relation tothe Organisation's financial statements. al Qmpany Ilm6ted by8ralee The Or83nisation is a registered Charity number 1165798 the members of which have no per50nil liability in the ent ofthe Charitywilldin8 UP. bl Ba51sola¢ttyJntlni The accounts have been prepared In accordante with Accountlngand Reporting bycharltles.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to Charities preparin8 their accounts in accord3ncewlth the Financlal Reportin8 StaDdard apICable in the UK and Republicof Irdand IFRS 1021 the Companie5 ALI 2006. Thè attount5 have been prepared togive a true and fair. view have departed from the CharitR5 (Accounts and Reports) Re8ulations 2(X18 onlyto the extent required to providea'true and fair, view. This departure has n¥0e follo%YinBAccounting3nd Reportln8 by Chaiit5 preparingtheiraccounts In accordance with the Financial Reportin8 Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFR5 1021 issued 16 july 2014 rather than the Accountin8and Reporting by Charitie5 Staternent of Recommended Prarti¢eeffeuive from l April 2CQ5 which has since been Withdrawn. Thecharity ha5earlyadopred rhe prowsions of bulletin l as permitted. ReadingAdVI Network meets the definrftion of a public benefit entity under FR5 102. Assets and IlbIll[l£S are Initjally reco8nlsed è¢ historical cost ortran5action value unlè$sorherwise stated in the relevant attourting policy note. After makingen4uifies. the Trustees have a re3sonable Èxpettation that the Charity has adequate re50urcesto continue its adi¥itiesfor the foreseeable fuwre. Accordin8lytheycontillueto adopt thegolngconrn basis In preparinlthe financial statements asoutllned in the Statement of TfUStee5 Rè5POn51billt on pa8e 3. Reund1la0n wtth pOu$6enern1IY Accepted Accoununi Pv•rtke In preparin8the accounts, the Trustees havecon5idered whether in applyin8 the accouniing policies required by FRS 102 and the Charitie5 SORP FRS 102 the restèment of ¢omparaiivÈterms was required. ThETrustee5are of the opinion ihat no such restatemèni is re4vired. itlcal accouniin81ud8fts8nd key yjurres of estImatI¢ uncertalnty In the appllcaiion of the Charity'5 accounting pdlcles. whlch are descrlbed in note l. Trustees are required to fflakejudgments, esiimates and assumptions abDUt thecarrying values of assets and liabilitiès rhai are not readilyapparent from other Sources. The estimation and undedyingèssumptlOn5 are basEd on historical experience and otherfartors that a consideied to be relevant. Actual results rnaydiffer from these estimares. The estimates and underlwnB assumptions are revlewed on an ongoing basis. Re¥i510n5 to accountin8 e5timate5 re recognised in the period in which the e5tim&te 15 revised if the revision affects onlythai period, or in the period of rthslon andfuture if thecurrent and fUre perlods if the ¥1$10 aff*¢tsthe ¢urrent¥nd futurè periods. Int of theTrusiees. fio a5sumptbns concernln8 rhe fuiure or e5tlmatlon uncertaintyaffettin8the ass$ and liabilitie$3t the balance sheet daare likelyto result in a material adjusrment to their carrwn8 amounts in the nert financial year. Flnanrtsl InstMentS Thecharity only hasfinancial B5sets and financial liaiylityes of a kind that qualify a5 ba5iifin3ncial instrument5. Ba%c financial instfuments are in11allY reco8niSEd attran5actioTh value and Subsequent measured attfvr settlement value.
READING ADVICE NETWORK IA Charitsble Incorporated Organlsationl Notes to the Flnanclal Ststements Year to 31 March 2025 l Accountlng poll¢le$ Icontlnuedl Income Reco8nltion ol Incoming Resources These are included in the statement of financial activities when: the charity becomes entitled to thè Tèsourtes,. the trustees are virtually certain that they will receive the resources., and the monetary value can be measured with reasonable accuracv. Grants and donations Grants are only included in the statement of financial activities when the charity has unconditional entTrtlement to the resources standards. Gifts in klnd Gifts in kind are accounted for when receivable, at a reasonable estimate of their value to the Charity. Investment income Bank and building society interest is included in the statement of financial activities when the interest fa115 due. 81 Empenditure and liabilities Liabilities are reco8nised as soon as there is a legal or construttive obligation cornmitting the charity to pay out resources. In previous years Governance costs Icosts associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the Charity, the Independent Examiner fees and costs in respect of the strategic management of the Charity) were shown separately in the Statement of Financial Activities. To comply with Charities SORP FRS 102 Governance costs have been included within charitable activities as an element of other support costs. h) Flxed assets Assets over £2(KJO are capitallsed and depreciated over their estimated lives. Assets costing less than £2.000 are writtèn off in the year of acquisition. Depreclatlon Depreciation is provided at the following rates in order to write off the assets over their estimated useful lives. IT Equipment and furniture 3 years straight line Fund attountin¥ Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds can only be used for partTrcular restrirted purposes within the objects of the charity and a5 defined by the donor.
READING ADVICE NETWORK IA Charhble IncorpDrated Oriafitsathinl Notes to the Financial Statements Year to 31 March 2025 Expendlture on chaAtable activities Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds Total 2025 Total 2024 Business Development Communicatirjns and office Marketing and website Insurance Assessrnents- Reading Voluntary Action Governance- independent examination Trainln8 280 280 164 2,873 164 2,873 164 3.462 3,317 3,317 4,174 Credltors and accruals Amounts falling due within one year Accruals and deferred incorne subscription received twice Movement In Funds Asat Incomin8 Outgoing Transfers I April 2024 Rèsourcès Resources Asat 31 March 2025 Restrscted Funds 5.997 5.997 5,997 5.997 Unre5trirted Fund5 2,275 3,549 13.3171 2.507 2,275 3,549 13,3171 2,507 Trustees Remuneratlon and Expenses None of the Trustees, nor any persons or parties connected with them, receVed any remuneration12024 £Nill nor were reimbursed any expenses12024 £Nill during the year. io