## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** ## **From 01/04/2024 Period start date To 31/03/2025 Period end date** ## **Charity name: SIDCUP DEBT ADVICE** ## **Charity registration number:1169856** ## **Objectives and Activities** |**Objectives and Activities**|**Objectives and Activities**|**Objectives and Activities**| |---|---|---| |SORP reference||| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document
Para 1.17
**The relief of financial hardship through**
**the provision of support and access to**
**free financial advice and assistance to**
**people with debt-related problems living**
**in the Sidcup, LB of Bexley and Kent**
**area and beyond who, through lack of**
**means, would otherwise be unable to**
**obtain support and advice.**||| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|**Throughout the year Sidcup Debt**
**Advice (SDA) continued to undertake**
**the active business of the provision of**
**free debt advice. All such activities are**
**undertaken with regard to the guidance**
**issued by the Charity Commission on**
**public benefit and the Financial Conduct**
**Authority (FCA) on debt advice activity.**
**Although all advisers have been trained**
**to the required level, all advisers**
**continue to be encouraged to undertake**
**CPD with Community Money Advice**
**(CMA) or Wiseradviser. This is to**
**ensure the service that is provided is of**
**as high a quality as possible and to the**
**benefit of the public, as per both the**
**requirements of the FCA and the**
**guidance issued by the Charity**
**Commission.**
**SDA started the year with 17 clients (21**
**2023/24); we took on a further 33 (35**
**2023/24) new clients during the year; 33**
**(39 2023/24) clients were closed in the**
**period leaving a net at the period end of**
**17 (17 2023/24). We managed a total**
**debt of £470,895.86 (£597,745.24**
**2023/24). During the year £39,638.20 of**
**unsustainable client debt was written off**
**by creditors, bringing the total of debt**| **written off since we started to £137,043.20. We continue to develop the multiple links with local support agencies that we created last year. For example, our relationship with Pier Road, an NHS based charity in Erith, Kent, whose client base has complex needs, has grown substantially and we are in weekly contact with approximately 8 (12 2023/24) client meetings throughout the year. Some of the clients have been complex due to the increased number of those with backgrounds of various abuses both physical and drug related We reiterate that the number of clients does not necessarily mirror how busy we have been. One client having complicated debts can absorb more working hours than several ‘straightforward’ clients put together. We have also established relationships with the Irish Community Services Greenwich, and various social service sections of Bexley Council. Zoom video calls continue to be preferred to face-to-face meetings and office working has been replaced by home working. The remote working model has been successful in more flexible working practices and hours. It is now standard for records to be supplied and maintained on-line using a secure programme, Catalyst, which is provided by CMA. The number of client appointments was 8 (12 2023/24). However, over 3,600 (2,258 2023/24) emails were exchanged associated with client debts - some emails having multiple layers behind them. The three dedicated mobile devices using a charity bundle from Tesco Mobile have continued to be invaluable in communication with clients, especially via WhatsApp. Our use of X and Facebook has continued but still has not resulted in any clients during the period. It does, however, maintain our presence in social media. It is not possible, unfortunately, to help everyone who contacts us. During the year we received 33 (38 2023/24) calls from people seeking assistance for the first time. Some people who get in touch do not follow through with the offer of free debt advice, some have** |||**more debts than our resources can**
**manage (normally 10, but some have**
**reached 30!) and some are referred to**
**other agencies, e.g. Stepchange, as**
**their mode of operation is more**
**beneficial to the person making the**
**enquiry. Some start the process, i.e.**
**contact us and are booked for a**
**consultation, but never follow through.**
**Work relating to these activities is**
**difficult to quantify and therefore are not**
**included in our statistics. SDA also had**
**numerous calls on the Voicemail**
**associated with current clients – these**
**can be the client calling or a Creditor.**| |---|---|---| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|**Throughout the year Sidcup Debt**
**Advice (SDA) continued to undertake**
**the active business of the provision of**
**free debt advice. All such activities are**
**undertaken with regard to the guidance**
**issued by the Charity Commission on**
**public benefit.**| **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|**Sidcup Debt Advice does not make**
**grants**| |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|**All debt advise is undertaken by**
**volunteers. Without our volunteers,**
**SDA would be unable to provide the**
**service of free debt advice.**| |Other||**The volunteer advisers are supported by**
**the Trustees, all voluntary, a Centre**
**Manager, also voluntary, and two part**
**time paid administrative staff, who are**
**also debt advisers.**| ## **Achievements and Performance** **----- Start of picture text -----**
SORP reference
SDA started the year with 17 clients, we
took on a further 33 new clients during
the year and closed 33 in the period
Summary of the main leaving, a net at the period end of 17.
Para 1.20
achievements of the charity, We managed a total debt of £470,895.86,
identifying the difference the slightly less than the previous year.
charity’s work has made to Some of the clients have been complex
the circumstances of its due to the increased number of those
beneficiaries and any wider with backgrounds of various abuses
benefits to society as a both physical and drug related. Our
whole. relationship with Pier Road in Erith,
Kent has grown substantially with
weekly calls ongoing and approximately
8 client meetings throughout the year.
We have also continued to build
relationships with the Irish Community
Services Greenwich, and various social
service sections of Bexley Council.
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against Para 1.41
objectives set
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives Para 1.41
set
Investment performance Para 1.41
against objectives
Other
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Financial Review** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Review of the charity’s Para 1.21 The charity’s income for the year
financial position at the end exceeded its expenditure and the
of the period Trustees are positive that the reserves
combined with future grants will enable
it to continue into the future. The
Trustees continue to monitor the
financial position at each Trustee
meeting
Statement explaining the Para 1.22 The charity’s currently policy on
policy for holding reserves reserves is to ensure there are sufficient
stating why they are held funds to meet the essential costs for the
following year and several months into
the next.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 £12,483
Reasons for holding zero Para 1.22 n/a
reserves
Details of fund materially in Para 1.24 No funds were in deficit
deficit
Explanation of any Para 1.23 The Trustees are confident that further
uncertainties about the income can be obtained to ensure the
charity continuing as a going going concern of the charity
concern
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|**A significant grant from the National**
**Lottery provided a boost to funds.**
**The third of three annual grants from a**
**local charity, the Harenc Community**
**Trust, helped to continue to fund the**
**admin assistant.**
**A grant from another body, The**
**Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers,**
**which was obtained via Bexley**
**Voluntary Service Council, provided**
**funds for training.**
**Grants were also obtained from**
**churches in Sidcup, Kent**| |---|---|---| |Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|**n/a**| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|**Failure to obtain new or increased**
**funding would result in a reduction of**
**paid staff and thereby the services the**
**charity would be able to provide.**| |Other||| ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|**Constitution**| |How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|**Charitable Incorporated Organisation**| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|**Appointed by existing Trustees on a**
**majority vote**| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:| |---|---|---| |||| |Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|Para 1.51|| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|**The charity is affiliated to the national**
**money advice charity Community**
**Money Advice – charity number 1111436**| |Relationship with any
related parties|Para 1.51|| |Other||| ## **Reference and Administrative details** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Charity name Sidcup Debt Advice
Other name the charity uses
Registered charity number 1169856
Charity’s principal address 24 Station Road
Sidcup
Kent
DA15 7DU
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Name of person (or body)
Dates acted if not for whole
Trustee name Office (if any) entitled to appoint trustee (if
year
any)
Mr Charles Treasurer/Secretary
1
Edward January /Chair
2 Mr Michael Pinard
Mr Paul William
3
Hurren
4 Mr Ian Stedman
Mr Michael Chair 01/04/2024 – 23/10/2024
5
Conway
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
**----- End of picture text -----**
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved ## **Director name** Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity **Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year** ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Additional information (optional)** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** **Type of Name Address adviser** **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details ## **Other optional information** ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** |**Signature(s)**|ye
¥
x»
)| |---|---| |**Full name(s)**|Charles Edward January| |**Position (eg Secretary,**
**Chair, etc)**|Chair| ||| |**Date**|20/10/2025| ## **SIDCUP DEBT ADVICE BALANCE SHEET** ||FY-2024|FY-2025| |---|---|---| |ASSET TYPE|PRIOR YEAR|CURRENT YEAR| |Fixed assets|-|-| |Current assets||| |Bank Account|8,424|12,483| |Other assets|-|-| |Current liabilities|-|-| |Long-term liabilities|-|-| |Current Assets less Current Liabilities:|8,424|12,483| |Total Assets less Current Liabilities|8,424|12,483| |**Total Assets less Total Liabilities:**|**8,424**|**12,483**| |**Capital & Reserves**||| |Funds|7,398|8,424| |P & L Account|1,026|4,059| |**BALANCE**|**8,424**|**12,483**| BS |**Cash Book Totals**
**Sidcup Debt Advice**
Donation re Mobiles
Grants
Donations
Total Income
Phones
SS
KH
Membership
Training
Stationery, etc
Miscellaneous
IT, etc
Insurance
Total Expenditure
**Profit/Loss**|**2024/ 25**
**Total**
110
19,784
16
19,910
151
5,874
5,355
1,725
415
84
184
1,221
843
15,851
**4,059**| |---|---| I&E