REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1179710
TRUSTEES' REPORT AND
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2024
FOR
FREE FAMILY REPRESENTATION & ADVOCACY PROJECT
Watergates Ltd 109 Coleman Road Leicester LE5 4LE
FREE FAMILY REPRESENTATION & ADVOCACY PROJECT
CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2024
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Page
Trustees' Report 1 to 2
Independent Examiner's Report 3
Statement of Financial Activities 4
Statement of Financial Position 5
Notes to the Financial Statements 6 to 9
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FREE FAMILY REPRESENTATION & ADVOCACY PROJECT
TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2024
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 5th April 2024. 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
Objects, Activities, Achievements and Performance FFRAP's Purpose
FFRAP's object is the relief of poverty through the provision of free legal advice and assistance to persons who, through lack of means and the removal of legal aid, would otherwise be unable to obtain such advice.
FFRAP’s Activities
FFRAP provides access to legal services, advice, representation or support to individuals who cannot afford to instruct a lawyer. This provision is in the area of Family Law, specifically in s 8 Children Act 1989 cases.
FRRAP's beneficiaries do not have access to professional legal advice, representation or support on a court site, which can lead to more protracted cases that are not in the interests of the child and family unit nor the family court. FFRAP's services therefore provides free legal advice and representation as well as support to court users which also makes the family court process in relation to s 8 Children Act 1989 issues more effective and efficient.
FRRAP's Volunteers
FFRAP trains pro-bono volunteers to assist in providing support and/or advice and advocacy in the context of s 8 Children Act hearings.
All volunteers are professionals from legal organisations and are legally qualified or in the process of training to become qualified, or classed as exempt persons. All volunteers must attend obligatory training in order to participate in the service provision. FFRAP attends the firm of all volunteers to conduct regular training and also provides a detailed training handbook and notes to all volunteers. FFRAP assesses all the training materials and the performance of volunteers on an ongoing basis. Feedback is also provided by the court as to the service and the performance of volunteers.
Client Quality Control & Feedback
FFRAP regularly seeks feedback from its users. Some user feedback can be found on FFRAP's website: www.ffrap.org
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
Charitable activities
In total, for the financial year 2023-2024, FFRAP has assisted LIPs in 135 hearings through the provision of support and/or advice and advocacy.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Reserves policy
We aim to utilise the funds as soon as we identify suitable individuals and cases.
The funds the charity holds is to ensure that it has sufficient reserves to cover the costs of managing and administering the charity for the following year.
The Trustees consider it prudent that the reserves should be sufficient for the charity's use. The Trustees have approved that all unrestricted reserves will be utilised in helping the charity achieve its objectives.
Going concern
Currently no concerns about the charity continuing as a going concern.
FUTURE PLANS
The charity is looking at the options in which it can increase its reach to assist more individuals.
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FREE FAMILY REPRESENTATION & ADVOCACY PROJECT
TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2024
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes a charity incorporated organisation.
Organisational structure
The board of Trustees of the charity are responsible for the charity's strategic direction. The board of Trustees meet on a termly basis to discuss the activities of the charity.
The board of trustees are supported through the aid of volunteers to manage the running of the charity.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number
1179710
Principal address
Northways College Crescent NW3 5DR
Trustees
Mrs F Begum Ms S Khanam Ms M Islam S M Napolitano (appointed 14/7/2024)
Independent Examiner
Watergates Ltd 109 Coleman Road Leicester LE5 4LE
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 8th January 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
Mrs F Begum - Trustee
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF FREE FAMILY REPRESENTATION & ADVOCACY PROJECT
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Free Family Representation & Advocacy Project
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Free Family Representation & Advocacy Project (the Trust) for the year ended 5th April 2024.
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
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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.
Nazir Malida
Watergates Ltd 109 Coleman Road Leicester LE5 4LE
8th January 2025
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FREE FAMILY REPRESENTATION & ADVOCACY PROJECT
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2024
| 5/4/24 Unrestricted Restricted Total fund fund funds Notes £ £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 15,000 - 15,000 EXPENDITURE ON Other 29,201 - 29,201 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) (14,201) - (14,201) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 21,211 - 21,211 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 7,010 - 7,010 |
5/4/23 Total funds £ 21,220 9,833 11,387 9,824 21,211 |
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The notes on page 0 form part of these financial statements
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FREE FAMILY REPRESENTATION & ADVOCACY PROJECT
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 5TH APRIL 2024
| Unrestricted Restricted fund fund Notes £ £ CURRENT ASSETS Cash at bank 7,370 - CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 4 (360) - NET CURRENT ASSETS 7,010 - TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 7,010 - NET ASSETS 7,010 - FUNDS 5 Unrestricted funds TOTAL FUNDS |
5/4/24 Total funds £ 7,370 (360) 7,010 7,010 7,010 7,010 7,010 |
5/4/23 Total funds £ 21,511 (300) 21,211 21,211 21,211 21,211 21,211 |
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The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 8th January 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
Trustee
The notes on page 0 form part of these financial statements
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FREE FAMILY REPRESENTATION & ADVOCACY PROJECT
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2024
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.
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.
2. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
During the year, total Trustees' remuneration was £18,932 (2023: £2,897).
TRUSTEES' EXPENSES
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 5th April 2024 nor for the year ended 5th April 2023.
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FREE FAMILY REPRESENTATION & ADVOCACY PROJECT
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2024
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3. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Unrestricted Restricted Total
fund fund funds
£ £ £
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
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Donations and legacies 21,220 21,220
EXPENDITURE ON
Other 9,833 - 9,833
NET INCOME 11,387 - 11,387
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
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Total funds brought forward 9,824 9,824
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 21,211 - 21,211
4. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
5/4/24 5/4/23
£ £
Other creditors 360 300
5. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Net
movement At
At 6.4.23 in funds 5.4.24
£ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General fund 21,211 (14,201) 7,010
TOTAL FUNDS 21,211 (14,201) 7,010
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming Resources Movement
resources expended in funds
£ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General fund 15,000 (29,201) (14,201)
TOTAL FUNDS 15,000 (29,201) (14,201)
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FREE FAMILY REPRESENTATION & ADVOCACY PROJECT
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2024
5. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Comparatives for movement in funds
| At 6.4.22 £ Unrestricted funds General fund 9,824 |
Net movement in funds £ 11,387 |
At 5.4.23 £ 21,211 |
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| TOTAL FUNDS 9,824 |
11,387 | 21,211 |
| Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: Incoming resources £ Unrestricted funds General fund 21,220 |
Resources expended £ (9,833) |
Movement in funds £ 11,387 |
| TOTAL FUNDS 21,220 |
(9,833) | 11,387 |
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund TOTAL FUNDS |
Net movement At 6.4.22 in funds £ £ 9,824 (2,814) 9,824 (2,814) |
At 5.4.24 £ 7,010 7,010 |
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A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund |
Incoming Resources resources expended £ £ 36,220 (39,034) |
Movement in funds £ (2,814) |
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| TOTAL FUNDS | 36,220 (39,034) |
(2,814) |
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FREE FAMILY REPRESENTATION & ADVOCACY PROJECT
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2024
6. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
During the year, consultancy fees of £3,863 (2023: nil) were paid to companies of which Trustees were directors.
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