SoLrrH WESTMINSTER LEGAL ADVICE CENTRE SOUTH WESTMINSTER LEGAL ADVICE CENTRE CIO Registered Charity No. 1180716 Report and Accounts for the year to 31.December 2023
SOUTH WESTMsTER LEGAL ADVICE CENTRE CIO REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES The Trustees have pleasure in presenting thelr report and the accounts of South Westh]ints L¢gal Advice Centre CIO ('%hc CIO'J for the year to 31. tkcember 2023. StAlus of tho CIO CIO stands for 'fharitsble Incorpo81 Organisation". a forni of ckwitablc body 8overned by the Charitable In¢orpordted OrgAntsations (Genernl) Regulations 2012 (Sl No 3012 of 2012). South Weslminster Lxgal Advice C¢ntre CIO is a charity, registerd with the Charty Commission under Registered Ctkarity Number 1180716. PriD¢i al activities The putyoses are set out in the Constltution of the CIO. but may be summarised as the provision of fr¢e lesAI advice to people on low incomes. We summarise our objective as-. -¢0 providefree leg41 advlce topeople on low Incon independely,fet1y1tS$Iy, effleIlY and wilh integrity, bul always in afriendly aftdt0urteo manner-. Results for the nod l)uringJ the peri(yJ, the trust's total income was £29J26 (2022: £37,444) and its exFKndilure was £27.029 (2022: £34.442). The incrsed ¢xpenditurc is largely due to the design, in%tallation and commissioning of a case management systeTn, which was contracted for during thc period and this figure includes the provision made for its further d¢v¢lopment. Th¢ r¢suhing surplus of £2.297 (2022: £3,002) has been cal*j to the General Reser4e. Notsble EveDts durin the Major ¢vents during ihe period have included the followin8: • Sarah Clovcr stepd up io the role ofchief Executive early in the perio& and. undcT her superb leadership, the charity's operations havc been strcamlincd and prof¢ssionalised. • SWI.AC has coniinucd to liaise with certain tA)ndon law fimis and commercial organisations, by which they &rrang¢ rotas and ensure a regular flow of volun1$. We are very grateful to all these organisations for their suptK)rL and to their volunfrers for their enthusi&sm and exwiise. . We negotiated and enlered into a contrart to acquire th¢ Actionstep C&$¢ Managemeni Sysl¢m, which we rolled out and broughi into use shortly after the end of the period. Despite some inevitabl¢ teething troubles it has been very well e1Ved by volunteers and clients alik¢. Volullt¢¢rs The charity ¢ould noi have functioned without our wonderful, dedicat¢d and cheerful volunteers, all of whom generously give of their own time 8nd enew to advise those less fortunate thpAn themselves. Our client¥ and we. aTe hugety grntcfvl to them. Trn8tees We were sorry to see Elaine Vignoli TctiTe as a Trustee on taking up a judicial post. In addition, David Warner and James maclAchlan also resigned during thc peri(KL and we will miss their wisdom and experience. Aftcr an open yrUitMent exercis@ w¢ were delight to welcome a5 n¢w Trttstees Jenny Ison. Anita (i¢orge, Andrew Trovaluschi. and Richard Eaton. FAch brings skills. strengths and energy, and wc are thrilled that they are each making significant contributions to the chxrity's operations. Website: h WWW.5wla¢.or
The names of the persons who were Trustees at the end of the were thetrfotr Richard Walford. Robert Waiters. Chris Whit¢" Nikhil D's0 Sarab Clover. Jenny IS0 Anita Geor8e. Andrew TTovaluschi, and Richard Faton. PYdtroDs gnd Su rterg The CIO is extremely grateful to its p2tron& IA)rd Neubeiger of AbtsbUry. (fornier Prcsident of the Suprcmc Lourt) and iA)rd Briggs of Wcstknutnc {jtIC¢ of th¢ Supreme Court). We are also exMelY grate1 to all the loyal fricnds ond supwrters (knth individual and corporat¢) of South Weslminster LKgal Advice C¢ntr¢ CIO. li is so encourdging to know that we have so much strong support for what we are aiming to do. The Abb Centre SWLAC would like to the staff and manag¢m¢nt of the AbErty C¢ntre. 34 Great Smith Stre Westminster. London SWI P 3BU. who coniinue to be wonderfully supportive hosts for our setvi¢e. Trnstees Re The Trustees are required to prepare in respect of each financial year of the ¢harity. financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resourL'Ls and 8pplication ofresourccs of the charity for peri(MJ. In preparkng th¢s¢ finAnci21 staiements, the tTU5tL%S 4re requited to: select suitable COuntIng poli¢i¢s and thcn apply them ¢onsistently. • make judgemenls and estimates ihat are reasonabl¢ and prudenL ' state wh¢th¢r applicable accounting stsndards have been followed, subject to any matsrial departures dilOSed and explained in the financial ststemen ' prepare the financial ststements on the 80ing concern basis unle&8 it is inappropriate to presume thai the charity will continue in operation, • ¢omply with the charity's governin8 documenL ' comply with the Financial Stsndard for Srnaller Entities (FRSSE). ' comply with the Charities Act 2011. The trustees are reswnsible for kc¢ping Tecords that disclose, with r0&ble accuracy* at afty time, the financial position of the charity and ¢n&ble ihem to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and ReIts) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the CIO'S Constitution. Risk mAn nt The Trustees have & dity to identtfy and review risks to vthich the CIO is exposed and for tsking reasonable steps for the prevention 2nd detection of fraud and other inrgularittes. Public henefit The CIO had due regard to the guidance published by the Charity Commission on publi¢ benefi¢ and believes tbdt its work is for the public bcncfiL On bchalf of the Trustees.. Richard Walford Chair. Dats= lijuly 2024 Wetsite. h wlac.or
Independent examlnevs report tothe Trustees ofil Sryrth Westmi L¥1 Advke Centre ao I report on the accounts of the South WesDnin5ter Legal Advice Centre forthe year ended 31 December. 2023 which are set out on the following p3ges. Respectlve responslblffties of trtee$ and examlner As the charity's trustee5. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts and you coTr%idef that an audit is not required for this year under settion 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (°the CharÈties Act'l and that an independent examination ts needed. It is my responsibillty to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Acr. to follow the procedu5 laid down in the general Direttiolls given by the Charity Commission under section 14515){b) of the Charities A¢ and to state whether particular matter5 have come to my attention. Basls of indepeftdent examlnerfs report My examinatlon was carried out in accordan wlth the general Directlons gNen by the Charity Commission. An examination indudes a review of the accounting records kept by the charlty and comparison of the accounts presentsd with those record5. tt also includes consideration of any ijnusual items or disclosures in the accounts. and Seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do Dot provide all the evklence that would be required In an audlt and con5equentty no opinion is given a5 to whetherthe accounts present a "true and fai view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement bel¢)w. Indepéndent examlnerfs statement In connection with my examination. no matter has come to my attention: {11 which 8fves me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements.. to keep accountin8 records in accordantè with section 130 of the Charlties Actr, and to prepare accounts vthlch accord wlth the accounting record5 and compty with the accountin8 requirements of the Charities Act have not been met: or {21 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in orderto enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Philip G.Tumer 54 York Manslon5. Prince of Wales Drwe. London SWII 4BP 2nd July, 2024
SDuth Weskninster Legal Advice Centre CIO Income & expenditure accounl for the y&qr endod 31st December. 2023 2022 WestminlwAmah3amthJ crth$ PCC St Steph8ns & SLJoM'8 2,500 6.016 Lon(kn Siwyt TnA5t Osbm ClaTke 4,812 21.928 11. 37,444 Total IT(¢ for the wkxl 29,326 4,387 4.8CIJ 185 Corrtenls 2,164 . Prof Indwnnty 295 2.214 224 104 SUrri&8 1.285 15.0221 Rekn& of EY(Y•WI f(Y ba 15.000 3.000 27.029 34,442 Totsl •xp•Mllturn p•rlod 3.002 SurplwllD•ficit} IK<xn• tr4•r •xpThliiw• fty th• p•rknd 2,297
South Westminster Legal Advice Centre CIO Balance Sheet as at 31st December. 2023 .1122 Current AM#ts 734 73,624 Cash at Bank 83,076 84.401 74.358 CUrrt Liabllltl Credrtors- falling dL* withvi OM Pro$Th for Case manaJ8t Systam 1,236 30,000 17.976 21,[5 38.981 43,123 45,420 43.123 45,420 R8pres8ntsd by. G•n•r•l R•Mr¥ 25,000 30,OtJ) 18.123 . G•n#MI F1 15.420 43.123 45,420 The Income and exFendrtur8 &rcount aTrJ Balancè sheet of South Westminster Legal Athice Centre CIO have been preped in 0)rdance ¥fy)th its rKryd5 arml iellect the Itn al 31st DMber. 2023 Robert Walte h)n.Trèasurèr
South Westfflinster Legal Advi Centre ao Notes tothe financial Statements fortt Year Ended 3151 December, 2023 l. kcountit¥ Policie5 1.1 Basls of Pre94falkJn of Flnantial Stements The flnanctal thternents have been preJ)ared in accordancewith thethartlles g)RP (FPS 1021- Accountlng and RePO"r by CharilKs: Stalemgnt ol Rècornmended Practi. 1.2 Going cLxKem South Westmlnstef Legal Advice Centre CIO has netCUTrent assets. ar+d totrl nrt ass•ts, of É4520(2022'. £40,1211. After making appropriatè enqulries thèTnsstees have a reasottab eX19n that the Charity has adequate resour to continue kn operatsonal exlstence for the foreseezl)le future. For this reason, they conllnueto 0ptthe goi corKan basis in preparinKthe firwKial Statements. 1.3 Incom• All income Is recoghwl 3tthetlme of bts receipt by the tharttyor rts awt 1.3 Exp•ndltur¢ Expenditure 15 recogntsed oncethere 15 a legal oi constructNe Obla.0n to transfer econom1¢ beneflt to a third party. it 1$ probable th a trer of benefftswill be required in settlement •d the amount of the obll8ation can be mea5UTed rellav. 1.4 Tanglbte flxed assets and dewedatlon Tangible flxed assets with an indivtdual cost of £l.CW or moreare calISÉd and ¥then econcrfnlc berth are probable ar the c05t or lue olthe ass can be mea5u¥ed rellably., aThJ depr?clat•d tsver thdr e5tlrnatpd lfves vslr4ihe 5trarihl-line method Such 45Séts wlth an Indivkluil c051 of less than £Lrn) are wrltten off a8alnst fevenue In the year of acqu151tion. l.$ Deblovs Trade and other debtts aT• recognlsed at the settlement arnount aftw arytradedLraWtoffw. Prepaymè.ftLs are vèltsed at the amount prepaid net ol any trade discounis due. 1.6 C3sh at bank Cash al bank Indudes (ash In a xccRmL (A In ar¢ wilh a thortrnatyrity of thiee months or less from the dateof the openhof the deposit or simllar aca)unt 1.7 Liabllitles and Provlslorts Llabillttes are reccgnlse(I whenthere Is an oblyts'on atthe Balanceet4ate 45a resutt of a pastevent, is probable that a transfer of ewKJmic lefft will be required in settlemrt and the amount ¢fthe $ettlemettt can be estimated reliab Prtsvi5ions are measured at the best estlmates ofthe amounts required to settle the obliglon. Whwe thp ffeLt otihe tlme value of Mon Is m?teflal. Ihe pT0Vfji 15 based on the PTe5enl value of those amounts. dCOunted at the prfrtax discounted rate that refiettsthe ri5k5 speafic to the liabillty The unw1nd1 of ihe dlscount Is recugnsseil tt. siatemenl ol nF4nCldie5as a lInan c05L 1.8 Fund ntIl South Westminster Leeal Athiocentre 00 curreFrtly (th holds General General funds are unréstnd•d fvTrds whith ar• avallab >t th• dtsscr#tithl of thèTrusteeg in hJrthÈrttKe of the rteneral obiectFves of the aHrity and ¥thich Th)t teen de9gnated kn otlEt purposes.
South Westminster Legal Athl Contre ao Notestothe Fh¢1al Statements fortheY&w Ermkd 3tst Derember. 2023 2. Employees South We#min5ter Lyl Mvicecentreao had empkyee5 duri theyear12022: nill 3. Trustees, rnmuneratlon and expense5 DuTln6 the year, no Trustee rtceiyed any reThwner8iion or other berfits{2022. £ nil) During the¥ear. no Trustee incuffth1 eAw)se512022". £ nlll 4. Oebtors 23 2022 Donations aNJ Gfft piocessed The year4Th1 perKKI 694 119 Prepayrnent% 734 5. credIto Amounts fallln8 due wlthln one 23 2022 Trade Credr¢ors Trade Creditors-case Management syst•n 17,976 L235 6. Provlslon for Case Management Sffl Durlng ?0??. a revlpw of the existM4 systsm conduded Ihat11 was inadequate for ihe Chartivs purposes. A nurnber of alternètlve5 were reviewed. exjmined in detail. and ihe proht C05ted and a fulure system ident¢fled From 2022 re¥enues a sum 01 £30.0 was set asxle the desw. comrni55ioTrin& and instaH3tion ofthe sV51em. The instanOn ot the system took loreerthan anticipated and paymentfor muth of the empendlture intufred rolled over into March 2024. Further work WAI be necessary to further deve9 the system ahd to ensuie thèt adequate fund5aTe avail)¢ for this a fUrt1£15? Is beln8 prrylded from 2023 revenues. 2023 2022 Balance of PTOwslon 8t i January EXpendTrtu incurred durlnKyear 123.995) Provlsson for fiindl Balan¢e of Prowsion at31 D&-ember 21XK15
South Westminster L4al Advice C•rtre ao 7. Reseryes The Gener61 ReseTve5 are di¥ided ljetween the Ernerge Reserve Fund- for use attlmes of exlstentlal rlsk- and thè General ReseTwe Rjnd. Itls the Intentlon. over tlme. to bulld the former up to the hl8her of £XI.(XN) or tho equlvatent of year5 OTatIng expendlture. Emergency R•s•The Fund 2022 Balance at l January 25.IXM) 25.rxKJ Trdnsfer from General ReseThe nd 25.fXQ Ge1 R•5•th 2022 Balance at I. January 18,123 15.121 SurplusllDeflcrtl for the year to 2297 Traftsfer to Emer8enty Reserve Fund 151MX)I 15A20 18.123 8. Rglatod partytransactions The tharlty has r¥Jt entered Into arry reled party transattkffls durhyihe , norarethere arry outsnIJI1Ya baLinw owln8 I)•en reled par11es and the (fvrlty at 31° Demb•.r, 2023.