COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTRE ESSEX .A ch•rltable Ineorporated organisation REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND FINANcL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022 REGISTERED cHARy NUMBER . 1180884 Poge I
Community Legal Centre Essex A charit&ble incorporatLd Drganisition Charity number: 1180884 Trustees, Report for the period from l April 2021 to 31 March 2022 The trustces siibmit their annual report and the financial accounls of ihe charity for the year ending 31 March 2022. Objectives And Activitl¢S 'Ihe object5 of the charity are: l. The relief of financial hardship by Ihe provision of free leg¢il advice aiid a8Si.qtance to PCTsons who through lack of mcans would othcrwise be unable to ll¢cess SLich sei'viees. and 2. lknc advancemenl of tlie educalion ofihe public by increasing knowlcdge and undcrstanding of thc law. Ime charily funds laer8 to provide expert advic¢ and assistance. The charity has funded free Icgal advice to members of various Facebook Groiips including Dadsnet and has awurded breS tu individuals contllLting ihc charily direct. The advice has been in tlie areas of family law. employment dnd housing. The Iriislees have had regard lo Ihe guidance A&8u¢d by the Cliarity Coinmission on public benefit. All ¢hariiable a¢liviti¢5 focus on the provision ofiegal advic¢ to th05e who cannot afford high streel pi'lces and are undertok¢n to further our chai'itable purposes for tl)e public Inefit. Achi¢vLments and P¢rform4ne¢ During the year to 31 MaTch 2022, the charity has provided bur.%aries lo il clients who could not alyord high slreel solicilors. rees, allowing them lo obtain free legal advice in the areas of employment and hou%iiig from Central Law Graup. The charity has also fiindcd the PTQVISIQT) of pro bono advice to over 300 individuals and families on a rangc of legyal matters including family law, housing and employiiient. Tlie advice is pmvided remotely by telephone. email or Fa¢cbook group. Financial Review At the end of March 2022, thc charity had a surplus for Ihe year of £ 3.274 (2021.. siirplLiS or £10,258). InLome for the year included a donation from Lei)Iral J.aw Group CIC, whicli Page 2
provid¢s iLducecl £ee legal advice to people who van ¢iff()rd some hut not all of full pricc fees cliarged by liigh strcot firnis. The charity's policy is to hold su1Clent rcserves to covei. 3 months cxpcndilure. Reserves al Ihe ycai- end were £4,200 (2021-. £926), which will be used io coiiiinue lh¢ service in 2022- 23. The fjnancial 8tateinenls Have been preparcd in accordance with ilie acLouiitiiig policies set oul in notes lo thc rinancial stateineiits- Comply with ihe charity's governing docwnent, the Charities Act 2011, and ihe Statement of Recommended PL7Cticc applicable lo ¢harili¢s pr¢paTing their aLcounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK (the "Charities SORP"). In November 2022, the charity was awardcd a gi?nt from the Acccss to Justice Troundation for the Help Access to Legal Support proj¢ct which will supw)rt litigants in person irL Courts across Essex. Slructur4 Govornance and Management Tlie charity is a Foundation Charitable liicorporated Organisatioii. gaverned by its corjslitulioii. lis only voting mcmbers are its tNstees. Trustees are selected on the basis of their skills and experience. Ncw trustees are appointcd for a terni ufthree years by a resolution passed al a properly convened meeting of Ihe trustees. Tlic ¢harAty works clo8ely wilh Citizens Advice Chelmsford and with Central Law Group cic. R¢fercn¢e and Admini¥trgtive details Thc charity's name: Community Legal Ceiitre Essex. Registercd tyliarity niunber.. 1180884. Charity's prinLip&l address.. Burgess Well IIouse. Coval Lane, Chelrnsford, Cmi ir,w. Bankers.. Unily Trust Bank, Nine Brindleyplace, Birrningharn, B12HB. Page 3
Ti'usteL'S Ti'uslee,s sei'viiig siiice Ai)i'jl ?0? I h<ive been lolloivs.. Api)(Finlucl RLbigynL(I Mr11 C Myiii)ti (Cliair) M4 F. R P.iscnl)erg Mi A m.lohn l.)¢cemb¢r 2021 Ms M Ilddin Mr P R A Wilsoii Mi. A Thoi'pc-Apps Novembei" 2022 Signed Z£ Dale 25 January 2023 Page 4
COMMUNITY LEGAL CFNTRE ESSEX Independent Examiner's Report to the I'rustees of Coinmunity Leg#1 Centre FJ5sex I reporl lo the IINslees on my eXIntiOn of the financial 8tatemenls of Community l.egal Ccntsr fs$¢x ('Ihe charity,) for thc year ¢nded 31 MaTclI 2022 which comprise the Statement of FinanLial ALtivities, the BalanLe SheL.t and related notes. This report is mcide solely lo the chai'ily's Iruslees, as a body. in accordance with seLtion 145 of tlie Charities Act 2011. My work has bcen undertaken so that I might statc to thc charily's trust¢¢s thosc mattcrs l am r¢quired lo stale to them in this report and for no othcr purpos¢. To the fullest exleiil periiiitted by law. I do not accept or asswnc responsibility to anyone ()ther than the charity and the charity's Irusiees as a body, for my work, for this rew)rl, or for the opinions I have formed. Ruponsibilities und basis of reporl As Ihe truslees of the churi¢y you are resEx)nsible for the pi'eparalioNJ ufihe financidl stateTnents in accordanLe with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('tlie Act.). I repoil An respe¢l of my examination of the chilty'S finunLial statements carried out under section 145 of111e Act and in Carrying out my examination I havc followed all Ihe applioablc Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of ihe Act. An independenl examination does not involvc gathering all the evidence that would be required in wi audil and consequently does cover all tlie matters that an auditor considers in giving their opinion on the financial slatemenls. The planning and Londuct of an audil goes beyond the lirniied as5urAnce ihat an indcpcndent examination can provide. Consequenily l express no opii)ion as to whelher the financial slalements present a 'lruc and fair, vicw and my report is limited to those specific nkatters sel Dul in the independent examiner's stalement. Independent examiner's st*tement I have completed my exatiiination. I coThfinn thal no material niatter5 have come to my attcntion in connection with the examinalion giving me cause to believe that in any mat¢riat respect.. aGcounliiig records were not kept in respeLt of the charity as rcquired by section 130 of tlie Ihe fTnancial staterneiits do not accord witli those record8. or Ihc financial statements do not comply with the applicable requiTement8 concerning Ihe fortn and Lontent of accounts sel out in the Charilics (Accounts tuid Reports) Regulatioi 2008 other than any requirement thal the accounls give a 'lrue and fair view which i.s not a matter con8idered a.8 Part of indcpendenl examination. I have no conLcrns and have come aeross iio other matters in conne¢lAon witli the examindlion to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to ¢nable a proper lderStanding of'ihe financial slatemenl& to r¢ached. Elainc Oddie OBE MA fcA fccA NSO Associatcs LLP 75 Springfield Iload Chelmsford CM2 6JB Dale: l? S 2023 Page 5
coriiMUNITY LEGAL CENTRE ESSEX Financial Statements 2021-22 Statement of Financial Adivitles for year to 31 Mar¢h 2022 Incomlng re80ur¢es (Note 31 Income from: Donations and legaGies Charitable actlvities other trading activities Totsl 2022 2021 34,000 32,000 4,000 1 ,306 37.306 4,223 38,223 ResourGos •xpended {Note 41 Expendlknre on: Charitable activities Total 34,949 34,949 27.048 27,048 Net movement In funds 3,274 10,25 Total funds brought fopNard Total funds carried forward 926 4.200 -9,332 Balance Sheet Current assets Debtors 2022 2021 INote 71 2,260 1,306 Cash at bank and in hand {Note10) Total current assets 41,247 43,507 18,372 19,678 Creditor8: amounts falllng due withln one year (Nole 81 -29,307 -8,752 Net current assetsllliabilitie$) 14,200 10,926 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year (Note 10) -10,000 -10,000 Total net a89ets or Ilabllltles 4,200 926 Fund5 of th8 Chority Unrestrictsd funds 4,21XI 926 Total funds 4,200 926 Signed by a trustee on behalf of all the Iruslees 25 January 2023 Page 6
1.1 Basls of accounting These ac¢ounls have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at oosl or transaction value unless othemse stated in the relevant notels) to Ihese accounts. The financial stalemenls have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and R8POrting by Charities: Statement of Recommend8d Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in Ihe UK and Republic of Ireland FRS102 effective 1 January 2015- Charities Sorp IFRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. The charity meets the definition of a publi¢ benefit entity as d8fined by FRS 102. 1.2 Going concom The aocounts have tseen prepared on a going concern basis. The charlty continues to seek donations and grants. It funds free legal advice only when funds are available to do so. Note 2 Accountlng Policies 2.1 Income Recognition of income These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when- the charity becomes entitled to the resources,. il is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the re50urGes,' and the monetary value can be measured with surricient reliability. Grants In the case of performance related grant8, income must only be recognised to the extent Ihal the charity has provided the specrfied go¢)ds or serVIS as entitlement lo the grant only occurs when the performance related conditions are met (5.16 FRS 102 SORP), 2,2 Expenditure and Llabllltles Llablllty recognition Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation commilling the chartty to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty. Governance and support costs Support costs have been allocated between governanc8 Costs and other support. Governance osts Comprise all cost$ involving public accountability of the charity and its compliance wtth regulalion and good practi. Page 7
2.3 A$$et$ Debtors Debtors (including trade debtors and loans receivable) are measured on initial recognition at settlement amounl after any trade discount$ or amount advanced by the chanly. Subsequently, they are measured al the cash or other consideration expecled to be received. Note 3 Analysis of Income 2022 2021 Analysis Donations and gifts Donations and lèga¢les: 32,000 34,000 Charitable activitles: Grants 4,000 Other tradlng actlvltles: 4,223 1,306 TOTAL INCOME Total 38.223 37,306 Othor Information: All Income In the prlor year was unrestrlcied. Note 4 Analysis of Expendituro Expenditure on charitable activitles 2022 2021 Bursaries for supported clients 4,925 70 Lawyers, fee$ for pro bono legal advice and assistance 15,630 9,782 Legal Case management system and ferenc material 9,782 4,612 34,949 11,230 5,966 27,048 Other office, admln and support costs Total expenditure on charitable activities TOTAL EXPENDITURE 34,949 27,046 Note S Detai18 of certaln items of expendlture Fees for examlnatlon of tho accounls 2022 2021 Indepondont examlner's fees 600 600 Note 6 Pald Employees The charity has no paid employees. Page 8
Note 7 Debtors and prepayments Analy•ls of debtors 2022 2021 Other debtors 2.260 2,260 1,306 1,306 Tolal Note 8 Credltors and aecrual8 Analy818 of credltors Amounts falling due wlthln one year 2022 2021 Trade creditors Accruals 28,707 8,152 600 8,752 29,307 Amounts falllng due after more than one year 2022 2021 Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year: Interest free loan from Saxon Advice Servl¢es Lld 10,000 10,000 Note 9 Cash at bank and in hand 2022 2021 Cash at bank and on hand 41,247 18,372 Page 9
Note 10 Charity funds 10.10etails of material funds held and movements during the Current réporting period to 31 IAarch 2022 Community Logal Centre Essex has unrostricted fvnds for the provlslon on fr•e10gal advlce. 2022 2021 Fund balances brought forward Income Expenditure Fund balance carried forward 926 38,223 -34,949 4,200 -9.332 37,306 -27,048 928 Note 11. Transa¢tlons wlth related parties None of the trustees has been paid any remuneration or received any other benefits from an employment with their charity or a related entity in the year to 31 March 2022 or in the previous yesr to 31 March 2021. Creditois due in more than onè year includes an amount due lo th@ following related party 2022 2021 Saxon Advice SeNiGes Limited 10.000 10,000 Transactions with Cenlrgl Law Group CIC Income Donations Grant Other income 34,000 32,OC() 4,000 1,306 37,306 4,223 38.223 Expenditure Bursaries Fees for legal advi for pro bono Gases 4,925 15,630 20,555 6,452 6.452 Page 10