Charity registration number: 1207800 ## Empowering Voices ## Unaudited financial statements Year ended 31 March 2025 Independent examination completed 22 July 2025 Empowering Voices - 1 - ## Contents |Administrative Details|3| |---|---| |Charity Commission Annual Report|4 - 8| |Statement of Financial Activities|9| |Balance Sheet|10| |Notes to the Financial Statements|11 – 14| |Independent Examiner’s Report|15 - 16| ## Empowering Voices - 2 - ## Administrative Details ## CHARITY DATA Registered in England and Wales Charity Number 1207800 ## REGISTERED OFFICE ADDRESS 54 West End Road, Frampton, Boston TRUSTEES DURING YEAR AND AT DATE OF APPROVAL OF REPORTS Ian Trevor (Chairperson, appointed 11/04/24)7 Fiona Cross (appointed 11/04/24) David Parrish (appointed 11/04/24) Michael Wright (appointed 11/04/24, resigned 03/08/24, reappointed 11/03/25) Cheryl King (appointed 11/04/24, resigned 12/09/24) Graham Parry (appointed 17/06/24) Eleonora Santagada (appointed 17/06/24, resigned 25/10/24) Michael Grant (appointed 13/11/24) Leanne Kemp (appointed 11/03/25) Julian Marcus Brooks (appointed 11/03/25) ## INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Linden Accountants, 21 Sevier Street, St Werburghs, Bristol, BS2 9LB ## BANKERS Lloyds Bank PLC, 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN - 3 - ## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From 11/04/24 Period start date To 31/03/2025 Period end date** **Charity name: Empowering Voices** **Charity registration number: 1207800** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||| |---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|The object of the CIO is to relieve the needs of people
in the UK who stammer by holding courses and
providing ongoing support not normally provided by
the statutory authorities, which allows a person who
stammers to talk in a calm and controlled manner.| |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.|Activities are held around the UK to help stammerers
control their speech. During the reporting period, we
have held two courses in Peterborough, with courses
planned for Bath and Sheffield.
We have an extensive support network for our
members, which includes online group sessions,
Facebook and WhatsApp support, a support directory
and in-person support groups.
We act as advocates for the stammering community,
being invited to speak at events both in-person and
virtually.| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|The trustees have considered guidance on public
benefit. The Charity’s operations are centred on
supporting the needs of stammerers in the UK.| ## **Achievements and Performance** ||| |---|---| |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|The reporting period is characterised best in two
ways:
1. The establishment and development of
Empowering Voices as a resource for the
stammering community.
2. Introduction of our courses and support streams.
Empowering Voices was founded with five trustees;
during the reporting period, this has grown to eight.
We have established charitable relationships with
international businesses to provide platforms such as
email, web hosting, invoice management, fundraising,
social media and image creation.
Extensive work has been undertaken to build
relationships within the stammering community.
Notably, Empowering Voices has formed links with the
British Stammering Association (STAMMA), who
promote our courses on its website.
Starting a service-driven charity was always going to
be challenging. Nevertheless, our success in
attracting supporters to help run courses and provide
ongoing support has exceeded expectations.
We conducted two courses during the reporting
period, with a total of 50 attendees. Those attendees
have been at various stages in their journey to
achieve effortless, fear-free speech, 11 of whom had
never learnt a technique such as ours before.
Such was the response that we have announced two
further courses for 2025 and have started planning for
2026.
Our success in helping stammerers is not limited to
courses. We support our members with free, unlimited
access to both online and in-person networks,
ensuring they have every opportunity to achieve
effortless, fear-free speech.| ## **Financial Review** |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|In the 2024/2025 year, £1,243 of
donation income was received by the
charity and it incurred £928 of
expenditure, leaving a balance of
£315 to carry forward to 2025/2026.
In future years, course fees will be an
important part of the charity’s income.
£750 of fees received in advance for
the charity’s Peterborough course in
April 2025 have been deferred to the
2025/2026 financial year.
Initial loans from trustees totalling
£150 will be repaid in the 2025/2026
financialyear.| |---|---|---| |||All income is currently unrestricted,
but future successful applications for
grant funding may lead to restricted
funds being established in order to
satisfy expenditure and reporting
requirements.| |---|---|---| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|It is the charity’s policy to maintain a
balance on unrestricted funds in order
to cover emergency expenditure and
investinthe charity’sfuture activities.| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|£315| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|N/A| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|N/A| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|N/A| ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:|| |---|---| |Type of governing document|Constitution| |How is the charity
constituted?|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|Every trustee is appointed for a term of three years by
a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of
the charity trustees.
When selecting individuals for appointment as charity
trustees, the trustees have regard to the skills,
knowledge, and experience required for the effective
administrationofthe CIO.| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|Empowering Voices| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|None| |Registered charity number|1207800| |Charity’s principal address|54 West End Road
Frampton
Boston
Lincolnshire
PE20 1BT| **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
2|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not**
**for whole year**|**Name of person**
**(or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee**
**(if any)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Julian Marcus
Brooks|IT Officer|11/03/2025
onwards|N/A| ||Fiona Margaret
Orme Cross||N/A|N/A| |3Leanne Kemp
Social Media Officer
11/03/2025
onwards
N/A
4Michael Grant
Treasurer
13/11/24
onwards
N/A
5 David Neil Parrish
N/A
N/A
6Graham Parry
17/06/24
onwards
N/A
7 Ian Trevor
Chairperson
N/A
N/A
8
Michael Ashley
Wright
Website Officer
11/04/24 until
03/08/24 and
11/03/2025
onwards
N/A
9Cheryl King
Secretary
11/04/24 until
12/09/24
N/A
10Eleonora Santagada Website and Social
Media Officer
17/06/24 until
25/10/24
N/A
Corporate trustees– names ofthe directors at the date thereportwas approved|3Leanne Kemp
Social Media Officer
11/03/2025
onwards
N/A
4Michael Grant
Treasurer
13/11/24
onwards
N/A
5 David Neil Parrish
N/A
N/A
6Graham Parry
17/06/24
onwards
N/A
7 Ian Trevor
Chairperson
N/A
N/A
8
Michael Ashley
Wright
Website Officer
11/04/24 until
03/08/24 and
11/03/2025
onwards
N/A
9Cheryl King
Secretary
11/04/24 until
12/09/24
N/A
10Eleonora Santagada Website and Social
Media Officer
17/06/24 until
25/10/24
N/A
Corporate trustees– names ofthe directors at the date thereportwas approved|3Leanne Kemp
Social Media Officer
11/03/2025
onwards
N/A
4Michael Grant
Treasurer
13/11/24
onwards
N/A
5 David Neil Parrish
N/A
N/A
6Graham Parry
17/06/24
onwards
N/A
7 Ian Trevor
Chairperson
N/A
N/A
8
Michael Ashley
Wright
Website Officer
11/04/24 until
03/08/24 and
11/03/2025
onwards
N/A
9Cheryl King
Secretary
11/04/24 until
12/09/24
N/A
10Eleonora Santagada Website and Social
Media Officer
17/06/24 until
25/10/24
N/A
Corporate trustees– names ofthe directors at the date thereportwas approved| |---|---|---| |**Director name**||| |None||| Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity **Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year** None ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** Description of the assets None held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details N/A ## **Other optional information** None ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** |**Signature(s)**
**Full name(s)**
**Position (eg Secretary,**
**Chair, etc)**
**Date**||| |---|---|---| ||Michael Grant|Ian Trevor| ||
Trustee|Chair| ||21 July 2025|| ||21 July 2025|| Charity number: 1207800 Empowering Voices ## STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (Including Income and Expenditure Account) ## YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 |Note
INCOME
Charitable activities
2
Other trading activities
3
TOTAL INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
EXPENDITURE
Charitable activities
5
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
Balances brought forward
Gross transfers between funds
15
Balances carried forward|Unrestricted
Funds
£
1,243
0
1,243
928
928
315
-
-
315|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Total Funds
2025
£
1,243
0
1,243
928
928
315
-
-
315|Total Funds
2024
£
-
-| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||-| |||||-| |||||-| |||||-
-
-| |||||-| The charity has no recognised gains or losses other than the results for the year as set out above. All of the activities of the charity are classed as continuing. The notes on pages 11 to 14 form part of these financial statements - 9 - Charity number: 1207800 Empowering Voices ## BALANCE SHEET ## YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 |Note
FIXED ASSETS:
Tangible assets
CURRENT ASSETS:
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Creditors: falling due within one year
Net current assets
NET ASSETS:
FUNDS
General funds
Restricted funds|2025
£
46
1,080
1,126
(900)
315
-|£
89
226| |---|---|---| |||315| |||| |||315| The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31st March 2025 . The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2025 in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for: (a) Ensuring that the company keeps accounting records with comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006; and (b) Preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of each financial year and of its profit or loss for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the company. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Trustees on 21 July 2025 and were signed on its behalf by: ............................................... ............................................... Trustee - Michael Grant Trustee - Ian Trevor The notes on pages 11 to 14 form part of these financial statements - 10 - Empowering Voices NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ## YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 ## 1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES ## Accounting convention The financial statements have been prepared under the historic cost convention. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (FRS 102 SORP) effective from 1st January 2019, and applicable UK Accounting Standards, the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006. ## Funds structure Unrestricted income funds comprise those funds which the trustees are free to use for any purpose in furtherance of the charitable objects. Unrestricted funds include designated funds where the trustees, at their discretion, have set aside resources for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by the donor or the terms of a specific appeal. ## Income All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the resources, it is certain that the resources will be received and the monetary value of income can be measured with sufficient reliability. Income from donations is included when these are receivable, except as follows: - When the donors specify that the donations given to the charity must be used in future accounting periods. - When donors impose conditions which have to be fulfilled before the charity becomes entitled to use such income, the income is deferred until the preconditions have been met. Income from grants, where there are performance or service deliverables required by the terms of the grant, are accounted for as the charity earns the right to payment through its performance. ## Expenditure Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that agree all costs related to the category. Support costs have been allocated 100% towards raising funds for and the charitable activities of the charity. ## Charitable activities Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both the direct pay and non-pay costs and support costs relating to those activities. ## Going concern After making appropriate enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue its operations for the foreseeable future and therefore they have continued to adopt the going concern basis when preparing the financial statements. ## Governance costs Governance cost include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity, and include its independent examination fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity including trustee expenses. ## Tangible fixed assets and depreciation Depreciation has been provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value of each asset, over its expected useful life. The rates used are: 33.3% straight line for IT and office equipment. ## Allocation of support and governance costs Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangement of the charity, including the costs of complying with constitutional and statutory requirements and any costs associated with the strategic management of the charity's activities. These costs have been allocated between cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities on the following basis: ||2025|| |---|---|---| |Raising funds||0%| |Charitable activities||100%| - 11 - Empowering Voices ## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ## YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 ## 2 INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |Donations
3
INCOME FROM OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES
Other income
5
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
Course expenditure
Bank and admin charges
Insurance
Marketing
Office equipment depreciation charge
Training
Web hosting
Allocation of support & governance costs
6
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
This is stated following these charges:
Depreciation
Trustees' remuneration
Trustees' expense reimbursement
Fee for independent examination|Unrestricted
Funds
£
1,243
1,243
Unrestricted
Funds
£
0
0
Raising
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
Charitable
activities
£
568
-
-
46
18
20
105
757
171
928|Total Funds
2025
£
1,243
1,243
Total Funds
2025
£
0
0
Support and
governance
costs
£
-
44
127
-
-
-
-
171
(171)
-
2025
£
18
-
-
-|Total Funds
2025
£
568
44
127
46
18
20
105| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||928
-| |||||928| |||||| In the current year, no expenses were reimbursed to the trustees. Independent examination carried out for no charge by Linden Accountants Ltd ## 7 CORPORATION TAX - The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen in the charity. - 8 STAFF NUMBERS AND COSTS Staff costs were as follows: |STAFF NUMBERS AND COSTS
Staff costs were as follows:|| |---|---| |Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Pension contributions|2025
£
-
-
-| ||-| - 12 - Empowering Voices ## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ## YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 |Management
Administration
Full time equivalent
Number of employees with emoluments (excluding Employers' pension)
Between £30,000 and £40,000
Between £40,000 and £50,000|2025
-
-| |---|---| ||-| ||2025
-
2025
-
-| The key management personnel of the charitable company comprise the Trustees and the Chief Executive Officer. The total employment benefits of the key management personnel were £0. ## 9 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS |TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS||| |---|---|---| |COST:
At 1 April 2024
Additions
At 31 March 2025
DEPRECIATION:
At 1 April 2024
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2025
NET BOOK VALUE:
At 31 March 2025
DEBTORS
Trade debtors
Other debtors and prepayments
CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Accruals and deferred income
Tax and social security
Pensions payable
Loans from trustees
Other creditors
COMMITMENTS UNDER OPERATING LEASES
At 31 March 2025, the charity had total commitments under operating leases as set out below:
Rent of reistered office|Office
Equipment
£
-
107
107
-
18
18
89
2025
£
-
46
46
2025
£
-
750
-
-
150
-
900
2025
£
-|Totals
£
-
107| |||107| |||-
18| |||18| |||89| |||| ## 10 DEBTORS ## 11 CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year ## 12 COMMITMENTS UNDER OPERATING LEASES Rent of registered office - 13 - Empowering Voices ## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ## YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 ## 13 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS |Fixed Assets
Current Assets
Current Liabilities
For the year ended 31 March 2025
Analysis of
Fund movements
Restricted funds
None
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds|Balance
b/fwd
£
-
-
-
-
-|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
Income
£
-
-
1,243
1,243
1,243|Designated
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
Expenditure
£
-
-
(928)
(928)
(928)|General
Funds
£
89
1,126
(900)
315
Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-|Total Funds
2025
£
89
1,126
(900)| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||315| ||||||Fund
c/fwd
£
-
-| ||||||315| ||||||315| ||||||315| ## 14 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Several trustees loaned the charity money during the financial period 12/04/24 - 31/03/25 to assist with initial cash flow. These loans are expected to be repaid in the 2025/2026 year. |Loans from trustees:|| |---|---| |Loan from Ian Trevor|50| |Loan from Graham Parry|50| |Loan from Fiona Cross|50| |Total loans balance|150| - 14 - ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF EMPOWERING VOICES** I report to the charity’s trustees on my examination of the accounts of Empowering Voices for the period ended 31 March 2025. ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act), as amended by s.145 of the Charities Act 2011) and that an independent examination is needed. Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under the company law and is eligible for independent examination; it is my responsibility to: - Examine the accounts (under section 145 of the 2011 Act), - To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) Act), and - to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of independent examiner’s report** My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required by audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. ## **Independent examiner’s statement** In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention: - (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect: - the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or - the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or - the accounts did 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. - (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Steven Baptiste Linden Accountants, Scrapstore House, 21 Sevier Street, St Werburghs, Bristol, BS2 9LB Steven Baptiste Date ..........22 July 2025…………………