AGE CONCERN CHELMSFORD
TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Registered Charity Number 1209522
EDMUND CARR LLP Chartered Accountants 146 New London Road Chelmsford Essex CM2 0AW
AGE CONCERN CHELMSFORD
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
----- Start of picture text -----
CONTENTS
Charity information 1
Trustees' report 2
Independent Examiner's report to the Trustees 5
Receipts & payments 6
Statement of assets & liabilities 7
----- End of picture text -----
AGE CONCERN CHELMSFORD
CHARITY INFORMATION
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
The Trustees have the pleasure in presenting their report and financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31st March 2025.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
----- Start of picture text -----
|||
|---|---|
|Charity Name|Age Concern Chelmsford|
|Charity Number|1209522|
|Address|Age Concern Chelmsford|
|17 Cottage Place|
|Chelmsford|
|Essex CM1 1NL|
|Trustees|Mr Ian Heard|
|Mrs Freda Mountain|
|Mr John Pontin|
|Mrs Sandra Pontin|
|Mr Jon de Vries|Resigned 13 Aug 2025|
|Independent Examiner|Alex Stone FCCA|
|Edmund Carr LLP|
|146 New London Road|
|Chelmsford|
|Essex CM2 0AW|
----- End of picture text -----
-1-
AGE CONCERN CHELMSFORD
TRUSTEES' REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The objects of the Charity, as set out in the governing document, are to promote and assist the general good of all aged people in the City of Chelmsford and surrounding districts by assisting the work of statutory authorities and voluntary organisations engaged in providing facilities for physical and mental recreation, developing physical improvement, furthering health and relieving poverty, distress or sickness.
The Charity meets its charitable objects by providing a Day Centre, Luncheon Club and the opportunity to participate in other social activities. The Day Centre offers light refreshments in the morning and provides a freshly cooked nutritious two-course meal at a very reasonable cost. It operates five days a week throughout the year, excepting the normal Bank Holidays at Christmas and Easter.
The Trustees confirm that the activities of the charity are undertaken to achieve the charity's aims with regard to the Charity Commission's public benefit guidance.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Chairman's Report
This year has been one filled with a wonderful variety of events at the Day Centre, each bringing our community together in friendship, fun, and good food.
We began in April with a visit from the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, who joined our ladies and gentlemen for a spot of seated exercise before enjoying a hearty lunch of steak and kidney pudding. Afterwards, over tea and coffee, they took the time to chat with many of our diners.
St George’s Day followed, with the hall beautifully decorated in red, white, and blue, and adorned with Union Jack flags. A traditional English roast beef and Yorkshire pudding lunch was served, and the celebrations concluded with a glass of Pimm’s to round off the day in true style.
In June, we marked the 80th Anniversary of D-Day with a special lunch of corned beef hash, followed by apple charlotte, and finished with a glass of sherry in salute to our heroes. Later that month, we enjoyed an organised trip on the Epping and Ongar steam train, which brought back fond memories for many. A choice of fish and chips or sausage and chips (with vegetarian options) was served onboard. We were blessed with glorious weather, making it a fantastic day out for trustees, staff, and volunteers alike.
September saw St Cedd’s Harvest Festival, after which the school kindly donated the collected food to Age Concern. We wrote to express our thanks, and the donation was greatly appreciated by those who received it.
In October, the Centre was transformed for Halloween with spider webs, witches’ hats, and skeletons, thanks to the creative talents of Ann, whose decorations brighten every occasion.
-2-
AGE CONCERN CHELMSFORD
TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued) YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
We were also fortunate to receive a generous donation of £2,500 from a couple of regular diners for the purchase of an automatic inner door for the Centre. We are deeply grateful for their support.
November brought St Andrew’s Day, celebrated with a “wee dram” of whisky, much enjoyed by those able to partake.
December arrived early at the Centre, with Christmas decorations donated by the Slug and Lettuce and help from the QBE team in serving our festive lunch. Our traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings, accompanied by sherry and wine, was enjoyed by all. The Deaf Club also held their Christmas lunch in the second week, which they thoroughly enjoyed.
After Christmas, our diners were treated to a trip to the Aladdin pantomime at Chelmsford Civic Theatre, a lively outing made possible with transport provided by Chelmsford Community Bus, who also ensured some diners reached home safely afterwards.
In February, we celebrated St Valentine’s Day with the hall suitably decorated, followed in March by St David’s Day, featuring Welsh cakes, daffodils, and dragons, as well as the national flags of Wales. Shortly after came St Patrick’s Day, when the hall was dressed in green, complete with flags and a touch of Guinness to mark the occasion.
Beyond our special events, the Centre has been well used throughout the year, with the Church, Hearing Help, and other community groups hiring the hall. Support4Sight also continues to use the upstairs office space.
In the year we started our transition from a charity in trust to a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) to improve our governance structure. Aided by our lawyers, Leonard Gray, we set up a new charity (no. 1209522) in August 2024 and assets were transferred from the existing charity (no. 213702) to the CIO in the reporting period. The transition to a CIO has now been completed and the old charity removed from the register of charities.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to my fellow trustees: Jon, our Vice Chair; Ian, our Minutes Secretary and problem-solver; and our Treasurers, Sandra and John, who keep a close watch on our finances. Special thanks also go to Robert Winstanley for his assistance with management matters.
Our heartfelt appreciation goes to our wonderful chef, Natasha, who prepares such delicious lunches, supported by her kitchen team and by Jane, who steps in when needed. Thanks also to our front-of-house helpers, who serve tea and coffee and look after our diners, all under the capable direction of Ann, who not only decorates the hall for every occasion but also manages staff rotas, outings, daily finances, and so much more. We are incredibly lucky to have her skills and dedication at Age Concern.
-3-
AGE CONCERN CHELMSFORD
TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued)
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Finally, my thanks to Michael for keeping the Centre spotless, and to Edmund Carr for examining our accounts.
It has been a busy, memorable year, and I look forward to the continued warmth, fellowship, and service that make our Centre such a special place.
Further details of our activities can be found on our website www.ageconcernchelmsford.org.uk
Freda Mountain - Chair
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Income for the year totalled £71,829 and expenditure in the year totalled £98,299, resulting in a deficit of £26,470. Consistent with the previous year were food and wages expenses with a decrease in maintenance costs due to last year's resurfacing of the carpark, were the main areas of expenditure for the charity.
Reserves Policy
It is the policy of the Charity to maintain reserves sufficient to ensure the continued running of the lunch club. At 31 March 2025 bank balances totalled £241,304.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Age Concern Chelmsford was established over 60 years ago. The charity was unincorporated and was registered as charity no. 213702 on 16th January 1963. The charity's constitution was amended on 2nd April 1984 and 23 March 1994. As mentioned above, during the year the charity transitioned from a charity in trust to a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) (registered 9 August 2024, charity no. 1209522) and assets were transferred from the existing charity to the CIO in the reporting period. The accounts reflect the combined receipts and payments of the charities in the current and previous accounting periods.
Trustees are appointed by invitation from the existing board of Trustees. New Trustees are given a copy of the Charity Commission's guidance for Trustees "The Essential Trustee" (CC3).
The Trustees' Report was approved by the Trustees on 19 January 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
...........................
Ian Heard Trustee
-4-
AGE CONCERN CHELMSFORD
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025 which are set out on pages 6 to 7.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees 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 charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the 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:
- accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records.
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.
...................................
Alex Stone FCCA
Edmund Carr LLP 146 New London Road Chelmsford CM2 0AW
21 January 2026
-5-
AGE CONCERN CHELMSFORD
RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| RECEIPTS Donations including Gift Aid Grants Rental income Cottage Place receipts Bank interest Other income Total Receipts PAYMENTS Food Wages & Contractors Equipment and repairs Outings Business rates Light and heat Insurance Telephone Motor expenses Sundry Accountancy and examination fees Payroll fees Legal and professional fees Total payments Net increase/(decrease) in cash for the year Cash balances brought forward Cash balances carried forward |
Total Funds 2025 £ 4,386 - 14,662 43,402 8,937 442 71,829 17,596 42,157 20,812 1,711 2,412 1,512 2,677 371 - 1,848 4,392 1,434 1,377 98,299 (26,470) 267,504 241,034 |
Total Funds 2024 £ 2,219 3,038 16,463 31,569 203 898 54,390 15,572 40,585 38,034 885 2,738 3,922 2,238 1,559 291 2,976 - 1,050 1,736 111,586 (57,196) 324,700 267,504 |
|---|---|---|
All funds are unrestricted
-6-
AGE CONCERN CHELMSFORD
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES
AS AT 31 MARCH 2025
| Cash funds Bank Current Accounts Bank Investment Accounts Total cash balances |
2025 £ 8,990 232,044 241,034 |
2024 £ 27,301 240,203 267,504 |
|---|---|---|
Approved by the trustees on 19 January 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
…........................ Ian Heard Trustee
-7-