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2025-03-31-accounts

Company number: 1056004 Charity number: 264221

LISTENING BOOKS

(A company limited by guarantee)

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

LISTENING BOOKS

(A company limited by guarantee) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Contents Page
Report of the Council of Management 1 - 6
Independent Auditors’ Report 7 - 9
Statement of Financial Activities 10
Balance Sheet 11
Cash Flow Statement 12
Notes to the Financial Statements 13 - 21

LISTENING BOOKS REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF MANAGEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The Council of Management, the members of which are directors of the company, are pleased to present their Annual Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025. The Annual Report contains the Director’s report as required by company law.

The financial statements comply with the Memorandum of Association, the Companies Act 2006, The Charities Act 2011, the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS 102).

Reference and Administrative Details

Directors and Council of Management

The members of the Council of Management, who are also the directors of the company and who served during the year are as follows:

G M Howarth Chairman A Williams Treasurer (resigned 9 September 2024) C Bainbridge Treasurer (appointed 12 March 2025) C T Sinclair-Stevenson (resigned 9 September 2024) J Eccleshare D O’Neill N Forster S.Tekin (appointed 12 March 2025) H Grant (appointed 12 March 2025)

The company has no share capital and is limited by guarantee (company number: 1056004 and charity number: 264221).

Registered Office

The Foundry, 17 Oval Way, London, SE11 5RR

Charity number 264221

Company Secretary Bill Dee

Auditors

Xeinadin Audit Limited, 5 Robin Hood Lane, Sutton, Surrey SM1 2SW

Bankers

Lloyds Bank plc, 69/73 Borough High Street, London SE1 1NQ

Solicitors

Pothecary Witham Weld Solicitors, 70 St George’s Square, London SW1V 3RD

Investment Managers

CCLA Investment Management Ltd, Senator House, 85 Queen Victoria St, London EC4V 4ET

Key Management Personnel The Trustees Bill Dee Robert Marchant Amy Flinders Louise Barling Claire Bell

1

LISTENING BOOKS REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF MANAGEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Structure, Governance and Management

Constitution and Structure

Established in 1959 (as the National Listening Library Limited), Listening Books is a registered charity incorporated on 26 May 1972. The governing instrument is our Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 22 June 1998.

The Council of Management, whose seven members represent organisations and individuals having an interest in people with special needs, are not remunerated for the duties they undertake.

The day-to-day management of the company is delegated by the Council to the Director, who reports to the Council of Management, which approves major decisions and has overall responsibility for the company’s activities. The pay of senior staff is reviewed annually and normally increases in accordance with average earnings bearing in mind charities of similar size and activity.

Election of Council Members

A person or persons may be invited to join the Council of Management of the company where they are:

Board reviews its own performance in changing circumstances and considers whether additional trustees with new skills are required. Trustees are usually appointed by either placing adverts in the charity press or by consideration of whether there is someone suitable known to the company. Potential new trustees have an initial meeting with the Chair, are then introduced to the Board, and only then if elected join the Board. Subsequently they have meetings as necessary with the Chair and receive an induction pack. Further training could be offered if considered beneficial.

Risk management

The charity has undertaken a risk appraisal as required by the Charity Commission. Based on this risk review, the Trustees’ and executive team consider the most relevant risks, and the means by which they may be mitigated, to be as follows:

2

LISTENING BOOKS REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF MANAGEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Objectives and Activities

The Charity’s objects are:

To relieve disability or incapacity, whether permanent or temporary, arising from any sickness, injury or other physical or mental condition, in particular, by the provision of an audio book library service including recorded literature and other material, together with equipment for the reproduction of such literature or other material, including the advancement of education of persons suffering from such conditions.

We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aim and objectives and in planning our future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.

Achievements and Performance

In a year which has been difficult financially for many charities, we have not been immune. But as I write, there are good reasons to be both proud of what we have been achieving and sanguine about the future. This is particularly down to the dedication of the staff, the leadership of our Director Bill Dee and the collective wisdom of the Trustees. Among the latter, it was a great sadness to lose Christopher SinclairStevenson, the legendary publisher, who died in January this year aged 85, and is sorely missed. In September last year our Treasurer, Ann-Marie Williams, resigned from her post before moving to the Lake District. We have always believed in having a small board of Trustees working closely together, contributing their particular expertise, so the loss of anyone leaves a big gap. The charity owes much to both Christopher and Ann-Marie and I would like to take this opportunity of recognising all they have both done to bring us to this positive moment in our history. I would also like to extend a very warm welcome to our three new Trustees, Charlotte Bainbridge - taking over the onerous role of treasurer, Helen Grant and Sayra Tekin, who is already familiar with Listening Books as a member.

The big news of this year was our move from our offices in Lant Street to The Foundry near the Oval. As with any such move, it placed a considerable extra burden on the staff and I would like to thank them specially for their management of the move while maintaining and indeed improving our service to members. It was, of course, a sad decision in some ways because Lant Street held so many memories - not least of our founder Norma Skemp who would visit often in the early days. But The Foundry offers many advantages - considerably reduced costs, maintenance of the building managed by the landlord - a great saving of our time - and an altogether more comfortable environment for our staff.

Given the pressures of the move it is especially gratifying to report on our record membership figures - individual membership standing in March at 10,995 and knowing that through our group membership we are reaching over 100,000. Such bold figures do not, however, do justice to the qualitative difference the service is making to the lives of so many varied people. It opens up the delight of stories to our younger members and can reduce the exclusion caused by a physical disability or dyslexia. It levels up the playing field for students and, at the other end of the spectrum, provides stimulus, entertainment and solace to older members for whom reading print has, for one reason or another, become exhausting or even impossible.

3

LISTENING BOOKS REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF MANAGEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

We know how important it is to keep updating our titles and we are grateful to those members, who through our Members’ Forum, provide us with title suggestions. We now have 9,800 audiobooks to choose from along with many newspapers and magazines through PressReader. It is lovely that more and more members are discovering the benefits of this relatively new service – with the number of members using it having doubled over the past year.

Thank you to all those who have recognised and supported our work; trusts, publishers, partner organisations and most importantly, our members. I know I speak for us all in saying we shall earnestly continue in our endeavours to provide you with the most personal and imaginative service we can.

Financial Review

Reserves policy

Unrestricted funds comprise the accumulated funds which are available for use at the discretion of the directors in furtherance of the objectives of the company. Further, it is the intention of the directors that such funds be maintained at a level which, if required, would fund the core costs of the organisation for a period of one year. This duration takes account of the nature of the funding of the company, where the majority of income is from Charitable Trusts being of a cyclical nature affected by the general economic climate, and legacies which are unpredictable in nature.

This target unrestricted reserves level has been reduced this year from £625k in 2024 to £450k, made possible by cutting costs in several areas: by moving the company office from a large to a much smaller premises, by closing our old postal service, and this combined with the service being now entirely online has allowed staff numbers to be reduced.

At year-end, the unrestricted reserves balance stood at £264,680, being £185,320 below the target level set out in our reserves policy. This shortfall has arisen mainly from the necessity to provide working capital for the charity during a period where costs unexpectedly exceeded income. The trustees are reviewing income streams and expenditure forecasts with a view to restoring reserves to the target level as a priority and as soon as possible.

Financial position

The net deficit of unrestricted funds during the year ended 31 March 2025 amounted to £40,282 (2024: £134,834 deficit). This has resulted in total unrestricted funds available for use at the discretion of the Council of Management of £264,680 (2024:£304,962). Taking account of commitments in Fixed Assets (£14,562) and long-term legacy debtor (£27,104) this unrestricted fund balance was £223,014.

Net deficit on restricted funds in the year amounted to £73,225 (2024: £57,139 surplus). This has resulted in total restricted funds at 31 March 2025 of £140,604 (2024: £213,829).

4

LISTENING BOOKS REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF MANAGEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Investment powers

The Trustees accept responsibility for the effective and efficient management of the company’s investments. Management of the company’s investment portfolio is by COIF Charity Funds. The investment objective is to achieve a balance between income and capital growth through investment in cash, bonds and equities. Exposure to equity markets will normally be gained through investment in authorised unit trusts and investment trusts.

Fundraising Policy

The charity is registered with the Fundraising Regulator. Requests for funds are largely through grant applications to sympathetic charitable trusts and the purposes are clearly described. During the year no professional fundraisers were employed and appeals were generally made by email or letter. A complaints procedure is set out as part of the Privacy Policy on the website. No complaints or criticisms were raised concerning the fundraising activities during the period.

Investment policy

The current investment policy of the charity is to aim to hold bank balances of a minimum of £80,000 mainly for working capital, and the Trustees have an ethical investment policy:

Listening Books investments are managed in an Ethical Fund which invests responsibly according to ESG standards, by excluding companies scoring less than 2 on any FTSE ESG theme. This goes towards ensuring that our investments are compatible with our mission as a charity. One particular ESG issue, Climate Change, is increasingly threatening to pose an existential risk to society itself, not just to the financial system, so it is imperative that investors look beyond financial risk and return and consider the real world impact of their investments. To this end Listening Books is invested in the CCLA Ethical Fund which excludes investment in certain companies including those which derive more than 5% of revenues from the extraction of Oil Sands or Thermal (Energy) coal and also companies which derive more than 10% of revenues from the extraction, production and refining of Oil and Gas. Also excluded are companies whose principal business is the generation of electricity that have not demonstrated the ability to align their business with the Paris Climate Change Agreement (as determined by the Investment Manager), and also extractives or utilities sector companies where productive engagement is not believed to be possible (at the discretion of the Investment Manager). It is clear for example that Oil Sands and Coal extraction have no place in a world of net zero emissions, which we need to reach as soon as possible, and at the latest by 2050. There is also an urgent need for all fossil fuels to be phased out by this date. The full list of investment restrictions on the CCLA Ethical Fund are set out in note 15 to these accounts.

Disclosure of information to auditors

So far as the directors are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the company’s auditors are unaware and they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as directors in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company’s auditors are aware of that information.

5

LISTENING BOOKS REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF MANAGEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Statement of Council Members’ Responsibilities

The Council members are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Council members, who are the directors for the purposes of company law, to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Council members have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United

Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the Council members must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including the net income or expenditure, of the company for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, the Council members are required to:

The Council members are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Auditors

A resolution will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting to appoint auditors to the company for the ensuing year.

The Trustees’ Report was prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies.

Approved by the Council of Management and signed on its behalf by:

G Howarth

G Howarth Chairman

Date: 1/10/2025

6

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF LISTENING BOOKS

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Listening Books (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows and the notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, including the trustees’ report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves.

7

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF LISTENING BOOKS

If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors’ report included with the trustees' report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees' responsibilities statement, the trustees’(who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

8

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF LISTENING BOOKS

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

Based on our understanding of the charity, we identified that the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations related to employment and financial reporting legislation and we considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect on the financial statements. We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011.

We assessed the susceptibility of the charity's financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by making enquiries of management, considering the internal controls in place and discussion amongst the engagement team.

We determined that the principal risks were related to management bias in accounting estimates, presentation of separately disclosed items and management override of controls.

In response to the risks identified we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to reviewing trustees’ minutes, challenging significant accounting estimates, evaluating the internal controls, agreeing financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation and identifying and testing journal entries.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: http://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and regulations made under that Act. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and its members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

P Newton

Paul Newton FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)

for and on behalf of Xeinadin Audit Limited Statutory Auditor Chartered Accountants

5 Robin Hood Lane Sutton Surrey SM1 2SW

Date: 2/10/2025

9

LISTENING BOOKS STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (including Income and Expenditure Account) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes
Income from:
1e-h
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Investment income
Other trading activities
Total income
2
Expenditure on:
1j-k
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
3
Net (losses)/gains on investments
6
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Funds brought forward at 1 April 2024
Funds carried forward at 31 March 2025		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
226,373
82,217
680
-
309,270
32,431
323,534
355,965
(1,874)
(48,569)
8,287
(40,282)
304,962
264,680		 Restricted
Funds
£
803,786
-
-
-
803,786
-
868,724
868,724
-
(64,938)
(8,287)
(73,225)
213,829
140,604		 2025
Total
£
1,030,159
82,217
680
-
1,113,056
32,431
1,192,258
1,224,689
(1,874)
(113,507)
-
(113,507)
518,791
405,284		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
223,400
73,887
744
13,374
311,405
40,829
438,046
478,875
34,136
(133,334)
(1,500)
(134,834)
439,796
304,962		 Restricted
Funds
£
723,001
-
-
-

723,001
-
667,362

667,362
-
55,639
1,500
57,139
156,690
213,829		 2024
Total
£
946,401
73,887
744
13,374
1,034,406
40,829
1,105,408
1,146,237
34,136
(77,695)
-
(77,695)
596,486
518,791

All of the activities are continuing. There were no recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. The notes on pages 13 to 21 form part of these financial statements.

10

LISTENING BOOKS BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2025

Notes
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible fixed assets
5
Investments
6
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
7
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors:amounts falling due within
one year
8
NET CURRENT ASSETS
NET ASSETS
FUNDS
11
Unrestricted
Restricted
10
NET ASSETS






145,345
154,063

299,408

34,783










 2025
£
14,562
126,097
140,659
264,625
405,284
264,680
140,604
405,284		 2024
£
34,391
267,971
302,362
117,744
140,458
258,202
41,773
216,429
518,791
304,962
213,829
518,791

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime.

Approved by the Council of Management and signed on its behalf by:

G Howarth

G Howarth Chairman

Date: 1/10/2025

Company Registration No: 01056004

The notes on pages 13 to 21 form part of these financial statements.

11

LISTENING BOOKS STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Cash (used in) operating activities(see
below)
Cash flows from investing activities
Payments to acquire tangible fixed assets
Proceeds from sale of investments
Cash provided by investing activities
Net cash inflow/(outflow)
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 April 2024
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 March
2025
Cash flows from operating activities
Net (expenditure)
Net losses/(gains) on investments
Depreciation
(Increase) in debtors
(Decrease)/increase in creditors
Cash (used in) operating activities		 2025
£
£
(126,395)
-
140,000
140,000
13,605
140,458
154,063
(113,507)
1,874
19,829
( 27,601)
( 6,990)
(126,395)		 £
( 6,691)
70,000		 2024
£
(102,921)
63,309
(39,612)
180,070
140,458
( 77,695)
( 34,136)
23,544
( 23,147)
8,513
(102,921)

12

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

LISTENING BOOKS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

a. Basis of Accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011 and in accordance with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS 102). The financial statements are drawn up on the historical cost basis of accounting as modified by the revaluation of investments to market value and prepared in sterling, which is the financial currency of the charity, rounded to the nearest £1.

Listening Books is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is The Foundry, 17 Oval Way , London, SE11 5RR . The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

b. Tangible Fixed Assets

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life. Equipment is depreciated over 5 years on cost.

c. Investments

Investments are stated at market value based on the bid price at the Balance Sheet date and the surplus or deficit of this revaluation is shown as unrealised gains or losses on the face of the Statement of Financial Activities after the Income and Expenditure Statement has been concluded.

Realised gains and losses are calculated as the difference between the proceeds of sale at the date of disposal and market value at the previous Balance Sheet date or cost of acquisition if purchased during the year. These are shown as realised gains or losses on the face of the Statement of Financial Activities and are also included in the Income and Expenditure Statement contained therein.

d. Operating Leases

Annual rentals under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities as incurred.

e. Income

Legacies are accounted for as soon as the charity is notified of its legal entitlement, the amount due is quantifiable and its ultimate receipt by the charity is reasonably certain. Amounts receivable after more than one year from the balance sheet date are measured at their present value and an interest element is accounted for each year.

Charitable activities consist of membership subscriptions and trading activities of sales of accessories and other income.

13

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

LISTENING BOOKS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Investment income is accounted for on an accruals basis and includes the associated tax credits.

The company receives discounts from content publishers in the year beyond that normally obtained on a commercial basis. These amounts are included in incoming resources and in resources expended and amounted to £453,359 (2024: £239,163).

The company receives discounts from advertisers in the year beyond that normally obtained on a commercial basis. These amounts are included in incoming resources and in resources expended and amounted to £44,385 (2024: £27,856).

The company receives discounts from legal advisors in the year beyond that normally obtained on a commercial basis. These amounts are included in incoming resources and in resources expended and amounted to £26,124 (2024: £76,005).

Restricted funds are those subject to specific restrictive conditions imposed by sponsors or other donors or by the purpose of the appeal.

The company operates a defined contribution scheme in respect of all employees. Contributions are charged in the accounts as they are incurred.

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and includes irrecoverable VAT relating to such expenses. Expenditure incurred in connection with the specific activities as shown on the Statement of Financial Activities represents the direct costs of that activity together with an apportionment of the general overheads of the company as support costs. Where costs cannot be directly attributed, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of the resources. Governance costs are incurred in the course of the company complying with its legal and regulatory obligations.

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of opening of the deposit.

Staff loans and other debtors are included at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.

o. Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation arising from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are recognised at their settlement amount.

14

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

LISTENING BOOKS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

p. Basic financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

2

INCOME

Donations and legacies
General donations
Grants
Gifts in kind
Legacies
Charitable activities
Membership subscriptions
Investment income
Other trading activities
Other
XPENDITURE
Cost of raising funds
Membership services
Support costs
Governance costs
Total expenditure		 Staff
Costs
£
11,081
420,472
16,621
-
448,174		 Depreciation
£
2,478
16,112
1,239
-
19,829		 Other
Costs
£
18,872
716,673
13,705
7,436
756,686		 2025
£
13,038
441,327
523,868
51,926
82,217
680
-
1,113,056
Total
2025
£
32,431
1,153,257
31,565
7,436
1,224,689		 2024
£
4,640
589,963
343,024
8,774
73,887
744
13,374
1,034,406
Total
2024
£
40,829
1,061,775
37,353
6,280
1,146,237

3 EXPENDITURE

Support costs all related to the provision of membership services, and governance costs include auditors’ remuneration of £6,816 (2024: £6,280) (inclusive of VAT) of which £6,144 (2024: £5,608) relates to the fee for the audit and £672 (2024: £672) for non-audit services.

15

5

LISTENING BOOKS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

4

STAFF COSTS

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs
Total staff costs
The average number of persons employed by functional activity was:
Cost of raising funds
Charitable expenditure		 2025
£
388,546
35,048
24,580
448,174
2025
No
1
9
10		 2024
£
424,612
29,621
25,762
479,995
2024
No
1
12
13

Members of the Council of Management received no remuneration or reimbursement of expenses during the year (2024: nil).

The total remuneration (including pension and other employee benefits) of the key management personnel of the charity (as detailed on page 1) during the year was £275,518 (2024: £267,718).

One employee received remuneration in excess of £60,000 per annum (2024: one). One employee received remuneration in band £90,000 - £100,000 per annum (2024: one).

TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

ANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Cost
At 1 April 2024
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2025
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024
Charge for the year
Released on disposals
At 31 March 2025
Net book value
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024		 Equipment
£
262,423
-
(41,946)
220,477
228,032
19,829
(41,946)
205,915
14,562
34,391

16

LISTENING BOOKS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

6 LISTED INVESTMENTS

At market value:
COIF
Total market value
Historical cost
including cash
EBTORS
Other debtors
Prepayments		 At 1 April
2024
£
267,971
267,971
124,358		 Additions
£
-
-		 Disposals
£
(140,000)
(140,000)		 Gains/
(losses)
on reval-
uation
£
(1,874)
(1,874)
2025
£
139,424
5,921
145,345		 At 31
March
2025
£
126,097
126,097
59,642
2024
£
94,123
23,621
117,744

7 DEBTORS

Other debtors includes amounts falling due after more than one year of £24,529 (2024: £27,104).

8

CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors
Taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income		 2025
£
7,085
9,151
11,031
7,516
34,783		 2024
£
8,433
9,808
15,760
7,772
41,773

9 LEASING COMMITMENTS

Operating leases

The charity’s total future minimum lease payments under operating leases at 31 March 2025 were payable as set out below:

Within one year
Within two to five years
More than 5 years
The operating lease charges for the year were:
Hire of premises		 2025
2024
£
£
12,473
6,250
-
-
-
-
37,978
75,000

17

10 RESTRICTED FUNDS

LISTENING BOOKS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Downloadables
Sponsored Membership
Children's Hospitals
Palliative Care
I.T.System Purchase
PC Purchase
Pre-loaded Tablets
Downloadables
Sponsored Membership
Children's Hospitals
Palliative Care
I.T.System Purchase
PC Purchase
Covid-19 Tablets Fund
Pre-loaded Tablets		 At 1
April
2024
£
30,872
1,227
147,663
11,362
18,628
250
3,827
213,829
At 1
April
2023
£
1,956
10,000
113,937
-
28,516
1,054
655
572
156,690		 Income
£
491,711
306,075
-
6,000
-
-
-
803,786
Income
£
279,254
298,975
114,372
22,400
-
-
-
8,000
723,001		 Expenditure
£
(473,313)
(307,302)
( 64,152)
( 12,637)
( 9,181)
( 235)
( 1,904)
(868,724)
Expenditure
£
(250,338)
(307,748)
( 80,646)
( 12,538)
( 9,888)
( 804)
( 655)
( 4,745)
(667,362)		 Transfers
between
funds
£
2,000
-
(10,563)
276
-
-
-
( 8,287)
Transfers
between
funds
£
-
-
-
1,500
-
-
-
-
1,500		 At 31
March
2025
£
51,270
-
72,948
5,001
9,447
15
1,923
140,604
At 31
March
2024
£
30,872
1,227
147,663
11,362
18,628
250
-
3,827
213,829

Downloadables

To provide funding for titles bought for the audiobook catalogue in both CD and download formats.

Sponsored Membership

To provide funding where appropriate to cover individual members part or full costs of membership.

Children's Hospitals

To provide access to audiobooks for children in hospitals. Formerly called Readathon.

Palliative Care

To provide access to audiobooks for hospices.

18

LISTENING BOOKS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

I.T.System Purchase

To greatly improve the company website and operating of internal IT systems including book managing system and substantial additional services. The balance on this fund represents both the I.T.System purchased less depreciation, and also the as yet unspent funds.

PC Purchase

To purchase new computer equipment for staff.

Covid-19 Tablets fund

To provide a preloaded selection of audiobook titles to members during the Covid restrictions.

Pre-loaded Tablets fund

To provide a preloaded selection of audiobook titles to adults who are elderly and isolated.

Transfers between funds

Income reassigned as permitted by donor charitable trusts.

11 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Restricted Funds
Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds
Unrestricted Funds		 Tangible
Fixed
Assets
£
9,463
5,099
14,562
Tangible
Fixed
Assets
£
18,879
15,512
34,391		 Investment
Assets
£
-
126,097
126,097
Investment
Assets
£
-
267,971
267,971		 Net
Current
Assets
£
131,141
133,484
264,625
Net
Current
Assets
£
194,950
21,479
216,429		 Total
2025
£
140,604
264,680
405,284
Total
2024
£
213,829
304,962
518,791

12 LEGAL STATUS

The charitable company is limited by guarantee. The liability in respect of the guarantee, as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association, is limited to £1 per member of the company. There were 7 members as at 31 March 2025 (2024: 6).

13 RELATED PARTY RELATIONSHIPS AND TRANSACTIONS

N D Forster, a trustee of Listening Books, worked at Overdrive Inc. in the year. During the year £22,408 (2024: £22,057) was paid to Overdrive Inc. in respect of purchases.

19

LISTENING BOOKS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

14 PROVISIONS AND CONTINGENT ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

The charity is receiving payments from a legacy that has three remaining components to be collected and distributed by the estate. Two components relate to loans the estate made to two individuals, which are being repaid over periods ending in 2029 and 2042. Annual payments are received by the charity from the estate and an asset of £27,104 (2024: £29,679) has been recognised in respect of these loans.

The third component of the legacy is in respect of a property subject to a protected life tenant. At today's prices, receipt by Listening Books is likely to be in the region of £45,000. In accordance with the SORP para 5.34, no asset has been recognised in respect of this by the charity. The charity will only recognise this component of the legacy when the estate has vacant possession of the property. However, the estate is also required to pay for certain major repairs, which it pays for by reducing the annual payments to legatees in respect of the two components described above. No provision has been made against this due to the inherent uncertainty of the payments to be made. Legacy income has been reduced in the year by £2,575 (2024: £2,575) in relation to the reduction in annual payments received.

20

LISTENING BOOKS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

15 INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS COIF CHARITIES ETHICAL INVESTMENT FUND

The COIF Charities Ethical Investment Fund is managed in accordance with an ethical investment policy that is set through consultation with unitholders. This requires CCLA to dedicate capital to positive investments, engage with companies to achieve positive changes in business practice and implement the following ethical restrictions.

Theme Further Details Exclusion Criteria
Climate Change Oil sands extraction Companies that derive more
than 5% of their revenue
from the extraction of these
fuels are restricted
Energy coal extraction
Other ‘Fossil Fuel’
Extraction		 Companies that derive more
than 10% of their revenue
from extracting and refining
coal, oil or gas
Electrical Utilities No investment in companies
that cannot align with the
Paris NDCs
Armaments Strategic military sales Restricted if derive more
than 10% of revenue from
strategic military sales
Civilian firearms 10% revenue restriction
Nuclear Weapons,
Landmines, cluster
munitions		 Investment prohibited if
involved in the production of
these weapons
Oppressive Regimes Sovereign Debt No debt from countries
identified by the Ethical
Fund Advisory Committee
as being the most
oppressive
Tobacco 10% revenue restriction
Alcohol 10% revenue restriction
Adult Entertainment 10% revenue restriction
Gambling 10% revenue restriction
Animal Testing Testing of cosmetics on
Animals		 Restricted if in priority sector
and chooses to conduct
testing on animals
High Interest Rate Lending 10% revenue restriction
Specific Client Restrictions Production of single purpose
abortifacients		 Restricted if a producer of
single-purpose abortifacient
Baby Milk Substitutes Minimum responsibility
standards
ESG Minimum Standards Score lass than 2 on any
FTSE ESG Theme		 Comply/explain approach
applies
Respecting International
Norms		 Substantiated allegations of
non-conformity with
recognised labour, human
rights, biodiversity and
climate change standards		 Engagement that can lead
to divestment if no progress
is made
Third Party Funds Screened Against Ethical
Investment Criteria

21