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2025-03-31-accounts

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Company number: 1050006 Charity number: 265103

Cambridge House

Fighting poverty, social inequity and social injustice for 136 years

Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Contents

Trustees’ Annual Report Page
Welcome 3
The year at a glance 4
Our aims, objectives and activities 5
Achievements and performance
Overview 7
Research, influencing and thought leadership 9
Independent Advocacy services 11
Law Centre 13
Safer Renting services 15
Disabled People’s services – a look back at our last 50
17
years
Disabled People’s Empowerment services - Camberwell
Incredibles		 18
Youth Empowerment services - RISE 20
Events after the year end 22
Operational aims and objectives 22
Achieving our priorities in 2024-25 22
Our priorities for 2025-26 22
Financial review
Overview 23
Trustees’ responsibilities 24
Going concern statement 25
Reserves policy 25
Budgeting and financial decision-making 25
Governance and management
Trustees 26
Equality, diversity and inclusion 28
Quality and impact 29
Fundraising 30
Serious incident reporting 31
Safeguarding 31
Networks and partnerships 32
Public benefit 33
Staffing and remuneration 33
Volunteering and employability 35
Risk management 36
Auditors 37
Acknowledgments 38
Charity reference and administrative information 39
Independent Auditor’s Report Page
Opinion 40
Basis for opinion 40
Conclusions relating to going concern 40
Other information 41
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies
41
Act 2006
Matters on which we are required to report by exception 41
Responsibilities of trustees 42
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial

statements		 42
Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities 42
Use of our report 43
Financial Statements Page
Statement of financial activities 44
Balance sheet 45
Statement of cash flows 46
Notes to the financial statements 47

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 2 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Trustees’ Annual Report

Welcome

Responding to difficult times

Throughout 2024-25, our focus on the most severe impacts of poverty, social injustice, and social inequity on London’s ‘unheard and unseen’ residents was made ever-more demanding by economic uncertainty and the often frightening social divisions that now exist in the UK.

The wellbeing of many of our service users and team was threatened by the impact of discrimination and violence; persistent cost-of-living pressures; insecure or inadequate housing; pressures on the country’s public and NHS services; and climate disasters and wars in the countries of families and friends.

We’re enormously proud that our team rose to the challenges posed by these difficult times - working innovatively, with great commitment, and together with service users and partners to drive positive and progressive change in people’s lives and communities.

Our trustees, management, staff and volunteers are exceptionally and beautifully diverse in terms of lived experience and ‘protected characteristics’ - and compared to charity sector norms: the experiential and authentic insights they bring help us engage with, and provide safety for people feeling oppressed and negatively judged by society.

The year’s achievements highlight our expertise in creating the strengths and trust-based, non-stigmatising, and resilience-building relationships with service users needed to achieve optimal outcomes for them, their families and their communities.

Given the rising level and complexity of need in our communities, we’re pleased to report that our financial sustainability continued to improve and weather the increasing competition for charitable grants and the ‘squeeze’ on public finances.

2024-25 highlights

Thanks

Our special thanks go to:

We also say a heartfelt thank you to our many committed supporters, partners, funders, staff, volunteers, trustees, and

last, but certainly not least, our service users – their experiences, tenacity, thoughts and ideas shape everything we do.

Simon Latham, Chair

Karin Woodley CBE, Chief Executive

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 3 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

The year at a glance

----- Start of picture text -----
£408,645
4,863 frontline
(financial redress
service users
or welfare and
disability
benefits) secured
for service users
9,285 event,
£4,856,501 of training, and
service users' influencing,
debts managed participants
Activities delivered
in 46 local
authorities
----- End of picture text -----

73p in every £1 spent on service delivery (69p in 2024)

----- Start of picture text -----
Fundraising 3p
(4p in 2024)
Service Delivery 73p
(69p in 2024)
Overheads and governance
24p (28p in 2024)
----- End of picture text -----

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 4 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Our aims, objectives and activities

We are an equity-based multiservice charity dedicated to improving the quality of lives and wellbeing of people affected by poverty, social inequity, and social injustice.

Vision

We have a vision of a just and equitable society without poverty.

Values

We are pioneering, collaborative, reflective and courageous.

Aims and objectives

Transforming lives

Multiservice delivery of personalised, integrated, and place-based frontline access-to-justice and resilience-building services in London for families and people living in areas of high deprivation who are:

Transforming society

Creating the evidence and undertaking the influencing and thought-leadership activities needed to improve social policy and practice and dismantle the structural barriers that exclude people or trap them in cycles of poverty and despair.

Our outline theory of change

----- Start of picture text -----
Personalised and place-based frontline services working together to tackle poverty, social
inequity, and social injustice
Local level and lived experience evidence collection and research to address A just and equitable
data gaps and to pilot innovative frontline interventions that improve social outcomes society without poverty
Evidenced-based policy development, thought leadership and influencing to
ensure lived experience insight and evidence drives social policy priorities, practice, and
legislation
----- End of picture text -----

History

We were founded in 1889 to support people living in London’s ‘slum’ neighbourhoods. As one of the earliest members of the university settlement movement, our innovative work led the Victorian anti-poverty movement, paved the way for the modern welfare state, and responded to problems of inequality and social injustice.

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 5 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

The complex issues driving our service users into deep poverty, crisis and despair

Four or more of the following issues:

----- Start of picture text -----
Multiple challenges
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
Lived experience of
the immigration
systems
----- End of picture text -----

Four or more simultaneous and mutually reinforcing social inequities based on their:

----- Start of picture text -----
Intersectionality
----- End of picture text -----

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 6 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Achievements and performance

Overview

14,148 service users (6,533 in 2024)

The number of people accessing services increased by 116% compared to the previous year:

----- Start of picture text -----
15,000
13,000
11,000
9,000
7,000
5,000
3,000
1,000
-1,000
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Empowerment and Inclusion 210 194 312 340 569
Independent Advocacy 1,447 1,153 1,105 1,699 1,051
Law Centre 192 431 544 1,403 2,227
Safer Renting 414 625 1,271 1,103 1,016
Training and Influencing 250 250 250 1,988 9,285
Total 2,513 2,653 3,482 6,533 14,148
Service User Numbers
----- End of picture text -----

The Diversity of our Service Users
Women 53%
Transgender/Non-Binary 1%
Black, Asian and global majority communities 64%
Disabled, neurodiverse and/or living with a mental or physical health condition 94%
LGBTQIA+/Queer community 4%
16-24 years 9%
25-34 years 14%
35-44 years 18%
45-54 years 17%
55-64 years 17%
65-74 years 9%
75-84 years 8%
85+ years 9%

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 7 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

We delivered activities in 46 local authorities (32 in 2024)

29 London Boroughs Independent
Advocacy
23		 Empowerment
and Inclusion
8		 Safer Renting
19		 Law Centre
28
(25 in 2024)
17 English and Welsh county councils, unitary
authorities or metropolitan borough councils

(10 in 2024)
(4 in 2024)		 (12 in 2024)
Barking & Dagenham √
Barnet √
Bromley √ √
Cambridgeshire County Council √ √
Camden √ √
Croydon √ √ √
Derby City Council √
Ealing √ √
Enfield √ √ √
Essex County Council √
Greater Manchester Combined Authority √
Greenwich √ √
Hackney √
Hammersmith & Fulham √
Hampshire County Council √
Haringey √ √ √
Harrow √
Havering √ √ √
Hounslow √
Islington √
Kensington & Chelsea √
Kent County Council √ √
Kingston upon Thames √
Lambeth √ √ √
Lewisham √ √
Medway Council √
Merton √ √
Newham √ √
Norfolk County Council √
Powys County Council √
Redbridge √ √ √
Richmond upon Thames √ √ √
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead √
Sheffield City Council √ √
Somerset County Council √
Southwark √ √ √
Stoke City Council √
Suffolk County Council √ √
Surrey County Council √
Sutton √
Thurrock Council √
Tower Hamlets √
Waltham Forest √ √ √
Wandsworth √ √ √
Westminster √ √
West Berkshire Council √

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 8 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Research, influencing and thought leadership

Transforming Society

Tackling criminality and slum conditions in the private rented housing sector

Our Safer Renting team significantly expanded the reach and impact of its work to improve private rented sector policy, legal frameworks, and criminal practices affecting private renters - 3,878 participants across England and Wales (140 in 2024). Activities included:

Tackling failures in youth services

Our RISE Youth Empowerment team worked ‘hand-in-hand’ with young people to tackle the negative impact of siloed, single-issue, and disjointed services on the needs of young people experiencing multiple, complex and intersectional needs.

Influencing activities reached 661 participants (1,550 in 2024)and focused on delivering training and convening crosssector meetings that centred on ‘youth voice’ and advocated for improvements to case management; cross service communications; safeguarding; assessment; and prevention protocols with the following partners:

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 9 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Tackling the exclusion of citizens voice from conversations about social reform

We continued to advocate nationally for radical listening to be used to reconnect with communities, address complex challenges, tackle unconscious bias, promote equity-based practice, and transform systems through conversational leadership and practice. Our Chief Executive participated in debates across the UK reaching 1,205 people (163 in 2024) including:

Tackling lack of access to justice

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 10 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Independent Advocacy services

Protecting the voices, choices, and rights of adults and children

B’s Story

Found asleep outside on the doorstep to his home, and with concerns about his diabetes and emerging dementia, B was admitted to hospital. Following a statutory ‘best interest meeting’ decision to discharge B, he was found on his doorstep again.

After realising B’s water and heating were disconnected and he had no food in the house, a social worker decided to move him to a local care home.

When our Advocate met with B, it was clear he was traumatised by the move, had been offered little-to-no choice in the care arrangements, was frightened by his new surroundings, and was covered in bed bug bites. We immediately instructed a solicitor to challenge the need for B to be deprived of his liberty, and comforted B by letting him know that Cambridge House’s Advocate would support him to have his voice, choices and rights protected.

A route back to independence and recovery was found through the legal process instigated by our Advocate. The Court determined it was in B’s best interests to return him home, and ordered essential repairs to be completed first.

Concerned that B would become isolated again while his home was brought up to proper living standards, our Advocate arranged for Kingston Advocacy Group, one of our local partners, to provide interim personal care and support until B returned home and had his personal freedom reinstated.

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 11 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Our Independent Advocates supported and protected the legal rights of people experiencing substantial difficulty engaging with and contributing to decisions about their health and social care.

In compliance with the requirements of the Mental Health Act 1983, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Care Act 2014 and

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and Community Treatment Orders; we facilitated our service users’ active involvement in decision-making so that they:

During the year we:

Appropriate Adults Independent Advocacy under the Care Act
Generic advocacy, Learning Disability and
Mental Health		 Independent Mental Health Advocacy
Generic advocacy, Mental Health NHS Complaints Advocacy
Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy Relevant Person’s Representative

----- Start of picture text -----
Care Act Advocacy 24%
Independent Mental Health Advocacy 22%
Appropriate Adults Advocacy 20%
Relevant Person's Representative 16%
Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy 11%
NHS Complaints Advocacy 7%
Generic Advocacy 1%
----- End of picture text -----

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 12 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Law Centre

Protecting people’s housing, jobs, finances, social welfare and legal rights

F’s Story

The use of alcohol and cocaine by senior management at work events had become frequent at F’s work, so she made a whistleblowing report to the Chief Executive Officer. 11 days later, F was dismissed from her job.

At first, F’s hours were reduced, she was given a poor performance review, and her line manager accused F of resigning. At the dismissal meeting, F was told the business was restructuring and her role was not needed anymore. To F’s dismay, the role was readvertised the next day.

F contacted our Law Centre and we advised her that she had a claim for automatic unfair dismissal/detriment for making a protected ‘whistleblowing’ disclosure. The matter was listed for a preliminary hearing, F was extensively advised and supported by the Law Centre, and the former employer sought to settle the matter.

The Law Centre negotiated a settlement of £65,000 of which £25,000 was for injury to feelings. This was one of the highest settlements the Law Centre negotiated, and F was ecstatic.

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 13 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

As a Legal Aid Agency accredited provider, member of the Law Centres Network, and a London Legal Support Trust ‘Centre of Excellence’; our Law Centre provided free, independent and expert legal and crisis navigation services in housing, employment and discrimination, and welfare benefits law. During the year we:

----- Start of picture text -----
Housing and housing loss prevention - 743 cases 73%
Cost of living crisis - 100 cases 10%
Welfare Benefits - 73 cases 7%
Crisis Navigation - 60 cases 6%
Employment and Discrimination - 45 cases 4%
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
Disability benefit awards (Personal Independence Payments) £193,973
Employment and discrimination compensation £160,750
Housing costs awards (Housing Benefit, Universal Credit and Rent
£31,073
Arrears Fund)
Housing disrepair compensation £5,000
----- End of picture text -----

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 14 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Safer Renting services

Making private renting safe for all

AB’s Story

AB was under considerable stress before being referred to Safer Renting. Unstable employment, a personal bereavement, and the landlord illegally ‘hiking-up’ rent were all threatening their wellbeing.

AB was further traumatised and frightened by the build-up of rent arrears that they were unable to clear and landlord

harassment in the form of incessant texts demanding they leave, and an associate of the landlord turning up at the property with tools.

Safer Renting believed there was a real threat that the landlord would illegally change the locks, so our caseworker contacted the landlord, warning them against pursing an illegal eviction. The landlord agreed to desist and contacted their own solicitor who served AB with a notice to leave.

Safer Renting responded, stating we would pursue a rent repayment order and a deposit protection penalty if the landlord continued with the unlawful eviction proceedings. Our intervention persuaded the landlord to abandon the eviction and AB expressed immense gratitude for Safer Renting’s support.

AB eventually managed to find a council property via Homefinders, which was a huge relief, but they didn’t know how they would manage to pay the first month's rent.

Safer Renting reached out to AB’s existing landlord's solicitor to propose a buyout which was accepted: AB would agree to leave the property if the landlord settled the rent repayment order and deposit protection penalty, and agreed to waive arrears.

The final sum paid to AB was £1,800 and £4,000 of rent arrears was waived. This enabled them to leave on their own terms, with the resources needed to enter a new tenancy, and without fear of further harassment and being chased for a high amount of debt.

Our Safer Renting service is commissioned by local authorities to prevent homelessness by intervening in illegal evictions, supporting private renters to negotiate better conditions in their homes, and enabling private renters to leave a criminal landlord on their own terms.

The service operates in an environment where challenges related to poor housing quality, high rents, insecure tenancies, and landlord/letting agency criminality are compounded by the:

During the year we:

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Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Safer Renting’s casework is particularly complex because:

The range of crisis issues that frequently arise in each Safer Renting case lead to extended case management timelines, often require multiagency working, and include several of the following elements:

----- Start of picture text -----
Rent increases
- requiring
referral to
Housing and Tribunal Landlord small
associated claims against
welfare benefit tenants for
claims arrears
Homelessness
Disrepair
applications
Lack of access
Deposit return Illegal evicton to social
housing
Actions to
support local Landlord
authority harassment
enforcement and/or violence
strategy
Prohibited
Possession
Payments and
claims
other scams
Licensing
failures
----- End of picture text -----

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 16 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Disabled People’s services – a look back at our last fifty years Ian Banner, former Cambridge House resident

In the spring of 1975, as I was finishing my third year at Churchill College, Cambridge, and preparing to move to London for an MSc at the Institute of Psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital in Camberwell, I noticed a small announcement on the college noticeboard. It advertised a room to rent at Cambridge House and Talbot in Camberwell, with the expectation that residents would volunteer in the local community to support the settlement’s work.

I had already been involved in voluntary work in Cambridge, most recently at the Ida Darwin Hospital for children with learning disabilities in Fulbourn. Moving into Cambridge House in August or September 1975 fitted perfectly with the start of my course that autumn.

Cambridge House was a dynamic environment, full of highly motivated people working with local residents to improve community life. There were about twelve of us living there— young adults either studying or working nearby. Talbot House had just been sold, and the proceeds were earmarked for building improvements at Cambridge House, including the installation of central heating.

The buildings included Scott Hall, an adjacent air-raid shelter, and a garden that provided a safe and secure place for children to play.

In the early 1970s, new legislation established special schools with an educational focus. Southwark had two: Cherry Gardens in the north of the borough and Tuke School in Peckham. Parents, carers, and professionals all identified a lack of leisure activities for disabled children.

The idea of a Saturday Club for school-age children quickly gained support. Without Cambridge House – its building, experienced staff, volunteers, and accommodation – setting up such a project would have been far more difficult, but everything came together in the autumn of 1975.

I had experience working with children with complex physical needs and challenging behaviour, which helped reassure parents. Children were referred by the schools and by the Southwark Society. Cambridge House’s location near Burgess Park, with no roads to cross, was another advantage. We received donations of toys and play equipment, and the staff helped with fundraising.

In keeping with Cambridge House’s Community Works ethos, parents were involved in the management of the weekend clubs from the outset. It was truly a win-win: the children enjoyed the activities, and it was rewarding to see parents gain confidence and skills through committee work and fundraising.

One practical challenge was connecting Scott Hall to the toilets in the adjacent air-raid shelter in the Cambridge House garden. I remember hiring huge hammer drills – almost too heavy to lift – to break through the concrete. Parents and volunteers took turns, but the walls were a foot thick, and after hours of effort we had barely made a dent. I think professionals were eventually brought in, and the doorway was finally completed.

The Cambridge House and Talbot annual report for 1975-76 describes the construction of the soft play area at the end of Scott Hall, which became a great success. As the number of weekend clubs grew, the idea of a summer playscheme developed. In 1976 the Inner London Education Authority still existed and was able to provide transport and meals, while Cambridge House provided space, including the large hall in Addington Square. For the first time a paid worker was employed to support and manage the volunteers. It was chaotic at first, but the children loved it.

By 1975, most adults with learning disabilities lived either with ageing parents or in large hospital institutions. Darenth Park in Dartford, with around 1,500 patients, was where adults from Southwark were typically sent.

By the late 1970s and early 1980s, plans to close these longstay hospitals were being developed, sparking debate over what should replace them. The King’s Fund Centre published An Ordinary Life, advocating community-based housing and support rather than new institutional models. Cambridge House became a leading champion of this approach, and the Southwark Consortium was formed to develop it further.

In 1986, Colin Rochester wrote a paper for the King’s Fund describing the remarkable scale and ambition of the community-based supported housing and care that emerged from this work. The Southwark Consortium blossomed into a major national care provider, Choice Support, with 1,400 service users and 2,000 staff.

In the early 1980s, advocacy services began to emerge, along with support for parents of children with challenging behaviour. It was rewarding to see families gaining the confidence to secure the services they needed—early steps toward integration and empowering people with learning disabilities to be heard and to take control of their own lives. Exciting times indeed.

Autumn 1975 marks the beginning of 50 years of Cambridge House and Talbot’s work with families of children and adults with learning disabilities. Long may it continue.

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 17 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Disabled People’s Empowerment services – ‘Camberwell Incredibles’ Enabling disabled people to take control of their lives and futures

B’s Story

‘B’ is a 26-year-old woman with a mild learning disability and significant health challenges, including a brain tumour, reduced mobility, and seizures. She uses a wheelchair with assistance.

B has a very close bond with her mother, whose stress around B’s uncertain health recently led to a breakdown. Just before Christmas, B went into temporary care for six weeks.

Remarkably, she handled the separation with maturity and composure, calmly explaining her mum’s situation to professionals and in doing so, helping us to coordinate her care and support. Despite disruptions - first moving to respite care, then to a retirement home due to funding issues - B adapted with resilience and optimism.

She even found ways to thrive, selling handmade jewellery and bonding with the community. Over Christmas in the care home, she engaged in physiotherapy, grew stronger, and gained independence from her mum.

Thanks to persistent advocacy from Camberwell Incredibles staff, B was granted funding for an extra day with the service. Attending three days a week now gives both her and her mother essential breathing space.

B has flourished with the group: making close friendships, joining activities, and developing new interests such as food preparation. Ever conscientious, she’s also become our self-appointed health and safety officer - always ensuring risks are minimal. P still has outbursts of tears at times too, but she is always surrounded by other group members who all come to hug and comfort her. She soon emerges smiling and the cloud passes quickly. She knows that she is amongst good friends.

Camberwell Incredibles Arts Club members are adults aged 19 to 64 years who live with profound learning disabilities and complex need. It is delivered at the Trinity College Centre in Camberwell and combines social, creative, independent living, and personal development sessions with a diversity of trips and community events. The Club offers a unique model of collaboration and creativity that challenges the social stigma and exclusion experienced by people with learning disabilities, and provides an essential, safe and joyous space for its members to:

During the year the Club:

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Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 19 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Youth Empowerment services – ‘RISE’

Specialising in long-term support for society’s most excluded young people

K and N’s Story

K (20) and N (18) are brothers who separately fled torture and persecution, arriving in the UK as children, alone. Briefly reunited, the care system then separated them - placing them under different authorities, social workers, and solicitors who didn’t communicate, deepening their isolation. Both faced discrimination from social workers and, despite K suffering from severe diagnosed PTSD and cognitive impairment, were denied essential mental health care, while significant translation errors in legal documents jeopardised their asylum claims.

RISE advocated for K and N. We raised safeguarding concerns, formally challenged harmful practices by social services, organised multi-agency meetings, and liaised with solicitors to correct legal errors. We provided consistent, trauma-informed support, holding K and N across fragmented systems, ensuring their safety, connection, and voices remained central.

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Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Our Youth Empowerment service, RISE, is a highly specialised, youth-led, and long-term programme that invests in 16 to 25 year-olds, typically for at least 2-years, who have experienced multiple negative experiences and appalling events across their life course.

RISE’s trauma-informed mentoring, advocacy, collective support, and shared learning components are designed by young people to create and strengthen the ‘safety net’ for isolated young people in crisis and despair who feel they have no community and no one to turn to.

On average, 43% of RISE participants presented with undiagnosed ‘special educational needs’ and/or were neurodiverse, and 83% presented with undiagnosed or untreated mental health conditions.

During the year, the number of young people participating increased by 67% to 134 (80 in 2024) and RISE:

----- Start of picture text -----
Improved mental health and wellbeing 100%
Improved socio-emotional learning 100%
Improved life skills (employability, financial and administrative) 100%
Improved access to statutory and community services 100%
Progression into employment, training or education 70%
Improved resilience 65%
----- End of picture text -----

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 21 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Events after the year end

There are no significant events after the year end to report.

Operational aims and objectives

To implement our 2022 - 2027 Strategic Plan.

Achieving our priorities in 2024-2025
Transforming Lives
To expand our Youth and Disabled
Number of weekly Camberwell Incredibles sessions increased from 3 to 4
Achieved
People’s Empowerment services
RISE service user numbers increased from 80 to 134
To expand our delivery of legal
Achieved
New contract secured to deliver legal services in Lambeth from 01 04 2025
advice services in Lambeth
Transforming Society
To undertake research into the

External research partner engaged
contribution that Lettings Agents Progressed
play in the London ‘shadow private
Research activities initiated
rented sector’
To undertake research into the
impact of poor private rented sector
External research partner engaged
housing on the health of Progressed
marginalised communities in
Research activities initiated
Lambeth
Governance
To agree a ‘Transforming Society’
Safer Renting public affairs development enhanced with the creation of a new
action plan to support the delivery Completed corporate Public Affairs and Communications post
of the 2022-2027 Corporate
Research into the system failures experienced by young people with severe,
Strategy multiple, and complex needs initiated by RISE

IT contracts reviewed and upgraded
To enhance IT and cyber security Completed
Specialist insurances procured
capabilities and processes
All staff training completed

Cyber Essentials accreditation renewed
To undertake a review of our
articles of association to ensure that
Completed
Updated and modernised articles of association approved by company members
they continue to enable us to in January 2025
operate effectively

Our priorities for 2025-26

Transforming Lives

Expand the reach and impact of our Law Centre, Safer Renting, and RISE services

Transforming Society

Review data capture and analysis processes to enhance our evidence and lived experience- based research

Complete field work for two Safer Renting research projects

Increase public affairs reach and impact

Governance

Review and update trustees’ Governance Manual Complete trustee succession plan

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 22 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Financial review

Overview

We’re delighted to report that our post-pandemic business turnaround plan (which aimed to return earned income levels to pre-pandemic levels, address increased need in our communities, and weather the impact of the UK’s cost-of-living crisis on our costs) has continued to improve our financial position and we returned two-years’ deficits to surplus:

----- Start of picture text -----
Total Operating Income £2.2m (£1.8m in 2024) Total Operating Expenditure £2.1m (£1.9m in 2023)
Direct delivery staffing costs
Earned Income £1,252,262 £1,361,623 64%
Direct costs of services
9%
Public Sector grants £514,492 23% £192,887
Core staffing costs £346,758 16%
Charitable Income £444,256) 20%
Core overhead costs £227,823 11%
----- End of picture text -----

Earned income distribution 2023 to 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
Statutory contracts
Legal fees Education fees Interest Community hub fees
and spot purchasing
2025 £842,589 £245,314 £83,948 £80,410 £0
2024 £832,482 £157,318 £70,924 £31,958 £0
2023 £718,151 £82,696 £97,862 £8,824 £85,573
----- End of picture text -----

Public Sector Income from grants, contracts, and spot purchasing fees

2025 - 61% of turnover 2024 - 60% of turnover 2023 - 45% of turnover

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 23 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Expenditure

Our total expenditure for the year increased by 11% to £2,133,296 (£1,919,645 in 2024):

Direct service expenditure 2021 to 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
Empowerment and
Independent Advocacy Law Centre Safer Renting Community Hub
Inclusion
2025 £320,485 £469,943 £266,959 £497,124 £0
2024 £303,358 £301,933 £288,199 £422,638 £0
2023 £293,519 £220,430 £248,613 £402,228 £102,760
2022 £341,458 £211,775 £207,772 £278,510 £347,380
2021 £425,988 £170,933 £217,056 £238,235 £434,144
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Trustees’ responsibilities

As trustees, we are also the directors of Cambridge House for company law purposes. We are responsible for preparing this Annual Report and the Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires us to prepare annual financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of Cambridge House’s affairs, including our incoming resources and their application, and net income or expenditure. In preparing our financial statements, we are required to:

Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of Cambridge House, and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. We are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 24 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

In so far as we are aware:

Trustees are also responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on our website.

We note that, legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from the legislations in other jurisdictions.

Going concern statement

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern and we remain focussed on the longer-term sustainability of unrestricted funds.

Reserves policy

We review the target level of reserves on an annual basis alongside the operating budget. The assessment takes account of income and expenditure risks within the budget and the need for sufficient liquidity to manage the day-to-day fluctuations in our receipts and payments. Our free reserves and designated reserves are considered in the round when factoring in our target.

Trustees completed a risk-based review of our reserves policy during the year to ensure that we establish the following reserve targets which we have achieved:

Free (cash) reserves of £893K

To provide unrestricted funds that are freely available to spend in the event of business continuity and disaster recovery needs, including:

A designated ‘Building’ reserve of £1.6M

At the end of the year, we held the following funds in line with our Reserves Policy:

Budgeting and financial decision-making

We prepare annual budgets for all activities and carefully monitor performance against these to ensure that any activity operating at a deficit and/or behind budget is carefully supervised, and opportunities are taken to mitigate risks and increase unrestricted funds. We use a cloud-based accountancy package that connects to our bank accounts and facilitates real-time scrutiny by trustee bank signatories and staff with profit and loss accountabilities.

Trustees have a Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan and a Financial Emergency Response Plan to protect the interests of our service users, employees, trustees, creditors and stakeholders by outlining the steps that can be taken to avoid and/or manage crises.

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Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

A meeting schedule detailing priorities and regulatory deadlines for our Board of Trustees is published at least 12-months in advance and ensures trustees consider, monitor and/or approve our:

Our Board’s Finance Subcommittee considers monthly financial reports to ensure:

Governance and management

Cambridge House and Talbot Limited is a registered charity (registration number 265103) and is constituted as a company registered in England and Wales and limited by guarantee (registration number 1050006):

Trustees

Cambridge House is governed by the charity’s trustees, who are also the company's directors and are collectively called the Board of Trustees (the Board). The members of our Board are appointed through external recruitment when vacancies arise.

Our Board meets a minimum of four times, but more usually six times per year to manage the business of the organisation. It has appointed subcommittees to operate with delegated responsibilities:

Raja S Hussain (Treasurer), Simon Latham (Chair, ex officio), Tara Trousdale, and Felix Adenaike

Clarissa Lyons, Simon Latham (Chair, ex officio and Safeguarding Lead), and Ivan Delany (Digital Lead)

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Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Our Board's governance structure is set out in our Governance Manual, which explains how the organisation is run with reference to our legal obligations, the ‘Charity Governance Code’ for larger organisations, and the ‘Seven Principles of Public Life’, and includes a clear distinction between the role of trustees and the Chief Executive.

Trustees concentrate on strategic matters, setting overall direction, ensuring clear organisational objectives and holding the Chief Executive to account. This is affected through reporting, both on performance and strategic matters, and formal appraisal of the Chief Executive’s performance. The delegated responsibilities and accountabilities of the Chief Executive are set out in our Governance Manual and in their job description.

Trustees have reserved certain powers, which only they can exercise. These include those statutory powers that cannot be delegated, such as policies on risk and reserves, and decisions linked to major policy or programme initiatives, strategic planning, and changes to organisational structure.

Trustee recruitment, induction and training

Our Board completes skills audits to assess the skills of the existing trustees, identify ‘skills gaps’ and assess any skills being lost by the retirement of a trustee. New trustees are recruited through external advertising and direct approaches to professional bodies and other voluntary organisations.

The induction process for new trustees is detailed in the Governance Manual and is designed to acquaint them with our purposes, financial position, work programmes, structure, staff and current issues.

To ensure continued development, trustees are offered the opportunity to attend training on key areas, such as charity finance and reporting; safeguarding; and equality, diversity and inclusion.

Trustee performance review

A review of trustees’ individual and collective performance is conducted annually to ensure the effectiveness and inclusiveness of our governance processes. The outcomes of the review process are considered by our Governance, Risk and Inclusion subcommittee alongside the results of regular skills audits so that governance improvement measures can be agreed by our Board.

Trustee terms of appointment

Role Name Length of service in current role
Chair (Deputy Safeguarding Lead) Simon Latham 5 years, 3 months
Trustee Clarissa Lyons 6 years, 3 months
Treasurer Raja S Hussain 18 months
Trustee Felix Adenaike 18 months
Trustee Shadi Brazell 18 months
Trustee (Digital Lead) Ivan Delany 18 months
Trustee Patrick Diamond 18 months
Trustee Susanne Hall 18 months
Trustee Tara Trousdale 18 months

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Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Equality, diversity and inclusion

The diversity and inclusiveness of our team, including trustees, leadership and management, underpins our equity-based approach, and demonstrates the fact that equality, diversity and inclusion are our core values and essential characteristics of a just and democratic society.

We recognise that our society is beautifully diverse, but sadly unequal and believe that, over and above the minimum standards required by law, it is our ethical and moral duty to:

To this end, we establish credibility and legitimacy, and build our experiential knowledge by working to ensure our service users ‘see themselves’ reflected throughout our organisation.

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy includes an Action Plan with specific inclusion targets that are monitored annually by our Board. The plan also sets out:

The wonderful diversity of our team at all ‘hierarchical levels’ brings high levels of cultural competence – including 16 different languages and 6 faith groups, experiential insights, and continues to set us apart from charity sector ‘norms’:

The diversity of our team Trustees All Staff Leadership Management Volunteers Trustees, Staff
and Volunteers
Combined
Experts by experience 67% 77% 100% 71% 100% 78%
Women 44% 54% 100% 29% 78% 55%
Transgender/Non-Binary 0% 5% 0% 0% 0% 4%
Black, Asian and global majority
communities		 33% 46% 67% 29% 67% 47%
Disabled, neurodiverse and/or living
with a mental or physical health
condition		 44% 29% 100% 43% 22% 30%
LGBTQIA+/Queer community 0% 32% 0% 29% 11% 26%
Faith communities 33% 29% 0% 14% 78% 30%
Socially mobile since childhood 33% 30% 67% 29% 11% 39%
35 years and less 11% 46% 0% 43% 11% 46%
36 to 55 years 78% 36% 67% 43% 33% 38%
56 + years 11% 18% 33% 14% 100% 39%

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 28 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Quality and impact

We strive to find solutions to identifiable problems in the communities with which we work. Actual and potential service user needs, as well as gaps in service provision, are identified through:

Evidencing quality and impact

Our theory of change identifies the causal links between what we do and what we are trying to achieve. It also provides the theoretical framework to help us assess whether what we do is working as planned and how it can be improved. Quantitative and qualitative methods of collecting outcomes and outputs, including feedback from and consultation with service users and stakeholders, enable us to evidence impact. Accredited quality assurance and impact measurement schemes ensure our impact is externally audited and verified.

Giving voice to our service users through radical listening-based consultation

Most of our service users experience crises in multiple aspects of their lives and this means they are energy and resource poor, often ashamed of their situation and therefore reluctant to fully share their experiences in group situations - many experience additional pressures associated with caring responsibilities, vicarious employment, and deteriorating mental health. Our consultation methods are therefore non-traditional and person-centred so that we can seek service user views, experiences and insights on support needs, barriers to service access, and gaps in service provision without putting them under additional pressure to participate in consultation activities they deem secondary to their immediate and urgent needs.

We use radical listening techniques to integrate consultation into casework delivery processes; this enables us to consult systematically about our own services and the statutory and non-statutory services provided by others. The information and data captured is then systematically analysed to enable us to develop our own practices and priorities, develop new interventions, and identify weaknesses in social policy and practice.

Legal services

Our Law Centre has been awarded Centre of Excellence status by the London Legal Support Trust and is accredited by Lexcel, the Law Society's annually audited legal practice quality mark for excellence in legal practice management and excellence in client care.

Independent Advocacy services

Our Independent Advocacy services deliver according to Advocacy Quality Performance Mark (QPM) requirements which work in conjunction with the Advocacy Code of Practice to enable providers to demonstrate how they are meeting the different standards set out in the code.

Safer Renting services

Our work supporting the private tenants of ‘criminal landlords’ is accredited by the Advice Quality Standard the Advice Service Alliance’s independently audited quality mark.

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 29 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Youth Empowerment and Disabled People’s Empowerment services

The evaluation and impact measures for our Empowerment and Inclusion activities are aligned with the Violence Reduction Unit Outcomes Framework, and we use validated outcomes tools including the Triangle Outcomes Star, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, and the 8 Pillars of Wellness framework to monitor service users’ progress towards their personal development goals. Our Youth Empowerment provision is also aligned with the Mentoring Quality Framework to ensure we deliver consistent, high quality, reflective mentoring practices for young people.

Governance

We are organisational members of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and have Positive about Disability, Mindful Employer, London Living Wage Employer and Cyber Essentials quality marks.

Fundraising

We rely on fundraising to support all our work and it is important to us that everyone who engages with us has a positive experience. We work diligently to comply with the Fundraising Regulator’s Fundraising Code of Practice, and to ensure that we fundraise in a respectful and compelling way that is consistent with our values.

Fundraising activity is carried out in accordance with our Ethical Fundraising and Data Protection Policies to ensure legal and regulatory compliance. The policies are reviewed regularly to ensure they also reflect best practice.

We are an organisational member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and have a published fundraising pledge to donors. Our Ethical Fundraising Policy governs our interactions with third parties, including, but not limited to, corporate and individual donors, local and national governments, other charities and public-sector agencies.

Our fundraising activities and compliance with regulations and best practice are scrutinised by our Board of Trustees and its Finance Subcommittee. No fundraising complaints have been received.

The Chief Executive, Fundraising and Development Coordinator and Fundraising and Development Officer are our primary fundraisers. They are required to demonstrate an understanding of the Fundraising Regulator’s Fundraising Code of Practice and make a commitment to uphold its values when they join Cambridge House. We do not engage any third-party fundraisers.

Our relationship with supporters

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Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Serious incident reporting

We have procedures for the reporting of serious incidents to the Charity Commission in accordance with the statutory requirement under section 169 of the Charities Act 2011. Trustees confirm that there were no serious incidents or other matters relating to Cambridge House and Talbot Limited during the year that should have been brought to the attention of the Charity Commission.

Safeguarding

Trustees recognise that being safe and free of abuse is central to ensuring the continued promotion of a person’s wellbeing. In this spirit, as outlined in the ‘making safeguarding personal’ initiative and the Care Act 2014, we have policies and procedures in place to enable us to respond to all concerns of abuse appropriately, operating in line with the Pan London Multi-Agency Safeguarding Policy.

We maintain an effective safeguarding culture by ensuring our:

Our trustee safeguarding lead is Simon Latham and our executive leads are the Chief Executive and the Heads of Services for Independent Advocacy and Empowerment and Inclusion.

Beyond reporting

Creating a positive safeguarding culture in an environment where people seek our support with increasingly complex and devastating life experiences, means we have adapted our safeguarding model to include preventative processes that enable us to engage in ‘safeguarding-focused casework’ where statutory safeguarding reporting or formal alert thresholds are not yet met.

This equity, trauma informed, and rights-based approach is underpinned by allocating ‘additional’ and specialist safeguarding roles to staff that, supported by training, address:

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Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Six-year overview of external safeguarding alerts and the outcomes of our intervention

----- Start of picture text -----
2024-25 (26 alerts) 30 5 21 20
2023-24 (14 alerts) 7 3 3 1
2022-23 (13 alerts) 4 1 8
2021-22 (19 alerts) 9 10
2020-21 (12 alerts) 1 10 1
2019-20 (26 alerts) 6 12 8
Statutory safeguarding process and/or changes to Lasting Power of Attorney arrangements
Police referral
Care Plan/Support Provision revised and/or NHS referral
Section 21A Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard challenges in the Court of Protection
----- End of picture text -----

Networks and partnerships

We are firmly ‘outward looking’ and work collaboratively with a diversity of voluntary, community, academic, private and public-sector partners to deliver services, establish reciprocal referral pathways, and exchange knowledge and information.

During the year, we remained members of:

Community Southwark, the umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector, volunteers and social action in Southwark. Healthwatch Southwark, a consumer network established because of the health and social care reforms of 2012 to champion the views of local people who use health and social care services in Southwark.

The Chartered Institute of Fundraising, the professional membership body for UK fundraising.

London Youth, a network of diverse community youth organisations serving young people across London.

Locality, whose stated objective is to develop a network of ambitious and enterprising community-led organisations with a strong, collective voice and to inspire community action so that every neighbourhood thrives.

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), who champion the voluntary sector by connecting, representing and supporting voluntary organisations.

Southwark Legal Advice Network (SLAN), which aims to improve access to quality assured advice services and self-help information in Southwark for people in greatest need.

The Better Way Network, a national network of leaders who want to improve services and build strong communities. Our Chief Executive is a ‘Core Group’ member and the network’s thought leader on radical listening.

Our Chief Executive, Karin Woodley, holds roles as:

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 32 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Our Chair, Simon Latham, was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Bridge House Estates (now City Bridge Foundation) in February 2022 and has been Acting Managing Director since June 2024. Cambridge House is currently in receipt of a grant from the City Bridge Foundation (CBF). Simon will recuse himself if matters are raised in respect of Cambridge House’s grant at any relevant management board and has notified his employer of his trusteeship of Cambridge House.

We are also very grateful for the support we receive from Macfarlanes LLP, a London-based law firm, who has been our corporate partner for over 30 years.

Public benefit

Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and taken it into account when reviewing our aims and objectives and planning future activities.

Cambridge House provides public benefit by:

We are satisfied that the aims of Cambridge House are carried out wholly in pursuit of the public benefit.

Staffing and remuneration

Cambridge House is accredited by Mindful Employer, Positive about Disabled People, and the London Living Wage Foundation. These standards help to ensure our human resources policies:

Performance management

We have a performance management, staff training and development, and appraisal policy that:

Staff remuneration

We recognise the importance of being transparent and accountable in all aspects of our work, including how we reward and recognise our staff, which is set out in a Staff Remuneration Policy. We are an accredited Living Wage Employer, meaning every employee and intern in our organisation earns at least the London Living Wage as set independently by the Living Wage Foundation.

Trustees are committed to ensuring that we pay our staff fairly and in a way which ensures we achieve the greatest impact in delivering our charitable objectives. In deciding on levels of pay the following factors are considered:

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 33 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Salaries

At the end of March 2025, we had a staff team of 53 (47 in 2024 and 51 in 2023) comprising 39 full-time staff (36 in 2024 and 34 in 2023) and 14 part-time staff (11 in 2024 and 17 in 2023) and representing a fulltime equivalent of 44.3 staff (39.8 in 2024 and 44.2 in 2023).

For Cambridge House to operate successfully, a range of specialist skills and disciplines are required. We therefore need to pay staff appropriately to ensure that we recruit people with the right experience. It is also important that we develop and retain our staff so that our services benefit from the team’s growing knowledge. Many of our team develop expertise that is unique to them in the organisation and could not be quickly replaced and our staff pay scales are set with this in mind.

The salary of the Chief Executive is approved by our Board based on recommendations from our Finance Subcommittee. The Chief Executive requires a breadth and depth of expertise which requires drawing from the best senior level talent in a competitive market. They need to be able to command the respect of their peers, our stakeholders and our service users locally, nationally and internationally, through their experience and their credibility.

The Chief Executive’s salary is reviewed to benchmark it against other charities in London relative to size, budgets, responsibilities and the competitiveness of the employment market. At the same time, we seek to keep salary costs under control. The Chief Executive’s salary was last benchmarked in 2022-23.

Chief Executive’s pay
Name Title 2024-25 2023-24
Karin Woodley Chief Executive £92,700 £90,000

In compliance with our Staff Remuneration Policy, all other staff salaries are set by our Chief Executive and the management team using benchmarking comparisons with charities of our size in London, and considering factors including inflation, Cambridge House’s financial position, and the other factors mentioned above. Salaries are openly stated in job adverts, and we don’t offer performance-related pay or a bonus scheme.

Pay awards

Staff on the London Living Wage received a cost-of living award of 5% and all other staff received a cost-of living award of 3%

Pay ratio

The remuneration ratio for Cambridge House is considered alongside external market conditions for the specific roles and we aspire to a pay ratio that is less than 3.5:1.

The ratio of our highest salary (£92,700) to our median salary (£29,081) was 3.18:1 (2.94:1 in 2024 and 2.99:1 in 2023), which compares very favourably to the charity sector average of 5:1.

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Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Volunteering and employability

Volunteers make a vital contribution to our work by bringing their time, energy and enthusiasm to a range of our activities. We strive to provide them with opportunities to acquire skills and experiences that will help them improve their quality of life, develop their professional knowledge, or progress into further education, employment and training.

Most of our volunteers find out about us through online recruitment, personal recommendation, and business ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ schemes. Our volunteers are not paid for their time, but they are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses such as travel. All our volunteers are provided with volunteer agreements which define their goals, our needs, and the level of support or training they will receive.

The number of volunteers was 19 during the year (20 in 2024 and 13 in 2023) and the number of voluntary hours contributed was 3,103 (3,054 in 2024 and 3,318 in 2023). The financial value of the hours contributed by volunteers, based on the London Living Wage, was £42,977 (£40,160 in 2024 and £43,625 in 2023).

The percentage of volunteer time contributed to specific activities during the year:

----- Start of picture text -----
Governance 79%
Law Centre 11%
Empowerment and Inclusion 10%
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Traineeships

We have paid traineeship programmes that have been running since 2013 and offer opportunities for people to develop the skills and experience they need to develop a career. Our trainees are externally recruited and receive the London Living Wage as a minimum. Five team members progressed into permanent roles during the year (5 in 2024 and 2 in 2023): three Safer Renting trainee caseworkers, one RISE trainee Youth Empowerment facilitator, and one Fundraising and Development trainee.

Risk management

Trustees regularly review and assess the risks faced by Cambridge House in all areas of our work and plan for the management of those risks. Our Risk Register and Risk Appetite Statement is reviewed annually by our Board to ensure that the material risks to which we are exposed are properly evaluated and managed. The Governance, Risk and Inclusion Subcommittee is responsible for:

Financial risks are supervised and monitored monthly by our Board’s Finance Subcommittee and reported to quarterly Board meetings.

Our leadership and management teams ensure that all plans and decisions consider the possibility of negative outcomes, and appropriate mitigating actions are implemented to address residual risks to a level trustees consider acceptable.

We recognise that, to achieve our objectives, the nature of some of our work requires acceptance of some risks which are outside of our control. These are risks which cannot be eliminated, so we ensure they are proactively and clearly monitored.

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 35 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Trustees consider there to be appropriate systems and controls in place to monitor, manage and mitigate Cambridge House’s exposure to risks. These include, among other control mechanisms, maintaining staff awareness of risks by embedding suitable approaches in the budgeting process, a strategy to maintain reserves that support business continuity and disaster recovery, and reviews of key systems and processes by our Governance, Risk and Inclusion Subcommittee.

Our risk assessment and mitigation approach is proactive and:

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

Our highest risk areas, ranked for likelihood and impact, have been identified as:

Risks Mitigation Actions
Failure to generate sufficient
income and to manage budget and
liquidity effectively
Monthly Finance Subcommittee and quarterly Board scrutiny of financial performance and our
real-time cash position

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery, and Finance Emergency Response Plans in place.

Ensure ‘full cost recovery’ contract pricing and grant applications

Maintain diversified income base and high levels of unrestricted income to prevent reliance on
single sources
Major unforeseen costs, which
create a significant overspend or
necessitate significant and
unplanned increases in expenditure
Monthly Finance Subcommittee and quarterly Board scrutiny of financial performance and our
real-time cash position

Robust cloud-based accounting system in place

Prepare ‘keep, divest and/or novate’ plans as appropriate to reduce impact of loss making
and/or unfunded services

Ongoing monitoring, assessment and evaluation of any emergent factors which have the
potential to risk business activities at project and operational levels

Maintain a risk-based free reserve target
Partial or total loss of resources
such as staff, equipment,
management systems, information
or premises, which could reduce
service quality and impact, or
disrupt our continuity of service
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery, and Finance Emergency Response Plans in place

Career objectives and development objectives discussed as part of the performance
management process with a view to supporting succession planning and maintaining a
corporate focus on learning and training

Regularly review Staff Remuneration (including benefits) Policy

Regularly review staff wellbeing support processes with particular regard to dealing with
vicarious trauma
Competition from other providers
resulting in the organisation being
unable to sustain its current
services
Regularly update pricing reviews, market comparisons and competitor analyses

Build strong relationships with commissioners and funders and build cross sector partnerships

Maintain participation in policy forums and think tanks to support future planning and
proofing of services

Continue to focus on opportunities to innovate and respond to new and emerging needs in our
communities

Continue to monitor and publish our social impact and maintain externally accredited quality
assurance processes

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 36 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Auditors

Sayer Vincent LLP has indicated its willingness to continue in office and, in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006, it is proposed that it be re-appointed auditors for 2025-26. A resolution proposing its re-appointment will be submitted to a meeting of the Board of Trustees.

This Trustees’ Annual Report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime, and is approved by trustees in their capacity as company directors and charity trustees. Signed on behalf of the trustees/directors

Simon Latham, Chair

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 37 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Acknowledgements

Cambridge House fundraises for all its work. We rely on relationships with many partners throughout the country and internationally.

Our trustees sincerely thank all our supporters and donors who make our work possible:

City Bridge Foundation Elizabeth and Prince Zaiger Trust Greater London Authority - Propel Fund Impact on Urban Health Jack Petchey Foundation Legal Aid Agency Legal Education Foundation London Borough of Barking and Dagenham London Borough of Camden London Borough of Croydon London Borough of Ealing London Borough of Enfield London Borough of Greenwich London Borough of Hackney London Borough of Havering London Borough of Islington London Borough of Kingston upon Thames London Borough of Lambeth London Borough of Lewisham London Borough of Richmond upon Thames London Borough of Southwark London Borough of Tower Hamlets London Borough of Waltham Forest London Borough of Wandsworth London Legal Support Trust Oak Foundation Suffolk County Council Sussex County Council The Access to Justice Foundation The Community Justice Fund The Law Centres Network Trust for London West Berkshire Council Westminster City Council

Our trustees also thank the many organisations who have worked in partnership with Cambridge House – our success relies on collaboration

Acorn Union Ann Bernadt Children’s Centre Bede House Blue Elephant Theatre Britain Has Class British Red Cross Brixton Advice Centre Centre for London Change Grow Live, Southwark Chartered Institute for Housing Chartered Institute of Legal Executives Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Southwark) City Law School City University Corali Corner Café, New Cross Crawford Children’s centre Crisis Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Dr Jill Stewart Dr Julie Rugg

Duckie

Dulwich Wood Children’s Centre Esprima Generation Rent Global Social Economy Forum Hackney Law Centre Health Watch Southwark Herne Hill Velodrome Housing Law Practitioners Association HYP Southwark InSpire International Federation of Settlements James Murray MP Karen Buck MP Kathryn Oliver & Iain Carroll Kingston Advocacy Group Landlord Law Conference Leap Confronting Conflict Legal Aid Practitioners Group London Borough of Waltham Forest Landlord Forum London Legal Support Trust London Live London Renters Union London School of Economics and Political Science London Youth LSE Housing and Communities Macfarlanes LLP McCarthy's Costs Mencap Metropolitan Police Service MyBnk National Landlord’s Association National Practitioners Support Service Nell Gwynn Children’s centre NHS Talking Therapies Peckham Pulse Professor Matt Egan Resilient Youth Shelter Spear Programme South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Southwark Family Early Help Southwark Foodbank Southwark Law Centre Southwark Team for Early Psychosis St Giles Church, Camberwell St Giles Trust The Baytree Centre The Better Way Network The Centre for Housing Policy, University of York The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health The Greater London Authority The Grove Children’s Centre The Mayor's Private Rented Sector Team The Metropolitan Police Service The National Residential Landlords Association The Renters' Reform Coalition The Law Centres Network Thick and Tight TMC Legal Services Ltd Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor for Housing Treasure House (London) CIC Trinity College Centre, Camberwell UK Onward UKIM Masjid Ibrahim & Islamic Centre, Newham University College London University of the Arts London

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 38 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Charity reference and administrative information

President

HRH The Duke of Gloucester

Patrons

David Coleman Dr Rowan Williams Charles Arthur Trustees and directors Simon Latham– Chair Raja S Hussain – Treasurer Felix Adenaike Shadi Brazell Ivan Delany Patrick Diamond

Amy Fraser (Retired February 2025) Suzanne Hall Clarissa Lyons Stephanie Tidball (Retired September 2024) Tara Trousdale

Executive team

Leadership

Karin Woodley, CBE – Chief Executive and Company Secretary Karen Bayne – Finance Director and Deputy Chief Executive Katie Evans – Administration and Corporate Services Director

Heads of Services

Gurminder Birdi – Law Centre Max Puzey – Independent Advocacy Roz Spencer – Safer Renting Harry Williams – Public Affairs and Communications Rachel Zipfel – Empowerment and Inclusion

Financial adviser

Neal Howard Ltd

HR adviser

Stephen Poland

Auditors

Sayer Vincent, 110 Golden Lane, London EC1Y 0TG

Bankers

Royal Bank of Scotland, London City Office 63 Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8LA

Registered office

Cambridge House, Unit F, Ground Floor, The Printworks, 22 Amelia Street, London SE17 3PY

Reference and administrative details

Charity number: England and Wales: 265103 Company number: 1050006 VAT Registration Number: 802 6719 39

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 39 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25

Independent auditor’s report to the members of Cambridge House and Talbot Ltd

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Cambridge House and Talbot (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, balance sheet, statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

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 Cambridge House and Talbot's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve 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.

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 -Page 40 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25

Other Information

The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ annual 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. 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 the audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ annual 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:

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 -Page 41 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the statement of trustees’ responsibilities set out in the trustees’ annual report, 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 charitable company’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 charitable 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.

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 are set out below.

Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and noncompliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following:

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 -Page 42 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: 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. 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 auditor’s 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 the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Joanna Pittman (Senior statutory auditor)

9 December 2025

for and on behalf of Sayer Vincent LLP, Statutory Auditor 110 Golden Lane, LONDON, EC1Y 0TG

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 -Page 43 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account)

For the year ended 31 March 2025

For theyear ended 31 March 2025
Note
Income from:
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
Reconciliation of funds:
16
Law Centre
Advocacy
Education and Inclusion Services
Donations
Charitable activities
Gifts in Kind - Pro bono services
Donations and grants
Total expenditure
Charitable activities
Law Centre
Safer Renting
Safer Renting
Advocacy
Education and Inclusion Services
Investments
Other
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
Net movement in funds		 Unrestricted
£
11,173
-
379,520
83,948
457,305
251,078
80,410
-		 Restricted
£
-
-
-
516,292
110,648
320,636
-
-		 2025
Total
£
11,173
-
379,520
600,241
567,953
571,714
80,410
-
2,211,011
85,669
422,149
619,016
351,643
654,819
2,133,296
77,714
2,423,529
2,501,243		 Unrestricted
£
12,807
1,360
346,024
70,924
294,618
289,158
31,958
500		 Restricted
£
10,847
-
-
335,883
111,995
326,636
-
-		 2024
Total
£
23,654
1,360
346,024
406,807
406,613
615,794
31,958
500
1,263,435 947,576 1,047,349 785,361 1,832,710
85,669
422,149
102,724
240,995
334,183		 -
-
516,292
110,648
320,636		 (10,847)
442,465
104,502
308,359
289,805		 10,847
-
335,883
111,995
326,636		 -
442,465
440,385
420,354
616,441
1,185,721 947,576 1,134,283 785,361 1,919,645
77,714
2,423,529		 -
-		 (86,935)
2,510,464		 -
-		 (86,935)
2,510,464
2,501,243 - 2,423,529 - 2,423,529

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in Note 16a to the financial statements.

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 44 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Balance sheet

Balance sheet Balance sheet
As at 31 March 2025 Company no. 1050006
Note
£
Fixed assets:
10
Current assets:
11
524,720
1,959,352
288,668
2,772,740
Liabilities:
12
(279,926)
16a
1,600,000
901,243
Total unrestricted funds
General funds
Total charity funds
Cash at bank and in hand
Short term deposits
Tangible assets
The funds of the charity:
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets / (liabilities)
Total net assets
Restricted income funds
Unrestricted income funds:
Designated funds
Total assets less current liabilities
Debtors		 2025
£
8,429		 £
642,089
1,950,000
201,391		 2024
£
9,935
8,429
2,492,814		 9,935
2,413,594
2,772,740
(279,926)		 2,793,480
(379,886)
1,600,000
901,243		 1,600,000
823,529
2,501,243 2,423,529
2,501,243 2,423,529
-
2,501,243		 -
2,423,529
2,501,243 2,423,529

Approved by the trustees on 4 December 2025 and signed on their behalf by

Simon Latham Chair

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 45 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Statement of cash flows

For the year ended 31 March 2025

For the year ended 31 March 2025
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income / (expenditure) for the reporting period
(as per the statement of financial activities)
Depreciation charges
Dividends, interest and rent from investments
Decrease/(Increase) in debtors
(Decrease)/Increase in creditors
Net cash provided by/ (used in) operating activities
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Net cash provided by investing activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Proceeds from the sale of fixed assets
Purchase of fixed assets
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year		 £
£
77,714
4,205
(80,410)
117,369
(99,960)
18,918
80,410
-
(2,699)
77,711
96,629
2,151,391
2,248,020
2025		 £
£
(86,935)
6,024
(31,958)
(170,460)
166,071
(117,258)
31,958
9,884
(5,880)
35,962
(81,296)
2,232,687
2,151,391
2024
18,918
77,711		 (117,258)
35,962
96,629
2,151,391		 (81,296)
2,232,687
2,248,020 2,151,391

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 46 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

1 Accounting policies

a) Statutory information

Cambridge House and Talbot is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office address and principle place of business is Unit F, Ground Floor The Print Works, 22 Amelia Street, London, SE17 3PY.

b) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) - (Charities SORP FRS 102 second edition 2019), The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note.

In applying the financial reporting framework, the trustees have made a number of subjective judgements, for example in respect of significant accounting estimates. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The nature of the estimation means the actual outcomes could differ from those estimates. Any significant estimates and judgements affecting these financial statements are detailed within the relevant accounting policy below.

c) Public benefit entity

The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

d) Critical accounting estimates

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.

e) Going concern

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

f) Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

Income received in advance of the provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.

g) Donations of gifts, services and facilities

Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item or received the service, any conditions associated with the donation have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), volunteer time is not recognised so refer to the trustees’ annual report for more information about their contribution.

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 47 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

On receipt, donated gifts, professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

i) Fund accounting

Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund.

Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources received or generated for the charitable purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

k) Allocation of support costs

Resources expended are allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. However, the cost of overall direction and administration of each activity, comprising the salary and overhead costs of the central function, is apportioned on the following basis which are an estimate, based on staff time, of the amount attributable to each activity.

Where information about the aims, objectives and projects of the charity is provided to potential beneficiaries, the costs associated with this publicity are allocated to charitable expenditure.

Where such information about the aims, objectives and projects of the charity is also provided to potential donors, activity costs are apportioned between fundraising and charitable activities on the basis of area occupied by each activity.

▪ Raising Funds 4%
▪ Advocacy 20%
▪ Education and Inclusion Services 29%
▪ Law Centre 16%
▪ Safer Renting 31%

Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the charity. These costs are associated with constitutional and statutory requirements and include any costs associated with the strategic management of the charity’s activities.

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 48 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

l) Tangible fixed assets

Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £500. Depreciation costs are allocated to activities on the basis of the use of the related assets in those activities. Assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their carrying value may exceed their net realisable value and value in use. Major components are treated as a separate asset where they have significantly different patterns of consumption of economic benefits and are depreciated separately over its useful life.

Where fixed assets have been revalued, any excess between the revalued amount and the historic cost of the asset will be shown as a revaluation reserve in the balance sheet.

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:

▪ Computer and office equipment

4 years

m) Investments in subsidiaries

Investments in subsidiaries are at cost.

n) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

o) Short term deposits

Short term deposits includes cash balances that are invested in accounts with a maturity date of between 3 and 12 months.

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account. Cash balances exclude any funds held on behalf of service users.

q) Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting 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 normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

The charity only has financial assets and financial 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 [with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method].

s) Pensions

The charity participates in two sections of The Pensions Trust, a multi-employer pension scheme. One section effectively provides benefits based on final pensionable pay, “The Growth Plan”. The assets of this section are held separately from those of the charity. It is not possible to separately identify the assets and liabilities of participating employers on a consistent and reasonable basis and therefore the charity accounts for the scheme as if it were a defined contribution scheme. As a result, the amount charged to the profit and loss account represents the contributions payable to the scheme in respect of the accounting period.

The other section, The Unitised Ethical Plan, is a segregated defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of this section are also held separately from those of the charity. The amount charged to the profit and loss account represents the contributions payable to the scheme in respect of the accounting period.

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 49 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

2 Income from charitable donations

Donations and grants:
Gifts
Legacies
Grants
Gifts in Kind - Pro bono
services		 Unrestricted
£
3,061
8,112
-		 £
-
-
-
Restricted		 2025
Total
£
3,061
8,112
-		 Unrestricted
£
2,782
-
10,025		 £
-
-
10,847
Restricted		 2024
Total
£
2,782
-
20,872
11,173
-		 -
-		 11,173
-		 12,807
1,360		 10,847
-		 23,654
1,360
11,173 - 11,173 14,167 10,847 25,014

3 Income from charitable activities

Other services
The Henry Smith Charity
Sub-total for Advocacy
Sub-total for Education and
Inclusion Services
London Borough of Southwark
London Borough of Kingston
upon Thames
Grant making trusts
Other Services
London Borough of Barking &
Dagenham
The Michael Tippett Musical
Foundation
Propel		 Unrestricted
£
168,256
146,255
65,009		 £
-
-
-
Restricted		 2025
Total
£
168,256
146,255
65,009		 Unrestricted
£
128,788
133,960
83,276		 £
-
-
-
Restricted		 2024
Total
£
128,788
133,960
83,276
379,520
68,589
-
-
-
-
15,359		 -
-
1,800
-
-
514,492
-		 379,520
68,589
1,800
-
-
514,492
15,359		 346,024
70,924
-
-
-
-
-		 -
4,587
2,800
20,100
52,500
255,896
-		 346,024
75,511
2,800
20,100
52,500
255,896
-
83,948 516,292 600,241 70,924 335,883 406,807

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 50 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

3 Income from charitable activities (continued)

Sub-total for Law Centre
Urban Impact
London Borough of Ealing
London Borough of Enfield
City Bridge Trust
Access to Justice Foundation
Other services
Total income from charitable
activities
Sub-total for Safer Renting
Other services
London Borough of Waltham
Forest
London Borough of Lambeth
Trust for London
Oak Foundation
Grant making trusts
London Borough of
Lambeth
London Borough of Camden
East Suffolk Council
London Borough of Richmond
and Wandsworth
London Borough of Southwark
Legal Aid Agency
London Borough of Havering
The Greater London Authority		 Unrestricted
£
-
-
180,134
141,991
70,000
65,181
-		 £
-
47,348
-
-
-
63,300
Restricted		 2025
Total
£
-
47,348
180,134
141,991
70,000
65,181
63,300		 Unrestricted
£
-
-
137,540
137,300
19,778
-		 £
29,417
24,695
-
-
-
57,883
Restricted		 2024
Total
£
29,417
24,695
137,540
137,300
19,778
57,883
457,305
55,519
13,792
3,636
7,272
9,528
56,947
26,664
8,484
-
-
-
-
69,236		 110,648
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
54,000
160,000
106,636
-
-		 567,953
55,519
13,792
3,636
7,272
9,528
56,947
26,664
8,484
54,000
160,000
106,636
-
69,236		 294,618
29,168
-
27,500
-
6,900
46,895
-
-
-
-
-
-
178,695		 111,995
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
160,000
106,636
60,000
-		 406,613
29,168
-
27,500
-
6,900
46,895
-
-
-
160,000
106,636
60,000
178,695
251,078 320,636 571,714 289,158 326,636 615,794
1,171,852 947,576 2,119,428 1,000,724 774,514 1,775,238

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 51 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Charitable activities

Staff costs (note 6)
Other staff costs (note 6)
Activity cost
Premises cost
Office cost
Depreciation
Audit & accountancy
Legal & professional
Irrecoverable VAT
Bad debts written off
Support costs
Governance costs
Total expenditure 2025
Total expenditure 2024		 Raising funds
£
65,038
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Advocacy
£
280,902
11,564
28,019
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Education and
Inclusion
Services
£
406,912
8,045
54,985
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Law Centre
£
249,600
3,589
13,770
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Safer Renting
£
424,210
12,819
60,095
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Governance
costs
£
-
-
-
-
10,688
-
12,900
-
-
-		 Support costs
£
281,720
9,720
-
120,482
34,115
4,205
6,237
6,424
27,257
-		 2025
Total
£
1,708,382
45,737
156,869
120,482
44,803
4,205
19,137
6,424
27,257
-		 Total
£
1,545,670
39,826
97,122
109,120
60,606
6,024
24,400
6,441
30,378
58
2024
65,038
19,684
947		 320,485
96,996
4,668		 469,943
142,229
6,844		 266,959
80,796
3,888		 497,124
150,456
7,240		 23,588
-
(23,588)		 490,160
(490,160)
-		 2,133,296
-
-		 1,919,645
85,669 422,149 619,016 351,643 654,819 - - 2,133,296 1,919,645
- 442,465 440,385 420,354 616,441 - -

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 52 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

4b Analysis of expenditure (previous year)

Staff costs (note 6)
Other staff costs (note 6)
Activity cost
Premises cost
Office cost
Depreciation
Audit & accountancy
Legal & professional
Irrecoverable VAT
Bad debts written off
Support costs
Governance costs
Total expenditure 2024		 Charitable activities Charitable activities Governance
costs
£
-
-
-
-
9,968
-
12,275
-
-
-
22,243
-
(22,243)
-		 Support
costs
£
359,355
6,647
487
109,120
50,638
6,024
12,125
6,441
30,378
58
581,273
(581,273)
-
-		 2024
Total
£
1,545,670
39,826
97,122
109,120
60,606
6,024
24,400
6,441
30,378
58
Advocacy
£
266,344
12,543
24,472
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
303,358
133,979
5,127
442,465		 Education
and
Inclusion
Services
£
269,997
4,782
27,153
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
301,933
133,350
5,103
440,385		 Law Centre
£
271,238
2,690
14,272
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
288,199
127,284
4,871
420,353		 Safer
Renting
£
378,736
13,165
30,737
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
422,638
186,660
7,143
616,441
1,919,645
-
-
1,919,645

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 53 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

This is stated after charging / (crediting):

This is stated after charging / (crediting):
2025 2024
£ £
Depreciation 4,205 6,024
Auditor's remuneration (excluding VAT):
Audit 12,900 12,275
Other services 4,150 3,950

Staff costs were as follows:

Staff costs were as follows:
Salaries and wages
Employer’s contribution to defined contribution pension schemes
Redundancy and termination costs
Social security costs
Training, expenses and recruitment		 2025
£
1,521,300
-
144,819
42,262		 2024
£
1,349,276
31,877
127,363
37,154
1,708,382
45,737		 1,545,670
39,826
1,754,119 1,585,496

The following number of employees received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs and employer's national insurance) during the year between:

2025 2024
No. No.
£60,000 - £69,999 2 -
£90,000 - £99,999 1 1

The total employee benefits (including pension contributions and employer's national insurance) of the key management personnel, which are the leadership team, were £295,057 (2024: £229,897).

The charity trustees were neither paid nor received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2024: £nil). No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2024: £nil).

One trustee was reimbursed expenses in the year of £98 (2024: £135 for one trustee) for meetings.

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 54 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

7 Staff numbers

The average number of employees (head count based on number of staff employed) during the year was:

Support
Advocacy
Law Centre
Safer Renting
Education & Inclusion Services		 2025
No.
9
17
5
13
8		 2024
No.
8
15
6
12
10
52 51

8 Related party transactions

Stephanie Tidball (a trustee to September 2024) is an employee of Macfarlanes LLP. During the year Cambridge House and Talbot received pro bono advice and legal services from Macfarlanes LLP worth an estimated NIL (£1,360 in 2024). This has been included in the statement of financial activities under donations.

Simon Latham, Chair of trustees, is an employee of the City of London Corporation and Acting Managing Director of City Bridge Foundation. Cambridge House is currently in receipt of a grant from City Bridge Foundation. Simon Latham has notified City of London Corporation of his trusteeship of Cambridge House, holds no decision-making responsibilities in respect of the City Bridge Foundation grant to Cambridge House, and will recuse himself if matters are raised in respect of Cambridge House’s grant at any relevant management board.

Simon Latham, Chair of trustees, is a common trustee of London Funders who deliver the London Propel grant programme. Cambridge House is currently in receipt of a grant from London Propel. Simon Latham has notified London Funders of his trusteeship of Cambridge House, holds no decision-making responsibilities in respect of the London Propel grant to Cambridge House, and will recuse himself if matters are raised in respect of Cambridge House’s grant at any relevant management board.

Karin Woodley, Cambridge House’s Chief Executive and Company Secretary, is a co-opted member of City Bridge Foundation’s Funding Panel. Cambridge House is currently in receipt of a grant from City Bridge Foundation. Karin Woodley has notified City Bridge Foundation of her employment at Cambridge House, holds no decision-making responsibilities in respect of City Bridge Foundation’s grant to Cambridge House, and will recuse herself if matters are raised in respect of Cambridge House’s grant at any relevant management board.

Karin Woodley, Cambridge House’s Chief Executive and Company Secretary, is a member of the National Lottery Community Fund England Committee. Cambridge House is currently in receipt of a grant from London Propel which is administered by the National Lottery Community Fund. Karin Woodley has notified the National Lottery Community Fund of her employment at Cambridge House, holds no decision-making responsibilities in respect of the London Propel grant to Cambridge House, and will recuse herself if matters are raised in respect of Cambridge House’s grant at any relevant There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related parties.

9 Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 55 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

10
Tangible fixed assets
11
12
Taxation and social security
At the end of the year
Trade creditors
Accruals
Deferred income (note 13)
Trade debtors
All of the above assets are used for charitable purposes.
At the end of the year
At the start of the year
Charge for the year
At the start of the year
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Other debtors
Prepayments
Accrued income
Debtors
At the start of the year
Depreciation
Additions in year
At the end of the year
Net book value
VAT
Cost or valuation
Other creditors		 Computer
equipment
£
374,054
2,699		 Total
£
374,054
2,699
376,753 376,753
364,119
4,205		 364,119
4,205
368,324 368,324
8,429 8,429
9,935 9,935
2025
£
189,538
26,033
269,276
13,699
26,174		 2024
£
275,917
13,750
310,202
16,044
26,176
524,720 642,089
2025
£
82,151
36,427
12,168
19,875
129,305		 2024
£
24,176
29,164
9,106
17,927
299,513
279,926 379,886

13 Deferred income

Deferred income comprises of grant income received in the year for projects to take place in the next financial year.

Balance at the beginning of the year
Amount released to income in the year
Amount deferred in the year
Balance at the end of the year		 2025
£
299,513
(299,513)
129,305		 2024
£
80,000
(80,000)
299,513
129,305 299,513

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 56 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

14 Pension scheme

The company participates in the scheme, a multi-employer scheme which provides benefits to some 521 non-associated participating employers. The scheme is a defined benefit scheme in the UK. It is not possible for the company to obtain sufficient information to enable it to account for the scheme as a defined benefit scheme. Therefore it accounts for the scheme as a defined contribution scheme.

The scheme is subject to the funding legislation outlined in the Pensions Act 2004 which came into force on 30 December 2005. This, together with documents issued by the Pensions Regulator and Technical Actuarial Standards issued by the Financial Reporting Council, set out the framework for funding defined benefit occupational pension schemes in the UK.

The scheme is classified as a 'last-man standing arrangement'. Therefore the company is potentially liable for other participating employers' obligations if those employers are unable to meet their share of the scheme deficit following withdrawal from the scheme. Participating employers are legally required to meet their share of the scheme deficit on an annuity purchase basis on withdrawal from the scheme.

A full actuarial valuation for the scheme was carried out at 30 September 2023. This valuation showed assets of £514.9m, liabilities of £531.0m and a deficit of £16.1m. To eliminate this funding shortfall, the Trustee has asked the participating employers to pay additional contributions to the scheme as follows:

Deficit contributions - total from all participating employers

From 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2028: £2,100,000 per annum
(payable monthly)

Unless a concession has been agreed with the Trustee the term to 31 March 2028 applies.

Note that the scheme’s previous valuation was carried out with an effective date of 30 September 2020. This valuation showed assets of £800.3m, liabilities of £831.9m and a deficit of £31.6m. To eliminate this funding shortfall, the Trustee asked the participating employers to pay additional contributions to the scheme as follows:

Deficit contributions - total from all participating employers

From 1 April 2022 to 31 January 2025: £3,312,000 per annum
(payable monthly)

The recovery plan contributions are allocated to each participating employer in line with their estimated share of the Series 1 and Series 2 scheme liabilities.

Where the scheme is in deficit and where the company has agreed to a deficit funding arrangement the company recognises a liability for this obligation. The amount recognised is the net present value of the deficit reduction contributions payable under the agreement that relates to the deficit. The present value is calculated using the discount rate detailed in these disclosures. The unwinding of the discount rate is recognised as a finance cost.

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 57 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

14 Pension scheme (continued)

Pension scheme (continued)
31 March
2025
£
2,929
Remeasurements - impact of any change in assumptions
Reconciliation of opening and closing provisions
Provision at start of period
Unwinding of the discount factor (interest expense)
Remeasurements – impact of any change in assumptions
Deficit contribution paid
Income and expenditure impact
Interest expense
Remeasurements - amendments to the contribution
schedule
Remeasurements – amendments to the contribution
schedule
Contributions paid in respect of future service*
Costs recognised in income and expenditure account
Present value of provision
Provision at end of period		 31 March
2024
£
739
31 March
2025
£
739
19
(754)
19
2,906
2,929		 31 March
2023
£
1,583
31 March
2024
£
1,583
60
(905)
1
-
739
31 March
2025
£
19
19
2,906

 31 March
2024
£
60
1
-

*includes defined contribution schemes and future service contributions (i.e. excluding any deficit reduction payments) to defined benefit schemes which are treated as defined contribution schemes. To be completed by the company.

Assumptions 2025 2024 2023
% % %
Rate of discount 4.84 5.31 5.52

The discount rates shown above are the equivalent single discount rates which, when used to discount the future recovery plan contributions due, would give the same results as using a full AA corporate bond yield curve to discount the same recovery plan contributions.

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 58 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

15a Analysis of net assets between funds (current year)

15a
Analysis of net assets between funds (current year)		 15a
Analysis of net assets between funds (current year)
15b
16a
At 1 April
2024
£
Education and Inclusion Services
-
Propel
-
Law Centre
-
City Bridge Trust
-
Safer Renting
Oak Foundation
-
Trust for London
-
Urban Impact
-
Total restricted funds
-
1,600,000
Total designated funds
1,600,000
General funds
823,529
2,423,529
2,423,529
Jack Petchey Foundation
Movements in funds (current year)
Restricted funds:
Net assets at 31 March 2025
Tangible fixed assets
Total funds
London Legal Support Trust
Total unrestricted funds
Future Purchase of Premises fund
Designated funds:
Analysis of net assets between funds (prior year)
Net current assets
Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets
Net assets at 31 March 2024
Unrestricted funds:		 General
unrestricted
£
8,429
892,813		 Designated
£
-
1,600,000		 Restricted
£
-
-		 Total funds
£
8,429
2,492,813
901,243 1,600,000 - 2,501,243
General
unrestricted
£
9,935
813,594		 Designated
£
-
1,600,000		 Restricted
£
-
-		 Total funds
£
9,935
2,413,594
823,529 1,600,000 - 2,423,529
Income &
gains
£
1,800
514,492
63,300
47,348
160,000
54,000
106,636		 Expenditure &
losses
£
(1,800)
(514,492)
(63,300)
(47,348)
(160,000)
(54,000)
(106,636)		 Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 At 31 March
2025
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- 947,576 (947,576) - -
1,600,000 - - - 1,600,000
1,600,000 - - - 1,600,000
823,529 1,263,435 (1,185,721) - 901,243
2,423,529 1,263,435 (1,185,721) - 2,501,243
2,423,529 2,211,011 (2,133,296) - 2,501,243

The narrative to explain the purpose of each fund is given at the foot of the note below.

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 59 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

At 1 April
2023
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Income &
gains
£
10,847
1,800
1,000
-
20,100
52,500
255,896
4,587
29,417
57,883
24,695
160,000
60,000
106,636		 Expenditure &
losses
£
(10,847)
(1,800)
(1,000)
-
(20,100)
(52,500)
(255,896)
(4,587)
(29,417)
(57,883)
(24,695)
(160,000)
(60,000)
(106,636)		 Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 At 31 March
2024
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- 785,361 (785,361) - -
890,000
1,600,000		 -
-		 -
-		 (890,000)
-		 -
1,600,000
2,490,000 - - (890,000) 1,600,000
20,464 1,047,349 (1,134,284) 890,000 823,529
2,510,464 1,047,349 (1,134,284) - 2,423,529

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 60 of 61

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

16c Purposes of restricted funds

Restricted donations

Core

These funds are to overhead and cross service activities in accordance with restrictions agreed with the funder.

Education and Inclusion Services

These funds are to deliver specific youth and disabled people's empowerment services in accordance with restrictions agreed with the funder.

Law Centre

These funds are to deliver specific legal services in accordance with restrictions agreed with the funder.

Safer Renting

These funds are to deliver specific private rented sector tenants services in accordance with restrictions agreed with the funder.

Purposes of designated funds

Continuity Planning fund

These funds have be designated to protect the continuity of the organisation’s services for service users in the event of a large variation of income, to bridge cashflow problems, provide a buffer to allow contingency actions to be effected and address spending commitments and potential liabilities in the event of a winding-up.

Future Purchase of Premises fund

These funds have be designated to provide the funds needed to purchase new office premises capital assets and to provide funds for asset management and risks associated with emergency building repairs.

17 Operating lease commitments payable as a lessee

The charity's total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases is as follows for each of the following periods

The charity's total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases
following periods		 is as follows for each of the is as follows for each of the
Less than one year
One to five years		 2025
2024
£
£
60,000
60,000
17,491
60,000
77,491
120,000
Property
77,491 120,000

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liability of each member in the event of winding up is limited to £1.

Cambridge House and Talbot - Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Page 61 of 61