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2025-03-31-accounts

ADVICE UK

ANNUAL REPORT AND CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Charity Registration No. 299342

Company No. 02023982

ADVICE UK

_______________

CONTENTS

Pages
Reference and Administrative Details 1
Report of the Trustees 2 - 13
Independent Auditor’s Report 14 - 17
Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities 18
Balance Sheet 19-20
Previous period Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities 21
Consolidated Statement of Cashflows 22
Notes to the Financial Statements 23 - 43

ADVICE UK

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS For the year ended 31 March 2025

______________

Trustees B Badesha
V Greenwood
J Ipyana
H Kendall (resigned on 26 September 2024)
A Mandalia (resigned on 31 March 2025)
A Quinn
N Sombu
C White
T Evans (resigned on 7 July 2025)
L Clark (appointed 27 March 2025)
M Dronfield (appointed 27 March 2025)
Chair B Badesha
Chief Executive L Bayram
Company Secretary L Bayram
Company Number 02023982 (England & Wales)
Charity Number 299342
Registered Office Suite 610
150 Minories
London
EC3N 1LS
Website www.adviceuk.org.uk
Auditor Sumer Audit Co
Fitzroy House
Crown Street
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP1 3LG

1

ADVICE UK REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES For the year ended 31 March 2025

Introduction from the Chair

I am delighted to share with you our 2024/25 annual report. A change of government at Westminster has brought both opportunities and challenges for our sector. AdviceUK has focused on working with our members to make the most of these new opportunities – such as the Ministry of Justice’s efforts to develop a sector wide strategy for legal support. We’ve also challenged changes in policy that directly impact the clients our members advise and support, not least the damaging changes to disability benefits.

In 2024, our members provided free, independent advice to over 2.8 million people. They did so whilst supporting more people with ever more complex advice problems and struggling themselves to remain sustainable; as funding levels further decreased for some.

Our members’ resilience, determination and creativity in providing vital support but with less funding is to be commended but this should not be the reality. Again this year, for our members who rely on local authority support, it has been especially difficult. Some have had to reduce services; for a few, close for good.

As always, our priority at AdviceUK is to make our members’ work easier. We do that through support, advice and guidance and by advocating on their behalf with funders, policymakers; regulators and others who influence the environment in which our members provide their services.

This year saw the start of the new strategy we spent last year shaping in partnership with our members and other stakeholders. I am proud the Board is making significant investment in AdviceUK’s capacity to deliver our new strategy. This report shares insights into how our investment is focused and the progress we have made in the last few months. Personal highlights for me have been our first ever Advice Week which marked the start of our growing focus on ensuring the voices and experiences of our members and the communities they serve are used to shape future policy and funding plans. Also the launch of our free wellbeing service and, finally, our partnership with AdvicePro and Wyser Ventures Ltd. Through this we have successfully developed the integration of artificial intelligence into AdvicePro’s case note management. Members will see the full benefit of these developments in the coming months.

One final first for this year was the launch of our Members’ Survey. The response we received was fantastic. The findings were wide-ranging and will inform how we further improve our support as well as our campaigning priorities. Among many things, members who responded told us they most valued our

Members who responded gave us a 4.3 grade out of 5; with 86% stating they felt we met their needs. With limited resources ourselves, I’m proud of this feedback and know our future strategy will build on this.

I want to end by thanking our staff for all their support through this period of change. We have welcomed new colleagues, made changes to how we do things and launched new initiatives. Through all this, staff commitment to members and the support we provide has not waivered. My fellow trustees also deserve thanks for sharing their time, expertise and support with the staff team. And, of course, our funders. This year Trust for London; the Aviva Foundation; City Bridge Foundation; the London Legal Support Trust and the Scottish Government – have directly funded some of our work. Alongside their valued support, we have worked with other funders in consortiums and in an advisory capacity, to ensure their funding plans support the diversity of the independent advice sector. Finally, most of all I want to thank our members. Whether you responded to our survey, took part in Advice Week or attended a forum or working group, I want to thank you for your continued support.

Best wishes

Baljit Badesha, Chair of AdviceUK Board of Trustee

2

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES For the year ended 31 March 2025

ADVICE UK

Why we exist

We exist to improve the lives of people in need of advice. We do this by supporting our members, so it is easier for them to help their clients, and by directly influencing policy-makers, decision-makers and funders who have influence over the environment in which free, independent advice services operate.

Our vision is a society wherein every individual, regardless of means, is able to access the advice they need in order to exercise their rights and deal with any legal and social welfare problems they may face.

Our mission is to support advice organisations, by helping them to be efficient, competent and effective, and to campaign for a policy environment that supports advice agencies and people needing advice.

Our values, which underpin all that we do, are

We are fair •
We support people and show empathy
•
We are open, transparent and responsible
•
Wepromote diversityand inclusion
We are
independent		 •
We challenge where change is needed
•
We stand up for what we believe in
•
We celebrate the uniqueness of AdviceUK and our members.
We are
collaborative		 •
We work together to achieve shared goals
•
We build trusted relationships
•
We listen with an open mind,adopt a flexible andpragmatic approach
We are creative •
We are bold and dynamic in our approach
•
We reflect and learn from experience
•
We developsolutions and support based on evidence

Our impact

We are a small charity that makes a big impact. In 2024 we have, among many things-

Our members tell us our support has helped them to reach over 2.8m clients in 2024; providing free, independent advice and support with debt and social welfare issues; housing; immigration problems and much more. Most often their clients are dealing with complex issues and we encourage our members to take a “whole person approach”. In this way they can understanding all a client’s challenges and can try to tackle the underlying causes of their client’s problems, so they are less likely to need support in the future.

This is just one example –

“At Disability Law Service (DLS) our aim is to support Deaf and Disabled people to exercise their rights and achieve justice”, explains Andrew MacKay, Chief Executive of DLS. “Every year, we provide a vital service to more than 5,000 Disabled people. Our work changes lives, securing over £3 million in financial gains for our clients, enabling them to access their entitlements and live more independently.

“My experience of hidden disability fuels my passion for the work of DLS. We are not only advocates for the Disabled community – we are part of it. At least 75 % of our Board of Trustees and more than half of our staff are Deaf or Disabled. Deaf and Disabled people face discrimination and inequality on an unparalleled scale. It is essential that organisations like DLS exist, as we are often the only avenue for many of our clients to access justice. Through our frontline services and our policy work we will continue to fight for justice and ensure that Deaf and Disabled people can live with dignity, independence and hope.

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ADVICE UK

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES For the year ended 31 March 2025

Our achievements and activities

Our new strategy sets out how we will deliver AdviceUK’s vision and mission. Working with our members, staff and the Board, we have agreed the following key strategic objectives that will guide all of our work.

Support our members
and, through them, the
communities they serve		 We do this by
•
Listening to and involving members in how we shape the support we
provide for their advice-giving needs
•
Providing benefits and services that strengthen and sustain community-
based advice giving
Advocate
for
our
members and through
them, the communities
they serve.		 We do this by
•
Working with members and stakeholders; understanding what’s important
to them and, where needed, championing change
•
Representing and raising awareness of our members collectively: in ways
that value their diversityand independence.
Connect our members
with each other and key
stakeholders.		 We do this by
•
Nurturing collaboration, peer support and shared learning, building long-
term partnerships.
•
Developing and sustaining diverse networks that benefit members and
stakeholders.
Innovate: lead change
that improves people’s
lives and strengthens
community advice		 We do this by
•
Developing and facilitating better ways of giving and resourcing advice that
improve the lives of people with legal and social welfare problems.
•
Providing members with advice and insight into new ideas and emerging
trends

Support - this year we have supported our members and, through them, the communities they serve in many ways. On a day-to-day basis we have continued to advise new members on how best to set up their advice service and provided one to one advice for members on everything from insurance and regulatory requirements to funding opportunities; use of artificial intelligence and required policies and procedures .

Insurance support

No advice service sets out to make errors. But sometimes errors happen despite best intentions and that’s why all our members must, among other things, hold Professional Indemnity Insurance. At AdviceUK, we understand insurance is often the last thing on the minds of managers of busy advice services. That’s why if you hold an AdviceUK policy, we can help guide you through your insurance when it matters most. One member contacted us when a court deadline on a client’s housing possession case was missed because their adviser was ill. The client had complained and so the service manager contacted AdviceUK insurance for information on what to do next. We assisted them in notifying the insurer of a potential claim and then supported them through the claims process. Luckily, on their return to work, the adviser was able to successfully reissue proceedings against the client’s landlord which were ultimately successful, and the client remained in their home.

Towards the end of this year, we launched a new free benefit for all our members, our AdviceUK Wellbeing Service. We want to thank the members who kindly gave their time to test the service before we launched. The service is one part of our increased investment in member support, and we hope it helps address one major concern members frequently raise – the stress and challenge many frontline advisers experience when dealing with difficult and complex cases. Launched early in 2025, to date, 27 members have signed up to this free counselling and wellbeing service. It provides both face to face and telephone counselling to a member’s staff and volunteers. We are expecting more members will take up this new valuable benefit in the coming months.

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ADVICE UK

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES For the year ended 31 March 2025

We have also run our popular member forums for England, Wales and Scotland covering a wide range of issues and providing an opportunity for members to connect with each other; share experiences and challenges. This year our forums have covered a wide range of issues and supported members to share experience and gain new insights and knowledge. Our forums have also given members opportunities to talk to key stakeholders including the Ministry of Justice and Money and Pension Service (MaPS).

As our first member survey demonstrated, our forums along with our regular member and funding newsletters, continue to be much relied upon. We were delighted our new survey received such a strong response. We will run it every year so we can build an even deeper understanding of members’ needs and concerns and work to ensure we are focussing our efforts on where we can have the biggest impact for our members.

Last but by no means least, through our involvement in several different grant funding programmes, we have supported some of our members as well as other independent advice services to secure funding. We have also worked with other funders including City Bridge Foundation and MaPS to help shape their future strategy and funding approach; so they better support the needs of the independent advice sector. Our grant programmes have helped services shape systems change and provided much needed funding to reach more people in need, often in partnership with other services, innovating how they deliver that support. The Advice in Accessible Settings Fund, administered on behalf of the Scottish Government by AdviceUK, is one such programme and is now in the second of its three-year programme. The funding we could administer this year increased by £225,000 and in total funded services have now supported over 10,000 people; secured financial gains of over £22.3m and managed over £6.6m of debt. As we enter the final year of the programme (2025-26) there are now 106 services using this funding to support people in Scotland on a wide range of issues. Once such project is

SAFE (Support, Advice, Finance and Education) team - part of C’FINE (Community Food Initiatives North East); a charity based in North East Scotland. One family they supported had experienced sudden and significant upheaval when dad had to leave full time work to become a full-time carer for his adult sister with complex learning disabilities (when their mother passed away) AND become primary care giver to their newborn baby (as his partner was a higher earner). They sought advice on how to manage the financial changes to their circumstances from SAFE and, through this process, SAFE advisors discovered his sister had not been managing her finances or the household costs since the death of their mother; leading to her benefits being reduced and suspended. It also became evident his sisters’ needs were more varied and complex than first realised. All this left dad feeling overwhelmed. The family’s situation became even more complex when they also had to take in their baby nephew through kinship care. These rapid changes left dad feeling overwhelmed and struggling to manage his own health.

Two SAFE advisers worked with the family; one managing the family’s referrals and one the sister’s needs. Together they ensured the family accessed the benefits they were entitled to so, their family income and financial obligations were stabilised. They arranged adult support and protection via a social work referral to help coordinate the sister’s care. As most of the sister’s debt was with the local authority, with the family’s consent, an adviser arranged a repayment plan and access to the rent assistance fund. They also addressed more immediate needs e.g. food, nappies, and winter clothing as well as toys for Christmas. They arranged for a family support volunteer to help dad with a range of family activities such as taking both babies to the park with his primary-age child. SAFE took time to understand all the family’s needs and recognised that traditional office-based appointments with multiple services would be difficult to manage. Instead, advice and support were provided through home visits and in local to the family home community settings, ensuring dad could receive help in a way that was accessible and manageable.

The family’s circumstances are much improved. They are currently applying for more appropriate housing and considering options for independent but supported living for dad’s sister. More importantly, the father now feels confident accessing help and will call for help before issues become overwhelming in nature. SAFE’s coordinated intervention not only improved the family’s financial stability but also helped reduce stress and improve overall well-being, enabling the father to adapt to his new responsibilities with greater confidence and security.

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ADVICE UK REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES For the year ended 31 March 2025

Advocate- this year we have advocated for our members and, through them, the communities they serve by investing significantly in strengthening our policy and public affairs work; to ensure independent advice services get the support they need to continue their life-saving work.

By working with members, we raised the profile of the vital support advice services provide and the issues concerning them the most. The highlight was our first ever Advice Week held in October. We worked with members who gave their time to be on our Influencing Reference Group (IRG) to shape our plan for an Advice Week as well as how to ensure as many members as possible were involved in shaping the issues we would raise with decision-makers. We ran a survey exploring the challenges facing our members that over 230 responded to. This formed the basis of our Advice Saves report which was launched at the start of the week and gained both local and national media coverage. It revealed a sector at breaking point with 90% reporting a surge in demand, yet 6 out of 10 fearing they will be forced to cut or reduce services due to lack of funding. Many members and supporters took part in the Week. The Advice Saves Report was downloaded over 300 times; over 40 members and supporters downloaded our Toolkit outlining ways to take part in Advice Week.

We also used Advice Week to introduce AdviceUK and its members to the new intake of Westminster MPs, by holding a parliamentary reception at the House of Commons. More than 20 MPs from across the political spectrum attended the event engaging with advice centre leaders from across the country, including Bristol, Birmingham, Norfolk and Sussex. We were delighted to be joined by both new and long-standing MPs from all political parties. Many had previously worked in the advice sector or were already joined up with local organisations for support with their case work. We are pleased that so many were willing to advocate for services in their constituencies as well as backing our policy calls in parliament. One member who actively supported Advice Week was the Nishkam Civic Association.

The Nishkam Civic Association (NCA), based in Birmingham and fondly known as the Nishkam Centre, is a unique organisation charged with the task of developing a dynamic Sikh faith inspired civic agenda. A Sikh faith-based organisation dedicated to nishkam sewa (active, selfless volunteering) to serve the common good, NCA is part of the Nishkam Organisations. It played an active role in helping shape plans for Advice Week; provided client case studies to highlight the life changing work of advice services and its Director, Ajit Singh, spoke at the Parliamentary Reception.

At the time, the NCA was living the very funding crisis the Advice Saves report highlighted. It was facing closure in a matter of months due to cuts in local authority funding. As AdviceUK does for other members facing this difficult situation, the membership team talked through the details of their income streams and service delivery, assisting them to identify opportunities and risk. We encouraged them to attend our regular member forums and shared our most recent funding update, highlighting new funding streams that might be relevant to NCA. We also recognised their concerns about staff wellbeing and encouraged them to get their advisers to our wellbeing resources and newly launched AdviceWellbeing service—free to all members. Alongside this we also explored partnership opportunities by sharing our member directory and resources portal. We are delighted to say that NCA is still open today, thanks to the innovation and dedication of the staff and volunteers at the centre. Likely many members facing a funding shortfall, they have had to change and adapt their service to survive; it has been challenging to do so but they are still there, offering the vital support their community needs.

Since Advice Week, there has been an on-going programme of briefings with MPs either in Westminster or in their local constituency. Some have gone on to support our work, for example tabling or asking questions in the House of Commons. In Scotland, during February, we hosted a visit by Paul McLennan, Minister of Housing of Scotland. He met staff at Edinburgh-based The Action Group and Fair LTD. It was an opportunity to share the concerns of our Scottish members (through a Scotland focussed Advice Saves report) and to showcase the work of these two services working in partnership thanks to the Advice in Accessible Settings grant programme.

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ADVICE UK REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES For the year ended 31 March 2025

In December, the next phase of our Advice Saves campaign began, looking to grow awareness of the lifechanging role of Deaf and Disabled people’s organisations (DDPOs) for thousands of Deaf and Disabled people and their families across the UK. Our research revealed the stark realities facing DDPOs, as they grapple with surging demand and critical funding shortages. Almost all (93%) of the DDPOs who responded to our Advice Week survey said they were seeing a rise in demand; almost two-thirds (62%) reported they were unable to meet this demand.

Beyond our advocacy work with policy and decision makers, we also grew our capacity to build and maintain positive relationships with grant funders. Whilst our funding strategy and approach are at the early stages of development, we have maintained strong relationship with several funders (both statutory and grant funders). Our work with City Bridge Foundation and their Skilling Up for Justice programme entered its second year and we secured additional funding to continue supporting staff working in London-based services. These staff are supporting marginalised communities and the opportunity to gain vocational qualifications or access training in areas such as supervision and in-house training delivery are limited for them. Whilst the funding is for Londonbased services, AdviceUK will ensure the learning from this programme is shared across the sector. Alongside this work with the Advice Workforce Development Fund (a consortium led by London Legal Support Trust) continued. AdviceUK sits on the Fund’s steering group and has also been instrumental in supporting the development of a series of recommendations on pay and conditions for London’s advice sector, based on research that will be published in June 2025.

Connect - this year we have connected our members with each other and, as already shared, with funders in so many ways. Every day we encourage members to talk to each other about shared areas of interest (through our member forums as well as through direct one-to-one connections). Our training and qualifications are another important opportunity for members to share experiences and learn from each other. This year we have undertaken a review of our training and qualifications offer, gaining feedback from learners, trainers as well as other providers who we encourage members to use. This has culminated in the Board deciding it wants to refocus our offer and respond to the obstacles many advice services face when trying to access training and qualifications – namely too little money or time to invest. The coming year will see us plan we how we embrace a blended approach to our learning and skills offer – offering bite sized e-learning alongside more traditional training courses and qualifications and making CPD a key member benefit.

We also support members to connect with regulators. One example is, as an approved Competent Authority, AdviceUK can approve applications from members who want to become an Approved Intermediary for Debt Relief Orders (DROs). We support a growing number of members who want staff or volunteers to hold this status. Much of our work involves connecting DRO authorised members with each other and with the system that approves and renews their status.

DRO intermediaries – one newly authorised DRO Intermediary, Emma Parker (who works for our member Money Advice Plus based in Hove, West Sussex) was having problems accessing her own DRO application. The membership team liaised with the DRO technical team; to ensure Emma got the support and guidance she needed whilst she got on with the important job of advising her clients. The issues became more complex with the DRO system first saying access was restored when it was not; then worsening the situation by preventing Emma from logging on at all. AdviceUK liaised with the technical team to escalate the issue and bring in a specialist technician. What should have been a simple issue to solve became a more complex problem that took time to resolve but Emma was able to rely on us to solve her issue whilst keeping her up to date on progress.

Finally, through our Measuring What Matters grant funded programme, we have supported members working with disadvantaged groups to come together to explore more meaningful ways of demonstrating the impact of theory work to funders. There was a strong focus on the need to focus on the overall outcome for clients rather than the outputs achieved such as financial gains. As the project enters its final stage, we will be working with the members involved to present their proposals to funders in the coming months.

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ADVICE UK REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES For the year ended 31 March 2025

Innovate - this year we have led change that improves people’s lives and strengthens community advice by making significant investment in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) that can support advice services to reduce the administrative burden of case notetaking and so free up adviser time for their clients. Last year AdviceUK’s Board decided to invest in the AI start-up Wyser Ventures Ltd. They were developing small language AI systems for the advice sector and the Board felt this would be a positive way to support our members to start to use AI, with tried and tested products developed specifically for advice services.

We have worked in partnership with Wyser Ventures Ltd and ACMS Ltd over the past few months to integrate Wyser’s notetaker product - ASSIST – into AdvicePro. We will be offering it to our members and other customers as an upgrade at a reduced cost from summer 2025. We have trialled the integration with a small number of members who we supported to secure MaPs Debt Modernisation Funding to purchase ASSIST and embedded it into their service. The pilot has demonstrated the value of using AI e.g. a 60% reduction in administration for advisers and helped us identify and address several implementation issues. Like any technology change, the main challenge is supporting staff and volunteers to embrace that change and adapt their ways of working. We will be doing more to support members with this and connecting them with each other to share experiences and learning. One member involved in the pilot was Navigate, based in Somerset who provide welfare benefits advice and advocacy, particularly for disabled people and those facing poverty.

Mel Allen, chief executive of Navigate, said “we’ve been really pleased with the support and service from WyserASSIST throughout the AI integration process. The team have been consistently responsive, supportive and professional which has made collaboration easy and enjoyable. The bespoke case note summary feature has exceeded our expectations – it’s a powerful tool that’s made a real difference to our day-to-day triage work.

“The chance to go on this journey with other AdviceUK members has been great – sharing ideas and experiences has helped all of us achieve a better result for our clients. It is clear Wyser are genuinely committed to learning and development and we have really valued being part of the pilot.”

Finally, our long-running partnership with ACMS Ltd has ensured ongoing improvements to AdvicePro (based on member and other customer feedback). This year has seen the introduction of new enhancements such as autoactions and a new Insights Dashboard which gives users visual access to their data trends and allows them to easily configure to meet their own needs. AdvicePro continues to evolve in response to how advice services want it to support them.

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ADVICE UK REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES For the year ended 31 March 2025

Our future plans

Looking ahead to the next year of our strategy, we will be progressing our strategic objectives in the following ways:

Support our
members and,
through them, the
communities they
serve		 We will be
•
Encouraging more members to take up our wellbeing service benefit for our
members who tell us their work can be difficult and stressful
•
Growing our membership, with an initial focus on reaching more advice
services in the housing sector
Advocate for our
members and
through them, the
communities they
serve.		 We will be
•
Influencing funders to secure more funds for members and other advice
services
•
Progressing our AdviceSaves campaign, to raise awareness of our members’
vital services and to campaign for more support, including Advice Week
2025.
•
Supporting several grant programmes, working with members, Scottish
Government, London Funders and others
•
Launching our major campaign on the workforce challenges faced by the
advice sector
Connect our
members with each
other and key
stakeholders.		 We will be
•
Deciding how to improve our learning and skills support to members and the
wider advice sector
•
Growing the range of online forums and face-to-face events, we provide for
members
Innovate: lead
change that
improves people’s
lives and
strengthens
community advice		 We will be
•
Growing our understanding and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a charity
•
Supporting more members with guidance, support on AI and encouraging
them to explore the WyserASSIST service we offer for case notes.
•
Continuing to improve and develop the quality of the data we gather from
members and potential members
•
Growing our use of personalisation within our communications with members
and stakeholders

We will do this whilst also continuing to ensure we are an effective and efficient organisation. In particular, we will be introducing several new people policies and processes that will support all staff to understand their contribution to our new strategy. With a final round of investment in capacity, we will be recruiting new membership and marketing roles in support of our new member recruitment plans as well as Technology and Systems roles. We will also be moving to SharePoint (to better support internal information sharing and collaboration) and undertaking a compliance review to reflect on where we best focus our time and resources efficiently. Finally, we are developing a range of new performance indicators to help us track our impact in several areas; as we increase our efforts to grow new members; influence decision-makers and improve take-up of our key benefits and services.

9

ADVICE UK

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE and MANAGEMENT For the year ended 31 March 2025

Advice UK is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. It operates under governing documents last revised in May 2017. We operate as a co-ordination and support network for organisations providing independent social welfare advice and membership is open to any organisation that satisfies the membership criteria decided by the Trustees. We have three types of member – subscriber members who receive information about our work and primarily access our insurance provision and network and associate members who are the principal beneficiaries and users of the Charity. Network and Associate Membership is separate from membership of the Charity itself. The members of the Charity are the Trustees who are also directors of the company.

Connected companies

AdviceUK also has a few subsidiaries and associated companies. “VCS Insurance Company Limited” based in Guernsey, is a private company limited by shares formed in 2006 as a specialist insurer for organisations working in and with the voluntary and community sector. Advice UK owns 100% of the shares. Since 2006 Advice UK has been sourcing some of the insurances it arranges for advice agencies from VCS Insurance Company Ltd. “Advanced Case Management Solutions Ltd” , based in Glasgow, is a private company limited by shares formed in 2011 to continue provision of the AdvicePro case management software service to Network Members and other advice organisations. Advice UK owns 50% of the shares. In 2024 AdviceUK became a 20% shareholder in “Wyser Ventures Ltd” , an artificial intelligence (AI), data science and digital transformation company that provides AI consultancy and products that support advice services to harness the benefits of AI. As part of this investment, AdviceUK has secured a 30% discount on the cost of WyserAssist (an AI notetaker product) for both its members and AdvicePro customers, through an integration of this product with AdvicePro.

Public Benefit

The Trustees have regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance in all their decision-making. This Annual Report contains details of how they have carried out the Charity’s purposes for the public benefit. Advice UK’s charitable activities are focused on enabling people, regardless of means, to access the advice they need in order to exercise their rights and deal with any legal and social welfare problems they may face. Though this is done primarily through support to advice-providing organisations, it is the general public who are our ultimate beneficiaries.

The Charity’s Objects, as defined in its Articles, are to: “promote…charitable purposes for the benefit of the public……in particular by providing co-ordination and support to independent advice services and by assisting them to make better use of the resources available to them”.

Strategy & Plans

The Trustees review AdviceUK’s vision and mission periodically (every 3-4 years) in the context of updating their strategy and plans. This year they undertook a full review as part of setting a new three-year rolling strategy to 2027. Each year the management team review the three-year strategy, consider its impact, any changes that may require change and then make recommendations to the Board at its annual Strategy Meeting. After this the management team develop an annual plan and budget setting out how the strategy will be delivered in the coming financial year for the Board to approve.

The affairs of the Charity are governed by a Board of Trustees who are the members and Directors of the Company for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006 and the Trustees of the Charity for the purposes of charity legislation. They are all volunteers and include both independent and Network Member, ensuring a balance of skills and perspectives. All new Trustees attend a programme of induction before joining the Board. Trustees normally serve for terms of three years and may serve more than one term but usually not more than three. The Board usually meets 6 times per year; quarterly to monitor financial and operational activity and 2 or 3 other occasions during the year to develop and approve plans, review policies and services. A Resources Committee, comprising the Chair and two Vice-Chairs usually meets once or twice annually to review staff terms and conditions and to make recommendations to the Board.

10

ADVICE UK

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE and MANAGEMENT For the year ended 31 March 2025

Key management and personnel

The Chief Executive is responsible for the Charity’s operations through a scheme of delegated authority from the Board. The scheme is reviewed annually. The Chief Executive may delegate areas of operation to senior managers and, through them, to the wider staff group.

A Senior Leadership Team appointed by the Chief Executive works together to support staff to deliver the Board’s approved strategy and annual plan. As at the 31 March 2025 there were 23 staff, (19.7 full-time equivalents) and 1 secondee.

Remuneration policy

Remuneration of all employees, including senior managers, is reviewed annually by the Board’s Resources Committee which makes recommendations to the Board. Non-salary terms and conditions are standard for all employees. Salary levels are reviewed with regard to market rates, inflation and affordability.

Volunteers

AdviceUK primarily receives volunteer support from its Board of Trustees. A number of members will be involved in aspects of our work, sharing their insight into the development of our work.

Risks and Financial Control

The Trustees have a risk management strategy involving an annual review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed and the approval of systems and actions for managing and mitigating them. A risk register is produced, updated at least annually and reviewed at Board meetings. In 2025, the Board reviewed its risk register and identified no high-level risks affecting the charity and agreed that mitigations were adequate to maintain risks at a medium or low grade. The Board sets annual budgets and requires reporting against them on a monthly basis. It monitors all aspects of financial performance and financial management through its meetings. It reviews internal financial management and reporting arrangements at least annually. In terms of day-to-day financial control a comprehensive and robust set of financial procedures are in place with management accounts reviewed monthly through budget variance meetings with the senior leadership team who are all budget holders.

11

ADVICE UK

FINANCIAL REVIEW For the year ended 31 March 2025

The Group

Total Group income during the year was £5,387,334, an increase of £706,201 compared with £4,681,133 in the previous year. Total expenditure during the year was £5,463,403 an increase of £1,113,020 compared with £4,350,383 in the previous year. Overall, the Group had a deficit of £76,069 for the year (2024: surplus of £475,091). At 31 March 2025 the Group had unrestricted funds of £2,542,063, (2024: £2,575,729) and restricted funds of £251,056 (2024: £293,459). The Trustees plan to apply most of any annual surpluses to investment in staffing, equipment and product development in order to improve services to members.

The Charity

Total income for the Charity during the year to 31 March 2025 was £5,031,920 an increase of £669,842, compared with £4,362,078 in the previous year. Expenditure on governing the Charity was £90,747 (2024: £81,652) but remains below 1.8% of total expenditure. The Charity’s total unrestricted income during the year was £3,306,125 (2024: £3,054,967). Associated expenditure increased to £3,406,095 (2024: £2,787,457) as the Board used its reserves to invest in its new strategy and in Wyser Ventures Ltd. Total restricted income during the year was £1,746,910 (2024: £1,303,111) – most of which was for distribution to members. Associated expenditure was £1,789,313 (2024: £1,185,823) funded by income during the year.

Fundraising

Fundraising activity was restricted to project bids developed by employees. The Charity does not use the services of professional fundraisers; neither does it have fundraisers on staff.

Trading

AdviceUK raises most of its income from trading activity alongside significant grants being received. All of the trading activity is regarded as primary purpose trading i.e. provision of support services and products (e.g. training, software and insurances) to the intended beneficiaries of the Charity in accordance with the objects of the Charity set out in the Articles. The grants are used to contribute to the charitable activities dependent on terms of the grants

Reserves Policy

The Board has classified tangible assets and investments within its designated funds in order to show more clearly the amount of assets remaining as uncommitted and therefore available as free reserves. In accordance with this policy the Charity’s free reserve at the close of the year, stood at £233,289 (2024: £573,199). The Board considers the amounts in reserve adequate to cover the levels of business risk inherent in its policies aimed at achieving further growth in its income to enable investment in more capacity to effectively pursue its objects.

Investments Policy

A portion of the charity’s reserve has been placed on deposit with the CCLA (Churches, Charities & Local Authorities) fund managers in order to achieve a level of return. Having now substantially increased the funds on deposit with CCLA, the Board has no current plans for further investment. The Board now intends to place amounts not needed for immediate spending on short-term deposit with its principal and/or other bankers in order to achieve at least some level of return.

Trustees’ Liability

In the event of the Charity being wound up the trustees are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10. Trustees’ indemnity insurance in place during the year provides cover up to £1,000,000 on any one claim.

Appointment of Auditors

Auditors for 2025-26 will be appointed in accordance with section 495 of the Companies Act 2006 at a Board meeting to be held in October 2025.

12

ADVICE UK

TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT For the year ended 31 March 2025

The Trustees (who are also Directors of AdviceUK for purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ 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 the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

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

Statement as to disclosure of information to auditors

In so far as the Trustees are aware:

The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the Charity’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of the financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Small Companies Regime

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

This report was approved by the Board on 25[th] September 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

Baljit Badesha Chair

13

ADVICE UK

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES AND MEMBERS OF ADVICE UK

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Advice UK (the ‘Charity’) and its subsidiaries (together the ‘Group’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprises of the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities (including an Income & Expenditure Account), the Consolidated Balance Sheet, the Charity Balance Sheet, the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and the related notes. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

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

Conclusions relating to going concern

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

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Group's or the Charity’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.

Other information

The Trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our Auditor’s Report thereon. 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.

14

ADVICE UK

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES AND MEMBERS OF ADVICE UK

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, 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 audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and the Charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ Report.

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

Responsibilities of Trustees

As explained more fully in the Trustees’ Responsibilities Statement, the Trustees (who are also the Directors of the Charity 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 Group and the Charity‘s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the Group and the Charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

15

ADVICE UK

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES AND MEMBERS OF ADVICE UK

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 is detailed below:

We identified areas of laws and regulations that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the financial statements from our general commercial experience and through discussions and enquiries of the Trustees and management. During the engagement team briefing, the outcomes of these discussions were shared with the team, as well as consideration as to where and how fraud may occur in the Group.

The following laws and regulations were identified as being of significance to the Group: • Those laws and regulations considered to have a direct effect on the financial statements including UK financial reporting standards, taxation regulations and the Charities Act 2011;

• The Group is subject to many other laws and regulations where the consequences of non-compliance could have a material effect on amounts or disclosures in the financial statements, for instance through the imposition of fines or litigation. We identified the following areas as those most likely to have such an effect: health and safety, safeguarding, human rights and employment law and GDPR compliance.

Audit procedures undertaken in response to the potential risks relating to irregularities (which include fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations) comprised of: enquiries of management and those charged with governance as to whether the Group complies with such regulations; enquiries of management and those charged with governance concerning any actual or potential litigation or claims, inspection of relevant legal documentation, review of Board minutes, testing the appropriateness of entries in the nominal ledger, including journal entries and the performance of analytical procedures to identify any unexpected movements in account balances which may be indicative of fraud.

The likelihood of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is limited by the inherent difficulty in detecting irregularities, the effectiveness of the Group's controls, and the nature, timing and extent of the audit procedures performed. Irregularities that result from fraud might be inherently more difficult to detect than irregularities that result from error. As explained above, there is an unavoidable risk that material misstatements may not be detected, even though the audit has been planned and performed in accordance with ISAS (UK).

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

16

ADVICE UK

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES AND MEMBERS OF ADVICE UK

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the Charity’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 Charity’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 Parent Charitable Company and the Charity’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

John Perry, Senior Statutory Auditor

For and on behalf of Sumer Audit Co, Statutory Auditor

Fitzroy House Crown Street Ipswich Suffolk IP1 3LG

Date: 29 September 2025

17

ADVICE UK

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING AN INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Notes
INCOME FROM
Donations
3
Charitable activities
4
Investments
5
Share of profits of associate
13
Total Income
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
6
7
Share of losses of associate
Total Expenditure
Net (losses)/ gains on
investments
13
Net (expenditure)/income
Transfer between funds
19
Net movement in funds
19
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Fund balances brought forward
Fund balances carried forward		 Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
450,194
3,161,758
13,414
15,058
3,640,424
6,039
3,668,051
-
3,674,090
-
(33,666)
-
(33,666)
2,575,729
2,542,063		 Restricted
Funds
2025
£
-
1,746,910
-
-
1,746,910
-
1,789,313
-
1,789,313
-
(42,403)
-
(42,403)
293,459
251,056		 Total
Funds
2025
£
450,194
4,908,668
13,414
15,058
5,387,334
6,039
5,457,364
-
5,463,403
-
(76,069)
-
(76,069)
2,869,188
2,793,119		 Total
Funds
2024
£
414,206
4,242,002
9,494
15,431
4,681,133
10,126
4,340,257
-
4,350,383
144,341
475,091
-
475,091
2,394,097
2,869,188

The Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in both the current and prior years. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 23 to 43 form part of these financial statements.

18

ADVICE UK

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING AN INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Notes
INCOME FROM
Donations
3
Charitable activities
4
Investments
5
Share of profits of associate
Total Income
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
6
7
Total Expenditure
Net gains / (loss) on
investments
13
Net (expenditure)/ income
Transfer between funds
19
Net movement in funds
19
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Fund balances brought forward
Fund balances carried forward		 Unrestricted
Funds
2024
£
414,206
2,938,891
9,494
15,431
3,378,022
10,126
3,154,434
3,164,560
144,341
357,803
(3,653)
354,150
2,221,579
2,575,729		 Restricted
Funds
2024
£
-
1,303,111
-
-
1,303,111
-
1,185,823
1,185,823
-
117,288
3,653
120,941
172,518
293,459		 Total
Funds
2024
£
414,206
4,242,002
9,494
15,431
4,681,133
10,126
4,340,257
4,350,383
144,341
475,091
-
475,091
2,394,097
2,869,188

The Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in both the current and prior years. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 23 to 43 form part of these financial statements.

19

ADVICE UK

Company No. 02023982

CONSOLIDATED AND CHARITY BALANCE SHEET

As at 31 March 2025

Notes
Fixed assets
Intangible assets
11
Tangible assets
12
Investments
13
Total fixed assets
Current assets
Debtors
14
Cash at bank and in hand
22
Total current assets
Creditors: amounts falling due within
one year
15
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Provisions for liabilities
17
Total net assets
Funds
Restricted funds
19
Unrestricted funds (2024 restated)
Designated funds
19
General funds
19
Total unrestricted funds
19
Total Charity funds
19,20		 Group
2025
Group
2024
Charity
2025
Charity
2024
£
£
£
£
19,630
21,101
19,630
21,101
-
8,587
-
8,587
2,047,465
1,782,369
1,547,913
1,297,914
2,067,095
1,812,057
1,567,543
1.327.602
1,819,077
1,439,140
2,027,591
1,640,455
1,821,729
1,860,004
1,194,139
1,304,527
3,640,806
3,299,144
3,221,730
2,944,982
(2,844,975)
(2,094,388)
(2,737,385)
(2,078,324)
795,831
1,204,756
484,345
866,658
2,882,926
3,016,813
2,527,720
2,194,260
(69,807)
(147,625)
-
-
2,793,119
2,869,188
2,051,888
2,194,260
251,056
293,459
251,056
293,459
1,003,689
725,210
480,736
240,793
1,538,374
1,850,519
1,320,096
1,660,008
2,542,063
2,575,729
1,800,832
1,900,801
2,793,119
2,869,188
2,051,888
2,194,260

Unrestricted Funds restated 2024 balance:

When preparing the 2025 accounts the trustees noted that the balance sheet allocation of funds between unrestricted designated funds and unrestricted general funds differed to the position noted in note 19 of the financial statements.

Therefore, the comparative information has been restated to reflect the correct position as disclosed in the notes to the 2024 accounts.

The presentational adjustment has increased unrestricted designated funds by £86,828 and reduced unrestricted general funds by £86,828 with no impact on restricted funds.

20

ADVICE UK

Company No. 02023982

CONSOLIDATED AND CHARITY BALANCE SHEET (CONTINUED)

As at 31 March 2025

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

The deficit of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2025 was £142,372 (2024: Surplus - £533,140).

Approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Trustees on 25[th] September 2025 and signed on its behalf.

B Badesha – Director

The notes on pages 23 to 43 form part of these financial statements.

21

ADVICE UK

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASHFLOWS

For the year ended 31 March 2025

2025 2024
Notes
£ £
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities 21 232,669 213,415
Cash flows from investing activities:
Interest received 13,414 9,494
Purchase of investments (250,000) (800,000)
Purchase of computer software (34,358) (7,666)
─────── ───────
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year (38,275) (584,758)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 1,860,004 2,444,762
─────── ───────
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 22 1,821,729 1,860,004
═══════ ═══════

The notes on pages 23 to 43 form part of these financial statements.

22

ADVICE UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1.1 General information

Advice UK (the “Charity” is a public benefit entity and a private company limited by guarantee, company number 02023982 registered in England and Wales. Advice UK is also a Charity registered with the Charity Commission (charity registration number 299342). The registered office and its principal place of business is Suite 610,150 Minories, London EC3N 1LS.

Advice UK operates as a co-ordination and support network for organisations that provide independent social welfare advice to the public.

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been applied consistently, unless otherwise stated:

1.2 Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes and 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),the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), Financial Reporting Standard 103 – ‘Insurance Contracts’ (‘FRS 103’) and the Companies Act 2006.

The principal accounting policies that have been applied to all periods presented in these financial statements are set out below.

The preparation of financial statements requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires Trustees to exercise their judgement in the process of applying the accounting policies. Use of available information and application of judgement are inherent in the formation of estimates. Actual outcomes in the future could differ from such estimates. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the financial statements are disclosed in Note 2.

1.3 Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared a going concern basis.

The Trustees confirm that at the time of approving the financial statements, there are no material uncertainties regarding the Group’s and the Charity’s ability to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

In arriving at this conclusion, the Trustees have taken account of current and anticipated financial performance in the current economic conditions, its Corporate Plan, and its reserves position. Based upon their assessment the Trustees consider that the Charity will be able to continue to meets its liabilities as they fall due and continue to trade for the foreseeable future, being at least 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements. Accordingly, the financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis.

23

ADVICE UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

1.4 Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of Advice UK and its wholly owned subsidiary, VCS Insurance Company Limited on a line-by-line basis using the Group’s accounting policies. The subsidiary companies have the same reporting date as Advice UK of 31 March.

Investments in associates have been accounted for under the equity method and included within investments. The associates within the consolidation are Advanced Case Management Solutions and Wyser Ventures Ltd.

The Group has taken advantage of the exemptions allowed under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not presented its own statement of financial activities in these financial statements.

1.5 Income

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

1.6

Deferred income

Deferred income comprises fees, subscriptions and premiums received in advance. Grants received in advance for expenditure that will take place in future accounting periods are recognised as deferred income.

24

ADVICE UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

1.7 Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Contractual arrangements and performance related grants are recognised as goods or services are supplied. Other grant payments are recognised when a constructive obligation arises that results in the payment being unavoidable. Grants received on behalf of delivery partners are accrued to equate to the percentage of grant income to be distributed.

1.8 Claims and technical reserves

Provisions are made at the year end for the estimated cost of claims incurred but not settled at the balance sheet date. The estimated cost of claims includes expenses to be incurred in settling claims. The subsidiary company takes all reasonable steps to ensure that it has appropriate information regarding its claims exposure. However, given the uncertainty in establishing claims provisions, it is likely that the final outcome may prove to be different from the original estimated liability.

The claims arising are on policies which are written on a claims made basis, i.e. within the defined period covered by the policy. Each time a claim is notified, a reserve is established. However, outstanding claims reserves may increase from the time a claim is made as decisions are made regarding legal proceedings until the date the claim is settled. This provision is the Directors’ estimate of the additional costs that may be incurred in order to settle all outstanding claims at the balance sheet date.

The methods used, and estimates made, by the Directors to assess the subsidiary company’s claims provisions are continually reviewed and any resulting adjustments are reported in the underwriting account in the financial year in which they are made. In addition, the subsidiary company has a stop-loss policy to meet total claims in each policy year in excess of £125,000.

The basis of estimation for the claims incurred but not enough reported (‘IBNER’) is calculated based on net earned premium less claims paid, less specific reserves by an agreed stepped reducing percentage for each year, 15% in year one, 10% in year two, 5% in year three and 0% in year four. The Directors believe four years to be sufficient as almost all claims are finalised over this term. If there is negative IBNER this would not be allowable and would be maintained at £Nil.

25

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

ADVICE UK

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

1.9 Investments in subsidiaries

Investments in subsidiaries are held at cost less provision for impairment.

1.10 Investments in associated entities

Investments in associates are initially recorded at cost and the carrying amount is increased or decreased to recognise the Charity’s share of the profits or losses, other comprehensive income and equity of the associate after acquisition.

1.11 Investments in securities

Investments are a form of basic financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their fair value as at the Balance Sheet date using the closing quoted market price.

All gains and losses are taken to the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities as they arise.

Realised gains and losses on investments are calculated as the difference between sales proceeds and their market value at the start of the year or their subsequent cost, and are charged or credited to the Statement of Financial Activities in the year of disposal.

Unrealised gains and losses represent the movement in market values during the year and are credited or charged to the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities based on the market value at the year end.

1.12 Intangible Fixed Assets

Intangible assets costing £1,000 or more are capitalised and recognised when future economic benefits are probable and the cost or value of the asset can be measured reliably. Intangible assets are initially recognised at cost and are subsequently measured at cost net of amortisation and any provision for impairment. Amortisation is provided on intangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost of each asset on a straight-line basis over its expected useful life which is deemed to be 5 years.

1.13 Tangible Assets

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Fixed assets costing more than £100 are capitalised. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following bases:

Leasehold buildings improvements Over the lease term on a straight line basis Computer equipment 33% to 100% Straight line basis Furniture & equipment 20% Straight line basis

1.14 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank and in hand includes deposits which can be withdrawn within 24 hours without penalty and short term deposits which have a maturity period of 3 months or less and are not subject to significant risk of changes in value.

26

ADVICE UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

1.15 Operating leases

Rentals applicable to operating leases where substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership remain with the lessor are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities as incurred.

1.16 Financial instruments

The only financial instruments held by AdviceUK are debtors, creditors, loans and investments. Investments are referred to in Note 1.9, 1.10 and 1.11 above and, the remaining are categorised as ‘basic’ in accordance with Section 11 of FRS 102 and are initially recognised at transaction price. These are subsequently measured at transaction price less any impairment.

1.17 Pensions

The Group has arranged a defined contribution pension scheme for those employees who wish to join it. The assets of this scheme are held separately from those of the Group, being invested with insurance companies. Pension costs charged in the Statement of Financial Activities represent the contributions payable during the year.

1.18 Fund accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes.

The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

27

ADVICE UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

2. SIGNIFICANT JUDGEMENTS AND ESTIMATES

Critical judgements in applying the Group’s policies:

In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees have made the following judgement and estimates:

Insurance Technical provisions

Provision is made for the estimated cost of settling all known claims at the subsidiary balance sheet date. Judgement is applied as outlined in the accounting policy, in determining the appropriate level of provision because the actual outcome of the claim can be uncertain until the case is determined and an agreement to settle has been made.

Estimates are made for both the expected ultimate cost of claims reported and claims incurred but not reported (IBNR) at the statement of financial position date. The estimate of IBNR is generally subject to a greater degree of uncertainty than that for reported claims. In calculating the estimated liability, the subsidiary company uses estimation techniques based upon statistical analyses of historical experience which assumes past trends can be used to project future developments. Subsequent information and events may result in the ultimate liability being greater or less than the amount provided. The carrying amount for insurance contract liabilities in the Balance Sheet is £69,807 (2024: £147,625).

28

ADVICE UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

3. INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Funds Funds Funds Funds
2025 2025 2025 2024
£ £ £ £
Donations 450,194 450,194 414,206
4.
INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
Member services
3,157,346
Policies and campaigns
3,265
Projects on behalf of members grant
income
-
Other income
1,147
3,161,758
5. INVESTMENT INCOME
Unrestricted
Funds
2025
Bank interest receivable
13,414		 Restricted
Funds
2025
£
-
-
1,746,910
-
1,746,910
Restricted
Funds
2025
-		 Total
Funds
2025
£
3,157,346
3,265
1,746,910
1,147
4,908,668
Total
Funds
2025
£
13,414		 Total
Funds
2024
£
2,927,616
9,450
1,303,111
1,825
4,242,002
Total
Funds
2024
£
9,494

6. EXPENDITURE ON RAISING FUNDS

Staff costs
Other costs		 Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
5,941
98
6,039		 Restricted
Funds
2025
£
-
-
-		 Total
Funds
2025
£
5,941
98
6,039		 Total
Funds
2024
£
9,893
233
10,126

29

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

ADVICE UK

7. EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Year ended 31 March 2025
Members services
Policy and campaigns
Projects on behalf of members
Development
Restricted fund expenditure
Project on behalf of members
Year ended 31 March 2024
Members services
Policy and campaigns
Projects on behalf of members
Development
Restricted fund expenditure
Project on behalf of members		 Project
and activity
staff costs

£
381,428
244,400
119,372
172,256
917,456
119,372
Project
and activity
staff costs

£
263,333
185,515
74,844
102,824
626,516
74,844		 Project and
activity
other costs
£
2,253,441
96,464
1,591,153
20,757
3,961,815
1,591,153
Project and
activity
other costs
£
2,199,008
4,419
1,067,024
8,025
3,278,476
1,067,024		 Support
costs
£
278,358
92,561
78,788
128,386
578,093
78,788
Support
costs
£
209,054
106,106
43,955
76,150
435,265
43,955		 Total
Funds
2025
£
2,913,227
433,425
1,789,313
321,399
5,457,364
1,789,313
Total
Funds
2024
£
2,671,395
296,040
1,185,823
186,99
4,340,257
1,185,823

30

ADVICE UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

7. EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)

SUPPORT COSTS

Year ended 31 March 2025
Members services
Policy and campaigns
Projects on behalf of members
Development
Year ended 31 March 2024
Members services
Policy and campaigns
Projects on behalf of members
Development		 Staff
costs
£
104,102
47,013
66,704
32,580
250,399
Staff
costs
£
85,068
59,929
24,179
33,216
202,391		 Premises Governance
costs
£
£
12,921
90,747
5,835
-
8,279
-
4,044
-
31,079
90,747
Premises Governance
costs
£
£
12,893
81,652
9,083
-
3,664
-
5,034
-
30,674
81,652		 Other
£
70,588
75,537
17,578
42,164
205,867
Other
£
29,441
37,094
16,113
37.900
120,548		 Total
Funds
2025
£
278,358
92,561
78,788
128.386
578,093
Total
Funds
2024
£
209,054
106,106
43,955
76,150
435,265

8. NET INCOME FOR THE YEAR

This is stated after charging: 2025 2024
£ £
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets:
- owned by the Charity
4,969		 4,201
Loss on disposal of tangible fixed assets 9,845 1,000
Auditor’s remuneration
- Audit fees 16,150 14,000
- Accountancy fees 1,450 1,250
- Tax Services 550 500
- Subsidiary auditor’s fees 9,957 7,544
Operating leases: 41,185 29,125

31

ADVICE UK NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

9. TAXATION

The Company is a Charity and is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen in the Charity.

10. STAFF COSTS

Staff costs were as follows:

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Employer's contribution to defined contribution pension scheme
Other employee benefits

Included in other employment benefits above is an amount of circa £90,000 which was paid to support the costs of an organisation change programme implemented by the Board to support its new strategy.

The number of employees whose emoluments exceeded £60,000 during the year (including taxable benefits but excluding employers' pension contributions) were:

2025 2024
£60,001 - £70,000 1 -
£70,001 - £80,000 - 1
£90,001 - £100,000 - 1
£100,001 - £110,000 1 -
£110,001 - £120,000 1 -

Pension costs paid for employees earning above £60,000 amounted to £10,454 (2024: £9,996). These employees participated in the defined contribution pension scheme.

The average number of employees, during the year was as follows:

Projects and activities
Administration		 Group & Charity
2025
2024
18
14
5
2

All employees are employed by the Charity.

Key management personnel

Advice UK considers the key management personnel of the organisation to comprise the Trustees, together with the Chief Executive and the Executive Director. The aggregate remuneration including employer pension contributions of those personnel for services to the Charity and Group, in the year amounted to £119,617 (2024: £200,103). Of these amounts £Nil (2024: £Nil) related to the Trustees.

During the year, travelling and subsistence expenses amounting to £6,071 (2024: £6,927) were reimbursed to Trustees.

32

ADVICE UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

11. INTANGIBLE ASSETS

GROUP AND CHARITY

Cost
At 1 April 2024
Additions
At 31 March 2025
Amortisation
At 1 April 2024
Amortisation charge
At 31 March 2025
NBV at 31 March 2025
NBV at 31 March 2024		 Computer
Software
£
133,699
28,132
161,831
112,598
29,601
142,199
19,630
21,101

The intangible assets relate to capitalised software development costs. They have been capitalised on the basis the software is used in the design of the CRM system from which the Group generates its income.

12. TANGIBLE ASSETS

GROUP AND CHARITY

Cost
At 1 April 2024
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2025
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024
Charge for the year
Disposals
At 31 March 2025
NBV at 31 March 2025
NBV at 31 March 2024		 Leasehold
Building
Improvements
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Computer
Equipment
£
35,125
6,226
(41,352)
-
26,538
4,969
(31,507)
-
-
8,587		 Furniture &
Equipment
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Total
£
35,125
6,226
(41,352)
-
26,538
4,969
(31,507)
-
-
8,587

33

ADVICE UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

13. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS

CHARITY

Cost
At 1 April 2024
Net losses on change in
fair value
Additions
At 31 March 2025		 Subsidiaries
Associates
Listed
Investments
£
£
£
100,000
40
1,196,874
-
-
-
-
250,000
-
100,000
250,040 1,197,874		 Total
£
1,297,914
-
250,000
1,547,914

In the year, the charity acquired a £250,000 investment in Wyser Ventures Ltd. This will support its members to access the benefit of artificial intelligence (AI) products for their advice services at a discount and, over time, further improve how AI can be used to support advice giving.

As at 31 March 2025 the Charity’s subsidiary was:

VCS Insurance Company Limited
(Registered number: GG44303)		 Country of
Incorporation
Guernsey		 Activity
Insurance		 Proportion of
Ordinary Shares
Held and
voting rights
100%

The financial results of the subsidiary were:

Income Expenditure Surplus/(deficit) Net assets/
for the year (liabilities)
£ £ £ £
VCS Insurance Company Limited 437,754 (386,509) 51,245 241,717

As at 31 March 2025 the Charity’s Associates were:

The Charity holds a 50% shareholding in the Ordinary shares of Advanced Case Management Solutions Limited (Company number: SC392229), a software trading company registered in Scotland.

The charity holds a 20% (rounded to nearest percent) shareholding in the Ordinary shares of Wyser Ventures Ltd (Company number: 15455450), a company specialising in artificial intelligence registered in Wales.

34

ADVICE UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

13. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

GROUP

Cost
At 1 April 2024
Change in fair value
Additions
Share of profit of associate
-Operating Profit
-Taxation
-Dividends
At 31 March 2025		 Associates
Listed
Investments
£
£
584,495
1,197,874
-
-
250,000
-
554,336
-
(59,240)
-
(480,000)
-
849,592
1,197,874		 Total
£
1,782,369
-
250,000
554,336
(59,240)
(480,000)
2,047,465

Advanced Case Management Solutions Limited

The aggregate of the share capital and reserves as at 31 March 2025 was £191,584 (2024: £268,989)

Wyser Ventures Ltd

As at 11[th] September 2024, Wyser Ventures Ltd became an associate of the group.

The aggregate of the share capital and reserves as at 31 March 2025 was £760,083.

Advice UK results excluding subsidiary companies

Total income
Total expenditure
Net gains on investment
Net income
Fund balances brought forward at 1 April 2024
Fund balances carried forward at 31 March 2025		 2025
£
5,053,034
(5,195,404)
(142,370)
-
(142,370)
2,194,261
2,051,889		 2024
£
4,363,079
(3,974,280)
388,799
144,341
533,140
1,661,121
2,194,261

35

ADVICE UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

14. DEBTORS

Trade debtors
Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings
Amounts owed by participating interest
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income		 2025
£
875,618
-
-
45,603
897,856		 Group
2024
£
524,593
-
-
77,204
837,342
1,439,140		 2025
£
875,618
251,684
-
2,433
897,856		 Charity

2024

£

524,593

254,198

-

24,322

837,342

1,640,455		 Charity

2024

£

524,593

254,198

-

24,322

837,342

1,640,455








1,819,077 2,027,591 1,640,455

Included within amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings is a £150,000 (2024: £150,000) unsecured loan due from VCS Insurance Company Limited. On 31 July 2014 Independent Advice Services Limited transferred their shares and this loan to Advice UK. A new loan agreement dated the same date was entered into on the same terms. The loan is unsecured and bears interest at 1% over base rate, which is payable annually in arrears. It is repayable only when all liabilities of the borrower have been extinguished or by written permission of the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (‘GFSC’) and in the Trustees’ view, the loan is unlikely to be repaid within one year. The remaining balance is commission due from VCS which is interest free and repayable on demand.

15. CREDITORS

Trade creditors
Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings
Amounts owed to participating interest
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals
Deferred income		 2025
£
121,230
-
668,308
78,523
156,334
40,715
1,779,865		 Group
2024
£
32,506
-
316,963
39,515
160,550
54,285
1,490,569
2,094,388		 2025
£
121,230
-
668,308
78,523
48,744
40,715
1,779,865		 Charity
2024
£
32,506
100,000
316,963
39,515
44,486
54,285
1,490,569
2,078,324		 Charity
2024
£
32,506
100,000
316,963
39,515
44,486
54,285
1,490,569
2,078,324
2,844,975 2,737,385 2,078,324

Included within amounts owed to subsidiary in undertakings in 2024 is a £100,000 unsecured loan from VCS Insurance Company Limited. The loan is repayable on demand and bears interest at 0.75% over the base rate per annum payable in arrears and accrued on a daily basis. This amount was paid of within the 2025 year. The remaining balance is a trading balance to ACMS and is interest free and repayable on demand.

36

ADVICE UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

16. DEFERRED INCOME

At 1 April 2024
Income deferred in the current year
Amounts released from previous years
At 31 March 2025		 2025
£
1,490,569
1,779,865
(1,490,569)
1,779,865		 2024
£
1,420,677
1,490,569
(1,420,677)
1,490,569

Deferred income comprises fees, subscriptions and premiums received in advance and grants received for the next year.

17. PROVISION FOR LIABILITIES

CHARITY

GROUP
Dilapidations Provision
At 1 April 2024
Expensed in the year
At 31 March 2025
Dilapidations Provision
At 1 April 2024
Expensed in the year
At 31 March 2025
Technical reserves
Outstanding claims reserve at 1 April 2024
Movement in prior years’ claim provisions
Provisions for new claims
Outstanding claims reserve at 31 March 2025
IBNER reserve
Provision for liabilities at 31 March 2024		 2025
£
-
-
-
2025
£
-
-
-
117,009
(111,009)
31,000
37,000
32,807
69,807		 2024
£
13,667
(13,667)
-
2024
£
13,667
(13,667)
-
8,000
(8,000)
117,009
117,009
30,616
147,625

The dilapidation provision is management's best estimate of the potential costs that may be incurred at the end of the property lease to return the property to is original state.

The Group has a stop-loss policy to cover claims arising in any one year in excess of £125,000.

37

ADVICE UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

17. PROVISION FOR LIABILITIES (CONTINUED)

Insurance claims development triangle

In year of claim (or
brought forward)
One year later
Two years later
Three years later
Four years later
Five year later
Current estimate of
ultimate claims
Cumulative payments
In balance sheet		 2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Cumulative
24,930
14,946 9,070
24,298
90,667
54,093 218,004
202
16,275 25,820
(7,518)
(32,481)
-
2,298
(775)
(13,273)
(3,878)
(6,261)
-
-
(24,187)
(9,065)
(4,594)
(506)
-
-
-
(14,165)
50,000
-
-
-
-
-
50,000
(50,000)
-
-
-
-
-
(50,000)
15,292
13,354 30,506
10,519
58,186
54,093 181,950
(15,292)
(13,354)
(30,506)
(4,249) (38,223)
(10,519) (112,143)
-
-
-
6,270
19,963
43,574 69,807

18. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

The Charity monitors and manages its financial risks relating to insurance contracts. The Group’s only assets held for insurance purpose consist of cash held in pound sterling by the its subsidiary undertaking, VCS Insurance Company Limited, therefore there is no currency or market price risk. The Group considers the credit worthiness of the reinsurance underwriter before renewing its policy. The liquidity of the subsidiary is overseen by Guernsey regulators and capital or loan finance will be injected to meet specified requirements.

The main form of financial risk faced by the Group is that of volatility in equity markets and investment markets due to wider economic conditions, the attitude of investors to investment risk and changes in sentiment concerning equities and within particular sectors or sub-sectors.

38

ADVICE UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

19. STATEMENT OF FUNDS - GROUP

Opening
Balance
£
RESTRICTED FUNDS
Projects on behalf of
members
206,600
Scotland activities
Advice in Accessible
Settings
86,859
-
Total Restricted funds
293,459
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
General fund
1,850,519
Designated funds
Premises fund
-
Foundation fund
111,066
Fixed asset fund
614,144
Total Unrestricted funds
2,575,729
TOTAL FUNDS
2,869,188
STATEMENT OF FUNDS - CHARITY
Opening
Balance
£
RESTRICTED FUNDS
Projects on behalf of
members
206,600
Scotland activities
Advice in Accessible
Settings
86,859
-
Total Restricted funds
293,459
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
General fund
1,660,008
Designated funds
Premises fund
-
Foundation fund
111,066
Fixed asset fund
129,727
Total Unrestricted funds
1,900,801
TOTAL FUNDS
2,194,260		 Income
£
277,413
-
1,469,497
1,746,910
3,640,424
-
-
-
3,640,424
5,387,334
Income
£
277,413
-
1,469,497
1,746,910
3,306,124
-
-
-
3,306,124
**5,053,034 **		 Expenditure
£
(328,763)
-
(1,460,550)
(1,789,313)
(3,674,090)
-
-
-
(3,674,090)
(5,463,403)
Expenditure
£
(328,763)
-
(1,460,550)
(1,789,313)
(3,406,093)
-
-
-
(3,306,124)
(5,195,404)		 Net losses on
investments
and transfers
£
-
-
-
--
(278,479)
-
-
278,479
-
-
Net losses on
investments
and transfers
£
-
-
-
-
(239,943)
-
-
239,943
-
-		 Closing
Balance
£
155,250
86,859
8,947
251,056
1,538,374
-
111,066
892,623
2,542,063
2,793,119
Closing
Balance
£
155,250
86,859
8,947
251,056
1,320,096
-
111,066
369,670
1,800,832
2,051,888

39

ADVICE UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

19. STATEMENT OF FUNDS – (CONTINUED)

Designated funds

The Foundation fund is an amount that was designated to make future grants to members.

The Fixed Asset fund is represented by the tangible fixed assets and unlisted investments used by the Charity on an on-going basis to meet the Charity’s objects.

Restricted funds

Restricted funds were used on one category categories of activity, Projects on behalf of members.

Projects on behalf of members

A grant of £16,538 was received from Aviva for a project to improve the financial wellbeing of households living in an area of high deprivation in Bristol and the dissemination of learning from the project to other independent providers of advice and social welfare support across the UK. The project will work with individuals and households using a systems-thinking approach to understand how current services operate and how they can be redesigned for improved financial capability and inclusion.

A grant of £29,350 was received from the City Bridge Trust, the funding arm of The City of London Corporation’s charity. The grant supported Advice UK to build a partnership with 11 London based Advice UK members using the Whole Person/Whole Community approach to start to understand the impact of monitoring and evaluation on their ability to do the right thing for their clients.

A grant of £205.375 was received from Skilling Up for Justice. The grant is used to enhance the skills and training of individuals and workforces within the justice and associated sectors to improve service delivery and achieve better outcomes for minority ethnic communities and vulnerable groups.

40

ADVICE UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

20. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Group

Fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Provision for Liabilities		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
2,067,095
3,389,750
(2,844,975)
(69,807)
2,542,063		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
251,056
-
-
251,056		 Total
Funds
2025
£
2,067,095
3,640,806
(2,844,975)
(69,807)
2,793,119		 Total
Funds
2024
£
1,812,058
3,592,710
(2,094,388)
(147,625)
3,162,754

Charity

Fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Provision for liabilities		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
1,567,543
2,970,674
(2,737,385)
-
1,800,832		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
251,056
-
-
251,056		 Total
Funds
2025
£
1,567,543
3,221,730
(2,737,385)
-
2,051,888		 Total
Funds
2024
£
1,327,602
2,944,983
(2,078,324)
-
2,051,888

21. RECONCILIATION OF NET (EXPENDITURE)/INCOME TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Net (expenditure)/income for the year
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges
Amortisation charges
Loss on disposal of tangible fixed assets
(Losses)/Gains on investments
Share of profits of associated undertaking
Interest from investments
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
Increase in creditors
Increase in provision
Net cash provided by operating activities		 2025
(76,069)
4,969
29,601
9,845
-
(15,058)
(13,414)
(379,975)
750,588
(77,818)
232,669		 2024
475,091
4,201
26,786
-
(144,341)
(15,431)
(9,494)
(71,935)
(149,387)
97,925
213,415

41

ADVICE UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

22. ANALYSIS OF CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

2025 2024
£ £
Total cash and cash equivalents 1,821,729 1,860,004

23. ANALYSIS OF NET FUNDS

Cash in hand At 1 April
2024
Cash flows
At 31 March
2025
£
£
£
1,860,004
(38,275)
1,821,729
1,860,004
(38,275)
1,821,729

24. CAPITAL COMMITMENTS

At the end of the year there were no capital commitments (2024: £Nil).

25. COMMITMENTS UNDER OPERATING LEASES

At 31 March 2025 the Group and the Charity had total future minimum lease payments under noncancellable operating leases was:

Amounts due within one year
Amounts due between 1 and 5 years
Total		 2025
£
39,693
356
40,049		 2024
£
29,348
-
29,348

42

ADVICE UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

26. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Advanced Case Management Solutions Limited

The Charity was charged £1,590,778 (2024 - £1,721,949) for the provision of AdvicePro software and consultancy services by Advanced Case Management Solutions Limited. A balance of £668,308 (2024 - £316,963

No amounts were outstanding (2024 - £ Nil) as at 31 March 2025 and included within amounts owed by participating interest.

The Charity received a gift aid donation from Advance Case Management Solutions Limited of £450,000 during the year (2024 - £400,000).

In 2024 the following transactions took place between the Charity and its wholly owned Subsidiaries:

VCS Insurance Company Limited

Commissions were received of £101,648 (2024 - £104,198). The Charity charged interest on loans of £ Nil (2024 - £9,064).

The Charity was charged interest on loans of £5,697 (2024 - £5,792).

At 31 March 2025, £251,648 was owed to the Charity (2024 - £254,198). In addition to this, £ Nil was owed by the Charity (2024 - £100,000).

27. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

There is an inherent uncertainty relating to the valuation of technical provisions, arising from claims made against members under the professional indemnity and trustees, officers and directors insurance policies provided by a subsidiary company. The Trustees consider that adequate provision has been made to meet any liability arising therefore the possibility of material additional unprovided claims is considered to be remote.

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