BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED (a company limited by guarantee) REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025 Company No. 02202427 Charity No. 519639 AEDVRZS2 2411012025 COMPANIES HOUSE A11
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BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED COIYTENTS Pag¢ Tru$tees'lDireetors' report 3-10 Independent Auditor's report Stalemenl of financial activities 14 Balance sheet 15 Cash flow statement 16 Notes to the financial statements 17.32
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED TRUSTEES'IDIRECTORS, REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2025 The Trustees (who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act) present their report and the audited financial slatem¢nts for the year ended 31 March 2025. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Ststement of Recommended Practice (SORP), applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effettive l January 2019). REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRA TIVE INFORMATION Chority number: 519639 Company numb¢r: 02202427 Authori$¢d & regulated by the Flnaneial Conduct Authorlty FRN: 617S09 Registered office: First Floor Wellington House 31-34 Waterloo Street Birniingham B2 5TJ Trustee Direetors: Liam Brooker (Chair) Jill Lambert Councillor Gareih Moore Elizabeth Alvey Chaitali Desai Lucy Vernall Phil Marris Kay Burton-williams Dee Kundi Sundccp Gill (resigned 31101125) Lydia Siockdale (resigned 0611112024) Richard Burden (resigned 06111124) Habib Choudhury (appointed 12102125) Junaid Shah (appointed 121021251 Senior Management Team.. Janice Nichols (Chief Executive- Retired 31108124) Kelly Danks (Interim Chief Executive from 01109124) Samantha Calchpole Jane Priest Auditors: CKCA Limited No. 4 Castle Court 2 Castlegate Way Dudley DYI 4RH Bankers: Unity Trust Bank PIC 9 Brindley Pla¢¢ Birniingham BI 2HB Solieitors: DLA Piper UK LLP Victoria Square House Birn)ingham B2 4DL Gowling WLG (UK) LLP Two Snowhill Birniingham B4 6WR
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED TRUSTEES'IDIRECTORS, REPORT For tbe year ended 31 March 2025 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMEIYT Governing document The Charity (which has the working name of 'Citizens Advice Birniingham {CAB)') was fornied as a company limited by guarantee on 3 December 1987 (Company Number: 02202427). The full name of the charity is Birnlingham Cilizens Advice Bureau Service Limited and was registered with ihe Charity Commission on 15 December 1987 (Charity Number.. 519639). It is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association, &s last updated on 8 November 2023. Reeruitment and appoinlmenl of trustees The Charity is governed through a Trusi¢¢ Board. Trustees who have held office during the year ar¢ listed on page 3. The Articl¢s of Association provide for a minimum of ihree and a maximum of fifteen Trustees. Trustees are elected to the Board for a maximum period of three AGMS and are appointed by a resolution of its members at an AGM. The Board has powers to CO-OPI members, provided that on appointment the total number of co-opted trustees does not exceed one third of the total number of Iste¢S. All co-opted trustees must retire by the third AGM after their appointment and may offer themselves for election. The Trustee Board has two working wmmittees, the Finance and General Purposes Committee with responsibility for financial management and premises and the Human Resources Committee wilh responsibility for personnel matters, including the setting and monitoring of pay & remuneration of personnel and key management against industy benchmarks, as well a5 Health and Safety and safeguarding matters, Other task and finish 0uPS are set up as necessary. The Board implements its de¢isions through an executive management Committee that consists of the Chief Executive, who attends Board Meetings, and three operational managers, each with an individual area of responsibility, along with the new business development manager and the finance manager. The organisation is co-ordinated from its office on Waterloo Street, Birniingham. Trustee Inductlon and tralnlng New trustees are briefed on their legal obligaiions under charity and company law, the content of the Memorandurn and Arti¢les of Association, Ihe committee and decisson-making processes, the business plan, annual budget and recent financial perfomance of the charity, and the risk regisier. They also meet key employees and other trustees. Trustees all undertake GDPR and FCA mandated training, they are also provided with annual training and charity updates where these will facilitate ihe understanding of their role. They are also invited to the full training programme for staff and volunteers and have access to online training via our national Citizens Advice online portal. Related pgrtles Citizens Advice Birniingham (CAB) is a member of The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (Citizens Advice), the naiional charity (Charity Number: 279057) which sets out a framework for standards of advice and case management and supports local offices with an infomation system, training and other services. During ihe 2024125 financial year payments were made lo Citizens Advice to ihe value of £11,503 (2023124: £11,438) in respect of subscriptions, accountancy support, training services. slalionery and sundries. Receipts from Citizens Advice for contracts and grant funding totalled £984,529 (2023124: £887,954). Councillor Gareth Moore is an elected rnember with Birniingham City Council. During the 2024125 financial year payments were rnade lo Binningham City Council of £10,551 (2023124.. £47,468) in respect of premises rentals. ¢oun¢il tsxes and business rates. Receipts from Birmingham City Council for contracts and grant ndIng in the year totalled £274,063 (2023124: £370,750).
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED TRUSTEES'IDIRECTORS, REPORT Flir the year ended 31 March 2025 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT (eontinued) Background During the period covered by this report, the UK saw a change of Government and continued to feel the effects of the largest cost of living crisis for decades. Citizens Advice Birniingham continued to feel the cost-of-living impact, both in ternis of our ability to meet demand for our services and in dealing with the increasingly complex and growing client service needs. We continue io deliver our services by telephone and offer webchat and video calls via a mix of office based and homeworking, as well as face-to-face appointments at outreach location5 across ihe city. This Provides more convenience for our clients as well as more efficiency for our staff, both paid and voluntary. The UK experien¢¢d th¢ impa¢t of global political uncertainty during the summer of 2024, with an increase in hate crime and a lack of community cohesion. We remain vigilanl, especially as the currenl political focus on migrants and asylum seekers can further expose vulnerable members of the community. Following the retirement of our Chief Executive, Janice Nichols, we welcomed our Deputy Chief Executive, Kelly Danks, into the role of Interim Chief Executive. Key risks and untertaintles Senior managers and trust¢¢s undertake an annual review of the busine55 risks for Citiz¢ns Advtce Binningham, taking care to record all significant risks in a risk register. This is monilored throughout the year to ensure there has not been any major change to individual risks. Consideration is given lo the steps ihe organisation needs to take to mitigate risk by setting down actions that can be taken io reduce the likelihood and/or the impact of an individual risk occurring. The principal risk identified by the annual review of business risks continues to be Ihe uncertainty of future funding. BCC re commissioned iheir advice contract in January 2025. BCC'S advice model is changing. with Ihe city-wide telephone service no longer commissioned and advice services 10 be delivered face to face, working alongside BCC staff within Libraries in specified localities. On 13th March 2025, we were pleased to be awarded two of the four available lots i.e. East and North Birniingham, with the new service commencing in 2025126. We have also diversified into new areas, particularly extending ihe reach of our advice services within health settings e.g. delivering a Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia project. Our Strucra1 changes and our success in expanding our services brings a staffing capacity and management expertise risk. To mitigate this risk, the organisation undertakes succession planning by ensuring that skills are shared, and roles are developed in the team to cover key posts when required. Training and further development is offered where this can help to develop necessary skills. Where we have been unable to appoint to advisor role5, we are increasingly 'growing our own, by appointing to trainee positions. We continue to explore opportunities lo seek funding to develop trainee caseworker roles in the future. In parallel, trustees continue io look for new funding streams and opportunities to collabordte with others to develop new projects. Citizens Advice Birniingham CWTies sufficient reserves to meet the obligalions of the organisation should no future funding be secured and takes steps actively to manage creditors to ensure there is a healthy cash flow in the bank. Trustees take seriously the potential risks around inforniation and data, and Inforniation Assurance is another key risk detailed in the organisation's risk register. Staff and volunteers are regularly reminded of their responsibilities around the stordge and handling of data as well as undertaking annual GDPR refresher training. Trustees The Iwstees who have served during 2024r25 can be seen on page 3. None of the trustees have any beneficial interest in the company. All th¢ try5tees are m¢mb¢rs of the company and guardntee to contribute £1 each in the event of a winding up.
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED TRUSTEES'/DIRECTORS' REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2025 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT (Continued) Pay and remuneration of senior stsff Levels of salary for senior staff and key management personnel are reviewed annually and the Trnstee Board operdtes a HR Committee which meets to discuss staffing concerns during the year before reporting back to the Board. Salary levels are regularly benchmarked against comparable organisations. Volunteers We currently have 21 volunteers in total and continue ¢0 build a strong volunteer team. Most of our current volunteers continue to help deliver our Telephone Advice Line (fAL). We have three volunteers completing Ixnefii fonns as part of our Volunteer Benefits Team, another who supports our Binningham Women's and Children's Hospitals Project, one who provides IT support, one who &8sists th¢ Macmillan Benefits Team and one who ¢arri¢s out campaigns and communication WOTk. Fundraising activities The Charity had no significant fundraising activities and costs in the year but raised funds from voluntary donations received from regular donors as well as donations received from clients and organisations that are supporting our work. 0ECTIVEs AND ACTIVITIES Citizens Advice Birniingham (CAB) has twin aims.. Provision of inforn)ation, advice and advocacy to the people of Birniingham; and Influence the development of social policy to tackle injustice and reduce poverty and social exclusion. The free, confidential and impartial advice service is provided to the standards set by nalional Citizens Advice so that ¢lients Can und¢rsland their rights and responsibilities and thus enable them to make infonned choices aboul important asp¢¢ts of iheir lives. Polieies The policy ihat has been adopted to achieve the above aims is io follow the guidelines set down by national Citizens Advice and includes the operation of office and outreach services within the geographical area. The trustees achieve their aims by.. Recruiting and training a local diversity of volunteers. Sustaining and assisting charitable Services by providing teams of managerial, administrative and specialist staff; Raising income by negotiating funding agreements with various bodies, and obtsining donations and income from sources. Incurrtng expenditure, acquiring assets, entering into leases and other trsaCtIOnS such that the service can operate to a high standard in an efficient manner. and Controlling financial operations on a year-by-year basis by the appropriate use of a Business Development Plan and an Annual Budget. b) other d) The charity also operates Health & Safety and Equal Opportunities policies for the benefit of all who come into contact with the organisation.
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED TRUSTEES'/DIRECTORS' REPORT For tbe year ended 31 March 2025 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT (continued) HOW OUR ACTRVITIES DELIVER PUBLIC BENEFIT Cilizens Advice BiTmingham Provides advice to clients across Bimiingham from locations including: Various Health Units within prirnary and secondary Care settings Hospitals Job Centres, libraries, community rxntres HMP Birniingham County Court Welfare Office Foodbanks Citizens Advice Birniingham provides infomation and advice on a wide Ige of issues to those living or working in the Birniingham area. We provide public benefit through our services which are free, confidential, independent and impartial to anyone using them. Below we set out in more detail how we have provided these services over the lasi year. The Board of Trustees has had due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public Ixnefit and has complied wilh the duty in s¢¢tion 4 of the Charities Act 2011. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE During 2024125, Citizens Advice Birniingham delivered high quality, tsrgeted, free advice to 15,444 clients with 113,404 issues, an average of 7.3 issues per client (up from 6.3 issues per client in 2023124) which is a strong indication that people's problems are becoming more complex than ever. During the year our work resulted in total income gains for our clients of £19,598,227. The Generalist Advice Service assisted 6,704 clients with 80,470 issues. Our Universal Credit.. Help to Claim Team achieved additional benefil income of £6.8 Million for clients and our Macmillan Benefits Tearn helped clients living With cancer to access over £l1.9 million in welfare benefits. The Debt Team dealt with £6,434,281 worth of debi, of which 550/0 was non priority debt and the remaining 450/0 was priority debt. Debts written off, which included Debt Relief Orders and write offs, totalled £1,174,008 and repayrnents negoiiated, which included Debt Management Plans on clients, behalf and token offer payments, £298,997. During the same period, our County Court Welfare Office dealt with £1,749,407 worth of mortgage arrears and £1.287,132 of renl aears. 940/0 of the clients we represented at court hearings were able to avoid repossession. Citizens Advice Bimingham regularly seeks feedback on its perfonnan¢e from ¢li¢nts. Overall, the vast majority of our clients raled their experience of our service as positive or very positive. l OO•/o of clients who were supported by our Macmillan Benefits Team told us ihat they were satisfied or very satisfied with the service they received, 890/• were less worried about their finances and 88%, said that our assistance had helped to reduce their stress or anxiety. Of Ihe clients assisted by our Wellbeing Team. 940/ said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the help they had received. All this could not have been achieved without the hard work and dedication of our staff and volunteers, and the trustee board thanks all volunteers and staff for their hard work and commitment during another challenging 12 months. We continue to work in partnership with other agencies including other local Citizens Advice. By keeping in touch with developments within local Citizens Advice from around the county we have been able to share experiences, lessons learned and new ways of doing ihings. We a150 continue to work with other Bimingham-based advice and support organisations to provide the best services we can to the citizens of Bimingham. In summary, whilst the operaiing environment continues to be difficuli, demand is increasing and need is ever more complex. Citizens Advice Birniingham ha5 con515tenily aimed to ensure its services reach as many of those people who need help as possible with the resources available.
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED TRUSTEES'IDIRECTORS, REPORT For the year ended 31 Mareh 2025 REVIEW OF FINANCIAL POSITION During the 2024r25 financial year CAB delivered a financial surplus of £65,715 (2023124; financial surplus of £66,604). This surplus arose primarily due to increased funding from projects and investments, and salary savings resulting from slow recruitsnent into vacant positions. Income increased to £2,177,089 compared to £2,137,584 in 2023124, while over the same period expendilure increased io £2,111,374 from £2,070,980 in 2023124. Expenditure on red assets capiLqlised during the year amouni¢d to £NIL (2023124.. £NIL), in congruence with our capitslisation policy. Fixed assets are used for charitable purposes and enable stsff and volunteers to Provide an optimum s¢rvi¢¢ to the public. There is an end of year restricted fund balance of £53,505 {2023r24: £76.110). Mainly arxounted for by £28,709 for NHS projects, and £2,162 for The Henry Smith projecL £18,365 left for the Alzheimer's project. The funds are exkKded io be spent by March 2026. Restrietions and Investmenl Powers The Memorandum of Association authorises the Charity to receive income by way of grants, donations, gifts and legacies provided it does not undertake any pemanenl trading activities in raising funds for its Primary objectives. The Memornidum of Association authorises investhient of surplus monies nol imm¢dial¢ly requir¢d. subj¢¢t only to condilions and consents imposed by law. Reserves Pollcy The Trustee Board reviews and updates its reserves policy annually to ensure its compliance with Charity Commission best practice. This requires reserves to be available to cover future conlingencies and liabilities. The Reserves Policy requires at least three months, expenditure to be held as unrestricted designaled funds, equating to £611,644 at budgeted 2025126 expenditure levels. The Charity also has a designated fund of £225,000 for tangible fixed assets (investments) and a further £270,000 for other designated funds, the breakdown of which can be seen in Note 20 on page 27. The unrestricted and undesignaled general free reserves at 31 March 2025 are £167,448 (2024.. £147,080) after designating reserves of £1,108,644 (2024: £1,040,692). Restricted reserves at ihe end of the year amount to £53,505 (2024.. £76,110). Golng Concern The Charity reported a cash inflow of £209,507 for th¢ year as creditors and provisions were increased at year end, the Charity expects lo make a smaller inflow in 2025126. After making further appropriate enquiri¢s, together with our reserves and expenditure control, the trustees have a reasonable expeclalion that the company has adequate resources io continue in operational existence for the twelve months from the date of Signing ihis report. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Polilical Donations No donations of monies or donated goods were made to any political parties or political campaigns in the year {202314'. £NIL).
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED TRUSTEES'IDIRECTORS, REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2025 FUTURE PLANS Overall, funding continues to be short terni and uncertain and is likely to remain so for some years to come, which makes longer lern) planning diificult. The Trustee Board recognises this, and its commitment to diversify its search for other fijnding includes seeking opportunities to work with other local Citizens Advice and other paTthers to collaborate on projects and share costs where possibl¢. With traditional sources of funding looking less secure, it is our intention to seek a new funding or new partnerships from a broader base, considering our clients, needs. CAB will offer its 'maiTJstrearn' access to our service by the mosl efficient means, which remains the telephone - across all our projects when clients express a channel preference it is for phone services. Alongside the phone service we will continue to offer some in-person support for clients who need it via funding arrangements with partners already working with the clieni group. CAB will seek to target services at those people who are identified as being in greatest need. We will also seek to design services around clients at points where ihey are undergoing life changing evenls, for example a relationship breakdown, a cancer diagnosis, a threat of eviction. Thi5 approach already describes some of our mosl successful projects such as our Macmillan Welfare Benefit Service, Alzheimtr's So¢i¢ty Project and our duty scheme at the county Court supp)rting clients at risk of eviction. As a result of our partnerships with Citiz£ns Advice national and Anawim, Birniingham's Centre for Women, additional short-tenn funding has been secured for our Women's Services Project this year. The challenge remains to idenlify and secure longer tenn funding for this service, that has demonstraled a sustainable impact for the clients it supports. Over the last year we have adapied fl¢xibly to the changing funding landscape, Plvoling or ¢xpanding services as necessary to continue to meet the needs of our ¢lients e.g: enabling continuity of energy advi¢e via rhe CADENT project on cessation of the BEAP project. expanding our Help to Claim service as a trusted provider of advice on Managed Migration lo Universal Credit. We have instigated new projects, embedding and expanding our West Midlands Sickle Cell, Thalassaernia and Rare Inherited Anaemia's Network Adviser Service and extending our reach into foodbanks by securing funding from Trussel lo offer much needed advic¢ to foodbank users in Quinton. We will continue to use our knowledge and networks to identify further development5 for the future. Much of this work will be underpinned by our long-tem) commitment to working with volunteers, The volunteer function is important to continue, as it meets additional client demand, and provides us with a pool from which we can recruit to paid posts within contexl of as workforce Shortages across the advice seclor. In 2024125, five of our TAL advisers were recruited to vacant paid posts. The funding for our training and development officer runs out ihi5 year, as have now received the maximum granls available from ihe Henry Smith Trust. We will seek alternative funding for this post, as ongoing workforce training and development is crucial lo our ability to deliver high quality advice. The posi holder is also responsible for training all volunteers enlering the service. for which we have no other funding. We will continue to utilise iechnology both to promote ourselves to funders and to support more clients where possible. We will renew our website to ensure a more attrdctive web presence for client5, Polential funders, corporate sponsors, and job candidates. We will also work wilh other local Citizens Advice and national Citizens Advice (CA) to harness Al where it can make our resources go further. The priorities laid out below cover a wide range of challenges and opportunities in the next year and beyond: Conlinue to provide the people of Birn)ingham with high quality and accessible services Take steps to maintain our finances on a more sustainable footing by continuing to seek new funding OPPOTtunities, having a more diverse funding base and managing our costs Have the appropriate infrastructure to provide high quality services lo our cuslomers and ensure efficient management of the organisalion Further develop our telephone and digital offer to ensure we reach as many clients as possible within our limited resources Raise the profile of Citizens Advice Birniingham with clients, funders and third parties Use our data to analyse and research issues to campaign for Ihe benefjt of our client5 and the wider community Explore collaborative working with other local Citizens Advice, particularly in the West Midlands region, in other Core Cilies and with other third sector agencies
Ulilise reserves in line with policy. BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED TRUSTEES'tDIRECTORS' REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2025 STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES, RESPONSIBILITIES The trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the fmancial ststements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Company and charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law, the directors have elected to prepare ihe fmancial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). The financial statements are required by law to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the surplus or deficit of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those fmancial statements, the trustees are required to: a) select suilable bccounting policies and apply them consistently b) observe the methods and Principles in the Charities SORP c) make judgements and esiimates that are reasonable and pNdenl d) slale whether hpplicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial slalements ¢) prepare the financial stalement on the going ¢on¢¢rn basis unless it is inappropriate lo presume that the charitable company will continue in business, The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accountinE records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial slalements comply with the requirements of ihe 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. The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial infonnation included on the charitsble company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. STATEMENT AS TO DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION TO AUDITORS The directors who were in office on the date of approval of these financial statements have confimied, as far as they are aware, thal there is no relevant audit inforniation of which ihe audiiors are unaware. Ea¢h of the directors have confinned that they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as directors in order io make themselves aware of any relevant audit inforn)ation and to esiablish that it ha5 been communicated to the auditor. Thi5 report has been Prepared in accordance with the Siatement of Recommended Practice.. Accounting and Reporting by Charities. preparing the accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Charities Act 2011. Auditors The auditors. CKCA Limited. have indicated their willingness to continue in office for the ensuing year. The Trustees, r port was approved by the board, authorised for issue on 30 July 2025. and signed on its behalf by: Liam Brooker Chair 10
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF BIRMINGHAM CITIZEIYS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED Opinion We have audited the financial statements of Binningham Citizens Advice Bureau Service Limited (the 'charitable company,) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise of the statement of financial activilies, balance sheet. cash flow statement and notes to the fmancial ststements, including a summary of significant accow)ting policies. The fmancial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards. including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). In our opinion the financial statements: give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2024, and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended. have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice: and have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. Ba$i$ for opinion We conducted our audit in accordanc¢ with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAS (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards ar¢ fvrther described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance wilh the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial staiements in ihe UK, including the FRC'S Erhical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with ihese requirem¢nts. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained 15 sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. Conclusions relating to going eoneern 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 stalements is appropriate. Based on the work we have perfornied, we have not identified any maierial uncertainties relating io events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significani doubt on the charitsble company's ability to continue as a going concern for period of at least 12 month5 from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of th¢ trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. Other Information The trustees are responsible for the other inforn)ation. The other infonnation comprises the inforniation included in the report of the trustees, other than the financial 5talements and our auditor's report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other infonnation and, except lo the extenl otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do nol express any forn) of assurance conclusion thereon. In connection with our audit of the financial slalement5, our responsibility is to read the other infomation and, in doing so, consider whether the other infomiation is materially inconsistenl with the financial ststements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misslated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to deterniine whether there is a malerial misstatement in the fmancial statements or a material misstatement of the other inforniation. If. based on the work we have perfornied, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other infomiation, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this r¢gard.
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED (CONT.) Opinions on matters prescribed by Ihe Companies Att 2006 In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of th¢ audit: the infom)ation given in the report of the truslees (incorporating the directors, report) for the financial year for which the fmancial stalemenls are prepared is consistent with the financial statements- and the trustees. report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. Matters on which we are required to report by exeeption In the light of our knowledge and underslanding of the charilable company and its environment obtained in th¢ wurse of the audiL we have nol identified material misstatements in the trustees, report. We have nothing io report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, iTJ our opinion.. adequate accounting records have not been kept, or retums adequat¢ for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us. or the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or certain disclosures of tru5tees' remuneration specified by law are not made. or we have not received 811 the inforniation and explanations we require for our audit; or the trustees were not entiiled to prepare the financial statements in accordance wilh the small companies, regime and tske advantage of the small companies, exemplions in preparing the Report of the Trustees and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report. R¢$ponsibilltles of trustees As explained more fully in ihe trustees, responsibilities slalemenl set out on page l o. the trustee5 (who are also the directors of th¢ charilable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the Preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that ihey give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees detemiine is necessary to enable the preparaiion of financial statements thai are free from maierial misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounling unless the trustees either intend to liquidale the charitable company or lo Cease operations, or have no realisti¢ alternaiive but to do $0, Auditor's responslbllities for the audit of the financial ststements Our objectives are to obtain &Sonable assurance aErt)ut whether the financial 5tstements as a whole are free frorn material misslatemenL whether due to fraud or error, and lo issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable &ssurance is a high level of &ssurance but is not a guarnntee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAS (UK) will always defrct a material misstatement when il exists. Misstatsments Can arise from fiaud or error and considered material if, individually or in the agwgate, they could re&80nably be expected io influen¢e the ewnomic decisions of useTS taken on the basis of these financial ststements. The extent to which ourwwedures are wable of detecting iregularitie& including fraud 15 detailed below. Extent to which the audit was considered capable of deteeling irregularities including fraud We identified and assessed the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, in respect of irregularities whether due to fraud or error, or non-compliance with laws and regulations and then designed and perfornied audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence thal is sufficienl and appropriate lo provide a basis for our opinion. In idenlifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of iegUlar)Ile5. including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following.. We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the Company by discussion and enquiry with the directors and manag¢ment team and our general knowledge and experience of the charity sector. 12
BIRNllNGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED INDEPENDENT AUDITOR?S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF BIRMINGHAM C[zElys ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED (CONT.) Audltor's responslbllltles for the audit of the finaoelal s¢atem¢nts (conL) We focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct Material ¢ffect on the fmancial statements or th¢ operations of thc LX)mpany. including the Companies Act 2006. tsxation legislatio data protection. employmenL and heahh and safety legislation. We &8wsed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above tlrough making enquiries of management, Teviewing correspondence with relevaDt regulators. Audfil respoDse ¢0 rislL* Identified We assessed the susceptibility of the Company's fmancial statements to material misstatemen( including how fraud rnight occur. Audit procedures perfoTmed included but wcre not limited to.. Discussions with directors and management as to where they consid¢T¢d there was sU8ceptibility to fraud, their knowled8¢ of actual, suspected and alleged fraud: Confrning our understanding of controls by perforniing i walkthrough t¢st OT observation and enquiry; Perforniing analyti¢aJ proc¢dur¢s to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships; Identifying and testing journal entries, Asreeing funding to und¢rlyin8 s¢rvice agreemenls and ensuring iDcome is recognised in the Correct period; AgreeiDg ¢lassification of fimding between restricted and unr¢5tricted funds and ensuring arnounts are spent for the puyposes intended; Reviewing the allocation of direct aDd support costs and ensufiDg C(nParable to previous periods. Reviewing urAusual or unexpected lrnsa¢tions; and Agreeing the fmancial stat¢rn¢nt disclosures to underlying supporting documentation. Owing to the inherent limitations of an audiL there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misslatements in the fiDancial siatements, even though we have properly planned and perfornied ow audit in accordAn¢e with auditing slandards. The more removed that laws ond regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that w¢ would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing Standards also limit the audit pro¢edures r¢quired to identify non-¢ompliance wlth laws regulations lo enquiry of tb¢ directors and other management aDd the inspection of regulatory and l¢8al corr¢sp(Indence, if any. Materia] misstst¢ments that aris¢ du¢ to fraud can be harder to detect than th0 thal arise from error as they may involve deliberate ¢oncea]ment or llUSIon. A fillther description of our responsibilities is available on the Fknancial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uklaudiiorsresponsibililies. This description fomis part of our auditor's reporL Use ofour report This report is made solely to the charitsble company's members, as a body, in acrdance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Cornpanies A¢t 2006. Our audit work has been underthken so that w¢ might state to the ¢haritsbl¢ ¢ompaDy'S memberg those matlers w¢ 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 nol accept or assume responsibility to anyone other th8n the charitable company and the charilable company's members as a boty, for our audit work, for this repo¢ or for the opinions we have fornied. Mark Nicho115 FCA Senior Ststutory Auditor for and on behalf of CK Audit 30 July 2025 Chartered AccouDtants Stawtory Auditor No. 4 Castle Court 2 C&stlegale Way Dudley West Midlands DYI 4RH 13
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (Including income and expenditure account) For the year ended 31 March 2025 Unreslricted Restricted Funds Funds Total Unrestricted 2025 Funds Restricted Funds Total 2024 Note Income from: Donations and legacies Charitable activities Activities for generating funds Inveslrnents 2,799 825,676 2,799 2,106,266 27,797 40,227 1,986 896,798 1,978 36,399 1,986 1,175,069 2,071,867 25,354 27,332 36,399 1,280,590 27,747 40227 Totsl Ineome 868,752 I J08?37 2,177,089 937,161 1,200,423 2,137,584 Expenditure on: Charilable activities Other expenditure 736,755 3,127 lJ36,523 2,073,278 34,969 3&096 763,824 69,484 1,206,276 31,396 ,970,100 100,880 Totsl expenditure 739,882 1,371,492 2,J IlJ74 833,308 1,237,672 2,070,980 Nel in¢omel(expendlture) before Ir*ns(er J28,870 (63,1 $5) 65,715 103,853 (37,249) 66,604 Transfers between funds 20,21 (40,550) 40,SSO (71,020) 71,020 Nel movement in fund$ 88J20 (22,605) 65,715 32,833 33,771 66,604 Reton¢iliition of fund$: Total funds brought forward at 01 April 2024 J,187,772 76,110 1,263,882 1,154,939 42,339 ,197.278 Total funds earried forward at 31 March 2025 1376,092 53JOS lJ29,597 1,187,772 76,110 1,263,882 The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses in ihe curreni and comparative year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities. The notes on pages 17 to 32 fomi part of these fjnancial statements. 14
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED BALANCE SHEET As at 31 March 2025 2025 2024 Note Fixed assets Tangible assets ]nvestsnents 14 14 225,000 225,000 225,000 225,000 Current assets Debtors Short tern) deposits C&sh at bank and in hand 15 26 26 257,862 850,633 298,468 300,645 939,594 1,406,963 1,240,239 Liabilities Creditors.. amounts falling due within one year 16 (222J66) (121,357> Net eurrent assets ,J84,597 1,118,882 Total 9$5ets less current liabilities 1,409,597 1,343,882 Provisions for liabilities 19 (80,000) (80,CA)O) Total Det assets l J29,597 1,263,882 Fund$ of the charlty Unrestricted funds: General funds Designated Revaluation reserve Other Designated funds 20 J67,448 53,557 ,055,087 147,080 53,557 987,135 J,276,092 ,187,772 Restricted funds 21 53,505 76.110 Total charity funds 22 lJ29J97 1.263,882 The financial statements for registered Company number 02202427, have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies, regime and in accordance with the Provisions of FRS 102 Section l A - small entit . The arwunts wer¢ approv¢d by the Board, authorised for issue on 30 July 2025 and signed on its behalf by, Chair The notes on pages 17 to 32 forni part of these fmancial statements. 15
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED CASH FLOW STATEMENT For the year ended 31 March 2025 Note 2025 2024 Cash flows from operatlng aetivities: Net cash provided by operating activities 25 169,280 (150,319) Cash flows from investing activities: Dividends. interest and rents from investsnents 40,227 36,399 Net cash provided by investing activities 40,227 36,399 Increase l (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period 21)9,507 (113,920) Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period 939,594 ,053,514 Cash and cash equlvalent$ at the end of the reporting period 26 I,J49,101 939,594 The notes on pages 17 to 32 forni part of these fmancial statements. 16
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025 Charitable Company Information Birmingham Citiz£ns Advice Bureau Service Limited 15 a private limited charitable company. limited by guarantee, by not having share capital incorpordted and domiciled in England & Wales. The regislered office is First Floor Wellington House, 31-34 Waterloo stree Birmingham, B2 5TJ and the company registration numlxr is: 02202427. Aeeounting Policies Basls of preparation The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Staternent 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) (effective l January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. Bimiingham Citizens Advice Bureau Service Limited meets the defmition of a public benefit ¢ntity under FRS 102, Assets and labilities are recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise staled in the relevant accounting policy. The finan¢ial statements are prepared in Sterling and rounded to the neares¢ £ l. Fund aeeountlng General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for u$¢ at the discrelion of the trustees in furtherance of the 8eneral objectives of the company and which have noi been designated for oiher purposes. Designated funds are unrestricted funds earnlarked by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the company for particular purposes. The costs of raising and admtnistering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the fanCIal statements. IJ Income All income is included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the funds and the amount can be measured with reasonable certainty. Income is deferred only when the charity has to fulfil conditions before becoming entilled to it or where Ihe donor has specified that the income is to be expended in a future period. Voluntary income is received by way of granls, donations and gifts. including gift aid income where applicable, and is included in full in the statement of financial activities when receivable. Income from government and other grants, where related to perfomiance and specific deliverables, are accounied for when it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred. Donated services and facilities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified and is material. The value of seThices provided by voluntttrs has not been included in these accounts. Interest receivable Interest on funds held on deposit is included when r¢¢eivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the company; this 15 normally upon notification of the inlerest paid or payable by the bank. 17
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED IYOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For tbe year ended 31 March 2025 Aeeounting Policies (continued) Re$ourees expended Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incutted. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates. Expenditure on raising funds comprise the Costs 50¢lated with atlrdcting voluntary income. Charitable expenditure comprises those Costs incuTred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. The primary functional activity of the charity is the giving of free and confidential advice lo ihe public. It includes both costs thai ¢an be allocated directly to this activity and those costs of an indirecl nature necessary to support them. Support costs include all those overhead costs of office and bureau accommodation, utility services, and other services and costs, which are in support of the activity. They also include those costs not associated with the other two headings and includes costs of meeting the constitutional and statutory requiremenls of the charity, the audit fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity. They have been allocated io activity cosl categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, e.g. staff costs by time speni and other Costs by estimated usage. Operating leases The charity classifies the lease of property and Printing and telecommunication5 ¢quipment as operating leases. the title to ihe propety and equipmenl remains with the lessor and the equipment is replaced every six years whilst the economic life of such equipmenl is noallY ten years. Rental charges are charged on a straighi line basis over the term of the lease. Taxatlon The charitsble company, being a registered charity with minimal trading income. has been grdnted exemption from t&K under Section 505 of the Income and Coryx)rdtion Taxes Act 1988. No provision for tlxalion has therefore been rnade in these accounts. Tanglble Ilxed assels and depreelatlon All assets individually costing more than £5,000 are capitalised. Tangible fixed &ssets other ihan freehold land are stated at cost less depreciation and any accumulated impaiment losses. Depreciation is provided ai rates calculated to write off the cost of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows: Equipment Furniture 20% on the straighi line method 200/0 on the straight line method Investment property Investment property is initially recorded at cost, which includes purchase price and any directly attributsble expenditure. Invesbnent property is revalued to its fair value al each reporting date and any changes in fair value are recognised as income or expenditure. Debtors Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlemeni amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discoun15 due. C8sh at bank and in hand Cash ai bank and in hand includes cash and short temi highly liquid investrnents with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account. 18
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025 Aecounting Policies (continued) Creditors and provisions Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligaiion resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are nornially recogThi5ed at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due. 1.13 Pensions and retirement benefits The charity operates a defmed contribution scheme. The amount charged to the slatement of financial activities in respect of pension costs and other post retirement benefits is the contributions payable in the year. Differences between contribution5 payable in the year and contributions actually paid are shown as either accrnals or prepayments in the balance sheet. Finaneial instruments The charity only enters into basic financial instruments transartions that result in the r¢¢ognition of financial assets and liabilities like trade and other accounts receivable and payable, loans from banks and other third parties and loans to related parties. Debt instruments (other than those wholly repayable or receivable within one year), including loans and oth¢r accounts receivable and payable, are initially measured at present value of the future cash flow5 and subsequently al amort15ed cost using the effective interest method. Financial assels and liabilities are offset and the net amount reported in the Balance Sheet when there is an enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability sirnultaneously. Judgements in applying accounting policies and key sources of estimation uncertainty In preparing ihe Financial Staiements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions which affecl reported incom¢. expenses, assets, liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Use of available infomation and applicaiion of judgemenl are inherent in the forniation of estimates, together with expeclations of future events ihat are believed to be reasonable under the Circumstances. Actual resulis in the future could differ from su¢h estimates. Inve tmenl ro The trustees have evaluated the value of the property at the year end. They have based their valuation on a valuation carried out by Charlotte Fullard MRICS on 20 November 2018. The directors constder thai ihere are no significant areas of key judgement or esiimalion uncertainty other than those identified in the accounling policies above. Going concern After making further appropriate enquiTies, tog¢th¢r with our reserves and expenditure control, the truslees have a reasonable ¢xpectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the twelve months from the date of Signing this report. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. 19
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEIYTS For the year ended 31 March 2025 Donation$ and legacies Unreslritted Restricted Funds Funds Total 2025 Totsl 2024 Donations and gifts 2,799 2,799 1,986 Ineome from charltable aetlvltles Crants and eontraet ineome rtteivable for eharilable activity- advice and Inforrnalion Unrestricted Reslricted Funds Funds Total 2025 Total 2024 Cener81 Advice: Birniingham CC - Advic¢ Service Birniingham & Solihull NHS Universal Support- Help to Claim The Henry Smith Charity Cadent Foundation Energy Saving Trust Binningham Women & Childrens NHS Sandwell & West Birniingham NHS Other grants 263,750 263,750 187,702 359,787 48,752 46,173 17,691 47,509 37,938 26,456 344,062 187,252 281,632 49,250 43,117 37,958 42,764 48,441 185,702 359,787 48,752 46,173 17,691 47,51)9 37,938 26,456 263,750 770,008 ,033,758 1,034,476 Debt Advice: Money Advice Servi¢e: Debt Advice Community Law Partnership (CLP) Other grants 519,614 42,312 519,614 42,312 503,017 48,507 561,926 561,926 551,524 Benefii Advice: Birniingharn CC - Mental Health Macmillan Cancer Support Alzheimer's 37,000 365,498 83,369 366,883 143,699 366,883 143,699 510,582 510,582 485,867 Totsl income from chgritgble aetivities 825,676 1,280,590 2,106,266 2,071,867 20
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 Mareh 2025 Activities for generating funds Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds Totsl 2025 Totsl 2024 Other income 50 27,747 27,797 27,332 50 27,747 27,797 27,332 Investments Unrestrieled Reslricted Fund5 Funds Total 2025 Total 2024 Interest received, Investment propety rental income 22J27 17,900 22J27 17,900 21,155 15,244 40,227 40227 36,399 Expendlture on eharitsble ac¢lvl¢les by fund Unrestricted Restricted Funds Fund$ Total 2025 Total 2024 General Advice Debt Advice Benefits Advice 227,221 509,534 816,167 ,043,388 509,534 520,356 954,536 517,413 498,151 520J56 736,755 l J36,523 2,073378 1,970,100 21
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025 Analysis of expendlture on charitable activities Basis of Alloeation General Advice Debt Advice Benefits Advite Total 2025 Total 2024 Direct costs: Salaries and wages Direct stsff and volunteers Direct Office costs Direct Premises costs Direct Other costs Direct 787,533 4,943 74 39&613 489 661 395J17 1,612 I,S81,463 7,044 73S 1,463,435 9.777 1.616 602 792,550 399,763 396,929 ,589,242 1,475,430 Support eosts: Salaries wages Staff/Hrs Staff and volunteers Staff/Hrs Office costs StafflHrs Premises costs Stsff/Hrs Governance costs StafflHr5 Other costs StsfflHTs 83,lOJ 7,553 87,766 65309 6,266 943 36J52 3J84 38J95 28,417 2,788 43$ 40,873 3,762 43,177 32,008 3,122 485 160J26 14,699 169J38 125,634 12,176 1,863 147,107 5,747 185,092 144,470 10,841 .413 250,838 109,771 123,427 484,036 494,670 Total expenditure on ¢h#ritable &etivllleg 1,043,388 $09,534 520a56 2,073,278 1,970,100 Other expendltur¢ Unrestricted R¢stricted Fund$ Funds Totsl 2025 Total 2024 Investmeni property expenditure CEO Forum Other expendifure Office Relocation 3.127 3,127 13,292 21,677 1,433 11,954 19,442 68,051 13,292 2J,677 3,127 34,969 38,096 100,880 2025 2024 Net incoming resources for the year This is stated after charging Operating leases - land and buildings Auditor's remuneration: Audit Depreciation and Impairnienl Charges 98,907 130293 10,J23 8.967 22
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025 10 Truslees During the current or previous year no remuneration or benefits for services as a directorltrustee have been paid or were payable. directly or indirectly, out of the fimds of the charity lo any trustee or to any person known to be connected with them. Reimbursement of travel and incidentsl expenses to the trustees came to £Nil during the year to 31 March 2025 (202124.. £Nil). Expenses relaled to costs of Trustees, meetings including the AGM totalled £1,382 (2023r24: £731). ij Employees 2025 FTE Number 2024 2025 Head Count 2024 Head Count Number Number ofemployees The average number of employees, analysed by function was: Advice Workers and support staff Key management personnel 48 43 52 47 52 48 56 52 2025 2024 Employment eosls Wages and salaries Social security cos15 Pensions 1,537,480 132,990 71J19 1,419,196 126,184 65,161 1,74J,789 1,610,542 No employee received remunerntion amountins io more than £60,000 in the period (2023124.. NIL) The key management personnel of the Charity comprise the Chief Executive Officer, three operational managers and a finance manager. The total ernployee benefits of the key management personnel of the Charity were £225,057 {2023124: £236.175). During ihe urreni or previous year no remuneralion or benefits for services as a directorltrustee have been paid or were payable, direcily or indirectly, out of the funds of the charity to any trustee or any person known to be connected with ihern. 23
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For tbe year ended 31 March 2025 12 Pensions There is a defmed contribution pension scheme for employees. The b&8is for allocating the employer expense between aclivtties is based on the salary cost of staff working on that activity. The charity automatically enrol eligible jobholders inio a qualifying scheme in accordance with pensions legislation. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an independently admintstered fund. The fund is a Group Personal Pension Scheme with Standard Life. The pension cost charge for the year represents contributions payable by the charitable company to the fund and amounted 10 £71,319 (2023124.. £65,161). The Cost of the pension is allocated lo each individual Project within which an employee works. At the year-end £0 was owed to the pension scheme (2023124: £10.553). 13 Volunteers The Trustee Board and Senior Management Team recognise the tremendous contribution made by OUT volunteers without whom the service could not operate. While the majority of our volunteers are based within the telephone advice service, we also have volunteers staffing the volunteer benefi15 team, providing IT and admin support, contributing to research and campaigns work, and working within our energy and Macmillan contracts. We continue to develop our volunteer offer and are working on a strategy for the expansion of the volunteer team to staff our ielephone advice line, and support other cuent and emerging needs of the business. 14 Fixed Assets Investment Properties Equipment Furniture Totsl Cosl At 31 March 2024 225,000 32,550 10,589 268,139 At 31 March 2025 225,000 32.550 10,589 268,139 Depreciation Al l April 2024 32,550 10,589 43,139 At 31 March 2025 32,550 10,589 43,139 Net book value At 31 March 2025 225,000 225,000 At 31 March 2024 225,000 225,000 The property at Tyseley was transferred from freehold property to investment property, after the property stopp¢d being used as an office and became tenanted on 19 December 2018. The rarying value of the freehold property was transf¢ed at this date. Th¢ investment property was revalued by the trustees to its fair value based on a valuation carried out on 20 November 2018 by Charlotte Fullard MRICS of Lambert Smith and Hampton which resulicd in an increase in value of £53,557. The trustees do no¢ believe the fair value lo have changed significanily since that valuation, 24
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025 Is Deblors 2025 2024 Grants receivable Prepayments Accrued income Other debtors 180,706 33,546 43,610 177.482 32,840 78.556 11,767 257,862 300,645 16 Cr¢ditor$: amounts falling due within one year 2025 2024 Tra(k creditors Social security costs Pensions Accruals Deferred in¢om¢ Other Creditors 7,992 5,135 10,553 61,248 44,203 218 62,952 149,539 222J66 121.357 17 Deferred income Deferred income comprises of income re¢eived for the following projects for which perfoman¢e is expe¢ied in the following year. lotalling £149,539 in 2025 (2024.. £44,203): Mental Health NHS Projeet Others Balance as at 01 April 2024 Amount released to income earned Amount deferred in year 3,700 32,072 32,072 68,168 8,431 8,431 77,671 Balanee as at 31 March 2025 3,700 68,168 77,671 25
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025 18 Financlal Instruments 2025 2024 Financial assets Financial assets measured at fair value through profit & loss: - Cash at bank and in hand Financial assets that are debt instnmients measured at amortised cost: - Grants receivable - Accrued income 1,149,101 939,594 180,706 43,6JO 177,482 78,556 lJ73,417 1,195,632 Fingnelal Ilabllltles Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost.. - Trade creditors - Taxation and social security costs Pensions - Accruals Other creditors 7,992 5.135 10,553 61.248 218 62,952 1,883 72,827 77,154 19 Provisions for Ilabllitles 2025 2024 Dilapidations on leased premises 80,000 80,000 The dilapidations ¢osl is payable &8 follows.. Within one year BeeeTh one and two years Beeen two and five years After five years 80,000 80,000 80,01)0 80,000 Movement in provisions 2025 2024 Dilapidations provision brought forward Increasel(decrease) in the year 80,000 80,000 Provision carried forward 80,000 80,000 An increase in the dilapidations provision was made in 2016117 after a dilapidations review was undertaken on 08.05.17 by Pollie Jelfs MRICS of Fusion Building Consultancy Limited. The expendilure is expected to incur during 2025r26. 26
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025 20 Unrestrieted funds Balance al 01 April 2024 Trgn$fer Between Funds Balanee at Ineomlng resources Resourees expended 31 March 2025 General ndS Designated funds= Reserves policy Designated fund5: Redundancies fund Designated funds.. Investment Propety Designated funds: Properties improvements Designated funds= IT improvements Designated funds: Project Contingency 147.080 545,692 150,000 225.000 100,000 20,000 868,752 (739,882) {108,502) 67,952 30,000 167,448 613,644 180,000 225,000 so.000 20.000 20,000 (50,000) 20,000 Total Unrestrieted funds 1,187,772 868.752 (739,882) (40,550) 1276,092 There is a designaled fund of £225,000 for the investment propety at Tyseley (2023124.. £225,000) as this amount is not readily available to spend on the ¢haritabl¢ objects of the Charity. The freehold propety was transferred io investment propety once il was tenaTJted on 19 December 2018. A fvrther £613,644 is designaied as per the reserves policy of 3 months, budgeted operating costs (2023124- £545,692), £180,000 for a redundancies fund for all stsff (2023124.. £150,000), £50,000 sel aside for expected property improvements within the next two years on properties the Charity owns or leases {2023124: £100,000) £20,000 set aside for IT costs for equipment renewals (2023124.. £20,000) and a Project Contingency for loss of contract £20,000. Prloryear comparative Balance at 01 April 2023 Transfer Between Funds Balance at 31 March 2024 Incoming resources Resources expended General funds Designated funds.. Reserves policy Designated funds.. Redundancies fund Designated funds.. Investmeni property Designated funds.. Properties improvements Designated funds.. IT improvements 145,746 514,193 150,000 225,000 100.000 20.000 937,161 (833,308) {102,519) 31,499 147,080 545,692 150,000 225,000 100.000 20,000 Total Unrestricted funds 1,025,486 937,161 {833,308) (71,020) ,187,772 There is a designated fund of £225,000 for the investrnent property at Tyseley (2022123: £225,000) as ihis amount is not readily available to spend on the charitable objects of the Charity. The freehold property was transferred to investment property once it was tenant¢d on 19 December 2018. A further £545,692 is designat¢d as per the reserves policy of 3 months, budgeted operating costs (2022123: £514,193), £150,000 for a redundancies fund for all stsff (2022123-. £150,000). £ 100.000 set aside for expected propety improvements within the next two years on properties the Charity owns or leases (2022123: £100,000) and £20,000 set aside for IT costs for equipment renewals (2022123.. £20,000). 27
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For tbe year ended 31 March 2025 21 Restricted funds The income funds of the charity include restricted funds Comprising the following unexpended balances of ants received for specific purposes.. Balance at 01 April 2024 Transfer Between Funds Balanee at 31 Mareh 2025 Incoming resources Resourees expended Binningham CC - Menlal Health Binningham & Solihull NHS Macmillan Cancer Support The Henry Smith Charity Universal Support- Help io Claim Alzheimer's CEO Forum Cadeni Foundation Energy Saving Trust her 34,949 233,711 366,883 48,752 359,787 143,699 6,630 46,173 17,691 85,011 (240.309) (383,835) (53.323) (375.390) (136,521) {13,292) (44,784) {14,209) (109,828) 359 16,952 28,710 6,733 2,162 15,603 11,187 6,662 18J6S l J89 7,965 8,615 (11,447) 19,082 2,880 Total 76,110 1,308,337 (1,371,492) 40,550 53.505 •Funds transferred into unrestricted funds from restricted funds represent a paying back of funds transferred into these restricted fund projects from prior years where fundin8 was less than expenditure. Prioryeqr ¢omparallve Balonce al 01 April 2023 Transfer Between Fund$ BalaDee at 31 Mareh 2024 Incoming resources Resources expended Birnyingham CC - Mental Health Birniingham & Solihull NHS Macmillan Cancer Support The Henry Smith Charity Universal Support- Help to Claim Alzheimer's CEO Forurn Cadent Foundation Energy Saving Trust Other 10,090 10,943 37,000 230,016 365,498 49,250 281,632 83,369 9,603 43,117 37.958 62.980 (31,856) (211,829) (394,113) (49,104) (330,008) (72,182) (11,954) (44,478) (34,091) (58,056) (15,234) 5,819 28,615 34,949 6,587 6,733 48,376 11,187 6,662 9,013 (3,136) 4,098 4,745 4,497 7,965 8,615 (1,053) Total 42,339 1200,423 (1.237.671) 71,020 76,110 *Funds transferred into unrestricted funds from restricted ndS represent a paying back of funds transferred into these restricted fund project5 from prior years where funding was less than expenditure. 28
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 Mareh 2025 Restrieled Project Des¢riplion$ Birmlnghgm & Solihull NHS Our Wellbeing service provides generalist advice to the patients of 14 GP surgeries within the Birniingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Referrals to the services are via members of the Primary Health Care Team and clients via self- referral. The aim of the service is for patients to be supported and advised on their non-clinical issues that may be impacting their healih and wellbeing, thus freeing practice staff time to focus on clinical issues. This contract has been extended until the end of March 2025. Our staff project delivers a generalist advice service to the staff of Birniingham & Solihull Integrated Care System (ICS) primarily via a dedicated telephone hotline with follow up appointrnents either in person, or digitally, subject to staff preference andlor when the complexity of the issues requires. Our project based at Bimiingham Women's and Children's h05Pital, involves an onsite presence to deliver a full.time servirx to patients and families. Each contract provides funding for one FfE casework¢r. West Midlands Sickle Cell and Thala$s¢mla Nelwork Our West Midlands wide Sickle Cell, Thalassemia and Rare Inherited Anaemia's Network Adviser Service delivers telephone based advice on a range of social welfare issues for those with Sickle Cell, Thalassemia or rar¢ anacmias, thcir famili¢s and Carers living in the West Midlands. The ¢ontract runs for 12 months to October 2025. Quinton Food Bank Our LEAS team provides face to face generalisl advice io users of Quinion Food Bank via our partnership with TNssell. The contract runs for 12 months until November 2025. M8emSllan Caneer Support This projecl offers face lo face appointments at numerous outreach sessions each week. These were delivered oul of six hospitals, 2 hospices. 2 community buildings and a CA office across Birniingham and Solihull. Clients are also given the option of a telephone appoinlment if they are unable to travel for a face to face appointmenl, The projeci provides welfare benefits advice to people affecl¢d by can¢¢r. Refeal$ into the service are via clinical nurse teams, consultants, and other health and social care professionals. Clients can also self-refer through our dedicated Macmillan helpline. The funding from Macmillan Cancer Support has been ext¢nded to 31 st December 2025 Universal Support Citizens Advice nationally has contracted with Citizens Advice Bimingham to assist people to make a new clairn for Universal Credit, from assessment of eligibility for the benefit up io receipt of their first payment. The service includes staffing the national Help to Claim telephone helpline, via which clients are assessed for eligibility for Universal Credit, and for the level of support they require to make the claim. and providing pra¢ii¢al support where required by clients to submit the claim. This service is funded until December 2025. The Henry Smith Charlty We receive fijnding from The Henry Smith Charity to support a ieam of six volunteers to deliver specialist welfare benefits and financial capability advice to Birniingharn residenis via t¢lephonelvideo and in-p¢rson appointments. The contract began in July 2022 and is nded to Oct 2025. Cadent Foundation We receive funding from national Citizens Advice from the Cadent Foundation for one FTE caseworker to deliver specialist energy advice and income m&ximisalion support to clients experiencing fuel poverty, The Caseworker looks at individuals, circumstances holistically and ensures they can access the range of services they need to tackle fuel poverty and financial hardship for the long tenn. The project is funded until 31 March 2027. 29
Alzheimer's Society This project provides welfare benefils advice to people affected by dementia. Appointments are telephone based and referrals are rnade by Alzheimer s Society staff. Clients can be T¢ferr¢d from anywhere in England, Scotland and Wales. The project is funded through to September 2025. Other restricted funds These ndS relate to Client grants received by the charity from other charities and trusts and held on trust for clients until they can be passed onto them. 22 Analysls of net assets b¢tw¢¢n funds Unrestrieted funds Restrieted funds Tolol Fund balances at 31 March 2025 are represented by: Investsnent Property Net current assets Provisions 225,000 1,131,092 (80,000) 225,000 1,184,597 (80,000) 53,505 1,276,092 $3,505 lJ29,597 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total Fund balances at 31 March 2024 are represented by.. Investment property Net current assets Provisions 225,000 1,042,772 (80,000) 225,000 1,118,882 (80,000) 76,110 1,187,772 76,110 1,263,882 23 Commilments under operallng leases As lessee: As al 31 March 2025, the company had commitments under non-rancellable operating leases as follows.. Land and buildings 2025 Other 2025 2024 2024 Within one year Between one and two years 6J,944 J 7,620 51,000 61,200 30
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 Mareb 2025 24 Related parties Citizens Advice Birniingham (CAB) is a member of The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (Citizens Advice). the national charity (Charity Number: 279057) which sets out a framework for stsndards of advice and case manageTnent and supports local offices with an infomation system, training and other services. During the 2024125 financial year payments were made to Citizens Advice to the value of £11,503 (2023124.. £11,438) in respect of subscriptions, accountancy support, training services. stationery and sundries. Receipts from Citizens Advice for contracts and grant nding totalled £984.529 {2023124: £887,954). Councillor Gareth Moore 15 an elected member with Binningham City Council. During the 2024n5 finaTJcial year payments were made to Binningham City Council of £10,551 (2023ll4.. £47,468) in respect of prernises rentals, council t&xes and business rates. Receipts from Birn)ingham City Council for contracts and grant funding in the year totalled £274,063 (2023124: £370,750). 25 Reconcililtion of eash flow$ from operAtlng activlties 2025 2024 Net income / (expenditure) for the reporting period Add: Deprecialion charge Less: Dividends, interest and rents from investments (Jncrease) I decrease in debtors Incr¢ase / (decrease) in creditors and provisions 65,715 66,604 (40,227) 42,783 IOJ,009 (36,399) 8,438 (188,962) Net cash provlded by operating actlvltles 169,280 (150,319) 26 Analy$ls of cash and cash equlvalents 2025 2024 Cash at bank and in hand Short iemi deposits 298,468 8SO,633 939,594 Total cish Ind short term dep05i¢s 1,149,101 939,594 26A Analysi5 of changes In net debt At start of year C•shflows in year At end of year Cash and short terni deposits 939,594 209,507 1,149,lOJ 939,594 209,507 1,149,lOJ 31
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SERVICE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 Marcb 2025 27 Members liability The Charity (which has the working name of 'Citizens Advice Birniingham (CAB),) was fornied as a company limited by guarantee on 3 December 1987 (Company Number: 02202427). The full name of the charity is Birniingham Citizens Advice Bureau Service Limited and was registered with the Charity Commission on 15 December 1987 (Charity Number: 519639). None of the trustees have any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to ontribute £1 in the event of a winding up. 32