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2023-03-31-accounts

COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: NI071966 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 100008

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee Financial Statements

31 March 2023

Finegan Gibson Ltd Chartered accountants & statutory auditor Causeway Tower 9 James Street South Belfast BT2 8DN

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Financial Statements

Year ended 31 March 2023

Page
Trustees' annual report (incorporating the director's report) 1
Independent auditor's report to the members 8
Statement of financial activities (including income and
expenditure account) 14
Statement of financial position 15
Statement of cash flows 16
Notes to the financial statements 17
The following pages do not form part of the financial statements
Detailed statement of financial activities 29
Notes to the detailed statement of financial activities 30

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report)

Year ended 31 March 2023

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Reference and administrative details

Registered charity name Advice NI
Charity registration number 100008
Company registration number NI071966
Principal office and registered First Floor, Block 3
office Forestview
Purdy's Lane
Newtownbreda
Belfast
BT8 4AR
Northern Ireland
The trustees
B Kearns
M Loughran
G Morgan
B Parker (Resigned 25 November 2022)
(Served from 3 January 2023 to
C Feely 28 July 2023)
M Taulbutt (Chairperson)
B McMullan
M Roddy (Resigned 4 November 2022)
G O'Neill
D McGregor (Appointed 12 June 2023)
J Farrell
Company secretary Kathleen Mulligan
Auditor Finegan Gibson Ltd
Chartered accountants & statutory auditor
Causeway Tower
9 James Street South
Belfast
BT2 8DN
Bankers Ulster Bank
365-369 Ormeau Road
Belfast
BT7 3GP

1

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

Structure, governance and management

The organisation is a charitable organisation recognised by HM Revenue & Customs and registered with the Charities Commission for Northern Ireland. As of April 2009 the organisation has been registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association.

Appointment of trustees

Trustees are appointed by the members of Advice NI at its Annual General Meeting. The process for appointing Trustees is outlined in the governing documents.

The Directors of the organisation are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the governing document are known as members of the Management Committee. The members of the Management Committee are elected and one third (or the number nearest one third) must retire at each AGM, those longest in office retiring first and the choice between any equal length of service (i.e. appointed or last re-appointed on the same day) being made by drawing lots. All members of the Management Committee give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity.

Trustee induction and training

An annual induction is held for all new members of the Board and training in good governance is also provided to the whole board each year.

Arrangements for setting pay and remuneration of key management personnel

Pay for senior staff is set by the board of trustees and are broadly in line with NJC local government scales for the equivalent job role.

Organisation structure and how charity makes decisions

The management board meets at least 4 times per annum to set the strategy for the organisation and to receive reports (including financial report) from the Chief Executive. There are also 2 sub-committees - Staffing and Resources and Policy and Planning which also meet a minimum of 4 times per annum and are elected each year from within the ranks of the Board.

Relationships with related parties

Advice NI has a number of external relationships and partnership across a range of projects and services. During this year the organisation admitted former Citizen Advice Bureau's into its membership which had resulted in considerable organisational growth. Further information on projects and partnership are contained within our Annual Impact Report.

Risk management

Advice NI has a risk management strategy in place which is reviewed and updated each quarter by the Staff and Resources subcommittee and then presented and discussed at each board meeting. A risk register has been established. Where appropriate, systems or procedures have been established to mitigate the risks the charity faces.

2

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

Objectives and activities

The Charity's objects as set out in the governing documents are:

The Charity's objects are to promote the following purposes for the public benefit:

(i) the advancement of citizenship or community development by the provision of training, advice, administrative support and information to charities in direct pursuit of their objects and to the general public; and

(ii) such other exclusively charitable purpose according to the law of Northern Ireland as the Trustees may from time to time decide

Our key strategic themes for 2020/24 are:

(i) Supporting the development of membership capacity to respond to client need

(ii) Driving member benefit throughout the work of Advice NI

(iii) Enabling effective engagement and communication with and among the membership and public

To ensure a sustainable and effective organisation. We review our strategic aims and objectives every three years and our operational activities each year through the use of the Balanced Scorecard. Our Strategic plan sets out Advice NI's key objectives, vision, mission and values for 2020/24. The operational review looks at what we achieved and the outcomes of our work in the previous 12 months. The review helps us to ensure that our targets, aims and objectives remain focused and in line with our strategic plan.

The focus of our work

The main focus of our work for the year continued to be the development of an independent advice sector that provides the best possible advice to those who need it most. We work to support our members in the areas of training, research, policy, IT and membership services.

How our activities deliver public benefit

Our main activities and who we try to help are described below. All our charitable activities focus on the development of an effective independent advice sector that in turn provides advice, information and advocacy on behalf of the public.

Who used and benefited from our services?

Advice NIs membership remained steady with 70. Members provide information, advice and representation services to those in greatest need. Over 60% of our enquiries are social security benefit related. Other significant areas on which advice is given include housing, debt and employment. Our members contributed to our social policy and lobbying activities on a range of social welfare matters and we also provided IT and human and financial resources support.

Details on all Advice NI's work can be accessed through our website www.adviceni.net

3

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

Achievements and performance

Advice NI achievements and performance is captured through our quarterly progress reports and ultimately through our Annual Report. This has been another exceptionally busy and challenging year for the organisation and its staff. However despite some restrictions still placed upon us as a result of Covid-19 we have managed to meet and in some cases exceed our targets. We were able to do this whilst at the same time continuing to change how we offer and deliver our services

Despite the many challenges Advice NI staff continue to step up to the mark to ensure as much business as usual was delivered. Advice NI is gradually and cautiously bringing staff back to its offices following individual risk assessment and clear policy in this area.

Learning and Development

Advice NI provides a range of learning and development opportunities for our members and others in the wider community and voluntary sector. We are a City & Guilds and Open College Network Northern Ireland (OCNNI) Assessment Centre delivering regulated qualifications and endorsed courses. We also deliver the Wiseradviser Money & Debt Advice programme for Money and Debt Advisers across Northern Ireland. This year a major focus of our training activity has been in developing new live-online and anytime online courses in a range of subject areas to ensure that advisors have the latest information, knowledge and skills to provide quality advice.

Training Stats for April 2022 to March 2023:

  1. No. of new courses developed/coordinated = 42

  2. No. of training sessions delivered = 425 (including 51 online and 17 distance/ ongoing programmes)

  3. No. of training participants = 3,123

  4. Satisfaction rate = 97%

Training projects delivered during this period include the development of OCN NI Endorsed courses including Introduction to Social Security Advice, Introduction to Disability Benefits, and Digital Champions training, as well as a range of project work and bespoke training delivery in the areas of advice, money management, immigration and supporting vulnerable clients.

Social Policy

Our members contributed to our social policy and lobbying activities on a range of social welfare matters during this year.

Some of the key policy achievements during the year included:

Evidence based inputs and consultations (x 11) Social Policy Publications (x 16) Evidence based, solution research and policy propositions (x 8) Social Policy campaigns (x 7) Promotion and awareness events (x 54) Responses to complex case queries from advisers (x 375) External organisations participating in our policy work (x 90) NI-relevant information resources published for use by advisers (x 1,305) Social media policy impressions (x 344.9k) Extensive media engagement

4

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

Further information: www.adviceni.net/policy

Helplines and Specialist Support

We dealt with 3845 Tax and Benefits enquiries through our HMRC funded helpline.

Our Historical Institutional Abuse Advice Service dealt with 492 enquiries during the year which has grown considerably from the previous year.

Our Welfare Reform Support Project dealt with 16645 enquiries during the year.

Our Business Debt Service advised 118 business owners and assisted them to deal with £7.3m debt.

Our Personal Debt Service dealt with 3,601 clients with nearly £32.9m in debt during the year and our Specialist Debt Support Service dealt with 257 enquiries. We continued for part of the year with an enhanced media campaign.

We are extremely proud to have successfully supported thousands to secure their immigration status in the UK through EU Settlement Scheme project funded by the Home Office. Advice NI is OISC Level 3 Immigration, Asylum and Protection registered, OISC Ref N2O1900041

The Quality team carried out:

Digital and Communications

Across our social media channels, we have 23,173 followers. We email AdviceMatters, quarterly, to 1,009 subscribers and 366 advice staff are in contact with each other via AdviceLink. Visitors to our websites have increased to 395,822 page views. We maintained a strong media presence across print, TV and radio interviews, and online ads for our services.

We resolved 518+ queries for tech support from Advice NI teams and our members across the independent advice network. We have maintained secure and robust IT systems. Following requests from our members, we further updated the Universal Credit category in Advice Pro to ensure ease and consistency of recording and more granular statistical reporting.

We won an Aontas Star Award (Social Inclusion category) for our work training up volunteer Digital Champions to deliver digital skills training in local communities

5

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

Financial review

Our accounts for the year show a deficit of £178,356, which has decreased the total fund balance carried forward to £838,478. The Statement of Financial Activities for the year is detailed on page 14. The Board has examined the charity's requirements for reserves in light of the main risks of the organisation. It has established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets held by the charity should be between 3 and 6 months of expenditure. Running costs for 2022/23 (less grant repayments) was £3,335,561 and therefore the target is £833,890 to £1,667,780 in general funds. The management committee have a strategy in place to build reserves through planned operating surpluses

Reserves policy and going concern

Advice NI does not anticipate any risks to its financial stability although this is under constantly under review by the senior management team, staffing and resources committee and the Board. Our reserves are currently healthy.

Plans for future periods

Key aims, objectives and activities for the organisation are contained within our new strategic plan 2020/24 which is available on our website www.adviceni.net.

Trustees' responsibilities statement

The trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, are responsible for preparing the trustees' 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 charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and 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 charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

6

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

Auditor

Each of the persons who is a trustee at the date of approval of this report confirms that:

Small company provisions

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.

The trustees' annual report was approved on 17 November 2023 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:

M Taulbutt (Chairperson) Trustee

7

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Advice NI

Year ended 31 March 2023

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Advice NI (the 'charity') for the year ended 31 March 2023 which comprise the statement of financial activities (including income and expenditure account), statement of financial position, statement of cash flows and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including 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 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 the provisions available for small entities, in the circumstances set out below, 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.

In common with many other organisations of our size and nature we use our auditors to prepare and submit returns to the tax authorities and assist with the preparation of the financial statements.

Conclusions relating to going concern

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

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 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.

8

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Advice NI (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. 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.

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

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

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the 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:

9

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Advice NI (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

Responsibilities of trustees

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

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

10

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Advice NI (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

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:

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we considered the following:

 the nature of the industry and sector, control environment and business performance including the design of the remuneration policies, key drivers for directors' remuneration, bonus levels and performance targets;

 results of our enquiries of management about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities;

 the matters discussed among the audit engagement team including significant component audit teams and relevant internal specialists, including tax and valuations specialists regarding how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud.

As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud. In common with all audits under ISAs (UK), we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override.

We also obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks in operation, focusing on provisions of those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The key laws and regulations we considered in this context included ongoing compliance with the UK Companies Act and tax legislation.

In addition, we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compliance with which may be fundamental for their ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty.

11

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Advice NI (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK), we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:

12

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Advice NI (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

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 charity and the charity's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Paul Dolan FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)

For and on behalf of Finegan Gibson Ltd Chartered accountants & statutory auditor Causeway Tower 9 James Street South Belfast BT2 8DN

17 November 2023

13

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Statement of Financial Activities (including income and expenditure account)

Year ended 31 March 2023

2023 2022
Unrestricted Restricted
funds funds Total funds Total funds
Note £ £ £ £
Income and endowments
Charitable activities 5 79,417 3,081,683 3,161,100 3,323,334
Other trading activities 6 68,197 – 68,197 39,811
Investment income 7 5,213 – 5,213 –
Other income 8 28,052 – 28,052 26,140
───────── ──────────── ──────────── ────────────
Total income 180,879 3,081,683 3,262,562 3,389,285
═════════ ════════════ ════════════ ════════════
Expenditure
Expenditure on charitable activities 9 303,956 3,136,962 3,440,918 3,759,976
───────── ──────────── ──────────── ────────────
Total expenditure 303,956 3,136,962 3,440,918 3,759,976
═════════ ════════════ ════════════ ════════════
───────── ──────────── ──────────── ────────────
Net expenditure (123,077) (55,279) (178,356) (370,691)
═════════ ════════════ ════════════ ════════════
Transfers between funds (15,013) 15,013 – –
───────── ──────────── ──────────── ────────────
Net movement in funds (138,090) (40,266) (178,356) (370,691)
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 1,016,834 – 1,016,834 1,387,525
──────────── ──────────── ──────────── ────────────
Total funds carried forward 878,744 (40,266) 838,478 1,016,834
════════════ ════════════ ════════════ ════════════

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 17 to 27 form part of these financial statements.

14

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Statement of Financial Position

31 March 2023

2023 2022
Note £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets 14 105,844 151,645
Current assets
Debtors 15 237,311 541,863
Cash at bank and in hand 805,114 450,552
──────────── ─────────
1,042,425 992,415
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 16 309,791 127,226
──────────── ─────────
Net current assets 732,634 865,189
───────── ────────────
Total assets less current liabilities 838,478 1,016,834
───────── ────────────
Net assets 838,478 1,016,834
═════════ ════════════
Funds of the charity
Restricted funds (40,266) –
Unrestricted funds 878,744 1,016,834
───────── ────────────
Total charity funds 18 838,478
═════════		 1,016,834
════════════

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

These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on 17 November 2023, and are signed on behalf of the board by:

M Taulbutt (Chairperson) Trustee

The notes on pages 17 to 27 form part of these financial statements.

15

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Statement of Cash Flows

Year ended 31 March 2023

2023 2022
£ £
Cash flows from operating activities
Net expenditure (178,356) (370,691)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 55,523 60,759
Other interest receivable and similar income (5,213) –
Interest payable and similar charges 981 1,035
Accrued expenses 264 550
Changes in:
Trade and other debtors 304,552 388,208
Trade and other creditors 182,301 (238,793)
───────── ─────────
Cash generated from operations 360,052 (158,932)
Interest paid (981) (1,035)
Interest received 5,213 –
───────── ─────────
Net cash from/(used in) operating activities 364,284 (159,967)
═════════ ═════════
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of tangible assets (9,722) (6,344)
───────── ─────────
Net cash used in investing activities (9,722) (6,344)
═════════ ═════════
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 354,562 (166,311)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 450,552 616,863
───────── ─────────
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 805,114 450,552
═════════ ═════════

The notes on pages 17 to 27 form part of these financial statements.

16

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year ended 31 March 2023

1. General information

The charity is a public benefit entity and a private company limited by guarantee, registered in Northern Ireland and a registered charity in Northern Ireland. The address of the registered office is First Floor, Block 3, Forestview, Purdy's Lane, Newtownbreda, Belfast, BT8 4AR, Northern Ireland.

2. Statement of compliance

These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the 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)) and the Companies Act 2006.

3. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.

Going concern

There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.

Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.

17

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity; it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:

All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.

Tangible assets

Tangible assets are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Any tangible assets carried at revalued amounts are recorded at the fair value at the date of revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

18

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Tangible assets (continued)

An increase in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of a revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, unless it reverses a charge for impairment that has previously been recognised as expenditure within the statement of financial activities. A decrease in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, except to which it offsets any previous revaluation gain, in which case the loss is shown within other recognised gains and losses on the statement of financial activities.

Depreciation

Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:

Short leasehold property - 10% straight line
Fixtures and fittings - 25% straight line
Motor vehicles - 25% straight line
Equipment - 33% straight line

Impairment of fixed assets

A review for indicators of impairment is carried out at each reporting date, with the recoverable amount being estimated where such indicators exist. Where the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount, the asset is impaired accordingly. Prior impairments are also reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date.

For the purposes of impairment testing, when it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, an estimate is made of the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. The cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable group of assets that includes the asset and generates cash inflows that largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets.

For impairment testing of goodwill, the goodwill acquired in a business combination is, from the acquisition date, allocated to each of the cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination, irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the charity are assigned to those units.

Defined contribution plans

Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as an expense in the period in which the related service is provided. Prepaid contributions are recognised as an asset to the extent that the prepayment will lead to a reduction in future payments or a cash refund.

When contributions are not expected to be settled wholly within 12 months of the end of the reporting date in which the employees render the related service, the liability is measured on a discounted present value basis. The unwinding of the discount is recognised as an expense in the period in which it arises.

19

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

4. Limited by guarantee

Advice NI is a company limited by guarantee and accordingly does not have a share capital.

Every member of the company undertakes to contribute such amount as may be required not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charitable company in the event of its being would up while he or she is a member, of within one year after he or she ceases to be a member.

5. Charitable activities

Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2023
£ £ £
Department for Communities 3,000 2,597,049 2,600,049
Money Advice Trust – – –
Insolvency Service 1,290 – 1,290
Portal Income 9,760 – 9,760
CFNI Carers Fund – 29,653 29,653
Legal Education – 29,000 29,000
Ofcom – 37,892 37,892
Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough
Council 18,024 – 18,024
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council – 6,850 6,850
Feeding Britain 10,000 – 10,000
Power NI 5,700 – 5,700
Consumer Council NI 4,999 – 4,999
The Access to Justice 12,196 – 12,196
EUSS – 160,090 160,090
Good Things Foundation – – –
Trussell Trust – 80,532 80,532
DOE Debt Action – – –
Begin Together – 4,850 4,850
Forward South Belfast Roma Hub 14,448 – 14,448
UUSU Here For You – – –
NI Strategic Migration P/ship – 1,600 1,600
Ulster Community Covid – – –
St Giles Trust – – –
HMRC – 99,583 99,583
Victim and Survivors Service – 34,584 34,584
──────── ──────────── ────────────
79,417 3,081,683 3,161,100
════════ ════════════ ════════════

20

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

5. Charitable activities (continued)

Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2022
£ £ £
Department for Communities – 2,684,988 2,684,988
Money Advice Trust – 177 177
Insolvency Service – – –
Portal Income – – –
CFNI Carers Fund – – –
Legal Education – – –
Ofcom – – –
Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough
Council – – –
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council – – –
Feeding Britain – – –
Power NI – – –
Consumer Council NI – – –
The Access to Justice – – –
EUSS – 235,802 235,802
Good Things Foundation – 2,289 2,289
Trussell Trust – 80,532 80,532
DOE Debt Action 1,295 – 1,295
Begin Together – 16,729 16,729
Forward South Belfast Roma Hub – 10,836 10,836
UUSU Here For You – 74,441 74,441
NI Strategic Migration P/ship – 2,400 2,400
Ulster Community Covid 50,000 – 50,000
St Giles Trust – 24,600 24,600
HMRC – 98,000 98,000
Victim and Survivors Service – 41,245 41,245
──────── ──────────── ────────────
51,295 3,272,039 3,323,334
════════ ════════════ ════════════
Other trading activities
Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2023 Funds 2022
£ £ £ £
Membership fees and insurance 16,551 16,551 14,444 14,444
Training income 51,386 51,386 25,367 25,367
Room hire 260 260 – –
──────── ──────── ──────── ────────
68,197 68,197 39,811 39,811
════════ ════════ ════════ ════════

6. Other trading activities

7. Investment income

Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2023 Funds 2022
£ £ £ £
Bank interest receivable 5,213 5,213 – –
═══════ ═══════ ════ ════

21

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

8. Other income

Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2023 Funds 2022
£ £ £ £
Other income 28,052 28,052 26,140 26,140
════════ ════════ ════════ ════════

9. Expenditure on charitable activities by activity type

Activities
undertaken Total funds Total fund
directly Support costs 2023 2022
£ £ £ £
Advice service provider 3,343,193
44,334		 3,387,527 3,701,995
Governance costs –
53,391		 53,391 57,981
────────────
────────		 ──────────── ────────────
3,343,193
97,725		 3,440,918 3,759,976
════════════
════════		 ════════════ ════════════

10. Analysis of support costs

Analysis of
support costs Total 2023 Total 2022
£ £ £
Staff costs 44,334 44,334 51,350
Governance costs 53,391 53,391 57,981
──────── ──────── ─────────
97,725 97,725 109,331
════════ ════════ ═════════

11. Net expenditure

Net expenditure is stated after charging/(crediting):

Net expenditure is stated after charging/(crediting):
2023 2022
£ £
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 55,523 60,759
Fees payable for the audit of the financial statements 7,944
════════		 7,990
════════

12. Staff costs

The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as follows:

2023 2022
£ £
Wages and salaries 1,707,040 1,838,460
Social security costs 163,979 174,154
Employer contributions to pension plans 192,522 190,895
Other employee benefits 5,280 –
──────────── ────────────
2,068,821 2,203,509
════════════ ════════════

The average head count of employees during the year was 66 (2022: 68).

22

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

12. Staff costs (continued)

The number of employees whose remuneration for the year fell within the following bands, were:

2023 2022
No. No.
£60,000 to £69,999 1 –
£70,000 to £79,999 – 1
──── ────
1 1
════ ════

Key Management Personnel

Key management personnel include all persons that have authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the charity. The total compensation paid to key management personnel for services provided to the charity was £438,099 (2022:£449,211).

13. Trustee remuneration and expenses

The charity trustees were not paid or received any other benefits from employment with the Charity in the year (2021: Nil). They were not reimbursed any travel expenses during the year (2021: Nil).

No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplies to the charity (2021: Nil).

14. Tangible fixed assets

Short
leasehold
Fixtures and		 Motor
property
fittings		 vehicles Equipment Total
£ £ £ £ £
Cost
At 1 April 2022 144,498
132,634		 31,464 240,808 549,404
Additions –
–		 – 9,722 9,722
─────────
─────────		 ──────── ───────── ─────────
At 31 March 2023 144,498
132,634		 31,464 250,530 559,126
═════════
═════════		 ════════ ═════════ ═════════
Depreciation
At 1 April 2022 43,350
115,244		 15,732 223,433 397,759
Charge for the year 14,450
15,036		 7,866 18,171 55,523
─────────
─────────		 ──────── ───────── ─────────
At 31 March 2023 57,800
130,280		 23,598 241,604 453,282
═════════
═════════		 ════════ ═════════ ═════════
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2023 86,698
2,354		 7,866 8,926 105,844
═════════
═════════		 ════════ ═════════ ═════════
At 31 March 2022 101,148
17,390		 15,732 17,375 151,645
═════════
═════════		 ════════ ═════════ ═════════

23

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

15. Debtors

2023 2022
£ £
Trade debtors 187,283 500,121
Prepayments and accrued income 50,028 41,742
───────── ─────────
237,311 541,863
═════════ ═════════

16. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

2023 2022
£ £
Trade creditors 91,330 28,162
Accruals and deferred income 15,839 7,799
Social security and other taxes 68,538 97,895
Other creditors 134,084 (6,630)
───────── ─────────
309,791 127,226
═════════ ═════════

17. Pensions and other post retirement benefits

Defined contribution plans

The amount recognised in income or expenditure as an expense in relation to defined contribution plans was £192,522 (2022: £190,895).

18. Analysis of charitable funds

Unrestricted funds

Unrestricted funds
At At 31
1 April 2022 Income Expenditure Transfers March 2023
£ £ £ £ £
General funds 888,962 180,879 (303,956) (15,013) 750,872
Capital fund 127,872 – – – 127,872
──────────── ───────── ───────── ──────── ─────────
1,016,834 180,879 (303,956) (15,013) 878,744
════════════ ═════════ ═════════ ════════ ═════════
At At 31
1 April 2021 Income Expenditure Transfers March 2022
£ £ £ £ £
General funds 1,216,069 117,246 (456,402) 12,049 888,962
Capital fund 127,872 – – – 127,872
──────────── ───────── ───────── ──────── ────────────
1,343,941 117,246 (456,402) 12,049 1,016,834
════════════ ═════════ ═════════ ════════ ════════════

24

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

18. Analysis of charitable funds (continued)

Restricted funds

Restricted funds
At At 31
1 April 2022 Income Expenditure Transfers March 2023
£ £ £ £ £
Department for
Communities – 2,597,049 (2,692,684) (9,722) (105,357)
Money Advice Trust – – – – –
Money Advice Service – – – – –
CAB UK – – – – –
EUSS – 160,090 (178,965) 18,875 –
Good Things Foundation – – – – –
Trussell Trust – 80,532 (80,532) – –
Forward South Belfast
Roma Hub – – – – –
UUSU Here for You – – – – –
NI Strategic Migration
Partnership – 1,600 (1,600) – –
St Giles Trust – – – – –
HMRC – 99,583 (105,443) 5,860 –
Victim and Survivors
Service – 34,584 (34,584) – –
Begin Together – 4,850 (4,850) – –
Community Foundation
NI – 29,653 (24,933) – 4,720
Legal Education
Foundation – 29,000 (6,023) – 22,977
Lisburn & Castlereagh
City Council – 6,850 (6,850) – –
Ofcom – 37,892 (498) – 37,394
──── ──────────── ──────────── ──────── ────────
– 3,081,683 (3,136,962) 15,013 (40,266)
════ ════════════ ════════════ ════════ ════════
At At 31
1 April 2021 Income Expenditure Transfers March 2022
£ £ £ £ £
Department for
Communities – 2,684,988 (2,672,939) (12,049) –
Money Advice Trust – 177 (177) – –
Money Advice Service 9,750 – (9,750) – –
CAB UK 33,834 – (33,834) – –
EUSS – 235,802 (235,802) – –

25

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

18. Analysis of charitable funds (continued)

Good Things Foundation – 2,289 (2,289) – –
Trussell Trust – 80,532 (80,532) – –
Forward South Belfast
Roma Hub – 10,836 (10,836) – –
UUSU Here for You – 74,441 (74,441) – –
NI Strategic Migration
Partnership – 2,400 (2,400) – –
St Giles Trust – 24,600 (24,600) – –
HMRC – 98,000 (98,000) – –
Victim and Survivors
Service – 41,245 (41,245) – –
Begin Together – 16,729 (16,729) – –
Community Foundation
NI – – – – –
Legal Education
Foundation – – – – –
Lisburn & Castlereagh
City Council – – – – –
Ofcom – – – – –
──────── ──────────── ──────────── ──────── ────
43,584 3,272,039 (3,303,574) (12,049) –
════════ ════════════ ════════════ ════════ ════

The transfer out of restricted funds relates to the capital assets purchased with restricted funding which do not have a restriction over their ongoing use. Transfers into restricted funds relate to overspends on projects being supported by unrestricted funds. Department for Communities fund is in deficit as funding is due to be repaid to funder.

19. Analysis of net assets between funds

Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2023
£ £ £
Tangible fixed assets 105,844 – 105,844
Current assets 882,273 160,152 1,042,425
Creditors less than 1 year (109,373) (200,418)
(309,791)
───────── ───────── ────────────
Net assets 878,744 (40,266)
838,478
═════════ ═════════ ════════════
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2022
£ £ £
Tangible fixed assets 151,645 – 151,645
Current assets 992,415 – 992,415
Creditors less than 1 year (127,226) – (127,226)
──────────── ──── ────────────
Net assets 1,016,834 – 1,016,834
════════════ ════ ════════════

26

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

20. Taxation

The Charity's activities fall within the exemptions afforded by the provisions of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. Accordingly, there is no taxation charge in these accounts.

21. Analysis of changes in net debt

At
At 1 Apr 2022 Cash flows 31 Mar 2023
£ £ £
Cash at bank and in hand 450,552 354,562 805,114
═════════ ═════════
═════════

22. Contingencies

A contingent liability exists to repay grants received should certain conditions not be fulfilled by the charity. In the opinion of the Trustees, the terms of the Letters of Offer have been, or will be, complied with and no liability is expected.

23. Related parties

There were no other related party transactions incurred during the year (2022: nil).

27

Company Limited by Guarantee

Year ended 31 March 2023

Advice NI

Management Information

The following pages do not form part of the financial statements.

28

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities

Year ended 31 March 2023

2023 2022
£ £
Income and endowments
Charitable activities
Department for Communities 2,600,049 2,684,988
Money Advice Trust – 177
Insolvency Service 1,290 –
Portal Income 9,760 –
CFNI Carers Fund 29,653 –
Legal Education 29,000 –
Ofcom 37,892 –
Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council 18,024 –
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council 6,850 –
Feeding Britain 10,000 –
Power NI 5,700 –
Consumer Council NI 4,999 –
The Access to Justice 12,196 –
EUSS 160,090 235,802
Good Things Foundation – 2,289
Trussell Trust 80,532 80,532
DOE Debt Action – 1,295
Begin Together 4,850 16,729
Forward South Belfast Roma Hub 14,448 10,836
UUSU Here For You – 74,441
NI Strategic Migration P/ship 1,600 2,400
Ulster Community Covid – 50,000
St Giles Trust – 24,600
HMRC 99,583 98,000
Victim and Survivors Service 34,584 41,245
──────────── ────────────
3,161,100 3,323,334
──────────── ────────────
Other trading activities
Membership fees and insurance 16,551 14,444
Training income 51,386 25,367
Room hire 260 –
──────── ────────
68,197 39,811
──────── ────────
Investment income
Bank interest receivable 5,213 –
─────── ────
Other income
Other income 28,052 26,140
──────── ────────
──────────── ────────────
Total income 3,262,562 3,389,285
════════════ ════════════

29

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Detailed Statement of Financial Activities

Year ended 31 March 2023

2023 2022
£ £
Expenditure on charitable activities
Advice service provider
Activities undertaken directly
Wages and salaries 1,656,866 1,779,219
Employer's NIC 160,958 170,812
Pension costs 186,628 186,348
Other employee benefits 5,280 –
Rent & service charges 121,446 101,523
Light & heat 12,688 10,180
Repairs & maintenance 1,470 1,941
Insurance 16,269 15,664
Travel costs 6,445 4,799
Telephone 64,039 73,204
Printing, postage & stationery 8,917 12,180
Depreciation 55,523 60,759
Members training 60,969 95,238
Publications and subscriptions 10,910 13,855
Staff recruitment and training 14,291 33,558
Computer and website development costs 58,911 68,605
Conference costs 4,200 –
Publicity and literature 37,967 78,659
Publications & Subscriptions MAS (A & B) – 60
Fair Funding – 59,743
Telephone - UUSU – 388
Project payments - Money & Debt salaries/EUSS experts 735,115 862,077
Bad debt (4,162) –
Members other costs 1,605 982
Employee Benefits & Wellbeing 14,421 14,520
Miscellaneous Expenses 7,080 6,331
Grant repayment 105,357 –
──────────── ────────────
3,343,193 3,650,645
──────────── ────────────
Support costs
Wages & salaries 38,599 46,579
Employer's NIC 1,670 1,980

Carried forward

──────── ──────── 40,269 48,559

30

Advice NI

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Detailed Statement of Financial Activities (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

2023 2022
£ £
Brought forward 40,269 48,559
Pension costs 4,065 2,791
──────── ────────
44,334 51,350
──────── ────────
Governance costs
Wages and salaries 11,575 12,662
Employer's NIC 1,351 1,362
Pension costs 1,829 1,756
Audit fees 7,944 7,990
Legal and other professional fees 29,711 33,176
Bank charges and interest 981 1,035
──────── ────────
53,391 57,981
──────── ────────
──────────── ────────────
Expenditure on charitable activities 3,440,918 3,759,976
════════════ ════════════
──────────── ────────────
Net expenditure (178,356) (370,691)
════════════ ════════════

31