**Registered number: NI021368 Charity number: NIC107046**
## **The Bridge Association**
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
**Directors' Report and Financial Statements**
**For the year ended 31 March 2025**
**The Bridge Association (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Contents**
||Page|
|---|---|
|**Reference and Administrative Details of the Company, its Directors and Advisers**|1|
|**Directors' Report**|2 - 5|
|**Independent Auditors' Report on the Financial Statements**|6 - 8|
|**Statement of Financial Activities**|9|
|**Balance Sheet**|10|
|**Statement of Cash Flows**|11|
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|12 - 22|
|The following pages do not form part of the statutory financial statements:||
|**Charity Detailed Income and Expenditure Account and Summaries**||
**The Bridge Association**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Reference and Administrative Details of the Company, its Directors and Advisers For the year ended 31 March 2025**
|**Directors**|D Edmont, Chairman|
|---|---|
||A McCullagh, Treasurer|
||J Barnes, Secretary|
||W Montgomery|
||C Murray|
||A Watson|
||M McLaughlin (resigned on 26 November 2024)|
||N McClelland|
||P Dunlop|
|||
|||
|||
|**Company registered**
**number**
NI021368
**Charity registered**
**number**
NIC107046
**Registered office**
Unit 41 Antrim Business Park
Enkalon Industrial Estate
25 Randalstown Road
Antrim
BT41 4LD
**Joint Managing**
**Directors**
Mrs J Barnes and Mr D Edmont
**Auditors**
Sumer AuditCo NI Limited
Statutory Auditors
4th Floor
Glendinning House
6 Murray Street
Belfast
BT1 6DN
**Bankers**
AIB
78 Wellington Street
Ballymena
BT43 6AF
**Solicitors**
Donnelly & Kinder Solicitors
22 Adelaide Street
Belfast
BT28GD||
Page 1
## **The Bridge Association**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Directors' Report For the year ended 31 March 2025**
The Directors present their annual report together with the audited financial statements of the Company for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. The Directors confirm that the Annual Report and financial statements of the charitable Company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charitable Company's governing document and the provisions of the Statement 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 (FRS102).
Since the Company qualifies as small under section 382 of the Companies Act 2006, the Strategic Report required of medium and large companies under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors' Report) Regulations 2013 has been omitted.
## **Objectives and activities**
## **a. Policies and objectives**
We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities.
Through the wide range of occupational training programmes carried out by the Company, The Bridge Association endeavours to provide relief and rehabilitation for Learning Disabilities for mentally and physically disabled persons.
## **Achievements and Performance**
## **a. Review of activities**
The Bridge Association has continued to raise levels of confidence, basic social/living skills, numeracy, literacy and IT skills for each trainee. In the year 2024/25 the total number of trainees reached 43 (2023/24: 41) all of whom gained a number of units within the City & Guilds/NVQ structures. The Association has developed a Social Programme which covers rights and equality, online safety around digital services and social media, antisocial behaviour and person centred care planning for each trainee.
Our programme of activities and courses for both trainees and staff, assisted by funding from ARC (Association for Real Change), includes first aid training, epilepsy and dementia awareness, food hygiene, manual handling, mental health awareness, stress management, mindset and movement and health and well being.
The Association has continued to be a provider stakeholder within the Learning Disability strategy, benchmarked as forward thinking, innovative and meeting best practice with all Health and Social Care Trusts.
Northern Health & Social Care Trust (NHSCT) have fully implemented all Direct Payment agreements at the correct hourly rate and they will not restrict the number of placements that they could request on a year to year basis.
The Association continued to directly ring fence the equivalent of 3 full-time and 3 two-day Direct Payment places for the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust (SEHSCT) during 2024/25 and we are on target to fill the remaining ring fenced placements in 2025/26.
The Association has continued to develop, with Belfast Health & Social Care Trust (BHSCT), the three strands of funding within the SDS programme i.e. Direct payments from Trainees, Care Management payments on behalf of trainees and Direct Patient Bank Trust payments for placements. The Association has directly ring fenced for BHSCT the equivalent of 2 full-time and 3 two-day Direct Payment places for 2025/26.
The Association has been working closely with the Education Authority and other Health & Social Care Trusts to highlight that the training unit is open to all clients with a Learning Disability to purchase a place directly using Direct Payments. We have also developed a six week taster programme for all pupils within the transition period at school (16-18 years of age). This programme is currently being operated with Riverside School, Parkview School, Castle Tower School and Fleming Fulton School.
Page 2
## **The Bridge Association**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Directors' Report (continued) For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Achievements and Performance (continued)**
During the year the Association has continued to develop and enhance the Bridge Quirky Emporium Social Enterprise in order to promote and provide up-cycling, crafting and retail training in a real setting for all trainees. This has gone from strength to strength with the retail side moving into a larger shop unit in Castle Mall, Antrim.
The dedicated What’s App groups, where we share all relevant training unit and government information, is working well. We maintained full GDPR compliance in relation to these. Our Facebook/Instagram pages for Bridge and Quirky are updated on a weekly basis to inform the community about the Association and what we do. The trainees issue a monthly news letter (The Bridge Beat) to highlight both activities that have taken place and upcoming events.
The Trainee Committee works closely with the Senior Management Team on the trainees’ aspirations, requirements for training provision, social activities and fundraising for the new unit.
The Learning Disability Football Team has been developed in conjunction with Hillsborough Boys Football Club and has successfully competed in the annual George Best Community Cup and in the IFA Foundation Disability League.
A trainee choir (The Quirky Choir) has been established and takes part in a range of activities to promote the Association in the community. Their success has been recognised and they will be performing in several local care homes, the Castle Mall Shopping Centre and at the Mayor’s service.
Our Hug A Mug Ability Café, based in Castle Mall, Antrim, opened in July 2024. It promotes and develops catering skills in a real setting for all trainees attending and has been signed up as a ‘Safe’ space, a befriender/information finder through the Loneliness Network and also as a safe space for promoting breast feeding.
## **Financial review**
## **a. Going concern**
Given the continuing support of the Health & Social Care Trusts and their acknowledgement of the valuable work by the charity in providing high quality training and rehabilitation, the directors are confident in the future of the Association and consider the going concern basis suitable for the preparation of accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025.
## **b. Reserves policy**
It is the Association’s policy to try to maintain unrestricted reserves equivalent to 3 months revenue expenditure in order to a) cover short term fluctuations in funding and b) to ensure an orderly rundown of the organisation should future funding be unobtainable. At the year end the investment of cash resources in commencing our new building project meant that available unrestricted reserves were curtailed, however the directors will be keeping this under constant review.
## **Structure, governance and management**
## **a. Constitution**
The Bridge Association is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (charity no. NIC107046).
Page 3
**The Bridge Association**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
**Directors' Report (continued) For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Structure, governance and management (continued)**
## **b. Methods of appointment or election of Directors**
The management of the Company is the responsibility of the Directors who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Memorandum of Association.
## **c. Pay policy for senior staff**
The Joint Managing Directors, who are also Trustees, receive remuneration at a level set by the Board. This remuneration is fully disclosed in these financial statements.
## **d. Organisational structure and decision making**
Day to day decision making is undertaken by the Executive Directors, Mrs J Barnes and Mr D Edmont, with regular reporting to the Board. Decisions on strategy, policy and material capital expenditure are taken by the full Board.
## **Plans for future periods**
An Open Week will continue to be held each year to showcase the work of the Association and with the aim of achieving a placement level of 51 and with a further 5 on a waiting list in order to ensure the future stability of the organisation.
Having secured loan and overdraft facilities from our bankers it is anticipated that Phase 2 of the construction of our new Training Unit/Community Hub project will commence in early 2026.
We will continue developing our working relationships with all the funding bodies in order to access the necessary grants/funding aid to complete the above project.
## **Statement of Directors' responsibilities**
The Directors (who are also the directors of the Company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Directors' 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 Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial . Under company law, the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Directors are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP (FRS 102);
- make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards (FRS 102) have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will continue in business.
The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Page 4
## **The Bridge Association**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Directors' Report (continued) For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Disclosure of information to auditors**
Each of the persons who are Directors at the time when this Directors' Report is approved has confirmed that:
- so far as that Director is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charity's auditors are unaware, and
- that Director has taken all the steps that ought to have been taken as a Director in order to be aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity's auditors are aware of that information.
## **Auditors**
The auditors, Sumer AuditCo NI Limited, have indicated their willingness to continue in office and a motion to propose their re-appointment will be put to the AGM.
Approved by order of the members of the board of Directors and signed on their behalf by:
___________________________ **D Edmont** Chariman/Joint Managing Director
___________________________ **J Barnes** Joint Managing Director
Date: 22 October 2025
Page 5
**The Bridge Association**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Independent Auditors' Report to the Members of The Bridge Association**
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of The Bridge Association (the 'Charitable Company') for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, 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 Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
- give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2025 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.
## **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 Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
## **Conclusions relating to going concern**
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Directors' 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 charitable company'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 Directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Page 6
**The Bridge Association (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Independent Auditors' Report to the Members of The Bridge Association (continued)**
## **Other information**
The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our Auditors' Report thereon. The Directors are responsible for the other information contained within the Annual Report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
## **Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006**
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
- the information given in the Directors' Report for the financial year for which the financial statements is prepared is consistent with the financial statements.
- the Directors' Report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception**
In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Directors' Report..
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate 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 Directors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
- the Directors were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the Directors' Report and from the requirement to prepare a Strategic Report.
## **Responsibilities of Directors**
As explained more fully in the Directors' Responsibilities Statement, the Directors (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Directors 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 Directors are responsible for assessing the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Directors either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Page 7
**The Bridge Association**
**(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Independent Auditors' Report to the Members of The Bridge Association (continued)**
## **Auditors' 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 Auditors' Report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
We considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in the following areas: posting of unusual journals along with complex transactions and revenue recognition. We discussed both these risks with client management. In regards to journals, we tested a sample of journals to confirm they were appropriate and reviewed areas of judgement for indicators of management bias. To address the revenue recognition risk, we also discussed these with management and considered the risk as part of our sample size within revenue testing.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Auditors' Report.
## **Use of our report**
This report is made solely to the Charitable Company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Charitable Company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditors' Report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charitable Company and its members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
## **Brian Clerkin (Senior Statutory Auditor)**
for and on behalf of
## **Sumer AuditCo NI Limited**
Statutory Auditors 4th Floor Glendinning House 6 Murray Street Belfast BT1 6DN 22 October 2025
Sumer AuditCo NI Limited are eligible to act as auditors in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
Page 8
## **The Bridge Association**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Statement of financial activities (incorporating income and expenditure account) For the year ended 31 March 2025**
|**Note**
**Income from:**
Donations and legacies
2
Charitable activities
3
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
**Total expenditure**
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**306,472**
**-**
**306,472**
**-**
**-**
**306,472**
**20,000**
**326,472**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**10,819**
**874,116**
**884,935**
**929,409**
**929,409**
**(44,474)**
**542,832**
**498,358**|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**317,291**
**874,116**
**1,191,407**
**929,409**
**929,409**
**261,998**
**562,832**
**824,830**|Total
funds
2024
£
52,678
770,851|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||823,529|
|||||696,474|
|||||696,474|
|||||127,055|
|||||435,777|
|||||562,832|
The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
The notes on pages 12 to 22 form part of these financial statements.
Page 9
## **The Bridge Association (A Company Limited by Guarantee) Registered number: NI021368**
## **Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2025**
|**Note**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
9
**Current assets**
Stocks
10
Debtors
11
Cash at bank and in hand
**Current liabilities**
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
12
**Net current liabilities / assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
Creditors: amounts falling due after more
than one year
13
**Total net assets**
**Charity funds**
Restricted funds
14
Designated funds
14
General funds
14
**Total funds**|**76,007**
**32,435**
**105,353**
**213,795**
**(284,940)**
**326,472**
**38,557**
**459,801**|**2025**
**£**
**1,064,276**
**(71,145)**
**993,131**
**(168,301)**
**824,830**
**824,830**|66,304
31,434
137,170
234,908
(60,003)
20,000
27,738
515,094|2024
£
534,126
174,905
709,031
(146,199)
562,832
562,832|
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Directors and signed on their behalf by:
___________________________ ___________________________ **D Edmont J Barnes** Chairman/Joint Managing Director Joint Managing Director
Date: 22 October 2025
The notes on pages 12 to 22 form part of these financial statements.
Page 10
**The Bridge Association (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
|**Statement of Cash Flows**
**For the year ended 31 March 2025**
**Cash flows from operating activities**
Net cash generated from operating activities
**Cash flows from investing activities**
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
**Net cash used in investing activities**
**Cash flows from financing activities**
Cash inflows from new borrowing
Repayments of borrowing
New finance leases
Repayments of finance leases
**Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities**
**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year**
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
**Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year**
The notes on pages 12 to 22 form part of these financial statements|**2025**
**£**
**362,730**
**(571,649)**
**(571,649)**
**155,000**
**(6,984)**
**53,874**
**(24,788)**
**177,102**
**(31,817)**
**137,170**
**105,353**|2024
£
146,366
(29,729)
**(29,729)**
-
(5,783)
-
(8,398)
**(14,181)**
**102,456**
34,714
137,170|
|---|---|---|
Page 11
**The Bridge Association (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
**Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **1. Accounting policies**
## **1.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
The Bridge Association meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.
## **1.2 Company Status**
The company is a company limited by guarantee. The members of the company are the Directors named on page 1. In the event of the company being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the company.
## **1.3 Going concern**
The Directors of The Bridge Association have reviewed the resources available and believe that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.
Accordingly, The Bridge Association continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.
## **1.4 Income**
All income is recognised once the Company has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
## **1.5 Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the Company's objectives, as well as any associated support costs.
Page 12
**The Bridge Association**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
**Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **1. Accounting policies (continued)**
## **1.6 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation**
Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, using the straight-line method.
Depreciation is provided on the following bases:
- Freehold property 6% straight line - Plant and machinery 20% & 33% straight line Motor vehicles - 25% straight line
A review for impairment of a fixed asset is carried out if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of any fixed asset may not be recoverable. Shortfalls between the carrying value of fixed assets and their recoverable amounts are recognised as impairments. Impairment losses are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities incorporating Income and Expenditure Account.
## **1.7 Stocks**
Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value after making due allowance for obsolete and slow-moving stocks. Cost includes all direct costs and an appropriate proportion of fixed and variable overheads.
## **1.8 Debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
## **1.9 Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
## **1.10 Liabilities and provisions**
Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance Sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably. Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the company anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide. Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised within interest payable and similar charges.
## **1.11 Financial instruments**
The Company only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value, with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Page 13
**The Bridge Association (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
**Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **1. Accounting policies (continued)**
## **1.12 Leasing and hire purchase**
Assets obtained under hire purchase contracts and finance leases are capitalised as tangible fixed assets. Assets acquired by finance lease are depreciated over the shorter of the lease term and their useful lives. Assets acquired by hire purchase are depreciated over their useful lives. Finance leases are those where substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership are assumed by the company. Obligations under such agreements are included in creditors net of the finance charge allocated to future periods. The finance element of the rental payment is charged to the Statement of Financial Activities incorporating Income and Expenditure Account so as to produce a constant periodic rate of charge on the net obligation outstanding in each period.
## **1.13 Pensions**
The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the company to the fund in respect of the year.
## **1.14 Fund accounting**
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Directors in furtherance of the general objectives of the Company and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Directors for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Company for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in note 14 in the financial statements.
## **2. Income from donations and legacies**
|Donations
Grants|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
-
306,472
306,472|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
10,819
-
10,819|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**10,819**
**306,472**
**317,291**|Total
funds
2024
£
12,428
40,250|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||52,678|
Restricted funds relate to grants which must be used for specific purposes.
Included within the grants are four grants amounting to £245,005 funding the capital expense of the new training centre.
Page 14
## **The Bridge Association**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **3. Income from charitable activities**
|Direct payment fees
Other income from charitable activities
Canteen income|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
670,087
193,826
10,203
874,116|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**670,087**
**193,826**
**10,203**
**874,116**|Total
funds
2024
£
644,220
116,752
9,879|
|---|---|---|---|
||||770,851|
## **4. Analysis of expenditure by activities**
|Support costs - wages and salaries
Trainee costs
Other support costs
Other costs
Staff costs - wages and salaries
Cost of sales
**Total 2025**|**Activities**
**undertaken**
**directly**
**2025**
**£**
-
140,941
58,462
390
380,000
72,445
652,238|**Support**
**costs**
**2025**
**£**
59,974
-
195,010
22,187
-
-
277,171|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**59,974**
**140,941**
**253,472**
**22,577**
**380,000**
**72,445**
**929,409**|Total
funds
2024
£
57,303
128,810
167,241
5,299
286,174
51,647|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||696,474|
## **5. Net income/(expenditure)**
This is stated after charging:
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
||**2025**|2024|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|- owned by the charity|**1,915**|2,095|
|- held under finance leases|**39,583**|24,624|
Page 15
**The Bridge Association (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **6. Auditors' remuneration**
The auditors' remuneration amounts to an auditor fee of £5,800 (2024 - £5,500).
## **7. Staff costs**
|Wages and salaries
Contribution to defined contribution pension schemes|**2025**
**£**
**417,650**
**22,324**
**439,974**|2024
£
322,959
20,518|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||343,477|
Included in the wages and salaries figures above is £24,934 in relation to employer social security costs. The average number of persons employed by the Company during the year was as follows:
|**2025**|2024|
|---|---|
|**18**|15|
No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in either year.
## **8. Directors' remuneration and expenses**
During the year retirement benefits were accruing to 2 Directors (2024: 2) in respect of defined contribution pension schemes.
Remuneration paid to key personnel, being the two Joint Managing Directors amounted to £118,000 (2024: £112,744). No other Directors received any remuneration or expenses. Remuneration of key management personnel includes employer pension contributions and National Insurance contributions as defined under FRS 102.
During the year ended 31 March 2025, no Director expenses have been incurred (2024: £NIL).
Page 16
**The Bridge Association (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **9. Tangible fixed assets**
|**Cost or valuation**
At 1 April 2024
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2025
**Depreciation**
At 1 April 2024
Charge for the year
On disposals
At 31 March 2025
**Net book value**
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024|**Freehold**
**property**
**£**
**625,908**
**509,626**
**-**
**1,135,534**
**182,264**
**-**
**-**
**182,264**
**953,270**
443,644|**Plant and**
**machinery**
**£**
**121,451**
**62,023**
**-**
**183,474**
**115,626**
**10,894**
**-**
**126,520**
**56,954**
5,825|**Motor**
**vehicles**
**£**
**142,206**
**-**
**(19,794)**
**122,412**
**57,550**
**30,604**
**(19,794)**
**68,360**
**54,052**
84,656|**Total**
**£**
**889,565**
**571,649**
**(19,794)**
**1,441,420**
**355,440**
**41,498**
**(19,794)**
**377,144**
**1,064,276**
534,125|
|---|---|---|---|---|
Included within the NBV of Land and Buildings is £953,270 in relation to an asset under construction, the new training center.
## **10. Stocks**
|Finished goods and goods for resale
**Debtors**
**Due within one year**
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income|**2025**
**£**
**76,007**
**2025**
**£**
**4,449**
**27,986**
**32,435**|2024
£
66,304|
|---|---|---|
|||2024
£
-
31,434|
||||
|||31,434|
## **11. Debtors**
Page 17
**The Bridge Association**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **12. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
|Bank loans
Other loans
Social Security and other taxes
Obligations under finance lease and hire purchase contracts
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income
**Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year**
Bank loans
Net obligations under finance lease and hire purchase contracts
Included within the above are amounts falling due as follows:
**Between one and two years**
Bank loans
**Between two and five years**
Bank loans
**Over five years**
Bank loans
Hire Purchase
Between one and five years||**2025**
**£**
**147,323**
**30,000**
**-**
**18,061**
**14,203**
**75,353**
**284,940**
**2025**
**£**
**100,659**
**67,642**
**168,301**
**2025**
**£**
**17,950**
**53,850**
**28,859**
**2025**
**£**
**67,643**
**67,643**|2024
£
17,950
-
5,857
8,397
8,021
19,778|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
||||60,003|
||||2024
£
107,643
38,556|
|||||
||||146,199|
||||2024
£
17,950|
||||53,850|
||||35,843|
||||2024
£
46,954|
|||||
||||46,954|
## **13. Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year**
Page 18
**The Bridge Association (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
**Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **14. Statement of funds**
## **Statement of funds - current year**
|**Unrestricted funds**
**Designated funds**
Designated Funds - all funds
**General funds**
General Funds - all funds
**Total Unrestricted funds**|**Balance at 1**
**April 2024**
**£**
**27,738**
**515,094**
**542,832**|**Income**
**£**
**10,819**
**874,116**
**884,935**|**Expenditure**
**£**
**-**
**(929,409)**
**(929,409)**|**Balance at**
**31 March**
**2025**
**£**
**38,557**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**459,801**|
|||||**498,358**|
Designated funds represent monies allocated by the Trustees to fund the new building project.
|**Restricted funds**
Restricted Funds - all funds
**Total of funds**|**20,000**
**562,832**|**306,472**
**1,191,407**|**-**
**(929,409)**|**326,472**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**824,830**|
Restricted funds relate to grants which must be used for specific purposes.
Page 19
**The Bridge Association (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
**Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2025**
**14. Statement of funds (continued)**
## **Statement of funds - prior year**
|Balance at
1 April 2023
£
**Unrestricted funds**
**Designated funds**
Designated Funds - all funds
15,310
**General funds**
General Funds - all funds
420,467
**Total Unrestricted funds**
435,777
**Restricted funds**
Restricted Funds - all funds
-
**Total of funds**
435,777
**15.**
**Analysis of net assets between funds**
**Analysis of net assets between funds - current year**
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors due within one year
Creditors due in more than one year
**Total**||Income
£
12,428
770,851
783,279
40,250
823,529
**Restricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
326,472
-
-
-
326,472|Expenditure
£
-
(676,224)
(676,224)
(20,250)
(696,474)
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
737,804
213,795
(284,940)
(168,301)
498,358||Balance at
31 March
2024
£
27,738
515,094
542,832
20,000
562,832
**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**1,064,276**
**213,795**
**(284,940)**
**(168,301)**
**824,830**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||
|||||||
|||||||
|||||||
|||||||
|||||||
|||||||
|||||||
Page 20
**The Bridge Association (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **15. Analysis of net assets between funds (continued)**
## **Analysis of net assets between funds - prior year**
|Restricted
funds
2024
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
£
Tangible fixed assets
-
534,126
Current assets
20,000
214,908
Creditors due within one year
-
(60,003)
Creditors due in more than one year
-
(146,199)
**Total**
20,000
542,832
**16.**
**Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities**
**2025**
**£**
Net income for the year (as per Statement of Financial Activities)
**261,998**
**Adjustments for:**
Depreciation charges
**41,498**
Increase in stocks
**(9,703)**
Increase in debtors
**(1,000)**
Increase in creditors
**69,937**
**Net cash provided by operating activities**
**362,730**
**17.**
**Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**
**2025**
**£**
Cash in hand
**105,353**
**Total cash and cash equivalents**
**105,353**|Total
funds
2024
£
534,126
234,908
(60,003)
(146,199)
562,832
2024
£
127,055
26,719
(25,097)
2,584
15,105
146,366
2024
£
137,170
137,170|
|---|---|
Page 21
**The Bridge Association (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **18. Analysis of changes in net debt**
|Cash at bank and in hand
Debt due within 1 year
Debt due after 1 year
Finance leases|**At 1 April**
**2024**
**£**
**137,170**
**(17,950)**
**(107,643)**
**(46,953)**
**(35,376)**|**Cash flows**
**New finance**
**leases**
**£**
**£**
**(31,817)**
**-**
**(159,373)**
**-**
**6,984**
**-**
**(18,061)**
**(20,689)**
**(202,267)**
**(20,689)**|**At 31 March**
**2025**
**£**
**105,353**
**(177,323)**
**(100,659)**
**(85,703)**
**(258,332)**|
|---|---|---|---|
## **19. Contingent liabilities**
At the balance sheet date, the charity has identified potential obligations relating to donations and grants received. These contingent liabilities arise as follows:
## **Grants Subject to Repayment Conditions**
Certain grants received during the year include conditions requiring the charity to meet specified milestones or maintain the funds for designated purposes. If these conditions are not met, there is a risk the funds may be subject to repayment. The total value of grants which may become repayable is £281,213.
As at 31 March 2025, the charity has no indication that the conditions will not be fulfilled, therefore no provision has been made in these financial statements.
## **Donor Restrictions**
Donations may be restricted by donors for specific purposes. While the charity actively manages its activities to comply with these restrictions, failure to adhere to donor requests could result in a liability to repay unutilised funds.
## **20. Related party transactions**
Remuneration of £31,506 (2024: £29,714) was paid to a family member connected to one of the Directors, remuneration of £20,184 (2024: £16,455) was paid to two family members of another Director. Furthermore, a loan under the terms of interest free and repayable on demand has been given to the charity by one of the Directors.
Page 22
**The Bridge Association**
## **(A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Income and expenditure account For the year ended 31 March 2025**
|**Charity Income**
Canteen Income
Direct Payment Fees
Quirky Emporium
Grant Income
Cafe Income
Donations
**Less:**
**Cost of Sales**
Opening Stock
Purchases
Closing Stock
**Support Costs**
Support Staff Salary
Pension Costs Support
Postage and Stationery
Telephone
Insurances
Light & Heat
Rent
Water Charges
Staff Travel
Bank Charges
Audit/Accountancy
Bank Interest and Charges
Credit Card Charges
HP Interest
Leasing
Depreciation
Loan Interest
Miscellaneous
Professional Fees
Profit on disposal of fixed assets
Advertising and Promotion
Charitable Donations
Computer Software
Printing|**2025**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
**10,203**
**670,087**
**116,997**
**306,472**
**76,829**
**10,819**
**1,191,407**
**66,304**
**82,148**
**(76,007)**
**72,445**
**54,513**
**5,461**
**523**
**5,335**
**23,638**
**10,768**
**52,971**
**8,599**
**928**
**1,893**
**9,427**
**9,282**
**2,009**
**7,583**
**3,616**
**41,498**
**30,184**
**334**
**16,402**
**(16,800)**
**3,473**
**1,107**
**3,305**
**-**|2024
2024
£
£
9,879
644,219
116,752
40,250
-
12,429
823,529
41,207
76,744
(66,304)
51,647
51,717
5,586
1,560
2,652
22,827
17,060
39,530
560
804
245
6,510
2,164
2,604
4,294
3,151
26,719
12,168
1,231
13,500
-
1,826
500
3,462
998
Page 23|
|---|---|---|
**The Bridge Association (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Income and expenditure account (continued) For the year ended 31 March 2025**
|**2025**
**£**
Subscriptions
**1,122**
Entertainment
**-**
**Charitable Activities**
Trainee Travel
**18,939**
Trainee Food
**26,003**
Trainee Training
**26,812**
Training Materials
**16,861**
Staff Training
**80**
Waste Disposals
**1,150**
Kitchen and Cleaning Consumables
**10,577**
Repairs and Maintenance
**13,427**
Trainee Allowances
**24,535**
Wages and Salaries
**360,004**
Pension Costs
**16,863**
Life Cover
**3,133**
Clothing and uniform
**85**
Light & Heat
**20,607**
Staff Travel
**390**
Cafe Food
**40,327**
**Total expenditure**
The notes on pages 12 to 22 form part of these financial statements.|**2025**
**£**
**277,171**
**579,793**
**929,409**|2024
£
240
450
13,322
26,975
10,085
18,687
4,860
1,170
10,239
5,822
25,315
268,332
14,932
2,910
5,810
8,711
5,299
-|2024
£|
|---|---|---|---|
||||222,358|
|||||
||||422,469|
|||||
|||||
||||**696,474**|
|||||
Page 24