Charity registration number 1128367
Company registration number 06783496 (England and Wales)
CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Trustees
Dr Max H Griffiths
Geoffrey Hope-Terry
Michael J Snape
Gillian L Conway
Beverley E Spicer
Andrea J Dodds
Erica E Morriss
Kevin Barry
(Appointed 14 June 2022)
Boyd B Hope
(Appointed 14 June 2022)
Senior management
Jason J Bishop (Chief Executive)
Nicki Berg (Head of People)
Neil Jones (Head of Operations)
Charity number
1128367
Company number
06783496
Registered office
Wyvern House
The Drumber
Winsford
CW7 1AD
Auditor
Xeinadin Audit Limited
2 Hilliards Court
Chester Business Park
Chester
Cheshire
CH4 9QP
Bankers
CAF Bank
25 Kings Hill Avenue
Kings Hill
West Malling
Kent
ME19 4JQ
CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
CONTENTS
Page
Trustees' report
1 - 8
Independent auditor's report
9 - 11
Statement of financial activities
12
Balance sheet
13
Statement of cash flows
14
Notes to the financial statements
15 - 24
CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
- 1 -

The trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "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) (effective 1 January 2019)".

Purpose of the charity

Citizens Advice Cheshire West was established in January 2009 and is a company limited by guarantee. Its charitable objects, as set out in the articles of association, are

to promote any charitable purpose for the public benefit by the advancement of education, the protection and preservation of health and the relief of poverty, sickness and distress.

The charity’s objectives are promoted in various ways, but primarily by the provision of Citizens Advice services and outlets supplying a free, independent, confidential and impartial service of advice, information and counselling for the public.

Office locations during 2022/23

Full-time offices

Bluecoat Square

Upper Northgate St

Chester

CH1 4EE

Wyvern House (Head Office)

The Drumber

Winsford

CW7 1AH

Community-based services

Chester Wesley Methodist Centre

8 St John St

Chester

CH1 1DA

DIAL West Cheshire

Dial House, Hamilton Pl, Chester CH1 2BH

No71 Crisis centre

No. 71 St Anne Street, Chester, CH1 3HT

The Portal

Wellington Rd, Ellesmere Port CH65 0BA

Holy Trinity Church Blacon

Norris Road, Blacon, Chester, CH1 5DZ

Matthew Henry Church Blacon

Nevin Rd, Blacon, Chester CH1 5RS

Lache Community Centre

Hawthorn Rd, Chester CH4 8HX

Salvation Army - Ellesmere Port

Whitby Rd, Whitby, Ellesmere Port CH65 6RS

CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
- 2 -

Community-based services (continued)

Trinity Church

Whitby Rd, Ellesmere Port CH65 0AT

Neston Community Youth Centre

Burton Rd, Little Neston, Neston CH64 9RE

Cheshire Food Hub

The Old School House, Manchester Rd, Northwich CW9 7NS

Methodist Outreach Centre

163 Witton St, Northwich CW9 5EA

Christ Church Northwich

195 Chester Rd, Northwich CW8 4AG

GGO Bungalow

15 - 17 Finsbury Walk, Winsford CW7 2YA

Vision and values

Our vision is:

The right advice for everyone

Our values commit us to being:

Strategic objectives

  1. To make it easier to get advice.

  2. To be influential.

  3. To work as one service.

  4. To be sustainable.

  5. To champion equality and diversity.

The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

Summary of main activities

April 22 saw the beginning of a new five-year Social Welfare Advice Service contract with Cheshire West & Chester Council based on a tiers of need model. This contract focuses on increasing telephone and digital access to services, while maintaining a face-to-face presence at key locations throughout the borough to deliver appointments for the more marginalised members of our community.

Citizens Advice Cheshire West worked closely with the Council as part of their welfare services review, to establish closer referral links with council departments, especially housing and revenue and benefits. A dedicated internal referral system has been set up to streamline client access.

We have delivered a wide range of services during the year, all supported by specific funding in the form of a commercial contract or grant. These were:

Social welfare advice

Information and advice on most aspects of law, funded by Cheshire West & Chester Council.

CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
- 3 -

Summary of main activities (continued)

Help to Claim

A service for claimants of Universal Credit, aimed at ensuring a successful initial claim. This was funded by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

Money advice

High-level advice and advocacy on issues involving debt and money management, funded by Citizens Advice with money from the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), and by Cheshire West & Chester Council.

Pension Wise

This is a statutory service provided by CACW across a large sub-region and funded by Citizens Advice using funding from MaPS.

General Advocacy

This is a non-statutory advocacy service funded by Cheshire West & Chester Council to support adults and older people with physical disabilities, mental health problems, learning disabilities. This service ended in September 2022 as the Council commissioned a new combined statutory and general advocacy contract with a new provider.

Community Connectors

This is a service to help connect and advise some of the most marginalised people in society with services that can support them in a holistic manner. This is funded through generous grants and donations from MBNA Chester and the Westminster Foundation.

Money buddies

This project allows volunteers to work closely with individuals to support them with budgeting assistance to help manage finances more effectively. This is funded through a grant from the Steve Morgan Foundation.

Energy advice

This project funded by the Energy Redress scheme, enables individual energy advice to be given to clients to help them reduce energy costs, and take advantage of energy saving measures through grant applications.

Energy champion

Funded via Citizens Advice Manchester through an agreement with Cadent, this project promotes energy saving advice and awareness to groups of individuals including key support staff who may work with more marginalised clients.

Financial inclusion work

Working out of food bank locations in West Cheshire, this project helps people to maximise their income and keep a check on their expenditure, with the objective of reducing reliance on food banks and leading to a sustainable household budget. The project is funded by West Cheshire food bank through a grant from the Trussell Trust.

Household support fund

We were asked by Cheshire West & Chester Council (along with a number of other third sector providers) to help distribute part of the government's household support fund. We successfully operated a heating bank, ensuring that over £400k of direct support was provided to the most marginalised clients to help with their heating bills over the year.

CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
- 4 -

Summary of main activities (continued)

Public benefit

The trustees of CACW are aware of the Charity Commission’s requirement in respect of public benefit and believe that the charity satisfies both the benefit aspect and public aspect of the requirement.

Benefit aspect

CACW assisted 10,244 unique individuals during 2022/23 with full advice and casework, and dealt with an additional 3,434 simple queries. The trustees have strong evidence that this was beneficial. This evidence includes: detailed records of individual outcomes; formal and informal user feedback; and qualitative research carried out by national Citizens Advice. The trustees are not aware that any significant detriment or harm was caused by the charity’s activities.

Public aspect

Most of our services are available to the general public, primarily but not exclusively those living in, working in or visiting Cheshire West & Chester. No trustee, volunteer or employee of CACW received personal benefit from the charity’s activities other than in the form of legitimate claims for travel expenses or contractual salary payments.

Use of volunteers

Volunteers are essential to the service delivery and governance of Citizens Advice Cheshire West. The social welfare advice service, which assists the majority of the charity’s clients, is entirely provided by volunteers, under the supervision of paid employees. They provide information and advice, as well as representing clients with third parties. In total, around 95% of last year’s clients were assisted by volunteers at some point. This calculates to a public value of over £245,000.

Achievements and performance

The clients assisted in 2022/23 presented 36,468 separate legal issues. These were of three broad types:

 

Table 1: Issues

 

Total

Simple queries

3,434

Discrete advice

24,916

Detailed advice

10,185

Casework

1,894

Table 2: Clients by activity

 

Core service

Money Advice

Pension Guidance

Help to Claim

Other

5,861

580

1,648

1,876

279

 

CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
- 5 -

Achievement's and performance (continued)

Our most recent figures show that 83% of people said we helped them to find a way forward, and 84% said they would be Happy or Very Happy to recommend our service to others. These figures have increased slightly since last year, reflecting the return to face-to-face activity alongside digital and telephone access.

Our value to society during the year 2022/23 has been measured in three ways:

The quality of the service given to clients is assessed using the national Citizens Advice quality of advice assessment process (QAA). This involves random internal assessment against a quality matrix for outcomes and customer service, which is validated by a national auditor. Our current rating is Green (excellent) for outcomes and Green (Excellent) for customer service.

Service review

The year began with a management restructure following the retirement of Elizabeth Dickinson, our Assistant Chief Executive. A new post of Head of People was created to work alongside our existing Head of Operations, and those two posts along with the Chief Executive form the senior management team. Given the expansion in project work carried out with a number of new projects beginning during the year, we introduced a new layer of operational management working more closely with staff delivering client services. We continue to structure our management resources in a way which balances the need for an amount of strategic management to ensure the effective running of our service, along with investment in direct client related services.

The Trustees set the challenge of achieving a surplus budget in order to continue to grow our unrestricted reserves from their low level in 2020/21. Given the increase in our operating costs, the Trustees believe that a target of three months running costs of reserves is reasonable.

We worked hard to re-open in-person services, while balancing this against ever increasing demand for telephone services. We invested a further 2 FTE staff resources into answering the telephone. We are mindful of the community demand for in-person services, and the need to balance this against our resourcing and the contract we have with the local authority. We continued to have helpful and constructive meetings with our commissioners at the council.

We had our year 3 Leadership Self-Assessment in September 2022, an externally verified audit process which ensures continued membership of Citizens Advice and the Advice Quality Standard. The process looks at the quality of our advice services, as well as our financial, operational, and strategic governance with a particular focus on risk. We continued to be rated Excellent in all areas.

Financial review

The results for the year are shown in the Statement of Financial Activities. Income for the year rose from £1,391,866 in 2022 to £1,608,058. Expenditure for the year rose from £1,347,089 to £1,535,755. This leaves total funds at 31 March 2023 of £354,006.

It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds that have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level between £140,000 and £250,000, to provide a buffer in the event of unforeseen circumstances other than insolvency and the winding up of the charity. This level of unrestricted undesignated funds at the end of 2022/23 is now £254,270 which is above the Trustees policy. The Trustees have assessed this risk, and will be revising the reserves policy at the next Board meeting in July 2023.

The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks identified.

CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
- 6 -

Future plans

The Board continues to plan using a three year rolling business planning cycle, taking into account key risks and opportunities. This is facilitated through an annual Trustee Board awayday.

A key area of concern is the increasing demand for our services, and despite seeing very high client numbers, we are aware we are not meeting demand, especially on the telephones. A new triage system will be introduced and evaluated to increase the numbers of calls answered.

Increasing complexity of cases leads to a greater burden on staff and volunteers and can have a detrimental effect on staff mental health. We champion mental health in the workplace, have a number of mental health first aiders, and an Employee Assistance Programme to support staff when needed.

As well as sourcing new income, we will continue to look carefully at our costs, including working closely with our neighbouring Citizens Advice office (Cheshire East, and Cheshire North) to see if we reduce costs through closer working.

Structure, governance and management

Citizens Advice Cheshire West is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. The governing document is the Articles of Association, which was last amended in November, 2019. The Articles of Association are lodged with the Charity Commission and are only amended with their approval.

The charity is governed by a Trustee Board which the articles permit to have a membership of nine. Neither paid staff nor volunteers working in another capacity for the charity are allowed to be trustees. The current membership is seven.

The Trustee Board renews itself regularly. New trustees are obtained through public advertising, or by retaining the details of individuals who contact the charity to enquire about vacancies. Potential trustees are interviewed by members of the board and assessed against an agreed role description. The final decision to admit an individual to membership of the board is taken formally at a Trustee Board meeting.

There are three officer roles--chair, vice-chair and treasurer--all of which are subject to approval by the board.

There is a detailed induction process for new trustees, which is overseen by the charity’s Head of People.

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:

 

Dr Max H Griffiths
Geoffrey Hope-Terry
Michael J Snape
Gillian L Conway
Beverley E Spicer
Andrea J Dodds
Erica E Morriss
Kevin Barry
(Appointed 14 June 2022)
Boyd B Hope
(Appointed 14 June 2022)
CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
- 7 -

Name

Role

Period of office ends

Meetings attended 2020/21

Gilly Conway

Chair

July 2026

4/5

Erica Morriss

Vice-Chair

October 2028

4/5

Mike Snape

Treasurer

April 2025

1/5

Geoff Hope-Terry

Trustee

April 2025

3/5

Max Griffiths

Trustee

April 2025

5/5

Bev Spicer

Trustee

October 2028

5/5

Andrea Dodds

Trustee

October 2028

5/5

Boyd Hope

Trustee

June 2029

4/4

Kevin Barry

Trustee

June 2029

4/4

 

All 2022/23 meetings were quorate. The frequency of meetings was revised during the year, with five held.

Trustees are subject to annual appraisal by the Chair, who is appraised by the full Board, led by the Vice-chair. This feeds into the trustees development plan, which ensures that appropriate training and support are provided to enable the trustees to carry out their duties.

Citizens Advice Cheshire West is a member of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (national Citizens Advice) and is required to work within its requirements and standards for governance. The trustees undertook a leadership self-assessment in 2019 that was externally audited by Citizens Advice. The charity was found to have governance and management that exceeded the required standard across all areas.

Day-to-day management of the charity is delegated to the Chief Executive and his senior management team:

Chief Executive                -        Jason Bishop

Head of People                -        Nicola Berg

Head of Operations            -        Neil Jones

Equality and diversity

The trustees recognize the positive value of diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination. Citizens Advice Cheshire West meets all of its legal responsibilities and welcomes employees from all parts of the community, particularly under-represented groups.

The charity has an Equality and Diversity policy in place. It ensures the full and fair consideration and treatment of all staff, including people with disabilities, during their recruitment, training and career development with due regard to their personal attributes and abilities.

Risk management

Systems and procedures have been established to identify, monitor and manage the risks that Citizens Advice Cheshire West faces. Trustees and the Senior Management Team periodically review and update risks and mitigating actions.

The charity’s operations expose the charity to a variety of financial risks. However, as it is a debt-free charity with a positive cash-flow, the impact of interest rate changes, debt market prices and liquidity are extremely low.

Citizens Advice Cheshire West receives the majority of funds in advance, and debts can be met as they fall due.

The statement of internal control included within this document sets out the risk and control framework.

Statement of Internal Control

Scope of responsibility

The Chief Executive (as accounting officer) and the Treasurer of the Trustee Board have joint responsibility for maintaining a sound system of internal control that supports the achievement of Citizens Advice Cheshire West’s policies, aims and objectives.

 

 

CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
- 8 -

The risk framework

The Trustee Board has a Risk Management Strategy and reviews the Risk Register every quarter.

Key risks identified during the latest review were:

Statement of trustees' responsibilities

The trustees, who are also the directors of Citizens Advice Cheshire West for the purpose 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 trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.

 

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

 

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

 

- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;

 

- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

 

- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards 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 charity will continue in operation.

 

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

Auditor

In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Xeinadin Audit Limited be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.

Disclosure of information to auditor

Each of the trustees has confirmed that there is no information of which they are aware which is relevant to the audit, but of which the auditor is unaware. They have further confirmed that they have taken appropriate steps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the auditor is aware of such information.

The trustees' report was approved by the board of trustees.

Gillian L Conway
Trustee
Dated: 27 June 2023
CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
- 9 -

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Citizens Advice Cheshire West (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2023 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and the notes to the financial statements, 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 2023 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 auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the accounts section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the accounts in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

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

 

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

 

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The 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 contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

 

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

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

-

the information given in the trustees' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared, which includes the directors' report prepared for the purposes of company law, is consistent with the financial statements; and

-

the directors' report included within the trustees' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)
TO THE TRUSTEES OF CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
- 10 -
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 directors' report included within 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:

-

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 trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
-

we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or

-

the trustees 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 trustees' report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the statement of trustees' responsibilities, the trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose 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 charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.

Enquiries of management and those charged with governance were held in order to identify any laws and regulations that could be expected to have a material impact on the financial statements. Throughout the audit, the team were updated with the outcomes of these enquiries including consideration as to where and how fraud may occur in the company.

 

The audit procedures undertaken to address any potential risk in relation to irregularities (which include fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations) included: enquiries of management and those charged with governance on how the company complies with relevant laws, regulations and any cases of actual or potential litigation or claims; examination of appropriate legal correspondence; review of board minutes; testing of journal entries for appropriateness; and analytical procedures on account balances to identify variances against expectation which may show indications of fraud.

No instances of material non-compliance were identified, although the prospect of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is inherently difficult. This is due to; difficulty in detecting irregularities; limits imposed by the effectiveness of the entity’s controls; and the nature, timing and extent of the audit procedures performed. Irregularities as a result of fraud are inherently more difficult to detect than those that resulting from error. Despite this the audit has been planned and performed in accordance with ISAs (UK), there is an unavoidable risk that material misstatements may not be detected.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)
TO THE TRUSTEES OF CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
- 11 -

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 the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Michael Caputo FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of Xeinadin Audit Limited
27 June 2023
Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditor
2 Hilliards Court
Chester Business Park
Chester
Cheshire
CH4 9QP
CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
- 12 -
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
funds
funds
funds
funds
2023
2023
2023
2022
2022
2022
Notes
£
£
£
£
£
£
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies
2
4,715
50
4,765
19,592
-
19,592
Charitable activities
3
743,533
843,053
1,586,586
943,007
427,249
1,370,256
Investments
4
3,143
-
3,143
707
-
707
Other income
5
12,696
868
13,564
1,311
-
1,311
Total income
764,087
843,971
1,608,058
964,617
427,249
1,391,866
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
6
680,732
855,023
1,535,755
906,488
440,601
1,347,089
Net incoming/(outgoing) resources before transfers
83,355
(11,052)
72,303
58,129
(13,352)
44,777
Gross transfers between funds
(1,973)
1,973
-
-
-
-
Net income/(expenditure) for the year/
Net movement in funds
81,382
(9,079)
72,303
58,129
(13,352)
44,777
Fund balances at 1 April 2022
240,888
40,815
281,703
182,759
54,167
236,926
Fund balances at 31 March 2023
322,270
31,736
354,006
240,888
40,815
281,703
The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.
CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT
31 MARCH 2023
31 March 2023
- 13 -
2023
2022
Notes
£
£
£
£
Fixed assets
Intangible assets
10
6,024
8,433
Tangible assets
11
11,850
9,783
17,874
18,216
Current assets
Debtors
12
5,358
8,670
Cash at bank and in hand
404,169
298,394
409,527
307,064
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
13
(73,395)
(43,577)
Net current assets
336,132
263,487
Total assets less current liabilities
354,006
281,703
Income funds
Restricted funds
14
31,736
40,815
Unrestricted funds - general
Designated funds
15
68,000
68,000
General unrestricted funds
254,270
172,888
322,270
240,888
354,006
281,703
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 27 June 2023
Michael J Snape
Gillian L Conway
Trustee
Trustee
Company registration number 06783496
CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
- 14 -
2023
2022
Notes
£
£
£
£
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations
18
110,072
12,713
Investing activities
Purchase of intangible assets
-
(9,638)
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
(7,440)
(641)
Investment income received
3,143
707
Net cash used in investing activities
(4,297)
(9,572)
Net cash used in financing activities
-
-
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
105,775
3,141
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
298,394
295,253
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
404,169
298,394
CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
- 15 -
1
Accounting policies
Charity information

Citizens Advice Cheshire West is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford, CW7 1AD.

1.1
Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum and Articles, the Companies Act 2006 and "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) (effective 1 January 2019)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

1.2
Going concern

At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

1.3
Charitable funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

1.4
Incoming resources
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.

Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.

Grants and Service Contracts

Income from charitable activities includes income recognised as earned (as the related service is provided) under contract or where entitlement to grant funding is subject to specific performance conditions. Grant income included in this category provides funding to support programme activities and is recognised where there is entitlement, certainty of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability. Income is deferred in respect of cash received relating to future expenditure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 16 -
1.5
Resources expended

Allocation of costs

Salaries and related employment costs comprise the major part of the charity costs. Given the nature of the services provided, these costs, excepting an assessment for senior management, administration and governance, are treated as direct charitable expenditure. Management and administration comprises the cost of the Chief Executive's officer and a specific list of corporate and property-based overheads. Expenditure represents all costs paid and payable up to the accounting reference date with appropriate accruals for all significant items.

1.6
Intangible fixed assets other than goodwill

Intangible assets acquired separately from a business are recognised at cost and are subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.

Amortisation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Website
25% straight line basis
1.7
Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Fixtures and fittings
20% Straight line basis
Computers
25% Straight line basis

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.

1.8
Impairment of fixed assets

At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).

1.9
Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

1.10
Financial instruments

The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

 

Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

 

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 17 -
Basic financial assets

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Basic financial liabilities

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

 

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

 

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Derecognition of financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

1.11
Employee benefits

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

 

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

1.12

Retirement benefits

The charity operates defined contribution pension schemes inherited from the pre-merger bureaux.

2
Donations and legacies
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Unrestricted
funds
funds
funds
general
general
2023
2023
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
Donations and gifts
4,715
50
4,765
19,592
CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
- 18 -
3
Charitable activities

Unrestricted funds

Restricted funds

Total
2023

Unrestricted funds

Restricted funds

Total
2022
£
£
£
£
£
£
Help to claim
-
164,476
164,476
-
152,734
152,734
Debt Advice
-
104,989
104,989
-
144,332
144,332
Pension Guidance
-
113,548
113,548
-
130,183
130,183
Cheshire West and Chester Council
489,791
-
489,791
547,269
-
547,269
CWaC Advocacy Service
16,667
-
16,667
40,000
-
40,000
Community Connector
201,096
201,096
144,986
144,986
Sundry Income
35,979
-
35,979
210,752
-
210,752
Household Support
-
460,040
460,040
-
-
-
743,533
843,053
1,586,586
943,007
427,249
1,370,256
4
Investments
Unrestricted
Unrestricted
funds
funds
general
general
2023
2022
£
£
Interest receivable
3,143
707
5
Other income
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
funds
funds
2023
2022
general
£
£
£
£
Sundry income
12,696
868
13,564
1,311
For the year ended 31 March 2022
1,311
-
1,311
CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
- 19 -
6
Charitable activities

Direct Charitable Support

Management and Administration

Total
2023

Direct Charitable Support

Management and Administration

Total
2022
2023
2023
2022
2022
£
£
£
£
£
£
Staff costs
941,125
49,214
990,339
886,669
36,245
922,914
Depreciation and impairment
-
7,783
7,783
-
10,006
10,006

Activities undertaken directly

478,253
43,664
521,917
252,127
147,918
400,045
1,419,378
100,661
1,520,039
1,138,796
194,169
1,332,965
Share of support costs (see note 7)
-
10,336
10,336
-
9,124
9,124
Share of governance costs (see note 7)
-
5,380
5,380
-
5,000
5,000
1,419,378
116,377
1,535,755
1,138,796
208,293
1,347,089
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds - general
564,355
116,377
680,732
698,195
208,293
906,488
Restricted funds
855,023
-
855,023
440,601
-
440,601
1,419,378
116,377
1,535,755
1,138,796
208,293
1,347,089
7
Support costs
Support costs
Governance costs
2023
Support costs
Governance costs
2022
£
£
£
£
£
£

Insurance

10,236
-
10,236
9,056
-
9,056

Bank charges

100
-
100
68
-
68
Audit fees
-
5,380
5,380
-
5,000
5,000
10,336
5,380
15,716
9,124
5,000
14,124
Analysed between
Charitable activities
10,336
5,380
15,716
9,124
5,000
14,124

Governance costs includes payments to the auditors of £5,380 (2022- £5,000) for audit fees.

CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
- 20 -
8
Trustees

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.

 

The trustees received £nil in travelling expenses in connection with their role (2022 - £nil).

9
Employees
Number of employees

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

2023
2022
Number
Number
Paid staff
37
36
Employment costs
2023
2022
£
£
Wages and salaries
884,042
832,707
Social security costs
80,175
71,109
Other pension costs
26,122
19,098
990,339
922,914

Key management personnel comprise the trustees, chief executive officer and the assistant chief executive officer. The total remuneration was £145,135 (2022: £98,043). This year includes the head of people and the head of operations.

There were no employees whose annual remuneration was £60,000 or more.
10
Intangible fixed assets
Website
£
Cost
At 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023
9,638
Amortisation and impairment
At 1 April 2022
1,205
Amortisation charged for the year
2,409
At 31 March 2023
3,614
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2023
6,024
At 31 March 2022
8,433
CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
- 21 -
11
Tangible fixed assets
Fixtures and fittings
Computers
Total
£
£
£
Cost
At 1 April 2022
46,617
60,671
107,288
Additions
-
7,440
7,440
At 31 March 2023
46,617
68,111
114,728
Depreciation and impairment
At 1 April 2022
46,617
50,888
97,505
Depreciation charged in the year
-
5,373
5,373
At 31 March 2023
46,617
56,261
102,878
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2023
-
11,850
11,850
At 31 March 2022
-
9,783
9,783
12
Debtors
2023
2022
Amounts falling due within one year:
£
£
Other debtors
441
2,141
Prepayments
4,917
6,529
5,358
8,670
13
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2023
2022
£
£
Other taxation and social security
18,130
23,503
Deferred income
41,748
8,290
Accruals
13,517
11,784
73,395
43,577
CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
- 22 -
14
Restricted funds
The income funds of the charity include restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust for specific purposes:
Movement in funds
Movement in funds
Balance at
1 April 2021
Incoming resources
Resources expended
Balance at
1 April 2022
Incoming resources
Resources expended
Transfers
Balance at
31 March 2023
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
Debt Advice
26,585
144,332
(158,248)
12,669
104,989
(106,500)
-
11,158
Pension Guidance
17,971
130,183
(129,916)
18,238
114,165
(121,436)
-
10,967
Help To Claim
-
152,734
(152,437)
297
164,476
(166,746)
1,973
-
Heating Bank
9,611
-
-
9,611
-
-
-
9,611
Household Support
-
-
-
-
460,341
(460,341)
-
-
54,167
427,249
(440,601)
40,815
843,971
(855,023)
1,973
31,736

Debt Advice

High level advice on issues involving debt and money management.

 

Pension Guidance

Statutory service funded by national Citizens Advice using central government funding. It provides free and impartial guidance about defined contribution pension options.

 

Help to Claim

Service funded by Cheshire West & Chester Council using central government funding, to provide assistance to individuals making claims for Universal Support, including personal budgeting.

 

Heating Bank

Service funded by Citizens Advice to assist residents in the local area with payment of their gas and electric bills.

 

Household Support

Service to assist residents in the local area with payment of their gas and electric bills due to the energy crisis.

CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
- 23 -
15
Designated funds
The income funds of the charity include the following designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes:
Movement in funds
Balance at
1 April 2021
Incoming resources
Balance at
1 April 2022
Balance at
31 March 2023
Unplanned closure contingency
48,000
-
48,000
48,000
End of fixed term projects
20,000
-
20,000
20,000
68,000
-
68,000
68,000

Unplanned closure contingency

Provision for redundancy and other financial commitments in the event of an unplanned closure of the charity.

 

End of fixed term projects

Provision for staff costs following the end of fixed term projects.

 

 

 

16
Analysis of net assets between funds

Unrestricted

Restricted

 

Total

Unrestricted

Restricted

 

Total
2023
2023
2023
2022
2022
2022
£
£
£
£
£
£
Fund balances at 31 March 2023 are represented by:
Intangible fixed assets
6,024
-
6,024
8,433
-
8,433
Tangible assets
11,850
-
11,850
9,783
-
9,783
Current assets/(liabilities)
304,396
31,736
336,132
222,672
40,815
263,487
322,270
31,736
354,006
240,888
40,815
281,703
17
Related party transactions

There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2022 - £nil).

CITIZENS ADVICE CHESHIRE WEST
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
- 24 -
18
Cash generated from operations
2023
2022
£
£
Surplus for the year
72,303
44,777
Adjustments for:
Investment income recognised in statement of financial activities
(3,143)
(707)
Depreciation and impairment of tangible fixed assets
7,783
10,006
Movements in working capital:
Decrease in debtors
3,312
576
(Decrease)/increase in creditors
(3,641)
3,655
Increase/(decrease) in deferred income
33,458
(45,594)
Cash generated from operations
110,072
12,713
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