The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024.
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, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) 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)” (second edition - October 2019) (effective 1 January 2019).
Objectives and aims
The main objectives and aims of COSCA, which are solely charitable, include the advancement of education, the advancement of health and the relief of those in need by reason of ill health by advancing, developing, maintaining, improving and expanding all forms of counselling and related activities and therapies in Scotland and beyond for the public benefit.
Objectives for the year
The five strategic objectives of COSCA for the year were to:
inform and influence policy making at local and national levels on key issues affecting counselling, psychotherapy, counselling skills and supervision of practice
increase access to a wider range of ethically based services to larger numbers and more diverse groups of people
increase the access of individuals and agencies to training, knowledge and information on counselling, psychotherapy, counselling skills and supervision of practice
develop and promote quality assurance systems and ethical standards for counselling, psychotherapy, counselling skills and supervision of practice
develop, communicate and market COSCA as Scotland's professional body for counselling, psychotherapy, counselling skills and supervision of practice.
COSCA's strategies
The strategies employed to assist COSCA to meet these objectives are laid down in COSCA's Development Plan 2023-2024. These include details of the ways in which the above objectives will be met and the performance indicators, timescales, lead roles, and partners for doing so.
Significant activities
The main areas of charitable activity are the services related to the provision of information to the public on counselling, psychotherapy and the use of counselling skills, the validation of counselling and counselling-related courses, the accreditation of counsellors/psychotherapists and trainers, the recognition of counselling/counselling skills organisations, publication of good practice and ethical guidance, and the provision of networking and continuing professional development opportunities via conferences, seminars and other events and dealing with members' enquiries, including ethical issues.
Quantified use of volunteers
COSCA is committed to the development and promotion of a volunteer ethos in its work. In addition to the volunteers on COSCA's Board, COSCA directly engages, manages and supports around 30 other volunteers and follows recognised good practice in doing so. These volunteers work on COSCA's decision-making and policy formulation groups in relation to training, counselling, ethics, equalities, membership, human resources, regulation, children and young people, journal, finance and research related activities.
Explanation of performance against objectives
In the year under review, COSCA performed to a high standard, meeting over 90% of the performance indicators laid down in the Development Plan.
During the last year, during which the cost-of-living crisis was affecting many people and organisations in Scotland, COSCA has supported its members through a range of services, including the renewal of membership, production of our journal, Counselling in Scotland, and advice and support. COSCA has also validated and re-validated counselling skills, specialist, supervision and diploma courses. Our system for approving the delivery of validated courses in a blended or fully online (real time) format is continuing to help our validated training providers to adapt to the new demands for training courses to better meet the needs of the public, especially those living in rural parts of Scotland. COSCA’s Recognition Scheme for Counselling & Counselling Skills Organisations continues to attract new member organisations, and work is on-going on monitoring and supporting existing member organisations and promoting the recognition Scheme to member organisations who have not yet applied.
After due process via our accreditation panels, COSCA accreditation has been awarded to both counsellors and trainers. Applications for trainer accreditation this year have continued in line with the number of new courses being validated, with nearly all of the trainers on COSCA validated courses being accredited as trainers by COSCA and all other trainers involved approved in advance by COSCA to deliver COSCA validated courses. The number of students registered with COSCA for successful completion of COSCA validated courses across Scotland this year amounted to 1502 (1402) (an increase of 7% since last year). We received core investment from the Scottish Government under our 1-year award (2023-24). This funding has allowed us to plan our work with confidence over this year. COSCA’s application to the Scottish Government for funding for 2024-25 has been successful.
COSCA’s 9th application to the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care for the renewal of the accreditation of the COSCA Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists was successful. In the last year we have seen an overall increase of 31 in the number of registrants on the COSCA Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists, giving a total of 816 registrants. There has been an overall increase of 12 in the number of individual members, which includes the above registrants but also student, counselling skills, and associate members, giving a total of 1405 individual members of COSCA.
A General Meeting of members of COSCA was held in person in Stirling on 4th March 2024. At this Meeting, it was decided to change the COSCA Memorandum and Articles of Association to allow the COSCA AGM and General Meetings in future years to be legally held either in person or remotely.
A number of other changes below were also made to modernise and improve how the Articles of Association serve the members of COSCA, and the public in general, by the COSCA members present and entitled to vote on them:
the Memorandum on page 1 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association was deleted
General Meetings of Members, including Annual General Meetings can be held either in person or by way of audio and/or audio-visual link(s)
Board meetings can be held either in person or by way of audio and/or audio-visual link(s)
the number of directors on COSCA’s Board was reduced to a minimum of 5 and no maximum number is now required.
the list of areas of interest was deleted from the Articles of Association and is now included in Standing Orders.
in the list of Areas of Interest ‘a minimum of one’ was replaced by ‘up to one’, and this article was deleted from the Articles of Association and included in Standing Orders.
the procedures for the election of Board members were deleted from the Articles of Association and included in Standing Orders.
the quorum for Board meetings was reduced from 5 to 3.
the retirement by rotation articles were deleted from the Articles of Association and replaced with a statement that Board members need to retire automatically following the sixth year in office and that existing Board members can remain in office following the passing of this Resolution.
COSCA has continued to actively engage with the Scottish Government Regulation Unit, its Counselling in Schools Coordinators Network, and its Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Working Group.
The particular risk to counselling in Scotland identified and added to COSCA’s Client Risk Matrix in the last year was the risk of the overuse/misuse of either inaccurate or out of date Disclosure Scotland information.
Under the 5 objectives of the Development Plan 2023-2024, COSCA achieved the following outcomes:
OBJECTIVE 1: inform and influence policy making at local and national levels on key issues affecting counselling, psychotherapy, counselling skills and supervision of practice
Communicated key messages to influence decision makers and stakeholders:
attended the Scottish Government’s Counselling in Schools Coordinators Network meetings
promoted COSCA by attending online the Professional Standards Authority Collaborative Group meetings of accredited registers (October 2023, March 2024)
attended: PSA’s Accredited Registers Symposium on safer care for all (June 2023); PSA’s Accredited Registers event on ‘good practice in complaints handling’; and PSA Accredited Registers Event on Tackling Barriers to Complaints (January 2024)
attended meetings of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Groups on a) Children and Young People and b) Mental Health
OBJECTIVE 2: increase access to a wider range of ethically based services to larger numbers and more diverse groups of people
Increased Accessibility to Counselling and Psychotherapy:
provided and maintained online public access to the COSCA Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists
provided information on how to access counselling and psychotherapy services in Scotland
promoted our ‘Making Safer Choices - COSCA’s Guide for People Considering Counselling/Psychotherapy’ leaflet
provided information about COSCA’s Recognition Scheme for Organisations via online cafes and email/telephone/written communication and annual standards event (August 2023)
maintained our online directory of counselling services for children and young people
reviewed COSCA’s client risk matrix at each Board meeting and updated as necessary
produced, implemented and reviewed COSCA’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan
drafted COSCA first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Survey of Registrants, analysed data, and distributed results to all members
OBJECTIVE 3: increase the access of individuals and agencies to training, knowledge and information on counselling, psychotherapy, counselling skills and supervision of practice
Increased Access to Information and Training:
provided information to the public on how to become a counsellor or psychotherapist
applied for and achieved re-accreditation from the University of the West of Scotland for the SQCF crediting and levelling of the COSCA Counselling Skills Course and the COSCA Counselling Supervision Course
published articles in one edition of COSCA’s Journal, Counselling in Scotland (March 2024)
held online the following COSCA Events: Annual Ethics Event on ‘Creating a Safe Enough Space for Trauma Processing’ (February 2024); the annual trainers events for validated providers and trainers (November 2023); held the 12th Annual Recognition Scheme Standards Event (August 2023)
arranged and supported 3 meetings of the Course Validation Panel and issued outcome letters to all applicants
maintained regular contact with other UK based professional bodies via the PSA Accredited Registers programme, and with the Irish Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy and the International Association for Counselling
offered option to training providers to deliver COSCA validated courses fully online (real time) and/or in a blended format depending on course
attended launch event, produced, and distributed to members ‘Race is Complicated Toolkit’; posted on website and distributed to members ‘Guide to Working with Muslim Clients’ (November 2023)
COSCA’s Counselling Skills Course:
provided support and advice to 5 potential training providers
monitored courses via Student Feedback Forms and 24 Annual Monitoring Forms
issued 986 counselling skills certificates to students who completed the Skills Course
delivered 1,854 hard copies of participants handbooks and 37 trainers handbooks
delivered 1,002 PDF copies (licenses) of participants handbooks
re-validated 3 counselling skills training providers
Diploma Courses in Counselling:
revalidated 1 diploma training provider
issued COSCA validated diploma certificates in counselling to 249 participants
registered an additional 149 graduates of diploma courses, giving a total of 398 successful participants
received 14 Annual Monitoring Forms and 4 COSCA Assessor’s Reports for courses applying for validation
provided support and advice to 3 potential training providers
reviewed and updated guidelines for Validated Diploma Courses
Specialist Courses:
received 8 Annual Monitoring Forms
registered 72 names of successful participants
Counselling Supervision Courses:
awarded 46 COSCA Counselling Supervision Certificates
received 8 Annual Monitoring Forms
revalidated 1 counselling supervision courses
COSCA’s Further Steps in Counselling Skills Course:
received 1 Annual Monitoring Form
COSCA’s Group Counselling Skills Course:
promoted the Group Counselling Skills Course on an on-going basis
offered advice and support on the course
received 1 Annual Monitoring Form
OBJECTIVE 4: develop and promote quality assurance systems and ethical standards and for counselling, psychotherapy, counselling skills and supervision of practice
Ethical Practice:
advised on request COSCA members regarding ethical practice
consulted COSCA’s Ethics Committee as required
reviewed and updated COSCA’s Risk Matrix for the Practice of Counsellors and Psychotherapists
implemented COSCA’s bi-annual audit systems of registrants and member organisations
invited all members to check their online presence against COSCA’s membership standards
Accreditation of Counsellors and Psychotherapists:
assessed 4 counsellor accreditation applications via 2 Counsellor Accreditation Panel meetings
provided assistance and support on applying for counsellor accreditation
maintained and admitted 5 applicants to our Registration System for Counsellor Accreditation
approved 58 Forms for the Annual Renewal of Counsellor Accreditation
held counsellor accreditation workshops (June 2023; December 2023)
combined counsellor accreditation guidelines with application to streamline application process
Accreditation of Trainers:
assessed 20 applications for trainer accreditation via 2 meetings of the Trainer Accreditation Panel
approved 99 Annual Renewal of Trainer Accreditation Forms
admitted 6 new registrants to our Registration System for Trainer Accreditation
provided assistance/support on applying for trainer accreditation
held trainer accreditation workshops (June 2023; December 2023)
Recognition Scheme for Counselling/Counselling Skills Organisations
maintained the Recognition Scheme Handbook and assisted Recognised Organisations with its roll-out
received notification of interest from 2 new organisations
approved renewal of 4 Recognised Organisations via 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 years annual monitoring forms
approved renewal of 15 Recognised Organisations via standard annual monitoring forms.
carried out 1 online assessment visits
supported 1 organisation to complete initial Recognition
issued 3 updates to the Recognition Scheme Assessors and Verifiers
issued the results of the Recognised Organisations and Member Organisations annual survey
met with 8 organisations to discuss joining the Recognition Scheme
met with 1 organisation about joining the Pre-Recognition Scheme
held the 12th Annual Standards Event (August 2023): ‘Adding Value as an organisation’
checked and provided feedback on the complaints procedures of 19 Recognised Organisations, and 11 new applicants for organisational membership and existing member organisations against COSCA’s standards for complaints
OBJECTIVE 5: develop, communicate and market COSCA as Scotland’s professional body for counselling, psychotherapy, counselling skills and supervision of practice
Membership Services Reviewed and Developed:
applied for and received one year core grant (2023-2024 from the Scottish Government)
successfully completed COSCA’s 9th re-accreditation application to the Professional Standards Authority (PSA)
submitted compliance report to PSA and met its new public interest test
submitted evidence to meet PSA’s new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Standard
maintained and reviewed COSCA’s Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists and online directories for courses, organisations, trainers and supervisors
maintained COSCA’s website and carried out GDPR review of contents
held 4 virtual meetings of the Corporate Affairs Group and awarded 408 new individual memberships and 4 new organisational memberships
sent emails and 2 e-bulletins to members
Income Generated from Membership Subscriptions:
membership fees from 1,458 individual members and 115 organisational members
Implementation and Review of Financial Strategies:
financial systems and procedures reviewed and implemented
independent financial report produced and submitted to Board, COSCA members, OSCR, Companies House and the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care
forecasts, budgets and reports produced and reviewed on schedule
maintained diversification of COSCA’s banking and investment arrangements
maintained level of self-generated income
Keeping up to Date with New Laws and Procedures:
monitored the political developments related to conversion therapies and gender recognition
monitored the impending changes for counselling due to the revision of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme
held General Meeting of members (March 2024) to decide on resolutions to change COSCA’s Memorandum and Articles of Association to ensure smooth running of the governance of COSCA and compliance with changes to company and charity legislation
attended NHS Research Mental Health Conference (October 2023)
attended BACP Research Conference (May 2023)
COSCA Staff Developed and Supported:
staff developed and supported via regular training, supervision, staff meetings
recruited and inducted a new COSCA Administrator
COSCA Board’s Governance Capacity Maintained:
reviewed risk analysis and management report
held 4 meetings of the COSCA Board and provided secretary support to meetings
carried out appointment procedures and induction of 3 new Board members
updated Register of Interests and Performance Review records of Board members
submitted annual returns to OSCR and Companies House
annual reports delivered by Board members on their areas of interest as detailed in COSCA’s Development Plan 2023-24 at Board meetings
held General Meeting of Members (March 2024)
COSCA marketed as Scotland’s Professional Body:
attended online meetings of SCVO’s National Intermediaries Group
maintained and updated COSCA’s Facebook page
reviewed and refreshed COSCA website on a regular basis
issued 2 e-bulletins to members of COSCA
Development Plan 2024-2025
The Development Plan for 2024-2025 outlines COSCA’s work plan for the next year.
Fundraising Performance against Objectives
COSCA successfully secured one year of funding from the Scottish Government Chief Nursing Officer Directorate. COSCA self-generated an income of £147,505 over the last year. The securing of funding from the Scottish Government Chief Nursing Officer Directorate has given COSCA much needed financial stability during this period.
Investment Performance
From its bank deposits COSCA raised £17,808 in interest received in this period. This represents a £12,978 increase on the previous period. The increase in interest received can be attributed to variable interest rates on investments held.
Principal Sources of Funding
With the aid of sound financial management and the support of its staff, volunteers, sessional workers and members COSCA generated a positive financial outcome for the period with a net increase of funds of £10,131.
It was successful in obtaining the following funding:
Chief Nursing Officer Directorate awarded a grant of £70,000 for the period 2023-2024.
In addition, income generated by COSCA's activities, including donations, amounted to £149,240 for the period.
On a fund by fund basis, the assets of the charity are available and adequate to fulfil the obligations of the charity.
Investment Policy and Objectives
COSCA's non-committed funds, including its reserves, are invested in a variety of bank and investment accounts, and the Board is happy with the returns achieved.
Reserves Policy
The company has identified a reserves requirement of £175,000. Free reserves at the year end amounted to £690,061. At this level the Board thinks that it would be able to continue the current activities of the company for a limited period in the event of a significant drop in funding.
Going Concern
After making appropriate enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details are given in the accounting policy 1.2.
Future Plans Including Key Objectives Set
COSCA plans to continue the activities outlined above and those in COSCA's Development Plan 2024-2025 in the forthcoming year subject to satisfactory funding arrangements.
Explanation where specific factors may affect future performance
In December 2012, the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) established its programme for the accreditation of registers of non-regulated health and social care workers. In June 2013 COSCA applied to PSA for accreditation of the COSCA Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. In June 2014 COSCA's Register was accredited by PSA under its accredited registers programme, and in June 2015- 2023 COSCA was re-accredited. There was an initial application fee. There will also be on-going re-accreditation and other costs associated with maintaining accreditation under the above programme and COSCA will be accountable to PSA for meeting its robust accreditation standards.
Governing Document
The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 29 January 1993. The company was established under a Memorandum and Articles of Association that established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Memorandum and Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up, members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.00. The Company is also recognised by the H.M. Revenue & Customs as a charity from 3 June 1991, and accordingly there is no liability to taxation on any of its income.
Trustees
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:
Recruitment and Appointment of Board
The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the company's Articles are known as directors of the Board. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association the directors of the Board shall retire automatically from the Board at the annual general meeting next following the sixth anniversary of their original appointment as a member of the Board, and they will not be eligible for re-election at that annual general meeting. Such a person shall be eligible for re-appointment to the Board after the expiry of twelve months following their retirement from office.
One member of the Board will retire in 2024 under the above agreement. One Board Member resigned in February 2024. Elections for these vacancies will be held with appointments to be made at the COSCA AGM in September 2024.
As the work of COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland) focuses on the promotion and development of counselling, psychotherapy and the use of counselling skills, the Board seeks to ensure that there is appropriate representation of these activities among members of the Board. To ensure this, the Board is constituted around areas of interest that are directly related to the aims and objectives of COSCA's Development Plan. As a result, both business and professional skills specific to the fields of counselling, psychotherapy and the use of counselling skills are well represented on the Board. In the event of a vacancy arising in any of the above areas of interest, elections are organised in advance of the next Annual General Meeting by the Company Secretary.
Indemnity provisions for trustees
The company has effected a charity trustees indemnity insurance policy at a premium of £278 (2023 - £307).
Organisational Structure
COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland) has a Board to which three ex officio members (Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer), and a minimum of one member representing each of the eleven designated areas of interest can be appointed. In addition, the Board can co-opt up to four persons with specialist knowledge and expertise at any one time. The Board meets quarterly and is responsible for the strategic direction, governance and policy of COSCA. At present, the Board has members from a variety of the areas of interest relevant to the work of the charity. The Company Secretary also attends meetings of the Board, but does not have voting rights.
A scheme of delegation is in place and day-to-day responsibility for the running of the charity rests with the Chief Executive. The Chief Executive is responsible for ensuring that the charity delivers the aims and objectives of COSCA's Development Plan, and that the key performance indicators are met. The Chief Executive is responsible for the individual supervision of the staff team, and also ensuring that the staff team continue to develop their skills and working practices in line with good practice.
Trustee Induction and Training
All new members of the Board are invited to attend a formal and structured induction session to familiarise themselves with COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland), including its history, purpose, and the contexts in which it operates, and with their role as a member of the Board. This session is led by the Chief Executive of COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland) and covers discussion on COSCA's key documents, including its current Development Plan. All new Board members are provided with an Induction Pack that contains the above documents. Follow-up meetings are also offered on an individual basis. Feedback from new Board members about their induction has been very positive.
The Board is offered regular capacity building sessions covering their role as trustees and to keep them informed about new roles and responsibilities.
Network and Related Parties
As a membership organisation, COSCA works closely with its individual and organisational members in all its activities. It also works collaboratively when appropriate with other professional bodies at a UK and international level in the field of counselling, psychotherapy and the use of counselling skills. It regularly submits written responses to relevant Scottish Government consultation documents. It also submits written reports annually to its funders.
The trustees, who are also the directors of COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland) 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; 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 Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and 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.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on pages 11 to 20.
The charity’s trustees, who are also the directors of COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland) for the purposes of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investments (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). The trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1)(a) to (c) of the 2006 Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the financial statements as required under section 44(1)(c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, and seeks explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the financial statements.
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations; and
to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 8 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations;
to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland) is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland. The registered office is 16 Melville Terrace, Stirling, FK8 2NE, United Kingdom.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) 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)” (second edition - October 2019) (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.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have have reviewed the future funding and activities of the charity. 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.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Donations and similar income
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.
Grants receivable
Grants receivable are credited to the SOFA in the year in which they accrue.
Membership Income
Membership Subscriptions are included in the year in which the charity becomes entitled to the resource.
Income from charitable activities
Income from charitable activities includes income from activities or where entitlement is subject to specific performance conditions is recognised as earned (as the related service is provided).
Investment income, rental income and similar income
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the Bank.
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.
Costs of raising funds are costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds. Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. Support costs are those costs incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity. Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements. All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
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:
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.
Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour costs and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing the stocks to their present location and condition. Items held for distribution at no or nominal consideration are measured the lower of replacement cost and cost.
Net realisable value is the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.
The charity 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.
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.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
Government grants
Training
Accreditation
Office administration
Property costs
Accountancy and professional fees
Other staff expenses
Accountancy and professional fees
Office administration
Governance costs includes independent examiner fees of £3,144 (2023- £2,928).
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration during the year, but 4 of them were reimbursed a total of £132 meeting expenses (2023- none).
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity considers its key management personnel to comprise of the trustees' and the Chief Executive.
One employee received remuneration (including employer national insurance contributions) in excess of £60,000 (within the band of £70,000 - £80,000).
Deferred income is included in the financial statements as follows:
Incoming resources
Resources expended
Incoming resources
Resources expended
At the reporting end date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2023 - none).