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REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: SC270038 (Scotland)
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: SC015018














Report of the Trustees and

Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

for

WESTERN ISLES CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE

WESTERN ISLES CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE






Contents of the Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024




Page

Report of the Trustees 1 to 4

Report of the Independent Auditors 5 to 8

Statement of Financial Activities 9

Balance Sheet 10

Cash Flow Statement 11

Notes to the Cash Flow Statement 12

Notes to the Financial Statements 13 to 21

WESTERN ISLES CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE (REGISTERED NUMBER: SC270038)

Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024


The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The objectives of the charity are to promote the community benefit within the Western Isles by advancing education, protecting health and the relief of poverty sickness and distress.

Significant activities
The principal activity of the company in the year under review was that of the provision of information, advice and practical assistance to the community through advice bureaux in Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra. This service has faced significant funding challenges and is currently undergoing organisational changes to better manage the community needs and these funding challenges.

All projects have performed well this year and all met the required milestones. Our contract with CNES was renewed and this is a significant acceptance and acknowledgement by CNES of the valuable service provided. WICAS were able to satisfy all evidence requirements and submit the claims to draw down the full amount of funding for all income streams.

Volunteers
The trustees are grateful to all our volunteers who kindly give up their time to assist in the delivery of the charity's services.

STRATEGIC REPORT
Achievement and performance
Internal and external factors
The continued delivery of the charity's activities is dependent upon funding from The Scottish Executive through the local authority, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Citizens Advice Scotland. The charity aims to ensure continuity of funding through maintaining the necessary standards of service delivery. These standards are subject to external monitoring by a number of agencies and the organisation continues to meet their requirements and guidelines.

Financial review
Principal funding sources
The charity's principal sources of funding are from the local authority Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Citizens Advice Scotland, and the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB funding is currently scheduled to end in September 2024).

Reserves policy
The trustees have created a Designated Restructuring Fund to allow the charity to meet the uncertainties and challenges that will arise from gaps and reductions in funding. The adequacy of this fund will be reviewed annually. It is believed that the fund at the year end was sufficient to give assurance on viability going forward.

During the year the charity's incoming resources succeeded expended resources resulting in a deficit for the year of £27,555 (2022: surplus of £32,709). This represents an decrease in unrestricted funds of £32,310 to £191,952 and an increase in restricted funds of £4,755 to £127,767.

Going concern
The management team have prepared projections for the period to 31 March 2025. The Trustees have reviewed the projections, based on this review, have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operation for a period of at least 12 months from the approval of the financial statements. The charity therefore continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing its financial statements and the period of management's going concern assessment is the period to 31 March 2025.


WESTERN ISLES CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE (REGISTERED NUMBER: SC270038)

Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024


STRATEGIC REPORT
Principal risks and uncertainties
Principal risks remain effectively the same, the service delivery is now more reliant on telephone and online contact but still ensuring face-to-face advice provision is available for those who need it.
With the cost-of-living crisis still affecting society, the effect it has on our service is still being felt. Increases in demand and cases becoming more complex is certainly placing greater strain on the service and causing capacity issues around the network. Our staff and volunteers health and wellbeing is important to us and we are mindful of the work they do and vital service provided to those in the Western Isles.

Financial and risk management objectives and policies
The Charity will strengthen its risk management structures by the provision of a more detailed risk register that will be included in our Business Plan and reviewed regularly by trustees and senior management. Monthly accounts are provided to the trustees with more detailed management information and reports provided quarterly.

Future plans
The Charity intends to continue the delivery of the existing services through the network of bureaux across the Western Isles. It would also like to broaden its funding base to allow additional activities, and to lever in more external funding to match the current core funding parcels. This will include reviewing the services and areas of advice that are prevalent to best match with appropriate funding taking trends into account to compliment the service which is currently offered.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The organisation is incorporated as a company limited by guarantee and is governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up, the members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.

The organisation is registered with the Scottish Charity Regulator and the Scottish Charity Number is SCO15018.

Membership of the charity is open to local residents, local groups and volunteers.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law.

At each annual general meeting, the members may (subject to articles 70 to 75 of the Articles of Association) elect any member (providing they are willing to act) to be a director (a "Member Director"). The directors may (subject to articles 70 to 75 of the Articles of Association) at any time appoint any member (providing they are willing to act) to be a director (a "Member Director").

At each annual general meeting:
any Member Director appointed during the period since the preceding annual general meeting shall retire from office;
out of the remaining Member Directors, one-third (to the nearest round number) shall retire from office.

Member Director means a director (drawn from the membership of the company) appointed under articles 76 to 83 of the Articles of Association.
Co-opted Director means a (non-member) director appointed or re-appointed by the directors under articles 84 and 85 of the Articles of Association.

The maximum number of directors shall be 12 out of that number, no more than 10 shall be Member Directors and no more than 2 shall be Co-opted Directors. At any given time, Member Directors must form a majority of the total number of directors in office. At any given time, no more than 25% of the directors in office may be volunteers working for the Bureau.

The minimum number of directors shall be 4.


WESTERN ISLES CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE (REGISTERED NUMBER: SC270038)

Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024


STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Organisational structure
The charity provides information and advice bureaux in four areas of the Western Isles: Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra. The board consists of directors who manage the affairs of the charity through regular board meetings where matters are discussed and agreed. The decisions taken by the board are implemented at the four bureaux by the Strategic Manager.

Induction and training of new trustees
The trustees are familiar with the practical work of the charity through involvement at a local level in the day to day activities. The charity undertakes training for trustees to ensure awareness of the responsibilities of directors, the organisational structure, understanding of the financial position of the charity and future plans and objectives.

Key management remuneration
The Operations Manager, to whom day to day management of the charity is delegated, is Lynda Maclean.

The pay of the Operations Manager is considered annually as part of an overall review of pay in the organisation.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Company number
SC270038 (Scotland)

Registered Charity number
SC015018

Registered office
Lewis Citizens Advice Bureau
41-43 Westview Terrace
Stornoway
Isle of Lewis
HS1 2HP

Trustees
L S Cooper
K Duce (resigned 3.4.24)
P Finnegan (resigned 31.8.23)
E K Geddes
M M Maclean
F M S Macleod
I A Macneil (resigned 31.8.23)
P Smith (appointed 2.10.23)
M P Campbell (appointed 2.10.23)
D Cross (appointed 31.8.23)
S A Macaulay (appointed 31.8.23)

Auditors
Mann Judd Gordon Ltd
Chartered Accountants
& Statutory Auditors
26 Lewis Street
Stornoway
Isle of Lewis
HS1 2JF


WESTERN ISLES CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE (REGISTERED NUMBER: SC270038)

Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees (who are also the directors of Western Isles Citizens Advice Service for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees 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 charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Report of the trustees, incorporating a strategic report, approved by order of the board of trustees, as the company directors, on 30 August 2024 and signed on the board's behalf by:





M M Maclean - Trustee

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Trustees and Members of
Western Isles Citizens Advice Service

Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Western Isles Citizens Advice Service (the 'charitable company') for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement and 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 (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:
-give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
-have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
-have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and Regulation 8 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 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 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 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 trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information
The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our Report of the Independent Auditors thereon.

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether 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 the audit:
- the information given in the Report of the Trustees for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
- the Report of the Trustees has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Trustees and Members of
Western Isles Citizens Advice Service


Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the 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 Report of the Trustees.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- adequate and proper 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.

Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities, the trustees 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 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 trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Trustees and Members of
Western Isles Citizens Advice Service


Our 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 a Report of the Independent Auditors 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:

Our approach was as follows:
We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the entity and determined that the most significant are the Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux Membership Standards (SACABMS). We have also considered those that relate to employment matters and those relating directly the preparation of the financial statements, that is FRS102, Charities SORP and the Companies Act 2006. We assessed the risks of material misstatement in respect of fraud as follows:

As part of our audit team discussion, we identified if any particular area was more susceptible to misstatement. A list of the known related parties was compiled along with an expectation of transactions between them. We then made fraud enquires of those charged with governance and confirmed our related party list.

Based on the results of our risk assessment we designed our audit procedures to identify non-compliance with such laws and regulations identified above. We corroborated our enquiries of those charged with governance by a review of the board minutes to date, a review of the bank statements to date, a review of the service organisation's payroll files for the year and a review of legal fees charged in the year for any evidence of legal or regulatory issues. Our considerations at planning were corroborated and no further legal or regulatory issues were noted.

We considered the risk of fraud through management override and, in response, we incorporated testing of manual journal entries throughout the year into our audit approach . A review of the year of bank statements was undertaken, to identify any large or unusual transactions. No transactions outside the normal course of business were identified. Given the size of the entity, segregation of duties is limited, so we designed our audit procedures to identify and to address any material misstatements arising from this. Appropriate approval controls were found to be in place.

The engagement partner's assessment of whether the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence and capabilities to identify or recognise non-compliance with laws and regulations concluded that the overall risk was of fraud and misstatement was low and the experience of the audit team assigned was sufficient and no specialists were required. An appropriate level of materiality has been calculated in consideration of the inherent difficulty in detecting irregularities along with the perceived level of risk.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above that result in an unavoidable risk that some material misstatements in the financial statements may not be detected, even though the audit is properly planned and performed in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK). The further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and financial transactions in the financial statements, the less likely the auditor is to become aware of it or recognise non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment through forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation. The primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with both those charged with governance of the entity and management.

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 Report of the Independent Auditors.

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Trustees and Members of
Western Isles Citizens Advice Service


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, and to the charitable company's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Regulation 10 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members and the trustees 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.




Andrew Cumming CA (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of Mann Judd Gordon Ltd
Chartered Accountants
& Statutory Auditors
Eligible to act as an auditor in terms of Section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006
26 Lewis Street
Stornoway
Isle of Lewis
HS1 2JF

30 August 2024

WESTERN ISLES CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE

Statement of Financial Activities
(Incorporating an Income and Expenditure Account)
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

31.3.24 31.3.23
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
funds funds funds funds
Notes £    £    £    £   
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Charitable activities 3
Advice services 240,609 224,218 464,827 601,416

Investment income 2 5,625 - 5,625 1,464
Other income 4 21,041 - 21,041 12,860
Total 267,275 224,218 491,493 615,740

EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities 5
Advice services 306,471 212,577 519,048 583,031

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) (39,196 ) 11,641 (27,555 ) 32,709
Transfers between funds 16 6,886 (6,886 ) - -
Net movement in funds (32,310 ) 4,755 (27,555 ) 32,709

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward 224,262 123,012 347,274 314,565

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 191,952 127,767 319,719 347,274

WESTERN ISLES CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE (REGISTERED NUMBER: SC270038)

Balance Sheet
31 March 2024

31.3.24 31.3.23
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
funds funds funds funds
Notes £    £    £    £   
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets 12 1,943 108,993 110,936 115,494

CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 13 9,017 - 9,017 76,354
Cash at bank 197,941 18,775 216,716 173,210
206,958 18,775 225,733 249,564

CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year 14 (16,950 ) - (16,950 ) (17,784 )

NET CURRENT ASSETS 190,008 18,775 208,783 231,780

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES

191,951

127,768

319,719

347,274

NET ASSETS 191,951 127,768 319,719 347,274
FUNDS 16
Unrestricted funds:
General 112,177 144,488
Designated Restructuring Fund 79,774 79,774
191,951 224,262
Restricted funds 127,768 123,012
TOTAL FUNDS 319,719 347,274


The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 30 August 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:





M M Maclean - Trustee

WESTERN ISLES CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE

Cash Flow Statement
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

31.3.24 31.3.23
Notes £    £   

Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations 1 37,881 10,778
Net cash provided by operating activities 37,881 10,778

Cash flows from investing activities
Interest received 5,625 1,464
Net cash provided by investing activities 5,625 1,464

Change in cash and cash equivalents in
the reporting period

43,506

12,242
Cash and cash equivalents at the
beginning of the reporting period

173,210

160,968
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of
the reporting period

216,716

173,210

WESTERN ISLES CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE

Notes to the Cash Flow Statement
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

1. RECONCILIATION OF NET (EXPENDITURE)/INCOME TO NET CASH FLOW FROM
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
31.3.24 31.3.23
£    £   
Net (expenditure)/income for the reporting period (as per the
Statement of Financial Activities)

(27,555

)

32,709
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges 4,556 4,556
Interest received (5,625 ) (1,464 )
Decrease/(increase) in debtors 67,339 (22,901 )
Decrease in creditors (834 ) (2,122 )
Net cash provided by operations 37,881 10,778


2. ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET FUNDS

At 1.4.23 Cash flow At 31.3.24
£    £    £   
Net cash
Cash at bank and in hand 173,210 43,506 216,716
173,210 43,506 216,716
Total 173,210 43,506 216,716

WESTERN ISLES CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE

Notes to the Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and are rounded to the nearest £.

Going concern
The charity is a going concern and there are no material uncertainties casting significant doubt over its ability to continue as a going concern.

Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
In the application of the company's accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported for assets, liabilities, income and expenditure.

The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised and in future periods should it affect future periods.

The estimates and assumptions which carry a higher degree of risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities are as follows:

Useful economic lives of tangible fixed assets
The annual depreciation charge for tangible fixed assets is sensitive to changes in the estimated useful economic lives and residual values of the assets. They are amended when necessary to reflect current estimates, future investment, economic utilisation and the physical condition of the assets. See note 13 for details of the values of tangible fixed assets.

Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Grants receivable are credited to the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity. Grants related to performance and specific activities are accounted for when the charity has completed the related undertakings. Grants received which are related to capital expenditure are held within restricted funds and are utilised to fund the future depreciation of the related capital expenditure.

Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, 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 is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

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


WESTERN ISLES CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Freehold property - 2% on cost
Fixtures and fittings - 33% on cost and 20% on cost

Assets not measured at fair value are reviewed for any indication that the asset may be impaired at each balance sheet date. If such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated and compared to the carrying amount. Where the carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount, an impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss unless the asset is carried at a revalued amount where the impairment loss is a revaluation decrease.

Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

The designated restructuring fund allows the charity to meet the uncertainties and challenges that will arise from gaps and reductions in funding. The adequacy of this fund will be reviewed annually.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Hire purchase and leasing commitments
Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

Debtors and creditors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

2. INVESTMENT INCOME
31.3.24 31.3.23
£    £   
Deposit account interest 5,625 1,464


WESTERN ISLES CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

3. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
31.3.24 31.3.23
Activity £    £   
Grants Advice services 464,827 601,416

Grants received, included in the above, are as follows:
31.3.24 31.3.23
£    £   
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 230,875 253,085
Citizens Advice Scotland 189,784 183,927
Scottish Legal Aid Board 42,168 43,583
Kickstart - 1,463
European Social Fund - 117,358
Calmac Community Fund - 2,000
UCVO 2,000 -
464,827 601,416

4. OTHER INCOME
31.3.24 31.3.23
£    £   
Employer Allowance 5,000 5,000
Management fees 16,041 7,860
21,041 12,860

5. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS
Direct Support
Costs (see costs (see
note 6) note 7) Totals
£    £    £   
Advice services 509,246 9,802 519,048

6. DIRECT COSTS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
31.3.24 31.3.23
£    £   
Staff costs 413,470 502,056
Rent 9,000 9,001
Rates and water 1,132 1,449
Insurance 1,168 1,103
Light and heat 10,491 6,739
Telephone 4,339 7,266
Postage and stationery 1,469 3,067
Management charges 16,041 7,860
Affiliation and membership fees 6,297 5,906
Volunteer expenses 2,429 1,771
Maintenance and equipment 8,321 8,422
Travel and conferences 6,886 4,005
Training 5,388 4,832
Advertising 818 208
Health & Safety costs 1,116 -
Carried forward 488,365 563,685

WESTERN ISLES CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

6. DIRECT COSTS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES - continued
31.3.24 31.3.23
£    £   
Brought forward 488,365 563,685
Vouchers 16,325 2,450
Depreciation 4,556 4,556
509,246 570,691

7. SUPPORT COSTS
Governance
Finance Other 2 costs Totals
£    £    £    £   
Advice services 88 3,407 6,307 9,802

Support costs, included in the above, are as follows:
31.3.24 31.3.23
Advice Total
services activities
£    £   
Bank charges 88 72
Other operating leases 3,407 3,601
Auditors' remuneration 5,413 5,401
Accountancy fees 894 3,266
9,802 12,340

8. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

31.3.24 31.3.23
£    £   
Audit fees 5,413 5,401
Depreciation - owned assets 4,557 4,556
Other operating leases 12,407 12,602

9. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023.


Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023.



WESTERN ISLES CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

10. STAFF COSTS
31.3.24 31.3.23
£    £   
Wages and salaries 368,316 435,869
Social security costs 28,528 37,139
Other pension costs 16,626 29,048
413,470 502,056

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

31.3.24 31.3.23
Advice services 17 17
Management 1 2
Finance and administration 1 1
19 20

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

11. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Unrestricted Restricted Total
funds funds funds
£    £    £   
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Charitable activities
Advice services 402,212 199,204 601,416

Investment income 1,464 - 1,464
Other income 12,860 - 12,860
Total 416,536 199,204 615,740

EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities
Advice services 382,414 200,617 583,031

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 34,122 (1,413 ) 32,709
Transfers between funds (159 ) 159 -
Net movement in funds 33,963 (1,254 ) 32,709

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward 190,302 124,263 314,565

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 224,265 123,009 347,274


WESTERN ISLES CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

12. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Fixtures
Freehold and Computer
property fittings equipment Totals
£    £    £    £   
COST
At 1 April 2023 185,919 52,973 19,475 258,367
Reclassification - - (1 ) (1 )
At 31 March 2024 185,919 52,973 19,474 258,366
DEPRECIATION
At 1 April 2023 73,625 51,776 17,472 142,873
Charge for year 3,299 399 859 4,557
At 31 March 2024 76,924 52,175 18,331 147,430
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 March 2024 108,995 798 1,143 110,936
At 31 March 2023 112,294 1,197 2,003 115,494

13. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
31.3.24 31.3.23
£    £   
Other debtors 9,017 76,354

14. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
31.3.24 31.3.23
£    £   
Social security and other taxes 6,593 9,446
Other creditors 1,778 2,203
Accrued expenses 8,579 6,135
16,950 17,784

15. LEASING AGREEMENTS

Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases fall due as follows:

31.3.24 31.3.23
£    £   
Within one year 10,094 11,187
Between one and five years - 10,094
10,094 21,281


WESTERN ISLES CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

16. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Net Transfers
movement between At
At 1.4.23 in funds funds 31.3.24
£    £    £    £   
Unrestricted funds
General 144,488 (39,197 ) 6,886 112,177
Designated Restructuring Fund 79,774 - - 79,774
224,262 (39,197 ) 6,886 191,951
Restricted funds
Lewis Capital 83,673 (2,703 ) - 80,970
Barra Capital 35,197 (596 ) - 34,601
Scottish Legal Aid Board - 6,028 (3,915 ) 2,113
SSE: Fuel Poverty 4,142 (3,391 ) (751 ) -
Pension Wise - 4,991 (3,534 ) 1,457
Scottish Government Money Talk - 28 (28 ) -
Food Insecurity Fund - (1,342 ) 1,342 -
Outreach Fund - 8,627 - 8,627
123,012 11,642 (6,886 ) 127,768
TOTAL FUNDS 347,274 (27,555 ) - 319,719

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming Resources Movement
resources expended in funds
£    £    £   
Unrestricted funds
General 267,274 (306,471 ) (39,197 )

Restricted funds
Lewis Capital - (2,703 ) (2,703 )
Barra Capital - (596 ) (596 )
Patient Advice and Support Service 27,257 (27,257 ) -
Scottish Legal Aid Board 42,169 (36,141 ) 6,028
SSE: Fuel Poverty 35,147 (38,538 ) (3,391 )
Pension Wise 50,314 (45,323 ) 4,991
Scottish Government Money Talk 37,159 (37,131 ) 28
Food Insecurity Fund 23,223 (24,565 ) (1,342 )
Outreach Fund 8,950 (323 ) 8,627
224,219 (212,577 ) 11,642
TOTAL FUNDS 491,493 (519,048 ) (27,555 )


WESTERN ISLES CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

16. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net Transfers
movement between At
At 1.4.22 in funds funds 31.3.23
£    £    £    £   
Unrestricted funds
General 110,528 34,119 (159 ) 144,488
Designated Restructuring Fund 79,774 - - 79,774
190,302 34,119 (159 ) 224,262
Restricted funds
Lewis Capital 86,376 (2,703 ) - 83,673
Barra Capital 35,793 (596 ) - 35,197
Scottish Legal Aid Board - (159 ) 159 -
SSE: Fuel Poverty - 4,142 - 4,142
Welfare Rights - (93 ) 93 -
Scottish Government Money Talk - (3,551 ) 3,551 -
COVID Response - 3,644 (3,644 ) -
Campaign Funding 2,094 (2,094 ) - -
124,263 (1,410 ) 159 123,012
TOTAL FUNDS 314,565 32,709 - 347,274

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming Resources Movement
resources expended in funds
£    £    £   
Unrestricted funds
General 416,535 (382,416 ) 34,119

Restricted funds
Lewis Capital - (2,703 ) (2,703 )
Barra Capital - (596 ) (596 )
Patient Advice and Support Service 27,162 (27,162 ) -
Scottish Legal Aid Board 43,581 (43,740 ) (159 )
SSE: Fuel Poverty 48,282 (44,140 ) 4,142
Pension Wise 40,874 (40,874 ) -
Welfare Rights 7,554 (7,647 ) (93 )
Scottish Government Money Talk 12,139 (15,690 ) (3,551 )
COVID Response 19,613 (15,969 ) 3,644
Campaign Funding - (2,094 ) (2,094 )
199,205 (200,615 ) (1,410 )
TOTAL FUNDS 615,740 (583,031 ) 32,709

Lewis Capital
This fund represents the value of the property in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis transferred from Lewis Citizens Advice Service. Depreciation relating to the property is charged to this fund.

Barra Capital

WESTERN ISLES CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

16. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Funding received to assist with the purchase of the property in Castlebay, Isle of Barra. Depreciation relating to the property will be charged to this fund.

The following restricted funds represent funding received to deliver advice and assistance in these specific areas:
Patient advice and support;
Scottish Legal Aid Board - Court services;
Fuel poverty;
Pension Wise - advice on pensions;
Welfare rights;
Money Talk - assistance in managing personal finances;
Campaign funding;
Food Insecurity;
Outreach.

Transfers between funds

A transfer was made from the General Fund to the Scottish Legal Aid Board Fund, being the charity's contribution to the project.

17. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

The charity have granted a Standard Security to VisitScotland over the property purchased in Castlebay, Isle of Barra which previously served as the Tourist Information Centre.

18. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2024.