Charity registration number 1071727
Company registration number 03514910 (England and Wales)
BASE 25
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
BASE 25
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Management Committee / Trustees
L Beeson
T Codner
K Evans
K Kanda
R Stokes
C Jones
S Linden
B Hanna
J Francis
(Appointed 1 April 2024)
Secretary
A Jarvis
Charity number
1071727
Company number
03514910
Registered office
29 - 31 Temple Street
Wolverhampton
WV2 4AN
Auditor
Azets Audit Services
St Davids Court
Union Street
Wolverhampton
West Midlands
United Kingdom
WV1 3JE
Bankers
Unity Trust Bank Plc
PO Box 7193
Planetary Road
Willenhall
United Kingdom
WV1 9DG
BASE 25
CONTENTS
Page
Trustees' report
1 - 5
Statement of trustees' responsibilities
6
Independent auditor's report
7 - 9
Statement of financial activities
10
Balance sheet
11
Statement of cash flows
12
Notes to the financial statements
13 - 27
BASE 25
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 1 -

The trustees are pleased to present their report together with the financial statements of the organisation for the year ended 31 March 2024 which have been prepared to meet and fulfil the requirements of the Companies Act.

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).

Objectives and activities

Base 25 was founded in 1998, originally a predominantly young person-centred charity, that provides services, programmes and projects aimed at improving the lives of your people and their families. The charity has grown in both scope and size over the years our move to Temple Street in 2021 reflecting the increased scope and demand for our services.

 

We seek to work with young people up to the age of 25 and their families in a “holistic” way, meaning that we work with the whole person and do not treat people as a series of issues or problems. A key theme that runs through our work is confidence building; enabling young people and families to gain self-esteem.

 

We aim to empower young people and families by responding directly to their needs, giving them the skills to identify pathways for making positive changes in their lives and giving them the tools to do it. Offering bespoke and reactive services that respond to the changing needs of our clients. Rather than feeling threatened by change, we embrace it as a fundamental part of our work with young people and families.

 

As a charity and a non-statutory organisation, we are well placed to be responsive and innovative, and we have received many accolades for our work. Examples of innovations that have been developed directly from our work with young people and families include our work with young people how have additional needs, our work with those suffering through exposure to domestic violence, and our work with young people and families around harmful sexual behaviors.

 

We have a key role in training and developing work with volunteers and with students on placement as well as training other professionals who work with young people and families. In the same way that our work with our clients aims to be innovative and responsive, our work with partner organisations such as local secondary schools is needs-led, and programmes are developed over a period of time leading us to be, in many cases, trusted co-partners and collaborators rather than simply preferred suppliers.

 

Our experience and breadth of knowledge gained over many years have led us to be a key stakeholder in developing city-wide strategy in relation to services for young people and families. We regularly participate in forums to share best practices and formulate city-wide and sub-regional strategies.

Strategic overview of service

Base 25 runs a range of specialised programmes both in its venue in the centre of Wolverhampton as well as in the venues of partner organisations. These range from individual one-to-one services such as counselling based on referral or the needs of individuals; to small group work and theme-based peer education programmes, to larger scale educational programmes for young people and families, as well as training programmes for fellow professionals working with young people and families.

 

We are proud of the innovative nature of our work, which has given us a reputation for working in a groundbreaking way around themes that many other organisations find difficult. Such themes include relationships, depression, bullying, family upheaval, grief, domestic violence, gender and sexual orientation and harmful sexual behaviours as well as social issues such as gun and knife crime.

 

Programmes are developed in response to the needs of young people and families, tested out, evaluated and constantly reviewed in order that we can best meet their changing needs.

The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit in deciding

what activities our organisation should undertake.

BASE 25
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 2 -

Services

Mi choice

During 2019-20 the local authority Wolverhampton CCG and Head Start jointly tendered to commission a new Emotional Health and Wellbeing Service for young people and families aged 3 to 25. Across Wolverhampton, Base 25 have been successful in securing this contract, which has a total value over the period of the contract of just short of £1,000,000. Since having to adapt during COVID, several changes had to be made to the service which have now become part of our core offer, including green space appointments, virtual appointments and telephone support. But throughout COVID and beyond, we have maintained and increased our contact with young people and their families. Furthermore, through additional funding from Wolverhampton CCG (now The Black Country ICB), we have been able to invest in the Lamplight system, which has been successfully implemented and used to collect and monitor data which will be utilised across all aspects of Base 25 delivery.

 

• The additional funding enabled a number of pilots to be undertaken which has enabled us to expand our delivery profile this pilot included;

• A weekly club that young people are invited to attend when we receive their referral. This can be both an entry and an exit route to the service delivering sessions focused on the main presenting issues we see come through at the time and more generalised wellbeing work drawing on the Five Ways to Wellbeing. Potential to do a mirror club with the parents/carers whilst their child is attending their club to provide an opportunity for the parents to participate in the process and have some peer support.

• Group work - Interventions delivered in a group setting with topics determined by presenting needs from referrals received.

• Blended programmes of work – a combing of group work and 121 sessions.

• Parent-led CBT -This is a brief psychological intervention in which parents and carers are supported in applying cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) principles in their child’s day-to-day life, which can lead to good outcomes for child anxiety in ages 6 - 12. This is achieved through 2 or 3 face-to-face appointments, which are followed up with review phone calls, with the final call focussed on planning for maintaining their progress.

• Small parent and child groups for five and six-year-olds - When we have a number of children aged 5 & 6 presenting with anxiety, we will seek to bring them together in small groups with their parents to do low-level anxiety work that is activity-based and playful in nature.

RHSB

 

Our Reducing Harmful Sexualised Behaviour programme has continued to develop. Building a reputation for itself both locally and regionally with referral rates increasing month on month.

 

Behavioural Management

 

The behavioural management service continues to grow. As in previous years this growth is predominantly through spot purchase arrangements but the service is working in conjunction with our Mi choice service and the number of referrals coming through the single point of access that are more appropriate for behavioural management than the Mi choice service continues to grow. There is a clear need to expand this service and one potential emerging area for growth would be around positive role models for young male clients. The service coordinator is currently exploring options to further incorporate positive role models into the delivery of the project

Empower & Safe

 

Both Safe (Safe is focused on young people effected by domestic violence) and Empower (Empower has a focus on young people effected by any form of exploitation) are now managed by the same coordinator and moving forward we are looking to amalgamate these two services. This is an evidenced based decision, we are now in a position where we can analyse our data and it is now clear that the young people in both service areas share the same risk factors. It is interesting that both services have been running for approximately 10 years and the gender balance continues to level out across both services which is a stark difference to when both services started with Empower being 100% female referrals and Safe being 100% male referrals. Both services are now on a 60/40 split respectively but we would imagine that this will level out to be 50/50 within the next 12 to 24 months.

BASE 25
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 3 -

Café and Charity Shop

 

Go to shop and the cafe are beginning to income generate and it is hoped by March 26 both operations will be at the very least cost neutral. Beyond financial value the cafe and charity shop both are proving invaluable in terms of engagement with the wider community partner organisations and developing volunteering opportunities. It is hoped that by mid 2025, with the use of volunteers, we will be able to open both the cafe and the charity shop to match service delivery times, which will go towards financial stability for both initiatives and further community and partnership engagement.

Achievements and performance
Financial review

In times of imposed austerity combined with decreasing resources and mounting insecurities across the sectors funding opportunities the organisation currently finds itself in a position of having a deficit in its unrestricted funds to the value of £40,565. The trustees understand funds are to be replenished to previous years levels to ensure the organisations policy of  unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. This will be rectified as legacy contracts cease and new contracts are taken on board which will include funding towards our increased cost basis since moving premises in 2022.

 

It is the policy of the organisation that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the organisation's current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.

Currently our principal funders are Henry Smith Trust, Wolverhampton NHS trust, Black country ICB, National Lottery, and Children in Need.

Having deliberated over the opportunities available the trustees have decided to invest the reserves in a bank deposit account.

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

Plans for future periods

Moving forward

Our aims over the next year are to refresh our strategic vision, understanding what the aim of the possible is and where the organisation is headed. We would like to foster a more inclusive staff involvement and ownership in our approach to strategic planning. We always strive to evolve and improve the quality of our services, and the administrative and managerial functions that support this delivery. With a group of new trustees joining us during 2022-23, the board continues to develop to further grow Base 25. We are also committed to promoting our services and Base 25 as a partner of choice, by investing in our communications and marketing strategy and resources.

Future risk

· Ambiguity around ICB funding envelope and priorities

· Local Authority spending review

· Staff Retention

· Staff Training

· Logistic factors hindering growth (ie. resources, delivery space)

 

Post reporting date events

 

None.

BASE 25
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 4 -

Future aspirations

 

Structure, governance and management

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity in 1998. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association, which established the objectives and power of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.

The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:

 

L Beeson
T Codner
K Evans
K Kanda
R Stokes
A Jarvis
(Resigned 19 December 2024)
C Jones
S Linden
B Hanna
J Francis
(Appointed 1 April 2024)

The directors of the company are also the charities trustees for the purpose of charity law and under the company’s articles are known as members. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association the members of the management committee are elected to serve for a period of two years after which they must be re-elected at the next annual general meeting.

Base 25 has a management committee who are scheduled to meet on a quarterly basis and are responsible for the strategic direction & polices of the organisation. The trustees come from a variety of professional backgrounds relevant to the work of the organisation.

The management and responsibility of operational delivery of service provision is delegated to the Head of Service counselling coordinator, volunteer coordinator, development coordinator and Empower coordinator.

The Head of Service is responsible for ensuring the organisation delivers the services specified and that key performance indicators are achieved.

The counselling coordinator, volunteer coordinator, development coordinator and Empower coordinator are responsible for the day to day operational management of the organisation's delivery, staff supervision and the professional development of staff and services.

All trustees are acquainted with the operational delivery of the organisation and are encouraged to spend time observing the project delivery. An induction pack has been created which all current trustees have, and any new members of the management committee will receive. In addition, trustees have full access to the financial statements. In March 2023, the board undertook their first Board Development day, facilitated by an external business coach.

BASE 25
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 5 -

In so far as it is complementary to the organisation's objectives we are guided by both local and national policy, and relevant codes of practice. The organisation is represented at key local strategic committees, to identify emerging issues and opportunities.

Auditor

In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Azets Audit Services 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 and was signed on it's behalf by;

 

 

 

K Evans
Trustee
28 January 2025
BASE 25
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES  
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 6 -

The trustees, who are also the directors of Base 25 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 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.

BASE 25
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
TO THE MEMBERS OF BASE 25
- 7 -

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Base 25 (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including 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 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.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and 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.

BASE 25
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)
TO THE MEMBERS OF BASE 25
- 8 -
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.

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.

BASE 25
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)
TO THE MEMBERS OF BASE 25
- 9 -

Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above and on the Financial Reporting Council’s website, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud.

 

We obtain and update our understanding of the entity, its activities, its control environment, and likely future developments, including in relation to the legal and regulatory framework applicable and how the entity is complying with that framework.  Based on this understanding, we identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.  This includes consideration of the risk of acts by the entity that were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud.

 

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud, we designed procedures which included:

 

 

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation.  This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance.  The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.

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 auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the 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.

Lee Meredith BFP ACA (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of Azets Audit Services
29 January 2025
Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditor
St Davids Court
Union Street
Wolverhampton
West Midlands
United Kingdom
WV1 3JE
BASE 25
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 10 -
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
funds
funds
funds
funds
2024
2024
2024
2023
2023
2023
Notes
£
£
£
£
£
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
2,019
-
2,019
9,936
29
9,965

Income from charitable activities

4
73,970
957,008
1,030,978
63,326
1,102,566
1,165,892

Training and counselling services

5
118,073
-
118,073
92,573
11,475
104,048

Investment Income

6
4,723
-
4,723
1,174
-
1,174
Total income
198,785
957,008
1,155,793
167,009
1,114,070
1,281,079
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
7
1,443
-
1,443
-
-
-

Expenditure on charitable activities

8
267,064
967,999
1,235,063
149,228
1,066,034
1,215,262
Total expenditure
268,507
967,999
1,236,506
149,228
1,066,034
1,215,262
Net (expenditure)/income for the year/
Net movement in funds
(69,722)
(10,991)
(80,713)
17,781
48,036
65,817
Fund balances at 1 April 2023
29,157
522,635
551,792
11,376
474,599
485,975
Fund balances at 31 March 2024
(40,565)
511,644
471,079
29,157
522,635
551,792

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.
BASE 25
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT
31 MARCH 2024
31 March 2024
- 11 -
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
£
£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
14
19,539
21,068
Current assets
Debtors
15
270,785
291,850
Cash at bank and in hand
387,974
289,410
658,759
581,260
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
16
(207,219)
(50,536)
Net current assets
451,540
530,724
Total assets less current liabilities
471,079
551,792
Income funds
Restricted funds
18
511,644
522,635
Unrestricted funds
(40,565)
29,157
471,079
551,792
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 28 January 2025
K Evans
Trustee
Company registration number 03514910
BASE 25
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 12 -
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
£
£
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from/(absorbed by) operations
25
97,714
(117,589)
Investing activities
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
(3,873)
(18,618)
Investment income received
4,723
1,174
Net cash generated from/(used in) investing activities
850
(17,444)
Net cash used in financing activities
-
-
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
98,564
(135,033)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
289,410
424,443
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
387,974
289,410
BASE 25
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 13 -
1
Accounting policies
Charity information

Base 25 is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales and domiciled in England. The registered office is 29 - 31 Temple Street, Wolverhampton, WV2 4AN.

1.1
Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011, "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 entity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

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, and are assured that the cashflow forecast reflects this stance. The charity is committed to maintaining existing and securing new funding streams via local and national government competitive tenders, grants, grant-supported delivery programmes,  traded services and donations supported by active in-year cost improvement programmes and has contingency plans prepared to address any additional financial pressures should they arise, underpinned by sufficient financial reserves and the knowledge that over 70% of our contracted staff are on fixed-term contracts aligned with our current revenue streams, and we have “get out “clauses in place regarding our premises should the need arise to drastically reduce our overheads, at which point we would relocate to smaller premises, our delivery model would move to a hybrid outreach model, ensuring the continuity and sustainability of the charity as a whole. 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.

Grants, where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity, are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.

BASE 25
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 14 -
1.5
Resources expended

Liabilities are recognised 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.

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with use of the resources. Premises overheads have been allocated on a floor area basis and other overheads have been allocated on the basis of the head count.

 

Support costs are those that assist the work of the charity but do not directly represent charitable activities and include office costs, governance costs, administrative payroll costs. They are incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity. Where support costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to expenditure on charitable activities.

1.6
Tangible fixed assets

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

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

Improvements to leasehold
3 years straight line
Fixtures and fittings
15% reducing balance
Computers
25% reducing balance

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.

1.7
Impairment of fixed assets

At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible 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).

1.8
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.

1.9
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.

BASE 25
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 15 -
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 entity's contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

1.10
Taxation

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

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.

2
Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. 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 underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

Key sources of estimation uncertainty
Deferred and accrued income

The charity recognises that income, in particular grant income, donated to the charity can relate to extended periods of time that fall in more than on financial year. The process of determining which accounting period the income relates to is deemed a key estimate.

BASE 25
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 16 -
3
Donations and legacies
Unrestricted
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
funds
funds
funds
2024
2023
2023
2023
£
£
£
£
Donations and gifts
2,019
9,936
29
9,965
4

Income from charitable activities

Total funds

Total funds

2024
2023
£
£

Grant income

1,019,723
1,164,105
Sales of services by beneficiaries
3,707
390
Ancillary trading income
1,058
-
Charitable rental income
6,490
1,397
1,030,978
1,165,892
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds
73,970
63,326
Restricted funds
957,008
1,102,566
1,030,978
1,165,892
5

Training and counselling services

Unrestricted
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
funds
funds
funds
2024
2023
2023
2023
£
£
£
£

Training and counselling services

118,073
92,573
11,475
104,048
BASE 25
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 17 -
6

Investment Income

Unrestricted
Unrestricted
funds
funds
2024
2023
£
£

Bank interest receivable

4,723
1,174
7
Raising funds
Unrestricted
Total
funds
2024
2023
£
£
Trading costs
Other trading activities
1,443
-
1,443
-
BASE 25
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 18 -
8

Expenditure on charitable activities

Total funds

Total funds

2024
2023
£
£
Staff costs
768,848
790,383

Cleaning

30,048
25,055

Repairs and maintenance

35,409
9,837

Sessional counsellor costs

77,168
138,139

Rent

39,579
29,808

Rates and water

682
2,334

Light and heat

18,965
27,990

Insurance

2,525
1,570

Travel and volunteer expenses

12,484
12,140

Bank charges

277
369

Telephone and postage

10,833
14,708

General expenses

47,450
40,979

Training and supervision

8,484
8,664
Other charitable expenditure
17,641
23,146
1,070,393
1,125,122
Share of support costs (see note 9)
133,890
68,190
Share of governance costs (see note 9)
30,780
21,950
1,235,063
1,215,262
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds
267,064
149,228
Restricted funds
967,999
1,066,034
1,235,063
1,215,262
BASE 25
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 19 -
9
Support costs
Support costs
Governance costs
2024
Support costs
Governance costs
2023
Basis of allocation
£
£
£
£
£
£
Staff costs
118,133
-
118,133
52,775
-
52,775

Staff time

Depreciation
5,402
-
5,402
5,600
-
5,600

Usage

Rent

4,929
-
4,929
1,218
-
1,218

Floor Area

Rates and water

82
-
82
137
-
137

Floor Area

Light and heat

3,362
-
3,362
4,468
-
4,468

Floor Area

Insurance

179
-
179
216
-
216

Floor Area

Bank charges

208
-
208
125
-
125

Transactions

Telephone and postage

1,595
-
1,595
3,651
-
3,651

Usage

Audit fees
-
20,900
20,900
-
19,000
19,000
Governance
Accountancy
-
9,880
9,880
-
2,950
2,950
Governance
133,890
30,780
164,670
68,190
21,950
90,140
Analysed between
Charitable activities
133,890
30,780
164,670
68,190
21,950
90,140

 

BASE 25
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 20 -
10
Auditor's remuneration
Fees payable to the charity's auditor and associates:
2024
2023
£
£
Audit of the charity's annual accounts
20,900
19,000
11
Trustees

One of the trustees, one trustee received expenses from the charity during the year totalling £6,824 (2023 - £9,254). No other trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any expenses from the charity during the year (2023 - £nil).

One of the trustees, Mr A Jarvis, received remuneration during the year totalling £54,064 (2023 - £41,100) for his full time role as Head of Service. No other trustees received remuneration during the year (2023 - none).

12
Employees

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

2024
2023
Number
Number
33
32
Employment costs
2024
2023
£
£
Wages and salaries
783,926
740,138
Social security costs
65,809
63,662
Other pension costs
37,246
39,358
886,981
843,158

No employees earned more than £60,000 per annum (2023 - None).

 

The average head count of employees during the year was 33 (2023: 32).

The average number of full-time equivalent employees during the year was 27 (2023: 30)

There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000.
13
Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.

BASE 25
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 21 -
14
Tangible fixed assets
Improvements to leasehold
Fixtures and fittings
Computers
Total
£
£
£
£
Cost
At 1 April 2023
38,419
11,326
29,908
79,653
Additions
-
1,854
2,019
3,873
At 31 March 2024
38,419
13,180
31,927
83,526
Depreciation and impairment
At 1 April 2023
38,419
4,853
15,313
58,585
Depreciation charged in the year
-
1,249
4,153
5,402
At 31 March 2024
38,419
6,102
19,466
63,987
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2024
-
7,078
12,461
19,539
At 31 March 2023
-
6,473
14,595
21,068
15
Debtors
2024
2023
Amounts falling due within one year:
£
£
Trade debtors
217,833
257,308
Prepayments and accrued income
32,952
14,542
250,785
271,850
2024
2023
Amounts falling due after more than one year:
£
£
Other debtors
20,000
20,000
Total debtors
270,785
291,850
16
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2024
2023
£
£
Trade creditors
10,387
3,071
Accruals and deferred income
196,832
47,465
207,219
50,536
BASE 25
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 22 -
17
Deferred income

 

Deferred income is included in the financial statements as follows:

Movements in the year:
Deferred income brought forward
9,600
9,995
Resources deferred during the year
2,344
9,600
Amounts released from previous years
(9,600)
(9,995)
Deferred income at 31 March 2024
2,344
9,600
BASE 25
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 23 -
18
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
Balance at
1 April 2023
Incoming resources
Resources expended
Balance at
31 March 2024
£
£
£
£
Outreach Counselling
(30,320)
-
-
(30,320)
Children in Need/Empower
29,839
29,094
(29,974)
28,959
Safe Project
14,363
46,800
(52,483)
8,680
St Peters
(880)
-
-
(880)
New Cross Hospital
15,637
33,342
(32,128)
16,851
Our Lady and St Chad
9,629
-
-
9,629
Comic Relief Community Challenge
178
-
-
178
Relate
2,805
-
-
2,805
Time4ME
5,192
-
-
5,192
CCG Outreach
43,249
36,236
(29,857)
49,628
Childrens Society
3,526
-
-
3,526
BBC CIN Activities
1,845
-
-
1,845
W Mids Police Commissioner
646
-
-
646
SANDWELL Mentoring
138
-
-
138
Detached Outreach
(515)
84,237
(70,054)
13,668
MI Choice (Lives without Knives)
534
-
-
534
MI Choice Counselling
30,175
-
-
30,175
Walsall Clued Up
(10,866)
-
305
(10,561)
Winter Pressures
4,246
-
-
4,246
Telford CSE
3,410
571
-
3,981
Sexual Abuse Forum
2,782
-
-
2,782
WMVRU
646
-
-
646
Sanctuary Cafe
207,077
240,635
(245,109)
202,603
Emotional & Wellbeing
195,019
438,687
(438,159)
195,547
Eveson Trust - Playroom
1,367
-
-
1,367
Lamplight
278
-
-
278
WMVRU - Specialist Mentoring Girl/Boy Clued Up
2,720
-
-
2,720
Kickstart Scheme
(2,434)
-
(2,434)
Big lottery
1,867
47,406
(69,774)
(20,501)
Community Matters (National Grid)
18
-
-
18
Challenged Behaviours
(30,036)
-
-
(30,036)
Rent deposit
20,000
-
-
20,000
Natured-Based Sessions
500
-
(766)
(266)
522,635
957,008
(967,999)
511,644
Certain of the above restricted funds are in deficit. This is created by costs incurred in advance of the receipt of applicable funding.
BASE 25
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
18
Restricted funds
(Continued)
- 24 -
Purposes of restricted funds

Outreach Counselling

A fund to enable support to be given to young people with emotional problems.

 

Children In Need/Empower

This service delivers support on all aspects of exploitation experienced by young people.

 

SAFE

This is a project for young people aged between 11 and 16 who are perpetrators of domestic violence and works on a one to one and group work basis.

 

St Peters and St Edmunds

Base 25 deliver a satellite service within the context of the school providing youth work counselling support for students through 1 to 1 and group work interventions. Drop in times are also available for students to help and support on an informal basis.

 

New Cross Hospital

This is for a family support worker at Wolverhampton Hospital.

 

Our Lady and St Chad

This forms part of the service to St Peters and St Edmunds statement.

 

Comic Relief Community Challenge

To provide group and one to one support for young people who self harm.

 

Relate

Offering a Counselling Service for Low Mood and Life events within Wolverhampton CCG Primary Care.

 

Time4ME

This is detailed under the South Staffordshire Partnership.

 

CCG Outreach

Improve lives for over 18’s with mild to moderate mental health needs, by providing an integrated, person centred, proactive and responsive therapeutic service.

 

Children's Society

Provide therapeutic interventions to children and young people aged between 12-18.

 

BBC CIN Activities

Provide holiday activities and residentials to look after young people aged 10-18 in Wolverhampton. Children will have improved emotional wellbeing, more positive relationships and increase self belief.

 

W Mids Police Commissioner

The aim is to reduce the risk of exposure to gang/youth violence through the use of positive activities to improve self-esteem and raise aspirations.

 

Sandwell Mentoring

Employees allocated to this service take on the role of Mentor to young people allocated to them and offer intensive support.

 

Detached outreach

The purpose of this service is to prevent young people from being sexually exploited; where CSE is taking place, these children and young people have appropriate support.

 

BASE 25
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
18
Restricted funds
(Continued)
- 25 -

MI Choice (Lives without knives)

The aim of the project is to work with young people to increase knowledge around gangs and youth violence through a group work process delivered in the context of schools and community based ventures to reduce the risk of young people joining groups.

MI Choice Counselling

This service provided 1:1 confidential sessions, supporting females to access support around the options of pregnancy termination. Sessions are offered at Snow Hill Clinic in the town centre.

 

Walsall Clued Up

Clued Up Group work programme is an early intervention programme design to inform, educate and increase awareness of the risks associated with all forms of criminal exploitation where young people are particularly vulnerable.

Winter Pressures

Service offers an open access service to people living within Wolverhampton aged 18-30 who experience difficulties or increased anxieties engaging with mainstream services. Base 25 provides support to identified people with additional wellbeing, health or social needs. Providing face to face services providing support in real time and providing an essential link to local community and voluntary services.

Telford CSE

Providing support for individuals exposed to exploitation.

Sexual Abuse Forum

Workshop designed to raise awareness and prevention.

 

WMVRU

Deliver and commission a comprehensive programme of activities designed to prevent and reduce violence and exploitation, applying the public health approach to reducing violence. Over the last eighteen months we have worked with a number of providers delivering a range of interventions to young people, families and communities.

Sanctuary Cafe

Operates as a drop-in service which provides a safe place to turn to for support for people and their carers who are experiencing a mental health crisis or emotional distress out of hours. NHS staff, local authority and voluntary sector partners work together on site to provide mental health crisis support, with the aim of helping people avoid the need for emergency NHS care. The Café is staffed by experienced and trained mental health workers, social workers plus peer support from people with lived experience of mental health issues.

 

Emotional & Wellbeing

Our counsellors use a range of approaches as part of their structured counselling with children and young people. With the option of counselling on a face to face basis, via a digital platform or in open green spaces, our counsellors provide the safe and confidential space for individuals to talk and explore difficulties that they may be having.

 

Eveson Trust - Playroom

Funding to support a specialist playroom creating a child-friendly space for therapeutic counselling

 

Lamplight

Funding to implement a database to allow Base 25 to record data to support service users.

BASE 25
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
18
Restricted funds
(Continued)
- 26 -

Challenged Behaviours

This is the combination of the AMP and Harmful Sexual Behaviours, which were combined due to these sources of funding overlapping in their aims and goals, and made tracking the progress easier.

 

AMP

A 25 hour programme to raise awareness and understanding around anger issues and anger management for young people between 11 and 16 who are excluded from school. The opening balance of this fund at 1 April 2023 was £32,843 in deficit.

 

Harmful Sexual Behaviour

Our Reducing Harmful Sexualised Behaviour programme has been slowly developing. Building a reputation for itself both locally and regionally with referral rates beginning to increase month on month. The opening balance of this fund at 1 April 2023 was £1,140.

 

WMVRU – Specialist Mentoring Girl/Boy Clued Up

Deliver and commission a comprehensive programme of activities designed to prevent and reduce violence and exploitation, applying the public health approach to reducing violence. Over the last eighteen months we have worked with a number of providers delivering a range of interventions to young people, families and communities.

 

Kickstart Scheme

Grant funding from DWP to help provide six months of paid employment for young people, including employability support to develop their work skills and to help them find future employment.

 

Big Lottery (Safe and Sound)

This is a project for young people aged between 11 and 16 who are perpetrators of domestic violence and works on a one to one and group work basis.

 

Community Matters (National Grid)

This was for warm space funding that contributed to our heating running costs.

 

Rental Deposit

Donation to assist Base 25 to move to larger premises.

 

Natured Based Sessions

This forms part of a pilot scheme that is no longer running for outdoor activities.

 

19
Analysis of net assets between funds
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Total
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Total
2024
2024
2024
2023
2023
2023
£
£
£
£
£
£
Fund balances at 31 March 2024 are represented by:
Tangible assets
9,589
9,950
19,539
10,647
10,421
21,068
Current assets/(liabilities)
(50,154)
501,694
451,540
18,510
512,214
530,724
(40,565)
511,644
471,079
29,157
522,635
551,792
20
Contingent liabilities

There were no contingent liabilities at 31 March 2024 (2023 - £Nil).

BASE 25
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 27 -
21
Pension Costs

The charity, operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge of £37,246 (2023 - £39,358) represents contributions payable by the company to the fund. There were outstanding contributions at the end of the financial year amounting to £nil (2023 - £nil).

22
Operating lease commitments

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:

2024
2023
£
£
Within one year
45,000
40,000
Between two and five years
100,000
145,000
145,000
185,000
23
Related party transactions

Mrs K A Evans, a member of the Management Committee of Base 25, is employed by Children's Services of the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust. The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust provided funding to Base 25 of £33,342 (2023 - £27,647).

24
Cash generated from operations
2024
2023
£
£
(Deficit)/surpus for the year
(80,713)
65,817
Adjustments for:
Investment income recognised in statement of financial activities
(4,723)
(1,174)
Depreciation and impairment of tangible fixed assets
5,402
5,600
Movements in working capital:
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
21,065
(193,541)
Increase in creditors
156,683
5,709
Cash generated from/(absorbed by) operations
97,714
(117,589)
25
Analysis of changes in net funds
At 1 April 2023
Cash flows
At 31 March 2024
£
£
£
Cash at bank and in hand
289,410
98,564
387,974
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