The trustees, some of whom are also directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the financial statements for the charity for the year ended 30 June 2024.
The trustees who acted as directors during the year were:
Ms S J Charnley
Mr B Rutlidge
Ms C Carthy
Mr A Lilley
Mr C Lopez
Mr L Goodram
Ms K Wilding
Mr T Hart
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 Memorandum and Articles of Association, 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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016)
The charity's objects are:
- To relieve persons who are resident in the area of Preston and Chorley, Lancashire, who have suffered a brain injury, their families, carers and other related professionals, by the provision of information, services and facilities.
- To advance the education of the public in all aspects relating to brain injury and its prevention.
The Trustees when deciding in the Charity's activities for the year, are mindful of the Charity Commissions guidance on public benefit. The Charity is to support people affected by head injuries and their families regardless of gender, faith or personal circumstances. The Charity wishes itself to be a facility through which people can share life experiences and by which their lives can be enriched.
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Charity's objectives and in planning future activities.
The Trustees are pleased with the results for the year 2023-2024.
The Charity provided a range of services and support to adults with an acquired brain injury (ABI) and after a major trauma injury, their families, carers and supporters.
The advice and information service which provided welfare benefits assistance, legal advice, employment support and debt advice was delivered to 1276 families.
We supported a total of 907 patients in hospital, providing emergency packs and emotional support. Our community sessions attracted 1831 visitors at the 48 drop ins and activity days.
Fundraising activities this year included golf days, charity lunches and the Sapphire Ball. The Trustees are grateful for all donations and funds raised and wish to thank individuals and businesses who have donated funds and arranged fundraising activities during this time.
Grants awarded during this period included The National Lottery Community Fund, The National Lottery Awards for All and Electricity North West Extra Care Project Espark.
The Trustees are appreciative of the dedication of the staff team who continued to provide a valuable service and worthwhile service both to adults in hospital and once discharged home.
The Trustees are pleased with the results for the year.
At the start of the year reserves were £165,861 and following a movement in funds of £15,401, the reserves at the end of the year are £181,262.
A Financial Reserves formal policy remains in place to maintain at least a six-month level of reserves, and the Trustees are conscious of their responsibilities and monitor the level of reserves to ensure the charity can meet its liabilities. Overarching risks are discussed at regular Trustee and Directors' Board meetings and where considered necessary appropriate professional advice is obtained where they perceive this is required for a specific risk or a particularly high risk.
The Trustees would like to express thanks to Toppings Partnership for their ongoing support of the charity by providing a monthly payroll service, annual accounts and regular financial updates during the pandemic to assist the charity deal with a fast-moving situation.
The Trustees intend to continue to provide relief to persons who have suffered brain injuries and major trauma injuries, their families, and carers through the provision of services according to the charity's objectives in the future year.
Objectives:
1. Hold weekly drop ins and activity days guest speakers, benefits and legal advice, and one to one appointments, practical workshops and one to one appointments .
2. Maintain the Major Trauma Patient Support Service.
3. Maintain and keep the client database up to date as new service users access our services.
4. Deliver virtual support groups to clients and carers.
5. Distribute resources online to partner agencies and maintain the charity website and social media accounts, produce a newsletter every two months.
6. Build upon existing partnerships and form new partnerships with statutory and voluntary services.
7. Increase fundraising income through online campaigns, the Headway lottery, and public donations.
8. Identify and recruit new volunteers.
9. Identify and apply for appropriate grants/funding opportunities.
10. Keep policies and procedures under review and updated to ensure compliance.
11. Set budgets, monitor income and outgoings, and keep finances up to date.
12. Provide regular supervision, training and support for staff and volunteers.
The company was incorporated at Companies House on 14 June 2011 and was registered as a charity with the Charity Commission on 21 October 2011. It commenced its activities on 22 October 2011 following the transfer of the charitable activities from the unincorporated charity Headway Preston and Chorley. The charity is a company limited by guarantee by its Memorandum and Articles of Association.
The charity is managed by the Trustees who are appointed as per the Trust Deed.
Small Company Provision
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemptions.
The Trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The Trustees, some of whom are also the directors of Headway Central Lancashire for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Headway Central Lancashire (the charity) for the year ended 30 June 2024.
As the Trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Headway Central Lancashire is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Heartbeat Centre, Preston North End, Sir Tom Finney Way, Preston, PR1 6PA.
The company was formerly known as Headway Preston and Choley.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, 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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors 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.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that
aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure is apportioned between cost headings by
reference to the time and resources expended in each of these areas by the employees of the Charity.
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.
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.
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, 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.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are required to be recognised as part of the cost of stock or fixed assets.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
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.
Grant
Charitable Expenditure
Charitable Expenditure
Rent
Computing Costs
Printing & Stationery
Telephone
Other Office Expenses
Volunteer Expenses
Emergency Fund
Catering
Bank Charges
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
No employees received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2023: £Nil).
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2023 - none).
No Trustee claimed for their expenses to be reimbursed.
The charity is not charged for the Independent Examination or accountancy services.
The charity has 18 volunteers who give up their time to help the charity.
It is difficult to put a value on this.