South Tyneside Citizens Advice Bureau Charity Accounts

COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 06210127

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1126466

South Tyneside Citizens Advice Bureau

Unaudited Financial Statements

For the Year Ending

31 March 2025

South Tyneside Citizens Advice Bureau

Financial Statements

Year Ended 31 March 2025

	Page

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report)	1

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees	9

Statement of Financial Activities (Including Income and Expenditure Account)	10

Statement of Financial Position	11

Statement of Cash Flows	12

Notes to the Financial Statements	13

South Tyneside Citizens Advice Bureau

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report)

Year Ended 31 March 2025

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025 .

Objectives and Activities

South Tyneside Local Citizens Advice (LCA) objectives are to promote the charitable purpose for the benefit of the community of South Tyneside by the advancement of education, the protection and preservation of health, and the relief of poverty, sickness and distress. Information, advice and representation are the tools we use to achieve this and we have recovered over £8 million for our beneficiaries in the last financial year. In carrying out these objectives, and in all aspects of its work, we are committed to promoting equality, diversity & inclusion, preventing prejudice and discrimination, ensuring equal access to advice and promoting good relations between all sections of the community.

In view of the relationship with National Citizens Advice, we are required to comply fully with the aims and principles of the service and we are regularly audited to ensure this compliance.

Public Benefit

The Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on their legal duty of public benefit, and are satisfied that the charity delivers public benefit, and due regard is paid to the guidance on public benefit when deciding on what new projects the charity should undertake.

Achievements and Performance

The main areas of our charitable activities are the provision of information, advice and representation to anyone living and/or working in South Tyneside. Whilst our services are open to all communities, the majority of our clients are on low incomes and as such the majority of our advice and assistance relates to Welfare Benefits and Debt. To ensure equity, diversity and inclusion we also offer our services to the Ethnic Minority communities in their first language, to ensure no-one is disenfranchised from using our services due to language or cultural differences.

The ongoing cost of living crisis has pushed many more people further into financial hardship and the need for our services has never been greater. Referrals to food banks and charitable grants to help with fuel costs continues to play a major role in our work, over and above the legal advice and representation we provide.

Throughout the financial year the Charity has complied with all policy and legislation laid down by the Charity Commission, Companies House, The Financial Conduct Authority and Citizens Advice to ensure the smooth and effective running of the Charity and its control over its finances. We are audited each year by National Citizens Advice to ensure full compliance.

The Trustee Board regularly assess its collective skills to ensure its ability to conduct the Charities business and an annual Trustee Self-appraisal takes place to confirm this and to identify any areas where improvements can be made.

As part of the Citizens Advice Network the quality of our advice is monitored nationally on a rolling 12 monthly basis as a Key Performance Indicator and rated Green, Amber, Yellow or Red. The Charity has achieved a green rating on all issues and the Assessor from Citizens Advice has confirmed the following: -

"Our assessments show you can have confidence that you give good advice consistently".

Citizens Advice nationally also undertake a rolling 12-month remote Client Satisfaction Survey on each Local Citizens Advice and score them against the National average. The following table shows our scoring for the last financial year, which you will see is higher than the National average on all areas.

INSERT TABLE

It is worth noting that in many instances we are simply not able to 'resolve' a client's problem as the laws do not allow for the outcome they desire.

Both the quality of advice and the services provided to our beneficiaries confirms that the Charity is meeting all its charitable aims and objectives.

The key charity outcomes and statistics below confirm our achievements and performance over the last year and we continue to see increase in demand for our services.

INSERT TABLE

It is always worth reminding ourselves that behind these statistics are people's lives and livelihoods as they struggle to manage during these extremely difficult financial times.

Financial Review

Investment policy

Aside from retaining a prudent amount in reserves each year, most of the Bureau's funds are to be spent in the short term so there are few funds for long term investment. Surplus bank balances are placed in interest-bearing accounts, however, given the current rate of interest being offered by banks nationally, the interest received on these sums is negligible in comparison to that in previous years.

Reserves policy

The trustees believe that the bureau should hold financial reserves in order to ensure that the charity can continue to operate and meet the needs of clients in the event of unforeseen and potentially financially damaging circumstances arising. It has taken into account the reliability and continuance of future funding, timing of cash flows and working capital requirements, cover for unplanned emergency repairs and potential liabilities relating to staff should there be closure of a particular activity.

The trustees consider therefore that it would be prudent to set aside a reserves policy of £200,000 equivalent to 6 months Central and General running costs.

Designated Costs

In addition Unrestricted funds of £80,000 have been designated for the following purposes:-

Equipment reserve - a reserve to ensure that there is sufficient money to replace equipment when it becomes obsolete or beyond economic repair.

Contractual commitment reserve - a reserve to ensure that the bureau is able to cover contracted payments to staff such as redundancy, provision of locum maternity cover, and the costs of any disciplinary and/or grievance procedures which may arise.

Premises - a reserve to provide for the cost of major repairs and maintenance of the bureau for the next 5 years.

Development reserve - a reserve to allow the bureau to undertake the development of new projects and areas of work and to conduct full feasibility studies on the advisability of such proposals.

The following funds detailed in note 14 are restricted by the donor or funder and cannot be used for the general purposes of the bureau. Their existence, and the sums of money therein, do not imply that there has been an underspend but may result from a variety of circumstances including timing differences between the bureau's financial year and the funding year of the project concerned.

This reserves policy is monitored and reviewed by the trustees annually.

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing document

The Bureau was incorporated on 12th April 2007 (no. 06210127 ) and registered as a charity on 28th October 2008 (no. 1126466 ). It is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. Prior to incorporation the Bureau was registered as a Charity (no. 255978) on 4th June 1968.

Recruitment and appointment of Management Committee members

The Bureau is managed by a Management Committee ("the Committee"), which is drawn from the local community and whose members have backgrounds relevant to the Bureau's work. The members are charity trustees who have legal responsibility for the general control and management of the Bureau, including financial management and control.

The Committee is responsible for ensuring that the Bureau complies with the Citizens Advice ("CitA") membership scheme, charity and company legislation and obtaining/managing resources for the service within South Tyneside. In practice, day-to-day management is delegated to the Chief Executive Officer and Manager.

The Committee members are elected at the AGM to serve until the subsequent AGM. The maximum number of committee members is 15, up to one-third of whom may be nominated by any local organisations which are committed to the aims and responsibilities of the Bureau. Currently, four Committee members are nominated by South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council ("STMBC"). In addition, the Chief Executive Officer and Manager, and no more than three staff representatives have membership of the Committee, a a complement which is currently filled.

Organisational structure

The Committee meets at least quarterly and is responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the Bureau. The governing documents provide for the appointment of such sub-committees as may be deemed necessary to ensure the smooth running of the Bureau. Currently, there is an Executive Sub-committee comprising of 5 of the Committee members and it is their responsibility to take management decisions, including all personnel and staff-related matters, between the quarterly Committee meetings. The Executive Sub-committee meets at least once between each Committee meeting.

The Bureau also has a Premises Committee, comprising of 5 of the members from both the staff and Management Committee, and which has responsibility for all premises business, including Health and Safety.

A scheme of delegation is in place and day-to-day responsibility for the provision of services at the Bureau's two locations, South Shields and Jarrow, rests with the Chief Executive Officer and Manager.

Management Committee induction and training

Most Committee members have been involved with the charity for several years prior to the transfer of activities and are therefore familiar with the Bureau's practical work. New members are presented with a copy of the Bureau's Office Manual (which was last updated in May 2023) which includes comprehensive information on the membership of the Committee and sub-committees, and the responsibilities of the relevant members of each.

Committee members can use CitA's intranet site, CABlink and the Bureau Management Information System (BMIS), which hosts designated trustee pages with a broad range of internal and external reference material and information to support them in their roles. Regular Trustee training and events are organised which Trustees are encouraged to attend.

Related parties

The Bureau, in common with all other bureaux in the UK, is a member of Citizens Advice, the national charity (charity register number 279057) which sets standards for advice and equality & diversity throughout the bureaux network. The Bureau receives support in the form of training, information systems and submits to regular audits from CitA, which are supplemented by the Bureau's own internal Independent File Review programme.

The Bureau has now signed up to the new Membership Agreement with Citizens Advice which includes a new Performance Quality Framework which monitors and audits all aspects of our work with the ability to make comparisons between similar Bureaux on key areas such as quality of advice, financial controls and governance.

As well as providing a number of Committee members, STMBC provides core funding to the Bureau on the proviso that the key aims of the Bureau remain to be similar to their own aims which include the promotion of financial inclusion and resolution of social and economic problems, leading to greater quality of life for its residents.

Risk management

A risk management system exists within the Bureau -which sets out the major risks to which it is exposed, as identified by the Committee. By and large many of the perceived risks are shared by a number of bureaux which makes for ease of management through policies and procedures directed through CitA. Notwithstanding this, the Committee periodically review the risks and systems and establish procedures to identify, monitor and manage risks which may be particular to the Bureau.

Reference and Administrative Details

Registered charity name	South Tyneside Citizens Advice Bureau

Charity registration number	1126466

Company registration number	06210127

Principal office and registered	2nd Floor
office	Edinburgh Building
	Station Approach
	South Shields
	NE33 1HR

The Trustees

	Mr K Palmer (Chair)
	Mr G Pattison (Treasurer)	(Resigned 12 February 2025)
	Ms J Ward
	Cllr. S Dean
	Ms S Barton
	Mr P Lott (Vice Chair)
	Mr K Whitehead
	Cllr. A Best
	Ms M Begum
	Cllr J Potts	(Resigned 23 October 2024)
	Mr S Smith	(Appointed 1 November 2024)
	Cllr. J Welsh	(Appointed 23 October 2024)

D Burt

C Fairclough

K Fox – Manager

M Robson – Deputy Manager

Company Secretary	Mr I Thompson

Independent Examiner	Jane Ascroft FCA MA (Cantab)
	Enterprise House
	Harmire Enterprise Park
	Barnard Castle
	County Durham
	DL12 8XT

Small Company Provisions

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.

The trustees' annual report was approved on 11 November 2025 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:

Mr I Thompson

Charity Secretary

South Tyneside Citizens Advice Bureau

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of South Tyneside Citizens Advice Bureau

Year Ended 31 March 2025

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of South Tyneside Citizens Advice Bureau ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Responsibilities and Basis of Report

As the trustees of the company (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 accounts of the company 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 accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. Independent Examiner's Statement

Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), which is one of the listed bodies.

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:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

2. the financial statements do not accord with those records; or

3. 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

4. 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 accounts to be reached.

Jane Ascroft FCA MA (Cantab) Independent Examiner

Enterprise House Harmire Enterprise Park Barnard Castle County Durham DL12 8XT

11 November 2025

South Tyneside Citizens Advice Bureau

Statement of Financial Activities

(including income and expenditure account)

Year Ended 31 March 2025

	2025			2024
	Unrestricted funds	Restricted funds	Total funds	Total funds
Note	£	£	£	£

Income and endowments

Donations and legacies	5	513	–	513	6,443
Charitable activities	6	250,843	738,826	989,669	885,904
Investment income	7	9,168	–	9,168	981
		---------	---------	---------	---------
Total income		260,524	738,826	999,350	893,328
		---------	---------	---------	---------

Expenditure

Expenditure on charitable activities	8,9	186,578	761,200	947,778	882,932
		---------	---------	---------	---------
Total expenditure		186,578	761,200	947,778	882,932
		---------	---------	---------	---------

	---------	---------	---------	---------
Net income and net movement in funds	73,946	( 22,374)	51,572	10,396
	---------	---------	---------	---------

Reconciliation of funds

Total funds brought forward	667,015	18,508	685,523	675,127
	---------	---------	---------	---------
Total funds carried forward	740,961	( 3,866)	737,095	685,523
	---------	---------	---------	---------

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

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

South Tyneside Citizens Advice Bureau

Statement of Financial Position

31 March 2025

	2025	2024
Note	£	£

Fixed Assets

Tangible fixed assets	14	51,191	62,902

Current Assets

Debtors	15	56,161	63,702
Cash at bank and in hand		685,337	597,714
		---------	---------
		741,498	661,416

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year	16	55,594	38,795
		---------	---------
Net Current Assets		685,904	622,621
		---------	---------
Total Assets Less Current Liabilities		737,095	685,523
		---------	---------
Net Assets		737,095	685,523
		---------	---------

Funds of the Charity

Restricted funds		( 3,866)	18,508
Unrestricted funds		740,961	667,015
		---------	---------
Total charity funds	18	737,095	685,523
		---------	---------

For the year ending 31 March 2025 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

- The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476 ;

- The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements .

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.

These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on 11 November 2025 , and are signed on behalf of the board by:

Mr K Palmer (Chair)
Trustee

South Tyneside Citizens Advice Bureau

Statement of Cash Flows

Year Ended 31 March 2025

	2025	2024
	£	£

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Net income	51,572	10,396

Adjustments for:
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets	11,711	3,423
Other interest receivable and similar income	( 9,168)	( 981)
Accrued expenses/(income)	2,306	( 2,071)

Changes in:
Trade and other debtors	3,485	9,330
Trade and other creditors	18,549	15,836
	--------	--------
Cash generated from operations	78,455	35,933

Interest received	9,168	981
	--------	--------
Net cash from operating activities	87,623	36,914
	--------	--------

Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	87,623	36,914
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	597,714	560,800
	---------	---------
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	685,337	597,714
	---------	---------

South Tyneside Citizens Advice Bureau

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year Ended 31 March 2025

1. General Information

The charity is a public benefit entity and a private company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales and a registered charity in England and Wales. The address of the registered office is 2nd Floor, Edinburgh Building, Station Approach, South Shields, NE33 1HR.

2. Statement of Compliance

These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the 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) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Companies Act 2006.

3. Accounting Policies

Basis of Preparation

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.

Going Concern

There are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue .

Judgements and Key Sources of Estimation Uncertainty

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The trustees consider that there are no significant estimates or judgements affecting these financial statements.

Fund Accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes. Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment. Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.

Income

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity; it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income: - income from donations or grants is recognised when there is evidence of entitlement to the gift, receipt is probable and its amount can be measured reliably. - legacy income is recognised when receipt is probable and entitlement is established. - income from donated goods is measured at the fair value of the goods unless this is impractical to measure reliably, in which case the value is derived from the cost to the donor or the estimated resale value. Donated facilities and services are recognised in the accounts when received if the value can be reliably measured. No amounts are included for the contribution of general volunteers. - income from contracts for the supply of services is recognised with the delivery of the contracted service. This is classified as unrestricted funds unless there is a contractual requirement for it to be spent on a particular purpose and returned if unspent, in which case it may be regarded as restricted.

Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates: - expenditure on raising funds includes the costs of all fundraising activities, events, non-charitable trading activities, and the sale of donated goods. - expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs incurred by a charity in undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries, including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities. - other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related to raising funds for the charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable activities.

All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.

Operating Leases

Lease payments are recognised as an expense over the lease term on a straight-line basis. The aggregate benefit of lease incentives is recognised as a reduction to expense over the lease term, on a straight-line basis.

Tangible Assets

Tangible assets are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Any capital item costing £3,000 or less will not be capitalised

Depreciation

Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:

Freehold property	-	2% straight line
Fixtures, fittings & equipment	-	25% straight line

The depreciation rate for Fixtures, fittings and equipment has changed during the year from 15% p.a. reducing balance to 25% p.a. straight line on the basis that this better reflects the usage of the assets.

Impairment of Fixed Assets

A review for indicators of impairment is carried out at each reporting date, with the recoverable amount being estimated where such indicators exist. Where the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount, the asset is impaired accordingly. Prior impairments are also reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date.

Financial Instruments

The charity only has financial assets and liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

Defined Contribution Plans

Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as an expense in the period in which the related service is provided. Prepaid contributions are recognised as an asset to the extent that the prepayment will lead to a reduction in future payments or a cash refund. When contributions are not expected to be settled wholly within 12 months of the end of the reporting date in which the employees render the related service, the liability is measured on a discounted present value basis. The unwinding of the discount is recognised as an expense in the period in which it arises.

Debtors

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.

Accrued income and tax recoverable is included at the best estimate of the amounts receivable at the balance sheet date.

Cash at Bank and in Hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

Creditors

Creditors 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 are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

Taxation

The company is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the company is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

4. Limited by Guarantee

The company is limited by guarantee. At 31st March 2025 there were 10 members each of whom had undertaken to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 in the event of a winding up.

5. Donations and Legacies

Unrestricted Funds	Total Funds 2025	Unrestricted Funds	Total Funds 2024
£	£	£	£

Donations

Donations	513	513	6,443	6,443
	----	----	-------	-------

6. Charitable Activities

	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total Funds 2025
	£	£	£
South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (STMBC)	219,000	–	219,000
The National Lottery Community Fund	10,500	40,750	51,250
Debt Advice Project (DAP)	–	278,182	278,182
Minority Ethnic Project (MEP)	–	40,000	40,000
NECA Schools	21,343	–	21,343
Help to Claim	–	242,211	242,211
The Henry Smith Charity	–	48,000	48,000
HMRC	–	36,691	36,691
Income for vulnerable clients	–	–	–
DCMS	–	48,283	48,283
Other income from charitable activities	–	4,709	4,709
	---------	---------	---------
	250,843	738,826	989,669
	---------	---------	---------

	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total Funds 2024
	£	£	£
South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (STMBC)	161,025	–	161,025
The National Lottery Community Fund	–	109,210	109,210
Debt Advice Project (DAP)	–	279,404	279,404
Minority Ethnic Project (MEP)	–	39,200	39,200
NECA Schools	–	–	–
Help to Claim	–	155,548	155,548
The Henry Smith Charity	–	60,000	60,000
HMRC	–	36,995	36,995
Income for vulnerable clients	–	105	105
DCMS	–	35,157	35,157
Other income from charitable activities	5,204	4,056	9,260
	---------	---------	---------
	166,229	719,675	885,904
	---------	---------	---------

7. Investment Income

	Unrestricted Funds	Total Funds 2025	Unrestricted Funds	Total Funds 2024
	£	£	£	£
Bank interest receivable	9,168	9,168	981	981
	-------	-------	----	----

8. Expenditure on Charitable Activities by Fund Type

	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total Funds 2025
	£	£	£
General Advice	174,760	–	174,760
Debt Advice Project	–	282,891	282,891
National Lottery Advice Services	–	–	–
Minority Ethnic Projects	–	40,000	40,000
National Lottery RCPNE	–	40,750	40,750
HMRC	–	36,691	36,691
NECA Schools	11,818	–	11,818
The Henry Smith Charity	–	70,000	70,000
Help To Claim	–	242,211	242,211
DCMS	–	48,283	48,283
Vulnerable Clients	–	374	374
	---------	---------	---------
	186,578	761,200	947,778
	---------	---------	---------

	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total Funds 2024
	£	£	£
General Advice	158,806	15,000	173,806
Debt Advice Project	–	283,460	283,460
National Lottery Advice Services	–	70,000	70,000
Minority Ethnic Projects	–	43,541	43,541
National Lottery RCPNE	–	39,210	39,210
HMRC	–	36,995	36,995
NECA Schools	–	–	–
The Henry Smith Charity	–	45,000	45,000
Help To Claim	–	155,548	155,548
DCMS	–	35,157	35,157
Vulnerable Clients	–	215	215
	---------	---------	---------
	158,806	724,126	882,932
	---------	---------	---------

9. Expenditure on Charitable Activities by Activity Type

	Activities undertaken directly	Total funds 2025	Total fund 2024
	£	£	£
General Advice	174,760	174,760	173,806
Debt Advice Project	282,891	282,891	283,460
National Lottery Advice Services	–	–	70,000
Minority Ethnic Projects	40,000	40,000	43,541
National Lottery RCPNE	40,750	40,750	39,210
HMRC	36,691	36,691	36,995
NECA Schools	11,818	11,818	–
The Henry Smith Charity	70,000	70,000	45,000
Help To Claim	242,211	242,211	155,548
DCMS	48,283	48,283	35,157
Vulnerable Clients	374	374	215
	---------	---------	---------
	947,778	947,778	882,932
	---------	---------	---------

10. Net Income

Net income is stated after charging/(crediting):

	2025	2024
	£	£
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets	11,711	3,423
	--------	-------

11. Independent Examination Fees

	2025	2024
	£	£

Fees payable to the independent examiner for:

Independent examination of the financial statements	680	650
Other financial services	1,282	1,198
	-------	-------
	1,962	1,848
	-------	-------

12. Staff Costs

The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as follows:

	2025	2024
	£	£
Wages and salaries	699,849	642,425
Social security costs	58,377	52,211
Employer contributions to pension plans	13,001	11,027
	---------	---------
	771,227	705,663
	---------	---------

The average head count of employees during the year was 27 (2024: 26 ). The average number of full-time equivalent employees during the year is analysed as follows:

	2025	2024
	No.	No.
Number of staff	27	26
	----	----

No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2024: Nil).

13. Trustee Remuneration and Expenses

Trustees received neither remuneration nor expenses during the current and previous financial year.

14. Tangible Fixed Assets

	Freehold property	Fixtures, fittings and equipment	Total
	£	£	£
Cost
At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025	82,377	262,978	345,355
	--------	---------	---------
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024	29,538	252,915	282,453
Charge for the year	1,648	10,063	11,711
	--------	---------	---------
At 31 March 2025	31,186	262,978	294,164
	--------	---------	---------
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2025	51,191	–	51,191
	--------	---------	---------
At 31 March 2024	52,839	10,063	62,902
	--------	---------	---------

15. Debtors

	2025	2024
	£	£
Trade debtors	41,000	41,103
Prepayments and accrued income	13,744	22,599
Other debtors	1,417	–
	--------	--------
	56,161	63,702
	--------	--------

16. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

	2025	2024
	£	£
Trade creditors	5,322	8,718
Accruals and deferred income	1,750	3,500
Social security and other taxes	13,353	10,881
Pension creditor	4,251	4,412
Deferred income	29,501	10,023
Other creditors	1,417	1,261
	--------	--------
	55,594	38,795
	--------	--------

17. Pensions and Other Post Retirement Benefits

Defined contribution plans

The amount recognised in income or expenditure as an expense in relation to defined contribution plans was £ 13,001 (2024: £ 11,027 ).

18. Analysis of Charitable Funds

Unrestricted funds

	At 1 April 2024	Income	Expenditure	Transfers	At 31 March 2025
	£	£	£	£	£
General funds	424,113	239,181	(163,047)	9,523	509,770
NECA Schools	–	21,343	(11,820)	(9,523)	–
Operating provision reserve	80,000	–	–	–	80,000
Capital funds	62,902	–	(11,711)	–	51,191
Welfare Benefit project	100,000	–	–	–	100,000
	---------	---------	---------	-------	---------
	667,015	260,524	(186,578)	–	740,961
	---------	---------	---------	-------	---------

	At 1 April 2023	Income	Expenditure	Transfers	At 31 March 2024
	£	£	£	£	£
General funds	405,843	173,653	(155,383)	–	424,113
NECA Schools	–	–	–	–	–
Operating provision reserve	80,000	–	–	–	80,000
Capital funds	66,325	–	(3,423)	–	62,902
Welfare Benefit project	100,000	–	–	–	100,000
	---------	---------	---------	----	---------
	652,168	173,653	(158,806)	–	667,015
	---------	---------	---------	----	---------

Purpose of General funds:

South Tyneside Council - Core funding provided to allow the company to meet its primary objectives of delivering multi-channel information and advice services through 'drop in' and appointments. Advice Services are designed to meet the needs of South Tyneside residents and help them address the social and economic problems they are currently facing.

By resolving the social and economic problems of residents the company increases social and financial inclusion and thereby improves general health and well-being within some of our most disadvantaged communities.

Operating provision reserve - The trustees have designated funds sufficient to keep a level of reserve appropriate to the nature of the charity's work and overall monthly expenditure, and to mitigate any unforeseen fluctuating income that might affect its ability to function and maintain its core service to the community. The board of trustees deem that a reserve equivalent to the provision of two months' running costs is sufficient in this regard.

Capital Fund - records the capital addition funded out of unrestricted funds. The fund is charged with depreciation. The transfer during the year reflects the net investment in fixed assets additions during the year which were not funded out of restricted grants.

Welfare Benefit project - This is money set aside to support ongoing welfare benefit support.

Restricted funds

	At 1 April 2024	Income	Expenditure	Transfers	At 31 March 2025
	£	£	£	£	£
Debt Advice Project (DAP)	–	282,891	(282,891)	–	–
Vulnerable Clients	3,508	–	(374)	–	3,134
Minority Ethnic project	–	40,000	(40,000)	–	–
HMRC	–	36,691	(36,691)	–	–
Help to Claim	–	242,211	(242,211)	–	–
National Lottery Community Fund	–	–	–	–	–
The Henry Smith Charity	15,000	48,000	(70,000)	–	(7,000)
Cita Cost of Living	–	–	–	–	–
Debt Modernisation	–	–	–	–	–
National Lottery RCPNE	–	40,750	(40,750)	–	–
DCMS	–	48,283	(48,283)	–	–
	--------	---------	---------	----	-------
	18,508	738,826	(761,200)	–	(3,866)
	--------	---------	---------	----	-------

	At 1 April 2023	Income	Expenditure	Transfers	At 31 March 2024
	£	£	£	£	£
Debt Advice Project (DAP)	–	279,404	(279,404)	–	–
Vulnerable Clients	3,618	105	(215)	–	3,508
Minority Ethnic project	4,341	39,200	(43,541)	–	–
HMRC	–	36,995	(36,995)	–	–
Help to Claim	–	155,548	(155,548)	–	–
National Lottery Community Fund	–	70,000	(70,000)	–	–
The Henry Smith Charity	–	60,000	(45,000)	–	15,000
Cita Cost of Living	15,000	–	(15,000)	–	–
Debt Modernisation	–	4,056	(4,056)	–	–
National Lottery RCPNE	–	39,210	(39,210)	–	–
DCMS	–	35,157	(35,157)	–	–
	--------	---------	---------	----	--------
	22,959	719,675	(724,126)	–	18,508
	--------	---------	---------	----	--------

Purpose of restricted funds:

Debt Advice Project - To offer face to face and Telephone debt advice and assistance within South Tyneside on the full range of debt solutions and options open to clients, dependent on their personal circumstances. In order to help clients with unmanageable debt the solutions range from informal reduced repayments up to and including Bankruptcies.

National Lottery Community Fund - A partnership with the National Lottery to fund Social Welfare Advisors with the aim of improving the lives of people most in need through the provision of Social Welfare information, advice and representation.

Minority Ethnic Project - To offer generalist advice and financial awareness and education in all subjects to members of the BAME communities in their own languages, primarily Arabic and Bengali, leading to better social and financial cohesion.

Vulnerable clients - This offers extremely vulnerable clients in desperate short term need a relatively small crisis/hardship payment.

The Henry Smith Charity - A partnership with the National Lottery to fund Social Welfare Advisors with the aim of improving the lives of people most in need through the provision of Social Welfare information, advice and representation.

Help to Claim - Citizens Advice has been contracted by the Department for Work & Pensions to assist claimants to make on-line claims for Universal Credit.

HMRC - The LCA receives funding from Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs that allows us to provide dedicated advice and support to all HMRC customers in South Tyneside. This includes assistance in all matters relating to Working & Child Tax Credits, Income Tax, National Insurance, Inheritance Tax etc.

19. Analysis of Net Assets Between Funds

	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total Funds 2025
	£	£	£
Tangible fixed assets	51,191	–	51,191
Current assets	745,364	(3,866)	741,498
Creditors less than 1 year	(55,594)	–	(55,594)
	---------	-------	---------
Net assets	740,961	(3,866)	737,095
	---------	-------	---------

	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total Funds 2024
	£	£	£
Tangible fixed assets	62,902	–	62,902
Current assets	642,908	18,508	661,416
Creditors less than 1 year	(38,795)	–	(38,795)
	---------	--------	---------
Net assets	667,015	18,508	685,523
	---------	--------	---------

20. Analysis of Changes in Net Debt

	At 1 Apr 2024	Cash flows	At 31 Mar 2025
	£	£	£
Cash at bank and in hand	597,714	87,623	685,337
	---------	--------	---------

21. Operating Lease Commitments

The total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

	2025	2024
	£	£
Not later than 1 year	–	12,110
	----	--------