The trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.
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).
Activities
The Brain Charity offers practical help, emotional support and social activities to anyone with a neurological condition and to their family, friends and carers.
We offer a range of services including counselling, employment support, welfare benefits advice, support for carers, social activities and a national information and advice service.
Mission, Values and Strategic Objectives
Our Mission
Our mission is to enable all those affected by neurological conditions to live longer, healthier, happier lives in an inclusive and fair society – a world where stigma, hardship and isolation are replaced by compassion, understanding and opportunity.
Our Values
Kindness We genuinely welcome everyone to our charity and believe that each person has a unique talent and the ability to make the world a better place.
Commitment We will travel side by side with everyone throughout their journey no matter how complex, how long or how difficult. We roll up our sleeves whenever and wherever we need to.
Authenticity We accept and understand that the broadness of our own diversity and personal experience impacts directly on the level of quality and passion delivered within our services.
Courage We will challenge the status quo, welcome change and bravely take on any new challenges in the spirit of adventure.
Optimism We believe that equality for people with neurological conditions is now within reach and we will strive each and every day until prejudice and lack of opportunity are removed from our society.
Our Current Strategic Objectives
Deliver a range of essential and innovative services to meet the needs of our service users
Achieve excellence in the quality of our services
Play our part in the wider disability equality movement by tackling discrimination at a local level
Be ready for growth when it happens
Increase income in order to reach out to more people
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
The Brain Charity has delivered a good set of results in 2024/25. Our income has fallen slightly but we continue to manage our expenditure in line with our income generation and are satisfied with the financial outturn for the year.
We are pleased to be entering the next year in a strong position, despite a continually challenging environment for the charity sector generally.
Due to limited funding, many charities with overlapping services have reduced their support, leading to more referrals to us. This added pressure, combined with rising hardship in our communities and uncertainty about government welfare for disabled people, has increased demand for our services greatly. As a result, clients now face a longer wait to access our essential services.
The Brain Charity is striving to find innovative ways to maintain and improve access to our services, including increasing the space we have available to provide counselling and support to our clients. Alongside our services provision, our community centre and its open-door policy is something we are immensely proud of. This ensures that, regardless of any delay to access our services, our local clients can always visit a safe accessible space and facilities, where they can be assured they can come and find kindness and community.
Our specialist Neuro Gym has continued to expand its reach and we are delighted to see the demonstrable impact on the physical, mental and social wellbeing of the people accessing this free-to-use facility.
Organisational buy-in to our new CRM has been really strong and consistent. In the future we look to further improve how we use it to measure our impact. We continue to embrace emerging technologies to support and enhance our services.
Finally, we were delighted to welcome Emeritus Professor Gus A Baker as our new Chair to the Board of Trustees during the year.
Our Year in numbers
Services
This year The Brain Charity has
Supported 2,861 clients with practical help, support and social activities
Delivered 1,784 counselling sessions to 227 clients, both face to face and remotely
Assisted 78 carers with their responsibilities through our Carers’ Advocacy Service
Provided for 63 Children and Young People to participate in The Brain Changer Arts Project
We continued to work with 8 hospitals across The Liverpool City Region
Project based delivery
The Brain Charity continued to support jobseekers with skills and confidence for employment, including
300 1-2-1 coaching sessions and 8 cohorts of Confidence Building Workshops to 46 clients
217 Neuro Gym inductions and 7,126 gym visits in the year by 355 gym users
Staff and volunteers
Staff numbers declined from 49 to 43, reflecting small movements across several areas. 40% of staff are known to have a neurological condition, a disability and / or are neurodivergent
Staff took part in 1,200 hours of training
84 active volunteers provided over 12,000 hours of volunteering time
Communications
Our mailing lists, including our newsletter The Nerve, now have 15,700 subscribers
The Brain Charity now has more than 32,000 followers on social media - on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube
Fundraising
Income from individual donations, including legacies, and challenge fundraising has remained broadly constant at £460,000
Trading income has risen to £290,000 reflecting the growth in our neurodiversity training
The Year ahead
Our CEO left the charity in July 2025. The charity’s very capable senior leadership team continue to run the charity on a day-to-day basis, with hands-on support from our dedicated board of trustees. Our brilliant staff are continuing the great work of the charity in this interim period, and we look forward to an exciting new future for this wonderful organization. Recruitment of a new CEO is well underway.
Once in post, the new CEO will lead the development of a new 5-year strategy for the charity, which will identify key priorities for the charity, coming into effect in 2026.
We will continue to enhance the services provided by our Neuro Gym, including specialist physiotherapy and building our personal training offer. As we move towards the third year of operation, we will focus on maintaining and improving facilities and ensuring the longevity of this valuable service .
We continue to experience pressure on space within our existing building. Thanks to a generous donation we will be creating additional space for service delivery.
Despite the tough fundraising environment and feeling the effects of the ongoing cost of living crisis, the charity generated an overall surplus on the income and expenditure account.
An overall accounting surplus of £2,790 (2024: £76,654) has been set against the reserves. This comprises an operating deficit of £1,869 (2024: surplus £49,959) plus a gain on investments of £4,659 (2024: £26,695).
It should be noted that the operating deficit / surplus includes depreciation and amortisation totalling £42,922 (2024: £44,186) which did not impact the cash position. The performance on day to day operations before depreciation and amortisation showed a surplus of £41,053 (2024: £94,145).
During the year the charity spent £41,320 on repairing known issues with our roof. We received a grant from the Wolfson Foundation to cover this, for which we are most grateful. The charity also acquired computer software at a cost of £19,657 (2024: £8,550) and made improvements and purchased items of equipment at the Norton Street premises costing £21,736 (2024: £19,195).
The trustees are happy with this year's financial performance in the context of our long term strategy.
The charity's reserves policy is designed to provide the charity with the financial flexibility to:
fund shortfalls when income does not reach expected levels
fund unexpected expenditure, for example when projects over run or unplanned events occur
ensure that the charity is not unnecessarily holding back on spending in favour of using the resources it has to meet its charitable objectives
The objective of the charity's investment policy is to provide adequate financial resources to support the achievement of the charitable objectives. The trustees are willing to incur a medium level of risks with a balanced strategy and annually revisit their capacity to incur risk.
The charity will not invest directly in tobacco or alcohol companies' shares.
Sub-committees
The board of trustees operates two sub - committees:
- Finance & Resources Committee
- Digital & Technology Governance Committee
These sub-committees are made up of suitably qualified trustees and senior management and formally report back to the full board at each quarterly meeting.
Risk management
The charity maintains a risk register to identify any major issues which may affect the charity in order that it can assess the potential impact of these should they happen, and mitigate this where possible. The risk register uses a "Likelihood" v "Level of Impact" rating system to assess each perceived risk.
Governing document
The charity was incorporated on 14 March 2006 and registered as a charity on 30 June 2006. On 1 April 2007 all the assets and activities of Mersey Neurological Trusts, an associated charity, were transferred to the charity.
The charity is controlled by its governing document, its Articles of Association, and constitutes a private company limited by guarantee, incorporated under the Companies Act 2006 in England and Wales. In February 2020, new Articles of Association were unanimously approved by the board and filed with Companies House, having been brought up to date in accordance with current legislation and best practice.
The trustees who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
New Trustees
The Board is currently seeking new Trustees and would positively welcome applications from individuals from under-represented groups and from people with neurological conditions.
The trustees, who are also the directors of The Brain Charity 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.
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.
The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of The Brain Charity (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 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:
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.
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 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.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the Trustees' report; or
sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
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.
We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
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.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
We identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and then design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Identifying and assessing potential risks related to irregularities
In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we considered the following:
• the nature of the industry and sector, control environment and business performance;
• the charity's own assessment of the risks that irregularities may occur either as a result of fraud or error;
• the results of our enquiries of management and members of the Board of Trustees of their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities;
• any matters we identified having obtained and reviewed the charity’s documentation of their policies and procedures relating to:
• identifying, evaluating and complying with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance;
• detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud; and
• the internal controls established to mitigate risks of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations; and
• the matters discussed among the audit engagement team regarding how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud.
As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in the following areas:
(i) The presentation of the charity's Statement of Financial Activities, (ii) the charity's accounting policy for revenue recognition (iii) the overstatement of salary and other costs. In common with all audits under ISAs (UK), we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override.
We also obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the charity operates in, focusing on provisions of those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The key laws and regulations we considered in this context included the UK Companies Act and the Statement of Recommended Practice - 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities' issued by the joint SORP making body .
In addition, we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compliance with which may be fundamental to the charity’s ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty.
As a result of performing the above, we identified the presentation of the charity's Statement of Financial Activities, revenue recognition and overstatement of wages and other costs as the key audit matters related to the potential risk of fraud. The key audit matters section of our report explains the matters in more detail and also describes the specific procedures we performed in response to those key audit matters.
In addition to the above, our procedures to respond to risks identified included the following:
reviewing the financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with relevant laws and regulations described above as having a direct effect on the financial statements;
enquiring of management and members of the Board of Trustees concerning actual and potential litigation and claims;
performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud;
reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance and reviewing correspondence with relevant authorities where matters identified were significant;
in addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, testing the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments; assessing whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias; and evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business.
We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.
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 is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
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.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s trustees 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 charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The Brain Charity is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Norton Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L3 8LR.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "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 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 charitable company 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 can be used in accordance with the charity's objectives at the discretion of the Trustees.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by funders as to how they may be used. Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objectives of the charity.
Further explanations of the nature and purpose of each fund is included 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.
Where there are terms or conditions attached to incoming resources, particularly grants, then these terms or conditions must be met before the income is recognised as the entitlement conditions will not be satisfied until that point. Where terms or conditions have not been met or uncertainty exists as to whether they can be met then the relevant income is not recognised in the year but deferred and shown on the balance sheet as deferred income.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been included in support costs and allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Intangible assets acquired separately from a business are recognised at cost and are subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
Properties whose fair value can be measured reliably are held under the revaluation model and are carried at a revalued amount, being their fair value at the date of valuation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses. The fair value of the land and buildings is usually considered to be their market value.
Revaluation gains and losses are recognised in other recognised gains and losses and accumulated in equity, except to the extent that a revaluation gain reverses a revaluation loss previously recognised in net income/(expenditure) or a revaluation loss exceeds the accumulated revaluation gains recognised in equity; such gains and loss are recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
Long leasehold property depreciation is kept under review and includes long leasehold land which is not depreciated as it is deemed to have an infinite useful economic life.
All classes of tangible fixed assets are included at cost and are reviewed annually for evidence of impairment when there is an indication that the value of the asset may have fallen below its recoverable amount by way of physical deterioration, obsolescence or other change. Where this is the case the value of the asset is written down to its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount of an asset is measured by reference to its net realisable value.
There is no de-minimis limit above which tangible fixed assets are capitalised.
Fixed asset investments are initially measured at transaction price excluding transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible 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).
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 charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
Provisions are recognised when the charity has a legal or constructive present obligation as a result of a past event, it is probable that the charity will be required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.
The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the reporting end date, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the amount expected to be required to settle the obligation is recognised at present value. When a provision is measured at present value, the unwinding of the discount is recognised as a finance cost in net income/(expenditure) in the period in which it arises.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
Irrecoverable valued added tax
Any disallowed input tax incurred either forms part of the corresponding expended resource recognised within the Statement of Financial Activities or where appropriate is capitalised on the Balance Sheet as part of the cost of a fixed asset.
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.
Charitable activities
Grants
Other projects
Other projects
Charitable expenditure
Public relations
None of the trustees received any remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 or for the year ended 31 March 2024.
The charity incurred expenses of £287 in relation to trustee activities in the year ended 31 March 2025 (2024: £73). These expenses were not reimbursed to trustees, but were paid directly to third parties on behalf of trustees. The expenses were in relation to travel £211 (2024: £73 to one trustee) and £76 as a contribution to a trustee's leaving meal.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
The key management personnel of the charity is considered to comprise of the Chief Executive only.
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.
Land held under long leasehold with an original cost of £50,000 (2023 - £50,000) is not depreciated.
The freehold property was revalued at 19 September 2018 by Keppie Massie Ltd, independent valuers not connected with the charity on the basis of market value. The valuation conforms to International Valuation Standards and was based on recent market transactions on arm's length terms for similar properties.
The property was revalued at £480,000 and this is deemed to be the value of the property at 31 March 2025 other than the subsequent property improvements included within additions.
The charity has recognised a provision in respect of a number of disputes under employment law, for which the timing of any potential payments is not yet known.
Deferred income is included in the financial statements as follows:
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.
Norton Street Centre
This is the unrestricted net book value of the freehold property and long leasehold land.
Building improvement and maintenance
The Board have undertaken a review of the Norton Street premises, which is over 25 years old and have identified and scheduled potential repair works which will be required to the building over the next ten years. The Trustees have agreed to designate a proportion of unrestricted income each year to provide for those future works. The Board believes £200,000 will cover the costs of these repairs.
The charity had no material debt during the year.