The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes and comply with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) 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)".
The principle aims of KAMCAB are to relieve poverty and promote well-being amongst all residents of Kincardine and Mearns by increasing access to information and providing assistance to users as may be appropriate.
KAMCAB’s objective is the advancement of education, health, community development (through working with third parties) human rights and the relief of those in need.
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities they should undertake.
Advancement of education: Providing clients with information, clarification and understanding of legislation and their legal rights and responsibilities.
Relief of those in need: Assessing client's entitlement to welfare benefits, by providing assistance in claiming benefits and by assisting them to appeal against refusal to benefits and by doing so ensure they do not suffer from poverty.
The advancement of human rights: Ensuring that people do not suffer through ignorance of their human rights and by taking such actions required to redress the situation and restore justice.
Advancement of health: Providing a comprehensive advice service which deals with all aspects of clients problems and alleviates the stress of anxiety caused by unsolved problems.
Advancement of community development: Recruiting, training and developing local citizens to be volunteer advisors in the Citizens Advice Bureau who in turn assist members of the public in their community and in doing so contribute to the development of their community.
KAMCAB continues to develop its high-quality advice service throughout the Kincardine and Mearns area. This year we supported 1,655 clients [1,316 during 2024] on various matters. There were 4,025 [4,999 2024] client contacts in the year and the charity achieved a financial gain of £27,004( £80,419 2024) for clients within the year. Benefits and debt advice continue to be the main area of advice given.
Benefits and debt advice continue to be by far the two largest areas where our help has been sought. The current cost of living challenges continues to drive much greater demands for our services and we see increasing complexity and breadth of issues being brought to us by individuals.
KAMCAB remain vigilant for new funding opportunities and is actively engaged with our stakeholders and our fellow Aberdeenshire bureau under the consortium, which KAMCAB leads, for the delivery of Information and Advice Services to Aberdeenshire council. This remains our largest source of funding.
In the year to 31 March 2025 our bureau’s total income received was £246,851 which is lower than the previous year. Our largest source of income continues to be Information and Advice services to Aberdeenshire council.
Expenditure in the year was lower and staff costs remain our largest cost accounting for 75% of total spending.
The charity has considered the reserves policy required and have taken into account their current and future liabilities. The trustees aim to maintain free reserves and unrestricted funds at a level which equates to approximately four months of unrestricted charitable expenditure. The trustees consider that this level will provide enough funds to respond to applications for grants and ensure that support and governance costs are covered.
The Trustees has assessed the major risks to which they are exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
The charity is controlled by its governing documents i.e. Memorandum & Articles of Association, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
As per the Memorandum and Articles of Association, trustees can be co-opted to the board during the year. They would then stand down and be formally appointed at the AGM.
Induction and Training
Induction and training of new Directors/Trustees is undertaken by Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) to ensure that everything which covers the Management of Kincardine and Mearns Citizens Advice Bureau (KAMCAB) is fully in line with their policies and procedures and is carried out to their standards.
Related Parties
KAMCAB has full membership of Citizens Advice Scotland.
The report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report on the financial statements of the for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 5 to 14.
The Trustees, who are also the directors of Kincardine and Mearns Citizens Advice Bureau Bureau for the purposes of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investments (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The Trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1)(a) to (c) of the 2006 Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the financial statements as required under section 44(1)(c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the financial statements.
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations; and
to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 8 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations;
to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn 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.
Kincardine and Mearns Citizens Advice Bureau Bureau is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland. The registered office is Ground Floor, Sheriff Court Building, Dunnottar Avenue, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, AB39 2JD, Scotland.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the entity's governing document, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) 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)". The is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The 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 . Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, [modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value]. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that there are 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.
Income is recognised when the entity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the entity 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.
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Tangible fixed assets 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.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at all 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 entity 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 entity's balance sheet when the entity 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 entity's contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
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 (2024 - none).