The Paperweight Trust - Charities report

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 07705745 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1146302

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST JULY 2025

FOR

THE PAPERWEIGHT TRUST

Page

Report of the Trustees

1

to

4

Independent Examiner's Report

5

Statement of Financial Activities

6

Statement of Financial Position

7

to

8

Notes to the Financial Statements

9

to

15

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 31st July 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Charitable Aims

The relief of financial hardship and emotional stress by the provision of free practical advice and assistance primarily to persons who are members of the Jewish Community resident in the UK who through lack of means, knowledge or as a result of circumstances such as bereavement, divorce or any other personal circumstances are unable to access and/or obtain such advice.

Objectives

Paperweight is a voluntary sector charity which is the Jewish Community's Advice Centre, offering free, tailored guidance and practical support across a wide range of legal, financial, welfare and administrative matters. We aim to help those, predominantly in the Jewish community who are vulnerable and struggling with the "administration of life", offering time, expertise and personal attention to empower them to regain control of their problems and continue with confidence.

Our help spans a wide range of areas including, but not limited to: welfare benefits, such as claims and appeals; debt; housing; family; employment; LPAs/deputyships/appointeeship; post-death practical support; navigation of the social care system and help with paperwork.

Our front-line team and caseworkers are trained to aim for a holistic approach to the clients who are introduced to Paperweight's services. We know that problems rarely grow in a vacuum. We also know that at first sight, the root causes and certainly the history of "how did you get into this troubling situation" will not be evident and certainly not obvious.

We try to be curious without being judgemental, so that we win a client's trust. Any sympathy and empathy are directed towards a solution, but always on the clients' terms. We do not compare their experience to ours, and do not leap in with a magic wand.

Rather, with skill and experience and over several meetings - face to face, telephone or sometimes by text/email/WhatsApp - we can build an accurate picture.

Then we prioritise and determine which aspect of the client's problem needs urgent and determined attention. And whether a specialist discipline is needed. But in any event, alerting the client's sources of their problems - persons, institutions and organisations - under the umbrella of Paperweight, introduces a much-needed pause in proceedings.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable Activities

All our work is within the remit of the charity's aims. The mechanism employed to fulfil this mandate has grown and been refined these past 13 years. Good practice is not confined to a dry seminar or process. It is absorbed from the daily buzz in our three offices - London headquarters, Manchester and Leeds. The fresh sheet of paper and unfilled interactive computer screen, leaps into life with a welcoming hallo from the call handlers - accessed from anywhere in the UK. Interpreting the cry of distress and creating a confidence in the caller cannot be set out in any rule book. But our extremely high retention rate - less than 3% of those who contact us decline to attend a further session either in person or by telephone. And that translates to some 2,000 new clients in the year, each presenting with one, two, three or more discrete problems.

The "relief of financial hardship and emotional stress... " in our Charitable Aims is practised daily throughout the country. The knowledge and gut-feeling (as clients have described) of a person, previously an absolute stranger - taking a concerned interest, and ultimately offering a full or even partial solution - is a special feature of Paperweight's work.

We share in our clients' triumphs and as we say in our Objectives we "empower them to regain control", because at a domestic level, and when confronted by intimidating bureaucracy and processes, knowledge really is power. And we stay with the client through thick and thin, and advocate firmly and with a wealth of experience.

Fundraising Strategy

We reported last year that we were courting Professional Fundraisers . In the following Detailed Statement you will see that our costs have risen by £32,000 this year and this is the professional firm who have more than paid their way. The trustees know that they cannot devote sufficient time, nor are they necessarily experienced in fund raising at the level and continuity we require. Even those charitable trusts who said "no" for whatever reason - frequently citing the overwhelming demands from several organisations- have now, at very least, heard of Paperweight and will, one hopes, be more responsive next time.

The cornerstone of the strategy is currently a national Chanty-Matching campaign held over a weekend but approaches to larger grant-making bodies will continue, acknowledging that resulting funds are often ring-fenced and come with their own administrative hurdles.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial Performance

The reserves at the year-end would indicate that we had remained static, reserves being 2.3% higher than the prior year, but the benefits of the national Charity matching campaign of last Spring mean that we had replaced a £118k deficit by a £9k surplus. From the accounts you will see that the expenditure in many categories has climbed. The stronger our footprint in the community, the more professional and solid our core operation needs to be. Senior personnel with experience and energy are needed to bind the teams together and to maintain the flow of clients from welcome to discharge. Our staff costs grew by 16%.

Any expansion of services and facilities is carefully costed and budgets are examined regularly. In this way we preserve our hard-earned funds and operate within our means.

Our average cost per client served still remains below £300 which indicates that the added value achieved - i.e. what a client would spend accessing the range of services "on the High Street" is very many times incurred cost by Paperweight.

Financial Position

The Statement of Financial Activities shows a net surplus for the year of £9,729 (deficit £118,120 in 2024) and our reserves stand at a surplus of £420,992 (£411,263 in 2024).

Reserves Policy

The charity's reserves policy is to maintain sufficient cash reserves to enable the charity to continue its activities and services at a meaningful level, should there be a drop in income. As all income is derived from voluntary donations and grants, the trustees review this position on a monthly basis.

In view of this the trustees aim to maintain a level of reserves sufficient to meet three months basic operating costs.

Plans for the future

As described last year, we have now expanded into our spacious Hendon offices. There are adequate facilities and some room to expand. It is easily accessible - on several bus routes and close to a Tube line. We have therefore spent the year consolidating our position in the community and are introducing new strategies to sit comfortably alongside our proven skills. These are NextGen, Tap-into-Tech and an enhanced Elder Care department. Next Gen is linking students and senior school pupils to the older generation, training the younger cohorts in vital life skills and at a later stage, pairing them with those who have acquired many skills but perhaps been left behind in the way society runs. Tap into Tech enables the public to access digital platforms to shop, book hospital appointments, pay for Council services and much more.

Finally, the Elder Care department are enabling the elderly and their families to chart a course through their old age limiting the dilemmas created by bed-blocking, insufficient Care Homes, and expensive at-home carers. Each package so designed is unique but comes with the Paperweight promise - "you will not be alone".

Whilst the Leeds office is running at full steam, we have finally secured suitable premise in Prestwich Manchester on one of the main thoroughfares and have employed a new director of services to carry the flag there too. The very fact of a physical identifiable presence has boosted uptake in approach and use.

DECLARATION OF PUBLIC BENEFIT

The Trustees have considered the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

The 'Objectives and Activities' section explains the charity's activities which are open primarily to anyone of the Jewish faith.

The Trustees consider that the activities explained above, adequately satisfy the public benefit requirements.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, Memorandum and Articles of Association and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

Trustee and Organisational Structure

The charity is constituted as a company limited by guarantee and is therefore governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association. All directors of the company are also trustees of the charity and there are no other trustees. All of the trustees named above served throughout the period. The board has the power to appoint additional trustees as and when it considers fit to do so.

Risk management

The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed. All areas of work carried out by the charity are appropriately risk assessed and staff and volunteers are appropriately screened, trained and supervised. The charity contracts with outside specialist advisers whenever necessary, to provide expert advice when it is required. The Trustees take a prudent and careful approach to the management of the funds of the charity to ensure that an adequate strategy is in place to safeguard the income streams and to control the costs in both the short and long term.

As the charity relies entirely on voluntary income and grants, trustees are aware that there are various risks to our financial stability in an uncertain economic climate.

The charity has been diversifying its fundraising efforts to mitigate those risks as far as possible by spreading the income streams more evenly. Risk management plans are in place to enable timely responses to any crisis designed to protect the core of the charity's work through difficult times. Systems are in place to ensure the appropriate management of all funds and suitable probity is exercised at all times in regard to the handling and recording of financial transactions.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

07705745 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

1146302

Registered office

Office

119-121 Brent Street

Hendon

London

NW4 2DX

Trustees

B Conway

A J Perrin

J C Marriott

D E Posen

D B Black

T Greenbaum

Independent Examiner

Joey Joseph FCA MCMI

JKA Accountancy Limited

Marlborough House

298 Regents Park Road

London

N3 2SZ

COMMENCEMENT OF ACTIVITIES

The charitable company was incorporated on 14 July 2011.

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 23rd April 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

A J Perrin - Trustee

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Paperweight Trust ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31st July 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts 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 your 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 your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, 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 Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

2.	the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3.	the accounts 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 accounts 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.

Joey Joseph FCA MCMI

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

JKA Accountancy Limited

Marlborough House

298 Regents Park Road

London

N3 2SZ

23rd April 2026

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

fund

funds

Notes

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

433,295

50,581

483,876

260,708

Investment income

2

14,627

-

14,627

1,018

Total

447,922

50,581

498,503

261,726

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

Governance cost

4,800

-

4,800

4,200

Charitable

407,313

76,661

483,974

375,646

Total

412,113

76,661

488,774

379,846

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

35,809

(26,080

)

9,729

(118,120

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

369,156

42,107

411,263

529,383

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

404,965

16,027

420,992

411,263

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

fund

funds

Notes

£

FIXED ASSETS

Tangible assets

7

54,062

-

54,062

29,761

CURRENT ASSETS

Debtors

8

-

600

Cash at bank

359,742

16,027

375,769

386,421

359,742

16,027

375,769

387,021

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

9

(8,839

)

-

(8,839

)

(5,519

)

NET CURRENT ASSETS

350,903

16,027

366,930

381,502

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES

404,965

16,027

420,992

411,263

NET ASSETS

404,965

16,027

420,992

411,263

FUNDS

10

Unrestricted funds

404,965

369,156

Restricted funds

16,027

42,107

TOTAL FUNDS

420,992

411,263

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31st July 2025.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31st July 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

(a)	ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and

(b)

preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.

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

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 23rd April 2026 and were signed on its behalf by:

A J Perrin - Trustee

1.	ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Going concern

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.

Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from gift aid and other grants, whether 'capital' grants or 'revenue' grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred. Income received in advance for the provision of specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.

Expenditure

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

Tangible fixed assets are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to bringing the asset to the location and condition necessary for it to be capable of operating in the manner intended by management.

Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, using either a straight line or reducing balance method, as indicated below.

Depreciation is provided on the following basis:

Improvements to property - 20% on reducing balance

Computer and equipment - 50% on cost

The assets' residual values, useful lives and depreciation methods are reviewed, and adjusted prospectively if appropriate, or if there is an indication of a significant change since the last reporting date.

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount and are recognised in profit or loss.

Taxation

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

Fund accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustee for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each material restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Key judgements and estimates

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustee for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each material restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

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.

Financial instruments

The Company only enters into basic financial instruments transactions that result in the recognition of financial assets and liabilities like trade and other debtors and creditors, loans from banks and other third parties, loans to related parties and investments in non-puttable ordinary shares.

Financial assets that are measured at cost and amortised cost are assessed at the end of each reporting period for objective evidence of impairment. If objective evidence of impairment is found, an impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount reported in the Balance Sheet when there is an 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.

Debtors

Basic financial assets, including trade and other debtors, are initially recognised at transaction price, 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. Such assets are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are represented by cash in hand, deposits held at call with financial institutions, and other short-term highly liquid investments that mature in no more than three months from the date of acquisition and that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash with insignificant risk of change in value.

Creditors

Basic financial liabilities, including trade and other creditors, loans from third parties and loans from related parties, 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. Such instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment.

2.	INVESTMENT INCOME

2025

2024

£

Rents received

12,751

-

Deposit account interest

1,876

1,018

14,627

1,018

3.	NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

2025

2024

£

Depreciation - owned assets

14,961

8,034

4.	TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31st July 2025 nor for the year ended 31st July 2024.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31st July 2025 nor for the year ended 31st July 2024.

5.	STAFF COSTS

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

2025

2024

Administrative

8

3

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

6.	COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

fund

funds

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

115,309

145,399

260,708

Investment income

1,018

-

1,018

Total

116,327

145,399

261,726

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

Governance cost

4,200

-

4,200

Charitable

245,944

129,702

375,646

Total

250,144

129,702

379,846

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(133,817

)

15,697

(118,120

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

502,973

26,410

529,383

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

369,156

42,107

411,263

7.	TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Computer

Property

and

improvements

Equipment

Totals

£

COST

At 1st August 2024

53,479

12,769

66,248

Additions

35,399

3,863

39,262

At 31st July 2025

88,878

16,632

105,510

DEPRECIATION

At 1st August 2024

23,709

12,778

36,487

Charge for year

13,034

1,927

14,961

At 31st July 2025

36,743

14,705

51,448

NET BOOK VALUE

At 31st July 2025

52,135

1,927

54,062

At 31st July 2024

29,770

(9

)

29,761

8.	DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

Gift aid receivable

-

600

9.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

Social security and other taxes

3,723

1,319

Other creditors

316

-

Accrued expenses

4,800

4,200

8,839

5,519

10.	MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Net

movement

At

At 1/8/24

in funds

31/7/25

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

369,156

35,809

404,965

Restricted funds

Restricted fund

42,107

(26,080

)

16,027

TOTAL FUNDS

411,263

9,729

420,992

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

447,922

(412,113

)

35,809

Restricted funds

Restricted fund

50,581

(76,661

)

(26,080

)

TOTAL FUNDS

498,503

(488,774

)

9,729

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net

movement

At

At 1/8/23

in funds

31/7/24

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

502,973

(133,817

)

369,156

Restricted funds

Restricted fund

26,410

15,697

42,107

TOTAL FUNDS

529,383

(118,120

)

411,263

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

116,327

(250,144

)

(133,817

)

Restricted funds

Restricted fund

145,399

(129,702

)

15,697

TOTAL FUNDS

261,726

(379,846

)

(118,120

)

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:

Net

movement

At

At 1/8/23

in funds

31/7/25

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

502,973

(98,008

)

404,965

Restricted funds

Restricted fund

26,410

(10,383

)

16,027

TOTAL FUNDS

529,383

(108,391

)

420,992

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

564,249

(662,257

)

(98,008

)

Restricted funds

Restricted fund

195,980

(206,363

)

(10,383

)

TOTAL FUNDS

760,229

(868,620

)

(108,391

)

11.	RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

During the year, £9,750 (2024: £9,750) for Non Trustee services, was paid to Perrin Associates Limited, a company where trustee, A J Perrin is a director and 50% shareholder.The consultancy fee includes this amount.