The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2026.
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 charitable company's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019).
Charity information
Age Connects North East Wales (ACNEW) was set up in 2001 originally as Age Concern North East Wales and now celebrates its twenty-fifth year of existence during which time it has grown to meet the needs of the increasing numbers of older people over 50 in Wrexham County and Flintshire.
ACNEW’s mission is to support older people and their carers in having the best possible quality of life. The charity operates as a non-profit organisation for the benefit of people who are 50+ living in Flintshire and Wrexham County Borough.
ACNEW aims to achieve its mission by -
Providing responsive, person centred services to older people and their carers
Promoting safe and healthy living for older people
Raising the image and profile of older people’s life issues
Working in participation and co-operation with other likeminded organisations
Continuously developing the organisation in a sustainable, efficient, and effective way.
The charity has specific objectives that enable it to achieve these aims -
To provide timely and accurate information, advice, and other appropriate support on the range of goods and services available to older people and their carers.
To advocate on behalf of older people and actively seek to promote their views at strategic committees of all statutory and other government bodies.
To maximise the income available to and for older people and their carers, through close and co-operative working with partner organisations when appropriate.
To research, identify and raise awareness of the unmet needs of older people and their carers locally.
To develop a volunteer-base where appropriate to complement the delivery of services.
To promote the safety and security of older people in day-to-day living.
To support the good health and wellbeing of older people through promoting physical activity, the consumption of a health promoting diet, and any other activity that can contribute to good mental/physical health in older age.
To promote the development of a wide range of leisure and social opportunities for older people, especially any which help to build community cohesion and break down the barriers between generations.
To promote, initiate, support, and develop a variety of methods to ensure that older people are consulted and included in decisions that are made about services and other matters that affect their lives.
Public benefit
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charitable company should undertake.
2025/26 was an exceptionally pleasing year for ACNEW with all services well received, a net surplus generated from operating activities and notable achievements across all service areas which included -
Delivering a total of £1,586,200 in benefit gains for older people in Flintshire and Wrexham County Borough by assisting with applications for entitlement to benefits such as Attendance Allowance, Pension Credit and Housing Benefit.
Assisting over 356 clients weekly, fortnightly or monthly by delivering 14,581 hours of support over 9,699 appointments through the Home Solutions service. This support covered cleaning, shopping, assisted visits and companionship, which enabled older people to remain independent and remain in their own home.
Providing 94 Toenail Cutting clinics with 24 new clients registering for the service.
Developing new partnerships and joint working with Fint Town Council, North Wales Carers Trust, Conwy County Borough Council, Broughton Shopping Park, Airbus UK and the Health and Social Care department within Coleg Cambria.
Tendering successfully for and ensuring the continuation of ACNEW’s older people support services for the next 5 years in both Flintshire and Wrexham County Borough.
Securing funding from the Toyota Manufacturing UK (TMUK) Charitable Trust to deliver social activity events in Flintshire.
ACNEW’s older people support services assisted a total of 165 service users every week, meeting performance targets and helping to prevent homelessness for older people.
Donations of £4,444 were received during the year.
Income for the year was £763,241 (2025: £684,413) and expenditure was £746,718 (2025: £676,955). This resulted in a surplus for the year of £16,523 (2025: £7,458).
As at 31 March 2026 the total unrestricted reserves of the charity (including the in-year write-down transfer of £1,985 from the revaluation reserve) amounted to £385,958 (2025: £367,450).
With no easing in the harsh economic conditions throughout the year, 2025/26 proved to be another challenging twelve months for ACNEW. Despite the difficult backdrop, donations and legacies income at £4,444 was greater than the 2024/25 total of £3,506 and notwithstanding considerable cost pressures ACNEW was able to strengthen its trading position. These positives fed into the overall 2025/26 bottom line surplus of £16,523, a total which also benefited from some one-off cost savings and one-off grant receipts.
Reserves policy
It is the policy of the charitable company that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charitable company’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charitable company is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
ACNEW’s Review and Strategy meeting was held on 26 March 2026.
The meeting was attended by Staff and Trustees and focused on a review of the charity’s website and fleshing out plans for ACNEW’s 25th anniversary year.
The charitable company is a company limited by guarantee.
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:
ACNEW’s AGM on 11 September 2025 was attended by Staff and Trustees. After the Annual Accounts were presented by Kate Smith (Treasurer) they were approved and then signed by Marjorie Thomson (Chair). Marjorie Thomson was re-elected as Chair and stated this would be her last year as Chair and a Trustee with ACNEW. Kate Smith was re-elected as Treasurer and Ann Ledsham was re-elected as Vice-Chair. Jennifer Langley, Ann Ogilvy and Paul Harris were re-elected, and Sara Mogel was newly elected to the Board.
ACNEW wishes to acknowledge that all Trustees give their time without remuneration and thank them for their valuable contribution.
Our staff
Two new staff members joined ACNEW’s older people support services during 2025/26 and a new team leader and support staff took over responsibility for delivering the Home Solutions service following the resignation of the previous post holders.
Our volunteers
The charity currently has 6 volunteers most of whom support the telephone befriending service.
Acknowledgements
The Board would like to thank the following organisations and individuals without whom it would not have been possible for the activities and successes described in this annual report to have been delivered:
Flintshire County Council
Wrexham County Borough Council
Welsh Government
Volunteer Bureau at FLVC and AVOW
Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA)
The Department for Work and Pensions
Clwyd Alyn Housing
Ysgol Maes Hyfryd
Ian Llewelyn Jones
Age Cymru
Amazon Facilities Deeside
Flint Town Council
North Wales Carers Trust
Broughton Shopping Park
Airbus UK
Coleg Cambria
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Age Connects North East Wales (the charitable company) for the year ended 31 March 2026.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charitable company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charitable company’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
Since the charitable company’s gross income exceeded £250,000, the independent examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institue 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 that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charitable company as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The notes on pages 8 to 16 form part of these financial statements.
Age Connects North East Wales is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Lewis House, Swan Street, Flint, CH6 5BP. The principal activities of the charity are detailed in the Trustees' Report.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charitable company's Memorandum and Articles of Association, 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 charitable company is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charitable company. 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. 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 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 charitable company 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.
The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
Voluntary income is received by way of grants, donations and gifts and is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when receivable.
Grants, where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity, are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.
Incoming resources from grants, when related to performance and specific deliverables, are accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance.
Donated services and facilities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified. The value of services provided by the volunteers has not been included in these accounts.
Investment income is included when receivable.
Incoming resources from charitable trading activity are accounted for when earned.
Legacies are recognised where there is entitlement, certainty of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs 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.
Costs of generating funds comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income and the costs of trading for fundraising purposes including the charity's provision of services.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the audit fee and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity.
All costs are allocated between the expenditure categorise of the SOFA on a basis designed to reflect the use of resources. Costs relating to a particular activity are allocated directly; others are apportioned on an appropriate basis.
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:
Straight line depreciation is provided for on all property, furniture and equipment with a finite useful life, with provision made from the first financial year following acquisition.
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 net income/(expenditure) for the year.
At each reporting end date, the charitable company 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 charitable company 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 charitable company's balance sheet when the charitable company 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.
Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through income and expenditure, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting date. Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected.
If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the charitable company transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.
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.
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 charitable company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
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 charitable company 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.
Activities undertaken directly
During the year, the trustees received a total of £nil (2025: £nil) in expenses from the charity.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
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 and buildings with a carrying amount of £147,250 were revalued at April 2024 by Celt Rowlands & Co. Chartered Surveyors, independent valuers not connected with the charitable company on the basis of market value. The valuation conforms to International Valuation Standards and was based on market transactions at that time on arm's length terms for similar properties. The Board has reviewed this value at 31 March 2026 and consider it still appropriate to carry the value of the property at this amount.
At 31 March 2026, had the revalued assets been carried at historic cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses, their carrying amount would have been approximately £68,010.
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charitable company in an independently administered fund.
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, and the surpluses (or otherwise) from trading activities undertaken.
The revaluation reserve contains the gains made by the charity arising from increases in the value of its property (Lewis House). It records unrealised gains arising since August 2019 when the reserve was created.
Land and building reserve fund - this fund reflects the historical cost value as at 31 March 2019 (i.e. prior to revaluation) of the property owned and used operationally by the charity, net of depreciation on the historical cost value.
Building repair and maintenance fund - this fund has been established for the purpose of defraying expenditure on the repair and maintenance of Lewis House.
Employee costs contingency fund - this fund has been set up to meet employee cost contingencies as and when they arise across service provision.