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 note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the 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).
Objects
The charity's principal object is the provision of a specialist service for individuals that have received a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Policies and objectives
The charity via its management team evaluates the provision through regular reviews to ensure the service delivery is appropriate to the specific needs of the service users and any relevant stakeholders.
New ideas/approaches or enhancements will be adopted as and when required.
The Senior Management Team are responsible for ensuring that the main aim of the charity is to provide a secure, caring and knowledgeable environment that enables people to achieve their fullest potential.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Significant activities
In furtherance of its objectives the charity provides the following:
Registered small community based group homes
Knowledgeable, experienced staff
Close working relationships with external Support Services
Support and education for the families/carers
Training and consultancy
Individualised programmes of care and support
Variety of leisure activities specific to individual need
Statement of Public Benefit
The trustees are aware of the Public Benefit provisions of the Charities Act 2011 and of the guidance on them published by the Charity Commission. They are satisfied that the objects of the Charity and the activities of the charity are within the definitions of Charitable Purposes as set down in the Act. The Trustees are not aware of any public detriment caused by the Charity's objects or activities, and nor are they aware of anyone receiving any private benefit from the Charity's activities.
Volunteers
The charity has limited interaction with volunteers as it chooses to ensure that its services are supported by experienced employees.
However, there are some excellent relationships with a few work experience placements and leisure providers for which we are extremely grateful.
2024-2025
There were a couple of significant changes with the regard to individual clients which resulted in the sad loss of one and the need for the other to be relocated back to his local authority.
The Service will be reviewing its provision and looking into servicing the two voids with replacement contracts.
Gloucestershire Group Homes continues to operate as a fully registered provision for adults with the diagnosis of Autism.
All registered provisions continue to be rated as "good" with no outstanding issues.
Service Provision
The Registered Manager carries out regular quality audits and any enhancements to the individual services have been instigated.
Fundraising
The charity does not undertake any significant fundraising activities.
Results
The results for the year show an increase in funds of £72,731 (2024: £84,430). This includes net interest on defined benefit schemes of £86,000 (2024: £65,000). After making adjustments to the pension scheme gains/losses in accordance with SORP 2019 the net movement in funds shows a decrease of £18,269 (2024: decrease of £1,347,570).
A review of the statement of financial activities shows the following significant variations between this year and last
Total income increased by 3.9% (2024 - 1.6%)
Total expenditure increased by 4.8% (2024 - 7.8% increase)
The defined benefit pension scheme operated by the charity is having a significant impact on the statement of financial activities and the balance sheet. The trustees are aware that the surplus does not represent an immediate cash flow and solvency problem but is subject to future investment performance and changes in membership profile of the scheme. It does indicate that the charity may be required to make increased pension contributions for the foreseeable future.
Reserves Policy
It is the policy of the Charity to hold reserves equivalent to the value of twelve weeks' running costs. This should allow the Charity to meet any unforeseen fall in its income without prejudicing its objectives.
As at 31 March 2025 the unrestricted free reserves (excluding fixed assets and the pension reserve) of the charity are £611,056 (2024: £606,027). This represents 19 weeks direct charitable expenditure, which is more than the current policy. The trustees have decided to hold more reserves than charity policy dictates at the present time due to expected future reductions in local authority income.
As at 31 March 2025, the restricted reserves of the charity (including fixed assets) are £18,090 (2024: £14,357) and relate to a replacement vehicle fund and sensory garden.
Material Investments Policy
The committee has considered the most appropriate policy for investing funds and has found that a specialised deposit taker, designed for the charity sector, meets their requirements to generate income and to safeguard the capital balance. The committee considers the interest rate offered by their bankers to be satisfactory in view of current interest rate levels.
Risk Management
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. This is reviewed and updated on an annual basis or as and when necessary.
The charity has reviewed and enhanced policy and procedures in connection with their insurance requirements.
The charity is registered with the Care Quality Commission. Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Principal risks
Within the care sector as a whole there continues to be a staffing crisis, however Gloucestershire Group Homes has worked hard to retain its current level of staffing and will continue to monitor this situation as a priority.
The service needs to ensure the relationship with its clients (Local Authorities) is maintained in order to ensure appropriate levels of funding continues. Should the service have a void for any reason there exists a level of reserves to support such a situation, however action would be required to ensure long term viability.
Future Developments
To continue to ensure that the Gloucestershire Group Homes' residential services meet the Care Quality Commission requirements and specifically endeavour to provide a needs-led service for its service users.
To continue to assess the need for appropriate outreach services and the ability of Gloucestershire Group Homes to provide innovative support.
Going Concern
After making appropriate enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the accounting policies.
The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 23 September 1993 and registered as a charity on 30 March 1994. The company was established by a Memorandum of Association on 26 August 1993, which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up the members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 each.
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:
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Griffiths Marshall be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The trustees, who are also the directors of Gloucestershire Group Homes Limited 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.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Gloucestershire Group Homes Limited (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.
Extent to which the audit was capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud
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 obtain an understanding of the of the entity, its activities, its control environment, and likely future developments, including in relation to the legal and regulatory framework applicable and how the entity is complying with that framework. Based on this understanding, we identify and assess the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedure responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. This includes consideration of the risk of acts by the entity that were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud.
In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations including fraud we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:
Agreement of the financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation;
Enquiries of management regarding known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations;
Review of minutes of the Board meetings throughout the year; and
Assessing the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations considered to have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the entity through enquiry and inspection
Performing audit work over the risk of management bias and override of controls, including testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, evaluation the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business and reviewing accounting estimates for indicators of potential bias.
Our audit procedures were designed to respond to risks of material misstatement in the financial statements, recognising that the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery, misrepresentations or through collusion. There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures performed and the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we are to become aware of it.
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.
Griffiths Marshall 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.
Gloucestershire Group Homes Limited is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Spring Mill Business Centre, Avening Road, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, GL6 0BS, United Kingdom.
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 charity 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.
Investment income gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund.
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.
Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.
Income from government and other 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.
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes irrecoverable VAT which is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the Charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its clients. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Support costs are those costs incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the Charity and include project management carried out at headquarters.
Governance costs included those costs associated with meeting the constitution and statutory requirements of the Charity and include the audit fees and costs linked to strategic management of the charity. It also includes the costs of running the office that manages the charity's homes.
All costs are allocated between the expenditure categories of the Statement of Financial Activities on a basis designed to reflect the use of the resource. Costs relating to a particular activity are allocated directly, others are apportioned on the basis of management estimates of the amount attributable to that activity in the year either by reference to staff time, space occupied, or estimated usage, as appropriate.
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.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible 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.
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.
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 short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are required to be recognised as part of the cost of stock or fixed assets.
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.
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.
The present value of the Local Government Pension scheme defined benefit liability depends on a number of factors that are determined on an actuarial basis using a variety of assumptions. The assumptions used in determining the net cost (income) for pensions include the discount rate. Any changes in these assumptions, which are disclosed in note 15, will impact the carrying amount of the pension surplus. Furthermore a roll forward approach which projects results from the latest full actuarial valuation performed at 31 March 2022 has been used by the actuary in valuing the pensions surplus at 31 March 2025. Any differences between the figures derived from the roll forward approach and a full actuarial valuation would impact the carrying amount of the pension surplus.
Note 15 shows the scheme assets exceed the projection obligation resulting in a surplus as at 31 March. In accordance with the asset ceiling report the surplus is restricted to match the forecasted liabilities so that no asset is recognised on the balance sheet.
Government grants
Local Authorities & Department of Work and Pensions (LA&DWP)
LA&DWP - Clients
LA&DWP - Houses
LA&DWP - Clients
LA&DWP - Houses
Housekeeping
Activities and holidays
Motor and travel
Equipment and maintenance
Registration fees
Rent and rates
Light and heat
Hire of equipment
Telephone
Insurance
Professional fees
Other expenses
During the year, one Trustee, M Pearson, received remuneration of £6,972 in relation to care provided to clients following his appointment as a Trustee on the 4th July 2024 (2024: £Nil). No pension contributions were paid (2024:£nil).
During the year, no benefits in kind were paid to Trustees (2024: £nil) and no expenses were reimbursed to Trustees (2024: £Nil).
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
Deferred income is included in the financial statements as follows:
At the balance sheet date, the charitable company was holding funds received in advance for 2024/25 in respect of residential fee income.
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 Charity operates a defined benefit scheme as detailed in the accounting polciies. The scheme is no longer open to new employees. The LGPS is a funded defined benefit pension scheme, with the assets held in seperate trustee-administered funds.
The latest actuarial valuation of the LGPS related to the period ended 31 March 2022.
A roll forward approach has been used by the actuary in valuing the pensions liability at 31 March 2025.
The assumed life expectations on retirement at age 65 are:
The amounts included in the balance sheet arising from the charity's obligations in respect of defined benefit plans are as follows:
The defined benefit obligations arise from plans which are wholly or partly funded.
The actual return on plan assets was £242,000 (2024 - £218,000).
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.
The overall gain/loss on defined benefit scheme of £91,000 (2024: £1,432,000) is detailed further in note 15. The gain/(loss) on the general funds relates to the transfer of £32,000 (2024: £37,000) to the defined benefit scheme in relation to employers contributions paid.
At the reporting end date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under a verbal agreement, which totalled £Nil (2024 - £Nil).
At the reporting end date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
During the year ended 31 March 2025, rent totalling £9,216 (2024: £105,323) was paid to Birnbeck Housing Association Limited (in respect of the month of April 2024), of which the trustee J Silverman was the chief executive officer until his retirement on 30th April 2024. The rent was in respect of Wortley Villa, The Old Dairy and Churchill Road properties and all transactions were completed at an arms length. Birnbeck is no longer considered a related party after 30th April 2024.
During the year, Birnbeck Housing Association Limited donated £137 (2024: £1,638) to the charity up until it ceased being a related party on the 30th April 2024.
During the year, £nil (2024: £6,325) was paid to J Bird in the form of consultancy fees.
As disclosed in the Trustees note, M Pearson was in receipt of remuneration since his appointment as Trustee of £6,972.