We have also seen a reduction in funding opportunities for service providers like us. It wasn't easy; we have reduced staff costs and are in the process of reducing office costs. We've also delivered a lot more training and improved our systems over the last 12 months - enabling those on the front line to better serve our customers.
It is a great achievement that we have been able to respond to the needs of around 20,000 Norfolk people and their families who have come to us for support when all else seems to be failing. In South Norfolk, we have been very busy delivering Wellbeing issues and have already exceeded project targets. Similarly, we have invested in our ability to report our activity to our partners and use this insight to improve our fundraising.
We have developed services within Norwich Foodbank that will improve the skills of Foodbank volunteers and provide greater access to our support through a different approach to outreach services. Throughout the year we have served the communities of Norfolk with a wide range of issues. When we take a closer look at why people come to us, we can see that we have dealt with around 57,000 questions on behalf of these customers.
Mainly due to a reduction in our management and administration costs and an effort to replenish our lost funding, we were able to turn this around and generate a small surplus.
Norfolk Citizens Advice Bureau Company limited by guarantee
Financial statements Year ended 31 March 2014
Trustees annual report Year ended 31 March 2014
The interlocutor is asked questions related to the competencies required for the role of administrator. New administrators go through an induction period, which depends on the previous experience and knowledge of the bureau. The CEO and senior management team are responsible for the operational management of the organization.
The Trustees take into account the strategy set by Citizens Advice when developing the Bureau's strategic plan. During the year, the charity employed Mrs. J Baker, who is the wife of Ian Baker, a Charity Trustee. The Trustees accept the Charity Commission's request that they undertake a review of the main risks to which the Bureau is exposed and establish systems to mitigate these risks.
Current funding remains a major risk for the office in the current economic climate and in light of the government's plans to reduce the areas of work eligible for legal aid support. The trustees are aware of the Charity Commission's public benefit test requirements and confirm that the activities of the office will comply with these requirements as set out in the aims and activities below. The Bureau is a member of the national charity Citizens Advice, which produces and updates AdviserNet (the online system we use to advise clients) and sets and enforces quality standards for advice services provided, internal organisation, training, equal opportunities and accessibility. .
In the current year, a subsequent restructuring of management and administrative functions followed, which, despite additional costs in the year, will make the organization more sustainable in the years to come. Ultimately, none of the above would be possible without the hard work and dedication of the paid and volunteer staff and attorneys who provide pro bono support to the office. 120,000 if they did not significantly change the structure and cost base of the organization.
The audited accounts of the Bureau are appended to this report and full details of the financial position of the Bureau are contained therein together with the auditor's report to the trustees. Under company law, trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the charity's state of affairs and the charity's income and expenditure for that period. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which are sufficient to show and explain the transactions of the charity and to disclose with reasonable accuracy at all times the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the statements financial statements to comply with the Companies Act 2006.
They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and therefore for taking reasonable steps to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities. Lovewell Blake LLP is deemed to be re-appointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.
Independent auditor's report to the members of Norfolk Citizens Advice Bureau Year ended 31 March 2014
Independent auditor's report to the members of Norfolk Citizens Advice Bureau
Statement of financial activities (incorporating the income and expenditure account)
Balance sheet 31 March 2014
Notes to the financial statements Year ended 31 March 2014
- Accounting policies (a) Basis of accounting
- Accounting policies (continued) (d) Resources expended
- Accounting policies (continued) (j) Pensions
- Voluntary income
- Incoming resources from activities for generating funds
- Investment income
- Incoming resources from charitable activities Unrestricted
- Costs of charitable activities by fund type
- Governance costs
- Net incoming/(outgoing) resources for the year This is stated after charging
- Staff costs and emoluments
- Staff costs and emoluments (continued)
- Tangible fixed assets
- Work in progress
- Debtors
- Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
- Commitments under operating leases
- Restricted income funds
- Unrestricted income funds
- Analysis of net assets between funds
- Related party transactions
- Company limited by guarantee
- Transfers from merger
Charitable activities involve those costs incurred by the charity in delivering its activities and services for its beneficiaries. This includes both costs that can be directly allocated to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature that are necessary to support them. Management costs include those costs related to meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the audit fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity.
All costs are allocated among expenditure categories in the statement of financial activities on a basis that reflects the use of the resource. Rent, cleaning, telephone, stationery and general office supplies are allocated based on the area occupied by the relevant staff. Rents applicable to operating leases in which substantially all the rewards and risks of ownership remain with the lessor are charged to profit on a straight line basis over the lease term.
The charity has no liability to income or capital gains tax as surplus income and profits are used for charitable purposes. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an independently administered fund. The pension costs charged in these financial statements represent contributions the company pays to the scheme.
In addition, the agency maintains its service to the public with the help of volunteers. Big Lottery Fund (Reaching Communities) - Regenerate West Norfolk - The Big Lottery has provided funding for four years until December 2014 as part of the initiative to regenerate West Norfolk. The project will enable the agency to provide clients with financial and life skills training, as well as help clients maximize their income.
FIF - The Financial Inclusion Fund Project is funded by the DTI to retain an associate to counsel clients with debt-related problems. Ministry of Justice - Fund to provide a counseling service to prisoners at HMP Bure to help reduce re-offending. MS Society - A trust to provide expert advice on social benefits to people with multiple sclerosis, their families and carers in the North Norfolk area.
Norfolk Community Foundation - A fund provided by the NCF to provide home visits for vulnerable people who cannot get advice by visiting the offices or one of the contacts. As at 29 November 2012, all assets and liabilities of Yare Valley and District Citizens Advice Bureau Ltd - Charitable No. 1123397 Limited Company (Company Number 06534098) and Citizens Advice North Norfolk - Charitable No. 1135997 Limited Company (Company Numbers are were transferred to Norfolk Citizens Advice Bureau at fair value.
