Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25

 

 

 

11 Bulwark

Brecon

Powys, LD3 7AE

 

 

Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 2025

 

Our Chair of the Trustees, Sally Palmer, stood down from the role at the 2024 AGM after four years at the helm, leaving the Centre in a much stronger position than it was when she took over during the height of the COVID pandemic in 2021. For a variety of reasons, none of the remaining Trustees felt able to make the commitment to take on the responsibility of Chair, so since then our Trustees/Executive Committee Meetings were chaired by one of the Trustees in attendance. This arrangement has functioned perfectly well, and the day-to-day activities of the Centre have carried on under the watchful eye of our Centre Manager – Keith Lawson.

Our finances remain strong and have enabled us to plan ahead with confidence, which has not always been the case. Our Treasurer, David Burden, keeps a tight rein on the expenditure and under his watchful eye we can keep ahead of the game when it comes to grants and donations, which we rely exclusively on for our income. Jackie Boarer, who has the responsibility of maintaining our funding to the requisite level, has now been in the role for nearly five years and her sterling efforts have been vital in keeping our income stream constant and sufficient to cover our expenses. At this point, we, the Trustees, would like to put on record our sincere thanks for the grants we receive every year from our two local authorities, Brecon Town Council and Powys County Council, both of whose support over many years has been crucial to our survival.

The Centre has continued to provide an invaluable service to the community, and engagement with the public remains steady. Over the past year, we have helped nearly 1,000 members of the public with a whole range of issues and problems. This consistent footfall reflects the ongoing necessity and relevance of the Centre’s work in the Brecon area.

Our volunteer advisers have faced a wide variety of pressing issues during the year. Benefits, utility disputes, pension-related concerns and universal credits were among the most frequent matters they had to address. Other issues included the distribution of foodbank vouchers, housing support, employment advice and access to healthcare. We continue to adapt to changing needs, ensuring that nobody is left unsupported in their time of need.

Whilst on the subject of volunteers, it is encouraging to note that we recruited a number of new advisers during the year, each bringing with them a wealth of experience and expertise. These additions to our team have significantly enhanced the skillset available at the Centre, enabling us to better address the diverse needs of our community. Their contributions have been invaluable in maintaining the range and quality of services we are able to offer.

 

 

The Objectives

Brecon Advice Centre’s Constitution states that:

The Centre is established for the promotion of any charitable purpose for the benefit of the community in Brecon and district by the advancement of education, the protection of health and the relief of poverty, sickness and distress.

In furtherance of the foregoing purposes, but not further or otherwise, the Centre may:

a)         provide centres for the supply of advice and guidance.

b)         obtain, collect and receive money and funds by way of contributions, donations, legacies, grants and any other lawful method and accept and receive gifts of property of any description (whether subject to special trusts or not),

c)         procure to be written, and print, publish, issue and circulate gratuitously or otherwise any reports or periodicals, books, pamphlets, leaflets or other documents.

d)         arrange and provide for, or join in arranging and providing for, the holding of exhibitions, meetings, lectures and classes.

e)         promote, encourage or undertake organised research and experimental work and disseminate the results of such research.

f)          affiliate or become affiliated to any institution having charitable purposes only and acquire and undertake all or any part of the assets, liabilities and engagements of any such institution which the Centre may lawfully acquire; and

g)         do all such other things as are necessary for the furtherance of the objects of the Centre.

                               

The Centre Personnel

 

Management Committee & Trustees: (* - Denotes Trustee)

*Jackie Boarer – Fund Raiser

*David Burden – Treasurer

*Tina Alwyn – (Resigned 2^nd December 2024)

*Sarah Benson – (Appointed 13^th June 2024)

*Ryan Coleman – (Appointed 13^th June 2024)

*Keith Lawson - Centre Manager (Ex officio)

Cllr. Robert Thomas – Nominated Representative of Brecon Town Council

 

Centre Staff:

(a)        Volunteers:

Surinder Kaur Price

Tish Jack

Tess Russell

Julie Burton

Mark Dempsey

Peter Jones

Jill Harris

Anita Webster

Janet Gallagher

 

(b)        Employees

Keith Lawson - Centre Manager

Janice Prentice - Administrator (Debt Advice)

 

 

The Structure, Governance & Management

 

Constitution

The Centre is a registered charity (Reg. No. 510226) and was set up by constitution in June 1981, which was subsequently amended in October 2002 and December 2008.

 

Principal Office

The principal office of the Centre is: -

11 Bulwark

Brecon

Powys

LD3 7AE.

Tel: 01874 624595

Email: breconadvicecentre@outlook.com

www.breconadvicecentre.org.uk

 

Method of appointment or election of Trustees

Trustees are either elected at the Annual General Meeting or co-opted in line with the constitution. The Centre Manager is an ex officio Trustee.

 

Policies adopted for the induction and training of Trustees

The Centre places a specific emphasis on the governance issues of running a charity. Trustees are recruited who are committed to the objectives of the Centre and who possess specific skills which support the effective running of the Centre. All Trustees undergo an induction process.

 

Organisational structure and decision making

The Trustees comprise the Management Committee which is responsible for the management of the Centre. In undertaking this role, they are supported by the Centre Manager.

 

Risk Management

The risks facing the Centre fall, broadly, into two categories, financial and operational. The more serious of the two is financial, and the management of this risk is dealt with in the following section on the Reserves Policy.

Operational risks are managed on an on-going basis by the Centre Manager and are reported to the Chair and Management Committee depending on their severity. At each Committee Meeting, the Centre Manager reports formally on any concerns that he might have in this area, together with any proposed plans required to mitigate them.

Reserves Policy

The Centre is entirely reliant upon external funding and, as a result, the level of income varies annually. Financial reserves are built up in years when income exceeds expenditure and are, in general, retained to mitigate those years when expenditure exceeds income. Responsibility for monitoring the level of reserves lies with the Treasurer, who will keep the Trustees informed of the financial situation on a regular basis. Consideration of reserves should be made beyond the forthcoming year, as the levels of income, for a charity such as BAC, are variable year-on-year and are dependent primarily on the funds available from grant providers.

The first call on the reserves is to meet any liabilities should the need arise to close the Centre, and these are designated reserves which are ring-fenced. Designated reserves will cover redundancy payments to staff, any outstanding rent at the time of closure, together with any specific one-off liabilities identified at the time of initiating the closure procedure. 

The level of designated reserves in place is determined annually by the Trustees once an expenditure budget for the financial year has been agreed. Because of the uncertain situation regarding income, the Trustees have decided that the level of designated reserves should be set at six months budgeted expenditure, plus an additional 20% to cover the one-off contingency payments set out above. For the coming year, 2025-26, the expenditure budget is £25,000, so the level of designated reserves is set at £15,000.

In terms of financial risk mitigation, the Treasurer will advise on the status of available reserves to the Trustees on a regular basis so that grant/fund applications can be timely, and ensure sufficient financial stability without compromising future applications, which are often impacted by the level of reserves.

The constant monitoring of reserves is an important financial tool. How the level of reserves changes during the year can be a good indicator of the underlying financial health of the Centre and can also be a good indicator of potential problems.

 

 

Trustees’ Responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and accounting standards. In undertaking these responsibilities, the Trustees have ensured that: -

•          Suitable accounting policies have been applied consistently

•          Judgements and estimates are reasonable and prudent

•          The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis

The Trustees confirm that the financial statements comply with current statutory requirements and the requirements of the charity’s constitution.

Approval

 

This report was approved by the Trustees on 15^th May 2025, and signed on their behalf by:

 

 

David Burden

Hon. Treasurer

 

 

Independent Examiner’s Report To Brecon Advice Centre

I report on the income and expenditure account and the statement of assets and liabilities of Brecon Advice Centre for the year ended 31^st March 2025.

Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner

The Charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity’s Trustees consider that an audit and independent examination is not required for this year (under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act)) needed but have requested an independent examination.

In undertaking the examination, I have: -

Examined the accounts (under section 43(2)(a) of the 1993 Act)

Followed the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 43(7)(b) of the 1993 Act and

Stated whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

• Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the 1993 Act and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have not been meet; or
• To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

 

29^th June 2025

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Julian Rabjohn CPFA                                                                                       Date 

 

Receipts & Payments Account for the year 2024-25

 

 

 

 

 

The Trustees have pleasure in presenting the above financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2025. The statements were approved by the Trustees on 15^th May 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

 

 

David Burden

Hon. Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

Appreciation

 

Brecon Advice Centre would like to acknowledge all the support that it receives from individuals, statutory bodies, charitable trusts and other voluntary organisations. During 2023-24 the following grants, donations and contributions were gratefully received from the Foundations, Trusts and Councils listed below:

 

 

 

The Centre maintained formal reciprocal arrangements with other organisations that provide advice. These included: -

 

Shelter Cymru

Woodland Davies Partnership LLP

Brecon Food Bank (seeded by the Trussell Trust)