The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2022.
The directors who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as follows:
In accordance with the registered rules of the society Mr M. Pentecost will retire by rotation, and being eligible, offers himself for re-election at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting to be held in March 2023.
Dr C. Love, who was appointed during the year, being eligible, also offers herself for re-election at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting to be held in March 2023.
Objects and Organisation
The society's objects are:-
- to provide accommodation, care and companionship for lonely or frail elderly people in accordance with the aims and principles of The Abbeyfield Society Limited.
The society is a member of The Abbeyfield Society Limited by payment of an annual subscription.
The Memorandum and Articles of Association govern the appointment of the executive committee, which is charged with the management of the society in furtherance of its principal activity, fund management and financial affairs generally. The committee shall consist of no less than three and no more than 18 committee members. The committee has the power to appoint executive committee members to fill a casual vacancy. One third of the executive committee members must retire by rotation each year but are eligible for re-election.
New members of the executive committee are given a copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the latest report and accounts, and all the society's documents on governance. Subject to their experience and expertise, they are also given pamphlets issued by the Charity Commission explaining the duties of Trustees of Charities and offered training in any area of their duties which they think they would like strengthening.
Public Benefit
The society provides quality housing with support for older people. We provide a service which is intended for older people who no longer feel happy coping alone at home, but are still reasonably fit and active providing the house meets their requirements. Support plans are drawn up with the Housing Benefit funding. Residents can be confident they will enjoy fair opportunity to live a full life and seek fulfilment as individuals, making choices about the way they live their lives. The staff team are committed to helping residents maintain their independence. A complaints procedure is available to all residents and they are encouraged to make use of this procedure when they wish.
In considering the operation, achievements and performance and finances of the society, the executive committee are satisfied that public benefit has been provided in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the guidance provided by the Charity Commission.
Review of Business and results during the year
The Abbeyfield Berwick Society Limited's home provided supportive care for seven people during the year ended 30 September 2022. Priority is given to the filling of residential vacancies.
The financial results for the year are as set out in the statement of comprehensive income (on page 5) and the position at the end of the year is shown in the balance sheet on page 6. The detailed property revenue account is presented on pages 14 to 15.
Results mean that careful financial management is required: however the funds from the sale of property in 2009 and 2017 will secure the future of The Abbeyfield Berwick Society Limited for the foreseeable future. Current cashflow projections are also strong. Trustees are always mindful of ensuring that the current premises are fit for purpose and explore potential alternatives if they were to become available. To date, no suitable alternative site has been found.
Future Developments
The society has no plans to increase the capacity beyond eight places provided for in Bankhill.
The society has entered into plans to regenerate Abbeyfield in the North East which initially focuses on Alnwick. It continues to discuss any further plans for collaboration at any level.
Reserves Policy
It is the policy of the committee of management to maintain an appropriate level of reserves. The appropriate level of reserves is considered to be that level which would enable the society to continue operations for a considerable period with minimal income arising.
Risk Management
The executive committee members have overall responsibility for ensuring that the society has appropriate systems of controls, financial and otherwise. The systems of financial controls are designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss. They include a regular review of actual results, delegation of authority and segregation of duties as far as possible given staffing levels.
The executive committee will continue to monitor risks and set up policies to mitigate them.
Fixed Assets
Details of cost and depreciation of fixed assets are set out in notes 5 and 6.
The executive committee is of the opinion that the market value, under the existing use of the society's land and buildings, is in excess of net book value.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.
We report on the accounts of the Society for the year ended 30 September 2022 set out on pages 5 to 13.
Basis of opinion
Our procedures consisted of comparing the financial statements with the accounting records kept by The Abbeyfield Berwick Society Limited and making such enquiries of the officers of the Society as we considered necessary for the purpose of this report. These procedures provide the only assurance expressed in our opinion.
Opinion
In our opinion:
the financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2022 are in accordance with the accounting records kept by the Society under paragraph 135(2)(a) of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008;
having regard only to, and on the basis of the information contained in the accounting records:
the financial statements comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011;
the Society has satisfied the conditions for exemption from an audit of the financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2022 specified in section 136(3) of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008;
the financial statements comply with the requirements of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 and the Housing SORP 2014.
The Abbeyfield Berwick Society Limited is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 4 Bankhill, Berwick upon Tweed, TD15 1BE.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The Society has taken advantage of the disclosure exemptions available under FRS 102 and accordingly has not prepared a cash flow statement.
Income and expenses are included in the financial statements as they become receivable or due.
Social housing grants towards capital costs of the property are taken to deferred income and held there until the property or part thereof is sold. The grants are then released to income.
Expenses include VAT where applicable as the company cannot reclaim it.
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 credited or charged to surplus or deficit.
Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.
If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in surplus or deficit, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.
Recognised impairment losses are reversed if, and only if, the reasons for the impairment loss have ceased to apply. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (or cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately in surplus or deficit, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.
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 liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the company after deducting all of its liabilities.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors, bank loans, loans from fellow group companies and preference shares that are classified as debt, 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 business 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.
The society has charitable status and is exempt from Corporation Tax on income it receives.
The society is not registered for VAT. Accordingly no VAT is charged to residents, and expenditure in the income and expenditure account includes the relevant VAT.
Allocation of expenses
Expenses are allocated to management expenses, repair and maintenance costs and services costs on the basis of proportion of time or other relevant factors attributable to those activities.
Future cyclical and major repairs
It is the executive committee's opinion that no provision is required for future cyclical or major repairs.
In the application of the company’s accounting policies, the directors 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 total turnover of the company for the year has been derived from its principal activity wholly undertaken in England and Wales.
The average monthly number of persons employed by the company during the year was 10 (2021: 9). No directors were employed during the year (2021: None).
Their aggregate remuneration comprised:
Fixed asset investments are held at market value. The historical cost of the investments is £336,460 (2021: £333,889).
The Society had the following bed spaces available for occupation:
The company is limited by guarantee, not having a share capital and consequently the liability of members is limited, subject to an undertaking by each member to contribute to the net assets or liabilities of the company on winding up such amounts as may be required not exceeding £1.
The income and expenditure account is an unrestricted revenue reserve.
The Society is a member of The Abbeyfield Society Limited and paid annual subscriptions of £2,852 (2021: £2,846). Included within debtors is an outstanding loan of £1,000 (2021: £1,000) due from The Abbeyfield Society Limited. This loan is unsecured, undated and interest free.
Greaves West & Ayre are the society's financial advisors. During the year Greaves West & Ayre charged the society £1,527 for accountancy services (2021: £1,380) and £2,937 for investment services (2021: £2,798).