THE BEDFORD AND DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Registered charity 1106738 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

Our service is open to anyone: it is free, independent, confidential and impartial. Citizens Advice Bedford (CAB) primarily exists to help those who live or work in the Borough of Bedford - 175,000 people. In addition CAB delivers services in Central Bedfordshire and throughout England. This service is available to all citizens, regardless of situation, background or social status.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty · Accommodation/housing · Economic/community Development/employment · Human Rights/religious Or Racial Harmony/equality Or Diversity · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£656k
Latest spending
£705k
Registered
2004
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a financial deficit of £49,018 for the year ended 31 March 2025, primarily due to increased staff costs. The trustees maintain that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the next twelve months, citing reserves and expenditure controls.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: General Advice (35% of income)
“General Advice 181,500” — page 11
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: 3 months' budgeted operating expenditure (held: £120k)
“The Trustees have determined that a designated unrestricted reserve should be maintained equal to 3 months’ budgeted operating expenditure which currently equates to £179,588”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Payments made to Citizens Advice (national charity) for subscriptions and sundries.
“During the 2024/25 financial year, payments were made to Citizens Advice to the value of £12,559 (2023/24: £6,924) in respect of subscriptions and sundries.” — page 8
“Receipts from Citizens Advice for contracts and grant funding totalled £212,071 (2023/24: £149,207).”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Receipts from Citizens Advice (national charity) for contracts and grant funding.
“During the 2024/25 financial year, payments were made to Citizens Advice to the value of £12,559 (2023/24: £6,924) in respect of subscriptions and sundries.” — page 8
“Receipts from Citizens Advice for contracts and grant funding totalled £212,071 (2023/24: £149,207).”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Receipts from Mid Beds Citizens Advice for support services.
“During the 2024/25 financial year, payments were made to Citizens Advice to the value of £12,559 (2023/24: £6,924) in respect of subscriptions and sundries.” — page 8
“Receipts from Citizens Advice for contracts and grant funding totalled £212,071 (2023/24: £149,207).”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

Property (HM Land Registry)

1 registered title in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (0 freehold). All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)

Total income
£656k
Total spending
£705k
Reserves (reported)
£108k
Employees
22

Reported reserves equal ~1.8 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Charitable activities (87% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 0.0% of total income — below the median for charities its size (4.9%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Throughout England

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/03/2025£656k£705k
31/03/2024£610k£706k
31/03/2023£642k£518k
31/03/2022£525k£515k
31/03/2021£595k£513k

Common questions

Is THE BEDFORD AND DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a financial deficit of £49,018 for the year ended 31 March 2025, primarily due to increased staff costs. The trustees maintain that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the next twelve months, citing reserves and expenditure controls. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds THE BEDFORD AND DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU?

Funders whose own accounts filings name THE BEDFORD AND DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU as a grant recipient include THE HARPUR TRUST, HOUSE OF INDUSTRY ESTATE.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

FunderYearAmountPurpose (as stated by the funder)
THE HARPUR TRUSTFY2024£146kWelfare Benefits Specialist Caseworker/Adviser
HOUSE OF INDUSTRY ESTATEFY2024£66kGrant made in 2023/24 (Related party transaction)
THE HARPUR TRUSTFY2024£21kYoung Citizens Advice Pilot Project

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

FunderDateAmountPurpose
The National Lottery Community Fund18/01/2005£4kWeekly advice session
The National Lottery Heritage Fund07/01/2005£119"This Registered Charity Will Use An Award To Celebrate 60 Years Of The End Of Ww2 And 65 Years Of The Foundation Of The Group. The Citizens"
The National Lottery Community Fund30/12/2004£81060th anniversary WW2 and CAB foundation