OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2023-03-31-accounts

ANNUAL REPORT

1[st] APRIL 2022 – 31[st] MARCH 2023

Charity Number: 1105899

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Despite the gloomy economy post Covid, and the financial pressure affecting many charities, we were able to retain the great majority of our volunteers who we see as our charity’s backbone to help us deliver the Service to bereaved families and witnesses attending inquests. At the end of March 2023, we have 342 volunteers and 39 in training and we are providing support in 45 courts of the 83 Coronial Areas in England and Wales.

Like most small charities, we also face financial pressure in delivering our charitable objective as listed in the Chief Executive’s Report. The Board is fully supportive of the Chief Executive’s reorganisation of our structure and future operational plan. The proposed changes will support The Coroners’ Courts Support Service (CCSS) to sustain its services in the current challenging era affected by the economic and living crises, businesses, charities and the population of this country have encountered.

I am hopeful that the reorganisation will prove that we can survive and eventually continue to expand to the remaining courts where we are not yet offering our Service.

At the end of June our Director, Beverley Radcliffe, resigned from her position and Angela Geer was appointed as Chief Executive Officer. She commenced work with us on 26th September 2022.

The Board was delighted to appoint two new Trustees, who bring specific specialism. Kim Chudley has wide ranging Human Resources (HR) experience and knowledge across numerous organisations, including the Third Sector and Wesley Lau has good fundraising experience in the charity sector together with international fundraising and business development experience in Non-Governmental Organisations.

Maggie Frost ended her six-year term as Joint Chairman at the Annual General Meeting 2021-22 held on 13th January 2023. Her support and contribution to the work of the CCSS has been invaluable. My position as the Chairman of the CCSS will end at the Annual General Meeting 2022-23 to be held later this year and we are, therefore, searching for a new Chairman.

Finally, I should like to thank all our staff, volunteers, fellow trustees, funders, sponsors, and Patrons - HHJ Mark Lucraft, KC and Lady Emma Barnard - for their support.

Rashid Teladia Chairman

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT

for period 26[th] September 2022 to 31[st] March 2023

Upon appointment I undertook an initial strategic assessment of the charity, the evidence of which revealed the disturbing fact that the CCSS was facing a significant financial challenge.

An examination of the financial data and information indicated that only 40% of the actual costs of providing CCSS services were recovered from the Local Authority funding, leaving the remaining 60% to be secured through the charity’s fundraising activity. The data indicated that the fundraising activity was unable to deliver on the funding requirement.

The CCSS fundraising activity has been solely confined to the submission of grant applications to Trusts and Foundations limiting its exposure to other funding channels. Furthermore, the charity does not operate a full cost recovery model in its negotiations with Local Authorities. The current economic climate were serious mitigating factors for both.

Ultimately the figures indicated that the CCSS had a predicted life span of circa 12 months to 31[st] December 2023.

Robust and immediate actions were necessary to address the situation. Throughout January to April the CCSS has undertaken a strategic recovery plan that specifically addresses:

  1. Fundraising. The CCSS has secured the services of a fundraising consultant to articulate and embed a fundraising strategy that will open up the full range of funding channels whilst adding momentum to the existing platform. The CCSS continues to examine the merits and risks of implementing a full cost recovery model with the Local Authorities given the current economic environment.

  2. Reorganisation. The CCSS operational platform is about volunteers providing practical and emotional support services to the bereaved family, friends and witnesses attending inquests at Coroner’s Courts. Whilst not wanting to jeopardise the quality and integrity of these services, we have undertaken a robust restructuring, which has seen six paid employee operational posts being made redundant and replaced with a leaner and less bureaucratic structure of national manager and two area managers. This devolves more responsibility and autonomy to the volunteers at court level and maintains both the quality and integrity of CCSS services. The expansion of CCSS services have been halted until such time as the financial situation is more stable. During this period of transition both internal and external stakeholders have been regularly consulted and whilst change is never easy the CCSS is now benefitting from a more engaged volunteer workforce and the support of our professional external colleagues.

  3. Cost savings. The reorganisation together with renegotiated service contracts and termination of some accreditation processes have resulted in cost savings of circa £100,000 pa. This provides the financial buffer that is needed to build on existing and transition into new fundraising channels.

The CCSS can look forward with cautious optimism to a more financially stable future as we combine a new operational structure and fundraising model with a new CCSS business strategy for 2023-2024.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Trustees, staff and volunteers for a warm and supportive welcome to the CCSS. A special note of thanks is extended to Robina Bush, who in a voluntary capacity undertakes the invaluable work of collating CCSS statistical data.

Angela Geer Chief Executive

HON. TREASURER’S REPORT For the Period 1[st] April 2022 - 31[st] March 2023

Our annual accounts are beginning to show the impact of efficiency initiatives that are helping mitigate declining reserves and a challenging fundraising environment.

Income

During the year, we received £253,614 from private donations, local authorities and government grants. A list of donors is included in our Annual Report and this includes:

Expenditure

Total costs for the year were £405,885 which included expenditure of £300,252 on staffing. These staff costs reflect our ongoing transition from Volunteer Coordinators to Area Managers. Expenditure on volunteer recruitment, training and expenses totalled £41,786. This is higher than last year due to greater costs incurred for travelling to courts. Other costs included £25,338 for fundraising and £9,068 for our helpline.

Summary

We begin the new financial year with restricted reserves of £17,587 and total reserves of £183,072. We are prioritising fundraising activities given the fall in the level of our reserves and the lack of any financial support from central government.

I thank Margaret Bayman for her advice and assistance with the accounts and our team of staff and volunteers for patiently helping us to operate more efficiently.

Chris Peaker, Hon. Treasurer

Charity Number: 1105899

THE CORONERS’ COURTS SUPPORT SERVICE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of The Coroners’ Court Support Service

I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023, which are set out on the pages following this report.

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 is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner’s report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. 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 the trustees concerning any such matters.

The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner’s statement

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

have not been met; or

Karen Bunyan FCCA Red Sky House Fairclough Hall Halls Green Weston Herts, SG4 7DP

The date upon which my opinion is expressed is: 17[th] July 2023

THE CORONERS. COURTS SUPPORT SERVICE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACT[V￿lEs YEAR ENDED 315t MARCH 2023 Charity ￿". 1105899 318t March 2023 Llfir•$tricW Restrlrt Funds Funds 316t March 2022 Unr•trl¢tod Restrlctgd Funds Funds Tot•1 Funds Total Funds Incomlng resources Notes Donat)n8 Govetnmenl grant (Job Relen￿0￿ Sthernel Ir￿me lax ￿Vered Interest rewved Fundtaising 21Q,752 37,35J 248,1 221.985 4.659 38,091 260.076 4.659 98 1.360 8.956 652 8.956 Total IncomSng resources 216,264 37,3S) 253,614 237.058 38,091 275,149 R080UfC88 exponded Staff cosls Vdunt8er rÈuuitm8nl Vdunteer trzdning Vdunteer expenses Fundraising o)sls Property and related ¢x)sts A¢ctyJntancy Administration Insurance Marketiw costs Helpline tosts lTrJepend&nl examineV8 f88 Bank tharges 225.22 1,117 8.214 31,913 25.338 75.026 300.252 247.962 22.085 27D.047 1.S)O 9.699 18.169 10.350 1391 9.559 12.440 1.496 2.248 10.204 330 251 15 8.229 32.440 25.338 9.130 14.637 10.350 1391 569 3.532 1Q,546 13,288 1,823 10.548 15.491 1.823 951 2.203 5.456 1.4 655 9.649 1.593 2S1 Total resou￿08 expended 328,114 77,771 405.8&5 312.464 33.Th) Net Incomlng resourc I111,￿} 140,4211 1152,2711 I75,4(￿) 4,YJ1 171.1051 Brougm fopAfard 277,&35 58,W8 335.343 352.741 53.707 406.448 Total lund8 £165,485 £17,587 £183.072 £277.335 £58.(MJ8 £335.343 The attached notÈs form part of these accounts

Christopher Peaker Rashid Teladia
Trustee Trustee

The attached notes form part of these accounts

THE COR(XIERS COURTS SUPPORT SERVICE IIDTES FCIIMING PAT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMEP4T8 FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st IIARCH 2023 Jl•tMvch2J# lo.￿) X.841 14Jr2 3.716 17.378 13.176 743 £270.017 v8 12 rx)Z2 4 111. y, rwbw9w 10 r8wioftr8¥1 am b) ts1.786 É18,1691 I￿led ÉDhith• tru*eo12022 B £0 IT25 750 12 t4￿) È5.715 at ktsrch2025 1.719

VOLUNTEER REPRESENTATIVES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2022 - 2023

Ruth Pressley – London, South and East

Volunteer Teams covered : Brighton, Chelmsford, City of London, Fulham, Hatfield, Huntingdon, Ipswich, Maidstone, Norwich, St. Pancras, Southwark, Truro, Walthamstow, Westminster.

It has been yet another year of gradual return to court for some of the volunteers. I have continued to keep in contact with Lead Volunteers via email. Regrettably attending team meetings face to face has not featured because the geographical area I cover is big and the travel expenses cannot be justified.

The relocation of some courts and the lack of opportunity for volunteers to return to others has resulted in a number of exit interviews. When speaking to people it is always good to hear how positive they are about the experience they have had with the CCSS and many regret having to leave due to a change in their circumstances.

I have enjoyed joining Julie Wood delivering training to new volunteers. It gives me the opportunity to enthuse others not only with the court experience but also the Helpline, Telephone Support Service (TSS) and my role as a Volunteer Representative.

Julie Wood– Central, South and West

Volunteer Teams covered : Ampthill, Beaconsfield, Bournemouth, Chichester, Croydon, Exeter, Flax Bourton, Leicester, Milton Keynes, Newport, Northampton, Oxford, Plymouth, Reading, Shrewsbury, Woking.

Meeting new volunteers at the online training events delivered by the Volunteer Coordinators to which I have contributed alongside Ruth Pressley over the last year has been a definite highlight. It is a privilege to be able to share our experiences as court, Helpline and TSS volunteers and to explain our role as Volunteer Representatives at the start of their relationship with the CCSS. I hope that volunteer training is something we can continue to contribute to in the future.

The other key activity over the last year has been carrying out numerous exit interviews. It is encouraging that so many volunteers who decide to stop volunteering with the CCSS are willing to spend some time discussing their volunteer experience. Most of those I have spoken to describe very enjoyable and satisfying experiences as a CCSS volunteer and are regretful that changes in personal circumstances mean that they are not able to continue.

It is noticeable that, for some volunteers, the changes that have taken place in many Coroners’ courts since the pandemic, have had an impact on their role and the changes have not been welcomed. Some volunteers have commented that the number of inquests being held remotely has reduced the requirement for court volunteer support and that sometimes

rotas are amended at very short notice. For volunteers who relish a regular volunteering commitment this has contributed to them deciding to cease their volunteering.

Whilst these are not matters over which the CCSS has control and will vary from court to court it is a sign of the context in which court volunteers operate being more dynamic and may lead to a higher turnover, particularly of long-standing volunteers whose current experience compares unfavorably with their pre-pandemic experience.

John Pattison - North West

Volunteer Teams covered: Blackpool, Coventry, Liverpool, Morpeth, Newcastle upon Tyne, Stafford, Stockport, Sunderland, Warrington.

I am pleased to report that there has been a significant increase in teams with Lead Volunteers in the region. Last year only four courts had Lead Volunteers, and this made contact with teams difficult. In light of recent developments, I have been in contact with all Team Leaders and have offered to participate in virtual team meetings if required. One team has already taken up the offer.

During the period covered by this report I have undertaken 14 exit interviews. Five of these related to issues at one court which I am pleased to report have been resolved and volunteers are continuing. Otherwise, volunteers have left the service for personal reasons and were highly positive of their CCSS experience. Training was seen as very useful. It was deemed ‘excellent’ by one volunteer, herself a former trainer at Marks and Spencer. However, in several cases volunteers felt that sessions were overlong. As was the case last year, a small number of volunteers gave their reason for leaving, the lowering of their involvement at courts due to virtual hearings.

Due to the lack of a Regional Coordinator, volunteer training sessions have not been undertaken during this period.

John Pattison North East (Acting)

Volunteer Teams covered: Bradford, Crook, Lincoln, Middlesbrough, Northallerton, Stoke on Trent.

As the post of Northeast Regional Representative has remained vacant, I have served in a ‘caretaker’ capacity for this region.

This has involved undertaking several exit interviews. I have also recently been contacted by a North East team and will be meeting with them shortly to discuss issues.

COURTS WHERE THE CCSS IS HELPING March 2023

Coronial Area (45) Avon Bedfordshire & Luton Berkshire Blackpool & Fylde Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Cheshire City of Brighton & Hove City of Liverpool & Wirral City of London Area City of Sunderland Cornwall and Isles of Scilly County Durham & Darlington Coventry Dorset East London Essex Exeter & Greater Devon Gwent Hertfordshire Inner London North Inner London South Inner London West Kent – Mid Kent & Medway Leicester City & South Leicestershire Lincolnshire Manchester South Milton Keynes Newcastle upon Tyne Norfolk Northamptonshire Northumberland North Yorkshire Oxfordshire Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin South Devon South London South Staffordshire Stoke on Trent & North Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Teeside West London West Sussex West Yorkshire (West)

Courts (50) Flax Bourton Ampthill Reading Blackpool Beaconsfield Huntingdon & Peterborough Warrington Brighton Liverpool City of London Sunderland Truro Crook Coventry Bournemouth Walthamstow Chelmsford Exeter Newport Hatfield St. Pancras, Poplar Southwark Westminster Maidstone Leicester Lincoln, Boston Stockport Milton Keynes Newcastle upon Tyne Norwich Northampton Morpeth Northallerton, Harrogate Oxford Shrewsbury Plymouth Croydon Stafford Stoke on Trent Ipswich Woking Middlesbrough Fulham Chichester, Horsham Bradford

Annual Activity Data by Coronial Area 2022/23

The past year has seen a gradual increase in the number of individuals supported within the service. That said, many courts are still using the technology developed during the height of the Coronavirus epidemic, and are carrying out inquests via digital media so fewer individuals are attending in person. Volunteers support a very small number of individuals before or after a digital inquest either by telephone or via Teams. Two courts in London have yet to call volunteers back in these being Walthamstow and Westminster.

The activity for the whole of the service by month (including the 2021/22 comparative data in red) and the full year activity by coronial area, can be found in the attached charts. You will note there are a large number of individuals being signposted to the CCSS Helpline. However, this is mostly just handing a leaflet to individuals in case they want to make contact to see what follow-up services may be available from other agencies.

With courts coming back online, many of the volunteers are taking on the return of the statistics for the first time and I am very grateful to both these individuals and those whom have returned the statistics over many years, for their help and support in returning the data to me.

Robina Bush June 2023

CORONERS' COURT SUPPORT SERVICE STATISTICS 2022/2023 BY CORONIAL AREA

Sittings Volunteer Openings PIRs Inquests Family Friends Witnesses Others Total Individuals Signposted Signposted
Attendances Supported CCSS Helpline Other
Ampthill 121 145 2 30 157 433 55 209 525 1222 5 2
Beaconsfield 73 73 4 51 218 433 46 79 311 869 9 9
Blackpool 179 347 19 58 185 537 64 174 324 1099 0 0
Bournemouth 125 199 0 4 159 482 47 264 19 812 138 52
Bradford 118 161 2 18 156 559 39 204 453 1255 0 0
Brighton 106 111 0 6 154 379 105 91 170 745 4 1
Cannock 84 133 0 3 207 469 40 107 96 712 0 0
Chelmsford 89 107 0 1 63 323 44 115 1 483 10 0
Chichester 111 116 2 1 163 459 65 117 119 760 29 9
Cityof London 3 3 0 0 2 14 0 0 0 14 0 0
Coventry 38 63 0 0 44 126 18 31 39 214 1 0
Crook 150 269 10 24 266 857 98 162 307 1424 40 114
Croydon 91 128 0 12 89 268 32 51 61 412 12 18
Exeter 105 179 0 5 166 438 76 69 71 654 56 2
Flax Bourton 123 208 8 18 170 583 78 184 260 1105 8 51
Fulham 120 123 3 4 96 347 24 121 283 775 0 5
Hatfield 142 146 0 1 252 654 54 180 122 1010 0 1
Huntingdon 47 53 0 10 36 132 9 34 9 184 0 0
Ipswich 170 192 0 8 182 627 57 190 463 1337 14 17
Leicester 105 118 0 3 102 273 26 251 504 1054 0 0
Lincoln 72 86 0 0 117 199 20 36 20 275 5 1
Liverpool 129 164 1 19 180 589 47 172 432 1240 0 2
Maidstone 50 58 2 11 115 326 65 7 28 426 101 11
Middlesborough 35 41 0 0 63 189 20 82 145 436 0 1
Milton Keynes 78 113 8 9 76 260 37 71 160 528 0 0
Morpeth 75 118 0 0 61 211 22 233 294 760 0 0
Newcastle 163 235 0 17 189 591 54 469 500 1614 0 0
Newport 14 26 0 0 23 52 2 11 6 71 3 1
Northallerton 160 181 0 7 222 635 71 184 408 1298 2 12
Northampton 77 142 0 7 275 554 88 154 227 1023 137 22
Norwich 218 252 5 21 308 771 108 59 224 1162 9 48
Oxford 91 99 2 5 173 419 52 69 121 661 3 11
Plymouth 33 53 0 0 41 102 14 4 5 125 12 6
Reading 242 286 45 23 290 772 108 423 570 1873 113 11
Shrewsbury 61 100 0 16 116 363 51 97 368 879 2 2
St. Pancras 100 100 0 6 98 329 70 85 135 619 0 0
Southwark 87 86 0 5 76 241 33 19 30 323 10 11
Stockport 110 110 12 23 202 607 58 88 149 902 0 2
Stoke on Trent 94 117 5 8 158 433 27 140 213 813 0 0
Sunderland 32 50 0 3 24 147 13 39 148 347 0 1
Truro 156 291 0 8 211 686 90 159 228 1163 0 2
Walthamstow 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Warrington 94 169 0 1 91 328 38 242 267 875 0 0
Westminster 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Woking 192 168 3 50 202 670 63 47 7 787 29 20

CORONERS COURT SUPPORT SERVICE STATISTICS 2022/23

Sittings Volunteer Openings PIRs Inquests Family Friends Witnesses Others Total Signposted **Signposted ** Total since
Attendances Supported Helpline Other 2003
April 275 362 5 24 363 987 138 258 567 1950 40 20
May 358 469 18 42 448
1404
161
426 910 2901 38 31
June 342 422 9 43 451 1263 149 379 746 2537 49 44
July 341 439 14 37 473 1280 149 478 589 2496 22 19
August 327 430 13 40 530 1416 155 348 439 2358 77 35
September 330 441 8 55 441 1251 159 431 672 2513 53 37
October 406 533 13 40 563 1734 186 586 830 3336 46 32
November 458 618 9 43 617 1839 218 616 1053 3726 69 36
December 297 391 3 39 402 1202 153 369 447 2171 74 48
January 445 595 13 57 655 1845 215 547 776 3383 101 51
February 405 532 15 36 556 1702 219 472 843 3236 89 27
March 493 652 13 49 692 2045 229 609 1066 3949 96 57
Total
4477
5884
133
505
6191
17968
2131
5519
8938
34556
754
437
479330
21/22 2798 3756 69 254 3213 9068 885 3122 5705 18264 226 103 444774

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1.4.22 – 31.3.23

Rashid Teladia Chairman & Trustee Dr. Chris Peaker Hon. Treasurer & Trustee Roey Burden Hon. Secretary & Founder Trustee Kim Chudley Trustee Maggie Frost Trustee Nicolas Gibbon Trustee Wesley Lau Trustee Derek Winter Advisor – Deputy Chief Coroner & Senior Coroner for the City of Sunderland

STAFF

Angela Geer Chief Executive Officer Sandra Weldon Operations & Training Manager Liz Armer Executive Assistant Jane Irvine Administrator Margaret Bayman Financial Administrator

DONATIONS AND GRANTS TO THE CORONERS’ COURTS SUPPORT SERVICE 2022-2023

Our very grateful thanks to all those mentioned below.

TRUSTS & FOUNDATIONS

Anson Charitable Trust Barness Charity Batchworth Trust Charles Littlewood Hill Trust CHK Cheshire Community Foundation Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust

Essex Community Fund Geoffrey Watling Charity Trust Heart of Bucks Community Foundation Lottery Community Fund Maud Elkington Trust Norman Family Charitable Trust Peter Stebbing Memorial Charity Rosca Trust The Wixamtree Trust

INDIVIDUALS

C.B. & H.H. Taylor Bramhill Women’s Club Donated expenses from our volunteers Knowlton Circle Benefice Mrs. Elizabeth Whyte Ms. Jill Robinson Ms. Juni Farmanfarmanian Ms. Linda Barker Mr. F. Napier Mrs. Leary Knowles Ms. Ann Darbyshire Ms. Sarah Boulter from the Estate of Kenneth J. Evans Mr. N. Steiger Norton & District Women’s Institute Pound Hill (North) Residents Association The Community Church Burton & District Toddington U3A History Group Westoning Women’s Institute