1 ## **Charity no 1109165** ## **Survivors of Depression in Transition** ## **ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL** ## **STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED** **31st December 2024** ## **Contents** Page 3 Chairs Report Page 4-10 Annual report Page 11 Reference & administrative details Page 12 Structure & Governance Page 14-19 Accounts 3 ## **Chair’s Report** 2024 has been a challenging year with so many referrals and as a result we had to close our waiting lists many times throughout 2024. This is a sector wide experience and as a member of the local mental health partnership and Sheffield SYNERGY Alliance this has been reported by many members. With this background and as a small peer led organisation, I feel we have stepped up to meet the demands of more and more women with additional needs trying to access services. I feel very proud of the fact we have the mixture of genuine peer support sessions and groups as well as the counselling services. The feedback has been amazing with many saying just how much it saved them from the isolation of mental health illness and disability and being able to connect with others who get it is lifesaving! We were delighted to receive a 2-year award from the big lottery for events and other core costs. Our first event was a fabulous garden day in the therapeutic community garden where we had a plant sale, Jamaican BBQ , raffle and was attended by over 45 people. A dedication to one of our previous volunteers who sadly took her own life some years ago …Kirsty’s corner was dedicated by her parents Chris and Tony with a little plaque. With the new government and policy changes locally and nationally I can see that the small charity sector will have even more to do and find alternative funding in the long term as we are very much in competition with other better-sourced organisations fighting smaller pots of money. We are also proud to support another peer-led charity with No Panic Sheffield who use one of our units for their peer support group and also have access to the green space which they appreciate. Reflecting on the year, we again have supported so many women in need but the rate of referrals and the additional need they come with is going to prove challenging as we head into 2025 and beyond. Steph de la Haye Chair ## **About Survivors** Survivors have been running for over 25 years in the form of peer support groups, initially based at Sheffield Mind, but then expanded to get its own office and then registered as a charity and now has 4 rooms at the SYAC CENTRE in Sheffield. As an organisation it’s always been a woman only organization due to the nature of the struggles many of those original women had. This has continued to provide safe spaces and services dedicated to women and those who identify as women in Sheffield, who experience mental health distress of any kind, but as depression is a major issue worldwide this is a common thread that runs throughout. As set out in our charitable papers our main aims are. 1. The relief of sickness and preservation of health among women residing permanently or temporarily in Sheffield. 2. To assist in the treatment and care of women suffering from mental illness of any description or in need of rehabilitation as a result of such illness by the provision of facilities for work and recreation. 3. To protect the mental health of women sufferers of depression and related illness in Sheffield through support, education and practical advice. 4. To advance the education of the general public in all areas relating to depression and related illness. Fundamentally we are a peer support organization and do this by developing groups, 1-1 support, counselling and therapy, education, social activities, research, advice & guidance and other creative ways. Survivors of Depression is all about giving women a chance to move on from there illness or period in life which has been very straining on family life and personal life. We have seen many women now who have managed to move on from the group and one to one support towards a happy and fulfilling life, although we still keep a safety net if needed. Filling the gaps in statutory services is where Survivors comes into play, such as when people are left after therapy finishes or when they are discharged from hospital. ## **Analysis of need** Depression and other related mental health distress are on the rise and the WHO states that depression is the no 1 on the health inequalities list above all others. More and more women are needing support from general peer support and connection to longer term. therapy. While men’s mental health has rightly come in to focus due the high level of completed suicide, women are in fact 25 times more likely to attempt suicide. Locally this continues to increase and as in 2023 levels of referrals have been a little overwhelming for many organisations. The referral rate has increased to a level where we had to close waiting lists many times during the year. ## **What have Survivors done this year?** The trustees have considered the Charity Commissions guidance on public benefit, including the ‘public benefit: running a Charity (PB2)’.and applied this to local women’s needs and what they have been saying they need. We are always driven by the people we support and continue to be led by those needs and as most of the volunteers have their own experience of mental health distress, they also can input this understanding in a more relevant way. ## **Staffing** We are run entirely by volunteers but with more paid freelance counsellors as in 2023 due to the demand for therapy and support, fundamentally the ethos and vision are that of a volunteer and user led organization at its core. This while can be more of a challenge, we do not have to find salaries and can just get on with supporting women in the community, and we are so grateful for all the student placements and volunteers who have worked with us over the year. ## **Support for the women of Sheffield** . We have supported, in a number of ways over 269 women this year with another 32 indirectly. Those have been to virtual groups and face to face or had some 1-1 but have moved on due to finding somewhere more suitable for them or just had too high a need than we could manage, which we are seeing more and more with additional neurodiversity. Many of these were able to signpost for specialist support, such as housing, NHS care or other women’s specialist groups. A number of university and college students have completed over 389 hours of counselling, and we continue to support them in their placements. Volunteers have given over 2100 hours of their time over the year! The peer groups are more face to face and in person. As we are led by the women, if we can support their ideas of support needs then we will always try to accommodate. We have increased the 1-1 therapy and holding services and continue a number of sessions including, Natural Connections, Storying, wellbeing and beyond, Creative space for women, and our general peer support groups. We continue to support women who have struggles with welfare benefits and housing issues. ## **Volunteers** We have had over 20 volunteers though the year, including students from Sheffield Hallam University, the SPACE Academy, Sheffield Medical School, Leeds Becket University, and those who have come through the volunteer Centre. All of which have a DBS and training, and we are very thankful to those who have stayed with us for many years. Without whom we could not operate ## **Fundraising** We have been supported again by delivering some training and university work and of course our core funder is the Tudor Trust. We had some money though the NHS/VCS flexible support project (which came to an end this year) and from the previous medical student social placements. We were also successful in gaining a large grant from the Sheffield Synergy Partnership (the monies have not been paid in this year) A small amount has come through Local giving and give as you live. ## **Networking** We continue to create more networks and collaborative working. - Voluntary Action Sheffield - NHS England - Sheffield Mental Health Partnership - Sheffield NHS foundation Trust - Volunteer Centre - Sheffield Light - National MIND Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield University SPACE Academy (placement students) - Sheffield Flourish - Sheffield Mental health Guide - Business Boosters Network - SCIE MHFA England Leeds University Mums United Project 6 ## **Awareness Raising** We continue to use our website to be able to use the virtual world and social media more, including X and Facebook and though the local Mental Health Partnership and new Synergy Alliance. ## **Feedback from some of the women we support.** “Since coming to the group it has enabled me to meet with likeminded people in a safe, regular environment” “The group is a lifeline to me, and I know that it’s always there and does not just end after so many weeks” “A sanctuary for me and I can get away from the other pressures of life for at least a couple of hours” “Having contact with women who understand, and I can be myself and don’t have to put a front on the world, wonderful!” “A place to have a cry and a laugh” “After the NHS had no more time for me, the group is a place I can continue to get support and empathy” “Having a woman only space is essential to me as I can relax and feel comfortable and able to talk about issues I wouldn’t say in front of mixed group” “Just too able to talk without time limits and have that empathy from someone who has been through similar?” ## Funding We are again thrilled to have the Tudor Trust as our core funder, although this is the 3[rd ] and final year. - Tudor Trust - Local Giving - Health Education England - Sheffield NHS Foundation Trust - Big Lottery Fund - Sheffield Town Trust - Freshgate - Sheffield Church Burgess Trust - Foyle foundation While we are not complacent and continue to seek other areas of funding and have delivered more mental health training (MHFA) and small fundraising activities. ## **Future** Development of more peer support groups and extending the 1-1 offer is vital as this is our core support. The increase in 1-1 means we are again taking on more placement students, Qualified counsellors and more people for the therapeutic holding service. To add to these other sessions are being developed with paid peer practitioners to give people more choice. We still believe more genuine co production has the potential to be transformational in health and social care and equalizes the power within the system and will continue to explore how we can influence this more locally. We are still a part of research projects in Leeds (Cured study) and Sheffield, and the new Sheffield Alliance currently run by Rethink for Mental Illness. We believe strongly that while we try to support more women in Sheffield, we are very keen to give the quality and time they deserve and not rely on numbers though the door! ## **Reserves Policy** Survivors are dependent on varied forms of fundraising and also small non statutory grants and is currently does not have any contracts for service provision. This has never been an aim of the organisation and while it causes some challenges it also means we are more flexible to needs. As most grants are restricted and must be spent within the year our reserves have been generally very small, and we realize this is a risk for the organization. We have a 5k reserve policy which we have been able to do due to one of our funders, the Tudor Trust, allowing us to use underspend. There is HOPE , even when your head tells you there isn't WELCOME TO OUR 4 SECRE ARDEN Sodit (Survivors of Depression in Transition) have continued to develop an accessible garden for all at SYAC to enjoy. They fun a weekly Natural Connections group for Women who are experiencing mental health difficultie5 and offer them a Spa￿ in which to explore the benefits of nature and gardening for wellbeing. They are starting a Friday Gardening for Wellbeing session in the coming weeks so that more women can enjoy the benefits of working in the garden. They have been building extra raised beds around the car park and are filling unused space5 With planters that are teeming with flowers, making the entrance to SYAC a beautrful space. The group continue to use reclaimed materials and donations to build the raised beds 3nd are always making use of all materials they can find . They often leave beautiful bouquets on SYAC'S reception which always attracts plenty of appreciative comments. They held a Jamaican themed open day last summer and it was a great success! The garden was filled with Sodit dients, SYAC tenants and staff and lot of friends of SYAQ They cooked beautiful food using produce like Callaloo that they had grown in the garden, the Jamaican dumpling5 were definitely the most popular item with people coming back for seconds and thirds! There was also a plant sale and a raffle - both of which were extremely popular! They are planning another garden day for later in the summer, and yes, there will be dumplings! From SYAC Annual report The garden is continuing to be filled with nature and the biodiversity grows from year to year. Sodit realty have built a safe haven for nature! A particular highlight this year was having Sandmartins nest in the Cobweb Bridge wa115 just behind the garden, they were swooping down and filling the sky with acrobatics as they collected food for their young. Sandmartins migrate from North Africa and it 15 very rare for them to nest inland. Sodit contacted Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlrfe Trust who came to visrt and were astounded at what we had achieved in an inner city area. They are now going to be supporting us providing a series of small grants, donating garden tools and running workshops to help make the garden even more accessible to nature. We are thrilled to be partnering with them! It IYS been lovely to see the garden being used more - ESOL often hold classes out then when the weather is nice and more and more SYAC tenants have been using it as a space to have their lunch on nicer days. Please do make use of the garden, it IS there for everybody. Sodit's future plans include making the garden even more accessible for nature, growing a greater variety of veg so we can offer some to people visiting SYAC and finding even more spaces they can fill with plants! Once again, we can't wait to see the developments over the coming year! To al at So￿1 For am the gre•t ww* done the 6onle From SYAC. Creatlve SpcKe for Women'5 well bel so STORVING st￿￿￿11n￿￿tIthth￿rM￿nts1 kneilth. 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Ih•lh¥dSSWD rwWkh•r.SlvFfiddSa 471141795970 14279IV70 ## **Reference and Administrative details** Charity No 1109165 ## **Trustees** Stephanie de la Haye appointed 12/3/11 Jill wood Appointed July 21 Bernadette Hannon appointed 12/3/11 ## **Advisors** Voluntary action Sheffield NCVO Volunteer events co Ordinator. Jill wood from 23/04/18 Admin Gemma Crookes ## **Registered Office** Office 8 SYAC Centre 110-120 Wicker Sheffield S3 8JD (As of July 2021) Bank Lloyds High St Branch Sheffield S1 2GA Independent examiner Sarah Lightfoot FCA DChA On behalf of VAS Community Accountancy the Circle 33 Rockingham Lane Sheffield S1 4FW ## **Structure & Governance** Survivors of Depression in Transition is a registered Charity 1109165 and was incorporated on 8[th ] March 2005 and has a charity governing document that it follows for its charitable purpose. The overall responsibility for the charity is managed by the trustees and as everyone is a volunteer the chair also manages operational issues alongside the volunteer manager. We are looking at expanding our trustees with additional people who can contribute to our work. All trustees have training and a DBS as standard volunteers. Anyone can see our website for details on www.sodit.org when we are recruiting. The charity has an income of less than 250,000 and so makes advantage of the small charity preparation the above report. The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees report on the 12/07/25 Signed on behalf of the charity ‘s trustees. Print Name stephanie de la Haye Position Chair of Trustees ## **We would like to thank all of our funders & supporters.** 15 SuNlvorJ of Depresslon In Tran8iiion •nts for the r•ndl Toial Previous ar R•c•lpts SCIE Universty Work Grants l Unreth¢ted I unrestri¢Xed Donats"on¥ Refunds in Cert team SHSCT Training Grants Totsl T￿lp¢S Payments Rent to SYAC room 8el up costs Busln$8s Rates inc Pat T$8ting Gas Charge Nameseo I web ) Phone cocp (plus intsmetl motji Insurance Voluntger c08ts Events Office suppllo8 Postage Advertislng PubliCat￿n8 Rofund8 lout) Group Foer actlvll•$ Couns¢lllng COBt8 IT costs DBS checks A￿auntan Training costs Therapi81 c08ts l fr•elan¢e ) ¢onnectlng communlllo$ proh ch8rges out mlscell8neou Total ￿YmOnt* 28,388.CQ 8,408.00 28.388 00 9,968 00 55.IXI 33.246.CKJ 10.216.00 1.560. 16.(M)) 11.427.001 40.806.(X) 76.175.1)0 11,433.¢)01 40,806.00 77.784.00 18,788.00 62.255.50 1,809.(10 1.1￿.1￿¥ 13.420.CKI 14,610.00 19,129.00 108.00 188.00 627.00 1,094.00 318.00 129.00 2,269.00 55.00 180.00 1.846.00 1,098.Crf) 691. $83.00 2.129.00 145.00 1.896.CKJ 1.098.fyJ 891.(XJ 583.00 2,193.rKJ 145.LK) 5C¢.00 6,596.00 6.$98.00 5.364.CN) 375.00 2,088.00 178.00 238.00 6,878.00 38,688.00 550.00 2,454.00 109. 3,004.00 109.00 (T37.C(l} 818.00 15.767.00 36.257. 15,030.00 37,075.00 44.00 283.00 78.205.00 40.00 83.912.00 1.938.OQ 11,977.00 N•t r•c•lpts l (paym•nt•) 1326.00) (5.802.001 16,128.001 115.949.JQl 0.00 Tr8n8f•r Balgn(% brou ht forward 8alanc• c•rrl•d lornithrd 24 193.00 18.391.00 1119. 20,510.00 26,638.80 Madè up of.. Current account 20.510. 20,1510.(10 Approval ofth• accounts The fingn¢ial stateme app al a meeling oftr* m•n•Jwr￿I ￿>MmItte* #19r￿d on its behawty. Slgned.. Stephgnie de haye Syrvlv•xs of *ir•••lon In tr•n•llh)n A¢courts- yw•nd Jlit DEC 20 &P4 Y•pTnM SCIE o.fy) o.fy) o.LYJ I,5￿.c￿> 0.1 o.( o.ryj O.fXJ o.w) 0.0) O.fAJ 0.0) o.Tr) o. o.co o. o.ts) o. o.(J) 28.388.C Grants l u1¥￿1￿ I O.fy) o.fy) o.( o. o.uj o. o. O.L 1427.(nl o.Ix) 3,312.tJJ A￿und8 C•rf l•am SHSCT TrqlnlrvJ Gran16 IRéBtrthJI O.(#J 0.0) o.ts) O.fp) I1.433.￿) li.0￿).￿) o.ty) 17 P•ym•Nts R•rt to SYAC 14,610.L)) 0.1 o. o.( om o. o. o. o.f 1218.L o.ts) o.c O.(L) o. o. o. 0.0) 0.0) 127.0) o.fy) o,( 0,0) Pat T••th o.ty) o) 0.0) 0.0) 0.0) o.( o. 0.0) o.ts) N•M*o l I 110.LKI o.( o.Tr) 224.Ll) 1.W.C 186. 111.C l.C(s 478.C 75.rxi 140.Q) Ollcè $upF4kq$ Po$taye thortl￿n9 PLknIk8l￿n8 Rofu)d& louti 2.193.CKS 145. 941.C(I o.( 172.tr) 20.tsj .llllii 0.￿) o.cK* 148.CbJ o.r O.tXJ o.tyj o. o. o. o. o. o. o.( o. om om 0.0) 812.IKI 1,174.fJ) o.rA) o.rJ) o. O.L)) 0.0) o. 0.￿} o. o.(K) o. 1.lYIJ. 15.Ql 0.1 o.fy) 0.0) o.( o.( 1rAI.Tr) o.Tr) 15.WX*.O) 37,075.Tr) o.( .( i.(*i.f o. o. o.( o.( 710.((I (rj7.￿l o.( 18.877.C).￿j} I280.￿) 261.C 122. Trnn•fer BIL8n￿ bro￿h¢ fowd 8•l•nc• cwrt•d forym o. o.(rfJ o.r 104.CIJ 120.OD 0.￿) O.(K) 26 628.TrJ 20 510. o. z3i.oo 261.00 1,510.( ## **Statement of Assets** & **liabilities Year ending 31st December 2024 Survivors of Depression in Transition** ||**2024**|**2024**||**2023**|| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |||£||£|| |Cash Funds|restricted|unrestricted||restricted|unrestricted| |Bank Current account|18,391.00|2,119.00
24,193.00|24,193.00|24,193.00|2,445.00| |total cash funds|18,391.00|2,119.00|24,193.00||2,445.00| |**Total Bank balance 2024**(**Res**+**Unres)**|**20,510.00**||||| |NOTE total includes cash reserves of £5000 under the Tudor Trust funding|NOTE total includes cash reserves of £5000 under the Tudor Trust funding||NOTE total includes cash reserves of £5000 under the Tudor Trust funding||| |**Assets retained for charity’s own use**|||||| |Office equipment||9500.00|||7500.00| |Drop-in & Counselling rooms equipment||2300.00|||2300.00| |||**11,800.00**|||**9800.00**| |Liabilities||0.00|||0.00| approved by the trustees on 08/08/25 Position :stephanie de la Haye Chair ## **Survivors of Depression in Transition** ## **Notes to financial statements** **Year ending 31[st] December 2024** Survivors follows the smaller accounts regime for charities registered in England and Wales that are not companies under section 113 of the Charities Act 2011 (and to prepare a receipts and payments due to a total gross income of under 250,000. The annual report follows charities SORP (FRS102) and guidance from the Charity Commission (CC16a) The restricted and unrestricted payments and receipts are shown in the Analysis (1) breakdown for the year ending 31st December 2024 Independent examinerfs report to the trustees of Survivors of Depression In Transition ('the Charity,) 1109165 I report to the trUSt￿S on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year ended 31112 12024 As the charity trustees of the Charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordan￿ with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Charities accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the ACL Indepandent examinorfs ststement I have completed my examination. I confinn that no material matters have come to my attention in connection %wth the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or . the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or • the accounts did not comply ￿1th the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Irue and fairf vlew which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection wlth the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understsnding of the accounts to be reached. JL) SSgned: Sarah Lightfoot, FCA DChA On beholf of.. VAS Community Accountancy The Circle 33, Rockingham Lane Sheffield SI 4FW Date". 05 07 25