## **SAFA CUMBRIA**
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
Registered Number 06344630
**KNOX ACCOUNTING**
## **SAFA CUMBRIA**
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED**
## **31 AUGUST 2025**
## **Contents**
## **Page**
- 1 Report of the trustees
- 2 Statement of trustees responsibilities
- 3 Accountants report
- 4 Profit and loss account
- 5 Balance sheet
- 6 Notes to the accounts
## **The following page does not form part of the statutory accounts which can be provided on request:**
- 7 Income and Expenditure Account
1.
## **SAFA CUMBRIA**
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED**
## **31 AUGUST 2025**
## **Report of the trustees**
The trustees presents their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025.
## **CONSTITUTION**
Safa Cumbria Limited is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity governed by its Memorandum & Articles of Association.
## **PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY**
The principal activity of the company during the period was to protect and preserve health and relieve the needs of people in Cumbria who self harm.
No material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt about the ability of the company to continue as a going concern have been identified by the directors
## **DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES**
The directors of the charitable company are its Trustees for the purpose of charity law and throughout this report are collectively referred to as the Trustees. As we are a registered charity and a company Limited by guarantee the terms directors and trustees are used interchangeably throughout.
The trustees who served during the year were as follows:
|I Burns|Chairman|||
|---|---|---|---|
|K Moncrief|Vice Chairman|||
|C Daltioni|Ex Officio|||
|D Laird||||
|T Shuttleworth||||
|B A Shirley||||
|E Dougan||||
|Z Walker||Resigned|18/02/2025|
|A Treharne||Resigned|19/04/2024|
|S Broadley||Appointed|19/11/2024|
|L Gibson||Appointed|12/06/2025|
The above report has been prepared in accordance with the small companies regime of the Companies Act 2006 and applicable charity legislation.
## **Signed on behalf of the board**
**I Burns Director**
**31 January 2026**
2.
## **SAFA CUMBRIA**
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED**
## **31 AUGUST 2025**
## **Statement of trustees responsibilities**
The directors are responsible for preparing the annual report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each year.
Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the accounts in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). The accounts are required by law to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period. In preparing theses accounts, the directors are required to:
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.
The directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
3.
## **SAFA CUMBRIA**
ACCOUNTANTS' REPORT ON THE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
## SAFA CUMBRIA
In order to assist you to fulfill your duties under the Companies Act 2006, we have compiled the financial statements of the company which comprise the Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet and the related notes from the accounting records and information and explanations you have given to us.
This report is made to the company's Board of Directors as a body in accordance with the terms of our engagement. Our work has been undertaken so that we might compile the financial statements that we have been engaged to compile, report to the company's Board of Directors that we have done so, and state those matters that we have agreed to state to them in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company's Board of Directors, as a body, for our work or for this report.
You have acknowledged on the balance sheet your duty to ensure that the company has kept proper accounting records and to prepare financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025 that give a true and fair view under the Companies Act 2006. You consider that the company is exempt from the statutory requirement for an audit for the period.
We have not been instructed to carry out an audit of the financial statements. For this reason we have not verified the accuracy or completeness of the accounting records or information and explanations you have given to us and we do not, therefore, express any opinion on the financial statements.
**Knox Accounting 6 Bath Street Barrow in Furness Cumbria LA14 1LZ**
## **31 January 2026**
4.
## **SAFA CUMBRIA**
## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED**
|**Notes**
**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
**Total**
1,2
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Other
**Total**
Net gains/(losses) on investments
**Net income/(expenditure)**
3
**Transfers between funds**
**Net Movement in Funds**
**Reconciliation of Funds**
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
9,565
5,404
17,804
7,770
**31 AUGUST**|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
250,723
-
-
3,471
**2025**
**2025**|**Total**
**Funds**
**£**
260,288
5,404
17,804
11,241
294,737
16,609
305,978
-
322,587
(27,850)
-
(27,850)
273,542
245,692|**2024**
**Total**
**Funds**
**£**
188,429
90,593
8,950
3,125|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||40,543
7,033
13,778
-|254,195
9,576
292,200
-||291,097
16,376
298,772
-|
||20,811
19,731|301,776
(47,581)||315,148
-
(24,051)|
||(101,030)
(81,299)
(12,716)|101,030
53,449
286,258||-
(24,051)
297,593|
||(94,015)|339,707||273,542|
The notes on pages 6a and 6b form part of these accounts
5.
## **SAFA CUMBRIA**
## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT**
|**£**
**£**
**Notes**
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible Assets
4
-
**CURRENT ASSETS:**
Debtors
5
-
Cash at Bank and in hand
245,692
245,692
**CURRENT LIABILITIES:**
**CREDITORS:** Amounts Falling
Due Within One Year
6
-
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
245,692
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**
245,692
**SHARE CAPITAL AND RESERVES**
Share Capital
7
-
Restricted Funds
8/9
339,707
Unrestricted Funds
8/9
(94,015)
245,692
**2025**
**31 AUGUST 2025**|**£**
**£**
-
-
273,542
273,542
-
273,542
273,542
-
286,258
(12,716)
273,542
**2024**|**£**
**£**
-
-
273,542
273,542
-
273,542
273,542
-
286,258
(12,716)
273,542
**2024**|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||273,542|
|||-
286,258
(12,716)|
|||273,542|
The notes on pages 6a and 6b form part of these accounts
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime, and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008).
For the financial year ended 31 August 2025 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 Companies Act 2006, and no notice has been deposited under section 476B(2).
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and preparing accounts which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the year end and of its profit for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of sections 393 and 394 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, so far as applicable to the company.
**Signed on behalf of the board I Burns Director**
**Approved by the board of directors: 31 January 2026**
6a.
## **SAFA CUMBRIA**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **NOTE 1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## a Basis of Acccounting
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with appropriate accounting standards and under the historical cost convention. The accounts have also been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008) and the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2019).
## b Turnover
Income comprises of Grants and Donations received during the year except when donors specify that amounts given to the charity may be used in future accounting years, the income is deferred until those years.
## c Fund accounting
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in futherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund.
## d Staff costs
The breakdown of salary & wage costs are as follows:
|Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs|**2025**
**£**
131,467
7,044
6,967
145,477|**2024**
**£**
124,355
3,418
6,589|
|---|---|---|
|||134,362|
A fully compliant workplace pension scheme has been running from January 2017.
The average number of employees during the year was as follows:
||**2025**||**2024**||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**No.**||**No.**||
|Charitable activities||4||4|
Holiday accrued and not taken up to 31 August 2025 amounted to 0
e Tangible Fixed Assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life:
Office Equipment Written down to current value
## **NOTE 2 INCOME**
In the period to 31 August 2025 none of the company's income was derived from outside the United Kingdom.
**NOTE 3 EXCESS OF INCOME**
The surplus of income is stated after charging
**2025 2024 £ £** Depreciation of owned assets - -
6b.
## **SAFA CUMBRIA**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **NOTE 4 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
|**Office**
**Equipment**
**Cost**
At 1 September 2024
-
Additions
-
At 31 August 2025
-
**Depreciation**
At 1 September 2024
-
Charge for year
-
At 31 August 2025
-
**Net Book values**
At 31 August 2025
-
At 31 August 2024
-
**NOTE 5**
**DEBTORS:**
**2025**
Trade Debtors
-
Other Debtors
-
-
**NOTE 6**
**CREDITORS:**Amounts falling due within one year
**2025**
**£**
Trade Creditors
-
Other Taxes & Social Security
-
Accruals
-
-|**Total**
-
-|
|---|---|
||-|
||-
-|
||-|
||-|
||-|
||**2024**
-
-|
||-|
||**2024**
**£**
-
-
-|
||-|
## **NOTE 7 SHARE CAPITAL**
The company is limited by guarantee and therefore has no share capital.
## **NOTE 8 RESERVES**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
At 1 September 2024
(12,716)
286,258
Excess of income for the period
(81,299)
53,449
At 31 August 2025
(94,015)
339,707|**Total**
273,542
(27,850)|
|---|---|
||245,692|
6c.
## **SAFA CUMBRIA**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **NOTE 9 SUMMARY OF FUND MOVEMENTS**
|
**Unrestricted Funds**
General Fund
**Total Unrestricted Funds**
**Restricted Funds**
Adult Funding
Adult Funding
Albert Hunt 2023
Awards for All
Buildling Societies
CCF 25 Adults
CCF CYP
CCF Lakeland
Chetwynde
Contingency Reserve
Cumbria Youth Alliance
Francis C Scott
Fieda Scott Trust
Hadfield Trust
NHS ICB
North Lancs FS
Peer Support
Priority Wards
Safa Party
Schreier Foundation
SJF 24 Core
SMI Checks
South Cumbria FS
Spot Purchases
Team Barrow
Young People Project
**Total Restricted Funds**
Total Funds|**Balance at**
**Balance at**
**1 September 2024**
**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Transfers**
**31 August 2025**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
(12,716)
40,543
20,811
(101,030)
(94,015)
**(12,716)**
**40,543**
**20,811**
**(101,030)**
**(94,015)**
-
-
2,460
2,460
-
(21,094)
-
41,350
66,957
4,513
-
-
512
512
-
-
-
64
64
-
-
-
-
116,235
116,235
-
10,000
3,541
-
6,459
12,807
-
12,801
(6)
-
-
5,000
140
-
4,861
-
20,000
15,238
-
4,762
85,608
3,471
-
(10,480)
78,599
11,181
-
926
-
10,255
5,704
20,000
17,918
-
7,785
7,349
20,000
15,058
-
12,291
2,516
-
1,736
(780)
-
53,640
-
41,799
-
11,841
-
10,501
7,446
-
3,054
-
12,871
1,716
-
11,154
7,465
-
7,108
(357)
-
358
-
-
(358)
-
-
3,000
330
-
2,671
-
30,000
30,027
-
(27)
-
7,331
1,233
-
6,098
-
12,022
8,299
-
3,722
103,295
-
30,078
(73,217)
-
-
100,000
46,100
-
53,900
17,429
-
15,895
-
1,534
**286,258**
**254,195**
**301,776**
**101,030**
**339,707**
273,542
294,737
322,587
-
245,692|
|---|---|
7a.
## **SAFA CUMBRIA**
## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED**
## **31 AUGUST 2025**
|**Donations and legacies**
Donations received
Gift Aid tax claimed
South grants received
North grants received
Cumbriawide grants received - Gen
**Charitable activities**
Training
Fees Received
Other Income
**Other trading activities**
Fundraising income - general
Sale of Merchandise
Room Hire Income
**Investments**
Interest received|**General**
£
8,521
44
1,000
-
-|**Designated**
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|**Restricted**
£
-
-
250,723
-
-
250,723
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3,471
3,471
254,195|**2025**
**£**
8,521
44
251,723
-
-
260,288
864
-
4,540
5,404
17,455
-
349
17,804
11,241
11,241
294,737|**2024**
**£**
6,249
-
182,180
-
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||9,565
864
-
4,540||||188,429
690
-
89,903|
||5,404
17,455
-
349||||90,593
8,466
-
483|
||17,804
7,770||||8,950
3,125|
||7,770
40,543||||3,125
291,097|
7b.
## **SAFA CUMBRIA**
## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED**
|**General**
£
**Raising funds**
Fundraising costs
7,033
7,033
**Charitable activities**
Administration salaries
-
Other direct admin costs
-
Salaries & wages
7,295
Pension Contributions
-
Staff training costs
10
DBS Checks
-
Salaried Counselling
-
Counselling
-
Training
1,303
Supervision
25
Counsellor Coordination
-
External Trainers
-
Travel & Sustinence
674
Utilities
101
Rent
-
Room Hire
-
Rates
-
Insurances
525
Repairs & Renewals
-
Telephone
256
Postage
14
Stationary
407
Advertising
20
Printing/Photography
-
Toolbox
-
Website
-
IT Costs
1,384
Equipment Purchases
-
Equipment Repairs
Library
-
Sundry
1,063
Memberships
253
Accountancy Costs
407
Bank Charges
43
Legal & professional
-
Trustees Meeting Expenses
-
Funds Transfer
13,778
**Other expenses**
Depreciation
-
-
**Transfers between funds**
(101,030)
(101,030)
**Gains/losses on revaluation of**
-
20,811|**Designated**
**Restricted**
£
£
-
9,576
-
9,576
-
-
-
-
-
131,216
-
6,967
-
49
-
247
-
-
-
95,071
-
2,369
-
1,090
-
-
-
-
-
724
-
7,696
-
34,647
-
105
-
535
-
1,029
-
216
-
2,296
-
64
-
269
-
87
-
754
-
1,000
-
288
-
3,241
-
977
-
-
-
-
523
363
-
356
23
-
-
-
-
292,200
-
-
-
101,030
-
101,030
-
-
-
301,776
**31 AUGUST 2025**|**2025**
**£**
16,609
16,609
-
-
138,511
6,967
59
247
-
95,071
3,672
1,115
-
-
1,398
7,797
34,647
105
535
1,554
216
2,552
78
676
107
754
1,000
288
4,625
977
-
-
1,585
616
763
66
-
-
-
305,978
-
-
-
-
-
-
322,587|**2024**
**£**
16,376|
|---|---|---|---|
||||16,376
-
1,800
137,667
6,589
432
424
-
94,797
-
1,098
-
-
1,626
5,520
34,703
-
380
1,433
149
2,486
122
78
945
866
-
404
2,465
1,654
-
-
791
1,637
634
71
-
-
-|
||||298,772
-|
||||-
-|
||||-
-|
|||||
||||-
315,148|
**Company Limited by Guarantee no: 6344630**
**Registered charity no: 1121122**
## CONTENTS
|Board of Directors and Staf|3|
|---|---|
|Chairman’s Foreword|4|
|Chief Executve Ofcer’s Report|5|
|SAFA’s Statement of Purpose & Objectves|6|
|Board Recruitment, Risk Management & Safeguarding & Confdentality|7|
|Growth of Services|8|
|Impact of Services|9|
|Client Feedback|10|
|Client Case Study One|11|
|Client Carse Study Two and Family Support Case Study|12 & 13|
|What Being In Nature Means To The Team|14 & 15|
|Outdoor Wellbeing|16|
|Events and Fundraising|17-23|
|Volunteers|24|
|Funders|25|
Special thanks to: Hayley Sams for the artwork on the front cover page.
- “I wanted to show the beauty in change through every season and life’s challenges with a collage of colours but with a sofness. The sofness signifying to allow yourself permission to be kind to yourself”
## Board of Directors
**Ian Burns** Chair **Katie Moncrief** Board Member – Vice Chair **Cindy Daltioni** CEO and Ex Officio Board Member **Dennis Laird** Board Member **Emily Dougan** Board Member **Tim Shuttleworth** Board Member **Ben Shirley** Board Member **Simon Broadley** Board Member **Lucy Gibson** Board Member
## Patrons of SAFA
**Tim Farron** MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale **Rob Cairns** Deputy Lieutenant of Cumbria
## Staff
**Cindy Daltioni** Chief Officer & DSL **Hayley Sams** Finance and Office Manager **Helen Beech** Counselling Coordinator & Deputy DSL **Jackie Cole** Family Support Worker **Shellie Briggs** Contracted Therapist
## SAFA Registered Office
Unit 24 Trinity Enterprise Centre, Ironworks Rd, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 2PN.
## Bankers
HSBC, 104 Duke Street, Barrow in Furness, LA14 1RD
## Independent Examiners
Knox Accounting Ltd, 6 Bath Street, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1LZ
Received The Kings Award for Voluntary Service 2023
## Chairman's Report - Ian Burns
It has been another fabulous, record-breaking year for the amazing SAFA team. Highlights include:
• Another record year for service delivery, the sixth successive year
- The sixth consecutive year we have reduced waiting times to
- access our service, despite a 31% increase in demand on us
- Some fabulous local fund-raising events held, superbly organised by the SAFA team
- • Meeting King Charles as part of the Royal Visit, where we showed him our King's Award for Voluntary Service
- Working closely with other Charities as part of the fabulous Barrow Rising Project
- A successful year of funding based on quality bids to funders who trust us to deliver – we did though still make a small financial loss in the year
- Continued excellent client feedback proving we save tens of lives every year and improve the quality of hundreds more
A huge thank you to our core staff, our counsellors, our volunteers, our funders, our social media followers, my Board colleagues and of course our amazing clients who we work with. It really is a privilege to Chair such a wonderful organisation.
Looking forward we are full of optimism based on the following strengths
- We have a great team who consistently excel and go the extra mile
- We have a great range of products and services that few other people possess, and our clients tell us what we do works
- We have huge and growing demand for these services
- We have great control of our expenditure – with every penny accounted for and focused on delivering benefit to our clients
- We are naturally collaborative and will work with any partners if it helps improve overall service delivery
The one challenge we have is sustaining funding levels to ensure we can support those in need. Our funding comes from a fabulous range of benefactors, but they are under pressure too and often see more charities chasing a smaller funding pool. As Cindy has suggested in her words, the NHS service provision for mental well-being is broken top to bottom. The vision that everyone is looked after 'cradle to grave' by the NHS is a complete myth, nowhere more so than in the area of mental well-being where we receive no direct funding at all and see huge waste and inefficiency across the board. 23% of issues presented in the NHS relate to mental well-being with only 9% of resources assigned to the issue. That huge discrepancy is picked up by amazing charities like SAFA.
As we enter our 20[th] year in 2026, we are determined to keep challenging this situation and we will re-double our efforts to fund raise and ensure SAFA remains a thriving organisation into the future.
## CEO Report - Cindy Daltioni
This year has laid bare two powerful truths: the escalating crisis in mental health and wellbeing across our communities, and the extraordinary strength, compassion, and determination shown by Team SAFA in meeting that crisis head-on.
Across the UK and here in our local area, the data tells a stark story. Psychological distress is rising. Self-harm and suicide rates continue to climb. Many of those who are struggling never make it into formal services, meaning the true scale of suffering is far greater than the numbers can show. Behind every statistic is a person—someone’s child, partner, friend—quietly battling pain that too often goes unseen.
We know the contributing pressures: isolation, cost-of-living anxiety, strong political divides, digital overwhelm, and limited access to timely support. And despite growing need, the system remains fragmented, underfunded, and difficult to navigate. Self-harm is not a rare or isolated issue; it is a public health emergency. We must name it, confront it, and resource it. Lives depend on it.
At the same time, society has made important strides in recognising mental health and neurodiversity. A diagnosis can offer clarity, validation, and pathways to support. But we cannot overlook those who struggle without a formal label—the people who present as “fine” while suffering in silence. Their pain is no less real, and too often, no less intense. Compassion must not depend on a diagnosis. At SAFA, it never will. Every story, every voice, every person matters.
As I reflect on the past year, what stays with me most is the courage I see every day—both in the people who walk through our doors and in the team who welcome them. Our staff, therapists, volunteers, and board members bring deep empathy, unwavering commitment, and a belief in human potential that is nothing short of inspiring. Their work is transformative. It is life-changing and in many cases life-saving.
Our person-centred approach places individuals and their families at the heart of all we do. We provide a safe, supportive space where people can heal from emotional wounds, strengthen their resilience, and rediscover hope. We help individuals move beyond long-held patterns, understand their inner world, and begin to live with greater confidence and authenticity.
But our responsibility doesn’t stop at the therapy room door. At a strategic level we work to challenge stigma, shift attitudes, and influence government policy—because lasting change must reach far beyond any single service. We envision a society where no one feels ashamed to ask for help, and where compassionate, timely support is the norm, not the exception.
To our staff, our therapists, our volunteers, our partners, our funders, and—most importantly—the people who trust us with their stories each year: thank you. Everything in this report exists because of your courage, your dedication, and your belief and trust in us.
Together, we will continue to fight for a future where equity is the felt deeply-where every person, seen or unseen, receives the compassion, dignity and support they deserve.
## SAFA: Statement of Purpose
SAFA is committed to making a positive difference to the lives of individuals who self-harm and to those who support them. Our primary goal is to empower the individual to take responsibility for their own lives by offering counselling and trusting support.
## ves… Object
We aim to protect and preserve the health and relieve the needs of people in Cumbria who self-harm or are affected by others that self-harm by:
- Providing free, professionally qualified counselling to young people and adults who self-harm or have an eating disorder, working in accordance with the British Association of Counselling Professionals (BACP) ethical framework for good practice in counselling
- Providing a local information and support service
- Increasing awareness and understanding of self-harm and to dispel the myths surrounding it by providing training and advice to groups, organisations and professionals
- Cooperating with statutory, voluntary and private sector agencies in order to give individuals choices about access to the various services available locally.
## Structure, Governance and Management
The Directors present their report along with the financial statements of the charity for the year ending 31 August 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with current statutory requirements, the charity’s Memorandum and Articles and the requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2015) .
## on Organisat
The charity is governed by a board of Directors. These persons are responsible for all decisions regarding the operation of the charity on a day to day basis. A Director can be appointed at the Annual General Meeting of the charity by being proposed and seconded by existing Directors and voted upon. Alternatively a Director can be appointed directly by the board as the need arises throughout the year and in accordance with the Charity’s Rules of Governance.
The Board of Directors is comprised of:
- Chair
- Vice Chair
- Finance Lead
- Safeguarding Lead
- CEO
- Company Secretary
- Elected and Voting Board members
The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Board is three (3) Members, or 50% of the Board of Directors at the time, whichever is the greater.
## Board Recruitment
The charity seeks to recruit Board members from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. This ensures a broad spectrum of skills available to the charity for the development and management of policies that will be of benefit to the staff and clients. New members are provided with a range of documentation and an induction into the charity's Aims and Objectives.
The recruitment and induction of Directors is intended to ensure that the appropriate skills are available to the Board of Directors for them to carry out their responsibilities and duties prudently and efficiently. Board members have current or recent back-grounds in education, counselling, health and business, and are in a position to access help and advice from other professionals as and when required.
## Risk Management
The Directors regularly review risks to the charity. These are mainly of a financial nature due to the instability of the funding environment which the charity seeks to mitigate by ensuring a wide and diverse funding base. Operational risk through its core activities is minimised by a policy of continual training for staff and adherence to Charity’s policies and procedures by others that may be required to carry out core counselling activities as directed by the Chief Officer.
Appropriate levels of insurance are maintained and adjusted as and when appropriate.
## Safeguarding & Confdentality
Safeguarding our vulnerable clients is at the heart of our operations. All Directors, counsellors and volunteers are fully DBS checked. SAFA has a comprehensive Confidentiality Policy which follows BACP Guidelines, and informs our sharing of information with other Agencies, including the police and statutory services. Board members monitor and support policy and practice. Safeguarding is a standing item on monthly board meetings.
## Growth of Services
## **Counselling**
- We now have 18 qualified therapists that work to a highly professional standard, our therapists are diverse in what they can offer, their practice is trauma informed, alongside humanistic approaches, and therapists include CBT and DBT tools, creative work and play therapy. We match clients with the most appropriate therapist for their needs.
- We offer therapy to people from the age 11+
- We take professional and self-referrals through our online forms.
## **Family Support**
- We provide wrap around support to family and friends with education on selfharming. Families are be offered, up to, 6-8 sessions on a one to one basis.
- We now hold a weekly drop-in on a Wednesday morning from 9:30 – 10:30am, in Barrow. Any families that are struggling and would like some support are welcome to come along and have a brew in a safe place to talk about any concerns.
- We also offer support in North Lancashire to families who are struggling and hold a peer support group online every Wednesday 10.30-11.30.
## **Training and Group Workshops**
- We offer training in self-harm and suicidal thoughts to specific groups, these include, health care professionals, community groups, education, emergency services and care settings.
- We provide community-led online resources including lived experience videos and the SAFA self-care toolbox. You can find these on our website.
## **Supervision sessions**
- We offer professional supervision sessions to specific groups to ensure that staff have continuing professional development to support both their own well-being and implementation of their approach. This could include emotional literacy, trauma , neuro-diversity, communication needs and relational approaches
## **Peer Support**
- Our peer support programme offers the chance for young people to become a Mental Health Ambassador. They are trained to give a person advice and signpost them where needed.
## The impact of our growth
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Counselling Hours
2023-2024 2024-2025
Total Clients 408 482
Total Sessions 2993 3498
Target: Increase counselling hours delivered to 71 per
week.
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Wait Times to access service
SAFA received 412 new referrals this
year.
Wait Times:
Kendal/South Lakes 56 Days
Barrow In Furness 63 Days
Wait time to access service averages 60 days or less
Family Support
2023-2024 2024-2025
Total Sessions 149 132
Target: To maintain family support sessions at 156
hours per year.
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Client Satisfaction
Across our last 450 clients:
30% improvement in client well-being as per client
self-scores
82% of clients report improved well-being after
engaging with SAFA – industry average is less than
50%
60% improvement in the statement 'I've been feeling
more confident'
Target: Improve client satisfaction by at least 25%.
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## Client Feedback
**“I've been able to talk about things that I've never talked to anyone about before. I feel as though I've been able to dig a little deeper.”**
**“Better understanding of my relationships with others (and self). Learning to help myself. Organising myself. Recognising I need to ask for help.”**
**“I have stopped self-harming and I feel good about this.**
**It has allowed me to be able to talk to someone about my problems especially around school.**
**It has allowed me to explore different behaviours and challenged me to do something different.”**
**“It has given me the space to say what I want without it having consequences. Working through stuff with someone who is not going to get scared or even tell my parents and knows what to say in response.**
**I have not felt guilty about talking about things.**
**I would say that it has given me strategies to deal with things and a choice or options to deal with nothings in other ways.**
**It has given me the space to challenge certain long held perspectives and question those thoughts that I have never really said out loud.**
**Having a regular session has allowed me to have a guarantee that I can say anything rather than having to ask to be able to talk to someone.**
**A space to talk and be focussed on myself instead of other people.”**
## Client Case Study One
**Client history:** This male, 38 year old, client was referred by their GP. Client has a long history of self-harm from early childhood, through teenage years and adolescence which has continued into adult life. Originally head banging moving to cutting and now using ligatures. Client also hears voices and has made multiple suicide attempts.
## **Sessions to date:** 12
## **Is the work completed?** No
**Presenting issue:** The client came to SAFA due to experiencing strong suicidal ideation. At the initial session the client was very anxious, made little to no eye contact and was resistant to speaking in any real depth. Despite this, themes emerged around, depression, anxiety, self-worth / value, Neurodivergence, loneliness, self-harm, the voices in their head and hints at experiencing several traumas (but would not say more). Also found out that the client has had a lot of therapy and often they felt unheard, misunderstood, not taken seriously, and dismissed. In discussion with the client about how to make the space more comfortable we agreed on using an expressive art approach that allowed them to focus on something practical whilst talking about things alongside having a coffee. Over a period of weeks, the client created an expressive collage which created imagery to use as jumping off points to explore some of their issues and help bring articulation to those things that they found difficult to voice. It also allowed the client to control the focus and the pace of sessions, for us to build rapport and trust, resulting in a noticeable difference to the client’s level of anxiety, willingness to share in greater depth, improved eye contact and making jokes. Building upon this we utilised emotional literacy cards alongside the artwork to help the client explore past, present, and future, thoughts and feelings as well as creating awareness and challenge of long held narratives. Using expressive art and imagery has allowed the client to take ownership of the space whilst removing the pressure of direct discussion creating a safe / held environment for their exploration, so much so that they have been able to speak about those traumas that previously they couldn’t, identify the voices and gently challenge some of those things that previously they felt could not be challenged. Working in this way has helped establish a relationship which continues to allow the client to bring difficult things.
Supervision and peer supervision has proved invaluable, offering reassurance of my capacity to hold all the client is bringing, suggestions for avenues of further exploration and a testing ground of own ideas that have enabled self-permission to continue offering different ways to facilitate the client’s space including guided meditation, collaborative art pieces and the client sharing some of their own art from outside the space. Some of these have subsequently been used or are in the process of being used all of which help to further facilitate the client’s journey and the relationship.
## Client Case Study Two
**Client history:** This male, 49 year old client self-referred to our service. Client initially attended family support due to child self-harming. During family support sessions, the client disclosed that memories from his childhood were beginning to emerge, including experiences of bullying and shutting down emotions. I offered counselling and although he was apprehensive, he agreed to one session to try it out.
**Sessions to date:** 15
## **Is the work completed:** Yes
**Summary of work:** Presenting issue for the client was high levels of anxiety which led to over-thinking. Client used the sessions to talk about his experience of anxiety including an exploration of difficult events in his life and a core belief: “I can’t get things wrong.” Client engaged in reflective work between sessions and often brought written thoughts or pictures to share with me.
As well as a supportive therapeutic relationship, I offered the core emotion wheel as a tool to help the client identify and process needs and emotions. We also explored boundaries – different kinds of boundaries, body sensations the client has when someone crosses his boundaries and how to communicate a boundary.
In light of the client’s apprehension about beginning counselling, it felt essential to support him to direct the therapy, to give him a sense of control and to build trust and psychological safety. I checked in with the client at the beginning of each session to see how he would like to use the time and that is when he would often share his reflections or questions from the past week.
I found it useful to talk with my supervisor about fragile process – noting that the client chose to share difficult material in written form rather than speaking it aloud. As we explored past pain, the client would also seem to shut down or appear extremely anxious. Offering gentle contact work – reflecting what I saw in the client and naming emotions, facial expressions or body posture seemed to support the client to be present and to process what was happening for him.
## Family Support Case Study
**Client History:** Patsy was informed about SAFA by her child’s school due to struggling from the breakup of her relationship from her long-term partner. Her son is autistic, and her daughter has severe anxiety. She came to one of our weekly drop ins to find out more about what SAFA could offer. At the sessions, she shared some of the struggles that she was currently experiencing. The breakup of her long-term cohabiting partner and his children. Together with the emotions of her own children and the children of her ex. Patsy’s emotions were completely shut down, and she felt numb.
**Sessions to date:** 8 **Is the work completed:** Yes
**Summary of work:** She was offered a safe nonjudgmental space where she was shown compassion and empathy.
On our first session her pet had died, and she could not express any emotion. We talked about this, and she relayed that she just couldn’t feel anything and felt numb.
On week two, I decided to use the emotion cards, she chose pictures that meant something to her. She picked out several pictures and talked very coherently about some of her struggles. Her partner had left with no warning, leaving her with four children from their blended family. All the children were extremely distressed by the breakup. She found it very hard to show her vulnerability to the children which in turn made it hard for them. Patsy felt very overwhelmed by her situation and also worried due to her living arrangements belonging to family members. We talked about self-care and what she could do to look after herself. She had hobbies and interests however carrying out those things proved difficult. I asked her to try and do some journaling to try and process her thoughts. We also talked about the grieving process and the cycle of grief. She felt very isolated and lonely, and the situation brought back old traumas whereby a past partner had taken his life. We discussed the possibility of when family support ended having some further counselling.
Eventually the pressure became too great and after careful thought and discussion, she made the difficult decision to separate the family. It was a very difficult and painful situation for the whole family however for the sake of the children and their mental health it was necessary. It was a time of massive adjustment for them all. We looked at what was in her control, and what was out of her control. She responded well to this. We also talked about going to the doctors as she had been feeling unwell. Her results showed that she did have some underlying health issues that required attention.
Over the weeks she started to look better, and her health improved. She continued to keep her journal and through this process she managed to get in touch with her emotions. She returned to some of the hobbies that she loved and started to feel more positive about the future. On her final visit she relayed that she had exciting plans for the future. She stated that family support had been a massively positive experience for her, and she thanked us for being alongside her whilst she came to terms with her loss and adjusting to her new circumstances. She relayed that having someone to talk to had been an experience that she originally was sceptical about however is now an advocate for.
**“I feel I have a better understanding and which path to go down next to help myself.”**
## What being in nature means to the team
Since moving to the Lake District from inner city London in 2014, I have relished the opportunity to discover the many benefits of connecting with nature and the outdoors. I walk my dog or run on the fells most days and this rhythm provides me with space – both for my body and mind – to process stress, thoughts and emotions. Giving attention through all of my senses to the environment around me slows me down, calms my nervous system and enables me to be more present.
Being outdoors is a place where my inner child can delight in a beautiful sky or a newborn lamb with tight wool ringlets or marvel at the colours of a fat slug that has emerged after the rain or notice that when the petals of a climbing rose fall, they look like love hearts on the ground.
I love witnessing the seasons – of feeling part of something much bigger than me and of learning lessons through nature – that there is a time for new life and new growth as well as a time for pruning, shedding and dormancy. Every season gives me a feeling of being alive whether it’s the warm sun on my face, wind blowing fresh air into my lungs or the strength I feel in my muscles as I run through rain and mud.
Nature has become an essential friend to me – a place of discovery and surprise as well as constancy and nurture.
## **Shellie Briggs-Therapist**
There was a time in my life when I feared the outside and extremely frightened of change. The thought of stepping out and the world seeing me was terrifying. I was socially awkward, I didn’t want people to speak to me, I had my reasons. I hated the thought of people looking and judging, analysing what I was wearing, what I looked like, how I acted. Although never showed that, I always had a smile on face, spoke to the people I knew, worked in jobs where people were around me most of the shifts.
After a period in my life a person said to me ‘close your eyes and picture a colour, what do you see?’ I saw yellow. I imagined it was the sun on my face and felt the warmth. It was here I realised I had missed out on so much from being scared. I started off slow and stood in my yard taking in the sounds, I could hear birds, children playing and I could feel the sun. I started walking and took in the colours around me, green leaves, grey pavements and different coloured doors. I saw the changes in the seasons and watched the colours go from green to reds and vibrant oranges. I noticed that people were saying hello and bustling on, not judging. Why did I think that they were? As each season changed, I found new things to enjoy, the sound of rain against the window, the sky in all its glory. My favourite thing to look for was the moon, it mesmerised me. I found that in every change, in the seasons and in life, there was beauty to be seen and lessons to be learnt. There was no need to be frightened or scared, I could still feel vulnerable but no need to be scared.
I use the outside now to ground myself, when the thoughts are racing, I can listen to what’s going on, I can see the colours, I can feel the earth beneath my feet.
I like to walk and talk with family or friends, it helps. I like solo walking with my music on, that helps. Now I have a garden I like to open the blinds and just look out; it’s one of my happy places. If I saw anyone struggling the way I did, I would say ‘close your eyes and picture a colour, what do you see?’
It might just bring the outdoors to them.
## **Hayley Sams-Finance/Office**
## What being in nature means to the team
My outside
The place I go to first thing in the morning with a cup of tea, to say good morning to the birds outside.
The place I go last thing at night, up over the fields with my dog, whatever the weather, some nights the rain patters on my hood, some nights the sky is clear, and I can see the stars. The place I go to swim in the lake.
The place I go to grow plants, flowers, herbs, fruit and veggies. What does my outside offer me?
The words that come to my mind are freedom, I feel a sense free when I am outside, it helps to clear my mind.
Beauty, the amazing countryside I see around me.
Peace and tranquillity, connecting with nature, to walk on grass in the winter and hear the sounds it makes.
When feeling angry, frustrated or overwhelmed there is nothing quite like digging up weeds in the garden.
When feeling sad, lonely or a little lost, there is nothing quite like hearing birdsong. When feeling happy, excited or joyful, there is nothing quite like the sunshine on my face. When feeling tired there is nothing quite like taking a dip in the lake to invigorate. When eating the foods I have grown feeling accomplished.
Find your outside.
## **Helen Beech-Counselling Co-ordinator**
I have always had a passion for walking and love being outdoors in nature. The very first time I visited the lake district, I was blown away by the scenery and the sense of calm that it brought me. Walking helps me to process my thoughts and after a good stomp in nature I feel energised and recharged with a clearer view of issues that have been bothering me.
I have lived in this area for 35 years and I can honestly say that my health has improved massively. I like walking on my own however there is nothing more uplifting than a walk and talk with a trusted friend!
What are you waiting for? Get your walking shoes on and give it a go!
## **Jackie Cole-Family Support Worker**
OHUthWd
We now have an allotmentl
Over the coming weeks and months, we will continue to prepare the area, our aim is to use this space
for individuals to improve their mental health through horticulture, peer connection. and guided
therapeutic activities, as we develop the project we will be looking to offer.
Emotional well-being sessions and peer-led support groups.
Workshops on mindfulness. self-care and resilience.
Co-develop seasonal programs that integrate nature therapy with SAFA'S mental health expertise.
We are on the lookout for volunteers to help and support us in this new project. if anyone
would like to offer some time and ideas they are will be welcomed.
Spending time in nature offers powerful therapeutic benefits, especially for those who have
experienced distress or trauma, those who struggle with self-harm or eating diff iculties, and
for neurodivergent clients, who often find the outdoors to be a regulating, welcoming, and
affirming space. The natural world provides a calm, non-judgemental environment where
clients can begin to feel safe again, a gentle contrast to the often overwhelming
environments they may face elsewhere. Research shows that simply being outdoors can
reduce anxiety, lift mood, and help regulate the nervous system, while mindful connection
with the elements and the seasons - experiencing the calm of water, noticing the resilience of
kplants and animals. or the seasonal cycle of growth and rest, all invite a sense of presence and
curiosity. and can support self-compassion. For our SAFA clients, nature-based sessions offer
the potential to open up new ways of processing feelings and rebuilding trust in themselves
and others, fostering resilience and a deeper sense of belonging in the world-mary Fletcher
Austins goal was t
raise £IOO.......he
raised a whopping
£31511
Austin is 8, a dedicated cub scout and a drummer in a
band!
Austin was was inspired by Paddy McGuinness and his
charity bike ride! He wanted to ride 10 miles along
Blackpool Promenade to raise money for SAFA!
Which he smashed!
Austin said he chose SAFA
Cumbria because
it is a really kind charity as it
helps people in need.
th
On the 28 June 2025 we took on the
Keswick 3 Peaks.
We teamed up with The Lakeland
Mountain Guides who helped support the
team through and clamber up the peaks.
All the hikers raised over
£35001
Lakeland Mountain Guides
Live for the Now
¢Yic/
£19,035
Salaries and Wages
£88,925
Counselling Costs
£121,098
Property and Utility Costs
£42,675
Other Charitable Activities
£32,186||
|**Total**|**£322,736**|
|**Income**|**Value**|
|---|---|
|Donations and Legacies
£267,939
Charitable Activities
£15,246
Other Trading Activities
£5713
Investments
£0||
|**Total**|**£288,846**|
**Visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SAFACumbria www.safa-selfharm.com**