**Registered Charity Number: 1149125 Company number: 08194767**
## **Light Peer Support Ltd**
**Annual Report and unaudited Financial Statements**
**For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Light Peer Support Ltd**
## **Contents**
||Page|
|---|---|
|Trustees’ annual report|1- 18|
|Independent examiner’s report|19|
|Statement of financial activities|20|
|Balance sheet|21|
|Notes to the financial statements|22 - 28|
**Light Peer Support Ltd Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 31 March 2025**
The trustees are pleased to present their annual directors’ report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ending 31 March 2025 which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.
The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and the charities Statement of Recommended Practice (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland; FRS 102) issued in October 2019.
## **Chair’s Report**
This is the fifteenth annual report for Light Peer Support Ltd (Light).
I continue to be incredibly proud to represent Light Peer Support. As one of the founding members of the charity it means a huge amount to me to be able to say that we are in our fifteenth year of support for the families of South Yorkshire during pregnancy and after having had a baby. With the ever changing economic environment this year has continued to bring immense challenges for families, for volunteers, for staff and for Light.
I am pleased to report we are continuing to provide our excellent support arrangements which respects service user choice of how they wish to receive support but champions in person contact aiding recovery. This period has seen another increase in referrals and a much improved reach to service users via social media, especially our new Facebook community Forum. This gives parents a safe, non judgmental space to chat with other parents and gain access to our peer support workers online.
We continue to provide support through our contracts with Sheffield City Council and Sheffield Health & Social Care NHS Trust and the Sheffield City Council’s Family Hubs/Start for Life funded by the Government. We have worked hard to meet and exceed delivery targets and continue to expand our offering. In particular Light has now taken significant steps to strengthen and formalise its counselling provision, with a focus on improving service user pathways, clinical governance, and service integration. We engaged a BACP accredited clinical lead and recruited a Lead Integrative Counsellor, who took up post in November 2024 to lead the delivery of an improved counselling offer.
Our main focus for the current contracts has been to expand in person support groups in local communities. With an increase in referrals, we have increased face to face support and increased the number of groups, ensuring that there is more than one support group happening on every day of the week. We are still offering remote support via video call and telephone, email, text and our online forum as mentioned above. We have also continued to increase our targeted support with more focus on birth trauma, pregnancy, dads/co-parents and under-represented groups. We have also expanded the locations where we can offer support, providing a much better presence in Doncaster and Barnsley than previous years.
We are continually reviewing our contracts and support models and have been recently exploring new leaflet designs and revamping updating our website as well as planning recruitment of marketing and communication professionals to ensure we reach more of our target audience. As a result of the workforce expansion last year we are fully utilizing our expanded our offices at Knowle house, enabling all staff to work from the office as well as flexible home working when appropriate.
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**Light Peer Support Ltd Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 31 March 2025**
What has been great this year is, is that we continued to develop our well-being walks, delivering a programme of summer walks, where cost is no barrier to participation, encouraging parents to get out in the green spaces and parks and improve fitness and mental health through exercise. This has been very successful and has now had a formal evaluation by Sheffield University. We are planning a further series of Walks for this Autumn and hope to make them even more inclusive by mothers, as it is being found that this type of support is preferred.
I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all our families, staff, volunteers, funders and supporters, without you all we could not continue to deliver this vital support, the pandemic has impacted hugely on families having a baby or who have young children and the support we offer is a lifeline for many.
Savi Robinson Chair of Light Trustees
## **About Light**
Light Peer Support Ltd (Light) is a registered charity providing support to women and their families who are affected by mental health problems in pregnancy and around childbirth in Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and more recently Barnsley. Light provides perinatal mental health peer support, which we are pleased to report is now being increasingly recognised as an aid to mental health recovery for mild – moderate mental health difficulties. We provide peer support in person on a 1-1 basis and in group settings. We also provide remote support via videocall, telephone, text and email.
Light was founded in July 2010 by Louise Heard and Karen Beetham, two mothers with a history of post natal depression and Savi Robinson, who was an NHS Volunteer at the time.
## **Mission and objectives of Light**
Light aims to provide support to families who are affected by perinatal mental health illness. We do this by reducing isolation and stigma and increasing new parents' confidence so that those struggling with their emotional and mental wellbeing in the perinatal period are able to participate in normal life, interact with their babies and enjoy being parents.
Light also aims to raise awareness of perinatal mental health throughout South Yorkshire and further afield through building partnerships and referral pathways with related services and by being involved in the training of other voluntary and statutory organisations, so that they can recognise the symptoms of perinatal mental illness and can be preventative rather than reactive when they encounter parents with these issues.
Light’s long-term vision is to establish a centrally located 'Lighthouse' hub that will be accessible to families every day on a drop-in basis, providing a safe place where they can come, receive support and talk about their emotional and mental wellbeing with others who have had similar experiences in the perinatal period and are now recovered, promoting recovery through self-help.
The objectives of Light are the promotion of any charitable purpose directed to alleviating those who suffer from perinatal mental illness and, in particular, the relief of sickness and the protection and promotion of good health (both physical and mental) by the provision of peer support and counselling and the advancement in education in matters relating to perinatal mental health, by the provision of advice and guidance .
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**Light Peer Support Ltd Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Vision**
Effective peer support for anyone struggling with their mental health and emotional wellbeing during pregnancy, birth and afterwards.
## **Mission**
We support anyone struggling emotionally during pregnancy, birth and beyond. We provide peer support, raise awareness and promote understanding of perinatal mental health.
## **Values**
- Hope – we show there is light at the end of the tunnel
- Supportive – we provide help to anyone who needs it, without judgement
- Empathetic – we truly understand how it feels to struggle emotionally
- Compassionate – we’re caring, kind and considerate in all our actions
- Collaborative – we work together to ensure anyone gets the support they need
## **Analysis of Need**
Estimates vary but NHS England reports that perinatal mental illness affects up to 27% of new and expectant mums and covers a wide range of conditions. It also effects dads and co-parents. If left untreated, mental health issues can have significant and long-lasting effects on parents, the child, and the wider family.
It is estimated that up to one in four new and expectant mums are affected by perinatal mental health problems, covering a range of conditions including postnatal depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and postpartum psychosis. The right support at the right time can have an enormous impact on the psychological wellbeing and mental health of women and families.
Sheffield had 5705 live births in 2022; Rotherham 2811 live births; Doncaster 3350 live births; and Barnsley 2525 live births. This means an estimate across South Yorkshire of up to 3598 women who will suffer mental health problems in the perinatal period each year (2022 figures: ONS stats from NOMIS accessed 27[th] Aug 2024).
## **What has Light done this year?**
In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, including the guidance on ‘public benefit: reporting (PB3)’.
## **Activities, Achievements & Performance**
## **Staffing**
During this reporting period,1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025 we continued to strengthen and expand our workforce capacity and infrastructure to meet the needs of women and families. We successfully sustained and further developed our PNMH peer support workforce, allowing us to broaden our reach and enhance the quality of support we provide. We progressed the cultural sensitivity of our offer by responding to the feedback provided from our employees who were members of the BAMER community. We are pleased to report that we have continued to attract individuals from diverse communities to enhance the inclusivity of our support offered
We have made significant strides in consolidating our business operations. Our engagement with a management accountant, HR consultant, and managed service providers for IT and CRM systems has improved operational efficiency, data security, and compliance. Our Governance and Business Manager giving us the capacity focus on good governance and longer term planning.
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**Light Peer Support Ltd Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 31 March 2025**
Our marketing consultant has been instrumental in increasing visibility and awareness of perinatal mental health issues and the support available through our services. This has contributed to increased referrals.
To ensure the long-term financial health and sustainability of Light we continue to work closely with our fundraising consultant, who has successfully secured several new funding streams and grant opportunities. This diversified income base allows us to plan with greater confidence and resilience, ensuring we can deliver against our mission.
## **Referrals and Enquiries**
In the period, 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025, we experienced a significant 36% increase in referrals and enquiries to our Perinatal Mental Health (PNMH) peer support service. Total referrals rose from 646 in 2023–2024 to **876** , representing an increase of **230 referrals** year-on-year.
|||||
|---|---|---|---|
||**Source of Referrals**|||
|**Year**|**Total**
**Referrals**|**Self-Referrals**|**Professional**
**Referrals**|
|2023–2024|646|342|304|
|2024–2025|876|418|455|
Professional referrals, including Specialist PNMH Services, Health Visitors, Midwives, GPs Early Years & Family Hub professionals saw the largest proportional increase—approximately **50%** —an encouraging trend that reflects stronger engagement from health and social care professionals. This growth aligns with our increased workforce capacity, which has enhanced our service visibility and enabled more consistent professional outreach. Moving forward, we will continue to support and expand this engagement by delivering targeted awareness sessions and streamlining and improving the professional referral process
Self-referrals increased by around 22%, highlighting the success of our outreach and awarenessraising initiatives, made possible through recent investment.
We promoted self-referral options through a diverse media mix to ensure accessibility and ease of use. The most common self-referral methods were: Email: 35%, QR Code: 22%, Web/Social Media: 18% Phone: 18%
These figures reflect the growing recognition of our services and demonstrate the impact of our strategic focus on accessibility, partnership, and community engagement.
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**Light Peer Support Ltd Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Perinatal Mental Health Peer Support for parents and families**
Following an overall increase in referrals, **623** individuals registered with Light for support between 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. Individuals can access 1-1 support in-person or via phone, text or email, group support or both. **444** individuals accessed 1-1 support in this period, with **2908** appointments made for 1:1 support. **377** individuals accessed groups held by Light. 1-1 support is initially offered for 6 sessions but is extended if required. In person 1-1 sessions are offered from our hub at Knowle House in Sheffield, and this year we have also significantly expanded the 1-1 provision we are able to offer in other localities, from family hubs or family hub satellite sites, to reduce potential barriers to access such as transport and familiarity.
Light has also expanded our group provision in this period and offered peer support groups across Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster; and Barnsley from September 2024. Groups are offered in family hubs, and other community locations near service users’ homes as well as at our hub in Knowle House, Sheffield.
## **Place & Locality Perinatal Mental Health Peer Support Groups**
**Sheffield Rotherham** Light Hub – Knowle House Arnold Children’s Centre Darnall Family Hub Aughton Early Years Centre Early Days Family Hub Rawmarsh Children’s Centre First Start Family Hub Primrose Family Hub **Doncaster** Sharrow Family Hub Bentley Family Hub Shortbrook Family Hub Rossington Family Hub Valley Park Family Hub Moorends Family Hub
## **Barnsley**
Central Family Hub North East Family Hub North Family Hub Penistone Family Hub South Family Hub The Bolton Upon Dearne Nursery
## **Targeted Peer Support Groups**
In addition to our locality-based peer support groups, we continue to offer a number of targeted peer support groups including a weekly birth trauma peer support group, pregnant parents and postpartum group (up to the end of the ‘4[th] trimester’), and young parents’ group.
## **Commissioned Groups**
We were also able to offer Aquatic Nuture sessions to improve early water confidence and a nurturing approach to bath times and First Aid training for parents through the year.
## **Hosted Groups**
We hosted other groups delivered by partner organisations enabling our service users to access groups in a familiar place, these included Baby Massage, Baby Massage, Incredible Babies, Successful Sleepers workshop, Start Well Families Programme. A new initiative in this period was delivery of an Anxiety & Worry Workshop and Low Mood Workshop by Sheffield Talking Therapies both of which received extremely positive feedback. **377** individuals accessed groups held by Light. In this period, we held or hosted **1085** groups.
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**Light Peer Support Ltd Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Birth Trauma Peer Support**
The birth trauma peer support service has been funded over recent years by NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board. We received continued funding to deliver support across Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley. We provide a weekly birth trauma peer support group in Sheffield and were also able to provide birth trauma group support in Doncaster at two family hubs. We were able to continue employ two peer support workers who provide support specifically around birth experience. In the period 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025 130 individuals who registered with Light included birth experience as a presenting need/reason for accessing support.
## **Well-being walks**
Following a successful pilot in 2023, Light continued to develop our _Wellbeing Walks_ —a new initiative designed to support mums through gentle physical activity and social connection in natural settings. The project aimed to address isolation, build confidence, and provide emotional support to mums during the perinatal period.
**13 walks** were held across Sheffield’s parks and green spaces, including Hillsborough Park, Norfolk Park, Firth Park, and others. **10 mums and their babies** participated in total, with the final walk being the most attended (5 participants). The final walk was held in **Bakewell** , with lunch and transport provided—supporting mums to travel further afield with their babies, many for the first time.
Mums reported positive impacts including:
- Improved mood and wellbeing after each walk
- Increased confidence to leave the house with their baby
- Stronger peer connections and reduced isolation
- Discovery of new green spaces
“I always felt better after going… it was good to get out of the house and talk to other mums.”
Last year, following feedback from a group of South Asian mums in Darnall and Firth Park, we introduced a monthly walking group to replace the peer support group that week. This change came about after consultation sessions where we explored the barriers these South Asian and Muslim women mums faced in accessing services and discussed activities they would genuinely enjoy and look forward to.
Many of them suggested walking as a way to ease the pressure of having to talk or share personal experiences, especially when they felt uncomfortable, as culturally this was something that they felt unfamiliar with. They felt that walking together created a more relaxed, natural space for connection and support, helping to reduce loneliness, isolation, and improve mental wellbeing.
Since then, we have also become involved in a research project with the University of York and University of Keele working with communities in Sheffield and London, exploring how Muslim women’s walking groups can support perinatal mental health. The project has recruited four Community Research Link Workers across Sheffield and London and is focused on identifying effective interventions that promote walking, connection with nature, and positive mental health outcomes with the aim of designing approaches that best meet the needs of these women.
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**Light Peer Support Ltd Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Under-represented groups**
Light has continued to accelerate its work to address health inequalities and address cultural and communication barriers which compound perinatal mental health inequality. Through the Family Hubs/Start for Life funding in Sheffield we have been able to expand the number of peer support workers in our team from BAME backgrounds and able to deliver peer support in other languages, primarily Urdu and Punjabi. We have been undertaking targeted outreach and engagement activities in under-represented communities, tapping into diverse formal and informal networks to raise awareness and promote Light’s services. We continue to tailor our engagement processes and service delivery to meet the specific needs identified by individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures and age groups. Through this personalised and targeted approach, we aim to eliminate barriers and promote accessibility for all mothers.
We have also been working collaboratively with the Universities of Sheffield, Leeds and Keele, Doncaster and Rotherham City Councils and Sheffield Health & Social Care NHS Trust’s Specialist PNMH Services, since 1 October 2024 as part of National Institute of Health Research, NHIR funded research study titled _Perinatal Redesign for Accessing Mental Health Services (PRAMS)_ . The aim of this study which will run until 31 March 2026, is to explore the barriers to accessing perinatal mental health support among underrepresented groups.
So far, we have facilitated focus groups with a range of participants, including BAMER women, young parents, and mothers from socially and economically deprived areas. With the support of Light, the project has recruited two Community Research Link Workers who have been attending Light groups and engaging directly with women to gather insights.
The study aims to identify key themes emerging from the feedback provided by both staff and service users, and to co-design interventions that will help improve access to perinatal mental health services for those who need them most.
## **Counselling service**
Light has offered a counselling service since 2018, with counselling delivered by trainee counsellors undertaking their final 100 hours of practice to complete their qualifications. Following a review of our counselling service provision undertaken by a BACP accredited provider in the previous period, Light has now taken significant steps to strengthen and formalise its counselling provision, with a focus on improving service user pathways, clinical governance, and service integration. We engaged a BACP accredited clinical lead and recruited a Lead Integrative Counsellor, who took up post in November 2024 to lead the delivery of an improved counselling offer. Key to service improvement and our counselling pathway was the introduction of an improved referral process to streamline access for people engaged with our service who were requesting counselling, this went live in January 2025.
The Lead Integrative Counsellor began initial client assessments and assumed a small caseload while leading service development. Assessment outcomes identified a high incidence of childhood, birth, and perinatal trauma, reinforcing the need for a trauma-informed approach. Two additional volunteer trainee counsellors were recruited to meet growing demand. A new counselling records system was introduced to support clinical governance and service quality. This includes formalised client pathways: contracts, psychometric measures, goal setting, standardised progress notes, reviews, and client feedback mechanisms. We have now recruited 2 further volunteer trainee therapists. Recruitment of a Lead Integrative Counsellor has facilitated retention of 2 qualified therapists and the recruitment of a further qualified counsellor.
In this period 49 service users received counselling services from Light.
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**Light Peer Support Ltd Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Volunteers**
Volunteers continue to be a valued and much-appreciated part of our team bringing additional capacity to Light. They play a vital role in supporting our peer support groups, raising awareness through outreach and community engagement, contributing to events, and offering one-to-one peer support.
This year, volunteer recruitment remained a key area of development. While recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns was initially slow, and wider social and economic changes have continued to affect recruitment and retention, we are pleased to report continued progress. We received 86 expressions of interest from individuals keen to volunteer with us—a positive indication of growing engagement.
To widen our volunteer base, we expanded our criteria this year to include not only those with lived experience but also parents and students seeking to deepen their understanding of perinatal mental health. This change has helped us reach a broader pool of potential volunteers.
In total, 15 volunteers dedicated their time and skills to Light in 2024–2025. Among them were five counsellors, including three qualified counsellors, significantly extending our therapeutic capacity. While two volunteers moved on during the year, their contributions remain greatly appreciated.
All volunteers receive training and ongoing tailored support to ensure they feel confident and wellequipped in their roles. Notably, three of our 2024–2025 volunteers joined the Light as Peer Support Workers in spring 2025, reflecting the strength of our volunteer development pathway.
## **Premises**
In January 2024 Light moved into a larger office space at Knowle House to accommodate the expanding team and increase in service activity. The space occupied at Knowle House including 2 large group rooms, 2 peer support/therapy rooms and kitchen facilities continues to reap benefits in relation to our service offer and ability to offer complimentary services from partners in an environment that is familiar to our service users. Since the beginning of 2024 we have been able to take advantage of further space available in family hubs across South Yorkshire to deliver more 1-1 and group peer support in other localities. However, we have been challenged in this period by restrictions on room availability and therefore have taken on additional space at our hub to provide dedicated space for counselling provision.
We continue to work towards our longer-term vision to open the “Lighthouse” a hub for perinatal mental health peer support services which would be open throughout the week for women and families to drop-in as well as access planned 1-1 and group sessions run by ourselves and our perinatal mental health partners.
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**Light Peer Support Ltd Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Developing infrastructure and fundraising**
During this period, we have continued to strengthen our infrastructure through the following initiatives:
- Further development of the CRM system implemented in January 2023, with a focus on automating administrative processes to enhance efficiency and gain deeper insights into the needs of our service users.
- Continuing engagement with our managed IT service provider to enhance our overall IT infrastructure and strengthen our cybersecurity capabilities.
- Enhancing the effectiveness and contribution of our marketing consultant through the development and support of the wider team.
- **Ongoing engagement of our fundraising consultant to secure funding in support of Light’s charitable activities. This enables us to innovate and take creative approaches in delivering perinatal mental health peer support. During this period, these efforts have resulted in £35,750 raised through grants.**
## **Networking & Relationships**
Light has continued to develop relationships across South Yorkshire and beyond to advance the local and national provision of perinatal mental health services, raise awareness of perinatal mental health and share best practice. Some of the partners, networks, organisations and membership groups we work with are listed below:
- Local Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership
- NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board – Maternal & Perinatal Mental Health Steering Group
- Sheffield City Council – Start for Life Perinatal Mental Health & Infant Mental Health Steering Group
- Sheffield Health and Social Care Trust
- Public Health Specialists and Commissioners
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust -Jessop Wing
- NHS South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System & Local Maternity System
- Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust
- The Marce Society
- Make Birth Better
- Sheffield Hallam University
- Sheffield University
- Barnsley Perinatal and Parent Infant Network
## **Raising Awareness of Perinatal Mental Health and the Value of Peer Support**
At Light, a key focus of our work is raising awareness of the mental health challenges faced by women and families during the perinatal period. We continue to do this through a variety of channels, ensuring that our messaging is both relatable and reflective of the lived experiences of our service users.
Our content is shaped by real conversations from our peer support groups and one-to-one sessions, allowing us to speak directly to the emotional and practical challenges of parenthood. By showing that we understand the complex demands of this life stage, we aim to reduce stigma, encourage people to seek help, and signpost them to other useful services.
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**Light Peer Support Ltd Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Strengthening Community Presence Through Family Hubs**
The Family Hubs and Start for Life investment in Sheffield and Barnsley enabled our peer support team to significantly increase their on-site presence in family hubs, antenatal clinics, and other community venues. This expansion allowed us to promote our services more widely and reach more families at key points in their perinatal journey.
In partnership with Sheffield City Council’s communications team, we co-produced a series of videos displayed in Family Hubs across the city. These videos raise awareness of the emotional realities of the perinatal period and the value of peer support, helping parents feel seen, heard, and supported. We also now have a Light promotion at Jessop Maternity Hospital on their visual display “TV” screens.
## **Strategic Campaigns and Social Media Growth**
Our peer support coordinators lead our daily social media efforts, guided by our marketing consultant, who supports strategic content planning and campaign development. Highlights from recent campaigns include:
- “Bringing Light to Darker Days” (Winter campaign)
- “Buy a New Parent a Cuppa”
- Maternal Mental Health Week, which led to a 725% increase in views compared to the week before.
Thanks to these targeted efforts, we’ve seen outstanding growth across our digital platforms:
- Facebook Reach: 35,646 — 114% increase
- Instagram Reach: 2,908 — 589% increase
- LinkedIn Impressions: 3,618 — a new and growing area of focus
- Website Page Views: 48,894 — 50% increase
## **Improved Visibility and Accessibility**
We refreshed our promotional leaflet to better reflect the diverse communities we support. These updated materials are now part of maternity information packs in Sheffield, Doncaster, and Rotherham, ensuring more families receive information about our services at the earliest opportunity.
## **Partner Training and Volunteer Development**
We worked collaboratively with partners in Sheffield to co-deliver training on perinatal mental health, which is now a core part of the Sheffield Early Help Training Programme. This initiative is raising awareness across both statutory services and the voluntary and community sector.
In Rotherham, we recently delivered bespoke training sessions for Family Hub volunteers, equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to support families facing perinatal mental health challenges.
## **Launch of Facebook Community Forum**
To further support our service users, we launched a new Facebook Community Forum in 2024 — a moderated, confidential online space exclusive to registered Light members. The forum is curated and monitored by Light staff to ensure it remains a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for peer support and connection.
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**Light Peer Support Ltd Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Feedback**
We periodically ask service users for feedback on the service they have received. We ask them to reflect on impact on mental health, impact on physical health, impact on social isolation, impact on self-esteem, and relationship/attachment to their child(ren). The feedback we receive is overwhelmingly positive with 94% of service users from 1 January 2025 – 31 March 2025 reporting that they were happy with the support they received from Light.
A selection of comments regarding what service users found most helpful is below:
## **Supportive staff**
_‘Staff who have similar experiences are easy to talk to and provide lots of support and advice.’_
_‘Nurturing, caring approach, excellent listening and patient-led approach.’_
_“That someone is actually listening to what I have to say, and not dismissing it”_
## **Availability and quality of PNMH peer support**
_‘Talking about what I am thinking and feeling and having someone be able to share insight as to why and point me in the direction of where/who to get help from. Absolutely no judgement and a commonality of thinking with others in needing to change the narratives around women’s health postnatal.’_
_‘Less sense of isolation, don’t feel that I’m crazy for thinking and feeling the way I do because I know that others do as well.’_
_‘Feeling like I'm not alone. Having someone outside of my family and friends makes it easier to openup and I feel like the 1-1 sessions have really helped with that. I am grateful for the classes, 1-1 and the wellbeing walks for making me get up and out when it would be so much easier for me to stay at home! The team is so friendly and meeting other mums again has helped me realise I'm not alone!’_
_‘Personal and understanding of postpartum/parenthood. Can take my baby with me to counselling and work around our needs.’_
## **Groups**
_‘I like the support group. I feel it's a safe space to talk about anything and X leads the sessions brilliantly. It's nice to be able to exchange with other moms in a relaxing and supportive environment.’_
_‘I enjoy attending a group each week which is suitable for my baby, but also provides me with an opportunity to talk openly about the struggles of parenthood.’_
_‘Being made to feel normal. Support groups available to me.’_
_‘Chatting to the other mums.’_
_‘Being able to attend the light group every Friday has helped me get out the house which was a huge struggle.’_
_“I enjoy the support group the most and being around other mums and having the group leader come and check in with you one to one”_
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**Light Peer Support Ltd Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Group Feedback**
We also ask service users to evaluate our perinatal mental health peer support groups at the end of each session. A selection of comments regarding what people found most helpful about our groups is below:
## **Friendship**
_‘Meeting new moms and building my confidence.’_
_‘Solidarity, not feeling alone.’_
_‘First time I've had opportunity to talk to other women/mothers.’_
_‘Great to be out of the house and be around other people. Being in a group setting but one that feels safe, supportive with like-minded mums.’_
_‘Friendly chat, company, and the opportunity to be honest about how I am feeling.’_
_‘An emotionally safe place where everyone understands what you are going through.’_
_“Being able to be honest about how i am feeling and not feel judged”_
_“Getting out of the house and feeling heard and not alone”_
_“Meeting mums which made me feel less anxious about being pregnant and the birth”_
## **Improved Mental Health**
_‘I knew I was going to have a difficult morning due to appointments and it was just reassuring to know it would be here after. I always feel better after coming to a Light group.’_
_‘Just knowing it was here on a difficult day made it so much less difficult.’_
_‘My mood changed. X and X helped me a lot.’_
_“Relief to be back in a group with so much support and understanding .Very worried about coping with sleep deprivation/ intrusive thoughts. Feel this group helps”_
## **Supportive Staff**
_‘Being able to talk openly to others without judgement.’_
_“Being able to talk, rationalise and offload helped a lot”_
## **Confidence**
_‘That it’s OK to have the feelings I am having. I am not alone.’_
_“A place to share feelings and insecurities”_
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**Light Peer Support Ltd Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## 1-1 Support
Finally, we ask service users to evaluate the 1-1 perinatal mental health peer support they have received after their 6[th] session. A selection of comments regarding what people found most helpful about the 1-1 support is below:
## Supportive staff/ Safe Space
_‘Not talking to a health professional, it was a human being who was able to validate my feelings and get me to reflect on things.’_
_‘Having dedicated time set aside to address what I’m feeling and what is going on in my life. Being able to be totally honest. Being able to chat with someone who listens, understands and does not judge.’_
_‘Just the comfort of knowing the phone calls were happening and how easy it was to talk without fear of judgement.’_
_‘The freedom to talk without judgement over the phone is invaluable. Just knowing I had Tina to talk to got me through the week sometimes. X was a perfect match...we had some shared experiences and that was so helpful. I truly feel I couldn’t have been matched better.’_
_‘I found my support worker really assured me about things in life that are hard work and it’s nothing to be ashamed about.’_
_‘Having a safe space to talk about whatever I needed to and having someone listen who understood what I meant.’_
## **Not alone/ Someone to talk to**
_‘Knowing I wasn't alone.’_
_‘Knowing that for certain every week there was someone to speak to judgement free. Looking forward to the sessions and a sense of reassurance provided throughout the week leading up to sessions.’_
_“I felt less alone. X made me feel understood and cared for. She helped me reflect on my feelings. I looked forward to speaking to her all week”_
_“Just having someone to talk to who I felt could relate to the situation and someone who I felt genuinely cared”_
## **Coping mechanisms**
_‘Suggestions for coping mechanisms, validation of experiences, opportunity to talk about some experiences has allowed me to process some events.’_
_“Coping with anxiety during my pregnancy after having 5 miscarriages”_
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**Light Peer Support Ltd Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Funding and Future Plans**
Following our successful tender response in July 2023 to the Sheffield City Council, we began delivering an extended and enhanced PNMH Support Service as part of the Government’s Family Hub Start for Life Programme from 1 August 2023 to 31 March 2024. We then worked collaboratively with the Council to develop a sustainability plan to continue delivering the service until 31 March 2026, which subsequently led to a contract extension.
In early 2024, we were successful in a tender response to Sheffield City Council Public Health team to continue to deliver PNMH Peer Support Services from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027. These two successes provided stability to our PNMH peer support service offer and increased our capacity to proactively reach out and engage with communities across the Sheffield area.
The contract we held with Sheffield Health & Social Care NHS Trust for the provision of PNMH Peer Support Services to be delivered collaboratively with Specialist PNMH Peer Support Services expired on 31 March 2023. Since then, commissioning discussions have continued; however, due to changes in the NHS contracting process the contract has not yet been agreed. The service has remained operational and has continued to receive funding despite the absence of a formal contract. This interim arrangement is now approaching resolution. We have received confirmation that a new contract covering the period up to 31 March 2028 is expected to be issued imminently.
We are now in early discussion with our Sheffield commissioners to look at opportunities to align NHS/Sheffield City Council commissioning arrangements for PNMH peer support from 2026/2027.
The Birth Trauma Peer Support Service, established in 2021, was commissioned by NHS South Yorkshire ICB to deliver services in Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley until 31st March 2025. We are now actively collaborating with ICB other Maternal Mental Health Service providers to clarify and embed a clear care pathway for women experiencing birth trauma. Our aim is to ensure that our service continues to be recognised as a vital component of this pathway and continues to be considered within future commissioning arrangements.
Following the success of our pilot offering perinatal mental health (PNMH) peer support to Barnsley families, initially commissioned by Barnsley until 31st March 2025—we were pleased to receive a contract extension through to 30th June 2025. However, local commissioners have since decided not to commission a standalone PNMH Peer Support Service beyond this period. Despite this, we remain actively engaged in relevant partnership forums to ensure the value of PNMH peer support is acknowledged as a vital component of support for women and families experiencing low to moderate mental health challenges during the perinatal period.
Rotherham Council, through Voluntary Action Rotherham, has recently commissioned an enhanced Perinatal Mental Health (PNMH) peer support service as part of the Family Hubs/Start for Life Programme. This service will be delivered from 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2026 and will provide much-needed additional capacity to provision in Rotherham. During this period, we will work closely with Rotherham commissioners with the intention of securing ongoing funding and ensure the sustainability of an enhanced offer beyond March 2026.
We are now actively looking to expand our PNMH Peer Support -Counselling pathway to enable seamless and timely support for more parent and collaborations with other VCS providers in the field of mental health support to aid recovery from women experiencing trauma.
14
**Light Peer Support Ltd Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 31 March 2025**
We will also continue to develop our involvement with research activities to ensure that the realities of the perinatal period are considered by the contribution of those with lived experience and we help amplify the voices of individuals and communities who have historically been underrepresented or overlooked.
Light remains focused on its business plan and realizing its ambition for the Lighthouse, which will provide a drop in a facility every day. In the meantime, we continue to work with our landlord to ensure our spaces meet our needs. Our workforce are our greatest asset and we will continue our efforts to ensure staff feel valued and respected, and their development supported. Light intends to be representative of its service users and will continue to take action to increase the diversity of our workforce.
Ensuring the sustainability of our charity remains a top priority. We are continuing our efforts to secure funding by engaging both new and existing funders, while broadening our approach to include a more diverse range of income streams, such as corporate collaborations and new innovations in donations capture. methods of capturing donations. To strengthen our engagement with service users and wider stakeholders, we intend that our marketing consultant will continue to lead our marketing and engagement function supported by a dedicated Marketing & Communications Officer. We also plan to recruit a Data and Performance Manager to strengthen our ability to monitor, evaluate, and clearly report on our impact. Our fundraising consultant continues to pursue funding opportunities and prepare grant applications, enabling us to deliver a creative and responsive perinatal mental health peer support service, backed by a robust and diversified income base.
The sustainability of Light has been enabled by the contracts awarded by our primary funders in previous years and in this period:
Sheffield City Council Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Trust
NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board
We also extend our thanks for all grants and donations to Light from various grant making and funding bodies.
## **Reserves policy**
Currently Light relies on a number of sources of funding to deliver services, we deliver core perinatal mental health peer support services on the basis of contract income which primarily comes from responding to tender publications and invitations to provide services. This enables us to plan with confidence in the lifespan of contracts once awarded. We additionally make grant and funding applications to support our core costs and be innovative and creative with our service offer.
Light aims to hold sufficient reserves to maintain financial stability, safeguards service continuity, and enables a strategic response to funding uncertainties. The policy is structured as follows:
## Core Operating Reserves
We will maintain unrestricted reserves equivalent to a minimum of three months of budgeted operational costs across all services. This level of reserves is intended to provide; flexibility to continue service delivery in the event of delays or uncertainties in contract retendering processes, particularly with statutory sector partners; the capacity for a considered and managed retraction of services if ongoing funding cannot be secured.
15
**Light Peer Support Ltd Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## Service Continuity Reserves for Established Contracts
For services that are embedded within local delivery systems and have been awarded contracts of two years or more, we will hold additional reserves. These reserves recognise the critical nature of these contracts and provide further protection for their continuation in the event of temporary funding gaps.
## Staff and Closure Provisions
We will also ensure sufficient reserves are held to meet potential staffing-related liabilities, including; notice periods; redundancy payments; associated office closure or wind-down costs.
The Trustees have determined that Light requires free reserves between £180,000 and £200,000.
As at 31 March 2025 the charity had free reserves of £379,633. The excess in free reserves over the target will allow us to explore with confidence time limited projects which align with our mission and use our charitable funds in the public interest
Our policy and reserves will be reviewed at Trustee meetings, which are currently held bi-monthly. It will be monitored by CEO with support from the Treasurer.
## **Reference and administration details**
## **Company Number**
08194767
## **Charity number**
1149125
## **Directors/Trustees**
Savi Robinson Alice Curren Sally Evans Resigned 3 October 2024 Jan Cubison Jo McGarrigle
## **Secretary**
Jan Cubison
## **Key management - Chief Executive**
Helen Miles
## **Registered office**
Knowle House 4 Norfolk Park Road Sheffield S2 3QE
## **Accountants**
Seven Hills Accountants Limited 57 Burton Street Sheffield S6 2HH
16
**Light Peer Support Ltd Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Structure and governance**
Light Peer Support Ltd (Company number 08194767) was incorporated on 29 August 2012 and its Memorandum and Articles of Association govern it. Its legal status is that of a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity (Charity number 1149125). It has no share capital and the liability of each member in the event of winding-up is limited to £1.
Overall management of the Charity is the responsibility of the trustee directors who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Memorandum and Articles of Association. Day to day project activity is carried out by volunteers and paid staff.
Light has 4 trustees who meet every 8- 12 weeks. The trustees are Jan Cubison, who was the Clinical Service Manager for the NHS Sheffield Perinatal Mental Health Service before she retired in May 2015, Savi Robinson, who works in the statutory sector, Alice Curren, a full time mum who formerly worked in the financial sector and runs her own business, and Jo McGarrigle, who was previously our CEO and left to work for Derbyshire County Council. Jo has a wealth of experience with families and children.
We are always actively seeking new Trustees and management committee members from a variety of professional backgrounds who believe they can support our work. In particular fundraising experience would be invaluable. If you are interested in joining us then please email us at contactus@lightpeersupport.org.uk
## **Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements**
The charity trustees (who are also the directors of the charity for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing a Trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The report and accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions in the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Company law requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and the group and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable group for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- State whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity 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 charity and the group and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website in accordance with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements.
17
**Light Peer Support Ltd Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Small company exemption**
The company has taken advantage of the small companies’ exemption in preparing the report above.
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report (including the directors’ report) above on 23 October 2025.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:
Savi Robinson Chair of Trustees
18
## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Light Peer Support Ltd (‘the Company’)**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
Since the Company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Sarah Lightfoot, FCA DChA Seven Hills Accountants Limited 57 Burton Street Sheffield S6 2HH
27 October 2025
19
## **Light Peer Support Ltd**
## **Statement of financial activities (incorporating the income and expenditure account) For the year ended 31 March 2025**
|**Notes**
**Income from:**
Donations and grants
**2**
Charitable activities
**3**
Bank interest
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Fundraising
Charitable activities
**4**
**Total expenditure**
**Net movement in funds**
**Total funds brought forward**
**Total funds carried forward**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
25,399
424,612
9,780
**459,791**
4,778
417,491
**422,269**
37,522
342,111
**379,633**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
32,000
-
-
**32,000**
-
13,090
**13,090**
18,910
3,355
**22,265**|_12 months_
**2025**
**Total**
**£**
57,399
424,612
9,780
**491,791**
4,778
430,581
**435,359**
56,432
345,466
**401,898**|Unrestricted
funds
£
25,244
357,014
2,172
384,430
5,023
209,782
214,805
169,625
172,486
342,111|Restricted
funds
£
14,752
-
-
14,752
-
14,214
14,214
538
2,817
3,355|_9 months_
2024
Total
£
39,996
357,014
2,172
399,182
5,023
223,996
229,019
170,163
175,303
345,466|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
20
## **Light Peer Support Ltd Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2025**
|**Notes**
**Current Assets**
Balance at bank and cash
Debtors
**7**
**Total current assets**
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
**8**
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
**Total net assets**
**Represented By**
General funds
Designated funds
Total unrestricted funds
**10**
Restricted funds
**11**
Total funds
**12**|**2025**
**£**
381,236
25,361
406,597
(4,699)
**401,898**
**401,898**
-
**401,898**
379,633
-
379,633
22,265
**401,898**|**2024**
**£**
394,140
35,450
429,590
(84,124)
**345,466**
**345,466**
-
**345,466**
208,020
134,091
342,111
3,355
**345,466**|
|---|---|---|
For the year ending 31 March 2025 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The director's acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to small companies' regime.
Approved by the board on 23 October 2025.
Signed on the board's behalf by:
Savi Robinson Chair of Trustees
21
**Light Peer Support Ltd Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **1 Accounting Policies**
## **(a) General**
Light Peer Support Ltd is a charitable company in the United Kingdom limited by guarantee. In the event that the charity is wound up the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity. The address of the registered office is given in the legal and administrative information of these financial statements.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (second edition), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and with the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have taken advantage of the exemption to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity as defined under FRS102. The financial statements are presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and are rounded to the nearest £1.
## **(b) Income**
Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Legacy income is included in the accounts on the earlier of receipt of the legacy or the date of approval of a distribution e.g. approval of the final estate accounts.
Income received in advance of a specified service it is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.
## **(c) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.
Grants payable are payments made to third parties in the furtherance of the charitable objects of the Trust. In the case of an unconditional grant offer this is accrued once the recipient has been notified of the grant award. Grants awards that are subject to the recipient fulfilling performance conditions are only accrued when the recipient has been notified of the grant and any remaining unfulfilled condition attaching to that grant is outside of the control of the Charity.
## **(d) Donated services and facilities**
Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), general volunteer time is not recognised in the financial statements.
On receipt, donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.
## **(e) Tangible fixed assets**
All items of capital expenditure below £750 are written off as incurred.
Depreciation has been calculated to write down the cost of all tangible fixed assets over their expected useful lives on the following basis: Fixtures, fittings and equipment: 3 years straight line
## **(f) Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
22
**Light Peer Support Ltd Notes to the financial statements - continued For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **1 Accounting Policies - continued**
## **(g) Trade debtors**
Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for services performed in the ordinary course of business.
Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the company will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables.
## **(h) Trade creditors**
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if the charity does not have an unconditional right, at the end of the reporting period, to defer settlement of the creditor for at least twelve months after the reporting date. If there is an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least twelve months after the reporting date, they are presented as non-current liabilities.
Trade creditors are recognised initially at the transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## **(i) Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are donations and other income receivable or generated for the objects of the organisation without further specified purpose.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose.
Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor.
## **(j) Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits**
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
## **(k) Operating leases**
Payments made under operating leases are charged to Statement of Financial Activities on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.
## **(l) Taxation**
As a charity, the organisation is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within the available tax exemptions to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen in the charity.
## **(m)Going concern**
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.
23
## **Light Peer Support Ltd Notes to the financial statements - continued For the year ended 31 March 2025**
|**2**
**Income from donations and grants**
Donations
Donations in kind
The Charles & Elsie Sykes Trust
The Cutlers Company Charitable Trust
The Freshgate Trust Foundation
The Hyman Winstone Foundation
The James Neill Trust Fund
The JG Graves Charitable Trust
The National Lottery Community Fund
Sheffield City Council - Family Hub
Sheffield Town Trust
South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation
The Tramlines Trust
The Albert Hunt Trust
Dixon Pitchfork Charitable Trust Fund
May Hearnshaw Charitable Trust
Postcode Neighbourhood Trust
Sheffield Church Burgesses Trust
Sheffield Mutual
Westfield Health
The Zachary Merton & George Woofindin
Convalescent Trust|**Unrestricted**
**Fund**
**£**
5,515
16,134
-
750
-
-
1,000
-
-
-
1,500
-
500
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
**25,399**|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-
3,000
-
500
500
-
2,000
20,000
1,000
-
5,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
**32,000**|_12 months_
**Total**
**2025**
**£**
5,515
16,134
3,000
750
500
500
1,000
2,000
20,000
1,000
1,500
5,000
500
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
**57,399**|Unrestricted
Fund
£
6,994
-
-
750
-
-
1,000
-
-
2,000
-
-
1,000
-
1,000
10,000
2,000
-
-
500
25,244|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,000
10,000
-
1,000
-
-
652
-
-
-
100
2,000
-
14,752|_9 months_
Total
2024
£
6,994
-
-
750
-
-
1,000
1,000
10,000
2,000
1,000
-
1,000
652
1,000
10,000
2,000
100
2,000
500
39,996|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Where donors have given towards running/core costs these are unrestricted unless the donor has specified the grant should be restricted.
|**3**
**Income from charitable activities**
Sheffield Health and Social Care Trust
Sheffield City Council
Sheffield City Council - Family Hub
South Yorkshire ICB
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Other services|**Unrestricted**
**Fund**
**£**
84,226
41,377
199,100
35,658
48,997
15,254
**424,612**|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
**-**|_12 months_
**Total**
**2025**
**£**
84,226
41,377
199,100
35,658
48,997
15,254
**424,612**|Unrestricted
Fund
£
63,170
31,400
202,391
28,058
-
31,995
357,014|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|_9 months_
Total
2024
£
63,170
31,400
202,391
28,058
-
31,995
357,014|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24
**Light Peer Support Ltd**
**Notes to the financial statements - continued For the year ended 31 March 2025**
|**4**
**Expenditure on charitable activities**
_12 months_
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Fund**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Direct costs**
Group and activity costs
1,189
2,990
4,179
Marketing and advertising
16,563
-
16,563
Counselling service
1,052
-
1,052
Rent
18,000
2,100
20,100
Other project costs
1,226
-
1,226
Volunteers expenses
80
-
80
**Staff costs**
Salary costs
**5**
305,372
3,000
308,372
Staff travel and expenses
9,976
-
9,976
Payroll and HR support fees
7,371
-
7,371
Training
755
-
755
**Office and administration costs**
Office rent
10,000
5,000
15,000
Insurance
894
-
894
Telephone, internet and cyber security
9,598
-
9,598
DBS checks and recruitment
944
-
944
Website
765
-
765
Computers, software and CRM
12,522
-
12,522
Printing, postage and stationery
372
-
372
Legal and professional fees
17,283
-
17,283
Equipment
14
-
14
Other expenses
833
-
833
Bank charges
168
-
168
**Governance costs**
Independent examination
**6**
2,514
-
2,514
**Return of unspent grant**
-
-
-
**417,491**
**13,090**
**430,581**
**5**
**Staff costs, trustees remuneration and expenses, and the cost of key management personnel**
Gross salaries
Employer's national insurance contributions
Employer's allowance
Employer's pension contributions|Unrestricted
Fund
£
2,091
5,999
-
3,750
4,533
-
148,682
5,373
5,006
789
4,204
-
1,270
999
557
12,830
443
1,458
7,847
1,561
110
2,280
-
209,782|Restricted
Funds
£
397
-
-
-
100
-
-
-
-
-
10,900
-
-
-
173
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,644
14,214
_12 months_
**2025**
**£**
288,301
19,453
(5,000)
5,618
**308,372**|_9 months_
Total
2024
£
2,488
5,999
-
3,750
4,633
-
148,682
5,373
5,006
789
15,104
-
1,270
999
730
12,830
443
1,458
7,847
1,561
110
2,280
2,644
223,996
_9 months_
**2024**
**£**
140,511
8,607
(2,853)
2,417
148,682|
|---|---|---|---|
No employees had employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2024: nil). There was an average of 16.9 employees during the period (2024: 12.9).
The trustees were not paid or received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2024: £nil). No trustees were reimbursed expenses during the year (2024: £nil). No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2024: £nil).
The key management personnel of the charity comprise the trustees and the Chief Executive Officer. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel for the year was £45,948 (2024: £35,242 - for 9 months).
25
**Light Peer Support Ltd Notes to the financial statements - continued For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **6 Fees paid to the independent examiner's organisation**
|Independent examination fees
Other fees paid to the independent examiner's organisation for other financial services
**7**
**Debtors**
Trade debtors
Prepayments
**8**
**Creditors: amounts due within one year**
**Note**
Trade creditors
Accruals
Other taxes and social security
Deferred income
**9**
**9**
**Deferred income**
Deferred income brought forward
Released in the year
Deferred in the year
Deferred income carried forward|**2025**
**£**
2,514
324
**2025**
**£**
21,807
3,554
**25,361**
**2025**
**£**
2,185
2,514
-
-
**4,699**
**2025**
**£**
78,000
(78,000)
-
**-**|**2024**
**£**
2,280
324
**2024**
**£**
31,995
3,455
**35,450**
**2024**
**£**
3,244
2,880
-
78,000
**84,124**
**2024**
**£**
(28,058)
28,058
78,000
**78,000**|
|---|---|---|
Income is deferred on the basis of the contract period agreed with the funder.
26
**Light Peer Support Ltd Notes to the financial statements - continued For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **10 Unrestricted funds**
|**Unrestricted funds**|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Brought**||||**Carried**|
|||**forward**|**Income**|**Expenditure**|**Transfers**|**forward**|
|||**£**|**£**|**£**
|**£**|**£**|
|Designated funds|||||||
|Family Hub||134,091|-|-|(134,091)|-|
|Total designated funds||134,091|-|-|(134,091)|-|
|General funds||208,020|459,791|(422,269)|134,091|379,633|
|Total unrestricted funds||**342,111**|**459,791**|**(422,269)**|**-**|**379,633**|
|Family Hub|This designated funding has been released back|||to general funds|as this contract spanned||
|_Prior year comparative_|_Brought_
the finanical period end in the previous year.|||||_Carried_|
|_Designated funds_||_forward_
_£_|_Income_
_£_|_Expenditure_
_£_
|_Transfers_
_£_|_forward_
_£_|
|_BAME Peer Support worker development_||_19,947_|_-_|_-_|_(19,947)_|_-_|
|_Family Hub_||_-_|_202,391_|_(68,300)_|_-_|_134,091_|
|_Total designated funds_||19,947|202,391|(68,300)|(19,947)|134,091|
|_General funds_||_152,539_|_182,039_|_(146,505)_|_19,947_|_208,020_|
|||_172,486_|_384,430_|_(214,805)_|_-_|_342,111_|
_The trustees have set aside project funding which spans the financial year, to give a clearer picture of the ongoing services of the charity._
## **11 Restricted funds**
|Premises
_Restricted funds - previous year_
_National Lottery Awards for All_
_Premises_
_Well being Walks_
_Welcome packs_
_First aid training_
_Core costs_
Core costs
Peer Support Groups
_Catalyst and the National Lottery Community Fund COVID-_
_19 Digital Response_
Family Hub Community chest
Aqua Natural Project
Awards for all
First aid training
Well being Walks|**Brought**
**forward**
**£**
100
2,963
292
-
-
-
-
-
**3,355**
_Brought_
_forward_
_£_
_2,644_
_173_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_2,817_|**Income**
**£**
-
-
-
1,000
1,000
20,000
2,000
8,000
**32,000**
_Income_
_£_
_-_
_-_
_10,000_
_3,000_
_100_
_652_
_1,000_
_14,752_|**Expenditure**
**£**
(100)
(1,060)
(180)
(1,000)
(750)
-
(2,000)
(8,000)
**(13,090)**
_Expenditure_
_£_
_(2,644)_
_(173)_
_(9,900)_
_(37)_
_(100)_
_(360)_
_(1,000)_
_(14,214)_|**Transfers**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
**-**
_Transfers_
_£_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_|**Carried**
**forward**
**£**
-
1,903
112
-
250
20,000
-
-
**22,265**
_Carried_
_forward_
_£_
_-_
_-_
_100_
_2,963_
_-_
_292_
_-_
_3,355_|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
27
**Light Peer Support Ltd Notes to the financial statements - continued For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **12 Analysis of net assets between funds**
|Net current assets
_Analysis of net assets between funds - previous year_
_Net current assets_|**General**
**Funds**
**£**
379,633
**379,633**
_General_
_Funds_
_£_
_208,020_
_208,020_|**Designated**
**Funds**
**£**
-
**-**
_Designated_
_Funds_
_£_
_134,091_
_134,091_|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
22,265
**22,265**
_Restricted_
_Funds_
_£_
_3,355_
_3,355_|**Total**
**2025**
**£**
401,898
**401,898**
_Total_
_2024_
_£_
_345,466_
_345,466_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
## **13 Related party transactions**
There were no related party transactions during the year, other than those detailed in note 4.
## **14 Operating lease commitments**
At 31 March 2025 the charity was committed to making the following future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows:
|Payable within 1 year|**2025**
**£**
4,421
**4,421**|2024
£
18,171
**18,171**|
|---|---|---|
28