2025-03-31-accounts

Annual Report

2024-2025

Charity Reg. No. 1157970

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION AS AT DECEMBER 2025

Charity Name Compassion Registered Charity no. 1157970 Registered address The South Suffolk Business Centre, Alexandra Road, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2ZX Website address www.compass-ion.org Trustees Tony Howard (Trustee and Fundraiser) Julia Korona (Chair) Nicholas Pearson OBE Kirsten Robins Angela Verghese Treasurer Michael Ford Project Manager Louise Richardson Banks Barclays Bank Leicester LE87 2BB Handelsbanken 1 The Oaks Apex 12 Old Ipswich Road Colchester CO7 7QR

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[st] March 2025.

The Trustees present their annual report for the year ended March 2025, incorporating the Reference and Administration information on page 1.

Structure, Governance and Management

Compassion was established in 2001 as a voluntary organisation and became registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, by the Charity Commission in 2014.

Under the constitution, as amended, the power to appoint Trustees, of which there shall be at least 3 and is not limited by any maximum. There is also the power to hold meetings remotely / hybrid.

In the event of the Charity being wound up, the Trustees of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation have no liability to contribute to its assets and no personal responsibility for settling its debts or liabilities.

The Trustees met seven times during the year in pursuance of the Charity’s objectives, performance, policies, management and to decide strategic direction and in support of the volunteers in their work with women, children, young people, and partner organisations. All meetings took place in person, as well as trustees, facilitators, the project coordinator and volunteers promoting the charity with fundraising and social activities.

We have also been very fortunate to be appointed as Babergh Chair’s Charity of the Year, raising the profile of the charity and benefiting for several charitable events.

Objectives and Activities

1. The relief of emotional distress and suffering and the preservation and protection of the mental and physical health of men, women, young people, and children who have suffered or are exposed to domestic abuse by the provision of advice, information, programmes of support and such other ways as shall be determined.

2. To advance the education of the public, organisations, and agencies in all aspects of domestic violence including its impact on individuals and wider society.

Public benefit

The charity’s public benefits are outlined in the charitable objectives above. All our charitable activities focus on the relief of need, hardship and distress of persons who have suffered and are suffering from domestic abuse and any children of such persons. These activities are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit.

Financial Review

The financial statements are included in the report, for the year and the financial situation as at 31[st] March 2025. The Charity was extremely fortunate in their fundraising for the period, which included a successful bid from larger organisations such as the Lloyds Bank Foundation, the Rope Foundation and the Suffolk Community Foundation.

The Charity has been able to create a Finance Sub- Committee to help manage financial control and support to development of the charity with the Treasurer and Trustees (excluding the Chair).

REVIEW OF THE YEAR’S ACTIVITIES, PERFORMANCE AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Chair’s Review 2024 - 2025

This year has seen a significant rise in the number and range of programmes and direct support we have been able to deliver as a result of benefitting from a significant rise in the level of financial support from funding providers.

Between April 2024 and March 2025 we received 231 new referrals (106 self-referrals, 125 agency referrals). Programme delivery and the range of services of support offered continue to be delivered both face to face or online depending on the needs and the practical requirements of attendees.

This varied approach towards support is important, as it allows us to be responsive to the individual needs of victims, some of whom prefer in person support, whereas others who are suffering with complex trauma often feel unable to leave the house.

We are planning to offer face to face delivery for some of our Who’s In Charge (WIC) courses, in order to include clients in other parts of Suffolk. We have been fortunate in attracting funding for the delivery of WIC in Haverhill on a face to face basis during 2025 into 2026. West Suffolk Council clearly identify this as an area in need of this kind of support.

We have also developed our support side for victims with the establishment of weekly coffee mornings and the reintroduction of online group meetings where victims can share their experiences while engaging in group activities.

We expect to have delivered 14 programmes to over 116 participants, including 17 children at two local schools attending Escape The Trap (ETT) sessions. This compares to 75 participants in total two years ago.

During this financial year we have delivered six programmes of the 12 -week VOICE (Victims of Intimate Coercive Experience). This has resulted in 54 successful completions. We are also currently completing the delivery of one further VOICE course to 6 victims in Stowmarket in collaboration with Restore (formerly Women’s Aid). Delivery of all these courses has been in the form of online and face to face delivery.

We have delivered four full 10 week courses of the Who’s in Charge? (WiC), with 39 successful completions (including some partners/co parents). It is important to note, that in addition to the victims of abuse that attended these courses of intervention, the programme completions also benefitted other children in the families as well as the children with violence issues. Additionally, the benefit of this work has a positive effect on the community as a whole, including the police, schools and social services. Universally, positive feedback by our clients shows a significant impact upon both their and their families’ lives through engagement with the programme. All of this has been made possible by an increase in the level of funding benefitting the charity.

We have delivered one eight week Escape the Trap Programme (ETT) on a group basis to 9 teenage female pupils aged 12 – 14 at Stour Valley School in Clare and are near the end of delivering a second course to 8 pupils at Thomas Gainsborough School in Sudbury. The course is focused upon developing healthy relationships with their peers and avoid abusive and controlling relationships with others. Its impact on a direct benefit basis is to the children attending improving behaviour, personal safety as well as on the families involved and the community in general. We will continue to market this course actively in the area. Stour Valley School have asked for the delivery of the programme to a second group. We attach a copy of their feedback – the impact of the course on attendees has been significant and they have agreed to finance part of the costs for future deliveries in 2025 and 2026. We are now planning to deliver the course to a group from outside the school system of five young people seeking 1 to 1 delivery. Feedback by the Deputy Head of the school is set out below.

The challenges for us have been around servicing the growing demand for help and support. As our service becomes widely known across Suffolk so the demand has grown with more people accessing our programmes than before. All of this not only requires an increase in the number of programmes to be delivered but the need for more information that can enable us to manage each client’s pathway to recovery and improving the quality of their lives. To this end we are reviewing the application of a formal client management system rather than relying upon spreadsheets and physical files. We are also investing in more training for our staff, old and new which, while crucial, again comes at a cost.

We continue to provide a strong level of personal support to victims of Domestic Violence and Abuse, through befriending, weekly coffee mornings, group chat and access to legal support through our relationship with local solicitors Birketts LLP. This whole area of support is crucial since it enables us to determine the level of help and care required for each victim and sets them on a pathway for recovery and being able to move forward in their lives. It can also enable us to refer them to other agencies for support.

Once we have established a pathway for recovery, we can decide with the client whether they should access our two programmes for recovery, based around partner/family violence and Child to Adult violence, VOICE and Who’s In Charge

We have been able to fundraise locally. Our Danceathon event in July was a great success raising over £1,200 and promoting the work we do locally in the Babergh area. We held a Charity Ball in October attended by over 80 people raising our profile with local services including the mayor’s office, Women’s Institute and local accountants and solicitors. The event raised over £4,000. In November we raised the public’s awareness to domestic abuse with a tour of the local area with a “Use my Phone” initiative for local businesses as part of the White Ribbon Day international event. Every year at Christmas we participated in the Christmas Tree event in Sudbury to raise awareness of the level of domestic abuse and violence in the area. We have also been chosen by the Council Babergh Chair as her charity for the year.

In order to meet the needs around the increase in programme delivery, we have recruited four additional staff who are paid on a self-employed basis as and when required. All new staff are receiving accredited training from the staff of Awareness Matters who produced the courses mentioned above. It is important we have the maximum availability in resources for providing support for victims in all aspects of the services we provide.

We continue to deliver VOICE courses jointly with Restore in Stowmarket and plan to extend our collaboration next year into other areas, possibly the Hadleigh area. Both organisations are mutually supportive, cross referring victims from other areas in Suffolk when appropriate.

Ultimately, we want to become self-funding, through the provision of training, including a funded primary and secondary school education programme, and an income stream from a charity shop. We simply could not do this without the amazing support, dedication and committed trustees, treasurer, project manager, facilitators and volunteers. We are sincerely grateful for the outstanding commitment given by all in changing lives.

Julia Korona– Chair

ADDITIONAL COMMENT BY STOUR VALLEY RE ETT

Escape the Trap feedback- November 2024

At Stour Valley Community School we have recently had the privilege to launch the Escape The Trap programme.

Although we have only just started our work with them the feedback from pupils on the course has been outstanding. Our pupils are engaged and motivated to participate and are appreciative of the opportunity. So far, the space they have created to discuss issues and develop strategies has been first class. This is down to the fantastic work of the team and the staff being able to engage our young people. They have built excellent professional relationships with the group and the targeted work they are leading has been priceless. Most important, the young people feel supported and speak about the course in such a positive light. Again, although we have only worked with them for a short period, we have already seen a significant improvement in the mental health of the pupils involved. Since the course has been running, we also have seen behavioural improvements, so the course has already had a direct positive improvement.

We have had parental feedback, and they equally are really appreciative of the course. They are recognising the positive impact and have been able to have positive conversations with their children.

All the staff have been approachable, supportive and engaged in the school community. The topics and themes are current and relevant so are up to date with providing engaging activities. The resources they provide are also outstanding. The provision they have so far provided has been fundamental in supporting our pastoral system and allowed us access to high level support. The organisation and running of the course has simply been fantastic.

Looking ahead this would be a provision as a school that we would be continuing to look to work with in the future due to the positive impact it has already had on our school community.

Amy Jamieson Assistant Headteacher and DSL

Stour Valley School

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees Compassion ~~_Stst~—“SCSCTCCCCSCSCdY~~ On accounts for the year 31 March 2025 Charity no 1157970 ended (if any) ~~ee~~ Set out on pages* Receipts & Payments Summary page (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) ~~Pe~~ I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2025.

Report to the trustees

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

• the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or

• the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or

• the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.

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.

• Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.

Signed: Date: 30.01.2026 ~~Ty~~ Name: Vincent Chandler ~~_SOCOCO™O™O.CCCY~~ Relevant professional FCA FCCA qualification(s) or body (if any): ~~ee~~ Address: Moore Green 22 Friars Street Sudbury, Suffolk. CO10 2AA

1

Oct 2018

IER

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

2

Oct 2018

IER

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