CHOICES PREGNANCY CENTRE EXETER
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 6 APRIL 2022 to 5 APRIL 2023
Reference and administration details
Charity name: Choices Pregnancy Centre Exeter
Registered Charity Number: 1159847
Registered Address: 5 Heavitree Road, Exeter EX1 2LD
Trustees who managed the charity during the period:
Dr Christopher Scott Hamilton (Chair)
Mrs Victoria Ann Neal
Mr Graham Edward Barding - retired October 2022
Ms Frances Mary Tilley – from 6 October 2022
Mrs Janice Mechelle Passmore – from 6 October 2022
Mr Andy Humphreys – from 6 October 2022
Structure, Governance and Management
Choices Pregnancy Centre Exeter (CHOICES) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, whose governing document is its constitution dated 1 December 2014. It is managed by its Board of Trustees and, In accordance with the governing document, those Trustees are appointed for a term of 3 years by a resolution passed at a properly convened Trustees meeting.
From 1 April 2019 to February 2023 CHOICES has employed a Centre Manager who reports directly to the Trustees. The Centre Manager’s duties included:
Administration: managing the office, ensuring all privacy, data protection etc policies are adhered to and regularly reviewed, collating statistics, chairing management team meetings and providing progress reports to the Trustees.
Counselling: organising initial assessments of potential new clients, allocating clients to volunteer counsellors, co-ordinating and facilitating supervision sessions for those volunteers and carrying out some personal counselling casework.
Fundraising: researching potential sources of grant income and making recommendations to the Trustees based on that research, initiating and co-ordinating general fundraising activities.
Training: co-ordinating the recruitment and training of new volunteer counsellors, organising individual and group programmes of professional development of established volunteers and ensuring that her own professional training is kept up to date.
Liaison: raising awareness of the charity’s activities within local organisations and acting as the first point of contact for the charity except where legislation dictates otherwise.
Objectives and activities
In accordance with its governing document, CHOICES’ objectives are:
(a) Relieving persons in need, distress or hardship by the provision of support in the areas of pregnancy choices, issues arising from post-abortion or baby loss and crisis pregnancy..
(b) The advancement of education for the public benefit in the subject of sexual health and relationships.
It does the following in pursuit of those objectives:
(1) Pregnancy crisis support – where clients faced with a pregnancy crisis meet with a volunteer to discuss their situation and the choices available to them.
(2) Baby loss support – where, over a period of 4 to 6 months or so, clients who have suffered baby loss are taken through a step by step programme with a view to helping them to process grief and recover from associated difficulties such as depression and anxiety.
(3) School visits – (when volunteer numbers increase) where the aim is to support local High Schools in the education of students regarding baby development, making informed choices regarding unplanned pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Infections.
These services are provided by volunteers, all of whom have either been trained by CHOICES or, in the case of newer recruits, have undertaken accredited training provided by the Pregnancy Centres Network (PCN). All of the support undertaken is guided by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy’s Ethical Framework for Good Practice.
CHOICES recognises the national organisation known as PCN as a source of support and information in the areas in which CHOICES is active. CHOICES therefore makes small voluntary donations to them.
Achievements and Performance
During the year ended 5 April 2023 the Choices team consisted of 12 volunteers. In the year we saw 35 new clients, 2 crisis pregnancy, 14 miscarriage, 9 stillbirth, 8 termination of pregnancy and supported those experiencing anxiety during pregnancy. For comparison, in the previous year we saw 23 new clients.
Since the COVID pandemic several practitioners have changed their employment, affecting their ability to volunteer and done stepping down from their roles. The Team, although depleted, stepped in to support those in need and have commenced a drive to recruit more volunteers.
On a more positive note, one of our volunteers occupied the position of national training co-ordinator at PCN and two others acted as tutors in PCN’s training scheme. This is as well their volunteer roles. As a result of both the drive and training, a new volunteer will be ready to take up a role in completion of her course in 2023.
In March 2023 the Choices Centre Manager retired after 12 years, having started the Charity itself. The Trustees celebrated and congratulated Sue Sharp on leading the Charity. Sue’s unique communication and people skills formed a team that bonded well together, were trained and Supervised, ensuring the professionalism was of the highest standard.
The Centre is held at this time by the Trustees and volunteers, who ensure the clients list is managed. A new Manager will be sought in the New Year.
Financial Review
Our funding comes via a mixture of regular and one-off donations by individuals, our own fundraising events and grants made by various organisations and Trusts.
We were very grateful to receive grants during the year from Albert Hunt Trust, Pedmore Trust, Devon County Council and Devon Community Foundation
We were also relieved to be able to restart our own fundraising events and began the year with a very well-supported dinner/dance which raised £2,207 net of all costs.
For the year ended 5 April 2023 CHOICES had total income of £25431 and expenditure amounted to £31339, resulting in a net deficit for the year of £5907. However, £12140 of the £25431 income was in the form of ring-fenced grants and £15827 of the £31339 expenditure was similarly ring-fenced.
The Charity has a bank balance at 5 April 2023 of £22383, of which £11005 is ring-fenced and £11378 is available for general use.
Going forward, the principle foreseeable expenditure continues to be the Centre Manager’s salary and rent payable for the Teignmouth office. The cash held at the bank means that the short-term future of the Charity is assured. However, with the very generous three-year grant from J Van Mars Foundation having reached its end, we clearly need to explore our options for further funding in order to secure our longer-term future.
As always, we remain very grateful to the following organisations who have provided valued financial support to enable us to run CHOICES:
The Andre Christian Trust
Yapp Charitable Trust
J Van Mars Foundation
Santander
National Lottery
Teignmouth United Reform Church
North Teignmouth Community Church
Albert Hunt Trust
Pedmore Trust
Devon County Council
Devon Community Foundation
At the conclusion of our baby-loss counselling programme we ask our clients for feedback, with the aim of seeking to continuously improve the service which we provide. It is heartening to have received the following feedback from two clients:
“I just wanted to say a massive thank you! You have given me my life back and help me put everything in perspective. Thanks to all of you, I have my confidence back and can now look forwards. I will be eternally grateful.”
“You’ve helped me beyond measure - I’m not sure how to put it into words! Your constant support, overwhelming patience and kindness has honestly changed my life. The way you welcomed my husband and I and support us as a couple has meant that I no longer feel as if all is lost. I can now look forward to our future together safe in the knowledge it will get better. I have so much admiration and respect for you and I’ll miss our weekly chats dearly. From the bottom of our hearts - thank you!”
CHOICES PREGNANCY CENTRE EXETER Chari Number? 1159847 ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED TH 5 APRIL 2023 Beard & Co Accountants Primrose House 6 Blackboy Road Exeter Devon EX4 6SG
CHOICES PREGNANCY CENTRE EXETER Chari Number: 1159847 TRUSTEES IN THE FINANCIAL YEAR Dr Christopher Scott Hamilton (Chair) Mrs Victoria Ann Neal th Mr Graham Edward Barding {Reslgned 6 February 2023) Ms Frances Mary Tilley (Treasurer) Mr Andy Humphrevs Mrs Janice Passmore
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT CHOICES PREGNANCY cErRE EXETER Cbari Iyumber: 1159847 ON ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5- APRIL 2023 SET OUT ON PAGES land2 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ('%he Tnt") for the ycar ended 5 April 2023 Responsibilities And basis of report As the Charity Iste¢S of the TrnsL you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2001 {'the A¢¢") I report in respect of my examination of the Trtt'S accounts Carri out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examinatioo I have followa the applicable Directors given by the Charity Commission under Wion 145(5)(b) of the Act IDdependeDt exAmin¢r's Statement I have cornpleted my cxamination. I confinn that no material matters have come to my atntIOn in co[ectIOll with the examination which YeS me cause to believe that IN any material respect Accounttng records We not kept in SOrdance with section 130 of the Act or The aOuntS do not accord with the accounting records I have no wn¢¢rns and have corne across no other matter5 in connection with the examinats'on to which attention should b¢ drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the 8ccoiints to be reached. EGMB FFAIFIPA Date: Beard & Co Accoulltant4 Primrose House, 6 Blaekboy Roa Exeter, EX4 6SG
CHOICES PREGNANCY CEKfRE EXETER CHARiff NO: 1159847 RECEIPT AYMENTS AC NT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2023 Unreslrf¢ted Restricted La51 Yo RECEfpTS Donations Fundraising Stewardship Grants Transfers from Femlea Trust Bank Interest HMRC Gift 4,442 3,513 3,934 9.492 3.513 3,934 8.090 2.235 106 3.328 11.260 2,468 11 391 391 312 TOTAL RECEIPTS 13.291 12.140 25,431 19.709 PAYMENTS Sundry Costs Rant Mèèlng Costs Phone and Broadband Off8 Costs stationery and Books TralnltvJ and SupeThi8ion Costs Travel Costs InSurCe Postage DBS Checks Website Costs IT Costs Conferences Donabon W¥Jes Piofe55ional Fees Recruitment Fe8S iPad and case Fundraising Costs 106 4,320 4,798 25 4.848 25 682 105 289 780 396 469 589 10 57 1.166 42 454 49 142 105 289 70 710 195 195 194 1.952 551 1.142 5.140 259 299 314 1215 14.516 19.656 259 21.443 465 314 1,215 TOTAL PAYMENTS 15.511 15.827 31.338 31.104 NET OF RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS 122201 13.6871 15.9071 {11.395} CASH FUND LAST YEAR END 13.597 14.693 28290 39.685 CASH FUNDS THIS YEAR END 11.377 11.006 22.383 28.290
CHOICES PREGNANCY CENTRE EXETER Number: 1159847 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 5TH APRIL 2023 CASH F NDS nrestrl Fun Cash at Bank 11.377 11.006 TOTAL CASH FUNDS 11,377 11,C*)6 Ix ASSETS un Equipment induding comput•rs Furniture and Fittings 143 876 711 1.063 2.793 Restricted Fund Unreslricled Fund Restricted Fund Unrestred Fund DR C S HAMILTON MS F M TILLEY