## **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 cE￿rRE 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 Tn￿t")
for the ycar ended 5 April 2023
Responsibilities And basis of report
As the Charity I￿ste¢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 Trt￿t'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
at￿ntIOn in co[￿ectIOll with the examination which ￿YeS me cause to believe that IN any
material respect
Accounttng records We￿ not kept in S￿Ordance with section 130 of the Act or
The a￿OuntS 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
Off￿8 Costs
stationery and Books
TralnltvJ and SupeThi8ion Costs
Travel Costs
InSur￿Ce
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
Unrestr￿ed Fund
DR C S HAMILTON
MS F M TILLEY