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2025-03-31-accounts

THE ANNUAL TRUSTEES REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR CAMBRIDGE SAMARITANS

PERIOD ENDING 31 MARCH 2025

Registered Charity No 1165282

4 Emmanuel Road, Cambridge, CB1 1JW

Annual Report of the Trustees of Cambridge Samaritans

Contents

Page

3 Name 3 Charity Registration Number 3 Address 3 Constitution 3 Aims 3-4 Achieving the Aims 4 Organisation 4 Public Benefit 5 Trustees 6 Investment Policy and Reserves 6 Professional Advisers 6-9 Progress and Achievements: Reports of the Director, Treasurer and Statistical Information 10 Report of Independent Examiners 11-16 Accounts and Balance Sheet

Copies of the Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts and of The Constitution of the Charity are available on request from –

The Secretary, Cambridge Samaritans, 4 Emmanuel Road, Cambridge, CB1 1JW

Any enquiries concerning the activities of Cambridge Samaritans should be addressed to the Director, at the above address.

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Annual Report of the Trustees of Cambridge Samaritans 31 March 2025

1 The official name of the Charity is 'Cambridge Samaritans', also known as ‘The Cambridge Branch of Samaritans'.

2 The registration number with the Charity Commission is 1165282.

3 The official address of the Charity is: 4 Emmanuel Road, Cambridge, CB1 1JW.

4 The Charity is recognised as an affiliated Branch of Samaritans , a registered Charity and a company limited by guarantee not having share capital, incorporated under the Companies Act 1948 on 11 April 1963, whose registered office is – The Upper Mill, Kingston Road, Ewell, KT17 2AF.

5 The Aims of the Charity are:

6 To Achieve the Aims

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Annual Report of the Trustees of Cambridge Samaritans 31 March 2025 (cont)

7 The Organisation of the Charity

8 Public Benefit

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Annual Report of the Trustees of Cambridge Samaritans 31 March 2025 (cont)

9 Trustees of the Charity during the period were:

Name Position held Term of appointment

Brenda Bond Trustee/ Ex Officio from 17 January 2021 Director (Resigned on 17 January 2025) Henry Jabbour Trustee/ Re-elected at AGM 27 June 2024 Director Director from 17 January 2025 Jane Ritchie Trustee/ Re-elected at AGM 27 June 2024 Treasurer Sally Clayson Trustee Co-opted on 12 March 2025 Molly Arnell Trustee Re-elected at AGM 27 June 2024 Ian Prosser Trustee Re-elected at AGM 27 June 2024 Peter Woodsford Trustee Re-elected at AGM 27 June 2024 Daniel Foulkes Trustee Re-elected at AGM on 27 June 2024 (Resigned on 21 November 2024) Graham Wrycroft Trustee/ Re-elected at AGM 27 June 2024 Secretary Susan Jones Trustee Re-elected at AGM 27 June 2024 Timothy Allsop Trustee Elected at AGM on 27 June 2024 Mark Haslett Trustee Elected at AGM on 27 June 2024 Helene DoeflingerTrustee Elected at AGM on 27 June 2024 Bouqyeniaux Jenny Norman Trustee Elected at AGM on 27 June 2024 (Resigned on 3 February 2025)

Trustees (other than the Director) are elected by volunteers or co-opted by the Trustees. All Trustees complete the Samaritans Trustee induction on-line training and are expected to participate in other relevant training as appropriate. Co-opted members who are not listening volunteers are asked to attend the first session of initial training for volunteers in order to understand more fully the ethos of the organisation.

The Trustees regularly consider the major risks to which the charity is exposed, notably potential financial risks, and consider the various safeguards to mitigate these risks including internal controls and systems. The branch has an annual budget; management accounts are presented regularly to the Committee.

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Annual Report of the Trustees of Cambridge Samaritans 31 March 2025 (cont)

10 Investment Policy and Reserves

Funds in excess of day-to-day needs are invested in funds managed by CCLA Investment Management who offer a range of investments designed for Charities. These are reviewed by the Trustees to ensure that they continue to perform adequately.

After allowing for existing fixed assets, the free reserves of the Charity amount to about £85,000. The Trustees consider that as a Charity dependent almost wholly on voluntary giving and larger one-off contributions, it is appropriate to maintain free reserves which would enable the Charity to continue to fund its activities for at least one year (being of the order of £50,000 pa).

11 Professional advisers

Banks National Westminster Bank, 21 Petty Cury, Cambridge, CB2 3NE

Insurers Ecclesiastical Insurance Office Plc, Benefact House, 2000, Pioneer Avenue, Gloucester Business Park, Brockworth, Gloucester, GL3 4AW

Independent Streets Chartered Accountants, 3 Wellbrook Court, Girton, Cambridge, Examiners CB3 0NA

12 Progress and Achievements in 2024-25:

Director’s Annual Report

I took over as Director on the 17[th] of January. I feel privileged and honoured to have been selected to lead the branch for the next three years.

My task at the beginning was to replace some of the leadership team members who have served their terms of office, and to fill some posts that have been vacant (such as Deputy Director of Operations). I am delighted to report that I am joined in managing the branch with an excellent and talented team of Vice Directors and Deputy Directors. Everyone has been working hard from the start to bring their own vision and voice to various aspects of Branch Business. We have been able to build on the strength of the Branch and we continue to do so in consultation and discussion with the volunteers. Our attitude going forward is that the Branch belongs to all of us, we all share in making it run smoothly, and we all share and take pride in its success.

Another task undertaken in the early weeks of my directorship was to complete and submit the Quality Outcome Framework (QOF) forms. This is a process in which the Branch reviews all its activities and the Director with his team makes decisions about what the priorities should be for the Branch over the next three years. The forms have been submitted, and we now wait for constructive discussions and feedback with the assigned Quality Mentors in the coming weeks/months. I am grateful to Graham 2 (Vice Director) and to a host of deputy directors and volunteers who assisted in compiling all the necessary documents and in completing this important task.

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Annual Report of the Trustees of Cambridge Samaritans 31 March 2025 (cont)

At the end of last year, the branch moved its rota and branch management system from Bertie to 3 Rings. A team of volunteers have worked hard to ensure a smooth transition from one system to the other and I am delighted that we are now fully operational on the new system. The system is managed by a team of administrators and the rota team, under the guidance of the DD for Rota. We have made some changes to the rota to make sure that we provide better cover for our callers. One such change was to highlight on the rota the shifts which are designated as being of medium or high need. These are shifts which have a high number of unanswered calls due to the high demand or reduced cover by volunteers nationally. Several volunteers have commented on how it has been good to have that information, and it is informing their decisions as to which shifts to fill to cover those periods of need.

The Recruitment and Training Teams continue to work in synchrony to recruit, interview and train new volunteers. We run three groups a year and since I have taken on the role of Director, we have already trained two groups. These new volunteers are supported and inducted into Branch life by our Personal and on-duty Mentors. A very fulfilling albeit time consuming task, yet volunteers perform these duties with zeal and care. The DD for Mentoring has also been working hard at improving the guidelines for all our mentoring activities. In addition to the tasks listed above, we have restarted our ongoing mentoring programme where every volunteer will partake in an ongoing mentoring session once a year. This will help us address any concerns we have about calls and help maintain our skills across the Branch.

Our volunteers are also supported by a dedicated team that look after their welfare (Volunteer Care under the direction of a newly appointed DD). All volunteers are aware of the support available to them should they need it, whether they face difficulties in their personal lives and they need someone to talk to, or whether they had difficult calls on their shifts that they need to talk about. The Branch has always, and continues to, address volunteers’ need in a serious, supportive and confidential manner. That message is always delivered to all new trainees at various stages of their training and mentorship.

Our new DD for Outreach has been very busy establishing priorities for the Branch, looking in particular at ways of increasing access to emotional support and reducing suicide within local communities and groups of high risk, and at ensuring that a team of volunteers is recruited and properly trained to undertake Outreach work within the community. We have taken part in the Thriplow Daffodil Weekend in March (we were a nominated charity this year) and also in ‘Small Talk Saves Lives’ and we have plans to take part in Pride this year in June. We have also joined the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Suicide Prevention Steering Group. This is a multi-agency group responsible for the coordination and delivery of suicide prevention work in the region.

I am grateful to our DD of Operations who has taken on the task of ensuring our building and equipment are properly managed and looked after, providing us with a safe and efficient space to volunteer from. This is quite a demanding task, and it is in excellent hands. Our DD for Operations also ensures that all volunteers are properly trained and informed on health and safety matters.

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Annual Report of the Trustees of Cambridge Samaritans 31 March 2025 (cont)

One of the tasks that I have set myself as a new Director is to strengthen the community life within the Branch. This is partly to improve communication and decision making and to help reduce the numbers of resignations within the Branch. With that in mind, I have set up Branch meetings three times a year where all volunteers are invited to attend. This provides an opportunity for the Director and his Team to let the Branch know about any changes we want to make and the rationale behind making those decisions. It is important that all volunteers feel they are informed of how the Branch is run. These Branch meetings are a place for volunteers to let the Leadership Team know what their concerns are, and for newer and longer serving members of the branch to meet and get to know each other. We held the first meeting in March and that was met with enthusiasm. Volunteers agreed that they are a welcome and needed addition to Branch activities. We are also going to run a seminar series with speakers invited 2-3 times a year to talk to us about subjects of interest to the Branch. This is being organised by our DD for Ongoing Training. As for previous years, we will continue to run our annual training in ‘Applying Our Key Policies’ in addition to Central Office mandatory training (this year all volunteers had to complete an online module on EDI). This will help keep our skills sharp and provides a space for all volunteers to exchange ideas and thoughts around these important topics. We also work in partnership with Hitchin Branch to provide the Listener Scheme at Littlehey Prison, selecting, training and supporting prisoners to provide the listening service to other prisoners. Again, a very dedicated and expert volunteer team. During the first ten days of my directorship, I was invited to attend a day at Littlehey Prison where Listeners were joined by members of their families, and I was asked to give them their Listener Certificates. I found the experience very moving and was able to witness the importance of our service in the prison to these listeners.

In addition to improving volunteer retention as outlined above, other priorities that I have highlighted for our Branch include:

All our Branch activities are underpinned by a committed fundraising team who work tirelessly to raise funds for our Branch. These funds are vital to ensure we carry our work safely and effectively. Amongst others, the funds raised by the team help cover the costs of our infrastructure, training, outreach and volunteer education and support activities.

In summary, the Branch has managed much change in the last year and continues to run smoothly. It is incredible to think that all that we do is run by volunteers who in addition to the hours they give listening to callers continue to take on extra tasks to make sure the branch and all its activities are run efficiently and without disruption. We are also incredibly lucky to be aided by several support volunteers who provide exceptional service to the Branch in areas of training, outreach, fundraising, and maintenance of our building amongst others. I am hugely grateful to every one of them.

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Annual Report of the Trustees of Cambridge Samaritans 31 March 2025 (cont)

I am also grateful to the Vice Directors, the team of Deputy Directors and the Board of Trustees, for all that they do and for all the support they have shown me and the Branch as I started in my role as Director.

I am looking forward to the coming year and to all the good things we will do together for our callers and for our Branch.

The Trustee Board

The board meets quarterly in person and has corresponded frequently by email to ensure the effective governance of the Charity. Anyone who is interested in joining the Trustee Committee would be made very welcome. Please speak to the Director or any other member of the Committee.

Treasurer’s Report

Total Income at £43,823 was up on last year, £39,243. The current year income included £1,000 restricted for volunteer attendance at the regional conference and towards volunteer care, and the prior year income included £5,000 restricted for the costs of the hall refurbishment. In the prior year, the Trustees decided to prioritise recruiting and training more volunteers and completing the building refurbishment project. Significant costs in the prior year included c. £40k of costs related to completing the hall renovation work (of which £5k of covered by donations) and £16k for solar panels and stairlift (which were capitalised). Regular operating expenditure of was approximately in line with Budget and prior years. The branch experienced small investment losses of £1.5k in the year as a result of general financial market conditions. In overall terms free reserves at year end remained in a healthy position at £85,000. This leaves us in a financially secure position to face 2025/26 and beyond.

13 Statistical information

KPIs:
2024/25
2023/24
KPIs:
2024/25
2023/24
KPIs:
2024/25
2023/24
Contacts - total
25,859
27,786
Number of telephone contacts
25,810
27,671
Number volunteers at Year End 159 158

14 Accounts and balance sheet

The accounts and balance sheet of the Charity for the period ended 31 March 2025 and the independent examiners' report are attached and form a part of this Trustees’ Report.

Signed:

Henry Jabbour Director

On behalf of Cambridge Samaritans

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Independent examiner’s report to the Trustees of Cambridge Samaritans

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Cambridge Samaritans (the Charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025 as set out on pages 11 to 16.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trustee’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 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

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.

Signed: Dated: 18 June 2025

Shane Tharby FCA For and on behalf of Streets Chartered Accountants

3 Wellbrook Court Girton Cambridge CB3 0NA

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CAMBRIDGE SAMARITANS

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2025 2025 2024 2024 2024
Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Total
Fund Fund Funds Fund Fund Funds
£ £ £ £ £ £
Income and endowments
Donations and legacies
Donations and fund raising 39,812 1,000 40,812 23,359 5,000 28,359
Legacies 1,000 0 1,000 7,287 0 7,287
Friends of Cambridge Samaritans 838 0 838 1,275 0 1,275
Sundry other donations 1,020 0 1,020 2,090 0 2,090
Total Donations and legacies 42,670 1,000 43,670 34,011 5,000 39,011
Investment income
Interest 153 0 153 232 0 232
Total investment income 153 0 153 232 0 232
Total income 42,823 1,000 43,823 34,243 5,000 39,243
Expenditure
Expenditure on raising funds
Friends of Cambridge Samaritans 240 0 240 340 0 340
Net income available for charitable purposes 42,583 1,000 43,583 33,903 5,000 38,903
Charitable expenditure
Premises 14,576 0 14,576 19,707 0 19,707
Training and travel 4,765 750 5,515 5,014 0 5,014
Furniture and equipment 626 0 626 1,782 0 1,782
Repairs and renewals 3,374 0 3,374 39,421 5,000 44,421
Recruitment and publicity 60 0 60 65 0 65
Communications and IT 7,287 0 7,287 6,301 0 6,301
Volunteer expenses 10,146 250 10,396 10,998 0 10,998
Other office expenses 797 0 797 2,017 0 2,017
New Branch Contribution (NBC) 2,667 0 2,667 3,436 0 3,436
Governance costs 960 0 960 1,024 0 1,024
Total expenditure 45,498 1,000 46,498 90,105 5,000 95,105
Other recognised gains and losses
Net Investment gains (losses) (1,500) 0 (1,500) 14,316 0 14,316
Net income/expenditure (4,175) 0 (4,175) (41,546) 0 (41,546)
Transfers between funds 0 0 0 0 0 0
Net Movement in funds (4,175) 0 (4,175) (41,546) 0 (41,546)
Balance b/fwd 518,400 0 518,400 559,946 0 559,946
Balance c/fwd 514,225 0 514,225 518,400 0 518,400
----- End of picture text -----

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CAMBRIDGE SAMARITANS BALANCE SHEET AT 31 MARCH 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
Fixed assets £ £
Freehold property
No. 4 Emmanuel Road at cost 428,842 428,842
Investments
COIF Charities deposit fund 2,138 2,037
COIF Charities investment fund 62,371 114,564
COIF Charities fixed interest shares 10,757 10,165
75,266 126,766
Current assets
Prepayment 228 1,337
Current account 3,194 3,014
Business reserve account 15,159 2,071
Friends of the Samaritans bank accounts:
Current account 0 1,853
18,581 8,275
Accruals 8,464 45,483
8,464 45,483
Net current assets (liabilities) 10,117 (37,208)
514,225 518,400
Represented by
Unrestricted Fund
Designated Property Fund 428,842 428,842
General Fund 85,383 89,558
514,225 518,400
514,225 518,400
----- End of picture text -----

Signed

H Jabbour Director

J Ritchie Treasurer

Date

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CAMBRIDGE SAMARITANS NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 31 MARCH 2025

1. General information

The charity is a charitable incorporated organisation, registered in England and Wales and a registered charity in England and Wales. The address of the registered office is 4 Emmanuel Road, Cambridge, CB1 1JW.

2. Statement of Compliance

These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland”, the 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) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Charities Act 2011.

3. Trustee remuneration and expenses

No remuneration or other benefits were received by the Trustees from the Charity or a related entity in the current or previous year.

Two (2024: three) of the Trustees were reimbursed a total of £1,944 (2024: £3,310) for travelling expenses and reimbursement of branch expenses.

4. Accounting Policies

a) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared on the historic cost basis except for investments which are accounted for at sale market value. The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity. b) Going concern

There are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue.

c) Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

There are no judgements (apart from those involving estimations) that management has made in the process of applying the charity's accounting policies.

d) Tangible Fixed Assets

The Charity owns the freehold of No 4 Emmanuel Road, the building from which it provides its services. This property is valued at historic cost and is not depreciated as the trustees believe that the current market value is materially in excess of cost. The charity has a fixed asset capitalisation policy such that only

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larger individual items of tangible fixed assets are capitalised.

Freehold Property
4 Emmanuel Road
Cost b/f
Additions in year
Cost c/f
2025
£
428,842
0
428,842
2024
£
412,789
16,053
428,842

e) Investments

Investments are valued at their market sale value.

f) Fund Accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use, at the discretion of the trustees, in furtherance of the objectives of the Charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are funds that are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or that have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. Costs relating to such funds are charged against specific funds.

g) Analysis of net assets between funds

Tangible assets
Investments
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets
2025
2025
2025
2024
2024
2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Fund
Fund
Funds
Fund
Fund
Funds
£
£
£
£
£
£
428,842
0
428,842
428,842
0
428,842
75,266
0
75,266
126,766
0
126,766
18,581
0
18,581
8,275
0
8,275
(8,464)
0
(8,464)
(45,483)
0
(45,483)
514,225
0
514,225
518,400
0
518,400

h) Income

All incoming resources are included in the SOFA when the Charity is legally entitled to the income, there is reasonable certainty of receipt and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies apply to categories of income:

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i) Expenditure

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of the resource. Support costs have been allocated on the basis of time spent on the activity by volunteers. The following specific policies apply to categories of expenditure:

j) Taxation

Cambridge Samaritans is a registered Charity and is therefore potentially exempt from taxation on its income and gains to the extent that they fall within section 505 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1998 and section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992. No tax charge has arisen in the year.

5. Governance

Fees Paid to Independent Examiner

2025 2024 £1,000 £1,000

6. Description of Reserves

Designated
Funds
Funds which have been set aside by the trustees for particular
purposes.
General Fund Funds held available for the ordinary purposes of the Charity.
Restricted
Funds
Funds granted for expenses incurred by volunteers involved in
Prison activities or for the purpose of renovation of the
Samaritans building.

15

Analysis of movement in restricted funds

Volunteer expenses and conference Balance
Income
Expenditure
Balance
b/fwd
c/fwd
£
£
£
£
0
1,000
(1,000)
0

7. Related party transactions

There have been no related party transactions in the reporting period.

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