2023-03-31-accounts

THE ANNUAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR

PETERBOROUGH & DISTRICT SAMARITANS

PERIOD ENDING 31 MARCH 2023

Registered Charity No 1165414

441 Lincoln Road, Peterborough PE1 2PE

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Annual Trustees’ Report for Peterborough & District Samaritans

Contents

Page

• 3 Name

• 3 Charity Registration Number 3 Address

• 3 Constitution

• 3 Aims

• 3/4 Achieving the aims 4/5 Organisation 5 Public Benefit

• 5 / 6 Trustees

• 6 Investment and Reserves Policy

• 6 Professional Advisers

• 7 Report of Independent Examiners

• 8 Accounts and Balance Sheet: Section A Receipts and Payments

9 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities

Copies of the Trustees’ Annual Report, Accounts 2022-23 and of the Constitution of the Charity are available on request from: The Secretary, Peterborough & District Samaritans, 441 Lincoln Road, Peterborough, PE1 2PE.

Any enquiries concerning the activities of Peterborough & District Samaritans should be addressed to the Director at the above address.

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Annual Report of the Trustees of Peterborough & District Samaritans

1 April 2022 – 31 March 2023

1. The official name of the charity is Peterborough & District Samaritans also known as the Peterborough Branch of Samaritans.

2. The registration number with the Charity Commission is 1165414.

3. The official address of the charity is 441 Lincoln Road, Peterborough, PE1 2PE.

4. The charity is recognised as a 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:

• To work for the assistance of persons who are suicidal, despairing or in distress by providing a service primarily for the benefit of those in Peterborough and the surrounding area, and also for callers nationally.

• To enable such persons to receive immediate help, compassion and befriending from members of the Charity selected and prepared for the purpose, working under direction.

• Where appropriate, in accordance with Samaritan procedure, to refer to persons having specialist or professional skills.

• To support the Charity and aid in the establishment and support of recognised branches of Samaritans

6. To achieve the aims:

• The Charity maintains a minimum of two volunteers on duty in the Centre supported by a Leader and a Duty Deputy Director on call. At least two telephone lines are open to receive calls. Callers may visit the Centre between 10.00am and 4.00pm every day (this is currently suspended postCovid restrictions pending new safety guidance). The Charity responds to chat messages on two evenings per week as part of the Samaritans’ online service. There are regular visits to support Prisoner Listeners at HMP North Sea Camp and HMP Peterborough, male and female establishments. The Charity is represented on the Safer Custody group at each prison. It also

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works with other charities and partner organisations to deliver services outside the Branch.

• All members of the Charity, including the Director and other Office holders, are volunteers and receive no remuneration for the time and commitment they contribute to furthering the Charity’s aims. New volunteers, after a rigorous selection process, receive initial training and serve a probationary period before being accepted as full Members of the Charity. Volunteers attend quarterly meetings and participate in regular online and direct training sessions. Representatives of the Charity attend meetings and training workshops with other branches, regionally and nationally.

• The Charity participates in a Quality Review process undertaken by Quality Mentors appointed by the Council of Samaritans to ensure that standards and practice are consistent throughout the organisation. The latest was conducted remotely in August 2020.

• As well as publicity provided by the national charity, the Branch raises awareness of its services through the local media, social media, attendance at events and activities, and by distributing posters and leaflets. Volunteers also give talks on request to other organisations such as businesses, community groups, colleges and schools to ensure that more people are aware of our services and of how to volunteer with us.

• The Charity is generously supported by a number of local individuals, organisations and donors. Officers also apply for grants and project funds from local and national organisations. Volunteers within the Charity organise fund-raising activities and events. The Charity receives assistance from the Samaritans Central Charity in communications, training and policy support. In turn, the Charity contributes part of its income to recognise this national support.

• The Charity operates from leased property approximately one mile north of the city centre, comprising two Operations Room, interview room, and kitchen area.

7. The Organisation of the Charity

• All aspects of the work of the Charity, including the recruitment, training and welfare of volunteers, are the responsibility of the Director who is appointed, on members’ nomination, by the Council of Samaritans for a period of three years. The Director has absolute authority over the day-to-day conduct and management of the work of the Charity in pursuance of its objectives. The Director may appoint one or more Deputy Directors and Leaders, is in charge of all members of the Charity, and allocates duties or arranges for them to be allocated. The Director represents the Charity on the Council of Samaritans.

• At the end of December 2022, the serving Director stood down and the Trustees assumed joint leadership of the Branch while the process to

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nominate and appoint a new Director was undertaken by the Regional Director of Samaritans. This process is ongoing at the time of this report.

• The Trustees are responsible for all aspects of the administration of the Charity, its property, finances, fundraising and general affairs as part of the Branch Leadership Team.

• The Trustees of the Charity are the Director and not more than ten members (including a Secretary and a Treasurer) elected by the membership at a General Meeting. The Trustees can co-opt up to two further Trustees who will serve until the following AGM.

8. Public Benefit

• In planning our activities for the year, the Trustees kept in mind the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.

• By offering support as set out above in our Aims, we seek to help people find ways of coping with their distress without choosing to die by suicide. We also seek to support those whose distress is less acute, in the hope that they will not reach the point of feeling that they wish to end their lives. As stated earlier, we make our support available in many ways, including by telephone, online chat, face to face, in prisons, and at other locations or events.

• The Director’s Report (published separately) sets out the main achievements of the Branch in furthering the aims set out in Section 5, including the number and type of contacts made during the year.

• The Branch provides a service primarily intended for the benefit of persons in Peterborough and the surrounding district. However, it also works in cooperation with all Samaritans Branches to ensure 24 hour availability of the service across the UK, free of charge.

9. Trustees of the Charity during the period were:

Name Position Held Term of Appointment Martin Cragg Trustee / ex-Director Elected at AGM 8 September 2022 Gill Graper Trustee / Secretary Re-elected at AGM 8 September 2022 Phil Green Trustee / BPSO Re-elected at AGM 8 September 2022 Ingrid Osborne Trustee / Rota Support Re-elected at AGM 8 September 2022 Keith Turnbull Trustee / Treasurer Re-elected at AGM 8 September 2022

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Trustees (other than the Director) are elected by volunteers at a General Meeting or are coopted by the Trustees. All Trustees complete the Samaritans Trustee induction online training and are expected to participate in other relevant training as appropriate. Co-opted Trustees 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 or operating risks, and consider the various safeguards to mitigate these risks including internal controls and systems. The Branch sets an annual budget. Management accounts and financial statements are presented regularly at the Branch Leadership Team meetings.

10. Investment and Reserves Policy

Reserves 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 and offer a responsible and ethical investment medium.

The Charity’s accounts are published alongside this report and on the Charity Commission website. The Treasurer’s report is published separately and presented at the AGM.

The Trustees consider that, as a charity dependent almost wholly on voluntary giving, specific or general grants and one-off donations, it is appropriate to maintain commensurate reserves which would enable the charity to continue to fund its activities for between 1.5 and 2.5 years.

11. Professional Advisers

Banks HSBC, Cathedral Square, Peterborough, PE1 1XL Co-Operative Bank, 1 Balloon Street, Manchester M60 4EP Insurers Ecclesiastical Insurance Group, Beaufort House, Brunswick Road, Gloucester, GL1 1JZ AXA Insurance UK PLC (Commercial) Independent Bulley Davey Chartered Accountants, 6 North Street, Oundle, PE8 4AL Examiners

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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES. Independent oxamlnorfs r•port on tho accounts Seclion A Independent ExamFn£r's Report ChBrtyNBme m•mb•Y• ol P￿ERBOROUGH & DISTRICT ShAIARrrAN8 31 MARCH 2023 Chorfty Ill•ny) 1185414 l rnportto thB my cltr ofth• •boNp dwrfty ffi Tnrf) for th• y•Ar 31/03r￿2& R••P(￿1￿1I1I•l and a th• ¢hqrfty ITu8ta88 ofthe Tru6L you rew81ble for prBparallon Ix•l• al r•pvl ofth? a¢xount• In ax¢rdonco wNh ts requlr•Thints ofth• CharfllB8 knt 2011 l rnport In r8sp•rl ofmy •xamlnathn ofthe TnAYs I￿rrtS L¥th•d out undorlotttlon 146 ofthe 2011 Acl and h Ca￿￿g out my ￿mIn￿lIan, I ho￿ fonry•Rd th• apWle4W Dirxthxo g1¥￿ bythD CW Commi8Bion under 8ethon 14q5Xbl ofthe Act Ind•p•nd•nt I h&vo (¥￿p￿t•y my examln•lon. l o)rrfrn th8t no mat•thl mattern havo •xamln•ffj •tat•m•nt (x¥neto my att￿19n(oth8rts￿n trAt di8d088d bobw'l In conr￿￿ t￿ •xamination ghs rn• (¥uqe kn bgfwvo Ihat In, ary m•twlwl p al>￿￿n9 rwJxdi wer• rnt kept kn q(axYdonc•vAth ￿llIOn 130 of lh• or I hav8 no c)ncem8 and hava o)m? erAo8B no otrwmatt•rn In conn•cti wtth the WA8rnlnaUon ¢0 ￿1¢h atttnuon ahouhj bB (tra￿ kn ordorto Onabkn a pmper und•rstandlng ollh• Kwunts to be re8th￿d. D•l•: I f/3/z7 N•Trw: j MR GRIHAM DARBOURNE R•lwaht prol••Blonil FCA quplmc•tlwrf•} or I¥￿Y Ill•ny>: e NORTH sfRE OUNDLE P￿RBoROUGH. PE8 4AL IER O*ib•r 2018

CHARIYY (OMMISSI FLIt EH¢AAND AND WALES ReGelpts and ents accounts CC16a Scclioi) A Receipts aiid p,iyinciils •Jr Al 4xU•J iJ.DPP 14•gO 67.4 Pa 11,713 *•M

lJ¢5 41.174 40.611 11 ID2.IBg 172. ecxYRI ataNthllBJ

Seclioii B Slatei?ieiit of assets 11Id liclbilitie5 at tlie eiid of the p￿riOC1 fvn I fund• 14 117.871 2.000 Dth•l tYetAIi FI￿NIm¥ PPt q.S23

CHARITY COMMISSIO FOR ENGLIAO ANO WALES Recelpts and pa ents accounts CC16a Porth• pwlod Section A Receipts a11d payinciits Unr••trtt R••trl¢t•d Endowm•rt fund• nd• fun Tot•1 lund• L•Bty•Jr I&QOD 4B. un 2347 AR) iJ.UDD •47 IWO 67.490 AIPa 21,7J3 iOJ4 PTIi•Lt 10, 1.112 alJ45 41174 46,Ui J4S 46.501 1401 4m 10.IDg Al C••h fundxl•t>w •hd 11,140 ia7,m 12Wi 113.998 CCXXRI 19)>Jts (

Sectioii B Stateiiieiit of assets aiid liabilities at the end of the period O•lails fuNd• Bl Ca•h fund• ¥74• 7n 1ri,671 2.000 nd• fvnd• DAt*l D6talls Dptal BS U•Nlh b•h￿rf￿ th8 ptht Nam• ApproNYE PlrP Qr••n 29-S23

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Indopendent examlnor's report on the accounts Section A Independenl ExamIner's Report R•port to th• tru•t•••l ChBrlty Nprn PEfERBORCIIGH & DISTRICT SAMARITANS On account• for th• y•or 31 MARCH 2023 Charlty no (W any) 1166414 I￿8Mb& ￿ IrKa¥l• tho pvJ• I report to the tn*tea8 on my examlnatlon of the a(X(￿ntS of tho above tharity (Ihg Tru8f) for the year endad 3110312023. Rwon•lblllU•8 and A8 the charlty tru8tse8 of the ThJ8( you are respon8lble for Ihe preparallon bas18 of r•port of the acmunts In accordance with tho requlremerrts of the Charits88 Act 2011 Acri I report In reBp&X of my oxamlnauon of the Tnffjfs accounts ¢xrrFed OLrt under 88dlon 145 of the 2011 Act and In c8rrylng out my ￿MInatIOn, I have followed the appllcabl8 Dlrectk)n8 glvan ty th• CPorfly Comm188lon under Section 145(5Xb) of the A Ind•p•ndont I hav8 completed my &xamlnatlon. I confim? that materlal matter8 havo examlnoe8 8tst•m•nt come to my attonknn (other than that dlsd08ed bebw ') in conn8Gtlon w5th the ex8mlnatlon whlch dv88 mo cause to ball6ve Ih8t In, ary matertal ro8p•cL' accountlng rec￿8 wern nol kept In accordance wlth 8ectlon 130 of the Act or th• a¢¢ounts do not accord wlth the account1￿ racord8 I have no concern8 and hav• c¢me acr088 no other mattorn In COnn￿lI0n wlth the examlnatlon to whlth attentlon sh￿Id b8 dravm In ordar to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be S￿n￿d. /6/iT Narn•: | MR GRAHAM DARBOURNE R•l•vant prof•••loMI FCA qu•imcaUrf•) or body (If any): 6 NORTH STREEr OUNDLE PEfER8OROUGH, PE8 4AL IER Octob•r 2018

Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examinar n6ed6 to hlghlight matters of ¢oncam (see CC32, Independont ex8mlnatkJn of charlty aC￿lrrt8.' dlrectlons and guldance for examlnws). Glv• h•r• Ixlof d•tsll• of any It•m• that th• •xaMln•rW￿hOj to dl8cIoM. IER Ocknbor 2018