2021-03-31-accounts - Samaritans Brierley Hill Branch

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DRAFT BRIERLEY HILL SAMARITANS TRUSTEE REPORT 2021

Introduction

Brierley Hill Samaritans has had a presence in Brierley Hill since 1973. We are an affiliated branch to the main Samaritans Charity which is located at The Upper Mill, Kingston Road, Elwell, Surrey, KT17 2AF. The Organisation is a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) which adheres to its Constitutional Rules.

The Branch Leadership Team are responsible for managing the Branch. Within the Branch Leadership Team are seven Trustees who fulfil their obligations within the Charity Commission regulations and make decisions regarding expenditure, strategy etc. Alongside them are 5 Deputy Directors who manage the operational side of the branch, for example, the quality and consistency of our service (Caller Support), Recruitment & Selection, Training of new volunteers and ongoing training for existing volunteers, our work outside the branch and raising money for the branch (Outreach) and support for our volunteers in carrying out their duties (Volunteer Support). Due to the inability of the Branch to select a new Director after the resignation of the Director in April 2021, Amanda Poulson from Walsall Branch has taken on the role for 12 months when the Branch will go through another Director Selection process.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE BRANCH

Branch Leadership Team

Trustee and Director Johanna Smart (Sophie) Resigned 1[st] April 2021

Trustee and Caretaker Director – Amanda Poulson co-opted 1[st] August 2021

Trustee, Interim Director 1[st] April 2021 – 1[st] August 2021 and Vice-Director - Graham Bristow

Trustee and Secretary - Keeley Jones resigned as Secretary 8[th] April 2021 Trustee and Secretary – Jennifer-Ann Portman co-opted 4[th] May 2021 Trustee and Treasurer – Alicia Pawlowski co-opted 19th January 2021

Trustee – Amneris Koeberle (Mary)

Trustee – Rebecca Harrold (Esther)

DD Outreach & Fundraising - Peter Leadbeter (Peter)

DD Training – Mark Smith (Harry)

DD Recruitment & Selection - Maria Hewitt (Maria)

DD Caller Support - Aidan Livesey (Dan)

DD Volunteer Support – Suzanne Connolly (Suzanne)

Trustees’ Report

Due to the Pandemic and changes in the Leadership Team, this report is being drawn up 16 months after the previous AGM . The Branch has faced many challenges over the last 16 months but have continued in our core business which is to respond to contact from people who are in emotional despair or distress. This can be due to relationship breakdown, debt, addiction, loneliness, self -harm, mental health issues and the added pressures of being in a Pandemic.

The next AGM is scheduled for February 2022 with the intention of a summer meeting to get us back into our 12 month cycle.

The objective of the Charity is that fewer people die by suicide. Samaritans believe that giving emotional support to our callers by listening and emphasising with them can reduce feelings of emotional distress and suicide. Callers contact us by phone or/and email. We also offer the opportunity for face to face callers to come to the Branch when COVID restrictions allow.

Our volunteers work in a shift pattern and will attend shifts throughout the night. Most of our volunteers have full time jobs and carry out their duties in their free time.

Our volunteers are supported by Shift Leaders who they debrief to at the end of a shift. The Volunteer Support DD also supports Volunteers by ensuring that they remain safe and happy while volunteering with us.

There have been major changes in our Safeguarding Policy which included relevant in depth training for volunteers at all levels, utilising material developed and provided by the main Samaritan Charity and included an introduction to the procedures being implemented branch wide to monitor the quality of volunteers’ responses to phone calls and emails.

We are also moving away from Branches responding to emails within the Branch and the setting up of an email Hub. This hub will be populated by experienced volunteers with highly developed competencies in responding to caller emails and is designed to ensure quality, consistent responses to those individuals who prefer to contact Samaritans using this medium.

Training

For all volunteers there is a range of on-line training modules which they can access as they seek to develop their own volunteer pathway. Any modules which they successfully complete are recorded on their own personal training log.

In addition, there is an expectation that they will also undertake, within each 12 month period, 5 hours of On-Going Training. This particular programme may be driven by volunteer in branch suggestions, which may be based on their feedback about an increase in the types of contacts being experienced / upskilling to provide volunteers with enhanced confidence in dealing with a particular, or range of, difficult contacts as highlighted by fellow volunteers. There may be occasions when On-Going Training modules may be driven by the main Samaritans Charity (Central Office).

Premises

At Brierley Hill Samaritans we are very fortunate to own purpose -built premises, which we moved to in November 1993 having been the beneficiary of the will of a founder member.

Trustees recognise that they are the current custodians of the building and have a responsibility and obligation to maintain and refurbish appropriately to ensure that it remains fit for purpose for

years/decades to come. There is in place a rolling 12 month property schedule to ensure that we especially meet all necessary service dates. In doing so it ensures that our most valuable resource, our fellow volunteers, are provided with the best possible environment in which to support some of the most vulnerable individuals in society with the gift of being listened to.

Fundraising and Outreach

Work has been curtailed by COVID restrictions but it is hoped that volunteers will soon be able to reach out and give support again to local vulnerable groups when needed. Bucket collections at local supermarkets and tin collections will restart when they are able. Samarathon event held every year in July was able to go ahead and raised £4,465.

Finance Report 1[st] April 2020 – 31[st] March 2021

As an affiliated Branch to the main Charity we are responsible for our own finances and are responsible for raising funds to cover the costs of running the Branch. This money is raised by the fundraising team, grant applications and the receipt of receiving regular donations.

Although this financial year was in the height of the Pandemic, financially the Branch is in a secure position and increased its reserves by £11,725 from the previous year. This was due to £39,739 of income, an increase of £21,727 on the previous year. Several large Grants were received - Dudley MBC £10,943, Pears Foundation £7,284 (ring fenced for toilet refurbishment), Eveson Trust £2,000, Rotary Club Dudley £2,000, Virgin Giving £2,500.

Expenditure was £28,014 giving a surplus of income over expenditure of £11.725. Besides the toilet refurbishment costing £7,284 - £4,035 was spent on Building Maintenance, £2,066 on Cleaning £2,071 on postage and telephone. The surplus of Income over Expenditure includes the accounting entry of £4,894 for depreciation.

Our Auditors are French Ludlam and Co. Ltd., Kingswinford and a copy of the Statement of Accounts is attached.

Future Objectives for the Branch:

The main objectives over the next 12 months is to:

Continue to offer emotional support to our Callers
Select a Director from within the Branch
Implement the new Safeguarding Policy
Continue to recruit and train new volunteers
Continue with ongoing training for existing volunteers.

SAMARITANS Brierley Hill Alicia Pawlowski Treasurer 26" January 2022

TIIF. sA[ARTT.N. BRIF.RLEY JIIJ.I. BRAN ATF.MEN T MAIIC

BRIERLEY HILL RRANCH NI'S FOR THF I'Tr'..QR b'.NDF.D.II%'I' lAR ccn H 2021 Itidepeijdeni 8x#miTher's Report lo the Trustees of The SAmritAIls ol Brierley Hill We T¢POrt oil tlie accoullis of The Samaritans of Ilrierlcy Hill tor ihe year ¢nd¢d 3 1st March 2021, which Are set Qui on Pa8e5 R¢5P¢Cllve r¢¥pov5ibilltie5 of truyteL'S examlner As rlie Lhai'ilys Irusiecs aTC r¢$poiisiblt for the prcparalion vf Ihc aLcounis'. you considcr that the dudii requirenient or Iiun 144121 ofihv Lliariiies Alt 211111111¢ 2011 Aul) docs nor apply, It is our responsibility to %taic, on the basis of proc¢dure peLified in Ilie General Dir¢¥lions Biv¢n by the Charily C"ommihhionLrs uiid¢r scilion 14fl5llbl ofihe Act, whcth¢r paflicular tnalters have ivtllL' 10 my aiitDIioN. ]Jx515 of indrpend¢iir ¢xminer's report (knr exainiiialion Larrjid uul Iii dLLvr(I&iiLe with Ilie CJ¢iiLrKI Dirr¢iioiis giveii by the Charity Ctsmmissioncrs. An exdiiiindlion iiicludes & rcview of IhL uiiouniiiigi records kepi by Ilic rharily and a COTnp#r¢soii of the ac¢ouiiis presented wilh Ihos¢ r¢cords. It iii¢ludes considLraiioii of llny unusual itenis or di¥¢lusur¢s in th¢ dicouiils. dnLI bc¢kiIJg ¢xplanaiions from yciii 11% tnililccs ¢()ii¢eniiiiu Ally SULh Iniittcr%. -rh¢ pruLcdiircs undertukcn do nut pr(>vidc all Ihe evidciice Ihdl would b¢ r4uired in ¢iJi auilil. aiid CLin%equ¢nily we d(> iii)l ixprc%s Jii dudil upiniuii vn Ilic View ¥ivcn by Ihc oL¢ounis. llldLpewi¢nt ¢x*mlner'¥ ¥tHlem¢nt In roiiiiellivn wilh ourexumination. m8ti¢r has iumc Io OUT atiLnlivrs.' whiLh 8IV¢b us rea%i>iithble cause l() bcli¢v¢ that iii finy Indlerial rcspeli Ili¢ rcquirerncnis 10 keep Aciouiitln¥ rrfy0rd iii oLLvrdaiicL• Wltli s¢Glitsii 130 ofilie 2011 All., and lo prcparc u¢counlS whi¢h aCCOTd with th¢ a¢rouniiiig records and to cumply wlih IhL' aLcLiuntin8rrquiremcnls ol. hAve not been mei. or lo wfii¢li, in our opinion, allcntion sliotsld be drawn iii or(I¢T 10 ¢lldble a proper undcr&ldndin8 of ihe iccouiits 10 be rcarh¢d. FRF.NC.H '() Lllll l-f.t) Audiior. Kin¥bwinford lSJuly2021

T14F. SANT AR TT,INS BRIF.R T,F.Y 1111,1. HRAWC'H STA TEMFNT OF PINANC.'IAL AC.TIVITIES .UR'I"14F. YFAR ENDkD 3 1ST MARCII 2021 6.438 Fundrdisin l.e& fJnilrai&ing ¢xp¢ns¢s 6.438 4,937 22 6,3411 13,782 ¢ccjv¢d for pri.4É)n wt)rk Gift Ali1 r¢¥iYv¢d Iiit¢roEi rLYtived Govcrnmcni grants ICOVID stspportl Rcttived from PEARS r¢.. disabl wlc f&cility 6.217 200 10,493 7,284 39.739 r)IT l)nn&lion lo Maldl¢ fjranch lin¢lu(linu kurrency Iccs) 2.8C>S 4.035 1.434 nsuraiice 2,936 37¢) 360 2,071 211¥ Trav¢lling 227 2.006 2,025 Ccnirc ¢Ining 41111 r¥fr¥%hiwnis 792 826 1.777 384 Siinilry cxi)¢nN¢ 7.2114 4.894 S,226 2R.014 YEAR We ccrtify the &nn¢xcd sutllttwy a¢count8 are in accordance with the (ull accollnls of the bran¢h. A Copy ofibe full a¢couois 4re avai18blei)n reque¥t. FRENCH LufJi.AM ANFJ I.IMITF.r) -<icred Audiior4 and Account T5wiiiliird Pa¥e 2

THE SAMARITANS IERLEY HILL BRAYk C BALANCE SHF. . 31 st March 2Q2U 31ST MARC112021 i.-Ixr.r) A%8LI'S Freehold land (Ind biiildii)gs al cost asai 31 si Mi2rch 2020 Less depr¢¥idliL)Ii 105.983 3.210 102.773 3.210 102,773 s al 3151 March 21120 Additions less disptssals during th¢ y¢ar 5,055 3,642 5,a55 107,828 LLSS depr¢ci4rion 1,684 3,371 102.4134 CLRRF.N 4(?6 Dcbiors cind PTcpaym¢nis Casli L41 bank CurrLlIt occouiit Shawbri)ok Raiik 60 day nolice accouni 1,582 1 ¥,275 23,000 l)0,19.1 RRf.Nl- I.IABI Il'lF. 3.346 Cr¢ditors -1,179 4(J,395 NFT CURRFNI. A 57,014 148,223 TO'I'AL NE'I- AS8FTS 159.948 Represcnied by.. BulHiiL¥ as 2131 sl March 2U2U {D¢li¢ilySurplus For I'hc Ycar 151.333 148,223 11.725 148,223 15Y,948 NTS REPORT Wc certify Ihc dllD¢xed 5Umtnary aciount5 dre it) a¢cordancc with thc full Jc¢ounts af the branch. A copy of Ilic fiill accounts ar¢ availablc on request, rRI,'NL'H LUI)LAM AND C.() LI.MIT Istered Audilois aiid AcLoiinlaiils gwinford Fage 3

THF. SATAR1T.4N BRIFRLEY 1111.1. BRANC.H I QTE.S I'U ry'HTr. AC.cnuN 11 A¢coll l Ba.si% ot"accounling. 'rhe 1K¢ttl¥ have b¢erJ prffj8r under Ihc historical cost conveniion aod in ac£ordgnce with alalL acc(iunlinB %lan(IHrds and th¢ stai¢nKt of Rc¢ommLnded PrAcrice on Accounting by Chariii&q I'lhe CharitlC5 SORP FRS 102,1. aiid with tlie Chaiilics Ath 2011. l)) Vulunliiry 1nets r¢ccived by w3yoI'donalions anil gFitl& is included in Ili¢ Statetnent of Financial A¢iiviiivs Iiht'SOFA I when re¢cirtd tiifts io kind are volued 4nd broubhi in aB in¢oitt¥ 4nd the appropriAre expenditur cl On)ss fundraisingp Income from ev¢nt> orgAnised by Ihechdlit) 11sell.is InLludixl in Ili¢ SOFA wheii receiveil. Wliere niatcrial. liindruibins pro¢eL.d$ not yer r¢c¢iv¢d by Ih¢charity al tlie yedr ¥ncl l)ave algo be¢n tdkeii its illCOTne ai Ihc Tru.¥lrts' esiimatc of likdy rL'Lcjvahl¢ amDuni. dl Cov¥llnI. Gift Aid YDd ulher income Tgceived by Ihe ¢hariiy in respeci of which y ¢13iTYi fur raymen1 of lax will bc mHde i¥ gwbSed up tor Ik tax r¢cover&bleHnd thi& wss Rinliuiii I'e¢obini$¢d in lh¢ SOFA. ¢1 Incoii trom l¢wie¥ is included in ilie SObA whcn r¢cei¥ed or when th¢ TN51ees arc %aiislieLI tht ch&nty h88 a legDIIy en1te1b1t ribhi of reFXiPt ol'aconservalively Tneastsrabl¢ suin. D K¢venu¢ fur imtncdi&le finanEial $uppon and %hiithnce dre I'CCObini%cd in the SOFA on r¢¢cipt and on sb11[¢llfjn of pr¢¢ondiii()Iis. iu wiiie oll'ili¢ir ov¢r Ilicir cst1111¢II IivL'S &$ fdiilW5.' rrLchtsld buildinb Fixtur¢s Qnd cquipnicnl No in¢Lttb¢rsat %wn'wcre lIplOY by Ilie ¥h4rily durins Ehe ycar. Ali tiind5 held are¥v#ib lor tlK urdinBry purposes ol'ihe chdriiy, 41 As Pdrt ol'4 r¢8iruLliiriiw ofthc national slarIn& nr&larL1tIon, On l Oeiober 2016. Ihe &5sel.s. lillhiliiies rtiid aclivitics dThe SamdrilJn¥ Lliicrley Ilill BrncIl I Ihe Ch&rily"I w¢r¢ Iraii.%ferrcd lo a iiew C.hyrilable Incorpordlioii OrganiSALion ICIO). Th¢ Iran5f¢r 10 ihe rtw CIO IIAd no effect i?ii th¢ operatittns ofihebranch. 51 During Ili¢ye3T,the Pears Family Chaiithlc TtU.%l Provided a donll110n i)f i7.284 to finance th¢ &ryound floor disabled wlc fRciility. This incoiiie ha5 becii Ii'edi¢d ag r¢siricied fiJnd.s, as Il w&$ dted 4PLYifically for this PUYPO8¢. Page 4

TIIF. sA[ARTT.N. BRIF.RLEY JIIJ.I. BRAN ATF.MEN T MAIIC