## **BRIERLEY HILL SAMARITANS TRUSTEE REPORT 2022** ## **Introduction** Brierley Hill Samaritans has had a presence in Brierley Hill since 1973, and we celebrate our 50[th] Anniversary next year. 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 has achieved one of its objectives of last year in appointing two Directors from within the Branch after having a Caretaker Director from Walsall Branch for the last 12 months. The Branch Leadership Team are responsible for managing the Branch. Within the Branch Leadership Team are five Trustees who fulfil their obligations within the Charity Commission regulations and make decisions regarding expenditure, strategy etc. The new Directors are in the process of recruiting 15 DD’s (Deputy Directors) to split the roles of the previous 5 DD’s and help spread the work load. They will manage the operational side of the branch, for example, the quality and consistency of our service, 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). ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE BRANCH** ## **Branch Leadership Team** Trustee and Caretaker Director – Amanda Poulson co-opted 1[st] August 2021 – resigned 29[th] August 2022 Trustee and Director – Graham Bristow Appointed Director 29[th] August 2022 Appointed Trustee 13[th] June 2019 Trustee and Director – Joanne Petter (Emily) appointed 29[th] August 2022 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) Appointed 23[rd] September 2020 resigned 21[st] September 2022 Trustee – Rebecca Harrold (Esther) Appointed 23[rd] September 2020 resigned 21[st] September 2022 ## **Trustees’ Report** Due to the Pandemic our last AGM was held in February 2022 which was 16 months after the previous AGM due to the effects of COVID. Next year it is hope that the AGM will be held in June 2023 which will put us back on track to our prepandemic cycle of annual AGM’s. Next year is also a special year for the Branch as we are celebrating our 50[th] Anniversary. 1 Our Listening Volunteers continue 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 cost of living crisis and after effects of COVID. Callers may also be experiencing suicidal thoughts. The objective of the Charity is that fewer people die by suicide. Samaritans believe that giving emotional support to our callers by listening and empathising 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. Our Safeguarding Policy is continually reviewed and updated and all our volunteers are aware of their responsibilities when dealing with vulnerable people. The main Samaritan Charity has developed a Phone Call monitoring team to ensure that our Callers receive the best response possible when they contact us in emotional distress. 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. We have achieved our main objective from last year in appointing two Directors from within the Branch and we have continued to manage to recruit and train new volunteers. The Training Team has also been busy with Ongoing Training and helping to implement the new Safeguarding policy successfully. ## **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** 2 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. Fundraising has also been curtailed and shown in the Audited Accounts and the Fundraising Team are busy organising events to generate income and are also applying for Grants. Bucket collections at local supermarkets and tin collections will restart when they are able. ## **Finance Report 1[st] April 2021 – 31[st] March 2022** As an affiliated Branch to the main Charity we are responsible for our own finances and have no regular income. We 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 regular donations. This financial year reflects the ongoing effects of the Pandemic with less money coming in from our regular donors and less grants being available. Donations were down from £13,782 to £10,519. A COVID grants of £10,000 received the previous year from Dudley MBC was not available this year. The main donations received were from Enterprise Car Rentals £4,000, Geoff Hill Charitable Trust £400, in memory of Anna £720. The Samarathon event held in July raised £1,716. Brier Faire raised £502. We also receive income from regular standing orders (the givers who wish to remain anonymous) amounting to £750. Expenditure was £23,429, down by £4,585 the previous year. £4,181 was spent on Branch Maintenance £2,812 on Centre Cleaning and Refreshments, Heat light and water £2,657. The deficit of Income over Expenditure is £7,472 which includes an accounting entry for Depreciation of £5,689. Although we have a strong Balance Sheet with Reserves of £152,476, it must be appreciated that to continue to have a deficit of Income over Expenditure is not sustainable for the Branch and we must continue in our efforts to raise our income by Fundraising, applying for Grants and making ourselves known in the Community to local businesses who may be able to support us. Our Auditors are French Ludlam and Co. Ltd., Kingswinford and a copy of the Statement of Accounts is attached. 3 ## **Future Objectives for the Branch:** The main objectives over the next 12 months is to: - Continue to offer emotional support to our Callers - Generate Income from Fundraising, applying for Grants and approaching local business for their support. - Continue to recruit and train new volunteers and grow the number of Volunteers. - Continue with ongoing training for existing volunteers. - Respond and implement the main Charity’s vision of the future. - Ensure consistency and quality in our contact with Callers. Alicia Pawlowski Treasurer September 2022 4 THE SAMARITANS BRIERLEY HILL BRANCH NT COUNT AR H20 TIIE SAMARITANS BRIERLEY HILL BRANCH ACCOUNTS FOR THF. YEAR ENJDTr.D 31ST MARCH 2022 Indepcndent ExAmlNer's Rtport to th¢ Trust¢e5 of The Samaritan5 of Brlerlty Hlll We report on th¢ a¢Lounts ot'The saMarit￿s of Brierley Hill for the y￿r ended 3 Isi MarLh 2022, which are set out on Pag Respective re5pnnslbllltl¢$ oc trystees and exAmlner As ihe chariils trus¢res you are responsible for the preparation of thv accounl$', you consider ihat the audit requir¢mcni of scetion 144121 of thv Charitics Act 2011 Iihe 201 I Act) duLy n()l upply. It is our rt'sponsibility to slaLe, on the of procedures spccified in thL Cieneral Dir¢¢iions 8iven by the Charity Lommis.%ioners under scciion 145(51(bl of the ACL whether particular rnutiers huve Lorne io my ￿t￿n(lOn. Basls of Indtpendent ¢xomln¢r'B report Our examination w&% ¢atYi¢d ovt in accordance with the CJ¥neral Dirc¢iion$ givcn by thL Charity Commi&sion¢rs. An examination inLludLs a review uf the accounlin8 rccord5 kLPt by ihe chmrily tmd a ¢omparison olihc accttuni% prcscnttd wilh tho%c records. It a15u includcs consideration of any unusual ilem.% Dr disLlubures in th¢ JcLuunt5, and 5ecking explandLion5 frarn you as trustCCS Li)nLernin8 any such mailers. 'I'he pri)¢cdure5 undertakLn do nol providc oll the evidcnLe ihai would be requircd in an avdit, ond Lonsequently wc d() nui express an audil opiniDn on thc view given by th¢ a¢¢ounts. Independent examlther'l $i#t¢nbent In conncction with our cxaminaii()n, no m<cr h¥& ￿)rne lo our aitcniiuntiDg. Tliese awoun15 hav¢ ken p￿pared un(kT the hi5toriGd uJ%¢ wnv¢ntion And in a¢¢ordhn¢e wilh •ppli¢&blL acwunlin8 slandord% ond Ihc Siaicrntrni of R¢commcndtd Praclice thn Accouniin8 by Chariti&8 I'lhe Charili¢5 SORP fRS 102,1. and with Ihc ChdrillC5 A¢1 2011. bl Volwilllry income received by way ofdonxiitsns ortd gifts is ittcluded in the Siaiemeni of FinanLial ALtivities Iihc"SOFA"} when receivcd. Gitls in kind valued and brought in ￿ income and rhe appropriate expenditure. cl tiross fundraising income from event5 organi5ed by ihe charity itself is includcd in thc SOFA wh¢n re¢¢lv¢d. Whercthned material, tiindraising priKeeds not yet rcccivcd by thc charity al Ihc yw cnd h&v¢ alw i*¢n tok¢n to in¢om¢ at I￿.frUS￿5, rsliTn&* of likely r¢c¢iv4bl¢ grnouni. dl Cov¢nHnL (iift Aid wid oihcr incom¢ rcrcivoj by the charity in rup¢ol uf whiLh a Llaim for repayN*nt of ur wlll bc mMd¢ is yro$s¢d up for the i*% te£over&ble 8nd Ihis amouni reco8nised in ihe SOFA. ¢1 Incomc from Icgdcies L5 includcd in the sofA when r￿1V¢d VT whL'n lh¢ Tru$1￿$ wc salisfied lh¢ ¢hority le8dly tnfor¢¢4bl¢ righT ol'receipt of & cons¢rvHtiv¢ly mwurubl¢ %um. Q KLVLnuL' ¥rutti% for immediats finBncial sUP￿rt and ￿SIstance are rtLogni%tyJ in Ihc SOFA ott r¢*ipi Wlisfathtonof 8Jiy prelondiiions. I DL'pfLLi&li()n 1% pri)iidL'd on all i&igiblL' fixed ￿se15 ol'iiiaterial valuc licld by ihc charity for its vwn on a strai￿[ Iln¢ b&giS su as to wriie orriheir cost over Ikir esiim&ie¢J u¥¢ful livis follows.. Fr¢¢hold buildings rixtUfOY and ¢quipmcni .%ir&ighi Itne basis 51ruighl line bayi5 150 No m¢mt)¢rs i)f 4l#ff W¢T¢ cmpl()ycd by th¢ rhorily durin8 the ye8f. All funds ￿ld 8fC AvAil8blc for thc ordin8ry purrA)8cs of the charity. 41 A.￿ part of a TcslructuTin8 of thc naiionul Samaritans Organ1.￿￿11￿￿, on I n¢¢ol￿r 2016, the &sseL$. lirthililics and aclivit1<5vf Thc naritans ljrierlcy Hill Ilranch I"IhE C.h￿lty I were Irtnsferrcd to a ncw Charithblc Incorp()Talipn l)rggnisation ICIOI. The tr￿sfer li) n¢w CIO hdd no efftil on Ihc i)p¢r4Llionq ofih¢ brgnLh, 51 DuNn¥ thv previous year, the Pears Fumtly Ch￿il￿ble TnJ$i provsded a donlliion of £7,284 to fLnan¢¢ th¢ ground floor disabl¢d wl¢ r￿llIty. This income bL¥n Ire￿￿ reslriclcd funds. it w&% dollat￿ S￿rIfIcallY for this PUTWSe. 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