2023-03-31-accounts - Samaritans Brierley Hill Branch

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BRIERLEY HILL SAMARITANS TRUSTEE REPORT 2023

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 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

Co-Directors and also Trustees – Graham Bristow Appointed 29[th] August 2022 and 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 2022

The Branch also has 11 Deputy Directors who are responsible for the following areas: New Volunteers, Mentors, Leaders, Support Volunteers, EDI, Recruitment and Selection, IT, GDPR, Premises and Volunteers Support, Training.

Trustees’ Report

The AGM was held on 11[th] July 2023.

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.

The Branch no longer responds to emails as this is now being organised by the Central Charity.

Number of Calls

In May 2023, 48 Brierley Hill volunteers spent 210 hours on the phones taking 751 calls. In the second quarter of this year, we spent 13.2% of our time in the Hours of Need period 2- 6am and 29.8% during the twilight period 10pm to 2am. This is a fantastic achievement for a branch of our size.

Number of Listening Volunteers

Total numbers Total volunteer breakdown as of July 2023: 57 listening volunteers, 10 support volunteers and 2 volunteers in training. 69 in total.

Training

New volunteers attend face to face training for sessions which includes skills practice, they are then allocated to a mentor to start shifts and once they are competent they start taking calls by themselves.

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

The Fundraising Team have started to organise events post-pandemic and also place collecting tins in various venues for money and also raising awareness of the Organisation.

Finance Report 1[st] April 2022 – 31[st] March 2023

As an affiliated Branch to the main Samaritans 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. As a registered charity we follow Charity Commission rules.

This financial year reflects recovery from the Pandemic and the Treasurer’s efforts in obtaining Grants. Total income increased by £11,691. The main donations received were from Enterprise Car Rentals £2,500, McDermott Buildings £1,440, there was Car Park Rental income catch up of £2,000. The total of Grants applied for and received was £11,500. Main Fundraising events raised £820 from the Sarah Millikan Evening and assisting Stourbridge Lions with their annual Sleigh Ride gave way to a donation from them of £450.

Expenditure was £24,675, an increase of £1,246 on the previous year. £4,485 was spent on Branch Maintenance £2,599 on Centre Cleaning and Refreshments, Heat light and water £2,552. The surplus of income over expenditure is £2,972 including a depreciation figure of £7,403. During the year Electronic Gates were purchased for £5,967 and a photocopier for £1,636 which increased our Fixtures and Fittings by £3,771 which allows for depreciation.

This leads to a strong Balance Sheet with Reserves of £155,448. Although we have a strong Balance Sheet, it must be appreciated that we need to continue to work hard applying for Grants, Fundraising and raising our profile in the Black Country Community to encourage support and ensuring we cover our outgoing costs.

Future planned expenditure is the upgrading of the CCTV system, budgeted cost between £2,000 and £2,500. The Treasurer is applying for Grants to cover this cost.

Our Auditors are French Ludlam and Co. Ltd., Kingswinford and a copy of the Statement of Accounts is available on this Site.

Future Objectives for the Branch:

The main objectives over the next 12 months is to:

Develop an inclusive culture and community feel within the branch
Increase and retain volunteer numbers
Recruit more volunteers to roles of responsibility
Focus on supporting vulnerable groups within our community

Alicia Pawlowski Treasurer and Trustee October 2023

THF. SAMAIUT ANS BRIF,RLFY HILL BRANCH ST ATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS YEAR EN T MARCH 202

THE SAMARITANS BRlb.Rl.EY IIILL BIL4NCH ACCOUNTS FOR THE Y Independent Examin¢r's R¢port to the Tr¥st¢¢s of Th¢ S#maritana of Brierley Hill We reFOrt on thc accounts of Thc SamAriLan8 ofBri¢rl¢y Flill for thc year ended 31 s¢ March 2023, whi¢h arc t out Pages Respcctive respoN$ibllltles of trujttes And exAminer As ihe charily's irustcc% you are re5pon%ible for thc PTcparaiion of thc accounts; you consider Ihdl the audit requiTemeDt of sertic)n 1441211)I' Ihe Charities ALI 2(Ji I Iihe 2011 Acll d(>e% nol apply. li is our re%)n81b1t1ry to state. on Ihc ba515 ofpro¢edurcs sp¢¢ifi¢d in ihe G¢ncrdl Direclions given by the Charily CtsThmissionery und¢r s¢¢iion 14515Nbl of ihe Act, wh¢ther rArtscular rnotrers have come to my attcntion. Llils nf Sndcpendent ¢¥•mlner's report Our cxaTninatlOA was carriLd frui in a¢cord4n¢¢ wilh the GcneT&I DiTrLlions giv¢n by ¢h¢ Charily Commis&ioners. An cxamination includc5 a reviLW i>fihe a¢¢ountin8 rcci)rds kept by ihL Lharily And A ¢omp2rison of the 4LLLounlS presenied wilh IhosL r¢Lurd%. 11 alw includL& C<)n%ider8tion ul'any unu.4ual item5 or di%closurL'S in the ac¢ounis. and %eekin8 cxplan81ion5 from you tru%tee8 conccTning any 8u¢h matlLrs. The prQUr¢S undertakcn dv not pwvidc qll th¢ ¢videncc that wuuld b¢ r¢quiTed in an audil, and conscqucntly wc dc niil bxpre88 an audit opinion nn the vicw given by lh¢ oLwunls. Independent examlner's stotem¢nt In L'onnLtion wilh our CXdmin9lion, no matier has com¢ lu our aLtenlion'. which 8iv&% us reasonNhle ¢aus¢ lo believe ihal in any maicrial respect Lhc rcquirerncnis o keep a¢Unting re¢ords in aLLordancc with seciion 130 ofihc 2011 Aci,. and to preparc 8¢Lounls which &CLOTd wilh the 4¢counliny records and ¢omply wilh Ihe A¢untIng requircmenls of Ihe 2011 ALI have not bccn mei: or 121 lo which. in our opinion, att¢nlion should be drawn in OTdcT to enable a proper und¢TStandin8 ofthe 8¢WUnts to be rea¢hcd. tu Kingswirtford 30 June 2023 Page I

IE RAN END 2022 INCO 3,576 Fundraising l.css fundraising exp¢nses Donations ond grants Rental inLom¢ Gift Aid reG¢iv¢d Ini¢r¢si rcceived 3,085 14421 3.576 10,519 2,643 21.649 2.0(Kl .744 2th4 27.647 15.956 600 4.181 1.524 2,657 236 1.732 657 302 2.¥12 26 2.469 544 5,68Y Donaiion 10 M#i&lc Elranch Mainienance of c¢nlre Insurance 14col. light and waier Printing and stationery Po51a¥¢ and telephone -rTavellin8 4,483 1,735 2.552 189 719 791 2,J99 Ccntr¥ ¢l¢anin8 and TefrL¥hmenl$ Training Bronch contribution Sundry expcn5es Dcprcciaiion 2.336 394 7.043 23.429 24,67) 17,4721 2.972 We ceriify Ihe anncxcd bummary accoun15 4r¢ in accordaD¢¢ wilh Ihc full a¢¢ounts ofthe brsnch. A ¢opy of the full ui¥ounls arc availahle o rwu eoi Kirt nt swinlord ne 2023 Page 2

THE SAMARIT RLEY HILL BRANCH Rl I.ANcf si IE eh 2022 H202 FIXED AS ET Freehold land and biiildings at Cost asut 3 1st March 2022 Le55 depr¢¢ialion 99.563 3.210 96,353 3,210 96,353 93,143 Fixtures and equipment as at 31 st March 2022 Additions less disp0581s during the year 3,371 4.708 8.079 2,479 5.600 7.604 13,204 3.833 5.600 101,953 Less depreeiation 9.371 102,514 195 Debtors and prepayments Cash ai bank Current account Shawbrook Bank 60 day notice aecount 716 28,905 25,000 30,584 25.205 54,100 56,505 3,577 Credilors 3,571 50.523 S2,934 152,476 155,448 Represented by.. Balance as at 31st March 2022 (DeficitySurplu5 For'Thc Year 159,948 (7,472) 152,476 2,972 152.476 155,448 ACCOUN W¢ ¢¢rtify the annexed summary Accounts are in accordance with the full accounts of the bran¢h. A copy of the full ¢ounts are available on request. LUDL Re st uditor5 and Kin sivillford 30 Junc 202 LIMI Page 3

'I-IIE.%Af+lARITANS BRIERLEI, HILL BIi4NCH NOTES TO THE,ICCOII dl Bosis ufaccouniing. Th¢5¢ accounts hav¢ prcparcd tsndcr the hisioricAI cosi convenlion and in accordance with applicable accounting slandgrds and Ihe Siaiernetil of Recomm¢nde4J Praciicc on AUtIng by Chtiriiies I'lhc ch1¢5 SORP FRS 102,1. nd with the Charilies Aci 2011. b) Voluniary income T¢cciv¢xI by wlly oldonaiion8 and gills is included in th¢ Siaiemeni of FI¢tal Activities lth¢'SOFA"I when rcceivcd. CJi(l$ in kind 8rc valucd and broughi in as inwTn¢ gnd IhL uppn)Prie expenditure. cl CJTOSS fndraI.)ng Income from evenl$ organis¢d by Ihc charity itself 15 includcd in Ik SOFA when re£eived. Wh¢Rd¢¢med malerial, fundraising proLttd% n()1 yci ret¢ived hy Ihl chariry at the yeaT¢nd h8v¢ $ts been iAkcn to income al Ihc TnLrfett' eslimale of likely r¢L'rivoble 8rnouni. dl Covenank Gitl Aid aDd oth¢r in¢om¢ r¢ttiv¢d by the ¢hArity in resp1 ofwhich a ¢1giJn for repayment of has oi wlll b¢ madc is BrOd up fur the i&x r¢VerSb1¢ Ihi5 8TQSS dmount Tewgnis¢d irt th¢ SOFA. cl Income from Ic8acies is includcd in th¢ SOFA whcn received or whcn the Tru&ie¢s %ati$fied ihe charity a Wly ¢nfor¢eable ri8hi ofreceipl of a cons¢r¥aiiv¥ly mwurable 8um. n Kcvcnue 8T{1$ l()r immedi¢ financial supwrf and &SSi$¢anLx are rcco8ni5ed in Ih¢,8ofA on rcc¢ipi 8nd on sotisf1On or ony preeondilions. gl Dcprccialion is provided ()n all ian8ible fix¢d asscts of malcrithl value held by th¢ chvJily for its own $C on a 5trni8hi lin¢ bui$ so &% lo wrik Difih¢ir cosi ovcr Ihcir ¥stimad us¢ful lives follows.. Frts1d biiildings Fixtures and cquipm¢nl 2% . sirsikhi linc b&si5 15g/o %lraighi lillL b#si$ No membe of wcrc ¢mploy¢d by the chgrity durinB lh¢ y¢xr. All funds hcld w¢ availthle tor ihc ordinpry purrrt)s¢é ofihe charily. 41 As pan ol'g r¢51ruLlurin8 of Ihc national Simwtlang organisiilion, on l Q¢lober 2016. th¢ &fjscts, liabililic5 and activitie$ of Thc Sumariians Brierl¢y Hill 15rHnLh I'tht Churiiy I wirc Irllnsf¢rrcd 10 d ncw Charitable Incorporalion QlrsrtnisÈiion ICIOI The Irgnsf¢r 10 ih¢ n¢w CTO nLb elTect on Ihc op¢rdlian% ofihe braiich. P3ge 4

THF. SAMAIUT ANS BRIF,RLFY HILL BRANCH ST ATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS YEAR EN T MARCH 202