The PeerTalk Charitable Foundation Registered charity no. 1169830 Annual Report 2023
This report describes the activities related to the purposes of the charity from 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023.
The audited and approved accounts make up the centrefold insert.
PeerTalk support groups are attended by people who live with depression, anxiety and similar psychological distress. The groups are facilitated by trained volunteers. PeerTalk host 16 support groups. PeerTalk's vision is to establish a national network of support groups across the UK in the forthcoming years.
PeerTalk’s Charitable Objects - Reg Charity 1169830
To promote and protect good mental health amongst people who live with depression, their families and carers, in particular by the provision of support and support networks including facilitating peer support groups and by providing mental health and related information and educational material in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
PeerTalk’s weekly groups provide vital support for people with depression. Many people struggle with their mental health at a time when our NHS is under pressure. There is no need for a referral and no waiting list; newcomers are always welcome. Our groups provide a safe, relaxing environment where experiences can be shared.
PeerTalk works hard to gain funds to support existing groups and start new ones. In addition to grants from charities and foundations, we have obtained funding from health and local authorities. This is a recognition of the importance of the service and the excellent value for money. Despite these welcome developments, our budget is under pressure and we need to secure more long term support.
Meg Munn I am grateful to our staff and dedicated volunteers, without whom PeerTalk could not contin- Chair of Trustees ue. If you think you could help PeerTalk, as a volunteer, a trustee or a fundraiser – we would love to hear from you.
‘I approached PeerTalk for help it all happened really quick and if people are struggling, they should reach out and it beats the waiting times’.
‘First time I went, I wasn't sure why exactly I was going. And I didn't even know what I what I wanted even to talk about. So, I went there, and they couldn't shut me up’.
‘It was strange how on the second week, I talked about something totally different, and I didn't even realise it was something that I needed to talk about, but I was clearly so relaxed in that room that it came out’.
Welcomes
Farewells
Victoria Byatt and Colin Rutherford have joined the PeerTalk staff as part-time Support Group Coordinators. Victoria in the South and Colin in the North-East have responsibilities for supporting volunteers
Rosa Trelfa in her role as Director of Operations and Liz Whitfield as Admin and Finance Officer have both been with PeerTalk since the charity first began. Now they have both retired. We are enormously grateful to them both for all they have done for PeerTalk.
Governance and Policies
PeerTalk is a charitable incorporated organisation with only the trustees as the members. The charity’s governing document is its constitution which is based on the Charity Commission’s model. Trustees are appointed to complement the organisational requirements based on knowledge, experience and skills.
All trustees have been appropriately inducted and trained.
PeerTalk’s constitution requires that trustees can only hold office for six consecutive years. This has meant we have had to say thank you to Emma Bradley and Joanne Malcolm who have served as trustees since the charity was first registered in 2016. Emma and Joanne have made a significant and valuable contribution to PeerTalk and we are very grateful for their time in office and the contribution they made. During the year we have welcomed Dr Susan Wishart and Melissa Lauwers as they have joined the board of trustees and we look forward to working with them over the coming years.
The PeerTalk Charitable Foundation Trustees
Meg Munn (Chair) Graham Iliff Andrew Varley Roger Butterfield Trained as a social worker, Graham spent many Andrew is a Fellow of the Roger is a Solicitor with Meg served as MP for years as a senior Chartered Association of 38 years experience Sheffield Heeley 2001 – manager and Marketing Certified Accountants working for local 2015, during which time she Director in the telecoms with a background of authorities and several was also Minister for industry and more working in years experience of Women and Equality and a recently has lectured in manufacturing and providing advice and Foreign Office minister. Marketing and Business construction. Recently training to local Meg is a non-executive in higher education. retired Andrew offers a authorities. director and independent wealth of financial governance consultant. experience Kate Chartres Melissa Lauwers Dr Susan Wishart Nabihah Kauser Kate is an expert clinician Melissa works in Susan is a registered Nabihah is currently across the mental health International Project social worker. Now studying for her field, Nurse Consultant and Management. Her main retired Susan worked at Doctorate in Psychology. running her own experience is in the a national level for the Her previous experience consultation business charity management and Prison Service in as a PeerTalk support delivering specialist learning and Safeguarding and group Facilitator makes a psychological therapy and development sector. working with sex valuable contribution to teaching. offenders. the trustee team.
| PeerTalk Policies and Procedures | PeerTalk Policies and Procedures | PeerTalk Policies and Procedures | PeerTalk Policies and Procedures | PeerTalk Policies and Procedures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New | Unchanged | Reviewed or Revised April 1st 2022 - March 31st 2023 |
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| Bullying and Harassment Policy |
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy |
Inducton for New Trustees | Terms of Reference - Trustees | ||
| Complaints Procedure | Financial Policy | Receipt of Donatons Policy | Trustee Code of Conduct | ||
| Confdentality Policy | Governance Risks | Recruitment and Selecton Policy | Volunteer Code of Practce | ||
| Conficts of Interest Policy | Grievance Procedure | Safeguarding Policy and Procedures | Volunteer Facilitator Role Descripton |
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| Data Protecton Policy & Privacy Notce |
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| Health and Safety Policy | Secure storage, handling, use, retenton and disposal of Disclosures and Disclosure Informaton Policy |
Volunteer Policy | |||
| Disciplinary Procedures | |||||
| Equal Opportunites Policy | Home Working Risk Assessment | Statement of Values | Volunteer Facilitator Agreement | ||
| Environment and Sustainability Policy |
Lone Working: Policy, Procedure and Practce Guidance |
Terms of Reference for Advisory Commitee |
Whistleblowing Policy |
THE PEERTALK CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENOED 31 MARCH 2023 Independent examinels report to the trustees of The PeerTalk Charttable Foundation I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of The PeerTalk Charitable Foundation (the Foundation) for the year ended 31 March 2023. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charitytrustees of the Foundation you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 Ithe Act). I report in respect of my examination of the Foundation's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. Independent examiners, 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: 111 accounting records were not kept in respect of the Foundation as required by section 130 of the Act,. or 121 the accounts do not accord with those records,. or 131 the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. 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. MrA T Wright 3 Meeting House Row Hornby Road Wray Lancaster LA2 8QN 8July 2023
| RECEIPTS | 2022/23 totals | 2021/22 totals 62127.93 5000.00 6424.00 6100.00 9108.42 2858.90 1735.59 876.73 94231.57 |
|---|---|---|
| Grants: restricted funds | 84907.77 | |
| Scurrah Wainwright Charity 4970.00 |
||
Sylvia & Colin Shepherd Charitable Trust 500.00 |
||
Lush Ltd Wellness Fund 9000.00 |
||
| North Tyneside Health Inequalities 23766.00 |
||
Garfield Weston 10000.00 |
||
| Gay & Peter Hartley's Hillards Community Fund 1000.00 |
||
Preston City Council - Preston 5000.00 |
||
Co-op Local Community Fund - Intact 1887.77 |
||
Shears 5000.00 |
||
| The National Lottery Community Fund - South 10000.00 |
||
HCD Memorial Fund 10000.00 |
||
| ABCD Fund - Craven 784.00 |
||
| ABCD Fund - Bradford South 1000.00 |
||
| Barbour Foundation 2000.00 |
||
| Grants: unrestricted funds 25000.00 |
||
| Tudor Trust - designated staff salaries 25000.00 |
||
| Commissioned Work 0.00 |
||
| Mental Health Matters - Knowsley | ||
| Donations: restricted funds 0.00 |
||
| Donations: unrestricted funds 15303.48 |
||
| regular giving 2560.20 |
||
one-off gifts 12743.28 |
||
| Fund raising 14440.35 |
||
restricted 6257.58 |
||
| unrestricted 8182.77 |
||
| HMRC Gift Aid 1922.57 |
||
| restricted 921.57 |
||
| unrestricted 1001.00 |
||
| Interest 1683.64 |
||
| restricted 1153.61 |
||
| unrestricted 530.03 |
||
| sub-total - restricted 93240.53 |
||
| - unrestricted 50017.28 143257.81 |
||
| Balances 1.4.22 102904.34 |
||
| CAF Bank 39895.29 |
||
| Central Finance Board 63009.05 |
||
| TOTAL 246162.15 |
The Charity shall aim to hold in reserve expenditure sufficient for a minimum of one quarter of a financial year and be available at a minimum of 30 days' notice. This shall be based on non-exceptional expenditure - i.e. oneoff projects are excluded
| - Receipts and Payments Account 1st March 2023 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAYMENTS | sub-totals | 2022/23 totals |
2021/22 totals |
||
| Core organisational costs | 39228.84 | 42063.33 | |||
| staff/contractor costs - restricted 21175.12 |
29652.83 | ||||
| - unrestricted 8477.71 |
|||||
| Admin. website, annual fees - restricted 1475.87 |
7449.22 | ||||
| - unrestricted 5973.35 |
|||||
| General publicity - restricted 53.00 |
222.00 | ||||
- unrestricted 169.00 |
|||||
| Staff & key volunteer general travel - restricted 650.14 |
1511.60 | ||||
- unrestricted 861.46 |
|||||
| Trustees meeting costs - restricted 352.89 |
393.19 | ||||
- unrestricted 40.30 |
|||||
| Support Group maintenance costs: | 92725.56 | 84896.32 | |||
| staff/contractor costs - restricted 48234.38 |
59998.84 | ||||
| - unrestricted 11764.46 |
|||||
| support group venues - restricted 13723.16 |
14740.94 | ||||
- unrestricted 1017.78 |
|||||
| group volunteer travel - restricted 3143.32 |
3336.85 | ||||
- unrestricted 193.53 |
|||||
| staff travel to cover facilitating groups- restricted 2288.13 |
3189.73 | ||||
- unrestricted 901.60 |
|||||
| support group coordinator expenses - restricted 574.60 |
840.11 | ||||
- unrestricted 265.51 |
|||||
| volunteer facilitator ongoing training - restricted 0.00 |
0.00 | ||||
- unrestricted 0.00 |
|||||
| training new volunteers - existing groups - restricted 4428.00 |
5238.70 | ||||
- unrestricted 810.70 |
|||||
| existing volunteers DBS - existing groups - restricted 48.00 |
60.00 | ||||
- unrestricted 12.00 |
|||||
| local publicity - restricted 980.05 |
1237.92 | ||||
- unrestricted 257.87 |
|||||
| volunteer facilitator support meetings - restricted 3918.67 |
4082.47 | ||||
- unrestricted 163.80 |
|||||
| Growth costs: | 25554.15 | 23186.89 | |||
| staff/contractor costs - restricted 13758.00 |
21433.84 | ||||
| - unrestricted 7675.84 |
|||||
| training days - restricted 1699.64 |
1699.64 | ||||
- unrestricted |
|||||
| group launch costs - restricted 860.67 |
860.67 | ||||
- unrestricted |
|||||
| Evaluation - restricted 1260.00 |
1560.00 | ||||
| - unrestricted 300.00 |
|||||
| sub-total - restricted 118623.64 |
|||||
| - unrestricted 38884.91 |
157508.55 | 150146.54 | |||
| Balances 31.3.23 | 88653.60 | ||||
| CAF Bank 21029.97 |
|||||
| Central Finance Board 67623.63 |
|||||
| TOTAL | 246162.15 |
With the agreement of the Trustees the Reserves can be used: i) to cover a fall in the Foundation's income thereby allowing on-going work and projects to be maintained ii) to cover a cash shortfall whether anticipated or unexpected iii) to fund an unanticipated opportunity to promote and/or pursue the aims of the Foundation.
The PeerTalk Charitable Foundation
Statement of Assets and Liabilites
| at 31st March | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Restricted | Unrestricted | |
| Cash funds: | 88653.60 | |
| Other monetary assets: | 23376.56 | |
| HMRC Gif Aid | 1311.56 | |
| Tudor Trust | 10000.00 | |
| Lancashire & S Cumbria NHS Trust | 4902.00 | |
| Knowsley (Mental Health Maters) | 7163.00 | |
| Investment assets: | none | |
| Assets retained for the charity's own use: | ||
| 1 x laptop for staf | ||
| 1 x projector for presentatons | ||
| 3 x roller banners for publicity | ||
| 4 x mobile phones for staf | ||
| 2 x A-frames for publicity at groups | ||
| Liabilites: | 457.40 | |
| support group venue hire - March | 188.00 | |
| HMRC- Tax & NI related to staf salaries | 209.04 | |
| payroll administraton - March | 60.36 | |
| Assets less liabilites | 111572.76 | |
| Notes: | ||
| Remaining funds for | Restricted Designated |
Unrestricted Total |
| Sunderland and Gateshead (Shears ) | 4636.18 | |
| Sunderland and Gateshead and other North East (HCD Memorial) | 8829.75 | |
| North East (Barbour) | 1722.76 | |
| 2023 restricted | 14419.33 | |
| Guildford | 2177.40 | |
| Knowsley 2023/4 | 6145.11 | |
| Lancashire & S Cumbria NHS - Preston | 4902.00 | |
| Bordon, Bradford Skipton and Warrington (Lush) | 553.01 | |
| Farnham (Lush) | 2440.86 | |
| North Tyneside | 9958.47 | |
| North Tyneside management costs | 3164.66 | |
| Preston Co-op | 949.72 | |
| Preston City Council | 2822.30 | |
| Natonal Lotery - South | 8451.40 | |
| Yorkshire - training | 967.44 | |
| West Yorkshire - WY Restricted | 1826.73 | |
| Staf Salaries (Wing Walk ) | 104.43 | |
| Craven (ABCD) | 787.62 | |
| Bradford (ABCD) | 1003.90 | |
| redundancy | 4283.00 | |
| Tudor Trust | 7796.23 | |
| Tudor re Knowsley | 576.00 | |
| Tudor Trust - admin salary | 10000.00 | |
| Any charitable purpose | 13054.46 | |
| 85863.07 12655.23 |
13054.46 111572.76 |
|
Sheffield Hallam University - Evaluation Report Summary - Jan 2023
This page summarises a dissertation produced by Natalie Wood, one of Sheffield Hallam University’s MSc student mental health nurses. Their project was a service evaluation to determine the benefits of a national charity’s support for individuals experiencing depression. In particular, they sought to understand what the charity offered that differed from mainstream mental health services. The full report is on the PeerTalk website.
The study’s objectives were:
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To gain an understanding of PeerTalk attendees’ experiences and perspectives.
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To identify what PeerTalk offers its service users that other services do not.
Four themes were generated from the data.
These were: connectedness, self-awareness, positive environment, and facilitation.
Connectedness
Connectedness describes a relationship with peers and PeerTalk. Peer support is designed to establish a sense of physical and emotional security, allowing peers to feel at ease connecting and sharing with others with the same knowledge and experiences.
In terms of connectedness with the PeerTalk service, the participants stated that they had previously tried other services for support but found that PeerTalk offered the different kinds of help they required.
PeerTalk clearly leaves participants feeling at ease, in a safe, relaxing environment with like-minded people that share their experiences. In doing so it creates a sense of connection to the service that other services may not achieve.
Self-awareness
Participants explained how they felt PeerTalk assisted individuals through a process of self-healing, towards recovery, that was undertaken by acquiring self-awareness of their current situation.
PeerTalk provides attendees with the chance to build their confidence by talking openly about their issues in a non-judgemental environment and eradicating their initial fears as they move through the support sessions. This self-awareness allows for personal growth and sets attendees on the road to recovery:
Positive environment
The PeerTalk environment was described as providing the right environment to support healing by facilitating people to work through their issues with like-minded people who also have shared experiences. The therapeutic environment was highly valued for the way it fostered recovery.
PeerTalk support groups offered attendees an opportunity to work with other peers in a safe environment as they go through some difficult periods. Participants discussed supporting others, using their knowledge and experience, while learning more about mental illness and other coping strategies themselves:
Group facilitation at PeerTalk versus other services
Participants discussed how and why they thought PeerTalk had worked for them where other services hadn’t. PeerTalk appears to be getting things right, as participants felt that they offered the correct support at the right time with the right plans, procedures, and arrangements in place. This had not always been their experience in other services:
This study found clear benefits for participants attending a PeerTalk support group. Its relaxed environment allowed for candid and free communication to take place between equals. Meaningful friendships were formed as a result of similar shared experiences giving the participants the confidence to speak out, recognise their own recovery styles and assist others on their journey in a non-judgemental manner. Participants favoured PeerTalk over many other services they had tried due to its relaxed nature, the absence of pressure to participate, and the provision of support from peers rather than healthcare professionals. Consequently, this study tentatively concludes that PeerTalk should be considered a worthwhile intervention in its own right, rather than merely a way to reduce pressure on mainstream services.
Copthorne Hotel - Newcastle (18th Mar 2023)
Old Schoolhouse - Knowsley (19th Nov 2022)
New Volunteers
During the year we trained 43 new Volunteer Support Group Facilitators to strengthen the PeerTalk teams in North Shields, Whitley Bay, Gateshead, Sunderland, Leeds, Huddersfield, Preston and Knowsley. The initial training events are followed with a Safeguarding course Old Schoolhouse - Knowsley (11th Feb 2023) and further induction training.
Each group’s team of volunteer Facilitators are brought together every two months for support and an element of further training.
Volunteers work in pairs and typically facilitate a group three times in a twelve week period.
St Georges Centre - Leeds (3rd Dec 2022)
Thank you..
… to all the grant making bodies, trusts, businesses, community groups, churches and many generous individuals who support our work. Donate here: CAF Bank
To all our volunteer Facilitators who make the groups happen each week. To all our trainers and advisers for their help and support. To the trustees and staff for their continued commitment.