**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1170460**
Report of the Trustees and
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
for Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
||Page|
|---|---|
|Report of the Trustees|1 to 3|
|Independent Examiner's Report|4|
|Statement of Financial Activities|5|
|Balance Sheet|6|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|7 to 11|
|Detailed Statement of Financial Activities|12|
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
## Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking is one of over 200 Samaritans branches across the UK that provide confidential emotional support to those in distress or despair. The Leatherhead branch is an independent charity registered with the charity commission and an affiliated branch of the main UK and Irish Samaritans charity.
The Charity offers six main services to the community:
1. Emotional support by telephone, email, online chat or in person from our Centre at 7 Church Road Leatherhead
2. Training, support and guidance at Her Majesty's Prison (HMP), Downview through delivery of the Listener Scheme
3. Emotional wellbeing talks to pupils attending local Schools
4. Talks and visits to local groups in the community
5. Assistance to the wider Samaritans organisation
6. Partnerships with local organisations including Surrey& Borders NHS, Surrey CC and Surrey police
Face-to-face emotional support at the branch was suspended in March 2020 because of the COVID epidemic. Demand for this service has been declining for many years, and the Trustees have decided not to reintroduce it for the time being, though the position is being kept under review.
Our services support the Vision, Mission and Values of Samaritans nationally:
Our Vision
Our vision is that fewer people die by suicide.
To achieve this, we believe Samaritans has a crucial role to play in:
Reducing the risk factors that make some people more likely to take their own lives. Ensuring that people who are at increased risk of suicide are supported. Making it less likely that people who do experience suicidal thoughts act on them. Reducing the likelihood that people will develop suicidal thoughts.
Our Mission
We're here every day and night of the year for anyone struggling to cope. We make sure people have somewhere to turn and support when they need it most. We work with communities to let people know we're here for them and we campaign to make suicide prevention a priority.
Our Values
Our support services adapt to the changing environment, but the values at the core of our listening service remain constant: Listening
Exploring feelings alleviates distress and helps people to reach a better understanding of their situation and the options open to them.
Confidentiality
If people feel safe, they are more likely to be open about their feelings. Non-judgemental
We want people to be able to talk to us without fear of prejudice or rejection. People making their own decisions wherever possible
People making their own decisions
Page 1
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
## Report of the Trustees
## for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
We believe that people have the right to find their own solution and that telling people what to do takes responsibility away from them.
Human contact
Giving people time, undivided attention and empathy meets a fundamental emotional need and reduces distress and despair.
## SERVICE DELIVERY
The total number of contacts answered by our volunteers in 2023/24 where callers sought emotional support was 13,529, a figure very similar to the previous year. We increased the number of phone calls to 12,339, compared to 12,074 in 2023/4 and 11,389 in 2021/22, but the number of emails was reduced from 1,386 to 811, reflecting changes in the way the national email service is delivered. Although our webchat service is still being piloted after its introduction in 2020/21, we were able to increase the numbers of support calls from 118 to 378.
Maintaining the safety of our callers, our volunteers and their families remained our top priority.
At year-end, we had 119 branch volunteers. Although slightly fewer than 2022, this figure still represents a substantial increase of 15-20% on numbers which were typical before the pandemic. The number of those leaving the branch has fallen, and fewer have been seeking to take significant periods of absence.
We were able to continue recruitment and training of new volunteers throughout the year, though there has been some reduction in applications and in those progressing to training over the last year, more obviously from early 2023. We are taking part in local recruitment events and targeting specific groups to increase awareness of the opportunities.
We have a continuing programme of training and development for existing volunteers to ensure the continuing quality of our service. We are very grateful for the contributions from a number of external speakers.
Awareness packs designed to encourage those in need to call us and also to improve recruitment have been distributed to over forty Churches, Community Hubs, Sports Clubs, School Staff Rooms, GP surgeries and others. This continues and has presented opportunities to extend our outreach services in partnership with other local organisations.
We maintain contact with local secondary schools, and have been able to speak to a number of pupil groups about our work. We continue our efforts to develop sustainable links with schools in our area.
A team of Samaritans from the branch continues to provide support and training for prisoners at HMP Downview who are trained as Listeners to provide a 24 hour Samaritans service to their fellow prisoners.
Last year we were also able to participate in numerous local and national events. Teams of our volunteers were available, for example, on Epsom and Leatherhead stations on "Brew Monday" in January, in events at Epsom and Ashtead Libraries and at the Love Me Love My Mind Festival in Epsom and Mindfest in Dorking. We have participated in several local village fetes and given talks to groups ranging from Leatherhead Football Club to local Women's Institutes. Our programme to engage the local community continues to develop and expand.
Our thanks go to all our branch volunteers for the time and care that they have committed to the well-being of our callers and fellow volunteers.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **Financial Report**
We have benefitted in the past from some generous donations, which allowed us to build up our reserves and invest in improvements to our building and arrangements for our volunteers. But there has been a drop in income over the last two years, and some significant increases in costs.
We remain relatively secure financially, but like other charities, need to ensure that much effort is put into raising sufficient funds to cover our costs. The Trustees are determined to continue these efforts in 2024/5 and future years.
Page 2
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document**
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes an unincorporated charity.
Trustees are elected annually by the Charity's membership, and work within a framework of policies for branches developed by Samaritans nationally. Policies developed specifically for the branch include a policy that the Treasurer should provide Trustees with regular reports on the charity's reserves, with the aim that these should fall between a minimum of one and a maximum of two year's running costs.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number**
1170460
**Principal address** 7 Church Road Leatherhead Surrey KT22 8AT
## **Trustees**
K Haynes J Tullett C Dixon A Harrison (resigned 14.9.23) K Wastell S Fox D Millar S Walsom C Boon G Cooper (appointed 23.1.24) S M Endean (appointed 14.9.23) T Padden-Evans (appointed 14.9.23)
## **Independent Examiner**
Paul Tiller Kate Haynes Ltd 129 Woodlands Road Little Bookham Leatherhead Surrey KT23 4HN
Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by:
.......................................................................... K Wastell - Trustee
Page 3
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust'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 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner's 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:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. 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.
## Paul Tiller
Date: .............................................
Page 4
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
|Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
2
14,548
Investment income
3
148
**Total**
14,696
**EXPENDITURE ON**
**Charitable activities**
Support costs
24,072
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
(9,376)
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
487,434
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
478,058|Restricted
funds
£
2,039
-
2,039
2,039
-
-
-|31.3.24
Total
funds
£
16,587
148
16,735
26,111
(9,376)
487,434
478,058|31.3.23
Total
funds
£
11,532
63
11,595
23,354
(11,759)
499,193
487,434|
|---|---|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
## Balance Sheet 31 March 2024
|Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
6
462,464
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors: amounts falling due within one year
7
-
Cash at bank
16,282
16,282
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
8
(688)
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
15,594
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**
478,058
**NET ASSETS**
478,058
**FUNDS**
9
Unrestricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|31.3.24
Total
funds
£
462,464
-
16,282
16,282
(688)
15,594
478,058
478,058
478,058
478,058|31.3.23
Total
funds
£
462,464
2,190
24,059
26,249
(1,279)
24,970
487,434
487,434
487,434
487,434|
|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by:
............................................. K Wastell - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 6
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
Notes to the Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **Basis of preparing the financial statements**
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
## **Income**
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
## **Expenditure**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure. It is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
## **2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES**
|**DONATIONS AND LEGACIES**|||
|---|---|---|
||31.3.24|31.3.23|
||£|£|
|Donations|14,548|9,342|
|Listener Scheme Funding|2,039|2,190|
||16,587|11,532|
continued...
Page 7
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
## **3. INVESTMENT INCOME**
Deposit account interest
|31.3.24|31.3.23|
|---|---|
|£|£|
|148|63|
## **4. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023.
## **Trustees' expenses**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023.
## **5. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
|Unrestricted
funds
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
9,342
Investment income
63
**Total**
9,405
**EXPENDITURE ON**
**Charitable activities**
Support costs
21,164
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
(11,759)
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
499,193
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
487,434|Restricted
funds
£
2,190
-
2,190
2,190
-
-
-|Total
funds
£
11,532
63
11,595
23,354
(11,759)
499,193
487,434|
|---|---|---|
continued...
Page 8
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
|Notes to the Financial Statements-continued
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
**6.**
**TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
**COST**
At 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 31 March 2024
At 31 March 2023
**7.**
**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Other debtors
**8.**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Other creditors
**9.**
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
At 1.4.23
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
487,434
**TOTAL FUNDS**
487,434
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
14,696
**Restricted funds**
Listener Scheme Funding
2,039
**TOTAL FUNDS**
16,735|Freehold
property
£
462,464
462,464
462,464
31.3.24
31.3.23
£
£
-
2,190
31.3.24
31.3.23
£
£
688
1,279
Net
movement
At
in funds
31.3.24
£
£
(9,376)
478,058
(9,376)
478,058
Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(24,072)
(9,376)
(2,039)
-
(26,111)
(9,376)|
|---|---|
continued...
Page 9
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
## **9. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
## **Comparatives for movement in funds**
|At 1.4.22
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
499,193
**TOTAL FUNDS**
499,193
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
9,405
**Restricted funds**
Listener Scheme Funding
2,190
**TOTAL FUNDS**
11,595|Net
movement
At
in funds
31.3.23
£
£
(11,759)
487,434
(11,759)
487,434
Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(21,164)
(11,759)
(2,190)
-
(23,354)
(11,759)|
|---|---|
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|At 1.4.22
£
499,193
499,193|Net
movement
in funds
£
(21,135)
(21,135)|At
31.3.24
£
478,058|
|---|---|---|---|
||||478,058|
continued...
Page 10
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
## **9. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
||Incoming|Resources|Movement|
|---|---|---|---|
||resources|expended|in funds|
||£|£|£|
|**Unrestricted funds**||||
|General fund|24,101|(45,236)|(21,135)|
|**Restricted funds**||||
|Listener Scheme Funding|4,229|(4,229)|-|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|28,330|(49,465)|(21,135)|
## **10. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2024.
Page 11
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
|Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024|||
|---|---|---|
||31.3.24|31.3.23|
||£|£|
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**|||
|**Donations and legacies**|||
|Donations|14,548|9,342|
|Listener Scheme Funding|2,039|2,190|
||16,587|11,532|
|**Investment income**|||
|Deposit account interest|148|63|
|**Total incoming resources**|16,735|11,595|
|**EXPENDITURE**|||
|**Support costs**|||
|**Other**|||
|Rates and water|1,024|1,168|
|Light and heat|3,688|2,623|
|Telephone|3,080|3,485|
|Postage and stationery|48|201|
|Volunteer training and support costs|9|203|
|Volunteer care and travel costs|3,243|3,468|
|Outreach expenses|2,039|2,190|
|Advertising and publicity|684|762|
|Branch affiliation fee/BREF|451|376|
|Computer costs|444|822|
|Repairs and Renewals|2,313|6,103|
|house keeping|2,353|1,829|
|Insurance|3,263|-|
|Legal costs|35|35|
|Hire of facilities|237|89|
|CCTV|3,200|-|
||26,111|23,354|
|Total resources expended|26,111|23,354|
|**Net expenditure**|(9,376)|(11,759)|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 12