REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1170460
Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
for Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
| 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 2025
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. 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:
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Emotional support by telephone, email and online chat from our Centre at 7 Church Road Leatherhead
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Training, support and guidance at Her Majesty's Prison (HMP), Downview through delivery of the Listener Scheme
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Emotional wellbeing talks to pupils attending local Schools
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Talks and visits to local groups in the community
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Assistance to the wider Samaritans organisation
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Partnerships with local charities and other organisations
Face-to-face emotional support at the branch was suspended in March 2020 because of the COVID epidemic. Demand for this service had 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:
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-Listening
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Exploring feelings alleviates distress and helps people to reach a better understanding of their situation and the options open to them.
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-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
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.
Page 1
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
SERVICE DELIVERY
The total number of contacts answered by our volunteers in 2024/25 where callers sought emotional support was 14,044, a small increase on the previous year. We increased the number of phone calls to 13,087, compared to 12,339 in 2024/24, 12,074 in 2022/23 and 11,389 in 2021/22, but the number of emails was reduced from 811 to 582, reflecting changes in the way the national email service is delivered. We responded to 375 webchat calls, about the same as the previous year.
Maintaining the safety of our callers, our volunteers and their families remained our top priority.
Since the pandemic we have been able to increase our numbers of branch volunteers, and at year-end, we had 126. We were able to continue recruitment and training of new volunteers throughout the year, with over twenty new volunteers successfully completing their initial training during the year. We take part in local recruitment events and are targeting specific groups to increase awareness of the opportunities.
We have a continuing programme of training and development for experienced volunteers to ensure the continuing quality of our service. This included peer mentoring, policy update events, and contributions from external speakers. We encourage volunteers to undertake specialist training to answer webchat calls and training to offer emotional support when this is sought at local events outside of our branch.
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 participated in many local and national events aimed at raising awareness of Samaritans. Teams of volunteers distributed Samaritans branded items and leaflets at local railway stations on "Brew Monday" in January, a Wellbeing Wonderland event at a local school, a local concert, events at Epsom and Ashtead Libraries, 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 Unilever to local Women's Institutes, while on World Suicide Prevention Day we were both at Epsom Racecourse and at an event organised by Mindshare. 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
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. Although there have been fluctuations in income over the last three years, and some significant increases in costs, renewed efforts at fund-raising have allowed us to rebuild our reserves to ensure they remain above the minimum (12 months costs) specified in our Financial Policy.
We are particularly grateful to those who attended our very successful Quiz Night in 2024, and to those volunteers and their families who have raised significant funds in sponsored events. We are also grateful to those bodies who have made generous grants available, in particular Stones Throw Business Solutions and Mole Valley District Council.
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 and increase these efforts in 2025/6 and future years, and to maintain reserves at the higher end of our target range.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes an unincorporated charity.
Page 2
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
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.
FINANCIAL REVIEW Financial Report
.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number 1170460
Principal address
7 Church Road Leatherhead Surrey KT22 8AT
Trustees
J Tullett C Dixon K Wastell (resigned 1.1.25) S Fox D Millar (resigned 3.10.24) S Walsom C Boon G Cooper S M Endean (resigned 22.7.24) T Padden-Evans (resigned 23.4.24) K Valentine (appointed 3.10.24) M Hammick (appointed 1.1.25) G Grace (appointed 28.1.25) C Duke
Independent Examiner
Kate Haynes 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:
........................................................................ M Hammick - 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 2025.
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:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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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.
Kate Haynes
Date: .............................................
Page 4
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
| Unrestricted funds Notes £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 2 38,833 Investment income 3 161 Total 38,994 EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities Support costs 21,727 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 17,267 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 478,058 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 495,325 |
Restricted funds £ 5,546 - 5,546 - 5,546 - 5,546 |
31.3.25 Total funds £ 44,379 161 44,540 21,727 22,813 478,058 500,871 |
31.3.24 Total funds £ 16,587 148 16,735 26,111 (9,376) 487,434 478,058 |
|---|---|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
Balance Sheet 31 March 2025
| Unrestricted funds Notes £ FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 6 462,464 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors: amounts falling due within one year 7 717 Cash at bank 33,629 34,346 CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 8 (1,485) NET CURRENT ASSETS 32,861 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 495,325 NET ASSETS 495,325 FUNDS 9 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds TOTAL FUNDS |
Restricted funds £ - - 5,546 5,546 - 5,546 5,546 5,546 |
31.3.25 Total funds £ 462,464 717 39,175 39,892 (1,485) 38,407 500,871 500,871 495,325 5,546 500,871 |
31.3.24 Total funds £ 462,464 - 16,282 16,282 (688) 15,594 478,058 478,058 478,058 - 478,058 |
|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by:
............................................. M Hammick - 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 2025
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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 31.3.25 | 31.3.24 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Gifts | 1 | - |
| Donations | 42,339 | 14,548 |
| Listener Scheme Funding | 2,039 | 2,039 |
| 44,379 | 16,587 |
continued...
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Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
3. INVESTMENT INCOME
| INVESTMENT INCOME | ||
|---|---|---|
| 31.3.25 | 31.3.24 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Deposit account interest | 161 | 148 |
4. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
5. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
| Unrestricted funds £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 14,548 Investment income 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 6. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS COST At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 March 2025 At 31 March 2024 |
Restricted funds £ 2,039 - 2,039 2,039 - - - |
Total funds £ 16,587 148 16,735 26,111 (9,376) 487,434 478,058 Freehold property £ 462,464 462,464 462,464 |
|---|---|---|
continued...
Page 8
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
| 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 1.4.24 £ Unrestricted funds General fund 478,058 Restricted funds Disabled access - TOTAL FUNDS 478,058 Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: Incoming resources £ Unrestricted funds General fund 38,994 Restricted funds Disabled access 5,546 TOTAL FUNDS 44,540 Comparatives for movement in funds At 1.4.23 £ Unrestricted funds General fund 487,434 TOTAL FUNDS 487,434 |
31.3.25 31.3.24 £ £ 717 - 31.3.25 31.3.24 £ £ 1,485 688 Net movement At in funds 31.3.25 £ £ 17,267 495,325 5,546 5,546 22,813 500,871 Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (21,727) 17,267 - 5,546 (21,727) 22,813 Net movement At in funds 31.3.24 £ £ (9,376) 478,058 (9,376) 478,058 |
|---|---|
continued...
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Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
9. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| resources | expended | in funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 14,696 | (24,072) | (9,376) |
| Restricted funds | |||
| Listener Scheme Funding | 2,039 | (2,039) | - |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 16,735 | (26,111) | (9,376) |
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Disabled access TOTAL FUNDS |
At 1.4.23 £ 487,434 - 487,434 |
Net movement in funds £ 7,891 5,546 13,437 |
At 31.3.25 £ 495,325 5,546 500,871 |
|---|---|---|---|
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 | 53,690 | (45,799) | 7,891 |
| Restricted funds | |||
| Listener Scheme Funding | 2,039 | (2,039) | - |
| Disabled access | 5,546 | - | 5,546 |
| 7,585 | (2,039) | 5,546 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 61,275 | (47,838) | 13,437 |
continued...
Page 10
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
10. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Page 11
Samaritans of Leatherhead, Epsom & Dorking
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | ||
|---|---|---|
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 | ||
| 31.3.25 | 31.3.24 | |
| £ | £ | |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS | ||
| Donations and legacies | ||
| Gifts | 1 | - |
| Donations | 42,339 | 14,548 |
| Listener Scheme Funding | 2,039 | 2,039 |
| 44,379 | 16,587 | |
| Investment income | ||
| Deposit account interest | 161 | 148 |
| Total incoming resources | 44,540 | 16,735 |
| EXPENDITURE | ||
| Support costs | ||
| Other | ||
| Rates | 998 | 1,024 |
| Water Light and heat | 1,787 | 3,688 |
| Telephone | 1,036 | 3,080 |
| Postage and stationery | - | 48 |
| Volunteer care and travel costs | 8,971 | 3,252 |
| Outreach expenses | - | 2,039 |
| Advertising and publicity | 435 | 684 |
| Directors' operating expenses | 790 | - |
| Branch affiliation fee/NBC | 1,592 | 451 |
| Computer costs | 174 | 444 |
| Repairs and Renewals | 1,114 | 2,313 |
| house keeping | 2,925 | 2,353 |
| Insurance | 1,746 | 3,263 |
| Legal costs | - | 35 |
| Hire of facilities | 159 | 237 |
| CCTV | - | 3,200 |
| 21,727 | 26,111 | |
| Total resources expended | 21,727 | 26,111 |
| Net income/(expenditure) | 22,813 | (9,376) |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 12