Aim
Statistics
During the period from1 November 2020 to 31 August 2021 there were a total of 10,864 contacts.
Methods of Contact
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Telephone contacts (including contacts lasting less than 30 seconds): 9,398
Email: 1,466
Total Contacts 10,864
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Samaritans supported in 2020 - 2021 by:
Financial Summary 2020 - 2021
INCOME TOTAL: £56,286
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Gifts & Donations
Grants
£24,059
£25,948
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Fundraising
& Appeals
Interest on
£3,859
Investments
£442
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EXPENDITURE TOTAL: £37,399
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Management
& Admin
£5,704
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Premises costs
£11,461
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Publicity &
Volunteer & Fundraising
Operational costs £745
£9,581
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Our aim is to:
• [Ensure that callers receive a high quality of consistent service to enable them to express ] their feelings effectively in complete confdence and equally to
• [Ensure volunteers are given the necessary initial and ongoing training and support to ] carry out their role.
Objectives
We will:
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[Make our services as accessible as possible]
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• [Provide a quality service]
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[Raise our prof][le and ensure a favourable environment for our callers and our volunteers]
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• [Obtain human and f][nancial resources needed to achieve our objectives]
• [Strive for the retention and motivation of volunteers]
- [Ensure the effective management of the Branch.]
Service
Samaritans provide a service that is available by telephone around the clock, every day of the year. They can also be contacted by email.
Callers do not need to identify themselves and the confdential service is free of charge. Each of the volunteers gives their time freely to the Charity.
Funding
The Charity is entirely dependent for funding on donations and grants from local and county authorities, the Home Offce, organisations and individuals - and the hard work put in by Tamworth Samaritans’ volunteers.
Tamworth Samaritans relies on donations and it is a registered charity (Charity Number 1170514). To make a donation, please send a cheque made payable to “Tamworth Samaritans” at our Branch address or contact the Branch for further details.
Bank: Lloyds Bank, 17 George Street, Tamworth, B79 7LW
Phone: Free Call 116 123 Email: jo@samaritans.org Website: www.samaritans.org/tamworth
@SamaritansTam
Tamworth Branch Registered Charity no. 1170514.
Annual Review 2020 - 2021
2nd Floor Office Suite, The Manor House, Lichfield Street, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 7QF
Director’s Report
Branch Leadership Team 2020-2021
Tamworth Samaritans is a registered charity with the Charity Commission No. of 1170514 and is located at the Manor House, Lichfeld Street, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 7QF.
Samaritans is located at the Upper Mill, Kingston Road, Ewell, Surrey, KT17 2AF. Tamworth Samaritans is an Affliated member of the Samaritan organisation and it is administered by a Single Branch Leadership Team (BLT) comprising:
~ Branch Director … Judith Hepburn
~ Vice Director … Paul Chester
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~ Deputy Director for Recruitment and Selection … Steve Godwin
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~ Deputy Director for Training … Niki Furlong Smith
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~ Deputy Director for Volunteer Support … Sue Fryer
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~ Deputy Director for Prisons … Paula Jauncey
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~ Deputy Director for Outreach … Dave Tickle
~ Treasurer … Marion Benjamin
~ Secretary … Fiona Styles
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~ Trustee for Documentation and Compliance … Katy Hope
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~ Trustee for Premises and Resources … Alan Ramage
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~ Trustee for Fundraising and Publicity … role currently vacant
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~ Trustee for External Affairs and Marketing … David Tickle
Responsibilities of the Branch Leadership Team
The Branch Leadership Team (BLT) is responsible for the general management of the administration of the charity, its property and affairs, and in particular is responsible for publicity and all fnancial and property affairs including fundraising, investments, maintenance of the building and provision of insurance.
The Leadership Team oversees the selection of a new Branch Director every three years. The Branch Director is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Branch and of the volunteers.
A huge thank you to every volunteer for their continued dedication to Tamworth Samaritans. Without your hard work and willingness, not only for the work in the duty room, but for all the other tasks that require extra support, we would not be able to maintain the 24/7 service we promise to our callers. You are all stars!
Two words sum up the last twelve months: change and resilience. From Central Office we have received reports about the ways in which the charity will monitor Safeguarding to reflect change in all national charities. So, we are in the throes of changing procedures in taking calls and writing emails, with new hubs of excellence being introduced over the next year. All this change is to ensure a better service for all our callers, but specifically those under 18 and people deemed at risk. Change can be unsettling but Tamworth Samaritans are resolutely positive about the weekly emails that signal a direction of practice in the branch. They are proving to have resilience that is awe-inspiring to adapt to the pace of change and shows their dedication to the branch and its callers.
We are still grappling with all the change that Covid 19 has wrought upon us. We have not had to close the branch because of the virus but we have had to close shifts, particularly when Tamworth was at the heart of the “pingdemic”; our cleanliness and sanitising procedures have helped us here. Our volunteers are not immune to the effects of life after lockdown; circumstances have changed, families have been re-shaped and sometimes we need to support each other as well as callers. People have taken periods of leave, now many are thankfully returning to us. Again, this shows that our volunteers have the resilience to overcome their own difficulties and still have kindness and compassion with their fellow colleagues and our callers who rely on us.
Slowly, we are returning to do outreach projects. Outside the branch, we have been seen in Planters Garden Centre at a charity table event, completed individual ‘Samarathons” and attended Tamworth Pride and Freshers’ Week at Tamworth College. Hopefully, our outreach work will continue and we will renew partnerships where we have been unable to give full support because of Covid - for example, at the railway station.
It is at Swinfen Hall Youth Offenders’ Institute where resilience has been the byword. The Prison Team were unable to go into the prison to support their Listeners, but they used telephone contact to support those in most need. Spending 23 hours in a cell has led to spiralling mental health problems, so this link with us has been essential. We have recently trained more Listeners to add to the team in Swinfen. All this in a year where Samaritans over the four nations are celebrating 30 years of working within prisons to help reduce suicidal intention and supporting people who are in emotional distress.
Change has meant movement and we have seen Sue 88 hand over to the reins to a new team. We thank her and her team for everything they did over the last year in unparalleled times. We also thank the new members of the team who have given their time willingly to new learn new skills and support the immense change that is happening daily. We say goodbye to two people who have given much to the branch for, collectively, 62 years: Marlene 5 who has been in branch for 41 years and Michael 170 for 21 years. What commitment and resilience! Thank you both for everything you have done for all of us.
The last year has seen us train 19 more new Samaritans in branch and three within the region. They are most welcome and help build capacity and move the branch forward. Emma 270 has become the Regional Training Officer and John 393 has joined the National Safeguarding Team. We congratulate them both and wish them well in their new roles.
The next 12 months will offer us challenges – but with all that we have been through, we have shown that we have the compassion and kindness, as well as the resilience, to face them all and offer the very best service for our callers. Thank you to each and every one of you for everything you have done in the last year to keep Tamworth Samaritans on track to continue to deliver a strong service for all our callers for the next 12 months. Judith Hepburn
Prison Report
Last year was a very challenging year for the Prison Team at Swinfen. With the help of the wonderful Staff and the Safer Custody Officer Carol (a star!) we managed to maintain contact with the Prison even though it was in lockdown through most of the year. We achieved this by a weekly telephone call with two Listeners from the same wing and our Safer Custody Officer. Dave and I took the calls. The Listeners still felt we were there for them even though it wasn’t face to face - a fantastic achievement.
We were eventually able to go back into the Prison in the afternoons to see Listeners in the Chapel. The Listeners said to me “It is so nice to see your face Miss”, those words summed everything up for me. On 4 August 2021 we trained six new Listeners, now we have ten. This is the first training to take place in 18 months. On 27 August 2021 we held a celebration of 30 years of Listeners. All ten Listeners attended and they were each allowed to invite two family members. An amazing day was had by all. My thanks to my team - Dave 161, who has been amazing over the past year helping me deliver the service to the Prison, Marion 397 and Trish 231 (S).
On 16 September 2021 we were able to resume our normal visits to the Prison at 6.00pm and the rest of the team were able to join us once again. A year like no other but we got there in the end.
Trustees’ Reports
Documentation and Compliance
Report from the Trustee for Compliance
As trustee for compliance and documentation, I have to ensure and give assurances that our actions are broadly compliant against a range of requirements, guidelines and best practice. If you think of the General Data Protection Act, that is a law. If you think of Risk Registers, Risk Assessment and Risk Management, in this context they derive from Charity Commission guidelines, whereas our Safeguarding Policy is an example of best practice. Not the lightest or most uplifting of subjects but it is what keeps us legal and keeps Samaritans, callers, donors, and members of the public safe.
When we held our last AGM, no-one could have predicted that the following 12 months would continue to be so challenging to us individually and collectively as Tamworth Samaritans. The dominant issue has undoubtedly been the interpretation and guidance based on the Central Office Coronavirus Risk Assessment. My thanks to Sue 88, as Branch Director, for her exceptional efforts to communicate with every volunteer about infection control and how to keep themselves safe. Nor did I anticipate quite how the organisation would respond to the need for greater accountability and transparency around Safeguarding.
More recently, I have been looking to revisit all our local policies (a work in progress), start to reshape our Risk Register, provide documentation to support the Quality Outcomes Framework and to support our new Branch Director and her team of Deputy Directors and Trustees to build awareness of the context and wider responsibilities of their roles.
Looking ahead, there is both an opportunity and a need to build some depth and breadth in our approach to compliance. So, I will be looking for willing Samaritans who can help with shaping our approach to risk assessment and management, effective communication and carrying out light touch checks and balances around our finances, assets and general practices. If you can spare some time and energy to ensure that we continue to operate as the independent, self-funded, affiliated charity Tamworth Samaritans, please think about joining the team.
Katy 271 Trustee for Compliance
External Affairs and Marketing
A very quiet year for Outreach and Partnership activity due to COVID-19, although we have secured a number of grants to help us financially through the crisis including two from the Pears Foundation for approximately £15000. We have maintained our links with Network Rail and are looking forward to being a presence again at local stations. In August 2021 we had a stand at the first Tamworth Pride event and attracted interest from many who attended. In September 2021 we were present at Lichfield College Freshers’ week, raising awareness of what Samaritans can offer to those who need support at this important time in their lives.
Dave 161
Premise and Resources
2020–2021 has been a busy year for the Premises Team. Our main priority has been infection control and helping to keep our volunteers safe when they were in the
branch. We owe thanks to Wilko for helping us to maintain a continuous supply of anti-bacterial wipes and hand-gel during the past 12 months.
We have cleared out old and obsolete items and equipment – thank you to John 361, Judith 387, Sam 279, Susie 275, Andy 473 (P) and his son for their time and help to fill the skip.
John 361 and I have re-vamped the Training Room, putting up a new noticeboard and a wall-mounted television and assembling the new chairs ordered by Emma 270. We also put up new noticeboards in the Duty Room.
Our landlord quickly replaced a leaking radiator in the duty room and arranged for the broken lock on the front door to the building to be repaired.
The Pears Foundation grant has enabled us to buy and install a dishwasher in the kitchen.
A special thank you to Chris 357 for continuing to maintain and keep our IT systems up-to-date.
Thank you also to Nick and Heather Read at TC Media for printing our AGM pamphlet again.
Alan188
Treasurer’s Report
As the Trustee responsible for financial administration and management of the Branch, the Treasurer is accountable to the Branch Director and reports directly to the Trustees and Branch Leadership Team. As the Treasury department, we ensure that proper accounts and records are kept in order to monitor the finances and assets of Tamworth Samaritans. We attend meetings and report on the Branch’s financial position including preparing an annual financial statement for Samaritans Central Charity. Thank you to Helen295 for her continued commitment to ensuring our bills are paid on time!
The year ending 31 March 2021 saw the Branch’s total wealth increase by 29%; where net assets as at the financial year end were £122,168. This increase can be attributed to efforts by the Branch to cut down on discretionary expenditure - which was possible due to the ongoing effects of the Pandemic; it meant less money was needed for events such as publicity, outreach and fundraising. The Branch also received significant income (£14,200) in the form of restrictive grants, which it was able to spend on investment in the premises and equipment.
In what was a difficult year for fundraising, due to restrictions such as social distancing, Tamworth Samaritans was still generously supported by some frequent and recurring patrons; as well as donors who backed our events such as last summer’s Samarathon at Tamworth Cricket Club and the newly created “Here4u” Text-to-Give campaign over the winter.
Due to investments made last year and ongoing support of volunteers, those in the community, and organisations in the wider public, it is reassuring to know the Branch has weathered the worst of the Covid-19 storm, and is in good financial health to continue the work that it does.
Marion397
Paula 89, BPSO for Tamworth Samaritans
Tamworth Samaritsns Charlty Commlssion Registration Number 1170614 Balance Sheet- Detail As at March 31, 2021 GBP FixedAssets Tangible Assets Computer Equipment Computer Equiprngnl Cost 7.824.63 Flxture8 & Fittings FixtUl88 & Fitting6 Cost 1,854.98 GurrentAssets Short Temi Investments CAF Fixed Int A¢¢umulalion Fund B 32,882.08 Cash At Bank And In Hand Lloyds Bank Business Current Account 23,021.18 Lloyds Bank Businèsg Savings Account 35,006.06 Unitad Trust Bank 1.5% 100 day notice- Building Fund Ac¢¢unt 21,579.34 N•t A$59ts 122.168.27 Funds & R?$9rygs Rètalned Funds General Fund 94,677 35 Accumulated Funds 27,490.92 Funds Providgd 122,168.27 Note.. 1) During the year £14,200.00 in¢ome was reiVed in the fom of restrictive grants. Of this, £4,402.23 remained unspent at the balance sheet date. 2) The trustees, policy, noting that they have no guaranteed income stream, is to hold enough funds in reserve to enable the charity to operate for 18 months in a similar manner as it operated in the previous 18 months while assuming no income would be forthcoming. Sianed.. Marion Benjamin Treasurer Signed on behalf of all Trustees David Davies Independent Exami er Date.. 13 10 101 I Date.. Yh/, 11512021 Page 1 of 1
Tamworth Samaritans Statement of Financial Activities (Income & Expense) Aprll 1, 2020 to March 31. 2021 UnrKtrlcted R•stsq¢tod Enth)wmort Total lfrKom& IrKome 8nd Endo%ThentS Inwme from Donations and Legacies Donationg 24,059.15 13.550.00 37,609.15 Gift Received 2,4e6.39 2.466.39 Grants- Rrring HMP Swnfan NOMS Gtgnt 1,313.84 434.45 1.748.29 Support St8ff¢Jrdshe 650.00 650.00 Tamworth BettyJgh Coun¢S1 10,000.00 10.000.QO Sundry Donadons 764.52 764.52 Inwm$ trun othor Trgding Activitkqs Bookstal & Card S8$ for Fundraising 328_00 328.(h) Feles. Bazaar, Other Fund-raisirg Events 3(M).00 300.00 Inve8lm8nt Income Interest Rewvl 442.02 442.02 Total Incom• 39,6731 51308.37 EXpenthre Ch4ritable AGtivitp$ Charity Markqgewnt & Admknistralion 3 Ring5 184.80 184.80 Brdnch Leadership Team 234.48 284.46 Central Ctrodtyconlrlbuuon 4,928.00 4,928.00 Co818 of 1rWJepdnl ExamlnationlAudit 60.00 Finan Accounts SofoNare Costs 124.32 124.32 Subsoriptions 122.38 122.38 Charity Running Costs rant* HouseKgepin9 131.80 1fj8.00 lÈaniNJ Mat¢dal$ 47.99 47.99 ethryty 1.1Q6.94 1.106.94 Expenditure on OJtr8xh 13.00 13.(NJ Health & Safely 160.80 302.30 463.10 Irths8 Training 34.00 5.99 39.99 Insurar 542.17 542.17 20110r2021 PèJ8tof2
Tamworth Samaritans Statement of Financial Activities {Income & Expense) April 1. 2020 to March 31. 2021 Unrostrfctsd Resldctsd Endowment Total Photo¢opyng 151.QO 151.0 Printing & St8tionery Cost8 1th).43 100.43 Refr8shm8nts 84.72 84.72 Branch Reftsshments 17.50 17.5 HhAP Catsring eypense8 5.15 S.15 ToleprKJr & Int8mèt 1,259.70 23.98 1.283.68 Travel HMP Swinfen Travd 429.30 429.30 Travd EXn88$ 6.617.82 8.617.82 Premises Costs Premises Rent Y,676.34 9,676.34 prem8$ Rep8rs & Ren8wals 325.55 221.34 546.89 Prem5 ServiGe Charge 1,238.17 1.238.17 Expenditur8 on Raldng Funds 744.89 744.89 Net Gain(LoSe5}on Invesbnents -2,295.39 -2,295.39 Total Expon¥o5 25,611.39 Net RoT¢6 Movement 14082.53 13.428.39 Net Movement In Funds 14082.53 13,428.39 0.00 27.49D.92 Total Funds Brou9ht Forward 0.00 0.00 Total Funds Carried Fovward 108.739a8 13A28.39 0.00 122,168.27 2011012021 Pag82of2
Ine toth am worth On the accounts forthe flnanclal perlod ended 31st March 2021 Respertlve re5ponsibilltles of trustees and examiner. The charity's trustees are responslble for the preparation of the accounts. The ¢harit¢s trustees consider that an audit is not required for thi5 year under Section 144 of the Charltles Act 2011 Ithe Charities Actll and that an independent examination is needed. It Is my responslbility to.. examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the procedurts laid down in the General Dlrections given by the Charity Commlsslon lunder sertion 14515llbl of the Charitiès Act, and to state whether particular matters have come to my attentlon. Basls of independent examiner's statement: My examination was carrled out in accordance with General Dlrections given by the Charity Commlssion. An examination includes a revi@w of the accounting records kept by thè charlty and a comparison of the tcounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustee5 concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provlde all the evidence that would be requlred In an audtt, and consequently no oplnSon Is given as to whether the accounts present 'a true and fall vlew and the report is limited to those mattèrs set out in the statement below. Independent examlnerfs statement: In connection with my examlnation, no matter has come to my attentlon, iii Which glves me reasonable cause to believe that, In any material respect, the quirements.. to keep accountlng records In accordance wlth section 130 of the Charftles Act,. to prepa¥e accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met To which. in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understandlng of the accounts to be reached. Slgned.. Date.. Name.. Mr Davld Davies 4 Moat Drive Drayton Bassett Tamworth Staffordshire 878 3UG
ndent Èxamlnè worth Samarltans On the accounts for the flnanclal perlod ended Sl- March ZOZI Respectlve responsibllttles of trustees and examiner: The ch8rity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustee5 consider that an audlt is not requirèd for thls year undèr sÈrtion 144 of the Charltles Act 2011 (the Charities Artll and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibllity to.. examine the accounts under sectlon 145 of the Charltles Act, to follow the procedures lald down in the General Directlons glven by the Charfty CommissSon (under section 145lSllbl of the CharStles Act. and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Bo91$ of Independent examlnerfs statement: My examinatltrn was carried out In accordance with General Directions glven by the Charity Commisslon. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charSty and a tomparison of the accounts presented wlth thtssÈ rècords. It also includes conslderatlon of unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeklng Èxplanations from you as trustees coneerning any such matters. The proc&durè5 undertaken do not provlde all the evidence that would be requlred In an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present 'a true and faSrf view and the report 15 lirnrted to those Matters set out In the statement below. Independent examlnerfs statement: In connection with my examlnatlon, no matter has come to my attentlon, Which gSves me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respert, the requirement5'. to keep accountlng retord5 in accordence wlth section 130 of the Charities Act,. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requlrements of the Charitles Act have not been met To whlch, in my opinion, attentlon should be drawn In order to enable a proper understandlng of the accounts to be reached. Slgned.. Date.. Name: Mr David Davies 4 Moat Drive Drayton Bassett Tarnworth Stafford5hire B78 3UG