## **Trustees' Annual Report for the period**
Period start date Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year **From 1 Apri** l **2021 To 31 March 2022**
## Section A Reference and administration details
**Charity name** Samaritans of Maidstone and the Weald **Other names charity is known by** None **Registered charity number (if any)** 1171193 **Charity's principal address** 48 Grecian Street Maidstone Kent **Postcode ME14 2TS**
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Dates acted if not for whole Name of person (or body) entitled
Trustee name Office (if any)
year to appoint trustee (if any)
1 Marcus Whiteley Director Resigned 22 October
2 Julian Smith Trustee
3 Hilary Adams Treasurer
4 Stephen Carr Trustee
5 Ross Gill Director Appointed 22 October
6 Michelle Boniface Trustee Resigned 22 October
7 Jane Edwards Trustee Co-opted 1 January
8 Eva Jolly Trustee Elected 22 October
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)
Name Dates acted if not for whole year
**----- End of picture text -----**
March **2012**
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## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
|**Type of adviser**|**Name**|**Address**|
|---|---|---|
|**Bank**|Natwest|3 High Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1HJ|
||||
||||
||||
|**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**|||
## **Section B Structure, governance and management**
## **Description of the charity’s trusts**
Type of governing document
CIO – Association adopted 19 January 2017
- (eg. trust deed, constitution)
Charitable Incorporated Organisation How the charity is constituted
- (eg. trust, association, company)
Elected by members of charity Trustee selection methods
(eg. appointed by, elected by)
## **Additional governance issues (Optional information)**
Samaritans Maidstone and Weald is affiliated to the central Samaritans charity (registration number 219432) as a local branch. This means that we are committed to providing a consistent service in line with Samaritans’ Mission, Vision and Values and its policy and governance framework, via an agreed Operating Agreement, alongside 201 local branches across the UK and Ireland.
You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant, about:
- policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
- The training and support that we provide to our volunteers is consistent
- the charity’s organisational with that agreed by the central charity, and our consitution and operating structure and any wider structure are materially the same as that which governs other affiliated network with which the charity branches.This provides us with the strength of both a locally-based, works; volunteer-run branch and the scale and capacity of a national charity.
- relationship with any related parties;
- Training is provided for all trustees, as well as for all other roles with
- parties; specific responsibilities in the Branch. We also receive advice on
- trustees’ consideration of governance matters from the central charity. In the past year, all major risks and the system volunteers (including Trustees) have received further safeguarding and procedures to manage training, in line with best practice. them.
The Trustees maintain a risk register which is considered and acted on if necessary at each Trustee meeting. The risk register takes account of all forms of risk, including those relating physical and building risks, financial risks, and risks associated with the delivery our emotional support service.
March **2012**
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## Section D Achievements and performance
**Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year**
_“Our_ _**vision** is that fewer people die by suicide. 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.”_ As part of the wider Samaritans movement across the UK and Ireland, Samaritans Maidstone and Weald contributes to a unique listening service, helping people to explore their feelings, alleviate distress and reduce the risk of suicide. In the year ending March 2022, volunteers in Maidstone responded to around 15,000 telephone calls – a crucial contribution to around three million calls across the organisation, the equivalent of some 400 per hour. In addition, we responded to over 1,000 emails. Our service makes a real difference: one call in every four is about suicidal thoughts and feelings, and our most recent organisationwide impact report demonstrates that people report a significant reduction in distress as a result of calling Samaritans. In addition, Samaritans Maidstone and Weald is active outside the Branch. In 2021/22, we supported Listener schemes at Maidstone and East Sutton Park prisons, training and supporting prisoners to provide emotional support to fellow prisoners who are struggling to cope. We also continued to deliver outreach activities, working with Samaritans’ Step by Step schools service to support schools affected by death from suicide; promoting Samaritans services in conjuction with Network Rail; and delivering listening skills training to external organisations. All our activity in 2021/22 was delivered in the context of the gradual relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions. The pandemic had a major impact on callers to Samaritans: at the height of the crisis, about a fifth of calls involved worries linked with coronavirus. But it also impacted on the operations of the branch, as we implemented social distancing and adapted to online training. During 2021/22, we were able to return to greater ‘in-person’ interaction, with our first post-pandemic face-to-face AGM taking place in October and a return to greater activity outside the Branch. During the year, we have made continued efforts to improve our availability and the services we are able to offer our callers. It is vital that we are open for as much of the time as possible, and our team of rota secretaries does an amazing job in ensuring that we are there when we are needed. In 2021/22, a national ‘hub’ was also established to support email contacts to Samaritans, supplementing the support we offer in the Branch.
All this activity is only possible because of the commitment and dedication of our team of volunteers. Currently, there are 127 members of Samaritans Maidstone and Weald, including ‘listening’ volunteers and others who provide a wide range of essential support services. Our volunteers are at the heart of the service: volunteer support is a top priority for the Branch, and in 2021/22, we launched a programme of social events and meetings to bring the branch “back together” after the Covid crisis. We also continued to recruit, train and welcome new volunteers to the Branch.
Beyond Maidstone, the Branch played an active role in the South East Region, working together with our neighbouring branches. In particular,
March **2012**
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Section D Achievements and performance
volunteers at Maidstone continued to support the establishment of a new branch at Sevenoaks, which over the course of 2021/22 grew rapidly and enjoyed great success.
The Branch saw some changes in management in 2021/22. Following the AGM in October, Ross 687 and Marion 922 became Director and Vice-Director respectively, with Annie 885, Celia 23N, Fran 1015, Freya 1021, James 1038, Jess 910, Lisa 1022, Rose 1020 and Trish 701 as Deputy Directors. The Trustees of the Charity were Amy 892, Eva 1078, Gerry 869, James 1038 and Ross 687.
Looking to the future, Samaritans developed a new Strategy over the course of 2021/22, _Tackling Suicide Together_ . Our mission and vision remain the same, but we are also focused on improving access to our service and ensuring that more people are able to reach us – especially those who have a higher risk of suicide. Alongside our new Strategy, we will also be investing further in the fabric of our branch in Grecian Street following a commitment made by Trustees in 2021/22, and we hope to introduce online chat as a new channel of communication, expanding our reach.
We owe great thanks to our volunteers and donors and to all those involved in the wider Samaritans movement. It is through the commitment of our volunteers and the generosity of all those who contribute to us that we continue to grow as a Branch, able to deliver our new Strategy and support our callers now and into the future. Thank you.
_“There are in this world, in every country, people who seem to be ‘ordinary’, but who turn out to be extraordinary. They give their total attention. They listen and listen and listen, without interrupting. They do not preach. They have nothing to sell. We call them Samaritans.”_ - Chad Varah, Founder of Samaritans
March **2012**
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## **Section E Financial review**
**Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves**
The Charity aims to keep enough funds in reserve to keep the branch running for 18 months. We have maintained this reserve throughout the year.
**Details of any funds materially in deficit**
none
## **Further financial review details (Optional information)**
The great majority of our funds are from public fundraising and the generosity of those who wish to donate to our charity. This includes income from charitable fundraising events and grants from trusts, church and community groups and other bodies. We also receive funds through a service level agreement with HM Prison Service to deliver the Listener service at HMP Maidstone and HMP East Sutton Park.
You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant about:
- the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
- how expenditure has This income enables us to operate a service providing emotional support for those experiencing distress or despair, including thoughts of suicide.
- supported the key objectives In practical terms, our principal expenditure relates to telephone and IT
- of the charity; costs, the maintenance of our building (which we own freehold),
- investment policy and fundraising and outreach expenses and administrative costs. objectives including any ethical investment policy We rely on the significant non-financial contribution of volunteer hours: all adopted.
We rely on the significant non-financial contribution of volunteer hours: all those involved in delivering the Samaritans service do so on a voluntary basis. We also make a contribution from our funds to the operation of the Samaritans Central Charity, which provides us with a wide range of central services as well as our overall policy framework.
## **Section F Other optional information**
## **Section G Declaration**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s)** Ross Gill **Full name(s)** Ross Gill **Position (eg Secretary, Chair,** Director **etc)**
**Date** 7.10.22
March **2012**
**TAR**
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**----- Start of picture text -----**
No (if any)
Samaritans of Maidstone and Weald 1171193
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period Period start date Period end date
To
from 01-Apr-21 31-Mar-22
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Fundraising 887 - 887 256
Donations 16,658 4,372 - 21,030 7,940
Grants 4,911 - 4,911 13,941
Other income 1,203 - 1,203 163
- - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for
AR) [ 23,659 ] 4,372 - 28,031 22,300
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 23,659 4,372 - 28,031 22,300
A3 Payments
Charitable activities 5,973 - - 5,973 5,148
Light, heat and utilities 2,524 - - 2,524 2,931
Property repairs and maintenance 878 - - 878 3,409
Fundraising expenses 259 - - 259
Publicity costs 261 - - 261 48
Telephone and internet 2,052 - 2,052 2,025
Insurance 774 - 774 721
Branch administration 1,688 - 1,688 1,385
National contribution 2,401 - - 2,401 3,315
Sub total [ 16,810 ] - - 16,810 18,982
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
Computer equipment - - - - 3,664
- - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - - 3,664
Total payments 16,810 - - 16,810 22,646
Net of receipts/(payments) 6,849 4,372 - 11,221 - 346
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 55,154 4,848 - 60,002 60,348
Cash funds this year end 62,003 9,220 - 71,223 60,002
**----- End of picture text -----**
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
12/10/2022
1
## **Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**
|**Categories**
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
**B1 Cash funds**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
**B5 Liabilities**
**B3 Investment assets**|Signature
Ross Gill
**Details**
**Details**
Freehold Property
Computer Equipment
Equipment
**Details**
**Details**
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
**Details**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**62,003**
**9,220**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**62,003**
**9,220**
OK
OK
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Cost (optional)**
**9,250**
**4,403**
**1,120**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**liability relates**
**Amount due**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
Print Name
Ross Gill|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**-**|
||||OK|
||||**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Current value**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Current value**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**When due**
**(optional)**
Date of
approval
13.7.22|
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
12/10/2022
2
## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
## **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
|**Report to the trustees/**
**members of**
**On accounts for the year**
**ended**
**Set out on pages**
**Responsibilities and**
**basis of report**|Charity Name
Samaritans of Maidstone and Weald|
|---|---|
|||
||31 March 2022
**Charity no**
**(if any)**
1171193|
|||
||1 to 5|
||I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2022.
As the charity's trustees, 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 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I
have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.|
**Independent** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have **examiner's statement** come to my attention in connection with the which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
- the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
- the accounts did 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.
|**Signed:**
**Name:**
**Relevant professional**
**qualification(s) or body**
**(if any):**
**Address:**|**Date:**||
|---|---|---|
|||12th October 2022|
||||
||Ben Cuddington F.C.A.||
||||
||Association of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales||
||||
||EMR Centre, New Road||
||East Malling||
||Kent ME19 6BJ||
1
**Oct 2018**
**IER**