Trustees' Annual Report for the period
Period start date Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year 1 Apri l 2022 31 March 2023 From To
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
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ross Gill | Director | |||
| Julian Smith | Trustee | |||
| HilaryAdams | Treasurer | |||
| Stephen Carr | Trustee | |||
| Pamela Cuerden | Trustee | 7.10.22 | ||
| Christine Ansell | Trustee | 7.10.22 | ||
| Eva Jolly | Trustee | |||
| Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees) | ||||
| Name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |||
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Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Type of adviser | Name Address |
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 (eg. trust deed, constitution)
How the charity is constituted
CIO – Association adopted 19 January 2017
Charitable Incorporated Organisation
- (eg. trust, association, company)
Elected by members of charity Trustee selection methods
- (eg. appointed by, elected by)
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:
-
policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
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the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
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relationship with any related parties;
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trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
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.
The training and support that we provide to our volunteers is consistent with that agreed by the central charity, and our consitution and operating structure are materially the same as that which governs other affiliated branches.This provides us with the strength of both a locally-based, volunteer-run branch and the scale and capacity of a national charity.
Training is provided for all trustees, as well as for all other roles with specific responsibilities in the Branch. We also receive advice on governance matters from the central charity. In the past year, all volunteers (including Trustees) have received further safeguarding training, in line with best practice.
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.
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Section D Achievements and performance
“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 2023, 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 2022/23, 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, promoting Samaritans services in conjuction with Network Rail; and offering talks to a range of external organisations.
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. All this activity is only possible because of the commitment and dedication of our team of volunteers. Currently, there are 115 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 and volunteer support is a top priority for the Branch. We also continued to recruit, train and welcome new volunteers to the Branch – and after a period in which we had to deliver our training online, we were able in 2022 to deliver the majority in person. We are very grateful to the Blackthorn Medical Practice for the use of their facilities for training.
Beyond Maidstone, the Branch played an active role in the South East Region, working together with our neighbouring branches. In addition, we have volunteers at Maidstone whi are part of the national Festivals Branch and the Email Hub, established to provide greater capacity to support those who choose to contact us in writing.
In Samaritans, most roles have a three year term. In 2022/23, Jess 910, Fran 1015, Rose 1020, Celia 23N and Lisa 1022 stood down as Deputy Directors for Training, Prisons, Outreach, Rota and Recruitment respectively. All gave a huge amount of time to their roles and to the success of the Branch, and their support is very much appreciated. At 31 March 2023, the Branch management consisted of Ross 687 (Director) and Marion 922 (Vice-Director), with Annie 885, James 1038, John 1092, Heidi 1102, Luke 1042, Trish 701 and Will 828 as Deputy Directors. The Trustees of the Charity were Eva 1078, Gerry 869, Hilary 27N, James 1038, Pamela 616N and Ross 687. Beyond these roles, many volunteers took on a number of roles across the branch, including as duty leaders, members of the training and recruitment teams, mentors to new volunteers, members of the prison, outreach, fundraising and volunteer support teams, and many more. As an organisation which is volunteer-led and, at local level, entirely staffed by volunteers, the contribution of so many people to making the branch work effectively is vital.
In 2023 it is 70 years since Chad Varah established the first Samaritans service. Since then, we have expanded to over 200 branches across the UK and Ireland, with a wider range of ways in which people can contact us, and a telephone system that maximises the ability of people to get through when they need us. Looking to the future, we want to expand our availability, through additional volunteer recruitment and new ways of managing the rota. We also hope to further develop our support for our Listeners in prisons, and to offer a new programme of talks in schools.
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Section D Achievements and performance
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 and as a vital service to the public. 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
Section E Financial review
The Charity aims to keep enough funds in reserve to keep the branch Brief statement of the running for 18 months. We have maintained this reserve throughout the charity’s policy on reserves year.
Details of any funds materially none in deficit
Further financial review details (Optional information)
The great majority of our funds are from public fundraising and the You may choose to include generosity of those who wish to donate to our charity. This includes additional information, where income from charitable fundraising events and grants from trusts, church relevant about: and community groups and other bodies. We also receive funds through the charity’s principal a service level agreement with HM Prison Service to deliver the Listener sources of funds (including service at HMP Maidstone and HMP East Sutton Park. any fundraising); how expenditure has This income enables us to operate a service providing emotional support supported the key objectives for those experiencing distress or despair, including thoughts of suicide. of the charity; In practical terms, our principal expenditure relates to telephone and IT 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. 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.
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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 6.10.23
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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 1-Apr-22 31-Mar-23
Samaritans of Maidstone and Weald
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts Fundraising 1,294 Donations 7,512 Grants 3,512 Other income 1,479 - - - 13,797 - - Sub total - Total receipts 13,797 A3 Payments Charitable activities 5,055 Light, heat and utilities 1,987 Propertyrepairs and maintenance 4,293 Fundraisingexpenses - Publicitycosts 74 Telephone and internet 2,394 Insurance 930 Branch administration 1,420 National contribution 6,086 Sub total 22,239 - - Sub total - Total payments 22,239 Net of receipts/(payments) - 8,442 A5 Transfers between funds - A6 Cash funds last year end 62,003 Cash funds this year end 53,561 Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ Sub total(Gross income for AR) A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
to the nearest £ 720 - - - 720 - - - 720 - - 720 - - - 720 - - - 720 - - 9,220 9,220 Restricted funds |
to the nearest £ Endowment funds |
Total funds to the nearest £ 1,294 8,232 3,512 1,479 - - - - 14,517 - - - 14,517 5,055 1,987 5,013 - 74 2,394 930 1,420 6,086 22,959 - - - 22,959 - 8,442 - 71,223 62,781 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | 1,294 | 887 | ||
| - | 8,232 | 21,030 | ||
| - | 3,512 | 4,911 | ||
| - | 1,479 | 1,203 | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | 14,517 | 28,031 | ||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | 14,517 | 28,031 | ||
| - | 5,055 | 5,973 | ||
| - | 1,987 | 2,524 | ||
| - | 5,013 | 878 | ||
| - | - | 259 | ||
| - | 74 | 261 | ||
| - | 2,394 | 2,052 | ||
| - | 930 | 774 | ||
| - | 1,420 | 1,688 | ||
| - | 6,086 | 2,401 | ||
| - | 22,959 | 16,810 | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | 22,959 | 16,810 | ||
| - | - | - 8,442 | 11,221 | |
| - | - | - | - | |
| 9,220 | - | 71,223 | 60,002 | |
| 9,220 | - | 62,781 | 71,223 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Details Details Details Details Freehold Property Computer Equipment Equipment Details Signature Ross Gill Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
to nearest £ to nearest £ 53,561 9,220 - - - - 53,561 9,220 OK OK to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) 9,250 4,403 1,120 - - - - - - - - - - - Print Name Ross Gill Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) |
to nearest £ Endowment funds |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| to nearest £ Endowment funds |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| Date of approval |
|||
| Ross Gill | Ross Gill | ||
Direct Admin
| Branchsna | 82 | 82 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catering | 50 | 50 | |
| Cleaning | 1,205 | 1,205 | |
| Housekeep | 140 | 140 | |
| Photocopie | 512 | 512 | |
| Software | 700 | 700 | |
| PPS | 150 | 150 | |
| Training | 232 | 232 | |
| Travel | 2,724 | 2,724 | |
| Vol gifts | 411 | 411 | |
| Vol supp | 54 | 54 | |
| Just giving | 180 | 180 | |
| Subs | 35 | 35 | |
| 6,475 | 5,055 | 1,420 |