Charity No. 1172371
## **Annual Report**
## **For the year ended 31 March 2024**
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## **SAFE AND SOUND DORSET**
## **Annual Report For the year ended 31st March 2024**
||Page|
|---|---|
|Trustees and Advisers to the charity|3|
|Trustees’ Report|4|
|Report of the Independent Examiner|20|
|Receipts and Payments Accounts|21|
|Statement of Assets and Liabilities|22|
|Notes to the Accounts|23|
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## **SAFE AND SOUND DORSET**
## **Trustees and Advisers For the year ended 31[st] March 2024**
## **Trustees**
Mary Richards Victoria Westerby Hannah Rees (appointed 15/10/2022) Delia Smith (appointed 15/10/2022) Rachel Flynn (appointed 15/10/2022
## **Principal Office**
1 Browning Avenue Bournemouth Dorset BH5 1NP
## **Charity Registration Number**
1172371
## **Gift Aid Reference Number**
EW77430
## **Independent Examiner**
Vantage Accounting Services Ltd 1 Cedar Office Park Cobham Road Wimborne Dorset BH21 7SB
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## **SAFE AND SOUND DORSET**
## **Trustees’ Report For the year ended 31[st] March 2024**
## **Safe and Sound Dorset Annual Report Written by Dot Pickett Endorsed by Mary Richards**
## **Our mission statement**
_Working with women who are isolated or at risk, building confidence through creativity and community, encouraging social inclusion, responsibility and personal choice._
Safe and Sound Dorset is still at an important transformational stage in its development and growth. With the opening of our not-for-profit coffee lounge 2 years ago and expansion we are at a break even point. Here are some statistics to underpin where we are placed within our community.
In March 2023 inflation was 10.4% that was a rise by 4.7% from 2022 and we are experiencing an even higher increase in 2024.
Nominal wages rose by 8.9% 2022-2023 and therefore workers living in Bournemouth were £27 per month poorer in 2023 than the previous year. This alone has seen an increase in demand for our services, especially for food provision. We have also seen a need for food support amongst all age groups and demographics. We would estimate that 2024 will one of the worst recorded for our area.
There has also been an increase in domestic violence and new reports coming in weekly as pressures rise adding to the vulnerability of the women and girls we serve.
Homelessness is devastating, dangerous and isolating. The average age of death for women experiencing homelessness is 42. People sleeping on the street are almost 17 times more likely to have been victims of violence. More than one in three people sleeping rough have been deliberately hit, kicked, or experienced some other form of violence whilst homeless.
Homeless people are over nine times more likely to take their own life than the general population.
Our housing group is consistently active, and more women are also requesting help with maintaining housing that is sub-standard. We regularly support women to cope with staying on top of their bills. Without this support some would fall behind on their responsibilities and end up evicted and back into a vulnerable situation.
We collaborate with Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Shelter to support housing and housing stability.
https://www.crisis.org.uk/
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The research also identifies ongoing health issues in 90 per cent of those who participated, including mental health issues (72%) and addiction (69%). It also highlighted significant gender differences: men were less likely to have a mental illness and less likely to have an addiction than women.
As The Big Issue has highlighted recently, digital poverty is a growing concern in a world where everything from healthcare and housing to financial services and benefits is now online. Bournemouth University’s research showed that 77% of participants owned a mobile or smartphone, yet only 50% could access the internet regularly.
Women experience many more barriers than men.
Overall confidence in using the internet was generally poor, with approximately half (49%) stating they had low/very low confidence, and this was lower in both older participants and in women.
The interviews identified numerous barriers.
These included the inability to access support because of lack of local connection; no address or verification of homeless status; inadequate information regarding how to access services; personal difficulties and a perception of prejudice that made seeking help difficult.
And in digital literacy and connectivity, homeless women again experienced many more barriers than men. As a result, many services deemed excellent by participants are not being accessed; information is poor, hard to find and rarely updated, which leads to a reliance on word of mouth to find services.
This research highlights the need for both policymakers and practitioners to have an awareness of the differences of experiences between men and women who are homeless when developing services, as well as the importance of ensuring that digital health technologies policy and practices do not further disadvantage those who are homeless.
## https://www.bigissue.com/
We believe that with support all women can be empowered to recognise and develop their strengths, confidence and self-esteem, and are more able to manage their lives positively.
Our strategy is always underpinned by our beliefs and values. These values include an understanding of how much a support system around each person can make a huge difference. Belonging to a community addresses social issues of positive inclusion enabling women to build their confidence. Barriers of disadvantage and low income affect the lives of many women struggling in isolation and can be alleviated through small means such as creating safe spaces, sign posting to vital appropriate services, accessibility to food vouchers, community meals, laundry and shower facilities as well as a chance to connect up in small ways throughout each week, eat together and do activities together. Our therapeutic creative activities enable women to develop their lives cognitively, creatively, relationally for well-being as well as for practical support. This holistic approach has always been our focus and with our coffee lounge we have been more able to embrace this way of life.
Our staff and volunteers support women often with multiple disadvantages. Through our creative sessions we offer community support, specialist relationship courses, housing support and through our coffee lounge we offer the opportunity for community gatherings as well as volunteering opportunities, employment and training. Relationship breakdown, homelessness, long-term mental and physical health issues can affect us all and we understand the need for support through temporary
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and supported housing and while moving into long term accommodation, as having a home is a first step to a more stable environment. Our safe space for women has become a support system whilst women stabilise their housing options.
Since opening our community cafe, The Well, in the Royal Arcade in Boscombe, we have begun to organise events which fit in with the historic location. Our cafe manager, cooks, kitchen assistants, volunteers and work experience placements all make this a longterm concern, with sustainability a key word. The coffee lounge is a training venue for people wanting to gain confidence and build up employability skills, self-esteem and soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, adaptability, problem-solving, creativity, work ethic, interpersonal skills and time management.
At the coffee lounge they can gain their Food Safety certificates (L2/L3)and build their confidence through hospitality skills.
We have collaborated with the **South West Region Assessment Centre ( SWRAC), Bournemouth College, Send4** by taking work placements for 16-25 year olds and have kitchen assistants committed to 16 hours a week each on their work placement for a year at a time.
We got some feedback from Dorset Community Foundation and the NHS funders:
‘Thank you so much for accommodating us at the visit on Friday. I know your time is a precious commodity so it’s really appreciated! The NHS manager really got an awful lot from the whole day and is now even more energised about how different and how effective community based solutions are. Brilliant!’
We wrote back: We have grown as a charity from roots upwards so there is a strong, organic support system in place which is natural and flourishes with good tending, good funding and good resources. We are able to gather people who fall through other statutory services and provide a safe space for women from diverse and varied backgrounds, cultures and life experiences.
## **Mary Richards, Chair of Trustees:**
We continue to provide a beautiful community space at The Well coffee lounge. The staff and volunteers are thriving in the work they do to bring a homely and supported environment giving lovely, reasonably priced food to their growing customer base. We continue to be able to give paid work and we are looking forward to seeing more women thrive, come out of the shadows of loneliness and together create a peaceful place for people to come and enjoy community in the town. We have reached our 7th year as a charity and I am so proud of the hard work that all the staff do every day. The Well Coffee lounge and the space it gives has proven to be the hub which Safe and Sound Dorset works from and has taken us to a new level of being able to care and support our community. We have been able to create a secure space for women, and also the wider community of our town to gather together, to not only eat and socialise, but also to provide opportunities of employment, creativity and personal growth and care.
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A highlight for me was being able to join everyone on several trips to Brownsea Island, gifted to us by The National Trust, for the health and well being of our community. Our faces were a picture as we saw red squirrels, peacocks, deer and numerous species of birds. Even the trip over on the boat was exciting as many had never experienced this before including myself. In a beautiful tranquil setting relationships grew and a sense of belonging was evident amongst us, each story treated with dignity and everyone’s life honoured and valued.
National Trust gifted 25 women a visit to Brownsea Island on International Women's Day with 4 subsequent visits.
**One participant’s story** : _I did a lot of firsts: Hugged trees, bark rubbings, journaling, writing in the book the National Trust gave us. I felt like layers over me were parting with light coming through, I remember reading books to my children and going to guides and scouts, where I had first heard of Brownsea Island and always wanted to visit. The island was an inspiration for me since my childhood._
_What I appreciated was that we had a trip on our own, an incredible discovery of nature bathing, creation, trees, barks, textures, very sensory, walking on bracken. Caroline our volunteer told us to find a stone, put all your anxieties on it and throw it away. This helped me start to absorb the atmosphere and lose all my worries. When I got home, I was still engaged, and let it all bathe over with a sense of quietude, serenity. Next day, unexpectedly, I had such a restorative peaceful, tranquility and was able to give myself permission to sleep and have a mind shift of well-bring, having suffered chronic insomnia. It stayed with me and I slept at one with myself like a baby in a peaceful rest.’_
## **Our Late-night Outreach**
Interestingly we have seen less women on the streets this year, down from 62 in previous years with 34 unique women being helped during street outreach in 2023. Up to 32 of these women have also engaged in our sessions and housing services. This is a huge leap forward in interaction across our charity and indicates the trust built through our consistent approach and the accessibility of The Well coffee lounge as a venue for women to approach.
We recorded 341 interactions in 2023 over approximately 40 weeks of the year averaging seeing 8 women on a Friday night. Our weekly outreach around Boscombe and Bournemouth reaches the girls at their most vulnerable who are in temporary or supported housing or newly housed, homeless, sofa surfing or working on the streets, some straight out of prison. Greggs Bakery supply us with their left over food so we can offer food and drinks, as well as warm clothing, toiletries and sign post women to services in the area: housing, sexual health clinics, domestic violence support services as well as to our sessions, encouraging them to attend weekly, in various locations, where community inclusion is promoted, offering a shower and laundry facilities in some venues and participation in creative arts in small groups or help
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with housing or appointments. We have seen more progression from the streets to supported housing or homes. This is a most important service we offer, as we reach out to women at their most vulnerable.
## **A typical Friday outreach 7-10.30pm**
P & G plus new volunteer 12 Greggs food bags **7.10 Boscombe** B: Food-bag ; Recently out of hospital. Seemed quite upbeat. We will support with next hospital visit **7.20 Pokesdown** O: Food-bag left as she was away from her bedding and belongings. St Mungos aware. **7.45 Winton** O: Food-bag: sofa surfing with friend. Police were in her dad’s place tonight sorting out issue with her brother. **8pm Kinson** E: Food-bag Does want to engage with our sessions but has not been well but feeling better. Text P to say she was starving hungry. Very grateful for food. **8.10 Kinson** S: Food-bag Had ulcer on her leg, she has antibiotics and cream but does not feel better so was going to go to A&E tonight, she said she would let us know how it goes. **8.30 Bournemouth** M: Food-bag, Seemed well, was going to sofa surf with friend as she likes company, really wants to come to our sessions. Leaflet given **8.40 Bournemouth** K: Food-bag. She really wanted a chicken bake and we had one, she was really happy with it! She didn't look well and had sores on body, sleeping rough and did not have a room anywhere, she said she would come to The Well during the week. **8.50 Bournemouth** B car park: had a chat as at risk with men in car park. The group in car park have dispersed to squats around Bournemouth, they still go to the carpark in really bad weather. Risk reported to Adult Social Care **9pm Bournemouth** T: Irish, food bag given, rough sleeping Was grateful. S:(very thin, black hair, young but said she was older than she looked) Gave food, condoms, care package, toiletries, voucher for The Well. She says she does have somewhere to live, locally. Working and using Heroin. Asked for our leaflet and did engage, but not seen us before. We said we could support her to appointment to get a prescription to come off heroin **9.20 Boscombe** F: Food-bag: looked really well, said she had seen the women’s house today and will move in next week. So excited and so are we! She said the engagement they want from her is not overwhelming and she knows its a long way in the future but she has even thought about going to college. Will keep in touch. **9.30 Boscombe**
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K carpark: Food-bag given K has been evicted from supported housing. St Mungos are aware
## **9.40**
G: Left over food, always very grateful and had a long chat with us as she feels isolated and overwhelmed, has not been in the best place. Contacted :C & G but no reply.
**9.50: Team Debrief:** any issues, upsets, disturbing feelings, from going out tonight? New volunteer: Feeling overwhelmed by so much but glad to be involved and experience an evening with the team. We are on the phone if anyone needs to talk.
Next day texts between team members: New volunteer:
Morning. I felt quite upset seeing the young girls, especially S, last night but at the same time it was helpful for me to come along and really lovely to see what you do for the women.
## Response:
Thanks for letting me know how you are feeling. Sometimes it’s difficult to see how others choose to live 😫 The way I try to look at it which helps me is: For S, maybe we are the first people who have reached out to help her. She was a bit cagey, but it may have been important for her. That’s why we do this and are able to ask girls to consider the risks they are taking, give them food and some toiletries and invite them to our sessions.
We may never see her again. That’s the nature of the outreach. The outreach team are aware that we aren’t out there to rescue people, because we can’t do this, but to give them connection and a way to help themselves. Some of the others we saw last night used to be like ‘S’ but are now housed and off drugs and still in contact with us which allows us to see their story. Welcome to Safe and Sound Dorset! Have a great weekend!
New volunteer: Thanks, that does help to see it in another perspective. Have a lovely weekend too 😊
## **Creative community sessions**
We now have 10 sessions running per week, term time only:
2 creative sessions in Boscombe which involve creating a low cost meal to eat together, chair exercises and craft activity. Monday and Wednesday 1.30-3.30pm with relationship courses running 4-5 times a year.
2 morning craft sessions in Boscombe Tuesday/Thursday 11-1pm 1 creative session in Winton -Thurs 11-1pm Afternoon relational skills workshops 3 x 5 weeks a year 1 Ukrainian welcome Women’s group Wednesday (Fortnightly) 1-3pm which we run with International Care Network.
2-3 sessions for women to develop skills with sales and clothing Thurs/Fri
1 Housing session with a Shelter and CAB rep involved Thursday 1-4pm
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We run our women only creative community sessions, alongside our 1-1 support service offering help with doctors and hospital appointments, court, prison, housing and recovery accompaniment as well as help with college and job, house applications. Our aim as a group is to inspire each other to reach for opportunities and build confidence through creativity and community and to be a model for other organisations who could adopt our collaborative, creative, holistic approach.
We have had over 387 unique women participate in our services over the past year and We have progressively seen women trapped in cycles of anxiety, relationship breakdown, isolation and homelessness, moving on into participation in groups, finding temporary or supported accommodation and then able to access more support through careful signposting and through attending our women’s safe spaces. This year we have extra hours to develop the whole area of second hand clothing at The Well, involving some service users in employment training to sort clothes, use the steamer, label clothes, allocate to seasonal rails for sale and display clothing.
## One participant writes:
_All of the staff at Safe and Sound Dorset and The Well are kind to me and allow me to be myself, so I don’t feel anxious. I feel safe in my role as a volunteer clothing assistant. I feel at home working and assisting the clothing team, who I work with. My previous background was a full time nurse, which came to an abrupt end and unexpected in 2019. I had to retire due to ill health with a brain tumour and recovery from further treatment after 22 years in the NHS and was less than the retirement age._
_I am left with anxiety, loss of confidence, fatigue and memory loss which affects my day-to-day life._
_I’m also sensitive to loud sounds and sudden movements. Working with S&SD I’ve regained purpose, a better sense of self-acceptance and motivation. I believe I’m supporting a community. I sometimes join in the creative sessions at The Well cafe. I have my own problems, noise being one of the hidden ones, I still enjoy the sessions. I think it helps me understand we all have our own mild/physical problems and we feel connected even from different backgrounds, families and cultures. I feel accepted by them, and I learn from others which helps me with my own personal issues._
Our coffee lounge is a designated ‘warm room’ for those in our community who cannot afford to heat their homes, with elderly people and those on low incomes, with long-term mental and physical health conditions amongst the most affected groups. We are also offering low-cost affordable cooking and heating equipment for our service users which will help bills stay low.
_This year we have been able to purchase 100 extra-large warm hoodie fleeces thanks to a grant from Dorset Community Foundation and BCP Council’s Food and Energy fund to distribute throughout the winter months._
There are some mental health teams and social prescribers using our premises for groups gathering in the coffee lounge. Other courses could be run from the premises
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as we have created a downstairs meeting room which is a lounge, counselling and training area. Having our own premises will hopefully consolidate our working rapport with others in the community.
_‘The Well is an accessible warm room where folk may meet, chat get good food and drink definitely be entertained by the wonderful staff and volunteers. I appreciate having this resource where different social prescribing groups can meet. I have increased social contact with a wider variety of people from the wider community. I can craft, paint chat enjoy music the decorations and celebrations. It is a place I can meet friends when my flat would be inaccessible due to stairs. A friend who uses a wheelchair is able to join me and we can craft together again. We can get affordable nutritious food and drink. The soup maker , blanket and heater have helped when my boiler cut out. I have gained confidence and my voice is stronger from singing, talking and certainly laughing more. The cooking group at BBC has increased my hand dexterity speed and concentration. The food we produce has helped me be more interested in eating better. This has helped me lose weight and be more motivated. The range of activities doing journaling and courses on assertion have been really educational and enjoyable. Using The Well in addition to BBC has meant I have got to know other Safe and Sounders plus become friends with other customers. Being able to help out clearing tables helps me feel useful. The craft groups on Tues and Thurs have given me an outlet for my craft experience and materials which I can share with the other women. This boosts my self esteem. Having somewhere where I can be upset and get support has been so helpful as my health has dealt me considerable challenges. I would otherwise be very isolated and detached from society.’_
Over the past seven years we have been involved with women at risk of domestic and sexual violence, addictions with alcohol and drug issues, eating disorders, long term mental and physical health issues, low or no family support, relationship breakdowns, low self esteem, no confidence, lack of education and employment.
Personal feedback:
‘I want to genuinely thank Safe and Sound Dorset for all the help and constant support I have received, in ways I didn’t expect. I have been helped, emotionally, mentally, in my self esteem, practically and more. All the encouragement and opportunities I have been given also helps my children and our family as I am a better, more capable and present mum.
I have never experienced such a supportive group, so always available and compassionate. It’s very emotional for me to have been sustained in such a way, especially after such a crisis in my life. I have no end of gratitude to the team that makes this happen.’
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|Feedbac|_‘Hi, I am completely alone, no family con-_
_tact, only professionals checking on me_
_weekly or three monthly. Having Safe and_
_Sound Dorset to contribute to and receive_
_food vouchers means such a lot. Although I_
_am not seeing or talking that much to folk,_
_knowing there are some people who care_
_about me makes a difference.’_
k for Safe and Sound Dorset April Report 2024
**T OF SAFE AND**
**DORSET**
**PERCENTAGE**
**OF POSITIVE**
**OUTCOME**
olation into the
nity and participating in
91|_‘Hi, I am completely alone, no family con-_
_tact, only professionals checking on me_
_weekly or three monthly. Having Safe and_
_Sound Dorset to contribute to and receive_
_food vouchers means such a lot. Although I_
_am not seeing or talking that much to folk,_
_knowing there are some people who care_
_about me makes a difference.’_
k for Safe and Sound Dorset April Report 2024
**T OF SAFE AND**
**DORSET**
**PERCENTAGE**
**OF POSITIVE**
**OUTCOME**
olation into the
nity and participating in
91|_‘Hi, I am completely alone, no family con-_
_tact, only professionals checking on me_
_weekly or three monthly. Having Safe and_
_Sound Dorset to contribute to and receive_
_food vouchers means such a lot. Although I_
_am not seeing or talking that much to folk,_
_knowing there are some people who care_
_about me makes a difference.’_
k for Safe and Sound Dorset April Report 2024
**T OF SAFE AND**
**DORSET**
**PERCENTAGE**
**OF POSITIVE**
**OUTCOME**
olation into the
nity and participating in
91|
|---|---|---|---|
|**IMPAC**
**SOUND**|**T OF SAFE AND**
**DORSET**
**PERCENTAGE**
**OF POSITIVE**
**OUTCOME**|||
|From is
commu
a group|olation into the
nity and participating in
|91||
|From poor mental health, not
coping well to a better state of
mind, able to share anxiety;||81|**Information on volunteers**
It really is a pleasure to work with our vol-
unteers and see them grow and develop
but also see them enjoy the services we of-
fer.
Each volunteering role should complement
their personal objectives, encouraging con-
fidence with the aim for everyone to de-
velop skills so that they can go on to other
experiences in or outside Safe and Sound
Dorset.
There is a group of volunteers who work
within The Well coffee lounge – our not-for-
profit organisation. Our main aim is to offer
work experience, food and hygiene certifi-
cates and to build confidence in the work-
place to encourage women back in to work
in the long term.
**Most popular answers when**
**asked about the future:**
Looking forward to the new year
Feeling better about myself
Try to be more healthy and posi-
tive
Go away on holiday
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|From bad physical health,not
feeling well to a healthier
lifestyle and more well-being||84||
|From a chaotic, indisciplined
lifestyle to becoming more
responsible||80||
|•From addiction to taking
steps into recovery;||85||
|From emotional instability to
making good choices with
relationships||86||
|From self-doubt, low self
esteem and no confdence to
feeling valued and more
confdent;||84||
|From attending sessions to
stepping onto a course, into
education or into volunteering||75||
|*From homelessness and fear
to fnding housing support
which is safe and stable;||77||
|Receiving meal vouchers for
The Well cofee lounge||89||
|positive feelings towards Safe
and Sound Dorset||84||
|positive feelings towards the
world news.||26||
|positive feelings towards
seasonal fu vaccines||61||
|positive feelings about
Covid/omicron vaccines and
viruses||38||
|positive feelings about trusting
the NHS||53||
Go on overnight/day retreat Have a new look
## **Most popular activity answers:**
Meet up with my friends Go out for more walks Try new art and craft Do more exercise Declutter Meet up with family Go swimming Go to the beach Make the most of good weather Do some journaling Sign up to a new course Make a meal with others Tidy house
## **Collaborating with others**
|**Organisation Name**|**Service ofered**|
|---|---|
|Shelter Dorset|Referrals for rough sleepers, those with housing is-
sues, housing maintenance in Bournemouth area,|
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||support our housing group for referrals. Support our
sessions with woodwork training.|
|---|---|
|Bournemouth CAB
( Citizens Advice Bureau)|Fortnightly visits for referrals to S&SD housing group
at The Well|
|CAN|Volunteer support and training|
|South West Region As-
sessment Centre
( SWRAC)|Refer young people to The Well for work experience
placements for 16-25 year olds|
|ICN International Care
Network|Working with refugees and asylum seekers. We run a
Ukrainian Women’s session with them at The Well
fortnightly.|
|BH1 Drop in centre|Referrals for rough sleepers in Boscombe and
Springbourne|
|National Trust|Ofered S&SD Brownsea Island Community Pass for 5
visits in 2024 to enable over 40 women from
deprived areas a chance to visit this lovely island.|
|Dance with Emily|Delivered 4 free sessions over 2024|
|Bournemouth Symphony
Orchestra|Delivered 5 free sessions over 2024 culminating in a
choral performance at Christmas.|
|Marc Smith Gym|Delivered 3 free safety awareness and self defence
sessions|
|Homeward and the
Homelessness Reduction
Board|Prince William’s National initiative, in Bournemouth
area. Safe and Sound Dorset is a member working
collaboratively with other agencies such as BCP
Council, Faithworks, St Mungos, Street Services,
YMCA to tackle homelessness. Monthly meeting|
|Livewell Dorset|Integrate their philosophy of healthy living into our
sessions. They ofer Health MOTs once a year
through our services.|
|Hep C Charity|Ofer free Hep C testing with free treatment via
S&SD sessions|
|Dorset Community Action|Run webinars for local organisations to help with
managing risks and assessments. Ofer support and
training. Social Value evaluation|
|Adult Social Care|Referral to BCP Council for safeguarding adults at|
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||risk|
|---|---|
|St Mungos|Referrals for rough sleepers|
|Boscombe Traders Hub,
BCP Council|Support the local area with meetings, grants,
festivals|
|Boscombe Food Bank, St
George’s Church and The
Garden Rooms|Our local food bank which gives vouchers. We refer
people in need of food and supplies. There is a
community cafe ofering families a hot meal every
Friday 5-7pm|
|Stars|Counselling referrals for any sexual trauma (waiting
list is 18 months)|
|Dorset Working Women’s
project|Provides sexual health for sex workers|
|The Shores|Provides support for sexual assault|
|Sovereign Network|Provides housing and grants|
|BCHA|Long term housing for adults at risk in the commu-
nity. We refer women to the Well being hub and
Freedom programme.|
|Faithworks|Local charity helping people get out of crisis and iso-
lation. Runs recovery courses and homelessness re-
duction forum. Ofers placements in women’s
houses|
|Health Bus Trust|Collaborate with women at risk, needing urgent
health care|
|St Anne’s Hospital|Encourage women to attend S&SD sessions once
back in the community. Support women to attend
The Well|
|Social Prescriber,
Providence Surgery,
Walpole Rd|Use The Well cofee lounge for social prescribing
groups|
|Hannaman House|Services for mental health and homeless|
|Citygate Church|Provide a meal on a Friday evening|
|Vineyard Church|Ofers Community houses|
|Joy Cafe|Cafe in Churchill Gardens, Boscombe, Bournemouth|
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||hosts a lot of outdoor sessions|
|---|---|
|Bournemouth Community
Church|Visit brothels and refer vulnerable women to Safe
and Sound Dorset|
|Job Centre|Support with ofering employment to those women
we work with. We have run a small art and craft
group in the job centre pre-pandemic|
|Dorset Police|Safe and Sound Dorset contact the police if woman
is in need of emergency services. The police contact
Safe and Sound Dorset if anyone is at risk we can
help on a Friday night.|
|Vita Nova|Mental health charity promoting drama and creative
writing. Have in the past, run drama sessions for
Safe and Sound Dorset once a term.|
|Wise Ability|Guiding and inspiring people to realise their potential
and vocational goals. Refer service users to Safe and
Sound Dorset.|
|Active Dorset|They have funded our summer outdoor programme.|
|Love Your Neighbour, St
Clements Church|A project to provide food boxes for people. Provide
100 Christmas hampers for Safe and Sound Dorset.|
|We are With You|Support for those in addiction. They refer women to
our creative sessions. We refer women to them who
are rough sleeping and in addiction.|
|Safe Families for children|Referrals for families struggling to cope based in
Springbourne and Charminster|
|Action Hampshire|Cancer Awareness integrated in to our exercise
sessions and specialist sessions.In the past we have
run 6 Retreats with their funding.|
**Statistics from our CRM for 2023**
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||CRM Data foryearlyreport|During
2023|During
2022||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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|Greggs and food bags|376|108|
|---|---|---|
|Meal vouchers for The Well|156|68|
|Christmas Hampers|100|80|
|Total number of unique women who have benefted
from food boxes, care packages and food bags in the
lastyear|157|104|
|TOTAL number of sessions/contacts/services of any
kind|3361|2246|
|TOTAL number of street outreach interactions|341|432|
|Unique women who have attended sessions|95|64|
|Participants/Service Users on CRM who have used
our services|387|325|
|Volunteers|47|27|
|Unique women helped on Street outreach in
temporary or supported housing or newly housed,
homeless,sofa surfngor workingon the streets|34|62|
|
TOTAL number of constituents on the CRM which
includes donors, service users,staf, volunteers,
funders etc|865|586|
|People signed upto newsletter|390|325|
|Women attending sessions
Monday 1.30-3.30pm|54|34|
|Women attending sessions in Boscombe
Wednesday 1.30-3.30pm|50|41|
|
Women attending sessions in Boscombe
Tuesday 11-1pm|23|24|
|Women attending sessions in Boscombe
Thursday 11-1pm|17|10|
|
Women attending sessions in Boscombe for
housing issues Thursday 1-4pm|32|35|
|Women attending sessions @ Winton 11.30-1.30pm|11|12|
|
Women who attended our Sessions who are on our
Outreach radar|32|13|
|Number of places offered for trips out during the
summer|114||
|Number of participants/service users that attended
Summer Activity Days|41|14|
|Number of women attended Personal development
sessions|21|42|
|Number of women attended First aid trainingsessions|N/A|25|
18
|Number of women attendingcookingclasses|8|7|
|---|---|---|
|Number of women attendingChristmasparty|50|32|
|Cost of Living Crisis Number of Electric Blankets
given to service users|16|14|
|Cost of Living Crisis Number of Slow Cookers given
to service users|8|10|
|Cost of Living Crisis Number of Halogen Heaters
given to service users|16|14|
|Cost of Living Crisis Number of Air Fryers given to
service users|19|17|
|Number of hot mealsprovided|418|230|
|Number of lunchesprovided at sessions|936|845|
|Number of drinks and snacksprovided at sessions|1468|548|
**SAFE AND SOUND DORSET**
19
## **Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities For the year ended 31[st] March 2024**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statement in accordance with
the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice)
and applicable law and regulations.
The law applicable to charities requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial period
which gives a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and
application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
select suitable accounting policies and them apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by the trustees of the charity and signed on its behalf by
**Report of the Independent Examiners to the trustees of**
20
## **SAFE AND SOUND DORSET**
We report on the financial statements on pages 11 to 16, which have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
As described on page 5 the trustees are responsible for the preparation of financial statements, you consider that the audit requirement of section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply. It is our responsibility to state on the basis of the procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5) (b) of the Act, whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiners’ report**
Our examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from your trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently we do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
## **Independent examiners’ report**
In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention:
- 1 which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements have not been met:
a) to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act; and
b) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act;
or
2 to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## **Vantage Accounting Services Limited**
Accountants
21
## **SAFE AND SOUND DORSET**
## **Receipts and Payments Accounts For the year ended 31st March 2024**
|**Note**
**Receipts**
Donations and Legacies
1
Trading and Café
2
Other income
**Total Receipts**
**Payments**
Sessions and Activities
3
Administrative costs
4
Café
5
**Total Payments**
**Net of**
**Receipts/(payments)**
Transfers between funds
**Net movement in cash**
**funds**
Cash funds at end of
last year
**Cash funds at end of**
**this year**|**2024**
**2024**
**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Total**
3,225
140,164
143,389
149,794
80,129
-
80,129
68,868
253
-
253
314|
|---|---|
||83,607
140,164
223,771
218,976|
||1,042
110,734
110,376
120,527
150
5,007
5,157
10,189
127,861
-
127,681
101,895|
||129,052
115,741
244,794
232,611|
|||
||(45,446)
24,423
(21,023)
(13,635)|
||36,042
(36,042)|
||(9,403)
(11,620)
(21,023)
(13,635)|
|||
||15,356
45,188
46,909
60,544|
|||
||5,953
33,568
25,886
46,909|
22
## **SAFE AND SOUND DORSET**
**Statement of Assets and Liabilities At 31st March 2024**
|**Assets**
Motor Vehicle - Net
book value
Stock
Cash at bank and in
hand
**Total Assets**
**Liabilities**
Barclaycard
Gift Card Balances
**Total Liabilities**|**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**Total**
**Total**
-
2,717
2,381
773
27,243
50,14
1|
|---|---|
||29,625
53,63
1|
||870
1,973
1,678
1,462|
||2,548
3,435|
The financial statements were approved by the trustees of the
charity and signed on its behalf by
23
## **SAFE AND SOUND DORSET**
## **Notes to the Accounts For the year ended 31st March 2024**
|**1 Donations and Legacies**
Grants
Donations from individuals
Grants
BB Fundraising
BH Coastal lottery
Hardship funds
**2 Trading and Café**
Café
**3 Sessions and Activities**
Alice Ellen Cooper Dean
Edward Gostling
Souter
Tudor Trust - Leisure, Health,
Wellbeing
Tudor Trust - Volunteer Co-
ordinator
Valentine Trust
Reaching Communities
Postcode Lottery
DCF Fund Housing
DCF Summer Food
DCF New Home
DCF Winter Warm
DCF Ukrainian Women|**2024**
**2024**
**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Total**
-
139,990
139,990
120,088
2,594
-
2,594
29,306
-
-
-
-
487
-
487
175
145
-
145
225
-
174
174
-|
|---|---|
||3,225
140,164
143,389
149,794|
||**2024**
**2024**
**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Total**
80,129
-
80,129
68,868|
||80,129
-
80,129
68,868|
||**2024**
**2024**
**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Total**
-
4,615
4,615
8,015
-
2,816
2,816
2,065
-
2,000
2,000
2,000
-
1,520
1,520
734
-
11,892
11,892
10,734
-
4,004
4,004
4,990
-
50,790
50,790
43,650
-
-
-
16,142
-
-
-
1,319
-
19
19
6,873
-
83
83
1,331
-
4,763
4,763
2,620
-
1,157
1,157
1,702|
24
|DCF BCP Food and Energy
Support Fund
Community Action Hampshire
Jacqui Lynn Bursary
Sport UK Active
Aviva Crowdfunder Winter
Fuel/Food Support
Talbot Village Trust Van
Upgrade
Faithworks Wessex Access to
Food
Trusthouse Charitable
Foundation
Sovereign Housing
Crowdfunder
NHS/CAN Housing Group
Winter Crowdfunder
Raymond Char
General Funds
**4 Administration**
Administration Assistant
(Reaching Communities)
Promotional (February
Foundation)
General Admin Costs
Accounts and Independent
Examination|-
1,751
1,751
-
-
-
-
2,624
-
-
-
570
-
-
-
4,335
-
5,326
5,326
3,029
-
-
-
1,821
-
-
-
389
-
6,032
6,032
866
-
12,745
12,745
-
-
147
147
-
-
-
232
-
-
1,076
1,076
-
1,042
-
1,042
4,647|
|---|---|
||1,042
109,334
110,608
120,456|
||**2024**
**2024**
**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Total**
-
2,931
2,931
7,548
-
1,248
1,248
1,752
150
-
150
169
-
828
828
720|
||150
5,007
5,157
10,189|
25
## **SAFE AND SOUND DORSET**
## **Notes to the Accounts For the year ended 31st March 2024**
|**5 Café Costs**
All Cafe Costs
Aviva Crowdfunder Winter
Fuel/Food Support
The Valentine Trust
Jacqui Lynn Bursary
DCF Winter Warmer Fund
**6 Café Summary**
Income
Expenses
Salaries
Transfers for use of café for
sessions
Surplus (Deficit) in year|**2024**
**2024**
**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Total**
127,861
127,861
76,664
-
9,961
-
8,071
-
4,430
-
2,769|
|---|---|
||127,861
-
127,861
101,895|
||**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**Total**
**Total**
80,129
68,868
(61,167)
(58,464)
(66,693)
(43,431)
37,630
8,815|
||-
-
(10,101)
(24,212)|
26