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← Winchester And District Branch Of Samaritans

2024-03-31-accounts

SAMARITANS Whatever you're facing We're here to listen Annual Report 2023-24

CONTENTS

Page
Vision, Mission and Values 3
Annual Report 4-13
Report of the Trustees 16
Independent Examiner’s Report 17
Balance Sheet 19
Notes to the Accounts 20-26

Report and Unaudited Financial Statements 2023/4 Registered charity no. 1173634

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SAMARITANS

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DIRECTOR’S REPORT

On behalf of the Trustees, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone for making 2023– 2024 an outstanding year for the branch. The incredible work done by this branch with some 125 volunteers is truly reflected in the reach we've achieved. Over the period April 2023 – March 2204 the Winchester Samaritans:

We celebrated an impressive 70 years of Samaritans service and with that I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to every one of our branch members, which includes our amazing Prison Listener team in HM Winchester Prison, who do incredible work and are an extension of our branch family.

Your dedication and compassion form the backbone of our special community, and it is your commitment that allows us to be there for those who need it most. Your impact is felt every single day of the year. Volunteering is not always easy; it often requires personal sacrifices and the strength to face challenging situations. Yet, despite these challenges, you continue to devote your time with empathy and dedication, making a profound difference in the lives of our callers.

Let’s also be thankful for the many critical roles that keep our branch running smoothly and ensure we can continue to provide our vital services. Thank you to:

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Thank you for your unwavering support, and your commitment to our vision.

With this, it’s also important to acknowledge that we have lost several Samaritans due to life changes, and I hope you will join me in remembering and thanking them for all they did while they were with us.

As a new leadership team, we conducted a volunteer survey and held a Branch Development Day offsite in September 2023 to actively engage our volunteers in our vision, objectives, and challenges. This initiative was instrumental in our Central Charity Quality Review process, where we proudly received an excellent rating from Samaritans Board of Trustees. The insights and feedback gathered during this event have since formed the basis of our collaborative path forward.

It was a real pleasure to welcome three new members to our leadership team (Maysie 1755 as Hub Liaison Officer, Michael 1622 as PR, Stephen 1772 as Trustee), who will further strengthen our capacity to continue to serve our branch, as we have a number of significant change processes in the coming year including new enhanced criminal records checks, implementation of a new phone system and our Branch Renovation.

Wayne 1625

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Branch Leadership Team

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TREASURY REPORT

Key Achievements

During the reporting period we have:

Winchester and District Branch of Samaritans is an affiliated branch. Responsibility for managing the branch finances rests with the branch trustees, to ensure the branch has sufficient funds to be able to provide the Samaritan service to callers now and in the future.

As a branch, we rely on the generosity of our donors, the work of our fundraisers, income from our flat rental and deposit interest. We have no regular income other than the flat rental and we therefore hold cash reserves so that the branch can continue to operate now and in the future.

Fundraising and Income Generation

We are extremely grateful for the donations we have received from generous donors including many volunteers who have supported Winchester Samaritans with donations or kindly contributed their expenses back to the branch.

Whilst we can’t list everyone by name we are very grateful for the support we received. We were fortunate to receive donations from some high value donors, local churches and trusts. We are particularly grateful to St Lawrence with St Swithuns Church, St Luke's Church, St Martin's PCC, St Mary the Virgin Micheldever, St Mary's Church, St Barnabas Church, Mr R Niddrie and the Emilienne Charitable Trust for the kind support they have provided. We also ran a successful Carol Concert in December that generated over £3,000.

In addition we received grants to continue running our prison listening scheme and to conduct Outreach activities at Winchester Station. We would also like to say a special thank you to the donors who wished to remain anonymous but gave very generously to support our branch activities.

Despite the generosity of our donors, the financial year has been challenging for fundraising activities. Overall donated income to £18,451 from £23,493. Rental and interest income generated £16,284 (£15,778 in the prior year). This means that overall, we were able to generate £40,507 compared with £51,201 in the prior year.

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Expenditure

Top line analysis of expenditure shows the branch spent £60,040 in FY23/24, a reduction from the prior year (£72,415). However this result is somewhat skewed because the branch did not have to incur high flat repair costs as it did in prior years. Whilst utility costs have declined slightly, business rates, cleaning costs, insurance and telephone costs have all increased. Fundraising costs have increased compared with prior years due to more proactive investment in fundraising activities.

Unfortunately the cost-of-living crisis has had an impact on the expenses claims made by volunteers to cover mileage and parking expenses. Volunteers are actively encouraged to claim expenses as this reflects the true cost of running the branch. The branch has a large footprint and many volunteers make round trips of more than 30 miles to conduct a duty. This has an impact on mileage claims. In addition, Winchester Council introduced 24 hr parking charges which had a significant impact on expenses claims. We are grateful to the Council for providing some free parking permits for evening duties.

We also make an annual payment to the Central Charity (SCC) by way of the New Branch Contribution (NBC) which was £4,985 for FY23/24. Due to the challenging income generation environment in FY 23/24, we are unable to make additional contributions to support other branches or SCC initiatives.

Chris 1612

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Summarised Statement of Financial Activities

Summarised Statement of Financial Activities
2023/24 £ 2022/23 £
Prison Grant, Donations, Legacies, In Memoriam 18,451 23,493
Other Charitable Activities - Fundraising 5,772 11,930
Investment Income-Rent and Deposit Interest 16,284 15,778
TOTAL INCOME
 40,507 51,201
Costs of Raising Funds 2,144 340
Expenditure on Charitable Activities 57,896 72,075
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 60,040 72,415
NET INCOME FOR THE PERIOD -19,533 -21,214

TOTAL FUNDS carried forward
 714,388 735,602
Unrestricted Funds – General Fund 538,270 557,803
Revaluation Reserve 156,585 156,585
TOTAL CHARITY RESERVES 694,855 714,388

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TRAINING REPORT

It has been a busy year for everyone involved in training new Samaritans and supporting the Continuous Development of all listeners in the Branch.

For Core and Embedding Training it has been very much a ‘Business as usual’ year with only a few tweaks to the facilitated modules but I am so very, very grateful to all on the Training team including our amazing cast of Role Players. Huge thanks are also due to the Mentors without whose support and commitment it would be impossible to deliver training. It has been lovely to see their numbers grow this year.

In terms of numbers, we have trained fewer new volunteers than in recent years as we made the decision to reduce the pressure on roles across the Branch by reducing cohorts from four to three. In total 16 people completed Core Training. It has been brilliant to work with these individuals and it is so rewarding for the Training team to see people develop and move through to the Ops room.

In addition to Core Training, the team has facilitated training in Outreach and in Train the Trainer for both Core and Prison teams.

In March, we held a Continuous Development Day, following a Survey to consult on preferred topics, with workshops on Mental Health, Caller Support and Supporting Prison Callers. We were really lucky to have the support of Dave, Darren and Doug, service user representatives from Solent Mind, whose insights were both profound and humbling. Each of them have also supported follow-up workshops for those unable to attend the day.

Brian, as ever, has been immense in the team in doing so much behind the scenes to ensure we all know what we are doing and when.

My final recognition in this report is to Don, who died this year and who taught me so much, both when I started out and when I joined the Training team. His wisdom still permeates through so much of what we do

Penny 1550

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OUTREACH REPORT

We continued to build on our Outreach efforts this year, enhancing our presence and visibility in key areas. As well as strengthening our well-established Prison and Rail Partnerships we also focused on support for local media and effectively utilising our social media channels and website. As a result, we successfully reached a record number of over 3,000 people.

It’s wonderful that we have a pool of 20 volunteers trained in Outreach that we can call on to provide emotional support outside of the branch and essential support in our community.

One of the great benefits of engaging in our community is hearing first-hand how many people are grateful for our service. I want to convey to everyone just how much our service is genuinely appreciated by those we help.

Outreach Events Attended

RUN41M: Apr 23: Our branch team welcomed and supported Josh Patterson’s RUN41M for his 63[rd] marathon run in Winchester, which was a great opportunity for us to have coverage in the Hampshire Chronicle.

Brew Monday Winchester Station: Jan 24: We were a presence at Winchester Railway station from 08:00 - 12:30 and again from 15:00 - 19:30. 17 Samaritans worked shifts of one and a half hours in teams of

three. During this time, we gave out approximately 800 tea bags and spoke to about 500 people.

NHS CAMHS Conference: Nov 23: We attended a conference on Suicide Prevention with 120 attendees mainly drawn from school staff. As well as having a stand to hand out lots of awareness material, we also delivered two Listening Skills Workshop sessions to about 20 people. Our Step-by-Step team (Geoff & Richard) also delivered workshops on critical incident planning which were very well received.

Winchester Wellbeing Fayre: Jun 23: We had a stand at this event with our new Jenga blocks and Connect games which helped us to attract many people.

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Small Talk Saves Lives Campaign Winchester Station: Mar 24: We made

contact with approximately 500+ people and gave away over 700 items of merchandise. We were also interviewed by the Hampshire Chronicle.

Eastleigh Pride: Sep 23: Although sited away from the main area we did have some very good contacts with over 100 people. Once again, our two giant garden games attracted a variety of people, young and old, which enabled us to engage in some meaningful conversations.

Andover College: Jun 23: Recruitment and Awareness at a volunteer recruitment fair for students and the public at Andover College and engaged with over 100 young people.

Mela Festival: Jun 23: Asian Welfare and Cultural Association (AWCA) multicultural Festival at Eastleigh. Awareness, PR, Recruitment (Diversity & Inclusion). This was our first time at this event and engaged with some 150 people.

Unity101 Radio Interview: Sep 23 Asian Community radio interview covering our history and the overview of the service we provide work we view. We also used this as a recruitment message for volunteering roles.

Hosted local MP Steve Brine visit to the branch: Sep 23: Steve seems genuinely passionate about mental health and in particular men’s mental health. He was impressed by the work we do in the community.

University of Winchester: Oct 23: Student Listening Scheme: A team of 9 Students received a full day of training by STEP (Samaritans Training & Engagement Programme) as part of the peer-peer Student Listening Scheme.

BBC Local Radio: Nov 23: Interview to mark our 70-year anniversary.

Winchester Radio: Nov 23: Interview to mark our 70-year anniversary.

South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS): Mar 24 : We delivered Looking After Ourselves And Each Other workshop content as part of SCAS Wellbeing Week.

Wayne 1625 & Carole 1549

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HM Winchester Prison

We were particularly proud as a branch for one of our volunteers, Hugh Sanderson, to be awarded the High Sheriff of Hampshire Community Award. It is a mark of distinction for an individual volunteer who has made a significant contribution to safety and/or social cohesion in Hampshire. Only 10 to 25 awards are given out for the whole of Hampshire each year so it's an incredible achievement.

HMP Winchester Governor, James Bourke, wrote a letter of thank you to Hugh and the Prison Support team, which captures the reason for the award:

"You and the team are working in this environment training, coaching and supporting our prisoner Listeners. You are regularly in the prison helping our Listeners, supporting staff and particularly Safer Custody, and contributing in a fundamentally important way.

I appreciate it has not been easy with problems such as regime issues or attendance, but your unfailing enthusiasm has made it work. I wanted to write this to formally recognise the Prison Team as providing an incredible public service that really matters.

The Team is volunteering to provide prisoners with a service that is saving lives, reducing harm, and providing hope. Equally those trained as Listeners are learning excellent transferable skills, gaining confidence and providing an important public service."

A huge thank you to this special group of volunteers who are committed to reaching out to our people in the community.

Wayne 1625

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Samaritans - Winchester and District Branch

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2024

The Trustees present their Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Registered Charity number

1173634 under the Governing Document dated 30 June 2017

Trustees

The Trustees who served as a trustee in the reporting period were:

Objects and Activities of the Charity

The purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document

In accordance with the objectives set out in the constitution of the charity, the charity has the following objects:

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Structure, Governance and Management of the Charity

The Methods Used to Recruit and Appoint new Charity Trustees

The Trustee Committee members are elected at an Annual General Meeting. The Trustee Committee consists of the following members:

Ex-officio members who shall be the Director, a Deputy Director (appointed by the Director), the Secretary, the Publicity Officer, the Treasurer and the Chair of the Friends of Winchester and District Branch of Samaritans

The Policies and Procedures for the Induction and Training of Trustees

The Charity's Organisational and Decision-Making Stucture

Elected members, excluding ex-officio members, comprise a majority of the Trustee Committee and are entitled to vote at meetings. All questions at any meeting are determined by simple majority votes cast by members present, with each member (except co-opted members) having one vote. In any event of an equality of votes, the Chair may exercise a second vote as a casting vote. Elected Trustee Committee members may not serve on the committee for more than three consecutive years.

The Charity as a Part of a Wider Network

The charity falls under the umbrella organisation of the Samaritans nationally. The national organisation provides a model constitution, advice and support.

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Policies on Reserves

The trustees have resolved to keep a sufficient level of resources to provide for future activities. The policy on reserves is that the existing assets are retained to produce income which is wholly utilised to support existing activities. There is no intention in the long term to either increase or reduce the capital significantly. The policy is justified in that it is necessary to preserve income at the present levels in order to maintain the activities of the charity.

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 7 September 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

(/ Yale,

W. Fletcher

Director and Chairman of Trustees

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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Winchester and District Branch of Samaritans on the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2022

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Charities Act”) and that an independent examination is needed and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the association of accounting technicians.

It is my responsibility to:

My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commission. 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 the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention

  1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:

  2. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and

  3. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or

  4. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Kenneth John Stratton FMAAT Kimball Smith Limited Brewery House, High Street Twyford, Winchester SO21 1RG

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Samaritans - Winchester and District

Statement of Financial Activities

for the year ended 31 March 2024

(Incorporating an Income and Expenditure Account)

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Samaritans - Winchester and District

Balance Sheet

As at 31 March 2024

C Washington-Sare Treasurer Approved by the board of Trustees 7 September 2024

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Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

1. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

The charity meets the definition of the public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.

Going concern

The accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis. There are no material uncertainties about the charities ability to continue.

Income

Recognition of Income

These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when:

Offsetting

There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilities, or income and expenses, unless required or permitted by the FRS 102 SORP or FRS 102.

Grants and donations

Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the general income recognition criteria are met (5.10 to 5.12 FRS102 SORP).

In the case of performance related grants, income must only be recognised to the extent that the charity has provided the specified goods or services as entitlement to the grant only occurs when the performance related conditions are met (5.16 FRS 102 SORP).

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Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Legacies

Legacies are included in the SOFA when receipt is probable, that is, when there has been grant of probate, the executors have established that there are sufficient assets in the estate and any conditions attached to the legacy are either within the control of the charity or have been met.

Tax reclaims on donations and gifts

Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise.

Contractual income and performance related grants

This is only included in the SoFA once the charity has provided the related goods or services or met the performance related conditions.

Volunteer help

The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the trustees’ annual report.

Income from interest, royalties and dividends

This is included in the accounts when receipt is probable and the amount receivable can be measured reliably.

Investment gains and losses

This includes any realised or unrealised gains or losses on the sale of investments and any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market value at the end of the year.

Expenditure and liabilities

Liability recognition

Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.

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Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

Governance costs

Governance costs include those incurred in the governance of the charity and its assets and are primarily associated with constitutional and statutory requirements.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Creditors

The charity has creditors which are measured at settlement amounts less any trade discounts.

Provisions for liabilities

A liability is measured on recognition at its historical cost and then subsequently measured at the best estimate of the amount required to settle the obligation at the reporting date.

Assets

Tangible fixed assets for use by charity

Tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulative depreciation and any accumulative impairment losses. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, other than freehold land and rental property, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset evenly over its expected useful life, as follows:

Investments

Fixed asset investments in quoted shares, traded bonds and similar investments are valued initially at cost and subsequently at fair value (their market value) at the year end. The same treatment is applied to unlisted investments unless fair value cannot be measured reliably in which case it is measured at cost less impairment.

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Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

Debtors

Debtors (including trade debtors and loans receivable) are measured on initial recognition at settlement amount after any trade discounts or amount advanced by the charity. Subsequently, they are measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be received.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

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Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

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Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

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Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

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