SAMARITANS OF PRESTON AND DISTRICT REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objectives and aims The Charity's objectives and aims are: To enable persons in Preston and the surrounding area as well as elsewhere who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those who may be at risk of suicide, to receive confidential emotÉonal support at any time of the day or night in order to improve their emotional health and to reduce the incidence of suicide. To promote a better understanding in society of suicide, suicidal behaviour and the value of expressing feelings which may otherwise lead to suicide or impaired emotional health. and To collaborate with and support Samaritans Central Charity and its affiliated branches in fulfilling these Objects. How our work delivers our aims In common with all the other branches of Samaritans, we provide services to support people who require emotional support, including those who are in distress, despair and who may be suicidal. We do this by assisting to provide a 24-hour service of confidential, non- judgemental emotional support by telephone and face to face. Within the next 12 months we are looking to expand our services to include email and online messaging We run an established Listener scheme at HMP Preston to help provide emotional support for those in the prison community. Currently we have 18 Listeners covering all wings of the prison and a further 18 in training. We have a strong working relationship with the prison community and our work is greatly appreciated by Safer Custody. Our Outreach team continues to look for ways of providing or improving access to emotional support and to ieduce suicide within our local community and groups of high risk. During the financial year we attended 37 events, in addition to a weekly tern] time (Irop in as part of our partnership with the University of Central Lancashire. Over that period we reached thousands of people, through awareness raising on the railway stations as part of our participation in the Network Rail partnership (including promoting the Small Talk Saves Lives and Brew Monday campaigns), at supermarkets, Jobcentres, World Suicide Prevention Day at Preston bus ststion and Preston Pride on the Flag Market to name a few. We are in contsct with our local suicide prevention groups, and work with Preston Wellfest to raise public awareness of health and wellbeing issues and the support available to individuals, groups, and communities in Preston. We gave talks to promote our services to at risk groups highlighting the work that we do and how we can help those who need our support but may not be aware of it, and engaged with education establishments providing presentstions on managing emotional health, the value of talking and listening and gaining support. During the financial year we had, on average, 95 volunteers including 7 support volunteers. Our 74 active listening volunteers ("ALV") provided 5,51 I hours of direct telephone support, which equates to 17 hours and I I minutes on the phone per ALV. The national average is 12 hours 38 minutes.
In January 2020 Samaritans made filling the night hour shifts a national priority, as that is, when callers can wait over 30 mins to speak to someone and they are often those in the most desperate need. We have achkeved a significant increase in covering night minutes (2am - 6am) from 57 minutes in January 2022 to 2 hours 31 minutes in January 2024 per ALV. This is more than double our regional target of 70 minutes and more than double the national average a fantastic achievement by both our listening volunteers and the directorate members responsible for volunteer support. Our hours on the phone, per ALV, in The Twilight period (lopm - 2am) are now 4 hours 31 mins compared to the national average of 2 hours 29 minutes. This is in addition to the other services provided by the Branch, for example, training and supporting the Listener scheme and our extensive Outreach programme. Volwiteers also freely gave their time in a number of different administrative and management roles to support the Branch. Our recruitment team is proactive and we have regular information evenings and an active training and mentoring programme. We had l O trainee volunteers at the year end. We are pleased to report that the effort of our volunteers during the year exceeded the support we were able to provide in the previous year, despite the Branch being closed for 5 weeks during the relocation. In the future our new premises will enable us to increase our reach and host meetings for other charities offering additional support to our local community. Governance of the Braneh The work of Samaritans as a federated charity involves the Central Charity and the affiliated CIO branches working closely together to achieve common aims and objectives. The framework for ensuring this is via the constitutions of the Central Charity and affiliated branches and also via a branch agreement and operating agreement which define how all parts of the federated charity work together. The trustees of the Branch are elected, by the branch members, on an annual basis with the exception of the Director who is elected a trustee for their three year tenn in office. Trustees can serve up to a maximum of six years. Trustees may also be co-opted by the elected Trustees to perfornl specific tasks as required. Trustees continue to oversee all aspects of governance including financial oversigh¢ maintaining a Risk and Opportunity Register, ensuring compliance with Data Protection and Health and Safety law. Working as members of the Branch Leadership Team, but also in their own right, the Trnstees set the expectations of the Branch in line with the constitution and the branch and operating agreements with the Central Charity. As well as working within the federated charity of Samaritans, the Branch is responsible for its own fmances. Significant activities The Branch relocated in March 2024 disposing of St Wilfrid Street and acquiring No 9 Navigation Business Village. This completed a long search to find the Branch a new home that offers more flexible accommodation in tenns of accessibility; training and meeting room facilities" car parking and scope for future developments. The disposal and acquisition took place in March 2024 resulting in a five week closure of the Branch whilst works were completed. Outreach and Listener activities were maintained during the closure but the telephone helpline service was temporarily paused.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing doeument The charity is an incorporated organisation and the governing document is the constitution dated 7 July 2017. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number 1173718 Principal address 9 Navigation Business Village Navigation Way Ashton on Ribble Preston PR2 2YP Trustees Sarah Jackson - Director Martin Callagher- Deputy Director Rebecca Wenham - seCtary Michael Bowerman - Marketing & Publicity Manager Lesley Dunn - Treasurer Michael Morgan appointed November 2021 appointed November 2021 appointed November 2021 appointed December 2022 appointed November 2023 appointed November 2023 Independent Examiner M E Davenport 2 Nateby Court Nateby Preston PR3 OJF Bankers The Co-operative Bank 147 Church St, Preston, PRI 3UD HSBC Bank 49A Fishergate, Preston, PRI 8BH
The trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees. Report. Siglled on behalf of the Charity's Trustees: Signature... SarahJackson........................................................ FullName... SarahHelenJackson............................ Position...... BranchDirector................................ Date.. 24July2024............................................................
Samaritans of Preston & District Registered Charity No. 1173718 Financial Report Year Ended 31st March 2024
Contents Page Financial Report Independent Examinerfs Report ststement of Financlal Activltles Balan Sheet Notesforming partof the Flnanclal Statements
Financlal report for the year Premises at St Wilfrid Street presented significant sustainabilty and accessibility issues: step free access wasvia a backentrance through the accessible toilet; the backentrance was off a rearalleyway; the accessible toilet had an entran door into it; stairs to the first floor were very steep and narrow. In addition, there were parkingproblemsand resultlngpersonalsafetyconrn5,part1cu1ar duringthe night, and the space was limited overall and in termsof layout. TheTrustees have invested significant time over the past two years considering the best option for future accommodation to provide a safe and appropriate environmentwhich allows volunteersto focus on the core charitable objectives. With this in mind a Branch Refurbishment ReSee0f £l(X),OtX)wa5 designated tofacilitate improvements to the Branch premises. The Branch relocated in March 2024 disposing of St Wilfrid Street and acquiring No 9 Navigation Business Village. This completed a long search to find the branch a new home that offers more flexible accommodation in terms of accessibility,. training and meeting room facilities; car parking and scopeforfuture developments. The disposal and acquisition took place in March 2024 resulting in a temporary closure of the branch whilst works were completed. The statutory accounts reflect the transaction costs, but the costs of redevelopment and adaptatlons occurred at the start of the new financial year and the provisions/restricted funds in respect of these works are included on the balance sheet as at 31 March 2024. Funds in the year were reiVed by way of private donations from individuals and grants. The shop ased to trade in September 2022 as it no longer made a financial contribution. The principal source of income in the yearwas a sum of £50,IJJ) received from the TJH Foundation who, togetherwith Mr TrevorHemmings, have been very generous to the charity over a number of years. This donation was speciflcally in relation to the redevelopment and adaptation of the new premises and is shown as a restricted fund. A number of smaller donations were also gratefully received in the year. The financial resultsof the Samaritans of Preston & District forthe yearto 31 March 2024 are setout in the financial report. Whilst the accounts show net incoming funds of £70,953 for the year ending 31 March 2024, this is after a profit on disposal of the former premises of £74,674. The underlying deficit is £3,721 and this is before the contribution to central office of £2,950 paid post yearend. The shop deficit in respect of the year ended 31 March 2023 will be offset by a reclaim in respect of statutory maternity pay accounted for on a receipts basis and due in the currentfinancial year. ReseNes Pollcy and Future Plans The Branch seeksto maintain a minimum liquid reSee of 12 months running Costs. Available liquid reseNes (that is, excluding the value of the building at 9 Navigation Business Village, Preston £150,(XX), £74,674 set aside for refurbishment and adaptations and the restricted fund of £50,(KK)) stood at É80,014 at theyear-end and is, in the opinion of the trustees, sufficientto meetthis reSer*S policy.
Independent Examlner's Report to the Trustees of the Preston and District Branch of the Samaritsns I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31" March 2024, which are set out on the following pages. Respective responslbllltles of trustees and examiner The charity's trustees are responsible forthe preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees considerthat an audit is notrequired forthis yearundersection 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; follow the procedures laid down in the general Dirertions given by the Charity Commission under section 14415)Ib} of the 2011 Act; and state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of Independent examinees report My examination was carried out in accordan with the 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 you as trustees concerningany such matters.The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence thatwould be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whetherthe accounts present a 'true and fair view, and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent examlnerfs statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: (i) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130of the 2011 Act; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or (2) which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. M E Davenport 2 Nateby Court Nateby Preston PR3 OJF Signed: rYA) Date:
ststement of Financial Activities Year ended 31 March 2024 Unrestrirted Restrlcted Total 23124 Totsl 22123 Funds Funds Nots Incoming resources Incomlng resourcesfmm genen7tedfunds.' Voluntary income - donations and grants Funds arlsing from charitable activities Profit on disposal of fixed assets 11,811 50,(MJ) 61,811 37,182 6,686 74,674 74,674 Total Incoming Resources 86,485 50,(> 136,485 43,868 Resources expended Costs of genemtingfunds.. Charitable activities Governance costs {15,432) {l(K)) { 15,432) (100) (36,805) {33,161) Total Resources Expended 115,5321 (15,532) (69,966) Net Incomlng /{outgoingl resources 70,953 50,CrfX) 120,953 {26,098} Reconclliation of funds Balance brought forward at I" April 2023 233,735 233,735 259,833 Balance carried forward at I" April 2024 304,688 so,() 354,688 233,735 The notes pages following form part of these financial statements.
Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2024 202312024 2022/2023 Note Fixed Assets Property at valuation 150,(KK) 50,tKxJ Current Assets Cash at bank Debtors 204,368 320 204,688 184,147 184,147 Less current liabilities (412) Net current assets 204,688 183,735 Net assets 354,688 233,735 Represented by: General Funds Designated Funds Fixed Assets Branch Relocation/Refurbishment 80,014 83,735 150,(Kt) 50,tK)O Total Unrestricted Funds 304,688 233,735 Restricted Funds Total Funds 354688 233,735 On Behalf of the Trustees Sign Sign Print Name.m.(WL.i.i.. ... ... Print Name........ Approved by the Trustees on .................... {Date)
Notes forming part of the flnanclal statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 Accounting pollcles Basis of Accounting The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions of The Statement of Recommended Practice- Accounting by Charities {"the 2005 SORP"). The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the historical c05t convention as modlfied by the revaluation of the Property. The Charity has taken advantage of the exemption in Financial Reporting Standard No. I from the requirement to produce a cash flow statement on the grounds that it qualifies as a small charity. Fund accountlng pollcy Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees, discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity. Within unrestricted funds the Trustees have designated amounts comprising the investment in the property and funds for further redevelopment and adaptations. Restricted income funds can only be used for the specified purposes. Incomlng resources Donations, Legacies and Other Voluntary Income are credited to the Statement of Financial Activities where there is entitlement, certainty of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability. Shop income is recognised as earned (that is, as the related goods or services are provided). Resources expended Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure. All expenditure has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and service5 for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. Governance costs Governance costs include costs of the preparation and examination of the statutory accounts, and the cost of any legal advice to trustees on governance or constitutional matters. In addition to the branch levy payable to Central Office. Value Added Tox Value Added Tax is not recoverable by the charity, and as such 15 included in the relevant costs in the Statement of Financial Activities.
2 Proflt on dlsposal of fixed assets The property at St Wilfrid Street was disposed of during the year generating a net profit of £74,674 after disposal costs of £5,326. The funds generated were used towards the purchase No 9 Navigation Business Village offering more suitable and accessible accommodation. Total Resources Expended Charitable Governance Activities Costs Costs 23/24 23124 Total 23/24 Total 22/23 Staff Costs 5,751 Training and associated venue hire 382 382 3,548 Rent & rates 385 385 4,272 Light and heat 1,318 1,318 6,910 Insurance 1,242 1,242 1,397 Repairs and renewals 374 374 571 Telephone 1,823 1,823 2,560 Printing, stationery and postage 440 440 479 Acquisition costs 2,754 2,754 Miscellaneous and general expenses 6,632 6,632 11,228 Bank & other charBe5 82 82 89 Accountancy charges 100 loo 109 Branch contribution 33,052 15,432 100 15,532 69,966 4 The charity employed a part time shop manager for part of the previous year until the closure of the shop in September 2022. 5 None of the trustees received any emoluments during the year. 6 Governance includes the contribution to Central Office and the costs for the Independent Examinerfs review. 7 The costs of disposal and the additional investment in the new premises were offset against the designated fund. 8 Restricted income includes the donation from the TJH Foundation for the redevelopment and adaptation of the new premises.