Samaritans of Preston & District Registered Charity No. 1173718
Report of the Trustees Year Ended 31% March 2025
Samaritans of Preston & District
Year Ended 31% March 2025
TRUSTEES REPORT
The Trustees of The Samaritans of Preston & District present their Report and unaudited Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2025. The legal and administrative information is part of this report. The Financial Statements comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities.
The Trustees of the branch, elected by the branch members, continue to oversee all aspects of governance. These include financial oversight, including setting a budget for the branch 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 Trustees set the expectations of the branch in line with the constitution and the branch and operating agreements with the Central Charity.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the charity and which enable the Trustees to ascertain the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Objectives and aims
The Charity's objectives and aims are:
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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 emotional support at any time of the day or night, in order to improve their emotional health and to reduce the incidence of suicide
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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
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3, Tocollaborate with and support Samaritans Central Charity and its affiliated branches in fulfilling these objectives.
Review of Progress & Achievements
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 through our listening service. We also deliver Outreach support to our local community, run an established prison listeners scheme, recruit regular cohorts of new volunteers who can fulfil the listener volunteer rota, provide extensive training for new and existing volunteers and raise funds sufficient to cover our costs and secure the continuity of our affiliate branch.
During the financial year we had, on average, 101 volunteers including 6 support volunteers. Moving premises at the start of the year did mean that we lost a couple of volunteers who were unable to
transition their travelling arrangements. However, the new premises offer better access and parking facilities, such that the basic number of listening volunteers increased from 86 at the start of the year to 104 at the end. Active volunteer support continues to motivate the volunteer team and provide support through shift leadership and mentee training. With three rounds of recruitment during the year, we expect to continue this growth throughout 2025/26.
The training team worked hard to support this recruitment activity, delivering three core training programmes and three embedding courses. Our new training room also offers us scope for greater volunteer team activity, training and experience sharing which will enhance our service delivery and our volunteer participation in future years.
We do have a very committed team and the branch continued to deliver an average number of hours per listening volunteer (ALV), well above the national average. Night hour shifts will always be a priority and our performance in this respect, for both night and twilight hours, also continually exceeds both the regional and the national average.
Our Outreach team continues to look for ways of providing or improving access to emotional support and to reduce suicide within our local community, particularly within high risk groups. During the financial year, the team supported 35 events as well as the drop in services provided to the University of Central Lancashire. We are in contact with all our local suicide prevention groups.
Over the period we reached thousands of people through awareness raising on the railways stations as part of our partnership with Network Rail, including participation in Small Talk Saves Lives and Brew Monday campaigns. We were also present at supermarkets, job centres, World Suicide Prevention Day, Preston Pride, Preston Wellfest, Crime Prevention Expo, a Women’s Health Event and World Mental Health Day. A regular training and support relationship with Chorley Council has also been established.
We gave talks to promote our services to high risk groups, highlighting the work that Samaritans do and how we can help those who need our support but may not be aware of it, engaging with educational establishments, providing presentations on managing emotional health and the value of talking or listening, and gaining support.
Our Prison team delivers an established Listener scheme at HMP Preston, to help provide emotional support for those in the prison community. At the start of this financial year we had 24 Listeners covering all wings of the prison and a further 18 in training. WE have a strong relationship with the prison community and our work is greatly appreciated by Safer Custody.
Since being set up as an CIO, Preston and District Samaritans has benefited from a number of significant donations and legacies that have enabled us to support our day-to-day operations, maintain and improve our premises and invest in the move to 9 Navigation Business Village. Asa consequence, fundraising activity has been limited, although in this financial year we were very appreciative of donations from two external sponsorship events and two events set up by two of our volunteers.
Towards the end of the financial year a new support volunteer joined us to establish a more consistent approach to fundraising, with the objective of raising funds to cover our operational costs in 2025/26. This work started with a very successful Longridge Afternoon Tea event in March 2025 and we expect this success to roll over into a new fundraising programme throughout 2025.
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The BLT has continued to deliver strong leadership across the board, under the experienced eye of our long standing Director, Sarah Jackson. Sarah will be stepping down during the next financial year and we would like to thank her for her hard work, diligence and commitment to this demanding role.
Significant activities
The Branch relocated in March 2024, disposing of our St Wilfrid Street premises 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 scope for future developments. The disposal and acquisition took place in March 2024 resulting in a short closure of the Branch whilst works were completed. Delivering our full range of services from our new premises commenced in April 2024.
Structure, Governance and Management
The Samaritans of Preston & District has now completed seven full years of charitable work as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registration number 1173718, which is part of the federated charities of Samaritans, led and coordinated by the Central Charity of Samaritans. The governing document is the constitution dated 7 July 2017.
Whilst the governing body is the Trustees, day-to day operational management is undertaken by the Branch Leadership team, appointed and led by Sarah Jackson from November 2021. In total we currently have 8 Trustees, Sarah is ex-officio, the Secretary and the Treasurer are co-opted and the remainder have been elected by the Members at an Annual General Meeting.
The Branch Leadership Team and the Trustees meet on a regular basis to discuss branch leadership matters. For each meeting the Director and Secretary produce an agenda which includes Trustee conflicts of interest, finance, health and safety, risk management, volunteer care, publicity, outreach, training recruitment and prison matters. For each meeting the Secretary produces minutes which are available, in branch, to all volunteers.
The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on Public Benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities, which is an annual process.
The Trustees consider that they have met as required and discharged our duties in the best interests of the branch.
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Charity number 1173718
Principal address
9 Navigation Business Village Navigation Way Ashton on Ribble Preston PR2 2YP
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Trustees
| Sarah Jackson: Director Appointed November 2021 _ Rebecca Wenham - Training Appointed November 2021 | Martin Callagher ~Vice Director Appointed November 2021 Resigned September 2024 _Michael Bowerman - Media _ | Appointed December 2022.0 | Michael Morgan Appointed November 2023s | Lesley Dunn - Treasurer __ Appointed November 2023 Resigned November 2024 | Grant Walker - Prope Appointed October 2024 | Mary Doran -[Vice][Director] Appointed October 2024 Janet Anderson - Treasurer Co-opted November 2024 Martin Wheatman - Secreta Co-opted January 2025
Independent Examiner
Rev'd Alan A Clements 15 Carleton Road Great Knowley Chorley PR6 8TQ
Bankers The Co-operative Bank 147 Church St, Preston, PR13UD
Cambridge & Counties Bank Charnwood Court 5B New Walk Leicester LE1 6TE
The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ Report. Signed on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees:
Signature: a Resnote Ie : aan Full Name: Jane Elizabeth Bleasdale Michelle Louise Ashton
Position: Branch Co-Director Branch Co-Director
Date: OLN L BS umneusnnn von OLY ZB rc
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Samaritans of Preston & District Registered Charity No. 1173718
Financial Report Year Ended 31% March 2025
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|Contents|
|Page|
|Financial|Report|5|
|independent Examiner’s Report|8|
|Statement of Financial|Activities|9|
|Balance|Sheet|10|
|Notes forming|part of the|Financial|Statements|11-13|
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Financial report
At the end of the last financial year, in March 2024, the branch disposed of our existing premises and-invested in a new building at No 9 Navigation Business Village. This long-awaited move was the culmination of a two-year search for more extensive and versatile accommodation that would provide our volunteers with a safer and more appropriate environment, from which we could focus our resources and increase our contribution towards the charity’s core objectives.
The Trustees had also allocated £100,000 into a designated Branch Refurbishment Reserve, in anticipation of a need to make further investment in the new premises. Having identified a suitable building, this fund did allow us to develop a new working environment, with all that we would need for accessibility, training facilities, meeting rooms, storage, the listener duty room and parking facilities. Furthermore, number 9 has the scope for the future development of our branch to meet the increasing needs of our caller base.
At the start of this financial year, we needed a short closure period, whilst key alterations were made to the new building. The statutory accounts for 2023/2024 included the transaction costs with respect to the building sale and purchase, but the current financial year includes most of the refurbishment costs for the new premises.
By the end of this financial year, 31% March 2025, £70,007 has been spent on refurbishment work and building alterations. The branch had already received a generous donation of £50,000 from the Trevor Hemmings Foundation, specifically for the new building alterations and allocated to a Restricted Fund. The balance of £20,007 came from the £100,000 Branch Refurbishment Reserve. At the 2024/2025 year end the Trustees looked at the remaining Designated Branch Refurbishment Fund and felt it would be appropriate to transfer £25,326 back to the General Fund, leaving £54,667 for alterations and refurbishment work in 2025/2026, to include the completion of the lift installation.
Income of £16,473 during the year, was derived from individual and local group donations, limited fundraising activities, the prison grant and bank interest. Having registered for gift aid through HMRC we receiveda first payment for Enthuse fundraising donations. In addition, the Travor Hemmings Foundation generously donated a further £22,500 towards the ongoing building alterations and development work at our new premises. This donation has been added to the Restricted Fund.
Total expenditure during the year was £14,797, but this did include a refund of Statutory Maternity Pay of £4,444, so total costs were £19,241. This total cost also includes payment of the NBC to Central Office for 2022/2023 of £2,950.
The NBC submission to Central Office for 2023/2024 is still outstanding for review and payment in 2025/2026.
Reserves Policy and Future Plans
The Branch seeks to maintain a minimum liquid reserve of 12 months running costs. Available liquid reserves held as General Funds is £81,691, which the Trustees feel will be sufficient to meet this reserves policy plus the outstanding NBC payments. The combined Designated Fund for branch refurbishment, plus the THF Restricted Fund, is considered to be sufficient to complete the remainder of the building and refurbishment works, including the lift installation.
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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Preston and District Branch of the Samaritans
Charities Act 2011.
Independent Examiner’s Report.
Independent Examiner’s Unqualified Report to the Trustees of the Preston and District Branch of the Samaritans for the year ending3 1st. March 2025.
I report on the accounts of the charity which are set out on pages 9 to 10 of this Report.
Respective responsibilities of the trustees and examiner.
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(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 Directions given by the Charity
Commissioner under section 145 (5) (b) of the 2011 Act; and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of the independent examiner’s report.
My examination was carried out in accordance 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 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 as set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement.
In connection with my examination, no other matters have come to my attention:
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirement to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met,
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to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn order to enable a proper understanding ofthe accounts to be reached.
Signed. A!in A LY[omen][ UT] Fellow ~ . 1044 Novem hed of the Association of Charity Independent Examiners Date ‘
Rev'd, A. A. Clements MA, ACIB, FCIE, 202 c 15 Carleton Road, Great Knowley, Chorley PR6 8TQ
= F : =—_= A
ee
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a
Statement of Financial Activities Year ended 31 March 2025
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|I|Unrestrictedfunds|||Restrictedfunds|2024/2025Total|||2023/2024Total|
|Incomingresources||||||
|Incoming resources from generated funds: |_|||||||
|a|||
|Voluntary|income — donations and grants|||2|||12,053]|22,500 ||34,553|61,811|
|_Fundraising|income|||2|||2065]|2,065|||
|Bank interest received|||2.355;|||2,355|
|Profit on disposal of fixed asset|eeee ee|e287|
|Totalincoming resources|| S||=|06,073||22,500|38,973|||136,485|
|CostsResourcesof|generating expendedfunds:|aa|eses|ee|
|Charitable activities|||4|||(11,847); ss|(11,847)|(15,432)|
||Governancecoss|iT|S||(2,950)|(2,950)|
|Refurbishment costs|||(20,007)|(50,000)|(70,007)| sd|
|Total resources expended|||[|]|(34,804)||(25,000)||(84,804)|||[(15,532)]|||
|Net incoming/(outgoing)|resources|||||(48,334) ||(22,500)|||(45,831) ||120,953|||
|Reconciliation of funds|es|ee|ee|ee|
|Balance brought forward|at|1April2024||||304,688|50,000|354,688|233,735|
|Balance carried forward at1April2025||||286,358||22,500||308,858|354,688|
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The notes pages following form part of these financial statements
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Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025
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|||oaaz02s|||||2023/2024|
|ee|_||Note|fF|||£|||€|||¢€£|
|Se|ee|SS|.|
|PropertyFixed|Assetsatvaluationee||50,000ee|—|aca|cand|150,000|
|Current Assets|ee|
|Cash at bank||||162,663||||204368|f|
|Debtors||820|
|[Netcurrentassets|||||62,633;||S|2088 |CS|
|Lesscurrentliabilities||T8805]TCSC=sd”|
|NetAssets|C«Ctsiéi|S,688|
|Represented|by:|a|
|General funds|a|g1691| si|80,014|
|Designated funds|a|
|__-|FiedAssets||||S|S«~SSCit80,000[|—~—=—=s«|———150,000|
|-|Branch|Refurbishment|a|54667||°°}|||74,674|
|Total Unrestricted|Funds|a|286,358/|||304,688|
|RestrictedFunds|||||SST|50|SSSS=«@Y~SCC««SO,|0|
|Total Funds|||||ssf]6a|||
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On[Behalf] of the Trustees
Print Name. JAW SZEFSTAZE
Print Name. Micueté..sutonl
Approved by the Trustees on. wombIZ Bun cescsessstneeesee
Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
1. Accounting policies
Basis ofAccounting
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 cost convention as modified by the revaluation of the Property.
The Charity has taken advantage of the exemption in Financial Reporting Standard No. 1 from the requirement to produce a cash flow statement on the grounds that it qualifies as a small charity.
Fund accounting policy
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.
Incoming 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.
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 services 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 Tax
Value Added Tax is not recoverable by the charity, and as such is included in the relevant costs in the Statement of Financial Activities.
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2. Profit on disposal of fixed asset
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The property at St Wilfred Street was disposed of in the previous financial year. The funds generated were used towards the purchase of No 9 Navigation Business Village, offering more suitable, larger and more accessible accommodation.
- Incoming Resources
| Income 24/25 Income 23/24 |
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|---|---|
| £ £ |
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| Individualdonations |
6,766 2,513 _Groupdonations |
| ‘Totalincome |
4. Total Resources Expended
|Charitable |Governance
Total
Total|
|---|
|Activities
Costs
Costs
Costs|
|Costs24/25
24/25
24/25
23/24|
|£
£
£
£|
|‘Staffcosts
—s«| 8 ~—«| ~S
agay|
|
aay||
Training
st—<“<=~=~sé~SC‘iLSSCC~OT CCT
TRent&Rates
is]
| SCAT
CLC S|
88S
Light&Heat
|
3541[|S
3,541]
1,318
‘insuranceCT
to]
SCdY
CSCS]
Repairs&Renewals
ee
ey Ayy
Telephone
es ee) ee
ee)
7)
Printing, stationaryandpostage |
|
—Ss——s939|S|S989]
“AcguisitionCosts
ss|S|SC]
CT
=| 7
Miscellaneous&General
8,694a
8,694
6.632
Expenses
BankandOtherCharges
ee
er)
ee ee) 7
AccountancyCharges
PTC
100
RefurbishmentCosts
|
70,007! ~~«| ~-70,007,
~Sfs
BranchContribution
ee
es es|
|[TotalCosts
|
g1854|2,950|
84,804| 15,532||
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|5|Governance Costs|Includes|the|contribution|to|Central|Office|and|the|costs|for|the|
|Independent|Examiner’s|review|
|6|Restricted|Funds|Includes|the donation|from|the|Trevor|Hemmings|Foundation|for|the|
|development|and|adaption|of the new|premises|
|7|THF donation|Trevor Hemmings|Foundation|donation|for|improvements and|the|
|development|of new|premises|at|No9|Navigation|Business|Village|
|8|Staff Costs|None|of the Trustees received any emoluments|during the|year. A|refund|
|was received from HMRC|for|reclaimed|Statutory|Maternity|Pay for|a|shop|
|worker from|2022/2023|
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