Rotherham Samaritans
22 Percy Street Rotherham South Yorkshire $65 1ED
Charity Registration Number 1173826
Annual Report & Financial Statements _-....» for thet? Months Ended. ee
Rotherham Samaritans
Annual Report & Financial Statements for the 12 month period ended 31 March 2025
Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees’ Report | 1to4 |
| Statement of Officers’ Responsibilities | 5 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 6 |
| Receipts and Payments Accounts | 7 |
| Statement ofAssets and Liabilities | 8 |
| NotestoAccounts | 9to12 |
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Rotherham Samaritans
Trustees’ Report
for the period ended 31 March 2025
The officers present their report and the financial statements for the period ended 31 March 2025
Governance
From 1%t October 2017 Rotherham Samaritans has been a Charitable Incorporated Institution (CIO) with charity registration number 1173826. Prior to that, it was an unincorporated charity, called The Samaritans of Rotherham charity, number 1057161. It is also an independent affiliated branch of The Samaritans which is a legally constituted company limited by guarantee, not having a share capital and whose registered office is situated at The Upper Mill, Kingston Road, Ewell, Surrey, KT17 2AF
The administration, control and management of the Rotherham Samaritans are vested in a local Director together with a number of Trustees, no less than three and not more than thirteen. The Trustees, together with the Secretary and Treasurer, are elected by the members at the AGM.
Principal Objective
To enable persons in Rotherham 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.
Investment Powers
Under its constitution the charity has the power to make any investment which the trustees see fit.
Reserves
The reserves policy is to maintain sufficient unrestricted cash reserves to continue operating for at least eighteen months in the unlikely event of our receiving no income from any source, as well as designated reserves where there are potential commitments that cannot be met by anticipated future income alone. The funds are held as short term investments as shown in the statement of Assets and Liabilities on page 7. The Reserves policy is shown in full on page 11 along with an upto-date appraisal against actual funds held.
Accounting Policies
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), Accounting and Reporting for Charities published in 2005 and applicable accounting standards. These accounts have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis. All grants and voluntary income are accounted for gross when received. All expenditure is accounted for and when paid. Direct charitable expenditure includes the direct cost of activities. Where cash costs relate to more than one functional category, they have been split as appropriate.
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Rotherham Samaritans
Trustees’ Report (Continued)
for the period ended 31 March 2025
Trustees
Trustees during the year were:
David Pinder Director until 16/12/24 Mark Smith Director from 16/12/24 Andy Scott Treasurer John Glynn Fiona Wilson Steve Wilson Lisa Bingham from 21/05/24 Sally Higgins from 21/05/24
The trustees are recruited from the charity’s membership. They must be volunteers who have undertaken a course of preparation and had sufficient experience of the charity to afford proper direction in accordance with its defined purposes. Trustees are given a copy of the Charity Commission guidelines for trustees and are required to complete Samaritans on-line training.
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Directors’ Report
We are pleased to present the Directors’ Report for Rotherham Samaritans for the year April 2024 to March 2025. This report reflects another year of dedicated, compassionate service delivered by our incredible team of volunteers, who continue to support people in emotional distress and despair across Rotherham and beyond.
Who We Are
Rotherham Samaritans is proud to be a purely volunteer-led branch. We operate from our own building, which helps us to keep running costs and overheads modest. This enables us to remain a highly cost-effective local service, delivering real value for money while maintaining the quality and availability of emotional support for those who need us.
Our Listening Work
Over the past year, our volunteers have taken 4,998 calls for help from people experiencing difficult times. Every one of these calls represents a person who found someone to listen, without judgement or pressure. Our branch plays an essential part in the national Samaritans network, helping ensure 24/7 availability to those who need to talk.
Weliness Check Pathway Project with NHS
We are proud to have continued our Wellness Check Pathway Project, through which we make outbound calls to people referred by the Rotherham NHS Mental Health NHS Crisis Team. This innovative partnership (funded by the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board) extends our emotional support into the community and reaches people at a time when they may be most at risk and in need of a listening ear. During the year 260 people were referred to us, and we completed 423 wellbeing calls where contact was made.
Outreach and Community Presence
Our commitment to outreach remains strong. We ran a monthly drop-in session at Rotherham Minster, provided a presence at Rotherham United’s New York Stadium, and held awareness sessions at Rotherham Train Station. We also delivered talks to local schools when requested, supporting young people’s understanding of mental health and the importance of talking. We continued to engage the wider community through our presence at the Rotherham Show and by supporting national initiatives such as Brew Monday, helping reduce stigma and encouraging connection during the winter months. We also distributed caller awareness information and leaflets to GP surgeries across Rotherham.
Volunteer Recognition and Support
Our volunteers are the heart of everything we do. We held several team-building activities this year, which help strengthen peer support, build friendships, and maintain morale. We also celebrated our volunteers at our Annual Recognition Event, where we welcomed new members and honoured those reaching long-service milestones.
We were especially proud to see former Branch Director Helen Mortimer awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the King’s Honours, recognising her exceptional service and dedication to supporting others.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to David Pinder, who completed his three-year term as Branch Director in December. David led the branch with dedication, compassion, and steady leadership, and we are grateful for his service. Following a rigorous branch selection process Mark Smith was welcomed as our new Branch Director taking over in December 2024 following serving as one of David’s Vice Directors.
Financial Stewardship and Resilience
Our branch continues to manage its finances responsibly. Being volunteer-led and based in our own
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premises means our overheads remain modest, allowing us to run an efficient and responsive service. While mindful of rising utility costs and the broader cost-of-living pressures, we are pleased to report that our reserves remain strong, enabling us to respond swiftly to any significant issues - such as unexpected building repairs or technical challenges.
In addition, we made a financial contribution to regional and central Samaritans infrastructure, helping to strengthen the wider network. This included support towards the national rollout of the new Listening Centre system, which provides improved call handling, technical reliability, and resilience - ensuring we continue to offer the highest standards of support across the UK and Ireland.
Partnership and Regional Involvement
We continue to play an active role in the Rotherham Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm Reduction Partnership, working with a range of local agencies to help reduce suicide and support mental wellbeing across the borough. As a strong and engaged branch within Yorkshire and Humberside Samaritans, we regularly take part in regional conferences and events, sharing learning and strengthening connections across the network.
Thank You
We close by offering our heartfelt thanks to our volunteers, supporters, partners, and everyone who contributes to the success and impact of Rotherham Samaritans. Together, we make a real difference - ensuring that, whoever you are, you don’t have to face things alone and working towards the national Samaritans vision that fewer people die by suicide.
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Mark Smith Branch Director On behalf of the board of trustees, Rotherham Samaritans
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Rotherham Samaritans
Statement of Officers’ Responsibilities
for the period ended 31 March 2025
Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the officers to prepare financial statements for each financial period which give a true and fair view of the charity’s financial activities during the period and of its financial position at the end of the period. In preparing financial statements giving a true and fair view, the treasurer must follow best practice and:
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(a) select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
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(b) make reasonable and prudent judgements and estimates;
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(c) state whether applicable Accounting Standards of Recommended Practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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(d) prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue in business.
The officers are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose, with reasonable accuracy, the financial position of the charity, and which enable them to both ascertain the financial position of the charity and ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They 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.
The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit and consider that the charity comfortably meets the published criteria. .
The following financial report covers the accounts for the charity which operated under the name of Rotherham Samaritans (1173826). The charity changed its name halfway through the financial year 2017-18 from the Samaritans of Rotherham (1057161).
Bankers
NatWest Bank, 27 Effingham Street, Rotherham $65 1AU
Independent Examiner
Tom May 8 Stonely Brook, Ravenfield, Rotherham S65 4QY
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Rotherham Samaritans
Independent Examiner's Report
| report to the trustees of Rotherham Samaritans on my examination of the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 which are set out on pages 7 to 12
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
| report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, | have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent Examiner’s statement
| have completed my examination. | confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or 2. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records | have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
|
Tom May 8 Stonely Brook, Ravenfield, Rotherham $65 4QY
O3/ OF 2025
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Rotherham Samaritans
Receipts and Payments Account: Year ended 31st March 2025
:
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|||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||2028-25|2023-24|
|Notes|£|£|£|£|
|Receipts|
|Donations,|Legacies|and|Similar|Resources|1|2,852|0|2,852|3,864|
|Grants|&|Funding|Received|2|25,500|0|25,500|25,000|
|Fund|Raising|Activities|3|1,040|0|1,040|1,708|
|Refunds|4|0|0)|0|20|
|Bank|Interest|661|0|661|501|
|Total Receipts|30,052;|sg|30,052|31,053|
|Payments|
|Costs|of|Charitable|Activities|5|20,743|0|20,743|22,556|
|Centre|Refurbishment|6|0|0|0|0|
|Cost|of|Fund|Raising|7|565|0|565|329|
|Governance|Costs|8|13,251|0|13,251|10,120|
|Total Payments|34,559)|i|34,559|33,005|
|Net Income|/ (Expenditure) for Year|||[4507]]|4.507|
|Represented|By:|
|Cash|&|Bank|Balances|as|at|1st|April|2024|76,330|76,330|78,282|
|Cash|&|Bank|Balances|as|at|31st|March|2025|71,823|71,823|76,330|
|Net Movement in Funds This Year|||4.507]|[4,507]|
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Rotherham Samaritans
Statement of Assets and Liabilities for the year ending 31 March 2025
|||
024-25
Unrestricted|
Restricted||
024-25
Unrestricted|
Restricted|2023-24|
|---|---|---|---|
|Assets||||
|NatWest Current Account|13,584|13,584|11,091|
|NatWest Legacy Account|100|100|100|
|Virgin Money Charity Account|58,139|58,139|65,139|
|Petty Cash|0|0|0|
||71,823]|71,823|76,330|
Monetary Assets
Non Monetary Assets
Land & Buildings
Based on recent sales of adjoining property, the trustees estimate that the value of 22 Percy Street is £125,000
Fixtures & Fittings
The Charity has use of various fixtures and fittings, including computers and office equipment, purchased over the years and written off in the year of purchase. The cost and market value of these sundry assets are not significant to the Charity.
Liabilities
General Office Contribution
The Central Office contribution based on income during 2024-25 is estimated to be £3.304. This becomes due before the end of the 2025-26 Financial Year.
Entry Fobs
A deposit is collected from Volunteers in lieu of their branch entry fobs. This is reclaimable when a volunteer leaves.
Approved by the Trustees on / / and signed on their behalf by :
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Branch Director
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Rotherham Samaritans
Notes on the Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2025
||||
2028-25
Unrestricted|
Restricted||
2028-25
Unrestricted|
Restricted||
2028-25
Unrestricted|
Restricted||2023-24|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|1.|Donations||||||
||Anonymous and under £50||50|0|50|107|
||Deposits on Fobs||30|0|30|50|
||Donations Gift Aided||151|0|151|2,195|
||Individuals||2,121|0|2,121|412|
||Organisations|||500
2es2f|0
500
2,882||1,100
3,864|
|2.|Grants & Funding Received||||||
||Arnold Clark Community Fund||500||500|0|
||SY CCG||25,000||25,000|25,000|
||Pears Funding (CO)||0||0|0|
|3.|Income from Fund Raising Activities||||||
||Rotherham Show/ Brinsworth Gala / Co-op||579|0|579|290|
||Christmas Cards||136|0|136|64|
||Copper Jar||0|0|0|0|
||Giving Sites||325|0|325|27|
||Public Events||0|0|0|0|
||Public Events Gift Aided||0|0|0|0|
||Samarathon||0|0|0|0|
||Tax Reclaimed (Gift Aided Donations)||0|0|0|1,328|
|||||t.04of|1,040||1,708|
|4.|Refunds||||||
||RMBC Council Tax|||||0|
||General-RefundofFobdeposits|||||-20|
Rotherham Samaritans
Notes on the Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2025
| 5. | Direct | Charitable Activity | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centre | - Building | 5.1 | 9,584 | 9,584 | 8,287 | |||
| Centre | - Operation | 5.2 | 9,801 | 9,801 | 12,429 | |||
| Centre | - Telecommunications | 5.3 | 1,357 | 1,357 | 1,839 | |||
| 20,743] | 20,743) | |||||||
| 5.1 Centre - Building | ||||||||
| Self Employed Cleaner | 1,605 | 0 | 1,605 | 1,494 | ||||
| Cleaning - Materials | 44 | 0 | 44 | 53 | ||||
| Cleaning -Windows | 132 | 0 | 132 | 120 | ||||
| Council Tax | 598 | 0 | 598 | 494 | ||||
| Furniture & Fittings | 1,339 | 0) | 1,339 | 1,236 | ||||
| Insurance | 874 | 0 | 874 | 856 | ||||
| Maintenance | 2,958 | 0 | 2,958 | 2,081 | ||||
| Security | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Utilities - Electricity | 892 | 0 | 892 | 750 | ||||
| Utilities - Gas |
900 | 0 | 900 | 982 | ||||
| Utilities - Water | 243 | 0 | 243 | 221 | ||||
| Waste Disposal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| sea] 584 |
||||||||
| 5.2 Centre - Operation | ||||||||
| Advertising & Recruitment | 850 | 0 | 850 | 678 | ||||
| Computing Equipment | 193 | 0 | 193 | 4,158 | ||||
| Courses Conferences &Training | 2,689 | ) | 2,689 | 2,000 | ||||
| Outreach & Awareness | 2,146 | 0 | 2,146 | 2,389 | ||||
| PrintingStationery & Postage | 775 | 0 | 775 | 926 | ||||
| Refreshments - Others | 35 | 0 | 35 | 66 | ||||
| Refreshments - Volunteers | 573 | 0 | 573 | 250 | ||||
| Chamber of Commerce | 258 | 0 | 258 | 0 | ||||
| Trains / Taxis | 179 | 0 | 179 | 369 | ||||
| Mileage - Volunteers | 1,628 | 0 | 1,628 | 1,238 | ||||
| Volunteer Team Building/Recognition Events | 476 0 476 [sao] of 9,801 |
356 | ||||||
| 5.3 Centre - Telecommunications | ||||||||
| Internet & Telephone - Percy Street | 1,327 | |||||||
| Phone - Director | 30 | 30 | 120 | |||||
| Select Services | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 1357]1,387 |
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Rotherham Samaritans
Notes on the Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2025
-
Centre - Refurbishment Building Work Fixtures & Fittings
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Cost of Fund Raising Christmas Cards Rotherham Show Equipment - Collecting Buckets T-Shirt for Marathon General Expenses
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8. Governance Costs
Administration
General Office Contribution
Gifts
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General Office Contribution
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[2024-25 2023-24
Unrestricted| Restricted
64 0 64 64
265 0 265 266
62 0 62 0
15 0 15 0
160 0 160 0
a ee
0 0 0
13,251 13,251 10,120
0 0 0
13,251, 13,251 10,120
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The payment made to General Office comprises two elements: An amount of £8,251 which is calculated based on the 2023-24 Accounts and an amount of £5,000 representing an additional voluntary payment approved by the Branch Leadership Team.
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Rotherham Samaritans
Notes on the Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2025
9. RESERVES POLICY
The trustees have set a level equivalent to 18 months of operating costs as a desired level of reserve. This fund is a contingency designed to protect the future operation of Rotherham Samaritans in the event of: > a sudden reduction in income and/or 2 from the effects of any unforeseen variations in its income and expenditure
F
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The trustees have also designated reserves where there are potential commitments
that cannot be met by anticipated future income alone. These reserves are broken
down into a number of funds that relate to:
> a major building repair fund eg: Roof
> an asset replacement fund to replace IT and furniture as required
a a decorating fund in respect of the repainting of the building front
exterior. Last carried out in April 2024
? a change in the service provision having the potential to require
increased expenditure not evidenced by the 18 months of historic
costs
> the possible requirement to refund volunteers fob deposits
The amounts of reserves are specified in a table as follows:
Unrestricted Balance as
Funds Desired e ae
represented Reserves at 31 Description of Funds
by:y: March 2025
SY (|
General Funds to provide cashflow and meet
purpose £50,000 £60,073| unforeseen expenses. Based on
reserve fund approx. 18 months of expenditure.
Building Major £10,000 £10,000 Provision to fund a major repair to
Repair fund building eg Roof
Asset Provision to replace IT and Furniture
Replacainent £1,250 £1,250] as required. Operation Room chairs
P replaced in 2024/5
Buildin Provision for decoration of the
9 building front exterior - Work
Decoration £0 £0 completed 2024/5 no reserve
Fund ;
currently required
Alteration to | |
™ = ao
mn envisaged
Provision
Volunteers Provision to cover refund of Fob
Fob Deposits ean aout Deposits to Volunteers
a eSror 76o| SY_eriezlSC~—~SCSY(|
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