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2025-03-31-accounts

COLCHESTER SAMARITANS

TRUSTEES

ANNUAL REPORT

Year ending 31 March 2025

Summary of the main ac0vi0es and achievements of the Charity

Colchester Samaritans (hereina1er referred to as the Charity), was incorporated on 17[th] July 2017 and became fully opera@onal on 1[st] October 2017. During the period 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025 the charity was based at Walsingham Road Community Hall Colchester CO2 7BN and con@nued to provide a double-manned telephone and online chat service for the benefit of people in need of emo@onal support both from the local community and from elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

The Charity played a full role in support of Samaritans in the UK and Ireland in line with the objects of the Charity.

Registered name and number

Colchester Samaritans (RC 1173895)

Registered address

Walsingham Road Community Hall Walsingham Road Colchester CO2 7BN

Objects of the Charity

To contribute to the UK wide Samaritans service enabling people who are

  1. To contribute to the UK wide Samaritans service enabling people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those who may be at risk of suicide, to receive confiden@al emo@onal support at any @me of the day or night in order to improve their emo@onal health and to reduce the incidence of suicide.

  2. To promote be[er understanding in society of suicide, suicidal behaviour, and the value of expressing feelings which may otherwise lead to suicide or impaired emo@onal health in Colchester and the surrounding area.

  3. Objects.

Governance

The Branch is a Charitable Incorporated Organisa@on within the Samaritan Movement.

The ac@vi@es of the Charity are regulated by:

  1. the Cons@tu@on of the Charity dated 21[st] July 2017. A copy is available on applica@on to the Branch Secretary.

  2. the nature of services and policies of The Samaritan Company, as determined from @me to @me by the Council of Management of The Company.

- Organisa0on and Decision making Structure of the Charity

  1. The Branch Director is responsible for and has absolute authority over the day-to-day conduct and management of the work of the Branch in offering help to suicidal, despairing and/or distressed callers. The Director is in charge of all members of the Branch.

  2. branch, ensuring the branch is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit and fulfilling its legal and regulatory responsibili@es, including the upkeep of the Centre, fund raising and expenditure, publicity, and the general management of material resources.

2

Trustees

the Cons@tu@on of the Charity. Trustees from 1[st] April 2024 to 31 March 2025 were:

David A[erbury Rodney Dass (from 6[th] October 2024) Caroline Nicholls. Philip Moseley (from 6[th] October 2024 to 3[rd] July 2025) Liz Raczi (to 6[th] October 2024) Hilary Savage (to 6[th] October 2024) Terry Beech (to 4[th] July 2025) Lynne Finnigan (to 6[th] October 2024) Keith Middleton (to 17[th] April 2025) Stephanie Dass (from 6[th] October 2024) Ruth Yallop (from 6[th] October 2024) Margaret Jones (from 6[th] October 2024) Beth Hynds (co opted 30[th] July 2025)

Ofcers at 31 March 2025 were:

Branch Director Margaret Jones Secretary Caroline Nicholls Treasurer David A[erbury

Professional advisers at 31 March 2025 were:

Independent Examiners Quan@c Accountancy Ltd, 1 Second Avenue, Halstead CO9 2SU

Bankers Barclays Bank, 40-41 High Street, Chelmsford CM1 1BE The Co-opera@ve Bank plc, P.O. Box 250, Skelmersdale, WN8 6WT

Annual accounts

The Accounts for the year ending to 31st March 2025 cons@tute part of this report and are a[ached as an Appendix. They have been prepared on a payments and receipts basis to conform to the Chari@es Act 2011. They have been subject to independent examina@on only by the Independent Examiner as an audit is not required as provided under Sec@on 144 of this Act. The Statement of Financial Affairs records an excess of income over expenditure, excluding deprecia@on, of £23,439.

there were to be a serious decline in income. The Branch needs approximately £65,000 a year to maintain current levels of ac@vity. In addi@on, reserves are needed to maintain the premises and to fund periodic improvements. The current assets are sufficient for these purposes currently.

Use of the Charity’s service

Figures are available for the period 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025:

  1. The Charity maintained a 365 day service.

  2. The Charity was contacted by callers using the telephone 21,861 @mes in total.

  3. Our volunteers engaged with 598 online chats.

  4. There were 94 requests for contact received (of which contact was made with 86 service users, a success rate of 91%) from our partnership with the EPUT.

Recruitment, selec0on and profle of volunteers

Figures are available for the period 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025:

3

  1. 73 people enquired about volunteering.

  2. Of those, 37 were accepted for training.

  3. We operated our service with 106 ac@ve listening volunteers and 33 support volunteers.

  4. Volunteers on average do 1 duty a week which ranges from 2.5 to 3 hours during the day and 4.5 hours at night.

Related ac0vi0es

The Charity has no employees, and all its work is undertaken on a voluntary basis. This includes considerable addi@onal @me and effort to enable the Objects of the Charity to be met.

In the period 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025 this included:

  1. Outreach work in secondary schools, MCTC and Essex University con@nues, and we have extended our reach to refugees in Clacton, and the homeless. There are regular monthly visits to Emmaus, Open Road, Network Rail and from @me to @me, Harwich Salva@on Army, HEART Community Drop-in. We a[ended the Colchester Pride Fes@val in August.

  2. Fundraising Book Fairs, Collec@ons at retail venues and public events, in-house events and sponsorships. Dona@ons are down on the past and we are having to work harder to cover our costs.

  3. Our partnership with the Mental Health Trust (EPUT) con@nues to thrive and we make calls to pa@ents needing emo@onal support who are referred to us from the Trust.

Copies of this report may be obtained by wri@ng to the Secretary at Samaritans, Walsingham Road Community Hall, Colchester CO2 7BN (a small charge will be made to cover postage and prin@ng). Further informa@on about the work of the Charity may be obtained by wri@ng to the Director at the same address.

Received and approved by vote of the Trustees:

Director: Margaret Jones

Secretary: Caroline Nicholls Date:

Received by the membership at the AGM, 5[th] October 2025

Director: Margaret Jones

Secretary: Caroline Nicholls Date:

4

Appendix to the Trustees Annual Report

Page 1

COLCHESTER SAMARITANS

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2025

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Colchester Samaritans

I am reporting on the Accounts of Colchester Samaritans ended 31st March 2025 which are set out on Pages 2 to 7.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and the examiner

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.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner’s report

My 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 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.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention (other than that disclosed below):

  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;

  3. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the

  4. accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or

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

Name: Mr Stuart Foster (FCCA) Professional Qualification: ACCA Address: Quantic Accountancy Ltd, 1 Second Avenue, Halstead, Essex CO9 2SU Date: 15 July 2025

Appendix to the Trustees Annual Report

Page 2

COLCHESTER SAMARITANS

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH 2025

Note All Funds
2025
£
All Funds
2025
£
All Funds
2025
£



All Funds
2024
£



All Funds
2024
£



All Funds
2024
£
Incoming Resources
Book Fair
Donations and Gifts
Fundraising Events
Grants Receivable
Gift Aid
Legacies
Sale of Van
Interest
3,956
14,244
12,376
11,000
1,829
15,399
9






3,000
48,637
4,305
9,500
5,444
10,023
14
Total IncomingResources 58,813 80,923
Resources Expended
Depreciation of Fixed Assets
Direct Charitable Expenditure
Fundraising and Publicity Costs
Management and Administration Costs
3
4
5
9,576
19,874
7,158
8,342



9,405
55,664
8,116
26,858
Total ResourcesExpended 44,950 100,043
Net Incoming /(outgoing) resources
Balance broughtforward at1 April 2024
13,863
492,376
(19,120)
511,496
Balance carried forward at 31 March 2025 506,239 492,376

The notes on pages 4 to 7 form part of these accounts

Appendix to the Trustees Annual Report

Page 3

COLCHESTER SAMARITANS

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31st MARCH 2025

Note 2025 2025 2025 2024 2024
£
£

£
£
Tangible Fixed Assets
Current Assets
Cash at Bank
6 123,784
382,455
108,831 383,545
Current Assets 506,239 492,376
Net Total Assets 506,239 492,376
Represented by:
General
Fixed Assets
7
7
123,784
382,455

506,239
108,831
383,545

492,376

The notes on pages 4 to 7 form part of these accounts

Appendix to the Trustees Annual Report

Page 4

COLCHESTER SAMARITANS

Notes to the Accounts for the period ending 31st March 2025

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

a) Basis of Accounting. These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the applicable accounting standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice on Accounting by Charities (“the Charities SORP”).

b) Voluntary income received by way of donations and gifts is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (the “SOFA”) when received. Gifts in kind are valued and brought in as income and the appropriate expenditure.

c) Gross fund-raising income from events organised by the charity itself is included in the SOFA when received. Where deemed material, fund-raising proceeds not yet received by the charity at the end of year end have also been taken into income at the Trustees’ estimate of ‘likely receivable amount’.

d) Gift Aid and other income received by the charity in respect of which a claim for repayment of tax has or will be made is grossed up for the tax recoverable and this gross amount recognised in the SOFA.

e) Income from legacies is included in the SOFA when received or when the Trustees are satisfied the charity has a legally enforceable right of receipt of a conservatively measurable sum.

f) Revenue grants for immediate financial support and assistance are recognised in the SOFA on receipt and on satisfaction of any preconditions.

g) Premises overheads are aggregated and allocated to the various functional activities of the charity on a percentage basis determined by the Trustees and disclosed in a note.

h) Any costs which cannot be specifically identified to another functional activity of the charity are included in the management and administration function.

i) Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets of material value held by the charity for its own use on a straight line basis so as to write off their costs over the estimated useful lives as follows:

Freehold Property 50 years Computers and other office equipment/furniture 4 years

j) No provision for taxation is included in the accounts as the charity is entitled to the exemption from tax afforded by Section 505 on the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.

Appendix to the Trustees Annual Report

Page 5

2025 2024
2. PREMISES OVERHEADS
Water, Light and Heat
Repairs and Renewals
Cleaning and Housekeeping
Office Telephone
Insurance
Rent
3,107
13,264
3,762
1,683
3,350
4,879
18,597
2,915
1,534
2,472
Total for Year 25,166 30,397
Allocated to: -
Direct Charitable Expenditure
Fundraising and Publicity
Management and Administration

16,358
6,291
2,517
19,758
7,599
3,040
%
65
25
10
Total Allocation for Year 25,166 30,397 100
3.DIRECT CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE
Emergency Telephone
Volunteers Training and Support Costs
Volunteers Expenses
Publicity
Postage, Stationery & IT
Share of Premises Overheads (see note 2)
930
185
1,053
112
1,236
16,358
1,143
312
28,290
4,353
1,808
19,758
Total for Year 19,874 55,664
4. FUNDRAISING AND PUBLICITY COSTS
Fundraising Expenses
Share of Premises Overheads (see note 2)
867
6,291
517
7,599
Total for Year 7,158 8,116
5. MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION COSTS
Regional Conference
Bank Charges
Contribution to General Office Support
Three Rings
Professional Fees
Van Expenses
Branch Visit
Sundry Expenses
Share of Premises Overheads (see note 2)
1,860
163
3,237
350
180
35
2,517
1,861
243
19,468
326
180
1,705
35
3,040
Total for Period 8,342 26,858

Appendix to the Trustees Annual Report

Page 6

6. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Van Van Freehold Property
Walsingham Road
Freehold Property
Walsingham Road
Freehold Property
Walsingham Road
Freehold Property
Walsingham Road
Freehold Property
Walsingham Road
Total Total Total
Cost
At 31stMarch 2024
Additions in period
£ £
470,307
8,486


£
470,307
8,486
At31st March 2025 478,793 478,793
Depreciation
At 31stMarch 24
Charge for year
86,762
9,576


86,762
9,576
At 31stMarch 2025 96,338 96,338
Net Book Value
At 31 March 2024 383,545 383,545
At 31 March 2025 382,455 382,455
7.
RECONCILATION OF FUNDS
At 1st April 2024
Surplus for the Year
At 31st March 2025
Represented by:
Tangible Fixed Assets
Current Assets
General
Designated
Funds
Total
£
108,831
14,953


£
383,545
(1,090)


£
492,376
13,863
123,784 382,455 506,239
123,784 382,455
382,455
123,784
123,784 382,455 506,239

General Fund: Funds are held available for the ordinary purposes of the charity.

Appendix to the Trustees Annual Report

Page 7

8. STAFF COSTS AND NUMBERS.

No staff was employed by the charity during the period 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025.

9. TRUSTEES’ REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES

None of the charity’s trustees were directly or indirectly remunerated in any way. It is the policy of the charity to reimburse in full all expenses properly incurred by its volunteers in connection with its charitable activities. During the year, the total amount reimbursed to the trustees, members of the charity’s Management Committee, in respect of travel costs for attending meetings. telephone, postage and other similar expenses is disclosed in page 5, note 3.

10. INDEMNITY INSURANCE.

Samaritans has centrally effected professional indemnity insurance to protect employees, Trustees, Directors and other volunteer members of all Samaritan branches.

Appendix to the Trustees Annual Report

Page 1

COLCHESTER SAMARITANS

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2025

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Colchester Samaritans

I am reporting on the Accounts of Colchester Samaritans ended 31st March 2025 which are set out on Pages 2 to 7.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and the examiner

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.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner’s report

My 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 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.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention (other than that disclosed below):

  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;

  3. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the

  4. accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or

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

Name: Mr Stuart Foster (FCCA) Professional Qualification: ACCA Address: Quantic Accountancy Ltd, 1 Second Avenue, Halstead, Essex CO9 2SU Date: 15 July 2025

Appendix to the Trustees Annual Report

Page 2

COLCHESTER SAMARITANS

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH 2025

Note All Funds
2025
£
All Funds
2025
£
All Funds
2025
£



All Funds
2024
£



All Funds
2024
£



All Funds
2024
£
Incoming Resources
Book Fair
Donations and Gifts
Fundraising Events
Grants Receivable
Gift Aid
Legacies
Sale of Van
Interest
3,956
14,244
12,376
11,000
1,829
15,399
9






3,000
48,637
4,305
9,500
5,444
10,023
14
Total IncomingResources 58,813 80,923
Resources Expended
Depreciation of Fixed Assets
Direct Charitable Expenditure
Fundraising and Publicity Costs
Management and Administration Costs
3
4
5
9,576
19,874
7,158
8,342



9,405
55,664
8,116
26,858
Total ResourcesExpended 44,950 100,043
Net Incoming /(outgoing) resources
Balance broughtforward at1 April 2024
13,863
492,376
(19,120)
511,496
Balance carried forward at 31 March 2025 506,239 492,376

The notes on pages 4 to 7 form part of these accounts

Appendix to the Trustees Annual Report

Page 3

COLCHESTER SAMARITANS

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31st MARCH 2025

Note 2025 2025 2025 2024 2024
£
£

£
£
Tangible Fixed Assets
Current Assets
Cash at Bank
6 123,784
382,455
108,831 383,545
Current Assets 506,239 492,376
Net Total Assets 506,239 492,376
Represented by:
General
Fixed Assets
7
7
123,784
382,455

506,239
108,831
383,545

492,376

The notes on pages 4 to 7 form part of these accounts

Appendix to the Trustees Annual Report

Page 4

COLCHESTER SAMARITANS

Notes to the Accounts for the period ending 31st March 2025

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

a) Basis of Accounting. These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the applicable accounting standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice on Accounting by Charities (“the Charities SORP”).

b) Voluntary income received by way of donations and gifts is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (the “SOFA”) when received. Gifts in kind are valued and brought in as income and the appropriate expenditure.

c) Gross fund-raising income from events organised by the charity itself is included in the SOFA when received. Where deemed material, fund-raising proceeds not yet received by the charity at the end of year end have also been taken into income at the Trustees’ estimate of ‘likely receivable amount’.

d) Gift Aid and other income received by the charity in respect of which a claim for repayment of tax has or will be made is grossed up for the tax recoverable and this gross amount recognised in the SOFA.

e) Income from legacies is included in the SOFA when received or when the Trustees are satisfied the charity has a legally enforceable right of receipt of a conservatively measurable sum.

f) Revenue grants for immediate financial support and assistance are recognised in the SOFA on receipt and on satisfaction of any preconditions.

g) Premises overheads are aggregated and allocated to the various functional activities of the charity on a percentage basis determined by the Trustees and disclosed in a note.

h) Any costs which cannot be specifically identified to another functional activity of the charity are included in the management and administration function.

i) Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets of material value held by the charity for its own use on a straight line basis so as to write off their costs over the estimated useful lives as follows:

Freehold Property 50 years Computers and other office equipment/furniture 4 years

j) No provision for taxation is included in the accounts as the charity is entitled to the exemption from tax afforded by Section 505 on the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.

Appendix to the Trustees Annual Report

Page 5

2025 2024
2. PREMISES OVERHEADS
Water, Light and Heat
Repairs and Renewals
Cleaning and Housekeeping
Office Telephone
Insurance
Rent
3,107
13,264
3,762
1,683
3,350
4,879
18,597
2,915
1,534
2,472
Total for Year 25,166 30,397
Allocated to: -
Direct Charitable Expenditure
Fundraising and Publicity
Management and Administration

16,358
6,291
2,517
19,758
7,599
3,040
%
65
25
10
Total Allocation for Year 25,166 30,397 100
3.DIRECT CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE
Emergency Telephone
Volunteers Training and Support Costs
Volunteers Expenses
Publicity
Postage, Stationery & IT
Share of Premises Overheads (see note 2)
930
185
1,053
112
1,236
16,358
1,143
312
28,290
4,353
1,808
19,758
Total for Year 19,874 55,664
4. FUNDRAISING AND PUBLICITY COSTS
Fundraising Expenses
Share of Premises Overheads (see note 2)
867
6,291
517
7,599
Total for Year 7,158 8,116
5. MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION COSTS
Regional Conference
Bank Charges
Contribution to General Office Support
Three Rings
Professional Fees
Van Expenses
Branch Visit
Sundry Expenses
Share of Premises Overheads (see note 2)
1,860
163
3,237
350
180
35
2,517
1,861
243
19,468
326
180
1,705
35
3,040
Total for Period 8,342 26,858

Appendix to the Trustees Annual Report

Page 6

6. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Van Van Freehold Property
Walsingham Road
Freehold Property
Walsingham Road
Freehold Property
Walsingham Road
Freehold Property
Walsingham Road
Freehold Property
Walsingham Road
Total Total Total
Cost
At 31stMarch 2024
Additions in period
£ £
470,307
8,486


£
470,307
8,486
At31st March 2025 478,793 478,793
Depreciation
At 31stMarch 24
Charge for year
86,762
9,576


86,762
9,576
At 31stMarch 2025 96,338 96,338
Net Book Value
At 31 March 2024 383,545 383,545
At 31 March 2025 382,455 382,455
7.
RECONCILATION OF FUNDS
At 1st April 2024
Surplus for the Year
At 31st March 2025
Represented by:
Tangible Fixed Assets
Current Assets
General
Designated
Funds
Total
£
108,831
14,953


£
383,545
(1,090)


£
492,376
13,863
123,784 382,455 506,239
123,784 382,455
382,455
123,784
123,784 382,455 506,239

General Fund: Funds are held available for the ordinary purposes of the charity.

Appendix to the Trustees Annual Report

Page 7

8. STAFF COSTS AND NUMBERS.

No staff was employed by the charity during the period 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025.

9. TRUSTEES’ REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES

None of the charity’s trustees were directly or indirectly remunerated in any way. It is the policy of the charity to reimburse in full all expenses properly incurred by its volunteers in connection with its charitable activities. During the year, the total amount reimbursed to the trustees, members of the charity’s Management Committee, in respect of travel costs for attending meetings. telephone, postage and other similar expenses is disclosed in page 5, note 3.

10. INDEMNITY INSURANCE.

Samaritans has centrally effected professional indemnity insurance to protect employees, Trustees, Directors and other volunteer members of all Samaritan branches.