2022-03-31-accounts - Durham Samaritans

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Registered Charity Number 1173976

DURHAM SAMARITANS

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2022

DURHAM SAMARITANS

The trustees present their annual report and financial statement for the year ending 31 March 2022 and confirm that they have been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice on Accounting for Charities

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Charity name Durham Samaritans, previously The Samaritans of Central Durham Charity Registration 1173976 Principal office The Samaritans, 26 Sutton Street, Durham DH1 4BW Trustees The trustees during the year were: Linda Aldridge to 29 March 2022 Susan Brady to 29 March 2022 Lynn Christine Brooks (Director) to 2 August 2021 Jeremy Felix Disley from 29 March 2022 Mary Gardner to 29 March 2022 Lynn Haley to 3 September 2021 Matthew Paul Johnson to 29 March 2022 Louise Elisabeth Gloria Maxwell from 29 March 2022 Glynis Margaret Peacock (Director) from 30 August 2021 to 29 March 2022 Dr Jeanne Marie Pratt from 29 March 2022 Christopher David Rae Michael Ian Rayner (Treasurer) Nicola Sian Sawicki to 11 November 2021 Monica Rosemary Smith (Director) from 29 March 2022 Jean Stores Amanda Louise Winter (Secretary)

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

Durham Samaritans, hereafter called The Charity, is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (“CIO”) which was registered on 27 July 2017 with the Charities Commission of England and Wales. The Constitution of Durham Samaritans, last amended on 27 November 2018, covers the Objects of the CIO, its governance and all aspects of its operation. Following the establishment of the CIO, Durham Samaritans is now recognised as a legal entity with the right to enter into contracts and agreements giving its Trustees the same protection as directors of a limited liability company.

Organisational structure

The trustees are responsible for the general control and management of the Charity. The trustees give their time freely and receive no remuneration or other financial benefits. The trustees meet monthly and are responsible for all decisions taken in relation to running the Charity.

Recruitment and appointment of trustees

The trustees of the Charity comprise

the Branch Director
the elected trustees, being a trustee elected by the members with the role of secretary and a trustee elected by the members with the role of treasurer (or one trustee elected by the Members to serve as both secretary and treasurer)
up to eight additional trustees elected by the Members
up to two co-opted trustees appointed in accordance with clause 12.4 of the Constitution

All trustees have the same rights, duties and responsibilities unless otherwise specified in the constitution. All members of the Charity (including the trustees) may make nominations for individuals to stand for election as elected trustees.

OBJECTS

The objects of the Charity are:

To enable persons in Durham 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;
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.

ACTIVITIES, ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Volunteer Care

During the Covid pandemic, fewer volunteers were available to cover our listening shifts, but our policy to increase the number of new volunteers, together with minor adjustments to the rota, enabled us, to a large extent, to meet this challenge and cover the majority of our shifts. Most volunteers have now returned to doing shifts, and face-to-face meetings are again regularly taking place.

Our face-to-face caller facility was suspended at the start of the Covid pandemic and the organisation has not yet lifted this suspension.

2021 was the 50th Anniversary of the founding of this branch of the Samaritans and events were held during the year to commemorate this event. In May 2021 Durham Samaritans celebrated its 50th Birthday with a grand fundraising event called 50 for 50, so our volunteers who took part could choose to do 50 things for 50 years of Samaritans.

Here are some examples of the activities our volunteers were involved in

Volunteers crocheted 50 dishcloths, crocheted 50 flowers, baked 50 cookies, baked 50 fairy cakes made 50 key fobs, identified and learned the Latin names of 50 wild flowers, cooked 50 foods from 50 different countries or ran 50 miles accompanied by their dog.

Many volunteers walked 50 miles or did 50 bike rides taking in the wonderful views of Northumberland, Durham Coastline, North and West Yorkshire. One volunteer’s daughter did 50 star jumps on their trampoline. Many were sponsored by friends and family and the branch had a WhatsApp group so volunteers could encourage and support each other, while following their wonderful stories. An amazing amount was raised while we had fun.

Our 2021 Christmas meal was held in December and was enjoyed by all.

Since October 2021, thirteen volunteers have taken part in an initiative to keep in touch with every branch volunteer, including those who have been shielding during the pandemic and those on Leave of Absence. The only exceptions have been new volunteers who are in touch with their mentors.

Our aim in doing this every few months has been to make everyone feel valued and to offer support where needed. It has been especially helpful in making contact with volunteers who had little chance to meet others during the pandemic, and who might have been feeling somewhat isolated as a result

Recruitment and Selection

At the time of writing, over 100 people have expressed an interest in joining our branch. It’s great that so many people want to be part of our organization. Recruitment takes place three times each year (four times in 2021) with volunteers coming from a wide geographical area within the North East.

Training

We have embraced Zoom technology and new training materials provided by the Learning and Development team in Samaritans Central Office to undertake a programme of Core Development and Embedding training to ensure the Branch would have a steady supply of new volunteers. Four groups went through training in 2021, an increase on previous years. This was in response to a request from the Central Charity for branches to increase the numbers of new volunteers, to keep pace with the increase in caller demand.

A return to three intakes of potential volunteers per year was made in early 2022, as the demand on the branch infrastructure of four intakes a year was deemed unsustainable. We have continued our long-standing practice of attracting local Durham University students to train as listening volunteers.

Samaritans Central Office provided a range of online training courses to expand volunteers’ knowledge and better support callers, including Self Harm, Mental Health, How We Best Support Our Callers; Making Prison Calls Better. Our volunteers met that challenge and diligently worked through this training. Durham Branch also joined the pilot for new Safeguarding training materials; we completed the digital training and provided detailed feedback.

We ran a course to train new leaders but we also included many experienced leaders who offered peer support. Together we refreshed ourselves on safeguarding from a leader standpoint.

Durham Branch also contributed to the Paired Mentor pilot. To increase the number of new volunteers coming in to the branch we tried out a paired mentor scheme whereby one

Mentor supported two mentees. We are seeing the results of that trial now with that group moving from Observer status to Probationer status.

Since late 2021, we have cautiously but very positively returned to face-to-face training at the branch, initially for Embedding training and for Core Development training since March 2022.

Prisons

After the pandemic year we have returned to normal in ‘our’ two prisons. In May 2021 we were allowed back into both Low Newton and Durham to resume face to face support meetings. However, the number of Listeners at each prison had reduced to only two Listeners which was just not enough to cover the needs of the prisons.

At Low Newton new listeners were quickly cleared and trained. We now have four new listeners there and it has been great to see how well they’ve quickly taken to the role and receive positive feedback about the work they’ve done. Following the same process at Durham we now have fourteen listeners there.

2021 was the Listeners 30th Anniversary and Samaritans have a video to promote the scheme nationally. There are five people featured on the video and we are really happy to say that two of them are a volunteer from this branch and a former Listener who we trained and supported.

Data Protection

Privacy is at the heart of what we do at Samaritans. We are committed to protecting privacy and the personal information that we hold. Our Data Protection Policy incorporates a schedule of Personal Data held by Durham Samaritans Branch. This gives guidance on retention periods, guidance on CCTV procedures, Data subject requests, an ongoing Data Protection Plan and a set of practical guidelines. The Policy is available to all volunteers in electronic format.

Fundraising and Events

The Covid pandemic caused the cancellation of our normal programme of fundraising events and street collections in 2020. Despite restrictions many volunteers took part in the Samarathon, which allowed them to seek sponsorship for individual challenges both indoors and outside. In July 2021 volunteers ran, jogged or walked 26.2 miles at their own time and pace and raised over £6000.

External events recommenced on 2 August 2021 with our annual Golf Day at Durham City Golf Club. Apart from the £3700 this event raised, this was an opportunity for volunteers to meet together for the first time and it raised the awareness of Samaritans among a wider group of people.

Four branches in the Northeast shared the cost of a campaign to display awareness posters on buses.in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham during summer 2021.

Our collections resumed at the Sarah Millican show at the Gala Theatre in September 2021, when over £600 was collected.

We are now getting back out into the community and had a productive day at Durham Railway station promoting Samaritans on World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September 2021, and an active presence at the same station for Brew Monday in January 2022.

We are very grateful for support from the Shakespeare Temperance Trust, the W A Handley Charity Trust and from our many donors and supporters during the year.

Building, Health and Safety

All our building compliance checks were completed in 2021/22 - PAT testing, smoke detector tests undertaken, emergency light test, fire equipment servicing, stairlift inspection and service, boiler service. Repairs have also been undertaken on the boiler and the downstairs toilet, and a new kettle has been purchased.

In April and May 2021, we repaired and redecorated lintels and the timbers around the oriel window on the front external elevation and fitted a new front door handle and letterbox to go with the new digilock fitted the previous summer. The kitchen window was also replaced with a double-glazed unit.

We replaced the hard drive of our CCTV system in May 2021.

In August 2021 the half landing, stairs, hall and basement were redecorated. Minor repairs to internal walls were undertaken as part of this work. This work completed a full cycle of internal repair and redecoration in the branch since 2018/19.

In December 2021 we replaced the digilocks on the two internal entry doors to our building with a key fob access system. This is expected to improve security because access for volunteers who have left the organisation and fobs that have been lost can be removed from the system.

Our building condition survey risk assessments have now been reviewed and updated and these will provide the basis of a future programme of work in our branch building.

Environmental Policy

Durham Samaritans acknowledges its responsibility to, and the advantages of, maintaining a sound environment. We recognise the importance, no matter how small, of the impact of our activities on the environment and that there is a need to consider ways in which we can conserve energy and minimise waste in these activities.

Our environmental policy was adopted as a guidance document to help us to consider how we can reduce where possible our impact on the environment.

Statistics

In the period covered by this report, branch volunteers have answered 14,392 contacts: 12,206 contacts by phone (totalling 3,451 hours) and 2,186 contacts by email for those who prefer to contact us via the written word.

Future plans: 2022-23

The pro-active Branch Leadership Team will continue to build on achievements and actions to date, with small but significant changes planned for the coming year.

The recruitment process will now be facilitated by the introduction of an information session prior to interview. This has a three-fold purpose: to enable prospective volunteers to explore at first hand different aspects of volunteering for Samaritans; to maximise attendance at interview and, ultimately, to increase the size of our three planned training groups for listening volunteers. The training team itself is going through expansion, with a number of new members joining the team to deliver initial and continuous training, for prospective and existing volunteers respectively. In our partnership with the Prison Service, we anticipate a continued increase in contacts, with more volunteers involved regionally.

It has been a delight to return to activities within the community over the past few months, and we shall continue to do whatever we can to raise awareness of Samaritans with a continued presence at a wide range of community events and in a range of venues e.g., local colleges, often in response to requests at key times within the year. Our pro-active fundraising team is planning new events within the coming months in addition to our existing fundraising activities, to ensure that we raise sufficient funds to be able to comfortably cover all our branch expenses.

And, over-arching all of these activities, we shall continue to provide, for as many hours as we can, emotional support and a listening ear to those in distress.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financially 2021/22 was a return to relative financial normality and we operated within expected financial parameters. There was a deficit of £1456 but this was part of our plan to reduce our reserves.

On the expenditure side the most obvious change was to increase our spend to prepandemic levels in supporting our fundraising events, in publicity and outreach and in the costs of branch meetings. Our payment to the national organisation also increased because this was based on our increased reserves at the end of 2020/21. Other costs fell after the purchase of IT equipment and headsets in 2020/21.

The Charity has to maintain a constant fundraising effort over the year to cover the running costs of its premises and continues to rely on the generosity of organisations, groups and individuals inside and outside Durham Samaritans.

On the income side the Covid 19 support grants ceased at the end of 2020/21 and we have not repeated the two successful bids for grants which we received in that year. The income from the fundraising activities previously detailed and the refund of the costs incurred in supporting the prison have increased as our activities in those areas have returned to pre-pandemic levels.

RESERVES POLICY

The Charity’s Reserve Policy was agreed on 5 October 2021. The Trustees consider it is appropriate to hold reserves of £40000. This can be quantified as £34000 representing eighteen months of basic expenditure plus £6000 contingency held for unbudgeted building, decorating and furniture expenditure.

The Charity cash in the bank at the end of the 2021/22 Financial Year was £68405.

Action is being taken to reduce our reserves through a programme of building repairs and decoration; and investment in equipment that will either improve the working environment for our volunteers or which will provide improved service to callers and visitors. It is obvious that the reduction in the size of the Charity’s assets may well take some time to achieve.

THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR 2021/22 WILL BE SUBMITTED AS A SEPARATE FILE

THE SAMARITANS OF CENTRAL DURHAM FINANCIAL STATEMETrrrs FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022

1Tr4DEPENDANT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE SAMARITANS OF CENTRAL DURHAM FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022 I port 10 the charity tNstees on Tny examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2022. ResponslbUl¢le$ and ba51s of the report As the charity's trustees you are responsible for ihe preparation gf the ac¢ourtis in accordance with the requirements of the Chariiie$ Aci 201 I {'the Aci,). I report in respect of my examination of the charity's a¢¢ounts ¢atTi¢d oui under section 145 of the Aci 8nd in carryin8 Out my examination I have followed all ihe &pplicable DirecioTS given by Ihe ChiTIIy Commission under seciion 1451511bl of the aci. Independent exgminer's statement I have complcled rny examinaiinn. I confirm Ihai no material matteT5 have come It> rny atieniiun in ¢i)nnLYtion with Ihe exarninaiion givin8 me cause to believe that in any miierial respect: accouniing record¥ were not kept in respect of the charity required by seeiion 130 ul ihe act., or Ihe accnun15 do no¢ accord with Iho%e re¢(d$. or Ihe a¢counis do noi eomply with the applicable requirements cvncrming Ihe lomi and conieni of account5 sei oui in The Chofiiies IA¢¢oL¢nts &nd RLpuT151 Rc8ulaiions 2008 other than any r¢quiremeni Ihai Ihe acc(>unib illVL U truc and fair view which is noi a maiter considered as part Of an independent exarninalion. I confirm Ih31 there are no niher maiieTS to which your aiteniion should bL drawn ¢0 enablc a prvper undcr%iandin8 of the accounts to reached. Signed Name J D Holl(Jway FCA D RibchesieTS, Chartered Aeeountants Finchale House. Durham DHI ITW Date.,

THE SAMARITANS OF CENTRAL DURHAM STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022 2022 Unrestricted 2022 Re5trieted 2022 Total 2021 Total Note Incoming resources Incoming resourc from generated fund5 Voluntary income Aciivities for generating funds Investment income Incoming resources from charitable activities 14,449 7,782 51 14,449 7,782 51 14.225 9.103 266 5,342 5,477 Other income Government Grants 816 816 Total incoming resources Resources expended Costs of generating ftsnds COSES of generating voluntary income 3.520 3,520 112 Charitable aetivities 26.376 26,376 21.735 Governance e05ts 21 Total resoureLs expended Net movement In fvnds Tot funds brought forward Total funds carried forward

THE SAMAIUTANS OF CENTRAL DURHAM BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2022 2022 Unrestricted 2022 Restricted 2022 Total 2021 Total Note Fixed assets Tangible &8sets 49 Current &S5ets Debr9 Prepayinents Cash at bank and in hand 152 511 735 735 Total current wets 69,140 69.140 71,319 Creditors . amounts falling due withkn one ye Creditors Accruals 433 405 381 Net current assets Net assets Funds of the charity Unrestricted funds Signed on behalf of all the TrUseS on Mike Rayner Rosemary Smith

THE SAMAIUTANS OF CENTRAL DURHAM NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022 Basis of preparation The financial statements of the ¢harily. which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in a¢cordallce with the Chariiies SORP IFRS 1021 'Accouniing and Reporting by Charitie5'. Siaiemefti of Recornmended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts irt aC¢OTdance with the Financial Rewrting Standard applicable in the UK and Republi¢ of IreIar (FRS 1021 leffeciive l January 20191, Financial Reporting Standard 102'The Finarttial Reportin8 Standard applicable in the UK al Republic of Ireland, and ihe Charities Act 2011. The financial sratements have been prcpared under the historical ¢05t convention. Accounting pollcies Recognttion of incoming resources These are included in the S12tement of Financial Activities ISOFAI when'.- the charity becomes ellliiled to the resourees the irnsiees are virtually ¢ertain they will reteiye the resource5 and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability In¢oming re50urtes with related expendtture Where incoming resources have lated expelldsiure. the incoming resources and related expenditure are retK)rted gr05s in the SOFA. Grants and donations These are only included tn the SOFA when the charity ha5 unconditional entitlement to the Tesour¢es. Invtstment income This is included in the accollnts when receivable. Contractual In¢ome This is only included in the SOFA once the relaod good5 or services have been delivered. Volunteer help The value of any voltmtary help received is noi included in the 2ccounts bui is described in the Trustees, Annyal report. Liability reco8llltion Liabilitie5 are reco8ni5ed as 5(x)n there is a le8 or con51ructive obligation committin8 fhe charily to pay out resources. Governan¢¢ costs Irtelude ihe c05t& tsf Ihe preparatioll and examinalion of statutory accounts, the costs of meeiin8s and the ¢o$t of any legal advice lo trustees on governance or constitutional mailers. Support costs Include costs of central ftIOnS 2nd have been allocaod lo actlvily cost Categories on a basis consisn¢ with the use of resources. Uttrtstritttd funds Unresiricted funds represent income receivable or 8enerate(E for the objects of the charity wiihoui fUrtr specified purpK)5e and are available as general funds. Restricted funds Restricted funds are those funds which tnU5t be spent as income on the panicular purposes spe¢ified by the donor or specifically ideniified in appeal liieratUTe. Tan£ible fixed assets for ust by chlty These are capiulised if (hey Can be used for more than one year and cost ai least £100. They are valued ai cost or a reasonable value on receipt. The chariiy does noi have a policy of Tevaluarion.

THE SAMARITANS OF CENTRAL DURHAM NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022 {coniinuedl Voluntary income 2022 2021 Shakespeare Temperance Trust W A Handley Trust Ciiy of Durham Parish County Durham Communily Fund Churches. groups and other clubs The Banks Group Donated Services Individual Donations Shop Collections Virgin Money Givin8 Others 6.000 1,000 6,000 1,000 2,500 3,500 535 704 139 480 1.672 1,359 2.475 69 Donated services represent Ihe value of time spent by the Independent Examiner in undertakin8 su¢h responsibilities. These services have been provided wiihoui charge. Actlvltle5 for generating funds 2022 2021 Fundraising Irtve8tment Income 2022 2021 Bank interest Incomlng resources from charltable actlvltles 2022 2021 Contract income from HM Priwns Costs ofgeneratlng voluntary Income 2022 2021 Fundraising costs Charltable actlvlties 2022 2021 Direct costs Telephone and IT Administraiiort Publicity Travelling Subslsience Recruitment and training Licenses Samaritans Affiliation fee and Conference 1.525 158 1,361 3,540 1,061 95 35 2,179 190 429 1.673 1.714 35

THE SAMAIUTANS OF CENTRAL DURHAM NOTES TO THE Accouwfs FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022 Icontinuedl 2022 2021 Charitable activities (continued) Support costs Repairs and refurbishment Utilities InsurarEce Independent Examiner Fee Depreciation Bank charges 7.617 2.085 543 480 3,039 204 7.760 1.621 496 2,887 129 Governance costs 2022 2021 Meeting expenses 213 io Trustee expenses No trustees were paid expenses in either this year or last year. Tangible fixed &%sets Property Furnlture Equipment Totsi Asset eost or vUation Balance brought forward Addiiions Balance caThied forward 26.576 5,487 33.170 65.233 Accumulated depreciation Basis Rate Reducing balance Reducing balance Reducing balance 25% 25 Balance brought forward Charge for year Balanee carried forward 16.383 204 5,487 25.133 47,003 Net book value Brought forward Carried forward

THE SAMARITANS OF CENTRAL DURHAM FINANCIAL STATEMETrrrs FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022