Registered Charity Number 1173976 ## DURHAM SAMARITANS ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2025 ## **DURHAM SAMARITANS** The trustees present their annual report and financial statement for the year ending 31 March 2025 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 The trustees during the year were: Barry Thomas William Akins from 28 March 2023 to 17 July 2024 Jeremy Felix Disley from 29 March 2022 to 17 July 2024 Richard Allan Hall from 17 July 2024 Alison Mary Jolly from 17 July 2024 to 26 March 2025 Brian Kirkup from 1 November 2024 (Director) Alan John MacDonald from 28 March 2023 to 17 July 2024 Louise Elisabeth Gloria Maxwell from 29 March 2022 to 17 July 2024 Susan Anne Mcneill from 26 March 2025 Michael Ian Rayner (Treasurer) Janine Schaffrath from 28 March 2023 Lynda Hayley Scrimger from 17 July 2024 Jean Stores to 17 July 2024 to 26 March 2025 Donald Stronach (Director) from 1 April 2023 to 1 November 2024 and from 7 April 2025 (Secretary) Amanda Louise Winter ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **Governing document** Durham Samaritans 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** ## **Recruitment and Selection** We have many people applying to join Samaritans and the role of the Recruitment and Selection Team is to give them as much information as we can so that when they start training nothing is a surprise. We run information events to allow them to ask questions and gives the recruitment team a chance to make a good impression of the work Samaritans do. If they are still interested, we get to know them a little better during their interview. We have been running two recruitment sessions a year and from each session we send ten new volunteers to be trained and to continue their journey as a Samaritan. In 2026 we intend to increase to three sessions, and the recruitment, training and mentoring team have been expanded accordingly. ## **Training** We have successfully completed Core Training for two cohorts in the last year. Until now we have worked on two cohorts a year to keep it manageable for the training team. Each cohort spend a period of embedding training and answering calls with mentors, before moving to probationer status. New volunteers have joined the training team, and it has been amazing to have them share their experience and guide the new volunteers through their introduction to Samaritans. We have filled out our numbers to meet the need to have three cohorts per year in the future. On-going mentoring of full volunteers continues as it is a vital part of our role within Samaritans. There have been significant updates to the process, and have resumed the sessions. Full volunteers are expected to complete five hours of mandatory training every three years and mandatory training around EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) has been completed by all volunteers, with Durham being the first branch to achieve this nationally. ## **Prisons** Durham Samaritans provides prison support for two local prisons: HMP Durham, which is a remand prison for men, and HMP Low Newton, which is a women’s prison. Our Prison Support team trains and supports listeners from within the prison population so that they can take in-person calls from other prisoners who need the service. The need for support within prisons remains consistently high though, as with members of the public, not everyone who could benefit from our service uses it. Within prisons, self-harm and selfinflicted deaths can occur at rates that far outstrip those among the general population. This makes our work within prisons vitally important and urgent and includes promotion of the scheme and attendance at their monthly Safer Prisons meetings. We face different kinds of challenge in our two prisons. HMP Durham is a remand prison and we tend to see a high turnover of Listeners. Once a prisoner has been sentenced, they are usually moved to another prison, which means that we rarely have listeners for a long time. With a recommended number of one listener for every 50 prisoners, Durham ought to have around 20 Listeners, since the prison population is nearly a thousand. However, we find that as soon as we reach this desired number, we start to lose listeners as they are transferred out. Consequently, we have to deliver training two to three times a year to keep the numbers up, and this places quite a demand on our small Branch Prisons Support team. HMP Low Newton brings other challenges. The prison is smaller but also houses a number of prisoners facing long sentences. Some prisoners find this very difficult to process, with high rates of self-harm and, in February 2025, a self-inflicted death in custody. Our listeners there do a very difficult but invaluable job supporting the prisoners who find their lives a struggle. Within the prisons, we follow the same values all other Samaritans do, providing a service that aims to minimise and reduce the incidence of death by suicide. Prison support is extremely valuable and rewarding work. It is very satisfying to see our Listeners grow into the role and develop their sense of empathy for each other, and from which their callers benefit. We have seen listeners turn their lives around and eventually leave prison far better equipped for life outside. Given the seriousness of the challenges within the prison, we have seen our listeners help many desperate callers who may have been considering ending their lives. There is an immediacy to prison work that gives the Branch Prisons Support team a very distinctive and impactful experience. ## **Outreach** Samaritans defines Outreach as activity looking to provide or improve access to emotional support and reduce suicide within local communities and groups of high risk. Through a list of activities and events, we at Durham are doing our best to fulfil this definition. 28 November 2024; Chester le Street station offering support to staff and travellers after a suicide at the station that week 19 January 2025; Durham Station House Pub meeting the Durham Man Up walking group, after their successful walk from Newcastle Central Station to Durham Station via Chester le Street Station, promoting mental health and suicide prevention 20 January 2025; Brew Monday at Chester le Street and Durham stations. a national Samaritans event, distributing teabags and talking to staff and passengers at both stations 4 March 2025; New College Durham Career Day stall 5 March 2025; New College Durham, attended a talk by Anne-Marie Alderson, who is the Regional Development Lead (North East and East Coast Main Line) Network Rail Partnership for Samaritans Central Office 4 to 22 March 2025 is the national Samaritans event ‘Small Talk Saves Lives’ and we attended Chester le Street and Durham station on three occasions We also had tables at the 24th Durham County Council Mental Health Conference, Durham Pride and the Durham Miners Gala Meetings have been held with East Durham College and New College Durham to discuss further activities and events at which we can provide support for students and lecturers, and we have established a system with Durham University so that students can be referred for Samaritans to contact There will always be plenty of outreach activities through the year and, everywhere we go, we are greeted with enthusiasm and gratefulness for our attendance. ## **Volunteer Care** This year we held a walk and talk around Durham City at the end of the summer. Samaritans from our branch were joined by the Rev Caroline Dick and some volunteers from St Cuthbert’s church. Sometimes listening volunteers need the support of our fellow branch members: it can be really good to talk. At Christmas we enjoyed a buffet and quiz at Durham City Golf Club. Volunteers could bring their partners if they wished as the buffet was both local and affordable with free parking at the golf club. Sometimes when we are volunteering at a busy time of year for us and our callers it can be difficult to fit a weekly shift into our busy lives. We all know how much our listening support is valued by callers and many of us have been thanked or heard moving stories when answering calls or doing outreach work. We continue to be a busy branch, and new Samaritans always say how welcome they feel. ## **Data Protection** As Samaritans volunteers, we are all responsible for keeping data safe and secure. It’s something that we take very seriously but equally something we do very well as the principles are very much underpinned by Samaritans policy of confidentiality and privacy. As an overview the Data Protection Act 2018 is the UK’s implementation of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). The 7 principles of GDPR are: - Lawfulness, Fairness and Transparency - Purpose Limitation - Date Minimisation - Accuracy - Storage Limitation - Integrity and Confidentiality (Security) - Accountability Durham Samaritans are registered with the Information Commissioners Office and registration is renewed every year. A copy of our Certificate of Registration can be viewed on the noticeboard in the branch kitchen and there is also a visual reminder to volunteers of the above principles and what volunteers need to do to ensure data is kept safe and secure. ## **Fundraising** Our fundraising team has had a very challenging and busy year. They have planned, organised and delivered extremely successful events and were delighted that the community and many branch volunteers have come along and supported these. We hosted a Colours Fashion Show in March 2025 at Durham City Golf Club. This event was well attended and raised generous funds for Durham Samaritans. Local businesses, volunteers and other individuals were very kind in donating raffle prizes, and we are so fortunate that we have loyal people who support us year after year. This event is an opportunity to raise awareness of Samaritans, nforming the public about the support which we offer and how their commitment to helping us raise funds is really appreciated. Throughout the year collection tins were placed in shops, pubs, and slimming clubs around Durham and we were amazed how much they raised. Our annual Charity Golf Day is without doubt our “special event”. It was held in July 2025 at Durham City Golf Club, where we had approximately 168 entrants. We have a loyal following and seldom need to advertise the event, as many of our previous players spread the word for us. This event allows Durham Samaritans to raise awareness especially to a hard-to-reach group of men about the importance of mental health. We were delighted this event was so strongly supported and raised a large amount of money for Durham Samaritans. Throughout the summer we arrange street collections in towns in County Durham. It was great for the volunteers to be able to speak to the public, tell them a little about what Samaritans can offer, as well as fundraising for the branch. Durham Samaritans is registered on a fundraising platform called Enthuse, this platform is used by many other Samaritans branches. One of our volunteers ran the Great North Run on behalf of Durham Samaritans and raised a huge amount of money. A coffee morning was organised by North Road Methodist Church in Durham one Saturday morning in March 2025, arranged by a volunteer who attended this church. We are so grateful for the great amount raised through selling teas, coffees and cakes. One of our volunteers has a printing business and donated books, cards and prints. We have sold Christmas cards and other general cards at events and in branch with all proceeds going to Durham Samaritans. In December 2024 we sang carols at Durham Railway Station as an awareness raising event. A local choir helped support the voices of the volunteers. It was great to see people standing listening to us and taking Samaritans cards. Many generously gave a donation for which we were very thankful. ## **Building, Health and Safety** A new recorder and CCTV hard drive were installed in December 2024 and microphones were added to two of the four CCTV cameras in May 2025. All 2025 annual preventative maintenance has been undertaken; this has included the stairlift, electrical appliances (PAT), smoke detector and emergency light testing and servicing of the boiler and fire extinguishers. All of the branch emergency lights have now been replaced with new LED lights. A fault occurred with the central heating boiler in January 2025 which was immediately repaired Health and Safety checks and assessments are regularly undertake and /reviewed but Health and Safety is every volunteer’s responsibility. All relevant Health and Safety documents are stored in an area of the Three Rings website accessible to all volunteers, and there is also a maintenance section in the same area. ## **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. Gas, electricity and water meter readings are taken every month, and monitoring shows these three utilities at low usage levels since monitoring began in June 2017. ## **STATISTICS** Durham branch for the twelve month period commencing 1 April 1924 and ending 31 March 2025: - Total number of answered inbound calls: 12,287 - Total number of emails: 917 - Total contact hours (phone and email): 3,822 - Total phone contact hours: 3,349 - Total number of listener contacts (prison scheme): 1,421 ## **FUTURE PLANS: 2025-26 BELIEVE IN TOMORROW** A new Branch Director was appointed on 1 November 2024. An evidence based Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) was completed in January 2025 This has to be completed when a new Director is appointed. It is completed in partnership with the Leadership team, supported by a Regional Quality Development Officer. One of the major challenges we continue to face is providing adequate shift cover to meet the demands on our service. This is not unique to Durham; other branches also struggle to keep shifts open. As a branch we need to try and develop capacity in all areas of our work. We will be increasing the number of new volunteer intakes per year from two to three. To do this we need to increase and train new members of the selection and recruitment team, train new trainers, new mentors and new shift leaders. This needs to be done alongside maintaining and driving up the quality of ourservice to our service users. We need to increase the capacity of our prison team so that we can continue to support more people in the listening scheme. We will target high risk groups and further our partnerships with Network Rail and Durham University. ## **Financial Review** Financially, 2024/25 could be considered a typical year. Compared to the previous year, income reduced by £21090, which was expected: in that year we received large donations from the Mayor’s charity and from a legacy, and two repayments of costs incurred in the prisons. Expenditure increased by £4536. We finally spent a grant received in the previous year, invested in a Hive thermostat to offset increased energy costs from new contracts, repaired our CCTV and emergency lighting, and had the cost of two AGMs. The Charity relies on the generosity of organisations, groups and individuals inside and outside Durham Samaritans. The major part of our income in the past has derived from the fundraising activities previously detailed and regular donations from two charitable trusts. Our budgets for 2025/26 are expenditure £22125 and income £22125 but we expect to run a deficit in future years. We will try to reduce expenditure still further but we will also need to explore options for the funding of our running costs. ## **Reserves Policy** The Charity’s Reserve Policy was agreed on 14 February 2023. The Trustees consider it is appropriate to hold reserves of £44000. This was quantified as £36500 representing eighteen months of basic expenditure plus £7500 contingency held for unbudgeted building, decorating and furniture expenditure. The Charity cash in the bank at the end of the 2024/25 Financial Year was £81222. We are not taking action to reduce our reserves. We consider that in future years we will have to finance the normal activity of the charity out of our reserves. ## **THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR 2024/25 WILL BE SUBMITTED AS A SEPARATE FILE** DURHAM SAMAtUTANS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YKAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 INDEPENDANT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF DURHAM SAMARITANS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 I report to the charity Irust¢es on niy examination of the accounts of tlie charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. Responsibilities and basi5 of the report As the Lhai'ity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation ot the accoiints in accordance witli the requirenieiils of tlie Cliarities Act 2011 {'the Act,), J report in respect of iiiy exaniiiialion of the Cli￿rItY,5 accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out Iny exainination I have follnwed all the applicable Directors giveii by the Charity Commission linder seclioAI 145(5)(b) of tlie act. Independent examlner's statement I have coimpleted niy exaiiiinalion. l confir1￿ tllal no material matters hAve come to my attention in coniieclioii with the exaiiiinalion giviiig Ine cause to believe that in ai)y nialerial respect,. accounting ie¢ords were i)ol kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of tlie acl. or the accoiiiils do not accord with those records; or the accoiints do not comply with the applicable requiremenls ¢oiicerning t17e form and content of accouiils set out in the Charities (Accoiints and Reports) Regiilalion$ 2008 other Ihaii any reqLtiremenl that Ilie accoLinls give a true end fail. view wliicli is not a Inatter considei'ed fis pai'l of an independei)I examination, I confirm that tliere are no other tnattei's to which yoiir attenlion sliould be drawn to enable a proper uiiderslaiiding of the accoiinls to reached. Signed Naiiie J D Holloway FCA RMT Ribchesters Fiiichale House, Durham DH I I TW Date.. hA DURHAM SAMARITANS STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 2025 Unrestricted 2025 Restricteil 2025 Total 2024 Total Note Inconie Incoming resoui"¢es from generated funds Voluntary iiicoine Activilies for geiierating fiiiids Iiiv¢stineiit iiicoine Incoming resources from charitable aclivities 13.050 7,315 540 13.050 7,315 540 27,408 9,929 279 4,079 4,079 8,458 Other income Goveriiment Grants TotRI incoming i'esources Expenditure Costs of generating fuiids Costs of gei)eratiiig voluiitai y income 4,764 4,764 2,319 Charilable Activitles TotAI re80urces expended Net movemenl in funds Total funds brouglit foiTrvArd TotAI funds cari'ied forward DURHAM SAllIIARITANS BALANCE SHKET AS AT 31 MARCH 2025 2025 2025 Restricted 2025 Total 2024 Total Note Uni'estricted Fixed assets Tangible assets 10 Curreiit assets Pi'epaymcnts Cash at bank atid in hand 1,086 1,086 1,051 Ci'editors . amounts fnlling (lue within one year Accriials 34 345 Net eurreiil assets Net assets Funds Uiirestricted fLlI)ds Sigiied oli behalf of all the Trustees 01) lslq Iioi Mike Rayiier Briaii Kirkup DURHAM SAMARITANS NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Basis of preparatlon The financial statements of the el)arity, which is a publi¢ benefit entity under FRS 102, have been pr¢pared in accordance with the Chai'ities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounling and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recomtnended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK atbd Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective l January 2019),, Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicabl¢ In Ili¢ UK and Republic of Ireland, and the Charities Act 201 l. Tlie financial statements have been prepared under the hislorical cost convention. Accounti￿g polieies Recognitioii of incoming resources Tliese are included in the Staleineiit of Financial Activities (SOFA) when: the charity becomes entitl¢d to th¢ resources the trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources and tlie inon¢lary value can be measured with sufficient reliability Incomiiig resources ivith related expeiiditure Wliere iT)coniing resources have related expeiiditur¢. the incoming resoiirces and I'elaied expenditure are repotted gross in the SOFA. Grants aiid donAtioJis These are only iiicluded in the SOFA when the ch&rity has unconditional enlitlemenl lo the resources. Iiivestment incom¢ Thi5 is iiicluded in tlie accounts when receivable. CoiitrACtiial liiconie This is only ii)¢luded ii) Ilie SOFA oiice the related goods or services have been delivered. Voluntcei. Iielp The value of. any volLinlary lielp received is not included in the accounts but is described iii the Trustees, Annual report, Liubility recogiiittoIi Liabilities are I'ecognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation cominitting the charity to pay out resources. Govei'iiance costs Include the cosls of the preparation and examinaiioii of statutory accounts, the costs of Ineeiings and the cost of aiiy legal advice to trustees on governance or constitutional niatters, Support costs Include costs of central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis coiisisteni with the us¢ of I'esources. Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds represent inconie receTvable or geiierated for the objects of the cliarily Without further specified purpose and are available as geiieral fui)ds. Restricted fuiids Restricted funds are those funds which must be spent as income on the particular purposes specified by the donor or specifically identified iii appeal literature. TAllgible fjxcd Assets for use by charity These are capitalised if tliey can be used for more than one year and cost at least £100. Th¢y are valued at cost OT a reasonable value 011 receipt. The chai'ity does iiot have a polTCy of revaluation. DURHAM SAMARITANS NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (coiitililied) Voliintary Income 2025 2024 Sliakespeare Temperance Trust CIO W A Haiidley Trust Anoiiymous donors Eiithuse Cliurclies, groups and other cliibs The Diirhani City Mayor Donated Services Sliop Col lectioiis Olhers 3,000 1,000 1,363 1,108 1,013 6,000 1,000 10,570 609 444 4,352 480 2,506 1,843 3,152 571 Doiiated services represent the value of time spent by the Indepetideiit Exainiiier iii 11iidertakiiig sucli responsibilities. These services liave been provided witliout charge. Activities for generating funds 2025 2024 Fiindraising InV￿tment income 2025 2024 Baiik interest Incoming resoui"ce$ from cliArltable aetivities 2025 2024 Coiitract iiicoine froiii HM Prisoiis Cosls of generating voluntRry income 2025 2024 Fundraising Costs DURHAM SAMARITANS NOTEI S TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR EIYDED 31 MARCH 2025 (coiitiiiued) Charitable activilies 2025 2024 Direet costs Administratioii Costs Publicity Travelliiig Subsi5teiice Recruitmeiit and traiiiin8 Samarit¢lliS Arriliatioii fee aiid Coiiferetice DD Voluiiteer Carc Suiidry expenses R&R 1,072 1,703 4,426 1,527 119 6,360 121 35 362 116 613 7,459 815 182 2,067 121 781 Support Costs R&R Uii lities Insuraiice Iiidepeiideiit Exaininers Fee Depre¢i<ioii Baiik cliarges Coniputei, Costs 2,254 3,364 850 540 ,875 1,809 3,584 739 480 2,457 164 Ti'ustee expeiises None of the trustees were paid expeiis¢s iii eitlier this year or last year. DURHAM SAMARITANS NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued) 10 Tangible fixed assets Propei%y Furniture Equipment Total Asset cost Balance brought forward Additions Balaiice carried fotivard 26,576 5,487 39,953 72,016 Depreciation Balance broiiglit forward Chai-ge for year Balaiice cai'ried forward 16,983 192 5,487 33,222 55,692 Net book value Brought forward Carried forward Fjasis Rate Reducii)g balaiice Reduciiig balance Reducing balance