Samaritans of Hillingdon
Consolidated Report and Accounts For the Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1174063 and the unincorporated charity no. 1174063-1
12 months ending 31 March 2025
Index
Annual Report 1 – 4 Statement of Financial Activities 5 Balance Sheet 6 Notes to the Accounts 7 – 12 Independent Examiner’s Report 13
Samaritans of Hillingdon Report of the Management Committee For the 12 months ending 31 March 2025
The Management Committee presents its report and audited financial statements for the period ended 31 March 2025.
Reference and Administrative Details of the Charity, its Trustees and Advisors
Samaritans of Hillingdon is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and is registered charity no. 1174063
It also is the sole trustee of the unincorporated registered charity no. 1174063-1 (previously no. 267858), a dormant and inactive body retained for reasons of transition and continuity. The two charities have been linked by the Charity Commission and may therefore publish a single report and accounts covering both.
The registered office and operating address is:-
2 Press Road, Uxbridge UB8 1AT
The trustees of who served during the year were: -
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Appointed Resigned
V Meggs (Director) 1 [st] July 2023
S Morgan (Vice-Director) 1 [st] July 2023
C O’Kelly 1 [st] July 2023
S Edwards (Secretary) 1 [st] August 2017
P Bola (Treasurer) 14 [th] May 2018
K Carr 1 [st] August 2017
C Forrest 5 [th] June 2018
S James 9 [th] July 2022
W Davies 9 [th] July 2022
K Rowlands 15 [th] June 2024
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Bankers: -
Lloyds TSB 21 High Street Uxbridge UB8 1JD
Operating Names:-
Samaritans of Hillingdon, Hillingdon Samaritans
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Samaritans of Hillingdon Report of the Management Committee Continued For the 12 months ending 31 March 2025
Structure, Governance and Management
The Charity is governed by the regulations set out in the constitution and is run by a voluntary Management Committee.
New committee members are elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for a period of one year (but may be re-elected). Existing committee members may co-opt up to two new members between AGMs, but co-opted members must stand for reappointment at the next AGM.
New committee members are briefed by the Director (who also chairs the committee) to familiarise them with the Samaritans of Hillingdon as well as their wider responsibilities as charity trustees.
The Management Committee met 5 times during the year to review the activities, consider the financial position and to decide policy and procedure.
The day-to-day work of the charity is overseen by the Director who reports to the Management Committee. This position is unpaid.
The Management Committee are aware of the potential risks to the charity, both financial and otherwise, and implements strategies to control or minimise these risks. Assessments have been undertaken of the major risks which face the charity, including funding and health and safety. The Charity has data protection and privacy policies that are compliant with GDPR and is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office under reference ZA290039.
Objectives and Activities
The charity was originally established in 1973 to provide completely confidential emotional support 24 hours a day by telephone, face to face, electronic communication and letter. Its main objectives are: -
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To provide assistance to individuals who are suicidal, despairing or in distress in order to reduce the incidence of suicide; and
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To advance education by providing society with a better understanding of suicide, suicidal behaviour and the value of expressing feelings that may lead to suicide.
This is reflected in the Samaritans mission, vision and values statement:
The charity works predominately in the London Borough of Hillingdon and surrounding area. In conjunction with other branches of Samaritans, it provides confidential emotional support that is available 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of emotional distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide.
Samaritans vision is for a society in which:
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Fewer people die by suicide;
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People are able to explore their feelings; and
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People are able to acknowledge and respect the feelings of others.
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Samaritans of Hillingdon Report of the Management Committee Continued For the 12 months ending 31 March 2025
Our values are based on these beliefs:
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The importance of having the opportunity to explore difficult feelings;
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That being listened to, in confidence, and accepted without prejudice, can alleviate despair and suicidal feelings; and
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That everyone has the right to make fundamental decisions about their own life, including the right to die by suicide.
Achievements and Performance
During the past 12 months Samaritans of Hillingdon answered approximately 16,041 calls and other contacts, for which the split was:
| Telephone Email and Web Chat |
01.04.2024– 31.03.2025 91% 9% |
01.04.2023-31.03.2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 90% 10% |
During the past 12 months we have continued with our Outreach activities including multiple visits to Hayes and Harlington railways station, Brunel University, Bucks University, Uxbridge College, St Edmunds Food Bank, Secondary schools (Ruislip High, Bishop Ramsey) and William Byrd Primary School, Asda, Uxbridge Library and Hillingdon events such as the Carers Fair and Coffee mornings at Christ Church. Through these events we have reached hundreds, if not thousands of local people who have been made aware of our services.
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Samaritans of Hillingdon Report of the Management Committee Continued For the 12 months ending 31 March 2025
Financial Review
During the 12 months the charity received £15,397 by way of grants, donations and fund-raising events.
At the end of the year the charity had £90,749 in unrestricted funds (including a nominal value for its freehold property). Designated funds totalled £38,798 (To 31.03.2024: £38,798) and Restricted funds totalled £11,000 (To 31.03.2024: £11,000).
Reserves Policy
The charity will aim to retain the following reserves:
18 months’ average expenditure, to smooth out irregularities in income and fundraising without risking any interruption to the service provided, plus up to £30,000 as a property maintenance designated fund to provide for routine maintenance of the charity’s freehold premises and as a contingency against unexpected measures being urgently needed to safeguard that property.
The above reserves will be in addition to any restricted funds, specified by donors to be used for a particular purpose.
Plans for future periods
The charity will continue with its current activities and attempt to promote its services to the local community.
Approved by the Management Committee on 12[th] June 2025 and signed on their behalf by: -
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Samaritans of Hillingdon Report of the Management Committee Continued For the 12 months ending 31 March 2025
Statement of Financial Activities For the 12 months ending 31 March 2025
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All Funds All Funds
Note General Funds £ Designated Restricted 12 Months to 12 Months to
Funds £ Funds £
31.03.2025 £ 31.03.2024 £
Incoming Resources
Donations & Gifts 11 8,490 8,490 49,406
Grants Received 2,000 2,000 -
Fund Raising 4,907 4,907 13,498
Refunds - - -
Total Incoming Resources 15,397 - - 15,397 62,904
Resources Expended
Direct Charitable Expenditure 3 20,397 20,397 31,264
Fundraising 4 540 540 544
Governance Costs 5 3,162 3,162 2,718
Total Resources Expended 24,099 - - 24,099 34,526
Fund Balances brought forward at
99,450 38,798 11,000 149,248 120,871
31.03.2024
Net Movement in Funds -8,702 - - -8,702 28,378
Transfers - - -
Fund Balances carried forward at
£90,748 £38,798 £11,000 £140,546 £149,248
31.03.25
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The notes on pages 7 – 12 form part of these accounts
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Samaritans of Hillingdon Report of the Management Committee Continued For the 12 months ending 31 March 2025
Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2025
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|||||
|---|---|---|---|
|31.03.2025|31.03.2024|
|Note|
|£|£|£|£|
|Tangible Fixed Assets|6|41,520|43,120|
|Current Assets|
|Prepayments|-31|1,963|
|Debtors|8|673|673|
|Cash at Bank and in Hand|120,064|114,892|
|120,706|117,527|
|Current Liabilities|
|(amounts falling due within one|
|year)|
|Creditors|7|19,334|11,000|
|Accruals|2,345|398|
|21,679|11,398|
|Net Current Assets|99,027|106,129|
|Total Assets|£140,547|£149,249|
|Represented|by:-|
|General Funds|9|£90,748|99,450|
|Designated Funds|9|38,798|38,798|
|Restricted Funds|9|11,000|11,000|
|£140,546|£149,248|
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Approved by the Board of Trustees on 12[th] June 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
Fenke§ ___ Ddke. P Bola (Treasurer)
The notes on pages 7 – 12 form part of these accounts
Samaritans of Hillingdon
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Notes to the accounts For the 12 months ending 31 March 2025
1) Accounting Policies
a) Basis of Preparation
The accounts have been prepared under the historic cost convention. The financial Statements follow the guideline of the revised Statement of Recommended Practice for Accounting by Charities, issued in January 2015 (“The Charities SORP FRS102”) and use applicable Accounting Standards.
b) Fund Accounting
General funds are unrestricted funds that are available for use, at the discretion of the trustees, in furtherance of the objectives of the charity and have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes.
Restricted funds are funds that are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or that have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. Costs relating to such funds are charged against specific funds.
c) Incoming Resources
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the Income, there is reasonable certainty of receipt and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies apply to categories of income:
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Donations/Collections – These are accounted for when received.
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Legacies – Entitlement is the earlier of the charity receiving the final estate accounts or the legacy being received. No value is included where the legacy is subject to a life interest held by another party.
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Donated Goods/services – This is included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified.
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Grants – Where these are related to the performance and specific deliveries, they are accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance. Where income is received in advance, its recognition is deferred and included in creditors. Where entitlement occurs before income is received, the income is accrued. Capital grants are accounted for as income in the SOFA as soon as they are received.
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Fundraising – Fundraising income is recognized in the SOFA when there is reasonable certainty of receipt and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy, and any associated fundraising costs are shown within “Resources Expended”.
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Notes to the accounts continued For the 12 months ending 31 March 2025
Samaritans of Hillingdon
d) Resources Expended
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of the resource. Support costs have been allocated on the basis time spent on the activity by volunteers. The following specific policies apply to categories of expenditure:
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Fundraising Costs – Fundraising costs are those costs incurred in seeking voluntary contributions.
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Governance Costs – Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the charity, which relate to the general running of the charity as opposed to those costs associated with fundraising or charitable activities. Included within this category are costs associated with the strategic as opposed to the day to day management of the charity’s activities.
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Support Costs – Support costs comprise the costs of activities such as the management, financial, administrative and IT, together with common services, office accommodation and communication costs. These are allocated across the categories of charitable expenditure, governance costs and the costs of generating funds. The basis of the cost allocation has been explained in the notes to the accounts.
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Depreciation - 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 cost over their estimated useful lives as follows:-
Freehold Property 50 years Office Equipment and Furniture 4 years
e) Taxation
Samaritans of Hillingdon is a registered charity and is therefore potentially exempt from taxation of its income and gains to the extent that they fall within section 505 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1998 and section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992. No tax charge has arisen in the year.
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Samaritans of Hillingdon
Notes to the accounts continued For the 12 months ending 31 March 2025
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______________
2. Premises Overheads 31.03.2025 31.03.2024
£ £
Water, Light and Heat 2,292 2,431
Repairs and Renewals 958 1,588
Cleaning & Housekeeping 1,596 2,735
Office Telephone 339 497
Insurance 4,020 2,029
Depreciation 1,600 1,600
Total for Year 10,805 10,880
Allocated to %
Direct Charitable Expenditure 9,724 9,792 90
Fundraising and Publicity 540 544 5
Governance 540 544 5
10,805 10,880 100
3. Direct Charitable Expenditure
Emergency Telephone 418 631
Internet / Emails 131 549
Answer Phone 0 118
Volunteer Training and Support 1,173 1,354
Volunteer Travel Expenses 514 185
Advertising and Publicity - 234
Directors’ Expenses 102 -
Share of Premises Overheads 9,724 9,792
Branch Contribution 8,334 18,400
Total for Year 20,397 31,264
4. Fundraising
Fund Raising Expense - -
Share of Premises Overheads 540 544
Total for Year 540 544
5. Governance Costs
Postage, Printing & Stationery 2,343 119
AGM/Branch Meetings - 625
Sundry/Miscellaneous Expenses 279 1,431
Share of Premises Overheads 540 544
Total for Year 3,162 2,718
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Samaritans of Hillingdon
Notes to the accounts continued For the 12 months ending 31 March 2025
| 6. Tangible Fixed Assets | 6. Tangible Fixed Assets | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freehold Property | Office Equipment Furniture & Computers Total |
|||||
| £ | £ £ |
|||||
| As at 31.03.2024 | 80,000 | 3,721 83,721 |
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| Additions | 0 | 0 0 |
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| As at 31.03.2025 | £80,000 | £3,721 £83,721 |
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| Depreciation | ||||||
| At 31.03.2024 | 36,880 | 3,721 40,601 |
||||
| Charge for Year | 1,600 | 0 1,600 |
||||
| At 31.03.2025 | £38,480 | £3,721 £42,201 |
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| Net Book Value | ||||||
| At 31.03.25 | £41,520 | £0 £41,520 |
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| At 31.03.24 | £43,120 | £0 £43,120 |
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The title to the freehold premises is held by Samaritans of Hillingdon.
Although it has not been valued recently the trustees believe that the current market value of the Freehold Property is considerably in excess of the book value.
7. Creditors
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31.03.2025 31.03.2024
Branch Contribution (NBC) 19,334 11,000
19,334 11,000
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8. Debtors
Monies owed are due within one year and relate to fundraising income not yet received.
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Samaritans of Hillingdon
Notes to the accounts continued For the 12 months ending 31 March 2025
9. Reconciliation of Reserves
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Balance As At Balance As At
31.03.2024 Income Expenditure 31.03.2025
£ £ £ £
Unrestricted General Fund 122,451 15,397 24,099 113,749
Transfer (23,000) (23,000)
Total General Fund 99,451 15,397 24,099 90,749
Designated Fund 18,798 - - 18,798
Transfer 20,000 20,000
Total Designated Funds 38,798 - - 38,798
Restricted Fund 8,000 - - 8,000
Transfer 3,000 3,000
Total Restricted Funds 11,000 - - 11,000
All Funds 149,249 15,397 24,099 140,547
Represented By: General Fund Designated Fund Restricted Fund All Funds
£ £ £ £
Fixed Assets 41,520 - - 41,520
Current Assets 70,908 38,798 11,000 120,706
Current Liabilities (21,679) - - (21,679)
90,749 38,798 11,000 140,547
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10. Description of Reserves
General Funds - Funds held available for the ordinary purposes of the charity.
Restricted Funds – In February 2015 we were extremely fortunate to receive a £5,000 donation from an individual who specified the money should be restricted to future property improvements. In 2016 the same individual donated a further £2,000 restricted to our on-line support services.
In 2014 donations were received amounting to £1,000 in memory of Pam Morgan and in 2024 £3,000 in memory of Jill 744, with the understanding from their family and other donors that it would fund a day of our work in perpetuity each year.
In 2021 the Management Committee agreed to set aside £20,000 as designated funds to be used in the planned new extension to the premises.
To date none of the above-mentioned restricted funds have been expended.
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Samaritans of Hillingdon
Notes to the accounts continued For the 12 months ending 31 March 2025
____________
Designated Funds – The designated fund comprises resources received to be invested in the charity’s fixed assets. It is therefore not readily available for other purposes. During this financial year none of the Designated fund was utilised.
Reserves Level – The balance of net current assets on the General Fund at the end of the year represents the equivalent of approximately 7 months’ forecast expenditure and excludes the property maintenance fund held in the designated fund. The current balance should provide a reasonably secure financial base on which to plan future operations.
11. Donations and Gifts
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31.03.2024
31.03.2025
£ £
Church Groups / Schools 5,083
2,960
Companies 41,799
64
Individuals 2,524
5,465
8,490 49,406
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Accruals and prepayments excluded from figures quoted above, cash position only.
Income from collections is included under Fundraising.
12. Staff costs and numbers
No paid staff were employed by the charity.
13. Trustees Remuneration and Expenses
It is the policy of the charity to reimburse all expenses properly incurred and claimed by its volunteers in connection with charitable activities. The charity’s trustees, those who serve on the Management Committee, are reimbursed expenses in accordance with that policy in common with all other volunteers; the total amount is not considered material.
14. Indemnity Insurance
Samaritans has centrally effected professional indemnity insurance to protect employees, Trustees, Directors and other volunteer members of all Samaritan branches.
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Independent Examiner's Report to the Members of Samaritans of Hillingdon For the 12 months ending 31 March 2025 Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Samaritans of Hillingdon I report on the accounts of the Samaritans of Hillingdon for the 12 months ending 31.03.25. Respective Responsibilities of the Trustees and Examiner As the charity's Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts, you consider that the audit requirement of Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply. It is my responsibility to state. on the basis of prOdureS specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5){b) of the Act, whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of Independent Examlner'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 of disclosure in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as Trustees conceming any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independent Examiner's Statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:_ 1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the Act and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act. have not been met or 2) to which, in my opinion attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding to the accounts to be reached. S Munn (MAAT) Independent Examiner 13