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2022-03-31-accounts

CIS’ ters

An experience in learning, sharing, growing - individually and together

Trustees’ Annual Report

Please note, when CIS ’ters was founded in 1995, the name was chosen to represent CIS (Childhood incest survivors) and ‘ ters , for the sisters who had been victims within the same family as the founder.

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Contents

Section one: Reference and administrative details ................................................................... 3 Trustees .................................................................................................................................. 3 Section two: Structure, governance, and management ............................................................ 4 Policies ................................................................................................................................... 4 Conflict of Interest ................................................................................................................. 4 Risk management statement ................................................................................................. 5 Public benefit statement ....................................................................................................... 5 Financial review ..................................................................................................................... 5 Additional reference and administrative information........................................................... 6 Section three: Objectives and activities..................................................................................... 6 Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document ........................... 6 Summary of the main activities in relation to these objects ................................................. 7 Section four: Achievements and performance .......................................................................... 8 Maintaining existing services ................................................................................................. 8 Membership: ...................................................................................................................... 8 Helpline: ............................................................................................................................. 8 Annual Weekend (Residential) Workshop for members: .................................................. 8 Referrals/Signposting: ........................................................................................................ 8 Advocacy ............................................................................................................................ 8 Emotional Resilience of Workforce: .................................................................................. 9 Achievements......................................................................................................................... 9 Hidden Harm: ..................................................................................................................... 9 Peer support sessions: ..................................................................................................... 10 Toolkit development: ....................................................................................................... 10 Review of police force websites: ..................................................................................... 10 The impact of COVID ............................................................................................................ 10 Section Five: Consultancy/Commissions ................................................................................. 11 Section Six: Acknowledgements .............................................................................................. 12 Section Seven: Declaration ...................................................................................................... 12

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Section one: Reference and administrative details

Charity Name CIS’ters –surviving rape and sexual
abuse duringchildhood
Registered charity number 1184857
Charity’s principal address CIS’ters
Po Box 119
Eastleigh
Hampshire
SO50 9ZF

Trustees

Trustee Name Office Dates Name of person (or body)
entitled to appoint trustee
Gillian Finch Trustee/ Manager 12/08/2019 -
present		 CIS’ters
Board of Trustees
Louise Bird Trustee 12/08/2019 -
present		 CIS’ters
Board of Trustees
Samantha Richley Trustee/Chair 12/08/2019 -
present		 CIS’ters
Board of Trustees
Mary Bridgman Trustee/Treasurer 12/08/2019 -
present		 CIS’ters
Board of Trustees
Catherine McEwing Trustee 12/08/2019 –
10/11/2020		 CIS’ters
Board of Trustees
Elsa Montgomery Trustee/Secretary 12/08/2019 -
present		 CIS’ters
Board of Trustees
Shelley Unwin Trustee 12/08/2019 -
present		 CIS’ters
Board of Trustees
Eileen Gorrod Trustee 12/08/2019 -
present		 CIS’ters
Board of Trustees
Catherine Handley Trustee 17/11/2020 -
present		 CIS’ters
Board of Trustees

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Section two: Structure, governance, and management

Type of governing document: Charitable Incorporated Organisation - Foundation

The charity migrated from original registration (1123125) to a CIO format and achieved registration on 12[th] August 2019 (1184857). Funds were transferred from the original registration on 31[st] March 2020, to the new CIO and 1123125 was formally closed on 19[th] January 2021.

It is important that when reviewing the Annual Report and accounts, that consideration is given to the achievements gained whilst registered as 1123125 – as they cover a substantial part of the history of our charity.

Trustees are selected following skills gap analysis. They may be recommended by existing trustees, and selection is by unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees. Trustees are appointed on their abilities and skills. In appointing trustees CIS ’ters aims to ensure a majority of trustees are adult female survivors of childhood rape, sexual abuse or sexual exploitation and are therefore representative of those using the primary service. Where no such majority is possible the survivor trustees have a casting vote.

Policies

The policy framework, developed under the original registration, was adopted in January 2014 and distributed to the trustees and workers in the agency in April 2014. There is a rolling programme of review every three years. During the reporting period of 2021-22, the following policies have been reviewed and updated:

The following new policies were written:

Conflict of Interest

A Conflict-of-Interest Register was initiated at the Trustee meeting on 23rd May 2018 and is now a formal part of each meeting. The Trustees confirmed that they had no conflicts of interest.

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Risk management statement

The trustees take responsibility for management of risk in CIS ’ters . Major risks are reviewed by the Trustees at their regular meetings and control systems have been established to manage those risks. Risk management extends to financial awareness. Although there was a major drop for in-year income, trustees were aware that the charity was continuing to deliver against funding that had been received in the prior financial year that was not yet fully expended. In addition, the charity was in contact with a key sponsor who was committed to raising funds during the next financial year. On this basis trustees were satisfied that the charity had sufficient financial resources for the year. Ongoing risks relate to securing sustainable funding.

Public benefit statement

All trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to guidance on public benefit when exercising their duties.

Financial review

Income received during the year was £9,351. The end of year balance for the prior financial year (2020/21) was £108,757. Expenditure for 2021/22 totalled £52,079 which was £1,596 less than the prior financial year. As of 31[st] March 2022, the balance carried forward into the next financial year i.e. 2022/23 was £66,027. The end of year balance includes monies for our Digital Strategy and a COVID-related grant from NHSE&I which we were authorised to carry forward from 2020-21.

The Reserves policy recognises the need to ensure cash reserves to:

CIS ’ters Business Continuity Plan requires us to have 4-6 months close down reserves. As we had 6 months reserves at the end of 2021, we achieved our aim again this year.

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Additional reference and administrative information

Bank HSBC 3 Leigh Road,
Eastleigh
SO50 9YW
Auditor Fred Bendall 8 Tenby Drive,
Chandlers Ford,
SO53 4NL

Section three: Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity The Trustees shall hold the trust fund and its set out in its governing document income upon trust to apply them for the following objects (“the objects”): a. to promote and protect the health of female survivors aged over 18 who, born as female, during childhood were raped, sexually abused or sexually exploited in particular but not limited to those who were raped, sexually abused or sexually exploited by a member of their immediate or extended family; empowering such survivors in their own personal healing through the mutual affirmation, acceptance, respect and support of other survivors and, subject to funding, to assist in the provision or development of services for other persons affected directly or indirectly by rape, sexual abuse or sexual exploitation as the trustees shall think fit. b. to advance the education of the public, in particular those providing services, of the impact on child victims/adult survivors of childhood rape/sexual abuse/exploitation and the associated coping strategies used by some victims; and to promote an improved service response to the unmet needs of such child victims/adult survivors, and others affected directly or indirectly by experiences of sexual crimes.

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Summary of the main activities in
relation to these objects		 The COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact
the way some of our services were delivered
April 2021-March 2022.
a. Production of our newsletter, available to
survivors; professionals working within the
specialist sexual violence and abuse
sector, or allied professions, and to
members of the general public, continued
with increased circulation.
b. Continued to provide a national helpline,
to offer support to adults who have been
affected by such abuse, signposting where
appropriate to other services/agencies.
c. Awareness work was conducted via social
media with the general public, so that they
better understand core issues including
prevalence of such abuse.
d. Continued to network with key
professionals in other agencies, including
the statutory sector, to highlight the
unmet needs of child victims and adult
survivors.
e. Undertake fundraising activities to raise
funds to sustain the agency; recognising
the impact that restrictions would have on
those already accessing our charity; and
those that might reach out to us.
f. Some physical face to face meetings took
place, however most meetings were either
conducted via phone or Zoom.

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Section four: Achievements and performance

Maintaining existing services

Membership: As of 31[st] March 2022, we had 547 members (compared with 524 members in prior financial year) of whom 50% live within combined Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton local government areas.

Helpline: (phone and email): Between 1[st] April 2020 and 31[st] March 2022, the helpline service received 219 phone calls and 4309 emails. Of these 73% were from survivors that the charity was already supporting. We also received in excess of 8,000 emails to our admin team, including from professionals and other support services seeking help and advice. We are aware that many survivors do not directly access our helpline as they are able to access initial support and information via our website www.cisters.org.uk

Annual Weekend (Residential) Workshop for members: this event was postponed for 202122, but we are working towards hosting a weekend workshop in May 2022. Due regard to the on-going risks of COVID-19 will be taken.

Referrals/Signposting: In recognition of the fact that CIS ’ters might be part of a survivor/members journey we have ensured that there is comprehensive information on our website which can be used by survivors and others to find additional services such as counselling. Within CIS ’ters when responding to emails and phone calls we continue to highlight the existence of additional services so that individuals have the widest choices open to them.

Advocacy: Increasingly we are finding that many of our members, whether they live in Hampshire or elsewhere, require advocacy or empowerment in addition to emotional support. Currently this is an under resourced area and will need sustainable funding.

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Emotional Resilience of Workforce: The supervisor appointed in 2020 continues to provide support for our workforce, in addition to that provided by both our Manager and Senior Administrative Support Officer. The majority of our workforce are members (i.e. survivors) and are carefully monitored to ensure that they are sufficiently resilient to undertake their respective roles.

Achievements

Hidden Harm: A further 25 podcasts were recorded during the year 2021-22. A complete list of episodes produced by the end of March 2022 is shown below:

The podcast channel can be found via our website: The 'Hidden Harm' Podcasts | CIS'ters (cisters.org.uk).

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Peer support sessions: as part of our response to COVID-19, Peer Support Sessions (PSS) were piloted from September 2021. These were initially offered via booked telephone appointments on Saturdays and a team of three members was recruited for the purpose. Based on the success of these sessions, up to two weekday sessions have also been introduced. By the end of March 2022, 16 PSS had been held on Saturday and a further 11 weekday sessions had taken place. Feedback was sought from all those who accessed Peer Support Sessions. Other than one comment, the responses were all positive and appreciative. The one comment was followed up and no further action was required.

Toolkit development: a self-help product for members, the toolkit will consist of twelve modules which users will work through at their own pace. Modules 1-8 have currently been outlined. Once all modules are complete, the toolkit will be written up and piloted. There will be a toolkit guide will include direction to our portfolio of podcasts. Anyone needing help will have a Peer Support Session allocated. The Toolkit could be used as a physical resource in the future.

Review of police force websites: Our manager undertook a review of 39 police force websites in February 2022 and discovered that the majority of them were missing important information on the help and support available for victims of sexual crimes. She has shared her findings the Association of Police & Crime Commissioners, the National Police Chiefs Council, and the Crown Prosecution Service. She is in the process of setting up meetings to take issues further.

The impact of COVID

The lack of in-person face to face meetings due to COVID has taken an emotional toll on members. As described above, CIS’ ters has adapted to the needs of its members through the development of Peer Support Sessions and the toolkit. Ensuring the emotional resilience of our workforce remains a priority. We are planning to resume other physical meetings during the financial year 2022/23.

The impact of COVID on individual members is summed up by the poem ‘I miss’, written by Gillian (00).

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I MISS

I miss the warmth of others around me Who know me, do not judge me, comfort me, accept me

I miss the warmth of others around me Who see me as I am, without my mask, without my defences I miss the warm of others around me But draw on the inspiration of others Who multiply in number To the drum beat of survivors, reaching out

Section Five: Consultancy/Commissions

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Section Six: Acknowledgements

We wish to give thanks to the following for their exceptional help and support during this difficult year:

Trustees, on behalf of all of those who access our small charity, wish it to be known that we are hugely grateful to all those who donated directly or raised funds through sponsored events. The total sum donated is £8,782 and is a demonstratable and clearly visible effort during another difficult year.

Section Seven: Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above:

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees (as at this date):

Signatures
Full Names Samantha Richley Gillian Finch Elsa Montgomery
Date 6thJanuary2023 6thJanuary2023 6thJanuary2023

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