Trustees’ Annual Report 2020/2021
Section 1 - Legal & Administrative information
Charity name : Rape & Sexual Abuse Service (South Buckinghamshire) Registered as a CIO 4th May, 2020 amended 1st October, 2020 (formerly Rape Crisis (Wycombe, Chiltern & South Buckinghamshire) Registration no: 1189311 Address: PO Box 1448, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP11 9GW Charity Trustees: Jacqui Foyle-York - Chair Mona Smith Wendy Prosser - Treasurer Jean White - resigned 22nd September, 2020 Jane Barker - resigned 25th February, 2021 Governing Document: Constitution (last amended) 1st October, 2020 Objectives of the Charity: To relieve the mental and physical distress of
To relieve the mental and physical distress of women and girls in South Buckinghamshire who suffer the physical, mental and emotional distress of sexual violence at anytime in their lives.
To advance education and raise awareness about sexual violence, equality and diversity for the public benefit, in particular but not exclusively through giving talks, running training sessions, and using fundraising activities to raise awareness of sexual violence and its context.
This being the first annual general meeting of RSASS and following the Clause 13.1 of the Constitution, the trustees as detailed above are required to retire from office.
Any woman who retires as a charity trustee is eligible for reapointment. As there must be a least three charity trustees all existing trustees are required to be re-elected should there not be adequate applications received to fulfill the number as stated in Clause 12.3 of the Constitution.
The charity trustees shall manage the affairs of the CIO and may for that purpose exercise all the powers of the CIO as stated in 12.1 of the Constitution.
The trustees monitor the aims, objectives and activities of the charity throughout the year and review when required.
Section 2 - Governance and Management
Background
RSASS (South Buckinghamshire) was formerly known as Rape Crisis (Wycombe, Chiltern & South Bucks) and was registered as a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) on 4th May, 2020 originally as Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse Support Centre (South Buckinghamshire). On 1st October, 2020 a resolution was agreed and passed by the board of trustees to change the name to Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Service (South Buckinghamshire) (RSASS). The CIO is the Charity Commission’s Association model where voting members other than it’s trustees as stated in the Constitution.
Overview
In May 2020, due to difficult financial circumstances the charity made the decision to break the lease on offices at Easton Street. This worked out as lockdown started around that time and everyone was working from home. Services were able to continue via telephone and zoom. By September, all assets and employees were transferred over to the CIO. In July 2020 the interim Director left the organisation and it was decided to step up the restructuring of the organisation. In August 2020 the charity moved from their premises in Easton Street and were grateful to Buckinghamshire Council for offering them storage at Des Box. At this time there was no funding for office space and as everyone was locked down there was more time to consider what would be more suitable both operationally and financially. Between August and October the charity lost a trustee and recruited 2 new trustees. In August Helen Neighbour our Funding officer applied to the National Lottery Community Fund and were granted enough funding to employ a new charity
director and look for counselling rooms and office space. We advertised for a Charity Director and Natalie Fleming joined the organisation in December 2020 until May 2021 during that time Natalie made improvements to the structure of organisation, negotiated new counselling and office space and helped organise training for the new cohort of volunteers. In February 2021 we employed an SSVO Penny Matthews who has been an asset to the organisation. This was the start of rebranding, reviewing and updating all administrative processes and policies in line with legal requirements and laying a strong foundation for the charity.
Section 3 - Activities and Achievements
This year it has been difficult to plan activities due to the Covid restrictions. However, we have been able to continue offering women counselling via zoom, helpline support, befriending, advocacy and ISVA services and the self-help group Phoenix which was also via zoom.
We are grateful to our dedicated team and volunteers for supporting our service users, without them we would not be able to deliver on our promise. Below is a reflection of the services we have delivered over the last year.
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Counselling Sessions 68
Telephone : one-off and/or assessment 114
Telephone : regular and ongoing contact 145
Email : regular ongoing contact 927
Text : regular and ongoing contact 2,057
Webchat / Whatsapp : regular and ongoing contact 24
Pheonix Group 270
Advocacy Service 56
ISVA Service 42
Pre-Trial Therapy 1
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(NB The above figures are the total from RCWCSB April - Oct 20 and RSASS Oct - March 21)
A service user thanks to the charity.....
“Thank you for running the Phoenix Group. Having moved due to Domestic Abuse I lost contact with everyone I knew before. I am totally alone here now. If it wasn’t for being able to chat with you and the rest of the group via Zoom I would have virtually no contact with anyone. It makes a huge difference to me as I suffer from feeling isolated, last and alone. Sometimes I feel frantic, as if my life is not worth living, then I self harm. I don’t know where I would be without Phoenix.”
RSASS were fortunate to have been granted further funding from the HO/ Ministry of Justice Rape Support Fund and they have also extended the payments for a further year, which will make a significant difference in helping the new organisation rebuild and develop the services further in the future. Our hardworking team continue to ensure that in the forthcoming year we will continue to find sufficient funds to continue the vital service that is RSASS (South Buckinghamshire).
We would like to thank all the organisations that fund RSASS for their continued financial help and enabling the charity to keep the services running, particularly through what has been an extremely difficult year with Covid.
Police Property Act Fund Michel Shanly Heart of Bucks Ministry of Justice Police Crime Commission Additional Funding Received during this time Lottery - Awards for All Wycombe District Council National Lottery Community Fund
We would like to thank all the volunteers who have been part of RSASS over the last 12 months for their continued hard work, loyalty and dedication. Thanks also to our counselling supervisors, trainers and facilitators for their continued support and dedication. Without your time, dedication and commitment we would not be able to deliver this much needed and essential service. This has been a very difficult year adapting to the Covid restrictions but, we have come through with resilience and determination.
Section 4 - Our Services
Our services are available to all women and girls survivors of sexual violence, who are 16 years or over and who live in the council areas of Wycombe, Chiltern and South Buckinghamshire, whether the assault happened recently or in the past, including as a child. Additionally, we work with non-abusing friends and relatives supporting them.
Other client groups we aim to work with are:
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●• Professionals working with female survivors of sexual assault, e.g. Social Services, Police, Victim Support, Youth Service, Probation Service, Women’s Aid and other voluntary or statutory groups. Local authority Safeguarding Team and MASH.
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●• Young people from age 11 upwards whom we aim to educate about sexual violence and assault.
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●• The general public through awareness-raising events.
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●• We have maintained good relationships with the SARC’s and
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before Covid restrictions have be able to use their rooms at times for some our services.
Our aim is to widen this in the future.
Section 5 - Policies
Constitution
The constitution was adopted and last amended 1st October, 2020.
Reserves
We have a designated reserves policy where we aim to maintain a minimum level of reserves necessary to fund working capital requirements, contingencies and to safeguard the continuing activities of the organisation. The policy and the reserves position are monitored and reviewed annually.
Section 6 - Signature and Declaration
I declare, in my capacity of charity trustee, that:
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The trustees have approved the report above; and
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Have authorised me to sign it on their behalf.
Signature
Full name Jacqueline Grace Foyle-York
Position Chair - Trustee
Date 30th January, 2022
| Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Service (South Buckinghamshire) |
Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Service (South Buckinghamshire) |
Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Service (South Buckinghamshire) |
Charity No (if any) |
1189311 |
CC39a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualaccountsforthe period | ||||||
| Period start date |
04/05/2020 | To | Period end date | 31/03/2021 | ||
| Section A | Statement of financial activities | |||||
| Descriptions by natural category Note Incoming resources (Note 3) Donations, legacies and Grants Bank Interest Fundraising events S01 Resources expended (Notes 4-7) Wages, salaries, pensions and NI Cost of fundraising events Rent, rates and Insurance Telephone postage and stationery Repairs and maintenance Legal and professional fees Website Depreciation Relocation Expenses S02 S03 S05 Net incoming/(outgoing) resources before transfers Net incoming/(outgoing) resources before other recognised gains/(losses) Gross transfers between funds Total resources expended Total incoming resources |
Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Endowment funds Total this year Total last year £ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 |
|||||
| 58,019 | - | 58,019 | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 58,019 | - | - | 58,019 | - | ||
| 45,761 | - | 45,761 | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| 1,130 | - | 1,130 | ||||
| 736 | - | 736 | ||||
| 780 | - | 780 | ||||
| 393 | - | 393 | ||||
| 3,689 | - | 3,689 | ||||
| 142 | - | 142 | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 52,631 | - | - | 52,631 | - | ||
| 5,388 | - | - | 5,388 | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | |||
| 5,388 | - | - | 5,388 | - |
Other recognised gains/(losses)
| gnised gains/(losses) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S06 S07 S08 S10 Total funds carried forward s brought forward Net movement in funds osses on investment assets osses on revaluation of fixed he charity’s own use |
- | - | - | - | - |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 5,388 | - | - | 5,388 | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 5,388 | - | - | 5,388 | - |
Gains and losses on revaluation of fixed assets for the charity’s own use Gains and losses on investment assets
Total funds brought forward
CC17a (Excel)
01/02/2022
1
Independent examinerfs report on the accounts CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Report to tho trustse81 members of Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Service (South Buckinghamshire) On accounts for the year ondod 31° March 2021 Charlty no lif any) 1189311 Set out on pag88 One to Fifteen (Fifteen pages in total) Respectlve responsibilittes of trustees and examlner The chariV3 trustees ar8 responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's truslees Gonsider 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 n8eded. l am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified m8mb8r of the Institute of Financial Accountants. It 18 my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, to follow Ihe procedures laid down In the general Dir8Ctions given by the Charity Commission (under sedion 145151{b) ofthe Charities Acl, and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basls of independent My examination was carrfed out in accordance with general Diredions given examlneVs statement by the Charity Commission. 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 includ8s consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees conceming any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that Uld 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 In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention •xamlner'8 Statsment 1. which gives me rea80nable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act., and to prepare accounts which accord wth the accounting records and comply th the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met., or 2. to wthich, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in ord8rto enable 8 proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the ¥Yords in the brackets rfthey do not apply. Signed: Dats: 31 January 2022 Name: Robin Lawrence IER
Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (If any): AFA Address: Suite 1 b. 18 Crendon Street High WyGombe Bucks, HP13 6LS Only complete If the examiner needs to highlight material problems.IL& accoUnnE re¢orOs have nol been kept in 8CCOtdance s132 ofthe Chartties, 2011 and those accounts do notcomply th the reqvlrementsofthe 2008 RegulaOnSSett1ng0Utthe fom) and contant olch8rftyatcounts' any materfal owndlture oradon whlch appfi8 notto be In accOanCe thetrustsofthe Chaty, any f8llureto be provlled wlth Infomiatton ano wilonatton$ty8ny pastorpresentlwstee, offlceroremploye81 and any malerfal DJnslstenLy b8kn¥8enthe accountsand thetrustses. annual rvporti IER
Givo hera brief details of any items that the examinerwishes to disclose. IER