## **– STAR Steps To Active Recovery**
A Charitable Incorporated Organisation
## **Annual Report 31[st] March 2022**
**(With Accounts 9/10/20 – 31/3/22)**
Registered office at end of financial year
c/o Faithworks, Heron Court Road, Bournemouth, BH9 1DE
Charity number 1191725
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A community approach to recovery
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## **STAR – Steps To Active Recovery Annual Report & Accounts 9/10/20-31/3/22**
## **Our Aims and objectives**
STAR (Steps to Active Recovery) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation formed on 9[th] October 2020; it has the following objective in its constitution:
_“…for the public benefit to relieve the needs of people experiencing or at risk of addiction or poor mental health by working to train, resource, equip and support churches and their communities to deliver recovery ministry and provide sustainable support to such people.”_
## **Our purpose**
STAR aims to bring a recognised standard of support for those in and those affected by addiction, compulsive behaviours and habits.
## **Our vision**
STAR encourages collaboration between churches and organisations to build recovery supportive communities.
## **Our mission**
STAR confronts a community issue with a community approach through effective collaboration. Utilising the biggest volunteering resource (namely churches) and providing volunteers and staff with the understanding, training and professionalism for working alongside all people impacted by addiction.
## **Our manifesto**
STAR provides expertise from professionals familiar with recovery services, as well as ensuring certain practice criteria has been obtained either as an individual church or organisation, or a network of churches working together as a community.
## **Vision and values**
We want to see churches across the UK and beyond reach people affected by addiction: ultimately restoring hope by improving physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.
## **1) Believing in transformation:**
We are passionate about seeing people set free from addictions, compulsive behaviours and habits, regardless of their socio-economic status.
## **2) Bringing hope:**
We believe there is always hope and that people can be set free from the stigma, shame and fear that accompanies addiction. We are committed to nurturing communities so they can grow
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in their understanding of addiction issues, and their level of belief in their ability to be part of the solution.
## **3) Building community:**
We advocate partnership working and approach addiction recovery from a community perspective: working with statutory and faith-based organisations. We are passionate about good communication, collaboration and building community. Additionally, we are ecumenical in our approach so that all churches can get involved.,
## **4) Boosting confidence:**
We strive to provide a high quality, professional, yet personable experience for all involved in recovery support. This is realised through equipping and educating all stakeholders. STAR approval quantifies a consistent standard of criteria and practice that must be met. This gives everyone confidence in the organisation that carries this recognition.
## **5) Broad and inclusive:**
We look at the whole picture. Addiction support includes the person with the addiction, their friends and family, the wider community; plus the staff and volunteers involved in recovery support services.
## **Background:**
STAR – Steps to Active Recovery was set up to upskill communities to address the increasing need for addiction support, providing a community approach to a community issue, and utilising the church network to achieve this. It worked informally in its pilot stage and development prior to and after its formal CIO formation in 2020, to test out the STAR model, refine and get ready for its full launch in 2022.
The Charities Commission statement says that “The STAR model helps churches and organisations work together to deliver appropriate support for those affected by addiction. The carefully designed framework ensures these STAR communities operate with confidence and knowledge in an area of ministry that needs professional insight.”
## **Key projects:**
## **1. Charity Formation**
STAR became a registered charity in Oct 2020 with a strong team of trustees
## **2. Pilot Stage Completion**
3 pilots began, working with 12 churches across Hampshire, Dorset and Northern Ireland.
In 2021 we had three pilots running, two church communities in Dorset and Hampshire, consisting of twelve churches and one individual large church in Northern Ireland.
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This crucial stage in the charity formation, alongside the new dimension of support required through the pandemic, has helped the team at STAR to develop and refine the model alongside these three pilots, enabling us to reimagine how STAR works post pandemic and in such challenging times, where the need for addiction support has grown rapidly.
The ultimate aim to equip churches to grow in Confidence, Knowledge and Collaboration has been achieved and we have learnt further ways to improve quality control as we set to launch into the next stage of STAR with early adopter churches.
## **3. Concept Design**
Simplicate has been invaluable in developing the concept and pilots for STAR.
## **4. Star Life Course**
The new STAR Life Course has been written, packaged up and is now running online & in person.
## **5. Website & Social Media**
Having developed and refined the website, it is now attracting interest and has a member zone.
## **6. Sustainability**
The thorough pilots and financial sustainability plan provide a positive outlook going forwards.
## **Financial Review**
The total income of STAR for 9[th] October 2020 – 31[st] March 2022 was £81,742. We are so grateful to all of our funders and individuals who have generously supported us, with grants totalling £60,462, donations totalling £20,474
In this period, STAR is grateful for the following grants:
- George Temperance Trust - £7,500
- Alice Ellen Cooper Dean - £5,000
- BCP Living Legacy Fund - £5,000
- Valentine - £4,000
- The Albert Hunt Trust - £2,000
- Dorset Community Foundation - £5,000
- Vodafone Charities Connection Fund, providing mobile SIM cards for staff and guests
The costs shown in the accounts are largely from 3 sources:
- The costs of the concept design specialist and website design – £4,650
- - The costs of our director who works 18hrs/week - £16,660
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- Project costs incl. purchase of IT equipment, software, project management platforms and telecommunications - £4,206
At the end of March 2022, STAR had £37,587 in their accounts, ahead of future projects.
As we embark upon the next stage of launching STAR nationally, we will be growing the number of churches and communities of churches involved. We also will be encouraging further regular giving, and continuing to approach funders for grants to develop STAR as it grows in national recognition.
We have a dedicated fundraiser who is working on growing relationships with our valued existing funders and seeking to increase funding for the coming year in line with the vision.
## **Governance & Internal Controls**
## **Trustee team**
The 4 trustees represent various sectors and church organisations that are involved in recovery related involvement, including local and national church organisations, charity leadership and the prison system, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the charity.
The trustees meet at least every quarter; they continue to ensure that there is sound governance in place:
- Banking systems and book-keeping (this has now been outsourced to Oak Accounting)
- Policies especially around Safeguarding, Data protection etc.
## **Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities**
Company law and charity law require the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the surplus or deficit of the company for that year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
- Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
- Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provision of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
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## **Summary**
In such extraordinary and challenging times, the pioneering charity STAR - Steps to Active Recovery has exceeded its initial targets having adapted to the changing climate, and already demonstrates a positive impact for the churches and people that have been involved so far as guests, volunteers and core leads.
The future looks bright and we move forward with optimism and hope, believing that we can help to change a culture on how addiction is tackled.
## **Message from STAR’s Founder/Director**
In a time when addiction support is needed now more than ever, we as a team are so expectant and excited to see how this charity will bridge a gap that is growing day by day.
Never has this country needed the church more, and we get to play a part in transforming a culture around addiction in this innovative approach.
I personally want to thank our wonderful concept design specialist Karen Todd, Trustees, supporters, funders, volunteer teams & staff who have been influential in bringing STAR to life.
Emma Heath
This report was approved by the trustees on 16[th] September 2022.
Dated 16/9/22
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## **Appendix 1: Trustees**
The following are trustees of the CIO on 31[st] March 2022:
- Jacqueline Ann Leswell - Chair
- Roger Constantine -Trustee
- Richard Mark Homer - Trustee
- Alistair Robert Doxat-Purser – Trustee
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## **Appendix 2: Accounts for period 9/10/20 – 31/3/22**
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## **Appendix 3: Independent Examiner’s Report for the Year to 31st March 2022**
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