## **– STAR Steps To Active Recovery**
A Charitable Incorporated Organisation
## **Annual Report 31[st] March 2023**
**(With Accounts 1/4/22 – 31/3/23)**
Registered office at end of financial year
c/o Winton Methodist Church, 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 1/4/22 – 31/3/23**
## **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. Pilot Stage Completion**
The full completion of the pilot churches was successful with positive feedback across the board
## **2. Final STAR approval launched**
In June 2022 the full STAR Approval model was launched
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## **3. Staffing increase**
Due to the growing dynamic of STAR we appointed a Relationships Manager & Life Course Coordinator
## **4. Early adopter focus**
Working with 12 churches nationally who are at various stages of the STAR process
## **5. Ambassador**
We have a STAR Ambassador - Barry Woodward, with connections with the Proclaim Trust
## **6. Fundraising**
We have been awarded a number of grants and many individual donations that have helped STAR to grow
## **Financial Review**
The total income of STAR for 1[st] April 2022 – 31[st] March 2023 was £82,924. We are so grateful to all of our funders and individuals who have generously supported us, with grants totalling £74,500, donations totalling £7,869 and fees for training totalling £555.
In this period, STAR is grateful for the following grants:
- Baptist Insurance Grant - £5,000
- Leigh Trust - £2,500
- Alice Ellen Cooper Dean - £10,000
- Albert Hunt - £2,000
- Awards for All (National Lottery) - £10,000
- Valentine - £5,000
- Local Giving £500
- Arnold Clark £1000
- Jerusalem Trust £10,000
- Southern Coop (Neighbourly Fund) - £8,000
- Benefact Trust - £15,000
- Neighbourhood Fund (Dorset Community Foundation) - £4,000
- Archer Trust - £1,500
The costs shown in the accounts amount to £53,999 and more than three quarters are from 2 sources:
- The costs of the concept design specialist and professional consultancy – £4,048
- The costs of our staff team - £37,952
At the end of March 2023, STAR had £66,512 in their accounts, of which £33,141 were restricted funds, and £18,000 were designated funds.
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As we continue to expand and make a wider impact, 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 national discipleship programmes, 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, Reserves Policy etc.
## **Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities for preparation of accounts**
STAR is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales as a Foundation Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The operation of a CIO and the duties of STAR’s trustees are governed by charity law and the Charity Commission’s guidance.
The trustees are required to prepare and file a trustees’ annual report and accounts each year.
STAR is eligible under Charity Commission guidance to prepare accounts on a receipts and payments basis and the trustees have adopted this basis for these accounts.
## **Financial Reserves**
STAR is committed to open, responsible and prudent stewardship of its financial resources. The trustees believe that reserves should provide STAR with sufficient financial resources to avoid concerns about its status as a going concern and provide cover for all its financial commitments should the charity have to be wound up.
The trustees monitor the adequacy of unrestricted funds which are available to fund core operating expenses which are not funded by restricted or designated grant sourced reserves. Such unrestricted funds should be adequate to cover 4 to 6 months’ core operations expenses and potential wind-up commitments (which would principally arise from staff redundancy costs).
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In line with the guidance from the Charity Commission, the trustees will ensure that a review is conducted of the effectiveness of our internal financial controls, at least annually.
## **Summary**
In a complex time for our country following the pandemic and now the cost of living crisis, we have seen a growing understanding and awareness of the mental health challenges that people are facing.
STAR is steadily growing and this past year has been foundational in the model being launched. We have high expectations of the coming year based on the growing need for addiction support & the interest in the STAR model.
## **Message from STAR’s Founder/Director**
We are seeing a growing interest in people wanting to learn more about addiction and how to help people, thus realising the importance of growing teams to upskill in this much needed area of support.
Every day I am encouraged by the people that are coming to STAR, as staff, trustees, volunteers, partners, funders and churches, all wishing to align with our vision to see the culture of addiction influenced and changed by the wider church.
Emma Heath
This report was approved by the trustees on 04/08/2023
Signed:
Jackie Leswell Chair of Trustees
Dated: 8[th] August 2023
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## **Appendix 1: Trustees**
The following are trustees of the CIO on 31[st] March 2023:
- Jacqueline Ann Leswell - Chair
- Alistair Doxat Purser -Trustee
- Julian Radford – Trustee (Started - May 2022)
- Sue James – Trustee (Started - January 2023)
- The following trustees resigned during the period of 1[st] April 2022 – 31[st] March 2023
- Roger Constantine – Trustee (Resigned - September 2022)
- Richard Homer – Trustee (Resigned - September 2022)
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## **Appendix 2: Accounts for year ended 31/3/23**
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## **Appendix 3: Independent Examiner’s Report for the Year to 31st March 2023**
## **STAR – Steps to Active Recovery**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS**
## **Report to the trustees on accounts for the year ended 31[st] March, 2023**
This report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023 is in respect of an examination carried out under s.144 of the Charities Act 2011.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The members of the trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility:
- To examine the accounts (under section 145 of the Act);
- To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Act), and
- To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
- **Basis of independent examiner’s statement**
My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by STAR and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning 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 accounts.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the trustees have not met the requirements to ensure that:
- a. proper accounting records are kept (in accordance with the Act); and
- b. accounts are prepared which agree with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act; or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Date: 21/07/2023
Louise Parker MICB CB.DIP
24 Leybourne Avenue
Bournemouth, BH10 6HF
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