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2024-03-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1/4/23 Period start date To 31/3/24 Period end date Charity name: Chester Sexual Abuse Support Service CIO

Charity registration number: 1201913

Objectives and Activities

SORP
reference
Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document
Para
1.17
The overall objective of CSASS is:
“To preserve and protect the health and well-
being, and relieve the distress and trauma, of
anyone aged 18 years or over; who has
experienced, or who is experiencing, any form
of sexual abuse or sexual violence, through
the provision of support, information and
counselling, maintaining women-only services
and space as a core offer.”
• To raise money, employ staff, manage
volunteers and assets in order to fulfil our
objective
• To produce materials, conductor research
and arrange events in order to fulfil our
objectives.
• To work in partnership with statutory and
Voluntary Sector Organisations.
• To support and facilitate the development of
the rape crisis movement.
• We will promote equal opportunities, and not
be party political or sectarian.
Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.
Para
1.17 and
1.19
CSASS transforms the lives of adult survivors
of sexual violence and abuse who have been
assaulted at any time in their lives, through
free specialist counselling, telephone
supportline, and groupwork. In partnership
with others, we reach survivors within under-
represented communities, developing new
ways of working. Our campaigns raise
awareness and challenge the attitudes and
behaviour that lead to sexual violence.
Free unlimited confidential counselling is our
core offer, and it is available for survivors and
those affected by the impacts of rape and
sexual abuse. Counsellors receive regular
specialist training and clinical supervision,
and are all BACP registered.
The 121 Support Service and Emotional
Support Calls offer a confidential listening
service, with emotional support, information
and signposting as needed, either to further
support, or other specialist organisations. The
CSASS team receive regular training, support
and development opportunities.
CSASS staff and volunteers also run
groupwork, campaigns and outreach activities
to empower and support survivors, raise
awareness and challenge the behaviours and
attitudes that lead to sexual violence.
Outreach work includes training, work in
partnership, development of new ways of
working and promoting services. Our
awareness raising and prevention work
encompasses public stalls and distribution of
posters, cards and stickers, use of online
networks and social media, and targeted
campaigns, aiming to reach survivors across
all sections of our local community.
As well as our membership of RCEW and
BACP, CSASS is part of the third sector
community in Cheshire, attends local
business club events and participates in multi-
agency work.
Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit
Para
1.18
The trustees give due regard to the guidance
issued by the charity commission on public
benefit.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

SORP
reference
Policy on grant making Para
1.38
Policy on social investment
including program related
investment
Para
1.38
Contribution made by
volunteers
Para
1.38
CSASS relies on volunteers - our support line,
LiveChat and awareness-raising work is
entirely delivered by volunteers. Without our
volunteers, our work for survivors would not
happen.
Other

Achievements and Performance

SORP
reference
Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.
Para
1.20
We work towards four goals, which
encompass reaching and supporting
survivors, challenging the causes of sexual
violence, and ensuring our organization is well
run and sustainable.
Goal One: Survivors are making progress
towards recovery.
Our counselling clients this year have told us:
I just want to say I really appreciate (my
counsellor’s) counselling support. She is a credit
to you at CSASS. I didn't think I would be able to
trust a health professional again, but (she) is
really understanding, kind and caring. I know it's
going to be a long, slow road but with (her)
support I will get there. I just wanted to say thank
you, as an organisation you all do an amazing job
supporting people who have been through sexual
abuse….”
“I was really reluctant to start counselling
with CSASS but I'm glad I did because it changed
my life. I had spent so long trying to control
everything and hating myself and after meeting
my counsellor I realised what time I had wasted!
She helped me rethink everything I told myself
and she did it in such a gentle way… I can't thank
her enough!..”
Saturday Social: “I feel less alone and isolated. It
is a place where I feel accepted and can show up
as I am and be myself. It has given me confidence
to access more services. It’s very relaxing and
really interesting to learn new crafts/skills…”
“Saturday socials have provided a space for me to
be acknowledged and accepted as a survivor with
shared experiences without having to discuss
what happened to me. There are absolutely no
other times in my daily life where this is the case -
the power of being acknowledged is incredibly
important to me as usually I feel silenced.”
Journaling groups:“Journaling in a group has had
a significant impact on my mental health,
wellbeing and ability to feel ‘normal’”.
• 100% of clients responding reported
improvements after counselling.
• 90% of attendees reported a positive impact
as a result of groupwork sessions. (73%
attendees of the SS and W&T sessions felt

their health and wellbeing improved, 60% rated the support as excellent.) • Wellbeing groups (including our monthly Saturday Social, Walk & Talk, Drop in and Journalling groups) continued to provide activities and strategies for survivors. Groupwork hours drastically improved – 22 hours of Saturday Socials, 41 hours of Tomorrow’s Women drop ins and 5 hours of journalling sessions. Support line numbers have dropped but due to us no longer promoting the service and instead making calls out to those who are waiting for counselling and have requested weekly check in’s – feedback from them: “ I’m not having a great week and am so grateful that you have called to check on me. Being able to get some things off my chest have helped”. “I really appreciate you calling each week to check I am ok. I feel I have been just left by a lot of services and it has left me feeling low and anxious. Knowing that you call and really do care means so much” Goal 2: Survivors and supporters have the information and confidence to access support. We use a wide range of approaches to reach survivors with information, and also encourage survivors to feel safe, confident and deserving of support. Some examples this year included: • A new partnership with Tomorrow’s Women, increasing our visibility, working collaboratively and reaching new clients. • Progress on reaching economically disadvantaged communities via participation at events at Lache Larder, reaching out within community Facebook groups and focussed trustee recruitment. Target of reaching 75 survivors living in ED to provide service information – managed to reach 180 with 35 attending at least 1 counselling session. • Working on social media presence with the help of our new Communications Officer. We have significantly increased our reach numbers this year. We have also stepped up the distribution of our Newsletter emails, reaching over 500 people with information about the work that we do.

• Starting a series of sessions at Live! Cheshire, Tomorrow’s Women, Here & Now Blacon and OnLine Youth Federation, with learning disabled adults and young people. Engaging 79 people directly in activities. • Increased presence at Storyhouse Women festival, building awareness of our services amongst the local community. Clients from Saturday Social supported to attend and two CSASS volunteers were speakers and referred to their experience with us. • New International Women’s Day projects, including Climbing Hut Women’s lock-in evening and an interview with our new corporate sponsor/partner Women in Industry @ Encirc. • We continue to work with other organisations to improve their confidence in supporting and signposting survivors, 10 new organisations this year, estimated to have reached over 350 serviceusers. Goal 3: The causes of sexual violence are challenged. Attitudes and behaviours that lead to sexual violence are widely understood and challenged in the area we serve. • We have continued working with students and staff at Blacon and Queens Park Schools on developing awareness of the causes of sexual violence, building confidence and skills to challenge the causes, and create culture change. Our Outreach Manager is also forging links with other local schools to extend this work. We held our annual RECLAIM THE NIGHT march and vigil in November, building on the success of last year. Over 85 people participated in the march, workshops (with Tomorrow’s Women, Saturday Social, Live! Cheshire, Queen’s Park High School, Blacon High School) were extremely well attended. We managed to reach an estimated 4000 people including passersby’s, workshops, social media post engagements and event responses . 71% of respondents said they felt safer in their life following participating in the pre-event workshops, which reached more people than anticipated. • We built on last year's work through the Purple Leaf program to deliver bystander training via CWVA, to staff and volunteers in the voluntary sector. We have also partnered with a local company, Encirc, to deliver bystander and disclosure training in a workforce of over 1000

(mostly men) getting the message out to a wider local population. Goal 4 - We have the resources and knowledge we need to be effective, safe, sustainable and accountable. This includes all the work of staff, volunteers and trustees to run our organisation well. A few highlights included: • Volunteers carried out a Sponsored Walk to raise unrestricted funds. • Again, we sent five team members to the Rape Crisis England and Wales annual conference hearing about some inspiring work particularly around arts-based approaches to work with survivors, approaches to work with women with multiple disadvantage and strategies around setting up and running groups. • Our Centre Manager attends National Director and RCEW Trustee board meetings and Line managers attend specialist national forums. • RCEW National Service Standards – this process has begun and will run to August 2024. •We held our first staff away day in November, an invaluable opportunity for the team to have time to think ahead and share ideas. •The new charity (Chester Sexual Abuse Support Service CIO) Charity number: 1201913 became fully live in September 2023 and the old charity is now closed. The objects for the new CIO are substantively the same, with a small change to widen our remit in our education and prevention work. •We continue to look for suitable new premises, to improve the experience of the clients attending our office. A few examples of improvements we have made in key areas. Health, Safety and Wellbeing • New higher, more substantial chairs/furniture for the counselling room, to support taller people • Extreme heat in the office continues to cause issues. Actions have included: purchase of a longer air con extractor tube and window sealer, ordering better quality office thermometers. Environmental Sustainability • We are engaged with our landlord, encouraging energy efficiency and a green energy supplier. •We have upgraded our IT and remote working systems to reduce unnecessary travel.

• Work with the Co-Op for banking/goods buying as their environmental values align with CSASS • Recycling boxes and bins, lights and heating off when necessary. • Using public transport when appropriate. Safeguarding • Prompted by one of our clinical supervisors, we have reviewed our practice around contacting vulnerable clients who do not attend sessions. • We have reviewed our suicide policy, to help us identify specialist support needs earlier and worked on developing mutual training with Martin Gallier, a mental health charity, specialising in suicide. • Formal written policy with Tomorrow’s Women after partnership formed around safeguarding and data protection. • Maintaining a positive and healthy relationship with CAB after a client reported being unpleasantly spoken to by a member of staff. • Ensuring all staff and volunteers are up to date with safeguarding training and providing support to make sure they’re confident in this area. • We started a new pre-counselling emotional stabilisation service to help survivors manage challenging trauma counselling, and to make informed support choices. Changes we have made in response to feedback from our clients: • A new client attending the first session of the journalling group suggesting the theme/focus for the second session • Friendly lamps to make CAB counselling rooms more welcoming • Monthly drop-in service at TW in response to feedback from a partner organisation • Service users at Live! Cheshire asked for more fun/less educational type activities during their social times, which shaped future plans • Changes to initial assessment questions, to improve gathering access information • Responded to the needs of an autistic client, moving between face-to-face and online delivery to help manage regulation. • Providing fidget toys for the counselling room to better support neurodivergent clients • Feedback from volunteers prompted updating the office lock-up procedure, to improve safety and security • Reinstating the closed Facebook community group, as requested by survivors Diversity work has included: • 65% trustees and workers engaged in EDI learning • We supported Chester Pride again, with a stall at this year's event.

• Updating sickness policy to be specific for disabilities, making reasonable adjustments etc. • Successful sessions at Live! Cheshire, with learning disabled adults and young people • New website page on ‘Support for all genders’ to encourage contact from all survivors plus an EDI training focus have had some positive impact. A trans client attended group work, a regular client felt confident to come out as NB, and appreciation was received from a genderfluid volunteer • Counsellors now have remote phone systems allowing for clients to be contacted remotely, assisting any disabilities, LD, MH etc. • We are working on improving support for neurodivergent clients and workers, attending training and discussing in the service development group. External advice/training has mostly supported our existing practice and person-centred approach. • We vetoed several potential AGM venues due to poor accessibility • CSASS is a committed, feminist, women-led organisation but we aim to be inclusive all. We are proud of the varied age range and the gender diversification of our board of trustees. We were nominated Chester Business Club Charity of the Year 2023 and University of Chester Volunteer Organisation of the Year 2023.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against
objectives set
Para
1.41
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set
Para
1.41
Investment performance
against objectives
Para
1.41
Other

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period
Para 1.21 CSASS was fully funded for the financial year
23/24.
We spent the funding we received as planned
and had no issues with our reporting to
funders.
It was a more complicated year from an
accounting point of view, as we made the
transition to a CIO. This involved closing
down the old charity, opening new bank
accounts and transferring all of this with our
funders. By the end of March 2024, this has
all been completed.
Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held
Para 1.22 Our Reserves Policy states:
Purpose
To minimise the risk of loss of ability to meet
legal financial liabilities, such as service and
employment contracts deliver planned
services and activities wind up the charity
responsibly, if needed
CSASS will maintain unrestricted reserves
equivalent to employment costs related to
staff notice periods, statutory redundancy
entitlements and 6 months premises rental. In
addition CSASS will maintain £6000
unrestricted reserves, to enable cash flow
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 £37,787
Reasons for holding zero
reserves
Para 1.22
Details of fund materially in
deficit
Para 1.24
Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern
Para 1.23

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)
Para 1.47 The principal source of funding for the year
was the Ministry of Justice Rape Support
Fund. Our National Lottery Community Fund
grant continued to support outreach work
throughout. We have continued to receive
funding from the Cheshire Police and Crime
Commissioner towards our counselling
service, as well as some smaller grants from
other funders.
Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted
Para 1.46
A description of the principal
risks facing the charity
Para 1.46 Our main area of financial risk continues to
be holding sufficient unrestricted funds as
reserves. We have now employed a
fundraising officer, who will help with this.
And plan to focus more to increase the
reserves in the coming year.
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s
trusts:
Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)

Para
1.25
Constitution
How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)
Para
1.25
CIO (Since September 2023)
Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees
Para
1.25
By Application and Appointment.
…(1)Apart from the first charity trustees, every
trustee must be appointed for a term of three
years by a resolution passed at a properly
convened meeting of the charity trustees.
(2) In selecting individuals for appointment as
charity trustees, the charity trustees must
have regard to the skills, knowledge and
experience needed for the effective
administration of the CIO…
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees
Para
1.51
Trustees follow a structured induction
program, which includes visits, reading, and
online and in-person training covering
governance and specialist knowledge and
skills. We provide a trustee “Welcome Pack”
outlining the above information.
As a minimum for training, we require
attendance at CSASS induction training
(usually held twice a year), Annual
Safeguarding and Bi-annual Equality &
Diversity training.
The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works
Para
1.51
CSASS holds 4 meetings of the Board of
Trustees per annum in addition to an annual
AGM. Other meetings may be arranged
according to organisational requirements.
Reporting mechanisms are in place. At each
board meeting the trustees are provided with
impact, risk, activity, and financial information.
The CSASS Centre Manager is accountable to
the board and supports a team of seven further
part-time staff members. The staff manage a
team of around 20 volunteers, and together
deliver services and activities. The staff
consist of the Centre Manager, Core Service
Manager, Outreach Manager, Office Manager,
Clinical Supervisor, Counsellor, Supportline
Manager and Communication and Community
Fundraising Officer.
CSASS is a member of Rape Crisis England
and Wales (RCEW) and is proud to have met
RCEW national service standards, following a
rigorous independently verification process.
We are also an organisational member of the
British Association of Counsellors and
Psychotherapists (BACP) and adhere to their
ethical framework.
CSASS has a risk management strategy. The
organisational risk register is reviewed on a
regular basis by the trustees, while operational
risks are managed by staff.
Relationship with any
related parties
Para
1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name Chester Sexual Abuse Support Service CIO
Other name the charity uses Previously Chester Sexual Abuse Support Service
(CSASS) Old Charity Number 1133564
Registered charitynumber 1201913
Charity’s principal address The Bluecoat Building
Upper Northgate Street
Chester
CH1 4EE

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for whole
**year **
Name of person (or body) entitled
to appoint trustee (ifany)
Barbara Carter Chair
Trustee
1/4/23 – 12/7/23
Dawn Llewellyn Trustee
Chair
12/7/23 – 31/3/24
Rachel Forster 1/4/23 – 12/4/23
Ann Dytor Walsh Treasurer 1/4/23 – 12/4/23
Jess Keady
Lorraine Pate
Hannah Georgious Finance Committee
David Clough Finance Committee
Joe Gavin SafeguardingLead 12/4/23 – 31/3/24

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address
adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Alison Breadon, Centre Manager

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

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

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s)
Full name(s)
Position (eg Secretary,
Chair, etc)
Date
Dawn Llewellyn Hannah Georgious

Chair of Trustees
Finance Committee Trustee
08/01/25
08/01/25
Chester Sexual Abuse Support Service Chester Sexual Abuse Support Service Chester Sexual Abuse Support Service No (if any) No (if any) No (if any) No (if any)
For the period
from
1st April 2023
Period start date

To
31st March 2024
Period end date
Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts Unrestricted
funds
to the nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4,230.00
10,931.23
422.35
15,583.58
-
-
-
15,583.58
-
-
-
7,847.44
1,250.00
58.80
1,239.31
1,910.88
-
-
12,306.43
-
-
12,306.43
3,277.15
34,494.97
37,772.12
Restricted
funds
to the nearest £
69,181.23
35,000.00
20,000.00
10,000.00
3,361.85
9,500.00
147,043.08
-
-
-
147,043.08
5,578.04
999.68
195.19
135,146.54
9,247.00
987.50
2,191.54
2,716.49
14,948.95
50.00
2,771.98
174,832.91
-
174,832.91
- 27,789.83
27,804.62
14.79
Endowment
funds
to the nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Total funds
to the nearest £
69,181.23
35,000.00
-
-
20,000.00
-
-
10,000.00
3,361.85
9,500.00
-
-
-
4,230.00
10,931.23
422.35
162,626.66
-
-
-
Rape Support Fund - Ministryof Justice
The National LotteryCommunityFund -
CWVA CommunityGrant -
Arnold Clark CommunityFund -
Police and Crime Commissioner Cheshire -
Tesco Golden Token CommunityGrant -
CommunityFoundation Lancashire -
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (NHS)
CoopCommunityFund -
Comic Relief
Earned income 4,230.00
Donations,sponsorshipand events 10,931.23
Bank Interest 422.35
Sub total(Gross income for AR) 15,583.58
A2 Asset and investment sales,
**(see table). **
-
-
Sub total -
Total receipts
A3 Payments
162,626.66 156,202.39
5,578.04
999.68
195.19
142,993.98
9,247.00
2,237.50
2,250.34
3,955.80
-
16,859.83
50.00
2,771.98
187,139.34
Rent -
Insurance -
Marketing -
Staffingcosts and expenses 7,847.44
Freelance Supervision and Counselling
Training 1,250.00
Volunteer Expenses 58.80
Office expenses and misc 1,239.31
IT/phone and communications 1,910.88
Governance -
Outreach Projects -
Sub total 12,306.43
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- -
Sub total - - -
Total payments
Net of receipts/(payments)
A5 Transfers between funds
A6 Cash funds last year end
Cash funds this year end
3,277.15 - 27,789.83 - - 24,512.68 4,467.56
- - -
34,494.97 27,804.62 - 62,299.59 57,832.05
37,772.12 14.79 - 37,786.91 62,299.61

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

09/01/2025

1

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Categories
B2 Other monetary assets
B3 Investment assets
B5 Liabilities
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf
of all the trustees
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use
B1 Cash funds
Details
Details
Details
IT/Phone
Furniture and Equipment
Bank Current Account
Bank Deposit Acount
Petty Cash
Details
Signature
Details
Total cash funds
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
to nearest £
to nearest £
3,193.85
14.79
34,564.18
-
14.09
37,772.12
14.79
OK
OK
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
to nearest £
to nearest £
-
-
Fund to which
asset belongs
Cost (optional)
-
Fund to which
asset belongs
Cost (optional)
Fund to which
liability relates
Amount due
(optional)
-
Print Name
Hannah Georgious
Dawn Llewellyn
Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
OK
Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
Current value
(optional)
-
Current value
(optional)
1,358.00
212.00
When due
(optional)
Date of
approval
Hannah Georgious 08/01/2025
Dawn Llewellyn 08/01/2025

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

09/01/2025

2

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner s Report Rèport to the trt￿teaSI members of Chester Sexual ArM￿e SupwE Seryice CIO On accounts for the year ended Charity no (if any) 1201913 315t March 2024 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trusf) for the yèar ended 3110312024. Responsibilities and As the d)arity trustees of the Trust, you are reSpr￿sIble for the preparation basis of r•port of the acu)unts bn accordan￿ wth the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'Ihe Acr). I report in r8spert of my examinaticn of the Trust's ac¢wnts carried oul uTrJer Secti(￿ 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examinalion, I have followed the applicable Directwis given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of Ihe Act I have completed my examination. I confirm Ihat no Material m8tters have corne to my attents'on in connectrjn the examinatio￿ vknich gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accwntng records werè not kept in accordance ￿1th section 130 of the Act or the accnunts do not accord with the accoLmting records Indèpendent examinerfs ststement I have no concems arKI have come across no olher matters in connection with the examinats'on to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understandng of the ac¢c￿ntS to be reathed. Signed: Date: 9th January 2025 Name: Shirley Stacey Relevant professional qualifieation{s) or body (if any)- FCCA Address: 35 Vincent Drive Chester CH4 7RQ IER OctO￿r 2018

Section B Disclosure Only complete if tne examiner needs to highlight Matte￿ of Gonwn (see GC32, Independent examinatts)n of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here Ixiel details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. NIA IER October 2018