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2025-03-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From March 2024 Period start date To April 2025 Period end date

Charity name: Chester Sexual Abuse Support Service

Charity registration number: 20260213

Objectives and Activities

SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document		 Para 1.17 CSASS ceased operating January 31st
2025 and formally closed March 31st 2025.
Prior to closures its objectives were:
“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		 Prior to its closure, CSASS’ stated
activities were as follows:
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 Para 1.18 The trustees give due regard to the whether the trustees have guidance issued by the charity had regard to the guidance commission on public benefit. issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit

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

SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making

Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers 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 On 24th September 2024, the Board of Trustees
support a proposal to undertake the closure of
CSASS. In keeping with the 7 decision-making
principles,the rationale for closure was as
follows:
In April, following the resignation of the long-
standing Centre Manager and the appointment
of a new Centre Manager, the Charity assessed
its mission, remit, and practice, and the
question of merger or closure was raised.
The Board concluded that there were
substantial duplications of CSASS’ aims,
objectives, and mission in Chester with two
larger organisations (Tomorrow’s Women, and
Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RSASC)
working with survivors and providing similar
care, support, and services: counselling, support
groups, ISVAs, drop-ins, with a physical presence
in the city. In addition, given the uncertain
financial landscape, this overlap potentially
limited the capacity for these local organisations
to secure the necessary funds to continue,
operationally, and could put their service at risk.
While the possibility of a merger was informally
discussed with RSASC, they declined because of
CSASS’ premises and because they were not able
or willing to absorb CSASS staff. They were
willing to work with CSASS to support any
clients, should CSASS close.
In the same period, three core members of staff
resigned, which posed a substantial risk to the
organisation in the short to medium term.

The Board also noted that CSASS had not been reaching new services uses in some aspects of its work. This is likely to be because potential clients were being referred to other organisations, rather than CSASS. In short, the Board suggested that more could be achieved in addressing the causes and effects of sexual violence, and in supporting the needs of survivors by closing and transferring assets to another organisation.

Between this announcement suggesting the closure in September 2024 until January 2025 the CSASS board undertook the following steps to close the charity responsibly and to follow due process in line with their duties as charity trustees of an incorporated charity:

In addition, counsellors and volunteers worked with clients to support them and prepare and deliver transition plans for individual clients and outreach groups. This was a key part of the planning and work undertaken to ensure the minimum distress and disruption to our service users and staff.

On 15 October 2024, the Board of Trustees appointed Dr Nicky Shaw of Birchtree Associates, a consultant and specialist in the closure of charities and third sector organisations, to oversee the consultation process and the closure. An insolvency practitioner was not appointed because the decision to close was made at a juncture when there was not enough funds to sustain and secure the charity beyond February 2025, but sufficient funds to ensure

staff would receive severance pay, to cover the
closures
costs,
to
meet
the
costs
for
client transfer and data retention, and to fulfil
obligations to funders.
The charity officially ceased providing services on
31 January 2025. On 31stMarch 2025, in line with
Charity Commission guidance (How to close a
charity
-
GOV.UK),
CSASS
applied
to
the
Commission to remove CSASS from the register
of charities. The Commission confirmed receipt
of required documents to initiate the dissolution
of the CIO and gave the provisional date of
removal as 30th June 2025.
On 23rd April 2025, CSASS’ Bank accounts were
closed.
The CIO received notification of a Employment
Tribunal
(6012492/2025) claim on Friday 6th
June 2025 via email to the Chair’s personal
address from Thompsons LLP Solicitors with the
Notice and Hearing Bundle.
Following a request from Thompsons Solicitors,
the Charity Commission informed CSASS on 9th
July 2025 that the application to dissolve the CIO
had been suspended.
On the 25th November 2025, CSASS was
notified that the Employment Tribunal found
in favour of the claimant.
At the time of writing (22nd February 2026)
the claimant’s solicitors (Bruce Henry,
Thompsons Solicitors ) are seeking financial
reimbursement from the Redundancy
Payment Services. CSASS have continued
to cooperate in all aspects of this process.
The delay to submitting the Annual Return is
because on 18th February 2025, in a
telephone call between Molly from the
Charity Commission and Nicky Shaw
(Birchtree Associates, the consultant the
charity hired to oversee the
charity's closure) CSASS was given the
following advice: To close, we have to
update
returns information. Given that we submitted
the latest set of returns
in January 2025, that the next submission is
not due until January
2026, and that we have closed prior to
January, 2026, we do not have
to submit any further annual accounting or
returns data for the FY

2024/25 in January, 2026.

Due to the unexpected delays to the removal of the CIO from the Register and after correspondence with Irma Narváez, a Charity Commission’s Case Officer, we were informed on February 13[th] 2026 that the TARA was required. We have endeavoured to complete this in good faith and as promptly as possible, given that there are no longer any employed staff nor resources to undertake this work.

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

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

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period		 Para 1.21 See above.
The CSASS closed its financial accounts
on March 31st 2025 with no assets.
Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held		 Para 1.22 N/A
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 N/A
Reasons for holding zero
reserves		 Para 1.22 N/A
Details of fund materially in
deficit		 Para 1.24 N/A
Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern		 Para 1.23 See above regarding pending
confirmation of removal from the registry.

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
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
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
The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works		 Para 1.51
Relationship with any related
parties		 Para 1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name Chester Sexual Abuse Support Service CIO Other name the Previously Chester Sexual Abuse Support charity uses Service (CSASS) Old Charity Number 1133564 Registered charity 1201913

number
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		 Nam
e of
pers
on
(or
body
)
entitl
ed to
appo
int
trust
ee (if
any)
Dawn Llewellyn Chair
Lorraine Pate
Hannah Georgious Finance Committee
David Clough Finance Committee
Joe Gavin SafeguardingLead
Jess Keady March 24 – May24

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)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

Signature(s) Hannah Georgious Full name(s) Dawn LLewellyn Position (eg Chair of Trustees Finance Committee Trustee Secretary, Chair, etc) Date 22/03/26

No (if any) Chester Sexual Abuise Support Service CIO Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 4/1/2024 3/31/2025

No (if any)
CC16a
Chester Sexual Abuise Support Service CIO
Receipts and payments accounts
For the period
from
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2024
3/31/2025		 No (if any)
CC16a
Chester Sexual Abuise Support Service CIO
Receipts and payments accounts
For the period
from
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2024
3/31/2025		 No (if any)
CC16a
Chester Sexual Abuise Support Service CIO
Receipts and payments accounts
For the period
from
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2024
3/31/2025		 No (if any)
CC16a
Chester Sexual Abuise Support Service CIO
Receipts and payments accounts
For the period
from
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2024
3/31/2025		 No (if any)
CC16a
Chester Sexual Abuise Support Service CIO
Receipts and payments accounts
For the period
from
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2024
3/31/2025		 No (if any)
CC16a
Chester Sexual Abuise Support Service CIO
Receipts and payments accounts
For the period
from
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2024
3/31/2025		 No (if any)
CC16a
Chester Sexual Abuise Support Service CIO
Receipts and payments accounts
For the period
from
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2024
3/31/2025		 No (if any)
CC16a
Chester Sexual Abuise Support Service CIO
Receipts and payments accounts
For the period
from
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2024
3/31/2025		 CC16a
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted
funds
to the nearest
£
A1 Receipts		 Restricted
funds
to the nearest £		 Endowment
funds
to the nearest £		 Total funds
to the nearest £
65,000
40,807
7,499
20,000
10,000
6,825
-
-		 Last year
to the nearest £
Rape Support Fund Ministry of Justrice - 65,000 - 65,000 69,181
The National Lottery Community Fund - 40,807 - 40,807 35,000
The National Lottery Awards for All - 7,499 - 7,499 -
Police and Crime Commissioner
Cheshire		 - 20,000 - 20,000 20,000
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (NHS) - 10,000 - 10,000 10,000
Marjorie Boddy Trust - 6,825 - 6,825 -
Co-Op Community Fund - - - - 3,362
Comic Relief - - - - 9,500
Earned Income - 4,230
Donations, sponsorship and events 10,306 10,306 10931.23
Bank Interest 808 808 422.35
Sub total(Gross income for
AR)		 11,114 150,131 - 161,245 162,627
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).		 -
-
-
161,245
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total
Total receipts		 - - - - -
11,114 150,131 - 162,627
A3 Payments
Rent
Insurance
Marketing
Staffing costs
Freelance Manager, Supervision and
Training
Staff & Volunteer Expenses
Office expenses and misc
IT/phone and communications
Governance
Outreach Projects		 2,360 3,225 - 5,585 5,578
1,075 1,075 1,000
2,094 322 - 2,416 195
20,163 97,801 117,964 142,994
C
5,423		 31,477 - 36,899 9,247
1,020 480 - 1,500 2,238
583 1,802 - 2,385 2,250
4,652 668 - 5,320 3,956
989 13,171 - 14,160 16,860
1,011 125 - 1,136 50
- - - - 2,772
Final Donations (TW and RASASC) 10,589 10,589
Sub total 48,886 150,146 - 199,032 187,139
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)		 -
-
-
199,032
-
37,787
-
37,787
-
0
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total
Total payments
Net of receipts/(payments)
A5 Transfers between funds
A6 Cash funds last year end
Cash funds this year end		 - - - - -
- 187,139
-
37,772		 -
15		 - -
37,787		 -
24,513
- - - - -
37,772 15 - 37,787
-
0		 62,300
- -
0		 - 37,787
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 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 Details Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £		 Restricted
funds
to nearest £		 Endowment
funds
to nearest £
B1 Cash funds Bank Current Account - - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
Details		 OK
Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £		 OK
Restricted
funds
to nearest £		 OK
Endowment
funds
to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets - - -
- - -
- - -
Current value
(optional)
B3 Investment assets -
-
Current value
(optional)
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use		 -
-
-
-
-
When due
(optional)
B5 Liabilities
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees		 Date of
approval
3/22/2026
3/22/2026

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Indepondent Examiner s Report Report to the trusleesl mèmbers of Chester Sexual Abuse Support SW¥1￿ CIO On accounts for the year ended Charity no {if any) 12D1913 31 March 2025 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examinats'on of the accounts of the above charty ('the Trust.) for the year 8nded 3110312025. RMponsib115tles and As the chanty trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for Ihe preparation l)as1$ of roport of the acGounts in a¢¢ordance with the requirements of the Charrties A 2011 (Ihe Acr>. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under se¢Xion 145 of the 2011 Acl and in Garrying ￿t my examination, I have follow￿ the appqicatde Clirecticffls given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have compleled my eXaminat￿n. Wth the exception of the matters referred to in section B. I confirni that no Material matters have to my attention in connection th the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting records were not in accfydance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accountiThJ records Independent examlnofs 8tstsment I have no other Goncem$ and have come aGross no other matters in Connection wtih the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a Fyoper understsnding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Dat•: 22nO March 2028 Namo: Shirley Stscey Relevant professlonal qualifi&ionl¥> or body {If any)- FCCA Addr•**: 35 Vincent Drive Chester CH4 7RQ IER Octob8r 2018

Section B Disclosure Onty complete rf th8 examiner needs to highlighl matter5 of GOn￿M (see CC32. IrKleFendent examination of Gharity accounts: dire&ions and guidance for examiners). Glve her• brifrf d•tail& of any items that the The charty fonnally dosed on 31° March 2025. Prior to dosure accourting examiner wlshes io disclose. records {in¢luding cowe5 of invol￿$ and other documents) were kept el¢Gtroni¢ally using Xero online acoxmting soth¥are. Evidence of this was seen during the 202￿24 examination. Follulving dosure there V￿re no funds to maintain the online subscription and attess was with¢rawn. The charfty attempted to obtain downloads of all the infomation held on Xero but were infomied that this was not possible. The receipts and payments account hag been rfrcre*ed usirvj bank statements and other available documents such a8 payroll records, but it hats not been pwble to verify payments to bac￿n9 invoices etc. Tr trustees are happy that restricted funds are corredly accounted for as grant fvnding was reeonci18d, and whère necessary aptKoved by awarding bodies, prior to dosure. IER O¢tober 2018