## **Fylde Coast Pregnancy Crisis Centre**
## **Annual Report**
_for the year ending_
## **31[st] March 2024**
## **Charitable Incorporated Organisation No 1202301**
**BACP Organisational Membership number 00276533**
## **INTRODUCING FYLDE COAST PREGNANCY CRISIS CENTRE (FCPCC)**
FCPCC was set up in 2023. It is run by a board of Trustees, united with a passion to increase the support available to those facing unplanned pregnancy and pregnancy loss concerns, and to young people and vulnerable adults making vital decisions regarding sex and relationships. Between us we combine relevant professional expertise and many years of experience working in this field.
## **Charitable Activities:**
The objective of the CIO is:
1. to relieve sickness and to preserve the health of women and their partners and families in the North West of England who are suffering from mental illhealth as a result of pregnancy or following a termination of pregnancy, miscarriage or stillbirth through the provision of advice and counselling.
2. The prevention or relief of poverty in the North West of England by providing essential items including, but not limited to, baby clothing, equipment and food to parents and families in need.
The core role of the centre is to provide impartial, compassionate and non-directive support for women and their partners facing a crisis pregnancy or experiencing difficulty following a termination of pregnancy, miscarriage or still birth. Every volunteer working in the centre has trained using accredited material and been thoroughly assessed and interviewed.
## **FCPCC Vision**
_…is that no-one in the Fylde Coast has to face a crisis pregnancy, abor8on or other pregnancy loss alone. Previous to the opening of FCPCC, clients seeking specialised and specific support had to travel more than 40 miles._
## **FCPCC Mission**
… _is to relieve psychological and emo8onal distress related to unplanned pregnancy, post abor8on issues or other pregnancy/child loss by:_
_1. Maintaining best prac8ce in our non-direc8ve work of suppor8ng those facing crisis pregnancy, struggling aGer abor8on or with pregnancy loss concerns with care and compassion based on Chris8an principles._
_2._
_3. Maintaining standards by facilita8ng volunteers to access the available founda8onal accredited training which is relevant and accessible to the centre, thereby increasing the availability of high professional standards in independent, counselling support._
## **To realise our mission, FCPCC will:**
- Attend the Pregnancy Centres Network annual conferences
- Attend regional events
- Access accredited training and relevant CPD sessions
. Encourage and advocate best practice and good governance
. Have a strategic communications schedule with agencies and churches across the Fylde Coast
## **FCPCC Ethos**
_FCPCC is a Chris8an-based organisa8on prac8sing with a Chris8an ethos and therefore upholds principles of non-judgementalism, compassion, care and respect derived from a Chris8an understanding. Recognising that abor8on is a controversial issue that can provoke strong reac8ons, it is vital that FCPCC supports its volunteers in avoiding polarised views and in offering compassion, informa8on and prac8cal support at the point of need._
_FCPCC is not a campaigning organisa8on, it does not have a poli8cal agenda and is non prosely8sing. It upholds the following values:_
- _Respec8ng human rights and dignity_
- _Apprecia8ng the variety of human experience and culture_
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
The Fylde Coast Pregnancy Crisis Centre was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 13[th] March 2023. The working name for the charity is FCPCC.
|Registered Charity No:|1202301||
|---|---|---|
|Registered Office:|Cleveleys Baptist Church||
||St Georges Avenue||
||Cleveleys||
||Lancashire||
||FY5 3JN||
|Email|office@fyldecoastpregnancycentre.org.uk||
|Website|www.fyldecoastpregnancycentre.org.uk||
|Trustees:|Tom McGibbon|Chair|
||Maria Connolly||
||Sue Ward||
||Barbara Crawford||
|Treasurer:|Lynne Kennedy||
|Bankers:|Co-operative Bank plc||
||PO Box 250||
||Skelmersdale||
||WN8 6WT||
|Practitioners:|Netta Elliott – Centre Manager||
||Judy McGibbon||
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
FCPCC is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, and is governed by a constitution, which outlines the appointment of and powers of trustees, including the following:
## **Appointment of charity trustees**
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
## **Number of charity trustees**
There must be at least three charity trustees. If the number falls below this minimum, the remaining trustee or trustees may act only to call a meeting of the charity trustees or appoint a new charity trustee.
There is no maximum number of charity trustees that may be appointed to the CIO.
## **How this works out in practice**
The Board of Trustees are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. The Trustees meet at least 5 times a year to review progress and make decisions on future developments. The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report are listed on page 3. New trustees are appointed by existing trustees of whom there should be a minimum of three. Trustees are selected for their individual skills, knowledge and vision. New trustees are appropriately trained and inducted.
## **Risk Policy**
The Trustees maintain a Risk Management policy which is reviewed at least annually.
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
## **The Need**
## **A. Typical clients**
- _Students considering abortion as they don’t feel ready to parent._
- _Women facing coercion by a partner to abort a pregnancy._
- _A much wanted unborn baby has a severe disability._
- _Couples heartbroken following miscarriage._
- _Women suddenly being reminded of a previous abortion many years ago due to her daughter becoming pregnant._
- _Women unable to be around babies following a rushed and pressured choice for abortion._
- _Anxious single pregnant women dealing with changes in the benefit system._
- _Couples who find themselves pregnant when they thought their family was complete._
## _**“I really appreciated my sessions with Jane, for listening to what I had to say and allowing me to be free to speak. I had no idea that such a service existed and I count it a privilege to have been able to access support.” (Client – name changed to protect identity)**_
## **B. Statistics[1]**
- I in 3 women terminates a pregnancy at some time in their lives. Over 4,500 abortions take place every week in the UK, affecting every section of society, with increasing numbers taking place in the over 35 age group. In England and Wales in 2022, the highest number of terminations (251,377) were recorded since the 1967 Abortion Act.
> 1 - Abortion statistics, England and Wales: 2022 GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
> 2. https://www.tommys.org/our-organisation/charity-research/pregnancy-statistics/miscarriage
> 3. https://www.bestbeginnings.org.uk/domestic-abuse
- In 2022, 86% of abortions were medically induced, similarly to 87% in 2021. Medical abortions have increased by 38 percentage points since 2012 (48%).
- The North-West of England has the highest regional abortion rate in the UK.
- An estimated 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage[2] .
- Over a third of domestic violence incidents start or worsen during pregnancy.[3]
## **C. Research**
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges research recommends _“support and care for all women who have an unwanted pregnancy because the risk of mental health problems increases whatever the pregnancy outcome.”_
FCPCC test for depression and anxiety before and after support is offered, and the results show a marked improvement following our pregnancy loss support.
## _**“Many people don’t get the help and support they need. I feel very lucky that I was told about your service by a friend.” (Client)**_
## **Core Projects:**
- a) Develop a robust fundraising strategy in order to ensure that the charity remains resilient
b) Build good relafonships with local bereavement midwives, healthcare professionals, Further Educafon Establishments and Youth groups
c) Develop strong CPD training opportunifes for exisfng volunteers including ahendance at the annual Pregnancy Centres Network conference and promote the centre and its work to prospecfve volunteers enabling them to access the relevant accredited training courses available
d) Adverfse the services of the centre widely both in person, online and using social media in order for clients to find and access the centre and promote the centre to local churches.
We are confident that all the above could enhance and build our reputation, credibility and resilience.
## **Public benefit**
We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. The trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.
Unplanned pregnancy, abortion and miscarriage are common experiences which can be hard to cope with alone and can affect the mental health of both men and women without appropriate support.
Clients will come to the centre from all walks of life and from every ethnic background.
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE - OUTPUTS & OUTCOMES**
This is our first Annual Report and we are so grateful to everyone who has given time, money, and professional advice during 2023 - 2024. This has included:
- Donation of time and expertise to develop our literature and publicity materials
- Provision of the finance to furnish the client space.
- Donation of materials and time to decorate the room
- Help regarding GDPR, by offering resources and mentoring support for centres.
- Finance for laptops, mobile phones and printing.
- Progressing our four core projects by:
- a) Developing a robust fundraising strategy in order to ensure that the charity remains resilient:
- we have worked to obtain regular monthly giving from supporters
- we have held fundraising events eg table top sale and quiz evening
- b) Building good relafonships with local bereavement midwives, healthcare professionals, Further Educafon Establishments and Youth groups –
- we have met with the bereavement midwives of the Blackpool Victoria Hospital
- c) Developing strong CPD training opportunifes for exisfng volunteers including ahendance at the annual Pregnancy Centres Network conference and promote the centre and its work to prospecfve volunteers enabling them to access the relevant accredited training courses available:
- Three volunteers ahended the PCN conference in 2023
- Two volunteers ahended a CPD event on Domesfc Violence and Coercion.
- Each member of the board and volunteers will be ahending the PCN conference in October 2024
- d) Adverfsing the services of the centre widely both in person, online and using social media in order for clients to find and access the centre and promote the centre to local churches:
- we have wrihen to every GP pracfce on the Fylde Coast
- we have visited several GP pracfces, community groups and educafon establishments
- we have visited two church groups so far to inform them of the work of the centre.
**Client sta[s[cs** operafon as a charity. We have seen:
- one client (asylum seeker) for support with baby equipment
- one client referred by a local GP for unintended pregnancy support
- one client for post aborfon support seen over 6 months referred by another centre.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
For the year ending 31 March 2024, total income received was £ 6,198. Individual giving during the year was £ 2,570. We remain grateful for the regular donations we receive from individuals.
Various fundraising activities have been pursued by volunteers and trustees, and those connected with the charity and raised £878
Total expenses for the year amounted to £ 3,621
Our net income at the end of the year is £2,577 and available charity funds are £2,574 which is unrestricted
## **Reserves Policy**
The trustees have established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds held by the charity should be a minimum of 3 months of the resources expended to ensure that there are sufficient funds available to cover support and governance costs. At this level, the trustees feel that they would be able to continue the current activities of the charity in the event that funding initially increases more slowly than hoped.
## **FUTURE PLANS**
There is a great need for our work across the Fylde Coast especially in light of the research into the emotional effects of baby loss however caused.
We now want to grow our work into 2024-2025 significantly by:
- Continue regular engagement with educational establishments, GP surgeries, local bereavement support groups
- Continue to provide excellent support to our clients through ongoing CPD and training.
- Continue a sound fundraising strategy
- Attending the annual conference in October 2024
- Actively seek new volunteers with a heart for our work and facilitate access to training.
- Continue to engage with churches and small groups to publicise our work.
- Commence training to use media and social media effectively, articulating our vision and mission clearly and unambiguously.
## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES**
The Charity Commissioners require the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial period which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of its surplus or deficit for that period. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently
- make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements
- prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue for the foreseeable future
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006 and the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP): “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” effective from January 2015. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
In determining how amounts are presented within items in the statement of financial activities and balance sheet, the Trustees must have regard to the substance of the reported transaction or arrangement, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or practice.
**Tom McGibbon** Chair of Trustees
**Charity Name**
## **No (if any)**
## **Receipts and payments accounts**
**CC16a**
**For the period** 01/04/2023 31/03/2024 **To from**
## **Section A Receipts and payments**
|**A1 Receipts**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**4 421**
**878**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**5 298**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**5 298**|**Restricted funds**
**to the nearest £**
**900**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**900**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**900**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**Total funds**
**to the nearest £**
**5 321**
**878**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**6 198**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**6 198**|**Last year**
**to the nearest £**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|donations, legacies and grants|**4 421**||||**-**|
|fundraising events|**878**||||**-**|
||**-**||||**-**|
||**-**||||**-**|
||**-**||||**-**|
||**-**||||**-**|
||**-**||||**-**|
||**-**||||**-**|
|**_Sub total_**_(Gross income for AR)_|**5 298**||||**-**|
|||||||
|**A2 Asset and investment sales,**
**(see table).**||||||
||**-**|||||
||**-**||||**-**|
|**_Sub total_**|**-**||||**-**|
|**_Total receipts_**||||||
||**5 298**|**900**|**-**|**6 198**|**-**|
## **A3 Payments**
|**A3 Payments**||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|insurance|**392**||**-**||**-**|||**392**||**-**||
|printing/stationery/website/telephones|**707**||**300**||**-**|||**1 007**||**-**||
|charitable donations|**115**||**-**||**-**|||**115**||**-**||
|professional fee subscriptions / CPD|**270**||**-**||**-**|||**270**||**-**||
|room refurbishment|**13**||**597**||**-**|||**610**||**-**||
|conference fees|**300**||**-**||**-**|||**300**||**-**||
|fund raising costs|**16**||**-**||**-**|||**16**||**-**||
|IT costs|**911**||**-**||**-**|||**911**||**-**||
||**-**||**-**||**-**|||**-**||**-**||
|**_Sub total_ **|**2 724**||**897**||**-**|||**3 621**||**-**||
|||||||||||||
|**A4 Asset and investment**||||||||||||
|**purchases, (see table)**||||||||||||
||**-**||**-**|||**-**||**-**||||
||**-**||**-**|||**-**||**-**||||
|**_Sub total_ **|**-**||**-**|||**-**||**-**|||**-**|
|||||||||||||
|**_Total payments_**|**2 724**||**897**|||**-**||**3 621**|||**-**|
|||||||||||||
|**_Net of receipts/(payments)_**|**2 574**||**3**|||**-**||**2 577**|||**-**|
|**A5 Transfers between funds**|**-**||**-**||**-**|||**-**|||**-**|
|**A6 Cash funds last year end**|**-**||**-**||**-**|||**-**|||**-**|
|**_Cash funds this year end_**|**2 574**||**3**|||**-**||**2 577**|||**-**|
|||||||||||||
## **Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**
|**Categories**
**B1 Cash funds**|**Details**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**2 574**
**-**
**-**|**Restricted funds**
**to nearest £**
**3**
**-**
**-**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**2 574**|**3**|**-**|
|||**-**|**-**|**-**|
|||**-**|**-**|**-**|
|Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of
all the trustees
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B3 Investment assets**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
**B5 Liabilities**|(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
**_Total cash funds_**
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
Signature|**2 574**|
|---|---|---|
||||
||||