## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From 10[th] April, 2024 To 27[th] February, 2025**
**Charity name: Sudden Sam**
## **Charity registration number: 1207785**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|Sudden Sam exists to relieve the mental and physical sickness
of people within the Liverpool City Region who have suffered
sudden loss and trauma by providing counselling and
emotional support. The charity also aims to relieve financial
hardship by providing grants to those affected by sudden
bereavement and by offering practical guidance through the
coronial and multi-agency processes followinga sudden death.|
|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|During the reporting period, Sudden Sam provided emotional,
practical, and financial support to individuals and families
affected by sudden loss.
Key activities included:
•
Emotional support – 1:1 counselling and therapy, as
well as community support and coffee mornings –
delivered by experienced and qualified counsellors.
•
Financial Support – providing support to those
impacted by sudden loss, including funeral assistance
grants.
•
Practical guidance – supporting those through the
process of a sudden loss, including what to expect and
when and the multi-agency process that is involved.
•
Community awareness – increasing understanding of
the impact of sudden loss within the community
through public speaking, events, and literature.|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The trustees confirm they have had due regard to the Charity
Commission’s guidance on public benefit when planning
activities and making decisions.|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|The charity awards funeral and hardship grants in accordance
with its Financial Support Policy. All grants are assessed on
need, supporting documentation, and the circumstances of
sudden bereavement.|
|Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|The charity does not currently engage in social or programme-
related investment.|
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|Sudden Sam, within this financial period, has been supported
by a team of eight volunteers who assist with events,
awareness campaigns, and administrative tasks. Their
contribution is vital to the charity’s work and reach.|
|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|During this financial period, Sudden Sam achieved the following
milestones:
•
Officially registered as a charity on 10 April 2024.
•
Held its official launch event on 1 June 2024 with over
260 attendees, raising £6,000.
•
Raised over £15,000 in total through fundraising events
and community support.
•
Appointed four counsellors to deliver therapy.
•
Established the Friends of Sudden Sam volunteer scheme
•
Registered with the Fundraising Regulator.
•
Received donations and grants to help deliver our
charitable purposes.
•
Became partners with Funeral Experts and Aftermath.
•
Published ‘practical guidance’ guides to support those
through the process of a sudden loss
Through these achievements, the charity directly improved
access to emotional and practical support for bereaved families,
raised community awareness of sudden loss, and established a
sustainable foundation for future service delivery.|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|The trustees set out to establish Sudden Sam as a fully
functioning, recognised charity providing emotional, practical,
and financial support to those affected by sudden loss.
All key objectives for the period were met or exceeded:
•
Registration with the Charity Commission and the
Fundraising Regulator was completed.
•
Emotional support services were launched, with four
counsellors delivering therapy sessions to bereaved
individuals and children.
•
The Friends of Sudden Sam volunteer programme was
introduced, expanding community engagement.
•
Public awareness was raised through coffee mornings,
talks, and partnerships with local organisations.
•
Practical Guidance given through home visits, meetings,
and published literature.
Overall, the charity successfully transitioned from concept to a
sustainable operational model within its firstyear.|
|---|---|---|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|Fundraising exceeded expectations for the charity’s first year.
•
The launch event raised £6,000, surpassing the initial
£3,000 target.
•
Total fundraising for the year exceeded £15,000 through
community events, raffles, and online donations.
•
Donations and grants provided additional income,
supporting the offering of therapy.
These achievements provided a strong financial foundation for
the coming year and demonstrated wide public support and trust
in the charity’s mission.|
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|The charity does not currently hold investments or operate an
investment portfolio. All funds are held in a current bank account
to ensure liquidity and immediate availability for operational
costs and grant-making. Trustees continue to review this annually
but have agreed that maintaining cash reserves best serves the
charity’spresent stage of development.|
|Other|||
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|At the end of the financial year, the charity held a healthy
financial position with funds totalling over £20,000. The
trustees are satisfied that Sudden Sam is financially stable and
able to meet its commitments.|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|The trustees aim to maintain a reserve sufficient to cover at
least three months of operating costs, ensuring continuity of
service and financial resilience. At year end, unrestricted
reserves stood at approximately**£20,000**, which will support
counsellingdelivery,runningcosts,and future sustainability.|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|Over £20,000|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|Not applicable – the charity holds positive unrestricted
reserves.|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|None – the charity does not have any funds in deficit.|
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|There are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability
to continue as a going concern. Sudden Sam has a stable
financial position and strong community support. The trustees
are confident that the charity will continue to operate and
grow in the foreseeable future.|
|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**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 charity’s income during the financial period was primarily
generated through:
•
Fundraising events and community donations,
including the official launch event, raffles, and
supporter campaigns.
•
Corporate grants and donation.
•
Individual and regular donations from supporters
through local fundraising and online giving platforms.
All funds were used to support the delivery of emotional
support services, funeral grants, and community awareness
projects.|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|The charity does not currently hold any investments or operate
an investment portfolio. All funds are kept in a standard
current account to ensure easy access for operational
purposes.
The trustees will review the potential for longer-term savings
or low-risk investment options once a consistent financial
surplus is achieved. There is currently no social investment
policyadopted.|
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|The trustees regularly review key risks to ensure the charity’s
sustainability and good governance. The main risks identified
include:
•
Funding continuity: Reliance on community fundraising
and grant income poses a risk if external funding
opportunities decline.
•
Safeguarding and data protection: As the charity works
with bereaved individuals, confidentiality and
safeguarding procedures must remain robust.|
|||•
Service delivery capacity: Ensuring sufficient qualified
counsellors and volunteers to meet demand.
•
Reputational risk: Maintaining public trust through
transparency, professional conduct, and compliance
with the Fundraising Regulator and Charity
Commission.
Mitigating actions include clear financial oversight,
safeguarding training, risk registers, and regular
trustee review meetings.|
|---|---|---|
|Other||The trustees would like to express their sincere thanks to all
supporters, volunteers, partner organisations, and funders
who have enabled Sudden Sam to grow so rapidly in its first
year. Their commitment ensures that families affected by
sudden loss continue to receive the emotional, practical, and
financial support they need.|
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|The charity is governed by a Constitution of a Charitable
Incorporated Organisation (CIO) – Foundation Model, adopted on
25 January2024**.**|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|Sudden Sam is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated
Organisation (CIO)**,**where the charity trustees are the only voting
members.|
|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|In accordance with clause 10 of the constitution, trustees are
appointed by resolution of the existing trustees at a properly
convened meeting.
When selecting new trustees, the board considers the skills,
knowledge, and experience needed for the effective governance
of the charity.
There are no external bodies entitled to appoint trustees, and
there are currently five trustees serving.
Trustees serve for a term of three years and may be reappointed
in line with thegoverningdocument.|
## **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|New trustees receive an induction pack containing the charity’s
governing document, latest annual report, and key policies,
including safeguarding, finance, and data protection.
An introductory meeting with the Founder and CEO is held to
explain trustee duties, Charity Commission guidance (CC3 –_The_
_Essential Trustee_), and Sudden Sam’s operational structure.
Ongoing development is supported through trustee meetings,
updates on charity law and governance, and opportunities to
attend external trainingsessions relevant to their roles.|
|---|---|---|
|||Sudden Sam operates under the oversight of its Board of
Trustees, who are responsible for governance, compliance, and
strategic direction.|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|The day-to-day running of the charity is managed by the Founder
and CEO, supported by self-employed counsellors and a team of
volunteers.
While independent, Sudden Sam collaborates with local
authorities, community organisations, schools, and funeral
providers to ensure joined-up support for those affected by
sudden loss.
The charity also works in partnership with local mental health
professionals and bereavement services to provide holistic care
across the Liverpool CityRegion.|
|---|---|---|
|Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|There are no related party transactions during the financial
period.
None of the trustees or connected persons received any
remuneration or other benefit from the charity.
All payments made during the year were for charitable purposes
only, and all relationships with suppliers and contractors were
conducted at arm’s length and in the charity’s best interests.|
|Other|||
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|Sudden Sam|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|None|
|Registered charitynumber|1207785|
|Charity’s principal address|24 Worthing Street
Bootle
Liverpool
L22 6QU|
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
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20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Tom Hanlon|Founder / CEO|Fullyear||
||Andrew Mercer|Trustee|Fullyear||
||Susan Hanlon|Trustee|Fullyear||
||Paula Mercer|Trustee|Fullyear||
||Gaynor Shiels|Trustee|Fullyear||
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## – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
|**Director name**|||
|---|---|---|
|NIL|NIL|NIL|
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Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
|**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**||
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|NIL|NIL|NIL|
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## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
|Description of the assets
held in this capacity|None – the charity does not hold any assets as a custodian
trustee on behalf of another organisation.|
|---|---|
|Name and objects of the
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity’s objects|Not applicable – Sudden Sam holds and manages only its own
charitable funds and assets.|
|Details of arrangements for
safe custody and
segregation of such assets
from the charity’s own assets|Not applicable – the charity does not hold assets for other
bodies. All funds are managed in a single charity bank account,
with financial controls and dual authorisation in place to ensure
transparency and proper stewardship.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
**Type of adviser Name Address**
## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
Tom Hanlon
## **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)** T.Hanlon **Full name(s)** Tom Hanlon **Position (eg Secretary,** Founder and CEO **Chair, etc) Date** 12th November, 2025