Charity registration number 1144878
Company registration number 07780363 (England and Wales)
THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Trustees
Sophie Gibson
Trisha Brandon
Sara Parsonage
Charlotte Mist
Alice Burch
(Appointed 15 February 2024)
Isabel Garvey
(Appointed 15 February 2024)
Lilith Whiley
(Appointed 15 February 2024)
Bec Davison
(Appointed 10 June 2024)
Senior management
Jay Breslaw
CEO (resigned May 2024)
Sarah Brennan (OBE)
CEO (from July 2024)
Charity number
1144878
Company number
07780363
Registered office
6a Pavilion Buildings
Brighton
BN1 1EE
Auditor
West & Berry Limited
Nile House
Nile Street
Brighton
BN1 1HW
THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
CONTENTS
Page
Trustees' report
1 - 11
Statement of trustees' responsibilities
12
Independent auditor's report
13 - 15
Statement of financial activities
16
Balance sheet
17
Statement of cash flows
18
Notes to the financial statements
19 - 35
THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 1 -

The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019).

Objectives and activities

To relieve the distress of survivors of all forms of sexual violence by providing counselling, advice and support to such survivors, their partners and their families and by raising awareness of sexual violence.

 

Vision

Uniting to confront sexual violence, abuse and harassment so that no one has to face the impact alone.

 

Mission

 

To achieve these aims we develop, provide and manage all of our services within a feminist analysis of sexual violence and an empowerment principle. We recognise that sexual violence disproportionately affects women and girls and is both a cause and consequence of inequality and discrimination. We are committed to challenging such discrimination and to delivering services which are run by women for women and women-only spaces form part of our service offer.

 

However, we recognise that sexual violence impacts on people of all genders in unique ways and work to provide our services accordingly. Trans-inclusive feminism is key to our values and central to our service. We consider the lack of services and funding for people of all genders is a feminist issue. We are actively part of the solution to this inequality through direct service delivery and partnerships.

Our work is underpinned by our core values:

 

We are compassionate

We hear, we listen and we believe survivors. We take care of ourselves so that we can support others. We set boundaries and we uphold them too, while always striving to understand the needs and perspectives of our communities.

 

We are empowering

We create space for all voices to be heard. We lift each other up and believe that we are all leaders. We understand the importance of communication and feel confident to challenge and to ask questions. We are transparent and take ownership of our decisions, even the difficult ones.

 

We are collaborative

We are stronger together, so we work with others to build valuable relationships. Many of us are survivors ourselves and survivor voices are woven into everything we do. We are constantly learning, understanding our own privileges and seek to dismantle bias and discrimination both within and outside our organisation.

 

We are brave

We seek out new ideas and speak up for our beliefs. With the courage to try new ways of doing things, we learn and unlearn as we go. Our feminist leadership empowers us to be creative and innovative, celebrating our successes and learning from our mistakes.

 

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 2 -

To support Survivors Network to uphold our mission and achieve our vision, the Trustees developed their strategic priorities for the five-year period 2023 - 2028:

 

Public benefit

The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

 

The trustees have considered how the planned activities will contribute to the overall aims and objectives they have set and how benefit is provided to the public:

Activities

Survivors' Network is the Rape Crisis Support Service for Sussex.

The main activities include the provision of therapeutic and support services for survivors of rape and sexual violence of all ages and genders. These include:

 

Adult Therapeutic Support

• 1:1 Therapy

• Therapeutic group work

 

Psychoeducation and Peer Support

• Groupwork

 

Holistic Support including Art, Yoga, Homeopathy, Trauma sensitive mindfulness 

• Groupwork 

• 1:1 support

 

Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVA’s) supporting survivors going through the criminal justice process, supporting people who have experienced church-based abuse, supporting people who experience racism (PWER) and those who have multiple and complex needs (MCN) 

 

Children and Young People’s specialist service 

• CYP Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) 

• YP Counselling 

• Outreach and Groupwork

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 3 -

Telephone helpline and email service  

 

Training and Awareness raising 

• Delivering training on a wide range of topics related to sexual violence to individuals, local businesses and educational establishments 

• Raising awareness through targeted outreach, fundraising, communications and social media

We have continued to expand our outreach into communities across the three Sussex local authority areas and we have developed informal and formal partnerships with a range of agencies and organisations across the county. 

 

Informally we act as a critical friend to Sussex Police, amplifying service user voices to effect tangible process change.  

 

We offer our services through a range of methods: face to face support, online direct support, phone support and online resources. We have adopted a hybrid model of home / office working and we have two offices in Brighton and one in Eastbourne.

 

Volunteers

Volunteers make an important contribution to SN's work; we would not be able to deliver our Groupwork, Helpline and Email support service without their dedicated commitment. All volunteers are DBS checked and receive training relevant to their role. During the 2023-24 year 18 volunteers (not counting the trustees) supported the work at Survivors’ Network.

Strategic report

 

The description under the headings "Achievements and performance" and "Financial review" meet the company law requirements for the trustees to present a strategic report.

Achievements and performance
Significant activities and achievements against objectives

 

Rising need for support

Increasing coverage in the media of sexual violence and abuse raises awareness within society and we are seeing increasing numbers of people seeking support from our services, accessing our training and resources, and an increase in the impact of vicarious trauma on staff and volunteers.

 

The cost-of-living crisis, the long term consequences of the pandemic and more than a decade of austerity, with its corresponding reduction in the number and range of services available has seen an increase both in the numbers of people needing our services and in the levels of need presented. Whilst rising numbers and complexity of need creates internal challenges, we continue to remain responsive.

 

We have significantly increased our reach with an improved social media presence, regular posts on a variety of platforms, a regular newsletter, a roll-out of our training packages, and improved connections into our community.

In 2023-24 we supported 2,042 clients, 1,652 identified as female, 168 identified as male, 11 identified as transgender female, 9 identified as transgender male and 48 identified as non-binary.

We supported 1540 adults, 203 young people aged 13-17 and 83 children aged 12 and under.

 

Referrals in 2023-2024

We received 1763 referrals, with 65% of all referrals being made by a professional, highlighting improved referral pathways and good working relationships with professionals.

 

Whilst some of our referrals were from people living in Brighton and Hove (40%) our referrals are increasingly coming from East and West Sussex, because of increased reach and services in these areas.

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 4 -

We receive referrals for clients of all ages. We recognised that we were under-represented in clients aged 50+ and have undertaken many activities to increase accessibility to this group, including a specific peer support group space.

 

Staff Wellbeing

We know that the work we do is important, and that it has a significant impact on us all.

 

This year has been particularly challenging, managing a long CEO absence and cost cutting measures. We recognise the impact of vicarious trauma and the necessity of staff wellness in the work we do.

We invested in a Champion’s Group who consulted with the team on priorities for organisational improvement. As a result of this work, we improved our response to the cost-of-living crisis.

 

We are undertaking a full review of our policies, and we are improving the workplace for our disabled colleagues. We know that we can only do our job well when we feel supported.

 

Organisation development

We recognise that with the rapid growth in recent years, it is essential to have a core staff team to ensure the smooth running of the organisation. Having a salaried Head of Finance has been an important development for the size and aspirations of the organisation.

Building on the work started around Intersectional Feminist Leadership (IFL) in 22/23, we have worked with a consultant to to explore how we can embed a sustainable model of IFL across the organisation.

 

Partnership working

We are delighted with our partnership working and we have successfully won a significant, multi-year partnership bid with Lifecentre, Mankind and Hersana to deliver sexual violence support services across Sussex.

 

 

SERVICES

Volunteer Led Services

 

We are always seeking to diversify our groupwork offer our clients and this year we started delivering in-person groups for self-identified women aged 50 and over. We also started a new in-person peer support group for self-identified women and gender diverse people.

 

We value our amazing volunteers so much. This year we trained 5 new groupwork and helpline volunteers (five-day induction training). Our volunteers offered a total of 1800 hours of volunteering which would have cost us around £36,000.

 

Volunteer satisfaction in 23/24 was high:

•     86% rated their overall experience of being a SN Volunteer as excellent.

•    100% said they felt part of the wider SN team.

•    100% said they felt valued and appreciated.

•    100% said they would recommend being a SN Volunteer

 

Adult Therapeutic Support

The adult therapy waiting list has been closed since November 2022 and will remain so for the duration of the current Trauma Pathway contract, expected to end in March 2025. The decision for the closure was supported by commissioners and other local service providers and came with a comprehensive restructure plan which prioritised triage and digital innovation as well as expanding the capacity of the service.

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 5 -

For clients on the waiting list, we have successfully established a quarterly communication process which includes an update on waiting times, links to relevant resources, and options for direct feedback and queries to the service. This enables us to also prompt clients for the start of the therapeutic work and for them to consider what they may need to organise in their life to be able to access the service.

During the year, we conducted 85 initial assessments with individual clients.

 

We continue to benefit from having a Senior Administrator for the Adult Therapeutic Service, which enabled us to improve internal and external processes.

We recruited 3 new therapists in December 2023, who started client work in January 2024, taking the therapeutic team up to 13 sessional therapists.

 

We have a 60/40 proportion of online and in-person therapeutic work.

 

Adult Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVA)

In the year 23-24, we received 217 referrals into the Adult ISVA team. 40 of those referrals were into the Specialist ISVA team. The team consists of an ISVA Team Manager, 2 Senior ISVAs managing 6 Criminal Justice ISVAs & 1 Senior ISVA managing 4 Specialist ISVAs We have also recently recruited a volunteer to support the team in contacting clients on our waiting lists.

 

This year, we recruited a male-identified ISVA offering specialist support to men. This is a joint offer with our partners at Mankind. The ISVA has been working on building up a caseload, delivering training internally and externally, and networking to ensure good partnership working.

 

We attend outreach clinics in Brighton & Hove & East Sussex with our People Who Experience Racism Worker & Multiple and Complex Needs Workers. We attend the Police-led ‘No Further Action’ (NFA) Panels advocating for survivors and checking on due diligence of cases where the police have judged that there was not enough evidence to proceed to a conviction. We also regularly meet with police and CPS colleagues in forums such as the RASSO meeting and Scrutiny Panels to provide updates on the service, and to offer feedback on how clients experience the criminal justice process. Recently funding was obtained from the PCC to establish a drop in for survivors to explore their reporting options; this will be co-run with Sussex Police.

 

In the past year our team have contributed to Operation Soteria, a national research and best practice project looking at police teams supporting survivors of sexual violence. We contributed to focus groups to share our expertise and to bring survivor voices to inform change on a systemic level.

 

Children and Young People’s Service (CYP)

In 2023 -24 we have directly worked with 518 children and young people. This number does not include the parents, social workers, police officers, staff in schools and colleges, and parents, carers and peers of clients who we also support. We recruited into the vacant CHISVA role. We have also reduced our waiting time for the ISVA services to two months.

 

This year, we were able to recruit into our Groupwork Facilitator role and running groups for survivors, trauma recovery groups and parents & carers groups across East Sussex and Brighton and Hove. We continue to deliver workshops on relationships, sex and consent in schools and colleges.

 

In 2024 we began to implement a new methodology for gathering feedback called Transformative Evaluation. This is a model which centres the survivor by asking them to tell us their own story, from their own perspective. This is to help us to gather soft outcomes and evidence impact of our service, and to help survivors recognise their own progress and resilience.

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 6 -

The Welcome Team (WT)

The Welcome Team is the front door to Survivors Network. With the exception of outreach referrals, all new clients referred into Survivors Network (either via professional or self referral) will come to the Welcome Team. Each new referral will be assessed for safeguarding at Duty stage (and then checked at the multi-agency police meetings as appropriate); once processed, they will then be assessed by a Welcome Worker.

 

This Initial Assessment offers signposting, safeguarding checks for identified risks like domestic abuse or stalking and referrals to other agencies for identified needs. The welcome workers also complete assessments for various services at Survivors’ Network like group work. The team currently consists of a Welcome Team Manager, Senior Welcome Worker & 4 full time Welcome Workers & 1 part-time Welcome Worker.

 

In 2023-24, we received 1,755 referrals for support, brief advice interventions and consultation. We completed full assessment support to 679 clients. We attend outreach clinics weekly at Solar Clinic – a Sexual Health Clinic at the Sussex County Hospital and a Young People’s Sexual Health Clinic in Brighton. Here the Welcome Team assess clients on an ad hoc basis. This service offers support to those who would not normally access Survivors Network, often hard to reach communities.

 

Business Development Team

Our Business Development Team brings together training, fundraising, communications, data monitoring / evaluation and service user involvement and sits at the heart of Survivors’ Network. The team consists of 6 members of staff: Head of Business Development, Fundraising Officer, Communications Officer, Training Officer, Data, Monitoring & Evaluation Officer and Service User Involvement Officer. The team also has 1 Outcomes & Feedback Volunteer. In 23-24 we generated £89,049 of which £69,242 was unrestricted.

 

Training:

• We delivered training to over 2,310 participants (2,248 in live sessions & 62 watching our pre-recorded webinars).

• We created new content, such as a package for journalists on “Sensitive Reporting of Sexual Offences” which has already been delivered to a national newspaper company, and a Consent Webinar for universities.

• We delivered training to 13 higher education establishments; with Brighton University adopting our Consent webinar for their students.

• Across all training, 95% of participants said the session was 'good' or 'excellent'.

• We spoke at four large-scale events, such as conferences.

 

Fundraising:

• We participated in the Big Give campaign and raised £20,268 to fund our Therapy Service.

• Over the course of the year, we received funding from the Pebble Trust, The Brook Trust, The Miss A Lacey Charitable Trust, the Blackmore Foundation, The Julia and Hans Rausing Foundation, Another Way Women’s Foundation and the Chalk Cliff Trust.

• 25% of our unrestricted income was raised in the local community by supporters hosting their own events or taking on challenges. This included runners in the Brighton and Hove Triathlon and Brighton Half Marathon as well as events such as bake sales, cabaret shows and pub quizzes.

• We ran a successful online auction with donations for local artists and businesses. We also ran successful campaigns throughout 16 days of activism against gender-based violence including a match take over and bucket shake at Lewes Football Club.

 

Communications:

In line with our communications strategy, we have produced survivor-centred social media, newsletter and website content, both regularly and part of evocative campaigns. Since April 2023 we have over 1,000 new followers on Instagram, and 219 new subscriptions to our mailing list. During the year 23-24, 67% of our website traffic came from our social media content.

 

Data:

We improved the quality of our data to drive our data-led approach and ensure we keep improving our services and delivered training to SN staff to ensure continued data integrity year on year. Our Data, Monitoring & Evaluation Officer plays a key role in quarterly and biannual reporting to key funders including the MoJ and LA.

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 7 -

Service User Involvement:

• We have reviewed our process for gathering outcomes and feedback from service users, achieving a 62% success rate in collecting end-of-service feedback from clients.

• We hold regular Survivors’ Network User Group (SNUG) meetings both online and in person to solicit essential feedback on daily operations.

• We have established the Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP), which includes current and former service users guiding our organisation's strategic direction alongside senior management and trustees.

• We have launched the Women’s Lived Experience Network (WLEN), commissioned by the NHS, to capture insights from marginalised women and align healthcare initiatives with community needs.

• We have published the first issue of the Speak Out e-zine, providing a transformative platform for survivors of sexual violence to share stories, spark conversations, and advocate for societal change through diverse artwork and vital discussions.

 

Service User voice

We regularly ask our clients about the differences our services make to their lives. Clients reported an improvement in the following:

 

85% of clients have told us that they feel more informed and empowered to act because of the support:

-    88% felt more empowered to make decisions about their future

-    84% have a better understanding of what happened to them and how it affected them

-    72% said that they felt better able to recognise abusive relationships / behaviours

-    81% felt more able to access further support and resources

As a result of the support, 83% of clients said that they felt less alone and / or isolated.

-     93% of clients told us that they felt that the service that they received from us was effective.

-    94% said that they felt heard and believed

-    97% would recommend the service to someone else

-    99% said that the service listened to them and respected their opinion

-    98% said that staff gave them enough information when they needed it

 

-     74% of client said that they felt better able to engage with the criminal justice system.

-    78% said that the support had helped their understanding the legal system and procedures

-    75% said that the support had helped in feeling able to go through legal proceedings

 

We ask our service users what they think about the support they received, and this year they told us:

 

“I cannot overstate how the dignity, empathy and understanding I was treated with not only made a confusing and traumatic experience less so but my wonderful support worker helped me realise many things about myself which I have been able to take forward to improve my self-esteem and I can now see a brighter, more confident future” - Adult ISVA Client

 

“I want to get across that I felt so isolated and all the organisations I reached out to hadn't given any help at all, my friends and family weren't there for me. SN was the only help, it was so integral for my healing and feeling capable” - Adult ISVA Client

 

“I think she's benefited from just having anyone that would listen. For a child to not feel believed is extremely hard. Feeling believed is a form of empowerment that is so important for a child that has been abused. The psychological impact of years of not being believed is huge, and it is worse when it is family members that don't believe you - it can be worse than the abuse” - Children and Young People’s ISVA Mum

 

“It gave me a safe space to talk through how I felt and help me understand how and why these things were affecting me and how to get through them in a safe way for me” - Children and Young People’s Therapy client

 

''I felt safe, and this allowed me to be honest and open with my therapist. (…). SN is extremely valuable and I am grateful of the opportunity of support, it has changed my life and helped me heal parts of me that I never though could heal” - Therapy Client

 

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 8 -

I have seen specialists in the past, but they have never been able to help me. My counsellor was the specialist of specialists. (…). Now, if I am unsure, I can think about the conversations we had and it allows me to understand myself better. I am so grateful: she has saved my life(…). Also, thanks to counselling, I have managed to access support from other services. This is very helpful to help me move to safety. (…) - Therapy client

 

I have struggled with anxiety for such a long time and talking to [Welcome Worker] has made me feel much better. I shared the truth cards I wrote with [Welcome Worker] with my boyfriend has noticed that they are helping me/ he even now reminds me to use them when I feel anxious. I feel I am coping much better than I have been - Short Term Advocacy Sessions (STAS) client

 

A big thank you to everyone at the welcome team for being so responsive to referrals and so supportive to those people they refer in, she said is was lovely to know that the survivors they see are passed to such a caring and professional team! - Partner organisation

 

Survivors Network and Peer groups are a lifeline to those who have suffered sexual assault. The simple fact of having a space to go, where others may understand or listen. Even just to feel a sense of belonging and not alone in your trauma – Peer Support Group client

Financial review

The year ended 31st March 2024 recorded a deficit of £63,971 (2023: surplus £24,345).  Total unrestricted reserves now stand at £468,199 (2023: £532,170) and restricted reserves at £Nil (2023: £Nil). 

 

Total income for the year ended 31st March 2024 amounted to £1,771,142 compared to £1,742,985 in the previous year, an increase of £28,157. A breakdown of grants received is shown in notes 3 and 4 to the accounts. 

 

Total expenditure for the year ended 31st March 2024 amounted to £1,835,113 compared to £1,718,640 in the previous year, an increase of £116,473. 

 

 In line with SORP FRS (102), expenditure is analysed into two main categories; charitable activities and raising funds for the charity. In the year ended 31st March 2024 the majority of expenditure was on charitable activities, as it was in the previous year. 

Reserves policy

Survivors’ Network is committed to using its resources in pursuit of its charitable objectives. However, the trustees also place great importance on the long-term sustainability of the charity, particularly at a time when the availability of future funding sources is so uncertain. The reserves policy has been set accordingly. 

 

Survivors’ Network seeks to maintain a level of reserves that will enable it to:  

 

• meet ongoing liabilities as they fall due 

• ensure that all service delivery commitments can be met and to protect the long-term future of the charity 

• enable further investment in the development of the charity 

• provide capacity to manage unexpected losses of income or increases in costs to ensure that services can be maintained  

Taking all of the above into consideration, the trustees consider it prudent to maintain a level of free reserves that would cover between 3 and 6 months’ worth of expenditure. This would allow the trustees sufficient time to take appropriate action in the event that income fell below operational requirements.  

 

At 31 March 2024 free reserves were £468,199, this is the total of unrestricted reserves less any amounts designated. This represents approximately 3 months’ worth of expenditure at current levels and is therefore within the target range. 

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 9 -

In 2020 the Trustees made the decision that during the year 2020-2021 they would invest £120,000 of the reserves in business development and in recruiting a dedicated team to work on education, training, campaigning and income diversification. This project took longer to roll out than we had anticipated, and this, along with the immediate increase in income generation meant that we took the decision to roll over the income from our reserves into the year to 31st March 2024. In the year to March 2024 £46,603 was spent on the development of the BDT. The balance of the £120,000 designated reserves has been released back into general reserves.

Major risks

The Trustees have conducted their own review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed and systems have been established to mitigate those risks. Internal risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for authorisation of all transactions and events and to ensure consistent quality of delivery for all operational aspects of the charity. These procedures are reviewed periodically to ensure that they still meet the needs of the charity.

Plans for future periods

Looking Forward

With the long term absence of our CEO this has been a challenging year for all at Survivors Network. We are excited about further developing and embedding a model and practice of sustainable intersectional feminist leadership. We will be working alongside specialists in this area and ensuring we have a representative steering group to guide this important development. We recognise that to continue to provide high quality accessible services for survivors and a supportive workplace for staff and volunteers this work is essential.

 

We are excited about developing Survivors’ Network further to ensure we continue to provide high-quality services for survivors and a supportive workplace for your staff and volunteers.

We continue to look at who is missing from our data and adapt our services to welcome under-represented groups into our services, such as older people, people who experience racism and people with disabilities.

 

We know that as service providers, we can only effectively serve our communities by listening, and we are listening to survivors and our communities.

 

We are also committed to diversifying our income to ensure that we are able to continue to provide high quality services and to support our community to unite to confront sexual violence, abuse and harassment so that no one has to face the impacts alone.

 

Legal Challenge    

In 2022, Survivors’ Network received legal papers in relation to action being taken against us in the Brighton County Court by one of our clients. The client alleges that by recognising trans women as women and welcoming them into our women-only spaces this has led to breaches of the Equality Act 2010.

 

We wholeheartedly disagree with these allegations and we will be vigorously defending them. We are being represented on a pro bono basis by a City of London law firm, Reed Smith, and two barristers, Antony White QC and Robin White.

Structure, governance and management

The Survivors’ Network Limited is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (company number 07780363); it was incorporated on 20th September 2011 and registered as a charity on 1st December 2011 (charity number 1144878). The organisation was formerly known as Survivors Network (Sussex), an unincorporated charity (charity number 1000961) which was set up in 1990 and which transferred its net assets to the newly constituted company on 1st July 2012.

 

The Survivors’ Network Limited was established under a Memorandum of Association, which describes the objects and powers of the charitable company; it is governed under its Articles of Association. Under those Articles, new Trustees are elected or co-opted by the Trustees on to the Board.

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 10 -

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:

 

Sophie Gibson
Trisha Brandon
Sara Parsonage
Caroline Elliker
(Retired 16 November 2023)
Caryn Swart
(Retired 16 November 2023)
Jenny Stone
(Retired 16 November 2023)
Shalini Nair
(Retired 16 November 2023)
Charlotte Mist
Alice Burch
(Appointed 15 February 2024)
Isabel Garvey
(Appointed 15 February 2024)
Lilith Whiley
(Appointed 15 February 2024)
Bec Davison
(Appointed 10 June 2024)
Recruitment and appointment of trustees

Trustee positions are advertised via a wide range of channels including: social media; Community Works (the voluntary sector membership organisation for Brighton and Hove and West Sussex); partner agencies across Sussex; organisations supporting equalities groups; trustee networks. When appropriate the trustees will advertise for trustees with specific skills or expertise. An induction programme is provided for all new trustees.

 

None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.

Organisational structure

The Board of Trustees governs The Survivors’ Network Limited and meets at least 4 times a year to discuss and review strategy, planning, development and financial matters. Trustees have two away sessions each year to focus specifically on Governance and Strategy respectively. Day-to-day management of the organisation is delegated to the CEO. Each trustee is appointed for a term of three years, and trustees can stand for no more than two full terms.

Remuneration policy

Pay policy for senior staff

The pay of the CEO is reviewed annually by the Nominations and Remuneration Committee. Staff pay structures are reviewed by the full board. Frameworks for pay review include: the current cost of living crisis, the need to incentivise staff; remuneration trends in the sector and any statutory or legal requirements.

Auditor

In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that West & Berry Limited be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 11 -
Disclosure of information to auditor

Each of the trustees has confirmed that there is no information of which they are aware which is relevant to the audit, but of which the auditor is unaware. They have further confirmed that they have taken appropriate steps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the auditor is aware of such information.

The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

Sophie Gibson
Trustee
15 August 2024
THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES  
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 12 -

The trustees, who are also the directors of The Survivors' Network for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

 

Company Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.

 

In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

 

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

 

- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;

 

- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and

 

- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

 

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that 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. 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.

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
- 13 -

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The Survivors' Network (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

-

give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, for the year then ended;

-
have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
-

have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

 

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

 

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

 

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

-

the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the trustees' report; or

-

sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or

-

the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or

-

we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)
TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
- 14 -
Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the statement of trustees' responsibilities, the trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.

The objectives of our audit are to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud or error; to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud or error; and to respond appropriately to those risks. In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following:

 

 

 

Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:

 

 

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)
TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
- 15 -

Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that material misstatements in the financial statements may not be detected, even though the audit is properly planned and performed in accordance with the ISAs (UK). For instance, the further removed non-compliance is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the auditor is to become aware of it or to recognise non-compliance.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, in accordance with section 391 of the Companies Act 2014. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Michelle Westbury FCCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of West & Berry Limited
12 September 2024
Chartered Certified Accountants
Statutory Auditor
Nile House
Nile Street
Brighton
BN1 1HW

West & Berry Limited is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 16 -
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
funds
funds
funds
funds
2024
2024
2024
2023
2023
2023
Notes
£
£
£
£
£
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
30,812
269,511
300,323
34,860
197,180
232,040
Charitable activities
4
170,192
1,288,919
1,459,111
210,307
1,299,260
1,509,567
Investments
5
11,708
-
11,708
1,378
-
1,378
Total income
212,712
1,558,430
1,771,142
246,545
1,496,440
1,742,985
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
6
49,221
-
49,221
-
-
-
Charitable activities
7
227,462
1,558,430
1,785,892
219,329
1,499,311
1,718,640
Total expenditure
276,683
1,558,430
1,835,113
219,329
1,499,311
1,718,640
Net income/(expenditure) and movement in funds
(63,971)
-
(63,971)
27,216
(2,871)
24,345
Reconciliation of funds:
Fund balances at 1 April 2023
532,170
-
532,170
504,954
2,871
507,825
Fund balances at 31 March 2024
468,199
-
468,199
532,170
-
532,170

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 19 to 35 form part of these financial statements.

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 MARCH 2024
31 March 2024
- 17 -
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
£
£
Current assets
Debtors
14
35,654
81,683
Cash at bank and in hand
550,587
643,184
586,241
724,867
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
15
(118,042)
(192,697)
Net current assets
468,199
532,170
Net assets excluding pension liability
468,199
532,170
The funds of the charity
Unrestricted funds
468,199
532,170
468,199
532,170

The notes on pages 19 to 35 form part of these financial statements.

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2024, although an audit has been carried out under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements under the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 15 August 2024
Sophie Gibson
Trustee
Company registration number 07780363 (England and Wales)
THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 18 -
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
£
£
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash absorbed by operations
23
(100,911)
(40,085)
Investing activities
Investment income received
8,314
1,378
Net cash generated from investing activities
8,314
1,378
Net cash used in financing activities
-
-
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(92,597)
(38,707)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
643,184
681,891
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
550,587
643,184

The notes on pages 19 to 35 form part of these financial statements.

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 19 -
1
Accounting policies
Charity information

The Survivors' Network is a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 6a Pavilion Buildings, Brighton, BN1 1EE.

1.1
Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

1.2
Going concern

At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

1.3
Charitable funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds that have been set aside at the discretion of the Trustees for a specific purpose.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

1.4
Income
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.

Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.

Income from government grants and other grants is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

 

Income from contracts is recognised on an earned basis in the year in which the conditions for receipt are met.

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 20 -
1.5
Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

 

Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.

Expenditure on raising funds includes the costs of fundraising activities and events, as well as the costs for seeking donations.

1.6
Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Plant and equipment
straight line basis over 4 years
Computers
straight line basis over 4 years
Bike 2 Work
straight line basis over 3 years

The charity operates a de minimis policy whereby only items costing £1,000 and above are capitalised.

1.7
Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

1.8
Financial instruments

The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

 

Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

 

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 21 -
Basic financial liabilities

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

 

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

 

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Derecognition of financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

1.9
Employee benefits

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

 

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

1.10
Retirement benefits

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.

2
Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

 

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

3
Income from donations and legacies
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
funds
funds
funds
funds
2024
2024
2024
2023
2023
2023
£
£
£
£
£
£
Donations and gifts
30,812
269,511
300,323
34,860
197,180
232,040
THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
3
Income from donations and legacies
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
funds
funds
funds
funds
2024
2024
2024
2023
2023
2023
£
£
£
£
£
£
(Continued)
- 22 -
Donations and gifts
Small donations
25,812
11,684
37,496
23,360
19,820
43,180
Neighbourly Foundation
-
-
-
1,000
-
1,000
Proceeds of Crime Fund
-
-
-
10,000
-
10,000
Another Way Women
-
-
-
-
5,000
5,000
Chalk Cliff Trust
5,000
-
5,000
-
5,000
5,000
Lawson Trust
-
-
-
-
5,000
5,000
Sussex Community Fund
-
5,000
5,000
-
5,000
5,000
National Lottery Community Fund
-
177,233
177,233
-
157,360
157,360
Children In Need
-
66,666
66,666
500
-
500
The Brook Trust
-
5,000
5,000
-
-
-
Pebble Trust
-
3,928
3,928
-
-
-
30,812
269,511
300,323
34,860
197,180
232,040
4
Income from charitable activities
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
funds
funds
funds
funds
2024
2024
2024
2023
2023
2023
£
£
£
£
£
£
Service delivery
Services provided under contract - Sussex PCC
-
563,877
563,877
70,833
537,976
608,809
Performance related grants (see below)
131,761
725,042
856,803
97,500
761,284
858,784
Ancillary trading income
38,431
-
38,431
41,974
-
41,974
170,192
1,288,919
1,459,111
210,307
1,299,260
1,509,567
THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
4
Income from charitable activities
(Continued)
- 23 -
Performance related grants analysis
Service delivery
Service delivery
2024
2023
£
£
Brighton & Hove City Council - Trauma Pathway (previously Talking Therapies)
131,761
97,500
PCC DVSA
371,008
371,278
Mankind
47,452
23,726
Rape Support Fund - Office for Criminal Justice Reform
253,057
224,405
NHS Additional funding
24,005
112,921
The Diocese of Chichester
29,520
28,954
Other
-
-
856,803
858,784
5
Income from investments
Unrestricted
Unrestricted
funds
funds
2024
2023
£
£
Interest receivable
11,708
1,378
6
Expenditure on raising funds
Unrestricted
Unrestricted
funds
funds
2024
2023
£
£
Fundraising and publicity
Other fundraising costs
1,828
-
Staff costs
47,393
-
49,221
-
THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 24 -
7
Expenditure on charitable activities
Business Development
ISVA Service
Counselling
Volunteer Led
Children & Young People
Welcome Workers
Total
2024
2024
2024
2024
2024
2024
2024
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
Direct costs
Staff costs
109,842
456,149
85,437
75,076
276,044
227,310
1,229,858

Client services

-
3
7,365
972
109
-
8,449

Freelance counselling

-
-
66,831
-
-
-
66,831

Interpreting costs

-
408
-
-
75
202
685

Supervision

2,535
8,415
20,096
1,265
6,695
4,070
43,076

Staff training and welfare

1,038
1,205
1,300
470
1,232
98
5,343

Volunteer and therapist training

-
-
-
206
45
-
251

Room hire

-
225
10
5,043
-
45
5,323

Professional costs

-
2,120
200
-
-
10,378
12,698

Office and computer equipment

2,578
5,952
1,567
834
3,823
3,735
18,489

Printing, postage and stationery

111
7
14
56
20
2
210

Telephone and internet costs

1,711
6,068
1,253
835
3,967
3,943
17,777

Subscriptions

759
933
1,499
999
981
916
6,087

Travel and subsistence

933
3,608
5
651
7,933
441
13,571

Sundry expenses

151
74
6
363
-
-
594

Advertising and marketing

315
342
-
232
335
-
1,224
119,973
485,509
185,583
87,002
301,259
251,140
1,430,466
Share of support and governance costs (see note 8)
Support
40,024
114,849
43,900
20,581
71,264
59,408
350,026
Governance
617
1,772
677
318
1,099
917
5,400
160,614
602,130
230,160
107,901
373,622
311,465
1,785,892
THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
7
Expenditure on charitable activities
(Continued)
- 25 -
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds
160,614
-
-
-
-
66,848
227,462
Restricted funds
-
602,130
230,160
107,901
373,622
244,617
1,558,430
160,614
602,130
230,160
107,901
373,622
311,465
1,785,892
THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
7
Expenditure on charitable activities
(Continued)
- 26 -
Previous Year:
Business Development
ISVA Service
Counselling
Volunteer Led
Children & Young People
Welcome Workers
Total
2023
2023
2023
2023
2023
2023
2023
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
Direct costs
Staff costs
187,395
414,575
77,536
65,838
234,297
206,784
1,186,425

Client services

-
5
6,851
1,030
24
-
7,910

Freelance counselling

-
-
50,832
-
-
-
50,832

Interpreting costs

-
601
-
-
-
826
1,427

Supervision

5,204
6,859
16,638
1,284
6,141
3,995
40,121

Staff training and welfare

1,688
4,164
1,139
546
1,513
1,273
10,323

Volunteer and therapist training

250
-
-
773
-
3
1,026

Room hire

100
63
819
2,754
-
144
3,880

Professional costs

535
-
400
-
-
-
935

Office and computer equipment

41
3,380
194
76
51
328
4,070

Printing, postage and stationery

78
2
-
142
-
-
222

Telephone and internet costs

2,678
5,189
907
835
3,310
2,896
15,815

Subscriptions

70
-
283
-
-
96
449

Travel and subsistence

184
2,924
105
969
8,545
917
13,644

Sundry expenses

88
29
-
90
381
27
615

Advertising and marketing

959
-
-
-
-
-
959
199,270
437,791
155,704
74,337
254,262
217,289
1,338,653
Share of support and governance costs (see note 8)
Support
56,028
123,094
43,778
20,901
71,491
61,095
376,387
Governance
536
1,177
419
200
684
584
3,600
255,834
562,062
199,901
95,438
326,437
278,968
1,718,640
THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
7
Expenditure on charitable activities
(Continued)
- 27 -
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds
219,329
-
-
-
-
-
219,329
Restricted funds
36,505
562,062
199,901
95,438
326,437
278,968
1,499,311
255,834
562,062
199,901
95,438
326,437
278,968
1,718,640
THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 28 -
8
Support costs allocated to activities
2024
2023
£
£
Staff costs
233,655
184,240
Depreciation
-
272
Client services, including counselling, supervision, interpreting and room hire
7,668
16,791
HR support, recruitment, staff and volunteer training and welfare
18,169
33,075
Travel, subsistence and sundry expenses
6,195
4,140
Rent, rates, insurance, light and heat
46,442
43,123
Repairs and maintenance, cleaning, telephone and internet
12,007
23,064
IT support and website
2,502
11,348
Small office and computer equipment, printing, postage and stationery
4,816
14,171
Advertising and marketing
2,088
1,108
Bookkeeping and payroll
4,499
25,557
Legal and professional, subscriptions and bank fees
11,985
19,498
Governance costs
5,400
3,600
355,426
379,987
Analysed between:
Business Development
40,641
56,564
ISVA Service
116,621
124,271
Counselling
44,577
44,197
Volunteer Led
20,899
21,101
Children & Young People
72,363
72,175
Welcome Workers
60,325
61,679
355,426
379,987

Support costs are allocated on a proportion basis of direct costs for each activity.

9
Net movement in funds
2024
2023
£
£
The net movement in funds is stated after charging/(crediting):
Fees payable to the charity's auditor:
- for the audit of the charity's financial statements
3,600
3,600
- for other financial services
1,800
-
Depreciation of owned tangible fixed assets
-
272
10
Trustees

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.

 

None of the trustees received any reimbursed expenses from the charity during the year.

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 29 -
11
Employees

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

2024
2023
Number
Number
Business Development Team
6
7
ISVA Service
15
15
Therapy
3
3
Volunteer Led Services
2
2
Children & Young Peoples Services
9
8
Welcome Team
8
9
Core team
6
5
Total
49
49
Employment costs
2024
2023
£
£
Wages and salaries
1,353,889
1,222,256
Social security costs
126,623
119,183
Other pension costs
30,394
29,226
1,510,906
1,370,665

Remuneration of higher paid employees does not include employer's national insurance and employer pension costs.

The number of employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000 is as follows:
2024
2023
Number
Number
£60,001 - £70,000
-
1

Contributions totalling £1,321 in the prior year, 2023, were made to defined contribution pension schemes on behalf of employees whose emoluments exceed £60,000.

Remuneration of key management personnel

The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:

2024
2023
£
£
Aggregate compensation
60,726
64,783

The charity considers that key management personnel comprises the Board of Trustees and the CEO.

 

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 30 -
12
Taxation

The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.

13
Tangible fixed assets
Plant and equipment
Computers
Bike 2 Work
Total
£
£
£
£
At 1 April 2023
2,120
28,303
816
31,239
Disposals
(2,120)
(28,303)
(816)
(31,239)
At 1 April 2023
2,120
28,303
816
31,239
Eliminated in respect of disposals
(2,120)
(28,303)
(816)
(31,239)
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2024
-
-
-
-
At 31 March 2023
-
-
-
-
14
Debtors
2024
2023
Amounts falling due within one year:
£
£
Trade debtors
15,130
67,065
Other debtors
8,472
4,303
Prepayments and accrued income
12,052
10,315
35,654
81,683
15
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
Other taxation and social security
30,227
29,555
Deferred income
16
49,692
139,314
Trade creditors
12,964
4,531
Other creditors
5,665
6,041
Accruals and deferred income
19,494
13,256
118,042
192,697
16
Deferred income
2024
2023
£
£
Other deferred income
49,692
139,314
THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
16
Deferred income
(Continued)
- 31 -

Deferred income is included in the financial statements as follows:

EMDR funding                 £1,000

NHS funding                £10,000

National Lottery Community Fund        £27,548

National Lottery cost of living uplift    £11,144

 

Amounts deferred last year and released into income this year are as follows:

 

NHS additional funding             £24,005

National Lottery Community Fund     £28,216

Children In Need             £33,333

Ministry of Justice             £53,760

 

 

 

2024
2023
£
£
Deferred income is included within:
Current liabilities
49,692
139,314
Movements in the year:
Deferred income at 1 April 2023
139,314
139,176
Released from previous periods
(139,314)
(139,176)
Resources deferred in the year
49,692
139,314
Deferred income at 31 March 2024
49,692
139,314
17
Retirement benefit schemes
2024
2023
Defined contribution schemes
£
£
Charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes
30,394
29,226

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 32 -
18
Restricted funds

The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.

At 1 April 2023
Incoming resources
Resources expended
At 31 March 2024
£
£
£
£
PCC DVSA
-
371,008
(371,008)
-
Sussex Community Fund
-
5,000
(5,000)
-
Small grants and donations
-
11,684
(11,684)
-
Ministry of Justice - Rape Support Fund
-
253,057
(253,057)
-
Sussex PCC
-
563,877
(563,877)
-
The Diocese of Chichester
-
29,520
(29,520)
-
National Lottery Community Fund
-
177,233
(177,233)
-
NHS additional funding
-
24,005
(24,005)
-
Mankind
-
47,452
(47,452)
-
Pebble Trust
-
3,928
(3,928)
-
The Brook Trust
-
5,000
(5,000)
-
Children In Need
-
66,666
(66,666)
-
-
1,558,430
(1,558,430)
-
Previous Year:
At 1 April 2022
Incoming resources
Resources expended
At 31 March 2023
£
£
£
£
Sussex EMDR Group
2,871
-
(2,871)
-
PCC DVSA
-
371,278
(371,278)
-
Another Way Women
-
5,000
(5,000)
-
Chalk Cliff Trust
-
5,000
(5,000)
-
Lawson Trust
-
5,000
(5,000)
-
Sussex Community Fund
-
5,000
(5,000)
-
Small grants and donations
-
19,820
(19,820)
-
Ministry of Justice - Rape Support Fund
-
224,405
(224,405)
-
Sussex PCC
-
537,976
(537,976)
-
The Diocese of Chichester
-
28,954
(28,954)
-
National Lottery Community Fund
-
157,360
(157,360)
-
NHS additional funding
-
112,921
(112,921)
-
Mankind
-
23,726
(23,726)
-
2,871
1,496,440
(1,499,311)
-
THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
18
Restricted funds
(Continued)
- 33 -

Purpose of restricted funds:

 

Sussex EMDR Group - this is for resources for the therapists, memberships and attending the EMDR conference and training

 

PCC DVSA - commission for the provision of a range of sexual violence support services

 

Another Way Women - to support group and holistic work

 

Chalk Cliff Trust - to support group and holistic work

 

Lawson Trust - to support group and holistic work

 

Sussex Community Foundation - for the provision of groupwork

 

Small grants and donations - to support services for survivors of sexual violence and abuse

 

Ministry of Justice Rape Support Fund - for the provision of services to survivors of sexual violence

 

Sussex PCC - the delivery of a variety of support services for survivors of sexual violence and abuse

 

The Diocese of Chichester - the provision of an advocacy service for those who have experienced sexual violence or abuse within the context of the Diocese of Chichester

 

National Lottery Community Fund - the provision of a specialist service for young people

 

NHS Additional funding - to support the management of the adult counselling waiting list

 

Mankind - for the provision of an ISVA to support male-identifying survivors

 

Pebble Trust - for the provision of Therapeutic services

 

The Brook Trust - for the provision of Therapeutic services    

 

Children In Need - for the provision of a specialist service for young people

 

19
Unrestricted funds

The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.

At 1 April 2023
Incoming resources
Resources expended
Transfers
At 31 March 2024
£
£
£
£
£
Business Development fund
120,000
-
(46,602)
(73,398)
-
General funds
412,170
212,712
(230,081)
73,398
468,199
532,170
212,712
(276,683)
-
468,199
THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
19
Unrestricted funds
(Continued)
- 34 -
Previous Year:
At 1 April 2022
Incoming resources
Resources expended
Transfers
At 31 March 2023
£
£
£
£
£
Business Development fund
120,000
-
-
-
120,000
General funds
384,954
246,545
(219,329)
-
412,170
504,954
246,545
(219,329)
-
532,170

Purpose of designated funds:

 

Business Development fund - in 2020 the trustees made the decision that during the year 2020-21 they would invest £120,000 of reserves in business development and recruiting a dedicated team to work on education, training, campaigning and income diversification. This project took longer to roll out than we had anticipated, and this along with the immediate increase in income generation meant that we took the decision to roll over the income from our reserves into the year to 31st March 2024.

 

During this year £46,602 was spent by the business development team. A decision was taken at the end of the year to transfer the remaining balance of £73,398 back to unrestricted reserves as it is forecast that the team will break even in the coming year.

20
Operating lease commitments
Lessee

At the reporting end date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:

2024
2023
£
£
Within one year
32,547
32,547
Between two and five years
9,966
42,506
42,513
75,053
21
Events after the reporting date

In April 2022, The Survivors' Network became aware via social media of a legal action being taken against the charity for alleged breach of the Equality Act for welcoming trans women into our women only services. The charity has since received details of the claim and is very grateful to have been offered and accepted pro bono legal support from the law firm, Reed Smith LLP. The charity has notified the Charities Commission of the claim.

 

This is a non-adjusting event.

22
Related party transactions

During the year fee income totalling £1,125 (2023: £2,020) was received from an organisation called Social Finance, the director of which is also a trustee of the charity.

 

The transactions were conducted at arms length.

THE SURVIVORS' NETWORK
NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
- 35 -
23
Cash generated from operations
2024
2023
£
£
(Deficit)/surpus for the year
(63,971)
24,345
Adjustments for:
Investment income recognised in statement of financial activities
(11,708)
(1,378)
Depreciation and impairment of tangible fixed assets
-
272
Movements in working capital:
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
49,423
(73,410)
Increase in creditors
14,967
9,948
(Decrease)/increase in deferred income
(89,622)
138
Cash absorbed by operations
(100,911)
(40,085)
24
Analysis of changes in net funds

The charity had no material debt during the year.

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