OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2022-12-31-accounts

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

The Counselling Foundation

Annual Report and Accounts 2022

Registered office and principal office:

1 College Yard Lower Dagnall Street St Albans AL3 4PA

A private company limited by guarantee Charity No. 1014988 Company No. 02713806 (England & Wales)

www.counsellingfoundation.org

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and

Accounts

The Counselling Foundation

The Counselling Foundation provides counselling training and counselling, seeking to promote positive mental health. It has been working to support its communities since 1974. It works with people to prepare for a career in counselling and by offering counselling support. It operates remotely and face-to-face based from locations in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

Further information can be found on: www.counsellingfoundation.org

BEDFORD

STEVENAGE

58 Tavistock Street Springfield House Community Centre Bedford 24 High Street Stevenage MK40 2RD SG1 3EJ bedford@counsellingfoundation.org stevenage@counsellingfoundation.org BROXBOURNE ST ALBANS Bishops College 1 College Yard Churchgate Lower Dagnall Street Cheshunt St Albans Waltham Cross AL3 4PA EN8 9XA stalbans@counsellingfoundation.org broxbourne@counsellingfoundation.org LUTON FOUNDATION OFFICE & TRAINING Hilde Eccles House 1 College Yard 70-72 Princess Street Lower Dagnall Street Luton St Albans LU1 5AT AL3 4PA luton@counsellingfoundation.org foundation@counsellingfoundation.org training@counsellingfoundation.org

The Counselling Foundation is referred to in this document as the Company or the Foundation.

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and Accounts

Trustees

Antony Cates (Chair)

Frances Bogie

Richard Clarke – from 22 February 2023

Sue Murphy

Mandy Macqueen

Wendy Molefi-Youri

Sean Richardson – from 22 February 2023

Executive

Jo Spilling – Clinical and, from 1 July 2023, interim co-CEO Stephen Anstee – Finance and, from 1 July 2023, interim co-CEO Karen Carter - Training Tracy McPhillips – Marketing

Advisors

Auditors Mercer & Hole LLP Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors 72 London Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 1NS Bankers Barclays Bank plc St Peter’s Street, St Albans AL1 3LP

CAF Bank Limited 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and Accounts

TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

The Trustees present their annual report with the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2022. This report includes the directors’ report as required by company law.

Objectives and Activities

The Foundations’ objects under its Articles of Association are stated as follows:

1. Relief of suffering from mental or emotional difficulties by the provision of therapeutic counselling

2. Education and training of persons in the practice of therapeutic counselling

3. Promotion of better mental health and psychological well-being

To further these objectives, the Foundation provides counselling in its communities in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, including subsidised counselling. In addition, the Foundation’s counselling training promotes personal development and growth whilst supporting the community through the training of counsellors qualified to provide a talking therapy. As well as contributing to individuals’ wellbeing and providing trained counsellors, the Foundation’s activities are intended to promote and enhance awareness of mental health.

During the year, the Foundation met its objectives primarily though the provision of the following main activities:

Charitable Counselling

NHS and other Counselling

We work under contracts or sub-contracts with the NHS and other bodies to provide short-term counselling to patients or referrals, both face to face from our locations in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire and remotely.

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and Accounts

We are an organisational member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Our Advanced Diploma course is accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy so that its successful completion by our students, plus the necessary experience, qualifies them to become members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Achievement and Performance

Counselling

The Foundation delivered counselling sessions under its own charitable service and under contracts or sub-contracts for the NHS and other bodies, as follows:

Charitable Counselling
NHS and other Counselling
Total Counselling
Number of Counselling
sessions delivered
2022
Number of Counselling
sessions delivered
2021
10,810
10,922
12,106
11,375
22,916
22,297

Charitable counselling

During 2022, the Foundation built up its client numbers in its charitable counselling service to around the level that it used to typically have prior to Covid, many at subsidised rates. The Foundation continued to make available, subject to availability, a limited number of subsidised counselling places, resulting in an easing of average fee levels in 2022.

NHS and other Counselling

The Foundation provides short-term counselling to patients referred by the NHS and other bodies. Income for these services is generated by charges based on a rate per counselling session.

Although the number of providers has increased, the Foundation maintained its volumes on NHS work in Hertfordshire in 2022. The arrangements for the delivery by the Foundation of short-term counselling for the NHS in Bedfordshire were extended again on a short-term basis to the end of 2023 after which they are soon expected to lapse.

In addition, the Foundation provides a number of other counselling services, including support for victims of crime and domestic and sexual abuse in Bedfordshire. It also provided counselling services in partnership with other local charities.

Training

The Foundation provides a programme of counselling training courses based on the academic year from September – starting with the one-year Certificate and progressing through the two-year Diploma and two-year Advanced Diploma. The Training service provides some continuity, with a proportion of trainees usually continuing from one course to the next.

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and Accounts

In addition, the Foundation provides short term Introduction to Counselling courses, intended to provide an insight for attendees with an interest in counselling.

Student numbers
Annual courses:
Certificate
Diploma
Advanced Diploma
Totals
Autumn
2022
Autumn
2021
Autumn
2020
Autumn
2019
Autumn
2018
50
99
101
99
86
68
65
67
65
67
34
32
32
33
32
152
196
200
197
185

Income from Training comprises principally fees for each course and for training placements. For the courses covering an academic year, the course fees are payable either by an initial deposit and then instalments or in full prior to the start of the course.

Although the student numbers have been relatively stable over a period of years, the number of students joining the first year Certificate course in September 2022 and currently expected to do so for September 2023 is lower than historically, partly a function of an evolving training market in the cost-of-living crisis environment. Similarly, demand for our short courses has eased from the success of their remote delivery during the Covid restrictions.

The Training service promotes personal development and growth, including communication skills in personal or professional lives, whilst supporting communities through the development of qualified counsellors able to provide a talking therapy. It thereby fulfils the charity mission of providing education and helps in raising awareness and knowledge of mental health. Our trainees undertake supervised placements in our counselling service - supporting charitable counselling clients while building their professional skills. During 2022, we were able to introduce a bursary scheme for a limited number of places on the Training courses.

Donations, Grants and other income

Whilst the principal funding sources of the charity are from the services that it provides, the Foundation’s income also benefits from donations, grants and fundraising – we are grateful to providers of these funds.

Operations

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and Accounts

As we emerged from the Covid restrictions, the Foundation identified that repair, maintenance and refurbishment was required at its St Albans property and in particular at its Luton property. In 2022 and early 2023, the Foundation undertook a programme of repair and maintenance work at both sites.

During 2022, we extended the process of enhancing our technology infrastructure to help the Foundation to better operate in today’s environment. We have invested in IT infrastructure and, with the assistance of volunteers to whom we are very grateful, continue to develop database and app technology to support our counselling services.

Financial

Financial out-turn

The Foundation reported net income for the year ended 31 December 2022. Following the significant underlying deficit in the 2018 period and the deficit in 2019, this 2022 net income built on the net income reported in 2020 and 2021 as a continuing progression in enhancing our financial sustainability.

Donations and grants
Training and counselling income
Other income
Total income
Expenditure
Net income, all funds
Year ended
31 December 2022
£’000
Year ended
31 December 2021
£’000
74.0
56.5
1,613.5
1,649.1
21.3
4.7
1,708.8
1,710.3
(1,561.3)
(1,493.7)
147.5
216.6

Although lower entry student numbers reduced our training income in 2022, we were successful in enhancing our counselling volumes and our donations, grants and other income. Expenditure in 2022 was higher than in 2021 mainly as a result of higher staff costs, IT improvements and property works.

Balance sheet

The Foundation’s balance sheet includes tangible fixed assets with a net book value at 31 December 2022 of £406.7k, relating to freehold and long-leasehold properties. Debtors totaling £242.5k at 31 December 2022 mainly relate to training course fees being settled by instalments and amounts due in relation to counselling. At 31 December 2022, cash was £1,081.6k mostly held on short term deposits. Creditors (due within one year) of £728.9k at 31 December 2022 include deferred income of £560.4k, the majority in relation to training courses to be released as income over the remainder of the academic year. The Foundation had £57.4k in bank loans at 31 December 2022 (part of which is included in Creditors due within one year). Net assets at 31 December 2022 were £959.0k.

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and Accounts

Funds

Like many charities, the Foundation holds unrestricted and restricted funds. Restricted income/funds are those to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor or otherwise, with expenditure which meets these criteria charged to the restricted funds. Unrestricted funds can be split, at the discretion of the trustees, between general and designated funds (the latter being those that the Trustees elect to earmark for specific purposes). Of the Foundation’s total funds, the majority are held as unrestricted:

Restricted reserves
Unrestricted reserves
Designated funds
-
Training activities fund
-
Other
Total designated funds
General funds
Unrestricted reserves
Total funds
31 December 2022
£’000
31 December 2021
£’000
143.0
162.4
160.3
93.0
-
180.0
160.3
273.0
655.7
376.1
816.0
649.1
959.0
811.5

The restricted reserves comprise long-standing restricted reserves of £133.7k, arising many years ago to part fund the purchase of some of the Foundation’s properties (of which £54.4k is currently held in cash), and £9.3k arising from restricted grant and other income (net of related expenditure to date).

The Foundation has earmarked designated funds for the continuation and improvement of its training activities. Following the recent maintenance and refurbishment work at the Foundation’s St Albans and Luton Centres, the fund previously designated for this purpose has been released, as has the general designated property fund previously set up for which there is currently no specific intended application.

Financial Reserves

The Foundation holds financial reserves in order to aid the proper management of its financial affairs in an orderly manner and to provide financial resources on which to draw in the event of unforeseen events or variances that may arise.

A common measure of financial resilience in the charity sector is to compare the level of financial reserves with monthly expenditure, with a 2018 survey published by Third Sector of

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and Accounts

157 leading charities reporting that they held on average 4 months expenditure in reserves. At 31 December 2022, the Foundation held 7.4 months’ average 2022 expenditure in total reserves and 6.3 months’ average 2022 expenditure in unrestricted reserves. However, a substantial proportion of the Foundation’s assets are held in the form of owned property, used in the delivery of the Foundation’s services, and therefore not readily realisable to fund any financial requirements particularly in the short-term. Whilst the Foundation holds cash and deposit balances to fund its short-term requirements and seasonal training related cash flow cycle, these balances also include amounts received in advance as deferred revenue to be released over the subsequent year and are not therefore all necessarily an indicator of surplus funds. The Foundation’s reserves policy therefore focusses on its reserves after eliminating those represented by property assets. These adjusted reserves represented 4.2 months’ average 2022 expenditure based on total reserves and 3.8 months’ average 2022 expenditure based on unrestricted reserves.

Reserves
Less Property assets funded by reserves
Adjusted reserves
Average 2022 monthly expenditure
Number of months expenditure held in adjusted reserves
Total
Unrestricted
£’000
£’000
959.0
816.0
-406.7
-327.4
552.3
488.6
130.1
130.1
4.2
3.8

Although the Foundation considers that its financial reserves are adequate for the time being, its reserves policy is to continue the work of the recent years to further enhance its financial resilience, targeting in the long-term 6 months’ expenditure in non-property related reserves. Although it may not be possible every year to enhance financial reserves, particularly in a challenging economic climate, the Foundation aims to achieve its targets by continuing, where possible to do so, to manage its financial affairs effectively over the long term.

Investment policy

The Foundation’s policy regarding its cash resources, is to hold funds in cash and deposits rather than in equities or other investments, on the basis that while it may be forsaking investment potential, this is more than outweighed by avoiding taking equity investment risk with funds that it would not wish to lose. The Foundation seeks to hold funds on deposit on notice periods that take suitable account of the need for availability of funds.

Outlook and Plans

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and Accounts

Although the Foundation has been able to steadily build its financial reserves from their level of 5 years ago, it faces challenges. The recent inflationary and challenging cost-of living environment have impacted student numbers, on both our core and short-term courses, and might continue to do so and in turn over time impact our counsellor capacity to deliver counselling services, and NHS related counselling work in Bedfordshire is expected to lapse at the end of 2023 or early 2024. The Foundation therefore continues to evolve its services, seek opportunities and manage costs.

The Foundation believes that its training and counselling services can continue to contribute to its communities. It aims to continue to deliver its charitable mission to provide counselling and counselling training and promote better mental health, whilst seeking to manage and, where practical having regard to its charitable objectives, enhance its financial sustainability.

Going concern

The Board considers it appropriate to apply the going concern basis to the preparation of these annual financial statements, having regard to the following factors:

Structure, Governance and Management

The Counselling Foundation is registered as a charity and is constituted as a company limited by guarantee. It was incorporated on 12 May 1992 under a Memorandum of Association. The governing document is the Articles of Association. Its company number is 02713806 (England & Wales) and its charity number is 1014988.

The Memorandum and Articles of Association were replaced during 2018 by new Articles which are simplified and comply with the Charity Commission’s Model Articles for charities set up in this form. Under the new Articles the Board of the company is its governing body. Those appointed to the Board are the Trustees in charity law and the Directors in company law. The Company’s Members are the appointed Board. The Trustees confirm that during the year the charity has had due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

Potential trustees are identified and recruited by a recruitment and assessment process. The

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and Accounts

Foundation has the aim that trustees have a range of experience and skills represented together with, so far as is possible, a gender and ethnic mix. New trustees are briefed on the Foundation’s activities and their role in the Board in discussions with other trustees and the Foundation’s management. All the trustees are volunteers and receive no remuneration or any other benefit.

Those serving as trustees at the date of this report and during 2022 are:

Antony Cates Mandy Macqueen Wendy Molefi-Youri Sue Murphy Frances Bogie Richard Clarke Appointed 22 February 2023 Sean Richardson Appointed 22 February 2023

Matters reserved for decision by the Board include strategy, annual budgets and the appointment and remuneration of the Chief Executives.

The Board delegates management of the Foundation to the Chief Executives, who are supported by members of staff including those in specific areas as set out below. The Chief Executive during the 2022 financial year, Emma Branch, resigned with effect from 30 June 2023. The Board has appointed Jo Spilling, the Clinical Director, and Stephen Anstee, the Head of Finance, as co-Chief Executive Officers on an interim basis with effect from 1 July 2023.

Board meetings are usually held every two months and are attended by the co-Chief Executives and from time-to-time other members of staff as deemed appropriate by the Board. In addition, a Trustee regularly attends management meetings regarding clinical matters. The Board receives regular reports from the Executive, including operational and financial reports. In addition, Trustees may attend other meetings during the year where appropriate.

During 2023, the Board is in the process of setting up committees of the Board: a Finance and Operations Committee; a Clinical and Training committee; and a Nominations committee. These committees will each comprise a number of Trustees and are intended to each meet a

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and Accounts

few times a year.

Remuneration of management

The aim of the Charity’s remuneration policy is to attract and retain motivated management with the skills and experience to deliver the charity’s objectives, whilst having due regard to the interests of our beneficiaries and financial sustainability.

Remuneration for the year ended 31 December 2022 comprised salary and pension contributions. The total remuneration of the senior management was £239.5k (£224.9k for year ended 31 December 2021). The Foundation generally aims to carry out an annual review of pay, taking into account annual performance appraisals. The Foundation seeks to provide a flexible working environment with most of its employees engaged on a part-time basis. It has an Employee Assistance Programme, available to eligible staff. The Foundation is immensely grateful to management and staff for their dedicated service to the public benefit that the Foundation delivers.

Risk Management

The Board has reviewed the major risks to which the Foundation may be exposed and is taking reasonable steps to establish systems, actions or factors to mitigate those risks. The Foundation maintains and regularly reviews a log of key risks. This includes operational, financial, people and clinical risks, as appropriate. The Foundation maintains insurance cover.

Role and Responsibilities of the Board

The Board is responsible for overall strategy; ensuring that the objects of the company are properly pursued and that its financial affairs are properly managed.

The Board is responsible for preparing the annual report and financial statements for each financial year in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. Company Law requires the members of the Board to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure for that year. In preparing those financial statements, the members of the Board are required to:

  1. Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently

  2. Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent

  3. Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the company will continue in business.

The members of the Board are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and

Accounts

and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention of and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Legal and Administrative Details

Legal and administrative details are given elsewhere in this report.

Auditors

The company’s auditor, Mercer & Hole, incorporated on 1 October 2022 to become Mercer & Hole LLP. The directors have consented to treating the incorporation of Mercer & Hole LLP as a continuation of the existing audit arrangement.

Disclosure of Information to Auditors

So far as the Board is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the company’s auditors are unaware. The Board has taken all the steps that they ought to have taken in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company’s auditors are aware of the information.

On behalf of the Board

Antony Cates, Chair Date: 25 September 2023

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and

Accounts

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of The Counselling Foundation for the year ended 31 December 2022

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Trustees of The Counselling Foundation for the year ended 31 December 2022

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The Counselling Foundation (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2022 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet 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:

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.

13

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and

Accounts

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of The Counselling Foundation for the year ended 31 December 2022 - continued

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 trustees’ 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, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, 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:

14

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and

Accounts

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of The Counselling Foundation for the year ended 31 December 2022 - continued

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on pages 11-12, the trustees 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 charity 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 regulations made under section 154 of that Act.

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.

Explanation as to what extent the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

We gained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the charity and the environment in which it operates and considered the risk of acts by the charity that were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud.

15

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and

Accounts

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of The Counselling Foundation for the year ended 31 December 2022 - continued

We evaluated management's incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements and the financial report (including the risk of override of controls), and determined that the principal risks were related to posting inappropriate entries including journals to overstate revenue or understate expenditure and management bias in accounting estimates.

Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/Our-Work/Audit/Audit-andassurance/Standards-andguidance/Standards-and-guidance-for-auditors/Auditors-responsibilities-foraudit/Description-of-auditors-responsibilities-foraudit.aspx. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

16

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and

Accounts

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of The Counselling Foundation for the year ended 31 December 2022 - continued

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s trustees 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 charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Steve Robinson: Senior Statutory Auditor for and on behalf of Mercer & Hole LLP Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors Gloucester House, 72 London Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 1NS

Date: 25 September 2023

17

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and

Accounts

The Counselling Foundation

Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) For the year ended 31 December 2022

Notes
Income from:
Donations and grants
2
Charitable activities:
Training and counselling
3
Other income
4
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities:
Training and counselling
Total expenditure
5
Net income for the year
6
Transfers between funds
Net Movement in Funds
Funds at start of year
Funds at end of year
Unrestricted
funds
2022
£’000
Restricted
Funds
2022
£’000
Total
Funds
2022
£’000
12.7
61.3
74.0
1,526.3
87.2
1,613.5
21.3
-
21.3
1,560.3
148.5
1,708.8
1,406.5
154.8
1,561.3
1,406.5
154.8
1,561.3
153.8
(6.3)
147.5
13.1
(13.1)
-
166.9
(19.4)
147.5
649.1
162.4
811.5
816.0
143.0
959.0
Total
Funds
2021
£’000
56.5
1,649.1
4.7
1,710.3
1,493.7
1,493.7
216.6
-
216.6
594.9
811.5

Movements in funds are disclosed in the notes to the financial statements.

18

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and Accounts

----- Start of picture text -----
The Counselling Foundation
Balance Sheet
At 31 December 2022
----- End of picture text -----

Notes
Fixed Assets
Tangible assets
9
Current assets
Debtors
10
Cash at bank and in hand
11
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year
12
Net current assets
Total assets less current
liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due
after more than one year
13
Net assets
Funds of the charity
Restricted funds
General funds
Designated funds
Unrestricted funds
Total charity funds
14&15
31 December 2022
£’000
£’000
406.7
242.5
1,081.6
1,324.1
(728.9)
595.2
1,001.9
(42.9)
959.0
143.0
655.7
160.3
816.0
959.0
31 December 2021
£’000
£’000
406.7
153.0
1075.1
1,228.1
(766.0)
462.1
868.8
(57.3)
811.5
162.4
376.1
273.0
649.1
811.5
242.5
1,081.6
153.0
1075.1
1,324.1
(728.9)
1,228.1
(766.0)
655.7
160.3
376.1
273.0

On behalf of the Board, which approved the accounts on 25 September 2023

Stephen Anstee, Interim co-CEO

Antony Cates, Director

Date 25 September 2023 Company Number: 02713806

19

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

----- Start of picture text -----
2022 Annual Report and
Accounts
The Counselling Foundation
Cash Flow Statement
For the year ended 31 December 2022
----- End of picture text -----

2022
Note
£’000
£’000
Cash flows from Operating Activities
A
14.8
Cash flows from Investing Activities
Interest income
3.1
Cash from/used in Investing
Activities
3.1
Cash flows from Financing Activities
New borrowing
-
Repayment of borrowing
(11.4)
Cash from/used in Financing
Activities
(11.4)
Change in cash and cash equivalents
in the year
6.5
Cash and cash equivalents at the
beginning of the year
1,075.1
Cash and cash equivalents at the end
of the year
1,081.6
Of the cash and cash equivalents at 31 December, the following amounts ar
Restricted reserves
185.7
Unrestricted funds
General funds
735.6
Designated funds
160.3
Cash and cash equivalents at the
end of the year
1,081.6
£’000
0.3
50.0
(5.7)

20

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and

Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Cash Flow Statement For the year ended 31 December 2022

NOTE TO THE CASH FLOW STATEMENT

A. Reconciliation of net movements in funds to net cash flow from operating activities

Net movement in funds, as shown
in Statement of Financial Activities
Non-operating cash flows
eliminated:
Depreciation charge
Interest income
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
(Decrease)/increase in creditors
Net cash (absorbed)/generated by
operating activities
£’000 2022
£’000
147.5
(3.1)
(89.5)
(40.1)
14.8
£’000 2021
£’000
-
(3.1)
27.1
(0.3)
216.6
26.8
53.9
21.6
318.9

21

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and

Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2022

1. Accounting policies

22

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and

Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2022

1.Accounting policies (continued)

23

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and

Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2022

1.Accounting policies (continued)

2. Donations and grants

Donations
Grants
2022
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£’000
£’000
£’000
12.7
-
12.7
-
61.3
61.3
12.7
61.3
74.0
2021
Total
£’000
25.9
30.6
56.5

Restricted income includes grant income from Hertfordshire Community Foundation and others.

3. Income from charitable activities

Counselling income
Training income
2022
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£’000
£’000
£’000
823.6
87.2
910.8
702.7
-
702.7
1,526.3
87.2
1,613.5
2021
Total
£’000
857.3
791.8
1,649.1

During 2022, the Foundation entered into contracts for £151k (2021 £90k) of income for support for victims of crime and domestic and sexual abuse and other and related counselling services in Bedfordshire, part of which was delivered and the related income recognised in 2022 with the remainder to be delivered and the related income recognised in 2023.

4. Other income

Rents received
Miscellaneous income
nvestment and interest income
2022
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£’000
£’000
£’000
0.2
-
0.2
18.0
-
18.0
3.1
-
3.1
21.3
-
21.3
2021
Total
£’000
-
4.4
0.3
4.7

24

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and

Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2022

5. Total expenditure

Staff and similar costs
Counselling costs
Premises
IT
Depreciation
General expenses
Consultancy
Training costs
Bank charges
Bad & doubtful debts
Communications
Advertising
Insurance
Audit fees
Post & stationary
Travel
Subscriptions
Interest
Direct costs
Support costs allocated and
apportioned
2022
2021
Counselling
Training
Total
Counselling
Training
Total
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
399.3
514.4
913.7
326.1
532.9
859.0
329.3
-
329.3
358.0
-
358.0
87.9
85.6
173.5
57.0
33.9
90.9
18.8
41.7
60.5
17.5
25.8
43.3
-
-
-
2.9
24.2
27.1
7.5
13.4
20.9
6.3
19.6
25.9
2.7
2.9
5.6
7.7
9.8
17.5
-
14.8
14.8
-
15.7
15.7
1.3
6.3
7.6
1.2
8.3
9.5
(0.6)
(0.6)
(1.2)
4.8
4.6
9.4
0.7
1.3
2.0
3.4
4.4
7.8
0.2
0.3
0.5
-
7.0
7.0
2.1
4.7
6.8
2.7
3.5
6.2
2.6
5.8
8.4
2.3
3.1
5.4
2.7
3.7
6.4
2.4
2.1
4.5
3.0
5.7
8.7
1.6
2.1
3.7
0.3
2.7
3.0
0.4
2.1
2.5
0.2
0.6
0.8
0.1
0.2
0.3
858.0
703.3
1,561.3
794.4
699.3
1,493.7
706.3
362.3
1,068.6
610.8
309.8
920.6
151.7
341.0
492.7
183.6
389.5
573.1
858.0
703.3
1,561.3
794.4
699.3
1,493.7

The governance costs incurred by the Foundation relate to audit plus trustee indemnity and directors’ liability insurance. Audit and related charges were £8.4k for the year ended 31 December 2022 (£5.4k for the year ended 31 December 2021). The cost of the Foundation’s insurance cover (which includes wider business insurance as well as trustee indemnity and directors’ liability cover) was £6.8k for the year ended 31 December 2022 (£6.2k for the year ended 31 December 2021). These audit and wider insurance costs total £15.2k for the year ended 31 December 2022 (£11.6k for the year ended 31 December 2021).

6. Net income for the year

Net income for the year is stated after charging:
Interest payable
Depreciation
Auditors’ remuneration for audit services
Operating lease commitments
2022
£’000
0.8
-
8.4
79.0
2021
£’000
0.3
27.1
5.4
69.5

25

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and

Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2022

7. Staff costs and numbers

Staff costs were as follows:
Wages and salaries – management, finance and administration,
counselling and training
Social security costs – management, finance and administration,
counselling and training.
Pension contributions – management, finance and administration,
counselling and training
Total staff costs
2022
£’000
842.6
57.9
17.9
918.4
2021
£’000
793.8
48.0
15.6
857.4

Staff costs include redundancy and termination payments incurred and paid in 2022 of £nil (2021: £22.9k).

The number of employees whose emoluments exceeded £60,000 is 2022 2021
stated below:
£60,001 - £70,000 - -

The pension contributions related to monies paid into a defined contribution scheme for employees. Benefits are accruing for 33 (2021: 26) members of staff under the defined contribution scheme. There were no outstanding contributions at the balance sheet date.

The monthly average number of persons employed by the charity during
the year was:
Management
Counselling and training staff
Administration and support
The average weekly number of full-time equivalent employees during the
year, calculated on the basis of full-time equivalents was as follows:
Management
Counselling and training staff
Administration and support
Management remuneration was as follows:
Management remuneration
2022
Number
6
43
14
63
2022
Number
3
12
11
26
2022
£’000
239.5
2021
Number
5
44
15
64
2021
Number
4
11
12
27
2021
£’000
224.9

8. Taxation

The company is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Any surplus from training supplies is applied to the continuance or improvement of training activities.

26

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and

Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2022

9. Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets
Cost
At 31 December 2021
Additions
Disposals
At 31 December 2022
Depreciation
At 31 December 2021
Charge for the year
Eliminated on disposals
At 31 December 2022
Net Book Value
At 31 December 2022
At 31 December 2021
Freehold
Property
Long Leasehold
Property
Fixtures,
fittings and
equipment
£’000
£’000
£’000
88.3
318.4
94.0
-
-
-
-
-
(7.7)
88.3
318.4
86.3
-
-
94.0
-
-
-
-
-
(7.7)
-
-
86.3
88.3
318.4
-
88.3
318.4
-
Total
£’000
500.7
-
(7.7)
493.0
94.0
-
(7.7)
86.3
406.7
406.7

The long leasehold properties, with a net book value at 31 December 2022 of £318.4k, are subject to security in relation to a bank loan of £13.2k at 31 December 2022 (2021: £18.8k). This loan was repaid in full during 2023.

No depreciation has been provided in respect of freehold and long leasehold properties, which are carried at cost. Had depreciation been provided at 2% per annum, the net book value of the freehold and long leasehold properties would have been £165.2k at 31 December 2022 (2021: £173.3k), compared to their net book value of £406.7k.

10.
Debtors
Prepayments & Accrued Income
Other debtors
11.
Cash
Cash at bank
Cash deposits (short term)
2022
£’000
6.9
235.6
242.5
2022
£’000
33.1
1,048.5
1,081.6
2021
£’000
6.7
146.3
153.0
2021
£’000
85.2
989.9
1,075.1

27

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and

Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2022

12. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Bank loans
Trade creditors
Accruals
Deferred income
Social security
2022
£’000
14.5
88.0
60.3
560.4
5.7
728.9
2021
£’000
11.5
116.8
81.5
540.2
16.0
766.0

Income deferred at the previous year end at 31 December 2021 (save for immaterial amounts) was released during the year ended 31 December 2022. Income that was deferred as at 31 December 2022 (save for immaterial amounts) was deferred during the year then ended and has been or is expected to be released in the year to December 2023.

13. Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year

reditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
Bank loans
Analysis of bank loans:
Amounts payable by instalments:
Between one and two years
Between two and five years
After 5 years
2022
£’000
42.9
14.5
28.4
-
42.9
2021
£’000
57.3
15.7
37.4
4.2
57.3

In addition, there is an amount of £14.5k (2021: £11.5k) in relation to these bank loans that is included in Creditors: amounts falling due within one year.

There are two bank loans. One bank loan of £13.2k (in total) is secured on the long leasehold properties of the Foundation and at 31[st] December 2022 represented 4 % of their book value. The original loan of £150k was repayable over 25 years from 1992 but was extended in January 2000 for a further 25 years. The interest rate was a floating interest rate equal to a margin of 2% per annum over the Base Rate. This bank loan has been repaid in full during 2023.

The second loan is an unsecured loan under the government’s Covid related bounce back loan scheme. The original loan of £50k was drawn down in May 2021 and bears interest at a fixed rate of 2.5% and is repayable by monthly instalments over 5 years starting one year after drawdown. The balance at 31 December 2022 was £44.2k.

28

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and

Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2022

14. Analysis of net assets between funds

Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Debtors
Cash
Creditors: due within 1 year
Net current assets
Creditors: due after more than
1 year
Net assets at 31 December
2022
Unrestricted
funds
General Funds
Unrestricted
funds
Designated
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Funds
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
327.4
-
79.3
406.7
242.5
-
-
242.5
735.6
160.3
185.7
1,081.6
(606.9)
-
(122.0)
(728.9)
371.2
160.3
63.7
595.2
(42.9)
-
-
(42.9)
655.7
160.3
143.0
959.0

15. Movement in funds

Restricted funds:
Freehold Property
Leasehold Property
Cash – re property
Cash – Other
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds:
Designated funds
Training fund
2022/23 Property programme
General property fund
Total designated funds
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
At 31
December
2021
2022
Incoming
Resources
2022
Outgoing
Resources
2022
Transfers
At 31
December
2022
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
13.6
-
-
-
13.6
65.7
-
-
-
65.7
54.4
-
-
-
54.4
28.7
148.5
(154.8)
(13.1)
9.3
162.4
148.5
(154.8)
(13.1)
143.0
93.0
-
-
67.3
160.3
80.0
-
-
(80.0)
-
100.0
-
-
(100.0)
-
273.0
-
-
(112.7)
160.3
376.1
1,560.3
(1,406.5)
125.8
655.7
649.1
1,560.3
(1,406.5)
13.1
816.0
811.5
1,708.8
(1,561.3)
-
959.0

29

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and

Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2022

Restricted funds:

These are funds that were provided specifically towards the purchase and renovation of properties, plus net income from grants made to the Foundation for specific purposes.

Unrestricted funds:

Designated funds

The Foundation has a designated fund for its Training activities for their continuation and improvement. The Foundation has released a previously designated fund for repair and maintenance work at its owned properties that has now been carried out, plus a general property fund for which there is no immediate application.

General Fund

This is income receivable or generated for the objects of the charity without further specified purposes.

16. Legal status of the Charity

The Charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity whilst that person is a member, or within one year after that person ceases to be a member. The Company was incorporated in England and Wales, the registered office is: 1 College Yard, Lower Dagnall Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 4PA.

17. Operating lease commitments

At 31 December 2022 the charity had commitments under operating leases as set out below:

Land and buildings Land and buildings Equipment Equipment
2022 2021 2022 2021
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Operating lease payments due in less than one year 15.5 31.0 2.5 6.2
Operating lease payments due in the second to fifth - - 2.7 5.2
year
15.5 31.0 5.2 11.4

18. Related party transactions

Following the year end, the spouse of one of the Trustees Richard Clarke has provided counselling and training services to the Foundation in the ordinary course and on arms-length terms under an arrangement approved by the Board under its articles of association (an approval in which Mr Clarke did not participate). The cost to the Foundation of these services in the period between Mr Clarke’s appointment as a Trustee on 22 February 2023 and the date of these accounts was £1.5k.

Emma Branch, who was Chief Executive of the Foundation during 2022 and in the first half of 2023, was also a director of The Baton of Hope UK Limited, which is a suicide awareness charitable company. The Foundation and the Baton of Hope UK Limited worked together on promoting mental health (which is one of the Foundation’s objectives) during that period, as part of which the Foundation provided Baton of Hope with early-stage IT support while the Baton of Hope UK Limited was being set up, the cost of which in 2022 was £1k.

Save as set out above, there have been no related party transactions in the year. No trustee received any remuneration or pension contributions or received any other benefits of an employment. Trustee expenses of £nil (2021: £20) were reimbursed.

30

DocuSign Envelope ID: AAA5A33F-30B0-4B5C-8AA1-C17153658FFD

2022 Annual Report and

Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2022

19. Comparative funds

Income from:
Donations and grants
Charitable activities:
Training and counselling
Other income
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities:
Training and counselling
Total expenditure
Net income for the year
Transfers between funds
Net Movement in Funds
Funds at start of year
Funds at end of year
General
Funds 2022
£’000
Designat
ed funds
2022
£’000
Restricted
Funds
2022
£’000
Total
Funds
2022
£’000
12.7
-
61.3
74.0
1,526.3
-
87.2
1,613.5
21.3
-
-
21.3
1,560.3
-
148.5
1,708.8
1,406.5
-
154.8
1,561.3
1,406.5
-
154.8
1,561.3
153.8
-
(6.3)
147.5
125.8
(112.7)
(13.1)
-
279.6
(112.7)
(19.4)
147.5
376.1
273.0
162.4
811.5
655.7
160.3
143.0
959.0
General
funds
2021
£’000
Design
ated
funds
2021
£’000
Restric
ted funds
2021
£’000
Total
Funds
2021
£’000
3.0
-
53.5
56.5
1,597.9
-
51.2
1,649.1
4.7
-
-
4.7
1,605.6
-
104.7
1,710.3
1,397.2
-
96.5
1,493.7
1,397.2
-
96.5
1,493.7
208.4
-
8.2
216.6
(165.2)
173.0
(7.8)
-
43.2
173.0
0.4
216.6
332.9
100.0
162.0
594.9
376.1
273.0
162.4
811.5

20. Associate entity

The Foundation has a 40% equity and voting interest in College Yard Management Limited, which owns the freehold of and provides property management services for the College Yard site in Lower Dagnall Road, St Albans. The Foundation has long leasehold interests in 2 of the 5 units at this site and a short leasehold interest in another of the 5 units. The net assets of College Yard Management Limited, as shown in its most recently filed unaudited financial statements to 31 December 2021, were £100. The Foundation carries its investment in this company at nil cost. Its share of the net assets of College Yard Management Limited was £40. Save for reimbursement or recharges of appropriate costs, the Foundation has not received any distribution or income from College Yard Management Limited.

31