2025-12-31-accounts - The Counselling Foundation

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2025 Annual Report and Accounts

The Counselling Foundation

Annual Report and Accounts 2025

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)

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

The Counselling Foundation

The Counselling Foundation, which was established in 1974, is a charity that seeks to improve mental health and wellbeing by providing professional therapy services and therapeutic training. We believe in the value of human connection to inspire change and make a difference in our communities.

The Foundation provides counselling typically for around 500 people every week at our centres across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire and via remote platforms. Our counselling services include a charitable counselling service accessible to the public plus counselling contracts with the NHS and other organisations. Alongside our counselling service, we provide training and professional courses usually for over 170 people every year. Both our Diploma training course and our clinical services are accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), of which we are an organisational member.

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

BEDFORD STEVENAGE 58 Tavistock Street 68A High Street Bedford Stevenage MK40 2RD SG1 3EA bedford@counsellingfoundation.org stevenage@counsellingfoundation.org HERTFORD ST ALBANS 5a Great Northern Works 1 College Yard Hartham Lane Lower Dagnall Street Hertford St Albans SG14 1QW AL3 4PA hertford@counsellingfoundation.org stalbans@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, the Foundation, the Charity or as We or Us.

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

Trustees

Antony Cates (Chair) Richard Clarke Mandy Macqueen Anne Markey

Wendy Molefi-Youri

Sean Robinson

Jacqueline Williams

Executive

Jo Spilling – Co-CEO and Clinical Stephen Anstee – Co-CEO and Finance Karen Carter – Training

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

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER

2025

The Trustees present their annual report with the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2025. 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

Our charitable ethos is to offer counselling, generally at a subsidised cost, and this is a key activity for us to achieve public benefit. We provide face-to-face counselling from locations in Bedford, Hertford, Luton, St Albans and Stevenage, plus remote delivery of counselling using video technology or telephone. We provide counselling on a long-term basis where appropriate.
NHS and other Counselling
We work under contracts or sub-contracts with the NHS and other public, charitable or similar and other bodies or organisations to provide short-term counselling to patients or referrals, both face to face from our locations in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire and remotely.
Training

We mainly offer contemporary psychodynamic training courses to people who wish to become professionally qualified in counselling. In addition, we run a number of pre and post qualifying counselling and related CPD training courses. From 2024 onwards, we revised our main courses to map onto the competencies required by ScoPEd (a framework adopted by BACP and other industry bodies) to include a three-year Diploma (which is accredited by BACP) and an Advanced Diploma.

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

A key feature of our training is the opportunity for trainees to access supervised placements in-house in our counselling centres, which enables trainee counsellors to acquire the client hours necessary for their counselling qualifications. Training is mainly provided at our St Albans centre, with some courses also provided online.

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 organisations, as follows:

Charitable Counselling NHS and other Counselling Total Counselling	Number of Counselling sessions delivered 2025 Number of Counselling sessions delivered 2024
	11,914 11,306 15,415 15,121
	27,329 26,427

Charitable counselling

Charitable counselling client and hence session numbers for 2025 benefitted, compared to 2024, from more counsellor capacity. Income is generated by charges based on a rate per counselling session, generally at subsidised amounts. Average fee levels in 2025 were slightly higher than 2024 with evolving client profiles.

NHS and other Counselling

The Foundation provides short-term counselling to patients referred by the NHS and public, charitable and other organisations. Income for these services is predominantly generated by charges based on a rate per counselling session, plus a few smaller arrangements based on a fixed monthly charge for a maximum number of sessions.

The Foundation increased its volumes on NHS work in Hertfordshire in 2025 by 16% over 2024 and has been re-awarded a place on this NHS Hertfordshire contract for another 4 years from May 2025.

In addition, the Foundation provides a number of other funded counselling services, including support for victims of crime in Bedfordshire, again being awarded victims of crime funding for 2026/27. Counselling services have also been provided in partnership with other local charities.

Training

The Foundation is a leading provider of a quality programme of counselling training courses.

The Foundation continues to develop new courses adding a two-term Supervision course for the 25/26 academic year and launching of a new ten-week Certificate course. This follows the success of the revised programme of courses introduced from the 24/25 academic year,

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

including a three-year Diploma, an Advanced Diploma and an Advanced Clinical Skills course. These courses introduced in 24/25 map onto the competencies required by ScoPEd, the framework adopted by BACP and other industry bodies. Our Diploma course is accredited by BACP.

The Training service provides some continuity, with a proportion of trainees usually continuing from one course to the next.

*Student Numbers on Main Courses* Certificate (new short course from 2025) Diploma (3-year course) Advanced Diploma (2-year course) Advanced Clinical Skills (1 year course) Supervision Diploma (new short course for 2025) Previous courses (finished in 2024) Totals	*Autumn 2025* *Autumn 2024*
	15 - 119 72 18 13 10 13 9 - - 64
	171 162

In addition, the Foundation provides a 4-week Introduction to Counselling courses, intended to provide an insight for participants with an interest in counselling. The Foundation also provides a programme of mostly online training events for continuing professional development, usually running eight times per year.

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

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 raises awareness and knowledge of mental health. Our trainees typically undertake supervised placements in our counselling service, supporting charitable counselling clients while building their professional skills. Since 2022, we have provided bursary scheme places on the Training courses, 13 during 25/26 and 14 during 24/25, representing a reduction in fees of £40.5k for 2025 (2024: £28.2k).

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 very grateful to providers of these funds.

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

Other achievements

2025 has seen the successful launch of our new website and, following our development of Counselling databases and apps in previous years, we launched a new Training database and app in 2025 designed to record and store student and course data.

During the year the Foundation has participated in Community Events including at St Albans Cathedral and at the St Albans Pancake race.

Volunteers

The charity’s activities are enhanced by the help of dedicated volunteers for which we are hugely grateful, in particular the two volunteers in the area of IT where we continue to develop bespoke database and app technology to support our services. Our thanks also to a volunteer who provided assistance in the office and to the 21 qualified counsellors who have given their time to support Charitable counselling.

Financial

Financial out-turn

The Foundation reported net income for the year ended 31 December 2025, building on the net income reported in the previous years 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 Restricted reserve deficit Transfer to designated reserves Net movement in general unrestricted funds	*Year ended* *31 December 2025* *£’000* *Year ended* *31 December 2024* *£’000*
	11.8 19.3 2,027.8 1,823.4 67.0 65.5
	2,106.6 1,908.2 (1,875.5) (1,722.6)
	231.1 185.6 19.7 0.2 (339.0) 2.5
	(88.2) 188.3

Income in 2025 benefited from a higher number of counselling sessions and students. Expenditure in 2025 was higher than in 2024 mainly as a result of higher advertising for the training courses and general and inflation cost increases for people and support costs.

Balance sheet

The Foundation’s balance sheet includes tangible fixed assets with a net book value at 31 December 2025 of £398.6k, relating to freehold and long-leasehold properties. Debtors totalling £237.2k at 31 December 2025 mainly relate to training course fees being settled by instalments and amounts due in relation to counselling. At 31 December 2025, cash was £1,640.1k mostly held on interest-bearing deposits. Creditors (due within one year) of £648.0k

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

at 31 December 2025 include deferred income of £542.6k, the majority in relation to training courses to be released as income over the remainder of the academic year. Net assets at 31 December 2025 were £1,627.9k.

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 fund - Property fund General funds Unrestricted reserves Total funds	*31 December 2025* *£’000* *31 December 2024* *£’000*
	66.5 86.2
	234.4 245.4 350.0 - 977.0 1,065.2
	1,561.4 1,310.6
	1,627.9 1,396.8

Restricted reserves now comprise long-standing restricted reserves of £64.0k arising many years ago to part fund the purchase of some of the Foundation’s properties (of which £1.2k is currently held in cash). In addition, restricted reserves include restricted cash of £2.5k arising from grant and other income (net of related expenditure to date). During the year, £11.6k of property related costs were charged to fixed asset restricted reserves. During the 2025 year, following a change in an accounting estimate, £8.1k of Freehold and Leasehold property depreciation was charged to the restricted reserve.

The Foundation has earmarked designated funds for the continuation and improvement of its Training activities, which could include training bursaries, developing new courses and improvements to existing courses. With the purpose of potential property improvements and, should a suitable opportunity be identified, a property acquisition, general unrestricted reserves of £350k have been designated to a Property fund.

Financial Reserves

The Foundation holds financial reserves 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.

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

A common measure of financial resilience in the charity sector is to compare the level of financial reserves with monthly expenditure. At 31 December 2025, the Foundation held 10.4 months’ average 2025 expenditure in total reserves and 10.0 months’ average 2025 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. A further £350k has been earmarked for property acquisition and improvements.

The Foundation’s reserves policy therefore focusses on its reserves after eliminating those represented by property assets and property designated reserves. These adjusted reserves represented 5.6 months’ average 2025 expenditure based on total reserves and 6.1 months’ average 2025 expenditure based on unrestricted reserves.

Reserves Less Property assets funded by reserves Less Designated Property fund Adjusted reserves Average 2025 monthly expenditure Number of months expenditure held in adjusted reserves	*Total* *Unrestricted* *£’000* *£’000*
	1,627.9 1,561.4 (398.6) (335.8) (350.0) (350.0)
	879.3 875.6
	156.3 144.5
	5.6 6.1

In assessing its reserves policy, the Foundation is mindful that it enters into long-term arrangements to provide services, including a 3-year training course to teach out, a 4-year term for its main counselling contract and a long-term offering to its charitable counselling clients. In addition, while its income is largely variable, most of its costs are fixed in nature. Although the Foundation considers that its financial reserves are adequate for the time being and approximate to its minimum policy range of 6 months’ expenditure in non-property related reserves, its reserves policy is to continue the work of the recent years to further enhance its financial resilience where reasonably possible to do so, to provide some financial buffer above its base target of 6 months’ expenditure in non-property related reserves.

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, to fund its short-term requirements and seasonal training related cash flow cycle and on the basis that the Foundation may seek to buy suitable premises and/or seeks to avoid taking undue risk with funds that support its minimum target reserves. At 31 December 2025, the Foundation had deferred revenue of

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

£542.6k, the majority in relation to training revenue received in advance, to be released as income over the subsequent year, and therefore its cash resources are not all surplus funds.

The Foundation will keep this investment approach under review. It seeks to hold remaining surplus funds on deposit with notice periods that take suitable account of the need for availability of funds.

Plans for future periods

The Foundation aims to continue to provide and develop therapeutic services and training that can contribute to its communities.

Where viable to do so, its aspirations include:

Services: continue to nurture and evolve quality counselling and training
Partnerships: maintain and develop partnerships
Accessibility: explore reasonable opportunities to enhance accessibility
People: support our team in a positive environment
Technology: respond to and embrace technological improvement
Property: enhance property resources to support our services
Finance: maintain and preferably improve financial resilience

Although it continues to be a difficult economic and funding environment, the Foundation aspires to consolidate its position, having developed its financial reserves over recent years to its targeted minimum, successfully launched in 24/25 a revised programme of contemporary training courses and recently been re-awarded in 2025 its NHS Hertfordshire Talking Therapies contract. During 2026, it plans to explore the potential for new training courses, for enhancing the credentials of its courses and for introducing incremental counselling services.

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:

The Foundation has recorded net income in each of the last six financial years and unaudited accounting records in 2026 so far indicate that the Foundation has recorded a satisfactory financial outcome to date.
The Foundation’s current cash balances are also satisfactory having regard to previous years’ patterns and its current working capital requirements.
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2025 Annual Report and Accounts

Although there may be financial challenges in the years ahead, the Foundation has built up financial reserves over the last six completed financial years that provide a level of financial buffer.

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 Foundation has the aim that trustees have a range of experience and skills. 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 2025 are:

Antony Cates Richard Clarke Mandy Macqueen Anne Markey Wendy Molefi-Youri Sean Robinson Jacqueline Williams

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.

Jo Spilling – Co-CEO and Clinical
Stephen Anstee – Co-CEO and Finance
Karen Carter - Training
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2025 Annual Report and Accounts

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. 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. A Finance and Risk Committee comprising three Trustees meets once every two months. In addition, a Clinical and Training Committee comprising four Trustees meets once every two months.

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 2025 comprised salary and pension contributions. The total remuneration of the senior management was £179.4k (£195.5k for year ended 31 December 2024).

Staff

The Foundation seeks to provide a flexible working environment with most of its employees engaged on a part-time basis. The Foundation carries out an annual review of pay, taking into account annual performance appraisals. The Foundation meets the Living Wage. The Foundation has an Employee Assistance Programme, available to eligible staff.

During 2025 and into 2026, the Foundation recruited a number of new roles to strengthen its team to support its activities.

The Foundation is grateful to management and staff for their dedicated service to the public benefit that the Foundation delivers.

Risk Management

The Board has reviewed and documented the major risks to which the Foundation may be exposed and takes reasonable steps to establish systems, actions or factors to mitigate those risks. The Foundation maintains and regularly reviews a register of key risks including for clinical, operational, financial and people risks. The Foundation maintains insurance cover.

The Trustees have identified the following principal risks:

Principal Risk	Managing the risk
Reduced income from counselling contracts, whether due to government budget cuts, activities of other counselling providers or lower numbers of referrals	• Albeit there is no guarantee of volumes, the Foundation’s main counselling contract is multi-year • The Foundation plans to nurture the qualityof its services,as an active and

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2025 Annual Report and Accounts

	leading counselling provider in its key geography • Although it is a difficult environment for new contracts, funding or services, the Foundation will explore any suitable opportunities that arise
Reduced income from a lower number of students joining our Training courses	• The Foundation introduced new core courses in 24/25 to align with latest industry standards • The Foundation actively markets its training courses, including via its website, advertising and open days • There is a bursary scheme • The Foundation is introducing new courses and plans to explore further opportunities to do so • It also plans to consider ways to enhance the credentials of its courses where possible
Cyber and data security risks, as faced by many organisations	• The Foundation has an outsourced IT provider that advises on IT security and its ongoing enhancement, data protection and related training • The Foundation has Cyber Essentials certification
Maintaining the operational effectiveness of inhouse developed applications and databases	The Foundation has recently increased the size of its IT development team so that it now has a team of 3 supported by a number of staff designated to provide operational liaison and support
Dependence on key personnel	The Foundation has strengthened its team, by recruitment and internal development, to reduce dependence on individuals for specific tasks and to operate more as a team across roles
Development of AI and its potential impact on the counselling and training that the Foundationprovides	The Foundation is monitoring AI developments and considering its potential impact on its services as it evolves

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

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2025 Annual Report and Accounts

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:

Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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 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.

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 Tony Cates (Aug 18, 2026, 4:04pm)

Date: 28 July 2026

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2025 Annual Report and Accounts

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of The Counselling Foundation for the year ended 31 December 2025

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Trustees of The Counselling Foundation for the year ended 31 December 2025

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The Counselling Foundation (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2025 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:

give a true and fair view of the state of the charity’s affairs as at 31 December 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, 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 Charities Act 2011.

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.

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of The Counselling Foundation for the year ended 31 December 2025 - 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:

the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the trustees’ report; or
the charity has not kept adequate accounting records; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of The Counselling Foundation for the year ended 31 December 2025 - continued

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on pages 13 and 14, 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.

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of The Counselling Foundation for the year ended 31 December 2025 - 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:

discussions with management, including considerations of known or suspected instances of non- compliance with laws and regulations and fraud;
gaining an understanding of management's controls designed to prevent and detect irregularities; and
identifying and testing journal entries.

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.

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of The Counselling Foundation for the year ended 31 December 2025 - 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:[5 August 2026]

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

The Counselling Foundation

Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) For the year ended 31 December 2025

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 2025 £’000 Restricted Funds 2025 £’000 Total Funds 2025 £’000 4.2 7.6 11.8 1,913.3 114.5 2,027.8 67.0 - 67.0 1,984.5 122.1 2,106.6 1,733.7 141.8 1,875.5 1,733.7 141.8 1,875.5 250.8 (19.7) 231.1 - - - 250.8 (19.7) 231.1 1,310.6 86.2 1,396.8 1,561.4 66.5 1,627.9	Total Funds 2024 £’000
		19.3 1,823.4 65.5
		1,908.2
		1,722.6
		1,722.6
		185.6 -
		185.6 1,211.2
		1,396.8

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

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Balance Sheet At 31 December 2025

31 December 2025 £’000 £’000 398.6 237.2 1,640.1 1,877.3 (648.0) 1,229.3 1,627.9 - 1,627.9 66.5 977.0 584.4 1,561.4 1,627.9	31 December 2024 £’000 £’000	31 December 2024 £’000 £’000
237.2 1,640.1	294.4 1,373.7	406.7 990.1
1,877.3 (648.0)	1,668.1 (678.0)
977.0 584.4	1,065.2 245.4
		1,396.8 -
		1,396.8
		86.2 1,310.6

		1,396.8

On behalf of the Board, which approved the accounts on 28 July 2026

Stephen Anstee

Stephen Anstee, Co-CEO Stephen Anstee (Aug 18, 2026, 4:21pm)

Antony Cates, Chair Tony Cates (Aug 18, 2026, 4:04pm)

Date 28 July 2026 Company Number: 02713806

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Cash Flow Statement For the year ended 31 December 2025

2025 Note £’000 £’000 Cash flows from Operating Activities A 216.7 Cash flows from Investing Activities Interest income 49.7 Cash from/used in Investing Activities 49.7 Cash flows from Financing Activities Repayment of borrowing - Cash from/used in Financing Activities - Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year 266.4 Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 1,373.7 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year B 1,640.1 Of the cash and cash equivalents at 31 December, the following amounts ar 2025 £’000 Restricted reserves 12.0 Unrestricted funds General funds 1,043.7 Designated funds 584.4 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 1,640.1	£’000	2024 £’000
	48.8	63.8 48.8 (34.1)
	(34.1)
		78.5 1,295.2
		1,373.7

Of the cash and cash equivalents at 31 December, the following amounts are held in the following of the charity’s funds:

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Cash Flow Statement For the year ended 31 December 2025

NOTE TO THE CASH FLOW STATEMENT

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

£’000	2025 £’000 231.1 (41.6) 57.2 (30.0) 216.7 1 January 2025 £’000	£’000	2024 £’000
8.1 (49.7)		- (48.8)	185.6 (48.8) (98.7) 25.7
		Cash flows £’000
			63.8
			31 December 2025 £’000
	45.1 1,328.6	61.0 205.4	106.1 1,534.0
	1,373.7	266.4	1,640.1

	1,373.7	266.4	1,640.1

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

1. Accounting policies

(a) The financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice 2019 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 2015) – (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and applicable law in the jurisdiction of registration being the Companies Act 2006. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s). The accounts are prepared in sterling rounded to the nearest £’000. The Charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
(b) Donations and similar income are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included.
(c) Revenue under contracts for services is recognised to the extent that the right to income has been obtained by the performance or part performance of the contractual obligation.
(d) In relation to its training services, the majority of the Foundation’s training is delivered over courses that cover an academic year, with the rest of the training delivered on short-term courses. For training courses that cover an academic year, the total fee income receivable for the course is recognised in debtors on acceptance for the course. Any registration fee is recognised as income on acceptance on the course. All the fees (other than any registration fee) for the academic year training courses are reflected in deferred revenue in the balance sheet and then released to income to reflect the period of the training course. The Foundation provides the option to settle training fees for the longer courses either by payment in full in advance or by an initial deposit in advance and then instalments usually linked to and spread over the length of the course (which are typically 10 months).
(e) Income from short-term training courses is recognised on delivery of the training. Income generated from training placements is recognised over the period of the placement.
(f) In relation to its provision of counselling under contracts, the Foundation recognises revenue from these contracts on delivery of the relevant counselling sessions. Any amounts receivable or received before the year end in relation to counselling sessions to be delivered after the year end, is recognised in deferred income.
(g) Income from investments and other income is included when receivable.
(h) Expenditure is recognised in the year in which it is incurred. Expenditure includes attributable VAT which cannot be recovered.
(i) Expenditure is allocated to the activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. Combined, shared and support costs are apportioned by reference to management estimates of where time is spent or of where costs are attributable or on management estimates of appropriate splits or pro rata as estimated by management. Pension costs are allocated between activities based on the allocation of employee costs of the related employee.

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

1. Accounting policies (continued)

(j) Rentals applicable to operating leases where substantially all the benefits and risks of ownership remain with the lessor are charged to profit and loss account as incurred.
(k) Fixed assets are capitalised at cost. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of each asset over its expected useful life.
i. Freehold property - 2% straight line basis
ii. Leasehold property - 2% straight line basis
iii. Fixtures, fittings and equipment - 15% straight line basis
iv. Information technology equipment - 33% straight line basis
(l) As of 31 December 2025, following a change in accounting estimate of the estimated life of the Freehold and Leasehold properties and in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, the directors consider that to depreciate the properties would give a true and fair view. To 31 December 2024 the accounts were prepared in compliance with applicable legislation save that no depreciation was provided in respect of freehold and long leasehold properties, which were carried at cost. This was a departure from the Companies Act 2006 which requires all properties to be depreciated and was made in order to give a fair presentation and a true and fair view.
(m) Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid after taking account of any trade discounts due.
(n) Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term liquid investments or deposits with a short maturity of typically less than three months.
(o) Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
(p) The charity has a defined contribution pension scheme for employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company. The annual contributions payable are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities.
(q) The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value except for bank loans which are subsequently measured at the carrying value plus accrued interest less repayments.
(r) Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources receivable or generated for the objects of the charity without further specified purpose and are available as general funds.
(s) Designated funds are unrestricted funds that have been earmarked by the directors for purposes.
(t) Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor or otherwise. Expenditure meeting these criteria is charged to the restricted funds.

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

1. Accounting policies (continued)

(u) These accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis. The Trustees believe that this is appropriate, having regard to the charity’s cash position, management accounts in the current year to date and its budget and projections.

Judgements and Key estimates

(v) In the application of the company’s accounting policies, the directors 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.

2. Donations and grants

Donations Grants Income from charitable activities Counselling income Training Income	2025 Unrestricted Restricted Total £’000 £’000 £’000 4.2 - 4.2 - 7.6 7.6 4.2 7.6 11.8 2025 Unrestricted Restricted Total £’000 £’000 £’000 1,076.2 114.5 1,190.7 837.1 - 837.1 1,913.3 114.5 2,027.8	2024 Total £’000
		3.8 15.5
		19.3
		2024 Total £’000
		1,101.5 721.9
		1,823.4

3. Income from charitable activities

During 2025, the Foundation entered into contracts for £100k (2024: £135k) of income for support for victims of crime and other and related counselling services in Bedfordshire, part of which was delivered and the related income recognised in 2025 with the remainder to be delivered and the related income recognised in 2026.

4. Other income

Rents received Miscellaneous income Investment and interest income	2025 Unrestricted Restricted Total £’000 £’000 £’000 4.3 - 4.3 13.0 - 13.0 49.7 - 49.7 67.0 - 67.0	2024 Total £’000 4.6 12.1 48.8 65.5

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

5. Total expenditure

Staff costs Counselling costs Premises IT Depreciation General expenses Consultancy and legal fees Training costs Bank charges Bad & doubtful debts Communications Advertising Insurance Audit fees Post & stationery Travel Subscriptions Interest Direct costs Support costs allocated and apportioned	2025 2024 Counselling Training Total Counselling Training Total £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
	452.5 636.8 1,089.3 455.7 551.4 1,007.1 433.2 - 433.2 397.5 - 397.5 92.3 36.8 129.1 67.6 32.7 100.3 35.2 62.4 97.6 31.9 54.6 86.5 4.1 4.0 8.1 - - - 3.5 7.7 11.2 2.3 12.0 14.3 5.1 1.8 6.9 6.3 25.1 31.4 - 12.9 12.9 - 9.0 9.0 3.2 7.0 10.2 4.3 7.8 12.1 1.6 0.3 1.9 0.5 (4.9) (4.4) 0.9 0.4 1.3 1.0 0.9 1.9 - 34.1 34.1 0.2 27.7 27.9 4.7 7.9 12.6 3.4 5.6 9.0 3.1 5.4 8.5 3.5 5.6 9.1 5.6 5.4 11.0 6.5 5.2 11.7 2.1 0.7 2.8 3.0 2.2 5.2 0.4 4.4 4.8 0.4 2.9 3.3 - - - 0.2 0.5 0.7
	1,047.5 828.0 1,875.5 984.3 738.3 1,722.6
	856.1 482.5 1,338.6 814.6 414.6 1,229.2 191.4 345.5 536.9 169.7 323.7 493.4
	1,047.5 828.0 1,875.5 984.3 738.3 1,722.6

The governance costs incurred by the Foundation relate to audit plus trustee indemnity and directors’ liability insurance. Audit and related charges were £8.5k for the year ended 31 December 2025 (£9.1k for the year ended 31 December 2024). The cost of the Foundation’s insurance cover (which includes wider business insurance as well as trustee indemnity and directors’ liability cover) was £12.6k for the year ended 31 December 2025 (£9.0k for the year ended 31 December 2024). These audit and wider insurance costs total £21.1k for the year ended 31 December 2025 (£18.1k for the year ended 31 December 2024).

6. Net income for the year

Net income for the year is stated after crediting/charging:

Net income for the year is stated after crediting/charging: Interest receivable Interest payable Depreciation Auditors’ remuneration for audit services Auditors’ remuneration for tax services Operating lease commitments	2025 £’000 49.7 - 8.1 8.5 - 16.0	2024 £’000
		48.8 0.7 - 9.1 5.7 16.0

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

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	2025 £’000 986.4 83.1 19.8 1,089.3	2024 £’000
		927.1 59.6 20.4
		1,007.1

There were two employees whose emoluments were between £60,000 - £69,999 (2024: 2).

The pension contributions related to monies paid into a defined contribution scheme for employees. Benefits are accruing for 28 (2024: 32) 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	2025 Number 3 49 16 68 2025 Number 2 11 11 24 2025 £’000 179.4	2024 Number
		4 46 13
		63
		2024 Number 3 10 11
		24
		2024 £’000
		195.5

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.

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

9. Tangible fixed assets

Cost At 31 December 2024 Additions Disposals At 31 December 2025 Depreciation At 31 December 2024 Charge for the year Eliminated on disposals At 31 December 2025 Net Book Value At 31 December 2024 At 31 December 2025	Freehold Property Long Leasehold Property Fixtures, fittings and equipment £’000 £’000 £’000 88.3 318.4 84.0 - - - - - (1.9) 88.3 318.4 82.1 - - 84.0 1.7 6.4 - - - (1.9) 1.7 6.4 82.1 88.3 318.4 - 86.6 312.0 -	Total £’000
		490.7 - (1.9)
		488.8
		84.0 8.1 (1.9)
		90.2
		406.7
		398.6

From 1 January 2025 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 from the date of acquisition, the net book value of the freehold and long leasehold properties would have been £140.8 at 31 December 2025 (2024: £148.9k), compared to their net book value of £398.6k.

10. Debtors

Prepayments & Accrued Income Other debtors 11. Cash Cash at bank Cash deposits (short term)	2025 £’000 15.7 221.5 237.2 2025 £’000 106.1 1,534.0 1,640.1	2024 £’000
		10.3 284.1
		294.4
		2024 £’000
		45.1 1,328.6
		1,373.7

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

12. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors Accruals Deferred income Social security	2025 £’000 41.6 57.6 542.6 6.2 648.0	2024 £’000
		83.1 50.2 537.9 6.8
		678.0

Income deferred at the previous year end at 31 December 2024 (save for immaterial amounts) was released during the year ended 31 December 2025. Income that was deferred at 31 December 2025 (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 2026.

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	2025 £’000 - - - -	2024 £’000
		-
		- -
		-

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

14. Analysis of net assets between funds

2025 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 2025 2024 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 2024	Unrestricted funds General Funds Unrestricted funds Designated Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
	335.8 - 62.8 398.6
	237.2 - - 237.2 1,043.7 584.4 12.0 1,640.1 (639.7) - (8.3) (648.0)
	641.2 584.4 3.7 1,229.3
	- - - -
	977.0 584.4 66.5 1,627.9
	Unrestricted funds General Funds Unrestricted funds Designated Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
	335.8 - 70.9 406.7
	292.6 - 1.8 294.4 1,087.1 245.4 41.2 1,373.7 (650.3) - (27.7) (678.0)
	729.4 245.4 15.3 990.1

	- - - -
	1,065.2 245.4 86.2 1,396.8

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

	At 31 December 2024 2025 Incoming Resources 2025 Outgoing Resources 2025 Transfers At 31 December 2025 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
	5.2 - (1.7) - 3.5 65.7 - (6.4) - 59.3 12.8 - (11.6) - 1.2 2.5 122.1 (122.1) - 2.5
	86.2 122.1 (141.8) - 66.5
	245.4 - - (11.0) 234.4 - - - 350.0 350.0 1,065.2 1,984.5 (1,733.7) (339.0) 977.0
	1,310.6 1,984.5 (1,733.7) - 1,561.4
	1,396.8 2,106.6 (1,875.5) - 1,627.9
	At 31 December 2023 2024 Incoming Resources 2024 Outgoing Resources 2024 Transfers At 31 December 2024 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
	5.2 - - - 5.2 65.7 - - - 65.7 12.8 - - - 12.8 2.7 194.9 (195.1) - 2.5
	86.4 194.9 (195.1) - 86.2
	247.9 - - (2.5) 245.4 876.9 1,713.3 (1,527.5) 2.5 1,065.2
	1,124.8 1,713.3 (1,527.5) - 1,310.6

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 and a designated fund for potential improvements to or purchases of property.

General Fund

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

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

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 2025 the charity had commitments under operating leases as set out below:

	Land and buildings	Land and buildings	Equipment	Equipment
	2025	2024	2025	2024
	£’000	£’000	£’000	£’000
Operating lease payments due in less than one year	6.7	16.0	-	-
Operating lease payments due in the second to fifth	-	8.0	-	-
year
	6.7	24.0	-	-

18. Other commitments

At 31 December 2025 the company had financial commitments of £4.5k (2024: £16.6k)

19. Related party transactions

During the year, the spouse of one of the Trustees Richard Clarke has worked as an employee of the Foundation in the ordinary course and on arms-length terms under arrangements approved by the Board under its articles of association (approvals in which Mr Clarke did not participate). The cost to the Foundation of these services and work in the year to 31 December 2025 was £7.0k (2024: £3.8k) and a further £3.6k in the period to 30 April 2026.

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 the year to 31 December 2024 was £0.3k (2023: £2.1k). These amounts were fully reimbursed in 2024.

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 (2024: £nil) were reimbursed.

2025 Annual Report and Accounts

The Counselling Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

20. 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 2025 £’000 Designat ed funds 2025 £’000 Restricted Funds 2025 £’000 Total Funds 2025 £’000 4.2 - 7.6 11.8 1,913.3 - 114.5 2,027.8 67.0 - - 67.0 1,984.5 - 122.1 2,106.6 1,733.7 - 141.8 1,875.5 1,733.7 - 141.8 1,875.5 250.8 - (19.7) 231.1 (339.0) 339.0 - - (88.2) 339.0 (19.7) 231.1 1,065.2 245.4 86.2 1,396.8 977.0 584.4 66.5 1,627.9	General Funds 2024 £’000 Design ated funds 2024 £’000 Restricted Funds 2024 £’000 Total Funds 2024 £’000
		3.8 - 15.5 19.3 1,644.0 - 179.4 1,823.4 65.5 - - 65.5
		1,713.3 - 194.9 1,908.2
		1,527.5 - 195.1 1,722.6
		1,527.5 - 195.1 1,722.6
		185.8 - (0.2) 185.6 2.5 (2.5) - -
		188.3 (2.5) (0.2) 185.6 876.9 247.9 86.4 1,211.2
		1,065.2 245.4 86.2 1,396.8

21. 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 2024, were £9.4k (2023: £12.5k). The Foundation carries its investment in this company at nil cost. Its share of the net assets of College Yard Management Limited was £3.8k (2023: £5.0k). Save for reimbursement or recharges of appropriate costs, the Foundation has not received any distribution or income from College Yard Management Limited.