&nnect 8 Portesbery Road, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3TA 01276 24 210 ll5 info@connectcounselling.org.uk vw.connectcounselling.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1042852 Counselling Service Trustees, Annual Report tor the period from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024 Objectives and Activities Our charitable obj8Cts are THE RELIEF OF PERSONS RESIDENT IN CAMBERLEY AND THE SURROUNDING AREA WHOARESUFFERING FROM MENTALOR EMOTIONALSTRESS IN ONE OR MORE OFTHE FOLLOWING WAYS:11) BYTHE PROVISION OF A COUNSELLING SERVICE IN A CHRISTIAN CONTEXT; (11) BY PROVIDING SUPPORT AND SUPERVISION FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN COUNSELLING ON BEHALF OFTHE TRUST FUND AND THE GENERAL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY; AND1111) BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL TRAINING AND STUDY FACILITIES FOR THOSE CHRISTIANS INVOLVED IN COUNSELLING ON BEHALF OFTHE TRUST FUND AND THE GENERAL COMMUNITY. We articu18te our mission in the local area as being'to help those whose mental health challenges 8r8 preventing them from living fulfilling lives" SUmathIaot1K[ti. We have provided affordable and accessible professlonal counselling to individual adults, couples and family groups, irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, religion or ethnic origin. Our counsellors have provided 1855 sessions in the financialyear 2023- 2024, 8 15% increase over the previous year. We have provided training. support and supervision for those involved in counselling. . All our counsellors give of theirtime as volunteers. During this year we had a tot81 of 33 individual counsellors volunteerfor some or all theyear, 25 of whom were still counselling at the end of the fiscal year. We also had 10 welcome volunteers who help to staff reception, answeringthe door and telephone. We benefitted from other voluntary SUPPOrt on an ad- hoc basis, helping with fundraising activities. Thetrustees are deeply gratefulfor all of their support. Achievements and Performance Connect has a long-term outstanding reputation in the surrounding area for the professional counselling services it offers. We also have an excellent reputation with local counsellingtr8ining organisations, and we have no shortage of counsellors in advanced trainingwho wish to do placements with us. This year we typically had 60% of our counsellors on their placement and 40% more experienced counsellors, by farthe majority of whom have stayed aftertheir placement. These counsellors may have anything up to 25 years post qualification experience! This depth of experience allows us to support extremelyvulnerable clients with complex trauma.
The current socio-economic clim8te has exacerbated mental health challenges, leading to a surge in the number of individuals seeking our counselling services. This, coupled with an internal restructuring 8nd refreshed awareness strategy, has seen our w81ting list growfrom single figures to welL over 100 within the last year, underscoring the urgent need for increased resources to address this escalating demand. An initial restructure was carried out in quarter one, with an emphasis on making Connect'fit for purpose'for the future, as it had become clear that the organisation was not adequately iesourced. A new role of Operations Manager{0.6E) was developed, 8nd Jan Mulliner (Office Manager 0.175 FfE} left Connect after 18 years, service. We are grateful to Jan for 8ll she contributed to the ch8rity in this period. The Operation Man8ger led the project to develop a newwebsite, which went live in October 2023. The new website is more user-friendly, and improves our profile for potential clients, donors, volunteers and counsellors. The prime focus from December onwerds was to keeping Connect solvent, after the seriousnes8 of the financi81 situation became clear, and phase two of the transformation began in quarter 4. The Counselling Team Manager, Wendy Coope, h8d given the trustees over a year's notice of her planned retirernent and she left at Christmas after 13 years, service. The CEO, Emma Laporte, handed in her notice and left in February. Connect had 8 completely new team of employed staff running the organisation bythe end of the year. the longest seNing employee having completed eight months, and the other three (including the interlm CEO) appointed in the last 3 months. Between them 8t the year-end they worked a total of 1.6 FTE. The team have started to put in place systems. processes and capacity to significantly expand the number of annu81 sessions we can provide, end therebythe number of individu81s whose lives we can help improve. Detailed monthly cash flow forecasts have been produced. The initial work has been completed looking at an 8ffordable fee model for client income. Financlal Revlew It became clear in early December that Connect was headed towards 8 serious deficit for the financial year, and that short term cash flow was a problem. The Redwood bank 8ccount was requested to be closed in early December- an interest account used for reserves. Redwood agreed to release all the funds without penalty, given the serious position facing the charity, which allowed the reserve £32K to be available from mid-December. The new reserves agreement was that the trustees would ensure monthly cash flow forecasts were completed, to be sure there are always sufficient funds to cover 2-3 months outgoings, otherwise wind-up procedures would need to be implemented. An appe8lwent out to local churches and donors, and a larger than normal amount of money was requested in a grant application from Frimley Fuel Allotments {FFA). The trustees are hugely grateful to everyone who has supported the charity in this period. through personal and organisational
giving, including FFA who agreed £15,000 to support clients from GU15 and GU16 postcodes through the rest of the calendar year. This resulted in almost 60% of the year's income being given in the final four months of the fiscal year. Without this we would not be here today- thank you ag8in. Nonetheless this generosity was not sufficient to prevent a very significant deficit for the year, i.e. £33,853. A deficit is always a tale of two halves, and in total our cost base rose significantly, but our income dropped by over £16K. Almost £1 Ok less of client income was received, despite seeing more clients than the previous ye8r, and income from all other fundraising streams was significantly down, be that individual donations, churches. grants or community fundraising. This dramatic decrease was slightly offset by new income from the NHS using rooms. Over the past decade client income was typicallywell in excess of £40k pa, peaking in 2020 at almost £52K; typicallythis was 40-50% of the annual charity income, requiring a 50-60% suppLement from other funding streams. However, this dropped to below £24K, circa 300/0 of income after Covid, but as the table below shows this then significantly dropp8d over the past two years, with an all-time low income of less than £18K, providing only 16.3% of the annu81 income. Flscal Year client Income as a percentage of total income client income total Income 24 £17,623 £107.894 16.3% 23 £27,242 £123,918 22.0% 22 £23,891 £80,885 29.5% 21 £23,741 £86,877 27.3% 20 £51,814 £105,177 49.3% 19 £43,764 £103,080 42.5% 18 £41,612 £103,774 40.1% 17 £41,156 £107,120 38.4% 16 £42,415 £86,915 48.8% 15 £44,016 £95,437 46.1% The interim CEO was 8ppointed by the trustees mid-February, wlth a clear remlt of priority on cashflow and funding. The funding strategy will be a hybrid of client income (which needs to get back up to 8t least 50%), individual donors, chuiches and other community organis8tions / corporates, grants and community fundraising. PtinoIpl.ILkLCash flowlincome continues to be our main risk. Additional uncertainty existed 8t the financi81 year end over the office, with the landlord sellingthe property, meaning Connect might have to face 8 significant rent increase and/or a move to a new location 8t short notice. {Postyear end note - in May. a lease agreement was agreed the new landlord. from the business upstairs who bought the building. A six-ye8r lease is in place, with favourable terms to Connect in the firstyear, providing much needed stability)
Structure, Governance and Management Connect is a charitable trust and its governing document is a trust deed. Connect is administered bythe Trustees, who continue to have regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public beneftt. Trustees are appointed by the Board of Trustees. The CEO attends the meetings. AdditiotthfoLmJtlotL' Connect abides by both the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions, as well as the Association of Christian Counsellors {ACC} Adminlstrative Detail8 Names of the charlty trustees who manage the charlty Name Role Dates 8Cted if not full year Retired 19 July 2023 (trustee full year, chair from July) {tru8tee full ye8r, chalr from Steven Ishwerwood Alison de Winter Chair Joint Interlm Ch8ir Andreas Sistig Joint Interim Ch8ir Mike Thomason Charles Garraway Rob Jackson Pippa Ford Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Appointed 15 April 2023 Name of CEO Dr Emm8 Laporte- until 9 February 2024 Carolyn Nahajski - from 12 February 2024 Declarations The trustees dec18re that they have approved the trustees, report above Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees Signature Full Name Position Date Alison de Winter Interim Chair 25th January 2025 Andreas Sistig Interim Ch8ir 25th January 2025
CONNECT COUNSELLING SERVICE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR TO 31ST MARCH 2024 Unrestrfcted Restricted Total Funds Total Funds Note Funds Fund9 2024 2023 INCOME Donatlons and legacles Donations. grants and similar funding Counselling Glient donalions 61.149 17.624 17,492 78,641 17,624 85,877 27,242 Charitable activiti88 External training income 305 305 240 Other trading activiknes - fundraising 3,372 3,372 7,413 Room rental Investment income- Bank intsrest 7,075 877 7,075 877 2,430 716 17492 107 894 123 918 EXPENDrruRE Ralslng fund8 - salary costs - premises costs - fundraising costs training expenditure telephone 5,134 956 1,917 1,070 212 9,289 5,134 956 1,917 1.070 212 9,289 4,057 982 5,207 Charltable acllvltle8 - ¢oun$elling sèssion fees and expenses - service provision - Support costs 4.387 50,306 63,238 117,929 4,387 64.835 63,236 132,458 1,912 55,385 14,529 14,529 97.747 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 127 218 14,529 141747 102,954 NET INCOME IEXPENDITURE 136,816) 2,963 {33,853} 20,964 88lances brought forward at 1 Aprll 2023 10 80,635 11,083 91,718 70.754 Balances carri8d forward at 31 March 2024 11
CONNECT COUNSELLING SERVICE BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024 Notes 2024 2023 FIXED ASSETS.. Fixtures, fittings and equipment 6,307 1,797 CURRENT ASSETS,. Debtors and ppayMentS 9,706 11,267 Balances at bank Cash in hand 46,743 29 56,478 84,152 38 95,457 LESS CREDITORS.. amounts falling due within one year Creditors and accruals 4,920 5,536 4,920 5,536 NET CURRENT ASSETS 51,558 89,921 NET ASSETS Represented by.. FUNDS Restrlct•d funds 10 14,046 11,083 Unrestricted funds Total charity funds 11 43,819 80,635 The accounts were approved by the Trustees on 25th January 2025 Trustee Trustee
CONNECT COUNSELLING SERVICE Notss lo the Accounts for the Year to 31" March 2024 1. Accounting Polleles Ggneral The financial ststements have been prepared on an accruals basis in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practicè: Accounting and Reporting by Charilies preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Slandard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 102} and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the Uniled Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102> and the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Practice as it applies from 1 January 2019. Connect Counselling SeNi¢e meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or Irans8Ction value unless otheJwis8 stated in the r818vant accounting policy. The Financial statements have been prepared lo give a Iruè and falr vievl ai)d have deviated from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provid6 a 'true and fair view,. This departure has involved following 'Accounbng and Reporting By Charities. Stslement of Recommended Practice applicable to Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102 Second Edrtion r8ther than accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Récommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which was withdrawn. Incoma Donations under Gift Aid. together with the associated income tax recovery, are recognised as income when the donation is received. Grants are recognised when the ¢h8rity has an enlrtlemènt to the funds and any condstions linked lo the grants h8vè been met. Renlal income is accounted for on a receivable basis. Expendlture Expenditure is charged on an accruals basis. Governance costs are those associated with compli8nce wth constitutional and statutory requirements. This includes the Independent Examination fee. P•n•lon ¢o•ts The charty contributes to a money purchase scheme on behalf of it8 employees. The 8¢heme 1$ man8gad by True Potential. Apportlonmont of ¢o$t8 Certain office and salary costs have be&n apportioned betsveen Service provision and support costs bas8d on trustees, estimats of use of the office and time spent by staff. Oporatlng lea8e* Rentals paid under operating leasés are charged on a str8ight line basis under the terns of the lease. Flxod Assets Assets purchased with a value greater than £250 are c8pitslised. Computer h8rdwar8 Fumiture 330A on cost 250/0 on cost DobtorJ Debtors are r6corded at their recoverable amount- that is the amount that it is anticipatsd will be retxived, or the amount that has been paid in advance for goods or services. Credltors Creditors are measured at historic cost and are held at settlement amount net of any disGovnts. Flnanclal Instruments The charitys financial assets and liabilities qu81ify as basic financial instruments and as such are initially recorded at cash, transactron or settlement value. Subsequently. currenl assets and liabilrties are measured at cash or settlement value.
CONNECT COUNSELLING SERVICE Notas to the Accounts for the Year to 31 March 2024 1. A¢counting Pollcle8 Funds General funds represent funds of the Service that are not subject to any restriction regarding their use and are available for application for the purposes of the Connect Counselling Service. Donations and grants given for specific purposes are treated as restricted funds and are used in the way intended by the donor. Going Concorn Thè trustees have considered going concern up to one year from the date of signing these accounts. Based on a review of forecasts and budgets the trustees believe there are sufficlent reserves for the for8s8eable future. E8timate and Judgements In prèparing the financial ststements it is necessary to m8k8 certain judgements. estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts rècognised in the financial statements. Therè are no sreas of critical &stimat8 or significant judgements that affects the preparation of these fin8ncial statements.
CONNECT COUNSELLING SERVICE Notes to the Accounts for the Year to 31st March 2024 2. In¢ome from grants and donatlon8 Unrestrf¢ted Restrlcted Totsl Funds Total Funds Funds Funds 2024 2023 Donations Grants 48,528 12.621 61,149 48,528 30.113 78,641 71.791 14,086 17,492 17.492 3. S•rvlc• prov181on Unrastrlct•d Restrlcted Funds Funds Totsl Funds Totsl Funds 2024 2023 Counselling supervision Hardship donation Salary costs Training costs Oth&r fee8 Premisès costs Office supplies, Postage and expenses Publicity Depreciation Telephone 5,398 14,012 19,410 16,262 1,200 19.731 735 240 14,092 1,852 23,885 735 23,885 735 13,379 2,304 1,968 1,999 638 50.306 13,379 2,304 1.968 2,516 638 517 748 505 14.529 4. Support ¢o•ts Unr•gtrlcted Rogtrlctsd Fund8 Funds Totsl Fund8 Totsl Fund• 2024 2023 S$lary co¥ls Recruitment Con£ullancy Other fees Premises costs 38,437 292 7,390 2,429 4,778 1,433 567 393 1,164 4,853 1,500 63.236 38,437 292 7,390 2,429 4,778 1,433 567 393 1.184 4,853 1,500 63 236 20,271 930 1,748 4,904 2,674 449 74 1.826 IT Telephone Bank charges Sundries Accountancy Governance- Independent examiner's fee 1,500 40 470 Support costs are charged in full to the charitsble acttvities. Operating lease costs were £16,500 (2023.'16,5CN)) 5. Employees. Remuneratlon 2,024 2,023 Gross salaries Employer Pension Contributions 66,851. 1,252.CW) 43,387 672 44.059 The average number of paid staff for th8 year wgre 3 part-tirne employees (2023- 3 part-time). No staff m8mb&r rerkived remuneralion in excess of £60,OCHJ. Due to the size of the organisation, all staff are ¢on8idered to be key management personnel. 6. Trugtees, Remuneration and Expenses None of the Trustees lor any persons conncted with them) re1Ve any MuneratIOn or benefits from ihe charity during the year, and no expenses were claimed.
CONNECT COUNSELLING SERVICE Notes to the Accounts for the Year to 31st March 2024 7. Fixed Assets - Tangible Assets Fixtures. fittings and equipment Cost 1st April 2023 Additions Disposals 31st March 2024 5,530 7,026 12,556 Depreciation 1st April 2023 Disposals Charge for the year 31st March 2024 3,733 2,516 6,249 Not Book Values At 31st March 2024 At 31st March 2023 8. Dobtor8 2024 2023 Trade Debtors Prepayments Accrued Income 860 670 8,176 820 . Creditors 2024 2023 Trade Creditors Accruals Other Creditor8 1,911 2,570 440 3,960 1,576 The Charity has written indemnities that in the event of a legitimate claim, on any part of residual agent balances donated from contributing firms where parties make contact or are traced. that the charity will satisfy the agreed charitable donalion sum. On 31 March 2023 the lolal to date received net of repayments amounted to £15,000. (2023: £15,000) 10. Restrictsd Funds Sparks Amold Clarke Frlmley Fuel Surrey Heath Total Balance al 1st April 2022 Funds ReiVed in the year Funds Used in the year Balance at 1st April 2023 Funds Received in the year 4,678 10,000 4,878 9.800 4,678 14,086 7,681 11,083 1.000 1.000 3,086 1,803 1,283 1,992 (1.992) 15,000 500 17,492 Funds Used in the year {12,020) (517) {14,529} Balance at 31st March 2024
CONNECT COUNSELLING SERVICE Notes to the Accounts for the Year to 31 st March 2024 10. Restrlcted Funds (confd) Sparks will be used in financial year ended March 2025 Arnold Clarke was used for updating the Charity website, and olher social media expenses. Frimley Fuel fund is used against counselling sessions in the GU15 GU16 postcode area. Surrey Heath Council has been used for purchasing a desktop computer, other costs and the balance is to be used for furniture,also the related depreciation will be retsined. 11. Analysis of Net Assets by Funds 2024 2023 Unrestrlcted Restrlcted funds funds Total Unrestrlcted Restrlcted funds funds Total Fixed Assets Current Assets Current Liabilities 5,089 43,650 4,920 1,218 12,828 6,307 56,478 4,920 1,462 84,709 5,536 335 10,748 1,797 95,457 5,536
(HARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees Charrty Ngm• Connect Counselling Service On accounts for the year ended 3181 March 2024 Charity no (If any) 1042852 Set out on pages 5-11 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (°the Trust") for the year ended 3110312024. Responsiblllties and basi8 of report As the charty's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (°the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5)(b) of the Act. Independent examinerfs ststsment I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe Ihat in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kepl in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the form and contenl of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 olher Ihan any requiremenl that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: 22 Jan 2025 Name: Jenny James IER Oct 2018
Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 84 The Maultway Camberley GU15 1QF Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brlef details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018