&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"
SUm￿a￿thI￿aot1K[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{0.6￿E) 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 p￿payMentS
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) re￿1Ve￿ 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 Re￿iVed 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