Annual Report APRIL 2022 - MARCH 2023
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1098571
"Affordable counselling at The Listening Centre was the best investment I made in my mental a f" health. The counsellors provided » | : ; practical strategies to manage my depression, and I've seen remarkable progress in my life.” GN
CLIENT FEEDBACK
Foreword
2022/23 was a tough year for our collective mental health, reflected in the 30% increase in client enquiries received compared to 2021/22. It was also a a tough year for many small charities financially, and TLC was no exception. The cost of living crisis led to a noticeable increase in venue hire costs, amplifying the impact of a return to delivering more than half of our work in-person after moving fully online during the pandemic.
However, there’s plenty for us to be proud of this year: we delivered 1571 hours of affordable counselling to 146 individual clients who wouldn’t have otherwise been able to access it; and we helped 15 trainee counsellors to gain valuable clinical experience by providing placements.
We also invested significant time and effort in improving the systems and processes that allow us to deliver our counselling services; making things smoother for clients and counsellors, ensuring high quality and ethical standards, and maximising efficiency. ’ Doing this work also means we re in a strong position to grow in response to the increasing need we’re seeing.
CLAIRE JACQUES SIAN RENWICK A <3 CHAIR OF TRUSTEES INTERIM CEO
The Trustees are conscious of the risks facing TLC in the coming months and years. With increasing costs and increasing need for our services, we need to adapt and innovate in order to ensure that we can generate sufficient revenue, from a variety of sources, to allow us to meet demand and become more financially sustainable.
With our 30th anniversary coming up in October 2023, now is the time to think strategically and act decisively, so TLC can continue to support the mental health of Oxfordshire residents for the next 30 years!
"I can't thank The Listening Centre enough. Their affordable counselling services are a blessing. The counsellors helped me overcome the trauma I've carried for years. I feel stronger, happier, and more in control of my life."
Our Values
affordable
We believe that psychotherapy and counselling should be available to all those who need it and can benefit from it regardless of their income.
inclusive
We want everyone to feel welcome, enabled and supported to achieve their potential without discrimination. We are committed to having a diverse range of clients, therapists, trustees and associates.
safe
We provide clients with a safe space in which to develop and grow at their own pace, by providing suitable counsellors or psychotherapists who adhere to strict codes of ethics and safeguarding that are aligned with recognised accrediting bodies.
supportive
We nurture and encourage mutual support and selfcare among all members of the organisation.
innovative
We embrace change and aim to continually improve our service through listening, learning, and innovating.
Organisational Overview
Across 2022/23, the core work of The Listening Centre was delivered by a dedicated team of 23 volunteer counsellors. We’re committed to providing opportunities for counsellors in training to gain experience and clinical hours through placements, as well as welcoming qualified counsellors who wish to support our mission by volunteering. Essential clinical supervision was provided by our experienced associate supervisors, while an increased number of client enquiries, assessments, and allocations were managed by Kay Tillyer.
COUNSELLORS 23 TOTAL | 8 QUALIFIED a Flora Winchester / Dr Carole Blythe SUPERVISORS Melanie Kay / Sarah Oak / Sarah Burnet a TRUSTEES Claire Jacques / Liz Tapper / Chris Graham a OPERATIONAL / Kay Tillyer / Naomi Garrido / Julian SUPPORT ROLES Sharples a
ADDITIONAL CONSULTANT / AD HOC ROLES Anne Timpson / Juliet Henderson / Admin Team
This year saw TLC continue to develop and refine our ways of working, with a focus on moving away from time-consuming manual processes, thanks to the expertise of Naomi Garrido. As a small charity with limited resources, we know the value of staff and volunteer time and maximising efficiency is a key priority. Continual dialogue with clinical staff means we can also make sure processes work well for clients and counsellors.
Our Clients
The need for TLC’s services continues to grow, with initial enquiries up 30% in 2022/23 compared to the previous year. Post-COVID, more clients were keen to return to in-person sessions, although nearly half still preferred remote options.
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182
CLIENT ENQUIRIES
139
Z 30%
2021/22 2022/23
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TOTAL CLIENTS SEEN
146
NUMBER OF 1571 HOURS DELIVERED
NUMBER OF ASSESSMENTS
126
How did clients access their counselling?
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PHONE
3.3%
ONLINE FACE TO FACE
45.3% 51.4%
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Split of Client Gender
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NB / OTHER
2.3%
MALE
30.2%
FEMALE
67.4%
Client Living Location
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OXFORD
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OUTSIDE OXFORD
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What was the general financial picture for clients?
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80%
20%
OVER MEDIAN UNDER MEDIAN
INCOME THRESHOLD INCOME THRESHOLD
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Financial Overview
£29,691.07
CLIENT FEES
£1,227.56
DONATIONS
£2,000.00
GRANTS
(£8,926.35)
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DEFICIT
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MAIN EXPENSES
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20,000.00
15,000.00
10,000.00
5,000.00
0.00
SUPPORT STAFF ROOM HIRE SUPERVISION
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Costs in 2022/23 outstripped income, largely due to the return to a significant proportion of counselling being delivered in-person and incurring venue fees. Client contributions remained the primary source of income for TLC. However, due to our commitment to providing truly affordable counselling to those who would otherwise not be able to access it, client contributions didn’t cover the true cost of a session (c. £27), with some clients paying as little as £5 per session. Developing alternative revenue streams is a key priority.
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1098571 THE USTENING CENTRE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 Mefcer Lewin Ltd Chartered Accountsnts and Registered Auditors 6-7 Ciiibase, New Barclay House 234 Botley Road OXI$ OX2 OHP
THE LISTENING CENTRE ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 Page 1. The Listening Centre is rewered Charity Commissijn (No 1098571). The tharity is cctitirted by deed. dated 21 June J)03 Updat in 2009. Charity Address: The Old SthcK)IFKMJso Hertford Street OX4 3PJ Tho charity 15 administ&ed by a c(xnmittee of m8n3gemenl comprising.. Tru5te8s'. Chris Graham Elizabeth Ann Tapper C18ire knn Jacques The ObltiVe of The Listermng Centrg (fLC} is the preSepratk and prceckn 9td health for peoF4e In need in Bkqcktird Leys and the SurroulIng area by provIng a cojnsellng serviL. The charity rAYer5. and has offwed since 1993. a regular. kwryCOSt cCxrnsel sWvi. PlOVKled by trdir counsellors under supervisi. This suteNsed (£wnsdlirvJ also helps the trainee counsellors to attain the TLC provides regular grc4Jp superViSw SesSiS for its v(Aunteers, has an Ong¢*r prr4rdmme of iYofess¥Jnal deve enl frx its courwlkx5 through the deiNery Ofw0sh(WS and training sessions. Claire Jacques
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE LISTENING CENTRE I rep)rt on the accounts of the chanty for the year ended 31 March 2023 which are set out on the Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet appended to this report R¢spective responsibilities of Commlttee of Management and Examiner The committee of management are responsib for the preparab.on of the accounts", they consider that the audit requirement of the charib.es Act 2011 (the Act) does not appty. It is my responsibility. without perfomiing an audit, lo carry out an examin*"on of the accounts and to reFKJrt to you. Basls of Examinerfs ststernent My report is in respect of an examination Camed out under s145 of the Act and in accordance vitth directions given by the Charity Commissioners under subsection 5lbl of that section. An examination includes a review of the accountsng records kept by the committee of management and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records which is primarily limited to analyb'cal procedures and to the making of such enquiries of the c£Jmmtttee of management as was necessary for the purposes of this report. The procedures undertaken do not constitute an aud Examinerf$ ststernent Based on my examination, no matter has come to my attenb.on which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect, accounling records have not been kept in accordanee with s130 of the Act, or that the accounts presented do not accord with those records or comply with Ihe accounting requirernenls of the Act. No matter has come to my attention to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enate a proFer understsnding of the accounts to be aChed. A Churchill Stone FCA DChA Mercer Lewin Ltd Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors 6-7 Citiba5e, New Barclay House 234 Botley Road Oxford OX2 OHP 18 October 2023
Page 3. THE LISTENING CENTRE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 Genwal Restricted Total frJnds funds 2023 Total 2022 Iorne 71 29.691 1.228 71 29,691 1,228 2.(KlO Clnt tributiOnS Donations and other income Grants W(Ykshops 24.593 2.263 14.000 32.) 32.990 40.859 Dlroct ¢harlt•ble oxpgndlture Administration expgnses Advertsing expenses Bank (arges BoL4(keeplng fees COrdallOn fee5 DBS cl Donaticrts and grants w5ts Independent examinerfs fees InsurancelBACP membership 7,TTO 7,TTO 3,717 72 433 72 433 7,860 1.355 10.890 &33 437 1.TT9 533 437 1.7T9 2.412 RCKJM and Offi hire sU1ry expenses supervisic. clinical and Ixytsthcy Telephone TranSfomi*l (£6ts Volunteer experw and travd WebsÈte and intemet 9.592 897 11.027 9,592 897 11.027 1,029 445 128 14.227 951 6,228 535 535 357 41.965 41.965 41.466 160n 25.338 Surplusl(deficltl for th• y (8,97¥ 24.732 (8,975) 24,732 Balanco carriod forwa £24.732 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2023 2022 Accourrts recelvabla Bank cajrrent accounl Bank deposit account Prepa¥m 6.128 18.496 14,563 15,757 24.732 Balanrn ol fun £1 £21732