**Christian Counselling Centre** 242 Margate Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 6AH 


Charity No: 1139135 

Tel: 07768 848045 / 07462 775535 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2025 - 26** 

**Trustee Names:** Alan Hudson -   Chair (April 25 – February 26) Sue Woan – Chair (March 26) Maureen Francis William Leigh-Pemberton 

## **1. Policies & Procedures** 

At the Annual AGM of the Trustees held on 13[th] March 2026, we reviewed the past year, accompanied by financial spreadsheets and this identified that a robust framework was established to enable us to evaluate and monitor procedures and current legislation to promote good practice. All Policies and Procedures were presented at the Management Team on 28[th] April 2026 and were reviewed and agreed at the. In line with legislation on Data Protection Laws with the implementation of GDPR in 2018 training has been undertaken to ensure that SW has fully implemented the new policies and procedures, and these are regularly monitored, updated to ensure good practice. 

## 2. **Finance** 

We received and discussed the accounts for the Year Ending 5[th] April 2026, the Trustees identified a Year End Balance of £33,785.77, which showed an decrease on last year of £15,474,37 

The Trustees expressed confidence in the financial management of the Centre which has a robust account and recording system and at each Management and Team Meeting there are very clear statements of accounts provided giving a true balance of account at the end of each month and a record of year to date.  Mr Roy Corker, Qualified Accountant has audited the accounts.  It was identified that we were currently running at a loss each month of approximately £1300, which has been counteracted by our fund-raising event and grants from various bodies (see below). The monthly deficit was due to the fact that Still Waters were referred clients from many outside agencies who were unable to offer open-ended counselling to clients. The majority of these clients were only able to make a small donation and in some cases were unable to pay at all. Also, this year, with the restructuring of the Management Team this has involved substantial increases in our renumerations, as Rita carried this out as a volunteer and these roles are now paid positions. 

Funding has been boosted by grants received from local/national charities during 2025 -2026, we received: £3500 plus another £4500 given in memory of individuals.  Additionally, our counsellors not only donate some free professional hours but involve themselves in fundraising activities, 

We continue to be grateful to Friends of Still Waters for their ongoing prayers and financial support. We have had regular giving from 56 Friends of Still Waters (who pledge on average £5.00 or £10.00 monthly, much of which is Gift Aided) amounting to £700 per month. 

We have recently registered with ‘easy-fundraising’ to obtain funding through our charity status. 

1 



SW TAR 2025 - 2026 – continued. 

## **3. Counselling & Training – Statistics 2025/26** 

The number of clients seen at Still Waters venues during this year was 250. All our counsellors are trained to Level 4 or higher. We also support trainee counsellors on placement in the last 12 months of their training – providing specialist supervision. We also have a mentor working with Still Waters. This ensures the sustained growth in our qualified counsellors to meet the current and future service provision need. 

## **4. The Still Waters Mission** 

We mainly provide counselling for any adults, children and couples from East Kent and particularly in the Thanet areas, where there are high levels of poverty. We do also provide counselling for people out of area to meet their needs.  Although we are a Christian Organisation, we see people regardless of belief, gender or sexuality. We have continued to meet the needs of those requiring counselling via telephone and online with counselling on Zoom. We provide professional counselling using a range of approaches tailored to the needs of the person. This may involve talking therapies such as Gestalt, Person-Centred, CBT and or creative arts approaches. The majority of these clients were only able to make a small donation and in some cases were unable to pay at all. We also receive clients sponsored by organisations/charities. 

Still Waters has also provided voluntary counselling at a Safe House.  There is currently, 1 counsellor providing counselling at the centre on a weekly basis.  Some of this work, due to the needs of the clients has involves counselling through a telephone interpreter and working through creative arts therapy. 

There has been a restructuring of Still Waters Management, due to Rita and Alan’s impending move out of area. Alan stated that, due to their plans to move in the near future, he was happy to remain a Trustee, while still living in Thanet, but feels succession planning needs to be established. This was discussed and it was agreed that Sue Woan would be appointed Chair for the next Trustee Meeting scheduled for March 2026. Sue would hold this role of about 6 months and during this time William will be preparing to take over this role. 

In line with succession planning, the day to day running of the Centre, Rita has stepped down as Head of Centre and continues her role as Still Waters Consultant. Teresa Fisher has been appointed as Head of Centre supported by Kim Parsons as Admin Support. 

Our main counselling venue is Queens Road Baptist Church, Broadstairs.  We also have a counselling provision at Birchington Baptist Church, Birchington, both who proved excellent provision with good communication and a good working relationship with the Administration Team at the venues this has established a positive and secure environment to ensure safe practice within this setting. A further venue has been established to accommodate clients in the Birchington area due to Birchington Baptist Church having to reduce their provision due to financial restraints. 

## **5. Safeguarding** 

Safeguarding as reported in the last Minutes, due to the death of our DSL, was undertaken in the interim by Rita. This role has now been appointed as a dual role, with Teresa Fisher HofC, and Diana Flint, Supervisor at SW sharing the roll. All procedures are established to record the changes in line with due process. Monitoring will be carried out to ensure good practice is established with DSLs and TDSL. Safeguarding is a priority at SWs with agenda items at each Management and Team Meetings and regular training on this topic. All new students/counsellors joining SW’s have a formal induction in safeguarding to ensure they are fully aware of the SW policies and procedures. 

2 



TAR 2025 – 2026 – continued 

## **6. Team Support & Management** 

The Still Waters Team consist of 5Supervisors and 18 qualified counsellors.  We had 6student counsellors on placement with us, 3 have become SW counsellors on completion of their Diploma. We also have a waiting list of students applying for a placement at SW. 

We now have a team of 5 couples who man the enquiries dedicated phone on a rota system. Information is then passed daily to SW administration. 

There are regular Management Meetings, Team Meetings and Supervision to ensure that all counsellors are made aware of updates in practice and to ensure communication between the Team members. Supervision is also offered to counsellors outside SW.  The regular communication within SW promotes good practice and team building events continued to be organised to help to bring the team together and to fund the Centre. Trustees sit in as observers at both the Management and Team meetings whenever possible to ensure all areas are compliant with the policies and procedures of the Centre.  They feel they have a good knowledge and understanding of the day to day running of the Centre and can address any issues should they arise. 

Training courses at Team Meetings have been provided by Still Waters to provide continued professional development (CPD) for our counsellors. 

## **7. Publicity & Promotion** 

A newsletter is published and sent to interested parties and talks are given at local groups on the work of Still Waters; promoting fund raising events and awareness raising activities and has proved to be very informative to people. 

## **8. Future Planning** 

The Management Team and Trustees are constantly reviewing the way forward for the future for SW, looking at options to ensure growth and Trustees are pursuing a project of contacting local businesses to become sponsors, in the form of ‘Business Buddies’, in return for promoting their company in our advertising and website. 

The Trustees and members of the Management Team work to promote with the SW Team to ensure that Christian ethos remains at the heart of the Centre. 

Sue Woan Chair of Trustees 

3 



||£54,969.00|£0.00|£1,192.50|£21,254.32|£3,872.27|£81,288.09|£64,496.00|£0.00|£9,482.50|£11,015.00|£5,950.00|£1,238.93|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£4,260.89|£96,443.32|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|2025-6 **Income**|||||||**Expenditure**|||||||||||
|**month**<br>**Income from**<br>**clients**<br>**Income from**<br>**training events**<br>**Income from SW**<br>**counsellors**<br>**undertaking**<br>**supervision**<br>**Donations/Friends**<br>**of SW**<br>**Other Income e.g.**<br>**sales**||||||**total**|**Fees paid to SW**<br>**Counsellors**<br>**Payments to**<br>**tutors running**<br>**training events**<br>**Fees paid out for**<br>**supervision**<br>**Admin costs**<br>**including**<br>**stationery**<br>**New Life rent**<br>**Insurance**<br>**Costs of attending**<br>**external training**<br>**courses etc**<br>**Advertising**<br>**Catering and**<br>**refreshments**<br>**Other Expenses**||||||||||**Total**|
|Apr 6th onwards|<br>£2,543.00|<br>£0.00|<br> <br>£20.00|<br>£7,436.82|<br>£0.00|£9,999.82|<br>£0.00|<br> <br>£0.00|<br>£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|<br>£0.00|£0.00|<br>£0.00|£9.80|£9.80|
|May|£4,283.00|£0.00|£140.00|£811.50|£680.47|£5,914.97|£5,765.00|£0.00|£717.50|£550.00|£500.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£4,009.80|£11,542.30|
|J une|£4,964.00|£0.00|£192.50|£791.50|£61.50|£6,009.50|£5,700.00|£0.00|£1,180.00|£400.00|£500.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£9.80|£7,789.80|
|<br>J uly|£5,276.50|£0.00|£100.00|£666.50|£142.00|£6,185.00|£5,250.00|£0.00|£1,102.50|£720.00|£550.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£9.80|£7,632.30|
|<br>August|£4,389.00|£0.00|£100.00|£766.50|£696.00|£5,951.50|£7,280.00|£0.00|£1,302.50|£0.00|£550.00|£764.93|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£97.00|£9,994.43|
|September|£4,376.00|£0.00|£80.00|£851.50|£382.47|£5,689.97|£4,720.00|£0.00|£787.50|£1,320.00|£550.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£9.80|£7,387.30|
|October|£5,794.50|£0.00|£80.00|£791.50|£652.21|£7,318.21|£6,592.50|£0.00|£612.50|£1,045.00|£550.00|£268.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£9,068.00|
|November|£4,595.00|£0.00|£80.00|£1,151.50|£1,117.78|£6,944.28|£6,690.00|£0.00|£385.00|£840.00|£550.00|£47.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£9.80|£8,521.80|
|December|£5,840.00|£0.00|£120.00|£3,539.00|£0.00|£9,499.00|£5,245.00|£0.00|£840.00|£1,285.00|£550.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£34.80|£7,954.80|
|J anuary|£4,225.00|£0.00|£120.00|£2,091.50|£73.84|£6,510.34|£5,085.00|£0.00|£945.00|£1,275.00|£550.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£20.12|£7,875.12|
|<br>February|£4,654.00|£0.00|£40.00|£953.50|£66.00|£5,713.50|£6,348.50|£0.00|£822.50|£1,820.00|£550.00|£159.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£12.32|£9,712.32|
|March|£4,029.00|£0.00|£80.00|£741.50|£0.00|£4,850.50|£5,820.00|£0.00|£787.50|£1,760.00|£550.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£37.85|£8,955.35|
|April 1-5th only|£0.00|£0.00|£40.00|£661.50|£0.00|£701.50|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|



||**Income**|**Expenses**|**balance**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||£64,496.0||
|Counselling|£54,969.00|0|-£9,527.00|
|Training|£0.00|£0.00|£0.00|
|Supervision|£1,192.50|£9,482.50|-£8,290.00|
|||£22,464.8||
|Other|£25,126.59|2|£2,661.77|
||||-|
|||£96,443.3|£15,155.2|
|Totals|£81,288.09|2|3|