## **Trustees' Annual Report for the period** Period start date Period end date 1[st] January 2023 31st December 23 **To** **From** ## Section A Reference and administration details **Charity name** Sandhurst Counselling Service **Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any)** 1143572 **Charity's principal address** The Pastoral Centre Lower Church Road Sandhurst, Berkshire **Postcode GU47 8HN** ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
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20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**period**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||David Percival|Chair||Trustees of SCS| ||Sarah Ashton|Secretary||Trustees of SCS| ||Peter Hulbert|Treasurer||Trustees of SCS| ||NickyThomas|||Trustees of SCS| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| **Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)** **Name Dates acted if not for whole year** **TAR** May **2024** 1 |**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
**Type of adviser**
**Name**
**Address**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
**Type of adviser**
**Name**
**Address**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
**Type of adviser**
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**Address**| |---|---|---| |||| |||| |||| |||| |**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**||| |||| ## **Section B Structure, governance and management** ## **Description of the charity’s trusts** Declaration of Trust dated 17/08/2011 Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) Trust How the charity is constituted - (eg. trust, association, company) Three trustees are nominated by the Parochial Church Council of St Trustee selection methods Michael and All Angels Church, Sandhurst ( _PCC of St Michael’s Church_ ) (eg. appointed by, elected by) Two trustees are nominated by the trustees of the Sandhurst Counselling Service ( _the Service_ ) from the wider community of Sandhurst and shall where practical include a local health professional ## **Additional governance issues (Optional information)** You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant, about: - policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees; - the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works; - relationship with any related parties; New trustees are provided with a copy of the Declaration of Trust and the latest Report and Statement of Accounts, and are briefed on their duties and responsibilities as laid down by the Charities Commission Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks are made to ensure that new trustees are not barred for any reason Trustees are required to declare any interest in any proposed transaction or arrangement with, or entered into by, the Service Trustees are required to absent themselves from any discussions of the trustees in which such a conflict of interest might arise and not to vote in any decision arising from that discussion No trustee may benefit financially from their trusteeship - trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them. **TAR** May **2024** 2 ## **Section C Objectives and activities** **Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document** The relief of persons resident in Sandhurst and the surrounding area who are suffering from mental or emotional stress by the provision of a counselling service with a Christian ethos, by providing support and supervision for those involved in counselling on behalf of the Service, and by providing educational training and study facilities for those involved in counselling on behalf of the Service and the general community. **Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)** The Service is designed to help those seeking to cope with stress, depression, bereavement, redundancy, relationship breakdown, and other major life changes and personal crises, to enable them to lead richer, more fulfilling and resourceful lives. It is offered to clients irrespective of their financial status and free at the point of need. One to one counselling is provided on a regularly recurring basis in a safe confidential space and without restriction of the number of sessions held. These sessions are intended to facilitate in the client a deeper understanding of his/her feelings, encouraging self help and increased emotional well-being. The service adheres to the ethical framework for good practice of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) The Trustees ensure that the Service operates on a sound financial footing, and conducts its affairs to achieve the its primary objectives and activities The Trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charities Commission on their website: _http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/Charity_requirements_guidance/Ch arity_essentials/default.aspx_ The Trustees confirm that their procedures have followed appropriately the Declaration of Trust dated 17/08/2011 ## **Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)** You **may choose** to include further statements, where relevant, about: - policy on grantmaking; All practitioners are volunteers, and none are paid for their services. In return the Service provides them with counselling experience and pays for their supervision and training. All this effectively adds to the pool of skilled counselling resources for their ongoing work in the wider community Donations by clients receiving counselling is on a completely voluntary basis, but client awareness of the costs of providing this service have been heightened. Donations currently cover about 29% of the cost of a session. - policy programme related investment; - contribution made by volunteers. **TAR** May **2024** 3 Section D Achievements and performance **Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year** A day of practitioner training was held in May on the subject of Psychological Defences and how they impact on relationships with ourselves and others. A second training day was held in November with the title ‘Cut it Out’ covering self-harm which is particularly topical. Figures on the number of sessions for 2023 are the highest ever, with 1665 sessions delivered to over 100 clients. Of these 43 finished their counselling during the year. The cancellation rate remains around 15%. The number of practitioners has fluctuated between 16 and 23, with an average of 17 working with the service over the year. Replacements are constantly being recruited to begin their training, as qualified practitioners move on to paid work. By the end of the year, the waiting list was 13 clients awaiting assessment and 40 clients awaiting counselling, a large increase because of the ever increasing demand on our services. Only one of the quarterly Trustee meetings was held on Zoom, the rest were in person. Strategically we continue to seek to develop the service to meet the increasingly complex needs of clients, and to remain financially sustainable. Testimonies from clients include _‘I was surprised how counselling made me feel much better after the session and I was able to reflect on the session all week’. 'I ended up having a mini episode/breakdown... I was surprised at how my practitioner was able to see things in my distant past have shaped me for all these years. Having counselling has made me a much stronger and more normal person.' 'I am surprised how positive a change counselling has made to me'_ **TAR** May **2024** 4 **Section E Financial review** ## **Brief statement of the** **charity’s policy on reserves** The Service maintains reserves to at all times cover “closure costs.” This means there is always available sufficient funding to settle outstanding commitments. This does not however cover longer term obligations in respect of ongoing counselling support. **Details of any funds materially in deficit** ## **Further financial review details (Optional information)** You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant about: - the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising); - how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity; - investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted. We continue to be most grateful for the ongoing support from the Bracknell Forest local authority for their grant, significantly enhanced by a grant from the MOU Public Health ring fenced grant investment fund. St Michael and All Angels Church, Sandhurst also provides significant support to the Service by making financial donations and providing meeting rooms in its Pastoral Centre for counselling activities. - Fund raising remains a constant pre-occupation, and we are also grateful to the Sovereign Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem Knights of Malta, Sandhurst Town Council, Sandhurst Voluntary Care, and the Berkshire Community Foundation for their most invaluable donations. The grant from the Berkshire Community Foundation has enabled us to launch an Incentive Scheme, designed to retain the services of some of our more experienced practitioners for a longer period than might otherwise be the case. - Finally, thanks are due to the Rotary Club of Easthampstead for their support for a raffle that also yielded welcome funds. ## **Section F Other optional information** ## **Section G Declaration** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** |**Signature(s)**
**Full name(s)**
**Position (eg Secretary, Chair,**
**etc)**
**Date**||| |---|---|---| ||
Dave Percival|Sarah Ashton| ||
Chair|Secretary| |||| ||01/05/2024|01/05/2024| **TAR** May **2024** 5 SANDHURST COUNSELLING SERVICE Registered Charity Number 1143572 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 12 MONTHS to 31st DECEMBER 2023 Contents Pages Independent Examinerfs Report Financial Statements Notes to Financial Ststements Notes to Financial Statements (continued) Financi81 St8tementp•Jtr l of 5 Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of Sandhur5t Coun5elling Servi I report on the Financial Statements for 12 months to 31" December 2023 Respective Responsibilitles of Trustee5 and Examlfter The charity's tn￿tee5 are responsible forthe preparation of the financial Statements. The charitys trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under sertion 43121 of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to= examine the accounts (under sertion 43131 of the Actl,- follow up the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission lunder section 43(7bl of the Act- and State whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of Independent Examinerfs Report My examination was carried out in accordance with the Generdl Directions given by the Charsty Commission. An examination includes a ￿vieW of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes a consideration of any unusual items or disclosures the accounts. and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The proCedU￿S undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is gtven as to whether the financial statements represent a "true and frdirf view and the report is limitsd to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent Examinerfs Ststernent In connection with my examination. no matter has come to my attention-. 11 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respert the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Att have not been met, or 21 to which. in my opinion, attention should be drdwn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Mr J Rogers 17 Chiltern Road Sandhurst Berkshire GU47 8NB FinancEI Staternertpage 2 of5 SANDHURST COUNSELLING SERVICE Financial Statements for 12 months to 31st De￿rnber 2023 12 mths to 31 Dec 2023 Res. Funds Total 2022 Total scs INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT Income Donations re￿iVed Interest received Tax on gift aided donations 59.843 37 2,289 55,594 18 2,422 37 2,289 Total Income 56.369 5.800 62,169 58,034 Less Ex nditure Counselling costs Administration costs 48,041 14,349 1,950 49,991 14,349 42,005 14,251 Total Expenditure 62,390 1.950 64,340 56,256 Net income{expendrture) (6,021) 3,850 (2,171) 1,778 Total funds at beginning of period 23,745 1,350 25,095 23,317 Total funds at end of period 17,724 5,200 22,924 25,095 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31st DECEMBER Debtors and prepayments Tax recoveiable Petty Cash Cash at bank 7,142 2.550 7,142 2,550 800 2,605 14,238 5,200 19,438 27,019 Total current assets 23,930 5,200 29.130 30,429 Less:creditors and accruals 6,206 6.206 5,334 Net rese￿eS 17,724 5.200 22,924 25,095 The attached notes fomi part of these financial statements Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by: Mr D Percival Chairman Mr P M Hulbert Treasurer Financi4lStdterrwtpasE 3 of5 SANDHURST COUNSELLING SERVICE Financial Statements for 12 months to 31st D￿mber 2023 12 mths to 31 Dec 2023 scs Res. Funds 2022 Totsl Total NOTES 1. These Financial Statements have been prepared on an Income and Expenditure basis 2. Restricted Funds During 2023 grants totslling £5,800 were awarded and £1.350 brought forward to cover specific expenditure. Of this amount, £1,950 was spent during the year and £5,200 carried forward to 2024 3. Donations re￿iVed Grant from Bracknell Forest Council Public Health Grants St Michaels Church charitabte giving Free use of Church rooms Client donations Other donations received 4,420 20,380 1,248 12.366 14.299 4.420 20.380 1,248 12,366 14,299 7,130 4.420 20.380 1.185 10.045 13,357 6.207 5,800 Totsl 54,043 5.800 59,843 55.594 4.Counsellin costs Counselling supervision Counselling adminstrab.on Practitioner fees Workshopsltraining courses Use of church rooms for counselliTVJ Total 18.155 13,440 2,420 1.660 12.366 48.041 500 18.655 13,440 3.400 1.660 12,8 49,991 15,590 12,600 2,400 1,240 10,175 42,005 470 1.950 5. Administration costs Professional fees and costs Use of Church office staff Printing & photocopying Remote working costs Miscellaneous 1.785 10.915 852 144 653 14.349 1.785 10.915 852 144 653 14,349 1.786 11,121 524 144 676 14,251 Total &ncialSt8tementpage 4 of 5 SANDHURST COUNSELLING SERVICE Financial StatenHIts for 12 months to 31st December 2023 12 n7ths to 31 Dec 2023 Res. Funds Total 2022 Total scs NOTES continued 6. Debtors and re ments Grant from Local Authoiity Othèr debtors and prepayinents Totsl 6200 942 7.142 6,2(10 942 7,142 800 800 7. Tax re¢overable represents 25% of gfft aided and GASDS donatb)ns to be daimed from HMRC after the year end 8. Creditors and accxuals Counselling costs Administrab"on costs 3,200 3.006 6206 3200 3,006 6.206 1,710 3,624 5.334 Total 9. Remuneration and e ses No Iruste8s receNed any remunerdtion a￿1 no exwises were paNJ to trustees (x txJunselk¥rs Finwx¥8lStslementpas*5dS