## **ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) AGENDA AND REPORTS PACK** th 9 September 2025 High Leigh Conference Centre Lord St, Hoddesdon EN11 8SG ## **TCTC Board Meeting Agenda** ## **9th September 2025** ## **17.15 - 18.25** ## **High Leigh Conference Centre and Online via Zoom** ## Current Trustee/Directors Chris Nicholson **(Chair** ), Peter Clarke **(Secretary)** , Fitsum Teklu **(Treasurer)** , Kevin Gallagher **(Commissioning and Consultation Lead)** , Bethan Thibaut, Deborah Judge **(Children's Network CoChair)** , Iwona Munia **(International network Co- Chair)** Dr Jenelle Clarke **(Editor: Journal),** Julia Dillalo **(Adult Mental Health Group Co-Chair)** , Luca Mingarelli **(International network Co- Chair)** , Mike Staines **(Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion)** , Neelam Khawani-Connett **(On-line Conference and Lived Experience, Communications and Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion), ,** Richard Shuker **(Research & Development Group)** , Peter Cockersell **(The Adult Mental Health Group Co-Chair)** ## **Agenda:** 1. Welcome – record of attendance – apologies for absence 2. Approve minutes of last AGM – Dec 2024 3. Matters arising 4. Chair’s Annual Report – Chris Nicholson 5. Accounts 2024 6. Treasurer’s report (to include a membership profile overview/growth forecast) 7. The election of trustees/directors (management committee) - Neelam Khawani-Connett, Bethan Ines Thibaut, Dr Deborah Judge and Iwona Munia standing - down and standing for re-election 8. Proposed Resolutions – 9. Therapeutic Childcare and Commissioning – Dr Kevin Gallagher and Dr Chris Nicholson. 10. Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity – Mike Staines and Neelam Khawani-Connett 11. Secretarial support role (Peter) 12. Strategy and Communications Neelam Khawani-Connett 13. Groups and Networks - (LEN) Neelam, (AMH) Julie and Peter, (CN) Kevin and Deborah, (IG) Iwona and Luca 14. The Journal update and future – Jenelle Clark 15. Growing the Board of Trustee/Directors 16. Any Other Business - Date/location of next AGM -Conference 2026 – TCTC Conference (inperson and online ## **AGM Minutes 2023** ## **TCTC Annual General Meeting** **5th November 2024** ## **17.15 – 18.30** ## **High Leigh Conference Centre and Online via Zoom Current Trustee/Directors** Chris Nicholson (Chair), Peter Clarke (Secretary), Fitsum Teklu (Treasurer), Kevin Gallagher (Commissioning and Consultation Lead), Bethan Thibaut, Deborah Judge (Children's Network Co-Chair), Iwona Munia (International Group Co- Chair) Dr Jenelle Clarke (Editor: Journal), Julia Dillalo (Adult Mental Health Group Co-Chair), Luca Mingarelli (International Group Co- Chair), Mike Staines (Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion), Neelam Khawani-Connett (On-line Conference and Lived Experience, Communications and Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion),Richard Shuker (Research & Development Group), Peter Cockersell (The Adult Mental Health Group Co-Chair) ## **Agenda:** **1.Welcome –** record of attendance – apologies for absence Apologies from Dr Deborah Judge. Apologies from Richard Shuker. Apologies from Jennelle Clarke. Apologies from Fitsum Teklu ## **2. Approve minutes of last AGM –** Dec 2023 Approved minutes ## **3. Matters arising** **4. Chair’s Annual Report –** Chris Nicholson ## **5. Accounts 2023** **6. Treasurer’s report** (to include a membership profile overview/growth forecast) The reserves policy was £10,000, which was considered to be enough to mitigate against financial risks. There is a need to adjust the reserves policy. Operating costs has increased, brining to the board we need to have a reserves policy that covers a years’ worth of running costs, towards £20,000 - £25,000. Peter Clarke suggests acting with caution on this. What are the financial risks we are mitigating against? The Charities Commission do not like to have big changes in reserves, but we could change our reserves policy to be in bands of activity rather than financial, this would allow us to underwrite set events. Income streams have changed. We have made a modest profit at every event, and the Children’s Sector is still the largest sector within our membership. Financial outlook is good, moving forward we need to focus on two potential strands: -Growing membership -Publishing events more in advance ## **7. The election of trustees/directors (management committee)** ## ▪ **Richard Shuker standing down** Many thanks, Richard has put on many very interesting events. Richard has brought in many new people who do not normally engage with TCTC to present and engage with TCTC through interesting and engaging events. The R&D group needs a new lead. We need to think about how the R&D group connects with the Journal group, or to create a group to connect the two groups. ## ▪ **Peter Cockersell standing down** A huge thank you for an enormous amount of work over 6 years. We are incredibly grateful for your time and commitment. Peter is staying on with the Adult Mental Health group, and staying on as part of the conference committee. CHT is now well represented on the board. The Elly Jensen is part of Peter’s legacy and is now an annual event at the conference. ## ▪ **Fitsum Teklu, standing down and standing for re-election** Nominated by Mike Staines. Seconded by Dr Kevin Gallagher. Dr Kevin Gallagher notes it has been great working with her, and the board really appreciates having her accountancy skills. Unanimously agreed. ## ▪ **Luca Mingarelli standing down and standing for re-election** Nominated by Iwona Munia. Seconded by Julie Dilallo Unanimously agreed. ## ▪ **Julia Dilallo standing down and standing for re-election** Nominated by Dr Chris Nicholson. Seconded by Iwona Munia Unanimously agreed. ## ▪ **Patrick Mandikate standing to be co-opted to the board.** Proposed by Dr Chris Nicholson. Seconded by Criag Fees Unanimously agreed. ## **8. Proposed Resolutions – Focus on driving up membership and expanding the board. Consultancy and request for events from members.** ## **Member Events and Membership** Members are engaging with events, and we are looking to put on more events in 2025. The board needs to takes forward an initiative recruiting from different sectors. We need to think about how we are going to increase income gained from the events, and we are going to increase membership and participation at events. The communication to different sectors needs to be different, they want different things from us and have different needs. How many non members are attending our events? Therapeutic childcare conference has more non members, that’s a recruitment opportunity. This conference there are 8 non members. Sarah Paget recommends looking at joining at Big Spud and getting a stand at big spud. It is an expensive conference, but would be a good networking event. Chris agrees, the board should think about going to more conferences, for example there is a mental health conference at Essex university. We especially need to have a presence and a focus in Adult Mental Health. Dr Alec Clarke suggests, sending all non members half price membership for the year, the conversion rate for joining after a year half price is about 80%. Could look into different sectors as well, such as schools, they could use help with looking at different frameworks, working with children who are expelled or excluded. Teachers could join as an individual, or to look into school groups. ## **Task: Board to develop Strategy** ## **Consultancy** Increased request for support following in person children’s Networks for consultancy. We need to offer something more structures for us to manage as we currently struggle with Human Resources, we need to offer bundles in accessible and manageable portions. Task: We must produce governance package and strategy. ## **9. Therapeutic Childcare and Commissioning – Dr Kevin Gallagher and Dr Chris Nicholson.** ## **Commissioning:** - Significant progress and visibility in our work with childrens sector local authorities - Chris presented a workshop at the National Childrens Commissioner Training Conference (June) very good engagement - Kevin has linked in with a range of networks as there is a lot of policy and practice movement in this space across the UK e.g. Regional Care Cooperatives. There are a lot of ‘irons in the fire’ - Kevin delivering free training (under TCTC banner) to Telford commissioning team in September – and there is follow up introduction to the 20 other local authorities in the West Mids region Through all this work we have been early stakeholders in a Therapeutic Child Care Commissioning event for October this year – Chris presenting a keynote, we have supported C of C to have a slot on standards, Amberleigh presenting lived experience keynote and workshop (with TCTC branding present) – very significant stakeholders - Relevance is 2-fold: - TCTC can offer LAs direct consultancy and training in the use of standards and thinking about therapeutic/ relational care in their commissioning and market management. The more traction and visibility we get with the local authorities (the customers of our children sector members) the greater the engagement for members/ attracting new members. - Lots of proactive LinkedIn posts where opportunities arise (responding and commenting to high levels of media reporting on the challenges in children's social care) to signpost to TCTC or share a sense of the work we are involved in – so lots of general awareness raising in many forums. ## **Consultancy:** - In 2024 we generated new income of £3500 – net £2000 (up from £900 net in our first year) so this continues to be a revenue stream for further development. - It’s still very much in its infancy as we haven’t had much time to developing strategy or expanding our resource – so these are very much pilot projects to help develop our working approaches and proof of concept - We have template Single Central Register for governance, consultant profile template and contract/invoicing templates which seem to be working well - It has been the activity of 3 directors so far – Kevin primarily, some input from Chris and now a recent new project for Peter - Mostly these are services seeking support to develop their models, or to think about the application of C of C standards, or how to better structure or describe their therapeutic practice. They are all in children's services to date. - There is potential for paid public sector work following on from the commissioning activity update. Small revenue at present, but with good potential that needs more strategic development and resource over time. ## 11. Secretarial support role (Peter) Peter Clarke is looking to stand down but is looking for someone else to step up. The new secretary needs to be a member of the board as they are an important part of the structure. The roll will be sent out to members. ## **12. Strategy and Communications** ## **13. Groups and Networks - (LEN) Neelam, (AMH) Julie and Peter, (CN) Kevin and Deborah, (IN) Iwona and Luca** Question from the International Group. We are just for people living and working aboard, but we always get people from the UK wanting to join. What should we be doing? Dr Chris Nicholson suggests we think about the meaning, the people from the Uk want to connect with people in different communities. This could be in the group, or in a different group, but we should support this as it is very important and powerful. ## **14. The Journal update and future – Jenelle Clark** ## **15. Growing the Board of Trustee/Directors** Skill sets we would benefit from as a board: Marketing Administration and organisational Governance Research ## **16. Any Other Business - Date/location of next AGM -Conference 2025 – TCTC Conference (in-person and online** If you would like the original copy of the minutes from 2024 AGM please email admin@therapeuticcommunities.org ## **Chairs Report** RThe Consortium for Therapeutic Communities (TCTC) is a member’s charity for all those involved in, connected with, and interested in therapeutic communities and the delivery of group and relationshipbased support and treatment across the entire human lifespan. We promote a values-based approach to working with people, often in communities or groups. We believe that relationships and shared responsibility are central to all organisations and that the overall social environment is critical to the effectiveness of any service. Therapeutic Communities (TCs) are settings where the whole context; the physical environment, the way the day is planned and the relationships a person has across the community, are considered to be part of the therapeutic process. The focus for me in my term as Chair has been, and continues to be, the long-term viability, security and standing of the Chairty, as well as ensuring our aims and objectives are foremost in our activities. Given the relative smallness of the charity, its limited assets and human resource, it has been sensible to engage in focused work with limited but central objectives rather than pursuing a broader and perhaps unrealistic (or even idealistic) strategy. Thus, we do the work where we are – from within the TCTC networks, seeking to yield influence through the extension of our values, ethos and theoretical position in those places most likely to find them of use. What I have found we that the door, long closed to us over about 25 years, is beginning to open up – probably for complicated reasons, and both TC and psychodynamically informed ways of working and thinking are gaining ground. I have noted my individual activities in my capacity as Chair at the foot of the report, and address broader TCTC issues directly below. ## **Finance** Financial stability of TCTC is much improved – see Fitsum’s report – though our financial reserves remain small. While our strategy of having additional training events and conferences across the year, extending our work on consultation, and developing our profile publicly and professionally in order to drive up membership has been effective, the long-term stability of the Charity remains vulnerable to sudden shocks. Fitsum is skilled in laying out the accounts in a clear fashion, and manages to work flexibly with the working processes and changes within the charity. ## **Chairs Report** ## **Board of Directors** One immediate reflection is that the Executive Board must be continually renewed. Last year several members stood down, while both current members and new members, due to a mix of personal and professional concerns have needed to take a back seat during parts of the year, and it indicates the pressures of commitment for all in this period of social and economic uncertainty. This is no less true for me in my role as Chair than for anyone else, with both ends of the year marking personal and professional pressures. I’m reminded that Charity is Greek for love – that love is a verb – and holding the Charity requires constant attention and sustained effort. As such, I want to put my thanks on record to the Board of Trustees because the wide achievements of the year across the networks are occurring against a very challenging backdrop. Yet we continue to need to grow the Board of Trustees / Directors with a view to bringing on to the board new skills and capacities with which we can extend our work – and this will be evident in the AGM. There will be a need to plan ahead for succession in key roles – e.g. Secretary (addressed today), Chair of the Conference Committee, and Chair of the Charity overall. Happily, we know there are many incredible people in the TC world – the TCTC Board members in waiting – who will in time join us in our work and eventually take it over and carry it forward. ## **Conference Success** I also want to highlight the success of the three main annual conference over the year. The 45th Annual Conference here at High Leigh was a great success thanks to the team and the wonderful contributions of our members. The one-day conference in May at Wrexham University, From Trauma Aware to Therapeutic Childcare, headed by Kevin Gallagher, and the Virtual Conference in June, Building Connections: Relational Practice and Therapeutic Communities in Transformative Care, headed by Neels, were both fabulous – very well-attended and receiving great feedback. I was delighted to be involved in the latter, and hope I can be involved with the former in future years. What has made a great different to this conference is the kind support on the Conference Team of Jessica Williams Ciemnyjewski, Felix Williams and Danni Harper, who each bring their energy and creative drive. ## **Chairs Report** ## T **he Journal of Therapeutic Communities** Established in 1980 – is the only peer-reviewed journal that is dedicated to publishing international research and findings related to TC, therapeutic and enabling environments and related fields. The Journal has run into several issues in spite of the work put in last years to resuscitate and reenergise it. There are two solid Special Editions to come, with a third normal edition in tow, but technical issues in the review process (on Emerald’s side) have slowed things down. I am working on a more establishing a Journal-focused subgroup within the Board to support Jenelle Clarke with whom I’ve been working closely. However, there are some fundamental questions about the criteria and format of an academic journal which also need addressing as Journals in general are struggling to maintain themselves. Ours suffers from unique features that need to be tackled over the coming year. ## **TCTC Newsletter** One of the positive new developments this year has been the production of the TCTC Newsletter from within the Comms Team. This is has already grown in size over the first two editions, and it loots set to develop as a non-academic site for gathering news and practice from across the world of TCs. Many thanks to Neels and the team – and notably to Craig Fees as a non-board member whose support is considerable. ## **Administration** Our administrative support, primarily Abi Tales at BestCity, have worked enormously hard overt the year to support us. Abi brings verve and gusto to her role, for example, in developing a beautifully succinct TCTC Flyer for external events, and supporting the entire team of the Board. We ran into complex and lingering issues with our website this year, which was managed, transposed and rebuilt by Aaron – who was immensely patient and generous with his time and technical know-how. Warm thanks to all at BestCity for their support. ## **Chairs Report** ## A **ctivities as Chair:** ## **Key engagements/activities** ·June – spoke at the Commissioning Together: Improving Outcomes through Collaboration and Innovation conference - Title: A Misplaced Childhood - Therapeutic Childcare - What is it and What it isn’t? ·July – Spoke at the AQA A-level Psychology: The Teachers’ Conference to 85 psychology teachers about psychodynamic module of support and therapeutic community model of adolescents ·April – invited attendee - Back to Their Futures Summit: Transforming care for children subject to Deprivation of Liberty (DoL) orders, Birmingham [In-person] · April – attended the Relational Practice Development – discussion day ·April – Visited Navigo for a two-day visit. Lecture on: An Ecological Model for Residential Therapeutic Child Care & Therapeutic Communities · April – attended Parliamentary Launch of a research report making the case for investment in psychotherapeutic services for people with ‘Personality Disorder’ – which used day-TCs as case example ·February – invited attendee - South East RCC Voluntary Sector Round Table ·2024-25 – Developed Leadership Competencies for the Enabling Leadership Framework - UK National Enabling Environments in Prisons and Probation programme (NEEPP).The official launch is October 2025.An associated Prison Leadership Handbook is in production ## **Future Engagements** ·November 25 – invited to give keynote at 2025 FEVACA Conference on Developing Residential Workforce: Training, Education, Leadership Spring 2026 – Invited by Catherine Orr to speak in Spring 2026 in Manchester at the Forum for Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychology Services (FICAPS) conference on the theme of Creating a ·Psychologically Safe Environment/milieu in Inpatient CAMHS. I have confirmed. ·I am in discussion with Sue Mizen about how to build upon her excellent work on psychoanalytically informed day-TCs. A central idea is a collaboration between the Sue (TTTF), Essex University and TCTC to apply for a substantial Funding Grant with three main strands: 1.Development of a two-year package of hybrid training for teams 2.Work up a Long-Term cost benefit of investment in therapeutic input in children’s homes and Tier 4 CAMHS services and CAMHS inpatients ED services 3.Academic stand – examining the history of theoretical approaches to understanding of residential therapeutic care, and making a case for Sue’s Relational Effective Model and Chris’ Ecological Model ## Dr Chris Nicholson - Chair tctc REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 07710339 (England and Wales) REGisfERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1143955 REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 I￿¢ R THE CONSORTIUM FOR THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES ￿cT￿ Mccabe Ford Williams Chartered Account￿lts Charlion House Dour Street DOVER Kent r16 IBL tctc THE CONSORTIUM FOR THERAPEvrIc COMMUNI'AILS (fcTQ CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 Page Report of the Trustees I to 3 Indepen(lent Exnmlner's Report Statement of KnAnclAI Activitle8 JJAl4nce Sheet Notes to the Fln4n¢141 Sthtements 7 to 9 DetAiled Statement of FinaneSAI A¢¢SvAtles io tctc THK CONSORTIUM FOR THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIKS crcrc) REPORT OF THE TRusfEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 The tNstees who are also directors of the charity for the pury)oses of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the ¢harity for the year ended 31 December 2024. The h￿Stee5 have adopted the provisions of A￿OUnting and Reporting by Charities: Slalem¢nt of Recommended Practice appli¢able to charities preparing their a¢counls in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ire1￿)d (FRS 102) (effective l January 2019). OBJECTIVES AND AcfiviTIES Objectives Trnd aims The objects of the charity are to reli¢ve the needs of people who have sufftred emotional trauma 8nd mental heallli difficulties which can be treated in therapeutic communities and therapeutic cnvironments. The charity does this by developing the standard and qiiality of service in therapeutic settings, and promoting awareness, education and research related to these services amongst health professionals, service providers and the public. Piiblic benefit The Iriistees confirni that they have complied with the duti￿ in Section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard lo thc Charity Commission's general guidance on PLEblic benefit. The tnistees have referred to the guidance in the Charity Commission general guidaiice on piiblic benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in plai￿1ng our future a¢tivilies. In particular, tIK trustees consider how planned activities will contribute lo the aims and objective5 that they have set. ACHIFVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE The Consortium for Therapeutic Communities (Tcfc) ts a memberfs associ&lion which promotes a values-based approach lo working with people. We believe that relalionships and shared responsibility are centrnl to all organisalions and that t]ie overall social environment 15 critical to the effectiveness of any service. Therapeulic Comiiiunities (Tcs) are sellings where the whole context. the physical environmenl, the way the day is planned and th¢ relationships a person has, are Considered to be P