2023-12-31-accounts - Tonbridge Counselling Service

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	Trustee name	Office (ifany)	Dates aclad ifnot for whole year
	Andy Simmonds		Resigned on completion of 3"term 19e
			September 2023.
	Jill Gibbs		Resigned on completion
			of 3~ term 19a
			September 2023.
	Rev Canon Mark		Reappointed to 3"term
3	Barker		25a May 2021. Term
			ends June 2024.
	Sarah Marfleet		Resigned on completion of 1a term 19a
			September 2023.
	Rev Wendy Carr		Reappointed to 2nd term 19eSeptember 2023.
			Term ends June 2026.
	Sally Nash	Chairman	Reappointed to 2"a term 19a September 2023.
			Term ends June 2026.
	Katie Clayton		Appointed to 1"term 25e
			May 2021. Term ends
			June 2024.
	Connie Burgess	Treasurer	Appointed to 1"term 6a
			December 2021. Term
			ends June 2025.
	John Barr		Appointed to 1"term 19'
			September 2023. Term
			ends June 2026.

				The charity's constitution indudes two objects:
				1. Therapeutic counselling: to promote and protect the physical,
Summary ofthe objects ofthe charity set out in its governing document				spiritual and mental health ofthose in need in Tonbridge and the surrounding area by way ofa professional counselling service based on a Christian ethos. 2. Training: to advance the education ofcounsellors for the public
				benefit by the provision oftraining in counselling.
				Counselling service
				The chariity's counselling service is open to any member ofthe public,
				and is provided under a flexible and affordable charging structure.
				The charity is committed, for the public benefit, to provide its services in
				safe and trusting relationships guided by professional principles.
				Accordingly, all counsellors are required to be registered members ofthe
				British Association ofCounsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP)orthe
				Association ofChristian Counsellors (ACC), are qualified to at least
				Diploma level, and abide by the ethical framework set out by these
				bodies. This indudes regular supervision and ongoing post-qualification
				training. TCSoffers placements to counsellors in training and so
				provides dinical supervision. Placements are overseen by the TCS
				Counselling Manager.
				In addition to direct access tothe public through its website
				www. tonbrid ecounsellin service.co.uk and dedicated telephone line, the
Summary ofthe main activities undertaken forthe public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard tothe guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)				charity encourages local agencies including GPs and churches to refer clients for counselling. The charity is committed to providing a non- judgemental service which aims to treat all people respectfully, regardless ofgender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin or religion. The charity does not describe its activity as 'Christian counselling' nor does it have a religious afliliation. Rather, as professional therapeutic counsellors it operates within the same ethical guidelines and practices as any other organisation affiliated to the BACP. However, the objects refer toa 'Christian ethos' being part ofthe values and motivation that draw the charity into providing counselling. We believe that it isa Christian principle that hurting people are reached, and broken lives
				restored, and that therapeutic counselling can help in this process.
				On initial assessment, clients are advised ofthe full fee that the charity
				requires to meet its costs. While this amount is required to ensure the
				service is sustainable, as part ofits provision ofan affordable charging
				structure, the charity provides a limited number ofAssisted Places for
				people within the Tonbridge area who are unable to pay the full fee
				amount. This Assisted Places scheme is funded by gifts and grants and
				transfers from general funds.
				Training
				Within this public benefit context ofmaintaining high professional
				standards, the charity provides training to existing counsellors through a
				programme ofcontinuing professional development (CPD) that maintains
				and enhances their skills in accordance with the BACP and ACC ethical
				frameworks, and to new counsellors to safeguard the charity's access to
				future qualified counsellors and thereby maintain and build capacity.

							All counsellors are required to attend annual Safeguarding Training in
							accordance with the TCSSafeguarding Policy. The appointed
							Safeguarding Lead within the Trustees is also invited to attend this
							training.
							The trustees have considered, and concluded, that any private benefit
							received through its training activities are a necessary and cost-effective
							by-product ofcarrying out its public interest purpose ofproviding a
							professional counselling service and are not excessive in the
							drcumstances.
Additional details ofobjectives							and activities (Optional information)
							Grants given
							The chanty's policy isthat no person should be refused access to its
							counselling services on grounds ofaffordability. Accordingly the charity
You may choose further statements,					to include where		provides a limited number ofAssisted Places for people within the Tonbridge area who are unable to pay the full fee amount.
relevant,			about:				Volunteers
~	policy		on grant		making;		In the interests ofmaintaining a high professional standard and ensuring accountability, all counsellors sign afreelance agreement covering their
~	policy		programme			related	obligations tothe charity, and the charity's obligation to provide
	investment;						supervision, safeguarding checks, insurance and afee based on hours
~	contribution volunteers.			made		by	incurred in client work. Where a counsellor wishes to return the fee to the charity, this is included within 'gifts and donations'. Bookkeeping services were provided by a Trustee, part ofwhich is on a paid basis ata
							rate lower than market. Various support services such as charity
							secretary and fundraising are provided by volunteers.
		~	~				~ ~ ~ r
Summary ofthe main achievements ofthe charity during the year							Counselling In this tenth year ofoperation, counselling services continued under the leadership ofNicola Canham. Most counselling appointment are face-to- face at Gilbert House, but online and telephone counselling which were
							developed during the period ofCOVID resbictions continue to be
							available.
							During 2023:
							the team ofcounsellors has reduced to9(2022 —12);
							in total, we dealt with 101dients (2022 —102),ofwhich 81 were
							discharged (2022 —48);
							49clients received help from the assisted places scheme (2022—
							42).
							Most referrals continue to be direct self-referrals. Most clients are dealt
							with as single adults, but we are also able to work with couples. The
							website www. tonbrid ecounsellin service co uk indudes an introduction
							to counselling, a clear statement ofour ethos, profiles ofour counsellors,
							and an explanation ofthe introductory process we follow.
							Training
							No training courses commenced during the year, and there are currently
							no plans to resume accredited training courses leading to qualification.
							We continued our programme ofCPD training events for our existing
							counsellors and students.

Briefstatement ofthe charity's policy on reserves	Briefstatement ofthe charity's policy on reserves	Briefstatement ofthe charity's policy on reserves	Unrestricted funds: In summary, the charity received f83,066(2022— f80,700) in unrestricted income, and spent f76,770(2022 —f79,135). The balance ofunrestricted funds at31"December 2023wasf31,111 (2022 —f33,815). While the charity's financial model ofpaying
			counsellors an hourly rate for client appointments, and clients contribute
			on the basis ofaffordability, has served well there isa continuing need to
			transfer unrestricted funds to the Assisted Places scheme in addition to
			grants received.
			Assisted Places scheme: During 2023,the charity provided assistance towards fees off19,569(2022 - f17,392)to49clients (2022 -42 clients).
			The charity continued to utilise grants received in 2019,notably from
			High Hilden Fund (through Kent Community Foundation —Vulnerable
			Adults Themed Programme) and National Lottery Community Fund. At 31"December 2022, the restricted fund available to provide assistance stood atf6,205 (2022 —f2,023). In 2023, the charity transfered further
			funds from unrestdicted reserves, and will seek further grant funding.
			Training assistance: As no training courses ran in 2023, no grants were sought and the balance off1,952is carried forward.
Details ofany 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 offunds (including			Gilbert House: The charity's premises at Gilbert House in the centre of Tonbridge were transferred tothe Charity from Tonbridge Baptist Church (TBC)for nil consideration in February 2020. The premises had previously been gifted toTBCfor use as a counselling centre and cafe. During 2019,TBCceased to operate acafe in Gilbert House, and concluded that the charitable purpose for which Gilbert House was given
	any fundraising);		tothe Church would be better served by transferring the building to
~	how expenditure has supported the key objectives ofthe charity;		Tonbridge Counselling Service for nil consideration. After careful deliberation and seeking advice, the trustees accepted the transfer. The building has been dassifiied as an Endowment Asset. The ground tloor has been sub-let to 65mm Coffee Ltd as a cafe for 5years terminating in
~	investment policy and		2024 and the rental applied in part to maintain the building and in part to
	objectives including	any	support the work ofthe charity. The counselling service operates from
	ethical investment	policy	the first floor ofthe building.
	adopted.
			-
			~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

on behal	f ofthe charity's	trustees
	Signature(s)
	Full name(s)
Position	(eg Secretary, Chair, etc)	CHrt iC.
	Date

				Tonbridge	Counselling	Service				1155690
					Receipts and payments				accounts			CC~68
				Forthe period from		1 Janua	2023	To		31 December 2023
x
		~
				funds		Restricted	funds	Endowment funds		Total	funds	Last year
				to the nearest K		to the nearest 2		to the nearest 9		tothe nearest K		to the nearest &
A1 Recei s
Client counsellin fees					71„039						?1,039	64,159
Grants							13,009				13,090	12,500
Gifts and donations					2?		1,759					2,414
Rental income					12,099						12,900	12,000
Sub total(Grossincome			forAR)				14,750				97,816	91,973
A2 Asset and investment			sales
seetable .
			Sub total
	Total		receipts		83,066		14,750			-	97,816	91,073
A3pa ments
Counsellors' fees					28.692						28,692	34,628
Supervision and safeguarding					10,117						10,117	7,9&7
Office and adniinistration					28,744							39,?78
Resources and development											1,530	1,3?&
Training expenses												1,1&?
Trustee travel expenses
Grants from bursanr fund							19,569				19,569	17,392
Property expendkure											?,687	3.1?2
			Sub total		76,7?0		19,569				99,33&
A4Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
			Sub total
Total		payments			76,770		19,569			-	96,338	96,527
Net ofreceiptsl(payments)					6,296		4,818				1,478	5,454
A5 Transfers between funds					9000		9,000
A6 Cash funds last	year	end			33,815		2,023				35,838	41,292
Cash fund's	this		year end		31,111		6,205				37,316	35,838

					~	~	~ ~ ~	~ ~
							Unrestricted	Restricted	funds		Endowment
	C0	to0orI(!9	Do't	lls			funds				funds
							to nearest 6	to nearest		6	to nearest 6
81Cash	funds		Cash	at bank	- Hat West Current a/c		31.639			6,205
			Cash	in hand
						Totalcash funds	31,111		6,205
			(BaBBuslSpecs		wit 1 Mcu Pls BBBPBFliocls BcccUBI(s))
							Unrestricted	Restricted	funds		Endowment
							funds				funds
			Details				to nearest 6	to nearest		F.	to nearest 6
82Other	monetary assets
83investment		assets	Details				Fund towtach asset belongs	Cast (opt)anal)			Current value (opbonal)
84Assets retained forthe			Details Gilbert House				Fund towhich Bssot balooga Endowmrut	Cost (opeooal)			Cw rant value (oplional)
charity's	own use		Office	acd counselling		room fumlturo	Unrestricted
			Desktop computer and			printer	Unrestricted
							Fund towhich	Amount	dua		When duo
			Details				liahl) tv relates	(optional)			(opbonal)
85Liabilities
Signed by one ortwo tmstees on behalf of all the trustees					Signature		Print	Name			Date ofapproval
							Rhu-'f Ca~ac(F	fk)f)BH W~			oL08~