2023-09-30-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report

1[st] October 2022 to 30[th] September 2023

Section A: Reference and administration details

Charity name

FOUNTAINS COUNSELLING SERVICE

Registered charity number 1166723 Charity's principal address c/o 3 The Mount, Mount Lane, Market Drayton, Shropshire TF9 1AG

Names of the charity trustees

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Lindsay Bashford	Chair
Rob Belcher	Treasurer
Wendy Bishop
Sandra Davis
Sarah Watson

Section B: Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document	Constitution
How the charity is constituted	Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Trustee selection methods	New trustees are selected and appointed by the Charity’s Trustees
Additional governance issues	None
(optional information)

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Section C: Objectives and activities

The object of the charity set out in the governing document 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) Additional details of objectives and activities(optional information)	To preserve and protect good mental health in Staffordshire and the surrounding areas by the provision of a confidential counselling service.
	Fountains Counselling Service is a voluntary organisation staffed by professionally qualified volunteer counsellors. It continues to offer counselling support to adults experiencing a variety of life challenges including anxiety, stress and depression, loss and bereavement, anger, abuse and relationship difficulties. The Service is accessible to all and does not charge a fee for counselling sessions (although a donation is welcomed from those clients who are able to make a contribution towards sustaining the service). We confirm that the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
	None

Section D: Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

2022/23 was another quiet year for Fountains Counselling Service. Counselling activities continued to be suspended while we sought a sustainable mode of operation to enable us to fulfil our vision in accordance with our values.

There is an ever-increasing need for the services that Fountains provides and with thanks to financial donations, it remains in a strong position to adopt new ways of working.

We started a conversation with another organisation, Reach Christian Counselling, to develop a partnership that would enable both organisations to run effectively in their local areas. We foresee a model in which the professional and business aspects are managed by Reach whereas the service in Staffordshire is funded and supported by Fountains. Progress has been good and we look forward to relaunching Fountains services in Staffordshire in 2024.

We continue to seek to meet the challenges of providing Counselling in a world whose brokenness seems to be growing and whose need for the love and compassion of our Lord never fades.

Section E: Financial review

Brief statement of the charity’s At present Fountains Counselling Service does not have

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policy on reserves Details of any funds materially in deficit Further financial review details (optional information)	an explicit policy on financial reserves. However, this is on the agenda to address in 2023/24 as part of a review of its wider Finance Policy and Procedures.
	None
	The headline points are:  At 30 September 2023 (close of annual accounts) the Service had total funds of £25,337.68, a very small increase of £64.60 on the previous year;  The Service’s counselling activities continued to be suspended in the 2022/23 financial year and so both expenditure and income transactions were minimal. Income  Overall income has been at its lowest (£313.02) for many years due to the lack of activity;  There have been no client donations due to counselling services being stopped for the time being;  However, we continue to receive church donations (£293);  There were no fundraising activities during the year. Expenditure  There has been minimal expenditure during 2022/23 (£248.42). What expenditure there has been has consisted of telephone costs (£147.76), and website hosting (£100.66). Summary 2022/23 has been the second consecutive year that counselling activities were suspended pending consideration of how the service could resume in a different model of provision. The accounts currently remain in a healthy state. In September 2023 Fountains’ bank account with Barclays Bank was closed and a new account with the Co-operative Bank was subsequently opened.

Section F: Other optional information

None

Section G: Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees.

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Signature: Full name: Position: Date:
	Professor Charles Lindsay Bashford
	Chair of Trustees
	2024-07-26

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FOUNTAINS COUNSELLING SERVICE ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 30/09/2023

(1) Unrestricted Funds Receipts Donations etc Church donations Client donations Individual donations Charitable donations and grants Other Gift Aid rebate Fundraising activities Easyfundraising Total Payments General Administration service costs Counsellors' expenses and supervision Administration Administrator and other expenses Telephone costs Other Insurance Professional membership Website hosting Miscellaneous Total Net of receipts (payments) Cash fund last year end Cash fund this year end	2022 £ 786.00 0.00 60.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 846.00 60.00 0.00 0.00 144.90 0.00 140.00 86.26 0.00 431.16 414.84 24,858.24 £25,273.08	2023 £ 293.02 0.00 20.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
		313.02
		0.00 0.00 0.00 147.76 0.00 0.00 100.66 0.00
		248.42
		64.60 25,273.08
		£25,337.68

(2) Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 30th September 2023 Monetary Assets

Bank and Cash balances (no cash held or cash transactions) Total held in bank account minus value of unpresented cheques at year end plus value of unbanked receipts total	year end year end 30.09.22 30.09.23 25,273.08 25,337.68 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 £25,273.08 £25,337.68

- Other assets (non endowed)

None No other accounts held, no other funds held, no liabilities. For and on behalf of Fountains Counselling Service Management Committee

Rob Belcher (Treasurer)