Trustees’ Annual Report
1[st] October 2023 to 30[th] September 2024
Section A: Reference and administration details
Charity name
FOUNTAINS COUNSELLING SERVICE ~~[_~~
Registered charity number 1166723 ~~[_S~~ 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 | Until June 2024 | |
| Sandra Davis |
Section B: Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Type of governing document Constitution ~~Sd~~ How the charity is constituted Charitable Incorporated Organisation ~~CS~~ New trustees are selected and appointed by the Charity’s Trustee selection methods Trustees Additional governance issues None (optional information) ~~CT~~
Section C: Objectives and activities
The object of the charity set out in the governing document
To preserve and protect good mental health in Staffordshire and the surrounding areas by the provision
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| 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) |
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
Following detailed discussions, Fountains Counselling entered into a formal partnership with Reach Christian Counselling. Under the partnership Reach receive and allocate requests for counselling and ensure Counsellors provide a safe and appropriate service; Fountains recruit and support Counsellors in Staffordshire and surrounding areas.
In order to promote the work of Fountains, the chair liaised with United Christian Broadcasters and gave an in depth interview which had a particular focus on our work and its Christian context.
Fountains continues to promote its activities by liaising with local churches in Stafford and in Stoke.and maintaining an active website.
Section E: Financial review
Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves
At present Fountains Counselling Service does not have an explicit policy on financial reserves. However, this is on the agenda to address in 2024/25 as part of a review of its wider Finance Policy and Procedures.
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| Details of any funds materially in deficit Further financial review details (optional information) |
None | |
|---|---|---|
| The headline points are: The Service ceased banking with Barclays and in November 2023 opened a new Charity and Community Bank Account with the Cooperative Bank. At 30 September 2024 (close of annual accounts) the Service had total funds of £24,942.48, a small decrease of £395.20 on the previous year; The Service’s counselling activities recommenced in the 2023/24 financial year as Fountains entered a partnership with Reach Counselling (Merseyside). Consequently, both expenditure and income transactions started to show a slow and steady increase. Income Overall income remained relatively low (£703.38) although increased significantly from the previous year; Although limited, the Service once more started to receive client donations due to counselling services restarting; We also continue to receive church donations (£615); There were no fundraising activities during the year. Expenditure As the Service recommenced activities, expenditure during 2023/24 more than quadrupled on the previous year to 1,098.58. In line with our new partnership with Reach Counselling, we started paying them a £250/month management administration fee for the last 3 months of the financial year (£750). This was the most significant outgoing in the year. Other significant costs in 2023/24 were counsellor payments (£140) and our annual membership of the relevant professional body (£152.25). Summary In 2023/24 counselling activities recommenced towards the end of the year. Our partnership with Reach Counselling means that we have started working in a different way to previously. From a financial perspective, we have commenced paying Reach a monthly management and administration fee. We pay counsellors for each patient session undertaken in our area, and share received client donations equally with Reach. Our accounts currently remain in a healthy state. |
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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.
| Signature: Full name: Position: Date: |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Professor Charles Lindsay Bashford | |||
| Chair of Trustees | |||
| 2025-09-23 |
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FOUNTAINS COUNSELLING SERVICE ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 30/09/2024
| 2023 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (1) Unrestricted Funds | £ | £ | |
| Receipts | |||
| Donations etc | Church donations | 293.02 | 615.00 |
| Client donations | 0.00 | 60.00 | |
| Individual donations | 20.00 | 20.00 | |
| Charitable donations and grants | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Other | Gift Aid rebate | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Fundraising activities | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Other | 0.00 | 8.38 | |
| Total | 313.02 | 703.38 | |
| Payments | |||
| General | Administration service costs | 0.00 | 750.00 |
| Counsellors' payments | 0.00 | 140.00 | |
| Other | Professional membership | 0.00 | 152.25 |
| Telephone costs | 147.76 | 28.84 | |
| Insurance | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Website hosting | 100.66 | 0.00 | |
| Promotion expenses | 0.00 | 27.49 | |
| Miscellaneous | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Total | 248.42 | 1,098.58 | |
| Net of receipts (payments) | 64.60 | -395.20 | |
| Cash fund last year end | 25,273.08 | 25,337.68 | |
| Cash fund this year end | £25,337.68 | £24,942.48 |
(2) Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 30th September 2024 Monetary Assets
| Monetary Assets (2) Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 30th September 2024 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Bank and Cash balances (no cash held or cash transactions) | year end | year end |
| 30.09.23 | 30.09.24 | |
| Total held in bank account | 25,337.68 | 24,942.48 |
| minus value of unpresented cheques at year end | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| plus value of unbanked receipts | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| total | £25,337.68 | £24,942.48 |
- 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)