CHAT :""
Counselling
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
2023-2024
Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
No 1135647

CHAT "::
Counselling
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 5th April 2023 - 5th April 2024
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity:
Chair..
Co Chair..
Co Chair:
Christine Mar5ters (Apr 23 to Jul 23)
Craig Wilcox (Jul 23 to Apr 24)
Di2ne Boyd aul 23 to Apr 24}
Sarah Taylor
Gwen Radcliffe
Michael Jakeways
Peter Burrows
Lita Gray
Kathryn Newell
Secretary:
Treasurer-
Name of Clinical Business Manager and names of staff members:
CEOS:
Denise Slater and Rachel Travers (Aus 23 to Mar 24)
Se¢onded Clinical & Business Manager: Pauline Maxwell (Mar 24 to Apr 24)
Professiona5 Counsellor5'.
Elizabeth Bond, Pauline Maxwell, Natalia Mae Lavin
Sessional Coun5ellor=
Catherine Baines
Finance Officer..
Karina Gilder
Structure, Governance and Management
Charity 15 constituted as:
Charitable Incorporated Or8ani5ation
Summary of objects:
CHAT exists for.. The preseryition and protection of the emotional and mental health of young
people, aged 9-25 years in Oundle, Thrapston and surrounding villages of North East of North
Northamptonshire by..
l. Offering free information, counselling and mentoring services
2. Providing early support to individuals, a5 an alternative to or prior to NHS clinical
intervention work, reducing the cases seeking access to NHS clinical services

Youth
Counselling
3. Providing, maintaining and developing up-to-date quality information resources for young
people
4. Working with other org2nisation5, in order, to strengthen the support available to young
people.
Trustee selection methods:
The Trustees are local people with an interest and experience in counselling, youth work, local
government or other relevant leadership and management experience. They are xppointed at the
AGM, which reviews the appointments annuilly.
Management:
Trustee5 work closely with the charity CEO to ensure the smooth running of the chariry and
Service delivery. Together, they are responsible for the strategic planning to ensure the dclivery of
the client services in accordance with the Charity's objectives and for supporting funding
applications to ensure the financial security and future of CHAT.
They liaise with other professionals 2nd attend meetings, lifting CHAT'S profile. increasing the
awarene55 of CHAT'S presence in the community, earning it recognition and respect. Trustees
provide s*Jpport to the employed staff, for example personnel processes, financial management and
health and safety advice. to ensure that CHAT is run in a professional and legal manner.
The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit
in all their decision making.
The part-time employed CEO supports Trustees in the development and implementation of the
strategic development plan, undertaking the key administrative tasks and client management. They
maintain a close working relationship with the staff on operational and procedural issues. The
CEO represents the Chariry at the Reach Collaborative meetings and other local community
meetings. I n addition, the CEO acts a5 the Designaced Safeguarding Lead whilst the Chair is
designated Ca5dicott Guardian and Data Protection Officer.
Summary of Main Activities:
CHAT Youth Counselling employs two part-time counsellors. A self-employed counsellor is
available to enable CHAT to respond to periods of increased client waiting lists. They work
primarily through local schools or from the CHAT office in the Courthouse, Oundle.

CHAT :::
Counselling
Prince William School, an 11-18 secondary, has an annually reviewed Service Level Agreement.
CHAT provide5 a confidential service 5 days a week in term times, in a designated protected
space. A weekly outreach counselling provision takes place in the early evening in Thrapston.
In addition. occasional work is undertaken at other Icc21 primary schoo15 in the Northeast of
North Northamptonshire. M05t sessions are individual face-to-face with a professional. Online or
telephone sessions are available on request for those clients encountering issues wich direct
access.
All counsellors are professionally qualified and undergo regular clinical supervision ind participate
in orbgoing professional development activities.
Referrals are taken through the CAMHS Referral Management Centre, direccly from GPS and
other medical professionals, schools* pirents and the young people themselves. Following Ln initial
asse55ment, professionals provide a six-session course of eirher counselling or therapeutic
mentoring, as appropriate. At this poin[ there is a review resulting in one of the following
outcomes- case closure. a referral to another support agency, or an extended counselling
agreemen¢ &5 required.
Achievements and Performance thi5 year (in terms of Objerts):
l. Offering free information. counselling and rnentoring services
2. Providing early support to individuals, as an alternative to, or prior to NHS clinic21
intervention
3. Providing, maintaining and developing up-to-date quality information resource5 for young
people
4. Working with other organi5ations in order to strengthen the support available to young
people
Summa
of achievement5 and u
ates for the
ear
CHAT Youth Counselling is commissioned by the NHS (Integrated Care Board) to provide a
service for I1-18-year-olds and vulnerable clients up to the age of 25-yexr-old.
The year has seen significant stsffing changes across 211 levels and a large amount of trustee & staff
time has been spent ensuring the seryice was maintained whi15t recruiting for key roles. A new
CEO was appointed in August 2023, however they then resigned in March 2024. The decision was
made by the trustees to appoint a Clinical & Business Manager to replace the CEO in June 2024.

CHAT :""
Counselling
These roles have now been filled 2nd the coming yexr will bring positive improvements within the
team and performance.
Between April 23 April 24 we delivered 1516 individual counselling sessions to 208 11-18 year
olds. Predominantly chese originated from Prince Williarn School, however sessions were also
delivered in a number of primaries (Thrapston, Oundle, Na55ing¢on) and in the office and online.
Of these 1516 sessions, 29 were referrals from the RMC and 397 were deemed to be Tier 2.5,
these are all the young people whose needs are more complex and who would perhaps have seen
CAMHS in the past.
In addition 84 Rapid Response sessions were delivered, which are high risk cases that must be
seen within I week.
At Thripston café, we delivered 51 cafes becween April 23-24 to 62 ind ividuals. Of these 38 young
people made multiple vi51ts to the cafe. The café 15 Staffed by 2 full time counsellors and a
volunteer. There are discussions at REACH about the Cafes extending their age range from 8-25.
which should make them even busier in the new year.
CHAT continue5 to use a range of social media plarfornis to improve communication with
potential clients. Its Instagrxm has 218 followers and 93 followers on Facebook. The CHAT
website provide5 links to other councy-based and local websites, e.g., Northamptonshire Health
Care Partnership Directory.
CHAT'S area of operation covers a wide rural area in North Northamptonshire. This yeLr, focus
has remained on improving access for young people and their families in the Thrapscon area. It has
proved positive with continued clients accessing CHAT'S range of services from the Thrapscon
are< along with continued use within Oundle and other local areas.
Counsellors report that the issue5 being presented by clients at initial assessment remain similar to
those of previous years, with self-harm, family issues and anxiety remaining high.
BereavementJLoss and relationships continue to be present as issues. Low moodlself-esteem

CHAT ":"
Counselling
issues increased 2$ CHAT widened counselling access to clients in the younger age group 2nd with
the continuing impact of the pandemic on young people. It has been noted that clients do not
always define the issues clearly at the initial assessment, with underlying issues appearing during
support, e.g., self-harm and suicidal ideation.
Client evaluative feedback on CHAT services still remains l 00% positive, with nc complaints being
received. This is expected to continue due to the professional service that is provided.
CHAT staff provide various information leaflets, guides and online links to clients and families.
covering a range of mental health issues. These continue to be updated and distributed as
required. Staff maintain their expertise and knowledge through their membership of BACP.,
through Subscription to emailed newsletters. e.g. NAYC, Youth Access, Barnardo's. NSPCC, ICO.,
and through the research and development in mental health provision published both nationally
and Ioc211y.
All staff have up to date with training on the Lamplight recordir)g sy5cem. Admin staff have had
extended data training to ensure ill reports and data submitted to MHSDS are accurate. Topics
covered in CPD events have included autism and ADHD. and iccessibility awareness for how
young people access mental health services, in particular those with ASD.
These training opportunities help CHAT to continue to deliver a high-quality service to its clients.
Performance reviews for all staff took place in January and were directed toward5 SUStainin8 and
embedding good practice. Stsff sugge5tion5 for enhancing its services were sought during these
meetings.
CHAT continues to work c105ely with the other local youth counselling charities via the Reach
Collaborative. Regular meeting5 have taken p12ce with CEOS and Chairs of Trustees to develop
continuiry ar¢d consistency of counselling coverage. to submit joint bids for funding,. and to plan the
delivery of shired counselling and therapeutic interventions, emotional supporr and other
activities to young people and their families living within Northamptonshire. A shared Strategic
Plan has been developed, reviewed and updated to steer the direction of the Reach Collaborative.
Resources have been eo-produced and shared to the benefrt of young people within the counry.
e.g., Self-Harm bags and Mood Boost booklets. A common Safeguarding recording and reporting
system, Myconcern, has been explored by Reach.
The CHAT CEO ha5 continued to represent the charity with local groups, GP 5urgerie5, local
government bodies, the Northamptonshire Early Help Service, CAMHS and with all local Schools.
CHAT continues to be 2 member of the Mental Health Transformation Board, as all member5 of
Reach have.

CHAT :::
Counselling
CHAT Youth Counselling has focused its developments on the areas identified in its Strategic
Development Plan. These are reviewed periodically by Trustees with a new updated plan ready to
implement in the first part of the next year.
The key priorities are to extend the access for young people to youth counselling 5UPPOrt within
our geographic area. CHAT staff have embedded the core services and contributed to the
additional independently funded projects ready to move iT)to Weldon Academy in the near future.
PrDmctional reports. Posters and advert5 continue to be placed in the local pre55 and printed
publications, and regular presentations are made within school contexts communicating the free
nature of CHAT'S services. Thi5 has contributed to the InCre￿e in self and family referra15 being
received. It is planned to expind on CHAT'S social media presence over Ihe forthcoming ye2r
which will assist in providing greater acce55 to the service provided.
We have continued to attract funds from Thrapston Council, Waitrose, The Freemasons, Ind the
Oundle & Distritt Care charity to permit the sUPPOrt of young people aged 9-1 O and 19-25-year-
olds. The support from local organisations has been much appreciated.
CHAT has continued to review its policies. These hive included Health & SifetylRisk Assessments,
Volunteering and Client Care, Data protection, Grievance xnd Problem Solving, and
Whistleblowing, as well as Safeguarding & Child Protectiorb and financial policies. These activities
have resulted in the ongoing development of the charity's operating practice5. There have been no
serious incident5 during this financial year.
The Board 15 looking to expand on its solid crvstee base to help grow the service and ensure
targets are achieved in the forthcoming year ahead. They are also looking ahead with the
appointment of a new CBM {Clinical & Business Manager]-
Financial Review
The Trustee5 aim to hold a reserve fund of 6 months expenditure against the time when
NHSIIC8IPublic Health funding is no longer available, to provide time for further funding
applications, whilst withdrawing from client work in 2 profe55ional manner. The current calculation
is that reserves should not fLII below £75k allowing for redundancy provision.
During the financial year the reserve was reduced by £34,220.46. Of this, £14k was money
received in advance the previous year for core work, £12419.72 was returned to funders on the

CHAT "::
Counselling
closure of the Happier Families project and £6075 was re211ocated to REACH partners following
CHAT session targets being missed in 22-23.
Trustees review the reserve holdings on a regular basis. Cash flow was a problem in the first half
of the year, following the changes from monthly to quarterly invoicing for tier 2.5 payments.
Therefore, Trustees decided to move to short notice or shorter fixed term accouncs on the
maturity of one-year fixed term deposits held on the CAF Deposit Platform, managed by Flagstone
investments. This provides further flexibility and has taken advintage of rising variable interest
rates.
Further detai15 can be found in the examined accounts, appended.
Declaration
The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustee5' Report above.
Signed on behilf of the charity'5 trustees
Signature
Full name
Position
Craig Wilcox
Co-chair
SILI¥
Gwen Radcliffe
Treasurer
{121802

CHAT """
Counselling
TH
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR YEAR ENDED 5 APR
2024
Restricted Unrestricted
Funds
Funds
Total
2023124
Total
2022123
Note
Incomlng Resources
NHS Contract +2.5
Projecl Funding
Data FIw4
Donations
Interest
REACH Reallocations
Total
Dlrect'charitable. Expenditure
Sal8ries, Pensions & NIC
Travel costs - Staff
Travel costs - Volunteers
£78,643 69
£26,476 00
£6,650.00
£D.00
£0.00
-£25,490.72
£86,278.97
£0.00
£78,643.69
£000
£26,476 00
£0.00
£6,650.00
£6,700.46
£6,700.46
£3,500.00
£4,435.37
£4,435.37
£3,017.96
£O.OQ -£25,490.72
-£16.951.00
£11,13S.83
£97.414.80 £104,261.91
£78,618.00
£36,076.95
-£98,611.88 -£10,956 88 -£109,568.75
-£1,111.77
-£123.53
-£1.235.30
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
-£99,723.65
-£11,080 41 -£110,804.05
-£95,403.77
-£2,466.32
£0.00
-£97,870.09
Support Costs
Supervision & Training
Communications
Data & Safeguarding gysterns
Accommodation
AdvertisinglRecruilment
-£2,6g3.88
-£1,641.99
-£1,166.40
-£8,229.28
-£1,596.30
-£15,327.85
-£299.32
-£2,993.20
-£130.84
-£1.824.43
-£129.60
-£1,296.00
£0.00
-£8,229.28
£0.00
-£1.596.30
-£559.76 -£15,887.61
-£4,343.40
-£2,420.66
-£550.00
-£8,092.08
-£484.50
-£15 890.64
Managernent and
Administration
Govemance
Accounting
IT EquipmenUDepreciation
SLJndry Office Costs
-£1,904.69
-£1,260.90
£0.00
-£1.322.41
-£4.488.00
£0.00
£0.00
-£554.25
£g8.65
-£455.60
-£1,904.69
-£1,260 90
-£554.25
-£1,223.76
4,943.60
1,473.82
£0.00
-£884.57
-£916.94
-£3,275.33
Total Resources expended
119,539.49 Q12,095.77 4131,635.26 4117,036.06
Net incoming resources
-£33,260.52
-£959.94 -£34,220.46
-£12,774.15
Transfer between funds
Total funds brought forward
Total Funds carried fonNard
-£68,368.67
£68,368.67
£0.00
£0.00
£143591.19
£34,613.34 £178.204.53 £190.978.68
£41,962.00 £102.022.08 £143.984.07 £178,204.53

CHAT :::
Counselling
Balance Sheet at April 5th 2024
April 5th
2024
April 5th
2023
Computer Equipment
Accumulated Depreciation
Net Book Value
£4,953.67
-£3,961.67
£992.00
£4,519.91
-£3,407.66
£1,112.25
Current Assets
Debtors
Cash at bank
Cash on deposit
Cash in Hand
£0.00
£59,061.52
£84,451 96
£1 50
£143,514.98
£0.00
£11,028.67
£166,735.27
£1.50
£177,765.44
Less current liabilities
Creditors
Suspense Account
-£522.91
£0.00
$22.91
-£673.16
£0.00
673.16
Total Net Assets
Represented by
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
£143 984.07
£178 204.53
£41,962.00
£102,022.08
£143,591.19
£34,613.34
Total Assets
£143,984.07
£178,204.53
io

CHAT "::
Counselling
TH
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR YEAR ENDED 5 APR 2024
l. Project Funding
In 2023-24, in addition to core funding from NHS, funding was received via REACH partners
for the following projects.
Tier 2.5
Rapid Response
Data Flow
Wellbeing Cafe
Total
Fund holder
Service Six
the lowdown
Youth Works
the lowdown
REieived 23-24
£37,973.70
£5000.00
£650D.OD
£21476.00
£70947.70
Unused at
5.4.2024
'Tier 2.5, funding from NCCG airlls to extend youth counselling provision to offer emotional
wellbeing support and counsellin8 to children and young people referred to REACH who
exceed the threshold of Tier 2, the core colltract, but do not meet the threshold for CAMHS
atTier 3.
£12420.00
£3625.00
£194.00
£o.w
£16239.¢
Rapid Response funding IS to deliver emergency counselling for young people referred by
A & E departments.
Wellbeing Café. Friendly mental health professionals are on hand to listen to and help
individuals in their time of need, providing advice. support or signposting / referTa15 to the
relevant team or organisation. Parents and carer5 are also welcotne to drop-in.
2. REACH reallocations
The Happier Families project c105ed in this area during the year. The sum of £ 12410.72
unused was returned to Youth Works. In addition reallocations of 2022-23 funding were
agreed by REACH resulting in a payment to the Lowdown of £6075 and £8062 to Youth
Works.
Restricted funds at 5.4.2024
Current projects
Previous project funding to be used to meet defitit budget
for 2024-25
Totsl
£16,239.00
£25.703.00
£41,962.1)0
Consequently, a further transfer from restricted to unrestricted funds has been made.

CHAT "::
Counselling
3. Staffing
Staff costs include salaries, employers NIC and employers pension contributions plus
payments to sessional counsellors. CHAT Youth Counselling applies for, and receives, the NIC
Employer's Allowance of £5000.
The unrestricted expenditure shown on the financial activity sheet is the proportion of these
Staff costs which are associated with counselling clients not covered by the N HS contract.
CHAT Youth Counselling applies for. and receives, the NIC Employerf5 Allowance of £5000.
4. IT Equipment
Depreciation of computer hardware is calculated using the double depreciation tllethod
based on their residual values at the end of a 4-year period.
Tangible Fixe(l Assets
Purchased
Value
Aprll 22
Orlglnal Cost
Value
Aprll 23
£0.00
Value
April 24
£0.00
Laptop Treasurer
Laptop Manager
Laptop Finance Off
41 pads"
Jan 19
£431.60
£50.00
March 21
£1,149.97
£648.98
£699.99
£475.00
£250.OU
April 21
April 20
August 23
£374.49
£237.25
£ioo.00
£2289.36
£872.34
£400.OD
£400.00
Laptop CEO
£434
£242.00
£4.953.67
£1.996.82
£1.112.25
£992.00
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
D Incone is recognised as received or when receipt is certain.
Dirett charitabl& Èxpenditure represents the salaries and expenses reimbursements for staff and volunteers.
T Support costs represent the accornmodation and cotnmunication infrastructure required t0 5UPPOrt the staff and
volunteets.
Mèn£g&ment and administratlon CDsts represent @xpenditure not connerted with the costs of the staff and volunteers.
12

Youth
Counselling
Inde
ndent Examiners Re
ort to the Trustees of CHAT Youth Counsellin
I report on the accounts of Oundle CHAT Youth Counselling charity number 1179806, for the year ended 5th
April 2024.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's Iruslees
consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 Df the Charities Act 2011 (the
Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
Itisrny
responsibility to..
examine the accounts under seclion 145 of the Charities Act..
follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under
section 145151{bl of the Charities Act). and
state whether particular matters have corne to rny attention.
Basls of Independent examlnerfs statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity
Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by Ihe charity and a
comparison of the accounts presented with those records, It also includes consideration of any
unusual iterns or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you the trustees
Concerning any SLJch malters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would
be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a
'true and fairf view and the report is limited to those matters sel out in the statement below
Independent examiner's statement
In the course of my examination, subject to not having seen the Trustees Report, no matter h8s come to
my attenb'on..
which gives me reasDnable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the trustees have not mel the
requirements to ensure that-
proper accounting records are kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Acl
and
accounts are prepared which agree with the accounting records and comply with the
accounling requirements of the Charities Act- or
2. 10 which in my opinion attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the
accounts lo be reached.
Signed..
Graham Darbourne
TC Group
The Old Town Hall
Oundle
PE8 4AL
Date.. 5th February 2025