## COUNSELLING MATTERS ## BEXLEY ## **Annual Report and Financial Statements for the ear nded 31st March 2025** ## **REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1182012** REGISTERED OFFICE: THE ABBEY CLINIC, 6A ALBERT ROAD, BELVEDERE, KENT, DA17 5LJ |**Contents**|| |---|---| |**Reference and administrative information**|**2**| |**Trustees Report**|**3 - 5**| |**Statement of Financial Activities**|**6**| |**Balance Sheet**|**7**| |**Notes to the Financial Statements**|**8 - 10**| |**Independent Examiner’s Report**|**11**| 1 ## **Reference and administrative information** Charity name: Counselling Matters Bexley Charity registration number: 1182012 Registered Office: The Abbey Clinic, 6A Albert Road, Belvedere, Kent, DA17 5LJ Email: mail@cmbtalk.org Website: www.counsellingmattersbexley.org **Trustees** Steven Fryer Trustee (appointed Chair 11th January 2023) Felicia Fasokun Trustee (appointed Treasurer 11th January 2023) Deborah Cox Trustee Jennifer Caney Trustee Rahij Anwar Trustee Kiera Robbins Trustee Bankers: Metro Bank, 66-68b The Broadway Shopping Centre, Bexleyheath, DA6 7JN Independent Examiner: Sadler Davies, Trading as: Finsbury Robinson Ltd Top Floor, West Hill House, Dartford, Kent DA1 2EU 2 ## **Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2025** The trustees present their report and the financial statements of Counselling Matters Bexley for the year ending 31st March 2025. In preparing the annual report and financial statements, the trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) "Accounting and reporting by Charities" (FRS102). ## **Structure, Governance and Management** ## **Structure** Counselling Matters Bexley is managed by the Chief Executive Officer, Liz Hann, who is accountable to the board of trustees. The CEO is assisted in her management duties by the Chief Operations Officer, Sarah Skinner, the Placement Officer, Wendy Schmidt, the Children and Young People's Service Manager, Dawn Joseph and the Referrals Manager, Amanda Brooker. The management team carries out a number of functions including line managing qualified and trainee counsellors, managing the Talk Line, Children and Young People's service, school counselling and Affordable services, managing referrals and allocating clients. Counselling sessions are provided by a large team of counsellors who all either work for Counselling Matters Bexley on a part time basis or are volunteering for the charity. External supervisors provide supervision for counsellors, all counsellors are required to make a contribution to the cost of their supervision, with the charity making up the rest of the payment. ## **Governing Document** Counselling Matters Bexley became registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 13[th] February 2019 with the Charity Commission. In the event of the CIO being wound up, Trustees of the CIO have no liability to contribute to its assets and no personal responsibility for settling its debts and liabilities. ## **Objectives and activities and public benefit** Counselling Matters Bexley aims to provide free or low-cost counselling and other therapeutic services to residents of the London Borough of Bexley and surrounding areas. In addition, the CIO provides counselling placements for volunteer counsellors. ## **Public Benefit** Trustees have full awareness of the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. Trustees consider regularly how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives set in accordance with public benefit guidance. ## **Achievements and performance** Counselling Matters Bexley delivered a high-quality counselling service to over 750 clients throughout the year, this included clients from all age groups, from age five upwards. Counselling was provided both face to face and remotely, according to clients' preferences. Counselling sessions took place in various venues in Bexley borough, including school premises. In addition, the charity also ran three free online courses for female survivors of domestic abuse. The charity built upon last year's growth, both in terms of number of sessions offered to clients and variety of services offered, most notably the expansion of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and the introduction of support work. The number of counsellors working or volunteering with the charity increased slightly, with 39 qualified counsellors and 19 counselling students. 3 The charity continued to deliver a counselling service in 3 local primary schools, a large secondary school and an independent secondary school catering for children and young people with emotional difficulties. A new contract was secured with a SEND unit which is part of a secondary academy. Counselling Matters Bexley continued working in partnership with Bexley Voluntary Service Council (BVSC) to deliver counselling to 10–17-year-olds as part of Bexley's social prescribing scheme. The Peabody Community Foundation provided ongoing funding to deliver free counselling to residents of Thamesmead. Additional funding and contracts were secured throughout the year, as detailed below. - In April 2024 a contract worth £61,000 per annum was secured to provide counselling and mindfulness sessions for 10–17-year-olds in the Clocktower Local Care Network (one of three LCNs within Bexley). This funding will last for 2 years. - In May 2024 Counselling Matters Bexley was honoured to be chosen as the Mayor of Bexley's primary charity, around £5,000 has already been donated in 2024-2025, however most of the fundraising will be donated in 2025-2026 as the Mayor's year in office did not finish until the end of May 2025. - At the end of July 2024 National Lottery Awards for All granted the charity £19,800 to help cover the cost of our telephone helpline service for a period of two years. - In October 2024 the charity was awarded an additional sum of £5,000 by Bexley Voluntary Service Council to cover the increased cost of funding counselling sessions to Children and Young People referred via the Social Prescribing service. - At the end of 2024 the charity was awarded £5,000 from the William Kendall Fund to provide a Domestic Abuse programme to Bexley residents for the 2025 calendar year. - In March 2025 the charity gained funding from the London Borough of Bexley to provide a talking therapies service to unpaid carers who are resident in the borough. The funding is for a period of three years and is paid in instalments at the rate of £42,500 per annum. The charity continued to promote its “Affordable Therapy" service, which meant that clients could access general counselling, CBT, couples counselling and child counselling at below average prices and with little or no waiting time. Counselling Matters Bexley played an active role in the local community throughout the year, helping to raise awareness of the benefits of counselling and the services available. Events attended included "marketplace" events for children and young people's services, and two events for unpaid carers, one of which was organised by the charity on behalf of Peabody Community Foundation. The charity itself ran low-cost yoga classes, recognising the link between physical and mental health. The charity remains committed to providing educational and training opportunities to local people who wish to develop a career in counselling. It continues to be one of the largest providers of counselling placements in the local area, it also provides in-house training for all its counsellors, which complements the learning provided by counselling colleges. ## **Risk assessment** The trustees monitor risk at each meeting. The primary risks identified for 2024-2025 were the need to recruit more staff to manage the increased workload that has resulted from our expansion, together with the need to identify additional premises where counselling sessions can be held. 4 FU￿re The charity aÉmsto Ctytllnue providlng a h*h qualrty. wofessÉonal coursdlitw service to roldents of 8¢￿eV borou8h and suThoundin8 ar&3s. There WAI be increased emphays on rats1￿ funds throu8h our"Affordable Therapy. service, as the income eenerated by thls SeN{￿ tan be used to subsidise the free aiid loW￿$t *r¥icts that we pro¥lde to dients in difficult financial (ifiurnstaiices. We recognise that by generating incomé in this way. w• arè prot•dinB OLtrs•lves a8ainst pot•n￿31 problems bwng causeil by over wellan￿ ongrant and contyxt fundinK whth (an somets.mes be withdrawn at very short notice. Trustees, res on51bilitles In relaik)n to financlal statements The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requlres the tr￿eSt0 p￿pare financial statements for each flnancial year which glve a true and fair vlew of the stste of affalr5 of the charlty nd of the Incomi￿ re50uw and appllotion of resourcesof the dkarity for that period The trustees are re5pon51ble for keeping prc4Jeraccounting record5 that dlsdose with reasonable a¢euracy at any tlm¢ the finan¢*al position of th¢ ¢harfty and enablc thcm to ¢n•4iire that the flnanclal statements comply wrth the Chartlies Ad 2011 and the Chaiity IAccounts and fteportsl Regulations 2(K18. The tru5tee5 are also ￿5￿)SIble for ￿leS￿al￿11￿ tl)e assets of 11)e charlty and heiice for takine reasonable steps fortho prevention and dètedlon of fraud 0￿r iwlaritres. FinJn¢i•l review For the finantial year 202￿2025, total Income was £323,236 an in￿35e of ll4,717 compared wlth the pwlous year. Thls figu￿ aLs0 exceeded the budgeted I￿orne of £283,IJX) by approxlmately £40,000, drlven prfmarlly ￿ hl8her-than-antldpated 8rant fvndlry and counselllng sÈrvleè Ineomè. Total expendSture for the Y￿rWIS £295.733 sltthty ￿￿eted £277.1￿ resultlns In an adverse Varian￿ of £18,733. The overspend was mainly due to a £16.IMI rise in staff costs assoclateu wlth the charlffs contlnueil growih. However. thlswas panialty ml#8ated by £13.CQ) savings in counA* Ilin8 fe(%, a¢hioved through cffcctive planning and re•JtsLsrcc mJna8ement. Compared to the prior year. exDen(liture inueased by around £5111 lfrom £233kl. reflerting the or8anlsatioii's exwdln8 èthvitle5 Ca￿1¢Y. ¢￿er&ll. the charttyBenerated a suolusof £27.503 slgnfficandy abo¥ethe budgeted 5urplu5 of £6.CW. Sl8ned on beh4lf of the tharirfs trust+•s'. Swen Fryer (Chairl Date.. OLC **6** ## **COUNSELLING MATTERS BEXLEY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted
Note Funds Restricted TOTAL FUNDS
General Funds 2025 2024
INCOMING RESOURCES
Voluntary Income & Grants 3a £19,540.21 - £19,540.21 £14,528.70
Charitable Activities 3b £186,574.29 £116,179.75 £302,754.04 £233,644.41
Income from Investments 3c £941.28 - £941.28 £345.16
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES £207,055.78 £116,179.75 £323,235.53 £248,518.27
RESOURCES EXPENDED
Charitable Activities 4a £181,284.63 £113,622.73 £294,907.36 £232,869.51
Other Expenditure 4b £825.43 - £825.43 £564.49
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED £182,110.06 £113,622.73 £295,732.79 £233,434.00
NET INCOMING / ( OUTGOING ) RESOURCES BEFORE TRANSFERS £24,945.72 £2,557.02 £27,502.74 £15,084.27
ADDITIONS TO & RELEASES FROM FUNDS (£2,309.48) £2,309.48 - -
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS £22,636.24 £4,866.50 £27,502.74 £15,084.27
BALANCES BROUGHT FWD AT 1 APRIL 2024 (2023) £8,772.65 £28,261.27 £37,033.92 £21,949.65
BALANCES CARRIED FWD AT 31 MARCH 2025 (2024) £31,408.89 £33,127.77 £64,536.66 £37,033.92
**----- End of picture text -----**
STATEMENfoFASSETS UAblLnts Ttblal Y•n8lbl• Flx•dAM•is Current Assets Monolary Ass•ts Bank3ccouThts Prepayments & AcErued hKome Debtors Total eurrent 05sets £73.4n.27 É31127.77 £106.599ffj4 £or 4.060.rx) £4WS.O) £77.531.27 £33,127.77 £110,659.04 £113,539.19 £o.o) ES 775.fy) £119,314.19 Ll•bllltl•s'. amounts fallln6 due wthln lTrY•r J*322.38 £45,3ZZ.38 £82,280.27 £aixw.89 £33.127.77 £6533&66 £37.033.92 É1121U9 £a3.127.77 th5316.66 £Y7.053.92 FUNDS Unre5trWed- Genernl Rt$tri¢t•d £3L408.89 £33.127.77 £8.772.65 É28,261.27 £33,127.77 £J7,033.9Z gned bv.. Steven Fryer Date.. **COUNSELLING MATTERS BEXLEY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** **8** ## **1 Accounting Policies** ## 1a **Accounting Convention** The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP FRS102) 2015 and the Charities Act 2011. An independent examination is required under the Charities Act 2011. ## 1b **Fund accounting** Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor. |**2**
**LIABILITIES FALLING DUE WITHIN 1 YEAR**
Accrued expenses
Deferred Income
Creditors
HMRC Tax & National Insurance
Nest Pension|**2025**
£800.00
£21,750.00
£21,140.50
£1,408.31
£223.57
£45,322.38|**2024**
£800.00
61,000.00
£19,678.08
£675.70
£126.49
£82,280.27| |---|---|---| |**3**
**INCOMING RESOURCES**
3a
**Voluntary Income**
Client Contributions
Donations and Legacies
3b
**Charitable Activities**
Grant: SAFE
Grant: Peabody
Grant: BVSC: CYP Social Prescribing
Grant: Carers Counselling Project
Grant: ClockTower CYP
Grant: Domestic Abuse Programme
Grant: The National Lottery: Talkline
Contract Income
Contract: London Borough of Bexley: Maximus
Contract: Peabody
Contract: SAFE
Fundraising: General
Fundraising: Affordable Counselling
Fundraising: Room Rental Income
Fundraising: Training
Other Income
3c
**Income from investment**
**TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES**||**Unrestricted**
**General**
£16,163.91
£3,376.30
£19,540.21
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
£34,744.00
-
-
-
£2,159.72
£142,989.56
£2,436.00
£1,540.00
£2,705.01
£186,574.29
£941.28
£941.28
**£207,055.78**||**Restricted**
**Funds**
-
-
£0.00
-
-
£12,400.00
£4,200.00
£61,000.00
£1,250.00
£9,800.00
-
£4,808.75
£8,935.00
£13,786.00
-
-
-
-
-
£116,179.75
-
-
**£116,179.75**|**2025**
**2024**
£16,163.91
£13,398.91
£3,376.30
£1,129.79
£19,540.21
£14,528.70
-
£10,235.00
-
£6,500.00
£12,400.00
£24,320.00
£4,200.00
-
£61,000.00
-
£1,250.00
-
£9,800.00
£7,470.00
£34,744.00
£33,823.00
£4,808.75
£30,090.00
£8,935.00
-
£13,786.00
-
£2,159.72
£2,398.52
£142,989.56
£113,597.89
£2,436.00
£4,034.00
£1,540.00
£825.00
£2,705.01
£351.00
£302,754.04
£233,644.41
£941.28
£345.16
£941.28
£345.16
**£323,235.53**
**£248,518.27**
**TOTAL FUNDS**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||| **9** ## **COUNSELLING MATTERS BEXLEY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** **----- Start of picture text -----**
4 RESOURCES EXPENDED Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL FUNDS
4a Expenditure on charitable activities 2025 2024
Fundraising: costs £56.00 - £56.00 £306.14
Clinic Rent £2,924.00 £11,741.00 £14,665.00 £10,527.50
Counselling Fees £141,049.27 £65,724.50 £206,773.77 £178,280.24
Counselling Fees: Admin £12,267.14 £6.75 £12,273.89 -
Counselling Fees: Training for counsellors - £75.60 £75.60 £159.00
Advertising & Marketing - - - £186.00
Office Expenses: General £4,280.80 - £4,280.80 £2,988.99
Office Expenses: Equipment £501.47 £152.26 £653.73 £592.94
Office Expenses: Printing, postage & stationary £783.46 £545.79 £1,329.25 £1,244.32
Office Expenses: Refreshments £111.00 - £111.00 -
Office Expenses: Software £790.92 - £790.92 £782.71
Office Expenses: Telephone - £143.40 £143.40 £131.40
Office Expenses: Utilities £2,496.00 - £2,496.00 £3,057.16
Office Expenses: Wages £13,387.74 32,354 £45,741.57 £31,658.96
Office Expenses: Website & Internet £199.20 - £199.20 £166.80
Accountancy £1,250.00 £350.00 £1,600.00 £765.00
Insurance £995.63 - £995.63 £938.36
Other Professional Services £192.00 £2,529.60 £2,721.60 £513.00
Volunteer Expenses - - - £86.10
Other Expenses - - - £484.89
£181,284.63 £113,622.73 £294,907.36 £232,869.51
Bank charges £825.43 - £825.43 £564.49
£825.43 - £825.43 £564.49
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED £182,110.06 £113,622.73 £295,732.79 £233,434.00
5 Trustee Remuneration
One or more of the trustees have been paid remuneration or received other benefits from employment with the charity:
2025 2024
Deborah Cox - payment for expenses incurred to provide a service £2,056.75 £1,803.00
£2,056.75 £1,803.00
6 Staff Costs
2025 2024
£ £
Gross wages, salaries and benefits in kind £44,974.99 £31,100.31
Employer’s National Insurance £0.00 £0.00
Employer’s Pension £766.58 £558.65
Total staff costs £45,741.57 £31,658.96
**----- End of picture text -----**
None of the trustees have claimed expenses or had their expenses met by the charity. **7 Trustee Expenses** ## **COUNSELLING MATTERS BEXLEY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025** **10** **----- Start of picture text -----**
8 Funds
Restricted Funds BFWD Income Expenditure Net Movement Transfers CFWD
Grant: BVSC: CYP Social Prescribing £9,985.21 £12,400.00 £9,536.00 £12,849.21 £12,849.21
Grant: Carers Counselling Project - £4,200.00 £90.60 £4,109.40 £4,109.40
Grant: ClockTower CYP - £61,000.00 £56,041.60 £4,958.40 £4,958.40
Grant: Domestic Abuse Programme - £1,250.00 £300.00 £950.00 £950.00
Grant: Orbit Group - - £120.00 -£120.00 £120.00 -
Grant: The National Lottery: Talkline - £9,800.00 £10,545.00 -£745.00 £745.00 -
Contract: London Borough of Bexley: Maximus £18,276.06 £4,808.75 £18,714.05 £4,370.76 £4,370.76
Contract: Peabody - £8,935.00 £3,045.00 £5,890.00 £5,890.00
Contract: SAFE - £13,786.00 £15,230.48 -£1,444.48 £1,444.48 -
£28,261.27 £116,179.75 £113,622.73 £30,818.29 £2,309.48 £33,127.77
General
General Reserve £8,772.65 £207,055.78 £182,110.06 £24,945.72 -£2,309.48 £31,408.89
TOTAL FUNDS £37,033.92 £323,235.53 £295,732.79 £55,764.01 £0.00 £64,536.66
**----- End of picture text -----**
**COUNSELLING MATTERS BEXLEY** ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE COUNSELLING MATTERS BEXLEY** > This report on the financial statements of the **COUNSELLING MATTERS BEXLEY** for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set on pages 2 to 10 is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with s145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act). ## **Respective responsibilities of the trustees and the examiner** The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) or under Regulation 10(1)(d) of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2008 (the 2008 Accounts Regulations) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: - examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 and section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (the 2005 Act) - to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and - to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of independent examiner's report** Our examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. The examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently we do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. ## **Independent examiner's statement** In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention: - (1) which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act; and to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and comply with the requirements of the Act: have not been met; or to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached; or which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the accounting rules of the charity’s constitution have not been met. **Gemma L Fogarty FCA Sadler Davies Trading as: Finsbury Robinson Ltd Top Floor, West Hill House, Dartford, Kent DA1 2EU** **Date: 20[th] October 2025**