2023-12-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From: 1 January 2023 To: 31 December 2023

Charity name: HOPE COUNSELLING SERVICE

Charity registration number: 1185376

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The object of the CIO is to promote and protect the mental health of people living in Reading and the surrounding areas through provision of a Counselling service in accordance with the Christian faith.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	Counselling to individuals in person and online. Counselling supervision for the counsellors. Providing managerial and administrative services to run the charity. Fundraising.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	During this period there have been 14 volunteer counsellors working with the service

Other

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	Hope Counselling Service (HCS) counselled 102 members of the public and provided 1650 counselling sessions during this period. Common presenting issues were anxiety and depression. Other presenting issues included grief, relationship breakdown, anger, and difficulties in managing life changes. Through counselling, HCS makes a difference to the lives of individuals, families and the community. It enables those who require more than Talking Therapies can offer, to receive help. We have provided in person and online counselling with both daytime and evening appointments. Referrals are largely from Talking Therapies, and we also receive referrals from local charities, community support organisations, faith leaders etc. There are also referrals via the local university. The counsellors are provided with supervision from a qualified counselling supervisor every 2 weeks. The supervision fees are paid from HCS funds. HCS provides placements for trainee counsellors. A number remain with HCS once qualified. The counsellor body is approximately half fully qualified and half trainees. HCS has a part-time manager and a part-time administration assistant.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41

Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41
Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	At the end of 2023 HCS had £20 207 in the bank
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	HCS is a small charity and relies on gifts. The room rental and admin. assistant had been paid for by others during most of 2023 and HCS will be starting to bear these costs in 2024. The economic climate means that our clients do not always give donations for counselling which cover the costs and so some reserve enables HCS to continue to function. HCS would like to expand slowly, and the reserve will provide extra funding for room rental and the ability to fund part time hours for an admin. assistant.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£20 207
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	None
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	HCS has no uncertainties about going forward into 2024.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	Counselling donations.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	CIO
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	The Trustee body appoints new Trustees having regard to their skills, knowledge and experience. The Trustee body has been stable with two leaving and the two new Trustees already having links with the charity. The expertise of those leaving has been replicated in our new Trustees.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	HOPE Counselling Service
Other name the charity uses
Registered charity number	1185376
Charity’s principal address	229 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS Postal address: 233 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	Alison Stewart	Acting Chair of Trustees		The whole Trustee body agrees to the appointment of new Trustees.
	Elaine Holmes	Chair of Trustees	Until 25 April 2023
	Andrew Stewart Johnston	Treasurer	From 25 April 2023
	BarryYoung	Treasurer	Until 25 April 2023
	Neil Hooley	Safeguarding Trustee
	Debbie Hunt
	Jane Clark		From 25 April 2023

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects

Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Deborah Marsden, Manager

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Alison Stewart

Position (eg Secretary, Acting Chair of Trustees Chair, etc)

Date

23 May 2024

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WAiÉS Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Forth• wlc4J 01n1f2023 31112r2023 Section A Receipts and payments Unrgstricted funds Restricted Endo¥¥ll￿nt fund5 Lutyeai Totsl fund5 tvth• TrMr••t£ A1 Recel GfftstGTarf Counselit￿ OU￿b0 GA Tax RI￿r Aft)a￿n Shop GI[Ga￿ Rèfund 1&7TI 742 41 13,771 742 41 Sub tOtal{Gm￿ income for AR) A2 Assot and investment saley. (see table). 21N14 21N14 Sub total Totsl r8cts 21A14 21h14 mènts CounSd￿n9 sup￿￿￿n Equiwenl Gener*Adtpiil InsuRr 1.680 122 8.442 122 Rent t.1$6 Tranirwj Sub total 21N47 21￿47 A4 Asset and inVeStr￿nt PUTchas•s, Isee table) Sub tolal 21.047 21V7 Net of re¢eIN￿[p•Yn1￿j A6 Tr4nsfers ljetween funds A6 Cogh funds last year •nd Cash fvnds this •nd 367 CCXX R1 acoJmts Issi

Section B Ststement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Restricted funds Cat8QtsflQS Endowment funds DÈÈa'.:: funds Total cash Yuftds ErMlowrn?nt funds funds fvnd Detall$ Daralls Cuvr•rtv•lw• 83 Inw•trn•nt u••ts O¢tsils FuMdtothkh 84 A•••ts r•tsln•d for the ¢harlty'• own u•• Det41 noubrtdu• •nd Ll•bllllle• rd tyon&¢xkn*J trusto•s Sh3nalure Prinl Namo Date of val ALiSOti STEWRi 23 2L CCXX R2 at£￿ts Issi 23L)512024