Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From: 1 January 2024 To: 31 December 2024
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 individual adults 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. 7 volunteers were fully trained counsellors and 7 were trainee counsellors. There have been 5 Trustees. |
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 128 members of the public and provided 1204 counselling sessions during this period. Common presenting issues have been 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, and in turn, to families, workplaces, society and the local community. It enables those who require more than Talking Therapies can offer, to receive help. It provides counselling for those unable to afford the cost of private counselling. 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. All of the counsellors are supervised by 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. In 2024 HCS had 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Para 1.41 |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
||
|---|---|---|
| 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 2024 the bank balance was £12 273.40. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | HCS is a small charity and relies on donations from clients and financial gifts. 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. During 2024, donations from clients have reduced and the bank balance has steadily reduced. The reserve will allow HOPE to continue to fund building rental, a part- time administration assistant and a very part time manager. Efforts are being made to seek donations from local organisations though these are limited in success. A reserve will be required in order to pay self employed people working with Hope for a period of time, should the service have to wind down and cease. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £12 273.40 |
| 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 | Going forward into 2025 there is some concern about funding. Due to the economic climate, and our client base, Hope’s donations have reduced this year. The Manager and Trustees will review some processes in order to attempt to rectify this and attempt to improve the financial position. |
| 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 | Donations from clients of the service. Some donations of up to a few hundred pounds from individuals and from local organisations. |
| 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 in 2024 with a body of 5 Trustees of different professional and life experience. This includes a Counsellor who was also a Counselling supervisor. |
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 | Chair of Trustees | The whole Trustee body agrees to the appointment of new Trustees. |
||
| William Stewart Johnston |
Treasurer | |||
| Neil Hooley | Safeguarding Trustee |
|||
| Debbie Hunt | ||||
| Jane Clark | ||||
– 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) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date |
||
|---|---|---|
| Alison Stewart | ||
Chair of Trustees |
||
| 15 October 2025 | ||
| 15 October 2025 |
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Recei tsand ents accounts CC16a To 01n11rJ)24 3111213J24 Section A Receipts and payments lund• funds Tot•1 fvnd• Last yr Al R•eèl 147J• 14798 14,75B AR) 14708 14768 14,718 147 A3Pa 2.36S 2,365 2,458 17.869 Rent 17.869 Sub total 21893 A4 As••t and lttve•tm•nt Sub total 22.693 Not orrecdp[P8ymenI8J . AS Tran8fers betw•en fund• A6 ¢a•h funds last yo8r6nd C•sh funds this end . 7,935 7.9 7.93 CCXX R1 a<15 ISSI 28J11Y2025
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