
# **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** 

**From:     Period start date:  01.01.2021     To: 31.12.2021** 

## **Period end date:** 

**Charity name:  Bridge Counselling** 

## **Charity registration number:  1191105** 

## **Objectives and Activities** 


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SORP reference<br>Summary of the purposes Para 1.17 To promote the mental health of people<br>of the charity as set out  residing in Bromham and the Bedford<br>in its governing  areas through provision of a<br>document counselling service in accordance with<br>the values of the Christian faith<br>Summary of the main  Para 1.17 and   Receiving requests for counselling,<br>1.19<br>activities in relation to   Providing an initial interview and<br>those purposes for the  then introduction to a counsellor<br>public benefit, in  who is appropriately trained and<br>particular, the activities,  supervised<br>projects or services   Counselling sessions provided as<br>identified in the  agreed between client and<br>accounts. counsellor<br>  Regular supervision sessions for<br>each counsellor and financial<br>contributions for each counsellor<br>towards training and ongoing<br>development.<br> Bi monthly Counsellor meetings<br> Bi monthly Trustees meetings<br>Statement confirming  Para 1.18 Bridge Counselling is open to all<br>whether the trustees  enquiries from people with varying<br>have had regard to the  issues who wish to discuss them with a<br>guidance issued by the  trained counsellor.<br>Charity Commission on  Most clients approach the service via<br>public benefit telephone, email or communication<br>direct from our web site.<br>During this year, because of the Covid<br>19 pandemic counselling has still<br>continued if the client is willing and<br>able to use technology such as Zoom.<br>Our counsellors have been as flexible<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


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as they can be to continue offering services during this difficult time. The Trustees have read the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and are satisfied that the activities outlined above clearly demonstrate that the charity is meeting its Purpose and is providing a benefit to the public. 

## **Additional information (optional)** 

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: SORP reference 


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SORP reference<br>N/A at this time<br>Para 1.38<br>Policy on grant making<br>N/A at this time<br>Para 1.38<br>Policy on social<br>investment including<br>program related<br>investment<br>All counsellors offer their services free<br>Para 1.38 of charge to Bridge Counselling and<br>Contribution made by  the service could not run without their<br>volunteers support.<br>Throughout the pandemic one of the<br>counsellors has co-ordinated the<br>service, managed the waiting list and<br>carried out initial interviews by phone<br>to those who enquired about<br>counselling.<br>Trustees have taken on roles to assist<br>Other with the running of this service –<br>Finance, Data Protection, Safeguarding<br>etc.<br>Their time is given free of charge<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## **Achievements and Performance** 

SORP reference 

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||Summary of the main<br>achievements of the<br>charity, identifying the<br>diference the charity’s<br>work has made to the<br>circumstances of its<br>benefciaries and any<br>wider benefts to society<br>as a whole.|Para 1.20|Bridge Counselling has received 50<br>enquiries during the period January 1st<br>2021 and December 31st2021<br>This has resulted in 44 Initial<br>interviews<br>28 people receiving or received<br>counselling<br>3 people on hold for various reasons<br>703 hours of counselling given by 10<br>counsellors during this period||
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## **Financial Review** 

||Review of the charity’s<br>fnancial position at the<br>end of the period|Para 1.21|A total of £11,200 was received<br>during the year of which £4,000 was<br>a grant from Bromham Baptist<br>Church, £1000 was a loan from same<br>church to open a bank account and<br>£1,600 from other donations.  In<br>addition, income from counselling<br>was £4,600.<br>Bridge Counselling also receives<br>services in kind from Bromham<br>Baptist Church covering<br>accommodation facilities and utilities.<br>The main items of expenditure are:<br>Counselling supervision which was<br>£2466, and administrative charges<br>which include the following:-<br>ICO – £35,<br>bank charges - £80,<br>insurance - £135<br>professional registration and training<br>£635.<br>Web site - £168<br>Other - £17<br>Our counsellors provide their services<br>free of charge.||
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This resulted in a surplus for the year<br>of £7,664<br>Statement explaining the Para 1.22 Bridge Counselling maintains a<br>policy for holding  reserve fund to allow the organisation<br>reserves stating why  to adapt to any changes in our<br>they are held income or expenditure.  The reserve<br>is the equivalent to one month of day<br>to day running costs plus an<br>additional sum for one off<br>professional indemnity insurance<br>costs if the organisation has to close<br>down<br>Amount of reserves held Para 1.22<br>The Trustees currently agreed that<br>this amount should be £1000.<br>Explanation of any  Para 1.23 Bridge Counselling is reliant on the<br>uncertainties about the  counsellors who give their time and<br>charity continuing as a  expertise freely.<br>going concern We are seeking new counsellors to<br>join the team and encouraging those<br>interested in training to be<br>counsellors to find out more.  If we<br>cannot recruit new counsellors the<br>charity cannot continue to function<br>and provide the service<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## **Additional information (optional)** 

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: 


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Grant from Bromham Baptist Church -<br>£4,000<br>The charity’s principal  Counselling fees<br>sources of funds  Para 1.47 Donations<br>(including any  One off gifts<br>fundraising)<br>Investment policy and  N/A at this time<br>objectives including any<br>social investment policy  Para 1.46<br>adopted<br>Counsellors resigning their service and<br>not being able to replace their given<br>A description of the  Para 1.46 time for counselling.<br>principal risks facing the<br>charity<br>N/A<br>Other<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


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## **Structure, Governance and Management** 


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Description of charity’s<br>trusts:<br>Type of governing  Para 1.25 Constitution<br>document<br>(trust deed, royal<br>charter)<br>How is the charity  Para 1.25 Charitable Incorporated Organisation<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


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**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
constituted?  (CIO)<br>(e.g unincorporated<br>association, CIO)<br>Trustee selection  Para 1.25 Invitation to serve as Trustee followed<br>methods including details by information sharing and decision by<br>of any constitutional  the invited Trustee to commit to the<br>provisions e.g. election to role<br>post or name of any<br>person or body entitled<br>to appoint one or more<br>trustees<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## **Additional information (optional)** 


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You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:<br>Continuing as a work in progress<br>Policies and procedures<br>adopted for the induction Para 1.51<br>and training of trustees<br>The Charity is based at<br>Bromham Baptist Church, Village Road,<br>The charity’s  Bromham, Bedford.  MK43 8LJ.<br>organisational structure  Para 1.51 For most of the year we have had one<br>and any wider network  of the counsellors volunteering to co-<br>with which the charity  ordinate the enquiries and carrying out<br>works the initial interviews<br>Bromham Baptist Church supports<br>Bridge Counselling CIO with an annual<br>Relationship with any  Para 1.51 grant and the use of premises and<br>related parties facilities within the church building.<br>This arrangement is confirmed with a<br>Memorandum of Understanding which<br>will be reviewed every 6 months<br>Other<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## **Reference and Administrative details** 

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**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
Charity name Bridge Counselling Bromham<br>Other name the charity  Bridge Counselling<br>uses<br>Registered charity  1191105<br>number<br>Charity’s principal  Bridge Counselling, Bromham Baptist Church, Village<br>address Road, Bromham, Bedford.  MK43 8LJ<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** 


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Name of person (or body)<br>Dates acted if not for<br>Trustee name Office (if any) entitled to appoint trustee<br>whole year<br>(if any)<br>Mrs Barbara  Chair<br>1<br>Bannard-Smith<br>Mrs Lesley Co-ordinator<br>2<br>Dean<br>Mrs Felicity Finance<br>3<br>Leinster<br>Mrs Jenny Safeguarding and<br>4<br>Hadley Data Protection<br>Dr Michael 1 [st]  January 2021 –<br>5<br>O’Rourke 29 [th]  June 2021<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


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

N/A 

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity 

**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year** N/A 

## **Declarations** 

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

**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** 

_LR Dean_ **Signature(s)** _BL Bannard-Smith_ Lesley Rita Dean **Full name(s)** Barbara Lesley BannardSmith **Position (eg** Chair Co-Ordinator **Secretary, Chair, etc)** 

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Date
16" August 2022

## **Bridge Accounts February 25th 2020** 

|**Bridge Counselling**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Budget**||||||
|||Dec-||||
||**2021**|20|Year to date|Jan|Feb|
|**Income**||||||
|||||100||
|BBCgrant for reserves|1000||1000|0||
|BBC grant|4000||1000||1000|
|Income  - counselling|3160|1683|147.5|60|87.5|
|Charge income -||||||
|counselling|||0|||
|Schools||270|0|||
|Other donations|1200||500||500|
||||0|||
||||0|||
|Total income|8360|1953|1647.5|60|1587.5|
|**Expenditure**||||||
|Supervision|2500|2125|328|60|268|
|Schools||225|0|||
|Insurance|135|308|0|||
|Registration|1200|595|175|175||
|ICO|40||0|||
|Website|204||0|||
|Training|700|181|0|||
|Conference|1400||0|||
|Expenses - other|||10.95||10.95|
||||0|||
|Total expenditure|6179|3434|513.95|235|278.95|
|**Reserve**|1000||1000|||
||||1133.5|-||
|Income - expenditure|2181|-1481|5|175|1308.55|
||||2133.5|||
|Money in Bank|||5|||



