Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From: Period start date: 01.01.2023 To: Period end date: 31.12.2023 Charity name: Bridge Counselling
Charity registration number: 1191105
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To promote the mental health of people residing in Bromham and the Bedford areas through provision of a counselling service in accordance with the values of 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 |
Receiving requests for counselling, Providing an initial interview and then introduction to a counsellor who is appropriately trained and supervised Counselling sessions provided as agreed between client and counsellor Regular supervision sessions for each counsellor and financial contributions for each counsellor towards training and ongoing development. Bi monthly Counsellor meetings Bi monthly Trustees meetings |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | Bridge Counselling is open to all enquiries from people with varying issues who wish to discuss them with a trained counsellor. Most clients approach the service via telephone, email or communication direct from our web site. During this year and since the Covid 19 pandemic counselling has continued to be offered face to face or via technology such as Zoom. Our counsellors have been as flexible as they can be to continue offering services. 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)
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You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | N/A at this time |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | N/A at this time |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | Our counsellors offer their services free of charge to Bridge Counselling and the service could not run without their support. For part of this year we had a self employed co- ordinator in post but otherwise one of the counsellors, who is also a Trustee has co- ordinated the service, managed the waiting list and carried out initial interviews by phone to those who enquired about counselling. She has also assisted our newly appointed Co-Ordinator to be inducted into the role and to take over the work required We also benefitted from some administration support from a volunteer member of the church |
| Other | Trustees have taken on roles to assist with the running of this service – Finance, Data Protection, Safeguarding etc. Their time is given free of charge |
Achievements and Performance
| 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 |
SORP reference | Bridge Counselling has received 58 enquiries during the period January 1st2023 and December 31st, 2023 39 people are receiving or have received counselling. Issues for counselling were: Marriage (10), Past life issues (8), Relationships (6), Anxiety and depression (5), Loss and bereavement (2), Trauma (2), Life changes (2), and then 1 each for Health, Domestic abuse, Anger and Counselling course therapy. 392 hours of counselling were given by 5 counsellors and 3 student counsellors on placement with Bridge during this period |
|---|---|---|
Financial Review
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| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | A total of £10,843 was received during the year of which £2,000 was a grant from Bromham Baptist Church, £6,980 from counselling income and £1,450 from other donations and £38 interest Bridge Counselling also receives services in kind from Bromham Baptist Church covering accommodation facilities and utilities. The main items of expenditure are: Counselling supervision which was £1,445 plus expenses and administrative costs of £1,760 This resulted in a surplus for the year of £5,365 Our counsellors and students provide their services free of charge but we are now providing some travel costs in addition to supervision and training support. Recruitment of administration services last year has helped co-ordinate the service and reduce the need for voluntary requirements from the counsellors to administer the enquiries and waiting list. |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Bridge Counselling maintains a reserve fund to allow the organisation to adapt to any changes in our income or expenditure. The reserve is the equivalent to one month of day to day running costs plus an additional sum for one off professional indemnity insurance costs if the organisation must close down |
| Amount of reserves held |
Para 1.22 | The Trustees currently agreed that this amount should be £1000. |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | Bridge Counselling is reliant on the counsellors who give their time and expertise freely. We are seeking new counsellors to join the team and encouraging those interested in training to be counsellors to find out more. If we cannot recruit new counsellors the charity cannot continue to function and provide the service |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
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| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
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|---|---|---|
| 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 | Charitable Incorporated Organisation (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 | Invitation to serve as Trustee followed by information sharing, interview and decision by the Trustees and the invited Trustee to commit to the role |
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 |
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|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Reference and Administrative details
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| Charity name | Bridge Counselling Bromham |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | Bridge Counselling |
| Registered charity number | 1191105 |
| Charity’s principal address | Bridge Counselling, Bromham Baptist Church, Village Road, Bromham, Bedford. MK43 8LJ |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Barbara Bannard-Smith |
Chair | |||
| Mrs Lesley Dean |
Co-ordinator/ Counseller |
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| Mrs Felicity Leinster |
Finance | |||
| Mrs Jenny Hadley |
Safeguarding and Data Protection |
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| Dr TimothyPedley | Minute Taker | From 8thMarch 2022 | Bridge Trustees | |
| Mr George Hadley | Trustee | From 8thMarch 2022 | Bridge Trustees |
– 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
Felicity AE Leinster Signature(s) BL Bannard-Smith Felicity Audrey Endersley Leinster Full name(s) Barbara Lesley Bannard-Smith Position (eg Secretary, Chair of Trustees Trustee for Finance Chair, etc)
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Date 20. June 2024
Charity Name No (if any) Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 1/1/2023 1/31/2023
Section A Receipts and payments
| Section A Receipts and payments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts Bromham Baptist Church 2,000 CounsellingIncome 6,980 CounsellingSupervision 375 Donations 1,450 Interest 38 Gift Aid - - - 10,843 - - Sub total - Total receipts 10,843 Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ Sub total(Gross income for AR) A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - Restricted funds |
to the nearest £ Endowment funds |
Total funds to the nearest £ 2,000 6,980 375 1,450 38 - - - 10,843 - - - 10,843 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
| - - - - - - - - - |
2,000 | 3,000 | ||
| 6,980 | 8,170 | |||
| 375 | 560 | |||
| 1,450 | 2,242 | |||
| 38 | 13 | |||
| - | 245 | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| 10,843 | 14,230 | |||
| - - - |
- | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | 10,843 | 14,230 |
A3 Payments
| A3 Payments | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Grant Repayment | - | ## | - # | # | - # | # - # | # | 1,000 |
| Bank Charges | 60 | ## | - # | # | - # | # 60 # | # | 81 |
| Supervision | 1,445 | - | - - - - - - - - - |
1,445 | 2,072 | |||
| Insurance | 135 | - | 135 | 135 | ||||
| Registration / Accreditation | 494 | - | 494 | 623 | ||||
| ICO | 35 | - | 35 | 35 | ||||
| Website / Domain | 29 | - | 29 | 206 | ||||
| Training | 200 | - | 200 | 60 | ||||
| Safeguarding | 238 | - | 238 | 141 | ||||
| Expenses | 1,085 | - | 1,085 | 441 | ||||
| Admin | 1,760 | - | 1,760 | 971 | ||||
| **Sub total ** | 5,479 | - # | # | - # | # 5,479 # | # | 5,764 | |
| - - Sub total - Total payments 5,479 Net of receipts/(payments) 5,365 A5 Transfers between funds - A6 Cash funds last year end - Cash funds this year end 5,365 A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
- - - - - - - - |
- - - 5,479 5,365 - - 5,365 |
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- | |||||||
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| - | 5,479 | 5,764 | ||||||
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5,365 | 8,466 | |||||
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| - | 5,365 | 8,466 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Details Cash funds in 2023 Total cash funds end 2022 Details Details Details Details Signature B.L Bannard-Smith Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
to nearest £ to nearest £ 5,365 - 16,130 - - - 21,495 - Agreement Error OK to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Print Name FelicityLeinster Barbara Bannard-Smith Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) |
to nearest £ Endowment funds |
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| OK | |||
| to nearest £ Endowment funds |
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| Current value (optional) |
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| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
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| FelicityLeinster | |||
| B.L Bannard-Smith | Barbara Bannard-Smith |