## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From: Period start date: 01.01.2024 To: Period end date: 31.12.2024 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.| P a g e 1 | 6 ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: SORP reference ||
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.
We now have a self employed co-ordinator in
post and they have been able to take on the
administration of the service. This includes
receiving referrals, managing the waiting list and
carrying out initial interviews by phone to those
who enquired about counselling. They also
support the counsellors and arrange team
meetings with them bi-monthly. The Co-
ordinator also reports to the Trustees at their
meetings.| |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 57 enquiries
during the period January 1st2024 and December
31st, 2024
28 people are receiving or have received
counselling for the following issues:
Anxiety (7), family issues (4), past life issues (3),
trauma (3), relationships (3), bereavement (2),
Marriage (2 couples), anger (1), health issues (1)
.
411 hours of counselling were given by 6
counsellors, 2 student counsellors on placement
with Bridge and 1 other student who then became
a full counsellor with the team during this period|| |---|---|---|---| P a g e 2 | 6 ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the
end of the period|Para 1.21|A total of £9,230 was received during the year – this
was the first year Bridge Counselling did not receive
a grant from Bromham Baptist Church.
£7,515 from counselling income and £1,260 from
other donations, £413 from supervision and £42
interest
Bridge Counselling continues to receive services in
kind from Bromham Baptist Church covering
accommodation facilities and utilities.
The main items of expenditure are: Counselling
supervision which was £1.626 and administrative
costs which include the following:-
ICO – £35,
Bank charges - £60,
Insurance - £135
Professional registration £917
Training £300.
Safeguarding - £164
Web site - £196
Expenses - £1862
Zoom - £156
Administrator salary costs - £5,385
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.
This resulted in a deficit for the year of £1,606| |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 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 always 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| P a g e 3 | 6 ## **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 fees
Donations
One off gifts| |---|---|---| |Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|N/A at this time| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|Counsellors resigning their service and not
being able to replace their given time for
counselling.
The deficit of £1606 this year has been due
to several clients requiring to pay less due to
their financial circumstances. At present we
have the reserves to accommodate these
requests but the Trustees are aware that this
assistance needs to be monitored. They are
also looking to raise the fees charged for
counselling| ## **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|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|
Continuing as a work in progress| |---|---|---| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|The Charity is based at:
Bromham Baptist Church, Village Road,
Bromham, Bedford. MK43 8LJ.
During most of 2024 we have had 6 counsellors
and 3 students working with the service| P a g e 4 | 6 |||We have worked with 6 Trustees for most of this
year.
We now have one self employed Co-ordinator
managing the referrals and administration of the
service
Bridge Counselling is a member of The
Association of Christian Counsellors (ACC)| |---|---|---| |Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|Bromham Baptist Church supports Bridge
Counselling CIO with the use of premises and
facilities within the church building.
This arrangement is confirmed with a
Memorandum of Understanding which is
reviewed annually| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |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||| ||Mrs Felicity
Leinster|Finance||| ||Mrs Jenny
Hadley|Safeguarding and
Data Protection||| ||Dr TimothyPedley|Minute Taker|From 8thMarch 2022|Bridge Trustees| ||Mr Brian Bennet|Trustee|From 11thNovember
2024|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||| P a g e 5 | 6 ## **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 Bannard-Smith **Position (eg Secretary,** Chair of Trustees Trustee/Co-Ordinator/Counsellor **Chair, etc) Date** 30[th] June 2025 P a g e 6 | 6 **Charity Name** **No (if any)** ## **Receipts and payments accounts** **CC16a** **For the period** Period start date Period end date **To from** Jan-24 Dec-24 ## **Section A Receipts and payments** |**Section A Receipts and payments**|**Section A Receipts and payments**|**Section A Receipts and payments**||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |**A1 Receipts**
Bromham Baptist Church
**-**
CounsellingIncome
**7,515**
CounsellingSupervision
**413**
Donations
**1,260**
Interest
**42**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**9,230**
**-**
**-**
**_Sub total_ -**
**_Total receipts_ 9,230**
**A3 Payments**
**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 £**
**-**
**7,515**
**413**
**1,260**
**42**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**9,230**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**9,230**||**Last year**
**to the nearest £**| ||||||**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**-**||**2,000**| |||||||**7,515**||**6,980**| |||||||**413**||**375**| |||||||**1,260**||**1,450**| |||||||**42**||**38**| |||||||**-**||| |||||||**-**||**-**| |||||||**-**||**-**| |||||||**9,230**||**10,843**| |||||||||| ||||||**-**
**-**
**-**|**-**||| |||||||**-**||**-**| |||||||**-**||**-**| |||||||||| ||||||**-**|**9,230**||**10,843**| |||||||||| |Bank Charges|**60**||**-**||**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**60**||**60**| |Supervision|**1,626**||**-**|||**1,626**||**1,445**| |Insurance|**135**||**-**|||**135**||**135**| |Registration / Accreditation|**917**||**-**|||**917**||**494**| |ICO|**35**||**-**|||**35**||**35**| |Website / Domain|**196**||**-**|||**196**||**29**| |Training/ Conference|**300**||**-**|||**300**||**200**| |Safeguarding|**164**||**-**|||**164**||**238**| |Expenses|**1,862**||**-**|||**1,862**||**1,085**| |Zoom|**156**|**##**|**- #**|**#**|**- #**|**# 156 #**|**#**|**-**| |Administration|**5,385**|**##**|**- #**|**#**|**- #**|**# 5,385 #**|**#**|**1,760**| |**_Sub total_ **|**10,836**||**-**||**-**|**10,836**||**5,481**| |**-**
**-**
**_Sub total_ -**
**_Total payments_ 10,836**
**_Net of receipts/(payments)_ - 1,606**
**A5 Transfers between funds**
**-**
**A6 Cash funds last year end**
**-**
**_Cash funds this year end_ - 1,606**
**A4 Asset and investment**
**purchases, (see table)**|||**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|||**-**
**-**
**-**
**10,836**
**- 1,606**
**-**
**-**
**- 1,606**||| ||||||**-**
**-**
**-**|**-**||| |||||||**-**||| |||||||**-**||**-**| |||||||||| ||||||**-**|**10,836**||**5,481**| |||||||||| ||||**-**||**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**- 1,606**||**5,362**| ||||**-**|||**-**||**-**| ||||**-**|||**-**||**-**| ||||**-**|||**- 1,606**||**5,362**| ## **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**
2,024
2,023
2,022
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
Signature
##
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))|**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**- 1,606**
**-**
**5,365**
**-**
**16,130**
**-**
**19,889**
**-**
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**| |---|---|---|---| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||OK| ||||**to nearest £**
**Endowment**
**funds**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**Current value**
**(optional)**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**Current value**
**(optional)**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**When due**
**(optional)**| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||Date of
approval| ||||13-Jan-25| ||||13-Jan-25| |||||