Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From: Period start date: 01.01.2025 To: Period end date: 31.12.2025
Charity name: Bridge Counselling
Charity registration number: 1191105
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference |
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|---|---|---|
| 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 area 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. • Counsellor meetings every other month • Trustees meetings every other month |
| 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. Our counsellors are all Christians but are open to counselling people with any faith or no faith. Most clients approach the service via telephone, email or communication direct from our web site. During this year and since the 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. |
1 | P a g e
Additional information (optional) 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. All counsellors are members of the Association of Christians in Counselling and Linked Professionals We have six Trustees who all volunteer their time for Bridge Counselling |
| Other | We have a self-employed co-ordinator in post and they to manage the day-to-day administration of the service. This includes receiving referrals, managing the waiting list and carrying out initial interviews by phone or face to face to those who enquire about counselling. They also support the counsellors and arrange bi-monthly team meetings with them. The Co-ordinator also reports to the Trustees at their meetings. Trustees have taken on roles to assist with the running of this service – Finance, Data Protection, Safeguarding, record keeping, web site management, fund raising 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 60 enquiries during the period January 1st2025 and December 31st, 2025 30 people are receiving or have received counselling for the following issues: Anxiety and depression (9), low self worth (2), life changes (1), trauma (4), relationships (6), bereavement and loss (2), Marriage (5), domestic abuse (1). . 390 hours of counselling were given by 9 counsellors and 3 student counsellors on placement with Bridge. |
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2 | P a g e
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | A total of £15,667 was received during the year. This included £8,525 from counselling income and £6,499 from other donations, £475 from supervision, £121 from Gift Aid and £47 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 £1,767 and administrative costs which include the following:- ICO – £47, Bank charges - £60, Insurance - £135 Professional registration £753 Training £703. Safeguarding - £226 Web site/ Domain - £805 Expenses - £2091 Zoom - £96 Administrator salary costs - £5,843 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 late in 2023 has helped co-ordinate the service and reduce the need for voluntary requirements from the counsellors to administer the enquiries and waiting list. The Co-ordinator resigned in September 2025 so we recruited a new provider who commenced the role in November 2025. Due to a generous gift from another local counselling service which was closing down the income this year was higher than expenditure by £3,141 |
| 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. |
3 | P a g e
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 providing counselling. The Trustees have agreed for several clients to pay less for their counselling due to their financial circumstances. We want to ensure people who need counselling assistance are able to receive it. At present we have the reserves to accommodate these requests but the Trustees are aware that this assistance needs to be monitored and more fund raising may need to be carried out in future. |
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, references and decision by the Trustees and the invited person 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 |
|---|---|---|
4 | P a g e
| 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 every other year. |
|---|---|---|
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
| 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 of Trustees | ||
| Mrs Lesley Dean |
Trustee | ||
| Mrs Felicity Leinster |
Finance Trustee | ||
| Mrs Jenny Hadley |
Safeguarding and Data Protection Trustee |
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| Dr Timothy Pedley | Minute Taker Trustee |
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| Mr Brian Bennet | Web Site Trustee |
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 |
BL Bannard-Smith Barbara Lesley Bannard-Smith |
LR Dean |
|---|---|---|
| Lesley Rita Dean | ||
Chair of Trustees |
Trustee | |
| 8thJuly 2026 | ||
| 8thJuly 2026 |
5 | P a g e
| Charity Name | No (if any) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts andpayments accounts | CC16a | |||
| For the period from |
Jan-25 Jan-25 |
Dec-25 Dec-25 To |
| Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 8,525 475 6,499 47 121 - - - 15,667 - - - 15,667 60 1,767 135 753 47 805 703 226 2,091 5,843 96 12,526 - - - 12,526 3,141 - - 3,141 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ 8,525 475 6,499 47 121 - - - 15,667 - - - 15,667 60 1,767 135 753 47 805 703 226 2,091 5,843 96 12,526 - - - 12,526 3,141 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|
| CounsellingIncome | 8,525 | - - - - - - - - - |
8,525 | 7,515 | ||
| CounsellingSupervision | 475 | 475 | 413 | |||
| Donations | 6,499 | 6,499 | 1,260 | |||
| Interest | 47 | 47 | 42 | |||
| Gift Aid | 121 | 121 | - | |||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
15,667 | 15,667 | 9,230 | |||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
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| - | - - - |
- | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | |||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| - | 15,667 | 9,230 | ||||
| Bank Charges | 60 | - - - - - - - - - - - - |
60 | 60 | ||
| Supervision | 1,767 | 1,767 | 1,626 | |||
| Insurance | 135 | 135 | 135 | |||
| Registration / Accreditation | 753 | 753 | 917 | |||
| ICO | 47 | 47 | 35 | |||
| Website / Domain | 805 | 805 | 196 | |||
| Training/ Conference | 703 | 703 | 300 | |||
| Safeguarding | 226 | 226 | 164 | |||
| Expenses | 2,091 | 2,091 | 1,862 | |||
| Administration | 5,843 | 5,843 | 5,385 | |||
| Zoom | 96 | 96 | 156 | |||
| **Sub total ** | 12,526 | 12,526 | 10,836 | |||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
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| - | - - - |
- | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | - | |||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| - | 12,526 | 10,836 | ||||
| 3,141 | - | - | 3,141 |
- 1,606 | ||
| - | - | - - |
- | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | |||
| 3,141 | - | - | 3,141 | - 1,606 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
7/19/2026
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds |
Details Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details 2,025 2,024 2,023 Details Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 3,141 - - 1,606 - 21,492 - 23,027 - Agreement Error OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name FELICITY LEINSTER BARBARA BANNARD-SMITH |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| - | |||
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| - | |||
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| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| Current value (optional) |
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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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| FELICITY LEINSTER | 12-Jan-26 | ||
| BARBARA BANNARD-SMITH | 12-Jan-26 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
7/19/2026
2