2024-03-31-accounts

Registered Charity Number 1196742

REFLECTIONS COUNSELLING SERVICE

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD 1[st] April 2023 - 31 MARCH 2024

CONTENTS
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION	Page 2
THE TRUSTEES	Page 2
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT	Page 3
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES	Page 4
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE	Page 5
FINANCIAL REVIEW	Page 11
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES	Page 12
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS	Page 14
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT	Page 15

Page 1 of 17

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the Charity for the period 1[st] April 2023 until 31[st] March 2024.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Registered charity name: Reflections Counselling Service

Charity registration number: 1196742 Principal Address: 393 Bury Road Bolton BL2 6DE

THE TRUSTEES

The Trustees who served the Charity during the period of this report were:

Karen Ottewill (Chair) Ruth Wood (Treasurer) Sharan Charnock (Secretary) Linda Charnock Janet Bakewell Lynn Cawley Nina Rudnick

All major decisions are taken collectively by the Trustees.

Page 2 of 17

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Reflections Counselling Service was established in 2011 and operated as an unincorporated association. Reflections Counselling Service became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) – Foundation and registered with the Charity Commission on 23[rd] November 2021 with Charity Registration number 1196742 Reflections Counselling Service governing document is a constitution.

Recruitment and appointment of trustees

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees would be in line with the Reflections Counselling Service’s constitution and with the consent of the Trustees. The criteria for the suitability of a new candidate is set out in the constitution.

In order to bring a range of skills and cover the broad reach of the charity, the trustees have a diversity of backgrounds.

Trustee induction and training

New trustees would be briefed by the existing trustees on the objects and operations of the charity and referred to the guidance for new trustees published by the Charity Commission.

New trustees will be given a copy of the constitution and all trustees are expected to be familiar with the work of the charity and get involved in events and services regularly including participating in training that is seen as beneficial to the charity.

Trustees also discuss the future plans and the development of the charity in relation to the objectives of the charity and ways to secure and strengthen the financial position of the charity.

Additional governance issues

The charity is currently funded by grants and we operate on a policy of rolling applications for grants for specific planned activities. All the funds we have are from grants with specified expenditure – fees, phones, rent, office expenses, etc.

Page 3 of 17

Risk review

The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed, in particular those related to operations and finances. They are satisfied that systems are in place to manage exposure to the major risks.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The objects of the Charity are:

To Promote and protect the physical and mental health of people affected by mental health conditions for the public benefit through the provision of counselling and support.

Public benefit

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers or duties.

The charity has provided free counselling sessions to Bolton residents suffering from mental health issues that aim to empower, educate and support clients to enable them to improve their mental health and well-being.

Objects of the Charity, principal activities and organisation of our work

The Charity’s object and its principal activity continue to be that of providing free counselling sessions to people suffering from mental health issues.

Two qualified counsellors (Diploma Level 4 Integrative Counselling) provide one to one counselling to Bolton residents - Adults (Over-18) for issues including anxiety and depression, relationship breakdown, stress, alcohol and drug misuse, bereavement and loss. Offering counselling is free, accessible and open to all.

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The counsellors are responsible for and manage the day-to-day activities of the Charity.

Trustees meet periodically to manage the affairs of the Charity.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Development, activities, and achievements during this period

In the period from April 2023 to March 2024 Reflections delivered:

404 free counselling sessions to 56 clients (average of 8 sessions per person).

----- Start of picture text -----
Male 19 Hetrosexual 50
Female 37 Homosexual 4
Bisexual 2
Ethnicity
White British 50
British Pakistani 1
White - Irish 2
mixed white/black African 1
British Indian 1
British Moslem 1
----- End of picture text -----

Age Ages of clients range from youngest at 20 to oldest at 80

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Page 5 of 17
----- End of picture text -----

Post Code Area of Bolton

• BL1 8 BL2 8 BL3 5 BL4 12 BL5 16 BL6 4 BL7 1 BL8 1 M25 - Stoneclough 1

Issues in Addition to Mental Heal Needs

Additional Issues 45

No Additional Issues 11

In 2023-24 80% of clients reported facing additional, complex challenges to their

mental health issues

Typical Additional Issues Included:

• physical disability

• autism spectrum disorder diagnosis

• physical health issues

• arthritis

• cancer

• heart trouble

• mobility/elderly

• alcohol dependency

• low income/single parent

• debt/single parent

• debt/finance

• debt/housing

• debt/ low income/housing

• debt/employment issues

• unemployed

• carer

• abuse

• low income/drug misuse

Page 6 of 17

Referral Source

Initial Issues

• anxiety

• bereavement

• relationships/self esteem

• stress

• pain

• depression

• stress of son's alcoholism

• addiction/drugs/gambling

• loneliness

• loss

• anxiety/relationships

• divorce/loss

• change/depression

• sexual Abuse

• suicidal thoughts/self harm

• PTSD

• parenting

• domestic Violence

• husband's gambling addiction

• shock of crime

• divorce

Page 7 of 17

Our monitoring confirms clients’ positive, lasting change in mental health and emotional well-being with reduced anxiety and depression, reduced drug and alcohol use, healthier daily habits, improved relationships, reduced loneliness and social isolation. They are happier and more optimistic.

We promote the service accessibly:

• Referrals through established links with local community and mental health services

• Active Facebook page

• Bolton CVS Find-a-group website

• Let’s Keep Bolton Moving website

• Recommendations - past clients

Supporting people at the earliest possible stage.

• We help clients access support in a timely manner:

• We have a straightforward self-referral process - this enables easily accessed, direct engagement with our service.

• Discrete, confidential service - reduces stigma, removes barriers to accessing support

Learning

Ongoing Evaluation - We use NHS recognised mental health questionnaires, comprehensive evaluation, client feedback and surveys to monitor effectiveness, and to appraise and develop the service.

Page 8 of 17

We offered phone, video conferencing or face to face counselling sessions giving our clients flexibility and choice. This also helps resolve mobility, transport and childcare difficulties and to fit in better with work and family commitments. Walk and Talk sessions are on offer for face-to-face sessions which encourage a healthier and more

active lifestyle, proven to improve depression, stress and anxiety.

Our counselling support helps people to reach their potential:

• Providing necessary information, skills and support clients need to adapt to, process and manage the issues they are facing.

• Empowering clients to take control, live more intentional lives, achieve their own goals and aspirations.

Examples of Final Comments from Clients 2023-24

• I appreciate being given sufficient sessions to deal with my complex trauma

• Speaking to a professional counsellor is a comfort when not feeling too good. It's making a difference to people's lives

• I have changed from someone too scared to understand and overcome fears to someone interested/curious to delve into how my fears developed. Feel able to overcome deep rooted fears instead of avoiding

• It has given me confidence and the ability to turn things around in my head.

• Release stress and helped focus - very helpful

• Made me see how I need to ask for/accept help and helped me understand my relationship with my dad - thank you

• Good to talk to someone

• It has been a massive lifeline after years of bottling things up with no-one to talk to

• To not blame myself - just having someone to talk to helped

• Found handouts very helpful

• My counsellor was excellent

Page 9 of 17

• Not kicking myself so much

• Fantastic service that needs to continue - closure on divorce earlier this year, understand and process thoughts and feelings to be in a much better place from a mental well-being point of view

• Learning to recognise triggers and not responding as I have in the past

• • Chance to process court case

• Helped self-understanding, why I am like I am and how I can improve things

• • Given hope for future

• Getting better at dealing with my emotions. Being mindful that my feelings do matter and are relevant

• It's helped me to get my life back on track and given me more confidence

• Feel clearer

• Skills to move forward/ accept can't change people

• Better understanding of grief

• Now able to cope better

• Better thinking & mindfullness

• Found some peace of mind

• Understanding addiction

• Reduced anxiety/better relationship with self

• Acceptance of self and situation has set me free from suicidal thoughts

• Self-confidence grown and more relaxed

• Coping better/stopped beating myself up

• Learning to ask for help/feel more whole

• Can deal and now deal with PTSD/learning to recover from grief

• Reduced anger and anxiety

• Putting less pressure on self/feel happier

• More assertive/setting boundaries with others

• Coping better/feel more alive

Page 10 of 17

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Transactions and financial position

Reflections Accounts have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis and show a summary of the movement of cash into and out of the charity during the financial year.

Reflections Counselling Service received grants from National Lottery Awards for All and the Bolton’s Fund.

Reserves

The Charity carries reserves sufficient to meet its immediate planned needs. Its reserve policy is to only commission projects once specific project funding is secured.

Page 11 of 17

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Page 12 of 17

SectÉon B Statomcnt of a55ets and liabilities at the end of Ihe period B1 C••h Iw D•1• ¢1 Page 13 of 17

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

Grants

Lottery Awards for All grant was £10,000 Bolton’s Fund grant was £4,350

Donations (unrestricted funds)

Client donations £60

APPROVAL

I declare, in my capacity of Reflections trustee that:

• The Trustees have approved the report above and

• Have authorised me to sign it on their behalf.

Signed:

Name: Karen Ottewill Date: 5 January 2025

Page 14 of 17

REFLECTIONS COUNSELLING SERVICE CMAAITA8LE INCOftPORATED0Rf￿N1ShTIOm INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT To THE TRUSTEES OF REFLECTIONS COUNSELLING SERVICE CI FOR THE PERIOD I APRIL 2023 TO 31 MARCH 2024 I rewrt to the trustees on my examlnatlon of the accounts of Reflethons Counsellln8 Servlce CIO for the perlod l April 2023 to 31 March 2024 ReSpOn￿bIlItIeS and 8asls of Report As the charltles tru5tee5 of Refiertion5 C¢Junsellln8 Servlce CIO you are iesponsible for the preparation of the accounts In accordance wlth the requlrements of the Charities Acl 2011. I report in respert of my examination of Reflections Counselllng Service CIO account5 carrled out under settion 145 of the Charities Act 2011 and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the appllcablt directions gIV￿n by the Charity Commission under sertion 14515} Ibl of the act. A5 trustees you conslder that an audlt Is not requlred for ihls year and that an independent eKamlnatlon Is needed. The charlty's gross income did not exceed £250.0(K) and accounts are kept on a recelpts and payments basis. Having satisfied myself that the ¢harlty is not subject to an audit and 15 eli8ible for IndepeFxlent examinailon. it Is my Tesponslbllily to.. examine the actounts under sertlon 145 of the 2011 Act: to follow the procedures laid dov¥n in the general Dlrections 85ven by the Charlty Commission under section 145151{bl of the 2011 Act: and 10 State whether particulaf matters have come io my attentlon. The procedures undertaken donol provtdeall the evldencethat would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion 15 given a5 to whether the accounts present a 'true and falr view, and the report is limtted to those matters set out In the next Statement. Independent Ex•mlnerfs Stalttnenl I have completed my examlnatlon. I confirm that no materlal matters have corne to my attention in connectlon wlth ihe examlnation 8ivln8 me cause to belleve that in any materlal respect: Page 15 of 17

l. Accounting records were not kept in respect of Reflections Counselling Service ao as required by section 130 of the Charrtles Act 201L Or 2. The accounts do not accord with those rec¢xds I have come across no other matters in connertion with the examination to which artention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper under5tandin8 of the accounts to be reached. Name: I LLi&KJ SfGKJcÉ£. LTON) Ctu i I Q HE￿L￿Tr LQA 63fHOffjHTo￿j OLrod gLS IQI Q4Q PosltlDn: Address: 5i8ned: Date: S IitslL<¥. Page 16 of 17

This work has been made possible by an award from the Bolton’s Fund. Bolton’s Fund exists to support the VCSE sector in Bolton to grow and thrive. Bolton’s Fund grants fund projects and activities that benefit people and communities across the Borough of Bolton.

We are also supported by the players of the National Lottery.

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