2023-03-31-accounts

HBBS COUNSELLING

(formerly Havering & Brentwood Bereavement Service)

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[st] MARCH 2023

Registered Charity No: 1198645

HBBS COUNSELLING – (formerly Havering & Brentwood Bereavement Service)

Contents of the Financial Statements

For the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023

	Page Number
Report of the Trustees	1 to 4
Independent Examiner’s Report	5
Statement of Financial Activities	6
Balance sheet	7
Notes to the Financial Statements	8 to 11

HBBS COUNSELLING – (formerly Havering & Brentwood Bereavement Service)

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2023

The Trustees of the Charity present their report with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2023. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the Charity’s trust deed and the Charities Act 2011. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102, effective 1[st] January 2015).

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Charity Number:-

1198645

Principal office

HBBS Counselling Ardleigh Green Family Centre 165 Ardleigh Green Road Essex RM11 2SP

Governing Body

Chair Mrs. Sue Newth-Gibbs Treasurer Mr. Stephen Downton Secretary Mr. Jim Cantle Members Mr. Colin Smith Mrs. Karen Egglestone Mr. Adrian Sheridan Ex-officio Members Mrs. Louise Mundy

Independent Examiner Mrs. Rebekah Finn MAAT Finer Accountancy Limited 36 Brook Lane Galleywood Chelmsford Essex CM2 8NL

Bankers

HSBC Bank Unit 8, Lakeside Shopping Centre West Thurrock Essex RM20 2ZF

1

HBBS COUNSELLING – (formerly Havering & Brentwood Bereavement Service)

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

HBBS Counselling (formerly Havering & Brentwood Bereavement Service) is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and is a registered charity with the Charity Commission on 18[th ] April 2022. Full membership of the Charity is open to all those who are interested in furthering the work of the Charity. The Charity is funded by a mixture of restricted and unrestricted grant payments, client fees and fundraising activities.

As set out in the governing document (constitution), the Trustees shall consist of up to eight trustees.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The prime objective of the Charity is to provide the best one to one support for adults, young people and children experiencing bereavement and loss, enabling them to explore and understand their feelings and emotions and work towards adjustment in their new lives. The Charity also provides a generic counselling service. In order to achieve this, the Charity provides:-

• Therapeutic interventions appropriate for dealing with bereavement and loss and other mental health issues.

• Advice and expertise to local organisations to facilitate a greater understanding of bereavement and loss.

• A local, accessible and flexible service which anyone can refer to for help which is confidential.

The service is provided equally to people regardless of their gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, creed / religion, ethnic or national origin. The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

RELATED PARTIES AND CONNECTED ORGANISATIONS

The Charity has no links with Related Parties as defined by The Statement of Recommended Practice and has not combined with any other organisation in the pursuit of its charitable objectives.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

We are pleased to report that the level of sessions delivered to clients this year is back to pre-Covid levels which was one of our key aims of the year and 87% of these were free to clients at the point of access.

47% of these sessions were for adults and 53% for children.

For the second year running we were also able to provide CPD for our Counselling Team this year through access to an online bereavement training resource.

We maintained our links with longer standing funders and continued to deliver grants from them. These included Essex Community Foundation (Adult Bereavement Counselling in Brentwood) Barking Havering and Redbridge Clinical Commissioning Group (Childrens’ Generic Counselling, Counselling for Parents of children in crisis and School leaders Supervision), The National Lottery and BBC Children in Need (Bereavement Counselling for Young People of secondary and primary school aged).

Our relationships with local key organisations have been consolidated and developed. This includes working more closely with Havering Talking Therapies and Thurrock and Brentwood MIND, joining the Havering Place Based Partnership for mental health and as a response to a local emergency we joined the London Borough of Havering Bronze Group for Mental Health Support of those affected by the Wennington Fires.

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HBBS COUNSELLING – (formerly Havering & Brentwood Bereavement Service)

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Reserves

Total reserves at the end of the year have increased from last year to £256,638 (2022: £235,938) of which £183,065 (2022: £160,396) was restricted. The Charity has maintained unrestricted reserves at a level that complies with its reserves policy, under which the Charity aims to maintain unrestricted reserves at a level equivalent to a minimum of three months of operating costs. At 31[st] March 2023 the level of unrestricted reserves of £73,573 (2022: £75,542) represented 4.7 months (2022: 5.5 months) of current year operating costs and 4.4 months of forecast operating costs for the coming year. The level of reserves is regularly reviewed by the Trustees in order to ensure that appropriate and timely action is taken and that the Charity’s reserves policy remains relevant, taking account of changing circumstances.

Financial Performance

The financial results for the year are detailed in the attached accounts and show a £20,700 surplus (2022: £577 surplus). Total income for the year was £203,402 (2022: £162,559) showing an increase in Donations and Grants of £50,454 offset by Furlough Claim relief of £8,276 which ceased last year. Total expenditure was £182,702 (2022: £161,982), with the main increases due to Salaries up £9,068 and External Training up £8,698. The Charity continues to rely heavily on grant income in order to fund its activities. Grants received from Big Lottery Fund, Havering CCG, BBC Children in Need, Essex Community Foundation, Thurrock & Brentwood Mind, The Arm Trust, The Aspire Learning Foundation and Havering Education were restricted; all other grants received were unrestricted and for the general purpose of the Charity.

RISK STATEMENT

The highest risk is the sustainability of the service in the short to medium term. Client need is high and increasingly complex. There is a shortage of experienced and qualified counsellors. To mitigate this risk attention is continuing to be given to the recruitment, pay and career progression of staff.

For the management of the charity’s assets, a new Investment Strategy policy introduced this year, will mitigate any financial risk in the exposure of funds above the £85k threshold protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Any surplus funds can be placed in low-risk deposit accounts thereby maximising our investment return at a risk level agreed by the Charity trustees.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES

The Trustees are responsible for preparing a Trustees’ Annual Report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards.

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Charity Trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the Charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are required to:-

• Select suitable Accounting Policies and then apply them consistently.

• Observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP.

• Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.

• State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departure disclosed and explained in the accounts.

• Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in business.

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HBBS COUNSELLING – (formerly Havering & Brentwood Bereavement Service)

RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES (continued)

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the Accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the Charity’s Assets and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and breaches of law and regulations.

The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Charity and financial information included on the Charity’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

For the future we have 3 large grant applications still being considered by funders 2 of which potentially could be particularly significant in the development of the service and enable us to offer even more free support to local people of all ages.

We shall also be working on smaller projects in partnership with Havering Educational Psychology Service (supporting children in schools who are refugees and asylum seekers with counselling) and another with Havering Changing (providing an emotional well-being support worker to a Creative Arts Café for Ukrainian people recently arrived Borough).

In the meantime, HBBS is in a strong position, so we are confident we can continue deliver our core services for the next few years taking advantage of opportunities which come our way to develop our clinical expertise and offer even more free support to clients.

For and on behalf of

HBBS COUNSELLING – (formerly Havering & Brentwood Bereavement Service)

Mrs. S Newth-Gibbs

Chair of the Trustees

Date:

4

HBBS COUNSELLING – (formerly Havering & Brentwood Bereavement Service)

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees

I report on the accounts of the Charity, for the year ended 31[st ] March 2023, which are set out on pages 6 and 7 along with the notes to the accounts on pages 8 to 11.

Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and the Examiner

The Charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

• Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act.

• To follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

• To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

• (1) Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

• to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act, and

• to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act,

have not been met or,

• (2) To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Independent Examiner

Mrs. R. Finn MAAT

Finer Accountancy Limited

Date: 36 Brook Lane Galleywood Chelmsford Essex CM2 8NL

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HBBS COUNSELLING - (formerly Havering and Brentwood Bereavement Service)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023

Notes Unrestricted funds £ INCOMING RESOURCES Voluntary Income: Donations & Grants 2 2,297 Income from Charitable Activities Schools 2 10,620 Other Fee Paying sessions 2 14,638 Activities for generating funds: Fund Raising 2 0 Investment Income 0 Other income Furlough claims Total incoming resources 27,555 RESOURCES EXPENDED Fundraising activities 3 0 Charitable activities 3 27,478 Governance costs 3 2,046 Total resources expended 29,524 NET (OUTGOING)/INCOMING RESOURCES (1,969) Total funds brought forward 75,542 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 73,573	Restricted Y/E 31.03.23 funds Total funds £ £ 175,847 178,144 0 10,620 0 14,638 0 0 0 0 0 0 175,847 203,402 0 0 153,178 180,656 0 2,046 153,178 182,702 22,669 20,700 160,396 235,938 183,065 256,638	Unrestricted funds £ 12,138 9,776 16,817 0 0 8,276 47,007 0 26,730 2,396 29,126 17,881 57,661 75,542	Restricted Y/E 31.03.22 funds Total funds £ £ 115,552 127,690 0 9,776 0 16,817 0 0 0 0 0 8,276 115,552 162,559 0 0 132,856 159,586 0 2,396 132,856 161,982 (17,304) 577 177,700 235,361 160,396 235,938

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HBBS COUNSELLING - (formerly Havering and Brentwood Bereavement Service)

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST MARCH 2023

Notes As at 31.03.23 £ £ Fixed assets Tangible assets 7 0 Current assets Debtors: amounts falling due within one year 8 990 Cash at bank and in hand 265,711 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 9 10,063 Net current assets 256,638 NET ASSETS 256,638 Funds Unrestricted Funds 10 73,573 Restricted Funds 10 183,065 TOTAL FUNDS 256,638	As at 31.03.22 £ £ 0 2,408 245,169 11,639 235,938 235,938 75,542 160,396 235,938	As at 31.03.22 £ £ 0 2,408 245,169 11,639 235,938 235,938 75,542 160,396 235,938
		235,938
		75,542 160,396
		235,938

For the financial year ended 31st March 2023 the Charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act).

The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the Charity keeps accounting records which comply with section 130 of the Act and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity as at the end of the financial year and of its income and expenditure for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102, effective 1st January 2015).

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on the 21st June 2023.

Mrs. S. Newth-Gibbs - Chair Trustee

Mr. S. Downton - Treasurer Trustee

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HBBS COUNSELLING - (formerly Havering and Brentwood Bereavement Service)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Accounting convention

The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102, effective 1st January 2015), and the Charities Act 2011 and applicable regulations.

Income

All income is included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the Charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

• Voluntary income is received by way of grants, donations and gifts and is included in full in the

• statement of financial activities when receivable. Grants where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the Charity, are recognised when the Charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.

• Donated services and facilities are included at the value to the Charity where this can be quantified.

• The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included in these accounts.

• Investment income is included when receivable.

• Income from grants, where related to performance and specific deliveries, is accounted for as the

• Charity earns the right to consideration by its performance.

Expenditure

Expenditure is accounted for on an actual basis and has been classified under the headings that aggregate all costs related to that category. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

• Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the Charity in the delivery of its activities

• and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

• Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory

• requirements of the Charity and include all fees linked to the strategic management of the Charity. o Costs of a direct nature have been grouped together and allocated directly to the activities to which they relate.

• Costs of an indirect nature, that are necessary to support the Charity’s activities are grouped into

• their functional headings. Each group is then apportioned to the various activities of the Charity on a suitable and reasonable basis that best reflects the usage of each of the individual support functions.

Taxation

No provision for taxation is included in the accounts as the Charity is entitled to exemption from tax afforded by Section 505 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.

Tangible Fixed Assets

Fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off each asset over it's expected life, which in all cases is estimated at four years.

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HBBS COUNSELLING - (formerly Havering and Brentwood Bereavement Service)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the Charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or through the terms of an appeal or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. Where expenditure has been incurred on fixed assets for use in the Charity the income is shown as restricted income with a transfer being made to general funds for the amount of that expenditure. The asset is then depreciated in the usual way.

2 INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Schools Other Fee Paying Sessions Unrestricted Grants Fundraising Donations & Grants Restricted Grants	2023 £ 10,620 14,638 1,150 0 1,147 175,847 203,402	2022 £ 9,776 16,817 11,150 0 988 115,552
		154,283

Fundraising and Grants received, included in the above, are shown as follows:-

Fundraising Events Community Fundraising Donations & Grants Camelia Botnar Foundation Personal donations (Including gift aid) Other (below £2,500) Restricted Grants Big Lottery Fund (Reaching Communities) Children in need Havering CCG Thurrock CCG Essex Community Foundation Thurrock & Brentwood Mind The Arm Trust The Aspire Learning Foundation Havering Education Co-op Bank	2023 £ 0 0 0 2023 £ 0 0 1,147 1,147 2023 £ 33,242 37,200 47,755 0 22,650 10,000 22,750 1,250 1,000 0 175,847	2022 £ 0 0
		0
		2022 £ 0 0 988
		988
		2022 £ 33,242 (3,690) 60,000 0 15,000 10,000 0 0 0 1,000
		115,552

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HBBS COUNSELLING - (formerly Havering and Brentwood Bereavement Service)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023

3 TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED

Fundraising Activities £ Staff Wages and Salaries Recruitment Staff and Volunteers expenses External Supervision External Training, Counselling & Administration Fundraising and Social events Children's Service events Office and Meeting room rent and rates Bad Debt Insurance, Professional & Memberships Advertising and Marketing Telephone & Internet Legal and professional fees Miscellaneous expenses Office Supplies Bank Charges and postage Depreciation - Office equipment Computer Costs 0 4 STAFF COSTS Wages and salaries	Charitable Governance Activities Costs £ £ 133,223 0 766 1,770 15,539 0 0 18,567 45 2,612 0 761 2,046 0 226 0 7,147 180,656 2,046	2023 2022 £ £ 133,223 124,155 0 0 766 248 1,770 1,180 15,539 6,841 0 0 0 0 18,567 16,517 45 0 2,612 2,869 0 0 761 415 2,046 2,396 0 0 226 344 0 0 7,147 7,017 182,702 161,982 2023 2022 £ £ 133,223 124,155 133,223 124,155

There were no employees whose total remuneration exceeded £60,000 for the year ended 31st March 2023, nor for the year ended 31st March 2022.

5 NET INCOMING / (OUTGOING) RESOURCES

Net resources are stated after charging/(crediting):

Depreciation - owned assets	2023 2022 £ £ 0 0

6 TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no Trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31st March 2023 nor for the year ended 31st March 2022.

10

HBBS COUNSELLING - (formerly Havering and Brentwood Bereavement Service)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023

7 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS COST At 1st April 2022 Additions At 31st March 2023 DEPRECIATION At 1st April 2022 Charge for the year At 31st March 2023 NET BOOK VALUE At 31st March 2023 At 31st March 2022 8 DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Clients 9 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Trade Creditors Accountancy Fee CIN Grant return IT Fee Accrual - Staff Wages and Salaries 0 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Incoming At 01.04.22 Resources £ £ Unrestricted funds 75,542 27,555 Restricted funds 160,396 175,847 Total funds 235,938 203,402	Office Total Equipment £ £ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 31.03.23 31.03.22 £ £ 990 2,408 31.03.23 31.03.22 £ £ 5,158 2,334 750 1,100 0 3,690 0 1,314 4,155 3,201 10,063 11,639 Resources Expended At 31.03.23 £ £ 29,524 73,573 153,178 183,065 182,702 256,638	Total £ 0 0
		0
		0 0
		0
		0
		0
		31.03.22 £ 2,408
		31.03.22 £ 2,334 1,100 3,690 1,314 3,201
		11,639
		256,638

10 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

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