**Trustees' Annual Report for the period**
Period start date Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year **From** 01 August 2024 **To** 31 July 2025
## Section A Reference and administration details
**Charity name** Reach Out for Mental Health
**Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any)** 1199647 **Charity's principal address** Athol House 65a Duke Street, Chelmsford Essex **Postcode CM1 1HL**
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee(if any)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Thandekile Juliana
Kawenga|Chair person||Kirsty Eaton|
||Frederick Hillinger|||KirstyEaton|
||Eranga Seneviratne||28.08.2025 started|KirstyEaton|
||Liz McCaig|Treasurer|30.06.2025 started|KirstyEaton|
||LucyHowchen||29.09.20.25 started|Juliana T Kawenga|
||Charlie Patterson|||KirstyEaton|
||||||
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**Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)**
**Name Dates acted if not for whole year**
May **2026**
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## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|
|---|---|---|
|**Type of adviser**
**Name**
**Address**|||
||||
||||
||||
||||
|**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**|||
||||
## **Section B Structure, governance and management**
## **Description of the charity’s trusts**
## Type of governing document
Constitution
- (eg. trust deed, constitution)
How the charity is constituted
- (eg. trust, association, company)
CIO
## Trustee selection methods
(eg. appointed by, elected by) We advertise widely through advertisement platforms such as Indeed and Charity job boards and Reach Volunteering. Our CEO will speak to any candidates initially and then ask for a Trustee to interview the potential Trustee alongside her. It will then go to a vote to the rest of the Board.
## **Additional governance issues (Optional information)**
You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant, about:
Reach Out for Mental Health exercises a typical centralised, hierarchical additional information, where relevant, about: organisational structure. Our organisational structure is small but efficient. We have a board of Trustees which manage and work alongside • policies and procedures the CEO. adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
We don’t have any relationships with any related parties.
- the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
One conflict of interest was declared in relation to the Chair of Trustees, Juliana Kawenga, who was proposed for a paid position within the Charity as Consultant Clinical Head of Service. In accordance with the Charity’s governance procedures, the Board convened separately, without the Chair present, to review the proposal and formally vote on whether to approve Ms Kawenga undertaking the role.
- relationship with any related parties;
- trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
No further conflicts of interest have been declared to either the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Trustees.
Our risks are identified, monitored and managed through our risk register, which can be discussed with potential donors, funders and partnering organisations.
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## **Section C Objectives and activities**
|**Summary of the objects of the**
**charity set out in its**
**governing document**
**Summary of the main**
**activities undertaken for the**
**public benefit in relation to**
**these objects (include within**
**this section the statutory**
**declaration that trustees have**
**had regard to the guidance**
**issued by the Charity**
**Commission on public**
**benefit)**|The founding aims and objectives are to reduce the number of
attempted and completed suicides in Essex through the delivery of free
counselling, befriending and other welfare-related services to adults
living in Essex.|
|---|---|
||Over the reporting period, Reach Out for Mental Health has continued to
provide vital support to adults experiencing suicidal thoughts and
complex mental health challenges through accessible, non-judgemental,
and relationship-centred interventions.
Feedback from those we support consistently highlights the importance
of our human, compassionate approach, offering time, connection, and
understanding at moments when individuals feel most alone. This
relational model remains a core strength of the charity and continues to
bridge a critical gap for people who may not meet thresholds for
statutory services yet are at heightened risk without timely support.
Our evaluation data demonstrates clear, measurable impact and
meaningful improvements in individual wellbeing:
-
The majority of individuals report reductions in distress, increased
emotional stability, and improved ability to manage day-to-day
challenges following engagement with the service.
-
Many individuals report feeling more able to reach out for support in
the future, demonstrating strengthened coping strategies and
reduced stigma around discussing suicidal thoughts.
These outcomes highlight not only improvements in wellbeing, but also
increased self-awareness and help-seeking behaviour, both key
protective factors in suicide prevention.
By continuing to be a placement provider and offering free counselling,
the charity can continue delivering potentially life-saving support to
individuals living with suicidal thoughts, while simultaneously
strengthening the sustainability of our model.
Working collaboratively with local training providers of Level 4 and above
student counsellors who are required to complete clinical placement
hours as part of their qualification; enables us to increase service
capacity, reduce waiting times, and offer more consistent support to
those in distress.
This approach not only enhances the reach and reliability of our service
but also contributes to the development of the future counselling
workforce. Students benefit from high-quality, real world experience in a
specialist suicide-prevention setting, while the charity benefits from
additional therapeutic resource grounded in contemporary training and
evidence-basedpractice. Ultimately,this model allows us to maintain a|
May **2026**
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3
compassionate, relational service that meets people at their most vulnerable moments and provides the emotional safety and connection that can prevent escalation to crisis
PIAS: The service provides regular support to approximately 10–15 individuals each week, alongside a further 2–4 one-off contacts through telephone calls or walk-ins. Support is delivered flexibly through face-to-face sessions, telephone calls, WhatsApp messaging, and community outreach, ensuring accessibility for people in varying levels of distress. The service operates for 13 hours per week and, where clinically appropriate, offers ongoing support over several weeks to individuals whose mental health needs require sustained engagement.
We also respond to unplanned presentations, including individuals arriving in acute emotional crisis. In these instances, staff provide immediate de-escalation, emotional support, and onward signposting to specialist agencies when required. The service works with adults aged 18 and over, including some affected by addiction, provided they are able to engage coherently and safely during their sessions. This flexible, person-centred model enables the charity to meet people at their point of need, offering timely, compassionate support that can prevent escalation to crisis services.
## **Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)**
Befriending Coffee groups
You **may choose** to include further statements, where relevant, about:
- policy on grantmaking;
- policy programme related investment;
- contribution made by volunteers.
May **2026**
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Section D Achievements and performance
## **Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year**
## **Key outcomes:**
• **60%** of individuals reported a reduction in suicidal thoughts • **69%** felt more able to ask for help when needed • **75%** developed a better understanding of their mental health and early warning signs • **94%** felt treated with dignity and respect • **94%** would recommend the service to others • **75%** said they achieved what they hoped to through support These outcomes highlight not only improvements in immediate wellbeing, but also increased self-awareness and help-seeking behaviour, both key protective factors in suicide prevention. A consistent theme across all evaluations was the importance of having a safe, confidential space to talk openly without fear of judgement. For many, this was the first time they had been able to: • speak honestly about suicidal thoughts • feel heard and understood • process complex emotions in a safe environment Participants described the service as: • helping them cope during periods of crisis • reducing isolation and loneliness • providing stability during difficult periods • supporting them to “make sense” of their thoughts and experiences For some individuals, the impact was immediate and life-preserving, with support described as helping them to stay safe and manage overwhelming feelings. Beyond immediate emotional support, the service helped individuals to: • recognise early signs of declining mental health • develop coping strategies
May **2026**
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Section D Achievements and performance
- build confidence in reaching out for help
Even where suicidal thoughts had not reduced, individuals often reported increased understanding of their mental health and a greater sense of control — an important step in long-term recovery.
May **2026**
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**Section E Financial review**
**Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves**
The Charity aims to have a minimum of three months running costs (including salaries) in reserves. The Board and the CEO will maintain this wherever possible.
## **Details of any funds materially**
**in deficit**
## **Further financial review details (Optional information)**
You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant about:
- the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
- how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
The charity receives funding from various sources, including the NHS, the National Lottery, and other funders as well as individual fundraising and donations.
We also engage in fundraising activities such as cake sales and other events. Regardless of the source, we ensure that all of our funding comes from organisations and individuals that uphold the highest ethical standards.
- investment policy and The funds we receive are used to support the charity's key objectives,
- objectives including any ethical investment policy such as providing essential services, raising awareness, and advocating adopted. for our cause.
## **Section F Other optional information**
## **Section G Declaration**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s)** T. Kawenga **Full name(s)** Juliana Thandekile Kawenga **Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)** Chair **Date** 13.05.2026
May **2026**
**TAR**
7
**Charity Name No (if any) Reach Out For Mental Health CIO 1199647 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period** Period start date Period end date **To from** 01-Aug-24 31-Jul-25
|**Section A Receipts and payments**|**Section A Receipts and payments**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**A1 Receipts**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**7,031**
**50**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**7,081**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**7,081**
**924**
**68**
**196**
**371**
**-**
**220**
**852**
**-**
**-**
**169**
**2,800**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**2,800**
**4,281**
**7,862**
~~**9,260**~~
**21,403**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**9,660**
**102,865**
**20,000**
**13,000**
**25,000**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**170,525**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**170,525**
**19,092**
**-**
**5,660**
**124**
**2,979**
**-**
**67**
**3,631**
**17**
**133,760**
**29,127**
**194,457**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**194,457**
**- 23,932**
**- 7,142**
~~**78,241**~~
**47,167**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
~~**-**~~
**-**|**Total funds**
**to the nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**9,660**
**102,865**
**-**
**20,000**
**-**
**-**
**13,000**
**7,031**
**50**
**25,000**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**177,605**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**177,605**
**20,016**
**-**
**5,728**
**319**
**3,351**
**-**
**287**
**4,482**
**17**
**133,760**
**29,296**
**197,256**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**197,256**
**- 19,651**||**Last year**
**to the nearest £**|
|Co-Operative||||||**2,301**|
|Positive Energy||||||**8,500**|
|Donations||||||**2,030**|
|Essex CommunityFoundation||||||**21,000**|
|National Lottery||||||**95,492**|
|VoluntarySector Development Fund(2)||||||**57**|
|Colchester Borough Council||||||**20,000**|
|ASDA||||||**400**|
|C360 Bursary- Thurrock||||||**45**|
|ECF(Mid & South Essex)||||||**-**|
|Donations|**7,031**|||||**-**|
|Other|**50**||||||
|Teland Ltd|||||||
||**-**|||||**-**|
||**-**|||||**-**|
||**-**|||||**-**|
||**-**|||||**-**|
|~~**_Sub total_**~~~~_(Gross income for_~~
_AR)_|
**7,081**|||||**149,825**|
||||||||
|**A2 Asset and investment sales,**
**(see table).**|||||||
||**-**||||||
||**-**|||||**-**|
|~~**_Sub total_**~~|**-**|||||**-**|
|**_Total receipts_**
**A3 Payments**
Room Hire and Rates
Heat, Light and Power
Travelling Expenses
Printing and Stationery
Telephone and Computer charges
Equipment and Rental
Maintenance
General Expenses and Marketing
Bank Charges and Interest
Gross Wages
Professional Fees
**_Sub total_ **|||||||
|||||||**149,825**|
||||||||
|||||||**12,165**|
|||||||**480**|
|||||||**4,752**|
|||||||**253**|
|||||||**2,953**|
|||||||**-**|
|||||||**3,141**|
|||||||**8,385**|
|||||||**11**|
|||||||**97,353**|
|||||||**11,759**|
|||||||**141,252**|
||||||||
|**A4 Asset and investment**
**purchases, (see table)**|||||||
||**-**||||||
||**-**||||||
|**_Sub total_ **|**-**|||||**-**|
|**_Total payments_**
**_Net of receipts/(payments)_**
**A5 Transfers between funds**
**A6 Cash funds last year end**
**_Cash funds this year end_**|||||||
|||||||**141,252**|
||||||||
||**4,281**|**- 23,932**|**-**|**- 19,651**||**8,573**|
||**7,862**|**- 7,142**|**-**|**720**||**-**|
||~~**9,260**~~|~~**78,241**~~|~~**-**~~|~~**87,501**~~||~~**79,648**~~|
||**21,403**|**47,167**|**-**|**68,570**||**88,221**|
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
15/05/2026
1
|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**|**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**
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
Bank & Cash
Debtors
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
Creditors
Signature|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**16,220**
**54,309**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**16,220**
**54,309**
Agreement Error
Agreement Error
**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)**
Unrestricted
**1,958**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
Print Name|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||OK|
||||**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**When due**
**(optional)**|
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
||||Date of
approval|
|||||
|||||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
15/05/2026
2
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examinerfs
report on the accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
Report to the trusteesl
membors of
Re8Lh Out For Mental Heatth CIO
On accounts for the year
ended
July 2025
Charlty no
(If any)
Sot out on pages
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accfjunts of the ab)ve
chanty (Ihe Trust.) for the year end&J
Rosponslbllilies and As the charty trustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation
basls of roport of the a¢¢ounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charitles Act
2011 (Ihe Acr).
I report in respect of my examinatM?n of the Trust's accounts carried oul
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying OLrt my examination, I
have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145(51{b) of the Act.
I have completed my examination. I confim that no matenal matters have
come lo my attention (other than that disdosed below ') in connection with
the examination whth gives me cause to believe that in, any material
resp..
accJ)unting records were not kept in accordance %*ith sects'on 130 of
the Act or
the accounts do not accord wrth the accounting records
Independent
examinerfs Statsment
I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection
wrth Ihe examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable
proper understarKling of the aco)unts to be reathed.
' Please delete the words in the brnc*8ts rflhey do not apply.
Slgn•d:
Date:
May 11° 2026
Name:
John Wc%xlrow
Relevant profe$slonal
qualifiGation(s) or b(Kly
(rf any):
Address:
9 Five Acres, Danbury
Chelmsford
Essex CM3 4NB
IER
October 2018