Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024
Charity name: HearSay Charitable Trust
Charity registration number: 1200556
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | (a) To provide professional counselling services for families, children and individuals affected by a range of impairing conditions such as psychological, mental health, behavioural or emotional problems, and/or physical, sensory or other disabilities as well as those affected by the health or disabilities of others, in Maidstone and the surrounding areas; (b) To provide such counselling particularly for those unable to afford private counselling or whose needs cannot be met by other agencies in a timely manner; (c) To further the training of counsellors and others who assist in helping persons with or affected by mental, physical, sensory or other disabilities; (d) To promote research into the challenges facing individuals with or affected by disabilities; (e) To collaborate with other organisations working in complementary or similar fields in the provision of professional counselling services for individuals with or affected by disabilities. |
| 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 |
Subsidised one-to-one, family and couple counselling, in particular for those with a range of impairing conditions as set out in HearSay’s objectives. Facilitation of support groups for parents of children with a range of behavioural and emotional difficulties, mainly school-based but also working with another charity locally that supports young carers. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance |
Para 1.18 | The Trustees are all fully aware of the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit. |
issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | Not applicable |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | Not applicable |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | HearSay Charitable Trust relies heavily on volunteers. Both the Treasurer and the Clerk to the Trustees are volunteers. |
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | The Trust’s individual and family counselling sessions have continued to generate positive evaluations demonstrating considerable benefit gained from the counselling provided to clients. Of considerable value, particularly to children, is equine therapy provided by a local specialist in this field. The school-based parent support groups also continue to be well received with a meeting of local Family Liaison Officers generating further interest in this specialist work by the Trust. Parents are able to discuss concerns within the group and learn from each other as well as from the facilitating counsellor. The schools also benefit, for example from improved relationships with the parents and less disruptive behaviour from pupils. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Achievements against objectives set |
HearSay Charitable Trust set the following objectives in its Business Plan covering the period 2022 to 2025: • To increase the number of clients by 10% and increase the number of counselling hours in the first year of the plan. • To support families and carers of students in four schools in the local area. • To improve the organisation of the Trust, and thereby the impacts of the Trust’s work, by recruiting an administrator and additional volunteers. The part-time Administrator will be in post by the end of 2022 (requiring the Trustees to decide on the job description, hours and salary). Recruit other volunteers by the end of 2022. • To put in place relevant policies and procedures to improve efficiency in the Trust’s operations, and review them regularly, while ensuring the impacts are measured through client recommendations and evaluations. • To further improve the financial position of the Trust by increasing income through fund-raising from a range of sources by increasing visibility; applying for funding from local, regional and national organisations; developing a strong donor base of both individual and corporate donors; and undertaking a range of fundraising events, including street collections. By the end of 2024, the Trust had further increased the number of clients and counselling hours. The grant from the Colyer Fergusson Charitable Trust obtained in late 2023 facilitated the delivery of parent support groups to additional schools, work which has continued into 2025. Discussions took place during 2024 regarding the appointment of a new part- time administrator. The post has been advertised during 2025 and an appointment has been made. No further applications were made to grant making bodies during 2024 but the increase in the number of clients for counselling |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | HearSay Charitable Trust set the following objectives in its Business Plan covering the period 2022 to 2025: • To increase the number of clients by 10% and increase the number of counselling hours in the first year of the plan. • To support families and carers of students in four schools in the local area. • To improve the organisation of the Trust, and thereby the impacts of the Trust’s work, by recruiting an administrator and additional volunteers. The part-time Administrator will be in post by the end of 2022 (requiring the Trustees to decide on the job description, hours and salary). Recruit other volunteers by the end of 2022. • To put in place relevant policies and procedures to improve efficiency in the Trust’s operations, and review them regularly, while ensuring the impacts are measured through client recommendations and evaluations. • To further improve the financial position of the Trust by increasing income through fund-raising from a range of sources by increasing visibility; applying for funding from local, regional and national organisations; developing a strong donor base of both individual and corporate donors; and undertaking a range of fundraising events, including street collections. By the end of 2024, the Trust had further increased the number of clients and counselling hours. The grant from the Colyer Fergusson Charitable Trust obtained in late 2023 facilitated the delivery of parent support groups to additional schools, work which has continued into 2025. Discussions took place during 2024 regarding the appointment of a new part- time administrator. The post has been advertised during 2025 and an appointment has been made. |
|
No further applications were made to grant making bodies during 2024 but the increase in the number of clients for counselling
| paying the ordinary subsidised rate as increased the Trust’s income to some degree. HearSay had a stall at a local Summer Festival which not only raised money but also facilitated considerable publicity. The Trust decided not to continue with street collections as the money raised on the last occasion a collection was held did not justify the time spent in organising and staffing it. |
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|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | As indicated above HearSay has continued to use the grant obtained from the Colyer Fergusson Charitable Trust to support the running of further parent support groups. The grant, together with funds raised through the local Summer Festival, and increased income from counselling has ensured that the Trust is able to cover all its costs. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | Not applicable |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The Charity’s annual accounts have been produced in accordance with FRS102 as were the previous years. Therefore, no adjusting entries were required for the comparative year. Our main sources of oncome were Counselling Fees £16k in 2024 [£15k in 2023]. Overall, our income from donations and legacies dipped in value by £15k [down 46%] from £32k in 2023 to £17k in this financial year. This was mainly driven by the non- recurrence of the £11k grant from the Colyer-Ferguson Charitable Trust. The two major sources of expenditure were Counsellors’ Fees £17k in 2024 [£18k in 2023] and Rent £3k in 2023 [£2k in 2023]. |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | There is no policy for the Charity to hold reserves. All unused resources (cash) are carried forward to support the charity’s activities. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | Not applicable |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | All unused resources (cash) are carried forward to support the charity’s activities. |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | Not applicable |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | There are no known or anticipated events (or non events) that threaten the going concern of HearSay Charitable Trust as at the end of 2024. There are enough funds to support the charity for the next 12 months, even in the absence of material donations. |
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 |
The principal sources of funding are client contributions to counselling fees, grants from grant-making organisations and an annual fete. In 2023, we received £4.2k from partners [£2.6k MK and £1.6k John Lewis]. These were not replicated in 2024. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | Not applicable |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | None envisaged |
|---|---|---|
| Other | The Charitable Trust is expected to continue operating successfully for the foreseeable future (at least next 12 months), without seeking loan facilities or drastically cutting operations due to financial distress |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | CIO constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | 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 | By recommendation of current trustees |
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 |
All Trustees are advised to read the guidance on the role of Trustees provided by the Charity Commission, and all have done so. In addition, Trustees are provided with copies of all relevant Trust policies and procedures. They are also involved in the development of any new policies and procedures and take part in the regular review of all existing policies. |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | The Charity has a Board of Trustees and a Treasurer and Clerk to the Trustees who report to the Board and support HearSay’s work. The Chair of Trustees belongs to an informal group of chairs of local counselling charities in Kent where knowledge and experience of a range of issues are discussed at quarterly meetings. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | Not applicable |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | HearSay Charitable Trust |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | HearSay Trust |
| Registered charity number | 1200556 |
|---|---|
| Charity’s principal address | 39-48 Marsham Street Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1HH UK |
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 |
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) | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor Martin KnappCBE |
Chair of Trustees | ||||||
| Dr Nellie Adjaye MBE |
Trustee | ||||||
| Mrs Ann Freeman | Trustee | ||||||
| Mr John Taylor | Trustee | ||||||
| Corporate trustees–names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name Not applicable |
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| Director name | |||||||
| Not applicable | |||||||
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |
|---|---|---|
| Not applicable | ||
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets Not applicable held in this capacity Name and objects of the Not applicable charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for Not applicable safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
None
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signedon behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s)
Full name(s) Martin Richard John Knapp
Position (eg Secretary, Chair of Trustees Chair, etc)
Date
17[th] December 2025
| HearSay Charitable Trust | HearSay Charitable Trust | HearSay Charitable Trust | Charity No (ifany) |
1200556 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual accounts for theperiod | ||||||
| Period start date | 01-Jan-24 | To | Period end date |
31-Dec-24 | ||
| Section A Statement of financial activities | ||||||
| Recommended categories by activity Guidance Notes Incoming resources (Notes 1 - 5) Voluntary income, donations & legacies S01 Activities for generating income S02 Investments S03 Incoming resources, charitable activities S04 Other incoming resources S05 S06 Resources expended (Notes 7 - 11) Costs of generating voluntary income S07 Fundraising, tranding costs S08 Investment management costs S09 Charitable expenditure S10 Governance costs S11 S12 S13 Net gains/(losses) on investments S14 S15 Extraordinary items S16 S17 S18 Other gains/(losses) S19 S20 Reconciliation of funds: S21 S22 Total incoming resources Net movement in funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward Total resources expended Net income/(expenditure) before investment gains/(losses) Net income/(expenditure) Transfers between funds Other recognised gains/(losses): Gains and losses on revaluation of fixed assets for the charity’s own use |