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2022-03-31-accounts

ALTON COUNSELLING SERVICE

ANNUAL REPORT and ACCOUNTS

2021-2022

Charity Commission registered number: 279857

Alton Counselling Service For the financial year ended 31 March 2022

1. Trustees and their Advisers

Board of Trustees

Anne Bothwell (Chair) Ann Brosnan Graham Hill Fiona Lapraik

Counsellors’ Representative

Alison Curry

Consultant Psychiatrist & Clinical Adviser

Dr Paul Warren, BM, MRCPsych

Independent Examiner

E.M.Mackeggie Gurney, ACA

Management Board Head of Counselling Dorothy Harte Treasurer Andrew Croom-Johnson Service Manager Lissa Morris

Bankers

HSBC Bank, Lansdowne House, 74 High Street, Alton, GU34 1EZ

Premises

Quaker Meeting House, Church Street, Alton GU34 2DA

Tel: 01420 89207

Web: www.altoncounselling.org.uk

Charity Commission registered number: 279857

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Alton Counselling Service For the financial year ended 31 March 2022

2. Structure, Governance and Management

Alton Counselling Service (ACS) was established in 1974 as charity number 279857. The governing trust deed of 6 February 1980 was subsequently amended by a deed of variation dated 7 December 2010.

The Trustees are responsible for the governance of ACS. They are initially elected and thereafter confirmed in post annually. The Trustees are unpaid volunteers who may claim reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. The Trustees help to reconcile competing demands faced by the charity. They work with the Management Board to set the strategic direction and major areas of work. The day-to-day management is delegated to the Management Board comprising the Head of Counselling, the Treasurer and the Service Manager. The Trustees meet at least four times a year and the Management Board meets at least ten times a year. Both Trustees and the Management Board may meet more often if circumstances require. The Trustees have put in place a reserves policy and financial systems to reduce as far as possible financial risk, and work closely with the Management Board to preserve and promote ACS. Professional indemnity and public liability insurances are maintained. The service operates to BACP guidelines to minimise clinical risk.

ACS provides high-quality affordable counselling for the local community and to the highest ethical and professional standards. Clients are expected to make a contribution to cover the cost of their counselling, but no one is refused counselling for financial reasons. The service ensures confidentiality and a safe environment that give clients the opportunity to talk through the difficulties they are encountering. These might include:

Each counsellor is part of a supervision group meeting weekly to review client work. Any unresolved or difficult issues are referred to the Head of Counselling and, where appropriate, the Consultant Psychiatrist & Clinical Adviser.

The Service relies on volunteers in all areas of work. Counsellors work on a voluntary basis, though experienced counsellors receive a modest payment in lieu of expenses. The Treasurer, Receptionists and others work without payment. Everyone who works in ACS has a meeting at least once a year with the person to whom they are responsible, with the opportunity to express their views on the operation of ACS. There was a Christmas social event. The Trustees send quarterly newsletters to all members of the service.

Charity Commission registered number: 279857

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Alton Counselling Service For the financial year ended 31 March 2022

3. Objectives

The charity’s objectives as stated in the trust deed, as amended, are:

4. Review of Clinical Practice

The last year has brought a lot of changes to the service, for a number of reasons. The emergence from some of the Covid restrictions has meant that it is now possible for some face to face work to recommence. This has not meant the end of online work and currently we are able to offer both of these services.

Along with many other counselling services, some of our counsellors have been reevaluating their commitments; nine counsellors have left the service for practical reasons, as they develop their careers in the counselling world. This is more than would normally leave in a year, but Covid did press a pause button in many people’s plans over a protracted period.

In March, we were delighted to welcome back Laura, returning after a sabbatical break, and we are also in the process of welcoming eight new students into the service.

Another big change was the opportunity to have more space for the service. Thanks to the Quakers, we now have extra rooms available and are adapting to the new enlarged space which we now have.

During this year also, my period of illness meant that the supervisors took much more responsibility for the day to day running of the service. They achieved this both smoothly and efficiently. Among other tasks, this meant completing all the work needed for our reregistration as members of BACP, for which we are all very grateful. Jeremy, Ally and Stan continue to handle much of the day to day work, with Jeremy taking a lead role. Without this input, it would have been a very difficult time for the service, and they deserve a special thank you.

No doubt the next year will bring other challenges and change, and it is great that the service continues to adapt to new circumstances and different needs.

We look forward to what the next twelve months will bring.

Charity Commission registered number: 279857

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Alton Counselling Service For the financial year ended 31 March 2022

5. Treasurer’s report

Financial review

The end of year accounts show a net income for the year of £6,544.

The Covid pandemic has continued to have an affect our finances this financial year. Although income from Counselling Sessions/Initial consultations has increased as we were able to start conducting face-to-face sessions towards the end of the financial year, we are seeing more of our clients, both current and new, suffering financial difficulties and unable to pay the standard session costs. We were however successful in obtaining a Grant from EHDC in Autumn 2020 with the second tranche of £6,000 paid in the autumn of 2021 which has offset enabled us to increase the number of clients on our bursary scheme. Due to training staff illness we were unable to run our normal programme of Training Courses during the financial year. A number of Training Courses are however now being planned for this financial year.

We have again been unable to run any fundraising events due to the ongoing pandemic. We were able to claim Gift Aid on the £10,000 anonymous donation we received.

Our Operating Expenses continue to be carefully monitored and managed, with most of our Operating Expenses being fixed costs. Having taken on extra counselling space within the Quaker Meeting House in January our premises costs have risen.

HMRC/PAYE

We have continued to use the HMRC supplied RTI software to manage our payroll and NIC payments. This continues to be trouble free and has ensured that we meet our obligations to HMRC in a timely manner.

Credit card system

The Worldpay (formally Cardsave) virtual terminal credit card system continues to meet our credit card processing needs. In October 2021 we renewed compliance to the Payment Card Industries Digital Security Standards as required by Worldpay.

Employee Pensions

We are registered with The Pensions Regulator regarding workplace pension law (Pensions Act 2008) for our only employee. We have a Workplace Pension Scheme with NEST.

Reserve account

Reserve funds continue to be held in a Charity Deposit account with Virgin Money, paying 0.15% interest as at 31[st] March 2022.

Charity Commission registered number: 279857

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Alton Counselling Service For the financial year ended 31 March 2022

6. Trustees’ Commentary

Financial stability

The financial position continues to be stable. Reserves now stand at £16,748, comfortably above the Reserves Policy level, which has now been increased to £5,000. We continue to see a rise in clients unable to pay the full amount due to financial constraints; grants are applied for to cover these costs. Numbers are carefully monitored by the Management Board and regularly reported to the Trustees. Trainings continue to be offered online and have proved very successful. We intend to re-start some face-to-face trainings as well.

Management Board

The Trustees are grateful to Dorothy Harte, Andrew Croom-Johnson and Lissa Morris for taking on additional workload including the set up and maintenance of zoom accounts and on line meetings, trainings etc. We are also grateful to Jeremy Hughes for accepting responsibility for the co-ordinating of Counsellors, and to Ally Curry and Stanley Roman for interviewing possible trainee counsellors.

Outlook

The office re-opened when regulations changed and Counsellors have gradually returned to the office. Some counsellors continue to see clients online. This approach is welcomed by trustees and we feel that this brings flexibility to what we can offer as a service. Trainings online have proved very successful and we plan to continue this as it draws in a wider range of attendees as they do not have to travel to a particular venue. We have taken on a lease with the Quakers for the flat at the premises, which became available, and we are now using this as extra counselling rooms and for supervision groups. This gives us more flexibility in the use of the rooms and enables counsellors the opportunity to meet in more comfort. We continue to use the Library on an ad hoc basis when needed for clients with mobility issues.

Fundraising and Grants

We express our gratitude for the continuing support of EHDC, and an anonymous donation of £10000 these have helped defray costs due to the pandemic and to help clients suffering financial hardship.

Accreditation

Alton Counselling Service is accredited with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is registered by the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC).

Networks and external links

We are members of the National Counselling Network (NCN) and Alton Charities Together (ACT). We have contacts with various members of the Town Council and have established contact with local social prescribers to investigate how we can help each other.

Charity Commission registered number: 279857

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Alton Counselling Service For the financial year ended 31 March 2022

7. Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

The Trustees are required to prepare an annual report and financial statements for each financial year. These statements should give a true and fair view of the charity’s financial activities during the year and its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing these financial statements the Trustees have:

Signed: Anne Bothwell, Chair of Trustees Date: 9/6/2022

Charity Commission registered number: 279857

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Alton Counselling Service For the financial year ended 31 March 2022

Clinical Organization

Head of Counselling

Dorothy Harte

Clinical Supervisors

Alison Curry Jeremy Hughes Stanley Roman

Consultant Psychiatrist & Clinical Adviser

Dr Paul Warren, BM, MRCPsych

Counsellors

The following counsellors have made themselves available to ACS during the year:

Sophia Armstrong Nikki Figgins Tony Boorman Jeremy Hughes Paul Brand Laura Jerram Susan Buesnal Mandy Keene Alison Curry Lucy Mc Kulloch Pete Smith

Nicky Barnett (student) Karen Bushell (student) Liz Drew (student) Cathy Harding (student) Rachel Ilett (student)

Krystyna Jankowska (student) Michelle Macey (student) Rupal Pate (student) Emma Price (student) Jaqueline Sands (student)

Volunteers

W e had no volunteers during 2021/22

Charity Commission registered number: 279857

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Alton Counselling Service For the financial year ended 31 March 2022

ALTON COUNSELLING SERVICE

Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022

Charity Commission registered number: 279857

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Alton Counselling Service For the financial year ended 31 March 2022

Receipts and Payment Accounts

Notes
Total Funds (1)
This Year
 Last Year
£ £
Receipts
Counselling Sessions and Initial Consultations 45,793 43,315
Training Courses 430 2,385
Grants and Donations 19,453 7,838 (2)
Bank Interest 22 106
Fund-raising events 0 0 (3)
Friends of ACS subscriptions 495 495
Gift Aid 2,783 0
Sundry income 0 0
Total Receipts 68,976 54,139
Payments
Counselling and Training (20,027) (19,079)
Training Courses (100) 0
Bursary Payments (7,263) (6,421)
Administration (28,405) (30,868)
Premises Costs (5,843) (3,146)
Insurance and Affiliation Fees (794) (662)
Fund-raising events 0 0
Total Payments (62,432) (60,176)
Net of Receipts/(Payments) 6,544 (6,037)
Cash Funds lastyear end 19,712 25,749
Cash Funds thisyear end 26,256 19,712

Statement of Assets and Liabilities at Year End

Unrestricted Funds
£
Cash Funds
Petty Cash 36
Current Account (HSBC bank) 9,472
Monies due from Streamline 0 (4)
Savings Account(Virgin Money) 16,748
Total Cash Funds 26,256

Charity Commission registered number: 279857

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Alton Counselling Service For the financial year ended 31 March 2022

Notes to the accounts

1. Restricted Funds (Grants)
Credit
Debit
Balance
£ £ £
Grant from East Hampshire District Council (i) 3,412
3,412
0
Grant from East Hampshire District Council (ii) 6,000 6,000 0

(i) Grant given towards paying for Counsellors annual Zoom subscriptions to enable counselling sessions to continue over the internet following Covid 19 restrictions on using our office (shown under “Administration” in the accounts) and towards our Bursary scheme (shown under “Bursary Payments” in the accounts) for clients unable to pay the full counselling session fee. Grant to be for 18 months from August 2020 and to be received in 2 tranches of £6,000. As at 31[st] March 2021 we had used £2,588 of this grant.

(ii) The second tranche was paid in autumn 2021 and has been used in full.

2. Grants and Donations

During the year, Grants and Donations were received from the following:

During the year, Grants and Donations were received from the following:
£
Anonymous
10,000
East Hampshire District Council
6,000
Small donations of under £51 (2 donors)
41
Total
16.041
3. Fund-raising events
During the year, receipts from Fund-raising events were as follows:
£0
Total
nil

4. Monies due from Streamline

This figure relates to Client Credit Card payments processed and entered into the Accounts before 31[st] March with payment received into the bank account after 31[st] March. Payments are not normally received into the bank account for 3 to 4 working days after processing.

Charity Commission registered number: 279857

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Alton Counselling Service For the financial year ended 31 March 2022 Independent Examiner's Report on the Accounts

I report on the accounts of Alton Counselling Service for the year ended 31[st ] March 2022

Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the responsibilities of accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for trustees and this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 201 1 (the Charities Act) examiner and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions examiner's statement given by the Charity Commission. 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 the 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 statement below.

Independent In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention examiner's statement 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:

Elspeth Mackeggie Gurney 45 Lenten Street Alton Hampshire GU34 IHE

Date.

Charity Commission registered number: 279857

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