Counselling All Nations Service (CANS) Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 The trustees who are also directors of the charity, for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006: present their report Nlith the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective l JanuaTr 2019). Since our relatively recent last AGM in April 2023 CANS continues to develop apace and the Board ivishes to acknoNvledge the hard work of our staff, sessional staff and volunteers as we continue this period of groNvth and development. OBJECTIVES AfqD ACTIVITIES Objectives and aims We remain true to our mission to improve the mental health and quality of life of people frorn minority ethnic groups through talking therapies and other support and our vision of a future in a just, supportive and inclusive societv, Ih1ch recognises the importance of mental health. In everything we remember our values of respect: honesty, confidentiality, person centred care, and excellence. Staff Mr Lekan Ojo-okiji Abasi and Ms Jurita Naumane continue as Clinicat Coordinator and Assistant Clinical Coordinator respectively and are joined b}, part time administrative assistants Maryam Naz and Jo), Wangui 'rii. Francesca A Dada and Tin Wai Chan arc salaried part time counseIlors. Our other counsellors and interpreters are sessional. This dedicated team work with the Board, in particular as neiv IT, HR and financial systems are planned and implemented. The Finance Committee under the leadership of Treasurer Mrs Mac McBride ensure good governance as Ive prepare systems and train staff in their use. Counsellors and thera ists Our counsellors are from BAME communities and representing at least 9 languages. They are all trained to work with professional interpreters and are trained in EMDR and other ps}'chological therapies e.g CBT. They continue to deliver a professional, high qualiti, service for people from the BAME community living in Northern Ireland ivith care and compassion. We ivould also Like to acknolvledge the professionalism and support of our professional intewreters ivithout whom we could not do our li'0. We are also indebted to every'one who has supported CANS in a voluntary capacity. Fundraisin After several years of service as CANS fundraiser ive were sad to say goodbye to Mr Paul Atherton and we thank him for his dedicated support and advice in raising funds, ensuring good govemance and in the development of CANS. We li.ere delighted to appoint Nisha Tandon OBE as fundraiser in Ma!, 2023. Nisha was ivamily Th'elcomed by Board and staff and brings eyperience and enthusiasm to the post. Paoe I
Counselling All Nations Service (CANS) Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE Charitable activities Clinical Work In June 2023 the Board, responding to a proposal from the clinical Coordinator and some counsellors agreed that there is a recognised need for specialist I to I work 1th BAME young people. The Board agreed that the clinical coordinator present a business plan to develop this ivork. We are grateful to all our fimders Nvhose generosity supports our ivork.. Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.. Tier 2 Talking Therapies The National Lott TNL mmuniti7 Fund BAME Counselling Project £284:168.00 3 years funding from Sep 2022.. 1 part time Clinical Co-ordinator Satary . 2 part time Counsellors Salary . I parttime Book-Keeping & Admin Support salary,. Dorniant Account (managed bj TNLCF): Making CANS Fit for the future Business Development & Income Generation Worker £1 I,i90.00 Nov 2022 - Apr 2024 . 1 part time Business Developrnent Income Generation Worker / Fundraising Consultant. Starlin Collective / Co meela Comniunity Foundation NI (CFNI) DOH MH Fllnd Deliverv of counselling sessions over 2.) ).'ears ivith intery)reting for 60 people receiving 8 sessions £44,640.00 Dec 2021 - Apr 2024 . 480 sessions delivered to 60 people over 2.5 years. Public Health A encv SHSCT I STEP BAME Counselling Project £4,750.00 Dec 2022 - Mar 2023. CFNI - Comic Relief Empoivering Change Programme: Client PapeThvork Translation £l:000.00 Jan - Apr 2023 . Selected client paperwo. CFNI = Weslevan Assurance Fund.. owards Mentsl Health Am'areness Workshops for neiv entrants Children and Young People £1 O.000.00 Nov 2022 - Oct 2023 96 sessions of MHA ivorkshop. Premises We are delighted that in addition tr) our office space in the Chinese Welfare Association and E Belfast ive have also acquired office space in North Belfast. We would also like to express our thanks to PWC for donating much needed ofyice space for counselling in the centre of Belfast and to West Belfast Whiterock Children's Centre w,ho continue to provide counselling space. We continue to ty to respond to the accessibility needs of clients who may have difficulty due to location, work commitments and child care. FINANCIAL REVIEW Financial and IT updates Continuing our commitment to good governance and adapting to our increasing ivork: management rr system development is ongoing. Neiv updated clinical systems arc installed and active. This ivill ensure rapid accurate data capture in real me as we go forward. The Treasurer and the finance committee continue to Ivork with our Accountant with the instaIlation of a new financial recording and reporting system. We are indebted to the finance committee, accountant: staff and evcryrone ,hO continues to support thcsc developments. Paoe 2
Counselling All Nations Service (CANS) Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust. and constitutes a limited compan},: limited bv guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006. REFERENCE AND ADMIINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Company number N1679965 (Northern Ireland) Registered Charity number 108200 Registered office Chinese Welfare Association I Stranmillis Embanknient Belfast Co. Antrim BT7 IGB Trustees Dr Linda Mary Agneiv GP Dr Daniel GbOloo-Te¢ Consultant Dr Satish Kumar Lecturer Mrs Angela Doreen Martin Teacher Mrs Immacula McBride Director Dr Muhammad Saleem Tareen Zaheer Khan BaIoch Management Consultant (resigned 30.6.22) The folloii'ing committees were convened by thc board in Feb 2022: o Finance Committee.. Mrs Mac Mc Bride: Dr Daniel Gloloo-Teye, Mr John Boddu o Social Media committee.. Mrs Angela Martin, Mrs Pashmina Kashif Dr DanÉel Gboloo-Teye provides supervision for the clinical coordinator. Wc would like to thank all the Board members for freely giving their time and expertise. Company Secretary Dr Linda Mary Agnew Independent Examiner John Mccleary FCA Mccleary & Company Ltd Chartercd Accountants Garvey Studios 14 Longstone Street Lisbum Co. Antrini BT28 ITP Paoe 3
Counselling All Nations Service (CANS) Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 CANS SUPPORT FOR COUNSELLORS, STAFF AND BOARD The Board would like to pay tribute to the counsellors who ivork daily with clients. We plan a 2nd residential in Corr5Fmeela for everyone involved iiiith Counselling All Nations in January, 2024. We believe that it is important that everyone involved in CANS has the opportunity to meet, rel&i, listen and learn from each other. We remain convinced that CANS provides much needed unique client centred service. Our Board and counsellors see the need for CANS in their work and in their own communities. Hearing Our Needs has confinned these observations. As Nve look forward. Nve are embedding ongoing changes in structure and technologj. so Ive can build on the groivth of the past years and continue to develop the 14Tork of CANS. Approved by order of the board of trustees on 25 January 2024 and signed on its behalf by: Dr Satish Kumar - Trustee 20 "LO LF- Page 4