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, I￿h1ch 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.
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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.
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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
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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
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