REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: |
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: |
Report of the Trustees and |
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
for |
Highgate Counselling Centre |
REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: |
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: |
Report of the Trustees and |
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
for |
Highgate Counselling Centre |
Highgate Counselling Centre |
Contents of the Financial Statements |
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
Page |
Report of the Trustees | 1 | to | 2 |
Independent Examiner's Report | 3 |
Statement of Financial Activities | 4 |
Balance Sheet | 5 |
Notes to the Financial Statements | 6 | to | 11 |
Highgate Counselling Centre (Registered number: 01782119) |
Report of the Trustees |
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 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 1 January 2019). |
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES |
Review of Activities and Future Plans for Counselling Centre |
The 2023 focus for HCC has centred on developing the administrative support and communications within the organisation. |
A full team of administrators, supported by receptionists have worked together to develop supportive and sustainable systems and procedures. This has vastly improved the operational efficiency, which has in turn offered HCC members and clients at the centre better support and communication across the organisation. |
These developments have meant some expenditure on personnel and equipment. Further minor, but ongoing expenditure has also been made on conservative, thoughtfully placed advertising throughout the year. This has ensured we are communicating our presence, particularly to three local boroughs. Promotional materials have also been developed in keeping with the current branding. This small amount of communication appears to have had a striking impact on enquiries. |
We have further developed our use of finance software within the organisation. This has enabled us to streamline the client payment system. This has meant we can offer a more accessible service to our clients, an improved process for counsellors and administrators, in addition to clearer transparency for the Board. |
Communications within the organisation have also been further addressed and developed in 2023. Contacts have been fully digitalised. This has enabled easy communications across the whole organisation and within discrete groups, with clear access for all management and all administrative staff. Other developments have included regular news emails, monthly and bimonthly meetings and an organisation bimonthly newsletter. Communications have also been further supported by two social events in the summer and winter periods. The aim for these has been to enhance a sense of identity and belonging amongst staff and trainees and encourage a supportive network for members. |
Advertising, targeted development of the Open Day and detailed attention to the application process, appears to have led to the recruitment of full cohorts in all three training intakes for 2023. The interest for all three courses was higher than the final intake. Fees for training were increased marginally. This was to account for general increase in running costs and to account for the shortfall of trainees in 2022. Fees were still comfortably within a competitive range with similar trainings to ensure we reach as broader demographic of applicants as possible. Plans have also been put into action to extend the Certificate training to compete with courses offering increased contact hours, required by some further training providers. This will ensure that for the 2024 intake, we remain a strong competitor in the field of training provision. |
Significant activities |
Contributions for counselling remain on a sliding scale based on what is affordable to each client in relation to income. The increments for each stage of the sliding scale have not increased and there are no plans for this to occur. It has however been noted there appears to be an increasing demand for lowest contribution increment. In December 2023 the approximated average cost of a session stood at £49 and the average client contribution being paid was £36. |
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE |
Charitable activities |
The activities of the Charity comprise contributions from clients and training course fees. |
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT |
Governing document |
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006. |
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS |
Registered Company number |
Registered Charity number |
Registered office |
Highgate Counselling Centre (Registered number: 01782119) |
Report of the Trustees |
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
Trustees |
Mr N Cobil, who resigned during the year, was re-appointed on 10/10/2024 |
Company Secretary |
Independent Examiner |
Vasilis Vasiliou FCCA |
Venture Accountancy & Tax Ltd |
52 Bluebridge Road |
Brookmans Park |
Hatfield |
Hertfordshire |
AL9 7SA |
Bankers |
West Malling |
Kent |
ME19 4TA |
Advisers |
Investment Manager: |
M&G Investment |
Laurence Pountney Hill |
London EC4R 0HH |
CAF Bank Limited |
PO Box289 |
West Malling |
Kent, ME19 4TA |
Approved by order of the board of trustees on |
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of |
Highgate Counselling Centre |
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Highgate Counselling Centre ('the Company') |
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2023. |
Responsibilities and basis of report |
As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act'). |
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act. |
Independent examiner's statement |
Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies. |
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe: |
1. | accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or |
2. | the accounts do not accord with those records; or |
3. | the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or |
4. | the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)). |
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. |
Vasilis Vasiliou FCCA |
Venture Accountancy & Tax Ltd |
52 Bluebridge Road |
Brookmans Park |
Hatfield |
Hertfordshire |
AL9 7SA |
18 October 2024 |
Highgate Counselling Centre |
Statement of Financial Activities |
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
31.12.23 | 31.12.22 |
Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total |
funds | fund | funds | funds |
Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ |
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
Donations and legacies |
Other trading activities | 2 |
Investment income | 3 |
Total |
EXPENDITURE ON |
Raising funds |
Other |
Total |
Net gains/(losses) on investments | ( |
) |
NET INCOME |
Transfers between funds | 14 | (1,075 | ) | 1,075 | - | - |
Net movement in funds |
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS |
Total funds brought forward |
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 172,396 |
Highgate Counselling Centre (Registered number: 01782119) |
Balance Sheet |
31 December 2023 |
31.12.23 | 31.12.22 |
Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total |
funds | fund | funds | funds |
Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ |
FIXED ASSETS |
Tangible assets | 8 |
CURRENT ASSETS |
Debtors | 9 |
Investments | 10 |
Cash at bank |
CREDITORS |
Amounts falling due within one year | 11 | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) |
NET CURRENT ASSETS |
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES |
CREDITORS |
Amounts falling due after more than one year | 12 | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) |
NET ASSETS |
FUNDS | 14 |
Unrestricted funds | 172,396 |
Restricted funds | - |
TOTAL FUNDS | 172,396 |
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 December 2023. |
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. |
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for |
(a) | ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and |
(b) | preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company. |
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime. |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on |
Highgate Counselling Centre |
Notes to the Financial Statements |
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
1. | ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
Basis of preparing the financial statements |
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. |
Income |
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. |
Expenditure |
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. |
Tangible fixed assets |
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. |
Short leasehold | - |
Plant and machinery | - |
Computer equipment | - |
Taxation |
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities. |
Fund accounting |
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. |
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. |
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements. |
Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits |
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate. |
2. | OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES |
31.12.23 | 31.12.22 |
£ | £ |
Other income |
Client contributions | 119,235 | 117,438 |
Training course fees | 247,634 | 210,241 |
Highgate Counselling Centre |
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
3. | INVESTMENT INCOME |
31.12.23 | 31.12.22 |
£ | £ |
Dividends | 1,168 | 1,563 |
Deposit account interest |
4. | NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) |
Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting): |
31.12.23 | 31.12.22 |
£ | £ |
Depreciation - owned assets |
5. | TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS |
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2023 nor for the year ended 31 December 2022. |
Trustees' expenses |
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 December 2023 nor for the year ended 31 December 2022. |
6. | STAFF COSTS |
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: |
31.12.23 | 31.12.22 |
Employees |
7. | COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES |
Unrestricted | Restricted | Total |
funds | fund | funds |
£ | £ | £ |
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
Donations and legacies |
Other trading activities |
Investment income |
Total |
EXPENDITURE ON |
Other |
Net gains/(losses) on investments | ( |
) | ( |
) |
NET INCOME |
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS |
Total funds brought forward | 150,379 | - |
Highgate Counselling Centre |
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
7. | COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued |
Unrestricted | Restricted | Total |
funds | fund | funds |
£ | £ | £ |
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 172,396 | - | 172,396 |
8. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS |
Short | Plant and | Computer |
leasehold | machinery | equipment | Totals |
£ | £ | £ | £ |
COST |
At 1 January 2023 |
Additions |
At 31 December 2023 |
DEPRECIATION |
At 1 January 2023 |
Charge for year |
At 31 December 2023 |
NET BOOK VALUE |
At 31 December 2023 |
At 31 December 2022 |
9. | DEBTORS |
31.12.23 | 31.12.22 |
£ | £ |
Amounts falling due within one year: |
Trade debtors |
Prepayments |
Amounts falling due after more than one year: |
Other debtors |
Aggregate amounts |
10. | CURRENT ASSET INVESTMENTS |
31.12.23 | 31.12.22 |
£ | £ |
Other | 45,614 | 45,407 |
Highgate Counselling Centre |
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
11. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
31.12.23 | 31.12.22 |
£ | £ |
Bank loans and overdrafts (see note 13) |
Trade creditors |
Social security and other taxes |
Restricted income funds | 1,075 | - |
Deferred income |
Accrued expenses |
12. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR |
31.12.23 | 31.12.22 |
£ | £ |
Bank loans (see note 13) |
13. | LOANS |
An analysis of the maturity of loans is given below: |
31.12.23 | 31.12.22 |
£ | £ |
Amounts falling due within one year on demand: |
Bank overdrafts |
Bank loans |
Amounts falling between one and two years: |
Bank loans - 1-2 years |
Amounts falling due between two and five years: |
Bank loans - 2-5 years |
14. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS |
Net | Transfers |
movement | between | At |
At 1.1.23 | in funds | funds | 31.12.23 |
£ | £ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General funds | 172,396 | 26,355 | (1,075 | ) | 197,676 |
Restricted funds |
Restricted Funds | - | - | 1,075 | 1,075 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 26,355 | 198,751 |
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
Incoming | Resources | Gains and | Movement |
resources | expended | losses | in funds |
£ | £ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General funds | 370,600 | (344,967 | ) | 722 | 26,355 |
TOTAL FUNDS | ( |
) | 26,355 |
Highgate Counselling Centre |
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
14. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued |
Comparatives for movement in funds |
Net |
movement | At |
At 1.1.22 | in funds | 31.12.22 |
£ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General funds | 150,379 | 22,017 | 172,396 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 150,379 | 22,017 | 172,396 |
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
Incoming | Resources | Gains and | Movement |
resources | expended | losses | in funds |
£ | £ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General funds | 329,552 | (304,943 | ) | (2,592 | ) | 22,017 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 329,552 | (304,943 | ) | (2,592 | ) | 22,017 |
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows: |
Net | Transfers |
movement | between | At |
At 1.1.22 | in funds | funds | 31.12.23 |
£ | £ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General funds | 150,379 | 48,372 | (1,075 | ) | 197,676 |
Restricted funds |
Restricted Funds | - | - | 1,075 | 1,075 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 150,379 | 48,372 | - | 198,751 |
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
Incoming | Resources | Gains and | Movement |
resources | expended | losses | in funds |
£ | £ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General funds | 700,152 | (649,910 | ) | (1,870 | ) | 48,372 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 700,152 | (649,910 | ) | (1,870 | ) | 48,372 |
Highgate Counselling Centre |
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
15. | RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES |