AFFORDABLE COUNSELLING NETWORK C.I.C.

Company Registration Number:
14675283 (England and Wales)

Unaudited statutory accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024

Period of accounts

Start date: 20 February 2023

End date: 31 March 2024

AFFORDABLE COUNSELLING NETWORK C.I.C.

Contents of the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 31 March 2024

Directors report
Profit and loss
Balance sheet
Additional notes
Balance sheet notes
Community Interest Report

AFFORDABLE COUNSELLING NETWORK C.I.C.

Directors' report period ended 31 March 2024

The directors present their report with the financial statements of the company for the period ended 31 March 2024

Principal activities of the company

The company's principal activity is that of the provision of low-cost online counselling sessions.



Directors

The director shown below has held office during the period of
20 February 2024 to 31 March 2024

Ellie Batten


The above report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions in part 15 of the Companies Act 2006

This report was approved by the board of directors on
18 November 2024

And signed on behalf of the board by:
Name: Ellie Batten
Status: Director

AFFORDABLE COUNSELLING NETWORK C.I.C.

Profit And Loss Account

for the Period Ended 31 March 2024

13 months to 31 March 2024


£
Turnover: 20,032
Cost of sales: ( 4,713 )
Gross profit(or loss): 15,319
Administrative expenses: ( 15,069 )
Operating profit(or loss): 250
Profit(or loss) before tax: 250
Tax: ( 43 )
Profit(or loss) for the financial year: 207

AFFORDABLE COUNSELLING NETWORK C.I.C.

Balance sheet

As at 31 March 2024

Notes 13 months to 31 March 2024


£
Current assets
Debtors: 3 25
Cash at bank and in hand: 12,951
Total current assets: 12,976
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year: 4 ( 12,759 )
Net current assets (liabilities): 217
Total assets less current liabilities: 217
Total net assets (liabilities): 217
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital: 10
Profit and loss account: 207
Total Shareholders' funds: 217

The notes form part of these financial statements

AFFORDABLE COUNSELLING NETWORK C.I.C.

Balance sheet statements

For the year ending 31 March 2024 the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared and delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

This report was approved by the board of directors on 18 November 2024
and signed on behalf of the board by:

Name: Ellie Batten
Status: Director

The notes form part of these financial statements

AFFORDABLE COUNSELLING NETWORK C.I.C.

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 31 March 2024

  • 1. Accounting policies

    Basis of measurement and preparation

    These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions of Section 1A (Small Entities) of Financial Reporting Standard 102

    Turnover policy

    Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, net of discounts and value added taxes. Turnover includes revenue earned from the rendering of services. Turnover is reduced for estimated customer rebates and other similar allowances. Turnover is only recognised to the extent of recoverable expenses when the outcome of a contract cannot be estimated reliably.

    Other accounting policies

    Taxation: Income tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax. The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from profit as reported in the statement of comprehensive income because of items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and items that are never taxable or deductible. The company's liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period. Deferred tax is recognised on timing differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable timing differences. Deferred tax assets are generally recognised for all deductible temporary differences to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which those deductible timing differences can be utilised. The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at the end of each reporting period and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period in which the liability is settled or the asset realised, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period. Deferred tax liabilities are presented within provisions for liabilities and deferred tax assets within debtors. The measurement of deferred tax liabilities and assets reflect the tax consequences that would follow from the manner in which the Company expects, at the end of the reporting period, to recover or settle the carrying amount of its assets and liabilities. Current or deferred tax for the year is recognised in profit or loss, except when they related to items that are recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, in which case, the current and deferred tax is also recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity respectively.

AFFORDABLE COUNSELLING NETWORK C.I.C.

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 31 March 2024

  • 2. Employees

    13 months to 31 March 2024
    Average number of employees during the period 1

AFFORDABLE COUNSELLING NETWORK C.I.C.

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 31 March 2024

3. Debtors

13 months to 31 March 2024
£
Trade debtors 25
Total 25

AFFORDABLE COUNSELLING NETWORK C.I.C.

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 31 March 2024

4. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year note

13 months to 31 March 2024
£
Trade creditors 4,720
Taxation and social security 43
Other creditors 7,996
Total 12,759

COMMUNITY INTEREST ANNUAL REPORT

AFFORDABLE COUNSELLING NETWORK C.I.C.

Company Number: 14675283 (England and Wales)

Year Ending: 31 March 2024

Company activities and impact

This year, the Affordable Counselling Network has delivered accessible online counselling services to support individuals facing mental health challenges all around the UK. Our mission is to provide affordable, high-quality mental health care while also empowering trainee counsellors with valuable clinical experience to enhance their personal and professional development. During our first year, we have focused on laying the foundation for delivering safe, effective, and accessible online counselling services. This period was dedicated to: - Establishing robust operational systems and policies, including safeguarding protocols, to ensure the highest standards of client care. - Recruiting a dedicated team of trainee counsellors and providing comprehensive onboarding to equip them for their roles. - Designing and refining a service delivery model tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of online counselling. - Raising awareness of our services within the community through local outreach and low-cost targeted advertising. This foundational work has ensured that we are well-prepared to meet the mental health needs of individuals seeking online counselling, particularly in later months as demand has grown for our low-cost service. By prioritising safety, accessibility, and quality, we have created a service model that balances professional standards with our commitment to community well-being. Key Activities: During the 2023/24 financial year, we delivered 856 counselling sessions to 143 clients. We expanded our team of trainee counsellors to include 53 volunteers. At the time of writing in November 2024, we have 429 active clients and 154 trainee counsellors and psychotherapists volunteering with us, ensuring a diverse and skilled group of counsellors are available to meet the needs of our service users. Community Benefits: We aim to reduce barriers to mental health care by providing an affordable alternative for individuals who would otherwise struggle to access support. Feedback from clients has shown improved mental well-being, reduced stress, and greater resilience. Where clients have struggled to engage with our service or maintain regular attendance at counselling sessions, we have offered tailored support, including concessionary fees where appropriate, which is significantly lower compared to the cost to access private therapy. We are proud of the partnerships we have begun to grow with organisations all around the UK. We hope to identify more community programs and services that would benefit from direct investment from us. This year we are inviting our volunteers to suggest causes close to their hearts for us to assist. Future Aspirations: Looking ahead, we aim to expand our outreach efforts to connect with more individuals, communities and to offer additional training opportunities for our volunteers. We are in the process of enabling a new service for us to offer in-house DBS checks for volunteers who do not have these in place already. We are actively exploring opportunities to expand our services by introducing online couples and group therapy. To achieve this, we are engaging with UK-based training institutions renowned for their robust and high-quality programmes in these specialised areas. This partnership approach aims to ensure that our offerings are both effective and aligned with best practice standards.

Consultation with stakeholders

Stakeholder Consultation: Clients: Individual service users accessing counselling are invited to give feedback at different stages of their counselling journey. Trainee Counsellors: Volunteers are contacted for consultation and invited to offer feedback on a regular basis through, direct communication, group discussions and personal reviews held individually and in collaboration with their supervisors. Training Institutions: We meet and collaborate with training organisations supporting our volunteers on a regular basis to assist in the ongoing professional development of trainees, and to align on service quality and standards. Community Members: We reach out to other charities and support groups as part of our commitment to improving access to mental health support for communities. We are looking to expand and strengthen our community network this year with more direct investment and sponsorships. Following the consultations mentioned above, we have made changes and improvements to our service to benefit our clients, volunteers and other stakeholders. In response to feedback received, we have: - Enhanced our onboarding process for trainees to better prepare them for online counselling. - Setup a program of training events across the year to assist our volunteers in reaching their continuous professional development objectives, which also benefits the service provided to our clients. - Implemented client suggestions, including a dedicated booking page for initial assessments, accessible directly through our website. Setup a new payment and booking management system with automated payments and session reminders by email and text. - Strengthened safeguarding policies based on input from training institutions, volunteers and in line with best practice recommendations from our professional membership bodies, including acknowledging changes in technology where this is relevant. By prioritising consultation and collaboration, we have ensured that our services meet the needs of all stakeholders while maintaining high professional standards.

Directors' remuneration

The total of directors remuneration for 2023/24 was £7,076. There were no additional benefits paid.

Transfer of assets

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration

This report was approved by the board of directors on
18 November 2024

And signed on behalf of the board by:
Name: Ellie Batten
Status: Director