ANNUAL REVIEW

2012/2013

Aileen Murray, Business Manager

PF premsies at 8 Balcarres Street

Debs Rimmer and another Administrator

Counsellors Janet Watson, Debbie Hind and Andy Hardie

Matt Ward, fundraiser!

Volunteers from Edinburgh University’s EUTIC Club:Sandra SpanikovaGrant HavekostBen SaddlerVainius GlinskisTanya Richard

Counsellors Jay Myles, Maria Hann, Karen Sykes, John Dickson, Rhona Harrison and Craig Wilkie

Counsellors Chris Hewitt, Karen Thomas, Jeanette

Campbell and April Parkins

The PF Counselling Service is a voluntary counselling agency which offers both short and long term therapy to adults, irrespective of where they live or their ability to pay. It was established in 1986 and is now the largest independent charity providing voluntary counselling services in Edinburgh. We help people from all walks of life to overcome difficulties, to experience personal growth, and to make the changes necessary to lead a more fulfilling life.

The PF provides a safe, supportive and non-judgemental therapeutic environment in which people can work with a counsellor/psychotherapist to address issues or concerns, past or present, which may be causing them difficulties. These may include issues with relationships, family, health, employment, and self-esteem, or other major life challenges such as depression, anxiety, abuse, loss, grief or addictions.

Every client matters to us, and we aim to offer everyone the support they need to tackle their own specific struggles or difficulties. Our counsellors are committed and passionate professionals trained in a variety of counselling traditions, who volunteer their time every week to help our clients.

Supporting the ongoing development of counsellors, and of the counselling profession in Scotland, is also important to the PF. We were therefore delighted to have the opportunity to make a presentation on The Role of the Voluntary Counselling Agency to the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Mental Health. Alison Hampton and Judith Fewell spoke to the group at the invitation of Brian Magee, Chief Executive of COSCA, on 13 March this year. You can access the presentation from the About Us page of our website.

Introduction 1

Chair 2

Director 3

Our People 4

Counselling at the PF 5

Finance 6

Funders 7

Client Feedback 8

Providing counselling and psychotherapy for people facing the difficulties of everyday life.

1

www.pfcounselling.org.uk

About the PF

PF Counselling Service is the everyday name of the Pastoral Foundation, which is a Scottish charity registered with OSCR (Scottish Charity No. SC008875). It is a company limited by guarantee (SC122762) and a COSCA Recognised Organisation.

Contents

The last year has been one of steady consolidation and continued development. Despite the prevailing economic circumstances, our donations and funding have held up, enabling us to continue to provide high quality services to our clients.

More people than ever are looking to us for support and assistance, and to meet demand we have increased the number of counselling sessions on offer to clients to over 12,000 sessions – an increase of 20% on last year. This all time high enables us to support more people than ever before.

While we do try to support as many people as possible, the quality of the service we provide is of great importance. We continue to recruit volunteer counsellors and we also continue to support their professional development with workshops on various important issues.

It is always a real pleasure for me to acknowledge all the many contributions of time, money and goodwill, which are offered to us year in, year out – without which we would not be able to operate. 12,000 hours of volunteer professional counselling, nearly 3,000 hours of volunteer receptionists and over 100 hours of our time as Board members is a spectacular amount of voluntary effort. All unpaid - all done with care, dedication and good humour. Thank you so much to each and every volunteer.

I would also like to say a big thank you to all those who support us financially with donations and fundraising. They are all detailed on page 7 and their support enables us to keep helping our clients. Thank you – we do really appreciate your support.

Finally, Hilary Peppiette stepped down from the Board after 4 years as Company Secretary, and John McCabe will retire at the AGM after 11 years as Treasurer. They both will be greatly missed, and on behalf of the whole Board and all the volunteers and staff of PF, I want to offer my sincere thanks for all their effort and contribution over the years.

Dick Manson, Chair

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Chair

The PF Board (left-to-right) Jan Buncle, John McCabe, Dick Manson, Judith Fewell, Alison Hampton, Bea Dundonald, Chris Hewitt, Matthew Haggis

I am immensely proud that over the last seven years the PF has grown and developed into what it is today – a sound, professional, caring organisation playing an important part in the delivery of psychological therapies in Edinburgh. Not only that, but it probably has one of the largest, most diverse teams of fully trained professionals volunteering week in, week out, throughout the year.

It is such a pleasure and a privilege for me to work with so many great people that I want to say a few words about them, in recognition of what they do, and how they help us make the PF so special.

¾ First and foremost, our clients. Not only are they the reason we do any of it at all, but they really appreciate what we try to do for them, and they all individually contribute as much financially as they can afford to help keep us going.

¾ Our counsellors mostly see around three or four clients each week, although some see many more. They come in all weathers, and sometimes after a hard day at work, to spend what would be free time with people who need their help.

¾ It’s not really fair to leave my brilliant staff members till third, because they do, of course, make up the engine-room of the operation. Appointments, diaries, clients, emails, records, health-&-safety, volunteers, teas, biscuits, computers… Sometimes you can see the steam rising in the office!

¾ The small team of self-employed counselling supervisors who provide therapeutic guidance and support to the counsellors. They help ensure safe, ethical practices and are key to their continuing learning and development.

¾ Our lovely volunteer receptionists, some of whom have been with us for years, who provide the all-important first point of contact for many enquirers, clients and counsellors. Their calm ability to cope with incoming visitors, outgoing clients, and upcoming appointments always amazes me!

¾ Funders, donors, sponsors – call them what you like, we wouldn’t be anything without them. Whether it’s a private individual leaving us something in their Will, a local corporate citizen donating a lump sum, or a grateful ex-client coming back with a gift when their lives take a turn for the better, we love and are grateful to them all.

¾ Finally, and a bit oddly as I am myself included in this group, there are the Board Members who meet six times a year to guide our progress, review our achievements and challenge us to go further. Good governance has been crucial to success.

It has been a great year working with all these people. One of the delights and challenges of my job is that the membership of these groups changes every year, refreshing all of our perspectives and meaning that no two years are ever the same. I look forward to seeing where we all go in the months ahead.

Alison Hampton, Director

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Director

Lynn AndersonCarrie ApplegathSara BaderSusie BainbriggeNicki BakerPauline BellLeah BijelicLinda BlairRachel BlakeVal BlandLiz BondiPam BrownBev BruceMarie CaieElspeth CampbellJeanette CampbellJohn CassieJen ClarkShari Cohn-SimmenNicola CollinsSteff CookeJohn DicksonJill DuncanBea DundonaldSuzanne DyerKeith Elgin Mandy ElginFiona FerryMagda GamratJenny GraySam Green Matthew Haggis Sheila HallidaySusan HamiltonAlison HamptonGail HandysideMaria HannAndy HardieRhona HarrisonChris Hewitt Chrys HibbertJackie HigginsDebbie HindJackie HorsburghMary HunterJohn JohnstonePatrick JoyceFaith la GrangeRhiannon KingCatriona LaingGordon LairdSylvia LawrieBilly LeeMarsali MacDonaldRachel Maisey

Tim AlbonLynn Anderson Felicity Bach Nick BallLiz BatesDiane BeattieKatrina CameronMairi CardwellJosh CockburnKate Donaghy Lydia EunsonDot FormanKara Gibson

Dick Manson Chair John McCabe TreasurerMatthew Haggis Company Secretary Alison Hampton Executive DirectorJan Buncle PR/Comms ProfessionalBea Dundonald PF CounsellorJudith Fewell AcademicChris Hewitt PF CounsellorHilary Peppiette Company Secretary (until June 2013)

Caz Lyall-FordJackie MarshAdrian MartinezClare McAteerLouise McBrideLeighton McDonaldKay MenziesCaroline MerzElspeth MessengerMike MossEllie MuniandyLaura MurrayJay MylesEmma NelsonMichelle NicholsonWendy NightingaleMairi NyeHelen O’DonnellMary ParkhouseApril ParkinsJim PatersonJane PickardKatherine PorterCorinna PughKarolyne QuinnLizzie ReillyDebs RimmerDuncan RoebuckLynne RolloCarol ScarthLorraine ShawLenore SimsonAndy SmithSarah SomnerHilary SpenceleyMargaret StephensonLorna SuttonKaren Sykes Gayle TaylorKaren ThomasShirley ThompsonCaro TullochAdrian TupperSarah TurnerMaureen VerrallGillian WardellCatherine WatsonJanet WatsonSarah WheatleyJane WhitingCraig WilkieJeni WintonSarena WolfaardKay Young Katy Yule

Counsellors

Receptionists

Board

Mark HansonAvril InnesLouise KingJane MackayDonald MacraeMargaret McCallDonna McVeighSiobhan MowatOlivia NicholsEllis StewartNicola WilsonBethany Woods

StaffAlison Hampton DirectorAileen Murray Business Manager Debs Rimmer Reception Administrator

SupervisorsClare CrombieCarolyn Dougill Angie Fee Sandra Knight John MacFadyen

VolunteersSheila Gould Finance / book-keepingMatthew Haggis Website, Premises, etc

Vicky McCombeChristina McDonald Mairi NyeLiz PerryMarc Richelieu

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Our People

The Year in Numbers

What types of counselling do we offer?

Person Centred

Psychodynamic

Pyschosynthesis

Transpersonal

Process Work

Transactional Analysis (TA)

Gestalt Counselling Psychology

Core Process (Karuna)

IntegrativeContemporary Psychotherapy

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Counselling at the PF

11,936

1,310

631

336

190

177

142

95

51

45

32

21

20

19

12

10

4

0

Counselling sessions offered by our volunteer counsellors

Hours of paid clinical supervision provided for counsellors

Number of clients supported to address their problems

Women who started counselling, plus 126 men and 2 couples

Typical number of clients on the waiting list from week to week

Recommended by GPs, about 38% of all clients

Thousands of pounds in total donated each year by clients

Number of counsellors volunteering every week

Hours of CPD training provided for counsellors

Typical cost of a private counselling session in Edinburgh

Percentage of clients living in deprived areas of Edinburgh

Thousands of pounds of tax reclaimed via Gift Aid

Total number of sessions attended per client, on average

Volunteer receptionists providing a warm welcome

Average donation our clients can afford to make per session (£)

Experienced supervisors support ing our high standards

Hard-working staff keeping it all running smoothly

Our minimum donation in order to receive our full service (£)

Why do people come for counselling?

Relationships 15.8%

Anxiety/Stress 14.9%

Depression 12.6%

Self Esteem 11.0%

Bereavement/Loss 9.6%

Childhood issues 8.3%

Trauma/Abuse 6.7%

Spiritual Growth 3.7%

Addictions 1.7%

How do clients find out about the PF?

GP recommendation 38%

Friend 18%

Other Agency 12%

Internet search 7%

Family 5%

Been before 5%

Other NHS Service 2%

Employer 1%

Income & Expenditurefor the year ended 31 March 2013 Unrestricted Designated Total Funds Total Funds Fund Fund 2013 2012

Incoming Resources £ £ £ £ Voluntary Income 42,230 - 42,230 32,205 Investments 2,297 - 2,297 1,600 Activities for generating funds - 742 742 3,486 Charitable Activities 195,316 - 195,316 171,032 239,843 742 240,585 208,323Resources Expended Cost of generating funds 470 - 470 - Cost of charitable activities 184,394 15,467 199,861 184,190 Governance costs 943 - 943 914 185,807 15,467 201,274 185,104

Net Incoming (Outgoing) Resources 54,036 (14,725) 39,311 23,219

Balance Sheetas at 31 March 2013 2013 2012 £ £Fixed Assets Tangible Assets 287,681 289,309 Current Assets Debtors 3,952 4,487 Bank & Cash 158,300 128,800 449,933 422,596Creditors Amount falling due within one year 17,415 17,562

Amount falling due outwith one year 201,891 213,718

Net Assets 230,627 191,316

Fund Balances Unrestricted 102,964 122,891 Designated 83,604 24,366 Restricted 44,059 44,059 230,627 191,316

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FinanceAnother excellent performance with a surplus of £39,311 recorded for the year ended 31 March 2013 (2012: £23,219). Total Income for the year increased by £32,262 to £240,585 with Total Expenditure amounting to £201,274 an increase of £16,170 compared to 2012.

Whilst Fund Balances now total £230,627, an increase of £39,311, this includes a newly created Fixed Asset Fund of £73,963 which represents the excess of expenditure on Fixed Assets over Loan Liabilities outstanding, a sum that is not readily realisable to fund continuing operations. Future growth can only be achieved from a strong financial base and as always the ongoing challenge is to ensure that the PF remains financially viable and able to fully support its ongoing operations.

This is my final Financial Review as Treasurer prior to my retirement at this year’s AGM. I would like to thank everyone who supports the PF in many different ways, particularly Aileen Murray, Business Manager, Sheila Gould our volunteer book-keeper, and James Anderson our Independent Examiner.

John McCabe Honorary Treasurer

We would like to thank everyone who has offered help and support to the PF throughout 2012 and 2013. This help comes in many forms - grant support, cash donations, in-kind and pro-bono goods and services. Our thanks go to...

MAJOR FUNDERSThe Alison & Christopher Butler FoundationArtemis Charitable FoundationNHS Lothian

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Funders

CADENZA CHOIRA real highlight of this year was a fundraising concert of music and poetry given by Edinburgh’s Cadenza Choir and the writer/broadcaster Richard Holloway in May.

Over 400 people packed St John’s Church to enjoy the concert and support the PF.

Ticket sales and other efforts inspired by the concert raised £10,150. An amazing total!

We are grateful to all who attended and donated, but especially to chorister and counsellor Chris Hewitt, who initiated the idea, and worked tirelessly to make it the success it was.

ORGANISATIONAL DONATIONSOrder of Malta, Great Britain RBS Community Cashback AwardsLloyds Banking Group (match funding for volunteering)The Christian Fellowship of HealingWaitrose (Morningside Community Matters Scheme)

The Team from the Edinburgh University Trading and Investment Club who volunteered a day of their time to carry out important maintenance and spring cleaning on the building.

INDIVIDUALSAll the PF clients for kindly making donations each week for their counselling, without which we would not survive.

Matt Ward, who ran the Great Edinburgh Run for us.

The family and friends of Margaret Stephenson, our counsellor who sadly died in December 2012. Donations to the PF were requested instead of flowers.

The following kind individuals who make regular donations, supporting us through thick and thin:J Arkieson, Julie Brodie, Gordon Ellis, Gordon Hendry, Mr C & Mrs J Herbert, Frederique Verhulst

All the people who generously made one-off donations in the course of the year, including: Clotilde Chereau, Peter James Copping, Julie Dawson, Jim Drysdale, Suzanne Dyer, Fiona Geddes, Peter Haggis, Alison Knell, John and Karen Little, Sandra Knight, Julie Lawson, Vicky McCombe, Christine McCormick, Iddo Oberski, Jackie Taylor, Sara Trevelyan, Michael Vickers, Nirved Wilson

Equally valued are the many anonymous donations we receive from people and organisations.

Can You Help?If you can help, or know someone who might, you can find more information and make a donation on our website: www.pfcounselling.org.uk

At the PF and thanks to my amazing counsellor,

I found a place that felt safe and made it

possible for me to bring up deep traumas,

analyse them, get the space for sadness and the

chance to work out how to move on, based on a

deeper understanding of how past experiences

had affected my present life, behaviour and

relationships.

At the PF we seek feedback from all our clients after their counselling has finished. These are a selection of the comments we have received. They are the actual words of the client, used with their permission.

My counselling with PF has changed my life. It may sound a blunt comment but there is no other way to pose it. I had been struggling for years with several issues that I didn’t know how to tackle. Now I have the tools to confront these situations and any that will arise in the future. It has also taught me that life will not always be easy and that, of course, there will still be moments when I feel down; but thanks to my work with my counsellor I feel prepared for them and I am certain I will be able to stop the depression circle in which I have been falling and emerging for years. It has also allowed me to face new challenges and I am now changing my career. It has been a real insight into myself which has shown me my strengths and my weaknesses and how to overcome the latter. As I say, it has changed my life for the better.

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Client Feedback

I found my counsellor warm, kind, non-judgemental and friendly and she helped me to explore my feelings and thoughts around the issues and concerns I had brought. She provided me with the vital space I needed, where I felt I could bring however I was feeling and whatever I was feeling. She was able to stay with me through difficult and painful feelings and support me. I feel that we had a relationship based on trust, respect, and inspiration from each other.

I really loved it, I found it extremely helpful and interesting and looked forward to going. I felt my counsellor had great insight and knowledge and there was a very comforting empathy between us. I felt protected and safe. She was always positive and respectful of my wishes and after therapy the prevailing feeling was one of re-affirmation and positivity, even if, at times the session had been quite emotionally draining.

I was very isolated and extremely fragile when I began counselling and the process allowed me to build up my confidence and to feel that I had adequate skills to interact with other people on my terms. I don’t think I would have been able to get back into work without going to counselling..

The environment at the PF is really important to me, so calm, always with flowers, and a sense of being well run. It has really helped me to find it a place of healing.

Initially I found talking about stuff really

hard. But my counsellor seemed to pay

attention and remember and really listen to

what I was saying. She asked good questions

and made comments that really made me go

away and think about things differently.

I felt very supported and totally

accepted. I was able to bring all/

any issues into my counselling

sessions and talk them through.

possibility fountain person focussed powerful factors personal futures pastoral foundation psychological fireworks perfect feelings passionate family potentially freeing particularly fabulous people first peaceful faces probably finest perhaps freudian psychic flexibility positively fantastic professionally fresh practically free people forward proudly fair pleasingly friendly permanent feature potential foundation positive futures pragmatically functional principled framework purposeful fantasies personal freedom possibility fountain person focussed powerful factors personal futures pastoral foundation psychological fireworks perfect feelings passionate family potentially freeing particularly fabulous people first peaceful faces probably finest perhaps freudian psychic flexibility positively fantastic professionally fresh practically free people forward proudly fair pleasingly friendly permanent feature potential foundation positive futures pragmatically functional principled framework purposeful fantasies personal freedom possibility fountain person focussed powerful factors personal futures pastoral foundation psychological fireworks perfect feelings passionate family potentially freeing particularly fabulous people first peaceful faces probably finest perhaps freudian psychic flexibility positively fantastic professionally fresh practically free people forward proudly fair pleasingly friendly permanent feature potential foundation positive futures pragmatically functional principled framework purposeful fantasies personal freedom possibility fountain person focussed powerful factors personal futures pastoral foundation psychological fireworks perfect feelings passionate family potentially freeing particularly fabulous people

What does ‘PF’ stand for?

8 Balcarres StreetEdinburghEH10 5JB

0131 447 0876

info@pfcounselling.org.uk

www.pfcounselling.org.uk

Opening Times

Monday to Thursday 9am to 9pmFriday 9am to 5pm

RecognisedCounsellingOrganisation