We held our AGM on board the New Orleans Hobbs of Henley boat this week when our CEO, Sophie Wellings who joined us in November 2024 said it has been an “eventful!” and “challenging year.”
Like most charities, 2024/2025 has been a difficult year due to local authorities, charitable trusts and foundations grant applications being oversubscribed making funding from these sources difficult to secure.
Sophie said, “It is not just us, every charity is facing financial challenges in this very turbulent time. It will be with us for a while, and we are looking at ways to diversify our income.”
Riverside has delivered 5,115 counselling sessions, received 336 referrals, supported 298 adults with 1:1 counselling and 30 young people last year. We have provided 1:1 counselling for over 100 clients who have paid £10 or less for weekly sessions.
Councillor Tom Buckley, the Mayor of Henley, attended and gave our keynote address. Tom spoke about his support for Riverside, especially our work with young people, as well as how we plug the gaps in much needed mental health support locally.
We voted to change our status to become a Foundation led Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). It is currently unincorporated and member led. The CIO model is recommended by the Charity Commission and reduces the liability for Trustees.
Counsellor, Abi, spoke about the incredible support and opportunity for development at Riverside saying that this was not available in all organisations. She said, “Riverside has a professional and considered approach. When I joined, they were really kind and supportive and this has continued.”
Two case studies were read out highlighting the difference Riverside had made to two clients. One was a young man aged 17 who struggled with low self-esteem and anxiety. He was bullied at school and broke the law to try and show off to his friends that he was good at something! Over the year of counselling, he grew in confidence, found new friends and started talking to a girl he really liked. The other was a young single Mum with 3 primary aged children who had had clinical depression for most of her life. She struggled with the mindset of “she should be able to cope” and the grief of her Mum being diagnosed with dementia and not being able to help more. She worked with her Counsellor to find herself, be more authentic, work through issues as they arrive, trust herself and just be “more me.”
We said a sad goodbye to Head of Counselling, Clare Crossley who started as a placement counsellor in training 12 years ago. Clare said, “Never did I imagine that I would be here for 12 years. I’ve been incredibly privileged to hold many roles in an amazing organisation and to have so many wonderful colleagues to work with and inspirational clinicians who I have learnt so much from. It’s been a tough 2 years as Head of Counselling, we have gone through a choppy old time but I have to say I truly believe that we are in a really good place now and so it comes with some relief that I’m going when I think it will go from strength to strength!”
Treasurer, John Morrow, presented the accounts for 2024/2025 which showed a small net of £15K which with funds carried forwarded the charity ended the year with £53K. Trustee, Nicki Gray-Williams, was delighted to announce that she was donating £10,000 to Riverside Counselling from her recent Grease themed charity event which she presented to John.
