Holding out Hope

An edited version of the Reach 2025 Annual Report

At a time when mental health and relationships, especially marriages, are under unprecedented pressure, Reach has continued to be a place of safety, compassion and professional care inspired by a God whose love, mercy and wisdom can transform all our lives. A place where we hold out the hope of people finding a better life, of meaning, comfort, freedom and truth, in times of hardship and suffering. This is thanks to the work and support of our counsellors, admin team, trustees, partners and friends, and has led to some exciting developments and so many positive transformations in peoples’ lives throughout this year.

We hope this edited version of the Annual Report will give you a flavour of what you have made possible through Reach in the last year. Should you want to read the full version, it can be found at: https://www.reachuk.co.uk/about-us/governance – Performance Review.

2025 Headlines at a glance

• Reach has again counselled hundreds of people who arrived in various levels of distress, through face-to-face Christian counselling at our 6 venues across the North West, North Wales, West Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire and remotely elsewhere in the UK and even abroad via video and phone.
• The total number of held appointments this year at 2,564 was the second highest in our 39-year history; over 100 higher than last year. That would add up to 100 days of continuous counselling!
• We have now helped a total of 6,452 clients throughout our history, and countless more through the indirect benefits of people coming to Reach.
• This year we had 260 new clients registering for counselling – exactly one new person becoming a Reach client for every single working day throughout the year.
• We completed the first full active year of an innovative partnership offering Christian Counselling in Staffordshire with Fountains Counselling, a Christian organisation we are delighted to partner with, and welcomed 4 new counsellors.
• Our fully updated Company Handbook was distributed to all team members and trustees, to help new team members get up to speed as quickly as possible and to nurture adherence to our values and practices as we serve our clients and one another.
• Remote counselling accounted for about 30% of all appointments. Many clients value highly the convenience of less travel and the freedom to choose counselling from wherever they are.

Stories of change

Once again people came to Reach with a huge range of challenges and frequently told us that when they left, they: felt more confident, had restored relationships, developed healthier boundaries, found better ways to cope with grief, had a stronger awareness of their true identity, could face and resolve conflict, had deepened their Christian faith, and even forgiven those who have hurt them.

Some of these experiences are best heard from clients in their own words (permission was given to share these):

“My counsellor was very professional, kind and prayerful. They helped me find the tools I needed to heal and deal with my current issues so I could move on. Great counsel!”

“My counselling helped me to feel relaxed and my counsellor was very easy to get on with. I would still be in a dark place if I hadn’t seen them. My counsellor gave help and support, she was lovely, kind, thoughtful and very supportive! I am sure she will help a lot more people out of the dark and into the sunshine. Thank you! x”

“My counselling helped me to unravel a lot of old thoughts, ideas and opinions. My counsellor listened to everything I said and often took me back over things to make sure they had understood. They really helped me think about why I had got to a certain point in my life. I needed someone who would be honest with me. He was encouraging and kind, giving me time to speak and think. Changing your mindset after 35 years isn’t easy, but my counsellor showed me it was possible.”

“Many years ago, I had bad experiences with counsellors. Some invited me to talk about terrible situations without direction; I was left further perplexed. Some pushed me to one solution, but my Reach counsellor was different. She helped me to focus on one or two problems that I dearly wanted to solve. She helped me analyse the situation in a very humane way, with empathy, and guide me towards solutions that I felt comfortable with. I’m so grateful to her. Now I feel like I’m at the end of the tunnel and my life will be much better.”

Some of the challenges we faced, and our response

• A significant increase in the rent on our Liverpool office and counselling rooms. We hope to promote a “1 in 12 in 26” fundraising strategy to cover a large part of this.
• Losing the Liverpool counsellor with the highest caseload due to an employment offer they couldn’t turn down. We have therefore recruited one new Liverpool-based counsellor.
• Having lost our longest-serving Chester counsellor last year, who sadly passed away. We have now gained a new Chester counsellor, who is also a lecturer in counselling.
• Due to demand, we have operated our longest waiting list ever, telling clients it may be 12 weeks before a counsellor contacts them. We may need to close the list for a number of months in 2026 (as of May 2026 we have closed our list, apart from Staffordshire and Wrexham, for at least one month).
• Losing a Sheffield counsellor who has moved away from the city but stayed with us, and losing the room we were using due to the property being sold. We have recruited a new Sheffield counsellor and are exploring options for a suitable room.
• We remain attentive to the national discussion on sexuality and gender issues, shaped this year by the Supreme Court ruling, as well as discussions on banning ‘conversion therapy’, and how, if at all, this may influence any work we do with those exploring their sexuality and gender.
• Original phone system over 30 years old that can no longer be repaired. We are negotiating so it can be replaced with a new digital one in 2026 (this was installed in April 2026).
• Tired furniture and décor in our Liverpool base. We are contacting grant-making trusts with the hope of a one-off donation of £20,000.
• Considerations of succession planning and up-to-date safeguarding protocols – regularly discussing options and reviewing at trustee level.

We are thankful for…

• Our 62 Reach Partners who are right at the heart of our financial support – individuals, couples, churches and organisations who either commit to regular giving or offer us the use of their premises for free or at a token level. They allow us to pay a number of our team and to operate our fair donation policy, which is at the heart of our highly socially inclusive service.
• Our 172 Reach Friends whose prayers and occasional giving are of great encouragement.
• Our team of 19 counsellors (14 women and 5 men), 2 of whom are student counsellors, and 3 admin staff. We now have 2 counsellors who exclusively work with remote clients due to their distance from any of our present locations.
• Two very generous individuals who gave gifts of over £5,000.
• That the majority, 60–70%, of our clients come to Reach because of our distinctive identity and practice as a Christian Counselling agency, wanting a pastoral counselling approach that enables their Christian faith to be fully incorporated into their counselling experience.
• Once again, a significant number of church leaders came to Reach. We feel very honoured to serve them in this way, as they lead and care for their congregations and communities. Any personal development for leaders usually leads to a communal and cultural improvement for those they lead and serve.
• A wonderful supportive and continuing partnership with West Kirby URC that allowed 256 appointments this year through one dedicated employed counsellor based in their rooms.
• A new cooperative and joyful partnership with Fountains Counselling enabling Christian Counselling in Staffordshire and North Shropshire.
• All the clients who have put their trust in us at their most vulnerable times.
• Our trustees for their faithfulness and wisdom, especially Pete Morris who retired in February 2026 after 40 years of passionate and remarkably reliable service, during which time he was Reach company secretary and chair of trustees.
• Remarkable commitment from all our volunteers, especially 4 who have each been with us for well over 20 years.

Looking Ahead: Our hopes and prayers for 2026

• Finding and agreeing good terms for the use of a suitable new counselling room in Sheffield.
• Success in raising funds (grant applications) so improvements can be made to our Liverpool hub and counselling rooms – especially the furniture and decoration – so clients can experience an even stronger sense of welcome, refuge, hope and healing.
• That our trustees will have the capacity and wisdom needed to govern the charity and adapt appropriately in order for Reach to be in the best position to help all those who will seek help in the future.
• As we head into our 40th year, that Reach will remain a safe and hopeful place for people facing some of their darkest times, as we expect to welcome our 6,500th client soon and move nearer to our 7,000th client.
• Sufficient funds to pay our counsellors at a reasonable level. That clients will respect our reasonable donation policy.
• For new team members – inviting the right people to become new counsellors and fresh volunteers to help with admin, finance, cleaning, etc.

A big ‘Thank You’ !

Again, to all our partners and friends who, through your support, are with us in every call, every session and offering hope every day. Your support means:

• A survivor of trauma and abuse begins to rebuild their life
• A couple rekindle a love they thought had been lost
• A young man finds calm instead of anxiety and draws closer to God
• A woman in grief learns to tentatively walk a hopeful path

Everything that Reach does – the number of people helped, the quality of care offered and the distinctive donation-based Christian service – is only possible because of the support our Partners provide. We remain hugely grateful to you for your care for others expressed through your generosity.

Coming to Reach was the best thing I have ever done. Thank you.

quote from a former Reach client

Together, every week we are changing lives.