2024-03-31-accounts

BRITISH DEAF ASSOCIATION

A Company Limited by Guarantee

Company No. 2881497 Charity No. 1031687 Scottish Charity No. SCO42409

Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31° March 2024

British Deaf Association

Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 2024

Contents

Page/s

Reference and Administrative Information

Trustees’ Annual Report

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« Who we are * Corporate structure, governance and accountability « Welcome from our Chair ¢ Our work * Strategic Goals #TakingBSLForward 2022 — 2032 ¢ Engaging with our members ¢ International

« Financial Review ¢ Grateful thanks to our funders ¢ Structure, Governance and Management ¢« Statement of Trustees Responsibilities ¢ Disclosure of Information to our Auditors

Independent Auditors’ Report

Statement of Financial Activities

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54

(incorporating an income and expenditure account)

Balance Sheet

Statement of Cash Flow

Notes to the Financial Statements

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Irfan Yusuf

https://vimeo.com/870258816/293ba270c7?share=copy

Founded in 1890, the British Deaf Association (BDA), is a national Deaf people’s organisation run and led by Deaf people for Deaf people. The BDA is the UK’s only national representative organisation for British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) in Northern Ireland.

As a Deaf-led membership organisation, the BDA is an Ordinary Member body of both the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and the European Union of the Deaf (EUD) as the sole legitimate voice of the BSL/ISL community in the UK. The BDA is dedicated to achieving equal rights for Deaf individuals and leads advocacy and campaigning for BSL and ISL. These efforts culminated in the historic legal recognition of BSL through the BSL (Scotland) Act 2015 and the UK-wide BSL Act in 2022.

British Deaf Association Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 2024 FREEDOM OF CHOICE That, through sign language, we are empowered with choices to participate, contribute, learn, and work in the same way as others. Our vision is of a world where Deaf people can fully participate and contribute to society as equal and valued citizens. Our mission is to empower Deaf people to fully participate and contribute to society as equal and valued citizens and to build a world in which the languages, culture and heritage of Deaf people in the UK are protected, preserved and promoted. Our values are: Heritage, Community, Language, Rights, Equality, Inclusion and Alliance.

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BDA is an Ordinary Member of the World Federation of the Deaf (VWFD) since September 1957, and a founding member of the European Union of the Deaf (EUD) since 1985. WED is an International Non-Governmental Organisation in official liaison with ECOSOC (Economic & Social Council), UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation), ILO (International Labour Organisation), WHO (World Health Organisation) and the Council of Europe (CoE). It also has a consultative status in the United Nations (UN) and is a founding member of the International Disability Alliance (IDA). EUD is a supranational organisation representing Deaf people at European level and is one of the few ENGOs representing associations from all the 27 EU Member States, in addition to Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. EUD aims to establish and maintain EU level dialogue with its relative institutions and officials, in consultation and co-operation with its member NADs. EUD is a full member of the European Disability Forum (EDF) and is a Regional Co-operating Member of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) to tackle issues of global importance. It also has participatory status with the Council of Europe (CoE).) The BDA remains a permanent member of EUD and the UK's withdrawal from the EU has had no impact on BDA's membership of the EUD. BDA Youth, a sub-committee, are members of the World Federation of the Deaf Youth Section ~~(WFDYS),~~ the European Union of the Deaf Youth ~~(EUDY),~~ and represent young Deaf people across the UK.

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British Deaf Association ~~Trustees’ Annual Reportforthe yearended 31stMarch 20240~~

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006 and ratified in June 2023 by 186 UN Member States, is the latest international human rights convention emanating from the UN. It is also one of the most ratified conventions in the UN legal system.

The motto of the CRPD, “Nothing About Us Without Us”, places persons with disabilities, including Deaf people, and their representative organisations - national associations of Deaf people - at the centre of decision-making processes related to them.

CRPD Article 4.3 requires national governments to actively consult and collaborate with national representative associations of Deaf people regarding any legislation, programme or policies related to Deaf people and national sign languages. The BDA is the formal National Representative Organisation of the UK representing the Deaf and BSL community, and holds this status at WFD, WFDYS, EUD and EUDY.

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The board of trustees governs the charity and has a maximum of 9 trustees. A total of 45% of trustees must be elected by the membership. All elected trustees must be Deaf and members of the charity. The board can appoint the remaining 55% of our trustees. Additional trustees may be co-opted by the trustee board when appropriate in order to enhance the skills of the board.

Members are invited to submit a written application, which is considered by a nominations panel. Applicants are shortlisted and interviewed before being proposed as a trustee. All new trustees undertake an induction programme which involves governance training with NCVO, an introduction to their responsibilities and to the operations of the charity.

The trustees provide leadership and direction for the charity, setting the vision, mission and strategy, which are delivered by the Chief Executive and their team. The trustees are legally responsible for ensuring that resources are used prudently and only in support of our objectives and for ensuring that the charity complies with all relevant legislation and regulation. The board of trustees follows a Conflicts of Interest policy, and a declaration of interest form is completed annually by trustees and senior management and these declarations are made and recorded at the start of every trustee committee meeting, where relevant to the agenda.

The board of trustees meets four times a year. It is supported by five committees, each of which has specific terms of reference:

1. DA Youth

2. inance & Risk

3. olicy & Research

4. quality, Diversity & Inclusion

5. ominations & Elections

The Finance and Risk Committee, which meets once a month oversees all financial and administrative matters. The Policy & Research Committee, which meets three times each year provides policy support and direction to the development of policies for advocacy. The Equality & Diversity Strategy Group which meets three times each year provides strategic direction to the development of our EDI strategy. The BDA Youth sub-committee which meets three times each year leads the work of our young members of the BDA. The Nominations & Election Committee meet once a year to review trustee nominations. All our committees are chaired by trustees. Committee meetings are also attended by relevant staff. Each committee has its decisions ratified by the board of trustees where appropriate.

The day-to-day running of the British Deaf Association and the exercise of executive responsibility are delegated to the Chief Executive for operational matters, including finance, employment and service delivery.

There are clear distinctions between the role of the trustees and of senior management. Matters such as policy and strategic plans are prepared by senior management for consideration and approval by the trustees. All trustees give up their time freely and no trustee remuneration was paid in the year. Details of trustee expenses are disclosed in the financial statements. There were no related party transactions.

BSL Act Now

With the plan approved, we kicked off 2023 with the transformation of our CRM and recording systems

Another2024 significant moment as Chair during 2023 — was hosting my first AGM which took place in

British Deaf Association ~~Trustees’ Annual Report forthe year ended 31stMarch 202400~~

Language is at the heart of what it means to be human. To be able to express ourselves, share information, and build relationships, every human needs a strong language foundation. Deaf people continue to be deprived of that basic human right in 2023. It is time for this to change.

We must work collectively with the Deaf communities across the UK and our partners, stakeholders and allies to seize the historic opportunity presented by the BSL Act 2022 to prepare the ground for the world we want, one in which Deaf people can finally achieve equitable civil rights and our precious language and culture are recognised, included and celebrated.

Deaf people are at the heart of everything the BDA does. We recognise that the Deaf community is made up of a diverse cross-section of society, which we as a national organisation need to do more to authentically represent. We acknowledge that the BDA needs to adapt.

The strategy aims to put our members first. We have set out a pledge to work collaboratively with our members, respecting their views and priorities. We will be honest and accountable about our decisions, and equal, fair and inclusive in our approach. We want members to be proud of the BDA and feel that the work we are doing makesa difference to their lives. We deeply value their support.

We believe that the way to make this new strategy a genuine success is to win the support of our colleagues, members, stakeholders, trustees and staff. Nothing about us, without us — all of us!

“Deaf people are the experts of our own lives. As self-advocates, we have the potential to contribute expertise, skills and experience that enrich our societies and make them more just, inclusive, and prosperous.” Dr Robert Adam, Chair of the BDA Board of Trustees

In honour of Dorothy Miles who received a Purple Plague in April 2024, we wanted to share Dot’s powerful and wonderful video reminding members that the ‘BDA is You and Me’. Enjoy!

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The following highlights some of our service impact during 2023 — 24:

POLICY AND RESEARCH

Strengthening ties for Deaf people and our signing communities Over the past year, the BDA Policy team has worked on improving and encouraging two-way collaboration and engagement with key stakeholders from within the Deaf community and our signing allies.

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British Deaf Association Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 2024

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A key objective is to instigate a pipeline of evidence and case studies on the issues faced by Deaf people,
to feed into the policy responses of responsible authorities. To this end, the Alliance has developed Action
Teams for four key areas of focus, based on feedback from Deaf/signing communities, and will apply the
concept of Deaf Leadership to all solutions proposed:
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« BSL Interpreters — Developing mechanisms for Alliance members to gather evidence of community members’ everyday experiences of barriers to securing interpreting provision. « Early Years — Working towards establishing focus groups with each Alliance member's constituency, addressing families’ experiences of accessing Early Years language development provision. « BSL Teaching — Developing a platform for understanding barriers to teaching BSL and encouraging and supporting BSL Tutors and promoting BSL teaching careers among young deaf individuals. «= Health and Social Care — Establishing a survey to detail whether interpreters are routinely being provided for different kinds of healthcare settings, and how problems are being handled. As part of our work with the BSL Alliance, the BDA was pleased to facilitate BSL Alliance members being invited to make individual presentations to the Government’s BSL Advisory Board. The BDA Policy team established a new BSL Research Forum to create collaboration between the BDA and BSL-led researchers across the UK; to generate a shared, strategic framework for BSL-centred research; and to ensure that their expertise and evidence feeds into the policies and campaigns in the BDA’s 10-Year Strategic Vision. Meeting quarterly, the Forum includes world-leading BSL-led researchers and academics from ten universities across the UK who specialise in Deaf Studies, BSL linguistics, child development, neuroscience, language development, and other areas. This work has helped raise the profile of Deaf academics across the UK and helped to ensure that their work has the impact it deserves on national and local government, public institutions and the professions. The BDA Policy team are deeply grateful to the BSL Research Forum members who fed into the development of our Early Years Position Statement and sourced an extensive list of high-quality academic studies and references for us to ensure the strength and credibility of the BDA’s position papers.

Policy Development

The Deaf community and BDA members fed back to the BDA that they want to see more Deaf ownership of Deaf issues. We have highlighted this in our BSL Manifesto for the 2024 General Election and in the and 10Year Strategic Vision. BDA has started to move the narrative regarding Deaf lives and sign language beyond

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BSL In Your Hands

will help everyone to understand that BSL — which of course ~~~~ _is a language — and Makaton are two very

Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 2024

British Deaf Association

BDA Policy supported BDA Cymru to be elected to the role of Secretariat for the Welsh Government Cross Party Group on Deaf Issues (CPGDI), for one year starting from March 2024.

We would like to extend grateful thanks to Virginia Crosby MP for sponsoring the Parliamentary Reception on 18'" March 2024.

UK Sign Language Legislation

The BDA has effectively used its position as the only UK national representative on sign language issues, as recognised by the World Federation of the Deaf and European Union of the Deaf, to feed into the development of ongoing signed languages legislation across the UK to ensure that lessons from earlier legislation are learnt and the implementation of the things that really matter to the Deaf community, in line with the BSL Manifesto. We provided active support to the development of the Motion for the BSL (Wales) Bill after it was selected in the Ballot, and the engagement of Deaf communities in Wales, working closely with Mark Isherwood, MS, and his team, and Deaf leaders in Wales.

We fed into consultation around preliminary work on a future Northern Ireland Sign Language Bill; also an updating of the current Northern Ireland Sign Language Framework; and also supported work on the Belfast City Council Language Strategy; the Welsh Strategic Equality Plan, and the Scotland BSL National Plan refresh.

In addition, we fed into the then UK Government’s Disability Action Plan — which included reference to the provision of in-situ BSL Interpretation for all major press conferences and briefings from Spring 2024 onwards and a commitment for Number 10 also to increase the use of BSL in other communications, with progress to be reported in the Government’s second report on the use of BSL in government communications by 31 July 2024.

Wider Stakeholder Engagement

Outside of parliaments and Deaf communities across the UK, the BDA has made efforts to strengthen and establish relationships with key stakeholders in Deaf and Disability spaces.

The BDA joined the Deafness & Hearing Loss Alliance, an alliance of 32 organisations that mostly focuses on the medical aspects of deafness and hearing loss, with members working in audiology, hearing services and public health. The BDA’s work with them continues to focus on fundamental concerns over the serious lack of d/Deaf representation in both this Alliance and in the wider field of audiology and hearing services.

As a Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO) ourselves, the BDA believes strongly in the ethos of noting about us that isn’t led by us, and we are proud that 85% of our staff and 100% of our Board are Deaf fluent signers with lived experience of oppression, language deprivation and barriers to opportunity that form the everyday reality for many Deaf signers, meaning we are well-placed to represent this community. We consult regularly with Inclusion London through the DPO Forum and also directly on issues that arise. We also joined the ALLFIE and Amnesty Disabled People Human Rights Network as well as networks within our regions.

OUR PROGRAMMES

The work of the BDA in our regions is centred around four key programmes:

1. Community and Advocacy 2. Training and Consultancy 3. Human Rights and Equality

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British Deaf Association ~~Trustees’ Annual Reportforthe yearended 31stMarch 20240~~

1. Sign Language and Culture

~~Community & Advocacy~~

We work with our members and the Deaf community to empower them to have their views heard and listened to. We bring Deaf people together through BDA Youth, Regional Member Forums, EDI Strategic Group and the BSL Alliance to take action around their concerns and overcome social injustice. As Deaf community organisers, we provide training and workshops with members of the Deaf community across the UK every year to build their collective power and to seek representation on decision-making boards and platforms. This community involvement is crucial: we are utilising our voice as a strong leader in the UK to tell decision-makers that there is no longer anything about us, without us.

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The BDA produces policy papers, statements, and guidelines so that members have up to date tools to
inform the BSL Alliance and our stakeholders of Deaf people’s rights and how to achieve them.
Advocacy and inclusion for Deaf people is important to the BDA’s > a
mission. Our services were set up in response to challenges faced “ag -
by Deaf people in society. We do this through three main strands: ee a
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Through Advocacy projects and BSL Helplines around the UK, BDA supported 316 Deaf people through
one-to-one advocacy and had 1,103 engagements through the BSL helpline in England providing
information, advice, guidance and signposting, culminating in a total of 1419 engagements/cases.
e BDA Scotland’s BSL Helpline supported 51 Deaf clients with 57 cases.
e BDA Cymru’s Advocacy and Inclusion Service supported 123 Deaf BSL users with one-to one support.
e BDA Northern Ireland’s Advocacy Service supported in 136 cases.
e BDA England’s BSL Helpline supported 1,103 engagements.
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Our Roadshows in England and Scotland delivered workshops for the Deaf community to raise awareness and understanding of loneliness, and how to reduce stigma/prejudice towards those experiencing loneliness within the Deaf community. 1049 Deaf people were reached.

e BDA England's Bringing the Community Together Roadshow reached 998 Deaf people including young people and children. e BDA Scotland provided Social Loneliness workshops which 151 Deaf people accessed. BDA Cymru started supporting a Deaf migrant late in 2022-23. This continued into 2023-24. This was complex as the person presented with no formal language skills from his native country including no recognised sign language system. Communication was with his brother only using home-made gestures. We worked on a multi-agency approach and as a result the person now has a permanent home with ongoing housing support, good PIP award, access to free or concessionary travel. We also worked with Care & Repair Managing Better service to help him achieve installation of suitable accessible equipment. We also supported him following a violent attack. This person benefitted from support of all three members of BDA Cymru staff at that time.

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“Advocacy Service got me involved in certain events over the past years, especially as I’m Deafblind. You did not treat me as a Deafblind person, but as myself. Thank you!” Service User

“The video of Kilmarnock Deaf Club was great. There were lots of good ideas on how to use visual pictures, and good information and suggestions. This will make other Deaf clubs think about how to make changes to their clubs to make them more dementia friendly. BDA Scotland is doing excellent good work.” Deaf woman, Kilmarnock.

‘’I have never seen the pupils engaged in a workshop like this before. The smile on the boy’s face was simply wonderful to see.’’ Teacher of the Deaf, Exmouth, January 2024.

‘’This workshop has been very informative and interesting; people are showing more confidence and are sharing their feelings. This has been really worth knowing about. A big thank you to the BDA for the workshop, it was really worth it.’’ Deaf attendee, Bristol, January 2024.

“Thank you for coming along and presenting at our Panel event today. We thoroughly enjoyed hearing more about BDA and the importance of becoming a BSL ally. I know we all found it very thought provoking.” Graduate, NatWest group, October 2023.

“My boss said that it was the most useful and entertaining hour he had spent in a management meeting for a very long time. :)” Deaf attendee, Deaf Equality presentation for Rolls-Royce’s senior management team, October 2023.

British Deaf Association ~~Trustees’ Annual Report forthe year ended 31stMarch 202400~~

As part of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s commitment to signing the (BSL & ISL) Sign Language Charter, the BDA has started this work with an initial visit to the Deaf members at Foyle Deaf Association. This was to explain to the Deaf residents what the Sign Language Charter is about our rights to access the services and to gain some feedback of their experiences accessing services in the Derry City and Strabane areas.

GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY SIGNING OF THE CHARTER FOR BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE ~~https://oda.org.uk/bsl-charter-signing-gla-mayor/~~ The Mayor of London signed the BDA’s Charter for British Sign Language to help eliminate barriers faced by London’s Deaf communities. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, welcomed members of London’s Deaf communities and representatives from organisations and services that work with, or advocate for, Deaf Londoners to City Hall to witness the signing of the Charter for British Sign Language. The Charter aims to promote better access to public services for Deaf Londoners, address discrimination and empower Deaf communities. BSL is the first language for many Londoners, and by implementing the Charter, the Mayor and City Hall are committing to meet the needs of Deaf Londoners, uphold their rights and ensure access to City Hall’s information and services. By signing the Charter, an organisation commits to a tailored set of actions aimed at improving accessibility and inclusion of Deaf people. The Charter is structured around five pledges, these are:

1. Consulting with local Deaf people on a regular basis. 2. Ensuring Deaf Londoners have access to information and services. 3. Supporting Deaf children and their families. 4. Ensuring City Hall staff working with Deaf people can communicate effectively using BSL. 5. Promoting learning and high-quality teaching of BSL. The move comes as the Mayor takes further strides to ensure City Hall is a truly inclusive employer, leading the way and inspiring other organisations to proactively tackle structural inequalities and place accessibility at the heart of policy — _

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As the representative body, the BDA works to ensure Deaf people across the UK are equipped with the knowledge, tools and strategies to advocate for, achieve and defend their rights including:

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“It was interesting to hear what other councils are doing and it would be good to see more cohesion and consistency across the councils and what they offer. Hopefully, going forward, this will be the case! Great for staff and pupils to learn more about BDA, WFD and rights.” Human Rights at St. Roch’s Secondary School

The way BDA talked to the group, and included everyone in the discussions and the way information was shared really brought all the people together and it felt like a family, we were all talking together as equals . Group Co-ordinator, London, 2023

“In the past, I was so frustrated. I kept asking and asking questions to my friend’s brother, who is a Member of Senedd (MS). This MS will retire at the next election, and I was worried about how I would engage in the future. I didn't realise I could have contact with my local MS.” Deaf attendee from Swansea, October 2023.

“Good presentation, eye opening. Useful information I now know what to do if any problem knowing and who to contact need more workshop giving plenty of examples well pace throughout the presentation.” Deaf attendee from North Wales, February 2024

British Deaf Association ~~Trustees’ Annual Report forthe year ended 31stMarch 202400~~

had participation in discussions with the Department for Communities and other sector organisations regarding the BSL/ISL Bill.

Belfast ~~https://www.facebook.com/share/p/sGrnW9pyxu4t92tT/~~ Derry ~~https://www.facebook.com/share/p/t62ArWdn2n4ABdEP/~~

Wales Mark Isherwood MS wona ballot to introduce a proposal for a BSL (Wales) Bill at Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament). In summary the Bill aims to place BSL on the same footing as those using English and/or Welsh. It also says that a BSL Commissioner is required to help promote and protect BSL in Wales and to support devolved public services to develop BSL plans. The proposal was brought to the Senedd as a Private Members Bill on 19th June 2024 and was moved forward to the next legislative stage. Voting was 24-16 (with 3 abstentions).

The BDA in its role as Secretariat to the Cross-Party Group on Deaf Issues which is chaired by Mark Isherwood MS has been supporting the proposed Bill and will continue to support onto the next stage which must be completed by July 2025. Despite the Bill being passed at this stage, the then Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice, Lesley Griffiths MS, stated that Welsh Labour Government did not see the need for a BSL (Wales) Bill. BDA and other stakeholders have since met officials at Welsh Government to explain our concerns at the Government’s position. Our next steps will be to meet Mark Isherwood who will be required to consult with Deaf BSL signers and allies.

A Deaf led campaign group has been set up by Dr Rob Wilks and Alison Bryan. The group aims to work with the BDA and other stakeholders to produce a campaign plan which is expected to launch in Autumn 2024. Tom Lichy, Head of Policy, Mike Hobday, Parliamentary Consultant and Martin Griffiths, BDA Cymru Manager will work with Rob and Alison to offer our full support. The group name is Grwp BSL a Byddar Cymru u Wales BSL and Deaf Group. Alison has posted a very useful timeline: Timeline — Grwp BSL a Byddar Cymru | Wales BSL and Deaf Group (bsl-deaf.wales)

~~Sign Lanquage & Culture~~

The BDA is best known for campaigning for legal protection of BSL and ISL. We aim to protect, preserve and promote BSL and ISL by raising awareness of the importance of BSL by co-ordinating Sign Language Week. We also undertake research into the experiences of Deaf people in different regions and countries from across the UK, as well as publishing policy responses to key policy developments and consultations that impact on Deaf people. To find out more: ~~Research & Consultations — British Deaf Association~~ (bda.org.uk)

We work with our members and partners to shape our world into a more equitable place through our campaigns and the following events to promote our language:

Sign Language Week Sign Language Week is BDA’s flagship awareness week celebrated every year in March to commemorate the first time BSL was acknowledged as a language in its own right by the UK Government on 18 March 2003. The aim is to celebrate and educate the British public about BSL and to encourage more people to start learning our language.

National BSL Day

To commemorate the passing of the BSL Act 2022 on 28" April, this day is known as the National BSL Day.

International Week of Deaf People and International Day of Sign Languages

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ee

“They really enjoyed this opportunity of learning together as a shared family experience which not only aided communication with their deaf child but further cemented their bond as a family”.

“As a direct impact of FSH, a mother is witnessing her son and daughter communicating in sign language.”

“C starts correcting me showing me the correct way to make the sign for a certain word. I’m sometimes just joking with her or testing her, and she's able to correct me.”

"I can say, and that our whole family of four people came through and finished all the classes, I am just very happy about that.”

“It's lovely thanks to FSH - M and TUTOR can hold a full conversation. It's beautiful to watch and watch her just progress.”

British Deaf Association

~~Trustees’ Annual Reportforthe yearended 31stMarch 20240~~

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In January, The Right Honourable Chloe Smith MP agreed to become our Special Ambassador. As Minister
for Disability, she led the Government’s Parliamentary work on achieving the British Sign Language Act 2022
legislation and is renowned for her steadfast support of BSL and advocacy for the Deaf community.
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Currently there is no national programme of early years BSL provision for deaf children in the UK. Experts
agree the way forward is clear. The four-point plan includes:
----- End of picture text -----

1. Talk to the BDA. The UK’s only national representative organisation for BSL and the Deaf community 2. Free and immediate BSL support for deaf babies and their families. This is not only a right, it’s necessity.

right, it’s a

1. Full access to bilingual education in both fluent English and fluent BSL 4. The upcoming BSL GCSE must be taught by fluently signing Deaf teachers.

v 40+ Government officials in attendance at BSL in Our Hands parliamentary campaign event

¥ 1 Mention of the BSL in Our Hands parliamentary event during a parliamentary session by former Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work - Mims Davies

Page | 24

Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 2024

British Deaf Association

This shows how to put BSL into the hands of those who need it the most ~~https://bda.org.uk/our-manifesto/~~

Preserving BSL

1.Remember A Charity Week 2023 brought together 200 leading UK charities, including the British Deaf Association (BDA), to safeguard their future impact. The BDA provided essential will-writing resources and highlighted the importance of supporting Deaf communities nationwide. The posts from RAC had a reach of 9500 across our social media.

----- Start of picture text -----
2. This initiative aimed to secure long-term support and highlight the impact of charitable legacies on BSL
advocacy and community empowerment. ; —
REMEMBER US IN Seow wit
YOUR WILL ma
Help . HELP US PRESERVE
our work live on... FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS?
e323 B°A
BSL POET LAUREATE
----- End of picture text -----

We launched the first ever BSL Poet Laureate Competition, to mark the UK’s first National BSL Day honouring the historic date on which BSL was first recognised in law as an indigenous language of Great Britain, with the British Sign Language (BSL) Act 2022.

DeafZone Glastonbury kindly sponsored an £800 prize pot for a competition open to all, with £500 awarded to the winner, £200 to the second place, and £100 to the third place.

Deaf BSL signers 18+ from across the country were invited to submit a 2-minute video clip of original poetry in BSL. Entries were judged on the fluency and creativity of the language, the content and originality of the poem, and the confidence of the performance.

Kabir Kapoor won first place with a £500 prize and the opportunity to work with DeafZone at Glastonbury 2024. Kabir, who was the inaugural BSL Poet Laureate in April 2023, also re-filmed his winning poem with See Hear and Remark and performed at Glastonbury.

Zoé McWhinney came in second place and earned £200 for her poem on the history of BSL recognition and in third place, Michael Watkinson won £100 for his poem "Sailing in Silence”.

~~https://vimeo.com/910849102/7b094f1ab2?share=copy~~

Page | 25

BSL Act Now!

----- Start of picture text -----
BSL Act Now!
Campaign of the Year
BSL Act
Presented to Bronwynne Buxton,
Now!
campaign volunteer and Ahmed
Mudawi, BDA Trustee.
----- End of picture text -----

BSL Act Now!

s° Loved having background knowledge regarding BSL at the start and practicing * the signs."

In all the lesson was fantastic, I do have a strong interest in BSL, during lock down got my level 2. But I need to keep using it, so this was a great lesson to get motivation again.

A> “Really helpful, inspired to learn more”. “I felt as a starter/introductory lesson it was perfectly pitched.” “The presenter was excellent, very engaging, used great examples of how the language can vary e.g. talking through a word that has many meanings.”

----- Start of picture text -----
-_SCi
rinstagram
----- End of picture text -----*

----- Start of picture text -----
a ee. a (BDHS) in Manchester to view our growing collection of artefacts that
aeE:a,i>—O=O-9a “qa peaaa =| Ga ; theybook thathave waskindly signedcataloguedby the lateandPrincessput on ofdisplay Wales.including the visitor
ey . is a A As we approach our 135th anniversary in July 2025, our heritage is
‘vya ) >.)oe digital+even morearchive:important Historypin as it | shapesSHARE: ourThe future.Deaf VisualPleaseArchive take a look at our
2, al O=O>.
- es —C%) We renewed our agreement with the London Metropolitan Archives
----- End of picture text -----

British Deaf Association Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 2024

Strategic Goals #TakingBSLForward 2022-2032

|Strategic Goals 2023 -
2026|Year 1 2023 -2024 key
outcomes|Year 1 2023 -2024
key outcomes|Year 1 2023 -2024 key |
outcomes|Year 1 2023 -2024 key
outcomes| |---|---|---|---|---| |Prepare|Quarter 1|Quarter 2|Quarter 3|Quarter 4| |1.1 Mobilise and
support a #BSL2032
|
movement led by
Deaf people of all
.
.
ages (including BDA
Youth and older Deaf
.
people) in new
,
regional forums to
:
bring together,
:
motivate and
..
empowerthe signing
.
community and our
allies to effect positive
change|.
Secured funding from
;
.
Propel and City Bridge
.
to connect with the
.
Deafcommunity to
create a Theory of
Change to address the
eo
oe
.
civil rights issues faced
.
by the Deafcommunity.|Securedfunding
.
to establish
:
Regional
MemberForums
.
in the Northeast
and Southeast
from Joseph
Rowntree
.
Charitable Trust.|Democracy - Your Vote,
Your Rights' roadshow
South
and North
across Sou
ana
Nor
Wales as well as
Southwest of England
.
.
to bring our community
together and a further
.
17 sessions to Deaf
Clubs across UK.
Member engagement
November 2023 to co-
.
produce the Regional
Member Forum
concept.|TheoryofChange
has been developed
.
followingworkshops
.
toaddress the civil
.
.
rights issue faced by
.
the Deafcommunity.
.
a.
Phase 2 application
.
being prepared to
\
;
Expand’ the work.| |||||| |1.2 Establish and lead a
.
.
.
nationwide BSL Alliance
.
.
and build sustainable
.
.
.
relationships with other
partners, stakeholders
.
.
and allies to maximise
.
our collective influence
and make
progress
Prog
towards our goals.|Established the BSL
Alliance, andover40deaf
organisations signedup
.
:
:
Our first meeting took
place on 7June 2023.
Therewasa real sense of
.
excitement aswestarted
toworktogetherto track
.
.
the implementation of
the BSLAct. More
information aboutthe
.
BSL Alliance, please see
.
ourwebsite
https://bslalliance.org.uk/|Over 30deat
organisations have
nowjoined the BSL
.
.
.
Alliance including
UK Deaf Sport and
.
SignHealth.
wg:
Position statement
on Early Years
drafted and shared
with ke
y
stakeholders and
the Research
Forum
:|.
.
Continued to meet online |
:
.
with planstomeet in-
.
person at BID inJune
2024.|53 deaf organisations
havenowjoined the
BSLAlliance, and4
.
’
action groups have
.
been established
.
| focusing on 1 - Health
.
& Social Care 2 -
:
Interpreting 3 - Early
.
Years4 - BSLTeaching.
.
.
Submittedwritten
evidencetothe BSL
.
:
Advisory Board with
.
inputfrom BSL
Alliance partners.| |||||| |1.3 Engage with and
seek to influence the
Governmentand the
BSLAdvisory Board to
ensure BSL is prioritised |
and embedded in cross- |
government policies
and institutional
frameworkson key
areas forthe British
Deafcommunities|BDA Head of Policy and
CEO met with Chloe
|Smith MP to discuss the
| next steps in
#TakingBSLForward.
Further meetings with
MPs arranged.|Chloe Smith MP
became BDA's
Special
Ambassador asthe |
key liaison person
between BDAand
the Government to |
begin the process
ofengagement and |
building
parliamentary|Invitation received to
present to the BSL
| Advisory Board about our |
work. Following that,
they asked the BDAto
| produce a report ofcase
studies highlighting
inequalities thatthe Deaf |
community face.|A parliamentary
reception was hosted
bythe BDA and
| Virginia Crosbie MP to
launch BSL in Our
Hands. All BSL Alliance
and Research Forum
partners were invited
| to the event. 39 MPs
and Lordsjoined us,
and they heard stories|

Page | 30

~~a~~ Huge congratulations to BDA kicked off Sign Kabir Kapoor on winning Language Week 2024 2.1 the BDA's BSL Poet BDA and BSL BSL Conference 2024 with early years Increase the public Laureate competition on | Celebration have lanning underway. BDA campaign: “BSL In Our visibility of BSL and the National BSL Day on 28th | signeda P . Y. Hands”. The Deaf er . : and BSL Celebration i, community witha | April 2023. partnership . . campaign’s message is decade . . collaboration began with . and engaginglong innovative #BSL2032 | Members said they agreementpromote BSL to their. week-long 8 BSL Fest clear:in the everyUK deserves deaf child

~~GQ~~ 2,224 Primary Schools Early Years position and 364,000 students statement joined the free BSL Evaluation of the FSH to take forwardcreated England: and Wales lesson; organised. by work .in NI underway direct: action.. To be funding; secured through. | Signature _in launched during. Masonic Foundation partnership. with the SLW 2024. BDA. This is an increase of 900 more schools than 2023. ~~Qn eG~~

~~GO a Cf~~

British Deaf Association Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 2024

|3.2 Set up
a BDA
Research Forum to work |
with universities,
language experts and
BSL teachers to
document, describe and |
engage theworld with
our language.|| Established a Research
Forum with 11
Universities signed up. All |
university partners
| specialise in BSL and Deaf |
Studies.|Peer review ofthe
Early Years position
|statement with
research forum
| partners. Met in
June 2023.|Research Forum meeting |
October 2023.|The BDA would like to
thank our Research
Forum partners for
their peer review and
| contribution towards
the Early Years
position statement. It
can befound here
https://bda.org.uk/bsl-
in-our-hands/| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||| |3.3 Create a persuasive
PR campaign to
t
t
li
sereneaes erpublic
understanding of BSL,
.
.
.
including the important
.
differences between
wpe
a.
artificial communication
systems such as
Makaton and Signalon
6
6
and the natural
languages ofthe Deaf
community such as BSL
and
ISL|Work iscontinuing to
.
engage with the Makaton
.
Charity and CEO gave a
.
presentation at Queens
.
.
.
University Belfast in May
.
aboutthe differences
between BSLand
Makaton.|.
,
'
Makaton Charity agreed to remove ‘language
.
.
ue
from their profile and reposition themselves.||Developeda joint
;
statement following
.
complaints from
members aboutthem
.
promotingMakaton
.
.
during Sign Language
Week2024.Although
wy
.
we didn’t release it.| |||||| |3.4 Create a persuasive |
PR campaign that
promotes bilingualism
against the threat of
sign-deprivation
ted
b
advoca ed y
organisations thatseek |
.
to deliberately or
.
.
inadvertently restrict
.
,
deafchildren’s access to |
.
language, and making
clear the lifelong
implications oflanguage|
deprivation on Deaf
people’s ability to
thrive.|Members expressed the
| need to prioritise Early
Years ahead ofthe other
priority issues as
highlighted in the 10-year
strategic vision. Members
lifel
i
adour m ron ISSues
| arise from systemic
.
.
barriers oppressing our
.
language in early years
| resulting in so many deaf |
.
.
children arriving at school |
with language delays
| resulting in extra burden
on schools to develop
their language before
they can accessthe
curriculum.|The
devel
t
©
ceveopmen
ofthe BDA's
Early
ay:
Years position
statement marks
.
.
| the starting point
.
| ofour campaign.|Creative work began on
the development ofour
.
Early Years campaign
.
whichwenowknow as
;
.
;
BSL in Our Hands’.|Launched the BDA's
.
manifesto ahead of
.
the General Election.
.
Launchedthe BSL in
.
OurHandscampaign.| |||||| ||||||

Page | 34

British Deaf Association

Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 2024

. 4.1 Invest in our staff : and infrastructure : . including BDAYouth	The BDA underwent an organisational restructure led byChange Management . consultants, NineFeetTall. ; They analysed the BDA’s . . pain points and developed a proposed restructure to ensure the ae organisation worked towards achievingthe 10- year strategic vision.	BDAYouth has been re- . established and members attended the WFDYS and EUDY general assembly . representing the UK's Deaf vouth y ,	. ae . The organisational restructure ofthe BDA is now . . . complete with the following roles established: . oe Head of Finance, Head ofCommunications& . . Fundraising, Head of Policy and Head of . . . . Community Services. We also recruited a dedicated f Membership & Events Manager.	. ae . The organisational restructure ofthe BDA is now . . . complete with the following roles established: . oe Head of Finance, Head ofCommunications& . . Fundraising, Head of Policy and Head of . . . . Community Services. We also recruited a dedicated f Membership & Events Manager.
4.2E lish Sells governance sub- : committees such as BDAYouthandco . produce an Equality, : : : Diversityand Inclusion	(EDI) strategy with By members toensurewe	are more : representative ofthe : diverse Deaf ee communities intheUK		BDA Youth has been re- established with a new committee ofyoung Deaf members.Thishasbeen an incredible h tand achievement ana we are really proud to see how they have come together. Four voune people youngpeop travelled to South Korea .
4.3 Co-produce and establish regional members’ forums and develop youth leadership toempower the wider BSL community to represent theirviews and shape our external strategy on promoting their language.				Your feedback from theAGM co-designing and co-producing the future of 'bringing our community together' through Regional Member Forums is being analysed and we will report back to members on proposed plans.

Page | 35

~~re Gn QQ~~

British Deaf Association

Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 2024

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= ; S SS |
= y : = F BSL in Our Hands Parliamentary Reception 18
SS = | oa March 2024 — Abigail Gorman, Vice Chair, Sofia
. a Isari, EUD President, Rebecca Mansell, CEO,
EDI Committee Group meeting 23 March 2024 Robert Adam, Chair
— Rebecca Mansell, CEO, Samira Mohammed,
Ahmed Mudawi, EDI Chair, Aisha Sadiq, Priyesh
Patel, Hamza Shaikh, BDA Trustee
Engaging with our members
----- End of picture text -----

Across the diverse Deaf communities in the UK, there is a shared ambition that the BSL Act 2022 will serve as a turning point to bring about social change to dismantle the barriers that have restricted Deaf people’s lives for more than 130 years, ever since the BDA was established.

Over the next ten years, we will work with Deaf communities to build a grassroots social justice movement. We will set up regional member forums where Deaf people can learn about their shared history, receive training to fully understand their civil rights and feel empowered to become equality activists. The strategy aims to bring back regional member forums, an updated version of the popular ‘branch’ model of BDA membership which was raised by so many members during the roundtable series. We will consult with members about the design of these forums as we prepare to implement an Action Plan. Together with our members across the country, we can co-produce plans for a national #BSL2032 movement.

----- Start of picture text -----
There was a suggestion that the regional member forums could be split into 12 regions across the UK. This
could be achieved by working with regional Deaf clubs, communities, and BSL Alliance organisations.
3 ig: . Scotland [1 || Scotland sd
a an yep Yorkshire & the Humber
z heh West if! 5 — [6 [ EastMidlands
----- End of picture text -----

Page | 37

European Union of the Deaf (EUD) Delegates at the EUD General Assembly 2023 Sweden, Rebecca Mansell CEO and Abigail Gorman, Vice-Chair attended the 3-day General Assembly on 25 — 27 May 2023. Important topics we took away included: 1. The rise and risk of Al on Sign Languages. 2. Co-creating with Deaf communities when it comes to producing Al. people. 3. | The Social Scoreboard by mid-Dec on social issues affecting Deaf 4. The need to gather better data on population of Sign Language users, employment status, etc. 5. Eugenics, the history of how this ideology was used to try and wipe out the Deaf community and how this ideology exists today through oralism where BSL is not equitably offered. 6. | Equality, Diversity and Inclusion — the importance of policies and to educate the Deaf community on all matters relating to intersectionality. 7. Domestic Abuse and Health & Wellbeing — Interesting services through SignHealth in the UK 8. | General Assembly — the BDA’s motion was passed. World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) Delegates Robert at the WFD General Assembly 2023 Jeju, South Korea: Dr |

British Deaf Association Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 2024

UAE in 2027. The voting process was a challenging time for many member organisations of the WFD (and subsequently an extraordinary meeting was held online on 21 October 2023 to revisit this decision, and the UAE were confirmed as the next hosts).

ead | We came away very inspired and proud to be part of an international network of National Deaf Associations and their Youth Sections, Stakeholders and the global Deaf community. Amazing plenaries, presentations and meetings, all led by Deaf experts in their fields. We all have one thing in common — our National Sign Languages. | ~~ Ya Weoppression share theof same our language,passion fordesire socialfor actionpolicy toreforms end audismto respectand our language as a fully-fledged language and calls for us to be listened to as the experts in our National Sign Languages. Also we were excited to get our hands on the WFD’s toolkit which contains all the information we needed to apply Human Rights legislation and evidence to push for policy reforms that have prevented us from learning BSL, having access to BSL at school, having equitable access to BSL in our daily lives and so forth. Our CEO, Rebecca Mansell, participated in a Deaf Leadership workshop and collaborated with Deaf leaders from around the world, all with the same aim to protect our sign languages. This course was kindly arranged by Deaf Connect (Australia) and Gallaudet University (USA). We met the WFD President Dr Joseph Murray and Vice-President Kasper Bergmann on 12 July with members of the BDA Youth committee. We talked about our draft strategy and asked for their support of our plans.

In September 2023, International Week of Deaf People (IWDP) and International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) was launched with a series of social media activity and the Minister of Disabled People, Tom Pursglove, signed a message addressing the community. Rebecca was interviewed on BBC Radio and on a podcast about IWDP.

----- Start of picture text -----
rH)
BRITISH DEAF ASSOCIATION
—YOUTH ——
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
European Union of the Deaf Youth (EUDY) Camp and Youth General Assembly, Portugal
EUDY Youth Camp in Portugal + Youth General Assembly - Erin = - ee
McCluskey and Sayfullah Ismail attended this Youth Camp as gr
participants. ==
The theme of this camp was climate change. Erin and Sayfullah ,
learnt from three presentations about: the impacts of === % ), =o
environmental health, sustainability and green lifestyle. a ee | a. be
Pata eT gn fe | 2Se
> One fact from the environmental health presentation - gee ee sg Z \ eet
underdeveloped countries uses lakes to obtain water to |= =a = eae EAS
drink, to wash their clothes, to wash their hands and to igas oe ON aa ee,
wash their fresh produces, but these lakes are also used by people to do their toilet too - therefore
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Page | 39

South Korea as well as the WFD Congress. They Adultism,learntDeafa withinvariety Socialof subjectsMedia, suchand Deafas Ageism,

British Deaf Association

Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 2024

They also realised the importance of uniting the Deaf youth community and to have the open minded and non-judgemental discussions about a wide variety of topics that has an impact on their generation, such as climate change, Sign Language Acts as well as the topics that may be considered as taboo such as mental health, sex/reproductive rights/sexual health, relationships, politics etc and what they can do going forward to ensure a better future for all current Deaf young people and future Deaf young people. Anna Muir-Weissbrodt attended WFDYS’ Youth General Assembly as the UK’s representative delegate. Presentations about BDAYouth & WFDYS/EUDY by Samuel Perkin, one of the BDAYouth Committee’s members.

----- Start of picture text -----
Healthy Deaf Minds in September 2023 Present about BDA Youth
London and WFDYS.
Cardiff Deaf Youth Club September 2023 Present about BDA Youth,
WEDYS and EUDY.
Northern Ireland Deaf Youth | Nov 2023 Present about BDA Youth,
Club WEDYS and EUDY.
----- End of picture text -----

The Board would like to thank BDA Youth for all their hard work and contribution over the year. Financial review

The financial year continued to provide both the BDA and charities in general challenges in raising income, however in the financial year 2023-24 total income increased by £1,006,485 from 2023-23 to £2,538,437.

Legacies remain an unpredictable income source which should not be relied upon. In this financial year there was an increase of £924,140 in legacies receivable resulting in an overall increase of 273% of total legacies from the previous year to £1,457,726. Included within Legacy Income this year is £626,000 which is a restricted legacy which can only be utilised in Scotland.

The surplus for the year 2023-24 of £1,126,477 which is significantly higher than the previous year (2022-23 surplus £436,758). As a result, general funds increased by £485,263 to £1,789,270 which represents 13.4 months of the annual expenditure budget for 2023-24.

Total income increased by 65.7% from £1,531 ,962 to £2,538,437.

----- Start of picture text -----
Legacy income totalled £1,457,726 in 2023-24 (2022-23: £533,586) representing 57.4% of total income
(34.8% in 2022-23).
Expenditure
During 2023-24, 89.2p of every £1 of total expenditure was spent on direct costs towards empowering
Deaf people (2022-23: 93.1p of every £1). The remaining 10.8p in every £1 (2022-23: 6.9p) went towards
other costs such as fundraising, organisational governance and our European and international work.
Expenditure increased during the year by £316,766 to £1,411,960 (2022-23 total: £1,095,194)
The breakdown of the expenditure on charitable activities as a proportion of total charitable activities costs
are as follows.
Charitable Activity % of charitable % of charitable
activity costs 2024 | activity costs 2023
Deaf Access and Inclusion projects 33.7% 23.8%
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
Page | 41
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British Deaf Association ~~Trustees’ Annual Reportforthe yearended 31stMarch 20240~~

Deaf Community Advocacy projects	21.4%	25.2%
BSL Media and DeafCommunity Development projects	19.9%	25.2%
Deaf Children, Youth and Families projects	11.8%	12.0%
Sign Language and Training projects
Policy and Campaigns

Total funds were £3,293,620 (2022-23: £2,167,143) of which £1,489,743 related to general funds (2022-23: £1,001,250) and £299,527 (2022-23 £302,757) relates to the Pension Reserve. In addition, £121,203 has been set aside for organisational and Deaf Community development by way of designated funds (2022-23: £199,693). Regarding our Pension liability debt, the new plan requires the charity to make deficit reduction payments of £39,081 to 31 December 2024 and, to pay scheme administration expenses of £55,944 per year, (increasing by 3% per annum) until the scheme winds down or when the last member has passed away — whichever comes first. The Board has maintained its policy of covering the total cost of these repayments from unrestricted funds thereby providing reassurance to funders that project grants will not be used to service the Pension Debt contributions. In the 2023-24 accounts, the BDA has a Pension Fund Reserve of £299,527, compared to £302,757 (2022-23).

There are a number of restricted funds that have supported specific BDA activities over the past year. (See note 14.) Total restricted funds have increased by £719,704 to £1,383,147 (2021-22 total: £663,443).

Plans for using the BDA reserves over the next 3 years

In summary, the financial statements for 2023-24 show a surplus of £1,126,477 (2022-23: £436,758).

Our general funds have increased from £1001 ,250 in 2022-23 to £1,489, 743 in 2023-24.

Income and existing project grants have been designated for, and will continue to underpin, key areas of work such as Deaf Community Advocacy, Deaf Access and Inclusion, Deaf Children and their Families, and the increased use and visibility of sign language presentations and videos through our social media platforms.

Therefore, our reserves at 315' March 2024 are:

|~~[Reserves~~
~~|~~|~~2023-24|~~|~~|2021-23~~| |---|---|---| |~~[Reserves~~
~~| ~~
~~CurrentProjectGrants~~|~~2023-24 |~~
~~£1,067,328|~~|~~| 2021-23~~
~~| £222,115~~| |~~Current Project Grants~~
Legacies/ADAs Funds|~~£1,067,328 |~~
£315,819|~~| £222,115~~
£441,328| |~~TotalRestrictedFunds~~
~~Re~~|~~£1,383,147|~~|~~| £663,443~~| |~~Total Restricted Funds~~
~~Re~~|~~£1,383,147 |~~|~~| £663,443~~| |~~Re~~
Designated: Development Fund|£121,203|£199,693| |Designated: Pension Deficit Fund|£299,527|£302,757| |~~GeneralFunds~~|~~£1,489,743|~~|~~| £1,001,250~~| |~~General Funds~~
~~TotalUnrestrictedFunds~~|~~£1,489,743 |~~
~~£1,910,473|~~|~~| £1,001,250~~
~~| £1,503,700~~|

The BDA will continue to monitor its reserves carefully. In 2024, we continued to prioritise securing project funding for Deaf community projects — particularly given the need to provide additional support through visual language communication mediums in our first language, BSL.

The current reserves policy as agreed by the Trustees is a minimum of 50% of annual expenditure or 6 months running costs in the current financial year to preserve the BDA’s cash flow and to meet any unexpected contingencies. Based on the 2023-24 budget, a 50% target would require a reserve of £810,000 in unrestricted general funds. The present level of free reserves (excluding the pension reserve and fixed

Page | 42

British Deaf Association Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 2024

assets) of £1,479,745 (2022-23: £995,856) now available to the charity is a significant increase on the previous year’s figures and is in excess of the 50% target level.

In addition, to the free reserves £299,527 has been set aside to meet our future Pension Liability obligations to 2025. Grateful thanks to the following funders for their support of our work

BSL Poet Laureate sponsors: DeafZone

Trusts & Foundations: Grateful thanks to the following funders and their generous support of our work:

e John Ellerman e Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust e Scope

e deafPLUS e City Bridge Foundation e City Bridge (Propel) e Masonic Charitable Foundation e National Lottery Community Fund Wales e Democratic Engagement Grant — Welsh Government e Care and Repair e Inspiring Scotland e National Lottery Community Fund — Scotland e Robertson Trust e Access and Inclusion — Scottish Government e Age Scotland e Impact Funding Partners e Northern Ireland Health & Social Care Board e Promotion of ISL — Department of Communities e Family Signing at Home — Departments of Communities e Dorothy Hay-Bolton Charitable Trust Our special thanks to our corporate sponsors towards the BDA’s AGM held on 11" November 2023 in Ipswich: Culver Law and Interpreting Matters.

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Page | 43

British Deaf Association ~~Trustees’ Annual Reportiforthe yearended 31stMarch 2024~~

Thanks also to Ashley Kendall for delivering a workshop in the afternoon with members about the concept of our Regional Member Forums.

----- Start of picture text -----
PS iy eee ra ‘ shed e BDA board and -
And, also to those who made generous donations and remembered the British Deaf Association in
their Wills.
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Structure, Governance and Management

The Trustees, who are also directors of the charitable company for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report and accounts for the year ended 31%t March 2024.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, applicable law, and the requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice 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 from 1 January 2019. The British Deaf Association is constituted as a company limited by guarantee and is registered for charitable purposes with the Charity Commission and also with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). The charity’s governing document is the Memorandum and Articles of Association. The charity’s full name is ‘The British Deaf Association’ (referred to herein as ‘the BDA’).

The governing body of the charity, the Board of Trustees, is responsible for the administration of the BDA. The BDA is incorporated in England and Wales and is governed by a Board of Trustees, listed on page 1, who are elected every three years by members. The Trustees are provided with key information on appointment such as Trustee Handbook and Charity Commission booklet CC3. They are also required to attend a full Trustee Induction Away Day or Weekend.

Management is delegated to the CEO, who works with a team of managers, and who are responsible for delivering the full range of the BDA’s activities. The Board and CEO meet and agree the Charity’s strategic intentions.

The report resultant of these discussions is a reference point for all projects and developments.

The Board determines the remuneration of the CEO on an annual basis and in doing so, they benchmark salaries across comparable salaries with similar sized organisations within the sector, consider the external environment and also the current financial position of charity itself.

Public benefit statement

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British Deaf Association Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 2024

The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 on public benefit when reviewing the Charity’s objectives and activities and in planning future activities. Our overview and achievements section from page 4 to 9 reflects the scope of our activities.

Statement of Trustees responsibilities

The Trustees (who are also directors of British Deaf Association for the purposes of Company Law) are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under Company Law must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

e select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; e observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102); e make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; e state whether applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts;

e prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue to operate.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006 Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and the provisions of the charity’s constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Disclosure of information to auditors

Insofar as the Trustees are aware:

e there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware; and, e the Trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.

The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

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Auditors
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Price Bailey LLP were appointed auditors to the company in accordance with section 485 of the Companies Act 2006.

Fundraising

During the year 2023 — 2024, we recruited a Head of Communications & Fundraising to lead the delivery of the BDA’s 5-year Fundraising Plan produced by Aldridge, Astaria & Ward Consultants building on and leveraging relationships with the community and those who are engaged with it. Staff employed by the BDA

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We about our fundraising activities (2022-2023: none). iN nati aN Mees Hf were made aware of a potential incident of fraud relating to aatinee anita Stale fundraising in Northern Ireland which was reported to the Police Wjeac’es pega Pt | a Na Service Northern Ireland. Mm AN email ai Wed AO A significant proportion of our income is received from donation and iF a } ie aes legacies. When seeking to raise money from the public, we only | hae 1071171) WILL We send marketing material to those who have previously said they are “=n YOU happy to be contacted by us (and individuals are free to change their minds at any time). We take great care to ensure that our level HELP US PRESERVE of communication with our supporters is proportional and BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE appropriate. In the past fifteen years we have not engaged in FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS? telephone marketing or in raising money from door to door or street Find out how te leave a gift in your will at bela.org.uk collections. Dy We eo |B A joined the Remember A Charity scheme again during 2023-24, Bsr cnsces

Family Signing

at Home , early years BSL support for 0O—-5-year-olds and their families, including 1:1 home visits and group

Dr Robert Adam

Robert Adam (Fri, 18th Oct 2024 12:07:46 BST) ceva eeeeeeeuueeeeeeeegaaeeeeeeuaaeeeeeeennnnneenegs

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British Deaf Association Independent Auditors’ Report to the Members and Trustees of British Deaf Association ~~Forthe2024000yearended 31 March~~ Opinion We have audited the financial statements of British Deaf Association (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities (including income & expenditure account), the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows, and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and the Charities SORP 2019.

In our opinion the financial statements:

. give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 March 2024, and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended; . have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and . have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, the Charities SORP 2019, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and regulation 8 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. Basis for opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. Conclusions relating to going concern In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ (who are also the directors of the company for company law purposes) use of the the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Conclusions relating to going concern In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ (who are also the directors of the company for company law purposes) use of the the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the trustees annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course ofthe audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material

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British Deaf Association Independent Auditors’ Report to the Members and Trustees of British Deaf Association ~~Forthe2024000yearended 31 March~~ inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

. the information given in the trustees' report (which includes the directors’ report prepared for the purposes of company law) for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and . the directors’ report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustees Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: . adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or . the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or . certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or . we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit or . the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies’ regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemption and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and under Companies Act 2006 and report in accordance with the Acts and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

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British Deaf Association Independent Auditors’ Report to the Members and Trustees of British Deaf Association For the year ended 31 March 2024

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists.

Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below: We gained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the charitable company and the sector in which it operates and considered the risk of the charitable company not complying with the relevant laws and regulations including fraud; in particular those that could have a material impact on the financial statements. This included those regulations directly related to the financial statements, including financial reporting and tax legislation. In relation to the operations of the charitable company this included compliance with Companies Act 2006, Charities Act 2011 and the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.

The risks were discussed with the audit team and we remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit. We carried out specific procedures to address the risks identified. These included the following: . Review of legal fees incurred; . Reviewing minutes of Trustee Board meetings; . Agreeing the financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation; ° Enquiring of management, including those charged with governance; . Reviewing key accounting policies and estimates

To address the risk of management override of controls, we carried out testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness. We also assessed management bias in relation to the accounting policies adopted and in determining significant accounting estimates. Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of noncompliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the FRC's’ website at: ~~https://www.frc.org.uk/auditors/audit-assurance/auditor-s-responsibilities-for-the-audit-of-the-fi/descriptionof-the-auditor%E2%80%99s-responsibilities-for~~ This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and to the charitable company’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Regulation 10 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or

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8.10.2024

British Deaf Association Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account) For the year ended 31 March 2024

		General	Designate	Unrestricted	Restricted		2024	2023
		Funds	d Funds	Funds	Funds		Total	Total
	Notes	£	£	£	£		£	£
Income
Donations and legacies	2	885,911		885,911	626,000		1,511,911	653,659
Other trading activities		18,830		18,830	-		18,830	42,128
Investment income		10,291	-	10,291	-		10,291	1,764
		915,032		915,032	626,000		1,541,032	697,551
Income from charitable	3	80,178		80,178	917,227		997,405	834,401
~~activities~~			~~-~~
Total income		995,210	-	995,210	1,543,227		2,538,437	1,531,952
~~Expenditure~~
Raising funds
Fundraising costs		111,236	-	111,236	-		111,236	39,779
Charitable activities
Costs of charitable		398,711	78,490	477,201	823,523		1,300,724	1,055,415
activities
Total expenditure	4	509,947	78,490	588,437	823,523		1,411,960	1,095,194
Net income		485,263	(78,490)	406,773	719,704		1,126,477	436,758
Transfers between	15	-	-	-	-		-	-
funds
Net movement in funds		485,263	(78,490)	406,773	719,704		1,126,477	436,758
Funds at 31 March 2023		1,304,007	199,693	1,503,700	663,443		2,167,143	1,730,385
Fundsat31March2024		1,789,270	121,203	1,910,473	1,383,147		3,293,620	2,167,143

All movements derive from continuous activities during the above financial year. The notes on pages 60 to 75 form part of these financial statements.

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18 Oct 2024

Robert Adam (Fri, 18th Oct 2024 12:07:46 BST)

British Deaf Association

Statement of Cash Flows For the year ended 31 March 2024

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Notes 2024 2023
£ £
Cash flow from operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities A 321.222 424,170
Cash flow from investing activities
Purchase of tangible fixed assets 9 (9,436) (6,230)
Net cash used by investing activities - :
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year 311,786 417,940
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 April 2023 1,676,538 1,258,598
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 March 2024 1,988,324 1,676,538
Notes to the cash flow statement for the year 31 March
2024
A — Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash 2024 2023
flows from operating activities £ £
Net movements in the funds for the year 1,126,477 436,758
Depreciation charge 4,832 2,484
(Increase) in debtors (899,345) (55,662)
Increase in creditors 89,258 40,590
Net cash provided by operating activities 321,222 424,170
B — Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
Cash at bank and in hand 1,988,324 1,258,598
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A — Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flows from operating activities

The notes on pages 60 to 75 form part of these financial statements.

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British Deaf Association
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 March 2024
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1 Accounting policies 1.1 Basis of preparation The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and “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 from 1 January 2019. The charity is a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The charity had a dormant subsidiary company, Big D Company Limited, whose registered office was St. John’s Deaf Community Centre, 258 Green Lanes, London N4 2HE. The company has been dormant for many years and the trustees decided to close the company and it was subsequently dissolved on 24 January 2023. The charity has not prepared consolidated accounts as inclusion of the results of its subsidiary undertaking, Big D Company Limited, as it would not be material to the consolidated financial statements.

1.2 Going concern The Trustees of the charity have considered their obligations to prepare these financial statements on an appropriate basis, having specific regard to the charity’s unrestricted funds at 31 March 2024, which includes its closed multi-employer defined benefit pension scheme that was previously available to participating staff. The charity’s funding commitment to the pension scheme remains long term, however at the 31 March 2024 the pension scheme reserves are in surplus. Therefore overall, unrestricted funds are considered adequate to meet all working capital needs for the foreseeable future.

The Trustees have agreed to make a number of investments to ensure the charity increases its income over the medium to long term, as well has having the infrastructure to support the charity’s growth. Going concern is dependent on future income continuing at an acceptable level and the Trustees are confident that this remains achievable. Therefore, at the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus, the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing these financial statements.

1.3 Critical accounting estimates and judgements

To be able to prepare financial statements in accordance with FRS 102, the charity must make certain estimates and judgements that have an impact on the policies and the amount reported in the annual accounts. The estimates and judgements are based on historical experiences and other factors including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable at the time such estimates and judgements are made. The items in the accounts where these judgements have been made include;

e Estimating the liability of the multi-employer pension scheme. 1.4 Income

Income for both restricted and unrestricted funds are recognised in full in the Statement of financial activities in the year in which they are receivable. Voluntary income is received by way of legacies and donations and is included in full in the Statement of financial activities when receivable. Volunteer time is not included in the financial statements. Legacies are recognised at the earlier of actual receipt or on receipt of Estate accounts which confirm the BDA’s entitlement to receive the funds, the probability of receipt and provide an accurate measure of the legacy. If the legacy is in the form of an asset other than cash or an asset listed on a recognised stock exchange, recognition is subject to the value of the asset being able to be reliably measured and title to the asset has passed to the charity. Recognition is not taken for legacies subject to a life interest as they do not meet the SORP’s recognition criteria. Page | 57

British Deaf Association Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

Investment income is recognised on a receivable basis. All grants (including from government) are accounted for when the charity has entitlement to the funds, and performance related conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. 1.5 Expenditure The costs of raising funds relate to the costs incurred by the charitable company in raising funds for its charitable work. Governance costs are primarily associated with constitutional and statutory requirements. Expenditure is recognised in the period in which they are incurred. Resources expended include attributable VAT which cannot be recovered. Resources expended are allocated to the activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. Other costs represent the cost of charitable activities that cannot be directly attributed (Directors, Administration, Finance, Human Resources and Information Technology) but which are incurred to deliver our services are apportioned across other activities on the basis of their use of those resources. 1.6 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £500. Depreciation costs are allocated to activities on the basis of the use of the related assets in those activities. Assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their carrying value may exceed their net realisable value and value in use. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life using the straight-line method. The depreciation rates in use are as follows: Computer equipment 2 years Fixtures, fittings & equipment 2 years 1.7 Leasing and hire purchase commitments Rentals payable under operating leases, where substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership remain with the lessor, are charged to the Statement of financial activities in the year in which they fall due. 1.8 Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

1.9 Pensions The charitable company participates in a multi-employer pension scheme, the Pension Trust’s Growth Plan. The assets of the Scheme are held in an independently administrated fund. (see note 14). In accordance with FRS 102 section 28, the SOFA includes;

e The cost of benefits accruing during the year in respect of current and past service (charged against net income). e The increase in the present value of the scheme’s liabilities arising from the passage of time (also charged against net income: The charity also has a defined contribution pension scheme for existing staff. The amount charged in the Statement of financial activities in respect of the defined contribution pension scheme is the contributions payable in the year All allocations (income or expenditure) arising from the pension schemes are charged to unrestricted funds.

1.10 Accumulated funds

Unrestricted funds are donations and other income receivable or generated for the objects of the charity.

Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund together with a fair allocation of support costs. Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the Trustees for particular purposes.

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British Deaf Association Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

1.11. Constitution, address and legal status

The British Deaf Association is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number 2881497), and also a registered charity (charity registration number 1031687, England and Wales, SCO42409, Scotland). The registered office is, St. John’s Deaf Community Centre, 258 Green Lanes, London N4 2HE. The charitable company is limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liability of each member in the event of winding up is limited to 25 pence. 1.12 Functional currency

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

1.13 Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value. Fixed assets are recorded at depreciated historical cost and all other assets and liabilities are recorded at cost which is their fair value.

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British Deaf Association

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

2 Donation and Legacies

Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total 2024 funds funds funds £ £ £ £ Donations and gifts 54,185 - - 54,185 Legacies receivable 831,726 - 620,000 1,457,726 Total ~~885,911 - 626,000 1,511,911~~ Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total 2023 funds funds funds £ £ £ £ Donations and gifts 119,348 - 725 120,073 Legacies receivable 533,586 - - 533,586 Total 652,934 - 725 653,659 Charitable Activities Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total 2024 funds funds funds £ £ £ £ Sign Language Projects - - - - Deaf Children, Youth and Families Projects - - - - Deaf Community Advocacy Projects - - - - Deaf Community Development - - 833,717 833,717 Deaf Access and Inclusion Projects - - 83,510 83,510 Others 80,178 - - 80,178 Total 80,178 - 917,227 997,405 Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total 2023 funds funds funds £ £ £ £ Sign Language Projects - - 3,325 3,325 Deaf Children, Youth and Families Projects - - 84,855 84,855 Deaf Community Advocacy Projects - - 259,114 259,114 Deaf Community Development - - 54,705 54,705 Deaf Access and Inclusion Projects - - 299,028 299,028 Others 133,374 - - 133,374 Total 133,374 - 701,027 834,401

3 Charitable Activities

Included within income from charitable activities are government grants received amounted to £327,818 (2023: £375,939). There were no unfulfilled conditions or other contingencies attaching to these grants (2023: none).

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British Deaf Association Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

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4 Expenditure
Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total 2024
funds funds funds
£ £ £ £
Costs of raising funds 111,236 - - 111,236
Charitable expenditure 395,481 78.490 823,523 1,297,494
Other — pension scheme costs 3,230 - - 3,230
Total 509,947 78,490 823,523 1,411,960
Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total 2023
funds funds funds
£ £ £ £
Costs of raising funds 39,779 - - 39,779
Charitable expenditure 389,160 - 666,012 1,055,172
Other — pension scheme costs 243 - - 243
Total 429,182 - 666,012 1,095,194
Staff costs Depreciation Other costs Total 2024
£ £ £ £
Costs of raising funds 86,095 - 25,141 111,236
Charitable activities:
Direct costs 718,923 - 179,443 898,366
Support costs 61,779 4,832 294,290 360,901
Governance costs 1,340 - 36,887 38,227
782,042 4,832 510,620 1,297,494
Other expenditure:
Pension finance charges 3,201 - - 3,201
Remeasurements of scheme valuation 29 - - 29
Pension scheme administration expenses - - - -
Total 871,367 4,832 535,761 1,411,960
Staff costs Depreciation Other costs Total 2023
£ £ £ £
Costs of generating funds 21,587 - 18,192 39,779
Charitable activities:
Direct costs 515,477 - 163,277 678,754
Support costs 40,463 2,484 298,984 341,931
Governance costs 1,998 - 32,489 34,487
557,938 2,484 494,750 1,055,172
Other expenditure:
Pension finance charges 2,478 - - 2,478
Remeasurements of scheme valuation (2,235) - - (2,235)
Pension scheme administration expenses - - - -
Total 579,768 2,484 512,942 1,095,194
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British Deaf Association

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

Analysis of charitable expenditure Direct Indirect (excluding governance costs) Staff costs Other Staff Other Total 2024 costs costs costs £ £ £ £ £ Sign Language Projects 7,077 3,592 9,254 16,772 36,695 Deaf Children, Youth and Families 72,093 40,472 9,084 26,799 148,448 Deaf Community Advocacy Projects 164,479 71,822 (271) 33,021 269,051 Deaf Community Development 42,831 6,265 (271) 14,222 63,047 Policy and Campaigns 48,623 3,271 18,779 29,777 100,450 Deaf Access and Inclusion 264,775 90,269 6,011 63,818 424,873 Publication, Membership & 1,142 1,178 10,278 39,775 52,373 Communications Deaf Training Projects 4,914 (35) 2,904 21,076 28,859 BSL Media, Access to Work and Others 112,989 (37,395) 6,011 53,866 135,471 Total 718,923 179,439 61,779 299,126 1,259,267 Staff costs Other Staff Other costs Total 2023 costs costs £ £ £ £ Sign Language Projects - 170 7,717 12,839 20,726 Deaf Children, Youth and Families 65,712 19,422 4,589 33,082 122,805 Deaf Community Advocacy Projects 151,589 78,254 (1,669) 28,561 256,735 Deaf Community Development 60,939 463 (1,669) 19,294 79,027 Policy and Campaigns 25,721 10,146 17,104 17,700 70,671 Deaf Access and Inclusion 133,919 51,682 4,171 53,252 243,024 Publication, Membership & (40) 8,594 4,589 57,001 70,144 Communications Deaf Training Projects 29,594 182 1,460 18,764 50,000 BSL Media, Governance, Access to 48,043 (5,636) 4,171 60,975 107,553 Work and Others Total 515,477 163,277 40,463 301,468 1,020,685 Analysis of support costs 2024 2023 £ £ Premises and related costs 52,482 85,620 Travel and accommodation 61,830 37,373 Office costs 87,303 76,200 Governance costs 38,227 34,487 Consultancy 83,516 101,925 Other costs 212,403 177,337 535,761 512,942

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Other costs comprise: Costs of generating donations and Governance costs Other governance costs comprise of:

The average head count of employees during the year was:

British Deaf Association Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

----- Start of picture text -----
9 Tangible fixed assets Computer Fixtures, fittings & Total
equipment equipment
£ £ £
Costs
At1 April 2023 92,210 12,710 104,920
Additions 9,436 - 9,436
Disposals (59,480) (10,210) (69,690)
At 31 March 2024 42,166 2,500 44,666
Depreciation
At1 April 2023 86,816 12,710 99,526
Disposals (59,480) (10,210) (69,690)
Charge for the year 4,832 - 4,832
At 31 March 2024 32,168 2,500 34,668
Net book value
At 31 March 2024 9,998 - 9,998
At 31 March 2023 5,394 - 5,394
10 Debtors 2024 2023
£ £
Trade debtors 80,407 72,160
Other debtors 1,562,218 669,033
Prepayments and accrued income 46,188 48,275
1,688,813 789,468
11 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 2024 2023
£ £
Trade creditors 102,756 80,342
Taxation and social security costs 5,751 607
Deficit repayment plan on multi-employer pension scheme 39,081 47,811
Accruals and deferred income (see below) 245,927 139,647
393,515 268,407
Included within creditors: amounts falling due within one year are the following movements in
deferred income;
2024 2023
£ £
Deferred income brought forward 124,397 24,654
Income deferred in the year 204,872 124,397
Deferred income released from prior year (124,397) (24,654)
Deferred income carried forward 204,872 124,397
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Deferred income is disclosed in the financial to show to what extent income has been received recognised as income in a future accounting period. Income deferred relates to grants received i but which relate to a future period.

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~~fs 81 March 2024 (£0008)~~

1 This is the amount collectively requested from the 950 companies that are members of the pension scheme. The contribution from the BDA is lower and is given on page 72 of the Annual Report.

British Deaf Association Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

Reconciliation of Opening and Closing Positions Year Ending 31 March Year Ending 31 March 2024 2023 (£000s) (£000s) Provision at start of period 84 131 Unwinding of the discount factor (interest expense) 3 2 Deficit contribution paid (48) (47) Remeasurements — impact of any change in - (2) assumptions Remeasurements — amendments to the - - contribution schedule Provision at end of period 39 84

Income and Expenditure Impact

Year Ending 31 March Year Ending 31 March 2024 2023 (£000s) (£000s) Interest expense 3 2 Remeasurements — impact of any change in - (2) assumptions Remeasurements — amendments to the - - contribution schedule ~~Scheme administration expenses (55) (53) Total (58) (53)~~ Assumptions 31 March 2024 31 March 2023 31 March 2022 % per annum % per annum % per annum

The discount rates shown above are the equivalent single discount rates which, when used to discount the future recovery plan contributions due, would give the same results as using a full AA corporate bond yield curve to discount the same recovery plan contributions. The following schedule details the deficit contributions agreed between the company and the scheme at each year end period:

Deficit Contribution Schedule

31 March 2024 (£000s 31 March 2023 (£000s 31 March 2022 (£000s

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pYearr2 0 |
pYearS |
pYear4 00]
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The company must recognisea liability measured as the present value of the contributions payable that arise from the deficit recovery agreement and the resulting expense in the income and expenditure account i.e. the unwinding of the discount rate as a finance cost in the period in which it arises. It is these contributions that have been used to derive the company's balance sheet liability.

The company also operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held ina separate fund from the company. Amounts charged during the year from this scheme are £19,096 (2023: £15,192) and the amount outstanding at 31 March 2024 was ENil (2023: ENil).

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~~| |~~ Legacies / ADAs 441,328 626,000 - - 1,067,328

British Deaf Association

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024 Scottish Housing Regulator - - 1,871 - (1,871) Scotland — General - 869 519 - 350 Family Signs at Home (N. Ireland) 16,582 26,644 36,888 - 6,338 Covid-19 Project (Wales) 4,260 8,633 7,229 - 5,664 Welsh Government — BSL Charter 2,670 16,220 12,348 - 6,542 Loneliness Engagement (England) 9,487 32,000 25,798 - 15,689 Deaf Children’s Literacy 27,681 - 27,681 - - Deaf Heritage Films Project 352 - 352 - - Total 222,115 917,227 823,523 - 315,819 Comparative 2023 Balance at1 Income Expenditure Transfer Balance at 31 April 2022 March 2023 £ £ £ £ £ Legacies / ADAs 480,897 - 39,569 - 441 328 Current Project Grants 146,806 701,752 626,443 - 222,115 Total ~~627,703 701,752 666,012 B44~~ Legacies / ADAs £ £ £ £ Local Group Legacy Funds 136,613 - 39,569 - 97,044 Youth Funds 4,416 - - - 4,416 Scotland Funds 54,259 - - - 54,259 Greater London Funds 40,000 - - - 40,000 Research Funds 69,774 - - - 69,774 Holiday Schemes Funds 119,993 - - - 119,993 Other Restricted Funds 25,030 - - - 25,030 Area Deaf Associations 30,812 - - - 30,812 Total 480,897 - 39,459 - 441,328 Current Project Grants Balance at1 Income _ Expenditure Transfer Balance at 31 April 2022 March 2023 £ £ £ £ £ Scottish Government: Equality 17,872 227,318 202,287 - 42,903 Dementia Project (Scotland) 28,223 - - - 28,223 Dementia Research (Scotland) 6,730 - 3,395 - 3,335 BSL Case Scenarios (Scotland) 11,882 - - - 11,882 Northern Ireland — General - 49,779 46,131 - 3,648 Wales - General - 500 50 - 450 Deaf Access/Inclusion (England) - 52,981 15,468 - 37,513 Deaf Access/Inclusion (Wales) - 5,700 3,260 - 2,440 Deaf Advocacy (N. Ireland) 12,340 156,785 154,243 - 14,882 Deaf Advocacy (Wales) 950 102,329 93,578 - 9,701 Deaf Roots and Pride (Scotland) - 26,486 20,380 - 6,106 Deaf Roots & Pride (N. Ireland) 10,205 19,446 29,651 - - Family Signs at Home (N. Ireland) 611 38,923 22,952 - 16,582

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British Deaf Association Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024 Covid-19 Project (Wales) - 4,317 57 - 4,260 Welsh Government — BSL Charter - 3,325 655 - 2,670 Loneliness Engagement (England) - 13,029 3,542 - 9,487 Deaf Children’s Literacy 37,993 - 10,312 - 27,681 Deaf Heritage Films Project 20,000 834 20,482 - 352 Total ~~146,806 701,752 626,443 - 222,115~~ The membership of the Association has been divided into geographical areas, each of which is headed by an Area Deaf Association which operates separate accounts. These are consolidated into one account as a restricted fund, since the Trustees have ultimate control over these funds. The following splits out the summary results by area. Area Deaf Associations At1 April Income Expenditure At 31 2023 March 2024 £ £ £ £ East of England Deaf Association (EEDA) 2,116 - - 2,116 Greater London Deaf Association (GLDA) 652 - - 652 North East Deaf Association (NEDA) 271 - - 271 North West Deaf Association (NWDA) 13,731 - - 13,731 Deaf Association Northern Ireland (DANI) 4,510 - - 4,510 Scottish Deaf Association (SDA) 2,990 - - 2,990 Deaf Association Wales (DAW) 2,693 - - 2,693 South West Deaf Association (SWDA) 2,419 - - 2,419 East Midlands Deaf Association (EMDA) 472 - - 472 West Midlands Deaf Association (WMDA) 958 - - 958 South East Deaf Association (SEDA) - - - - Yorkshire & Humberside Deaf Association (YHDA) - - - - Total ~~30,812 - - 30,812~~ Area Deaf Associations At 1 April Income Expenditure At 31 2022 March 2023 £ £ £ £ East of England Deaf Association (EEDA) 2,116 - - 2,116 Greater London Deaf Association (GLDA) 652 - - 652 North East Deaf Association (NEDA) 271 - - 271 North West Deaf Association (NWDA) 13,731 - - 13,731 Deaf Association Northern Ireland (DANI) 4,510 - - 4,510 Scottish Deaf Association (SDA) 2,990 - - 2,990 Deaf Association Wales (DAW) 2,693 - - 2,693 South West Deaf Association (SWDA) 2,419 - - 2,419 East Midlands Deaf Association (EMDA) 472 - - 472 West Midlands Deaf Association (WMDA) 958 - - 958 South East Deaf Association (SEDA) - - - - Yorkshire & Humberside Deaf Association (YHDA) - - - - Total ~~30,812 - - 30,812~~ The nature of the restricted funds is shown below; Local Group Legacy Funds: Set up a specific project and local funds for Deaf people bequeathed through Wills to fund activities.

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Family Signing at Home

British Deaf Association Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

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2024 Movement in funds
Balance at Income Expendit Transfer Balance at
1 April ure 31 March
2023 2024
£ £ £ £ £
General Fund 1,001,250 995,210 (506,717) - 1,489,743
Development Fund 199,693 - (78,490) - 121,203
Pension Fund 302,757 - (3,230) - 299,527
Total 1,503,700 995,210 (588,437) - 1,910,473
2023 Movement in funds
Balance at 1 Income Expenditure Transfer Balance at 31
April 2022 March 2023
£ £ £ £ £
General Fund 549,682 830,200 (378,632) - 1,001,250
Development Fund 250,000 - (50,307) - 199,693
Pension Fund 303,000 - (243) - 302,757
Total 1,102,682 830,200 (429,182) - 1,503,700
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Development Fund: The main purpose of the Development Fund is to cover new business development opportunities, such as consultancy to help re-design the charity's database and a strategic review of our fundraising position.

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Pension Fund: Since April 2013, the Pensions Trust has required the BDA to pay additional pension
contributions. Our pension liability debt at 31 March 2024 is approximately £39,000, however our pension reserve
at the same date just under £300,000 and therefore we currently have a surplus position. Based on the
September 2020 actuarial valuation a new payment plan was agreed commencing in April 2022. The new plan
requires the charity to make deficit reduction payments of £47,810 per year to 2025, and, to pay scheme
administration expenses of £55,044 per year, (increasing by 3% per annum) until the scheme winds down or
when the last member has passed away — whichever comes first. The charity’s unrestricted income is
unpredictable, especially unknown legacy income, hence why the Board’s priority is to protect the BDA’s long-
term future by ensuring there are sufficient funds allocated to its Pension Reserve Fund.
Analysis of changes changes in net debt
Balance at Cash flows Other non- Balance at
1 April 2023 cash changes 31 March
2024
£ £ £ £
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash 1,676,538 311,786 - 1,988,324
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16 Analysis of changes changes in net debt

17 Analysis of net assets between funds

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British Deaf Association

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

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General Designated Designated Restricted Total
Funds Pension Funds Funds
Fund Balances at 31 March £ £ £ £ £
2024 represented by:
Tangible Fixed Assets 9,998 - - - 9,998
Current Assets 1,633,445 338,608 121,203 1,583,881 3,677,137
Creditors: amounts falling due (153,700) (39,081) - (200,734) (393,515)
within one year
Creditors: amounts falling due - - - - -
after one year
1,489,743 299,527 121,203 1,383,147 3,293,620
Fund Balances at 31 March £ £ £ £ £
2023 represented by:
Tangible Fixed Assets 5,394 - - - 5,394
Current Assets 1,092,055 386,418 199,693 787,840 2,466,006
Creditors: amounts falling due (96,199) (47,811) - (124,397) (268,407)
within one year
Creditors: amounts falling due - (35,850) - - (35,850)
after one year
1001 ,250 302,757 199,693 663,443 2,167,143
18 Operating lease commitments
At the 31 March 2024, the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease
payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
Land and Buildings Other
2024 2023 2024 2023
£ £ £ £
Within 1 year - 2,885 - 4,671
Between 2 and 5 years - - - -
- 2,885 - 4,671
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19 Related party transactions During the year the trustees made donations which totalled ENil (2023: ENil)

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