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2023-03-31-accounts

Association of Blind Asians (Leeds)

Charity number 1042621

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the year ended 31 March 2023

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Association of Blind Asians (Leeds)

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the year ended 31 March 2023

Contents Page
Trustees' report 2 to 7
Examiner's report 8
Receipts and payments account 9
Statement of assets and liabilities 10
Notes to the accounts 11 to 13

Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO

1

Association of Blind Asians (Leeds)

Trustees' report for the year ended 31 March 2023

Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors

The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: Name Position Dates Kuldeep Bajwa Chair Leena Inamdar Chair Resigned 25 April 2023 Charles McNeil Vice Chair Resigned 31 January 2023 Shindi Dahri Treasurer Janice Brown Secretary Apointed 26 July 2022 Cllr Eileen Taylor Catherine Mahoney Annette Morris Appointed 26 June 2022 Ballu Patel

Appointed 26 June 2022 Appointed 28 February 2023

Charity number

1042621

Registered in England and Wales

Registered and principal address Bankers Touchstone Support Centre Santander UK plc Virgin Money 53-55 Harehills Avenue 55 Otley Road 6 Otley Road Leeds Headingley, Leeds Headingley, Leeds LS8 4EX LS6 3AB LS6 2AA

Independent examiner

Simon Bostrom ACIE West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW

Structure, governance and management

The charity is governed by a constitution adopted on 13 October 1994 as amended on 26 November 2010.

Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees

The trustees of the charity are appointed by the members at the AGM.

2

Association of Blind Asians (Leeds)

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2023

Objectives and activities

The charity's objects

To promote the welfare of blind and partially sighted people of Asian origin and /or other BME communities resident in the city of Leeds and its neighbourhood.

The charity's main activities

Public benefit statement

In setting our objectives and planning our activities our Trustees have given serious consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular the relief of those in need by reason of disability.

Achievements and performance

Roshni Project (Henry Smith) Report - 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023

A new part-time member joined the Henry Smith project in March 2022 making a full time post.

With groups reopening (MC Sept 2021 & MS May 2022), face-to face interactions, 1-2-1 support, office and community venue drop-ins, service users felt less vulnerable and isolated and once again had access to information, benefit support and advocacy. A total of 84 face-to-face sessions were delivered at the two venues and staff supported 16 drop-ins. Staff restarted home visits in October 2022 and have completed 13 in the reporting period.

During the reporting period, staff have supported 61 individuals on a 1:1 basis with advocacy, completed 18 applications for benefits including Attendance Allowance, PIP, renewals, appeals, Carers Allowance with all 18 being successful.

A total of 21 people were signposted to various organisations including; Adult Social Care, Universal Credit helpline, Engage Leeds, Sikh Elders, Chapeltown Youth Development Centre, Befriending, Anchor Housing, Food Banks, Green Doctor and ECLIO.

Funding for Lunch clubs from Leeds City Council was secured for Muir Court and Mary Sunley in April 2022 (£1,555 for each group). During the reporting period 44 hot meals were provided and served by ABA staff at Muir Court and 40 at Mary Sunley.

Trips - to reduce social isolation and promote health and well being Trip to Malham in partnership with Yorkshire Dales National Park July 2022 - 10 services. Seaside trip to Lytham St Annes on 15 Sept 2022 - 35 attended

Roadshows/events

Eye Health Week in Sept 2022, ABA organised and hosted a roadshow in Hamara Centre in collaboration with external organisations.

The first of a series of health roadshows hosted by ABA to raise and promote staying healthy and wellness was held at Ramgarhia Sports Centre in March 2023 and local partners participated in the event. The event was a great success with 80+ people attending the day.

3

Association of Blind Asians (Leeds)

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2023

Achievements and performance continued

ABA took part in the 1001 Stories 2023 Year of Culture project organised by Leeds Playhouse. The aim of the project was to collect a range of experiences from the people of Leeds and to demonstrate that the stories of older people (60+) have cultural value.

ABA took part in The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) that invited everyone across the UK to plant trees to mark Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee in 2022. We sponsored 6 trees to be planted at the new nature reserve in Nov 2022 with the Make-it-Wild project in the nature reserve in Kirk Hammerton in the Vale of York.

An extra £1248 was awarded to ABA from Leeds City Council to help our most vulnerable service users who were struggling to buy food or having to make difficult choices between food and fuel bills with supermarket vouchers. ABA supported 46 service users.

ABA applied for further funding in Feb 2023: Forum Central Household Support Fund (HSF) and was awarded £5000; we supported 50 service users with supermarket vouchers.

Chai Project

Community Funds on 21 June 2022 awarded £5500.

ABA partnered up with Balbir Singh Dance Company in a joint project to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee. 6 sessions were delivered successfully at the 3 venues with an average of 12 service users participating at each session.

Living Well With Sight Loss (LWWSL)

NJ has completed the facilitation/content training, including: Challenging Behaviours in January 2023. Shadowing an RNIB facilitator delivering a telephone course in March 2023. 2 day course planned for October 2023 and will be co-delivered with RNIB.

International Day of Older People 2022

£300 grant received to celebrate International Day.

2 celebrations were organised for service users and participants from around Leeds to join in with the celebrations. 30 people aged 60+ attended the events.

Service users shared stories about themselves and the significance and influence of resilient women in their own lives.

4

Association of Blind Asians (Leeds)

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2023

Achievements and performance continued

Training completed in the reporting period

L2 Food Hygiene & Safety for Catering July 2022 Introduction to Welfare Benefits July 2022 Benefits and Mental Health Nov 2022 Benefits for Older people October 2022 RNIB Facilitation Training Jan 2023

Enhance 2022-2023

This has been a challenging year for Enhance. The first quarter had no referrals due to time spent recruiting staff. The positions were advertised three times in this quarter and the Co-ordinator was appointed whilst the other roles remained vacant. The CEO attended one meeting with the Chapeltown NT, with a few more scheduled. In the second quarter, a support worker was recruited, working with in partnership with HAMARA. The support worker started in October; the aim was to get another two support workers in post. The Coordinator attended the induction and meetings with the Seacroft Neighbourhood team. She shadowed the Chapeltown Neighbourhood team before attending a handover session the following month. She also got in touch with providers to form the network and understand how ENHANCE has been working for them.

The aim was to start taking referrals in October. In the meantime, Enhance was promoted through social media and the roadshow as part of Eye week. Recruitment was handed over to an agency for the support worker role. LOPF information was overwhelming in the first quarter and inconsistent in the second quarter: the dates of the training provided by LOPF through Eventbrite and the dates on zoom didn’t match at times and was extremely confusing.

ABA Leeds started taking referrals in October 2022. Of the 9, 8 were active. These included one case of a couple, both of whom have been recently discharged from the hospital. They were helped with light cleaning, cooking refreshments/light meals, hospital visits, and getting them out and about. Another service user who suffered from arthritis was helped with cutting vegetables, light cleaning and support with IT to access study materials. Three other service users were provided with befriending services. The other service user was helped to access social groups in addition to befriending services. A further area of support for another referral was mental health as she suffered from anxiety. One referral from the neighbourhood team didn't work very well as when the service user was approached, consent had not been sought and assistance was declined.

None remained on the waiting list as follow-up was successfully achieved within 1 to 3 days of the initial conversation. Outreach with organisations continued, whilst hospitals and communities were encouraged to promote the project. This is one case study from this quarter: ABA staff worked with a couple who had been discharged from the hospital after multiple surgeries. The husband was diagnosed with cancer in August and was undergoing treatment. The wife was the carer for the husband and was also very poorly. They were referred to ABA by their family friend.

The task for ABA’s Enhance staff was to help the couple by preventing them from reaching a health condition worse than that which they were initially facing and to prevent readmission to the hospital.

Staff worked closely with the couple to provide them with help around the house, light cleaning and help with preparing light refreshments. They provided them with befriending services which helped the wife’s mental health as she quoted. Our support worker also accompanied her on short walks which she mentioned helped her with her eating habits.

Our support worker also regularly accompanied the husband for his Chemotherapy sessions at the hospital. Staff also did a financial assessment to see if they were eligible for any benefits and helped the wife with applying for carers allowance. They recently had some repairs that had to be done around their house. Support staff referred them to Care and Repair for this but soon found out they were not eligible for their service and hence got them in touch with other repair contractors and repairs were scheduled to be done by the end of the month. By not having to accompany the husband for his treatment and by having access to help, the wife avoided ill health and the risk of being admitted to the hospital. Knowing that they had access to constant help assisted them with their mental health.

5

Association of Blind Asians (Leeds)

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2023

Achievements and performance continued

Working with neighbourhood teams continued to be challenging. Little communication was received from the NTs. Even though staff made it a point to mail NTs and let them know about the service users who were being assisted, just in case it might help them receive some support from the NTs, specially those really unwell, but no response was came from the NTs.

The one referral received from an NT (cited earlier) had not had consent approved and therefore was declined. ABA recorded it was not alone in struggling with NTs; other delivery partners experienced this too. Consequently, it was fed back that the process needed to be more stream lined, which would assist with referrals from NTs, rather than sourcing our own referrals.

In the last quarter, ABA had around another 8 referrals, four of these were discharged, but the remaining four continued to be assisted as they were service users with additional needs.

A further two/three individuals were provided with support on rare occasions – more “on demand” such as assistance with hospital appointments.

Some referrals this quarter were self-referrals; others were from third sector organisations: four referrals from Leeds Irish Health and Homes and one directly from a St James's hospital ward.

Outreach continued to be done and began to produce results in terms of a few referrals. Several health events were attended.

Finally, ABA staff began working with a video agency to produce an Enhance video to be shared with our audience, stakeholders and the wider sector, but this had to be put on hold as news about Year 2 Enhance was awaited.

This case study demonstrated successful prevention of re-admission to hospital: A service user Mrs M, who was undergoing several treatments, including for cancer, was assisted. She had a lot of anxiety as she was in and out of hospital almost every single day. This had taken a huge toll on her mental health. Given her anxiety, she was provided with befriending services, which helped build her confidence. She feared going out alone, and the support worker accompanied her on walks, taking her out to reduce her fear and anxiety. She was then referred to Maggie Leeds, accompanied by the support worker and briefed on what kind of support was available for her, which helped enormously.

ABA’s service helped her with her anxiety which could have led to a hospital admission but being part of the project enabled her to build her confidence and resilience, thereby keeping her out of hospital.

Sahara Group 2022-2023

This group runs on a Tuesday and continues to have regular users attending. They have acquired crotchet skills from a teacher enlisted by Association of Blind Asians (ABA). It is very uplifting to observe the engagements as one very competent attendee teaches her peers how to crotchet and also knit. They have collaborated on making the crotchet blanket, which they wish to donate to the hospital's baby unit. As their confidence increases in this activity, they are able to suggest other areas, which improve their mental as well as physical activity. Over the year there have been 450 contacts with service users. These interactions have taken place over nearly 90 sessions which focus on reducing isolation, improving confidence and health, and providing advocacy, signposting and resource-sharing opportunities. Various activities and engagements have enabled these outcomes to be achieved. These have included the craft sessions (knitting, crotchet, crossstitch), a Chai celebration and several musical, dance and movement offerings.

Referrals were regular at the beginning of the year, but decreased when a staff member left in February. Now they are beginning to pick up again as the Community Engagement Co-ordinator is being very active in outreach work. The referral profile continues to be at the older end of the spectrum as the younger service user has yet to be sought out since the Youth Co-ordinator left and two young adults were re-assessed at the beginning of the year. One of them expressed their mental health problems, and staff were proactive in offering support to meet their needs best. Another young person was supported to access the Living with Sight Loss course with RNIB.

6

Association of Blind Asians (Leeds)

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2023

Achievements and performance continued

This encouraged the young person to enrol in ABA’s young people group as well share her experiences on her journey to be independent. In one exceptional case 1:1 support was provided: staff worked with a service user who had isolated herself. The goal was to get her out of the house by meeting her within the community and going for a short walk. This had a positive impact. Focus continued on the end goal for the service user to attend a group or activity which would help her to reduce her anxiety and become less isolated. Meanwhile, ABA has continued to explore different options to increase the accessibility of the information provided. This often includes contact via phone, texting, face-to-face and on social media. This always includes options for translation, transcription and making content easy to read. In the January quarter, for example, ABA staff began to learn more about accessible social media practice. This led to the first Podcast produced by the organisation which increased confidence amongst service users and the wider community.

Ongoing support in both Punjabi and Bengali has ensured equity of access to sensory loss services. Users were reminded of energy assistance available eg. Warm Home Discount. Most are conversant with booking and using the Access Bus; others drive. Users were offered support to fill in any forms if needed. Significant outcomes have been achieved in enhancing quality of life via the group activities and making a positive contribution as service users are grateful in being able to keep their minds active. In addition, service users are given increased choices and control whilst engaging with ABA; all of which is provided in an environment which is free from discrimination and harassment. This allows for relaxed communication in their mother tongue, comfortable engagement with bilingual facilitators and an opportunity to reminisce as well as recollect.

Financial review

The net receipts for the year were £65,967, including net receipts of £8,787 on unrestricted funds and net receipts of £57,180 on restricted funds after transfers.

Reserves policy

The charity's free reserves, at the year end were £87,815.

The reserves policy is to aim to hold reserves equivalent to 6 months' payroll costs. This would equate to approximately £55,000.

Approved by the board of trustees on 23/01/2024

Kuldeep Bajwa (Trustee)

7

Association of Blind Asians (Leeds)

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Association of Blind Asians (Leeds)

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023, which are set out on pages 9 to 13.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').

I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Charities Act; 2 the accounts do not accord with those records.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Simon Bostrom ACIE

26/01/2024

West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO

Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW

8

Association of Blind Asians (Leeds)

Receipts and payments account for the year ended 31 March 2023

Notes
2023
Unrestricted
funds
£
Receipts
Grants, contracts and donations
(2)
32,366
Sales, fees and contributions
2,841
Total receipts
35,207
Payments
Salaries and on costs
19,278
Freelance work
100
Travel and transport
677
Catering costs
627
Events and activities
857
Hardship donations
-
Rent and room hire
-
Insurance
425
Office and administration
1,323
Equipment and resources
214
Accountancy
892
Training
550
Memberships
171
Advertising, events and publications
653
Consultancy
-
Recruitment
2,688
Website
565
Other expense
-
Independent examination
Subcontracted delivery
-
Total payments
29,020
Net receipts / (payments)
6,187
Transfers between funds
2,600
Net movement in funds
8,787
Fund balances brought forward
79,028
Fund balances carried forward
(3)
87,815		 2023
Restricted
funds
£
213,590
-
213,590
89,711
1,993
2,049
7,140
4,240
5,577
874
755
5,009
2,154
1,925
2,791
213
6,434
549
8,646
1,120
30
600
12,000
153,810
59,780
(2,600)
57,180
53,454
110,634		 2023
Total
funds
£
245,956
2,841
248,797
108,989
2,093
2,726
7,767
5,097
5,577
874
1,180
6,332
2,368
2,817
3,341
384
7,087
549
11,334
1,685
30
600
12,000
182,830
65,967
-
65,967
132,482
198,449		 2022
Total
funds
£
150,137
426
150,563
85,136
1,665
691
1,781
5,397
-
2,790
965
4,407
15,514
188
876
457
4,038
7,200
709
1,361
185
600
-
133,960
16,603
-
16,603
115,879
132,482

9

Association of Blind Asians (Leeds)

Statement of assets and liabilities

as at 31 March 2023
2023
Unrestricted
£
Cash funds
Cash at bank
87,505
Cash in hand
310
Total cash funds
87,815
Assets retained for the charity's own use
Simple list - no need for values
11 desktop computers
3 printers
2 laptops
3 second hand laptops for service users
1 netbook
3 tablets
General office furniture
Camera
Video camera
Projector
26 I pads
3 i phones
Liabilities
Accruals		 2023
Restricted
£
110,634
-
110,634		 2023
Total
£
198,139
310
198,449
2023
£
792
792		 2022
Total
£
132,334
148
132,482

The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 23/01/2024

Kuldeep Bajwa (Trustee)

10

Association of Blind Asians (Leeds)

Notes to the accounts

for the year ended 31 March 2023

1 Accounting policies

Basis of accounting

The trustees have taken advantage of section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and have prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis.

There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year.

No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.

Taxation

As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.

11

Association of Blind Asians (Leeds)

Notes to the accounts continued

for the year ended 31 March 2023

2 Grants, contracts and donations
Henry Smith Charity
Leeds City Council (LCC) Covid-19
Leeds City Council (LCC) Social Services
Leeds Community Foundation
Leeds Mind
Leeds Older Peoples Forum (LOPF)
National Lottery Community Fund (A4A)
National Lottery Community Fund
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
Albert Hunt Trust
Barchester Fund
Independent Age
Jimbos Fund
Wesleyan
Other donations
3 Restricted funds
Balance b/f
£
Albert Hunt Trust
1,025
Awards for All
9,985
Big Lottery Fund
-
Forum Central
-
Henry Smith Charity
23,258
Independent Age
5,194
Jimbos Fund
718
LCC Covid-19
2,239
Leeds Mind
-
LOPF
-
LOPF Enhance Funding
-
LCC Luncheon Club
1,120
RNIB
-
Sir George Martin
353
Thomas Pocklington Trust
7,798
Wesleyan
1,764
53,454		 2023
Unrestricted
funds
£
-
-
32,042
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
324
32,366
Incoming
£
-
5,500
63,135
5,000
52,500
-
-
3,250
1,000
300
77,045
4,360
1,500
-
-
-
213,590		 2023
Restricted
funds
£
52,500
3,250
-
4,360
1,000
82,345
5,500
63,135
1,500
-
-
-
-
-
213,590
Outgoing
£
1,025
-
27,318
4,275
58,084
8,393
718
4,000
626
300
41,827
5,480
-
-
-
1,764
153,810		 2023
Total
funds
£
52,500
3,250
32,042
4,360
1,000
82,345
5,500
63,135
1,500
-
-
-
-
-
324
245,956
Transfers
£
-
-
-
(600)
(2,000)
3,199
-
(1,489)
-
-
-
-
(500)
-
(1,210)
-
(2,600)		 2022
Total
funds
£
57,500
9,750
50,251
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,000
1,000
14,789
12,999
1,764
84
150,137
Balance c/f
£
-
15,485
35,817
125
15,674
-
-
-
374
-
35,218
-
1,000
353
6,588
-
110,634

Fund name

Albert Hunt Trust

Awards for All Big Lottery Fund

Forum Central

Purpose of restriction

To provide 1-2-1 counselling sessions for service users who need urgent or specific wellbeing support.

Towards the 'Fair Ride' transport project.

Funding for a 2 year project to enable people living with visual impairments from South Asian and other BAME communities to access support through a variety of activities and also to enable the charity to develop plans for its longer term financial stability.

Housing Support Fund to be distributed to vulnerable people struggling due to the increase in cost of living.

12

Association of Blind Asians (Leeds)

Notes to the accounts continued

for the year ended 31 March 2023

3 Restricted funds continued

Purpose of restriction

Fund name Henry Smith Charity

Henry Smith Charity Towards the running costs of a 1-2-1 support, advocacy and advice service for vulnerable BAME individuals with visual impairment in Leeds. Independent Age To enable elderly BAME individuals with visual impairment to engage in community support and provision. Jimbos Fund To provide digital equipment and know how to elderly members of the community support and improve confidence and independence. LCC Covid-19 Covid-19 harm minimisation funding. Leeds Mind To provide activities and support service users with mental health. LOPF Celebration for International Day of Older Persons. LOPF Enhance Funding Contract to work with the elderly BAME community in Leeds to support them to stay well at home, and have improved health and well being through a person-centred approach and a culturally appropriate service. Whilst being contractual, the funding is also restricted. LCC Luncheon Club To provide freshly cooked food to blind and partially sighted people. RNIB To deliver training 'Living with sight loss'. Sir George Martin To support the organisation during Covid-19. Thomas Pocklington Trust To support the organisation during Covid-19. Wesleyan To support service provision.

The transfers in each case relate to management charges / contribution to overheads.

4 Related party transactions

Trustee expenses

No trustee received any expenses during this year or the previous year.

Trustee remuneration and benefits

No trustee received any remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.

13