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2022-12-31-accounts

Blind Children UK Report and Financial Statements

for the year ended 31 December 2022

Company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales number 03133018 registered charity in England and Wales number 1051607 registered charity in Scotland number SC042089

Blind Children UK Contents

Pages
Letter from the Chairman 1-2
Strategic Report 3-4
Report of the Board of Trustees (incorporating the Directors’ Report) 5-8
Principal Advisors 9
Independent Auditor’s report 10-14
Statement of financial activities incorporating an income and expenditure
account		 15
Statement of financial position 16
Statement of cash flow 17
Accounting policies 18-20
Notes to the financial statements 21-25

Blind Children UK Letter from the Chairman

Blind Children UK became a subsidiary of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs) in 2013. Since January 2017, all the services previously offered by Blind Children UK have been provided by Guide Dogs and the income raised by Blind Children UK is given to Guide Dogs as a restricted grant for services for children and young people.

For children with a vision impairment and their families, early intervention is lifechanging. We are proud to be the number one provider of services for children and young people with vision impairment in the UK.

Support for families

We continued to offer consistent and practical advice and support to children with sight loss, and their families. We also provided emotional guidance and our family days and annual family weekend give parents the chance to meet other families living with sight loss and to share experiences. They also help children with a vision impairment build their confidence and make lifelong friends.

Buddy dogs

We have had a successful year with our buddy dog service, which brings a canine friend into the lives of children with sight loss. These are dogs who, after starting their training, are not quite suited to being a guide dog but can enormously help a child’s self-confidence, wellbeing and improve relationships. We created 52 new buddy dog partnerships in 2022.

Tech for All

We know assistive technology can make a huge difference to children with a vision impairment, helping their learning, creativity and confidence. Following the successful pilot of our Tech for All initiative, we were able to offer another 2,500 iPads to children and young people with a vision impairment. We also worked in partnership with Apple to expand our Tech for All learning programme, helping families make the most of their iPad, including information on accessibility features and advice on apps that can be helpful for young people with a vision impairment.

We asked the parents or guardians of children who had received our iPads to complete a survey so we could evaluate the impact of our Tech for All scheme. The results were overwhelmingly positive, showing the initiative is really changing lives. The 2022 data showed a statistically significant positive impact across the measures of autonomy, openness, and sociability in the four months after the families received the devices.

1

Blind Children UK Letter from the Chairman l am proud to succeed Clare Black as Chairman and would like to extend my thanks to her for the wonderful way in which she ensured that services for children and young people remained at the forefront of our minds. We will continue to support services specifically desTgned to en children with a visual impairment to play and learn so they can d velop an fun moments with their families and friends. Ran jit Sondhi Chairman 4 July 2023

Blind Children UK Strategic Report for the year ended 31 December 2022

A range of services to help children and their families every step of the way

Every day, four children in the UK are registered blind or partially sighted. In 2022 Blind Children UK provided a range of services to give them the skills, confidence and support to enable them to enjoy their childhood and reach their potential; this service is provided on behalf of Blind Children UK by Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs).

Blind Children UK collects donations for the assistance of blind and partially sighted children. This income is granted to Guide Dogs with a restriction to children’s services. In 2022, this amounted to £623,000 (2021: £520,000).

Financial review

Overview

In 2022, funds raised by Blind Children UK were granted to Guide Dogs to use in a restricted manner on children’s services.

Income

Income in 2022 totalled £631,000 (2021: £534,000), an increase of £97,000 on 2021. The increase was mostly due to additional legacy income.

In 2022 Blind Children UK did not engage in any proactive fundraising.

A summary of Blind Children UK’s income streams is below:

Income
Individual Giving
Legacies
Total
Expenditure		 2022
£000
300
331
631		 2021
£000
325
209
534
Grant to Guide Dogs
Governance costs
Total		 2022
£000
623
8
631		 2021
£000
520
14
534

Net income

Overall, net income is a surplus of £nil (2021: £nil).

3

Blind Children UK Strategic Report for the year ended 31 December 2022 Funds The level of reserves has been maintained in 2022 as Blind Children UK decided to grant its 2022 net income to Guide Dogs. It is likely that the organisation will continue to receive income for a number of years and, if so, thi5 will be granted to Guide Dogs on a restricted basis to support children's services. Restricted funds at the end of 2022 are £nil (2021: £nil}. Financial reserves policy BITnd Children UK hold cash reserves to meet any known future liabilities as they fall due. As any net income collected by the charltable company is passed over to Guide Dogs to facilitate the provision of services, and the charitable company has no employees or outstanding liabilities, the reserve has remained unchanged at £298,000 {2021: £298,000). Going concern The Trustees conclude that the charitable company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for at least twelve months from the date of signing of the financial statements as the charitable company has no employees, negligible liabTlities and future expenditure, and has adequate cash balances and reserves to continue to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis. Risk management and internal control The Trustees consider the principal risk to be the proper use of the charitable funds donated to Guide Dogs. These risks are incorporated into the risk framework of Guide Dogs which is reviewed by the Board of Trustees of Guide Dogs at least four times a year to ensure effective and efficient systems have been established to manage these risks. The Trustees are satisfied that the arrangements for managing these risks, combined with the continual review of internal controls and the reserves policy, WTII ensure that sufficient resources are available to maintain services for the foreseeable future. This report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 4 July 2023 and signed on its behalf by: Ranji Chairma ndhi

Blind Children UK

Report of the Board of Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2022 (incorporating the Directors’ Report)

The Board of Trustees of Blind Children UK presents its Report and audited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, 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 1 January 2019).

Corporate information

Blind Children UK is a registered charity (number 1051607 in England and Wales and number SC042089 in Scotland) and was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee (registered in England and Wales number 03133018) on 1 December 1995. Its Central Office which is also its Registered Office, is Hillfields, Reading Road, Burghfield Common, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 3YG.

Blind Children UK is governed by its Articles of Association, which were last amended on 23 May 2014.

Blind Children UK is a charitable company limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital. In the event of the charitable company being wound up each member of the charitable company undertakes to contribute such amount as may be required (not exceeding £1) towards the costs of dissolution and liabilities of the Association.

Third party indemnity insurance for the Directors of the Company is covered by a policy for directors’ and officers’ insurance held centrally by Guide Dogs covering all companies in the group.

Public benefit

The Board has paid due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.

The objects and aims of Blind Children UK fall within the subsection of the Charities Act 2011 related to the relief of those in need, by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage. No person who is blind or partially sighted is prohibited from applying for assistance from the services provided by Guide Dogs on the grounds of financial circumstances.

Relationship with Guide Dogs

During 2022, Blind Children UK continued to receive donations for supporting services to blind and partially sighted children. These funds were passed to Guide Dogs to support their children’s services, in the form of a restricted grant.

5

Blind Children UK Report of the Board of Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2022 (incorporating the Directors’ Report)

Members of the Board

The members of the Board throughout the year and as at 4 July 2023, who are both Directors of the company and Trustees of the charity (the ‘Trustees’), were as follows:

Clare Black BSc (Hons) - Chairman - resigned 20 September 2022 Ranjit Sondhi- Chairman – appointed 20 September 2022 Catherine M Crofts Bsc, CIM, CAM

The Trustees are elected by the members of Blind Children UK or appointed by the Board to fill any vacancies arising during the year. Recruitment takes place through Guide Dog’s Nominations Committee, and candidates are sought to provide the Board with a full range of relevant skills relating to the business of the charitable company. Diverse applications are actively sought, particularly from people with a visual impairment.

Guide Dogs as sole member appoints Trustees to serve a three-year term of office before retiring and are eligible to stand for re-election for a maximum of two further three-year terms of office. Exceptionally, a fourth and final term may be served if there is a specific need, agreed by the Board.

On appointment, all new Trustees have personalised induction programmes. These are designed to cover the main operational framework of the charitable company, including its finances, future plans and objectives. New Trustees are also encouraged to spend time with the front-line delivery service of Guide Dogs and are required to attend a staff and volunteer induction workshop, covering areas such as safeguarding. A review of trustee training requirements is undertaken annually, and appropriate training is undertaken to ensure the Trustees have the necessary skills and capabilities to guide and govern the Charity effectively.

The Trustees have overall responsibility for the activities of Blind Children UK, advised by the Chief Executive of Guide Dogs and Emma Foulds who was appointed Managing Director of Blind Children UK in April 2022.

The policy framework sets out the clear terms of reference for the committees and the Board receives regular reports on their activities. The Board has established a clear policy and procedures for dealing with conflicts and the authorisation thereof in accordance with Charity Commission guidelines.

Trustees of the Board and independent committee members do not receive any remuneration for their services to the charitable company.

6

Blind Children UK Report of the Board of Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2022 (incorporating the Directors’ Report)

Trustees’ responsibilities statement

The Trustees (who are also Directors of Blind Children UK for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland".

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which 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:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. 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.

In so far as the Trustees are aware:

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.

7

Blind Children UK Report of the Board of Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2022 (incorporating the Directors, Report) Management The Executive Directors of Guide Dogs are responsible for the day-to-day management of Blind Children UK, acting under delegated authority given to them by the Board of Trustees of Blind Children UK. The Executive Directors as at 4 July 2023 were: Tom Wright, Chief Executive Emma Foulds, Managing Director of Blind Children UK Deborah Bourne - Fundraising and Commercial Director Vijay Doshi - Chief Finance Officer (from June 2022 to May 2023) Kathryn Ward - People Director Peter Osborne - Chief Operations Officer The arrangements for setting the pay and remuneration for these personnel and their total remuneration are detailed in the Report and FTnancial Statements of Guide Dogs. No recharge is made for their services to Blind Children UK. Related parties Blind Children UK owns the entire issued share capital of Blind Children UK (Trading) Limited which has been dormant since 2013. Consolidated financial statements are not prepared because Blind Children UK'5 parent undertaking, Guide Dogs, prepares consolidated financial statements. Auditor Deloitte's appointment as external auditor of the Company expired during the year folLowing their conclusion of the audit of the Company's accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021. As a result of the audit tender carried out by Guide Dogs in 2022, BDO LLP have been appointed as the Auditor of the Company by way of ordinary resolution of the Board of Trustees in accordance with section 485 of the Cofftpanies Act 2006. In accordance with s.485 of the Companies Act 2006, a resolution is to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting for reappointment of BDO LLP as auditor of the charitable company. Thi5 report was appro its behalf by: by the Board of Trustees on 4 July 2023 and signed on Ranjit Sondhl Chairman

Blind Children UK Principal Advisors

Auditor

BDO LLP 55 Baker Street London W1U 7EU

Bankers

Barclays Bank Plc Thames Valley Corporate Wytham Court 11 West Way Oxford OX2 OJB

CAF Bank Limited 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ

9

Independent Auditor’s report to the Members and Trustees of Blind Children UK

OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

In our opinion, the financial statements:

We have audited the financial statements of Blind Children UK (“the Charitable Company”) for the year ended 31 December 2022 which comprise the statement of financial activities including an income and expenditure account, statement of financial position, the statement of cash flow and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of 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).

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 believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Independence

We remain independent of the Charitable Company in accordance with the ethical requirements 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.

CONCLUSIONS RELATED TO GOING CONCERN

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees’ use of 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.

10

Independent Auditor’s report to the Members and Trustees of Blind Children UK

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 Trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. 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 audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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.

OTHER COMPANIES ACT 2006 REPORTING

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

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 misstatement in the Strategic Report or the Trustees’ Report.

11

Independent Auditor’s report to the Members and Trustees of Blind Children UK

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

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 determines 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’S 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 the Companies Act 2006 and report in accordance with the Acts and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

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.

12

Independent Auditor’s report to the Members and Trustees of Blind Children UK

Extent to which the audit was capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

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:

Non-compliance with laws and regulations

Based on:

The Charitable Company is also subject to laws and regulations where the consequence of non-compliance could have a material effect on the amount or disclosures in the financial statements, for example through the imposition of fines or litigations. We identified such laws and regulations to be Charities Act in the UK, UK GAAP, UK tax legislation, the Charity Commission and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.

Our procedures in respect of the above included:

Fraud

We assessed the susceptibility of the financial statements to material misstatement, including fraud. Our risk assessment procedures included:

13

Independent Auditor’s report to the Members and Trustees of Blind Children UK

Our procedures in respect of the above included:

We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.

Our audit procedures were designed to respond to risks of material misstatement in the financial statements, recognising that the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery, misrepresentations or through collusion. There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures performed and the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we are to become aware of it.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located at the Financial Reporting Council’s (“FRC’s”) website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. 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 the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Charitable Company’s members and trustees 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 assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charitable Company, the Charitable Company’s members as a body and the Charitable Company’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Fiona Condron (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of BDO LLP, statutory auditor London, UK

06 July 2023

BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (with registered number OC305127).

14

Blind Children UK Statement of Financial Activities Incorporating Income and Expenditure Account For the year ended 31 December 2022

Notes
Income from:
Donations and legacies
Total income
1
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Grant to The Guide Dogs for
the Blind Association
Total charitable expenditure
Total expenditure
2
Net income for the year
Fund balances at 1 January
Fund balances at 31
December
Unrestricted
Funds
£000
Restricted
Funds
£000
Total
2022
£000
Total
2021
£000
626
5
631
534
626
5
631
534
(8)
-
(8)
(14)
(618)
(5)
(623)
(520)
(618)
(5)
(623)
(520)
(626)
(5)
(631)
(534)
-
-
-
-
298
-
298
298
298
-
298
298

There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those listed above and the net income for the year. All income and expenditure derives from continuing activities in the current and prior year.

See note 10 for comparative Statement of Financial Activities analysed by funds.

The accounting policies and notes on pages 18 to 25 form part of these financial statements.

15

Blind Children UK Statement of financial position as at 31 December 2022 Notes 2022 £000 2021 £000 Current Assets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Total current assets Creditors Amounts falling due within one year Total assets less current liabilities 248 321 65 473 570 538 272 240 298 298 Net assets 298 298 Funds Unrestricted funds Total funds 298 298 298 298 The accounting policies and notes on pages 18 to 25 form part of these financial statements. The Financial Statements of Blind Children UK (registered company number 031330181 were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Tru5tee5 on 4 July 2023 and signed on its behalf by Trustee Ranjit Sondhi 16

Blind Children UK Statement of cash flow at 31 December 2022

Notes
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash (used in)/provided by operating
activities
7
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the
reporting period
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January
(Decrease)/Increase in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December		 2022
£000
(151)
(151)
473
(152)
321		 2021
£000
367
367
106
367
473

The accounting policies and notes on pages 18 to 25 form part of these financial statements.

17

Accounting Policies

Company and charitable status

Blind Children UK, a public benefit entity, is incorporated in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee not having share capital. There are currently 2 trustees who are also the members of the charitable company. In the event of winding up each member is required to contribute a sum not exceeding £1. Blind Children UK is a registered charity. The registered office and charity registration numbers are given on page 5.

Accounting Policies

The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these financial statements are as follows:

a. Basis of preparation

The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention, in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2019)” applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102), effective 1 January 2019; the Companies Act 2006; and the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and regulations 6 and 8 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006, as amended. Blind Children UK is a public benefit entity.

Blind Children UK owns the entire issued share capital of Blind Children UK (Trading) Limited which has been dormant since 2013. Consolidated financial statements are not prepared because Blind Children UK’s parent undertaking, The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs), prepares consolidated financial statements.

b. Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis

Blind Children UK will continue to receive income from donations and legacies and will grant this income to Guide Dogs to fund services to support blind and partially sighted children. The Trustees conclude that the charitable company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for at least twelve months from the date of signing of the financial statements as the company has no employees, negligible liabilities and future expenditure, and has adequate cash balances and reserves to continue to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis.

c. Income

Income is recognised when the Charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

18

Accounting Policies

providing the amount can be reliably ascertained and that ultimate receipt is probable. See also Sources of estimation uncertainty. Where part or all of a legacy is contested, the disputed amount is not recognised as income. Residuary legacies with a life interest are not recognised as income until the beneficial title has passed to the Charity absolutely.

d. Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

e. Financial instruments

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the charitable company becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. All financial assets and liabilities are initially measured at transaction price (including transaction costs), except for those financial assets classified as at fair value through profit or loss, which are initially measured at fair value (which is normally the transaction price excluding transaction costs), unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction. If an arrangement constitutes a finance transaction, the financial asset or financial liability is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.

The charitable company 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.

f. Fund accounting

Restricted funds are those which must be applied in accordance with the purpose specified by the donor. Expenditure relating to these purposes is therefore charged directly to the relevant fund.

The unrestricted income funds comprise those funds which the Trustees are free to use for any purpose in furtherance of the charitable objects. Such funds include designated funds where the Trustees, at their discretion, have created a fund for a specific purpose. Transfers of funds from general unrestricted funds to designated funds are approved by the Trustees. Further details of each fund are disclosed in Note 6. Blind Children UK has no specific designated funds.

g. Taxation

Blind Children UK, as a registered charity, is exempt from corporation tax under Chapter 3 of Part 11 to the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of the Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that surpluses are applied to its charitable purposes. Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the category of resources expended for which it was incurred.

19

Accounting Policies

h. Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty In the application of the accounting policies, the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Judgements and estimates are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

There is one key accounting estimate as follows:

Accrued legacy income (see note 4): The accrued legacy income amounts to £245,000 at 31 December 2022 (£56,000 at 31 December 2021). The legacy income is recognised on a receivable basis when the charity is entitled to the legacy, receipt is probable and the value can be estimated with sufficient accuracy. The critical judgement involved in the recognition of legacy income is around whether the recognition criteria are met. The key sources of estimation uncertainty are in relation to the value of the legacy, and the legal fees and other liabilities, which are estimated based on the best information available at the balance sheet date. Due to the uncertainty associated with such items, there is a possibility that, on conclusion of open matters at a future date, the final outcome may differ significantly.

20

Blind Children UK Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022

1. Income

Income from:
Donations and legacies
Donations
Legacies
Total income from donations and legacies
Total income
2. Expenditure
Cost of raising voluntary income
Administrative expenses
Cost of raising funds
Charitable expenditure
Grant to The Guide Dogs for the Blind
Association
Total Expenditure
Direct
Costs
£000
Support
Costs
£000
-
8		 2022
£000
2021
£000
300
325
331
209
631
534
631
534



Total
2022
£000
Total
2021
£000

8
14
-
8
8
14
623
-
623
520
623
8
631
534

Support costs in Blind Children UK are governance costs and allocated directly to ‘raising funds’ in 2021 and 2022 as this is the key activity.

Prior year comparatives:

rior year comparatives:
Cost of raising voluntary income
Donor based fundraising
Cost of raising funds
Charitable expenditure
Grant to The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
Total Expenditure		 Direct
Costs
£000
Support
Costs
£000
Total
2021
£000
-
14
14
-
14
14
520
-
520
520
14
534

21

Blind Children UK Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022

2. Expenditure (continued)

Expenditure includes:

2022 2021
£000 £000
Fees payable to the charitable company’s auditor for:
Statutory Audit 7 6

3. Trustee and employees

The Trustees and persons connected with them have not received, obtained or waived any remuneration or other financial benefits for the year directly or indirectly from Blind Children UK (2021: £nil). There were no travelling and subsistence expenses reimbursed in respect of 2 trustees who were in post during 2022 (2021: nil).

In 2022 and 2021 all charitable services are delivered by Guide Dogs and no management recharge is applicable.

Key management personnel are all employees of Guide Dogs and their remuneration is disclosed in that charity’s Annual Report and Financial Statements. No amounts are recharged to Blind Children UK for services on the grounds of immateriality.

4. Debtors

Legacies
Gift Aid debtors
Total debtors		 2022
£000
2021
£000
245
56
3
9
248
65

5. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Accruals
Intercompany balance
Total creditors		 2022
£000
2021
£000
7
6
265
234
272
240

22

Blind Children UK Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022

6. Fund balances

At At 31
1 January December
2022 Income Expenditure 2022
£000 £000 £000 £000
Unrestricted funds 298 631 (631) 298
Total funds 298 631 (631) 298
At At 31
1 January December
2021 Income Expenditure 2021
£000 £000 £000 £000
Unrestricted funds 298 534 (534) 298
Total funds 298 534 (534) 298
Analysis of net assets between funds
2022 2022 2021 2021
General General
Funds Total Funds Total
£000 £000 £000 £000
Bank balances 321 321 473 473
Other Assets and Liabilities (23) (23) (175) (175)
Total net assets 298 298 298 298

7. Notes to statement of cash flow

Reconciliation of net income to net cash flow from operating activities

(Increase)/decrease in debtors
Increase in creditors
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from
operating activities		 2022
£000
2021
£000
(230)
134
79
233
(151)
367

23

Blind Children UK Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022

8. Subsidiary company

Blind Children UK owns the whole of the issued share capital of Blind Children UK (Trading) Limited which has been dormant since 2013. Consolidated financial statements are not prepared because Blind Children UK’s parent undertaking, Guide Dogs, prepares consolidated financial statements. Its registered office is Hillfields, Reading Road, Burghfield Common, Reading, Berkshire RG7 3YG.

The charitable company has taken advantage of the exemptions allowed by FRS 102 not to disclose transactions with related party undertakings which are wholly owned by the group.

9. Ultimate Parent Undertaking

The charitable company's ultimate parent undertaking and controlling party is The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs), which is a charitable company registered in England and Wales. Guide Dogs has the ability to appoint or remove Blind Children UK trustees as it is a member of the charitable company.

Guide Dogs is the parent undertaking of the smallest and largest group to consolidate these financial statements. Copies of these financial statements can be obtained from Hillfields, Burghfield Common, Berkshire, RG7 3YG or www.guidedogs.org.uk. (Company Registered in England and Wales number 291646. Registered charity in England and Wales number 209617, and Scotland number SCO38979. Registered Office is Hillfields, Reading Road, Burghfield Common, Reading, Berkshire RG7 3YG).

Guide Dogs provides mobility and related services to people with a visual impairment.

24

Blind Children UK Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022

10. Comparative statement of financial activities 2021

Income from:
Donations and legacies
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Grant to The Guide Dogs for the Blind
Association
Total charitable expenditure
Total expenditure
Net income for the year
Fund balances at 1 January
Fund balances at 31 December		 Unrestricted
Funds
£000
Restricted
Funds
£000
Total
2021
£000
534
-
534
534
-
534
(14)
-
(14)
(520)
-
(520)
(520)
-
(520)
(534)
-
(534)
-
-
-
298
-
298
298
-
298

25