Annual Trustees’ Report
Reporting Period: 1[st] April 2022 - 31[st] March 2023
Since our last report, we have lost both Jane Atkinson and Jane Dennison from our small team. Jane Atkinson retired due to ill health, and Jane Dennison moved on to a new role with another organisation. Both have been a great miss, but DDS is determined to carry as it has always, hopefully making Jane Atkinson proud of her legacy. We have Donna Balmer, Jane’s Daughter, working with us now. Donna has the same passion for DDS as her Mother.
DDS has valuable experience and ability in seeking out and bringing together people with hearing loss, encouraging them and their Families to accept this disability, and the changes it has made to their lives.
We are able to offer an unobtrusive lifeline to late Deafened Adults. It is a lifeline that has been built upon trust, respect, and confidentiality, with our expertise in deafened life changes.
Support is offered month on month. 1:1 support in the home, Lip Reading Support Groups, Cochlear Implant Support Groups, Dealing with Deafness Rehab Weeks, Tinnitus Support Groups, and 1:1 Crafts and Relaxations Support Groups, can be offered throughout County Durham and Darlington. These are kept small and friendly, to accommodate Deafened Adults.
1:1 work will always be paramount, identifying needs, and being there to support those who have become isolated and given up on their social lives.
Complimentary Therapies are also offered throughout the year. Sandra’s Day is very popular with the Members. Reflexology, Facials, Head Massage, Nail Treatments, and New-Age Kurling is offered throughout the day. As this is a social event for Members - lunch is provided, with tea and coffee offered throughout.
Pam and Donna have also been very busy and successful in gaining Personal Independence Allowance, Attendance Allowance Payments, and Blue Badges for deafened Members this year.
Dealing with Deafness is a Non-Residential Rehabilitation Course, which is open to people identified as struggling with their or their Partners/Family Members loss. We have learned that even people at the onset of hearing loss can gain huge benefit from attending the course, and giving support in the early stages of hearing loss can prevent mental health and family conflict problems before they begin.
On the course, we deliver topics that helped deafened people and their partners to understand, and to cope with the changes that have been made to their lives: how to deal with the anger, anxiety, fear, and frustration associated with severe or profound hearing loss.
Some Comments from Attendees:
Deaf people were asked how deafness has made them feel, and how it had changed their lives. Tears flowed but there was laughter too, from both the deaf and hearing people. Comments were:
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“I have no confidence. My social life has gone.”
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“People don’t understand - I’m deaf not stupid.”
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“I can’t go to appointments on my own, as I need my wife to hear.”
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“Sad and lonely, even though I have a good wife who is trying her best to help me.”
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“Lack of meaningful conversation.”
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“In everyday conversation, people keep everything to a minimum now.”
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“My Grandchildren - I can’t understand them.”
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“I avoid people. Even my family.”
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“I miss friendship, and general, everyday chat.”
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“We have no social life now.”
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“I feel angry, and like a burden to my family.”
No one leaves the course without Ongoing Support, whatever they require. Other Agencies are also contacted if needed by the Attendees.
The Trustees would like to thank the Staff and Volunteers of Durham Deafened Support. Their hard work and commitment, along with their passion for DDS will ensure that we will continue to thrive and provide Advice and Support to the Deafened Community.
Durham Deafened Support
Income & Expenditure Account April 2022 to March 2023
| Income Restricted | ||
|---|---|---|
| DCC | £ | 85,099.33 |
| Big Lottery Fund | £ | 37,981.01 |
| CDCF | £ | 19,500.00 |
| Stanley AAP | £ | 17,400.00 |
| Spennymoor AAP | £ | 18,500.00 |
| Bash AAP | £ | 11,580.00 |
| True Potential | £ | 3,163.04 |
| £ | 193,223.38 |
|
| Income Unrestricted | ||
| Donation | £ | 2,448.65 |
| Memberbership | £ | 1,795.00 |
| Funraising | £ | 1,371.48 |
| Commission | £ | 55.92 |
| Access to Work | £ | 6,363.90 |
| Training | £ | 100.00 |
| Christmas Lunches | £ | 1,065.80 |
| Project/Photocopying | £ | 110.25 |
| Refund | £ | 1,346.84 |
| £ | 14,657.84 |
|
| Total Income | £ | 207,881.22 |
| Total Income | £ | 207,881.22 |
| Total Expenditure | £ | 196,721.02 |
| Income over Expenditure | £ | 11,160.20 |
| Add Balance b/f 01/04/2022 | £ | 238,666.98 |
| Income over expenditure | £ | 11,160.20 |
| Total | £ | 249,827.18 |
| Balance as per Bank Statement 31/03/2023 | £ | 249,827.18 |
| Expenditure | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wages | £ | 84,053.25 |
| Project | £ | 15,699.19 |
| Lip Reading | £ | 15,354.00 |
| HMRC | £ | 12,413.02 |
| Rent and Rates | £ | 8,469.80 |
| Room Hire | £ | 11,783.22 |
| Transport | £ | 4,034.49 |
| Office Equipment | £ | 5,064.20 |
| Staff Expenses | £ | 3,938.92 |
| Pension | £ | 2,689.50 |
| Events | £ | 5,708.89 |
| Dealing with Deafness | £ | 6,577.99 |
| Postage and Stationery | £ | 367.51 |
| Photocopying | £ | 580.37 |
| Volunteer Expenses | £ | 774.90 |
| Utilities | £ | 884.64 |
| Tinnitus | £ | 1,670.00 |
| Insurance | £ | 1,327.50 |
| Web Sites and Computers | £ | 839.18 |
| Membership | £ | 519.00 |
| Publicity/Advertising | £ | 465.24 |
| Miscellaneous | £ | 153.49 |
| Bank Charges | £ | 134.79 |
| BSL | £ | 9,105.00 |
| Palantype | £ | 3,232.90 |
| CRB Checks | £ | 172.00 |
| Bank Charges | £ | 129.64 |
| Petty Cash | £ | 328.39 |
| Accountant | £ | 250.00 |
| Total Expenditure | £ | 196,721.02 |
(HARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees OEhFtThJEO So PPoeT On accounts for the year ended Charity no {if any IOSo6E>& Sat out on pages I reporl to the tmstees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trust") for the year ended O £ -Lo èz. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordanc8 Wlth the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examinalion, I have followed all Ihe applicable Dir8Ctions given by the Charity Commission undor section 14515)(b) of the Act. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examinatlon. I confirm that no material matters have me to my attention in connection wth the examination (other than that disclosed below") which gives m8 cause to b81i8ve that in. any materfal respecl.. the accounting r8cords were not kept in accordance with s8Ctlon 130 of the Charities Act. or the accounts did not accnrd with the accounting records.. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement thal the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no olher matters in connection with the examinalion to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be reached. ' Pleaspeelgtg the words in the braGkets if they do not apply. Dato: Signed: 01 Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body Artr IER Oct 2018
(If any): Address: oeTri Qoprij EAJ'r LJiwJGK rrt Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of charily accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Glve here brtef detalls of any items that the examlner wlshes to disclose. IER Oct 2018