Durham Deafened Support
Trustee Report 2024
sin our last report, Caroline Smyth has left our small team. We wish her well for
everything she dS in the future. Donna Balmer, Jane Atkinson daughter, has the
same passion for DDS as her mother does. She applied for and was offered the
position of General Manager. We also welcome Graham Balmer who is DDS new
Outreach Support Worker. We also have Stacey Lowther back, part time as offi
admin working alongside Richard Flowers.
Support
Support still escalates month on month. 1.1 support in the home, Lip Reading
Support groups, Cochlear Implant Support group, Dealing with Deafriess Rehab
weeks, Tinnitus support groups and 1..1 support and crafts and relaxations 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 the needs and being there to support
who has become isolated and given up on their social life.
Complementary therapies are also offered throughout the year. Sandras Day is very
popular with the members. Reflexology, Facials, Head Massage, Nails 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 Allowan, Attendance Allowance payments and Blue Badges for
deafened members this year. Graham is also starting to help with applications for
these.
Funding
A lot of work has been done on funding applications. We are still waiting for the
outcome of a few but are happy to announ we have ongoing funding from
Ballinger of £15,000 a year. Vve would also like to thank Paula Snowden for
Coalfields Regeneration Scheme for helping the team complete applications.
Dealing with Deafness is a non-residential rehabilitation course which is open to
people identified as struggling with their or their partnerslfamily 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 has been made to their lives and how
to deal with the anger, anxiety, fear and frustration associated with severe or
profound hearing loss.
Some Comments from Attendees
The deaf people were asked how deafness 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:
I have no Confiden my social life has gone.
People don't understand I'm deaf not stupid.
I can't go to appointment on my own as I need my wife to hear.
Sad and lonely even though I have a good wife who is trying her best to help
me.
Lack of meaningful conversation.
Everyday conversation, people keep everything to a minimum now.
Grandchildren as I can't understand them.
l avoid people. Even my family.
I miss friendship and general, everyday chat.
We have no social life now.
I feel angry and a burden to my family.
No one will leave 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 DDS. Their hard work
and commitment along with passion for DDS will ensure that we will continue to
thrive and provide advi and support to the deafened community.
## **Durham Deafened Support**
## **Income & Expenditure Account April 2023 to March 2024**
|**Income Restricted**|||
|---|---|---|
|DCC|£|101,186.50
|
|Big Lottery Fund|£|19,593.75
|
|CDCF|£|-
|
|Stanley AAP|£|-
|
|Spennymoor AAP|£|-
|
|Bash AAP|£|-
|
|True Potential|£|-
|
||**£**|**120,780.25**
|
|**Income Unrestricted**|||
|Donation|£|1,795.00
|
|Memberbership|£|1,114.00
|
|Funraising|£|128.28
|
|Cheques|£|787.95
|
|Access to Work|£|-
|
|Training|£|70.00
|
|Christmas Lunches|£|967.90
|
|Project/Photocopying|£|-
|
|Refund|£|-
|
|Sarabec Limited|£|42.32
|
||**£**|**4,863.13**
|
|**Total Income**|**£**|**125,643.38**
|
|---|---|---|
|**Total Income**|£|125,643.38
|
|**Total Expenditure**|£|202,600.96
|
|**Income over Expenditure**|-£|76,957.58
|
|**Add Balance b/f 01/04/2023**|£|249,827.18
|
|**Income over expenditure**|-£|76,957.58
|
|**Total**|£|172,869.60
|
|**Balance as per Bank Statement 31/03/2024**|£|172,869.60
|
|**Expenditure**|||
|---|---|---|
|Wages|£|100,356.75
|
|Project|£|10,479.01
|
|Lip Reading|£|13,135.00
|
|HMRC|£|1,490.05
|
|Rent and Rates|£|10,069.00
|
|Room Hire|£|7,888.66
|
|Transport|£|2,574.91
|
|Office Equipment|£|745.20
|
|Staff Expenses|£|6,059.07
|
|Pension|£|3,501.85
|
|Events|£|7,099.31
|
|Dealing with Deafness|£|662.31
|
|Postage and Stationery|£|1,616.85
|
|Photocopying|£|164.80
|
|Volunteer Expenses|£|2,021.74
|
|Utilities|£|667.94
|
|Tinnitus|£|1,354.90
|
|Insurance|£|1,073.61
|
|Web Sites and Computers|£|559.99
|
|Membership|£|50.00
|
|ACAS Settlement|£|1,485.00
|
|Miscellaneous|£|328.44
|
|Bank Charges|£|93.03
|
|DWD|£|40.18
|
|BSL|£|5,254.74
|
|Palantype|£|4,786.71
|
|CRB Checks|£|388.00
|
|Petty Cash|£|750.00
|
|Accountancy|£|720.00
|
|Training|£|924.00
|
|Redundancy|£|10,664.00
|
|Phone/Internet|£|231.92
|
|Licence|£|20.00
|
|Subscriptions|£|1,379.92
|
|Legal Advice|£|3,807.00
|
|Flowers|£|157.07
|
|Purchases||691.89|
|**Total Expenditure**|**£**|**202,600.96**
|
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's report on the
accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
Report to the trustees
u£AAW OeAfLfvJÈO
soPPoef
On accounts for the year
ended
Charity no
(if any)
i ogo66"<
Set out on pages
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity ('the Trust") for the year ended
Responsibilities and
basis of report
As the charity's 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 Trust's accounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and 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 tT44uhar4ty4gross.income.exc6eded4-25tr00trandtanrqualffied4
exam iner's statement undertake exafflinat'oWb8ing-a ry]3lrfip"dinernber oHinsert-n8m84L
.aplCabLlstQdI}0dylle1g1EjJl4loLapP1iCabI
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have
come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that
disclosed below ") which gives me cause to believe that in, any material
respect..
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130
of the Charities Act; or
the accounts did not accord 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
that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter
considered as part of an independent examination.
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.
Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed:
Date:
Name:
S fL--Po6nJst,:'
Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body
IER
Oct 2018
(if any):
Address:
jopr
Section B
Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern
(see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and
guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of
any items that the
examiner wishes to
disclose.
IER
Oct 2018