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← Sightline Vision (North West) Limited

2023-12-31-accounts

Sightline Vision ( North West ) Limited

(A company limited by guarantee )

Financial Statements

For the year ended 31st December 2023.

Charity Number: 1096452 Company Number: 04620457

Sightline Vision (North West) Limited

Contents

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|||||| |---|---|---|---|---| |Page.| |COMPANY/CHARITY|REFERENCE AND|ADMINISTRATIVE|DETAILS.|1| |DIRECTORS|/ TRUSTEES|REPORT|2| |INDEPENDENT|EXAMINER'S|REPORT|6| |STATEMENT|OF|FINANCIAL|ACTIVITIES|7| |(including|Income|and|Expenditure|Account)| |BALANCE|SHEET|8| |NOTES TO|THE|FINANCIAL|STATEMENTS|9.-14.|

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Sightline Vision (North West) Limited

Company / Charity Reference and Administrative Information.

Company Directors / Trustees

Mr.P.A. Howard. Chair
Mr.P.W. Booth.
Mrs.C.J.Holmes. MBE
Mr.A.V.Kimpton.
Mr.E£. Murgatroyd.
Charity Director. Mr.1.C.Edwards.
Registered Office. Howick House
Howick Park Avenue
Penwortham
Preston
PR1 OLS
Company Registration Number
04620457
Charity Registration Number
1096452
Independent Examiner: Harrison Latham and Company
Chartered Accountants
97 Tulketh Street
Southport
Merseyside
PR8 1AW
Bankers Barclays Bank plc
LiverpoolNorth,Bootle

Sightline Vision (North West) Limited

Trustees’ Annual Report

For the year ended 31st December 2023

The trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of the Companies Act, present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2023, which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) Accounting and Reporting by Charities (FRS 102) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity. Sightline Vision (North West) Limited is a company limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital, members contribute £5 in the event of the charity winding up. The company was registered with the Charity Commission on the 11th March 2003. The principal governing document is its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated the 11th November 2002.

Objectives

Sightline's objective is to provide a premier telephone befiending service for visually impaired people which is completely free, totally secure and absolutely confidential. In response to the COVID pandemic Sightline began to offer its service across England and Wales. The service is still unique within the North West of England and only a handful of organisations provide anything similar within the rest of the UK. As a result Sightline has forged partnerships with the likes of RNIB, Guide Dogs, Age UK and many other organisations supporting blind and partially sighted people. Sightlines's telephone based befriending service is designed to reduce loneliness and isolation for anyone living with visual impairmant. Our service is staffed by a team of dedicated friendly, trained volunteers who have close experience of sight loss, which leads to a high level of understanding, empathy and support between Service Users and Volunteers. Consequently, many of our Service Users and Volunteers are benefitting from the positive impact a telephone befriending relationship can offer.

Activities and Performance.

In setting our objectives and planning our activities our trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit.

Sightline Vision (North West) Limited recognises and adheres toa strict policy of confidentiallity within our work, respect for each other and for those who contact us, together with our networking partners which we see as paramount to our success. Indeed, it is Sightline's new approach to partnership working that has driven a rapid rise in the number of visually impaired people accessing the telephone befriending service. which was only launched in 2018.

The popularity of Sightline's telephone befriending service shows no sign of slowing down with a new record of new referals during 2023 at 157 (2022-106) from various sources including national and local sight loss charities, local authorities and healthcare professionals. During 2023 Sightline had an average of 101 matches per month (2022-70), the first time this figure has exceeded one hundred, which highlights the continued amazing progress Sightline has made during the financial year.

Sightline Vision (North West) Limited has increased its networking opportunities through a variety of media (eg website, social media, newsletters and peer support groups). Now that things have returned to normal after the pandemic face to face activities have also resumed with Sightline staff attending many of events and exhibitions

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Sightline Vision (North West) Limited

Trustees’ Annual Report For the year ended 31st December 2023.

Our Volunteers.

The delivery of our befriending service is reliant on our amazing team of volunteers, many of whom are themselves visually impaired. At the end of our current financial year, we have 70. Volunteers (2022-45). Many of our Volunteers now support more than one Service User. All Volunteers are in regular contact with the Services Manager, to provide feedback, discuss issues and ensure that the befriending matches provide the best possible support to the Service Users.

All new Volunteers receive a comprehensive Induction, Training and Support Guide together with online training in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion , Safeguarding and Communication Skills.

Like most charities and as evidenced by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) Sightline has been unable to recruit new Volunteers at the rate required, and it is worthy therefore to note that at the end of 2023 Sightline only had 11 Service Users on its waiting list which has reduced to just 4 by the end of the first week in January.

Financial Review.

Principal funding sources including grants have supported the key objectives of the Charity, running costs and services. Overall resources available have decreased by £16,575. ( 2022 increased by £7,683)

Reserves policy and going concern.

The trustees aspire to having free reserves at a level that would cover three months normal running costs. Free reserves as at the 31st December 2023 are £ 22,658 2022 (£30.080 ).

Taxation

The charity has no libility to tax as all its income is used for charitable purposes.

Plans for future periods

In December 2023 Sightline Vision (North West) Limited secured a grant of £314,685 from the National Lottery Reaching Communities Programme which will cover 65% of our proposed total expenditure during the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2029, for which it is extremely grateful. Sightline will seek to supplement this grant with grants from other funders who support the vision of the charity to ensure the continuation of the much needed befriending service for many years to come.

The Business Development Plan approved in 2020 which was fully implemented during 2022, continues to support the charity's increased activities. The Charity Director has implemented new monitoring and evaluation systems, consequently the Trustees receive very comprehensive management reports at their quarterly trustee meetings.

Sightline Vision (North West) Limited has continued to network with other organisations working across the UK sight loss sector to raise awareness of and promote our telephone befriending service which supports visually impaired people through emotional support and signposting. In addition, the visually impaired people accessing the service reported improvements in their mental health, overall well being as well as reduced levels of isolation and loneliness.

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Sightline Vision (North West) Limited

Trustees’ Annual Report.

For the year ended 31st December 2023.

Sightline Vision (North West) Limited has developed a variety of monitoring and evaluation processes to ensure that our Service Users receive the best possible service and so that accurate data can be provided to existing and potential new funders.

Risk Management.

The main risks to which the charity is exposed as identified by the trustees have been considered and systems have been established to mitigate those risks.

Structure, Governance and Management.

Directors and Trustees.

The directors of the charitable company (the charity) are its trustees for the purpose of charity law. The trustees and officers serving during the year are shown on page 1.

Appointment of Trustees.

One third of trustees must retire at each Annual General Meeting in accordance with the Articles of Association.

Trustees’ induction and training.

New trustees are briefed on their legal obligations under Charity and Company Law, the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit, and are informed of the content of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Committee and decision making process, the business plan and recent financial performance ofthe charity. Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate training events where these will faciltate the undertaking of their role.

Organisation.

The Board of Trustees which consists of at least three and not more than twelve individuals administers the charity. The board meet at least four times a year. The Charity Director is appointed by the trustees to manage the day-to-day operations of the charity.

Key management personnel.

The day-to-day management of the charity is delegated to the Charity Director who in turn leads a staff team with specific areas of responsibility.

Related parties and co-operation with other organisations.

None of the Trustees receive remuneration or other benefits from their work with the charity. Related party transactions in the current year are shown in note 12.

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Sightline Vision (North West) Limited

Trustees’ Annual Report.

For the year ended 31st December 2023.

Related parties (continued)

The charity has a close relationship with Galloway's Society for the Blind, a charity which shares our passion for supporting persons who are blind or visually impaired.

Sightline Vision (North West) Limited has trustees in common with Galloway's Society for the Blind, with two trustees also being trustees of Galloways.(Charity Number 526088) The trustees do not consider this charity to be under common control since there are additional trustees on both the Board of Galloway's Society for the Blind and Sightline Vision (North West) Limited.

Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the Financial Statements.

The charity trustees (who are also directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing a Trustees Report and Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law.

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under the law the directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. (GAAP). Under company law the directors 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 company and the profit or loss of the company for that period.

In preparing these financial statements the directors are required to:

The directors are responsible for keeping accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for for safeguarding the assets of the company and for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Small company exemptions

The report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies' regime with part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

This report was approved by the Board on the 87 th Ag 4492024, and signed on their behalf.

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Sightline Vision (North West) Limited

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees.

For the year ended 31st December 2023.

| report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31st December 2023 which are set out on pages 7 to 14

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The trustees ( who are also directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to an audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibilty to:

Basis of Independent Examiners's Report.

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. __ It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence thatwould be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a "true and fair view" and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement.

Independent examiner's statement.

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

  1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

  2. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the CompaniesAct 2006 and

  3. ¥ to prepare accounts which accord with theaccounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice Accounting and Reporting by Charities.

  4. have not been met; or

  5. 2 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

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Neil Latham FCA
Harrison Latham & Company
97 Tulketh Street
Southport.
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Sightline Vision (North West) Limited

Statement of Financial Activities.

(including Income and Expenditure Account)

For the year ended 31st December 2023

Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Note. Funds Funds 2023 2022
Income. £ £ £ £
Grants 3a. 2,000 63,117 65,117 89,008
Investment Income 3c. 194 194 5
Other Income-Donations 3d. 1,079 1,079 431
Total Income 63,117 66,390
Expenditure
Charitable Activities 4 11,149 71,816 82,965 81,761
Total Expenditure 11,149 71,816 82,965 81,761
Net (expenditure) / income -7,876 -8,699 -16,575 7,683
Transferbetween funds 0) 0 0 0
Net movement in Funds 8,699 “16,575 7,683
Reconciliation of Funds.
Total Funds broughtforward 31,899 26,617 58,516 50,833
TotalFundscarriedforward. 24,023 17,918 41,941 58,516

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year and complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 9 to 14 form part of these financial statements.

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Sightline Vision (North West) Limited

Balance Sheet

As At 31st December 2023.

2023 2023 2022 2022
Note. £ £ £ £
Fixed Assets.
Tangible Assets 6 1,365 1,819
Current Assets
Debtors 7 852 725
Cash at Bankand in hand 41,530 57,766
Total Current Assets. 42,382 58,491
Creditors
Amounts falling due within one year 8 1,805 1,794
Net Current Assets 40,577 56,697
NetAssets 41,942 58,516
Charity Funds.
Unrestricted income funds 9 17,919 31,899
Restricted income funds. 10 24,023 26,617
TotalCharityFunds 41,942 58,516

For the financial year in question the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

No members have required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006

The Directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with

respect to accounting records and for the preparation of the accounts. > The accounts were approved by the Board of Directors on the js t% B4udeq2024 and signed on their behalf.

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P.A. Howard. Director/ Trustee.
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The notes on pages 9 to 14 form part of these accounts

Company Registration Number 04620457

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Sightline Vision (North West) Limited.

Notes to the Accounts.

For the year ended 31st December 2023.

1 Accounting Policies.

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities in preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) effective 1st January 2015, the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006

The financial statements are prepared on a ongoing basis under the historical cost convention.

Fund Structure

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided, at their discretion, to set aside to use fora specific purpose.

Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be used solely for particular areas of the trust's work or for specific projects being undertaked by the charity.

Income Recognition

Income is recognised when the charity becomes legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

Donated facilities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified and a thid party is bearing the cost. No amounts are included in the financial statements for services donated by volunteers.

Income from donations and grants, including capital grants, are included in incoming resources when these are receivable, except as follows:

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Sightline Vision (North West) Limited

Notes to the Accounts.

For the year ended 31st December 2023

Income recognition continued

Interest Receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity, this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

Expenditure Recognition

All expenditure is accounted for on an accrual basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.

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 can be measured reliably.

The charity is not registered for VAT, consequently the input VAT incurred is charged as an expense against the expenditure to which it relates.

Support Costs.

Support costs are those that assist the work of the charity but do not directly represent charitable activities and include office costs, governance costs and administrative payroll costs. They are incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity.

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Sightline Vision (North West) Limited

Notes to the Accounts.

For the year ended 31st December 2023.

Governance Costs.

Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice.

Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or deemed cost where the option in FRS 102 to use a fair value of an asset at transition as deemed cost has been taken, less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses.

All assets costing more than £1,000 and having a useful economic life of more than four years are capitalised and included at cost which included costs directly attributable to making the asset capable of operating as intended.

Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset on a systematic basis over its expected useful life.

Motor Car. 25% on written down value. Fixtures and Fittings 25% on written down value. Computer Equipment 25% on written down value.

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Staff Costs and remuneration of key management personnel

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||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |2023|2022| |£|£| |Gross|Salaries.|38,389|31,942| |Social|Security|Costs.|0|0| |Total|38,389|31,942| |The|average|number|of employees|during the|year.|

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The charity considers its key management personnel comprises the trustees and the manager.

No remuneration is paid and no expenses reimbursed to the Board of Trustees during the year.

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Sightline Vision (North West) Limited.

Notes to the Accounts.

Fortheyearended 31st December 2023.
2023 2023 2023 2022
Incomeand Expenditure Account. Unrestricted Restricted
Fund Fund Total Total
3 £ £ £ £
Income
a Grants 2,000 63,117 65,117 89,008
2,000 63,117 65,117 89,008
c Investment income: bank interest 194 194 5
d Other income Donations 1,079 1,079 431
2023 Total Income 3,273 63,117 66,390
2022 Total Income. 89,444
2023 2023 2023 2022
4 ExpenditureCharitable Activities Unrestricted Restricted
Fund Fund Total Total
£ £ £ £
Salaries,
NICand pension costs.		 600 37,789 38,389 31,942
Sessional Workers 8,280 11,040 19,320 20,190
Accomodation: Rent and Services 0 4,602 4,602 5,780
Communications and Marketing 185 4,568 4,753 3,297
Training 0 1,378 1,378 814
Motor - travel expenses 50 615 665 2,138
Company Insurance 0 1,227 1,227 1,210
Befriending contract and call costs. 0 8,006 8,006 6,164
Othertelephone costs. 0 779 779 975
Governance costs i¢) 1,122 1,122 976
Consultancy fees 0 0 0 4,365
General running expenses 1,579 690 2,269 3,303
Depreciation 455 0 455 607
Total Charitable Expenditure 2023 11,149 71,816 82,965 81,761
TotalCharitableExpenditure2022 5,930 75,831 81,761

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Sightline Vision (North West) Limited

Notes to the Accounts

For the year ended 31st December 2023.

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||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |5|Governance|costs|2023|2022| |£|£| |Consultancy|fees|0|4,365| |Filing|fees|13|13| |Independent|examination|1,109|963| |1,122|5,341| |6|Tangible|Fixed|Assests.|Grant|Funded|Non|grant| |New|Fixtures|&| |Equipment|Motor|Car|Equipment|Total| |£|£|£|£| |Cost / Valuation| |At|1st January|2023|535|10,260|0|10,795| |At 31st December 2023|10,260]|[_—Ooj|10,795| |Depreciation| |At|1st January|2023|432|8,544|0|8,976| |Charge|for|the|year|26|429|0|455| |At 31st December 2023|8,973]|[_oj| |Net|Book|Value| |At 31st December|2023||77||287]||iss|364| |At 31st December 2022|1716]|_Oj[|1,819|

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All assets are held for the charity's own charitable purposes.

The net book value of assets purchased with funding received from the Lottery Funding at the 31st December 2023 is £1,364 (2022 £1,819)

7 Debtors: amounts falling due within one year

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||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |2023|2022| |£|£| |Other|Debtors|0|0| |Prepayments|and|Accrued|Income.|852|725| |8|Creditors:|amounts|falling due|within|one year| |2023|2022| |£|£| |Accruals|and|deferred|income.|1,805|1,794|

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Sightline Vision (North West) Limited

Notes to the Accounts

For the year ended 31st December 2023

9 Unrestricted income funds including designated grant funded assets

1stJanuary 31st December
2023 2023
Balance Balance
brought carried
forward Income Expenditure Transfers forward
£ £ £ £ £
General Income Fund. 31,899 3,273 11,149] [9 24,023
10 Restricted Funds 1stJanuary 31st December
2023 2023
Balance Balance
brought Carried
forward Income Expenditure Transfers forward
£ £ £ £ £
Lottery Reaching Communities Fund
Revenue Costs 26,617 63,117 71,816 0 17,918
Total Funds 26,617 63,117 71816] [0 17,918
11 Analysis of net assets between funds
Unrestricted Restricted
&Designated Fund Total Total
Funds 2023 2022
£ £ £ £
Tangible fixed Assets 1,365 0 1,365 1,819
Net Current Assets 22,658 17,918 40,576 56,697
2023 Total 24,023 17,918 41,941 58,516
2022Total. 31,899 26,617 58,516

12 Related party transactions.

There were no transactions with any trustees during the year and no expenses were paid to or on behalf of the trustees (2022 Nil)

Galloway's Society for the Blind is an associated charity and recharged the charity in respect of the following costs.

2023 2022
£ £
Office Rent. 4,602 5,780

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