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← Essex Blind Charity

2024-04-30-accounts

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER 05098747 REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1103732

ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

(A company limited by guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

30 APRIL 2024

|UII|| A06 19/12/2024 #259 COMPANIES HOUSE

ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

CONTENTS

Pages Pages
Officers and Advisers 1
Report of the Trustees 2- 9
Independent Examiner's Report 10
-		 11
Statement of Financial Activities
(including Income and Expenditure Account) 12
Balance Sheet 13
NotestotheFinancialStatements 14-28

ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

OFFICERS AND PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS

Trustees S M Mann JP (Chairman — resigned Jan 2024)
T Crawshaw
R Jackson ACCA, CTA
A Mabert (resigned Jun 2023)
R Marshall FRICS, FAAV (resigned Jun 2023)
S D Porter
D Smith
N Meixner (appointed as Chairman Jan 2024)
AC Williams (appointed Feb 2024)
V J Watling (appointed May 2024)
J Fernley (appointed Oct 2024)
*retired members ofthe professional bodies concerned
Company Secretary J Dixon
Registered Office 1st Floor
146 High Street,
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1PW
Registered Company Number 05098747
Registered Charity Number 1103732
Bankers Handelsbanken
The Octagon
27 Middleborough
Colchester
CO11TG

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ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

The trustees (who are also directors for the purpose of company law) submit their annual report and the independently examined financial statements of Essex Blind Charity (the charity) for the year ended 30 April 2024. This report also represents the Directors’ Report required by S417 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees confirm that the annual report and financial statements of the charity have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the charity's governing document and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), Charities SORP (FRS102) and the Charities Act 2011.

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Legal and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report.

Structure, Governance and Management

Constitution

The charity is controlled by a Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 29 October 2003 and operates as a Charitable Company limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

Structure, Management and Trustee Appointment

The charity is managed by a Board of Directors, which consists of not less than three members. At the year-end there were six Directors, one being visually impaired. Nominations to be a Director are considered and approved by the whole Board. Directors set operating plans and budgets and meet 10 times a year to review the performance and strategy of the charity. All major decisions are made at Board level and must be passed with a majority vote of the Directors present. In order to make a decision, one third of the Board has to be present. Minor day to day decisions are made by the Director of Operations, with authorisation from the Board. The majority of board meetings are held remotely by ‘Zoom’.

Induction and training of new Trustees

The policy and procedures adopted for the induction and training of Directors includes visits to the charities premises, introduction to staff and day to day operation, an introduction to the other Directors, including details of their particular areas of expertise, and details of the objectives of the charity, including information on current projects and plans for future development.

Remuneration Policy

The charity does not have any fixed criteria for setting pay and remuneration of key management or any other personnel. Pay rates are reviewed generally on an annual basis by the Board of Directors and awards depend on the current financial status of the organisation and any Government directives.

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ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

Risk Management

The Directors have conducted a review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed. Where appropriate, systems or procedures have been established to mitigate the risk the charity faces. Internal control risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for authorisation of all transactions and projects. Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety of staff, volunteers and visually impaired people (VIP) we work with. These risks and procedures are reviewed periodically to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the charity.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The charity's objectives, as set out in its governing documents, are to meet the needs of visually impaired people and their carers and families throughout Essex and are undertaken to further the charity's charitable purposes for the public benefit. To this end Essex Blind Charity:

The charity's community work operates under the name of ‘Essex Sight’.

aS

ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

Public Benefit

In accordance with their duties in the Charity’s Act 2006, it is incumbent on the Directors to conduct a Public Benefit Test, to assess whether the charity has complied with its duties in due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.

The Directors are satisfied that Essex Blind Charity has complied with its duty in regard to the Public Benefit Test over the past year, based on the four principles in the Commission’s Guidance.

Essex Blind Charity’s purposes are to provide support and relief to any member of the public who has concerns about sight loss, blindness or partial vision. Its services benefit a large number of the general public in Essex.

All the charity's services are open to members of the public at large and access to the charity's services are not restrictive.

The Board of Directors recognises that many visually impaired people are on low incomes, as people with impaired vision are more likely to be unemployed in comparison to fully sighted people. In addition, many do not avail themselves of their benefit entitlements. Essex Blind Charity does not make a charge for its services of support and advice and offers its services to the public at large free of charge.

The Directors do not consider that any individual or organisation receives a ‘private benefit’ from the work of Essex Blind Charity.

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ESSEX BLIND CHARITY REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

SERVICE DELIVERY — ESSEX SIGHT PERFORMANCE AND ACHIEVEMENTS

The Essex Sight team comprises three full time and four part time staff covering the eastern half of Essex stretching from the border with Suffolk to the M25. In the year ending 30 April 2024 we have supported 2,430 VIP and had 8,034 contacts.

This is achieved through the following:-

Sight Centres

Our permanent and pop-up sight centres provide a vital role in allowing VIP to meet face to face with staff and volunteers to learn more about their eye condition, have assistance with difficult tasks, such as form filling or finding out about equipment that can help them in their daily lives.

During the year, Colchester Sight Centre moved to a busier weekly pop-up location in the library, where we also installed a donated video magnifier to allow anyone to use during library open hours. The Malcolm and Beryl Crook Foundation project with BASIS continued to support people through our pop up in Brentwood Community Hospital, whilst BASIS delivered home support.

Community Hospital Eye Clinic Support

Our Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO) has continued to support newly diagnosed patients through the Eye Clinic Liaison service in Colchester Eye Clinic (East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust) and Broomfield Hospital (Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust).

The service, which is entirely funded by the charity, provides newly diagnosed VIP people and their relatives/carers the opportunity to discuss their situation with an RNIB trained ECLO and receive support and advice to help them understand their condition and learn to live with it, as well as carrying out home visits to assess their living needs

In November 2023, MSE Trust in conjunction with the RNIB decided to fund a full time ECLO role and our eye clinic support ended in January. Whilst disappointing, we still support MSE patients through home visits as the new ECLO role is purely hospital based, so patients are referred onto us for community support.

Home Visiting

Home Visiting is an important and regular part of the charity's service, providing support to people unable to get out to pop-up sight centres. With our fully equipped Mobile Sight Centre, we can demonstrate equipment, provide information, advice, and guidance to people in the comfort of their own home.

Exhibitions

The charity holds two well attended Annual exhibitions in mid and north Essex to allow people to find out about our services, those offered by other community providers and try the latest equipment available from specialist suppliers. There is no substitute for face-to-face information and support and being able to have equipment demonstrated and trying it out.

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ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

Volunteers

The charity relies on dedicated volunteers to provide support to VIP. Many of our volunteers have a Visual Impairment themselves and can share valuable lived experience. The volunteer role is vital in helping VIP to live the best life they can, supporting our social events and sight centres.

As these works have no quantifiable value this is not recognised in the financial statements

Partnership Working

In November, Essex Sight along with the other sight loss and hearing loss charities in Essex were awarded the Sensory Contract by Essex County Council to provide Information, Advice and Guidance and non-specialist assessments for a period of three years. ECC designed this new pathway to increase capacity to meet a growing demand, reduce unnecessary delays and offset a growing crisis in sensory rehabilitation.

Essex Vision, which is the strategic partnership group of sight loss organisations in Essex, became a legal partnership to strengthen its ongoing work to provide a collective voice for blind and visually impaired people across the county

The charity is a member of Visionary, the collective body of sight loss organisations nationally, attending regional and national meetings to keep up to date and share knowledge.

The charity also works with local government and other organisations to ensure the needs of VIP are taken into consideration and has, where possible, influenced the design of new pedestrian and cycle routes to ensure the safety of VIP is not compromised.

Website

Details about Essex Blind Charity's services can be found on the website at www.essexsight.org.uk. The website is accessible to visually impaired people and is very informative. The charity also uses Facebook to provide regular information and contact via social media

Helpline

The charity maintains a phone line for anybody who needs information, advice, or emotional support to call and has remaineda lifeline for many who are unable to use internet-based services

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ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

Financial Review

Reserves policy

Unrestricted funds are needed:

The Directors consider adequate funding exists presently to meet these requirements. They regularly review and monitor the situation.

Funds

The activities during the year resulted in a deficit of unrestricted funds of £27,085 (2023: Surplus of £504,933) for the year.

There was a decrease in restricted fund balances at the year end as the mobile sight centre restricted funds were spent on the van and a new laptop. The deficit on restricted funds for the year was £4,147 (2023: £12,572). There were no restricted funds at the year-end (2023: £4,147).

Overall, there was a deficit in total funds of £31,232 (2023: £492,361 surplus).

Investment Policy and Objectives

Epworth Investment Management Limited was appointed to manage the charity’s investment fund. Their brief is to reinvest the income and to provide an investment report each quarter giving returns in real terms and against chosen benchmarks. To date, Epworth’s have more than met our expectations. Epworth are ethical investors and do not invest in munitions, tobacco, oil companies or those with links to modern slavery.

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ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees (who are also the Directors of Essex Blind Charity for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the trustees must prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the trustees 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 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 are sufficient to show and explain the Charitable Company's transactions and 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 company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

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ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION

With a reduction in income, the charity has now appointed Scrutton Bland Limited to cary out the independent examination, and RYPRO Accountants Lid to prepare for the independent examination.

ACCOUNTING EXEMPTIONS

in preparing inis repori the wusiees have taken adveniage of smali companies exempiions provided by sectton 415A of the Companies Act 2006.

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Signed for and on behalf of the Trustees
, O76 ee
N W Meixner R Jackson ACCA, CTA
Trustee Trustee
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Approved by the Trustees on St" Dcember 202+

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

| report to the trustees (who are also Directors for the purpose of company law) on my examination of the financial statements of Essex Blind Charity (‘the charitable company’) for the year ended 30 April 2024 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and related notes.

This report is made solely to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. My work has been undertaken so that | might state to the charity's trustees those matters | am required to state to them in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, | do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's trustees as a body, for my work, for this report, or for the opinions | have formed.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of charitable company you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’). Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charitable company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Act and are eligible for independent examination, | report in respect of my examination of the charitable company’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’) and in carrying out my examination | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

An independent examination does not involve gathering all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently does not cover all the matters that an auditor considers in giving their opinion on the financial statements. The planning and conduct of an audit goes beyond the limited assurance that an independent examination can provide. Consequently, | express no opinion as to whether the financial statements present a ‘true and fair’ view and my report is limited to those specific matters set out in the independent examiner's statement.

Independent examiner's statement

| have completed my examination. | 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:

AG

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

| 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 financial statements to be reached.

Ty bo! Tim O'Connor ACA FCCA DChA Scrutton Bland Limited 820 The Crescent Colchester Business Park Colchester Essex CO4 9YQ Date: 7 fiefou

-11-

ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

Total Total
Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds
Notes Funds Funds 2024 2023
£ z £ e
Income from:
Donations and legacies 3 22,080 63,697 85,777 55,596
Charitable activities 4 696 - 696 1,557,329
Other trading activities 5 1,648 - 1,648 3,432
Investments 6 132,524 - 132,524 16,837
Total income 156,948 63,697 220,645 1,633,194
Expenditure on:
Raising funds 7 4,562 - 4,562 15,995
Charitable activities 8 186,797 67,844 254,641 1,103,340
Total expenditure 191,359 67,844 259,203 1,119,335
Net income/(expenditure) (34,411) (4,147) (38,558) 513.859
Realised and unrealised
(losses)/gains on investments 7,326 . 7,326 (21,498)
Transfers between funds - - - -
Netmovement in funds (27,085) (4,147) (31,232) 492 361
Total funds brought forward
at
1 May 2023		 17 2,832,904 4,147 2,837,051 2,344,690
Total funds carried forward
at30April2024 17 £2,805,819 - £2,805,819£2,837,051

All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities

The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year

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ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 APRIL 2024

Total Total
Funds Funds
Notes 2024 2023
£ a
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 12 15,154 15,242
Investments 13 372,826 357,798
387,980 373,040
Current assets
Stocks 14 3,797 5,374
Debtors — due within one year 15 10,792 7,303
Cash and cash equivalents 2,411,184 2,474,678
2,425,773 2,487,355
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year 16 (7,934) (23,344)
Net current assets 2,417,839 2,464,011
Net assets £ 2,805,819 £ 2,837,051
Income funds
Restricted funds ah - 4,147
Unrestricted funds 17 2,805,819 2,832,904
£2,805,819 £2,837,051

The directors consider that the charitable company is entitled to exemption from the requirement to have an audit under the provisions of section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 ("the Act") and members have not required the company to obtain an audit for the period in question in accordance with section 476 of the Act.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies’ regime. In the directors’ opinion the Charitable Company is entitled to these exemptions as a small company.

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Approved by t rd of Trustees on ©‘" Decwnwe and signed on its behalf by
2014
N W Meixner — Trustee as
Company registration number 05098747
Charity registration number 1103732
----- End of picture text -----

5 43%

ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

1 GENERAL INFORMATION

Essex Blind Charity is a Charitable Company limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales, registered company number 05098747 and registered charity number 1103732. The address of the registered office is ist Floor 146 High Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1PW.

Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), Charities SORP (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

The financial statements are prepared in pounds sterling and rounded to the nearest £1.

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Charitable Company's ability to continue as a going concern.

The following principal accounting policies have been applied:

Statement of Cash Flow

The Charity qualifies as a small charity as defined in the Charities SORP (FRS 102) Bulletin 1 and as such is exempt from preparing a Statement of Cash Flows.

Income

All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Legacy gifts are recognised following the granting of probate when the administrator/executor for the estate has communicated in writing both the amount and settlement date.

Grants are accounted for when the charity has sufficient entitlement to them.

Expenditure

All expenditure included in the Statement of Financial Activities are accounted for on an accruals basis.

Expenditure on raising funds includes the expenditure associated with the sale of visual aids Expenditure on charitable activities includes minor expenditure associated with the sale of the Residential Home

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

2 ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (continued)

Fixed assets

Fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected lives on the following basis:

Fixtures and fittings - 20% reducing balance Motor vehicles - 25% reducing balance

Contrary to the accounting requirement of the Companies Act 2006, depreciation is not provided in respect of the charity's freehold buildings. The trustees are of the opinion that this is necessary to give a true and fair view of the financial position of the charity. The ongoing maintenance work undertaken keeps properties in a continual state of repair and accordingly the trustees’ opinion is that the life of the property is so long and residual values so high that their depreciation is insignificant.

Leasing commitments

Rentals under operating leases are charged through the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the lease term.

Investments

Investments are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their market value as at the balance sheet date using the closing quoted market price Investment gains and losses, whether realised or unrealised, are combined and shown in the heading ‘Realised and unrealised investment gains/(losses) on investments’ in the Statement of Financial Activities.

Stock

Stock is valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value after making due allowance for obsolete and slow moving items. The charity holds display stock for visual aids, these items are being written down over a 5 year period.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash equivalents are recognised as such and included with other cash balances where they represent short term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash without being subject to a significant change in value.

Pension costs

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme for employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity. Contributions payable to the scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate

345 &

ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

2 ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (continued)

Financial instruments

Financial instruments are classified and accounted for, according to the substance of the contractual arrangement, as either financial assets or financial liabilities.

Short term debtors (financial assets) are measured at transaction price. Short term creditors (financial liabilities) are measured at transaction price.

The charitable company only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. :

Taxation

Essex Blind Charity is a charity within the meaning of the Charities Act 2011 and as such is a charity within the meaning of Part 11, Corporation Tax Act 2010. Accordingly Essex Blind charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Part 11, Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to its charitable purposes.

Funds

Unrestricted general funds are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the Trustees. Restricted funds are funds that can only be used in accordance with specific conditions specified by the donor. Further details are provided in note 17.

Significant judgements and estimates

The more significant judgements and estimates involved in the preparation of the financial statements include assessing the depreciation rates applicable to tangible fixed assets and the way in which certain costs should be apportioned. Further details regarding these points are included within the accounting policies.

16's

ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

3. INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

Total
Unrestricted Restricted Funds
Funds Funds 2024
£ £ £
Donations 6,765 - 6,765
Legacies 6,875 - 6,875
Grants received 8,440 63,697 72,137
£ 22,080 £ 63,697 £85,777
Total
Unrestricted Restricted Funds
Funds Funds 2023
£ £ £
Donations 3,254 _
-		 3,254
Legacies 5,000 - 5,000
Grants received 21,342 26,000 47 342
Government grant received SSS OSS SS
£ 29,596 £ 26,000 £ 55,596
i Total
Unrestricted Restricted Funds
Funds Funds 2024
£ £ £
Grants received were as follows:
Essex Cares Limited 8,440 - 8,440
ECC Sensory Contract - 52,316 52,316
Brentwood Community Hosp. Project - 11,381 11,381
£8,440 £63,697 £72,137

=—1v=

ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

3 INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES- continued

Total
Unrestricted Restricted Funds
Funds Funds 2023
a 2 ¥
Grants received were as follows:
Essex Cares Limited 12,412 - 12,412
Essex Community Foundation - 21,000 21,000
SOS Blind 4,000 - 4,000
Infection Control (Read House) - 5,000 5,000
Essex covid grant 4,930 - 4,930
£21,342 £26,000 £47,342

All grants support the key objective of enabling people with sight loss to remain independent and safe.

Total
Unrestricted Funds
Funds 2024
£ £
7
Other activities 696 696
£696 £696
Total
Unrestricted Funds
Funds 2023
£ £
Residential home 1,555,432 1,555,432
Day centre 988 988
Other activities 909 909
£1,557,329£ 1,557,329

ots.

ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

5 INCOME FROM OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES

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||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |Total| |Unrestricted|Restricted|Funds| |Funds|Funds|2024| |£|5|£| |Visual|aids|999|-|999| |Others|649|-|649| |£1,648|-|£1,648| |Total| |Unrestricted|Restricted|Funds| |Funds|Funds|2023| |£|£|£| |Visual|aids|1,324|_|-|1,324| |Others|2,108|-|2,108| |£3,432|-|£3,432| |INCOME|FROM|INVESTMENTS| |2024|2023| |£|£| |Interest|receivable|122,483|5,559| |Dividends|receivable|10,041|11,278| |£132,524|£|16,837|

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6 INCOME FROM INVESTMENTS

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|||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |7|EXPENDITURE|ON|RAISING|FUNDS| |2024|2023| |£|£| |Visual|aids|—|net|of|stock|adjustment|2,041|15,523| |Investment|management|costs|2,521|472| |£|4,562|£|15,995|

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2402

ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

8 EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

2024 2023
£ £
Charitable activities 250,501 1,086,180
Governance costs (note 9) 4,140 17,160
£254,641 £1,103,340

9 GOVERNANCE COSTS

2024 2023
: £
Subscriptions and registration fees - 6,390
Auditors’ remuneration : 5,765
Remuneration for non-audit work 4,140 5,005
£ 4,140 £17,160
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
2024 2023
£ £
This is stated after charging:
Auditors’ remuneration - 5,765
Remuneration for non-audit work 4,140 -
Depreciation — owned assets 3,530 9,176
(Profit)/Lossondisposaloffixedassets - (428,778)

10 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

90 -

ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

11 STAFF COSTS

2024 2023
£ £
Wages and salaries 147,503 1,051,436
National insurance contributions 7,173 74,067
Pension costs 3,357 17,735
Pension administration - 3,360
£158,033£1,146,598

The average number of employees during the year was as follows:

2024 2023
Management
Administration		 2
1		 Z
fe)
Community Services personnel 4 5
Care home staff - 48
58

No employee received emoluments in excess of £60,000 in the year (2023: None). Pension costs are wholly charged to unrestricted funds.

There were no Trustees’ remuneration, expenses or other benefits for professional or other services supplied to the charity for the year ended 30 April 2024, nor for the year ended 30 April 2023.

The aggregate remuneration of key management personnel was £49,043 (2023: £40,564).

Indemnity insurance is maintained covering the Board of Trustees in their capacity as trustees.

a2} '-

ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

12 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Fixtures Motor
and fittings Vehicles Total
£ £ £
Cost
At 1 May 2023 17,410 21,981 39,391
Additions
Disposals		 3,442
-		 -
-		 3,442
-
At 30 April 2024 20,852 21,984 42,833
Depreciation
At 1 May 2023 9,124 15,025 24,149
Charge for the year 1,791 1,739 3,530
Disposals - - -
At 30 April 2024 10,915 16,764 27,679
Net book value
At 30 April 2024 £9,937 £5,217 £15,154
At30April2023 £8,286 £6956 £15,242

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ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

13 FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS

2024 2023
£ £
Movement in fixed asset investments
Market value brought forward at 1 May2023 357,798 368,170
Additionstoinvestmentatcost 279,550 124363
Disposals (245,872) (134,276)
Gain/(loss) on revaluation 7,326 (21,498)
Increase/(decrease) in cash held (25,976) 21,039
Market value carried forward at 30 April 2024 £372,826 £357,798
Investment portfolio atmarket value comprised
EP Global Equity Income Fund 195,634 40,523
EP UK Equity Income Fund 32,699 212,117
FP Foresight global real infrastructure 40,781 22,780
Rathbone Ethical bond 12,943 12,386
Royal London Short Term Money 9,380 5,016
Threadneedle UK Social bond 5,568 5,034
Vanguard UK Government bond 7,402 6,967
Vanguard US Government bond 11,089 24,683
L&G UK Property Feeder 7,534 -
Epworth Climate Stewardship Fund 32,649 -
Rathbone Greenbank Global Sustainable Bond Fund 14,830 _
-
Cash held by Investment Manager 2,317 28,292
£372,826 £357,798
14 STOCK
2024 2023
E £
Visual aids — resale stocks 3,797 5,374
£3,797 £5,374

ic We

ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

15 DEBTORS

2024 2023
£ £
Trade debtors 8,719 2,536
Prepayments and accrued income 2,073 4,767
£10,792 £7,303

16 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2024 2023
£ £
Trade creditors 1,567 6,934
Social security and other taxes 1,548 1,604
Other creditors 322 544
Accruals and deferred income 4,497 14,262
£7,934 £23,344

9A =

ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

17 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Expenditure Transfers
Balance at Incoming including between _—Balance at
1 May 2023 resources gains/(losses) funds 30April 2024
+: £ £ £ £
Unrestricted Funds
General fund 2,426,715 156,948 (191,359) : 2,392,304
Designated funds
Essex support 5 year
plan 300,000 - - 300,000
Essex support exit
strategy fund 25,000 - - - 25,000
Investment revaluation
reserve 81,189 . 7,326 - 88,515
2,832,904 156,948 (184,033) - 2,805,819
Restricted Funds
Mobile Sight Centre 4,147 - (4,147) - -
ECC Sensory Contract - 52,316 (52,316) - -
Brentwood Community - 11,381 (11,381) - -
Hosp. Project
4,147 63,697 (67,844) - -
£2,837,051 £220,645 £(251,877) - £2,805,819

The general fund represents the free funds of the charity which are not designated for a particular purpose.

-25-

ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

17 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Expenditure Transfers
Balance at Incoming including between Balance at
1 May 2022 resources gains/(losses) funds 30 April 2023
£ £ £ 2B £
Unrestricted Funds
General fund 45.494 1,607,194 (1,075,973) 1,850,000 2,426,715
Designated funds
Essex support 5 year
plan 300,000 - - 300,000
Read House 4,790 - (4,790) - -
Essex support exit
strategy fund 25,000 - _
-		 - 25,000
Investment revaluation
reserve 102,687 _
-		 (21,498) _
-		 81,189
Designated property
asset fund 1,850,000 . - (1,850,000) -
2,327,971 1,607,194 (1,102,261) - 2,832,904
Restricted Funds
Residents amenities at L
Read House 648 - (648) -
Mobile Sight Centre -
4,147 - . 4,147
Brentwood Community -
Hospital Project 3,312 - (3,312) -
Extended provision in _
-
Chelmsford 4.160 - (4,160) -
Stafffund 3,088 . (3,088) - -
Infection control grant 1,364 - (1,364) - -
ECF Capital grant - 21,000 (21,000) - -
Thomas Pocklington - 5,000 (5,000) - +S
Trust
16,719 26,000 (38,572) - 4,147
£2,344,690 £1,633,194 £(1,140,833) - £2,837,051

The general fund represents the free funds of the charity which are not designated for a particular purpose.

= 36s

ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

17 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS- continued

Essex support 5 year plan fund is to provide half the cost of the community services over a five year period, in order to attract matching grant funding for the balance.

Essex support exit strategy fund is a worst-case scenario and the cost of ceasing the community services altogether.

The Read House fund represents donations received in memory of residents of the House. These were set aside by the charity to be used for resident amenities.

The investment revaluation reserve represents cumulative realised and unrealised investment gains and losses on investments.

The designated property asset fund is represented by the fair value of the freehold property previously owned by the charity.

Residents amenities fund represented funds raised specifically for residents’ amenities (entertainment, outings, etc). The staff fund represented donations for the staff at Read House.

The Mobile Sight Centre project relates to funding received from Colchester Catalyst and the Saffron Building Society Fund, the vehicle was purchased by April 23 and the remaining capital works were carried out in the current financial year.

The Extended Provision in Chelmsford fund relates to a grant from The Yellow Car Charitable Fund for sight services.

The Brentwood Community Hospital project relates to a grant from The Malcolm and Bery! Cook Foundation and has been carried out jointly with the Blind and Visual Sight Impaired Society (BASIS).

The ECC sensory contract is for the purpose of supporting work for those with a sensory impairment who are having issues directly connected to covid.

The staff fund represents money received to be used directly for the benefit of individuals employed by the charity.

The infection control grant provided funding to improve infection control and therefore reduce the rate of Covid-19 transmission.

ECF capital grants was funding to replace the flooring in the Day Centre to provide a community resource, an interactive table to help people with cognitive problems, funding for staffing to activate the day centre and table at Read House and the purchase of charity Log database and hardware to accurately store visually impaired clients’ details and allow full remote access by staff.

The Thomas Pocklington Trust funding is to be used towards consultancy services.

50Fr

ESSEX BLIND CHARITY

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

18 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Tangible Net
fixed current 2024
assets Investments assets Total
£ E £ £
Restricted funds - - - -
Unrestricted funds 15,154 372,826 2,417,839 2,805,819
£15,154 £372,826 £2,417,839 £2,805,819
Tangible Net
fixed current 2023
assets Investments assets Total
£ £ £ £
Restricted funds - - 4,147 4,147
Unrestricted funds 15,242 357,798 2,459,864 2,832,904
£15,242 £357,798 £2,464,011 £2,837,051

19 CONTROLLING PARTY

The Charitable Company was under the control of the trustees during the year.

20 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

If any discussions are held in relation to transactions with related parties, it is the Charity's process that the associated Trustee will remove themselves from any discussions surrounding such transactions and the decisions reached on these. Allan Williams is a Partner of Fenn Wright and was appointed as a Trustee of Essex Blind Charity on 20 February 2024. During this period of being a Trustee, Essex Blind Charity acquired services from Fenn Wright amounting to £2,110.

No other related party transactions have been identified which need to be disclosed. (2023 : None).

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