Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
**Charity registration number 1107499**
**Company registration number 05206358 (England and Wales)**
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
**ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
## **Trustees**
**Trustees** L Elder-Atterton I Hickson L Rhodes **Charity number** 1107499 **Company number** 05206358 **Registered office** Floor 2 Gateshead Civic Centre Regent Street Gateshead Tyne and Wear NE8 1HH **Independent examiner** Simon Brown BA ACA DChA Azets Audit Services Bulman House Regent Centre Gosforth Newcastle Upon Tyne NE3 3LS **Bankers** CAF Bank Ltd PO Box 289 Kings Hill West Malling Kent United Kingdom ME18 4TA **Key management personnel** S French - Chief Executive L Watkins - Business Manager C McAllister - Operations Manager
Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **CONTENTS**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Chair of Trustees and Chief Executive Officers Statement|1|
|report|2 - 7|
|Independent examiner's report|8|
|Statement of financial activities|9 - 10|
|Statement of financial position|11|
|Statement of cash flows|12|
|Notes to the financial statements|13 - 25|
Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **CHAIR OF TRUSTEES AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS STATEMENT** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
The 2024/25 period has been a year of consolidation for the Charity; in the previous period, our Membership voted to extend our Charitable Objectives to include disabled people and those with long term health conditions. We secured National Resilience funding from Fight For Sight to support this work and launched our new name and brand in May 2024.
Our relocation to the Civic Centre in Gateshead is now well established and the low vision service continues to thrive in this location. The lease for 34 – 36 New Green Street completed in the summer of 2024 and we held a successful open day for beneficiaries, partners, and funders to celebrate. We were delighted to welcome the Mayor of South Tyneside and Deputy Lieutenant to the opening event in September 2024.
Throughout the year, we have continued to deliver the best possible services for our beneficiaries and have achieved excellent outcomes through our various projects. We were extremely grateful to receive grant funding from The Ballinger Charitable Trust, Screwfix Foundation, The National Lottery Community Fund, Sport England, Sunderland Stadium of Light Foundation, Community Foundation Tyne and Wear, and via New Philanthropy Capital. This included a significant amount of unrestricted grants which provided stability and an opportunity to develop new services.
Referrals for assessments under our local authority Care Act 2014 contracts have increased from the previous year with 548 support plans being completed (343 in 2023). The Team have consistently met Care Act 2014 targets with 99% of beneficiaries being contacted within 2 working days and 79% of referrals being assessed within two weeks. The number of referring organisations has continued to rise as we increase publicity and networks.
We have continued to work with our sight loss sector colleagues across the region and nationally. Through Visionary UK, we have contributed to national working groups for rehabilitation, low vision and cross-sector partnership developments. We attended the Visionary UK conference 2024 to meet colleagues and share best practice among the sector.
To support our future succession planning and governance, we have welcomed some interest in our Trustee roles. The Board and team have been inducting two interested individuals who will hopefully stand for election by our members in 2025.
In November 2024, in accordance with good governance and due diligence, Members of Sense Ability Matters passed a resolution for the Trustees to obtain quotes for the Independent Examination for the financial year ending 2025.To this end, Sense Ability Matters appointed Azets to undertake the independent examination 2025.
As we move into the next financial year, the Trustees will remain agile and responsive to meet the Charity’s objectives. This will be underpinned by our ambition to innovate and work collaboratively to achieve the best possible outcomes for our beneficiaries.
The Board has worked hard in 2024/25 to build upon the progress made in the previous five years to stabilise the Charity’s finances and build appropriate reserves for the future.
Signed by: [tie .............................. 02FECC8B76654B1 Edur—ltutow Lin Elder-Atterton MVO **Chair**
01 December 2025 Date: .........................
[ .............................. sar2407381308224CASigned by: Frode Sarah French **Chief Executive**
02 December 2025
**Date: .........................**
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Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
The Trustees who are also Directors of the Charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's [governing document], the Companies Act 2006 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).
## **Objectives and activities**
## **Our Vision**
Sense Ability Matters’ vision is for the region to have a disabled and sensory loss community that is **informed empowered** and **resilient** .
## **Our Mission**
1. **Empower** our community by giving them the tools they need to live independently and make positive decisions.
2. Help our community overcome adversity by increasing **resilience** and wellbeing.
3. Ensure our community are **informed** by providing first class information, advice and guidance.
4. **Influence** positive change locally, regionally and nationally for our community through strong stakeholder and relationship management.
## **Our Values**
## **Supportive**
We respond and adapt to the needs of our community. We respect and value all our community equally. We are committed to working together to achieve shared goals.
## **Trustworthy**
We are accountable. We are open and honest in our approach. We are reliable, act with integrity and do what it takes to support those in need.
## **Caring**
We are friendly and warm. We take time to listen and promote inclusivity. We treat everyone with dignity and respect.
## **Professional**
_We are passionate and strive to be the best. We actively seek new ideas and innovation to bring about positive change. We rely on evidence to make our decisions. We challenge ourselves to be bold and resourceful. We are determined in the face of adversity._
## **Our Strategic Objectives**
Be the **leading** service provider for sensory impaired and disabled people **Influence** change locally, regionally & nationally **Diversify** our income generation portfolio **Champion** the interests of members, beneficiaries and the sector
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Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **Activities for public benefit**
Sense Ability Matters strives to be the best for our community. We take time to listen and promote inclusivity, treating everyone with dignity and respect. We actively seek new ideas and innovation to bring about positive change, acting with integrity to do what it takes to support those in need.
Sense Ability Matters is an organisation run for charitable purposes. We want to be around today and into the future to support disabled people and those who are sight impaired, Deaf or hard of hearing. To achieve this, we recognise that there is a need to supplement our strategic aims with business aims that will deliver long term sustainability:
- Diversify our income sources to increase financial sustainability.
- Develop the profile of Sense Ability Matters, so that more people know about the services we provide, to increase the numbers of people accessing services and the number of people willing to donate and volunteer.
- Engage people with lived experience and with people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds so that we learn from the strengths they bring in their diversity.
We review our aims, objectives and activities each year. This report looks at what we achieved and the outcomes of our work during April 2024 to March 2025.
## **Achievements and performance**
## **Financial review**
Financial performance in 2024/25 continues to provide stability for the Chairty moving forwards. This is largely due to support through cost of living funds grants to support running costs.
Income in 2024/25 was £743,773 - representing a decrease of £8,369 to the previous year (£752,142 – 2023/24). This is chiefly because of one-off restricted funds ending in March 2024.
Our expenditure has increased by £18,309 on the previous year, reflecting our relocation costs from Stonehills to Gateshead Civic Centre and New Green Street. Expenditure in 2024/25 was £695,539.
## **Principal funding sources**
Our main core contracted income has remained stable and we have performed well against this income achieving all the required performance indicators.
Key income streams:
- Gateshead Council
- South Tyneside Council
- NHS North East North Cumbria Integrated Care Board
- The National Lottery Community Fund
- Fight For Sight/ Vision Foundation – National Resilience Fund
The receipt of this funding enables the charitable company to meet its charitable objectives to provide support advice and activities to people who are Sight Impaired, Severely Sight Impaired, Deaf, hard of hearing or Deaf/blind.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **Reserves policy**
The calculation of free reserves is based on the definition included in the charity statement of recommended practice (SORP), which provides recommendations for accounting and reporting for charities. The trustees have examined the requirements of the charity to hold free reserves - those reserves not invested in tangible fixed assets, excluding long term liabilities, or designated for a particular purpose. The Trustees have concluded that to allow the Charity to be managed efficiently and to provide a buffer for uninterrupted services, attempts should be made to increase free reserves.
It is the policy of the Charity that free reserves should be maintained at a level equivalent to between six and nine month's expenditure. The directors consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the Charity's current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised.
The Charity has several restricted funds for identified projects, which have specific budgets and timescales. In order to reach the agreed level of reserves the charitable company intends to continue to look for increased income from our own fundraising efforts, as well as obtaining additional grant funding to increase unrestricted income.
At 31 March 2025 the charitable company held total reserves of £488,263 (2024: £440,029) of which free reserves were £367,034 (2024: £267,231)
We will continue to review levels of expenditure.
## **Investment policy and objectives**
Under the memorandum and articles of association, the Charity has the power to make any investment which the Trustees see fit.
## **Risk management**
The Board of Trustees reviewed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed. A risk register is in place and is updated regularly and at least annually.
Where appropriate, systems and procedures have been established to mitigate the risks the Charity faces.
The Risk Management process itself is periodically reviewed to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the Charity.
Risks are minimised by the implementation of internal controls with procedures for authorisation of all transactions and projects.
Services continued to be externally evaluated and inspected by funders.
The excellent outcomes from these evaluations point to the excellent quality of delivery for all operational aspects of the Charity.
Significant external risks to funding have led to the development of the new Strategic Direction which allows for the diversification of funding.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **Plans for future periods**
The expansion of our Charitable Objectives will help us to realise our ambition to serve all adults in our South Tyneside and Gateshead community who have a sensory impairment, are disabled, or live with a long-term health condition.
Working with people with lived experience, our charity is determined to:
- leverage further investment to support disability services across South Tyneside and Gateshead, ensuring greater provision for more people,
- enable more people with lived experience to co-create services, improve health pathways and increase access to local services,
- reduce health inequalities and improve outcomes for people facing or living with a disability, are vision impaired, Deaf, hard of hearing, or who has one or more long-term health condition.
The coming year will focus on maintaining our current services: rehabilitation; holistic assessment; low vision service; digital empowerment; mental health & wellbeing; community and volunteer engagement. To support this we will focus our development on:
## **Employability and Transition Pathway**
Following a review of our data at the end of 2020, we found that only 2% of the people we work with are aged between 15 and 44, increasing to only 5.5% at the end of 2023. We recognise that this is not a proportionate reflection of the age profile of people with sight loss in South Tyneside and Gateshead.
During 2021 and 2022 we secured a short grant to support employability for people with sight loss which was successful in engaging younger people in our support. We have also worked closely with Children’s Services to improve the transition into adult services, this too has seen a small increase in 15 to 24-year-olds access our services.
We want to take this work further by engaging younger people, up to age 45, in our projects and support services. Working with young people, we will co-design a tailored programme to provide relevant support at a time when it is needed most.
## **Advocacy**
Working with partners and social care providers, the demand for specialist advocacy support for people with sight loss is increasing. As costs of living increase, we have experienced a significant rise in requests for non-statutory advocacy support. This includes help with employment issues; blue badge and concessionary pass applications; mandatory reconsiderations for benefit applications; housing issues including amendments to properties, alongside support with banding applications and providing relevant evidence of the impact of sight loss on individuals.
## **Structure, governance and management**
The Charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
L Elder-Atterton
I Hickson
L Rhodes
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Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **Recruitment and appointment of new Trustees**
The Charity may by ordinary resolution appoint a person who is willing to act as trustee and determine the rotation in which any additional Trustees are to retire. No person other than a trustee retiring by rotation may be appointed a trustee at any general meeting unless:
- He or she is recommended for re-election by the Trustees or
- Not less than fourteen nor more than thirty-five clear days before the date of the meeting, the Charity is given notice that:
- Is signed by two members entitled to vote at the meeting.
- States the members' intention to propose the appointment of a person as a trustee.
- Contains the details that, if the person were to be appointed, the Charity would have to file at Companies House, including the names and details of two referees who have not proposed their election; and
- Is signed by the person who is to be proposed to show his or her consent - full election to the Board will be at the end of a six month probationary period and will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
## **Organisational structure**
The Board of directors meet quarterly and administer the Charity. The Board of directors may delegate any of their powers to sub-committees consisting of such members of their body and/or Charity as they think fit.
Any sub-committee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any regulations imposed on it by the directors.
## **Induction and training of new Trustees**
New Trustees undergo an induction to brief them on:
- their legal obligations under charity and company law;
- the Charity Commission on public benefit;
- inform them of the content of the memorandum and articles of association;
- the committee and decision making processes;
- the business plan; and - recent financial performance of the charitable company.
During the induction they meet key employees and other Trustees.
Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role.
## **Key management remuneration**
The Trustees consider the Board of Trustees as comprising of the key management personnel of the charitable company in charge of directing, controlling and operating the charitable company. All Trustees give their time freely and no trustee remuneration was paid in the year.
## **Partnerships and Collaborations**
We continue to work in close co-operation with both Gateshead and South Tyneside Councils, and are actively involved in the Integrated Care System (ICS) and Primary Care Networks (PCN) under the North East North Cumbria (NENC) Integrated Care Board.
We have effective partnerships with Royal National Institute for the Blind, Newcastle Vision Support, RNID, Visionary and several voluntary sector organisations with whom we are working with in both Gateshead and South Tyneside, and our wider network both regionally and nationally.
During the year we have formed effective partnerships with local Charities ACTS, Age UK Gateshead, Your Voice Counts and Visionary members. This has led to emerging projects to support people with disabilities and learn from each other’s experiences and approaches.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **Statement of responsibilities**
The trustees, who are also the directors of Sense Ability Matters Ltd for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
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 charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity 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 charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Signed by: [tie .............................. 02FECC8B76654B1 Edur—ltutow L Elder-Atterton
## **Trustee**
01 December 2025 Date: .............................................
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Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Sense Ability Matters Ltd (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) 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 charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of ICAEW, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
- 1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
- 2 the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
- 3 the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or
- 4 the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
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 financial statements to be reached.
## **Simon Brown BA ACA DChA**
Azets Audit Services Bulman House Regent Centre Gosforth Newcastle Upon Tyne NE3 3LS
02 December 2025 Dated: .........................
- 8 -
Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
|**Current financial year**
**Unrestricted**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2025**
**2025**
**Notes**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Income from:**
Donations and legacies
**3**
88,568
-
156,496
Charitable activities
**4**
463,413
3,633
20,199
Investments
**5**
11,464
-
-
**Total income**
563,445
3,633
176,695
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
**6**
450,324
37,364
207,851
**Net incoming/(outgoing) resources**
**before transfers**
113,121
(33,731)
(31,156)
Gross transfers between funds
9,054
(8,352)
(702)
**Net income/(expenditure) for the year/**
**Net movement in funds**
122,175
(42,083)
(31,858)
Fund balances at 1 April 2024
280,897
73,023
86,109
**Fund balances at 31 March 2025**
403,072
30,940
54,251|**Total**
**2025**
**£**
245,064
487,245
11,464
743,773
695,539
48,234
-
48,234
440,029
488,263|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
222,195
519,636
10,311|
|---|---|---|
|||752,142|
|||677,230|
|||74,912
-|
|||74,912
365,117|
|||440,029|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED) INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
|**Prior financial year**
**Unrestricted**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**2024**
**2024**
**2024**
**Notes**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Income from:**
Donations and legacies
**3**
40,772
-
181,423
Charitable activities
**4**
499,250
-
20,386
Investments
**5**
10,311
-
-
**Total income**
550,333
-
201,809
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
**6**
483,384
17,650
176,196
**Net incoming/(outgoing) resources before transfers**
66,949
(17,650)
25,613
Gross transfers between funds
(20,673)
20,673
-
**Net income/(expenditure) for the year/**
**Net movement in funds**
46,276
3,023
25,613
Fund balances at 1 April 2023
234,621
70,000
60,496
**Fund balances at 31 March 2024**
280,897
73,023
86,109|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
222,195
519,636
10,311|
|---|---|
||752,142|
||677,230|
||74,912
-|
||74,912
365,117|
||440,029|
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Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION**
## _**AS AT 31 MARCH 2025**_
||||**2025**|||**2024**||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Notes**|**£**||**£**|**£**||**£**|
|**Fixed assets**||||||||
|Tangible assets|**11**|||36,038|||13,666|
|**Current assets**||||||||
|Debtors|**12**|53,417|||18,891|||
|Cash at bank and in hand||444,473|||474,625|||
|||497,890|||493,516|||
|**Creditors: amounts falling due within**||||||||
|**one year**|**13**|(45,665)|||(67,153)|||
|Net current assets||||452,225|||426,363|
|**Total assets less current liabilities**||||488,263|||440,029|
|**Income funds**||||||||
|Restricted funds|**14**|||54,251|||86,109|
|Designated funds||||30,940|||73,023|
|Unrestricted funds||||403,072|||280,897|
|||||488,263|||440,029|
The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
01 December 2025
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on .........................
Signed by: [tie .............................. 02FECC8B76654B1 Edur—ltutow L Elder-Atterton **Trustee**
## **Company registration number 05206358**
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Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
|**Notes**
**Cash flows from operating activities**
Cash (absorbed by)/generated from
operations
**19**
**Investing activities**
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Investment income received
**Net cash (used in)/generated from**
**investing activities**
**Net cash used in financing activities**
**Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash**
**equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
**Cash and cash equivalents at end of year**|**2025**
**£**
(31,063)
11,464|**£**
(10,553)
(19,599)
-
(30,152)
474,625
444,473|**2024**
**£**
(6,188)
10,311|**£**
91,658
4,123
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||95,781
378,844|
|||||474,625|
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Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Charity information**
Sense Ability Matters Ltd is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Floor 2, Gateshead Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE8 1HH.
## **1.1 Accounting convention**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's [governing document], the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "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). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
## **1.2 Going concern**
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
## **1.3 Charitable funds**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Designated funds comprise funds which have been set aside at the discretion of the trustees for specific purposes. The purposes and uses of the designated funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
## **1.4 Income**
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.
- 13 -
Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **(Continued)**
## **1.5 Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
## **1.6 Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Equipment and fixtures 15% reducing balance and 20% straight line
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
Assets costing less than £500 are not capitalised.
## **1.7 Impairment of fixed assets**
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
## **1.8 Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
## **1.9 Financial instruments**
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
## _**Basic financial assets**_
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
- 14 -
Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **(Continued)**
## _**Basic financial liabilities**_
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## _**Derecognition of financial liabilities**_
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
## **1.10 Employee benefits**
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
## **1.11 Retirement benefits**
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
## **2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements**
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
- 15 -
Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
##
||**Total**||**2024**|**£**|18,898|203,297|222,195|||9,000||150,169||19,838|24,290|-|-|-|-|-|-|203,297|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Restricted**|**funds**|**2024**|**£**|-|181,423|181,423|||9,000||150,169||19,838|2,416|-|-|-|-|-|-|181,423|
||**Unrestricted**|**funds**|**2024**|**£**|18,898|21,874|40,772|||-||-||-|21,874|-|-|-|-|-|-|21,874|
||**Total**||**2025**|**£**|10,621|234,443|245,064|||1,000||76,820||20,908|9,050|4,743|15,000|19,925|30,000|15,000|41,997|234,443|
||**Restricted**|**funds**|**2025**|**£**|-|156,496|156,496|||1,000||76,820||20,908|9,050|4,743|15,000|19,925|-|-|9,050|156,496|
||**Unrestricted**|**funds**|**2025**|**£**|10,621|77,947|88,568|||-||-||-|-|-|-|-|30,000|15,000|32,947|77,947|
|**Donations and legacies**|||||Donations and gifts|Grants|||**Grants receivable for core activities**|Vision Foundation|The National Lottery Community Fund – Reaching Communities (Community|Voice)|The National Lottery Community Fund – Reaching Communities (Well|Connected)|Movement Matters|Foundation of light|Gateshead Council - Multiply|The National Lottery Community Fund – Awards For All|NPC trust fund|Ballinger|Other||
|**3**|||||||||||||||||||||||
Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **4 Charitable activities**
||**Activities**|**Activities**|**Activities**|**Activities**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**undertaken**||**undertaken**||
||**directly**||**directly**||
||**2025**||**2024**||
||**£**||**£**||
|Services provided under contract|378,779||372,635||
|Other income|108,466||147,001||
||487,245||519,636||
|**Analysis by fund**|||||
|Unrestricted funds|463,413||499,250||
|Endowment funds - designated|3,633||-||
|Restricted funds|20,199||20,386||
||487,245||519,636||
|**Investments**|||||
||**Unrestricted **||**Unrestricted**||
||**funds**||**funds**||
||**2025**||**2024**||
||**£**||**£**||
|Bank interest received|11,464||10,311||
## **5 Investments**
- 17 -
Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **6 Charitable activities**
|Staff costs||**Activities**
**undertaken**
**directly**
**Activities**
**undertaken**
**directly**
**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
394,337
396,421
262,040
251,204
656,377
647,625
31,962
22,405
7,200
7,200
695,539
677,230
450,324
483,384
37,364
17,650
207,851
176,196
695,539
677,230
**Support**
**costs**
**Governance**
**costs**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
16,483
-
16,483
5,922
-
5,922
-
7,200
7,200
22,405
7,200
29,605
22,405
7,200
29,605|**Activities**
**undertaken**
**directly**
**Activities**
**undertaken**
**directly**
**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
394,337
396,421
262,040
251,204
656,377
647,625
31,962
22,405
7,200
7,200
695,539
677,230
450,324
483,384
37,364
17,650
207,851
176,196
695,539
677,230
**Support**
**costs**
**Governance**
**costs**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
16,483
-
16,483
5,922
-
5,922
-
7,200
7,200
22,405
7,200
29,605
22,405
7,200
29,605|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**2024**
**£**
396,421
251,204|
|Charitable activities||||
|Share of support costs (see note 7)
Share of governance costs (see note 7)
**Analysis by fund**
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
Restricted funds
**Support costs**
**Support**
**costs**
**Governance**
**costs**
**£**
**£**
Staff costs
23,272
-
Depreciation
8,690
-
Independent examiners
fee
-
7,200
31,962
7,200
Analysed between
Charitable activities
31,962
7,200|**2025**
**£**
23,272
8,690
7,200
39,162
39,162|||
||||647,625
22,405
7,200|
||||677,230|
||||483,384
17,650
176,196|
||||677,230|
||||**2024**
**£**
16,483
5,922
7,200|
||||29,605|
||||29,605|
## **7 Support costs**
Governance costs includes payments to the independent examiner of £7,200 for examination fees.
## **8 Trustees**
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
- 18 -
Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **9 Employees**
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
|Chief executive officer
Support advice and activities
Administration
Total
**Employment costs**
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs|**2025**
**Number**
1
16
1
18
**2025**
**£**
378,817
24,736
14,056
417,609|**2024**
**Number**
1
17
1|
|---|---|---|
|||19|
|||**2024**
**£**
372,200
27,103
13,601|
|||412,904|
There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000.
## **10 Taxation**
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxationof Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
- 19 -
Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
|**11**|**Tangible fixed assets**||
|---|---|---|
|||**Equipment and fixtures**|
|||**£**|
||**Cost**||
||At 1 April 2024|89,498|
||Additions|31,063|
||At 31 March 2025|120,561|
||**Depreciation and impairment**||
||At 1 April 2024|75,833|
||Depreciation charged in the year|8,690|
||At 31 March 2025|84,523|
||**Carrying amount**||
||At 31 March 2025|36,038|
||At 31 March 2024|13,666|
## **12 Debtors**
|**Amounts falling due within one year:**
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
**13**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Other taxation and social security
Trade creditors
Accruals and deferred income|**2025**
**£**
42,634
10,783
53,417
**2025**
**£**
7,150
17,189
21,326
45,665|**2024**
**£**
2,385
16,506|
|---|---|---|
|||18,891|
|||**2024**
**£**
5,531
11,247
50,375|
|||67,153|
- 20 -
Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
##
##
|**Restricted funds**|The income funds of the charity include restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust for specific purposes:|**Movement in funds**
**Movement in funds**|**Balance at**
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**Balance at**
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**Transfers**
**Balance at**|**1 April 2023**
**resources**
**expended**
**1 April 2024**
**resources**
**expended**
**31 March 2025**|**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**|Client orders
2,176
18,151
(17,837)
2,490
20,199
(21,987)
(702)
-|Ways to Wellness
12,765
-
(12,765)
-
-
-
-
-|The National Lottery Community Fund – Reaching|Communities (Community Voice)
44,708
152,404
(127,067)
70,045
76,820
(131,371)
-
15,494|Communities (Community Voice)
44,708
152,404
(127,067)
70,045
76,820
(131,371)
-
15,494|The National Lottery Community Fund – Reaching|Communities (Well Connected)
847
19,838
(18,527)
2,158
20,908
(16,869)
-
6,197|Communities (Well Connected)
847
19,838
(18,527)
2,158
20,908
(16,869)
-
6,197|Vison Foundation
-
9,000
-
9,000
1,000
(10,000)
-
-|Visionary UK
-
2,416
-
2,416
-
(2,416)
-
-|Movement Matters
-
-
-
-
9,050
(2,488)
-
6,562|Foundation of Light
-
-
-
-
4,743
(4,743)
-
-|The National Lottery Community Fund – Awards For All
-
-
-
-
19,925
(2,977)
-
16,948|Pargiter
-
-
-
-
9,050
-
-
9,050|Gateshead Council - Multiply
-
-
-
-
15,000
(15,000)
-
-|60,496
201,809
(176,196)
86,109
176,695
(207,851)
(702)
54,251|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**14**||||||||||||||||||||||
Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
##
##
Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
##
##
|**Designated funds**|The income funds of the charity include the following designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes:|**Movement in funds**|**Balance at**
**Resources**
**Transfers**
**Balance at**
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**Transfers**
**Balance at**|**1 April 2023**
**expended**
**1 April 2024**
**resources**
**expended**
**31 March 2025**|**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**|Low vision clinic
15,000
(2,684)
(1,075)
11,241
220
(100)
(11,361)
-|Relocation costs
10,000
(2,560)
-
7,440
413
(20,226)
12,373
-|Costs of the merger
20,000
(12,346)
(6,400)
1,254
-
-
(1,254)
-|Service development
25,000
(60)
-
24,940
-
-
-
24,940|Rebranding costs
-
-
6,400
6,400
-
(6,400)
-
-|Digital investment
-
-
11,488
11,488
3,000
-
(8,488)
6,000|Research investment
-
-
6,260
6,260
-
(6,260)
-
-|Pathway development
-
-
1,000
1,000
-
(1,000)
-
-|Counselling costs
-
-
3,000
3,000
-
(3,378)
378
-|70,000
(17,650)
20,673
73,023
3,633
(37,364)
(8,352)
30,940|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**15**||||||||||||||||
Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
##
|**Designated funds**
**(Continued)**|Low Vision Clinic - Equivalent for the Low Vision Clinic|Low Vision Clinic - Equivalent for the Low Vision Clinic|Relocation Costs - The lease for our current premises ends in the coming year. To support a potential relocation, the Trustees have designated funds towards relocation|and the associated communications.|Costs of the merger - The Trustees had entered into discussions with another Charity about a merge opportunity and designated the associated professional fees.|Although some fees were incurred, the other Charity closed prior to the merge completing. The remaining designated funds will be reallocated to support the Charity|rebrand and relocation.|Service development - From the emerging Business Plan 2023/24, the Trustees recognise that new areas of work will need some initial investment. To support this|activity and ensure the Charity meets its aims and objectives, funds have been designated.|Digital investment - funding has been designated to make improvements to the digital library and community workspace (equipment demonstration area).|Research investment - funding has been designated for the UKRI project to support staff time and partcipant expenses, including vouchers.|Pathway Development - funding has been designated to cover staff time to support Visionary and national partners in the development of an Eye Care Pathway project.|Mental health - funding has been designated to cover the cost of counselling sessions.|**Analysis of net assets between funds**|**Unrestricted**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Total Unrestricted**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Total**|**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**|**2025**
**2025**
**2025**
**2025**
**2024**
**2024**
**2024**
**2024**|**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**|Fund balances at 31 March 2025 are represented|by:|Tangible assets
36,038
-
-
36,038
13,666
-
-
13,666|Current assets/(liabilities)
367,034
30,940
54,251
452,225
267,231
73,023
86,109
426,363|403,072
30,940
54,251
488,263
280,897
73,023
86,109
440,029|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**15**||||||||||||||**16**||||||||||
Docusign Envelope ID: 8670AE87-60B6-4DE0-9034-1D049F84DA3F
## **SENSE ABILITY MATTERS LTD**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **17 Financial commitments, guarantees and contingent liabilities**
Included within the statement of financial position are unpaid pension contributions of £3,229 (2024: £2,502)
## **18 Related party transactions**
## **Remuneration of key management personnel**
The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows.
|**2025**
**£**
Aggregate compensation
121,487
There were no other disclosable related party transactions during the year (2024 - none).
**19**
**Cash generated from operations**
**2025**
**£**
Surplus for the year
48,234
Adjustments for:
Investment income recognised in statement of financial activities
(11,464)
Depreciation and impairment of tangible fixed assets
8,690
Movements in working capital:
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
(34,525)
(Decrease)/increase in creditors
(21,488)
**Cash (absorbed by)/generated from operations**
(10,553)|**2025**
**£**
121,487|**2024**
**£**
45,752
**2024**
**£**
74,912
(10,311)
5,922
9,245
11,890
91,658|
|---|---|---|
||**2025**
**£**
48,234
(11,464)
8,690
(34,525)
(21,488)
(10,553)||
## **20 Analysis of changes in net funds** The charity had no debt during the year.
- 25 -