## FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE LTD
**Trustees Report** & Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2024
## **Vision Care for Homeless**
**People** is registered as a charity in England and Wales, Charity No. (1118076) and Scotland (SC053215). Registered as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales Company No. (05309978).
**experiencing homelessness to see a brighter future**
## **Contents**
|**Chair’s Report**|**1**|
|---|---|
|Introduction|1|
|Around the year|2–8|
|Advocacy overview|9|
|Future plans & looking ahead|10|
|**Reference & administrative information**|**11**|
|**Trustees’ Report**|**12**|
|**Independent Examiner’s Report**|**15**|
|**Statement of fnancial activities**|**16**|
|**Balance Sheet**|**17**|
|**Notes to the fnancial statements**|**18–28**|
**Chair’s report** for the year ended 31st March 2024
## **Our mission statement**
“ **Vision Care for Homeless People** ” is a charity set-up to provide eyecare services to people at risk of or experiencing homelessness in an environment in which they feel welcome and comfortable.
## **Our aims**
We aim to preserve, protect and promote the ocular health of people at risk of or experiencing homelessness and vulnerable people in the UK who are unwilling or unable to access mainstream services available through the NHS. We provide screening of ocular health and the provision of spectacles, that meets the immediate visual needs of our beneficiaries.
## **Our aspirations**
Our aim is to expand this service nationwide in all the major cities, so we can make a difference to as many homeless and vulnerable people as we can. We are actively working towards that.
## **Introduction**
**It is a privilege to introduce our annual report, highlighting another year of dedicated service to some of the most vulnerable individuals in our communities.** Throughout this past year, we have remained focused on our mission: providing high-quality eye care to homeless and vulnerable people who might otherwise go without. Access to vision care can transform lives, opening up opportunities for work, education, and a better quality of life. We are immensely proud of the impact we have made, despite the growing challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness.
This year has brought many hurdles, from the rising cost of living to increased demand for our services. Yet, through the tireless efforts of our volunteers, staff, and partners, we have been able to expand our reach to new locations in Bristol and Stratford, ensuring more people have access to the essential care they need. We are especially grateful to our supporters, whose generosity enables us to continue delivering this life-changing service. As you review this report, I hope you are as inspired as I am by the stories of resilience and the positive changes that your support has helped us bring about. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our work. Together, we are giving people not just the gift of sight, but the chance for a brighter future.
_Elaine Styles, Chair of Vision Care for Homeless People_
**1**
## **AROUND THE YEAR making progress for eye health for homeless people**
## **April 2023**
## **100th patient for Gloucester Clinic**
We’ve been running a weekly clinic in Gloucester at the City Mission for a number of months now. A milestone was reached in April – when the team dispensed their 100th patient! Damien was very pleased with his new glasses.
## **Experts by Experience**
In May 2023, Vision Care for Homeless People and Specsavers set up an **Experts by Experience** group in Bristol. The group of 10 is supported by Expert Focus, a consultancy staffed by people with experience of homelessness. A key feature of the way we are working with Specsavers, is the understanding that we need to listen and learn from people who have been affected by homelessness to improve services.
## **May 2023**
Donner Optometrists in Bookham, completed the 23 mile long **Surrey Three Peaks Challenge** in 10 hours on the 6th May, raising **£700** for VCHP as well as funds for another charity.
The group will help us all to continue learning and listening to the needs of people experiencing homelessness and help shape service provision during this time of growth.
**2**
## **June 2023**
## **National Sunglasses Day appeal**
We launched an appeal for sunglasses on **National Sunglasses Day 27th June** and were delighted to receive over 1600 pairs from optical suppliers who answered our call to help our patients protect their eyes from the dangers of UV exposure. This response meant we were able to offer free sunglasses to patients across our clinics over the summer.
_Pictured – the ‘Wolf Pack’ at the start and Peter, Elaine, David & William – at the end. The event raised_ **£2000** _for VCHP._
## **July 2023**
## **Specsavers partnership launch event**
On 7th July we held a joint event in Bristol with Specsavers to share news of our growth plans – supported by Specsavers through a three-year collaboration to help VCHP achieve some ambitious goals. We aim to accelerate the development of new VCHP Branches across the UK, with a goal of 24 in five years’ time – including a clinic in Bristol itself. We also want to work with practices and groups of opticians to run pop up clinics for people affected by homelessness in their local area. And we want to collaborate with all partners in the optical industry to grow understanding of and help to communicate the barriers faced by homeless and vulnerable people in accessing eye care, whilst influencing the political, regulatory, commissioning, and contracting landscape to make improvements.
_Pictured here- members of the Experts by Experience user group at the launch, with then Bristol West MP and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons,_
On 24th June Wolf Eyewear invited peers from across optics to join them for some muddy networking and fundraising for 3 sight related charities, including VCHP. They took part in a **10K Wolf Run** . Elaine Styles, Chair of VCHP, staff members David Brown and William Brown and VCHP volunteer Peter Greedy joined the event.
_Thangham Debbonaire, Dame Mary Perkins, CoFounder and Director of Specsavers, and Harinder Paul, Co-Founder of Vision Care for Homeless People._
**3**
## **August 2023**
## **Raising awareness in the communities we serve**
In August we set up a display about VCHP in **The Eastgate Shopping Centre – Gloucester** to raise awareness of the charity and our clinic in Gloucester city centre which runs every Monday at the Gloucester City Mission VCHP.
## **October 2023**
## **September 2023**
We opened our 9th VCHP clinic in October, in Bristol, based in the **NHS Homeless Health Service at the Compass Centre, Jamaica Street, BS2. Bristo** l has a high level of need for our service with **3224** people recorded as homeless in **2023** and **20065** people on waiting list for social housing.
## **VCHP celebrates 20 years**
In September VCHP welcomed volunteers and supporters to a special celebration of **20 years** since the charity was first set up by 4 optometrists in response to the unmet eyecare needs of people experiencing homelessness. The event was held at the Salesforce Tower in sight of the first VCHP eyecare clinic in Aldgate. In the past 20 years since our charity was founded Vision Care for Homeless People have h **elped improve the sight of over 18,000 people** who would otherwise have missed out on eyecare.
**4**
## **November 2023**
Our call for practices to hold occasional Out of Hours clinics in their communities is gathering momentum. As well as offering a great free service to people who would otherwise miss out on eyecare practices have found they are a great way to bring staff teams together.
On Tuesday 14th November **Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists Egham** ran another clinic after practice opening hours for people experiencing homelessness.
All patients seen in the clinic required spectacles, which will hopefully make a big improvement to daily life. Ben Richardson and Alison Lamb performed the sight tests and Amy Hopkins, Chelsey Wilson and Daryl Kimber dispensed the spectacles. Kelly Scales the Berkshire Rough Sleep Coordinator did a wonderful job transporting patients to the practice. Bayfields kindly donated the frames and Zeiss kindly donated the spectacle lenses. The feedback from the patients has been extremely positive and the Egham Bayfields team plan on running more of these successful clinics in the future.
**5**
## **A year of Vision Care in numbers: 873** Eye examinations
**Exeter**
**96** Ready readers dispensed **100’s**
## **UK 9 CLINICS**
**Leeds Manchester**
**Birmingham**
**Gloucester Bristol 1052**
**Stratford London Brighton**
Pairs of glasses dispensed
of referrals, repairs, advice sessions and dry eye drops given
**114** Volunteers - optometrists, dispencing opticians and optical assistants
**6**
**722**
Total volunteering sessions
Grants from charitable trusts and foundations, worth a total of **£198,381**
## **December 2023**
**CEO Hannah Telfer and Clinic Development Manager Karen Gennard attended a Parliamentary reception organised by Specsavers on improving access to care which was hosted by MP Marsha de Cordova.**
This event had three clear demands which hope to make significant impact to improve access to eye care.
**These were:**
- **NHS funded sight tests and spectacles for all homeless people**
- **Access to NHS domiciliary services at day centres, shelters or hostels without the barrier of the 48 hour pre-visit notification requirement in England.**
- **Free replacement NHS glasses if broken, lost or stolen due to homelessness**
The event brought together MPs, policy makers, charities and representatives of the optical industry. There was a video which told some of the stories of our Experts by Experience Participation Panel in Bristol. Dame Mary Perkins, Co- founder of Specsavers and our Patron, clearly articulated that only by coming together as an optical industry can we make the change to make the life of people experiencing homelessness easier. VCHP hopes that this is the start of significant progress in promoting health equality and driving policy change to better meet the needs of our beneficiaries.
**Optometrist Shaneela Joshi organised 3 pop up clinics over Christmas at Lifeshare’s drop in service for people experiencing homeless in Manchester, helped by a small team of volunteers.**
Over the three days they saw **21** guests, **14** of whom needed prescription glasses which are being glazed by Caledonian Optical. In addition the team gave out 3 pairs of ready readers. One guest wanted narrower frames than the team had to offer so was referred on to the VCHP clinic at Cornerstone day centre, where she was fitted out with 2 pairs this week - for near and far sight.
**‘Her reading had changed a bit but her frame and lenses were very worn so a new set would really make a difference.’ said Shaneela, who is pictured here with one of the team, Shreya Khatry.**
**‘There was such incredible support for making a difference for those people experiencing homelessness who are unable to access the eye care they need. I can’t wait to start seeing the real change that is needed.’**
**7**
## **January 2024**
## **Crisis at Christmas glasses collection day**
Glasses collection day for London’s Crisis at Christmas Opticians Service saw smiles all round.
Volunteers took delight in dispensing to the Crisis at Christmas guests who returned for the collection day in January to pick up their glasses. 138 pairs, with powers ranging from +9.5D to -13D were produced with frames kindly donated by Specsavers and lenses and glazing by EssilorLuxottica.
## **February 2024**
February saw the reopening of our London Skylight clinic with new optical equipment and furniture from Specsavers, a top of the range test chart from Thomson Software and a clinical sink donated by friends of VCHP, Marcos Klorman and Evelyn Velleman. Located just two doors down from its previous location, the new clinic space is set to make a significant impact on our ability to provide essential healthcare services to those experiencing homelessness in our community.
## **March 2024**
## **Stratford clinic opening**
The Stratford Clinic marks the 9th milestone on our journey to opening 24 clinics by March 2028. Located within the Doctors of the World facility in Stratford, East London, this clinic expands our mission to provide vital vision care to underserved communities.
**8**
## **Achievements**
## **CLINIC EXPANSION:**
This year, VCHP took significant strides toward our goal of opening 24 clinics by 2028, with the launch of new locations in Bristol and Stratford. These clinics mark an exciting beginning to our ambitious expansion plan, made possible through the invaluable support of Specsavers. Thanks to these new clinics, we were able to serve 163 additional patients this year, providing them with essential eye care and bringing us closer to bridging the vision care gap for people experiencing homelessness.
## **VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT:** Our team of
dedicated volunteers continues to grow, with 20 new volunteers joining our VCHP family, bringing our volunteer base to an inspiring 114 individuals. Every week, these committed volunteers deliver compassionate and professional eye care to patients in need, ensuring that each visit provides not only essential medical support but also dignity and respect.
## **ADVOCACY AND AWARENESS:** VCHP remains
steadfast in its mission to remove barriers to eye care for people experiencing homelessness. This year, we’ve elevated our advocacy efforts by engaging with the optical sector and the public, with support from our Patron, Dame Mary Perkins, and Specsavers. Together, we are championing greater awareness and solutions within the optical community to make vision care accessible for all.
**FUNDRAISING:** We successfully raised £267,985 in funds through various campagins, grants and donations enabling us to sustain and plan for the growth of our services. With thanks going to:
- Hedley Foundation
- John James Bristol Foundation
- LNER Community Investment
- Nationwide Community Fund Specsavers Stepper UK Ltd
**9**
## **Future plans & looking ahead**
The upcoming year is full of exciting developments for VCHP. Notably, we are on track to become a registered charity in Scotland, with plans to open our first clinic outside of England in Edinburgh. This expansion marks a significant milestone as we explore new methods of delivering care and upgrade our lens options to further meet the needs of our patients.
## **Our priorities for the year ahead include:**
## **Optimising Service Delivery**
**1**
We will refine our processes to improve patient experience and ensure that our services meet the unique needs of people experiencing homelessness.
## **Enhancing reach**
**2**
By strengthening our signposting and service formats, we aim to maximize service uptake, connecting with more individuals who need our care.
## **Moderinising our online presence**
**3**
We’re updating our website to more effectively represent VCHP and engage both beneficiaries and supporters, making it easier for people to connect with our mission.
## **Scaling our operation**
**4**
To support our growing network of clinics, we are developing a staffing structure that accommodates expansion and enhances the quality of our service delivery.
**5**
## **Streamlining volunteer engagement**
Adapting our onboarding process will allow us to better match volunteers with our evolving needs, ensuring that each volunteer is set up for meaningful engagement.
## **Strengthening accountability**
**6**
By refining our monitoring and evaluation model, we’ll ensure that we’re continuously meeting our objectives and making the most effective use of our resources.
Through these initiatives, we’re building a robust foundation for sustainable growth and deepening the impact of our vision care services for those most in need.
**==> picture [123 x 58] intentionally omitted <==**
**We remain committed to our vision of a world where everyone, regardless of their housing status, has access to the eye care they deserve.**
**Thank you for your ongoing support.**
**10**
## **Reference & administrative information**
**Trustees**
Elaine Catherine Styles Harinder Singh Paul Charanjit Bharj Janice English Robert Greene Aubrey Ayoade Ian Catlin [Resigned 28 November 2024] Moses Soussis [Resigned 28 November 2023] Emma Low Gillian Syme [Appointed 13 February 2024]
**Company registered number** 05309978 **Charity registered number (England and Wales)** 1118076 **Charity number (Scotland)** SCO53215 **Registered office** C/o Crisis Skylight 50 Commercial Street London, E1 6LT **Bankers** Lloyds Bank Kensington High Street Branch **Independent Examiner** Anthony Epton Goldwins Limited 75 Maygrove Road West Hampstead London NW6 2EG www.goldwins.co.uk
**11**
**Trustees’ Report** for the year ended 31st March 2024
## **Responsibilities of the Trustees**
The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purpose of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees Annual Report and the Financial Statements in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Company law requires the trustees to prepare the financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. 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 its incoming resources and application of resources, including net income or expenditure. In preparing these financial statements the Executive Committee is required to:
- Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
- State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards and Statements of Recommended Practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
- 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 proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and which enable it to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The trustees 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.
## **Independent examiner**
We appointed Anthony Epton as our independent examiner.
Anthony Epton was re-appointed as independent examiner of the charity at the Annual General Meeting.
On behalf of the board
Ci …………………… _— inee
**Elaine Styles** Chair of Trustees Date: 28/11/2024
**12**
## **Governance**
Vision Care for Homeless People was incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee on 10th December 2004 and registered with the Charity Commission 22nd February 2007. The charity is controlled by its governing document, memorandum and articles of association, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
New Directors are recruited through Reach volunteering among other sources, following a review of skills requirements within the Board and the charity as a whole. They visit a clinic, meet volunteers and staff and are interviewed by existing Directors. New trustees are given induction information and are supported in their new role by the Chair, other Trustees and the Chief Executive. Terms of office are for three years and Directors retire in rotation.
## **Management**
The day-to-day management of the charity is delegated to the Chief Executive, who reports to the Board. Staff and volunteers are led by the Chief Executive.
## **Public Benefit Statement**
In accordance with the Charities Act 2011, Vision Care for Homeless People is required to confirm that the activities it undertakes to achieve its objectives are all carried out for the public benefit as described by the Charity Commission. The beneficiaries of the charity are members of the public who are in need because of homelessness and associated issues. Through its activities, Vision Care for Homeless People seeks to reduce the eye health inequality faced by people experiencing homelessness by delivering the eye care and spectacles they require. Through high calibre research and evaluation projects, combined with effective lobbying, Vision Care for Homeless People aims to facilitate substantial improvements in eye care for homeless people.
The Trustees have described in this report the charitable public benefit of our activities. The Trustees regularly review Vision Care for Homeless People’s progress against its aims and objectives and confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.
## **Risk management:**
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. As a board, on an annual basis, the Trustees review the major risks that the charity faces. For identified risks, systems have been established to take necessary steps for mitigation. Trustees can provide reasonable assurance that the major risks to which the charity is exposed have been reviewed and systems established to mitigate those risks.
**13**
## **Reserves policy:**
Trustees have reviewed their reserves policy, in the light of an ongoing reduction in NHS income since the pandemic and with a view to their plans to increase the number of clinics and services the charity provides. The trustees now aim to maintain free reserves in unrestricted funds at a level which equates to approximately nine to twelve months of charitable expenditure. The trustees consider that this level is sufficient given the anticipated levels of income generated from the NHS, charitable grants and donations and their relative risk profiles. We will work to maintain the reserve targets without in any way compromising the pressing charitable activities that we are committed to undertake. The trustees review reserves on a regular basis and take into account the level of income and expenditure and other on-going commitments. Reserves in excess of 6 months of anticipated General Operating costs are maintained in liquid form in a deposit account. Further reserves are on deposit to gain a higher interest rate. These accounts are reviewed by trustees periodically.
## **Vision**
**The vision of the charity is: We want homeless and vulnerable people to receive the eye-care and spectacles they need. Over the next five years we will ensure that 40% of people who are homeless, either street sleepers or those in temporary hostels and shelters in England, are receiving eye-care every two years.**
## **Objectives**
The objective of the charity is to preserve, protect and promote the ocular health of homeless and vulnerable people in the UK who are unwilling or unable to access mainstream services available through the NHS. We include screening of ocular health and the provision of spectacles that meets the immediate visual needs of our beneficiaries.
During the year, Directors focused the charity’s work on 8 supporting objectives, which are:
**GOVERNANCE AND REPORTING** – Our board, committees and managers efficiently manage resources using up to date and accurate operational, financial and performance data.
**FINANCE SYSTEMS** – Our finance and administration systems are simple, efficient, clear and robust from procurement to audit.
**OPERATIONS** – Our clinics are run with care, are effective and all procedures are consistently practised.
**IDENTIFY AND MEET NEEDS** – By identifying and understanding unmet eye care needs amongst the homeless & vulnerable, we open two new sustainable eye services a year, whilst maintaining existing services.
**VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT** – Our many volunteers feel valued, develop their skills and experience, and make a significant long-term impact on all aspects of our work.
**COMMISSIONING AND FUNDING** – By active implementation of our fundraising strategy we recruit many new funding partners each year which we invest in growing the charity.
**CHAMPIONING EYE CARE** – We champion the cause of equitable eye care for homeless and vulnerable people.
**PROFILE AND PR** – We have local and national recognition as both excellent and worthwhile from a burgeoning number of individual supporters and advocates.
**14**
## **Vision Care for Homeless People Limited**
## **Independent Examiner’s Report**
## **For the Year ended 31 March 2024**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the Year ended 31 March 2024.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company 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 your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
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:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts 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 accounts 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 accounts to be reached.
**…………………………………………………** A Whony Epton **Anthony Epton BA, FCA, CTA, FCIE Goldwins Limited Chartered Accountants 75 Maygrove Road West Hampstead London NW6 2EG 28th November 2024**
**15**
## **Vision Care for Homeless People Limited Statement of Financial Activities Including Income and Expenditure Account Year ended 31 March 2024**
|**Note**
**Income from:**
Donations
**3**
Charitable activities
**4**
Investments
**5**
Other income
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
Charitable activities
**Total expenditure**
**6**
**Net income / (expenditure) for the year**
**7**
**Transfer between funds**
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**13**
**Total funds carried forward**|**Restricted Unrestricted**
**Total**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2024**
**2024**
**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
21,155
21,155
32,186
198,381
42,346
240,727
117,574
-
2,915
2,915
1,321
-
983
983
1,245|
|---|---|
||**198,381**
**67,399**
**265,780**
**152,326**
-
15,926
15,926
17,535
194,730
52,096
246,826
143,443|
||**194,730**
**68,022**
**262,752**
**160,978**
3,651
(623 )
3,028
(8,652 )
2,208
(2,208 )
-
-|
||**5,859**
**(2,831 )**
**3,028**
**(8,652 )**
46,605
98,197
144,802
153,454|
||**52,464**
**95,366**
**147,830**
**144,802**|
All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. The attached notes form part of these financial statements.
**16**
## **Vision Care for Homeless People Limited**
## **Balance Sheet**
## **As at 31 March 2024**
||**Note**|**2024**|**2024**|**2023**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Tangible fixed assets**|**10**||8,302||7,599|
|**Current assets:**||||||
|Debtors|**11**|5,230||6,822||
|Cash at bank and in hand||193,626||157,592||
|||198,856||164,414||
|Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year|**12**|(59,328 )||(27,211)||
|Net current assets|||139,528||137,203|
|**Net assets**|||**147,830**||**144,802**|
|**Funds**|**13**|||||
|Restricted funds|||52,464||46,605|
|Unrestricted funds:||||||
|Designated funds||14,514||14,514||
|General fund||80,852||83,683||
||||95,366||98,197|
|**Total funds**|||**147,830**||**144,802**|
For the financial year ended 31 March 2024 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
## Directors' responsibilities:
- 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;
- The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.
Approved by the trustees on 28 November 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
……………………………….…… **Elaine Styles Director Company registration no. 05309978**
The attached notes form part of the financial statements.
**17**
**Vision Care for Homeless People Limited Notes to the financial statements**
**Year ended 31 March 2024**
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **a) Basis of preparation**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 2015) - Charities SORP (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
The charitable company meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note.
## **b) Going concern**
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern. The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.
## **c) Income**
Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably.
Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred. Income received in advance for the provision of specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.
## **d) Donations of gifts, services and facilities**
Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item or received the service, any conditions associated with the donation have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), volunteer time is not recognised so refer to the trustees’ annual report for more information about their contribution.
On receipt, donated gifts, professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.
**18**
**Vision Care for Homeless People Limited Notes to the financial statements Year ended 31 March 2024**
## **1 Accounting policies (continued)**
## **f) 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.
## **g) Fund accounting**
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 for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity’s work or specific projects being undertaken by the charity.
## **h) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT**
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 of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:
- Costs of raising funds comprise of trading costs and the costs incurred by the charitable company inducing third parties to make voluntary contributions to it, as well as the cost of any activities with a fundraising purpose.
- Expenditure on charitable activities includes the costs of delivering services to further the purposes of the charity and their associated support costs.
- Other expenditure represents those items not falling into any other heading.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.
## **i) Allocation of support costs**
Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include back-office costs, finance, personnel, payroll and governance costs which support the charity and its activities. These costs have been allocated between the cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities.
## **j) Operating leases**
Rental charges are charged on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.
## **k) Tangible fixed assets**
Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £500. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life on a straight-line basis. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:
|Fixtures and fittings|33%|
|---|---|
|Clinic equipment (New)|20%|
|Clinic equipment (Second hand)|33%|
|IT Equipment (New)|33%|
|IT Equipment (Second hand)|50%|
**19**
## **Vision Care for Homeless People Limited**
## **Notes to the financial statements**
## **Year ended 31 March 2024**
## **1 Accounting policies (continued)**
## **l) Debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
## **m) Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
## **n) Creditors and provisions**
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third-party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
## **o) Financial instruments**
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
**20**
## **Vision Care for Homeless People Limited Notes to the financial statements**
**Year ended 31 March 2024**
## **2 Detailed comparatives for the statement of financial activities**
|**Income from:**
Donations
Charitable activities
Investment Income
Other income
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
Charitable activities
**Total expenditure**
**Net income / (expenditure) for the year**
Transfer between funds
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**2023**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
7,014
25,172
32,186
99,714
17,860
117,574
-
1,321
1,321
-
1,245
1,245
**106,728**
**45,598**
**152,326**
-
17,535
17,535
83,972
59,471
143,443
**83,972**
**77,006**
**160,978**
22,756
(31,408)
(8,652)
-
-
-
**22,756**
**(31,408)**
**(8,652)**
23,849
129,605
153,454
**46,605**
**98,197**
**144,802**|
|---|---|
## **3 Income from donations**
|
Donations|**Unrestricted Restricted**
**Total**
**2024**
**Total**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
21,155
-
21,155
32,186|
|---|---|
||**21,155**
**-**
**21,155**
**32,186**|
**21**
## **Vision Care for Homeless People Limited**
## **Notes to the financial statements**
## **Year ended 31 March 2024**
## **4 Income from charitable activities**
|
NHS Contracts
Specsavers Projects
Hedley Foundation
John James Bristol Foundation
LNER
Nationwide Community Foundation
Small Donations Restricted to
Clinics
Specsavers
Stepper UK Ltd.
Gloucester CCG A grant
Albert Hunt Charitable Trust
GETT Gloucester
LOC Gloucester
Nationwide Community Foundation
Specsavers B NCDM 1
Vision Foundation
Trusthouse Charitable Foundation
Edward and Dorothy Cadbury Trust
Awards for All|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Total**
**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
17,120
-
17,120
17,860
25,226
-
25,226
-
-
3,400
3,400
-
-
3,474
3,474
-
-
12,000
12,000
-
-
32,500
32,500
-
-
1,796
1,796
-
-
135,211
135,211
-
-
10,000
10,000
-
-
-
-
4,500
-
-
-
3,000
-
-
-
2,605
-
-
-
6,613
-
-
-
25,000
-
-
-
30,000
-
-
-
10,000
-
-
-
5,000
-
-
-
3,000
-
-
-
9,996|
|---|---|
||**42,346**
**198,381**
**240,727**
**117,574**|
## **5 Income from investments**
|Bank interest|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Total**
**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
2,915
-
2,915
1,321|
|---|---|
||**2,915**
**-**
**2,915**
**1,321**|
**22**
## **Vision Care for Homeless People Limited**
## **Notes to the financial statements**
## **Year ended 31 March 2024**
## **6 Analysis of expenditure**
|**Analysis of expenditure**||
|---|---|
|Staff costs
Fundraising
Administration
Other costs
Independent Examination
Governance costs
**Total expenditure 2024**
**Total expenditure 2023**|**2024**
**2023**
**Cost of**
**raising funds**
**Charitable**
**activities**
**Governanc**
**e Costs**
**Total**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
14,859
152,887
2,105
169,851
121,155
1,067
-
-
1,067
368
-
34,216
-
34,216
21,765
-
56,320
278
56,598
16,905
-
-
1,020
1,020
785|
||15,926
243,423
3,403
262,752
160,978
-
3,403
(3,403 )
-|
||15,926
246,826
-
262,752|
|||
||17,535
143,443
-
160,978|
Of the total expenditure, £68,022 was unrestricted (2023: £77,006) and £194,730 was restricted (2023: £83,972).
## **7 Net income / (expenditure) for the year**
|This is stated after charging / (crediting):
Depreciation
Independent examiner’s fee|**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
2,783
4,707
850
850|
|---|---|
**23**
## **Vision Care for Homeless People Limited**
## **Notes to the financial statements**
## **Year ended 31 March 2024**
- **8 Analysis of staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses, and the cost of key management personnel**
|Staff costs were as follows:
Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Employer’s contribution to defined contribution pension schemes
Other staff costs|**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
155,826
99,119
6,804
1,857
4,365
2,778
2,856
17,401|
|---|---|
||**169,851**
**121,155**|
None of the employees received employee benefits (excluding employer pension) during the year over £60,000 (2023: None).
The total employee benefits including pension contributions of the key management personnel were £66,722 (2023: £40,891).
The charity trustees were not paid or received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2023: £0).
Trustees were not reimbursed any expenses during the year (2023: £0).
No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2023: £0)
The average number of employees (headcount based on the number of staff employed) during the year was 8.7 (2023: 7.0), FTE 4.6 (2023: FTE 3.3).
## **9 Taxation**
The charitable company is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.
**24**
## **Vision Care for Homeless People Limited**
## **Notes to the financial statements**
**Year ended 31 March 2024**
## **10 Tangible fixed assets**
|
**Cost**
At the start of the year
Additions
Disposals
**At the end of the year**
**Depreciation**
At the start of the year
Charge for year
**At the end of the year**
**Net book value**
Brought forward
**Carried forward**
All of the above assets are used for charitable purposes.|**Fixtures**
**Fittings**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
47,917
47,917
3,486
3,486
-
-|
|---|---|
||**51,403**
**51,403**|
||40,318
40,318
2,783
2,783|
||**43,101**
**43,101**|
||7,599
7,599|
||**8,302**
**8,302**|
|||
## **11 Debtors**
|**11 Debtors**||
|---|---|
|Contract income receivable
HMRC
Prepayments
**Total**
**12 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Other creditors and accruals
Taxation and social security
Deferred income
**Total**|**2024**
**£**
**2023**
**£**
-
2,172
2,060
2,265
3,170
2,385|
||5,230
6,822|
||**2024**
**£**
**2023**
**£**
1,617
2,211
728
-
56,983
25,000|
||59,328
27,211|
£56,983 deferred income in respect of a grant from Specsavers towards running and development costs
**25**
## **Vision Care for Homeless People Limited Notes to the financial statements Year ended 31 March 2024**
## **13 Movements in Funds**
|**Restricted funds**
Awards for All - England
Clothworkers Foundation
Edward and Dorothy Cadbury Trust
GETT Gloucester
Gloucester CCG
Gloucester LOC
Hedley Foundation
John James Bristol Foundation
LNER
Nationwide Community Foundation
Sir Halley Stewart Trust
Small Donations Restricted to Clinics
Specsavers
Stepper UK Ltd.
Vision Foundation
**Total Restricted Funds**
**Unrestricted Funds**
Designated Reserve
General Funds
**Total unrestricted funds**
**Total Funds**|**At the start**
**of the year**
**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Transfers**
**At the end**
**of the year**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
8,367
-
(8,367)
-
-
720
-
(720)
-
-
2,400
-
(600)
-
1,800
2,084
-
(521)
-
1,563
2,448
-
(610)
-
1,838
3,613
-
(3,613)
-
-
-
3,400
-
-
3,400
-
3,474
(697)
-
2,777
-
12,000
(9,289)
-
2,711
200
32,500
(34,280)
1,580
-
5,066
-
(5,066)
-
-
-
1,796
(1,796)
-
-
13,835
135,211
(110,671)
-
38,375
2,923
10,000
(13,066)
143
-
4,949
-
(5,434)
485
-|
|---|---|
||**46,605**
**198,381**
**(194,730)**
**2,208**
**52,464**|
||14,514
-
-
-
14,514
83,683
67,399
(68,022)
(2,208)
80,852|
||**98,197**
**67,399**
**(68,022)**
**(2,208)**
**95,366**|
|||
||**144,802**
**265,780**
**(262,752)**
**-**
**147,830**|
**26**
## **Vision Care for Homeless People Limited**
**Notes to the financial statements Year ended 31 March 2024**
## Restricted Funds
## **Awards for All - England**
In September 2022 Big Lottery Awards for All granted £9,996 towards opening a new VCHP clinic in Stratford London.
## **Clothworkers Foundation - Air Purifiers**
In July 2021, the Clothworkers Foundation made a commitment of £5,400 to fund the purchase of air purifying units to help reopen clinics post covid. £2,700 spent on air purifiers, then from 6/12/22 the funder allowed the remainder to be spent on IT for clinics.
## **Edward and Dorothy Cadbury Trust**
In May 2022, the Edward and Dorothy Cadbury Trusts made a donation to purchase an iCare tonometer for VCHP Birmingham
## **GETT Gloucester**
In April 2022, Gloucester Eye Therapy Trust (GETT) made a grant of £2,605 towards purchase of an I-care tonometer for the Gloucester clinic.
## **Gloucester ICB**
In February 2022, Gloucester ICB followed their start up grant for VCHP Gloucester with a further grant of £3,419 towards equipment and furniture.
## **Gloucester LOC**
In July 2022, Gloucester Local Optical Committee (LOC) made a grant of £6.613 towards running the clinic.
## **Hedley Foundation**
In November 2023, the Hedley Foundation donated £3,400 for an i-Care tonometer for the VCHP Stratford Clinic.
## **John James Bristol Foundation**
In September 2023, John James Bristol Foundation donated £3,474 for an i-Care tonometer for the VCHP Bristol Clinic.
## **LNER**
In April 2023, LNER granted £12,000 towards VCHP Leeds Clinic's running costs.
## **Nationwide Community Foundation**
In November 2021, the Nationwide Community Foundation made a commitment of £50,000 towards the cost eye care for homeless people in London for financial years commencing March 2022 and March 2023.
## **Sir Halley Stewart Trust**
In June 2019, The Trust made a commitment to £19,884 towards the Homeless Voices research project.
## **Small Donations Restricted to Clinics**
Organisations and Individuals made donations within the year towards the operating costs of specific clinics and these were utilised for those clinics within the year.
**27**
**Vision Care for Homeless People Limited Notes to the financial statements Year ended 31 March 2023**
## **Stepper UK Ltd.**
In April 2022, Stepper donated £7,157 towards the Leeds Clinic's running costs. In April 2023, Stepper donated £10,000 towards the Birmingham Clinic's running costs.
## **Vision Foundation**
In October 2022, the Vision Foundation's Resilience Fund made a grant of £10,000 towards VCHP's London operations and operations management while reopening its clinics.
## Unrestricted and Designated funds
## **Designated Equipment reserve**
The equipment replacement fund has been designated towards optical diagnostic equipment within clinics.
## **14 Related party transactions**
There are no related transactions to disclose for the year (2023: none).
**28**
VISION
CARE
FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE