Charity no. 1119462 

# **Wiltshire Blind Association Report and Unaudited Financial Statements** 

**31 March 2021** 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Reference and administrative details** 

|**For the year ended 31**|**March 2021**||
|---|---|---|
|**Charity number**|1119462||
|**Registered office and**|St. Lucy's Sight Centre||
|**operational address**|Browfort||
||Bath Road||
||Devizes||
||SN10 2AT||
|**President**|The Marchioness of Lansdowne||
|**Trustees**|Trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report were||
||as follows:||
||Simon Williams|Chair|
||Nicholas Grinham||
||Carl Hall||
||Rachel Wheeler||
|**Company secretary**|Mike Silvey||
|**Bankers**|CAF Bank Ltd||
||Kings Hill||
||West Malling||
||Kent||
||ME19 4TA||
|**Independent**|Godfrey Wilson Limited||
|**examiners**|Chartered accountants and|statutory auditors|
||5th Floor Mariner House||
||62 Prince Street||
||Bristol||
||BS1 4QD||



1 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021. 

Reference and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the Constitution and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities (effective from January 2019). 

## **About Wiltshire Blind Association** 

The charitable object of Wiltshire Blind Association is to promote the welfare of blind and partially sighted persons living in Wiltshire and Swindon. 

The operating name for the charity is **Wiltshire Sight** . 

**Our aim** is to ensure that everyone newly diagnosed or living with sight loss in Wiltshire and Swindon, including children and young people, have equal and timely access to the support and services they need. 

We work with people affected by sight loss to help them navigate the often complex provision of services, joining up health, social care and community services. 

Our strategy is defined by the views and needs of people with sight loss, and our services reflect what they identify as important to them. 

## **Our outcomes** 

Those directly affected by sight loss (including children) in Wiltshire and Swindon will: 

- Understand their eye condition, and what it means for them; 

- Have someone to talk to who will understand and listen; 

- Be able to remain as independent as possible, and to look after themselves and their family; 

- Be able to access support to improve their health and wellbeing; 

- Have access to the right benefits, and be able to maintain control of finances and plan for the future; 

- Have access to volunteering opportunities and employment support; 

- Be able to be part of their community and play an active role in it; 

- Be aware of, and able to use, resources and technology that is relevant to their needs; 

- Understand how to make the most of their remaining sight; 

- Be able to make connections with others living with sight loss; and 

- • Be able to influence the services which affect them and others living with sight loss. 

Families and carers of people affected by sight loss in Wiltshire and Swindon will have: 

- Access to support, advice and guidance in how to support people with sight loss; and 

- A greater understanding of the challenges faced by people with sight loss and the resources available to overcome these challenges. 

Local authorities, health service and other providers in Wiltshire and Swindon will be supported to: 

- Understand and address the needs of people living with sight loss in the provision of effective statutory services; and 

- Work together to ensure greater consistency, good practice and reduced duplication of services for people living with sight loss. 

2 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

Communities, businesses and the general public in Wiltshire and Swindon will have a: 

- Greater awareness of the importance of eye health, regular eye checks and other action to prevent sight loss; and 

- Greater awareness of the challenges faced by people living with sight loss and be supported to remove barriers that inhibit participation and inclusion. 

## **Review of the year** 

Over the past three years we have been working in partnership with Sight Support West of England (previously named Vision West of England) to deliver our services in Wiltshire and Swindon. This partnership has been very beneficial to the charity, firstly in reducing our overhead costs which enables us to spend more of our limited resources on essential services for our clients, and secondly enabling us to benefit from sharing and exchange of knowledge and good practice in the delivery of sight loss services across a larger region, including Bristol, Bath and South Gloucestershire. 

Wiltshire Blind Association remains an independent charity committed to providing high quality local services to blind and partially sighted people across Wiltshire and Swindon. The only change over the past three years is that our front-line services are being delivered through Sight Support West of England. 

The last year has, without a doubt, been a challenging year for everyone. When Coronavirus restrictions began in April 2020, our Wiltshire Sight team adapted quickly to home working. Within a few weeks, we were equipped with PPE and had adapted our resource centre in Devizes to make it Covid-safe. Unfortunately, with the closing of most external venues, we had to suspend our hub clinics across the region, but we are proud to have kept our resource centre in Devizes open throughout the year for face-to-face appointments where needed, whilst adapting other services to be delivered over the phone or online. 

The year has been a particularly tough one for many people with sight loss – particularly those living alone without support. Isolation is a major issue for so many of our clients, and the lockdown and extended need to ‘shield’ for many people with underlying health conditions inevitably compounded this for so many people. In April we began to check in by phone with all clients, to make sure they had access to local support and to provide information and emotional support for those most isolated. We have continued to provide phone support throughout the year, both through the Sight Loss Advisor team, and through our new volunteer telephone befriending service which started in late April and is still ongoing. 

All our social groups and peer support sessions have had to move online or be conducted over the phone since April 2020. We focussed on developing new training resources to help visually impaired people access Zoom and other online platforms, and training volunteers in how to facilitate online conversations. 

In June and July 2020, we provided a lot of support to help people get out safely, providing information and support around adapted public transport and shopping trips, including sending out free lanyards to help people with social distancing difficulties – a measure which had significant takeup and received very positive feedback from the visually-impaired community. 

3 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

In late Autumn, concerned about the health impact of such a long period indoors for many clients, we commissioned a local fitness instructor to produce a set of audio-described exercise classes targeted at older people unable to leave their homes. As well as being accessible through our website, we have made these classes available to clients on USB sticks (for people without access to the internet). The sessions have been so successful that they have been distributed to wider groups across the region by other agencies such as Age UK and Extend Fitness, who run sessions for people with a wide range of disabilities. 

With many people shielding or choosing to delay seeking help during the pandemic, new client numbers were fewer than in the previous two years. In contrast, the number of one-to-one advice or support sessions delivered over the year increased by 80% to almost 1,500. This is a reflection of the popularity of our telephone services, and that our existing clients felt confident in calling us for help. The closure of many other face-to-face groups and organisations increased demand for our services. We were able to meet this increased demand because of the reduced travel for our services team, instead conducting telephone conversations for anyone who didn’t require a face-to-face appointment. 

As the country moves towards opening up again, our focus in the first quarter of 2021 has been on developing ways for people with sight loss to engage more in the community. In February and March we trained a group of Ramblers’ walks leaders to ensure that local walking groups are accessible and welcoming for the visually impaired community. We are also developing new sporting opportunities across Wiltshire to encourage people to get active again as restrictions ease. 

Specific progress against the key objectives we set ourselves for 20-21 is summarised below: 

- **Continue to explore opportunities for growth of services through new partnerships and innovative working.** As outlined above, opportunities for growth of services have been driven mainly by needs identified by clients during lockdown – including the need for more accessible audio exercise sessions, the need for emotional support through befriending, and the need for courses to be delivered online. In summer 2020 we conducted a phone and online survey of clients’ needs in partnership with Sight Support West of England, which provided us with an insight into what was working well and what additional services might be needed. 

In the Autumn, in response to the concern that many people were being excluded from services and support as more things moved online, we developed a new technology course, ‘Tablets aren’t Just for Swallowing’, designed for people who may have never picked up a tablet or smartphone before, taking them through the basics of using these devices as a visually impaired person. Through a partnership with Age UK Wiltshire, we are now also able to loan tablets to people who want to give them a try at home whilst undertaking the course. 

In late 2020 we launched a new online ‘Moving Forward with Sight Loss’ course, to help local people who are newly diagnosed with sight loss development, with the aim of both providing people with practical information and support, but also developing peer support groups. The first two of these courses have been very successful and have developed into informal social support groups for the participants after the end of the course. 

4 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

- **Further build our team of volunteers and volunteer-led services across Wiltshire, with a particular focus on providing volunteering opportunities for people with sight loss.** Despite the lockdown, we have made good progress over the past year in building our volunteer team, mainly due to the success of the telephone befriending service set up to help isolated older people during the pandemic. Although some of our regular office volunteers were unable to work during the year, 27 volunteers have provided regular support over the past year in Wiltshire, an increase from 13 in the previous year. A third of our volunteers are visually impaired themselves. We are incredibly grateful to all those who have joined the team and provided invaluable support over the year. 

- **Build our individual giving fundraising, and explore the potential of opening retail outlets to support our fundraising and services.** A significant amount of work has been done over the past year with our partner Sight Support looking at how to build a sustainable funding base for the charity. The Board is confident that the partnership with Sight Support is the best way forward to ensure our work in Wiltshire and Swindon has a sustainable future, and a five-year funding strategy has been approved. The pandemic over the past year has inevitably had an adverse impact on our fundraising plans, most noticeably with the cancellation of all community fundraising events and activities. 

However, despite this our fundraising has been relatively successful this year, with a steadily growing supporter base, and an increase in grants from local trusts and foundations. 

Plans for opening a retail outlet to raise income for the charity are moving forward, and we hope to see our first store open in Wiltshire towards the end of 2021. These plans have been welcomed by volunteers and donors, and we are confident that the store will be well supported when it can open. 

- **Demonstrate the outcomes and impact of our work for people living with sight loss.** Together with Sight Support West of England we have continued to focus on ensuring our monitoring and evaluation procedures are fit-for-purpose and are able to demonstrate the quality and impact of our services. Following the introduction of our Sight Loss Assessment evaluation framework last year, in June 2020 we were able to produce our first Impact Report showing progress of our service users against key outcomes – this will now become an annual process which we hope will give a very clear picture of the impact our services are having and how they progress over the years. 

Some highlights from the last 12 months show 83% of people who received support from one of our Sight Loss Advisors reported an increase in confidence, and 90% of people reported that they felt more able to manage day-to-day life. In satisfaction ratings, 100% of clients who completed a review rated the service they had received from us as ‘Good’ or higher, with 77% rating it ‘Excellent’. 

## **Plans for the future** 

At the time of writing, we are still living with Government restrictions due to the ongoing pandemic, so it is hard to predict detailed plans for the coming year with any degree of certainty. However, we are confident that we will be opening up services in the community once more, and we know that there are a significant number of people across Wiltshire and Swindon who will need significant support and confidence building to leave the house and re-engage in the community. This will be a key priority over the summer of 2021. Other key development priorities include: 

5 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

- Opening up of community services across Wiltshire as soon as safe to do so, with full Covid-safe procedures in place; 

- Develop new opportunities to increase social connections for people living with sight loss in Wiltshire and Swindon, including peer support, volunteering, social groups and befriending; 

- Work with Sight Support to develop an accessible Knowledge Hub of resources for clients, including an increased focus on health advice and fitness; 

- Open at least one charity shop to support our longer-term income sustainability, whilst also acting as a client support hub, enabling more clients to access support within easy travelling distance of their home; 

- Work with Sight Support to develop an Advisory Board of visually impaired people across the West of England to inform strategy and planning of services and increase client engagement; and 

- • Further build our team of volunteers and volunteer-led services across the county, with a particular focus on providing volunteering opportunities for people with sight loss. 

## **Financial review** 

Income and expenditure for 2020/21 were in line with the budget set for the year by the Board. Our partnership with Sight Support West of England has made a significant difference to our overhead costs which means that the money we raise is able to go directly on our frontline services. In line with our financial planning, we are continuing to use our free reserves to fund services as we bring down our reserves levels in line with our Reserves Policy. 

After making appropriate enquiries, the Board of Trustees has a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, it continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. 

## **Charitable funders and supporters** 

Wiltshire Sight wishes to thank all its charitable funders and supporters, listed below for the year April 2020 – March 2021. As an independent charity we rely on the generosity of our supporters and the local community. Without their support we would not be able to deliver any of our valuable work providing local support for blind and partially sighted people in communities across Wiltshire and Swindon: 

Age UK Wiltshire Salisbury City Council Calne Town Council Samuel William Farmer Trust Chippenham Borough Lands Charity St James Trust Chippenham Town Council Tesco Bags of Help Devizes Lions Club Trowbridge Town Council Inchcape Foundation Waitrose Community Matters Julia & Hans Rausing Trust Warminster Town Council Global Make Some Noise Westbury Town Council Lord Hanson Foundation WG Edwards Charitable Foundation Melksham Town Council Wiltshire Community Foundation Melksham without Parish Council Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council National Lottery Zurich Community Fund 

6 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **Reserves policy** 

Total funds held at 31 March 2021 were £557,420, none of which was restricted. £149,685 of unrestricted reserves are tied up in the capital assets of the charity and £300,000 has been designated by the Trustees for future ongoing projects in Wiltshire to be completed over the next three years in partnership with Sight Support West of England. 

Our current level of free reserves, defined as net current assets and liquid investments held in general funds, is £107,735. 

The Trustees are particularly aware of the need to take certain factors into account to cover fluctuations in income (principally legacies), current liabilities and unplanned expenditure. The target amount for contingency set by the charity is therefore 12 months’ operating costs. The Trustees are aware that the current level of free reserves is slightly lower than 12 months’ costs, and will keep the level of reserves and the policy under constant scrutiny. 

The level of reserves has been set by Wiltshire Blind Association taking into account the following: 

- The smooth running of the charity, and the provision of core services to visually impaired clients, needs to be maintained. Funds should be available to continue to subsidise the provision of core services until alternative sources of funding can be found; 

- If the charity were to close it would take a minimum of 12 months to find alternative and equivalent sources of support for our visually impaired clients across Wiltshire and Swindon; 

- Funding should be available to deal with the contingencies which might arise in the day to day running of the organisation; and 

- A number of costs would be associated with dissolution of the charity. 

## **Structure, governance and management** 

The organisation converted from a charitable company limited by guarantee to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 1 September 2020. The charity was established in 1918 and registered under the Companies Act 2006 on 22 January 2007 and registered under the Charities Act 2011 on 1 June 2007. A new constitution of the CIO replaced the existing Memorandum of Association on 1 September 2020. This constitution establishes the objects and powers of the CIO, and governs its operations. 

The organisation is governed by a Board of Trustees. During the year to 31 March 2021, the Board met quarterly. The Trustees do not receive any remuneration for their services to the charity. 

The organisation is governed by a Board of Trustees. During the year to 31 March 2021, the Board met quarterly. The Trustees are elected at the annual general meeting and do not receive any remuneration for their services to the charity. 

On 1 April 2021, the membership structure of Wiltshire Blind Association was changed and Sight Support West of England was appointed as the sole member of the charity in order to formalise the partnership relationship between the two charities. This change in structure means that Wiltshire Blind Association is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sight Support (which is itself a CIO, registered charity number 1178384). However, Wiltshire Blind Association remains an independent registered charity with its own Board of Trustees and its own set of accounts. 

In the event of the CIO being wound up, the members have no liability to contribute to its assets. 

7 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **Related parties** 

There were no related party transactions with trustees or senior management. 

## **Risk management and delegation** 

The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate systems and controls are in place in order to mitigate those risks and to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. During the year the trustees have considered the major risks and systems have been put in place to mitigate their impact. 

The charity investment portfolio is managed by an independent investments manager who operates within the specific guidelines and restrictions set and is reviewed annually by the Board. 

## **Public benefit** 

The board of trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit “Charities and Public Benefit”. 

Wiltshire Blind Association’s charitable objectives are enshrined within its constitution and, as such, the trustees ensure that this charter is carried out for the public benefit. This is done through the delivery of services which, whilst primarily aimed at those who are blind or partially sighted are, where appropriate, open to all who might benefit. 

## **Statement of responsibilities of the trustees** 

The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales 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 the incoming resources and application of resources, including the net income or expenditure, of the charity for the year. In preparing those 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 accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 

- state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; 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 proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the constitution. 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. 

8 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. 

## **Independent examiners** 

Godfrey Wilson Limited were re-appointed as independent examiners to the charity during the year and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity. 

Approved by the trustees on 30 July 2021 and signed on their behalf by 

Simon Williams - Chair 

9 



## **Independent examiner's report** 

## **To the trustees of** 

## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Wiltshire Blind Association (the CIO) for the year ended 31 March 2021, which are set out on pages 11 to 24. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the charity trustees of the CIO you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). 

I report in respect of my examination of the CIO’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. 

## **Independent examiner’s statement** 

Godfrey Wilson Limited also provides bookkeeping services to the CIO. I confirm that as a member of the ICAEW I am subject to the FRC’s Revised Ethical Standard 2016, which I have applied with respect to this engagement. 

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 

- (1) accounting records were not kept in respect of the CIO as required by section 130 of the Act; or 

- (2) the accounts do not accord with those records; or 

- (3) the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. 

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 

Date: 2 August 2021 **Rob Wilson FCA Member of the ICAEW** For and on behalf of: **Godfrey Wilson Limited** 

Chartered accountants and statutory auditors 5th Floor Mariner House 62 Prince Street Bristol BS1 4QD 

10 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Statement of financial activities** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

|Restricted Unrestricted<br>Note<br>£<br>£<br>**Income from:**<br>Donations and legacies<br>3<br>-<br>120,117<br>Charitable activities<br>4<br>39,544<br>36,716<br>Other trading activities<br>5<br>-<br>94<br>Investments<br>-<br>7,516<br>**Total income**<br>39,544<br>164,443<br>**Expenditure on:**<br>Raising funds<br>-<br>444<br>Charitable activities<br>39,544<br>91,638<br>**Total expenditure**<br>7<br>39,544<br>92,082<br>-<br>72,361<br>Net gains / (losses) on investments<br>11<br>-<br>41,447<br>8<br>-<br>113,808<br>**Reconciliation of funds:**<br>Total funds brought forward<br>-<br>443,612<br>**Total funds carried forward**<br>-<br>557,420<br>**Net income / (expenditure) and net**<br>**movement in funds**<br>**Net income / (expenditure) before gains /**<br>**(losses)**|**2021**<br>2020<br>**Total**<br>Total<br>**£**<br>£<br>**120,117**<br>10,330<br>**76,260**<br>21,139<br>**94**<br>17,633<br>**7,516**<br>7,860<br>**203,987**<br>56,962<br>**444**<br>28<br>**131,182**<br>146,913<br>**131,626**<br>146,941<br>**72,361**<br>(89,979)<br>**41,447**<br>(18,780)<br>**113,808**<br>(108,759)<br>**443,612**<br>552,371<br>**557,420**<br>443,612|
|---|---|



All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in note 16 to the accounts. 

11 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Balance sheet** 

## **As at 31 March 2021** 

|Note<br>**Fixed assets**<br>Tangible assets<br>10<br>Investments<br>11<br>**Current assets**<br>Stock<br>12<br>Debtors<br>13<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>**Liabilities**<br>Creditors: amounts falling due within 1 year<br>14<br>**Net current assets**<br>**Net assets**<br>15<br>**Funds**<br>16<br>Restricted funds<br>Unrestricted funds<br>Designated funds<br>General funds<br>**Total charity funds**|**£**<br>**-**<br>**10**<br>**140,582**<br>**140,592**<br>**(115,838)**|**2021**<br>**£**<br>**149,685**<br>**382,981**<br>**532,666**<br>**24,754**<br>**557,420**<br>**-**<br>**449,685**<br>**107,735**<br>**557,420**|2020<br>£<br>156,521<br>234,318|
|---|---|---|---|
||||390,839<br>2,318<br>-<br>76,679|
||||78,997<br>(26,224)|
||||52,773|
||||443,612|
||||-<br>344,839<br>98,773|
||||443,612|



Approved by the trustees on 30 July 2021 and signed on their behalf by 

Simon Williams - Chair 

12 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

**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 in preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). 

Wiltshire Blind Association 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 note. 

## **b) Going concern basis of accounting** 

The accounts have been prepared on the assumption that the charity is able to continue as a going concern. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the global economy, and has in turn affected the charity. The trustees have considered the impact of this issue on the charity’s current and future financial position. The charity holds unrestricted funds of £557,420 and has sufficient cash reserves to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from the date on which these financial statements are approved. 

## **c) Income** 

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. 

Income from the 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. 

For legacies, entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either: the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor(s) to the Trust that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor's intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material. 

Income received in advance of provision of a specified service is deferred until criteria for income recognition are met. 

## **d) 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. 

13 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **1. Accounting policies (continued)** 

## **e) Funds 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 for specific projects being undertaken by the charity. 

## **f) 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. 

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred. 

## **g) Grants payable** 

Grants payable are charged in the year in which the offer is conveyed to the recipient except in those cases where the offer is conditional, such grants being recognised as expenditure when the conditions attached have been fulfilled. Grants offered subject to conditions at the year end are noted as commitment but are not accrued as expenditure. 

## **h) Allocation of support and governance costs** 

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the charity, including the costs of complying with constitutional and statutory requirements and any costs associated with the strategic management of the charity’s activities. These costs have been allocated in full to expenditure on charitable activities which is deemed to be reflective of the activities of the charity in this period. 

## **i) Tangible fixed assets** 

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows: 

Long leasehold 2% straight line Computer equipment 25% reducing balance Fixtures and fittings 25% reducing balance 

Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £500. 

## **j) Investments** 

Investments held at the year end are valued at the current market value at that date. Investment income from dividends is included in incoming resources while realised and unrealised losses and gains on investments are shown separately on the statement of financial activities (SOFA). Realised gains and losses are calculated on investment disposals during the year as the difference between the opening market value and the proceeds received on sale. Unrealised gains and losses are calculated on investment holdings at the year end as the difference between the closing market value and the opening market value or purchase value during the year. 

14 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

**1. Accounting policies (continued)** 

## **k) 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. 

## **l) 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. 

## **m) Creditors** 

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. 

## **n) 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 recognised at amortised cost using the effective interest method. 

## **o) Foreign currency transactions** 

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at rates prevailing at the date of the transaction. Balances denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rate of exchange prevailing at the year end. 

## **p) Accounting estimates and key judgements** 

In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying 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 if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods. 

The key sources of estimation uncertainty that have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements are described below. 

## **Depreciation** 

As described in note 1i to the financial statements, depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. 

15 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **2. Prior period comparatives: statement of financial activities** 

|Restricted<br>£<br>£<br>**Income from:**<br>Donations and legacies<br>-<br>10,330<br>Charitable activities<br>20,265<br>874<br>Other trading activities<br>-<br>17,633<br>Investments<br>-<br>7,860<br>**Total income**<br>20,265<br>36,697<br>**Expenditure on:**<br>Raising funds<br>-<br>28<br>Charitable activities<br>24,811<br>122,102<br>**Total expenditure**<br>24,811<br>122,130<br>**Net expenditure before gains / (losses)**<br>(4,546)<br>(85,433)<br>Net losses on investments<br>-<br>(18,780)<br>**Net expenditure and net movement in funds**<br>(4,546)<br>(104,213)<br>**3.**<br>**Income from donations and legacies**<br>**2021**<br>Restricted<br>**Total**<br>£<br>£<br>**£**<br>Donations<br>-<br>7,886<br>**7,886**<br>Legacies<br>-<br>112,231<br>**112,231**<br>-<br>120,117<br>**120,117**<br>Unrestricted<br>Unrestricted|**2020**<br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>**10,330**<br>**21,139**<br>**17,633**<br>**7,860**|
|---|---|
||**56,962**|
||**28**<br>**146,913**|
||**146,941**|
||**(89,979)**<br>**(18,780)**|
||**(108,759)**|
||2020<br>Total<br>£<br>8,267<br>2,063|
||10,330|



All income from donations and legacies in the prior period was unrestricted. 

16 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **4. Income from charitable activities** 

|Grants<br>Resource sales<br>**Prior period comparative:**<br>Grants<br>Resource sales<br>**5.**<br>**Income from other trading activities**<br>Corporate fundraising<br>Events and fundraising|Restricted<br>£<br>£<br>39,544<br>36,440<br>-<br>276<br>39,544<br>36,716<br>Restricted<br>£<br>£<br>20,265<br>728<br>-<br>146<br>20,265<br>874<br>**2021**<br>Restricted<br>**Total**<br>£<br>£<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>**-**<br>-<br>94<br>**94**<br>-<br>94<br>**94**<br>Unrestricted<br>Unrestricted<br>Unrestricted|**2021**<br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>**75,984**<br>**276**|
|---|---|---|
|||**76,260**|
|||2020<br>Total<br>£<br>20,993<br>146|
|||21,139|
|||2020<br>Total<br>£<br>750<br>16,883|
|||17,633|



All income from other trading activities in the prior period was unrestricted. 

## **6. Government grants** 

The charity received no government grants during this or the prior period. 

17 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **7. Total expenditure** 

|**Total expenditure**|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Grants payable to Sight<br>Support West of England<br>Depreciation<br>Accountancy<br>General office<br>Advertising and promotion<br>Insurance<br>Investment management fees<br>IT and communications<br>Bank charges<br>Subscriptions<br>Fundraising costs<br>**Sub-total**<br>Allocation of support and<br>governance costs<br>**Total expenditure**|Raising<br>funds<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>444<br>444<br>-<br>**444**|Charitable<br>activities<br>£<br>120,369<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>120,369<br>10,813<br>**131,182**|£<br>-<br>6,836<br>2,179<br>71<br>936<br>268<br>300<br>98<br>74<br>51<br>-<br>10,813<br>(10,813)<br>**-**<br>Support and<br>governance<br>costs|**2021 Total**<br>**£**<br>**120,369**<br>**6,836**<br>**2,179**<br>**71**<br>**936**<br>**268**<br>**300**<br>**98**<br>**74**<br>**51**<br>**444**<br>**131,626**<br>-<br>**131,626**|Raising<br>funds<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>28<br>28<br>-<br>**28**|Charitable<br>activities<br>£<br>131,664<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>131,664<br>15,249<br>**146,913**|£<br>-<br>8,035<br>2,722<br>1,873<br>1,536<br>433<br>300<br>250<br>65<br>35<br>-<br>15,249<br>(15,249)<br>**-**<br>Support and<br>governance<br>costs|**2020 Total**<br>£<br>**131,664**<br>**8,035**<br>**2,722**<br>**1,873**<br>**1,536**<br>**433**<br>**300**<br>**250**<br>**65**<br>**35**<br>**28**|
|||||||||**146,941**<br>-|
|||||||||**146,941**|



Total governance costs were £1,920 (2020 - £1,260) 

18 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

**8. Net movement in funds** 

This is stated after charging: 

|**Net movement in funds**<br>This is stated after charging:|||
|---|---|---|
||**2021**|2020|
||**£**|£|
|Depreciation|**6,836**|8,035|
|Trustees' remuneration|**Nil**|Nil|
|Trustees' reimbursed expenses|**Nil**|Nil|
|Independent examiners' remuneration:|||
|▪Independent examination fee|**1,920**|1,260|
|▪Other services|**259**|1,247|



## **9. Taxation** 

The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes. 

## **10. Tangible fixed assets** 

|**Cost**<br>At 1 April 2020 and at 31 March 2021<br>**Depreciation**<br>At 1 April 2020<br>Charge for the year<br>At 31 March 2021<br>**Net book value**<br>**At 31 March 2021**<br>At 31 March 2020|**Long**<br>**leasehold**<br>**£**<br>161,424<br>19,368<br>3,228<br>22,596<br>**138,828**<br>142,056|**Computer**<br>**equipment**<br>**£**<br>34,562<br>26,534<br>2,007<br>28,541<br>**6,021**<br>8,028|**Fixtures**<br>**and**<br>**fittings**<br>**£**<br>34,070<br>27,633<br>1,601<br>29,234<br>**4,836**<br>6,437|**Total**<br>**£**<br>**230,056**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**73,535**<br>**6,836**|
|||||**80,371**|
|||||**149,685**|
|||||156,521|



19 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

|**11. Investments**<br>Market value at 1 April 2020<br>Additions<br>Disposals proceeds<br>Realised gains / (losses)<br>Unrealised gains / (losses)<br>Movement in cash balances<br>**Market value at 31 March 2021**<br>**Represented by:**<br>Listed equities<br>Cash<br>**Total**<br>Investments comprise listed investments held by the charity via Rathbones.|**2021**<br>**£**<br>**234,318**<br>**220,467**<br>**(107,712)**<br>**16,019**<br>**25,428**<br>**(5,539)**<br>**382,981**<br>**366,440**<br>**16,541**<br>**382,981**|2020<br>£<br>245,538<br>7,560<br>-<br>-<br>(18,780)<br>-|
|---|---|---|
|||234,318|
|||212,237<br>22,081|
|||234,318|
||||



|**12. Stock**<br>Merchandise<br>**13. Debtors**<br>Other debtors<br>**14. Creditors : amounts due within 1 year**<br>Trade creditors<br>Owed to Sight Support West of England<br>Accruals|**2021**<br>**£**<br>**-**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**10**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**268**<br>**113,649**<br>**1,921**<br>**115,838**|2020<br>£<br>2,318|
|---|---|---|
|||2020<br>£<br>-|
|||2020<br>£<br>-<br>24,964<br>1,260|
|||26,224|



20 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **15. Analysis of net assets between funds** 

|Tangible fixed assets<br>Investments<br>Current assets<br>Current liabilities<br>**Net assets at 31 March 2021**<br>**Prior period comparative**<br>Tangible fixed assets<br>Investments<br>Current assets<br>Current liabilities<br>**Net assets at 31 March 2020**|£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>**-**<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>**-**<br>Restricted<br>funds<br>Restricted<br>funds|£<br>149,685<br>300,000<br>-<br>-<br>**449,685**<br>£<br>156,521<br>188,318<br>-<br>-<br>**344,839**<br>Designated<br>funds<br>Designated<br>funds|£<br>-<br>82,981<br>140,592<br>(115,838)<br>**107,735**<br>£<br>-<br>46,000<br>78,997<br>(26,224)<br>**98,773**<br>General<br>funds<br>General<br>funds|**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>**149,685**<br>**382,981**<br>**140,592**<br>**(115,838)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**557,420**|
|||||**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>**156,521**<br>**234,318**<br>**78,997**<br>**(26,224)**|
|||||**443,612**|



21 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **16. Movements in funds** 

|**Movements in funds**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Restricted funds**<br>Global Make Some Noise<br>Wiltshire Community Foundation<br>Resource Centre Refurbishment<br>Audio Library<br>Chippenham Borough Lands Charity<br>St James Trust<br>Age UK Wiltshire<br>**Total restricted funds**<br>_Designated funds:_<br>Development fund<br>Fixed asset fund<br>_Total designated funds_<br>General funds<br>**Total unrestricted funds**<br>**Total funds**<br>Community Sight Loss Service<br>Wiltshire and Swindon<br>**Unrestricted funds**|At 1 April<br>2020<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>188,318<br>156,521<br>344,839<br>98,773<br>443,612<br>443,612|Income<br>£<br>17,500<br>8,369<br>4,275<br>1,300<br>100<br>2,000<br>1,000<br>5,000<br>39,544<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>164,443<br>164,443<br>203,987|£<br>(17,500)<br>(8,369)<br>(4,275)<br>(1,300)<br>(100)<br>(2,000)<br>(1,000)<br>(5,000)<br>(39,544)<br>-<br>(6,836)<br>(6,836)<br>(85,246)<br>(92,082)<br>(131,626)<br>Expenditure|£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>111,682<br>-<br>111,682<br>(70,235)<br>41,447<br>41,447<br>Transfers<br>and gains /<br>(losses)|**£**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**At 31**<br>**March**<br>**2021**|
||||||**-**|
||||||**300,000**<br>**149,685**|
||||||**449,685**|
||||||**107,735**|
||||||**557,420**|
||||||**557,420**|



There were no transfers between funds in the year. 

## **Purposes of restricted funds** 

Community Sight Loss Service Wiltshire and Swindon 

To deliver information, advice, guidance and support to people with sight loss across Wiltshire and Swindon. 

Global Make Some Noise 

To provide 1:1 support to visually impaired children, young people and their families, and to provide access for visually impaired children to opportunities and experiences they may otherwise struggle to access. These funds have been spent during the year, as part of the grant provided to Sight Support West of England. 

Wiltshire Community Foundation 

To provide a remote befriending service for people with sight loss in Wiltshire and Swindon. 

Resource Centre Refurbishment 

To support the refurbishment of our Sight Loss Resource Centre in Devizes. 

22 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **16. Movements in funds (continued)** 

## **Purposes of restricted funds (continued)** 

Audio Library 

To provide audiobooks to people with sight loss across Wiltshire and Swindon. 

Chippenham Borough Lands Charity 

To deliver community sight loss services in the Chippenham area. 

St James Trust 

To deliver community sight loss services in the Trowbridge area. 

Age UK Wiltshire To support digital inclusion of older people with sight loss in Wiltshire and Swindon. 

## **Purposes of designated funds** 

Development fund 

To fund Sight Support West of England to provide sight loss advice and guidance services across Wiltshire and Swindon. 

Fixed asset fund Represents the net book value of fixed assets. 

|**Prior period comparative**<br>**Restricted funds**<br>Clothworkers<br>Devizes Town Council<br>Rotary Club of Melksham<br>Salisbury City Council<br>St James Trust<br>Trowbridge Town Council<br>Zurich Community Foundation<br>**Total restricted funds**<br>_Designated funds:_<br>Capital fund<br>Development fund<br>Fixed asset fund<br>_Total designated funds_<br>General funds<br>**Total unrestricted funds**<br>**Total funds**<br>Global Make Some Noise<br>**Unrestricted funds**|At 1 April<br>2019<br>£<br>723<br>-<br>3,823<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>4,546<br>25,000<br>319,982<br>164,556<br>509,538<br>38,287<br>547,825<br>552,371|Income<br>£<br>-<br>150<br>12,330<br>250<br>1,535<br>1,000<br>500<br>4,500<br>20,265<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>36,697<br>36,697<br>56,962|£<br>(723)<br>(150)<br>(16,153)<br>(250)<br>(1,535)<br>(1,000)<br>(500)<br>(4,500)<br>(24,811)<br>-<br>(131,664)<br>(8,035)<br>(139,699)<br>(1,211)<br>(140,910)<br>(165,721)<br>Expenditure<br>and losses|£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>(25,000)<br>-<br>-<br>(25,000)<br>25,000<br>-<br>-<br>Transfers<br>between<br>funds|**£**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**At 31**<br>**March**<br>**2020**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||**-**|
||||||**-**<br>**188,318**<br>**156,521**|
||||||**344,839**<br>**98,773**|
||||||**443,612**|
||||||**443,612**|



23 



## **Wiltshire Blind Association** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **17. Financial instruments at fair value** 

|**Financial instruments at fair value**|||
|---|---|---|
|Financial assets measured at fair value<br>Financial assets measured at fair value comprise listed investments.|**2021**<br>**£**<br>**382,981**|2020<br>£<br>234,318|
||||



## **18. Related party transactions** 

Nick Grinham and Carl Hall, trustees of Wiltshire Blind Association (WBA) are also trustees of Sight Support West of England (SSWE). During the year ended 31 March 2021, WBA collected monies on behalf of SSWE and granted £120,369 (2020 - £131,664) for the purposes described in note 16. At 31 March 2021, WBA owed SSWE £113,649 (2020: £25,076). 

From 1 April 2021 the relationship between the entitites will be formalised with SSWE becoming the sole member of WBA. However, WBA will remain an independent charity with its own Board of Trustees and its own set of accounts. 

24