Trustees Annual Report to be included in Annual Return for 2019/20
Objectives and activities
| Objectives and activities | ||
|---|---|---|
| SORP ref. |
||
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 |
The aim of the Charity is to translate, publish and disseminate the Christian Bible in the British Sign Language (BSL), recognised by government in 2003 as a national minoritylanguage of the United Kingdom. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 & 1.19 |
§Continuation of translation of the Gospel of Mark and preparations for future work upon completion; managing processes of consultation, reviewing and revising the translation, and final filming. §Development of explanatory and visual resources to accompany the translation. §Design of a new website in consultation with web designer, and researching into skills and technologies needed for web-delivery of our translation §Maintenance of awareness of the Project and some fund-raising; continued dissemination of the completed early chapters by DVD and on the old website, while the new website is made ready for the publication of these and of the new chapters and resources. §Consultation with the Deaf Bible Society. nFormation of focus groups to ensure translation is accessible to BSL users. nRecruitment of more Biblical scholars and translators with a view to increasing workload. nIntroducing new people to our work with a view to them becoming Trustees. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 |
The objectives are targeted, and activities carried out, for the public benefit as described in the guidance. The longer term aim benefits the UK Deaf community with incremental access to books of the Bible in BSL. In the shorter term the Project is building capacity among BSL users in linguistic, exegetical, translational and presentational skills to make this aim achievable and sustainable. The UK Deaf community is also offered opportunities to learn new skills by getting involved in charitywork in different roles such as Trustee. |
| Additional information(optional) | ||
| Policy on social investment | Para 1.38 |
The Project is building capacity among BSL users in linguistic, exegetical, translational and presentational skills to make the aim of translating and publishing the Bible in BSL achievable and sustainable. New focus group leaders have been recruited and their skills further developed. Hearing BSL users have the opportunity to improve their signingand translation skills. |
| Contribution made by volunteers | Para 1.38 |
Some people give all their work voluntarily; e.g. Trustees, the web designer and some biblical scholars work voluntarily. Some translators and co-ordinators who |
claim for some of the hours they work also do additional hours on a voluntary basis. In these ways, in the year in question, 30 people worked for the Project as volunteers.
Achievements and performance
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 |
• Building capacity among BSL users in linguistic, exegetical, translational and presentational skills. • Continued dissemination of the completed early chapters by DVD and on the old website (while the new website is made ready for the publication of these and of the new chapters and resources). • Covid 19 pandemic - during this time we moved some operations on-line such as review groups, focus groups and trustee meetings. • Completed new risk assessments for filming and designed template for future use. |
|---|---|---|
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 |
The net incoming resources of the Charity were £46766.91 (2020: £19,696). Total expenditure was £12043.53. |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 |
Our policy is to hold sufficient reserves, as a minimum, to cover any forecast operational deficit for the next four months, which at our current rate of translation work means a minimum of £4,000. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 |
The financial statement shows the Charity has free reserves of £33.188. This is considerably higher than in previous years due to the current pandemic making it impossible to meet to carry out a lot of the work needed for theproject such as filming. |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves | Para 1.22 |
n/a |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a goingconcern |
Para 1.23 |
n/a |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 |
n/a |
| Additional information(optional) | ||
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s principal sources of funds(includinganyfundraising) |
Para 1.47 |
Our funding has been through personal donations and smallgrants. |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 |
Our financial resources do not currently warrant investment. Our social investment is integral to that aspect of public benefit which relates to building capacity among BSL users in linguistic, exegetical, translational and presentational skills: this is a necessary element in our keyaim of translatingthe Bible into BSL. |
|---|---|---|
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 |
1. The recruitment of suitable trustees. The current board is capable of managing this phase of the project but as we draw to the finish of the pilot stage (the completion of the first of the biblical books to be translated), we need to recruit trustees with particular management skills for moving the project forward in its next phase 2. The slow rate of translation work. We need to sustain our reputation for scholarly work but also address our speed of progress once the pilot stage is completed. 3. Loss of volunteers, especially Trustees, due to burn-out caused by too much work needing doing and not having sufficient funding to pay appropriate people to carry out the tasks and provide management and supervision. We evaluate other risks (compliance with legislation and good governance, cash flow, access to documents) as low level of threat, apply mitigating processes and keep them under review. |
Structure, governance and management
Description of charity’s trusts:
| Type of governing document: e.g., trust deed, memorandum and articles of association etc. |
Para 1.25 |
Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 3rd June 2007. |
|---|---|---|
| How is the charity constituted? e.g., limited company, unin- corporated association,CIO |
Para 1.25 |
The company was incorporated and began trading on 13th June 2007. |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 |
We advertise for potential new Trustees and also seek those with suitable skills and experience to enhance those of the existing Board through our existing network of contacts, and those of our advisers. This includes an active search for Deaf trustees as part of maintenance of a good reputation. No other person or body appoints trustees. Trustees subscribe to the doctrinal beliefs underpinning the Charity as laid out in the governing document’s Statement of Belief. At each annual general meeting one-third of the Trustees who are subject to retirement by rotation or, if their number is not three or a multiple of three, the number nearest to one third shall retire from office; but if there is only one Trustee who is subject to retirement byrotation theyshall retire. |
| Additional information(optional) |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 |
Strategic and policy decisions are made collectively by the trustees, often in consultation with advisers. We have agreed, and keep under review, policies on: complaints procedure, conflicts of interest, equal opportunities, risk register, financial procedures and volunteer management. Operational decisions are taken by co-ordinators of teams and reported to meetings of trustees. Trustees meetings are used to update or induct fellow trustees on points of good governance, with advice from the CompanySecretary. |
|---|---|---|
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 |
Trinity College Bristol offers room and hospitality for translation team meetings. St Joseph’s Deaf Club, Manchester, from whom we hire rooms for translation team meetings, additionally offers storage for our studio equipment. |
The Annual Report was approved at the Annual General Meeting (online) on Tuesday 2[nd] February. Janice Silo (Trustee). Gill Behenna (Trustee)
Annual Accounts 01.08.2019 – 31.07.2020
BSL Bible Translaton Project Annual Accounts for the period 1 Aug 2019 to 31 July 2020
| INCOME & EXPENDITURE Income Donations & legacies Charitable activities Other trading activities Investments Other Total income Expenditure Raising funds Charitable activities Other Total expenditure Net income before tax Tax payable Net income after tax Investment gains/(losses) Net income/(expenditure) Extraordinary items Transfers between funds Other gains Net movement in funds Funds b/f Funds c/f BALANCE SHEET Fixed Assets Intangible assets Tangible assets Heritage assets Investments Total fixed assets Current Assets Stocks Debtors Investments Cash at bank/in hand Total current assets Creditors < 1 year Net current assets Total asssets less current liabilities Creditors > 1 year Provisions Total net assets Funds of the Charity Endowment funds Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Revaluation reserve Fair value reserve Total funds |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Endowment Funds Total Funds This Year 46,742.16 46,742.16 - - 4.75 4.75 - - 20.00 20.00 46,766.91 46,766.91 - - 11,990.03 11,990.03 53.50 53.50 12,043.53 12,043.53 34,723.38 34,723.38 - - 34,723.38 34,723.38 - - 34,723.38 34,723.38 - - - - - - 34,723.38 34,723.38 4,925.00 4,925.00 39,648.38 39,648.38 - - - - - - - - - - - - 6,460.50 6,460.50 - - 33,187.88 33,187.88 39,648.38 39,648.38 - - 39,648.38 39,648.38 39,648.38 39,648.38 - - - - 39,648.38 39,648.38 - - 0 - 0 - 39,648.38 39,648.38 - - - - 39,648.38 39,648.38 |
Prior Year Funds |
|---|---|---|
| 19,691 - - - 5 |
||
| 19,696 | ||
| - 25,630 364 |
||
| 25,994 | ||
| 6,298 - - 6,298 - - 6,298 - - - - 6,298 - 11,223 |
||
| 4,925 | ||
| - - - - |
||
| - | ||
| - 2,534 - 2,360 |
||
| 4,894 | ||
| - | ||
| 4,894 | ||
| 4,894 - - |
||
| 4,894 | ||
| - - 4,894 - - |
||
| 4,894 |
I have reviewed the accounts (accounting spreadsheet, supporting vouchers, bank statements, cheque and paying-in books, gift aid claims and taxpayers’ statements) and am content that the income & expenditure account and balance sheet for the financial year 1/8/2019 – 31/7/2020 presents the financial position fairly. Michael Parsons (Independent Examiner)
Approved by the Trustees at the Annual General Meeting (online) on 2/02/21
Janice Silo (Trustee)
Gill Behenna (Trustee)