Trustees Annual Report to be included in Annual Return for 2022/23
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 (no. 1119990) is to translate, publish and disseminate the Christian Bible in 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 Book of Genesis and the Gospel of Mark; managing processes of consultation, reviewing and revising the translation, and final filming. ▪Development of explanatory and visual resources to accompany the translation. ▪Piloting team work in residentials to accelerate our work. ▪Publishing finalised translations and related resources on a website; this also carries films in BSL about all aspects of the Project. ▪Maintenance of awareness of the Project and some fund- raising. ▪Consultation with SIL International and a services agreement for the involvement of a biblical scholar ▪Facilitation and development of focus groups to ensure translation is accessible to BSL users. ▪Recruitment of more Biblical scholars and translators with a view to increasing workload. ▪Recruitment of some administrative support. |
| 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 signing and 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, 20 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 |
• Our work continues to build capacity among BSL users in linguistic, exegetical, translational and presentational skills. • We piloted residentials for the new team working on Genesis. This has accelerated the early stages of drafting and we are continuing the strategy and monitoring its cost and impact on speed of production. They have also provided opportunities for development of skills and knowledge. • We continue to make use of two IT tools to facilitate our work, Paratext and Sign language Translation Tool. Access to these has been one of the benefits of our conversational partnership with SIL International, which also gives us access to others working in Bible translation into sign language. • As we near completion of the Gospel of Mark, we have begun initial consultations over the next NT book to choose. These will bepursued in the Autmn of 2023. |
|---|---|---|
Financial Review
| 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 £30,239.94 (2022: £18,571.15). Total expenditure was £67,741.86 (2022: £17,638.03). |
| 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 six months, which at our projected rate of translation work means a minimum of £9,000. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 |
The financial statement shows the Charity has reserves of £49,693.81. Our work rate has increased during the year,and we are making plans for further acceleration. |
| 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 small grants. |
| 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 key aim of translating the 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 movingtheproject forward in its nextphase. |
- The slow rate of translation work. We need to sustain our reputation for scholarly work but also address our speed of progress now that the pilot stage is almost 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. 4. 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
| Structure, governance and management | Structure, governance and management | 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 (no. 06278694) 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 skills and experience to enhance those of the existing Board through our network of contacts. This includes an active search for Deaf trustees as part of maintenance of a good reputation. Trustees subscribe to the doctrinal beliefs underpinning the Charity as laid out in the governing document’s Statement of Belief. At each AGM one-third of the Trustees, subject to retirement by rotation, retire; if their number is not divisible by three, trustees of the number nearest to one third retire from office. |
| 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, financial procedures, privacy, risk register, 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 Company Secretary. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 |
• St Joseph’s Deaf Club, Manchester, from whom we hire rooms for filming, also offers storage for our studio equipment. • The biblical scholar for the Genesis team works for SIL International and we have a service agreement with them for this. |
• The Saltley Trust funds some of our work in the West Midlands and we report to them annually on how we have used their grant.
Gillian Behenna (Trustee) 5th March 2024
Janice Silo (Trustee) 5th March 2024
BSL Bible Translaton Project Annual Accounts for the period 1 Aug 2022 to 31 July 2023
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Restricted | Restricted | Endowment | Total Funds | Total Funds | Prior Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | Funds | This Year | Funds | ||||
| INCOME & EXPENDITURE | ||||||||
| Income | ||||||||
| Donations & legacies | 29,894.94 | 29,894.94 | 36,143 | |||||
| Charitable activities | - | - | - | |||||
| Other trading activities | - | - | 4 | |||||
| Investments | - | - | - | |||||
| Other | 345.00 | 345.00 | 62 | |||||
| Total income | 30,239.94 | 30,239.94 | 36,209 | |||||
| Expenditure | ||||||||
| Raising funds | - | - | - | |||||
| Charitable activities | 67,741.86 | 67,741.86 | 17,638 | |||||
| Other | - | - | - | |||||
| Total expenditure | 67,741.86 | 67,741.86 | 17,638 | |||||
| Net income before tax | - | 37,501.92 - |
- | 37,501.92 - |
18,571 | |||
| Tax payable | - | - | - | |||||
| Net income after tax | - | 37,501.92 - |
- | 37,501.92 - |
18,571 | |||
| Investment gains/(losses) | - | - | - | |||||
| Net income/(expenditure) | - | 37,501.92 - |
- | 37,501.92 - |
18,571 | |||
| Extraordinary items | - | - | - | |||||
| Transfers between funds | - | - | - | |||||
| Other gains | - | - | - | |||||
| Net movement in funds | - | 37,501.92 - |
- | 37,501.92 - |
18,571 | |||
| Funds b/f | 87,195.73 | 87,195.73 | 68,625 | |||||
| Funds c/f | 49,693.81 | 49,693.81 | 87,196 | |||||
| BALANCE SHEET | ||||||||
| Fixed Assets | ||||||||
| Intangible assets | - | - | - | |||||
| Tangible assets | - | - | - | |||||
| Heritage assets | - | - | - | |||||
| Investments | - | - | - | |||||
| Total fixed assets | - | - | - | |||||
| Current Assets | ||||||||
| Stocks | - | - | - | |||||
| Debtors | 3,759.11 | 3,759.11 | 5,800 | |||||
| Investments | - | - | - | |||||
| Cash at bank/in hand | 52,363.35 | 52,363.35 | 85,975 | |||||
| Total current assets | 56,122.46 | 56,122.46 | 91,775 | |||||
| Creditors < 1 year | 6,428.65 | 6,428.65 | 4,579 | |||||
| Net current assets | 49,693.81 | 49,693.81 | 87,196 | |||||
| Total asssets less current liabilities | 49,693.81 | 49,693.81 | 87,196 | |||||
| Creditors > 1 year | - | - | - | |||||
| Provisions | - | - | - | |||||
| Total net assets | 49,693.81 | 49,693.81 | 87,196 | |||||
| - | ||||||||
| Funds of the Charity | - | |||||||
| Endowment funds | 0 | - | - | |||||
| Restricted funds | 0 | - | - | |||||
| Unrestricted funds | 49,693.81 | 49,693.81 | 87,196 | |||||
| Revaluation reserve | - | - | - | |||||
| Fair value reserve | - | - | - | |||||
| Total funds | 49,693.81 | 49,693.81 | 87,196 |
Gillian Behenna (Trustee) 5th March 2024
Janice Silo (Trustee) 5th March 2024
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to tho trusteesldlrectorsl member8 of SL @IQLI 1ÉLfIl()J RrLoTrLI 31 Lo13 On accounts for the year ended Charlty no.: Company no.: 8g8 Set out on pages Ireiiiwiiber lo the ltte Daao numbers ol Bdditional 5htr I report to the charity trustees on y examination of the accounts of the Re8pon8lbllltle• and ba818 of report As the charlty's trustees of the Company (who are 8180 th8 dlrectors of the company for the purposes of company law), you are responsible for th8 eparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Acl 2006 ('Ihe 2006 Act'>. Havlng s8tlsfied myself thal the accounts of the Company are not r8qulred to be audlted for thls year under Part 16 of Ihe 2006 Act and are ellglble for independent èxaminailon, I report in respect of my èxamlnation of your tharity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe 2011 ACV,). In carrySng out my examination, I have follow8d the Directions glven by the Charity ComTnission {under section 145151(b) of tha 2011 Act. Indopendgnt examlner'8 8tatemont I hav8.completed my examination. I confirm Ihal no material matters have come to my attention ( ') which gives mè cause to believe that.. accounting records were not kept in accordance viith Section 386 of the Companies Act 2006,. or . the accounts do not accord wth such records.. or . the accounls do not comply with relevant accountlng requirements under section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 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 e accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102). IER October 2018
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Sectlon A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the Irusteèsldirector81 mernbern of S L &IiLLI irtNhgLh iitJJ PfLo Li Loi3 On accounts for the year ended Charlty no.: Company no.: Sot out on pages AJ IrAmAM tn Inr&Ml• Ihp nilmrA r* Artrthlrtn4 Aheetsl I report to the charity trustees on examination of the accounts of the Responslbllltles and bas18 of report As th8 charity's trustees of the Company (vtho are also the directors of the mpany for th8 purposes of company law). you are rasponsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Tequirements of the Companies Act 2006 (Ihe 2006 Act"). Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company aTr not required to be audited for this year under Part 16 of the 2CKi6 Act and are eligible for indepèndent examination. I r8wrt in respect of my examination of your tharty's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charlties Act 2011 (Ihe 2011 Acr>. In carrying out my examination, I have followed the Dlrections gNen by the Charty Commission (under section 145{5){b) of the 2011 ACL Independent examiner's 8tatsment have.completed my examination. l eonfim that no material matters h8V8 come to my attentson { ') which gives me cause to beIve that.. • accounkn'ng records were not kept in accor(lan¢e with section 386 of the Companies Ad 2006.. or . the accounts do not accord bmth such records,. or . the accounts do not comply with rebevant accounting requirements under gedion 396 of the Cofnpanies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'truo and fair. view which is not a matter considered as part of an indendent examination.. or 4he accounls have not been preparéd in accordance the Charitl8S SORP (FRS102). IER October 2018
I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examinab'on to which attention should te dra in this report in order to enable a proFer understandiThJ of the accounts tr> be reached. . Please lete the in the brackets rfthey do not apply. Slgned: loLI Name: PArn£. S Relevant professlonal quaiificatlonls) or body (If any): CcSPf A Addre88: Soction B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32. Independent examination of charty accounts.. dir8Ctions and guidancè for examiners). Glve here brfef detalls of any Items that the examlnor wlshes to dl•¢lo•e. A)}A IER October 2018