2023-12-31-accounts - Chester & District Federation Of The Blind

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REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1133300

Report of the Trustees and

Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

for Chester and District Federation of the Blind

Johnstone Howell & Co 104 Whitby Road Ellesmere Port Cheshire CH65 0AB

Chester and District Federation of the Blind

Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

		Page
Report of the Trustees	1	to	4
Independent Examiner's Report		5
Statement of Financial Activities		6
Balance Sheet		7
Notes to the Financial Statements	8	to	15
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities	16	to	17

Chester and District Federation of the

Blind

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The organisation exists to promote social inclusion amongst blind and partially sighted people who are socially excluded from society, or parts of society, as a result of being blind or partially sighted by:

A. Raising public awareness of the issues affecting blind and partially sighted people, both generally and in relation to their social exclusion.

B. Providing advocacy and support to blind and partially sighted people.

C. Enabling and encouraging blind and partially sighted people to seek to influence local bodies, such as councils, health and education authorities, to take into account the requirements of blind and partially sighted people.

D. Providing recreational facilities and other opportunities for blind and partially sighted people through service provision and other mechanisms.

E. Providing education and information to support and enable blind and partially sighted people to maximise their educational opportunities.

Public benefit

The trustees have full regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. The Charity's aims and activities fulfil the public benefit requirement of the Charities Act, 2011. Its charitable purposes are concerned with the advancement of citizenship, community development, and health the charity advances this by providing opportunities for social inclusion (clubs, outings, holidays etc). The charity's beneficiaries are within the Cheshire and adjacent areas. Opportunities to benefit are promoted by providing subsidised transport and activities.

Page 1

Chester and District Federation of the

Blind

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE Charitable activities

Treasurer's report to the AGM for the year ended 31 December 2023.

As Treasurer of CDFB I have a responsibility to keep an eye on the overall financial position of the charity. To that end this brief summary is based on the annual unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 for Chester and District Federation of the Blind (CDFB), and its subsidiary CDFB Trading Community Interest Company. Both statements have been prepared by Chartered Accountants Johnstone Howell & Co. and shall be approved by the charity's board of trustees prior to the AGM.

The year was, once again, a good one financially for the charity, with income levels being maintained. The primary income sources were trading surpluses, donations and fund raising. Grants and subsidies were significantly reduced in 2023, and this was due to pandemic aid and support initiatives reaching final closure. Hence it was the trading surplus and donations which were needed to compensate for increasing costs as well as the decrease in grants and subsidies.

On the expenditure side, routine costs for repairs and consumables increased again which was expected. Energy costs doubled as part of the inflationary pressure experienced across the whole of the UK. Significant costs were due to essential repairs and refurbishment at the Donation Station and Depot in Ellesmere Port amounting to almost £36,000. The addition of new staff within Trading meant that the wages bill there increased to £79,002 compared with £41,432 in 2022. Finally, the rental holiday which Trading had enjoyed in previous years for the Donation Station became very evident during 2023 as a result of a new rental agreement coming into full effect throughout the whole year, adding more that £8,000 to the annual operating costs compared with the previous year.

Overall, total charity income for 2023 was a very healthy £190,893. Income from fund raising events fell back to £24,195 compared with the 2022 figure of £43,694. As in previous years, the largest income source was from donations totalling £160,781, the majority of which came from the profits of CDFB Trading. By making a donation of all profits, within the legal time frame, Trading can avoid paying corporation tax for the year.

With the activities at the donation station and shops (in Runcorn and Ellesmere Port) continuing to be a financial success story, the trustees had been planning to add a third shop to the portfolio in 2023. Unfortunately, it was established that the preferred premises required repairs and refurbishment to an extent that the anticipated costs were prohibitive and hence these plans were abandoned. However, the possibility of extending retail operations during 2024 remains.

At the year-end, total funds held by the charity were £779,338 (including £2,588 of restricted funds) representing almost a 10% increase of £68,552 on the equivalent figure for 2022. Although the rate of growth in funds has slowed in comparison with previous years, this is due (as explained above) to increased operating costs, the refurbishment of facilities and reduced grants/subsidies.

Therefore, with current assets at the year-end exceeding £550,000 the charity has continued to build up a very solid financial position which far exceeds the operating philosophy requirement of the organization (ie to hold a reserve of £100,000). This level of reserves ensures that the charity's core business of providing services and activities can be maintained and upgraded where needed.

As this point I should like to thank the remarkable team of volunteers, managers and dedicated staff within both CDFB the charity and CDFB Trading. The volunteers have given approximately 780 hours of work every week, a truly huge contribution to both organizations. Without the combined efforts of all workers the charity would not have been able to deliver services and continue to be valued provider within the local community.

Philip J Bellerby CDFB Volunteer and Treasurer

Page 2

Chester and District Federation of the

Blind

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Reserves policy

At present the charity has two major sources of income, profits from trading and income from fundraising. There is a third source of income, grants but the charity does not rely on grant funding for core costs, grant funding tends to be used to run specific projects and buy specified equipment.

Though the charity creates its own income we cannot be certain that there will never be a down turn in trading or a loss of fundraising opportunities. Therefore, our income cannot be guaranteed. For this reason the charity should hold money in reserve to cover a lean period and/or to cover the cost of redundancies and other obligations in the case of the charity being forced to close.

To avoid closure if funding difficulties were to happen the Chester and District Federation of the Blind board of trustees has agreed to keep a certain level of financial reserves to ensure that main operations can continue for a period of six months in the event of loss of income.

The main concerns of the board are to ensure:

That staff can continue working, primarily to secure new funding and That members/service users are supported to move on to other services.

The level of reserves is calculated and monitored every 12 months as the amount of reserves required will alter according to the number of staff we employ and other commitments the charity may undertake.

The board has decided that a sum of £100,000 should be held in reserve to cover six months outgoings.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number

1133300

Principal address

Unit 37 Rosscliffe Road Ellesmere Port Cheshire CH65 3AS

Trustees

Mrs L C Butt Dr M Bhakoo Mrs J Jones Ms J Whitmore Ms S Towell Ms G L Salmon J Bhargava

Independent Examiner

A M Bagnall Johnstone Howell & Co 104 Whitby Road Ellesmere Port Cheshire CH65 0AB

Page 3

Chester and District Federation of the Blind

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

GOVERNANCE

The board has reviewed and revised existing policies.

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 18 June 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

Dr M Bhakoo - Trustee

Page 4

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Chester and District Federation of the Blind

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Chester and District Federation of the Blind

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Chester and District Federation of the Blind (the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

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:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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.

A M Bagnall

Johnstone Howell & Co 104 Whitby Road Ellesmere Port Cheshire CH65 0AB

18 June 2024

Page 5

Chester and District Federation of the

Blind

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

Unrestricted Restricted fund funds Notes £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 2 160,781 - Charitable activities 5 General expenditure 5,886 - Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic related support - - Other trading activities 3 24,195 - Investment income 4 31 - Total 190,893 - EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 6 14,533 - Charitable activities 7 General expenditure 95,673 - Travelling 5,912 - Other 4,828 1,395 Total 120,946 1,395 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 69,947 (1,395) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 706,803 3,983 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 776,750 2,588	2023 Total funds £ 160,781 5,886 - 24,195 31 190,893 14,533 95,673 5,912 6,223 122,341 68,552 710,786 779,338	2022 Total funds £ 202,076 1,900 20,500 43,694 44
		268,214
		15,970 102,784 9,051 6,223
		134,028
		134,186 576,600
		710,786

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 6

Chester and District Federation of the

Blind

Balance Sheet 31 December 2023

Unrestricted fund Notes £ FIXED ASSETS Intangible assets 12 - Tangible assets 13 226,229 Investments 14 1 226,230 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 15 215,771 Cash at bank and in hand 337,627 553,398 CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 16 (2,878) NET CURRENT ASSETS 550,520 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 776,750 NET ASSETS 776,750 FUNDS 17 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds TOTAL FUNDS	Restricted funds £ 1 2,587 - 2,588 - - - - - 2,588 2,588	2023 Total funds £ 1 228,816 1 228,818 215,771 337,627 553,398 (2,878) 550,520 779,338 779,338 776,750 2,588 779,338	2022 Total funds £ 1 235,039 1 235,041 344,035 134,868 478,903 (3,158) 475,745 710,786 710,786 706,803 3,983 710,786

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 18 June 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:

M Bhakoo - Trustee

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 7

Chester and District Federation of the

Blind

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Intangible assets

Intangible assets represents the cost of nine user licences for Cyber Eyes. The expenditure is to be amortised over its estimated useful life of three years.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Freehold property - 2% on cost Improvements to property - 2% on cost Fixtures and fittings - 15% on cost Motor vehicles - 20% on cost Computer equipment - 33% on cost

Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

continued...

Page 8

Chester and District Federation of the

Blind

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

2022 £ 201,845 231	2022 £ 201,845 231	2022 £ 201,845 231
202,076
	2022 £ 43,694
	2022 £ 44 2022 £ 1,900 20,500	2022 £ 44
	22,400
	2022 £ 1,900 20,500
	22,400

continued...

Page 9

Chester and District Federation of the Blind

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

6. RAISING FUNDS

Other trading activities

Fundraising expenses 7. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS General expenditure Travelling 8. SUPPORT COSTS General expenditure	2023 £ 14,533 Support Direct costs (see Costs note 8) £ £ 94,016 1,657 5,912 - 99,928 1,657 Governance Finance costs £ £ 412 1,245		2022 £ 15,970
			Totals £ 95,673 5,912
		101,585
		Totals £ 1,657

9. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2023 nor for the year ended 31 December 2022.

Trustees' expenses

No expenses were paid to the trustees during the year ended 31 December 2023 (2022 - nil).

10. STAFF COSTS

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

	2023	2022
Administration	3	3

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

continued...

Page 10

Chester and District Federation of the

Blind

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

11.	COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES	COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
		Unrestricted	Restricted	Total
		fund	funds	funds
		£	£	£
	INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
	Donations and legacies	202,076	-	202,076
	Charitable activities
	General expenditure	1,900	-	1,900
	Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic related
	support	-	20,500	20,500
	Other trading activities	43,694	-	43,694
	Investment income	44	-	44
	Total	247,714	20,500	268,214
	EXPENDITURE ON
	Raising funds	15,970	-	15,970
	Charitable activities
	General expenditure	82,284	20,500	102,784
	Travelling	9,051	-	9,051
	Other	4,828	1,395	6,223
	Total	112,133	21,895	134,028
	NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)	135,581	(1,395)	134,186
	RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
	Total funds brought forward	571,222	5,378	576,600
	TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD	706,803	3,983	710,786
12.	INTANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
				Computer
				software
				£
	COST
	At 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023			5,526
	AMORTISATION
	At 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023			5,525
	NET BOOK VALUE
	At 31 December 2023			1
	At 31 December 2022			1

continued...

Page 11

Chester and District Federation of the

Blind

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

13. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

COST At 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023 DEPRECIATION At 1 January 2023 Charge for year At 31 December 2023 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 December 2023 At 31 December 2022 COST At 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023 DEPRECIATION At 1 January 2023 Charge for year At 31 December 2023 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 December 2023 At 31 December 2022	Freehold Improvements property to property £ £ 134,738 110,815 8,752 11,465 1,094 2,216 9,846 13,681 124,892 97,134 125,986 99,350 Motor Computer vehicles equipment £ £ 16,067 470 16,064 468 - - 16,064 468 3 2 3 2	Fixtures and fittings £ 19,438
		9,740 2,913
		12,653
		6,785
		9,698
		Totals £ 281,528
		46,489 6,223
		52,712
		228,816
		235,039

Included in cost or valuation of land and buildings is freehold land of £80,000 (2022 - £80,000) which is not depreciated.

14. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS

FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS
	Shares in
	group
	undertakings
	£
MARKET VALUE
At 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023	1
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 December 2023	1
At 31 December 2022	1

There were no investment assets outside the UK.

continued...

Page 12

Chester and District Federation of the Blind

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

14. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS - continued

In order to comply with best practice the trustees have established a private limited company to carry on the charity's trading activities. CDFB Trading Community Interest Company previously known as CDFB Trading Limited (registered in England and Wales, company number 07466434) was incorporated on 10 December 2010. The charity owns the entire issued share capital of CDFB Trading Community Interest Company.

15. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

				2023	2022
				£	£
	Amounts owed from
	subsidiary company			215,771	344,035
16.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE	YEAR
				2023	2022
				£	£
	Taxation and social security			1,492	1,492
	Other creditors			1,386	1,666
				2,878	3,158
17.	MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
				Net
				movement	At
		At	1.1.23	in funds	31.12.23
			£	£	£
	Unrestricted funds
	General fund	706,803		69,947	776,750
	Restricted funds
	Cyber Eyes		1	-	1
	Big Lottery Fund		1	-	1
	The National Lottery Community Fund		3,981	(1,395)	2,586
			3,983	(1,395)	2,588
	TOTAL FUNDS	710,786		68,552	779,338
	Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
		Incoming		Resources	Movement
		resources		expended	in funds
			£	£	£
	Unrestricted funds
	General fund	190,893		(120,946)	69,947
	Restricted funds
	The National Lottery Community Fund		-	(1,395)	(1,395)
	TOTAL FUNDS	190,893		(122,341)	68,552

continued...

Page 13

Chester and District Federation of the Blind

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued

for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

17. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Comparatives for movement in funds

	Net
	movement	At
At 1.1.22	in funds	31.12.22
£	£	£
Unrestricted funds
General fund 571,222	135,581	706,803
Restricted funds
Cyber Eyes 1	-	1
Big Lottery Fund 1	-	1
The National Lottery Community Fund 5,376	(1,395)	3,981
5,378	(1,395)	3,983
TOTAL FUNDS 576,600	134,186	710,786
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming	Resources	Movement
resources	expended	in funds
£	£	£
Unrestricted funds
General fund 247,714	(112,133)	135,581
Restricted funds
The Morgan Foundation 20,500	(20,500)	-
The National Lottery Community Fund -	(1,395)	(1,395)
20,500	(21,895)	(1,395)
TOTAL FUNDS 268,214	(134,028)	134,186

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:

Net movement At 1.1.22 in funds £ £ Unrestricted funds General fund 571,222 205,528 Restricted funds Cyber Eyes 1 - Big Lottery Fund 1 - The National Lottery Community Fund 5,376 (2,790) 5,378 (2,790) TOTAL FUNDS 576,600 202,738	At 31.12.23 £ 776,750 1 1 2,586
	2,588
	779,338

continued...

Page 14

Chester and District Federation of the

Blind

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

17. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

	Incoming	Resources	Movement
	resources	expended	in funds
	£	£	£
Unrestricted funds
General fund	438,607	(233,079)	205,528
Restricted funds
The Morgan Foundation	20,500	(20,500)	-
The National Lottery Community Fund	-	(2,790)	(2,790)
	20,500	(23,290)	(2,790)
TOTAL FUNDS	459,107	(256,369)	202,738

18. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

Subsidiary company, CDFB Trading Community Interest Company is due to donate profits for taxation purposes for the period under review, amounting to £157,736 (2022 - £199,938), to the charity. The amount owed to the charity by CDFB Trading Community Interest Company at 31 December 2022 amounts to £215,771 (2022 - £344,035) as included in debtors per note 15 to the financial statements.

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Chester and District Federation of the

Blind

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Donations and legacies Donations Subscriptions Other trading activities Fundraising events Investment income Deposit account interest Charitable activities Grants Total incoming resources EXPENDITURE Other trading activities Fundraising expenses Charitable activities Wages Pensions Sub contractors Insurance Telephone Postage and stationery Sundries Repairs and renewals Travelling Cleaning Motor expenses Other Freehold property Improvements to property Fixtures and fittings Support costs Finance Bank charges	Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2023	2023 £ 159,985 796 160,781 24,195 31 5,886 190,893 14,533 81,597 1,793 3,513 2,359 282 27 1,094 1,368 5,912 825 1,158 99,928 1,094 2,216 2,913 6,223 412	2022 £ 201,845 231

			202,076 43,694 44 22,400
			268,214 15,970 79,947 1,513 6,270 2,213 253 83 400 2,743 9,051 2,627 4,916
			110,016 1,094 2,216 2,913
			6,223 538

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

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Chester and District Federation of the

Blind

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Finance Governance costs Accountancy fees Total resources expended Net income	2023 £ 1,245 122,341 68,552	2022 £ 1,281
		134,028
		134,186

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

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