Company registration number: 07371472 Charity registration number: 1140978
(6 > Devon in Sight (we Your local sight loss charity Devon County Association for the Blind Known as Devon in Sight (A company limited by guarantee)
Annual Report and Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
Keith Tuvey Chartered Certified Accountants 2 Clyst Works Clyst Road Topsham Exeter EX3 0DB
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Contents
| Reference and Administrative Details | 1 |
|---|---|
| Trustees' Report | 2 to 35 |
| Statement ofTrustees' Responsibilities | 36 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 37 to 38 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 39 to 40 |
| Balance Sheet | 41 to 42 |
| NotestotheFinancialStatements | 43to74 |
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Reference and Administrative Details
Chairman Dr A Jacobs Principal Office Unit 3 Splatford Barton Splatford Lane Kennford Exeter Devon EX6 7XY The charity is incorporated in England. Company Registration 07371472 Number Charity Registration 1140978 Number Solicitors Michelmores Woodwater House Pynes Hill Exeter EX2 5WR Bankers Lloyds Bank 234 High Street Exeter EX4 3NL Independent Examiner Keith Tuvey Chartered Certified Accountants 2 Clyst Works Clyst Road Topsham Exeter EX3 0DB Accountants Redwoods Chartered Certified Accountants 2 Clyst Works Clyst Road Topsham Exeter Devon EX3 O0DB
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Devon County Association for the Blind known as Devon in Sight Trustees’ Report
Introduction The Trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present their annual report and financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2021.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's governing document and the Statement of Recommended Practice, “Accounting and Reporting by Charities”, issued in March 2005. The charity was founded in 1925 and was incorporated in April 2011.
Trustees:
Dr Adrian Jacobs (Chair) Mrs Judy Pride (Vice Chair & Safeguarding Lead) Mr Steve Muncer (Treasurer) Mr Scott Bailey Mr Paul Bradford Mrs Jill Brooks
Honorary Treasurer: Mrs Linda Garaway
Honorary Life Members: Mrs Gwyn Dickinson MBE Mr Christopher Sumner Mr Peter Wareham
Patron:
The Dowager Countess of Devon
Structure, Governance and Management
The company (Number 07371472) is a Registered Charity (Number 1140978) and is constituted under its Articles of Association dated 9th September 2010. The management of the affairs of the Charity is vested in the Trustees. The Trustees are the Directors of the Company together with not more than ten members elected by the Annual General Meeting or co-opted by the Trustees. Shortly after Trustees are appointed they attend the main premises for induction meetings with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. An induction pack is given to the prospective Trustees followed by induction and training.
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Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight Trustees’ Report
Certain matters may be addressed by Sub Committee Working Groups. As part of their functions the Sub Committees may make recommendations and shall always be accountable to the Trustees. The Trustees are also empowered to appoint a Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer, and staff as they deem necessary and may determine their remuneration, duties, and conditions of service. The Articles of the Association dated 9th September 2010 are available for inspection at the registered office address.
Objectives and activities
When planning activities for the year the Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and in particular the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of health, and the relief of those in need, by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage.
Our Mission
Devon in Sight is a local charity providing practical help and advice to people who are blind or partially sighted to help them live life to the full.
Our Vision
Although we continue to face big challenges in terms of capacity and financial sustainability, we believe that it is possible for us to provide some of the best sight loss services in the UK.
Our vision is to be a Centre of Excellence for people who are blind or partially sighted across the whole of Devon.
Our Staff
At March 2021 the staff team included three full-time staff and three part-time staff.
Chief Executive Officer Grahame Flynn Business Development Manager Julian Garner Office Manager Jennie Benham Senior Support Worker (Torbay) Cathy Duffy Support Worker (East Devon) Tracey Agutter Support Worker (Mid & West Devon) Louise Camies
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Devon County Association for the Blind known as Devon in Sight Trustees’ Report
Volunteers Head Office Membership Secretary Elizabeth Twining Skills for Seeing Trainer Lynzee Valentine Skills for Seeing Trainer Jayne Erten Sessional Volunteer Mike King Press Officer Andrew Howard
Community Based 17 volunteers work in the community on our behalf.
Voting Membership
220 Voting Members are part of a supporting community who understand what it’s like to live with a sight problem and help shape and inform Devon in Sight’s work.
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Chairman’s Report by Dr Adrian Jacobs
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight Trustees’ Report
Devon in Sight was established in 1925 and has a long and proud history of serving people who are blind and partially sighted in Devon.
Our 95" Anniversary Year (2020), was supposed to have been a time of celebration. However, nobody could have foreseen that the United Kingdom was going to face its greatest peace time challenge since the Second World War. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis had begun.
Our response to the emerging crisis was robust. Protecting our clients, staff and volunteers was paramount. We anticipated the Government's Lockdown on 26 March 2020 by cancelling all our face-to-face client work, Talk and Support Groups and community fundraising events. Where possible our team worked from home.
The Government's COVID-19 restrictions would continue to affect our charities’ ability to provide services and fundraise throughout the financial year and beyond. However, our dedicated and committed staff and volunteers responded to the challenges to ensure that our clients continued to receive support in new and innovative ways, the detail of which is covered in the body of this report.
Our clients have experienced significant challenges during the pandemic, but Devon in Sight continues to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it operates and continues to put people who are blind or partially sighted at the heart of our work.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been felt deeply by our clients but also by the staff team. We will be able to elaborate more on the repercussions of the pandemic next year.
Ona positive note, we have been tremendously grateful for the funding we have received from the National Lottery Community Fund for our Community Support Service. Not only has that service been of tremendous benefit to people with sight loss in Devon, but the model has been adopted elsewhere in the UK as well, multiplying the impact it has made. This funding finished in October 2020 and replacing the funding will be difficult in the current climate.
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Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Trustees’ Report
During the crisis | am pleased to report that more and more people are supporting our regular giving scheme by becoming a Friend of Devon in Sight. | would like to thank everyone who supports us with a regular donation.
Finally, | would like to thank our staff and volunteers who continually strive to deliver excellence to people who are blind or partially sighted across Devon during the most challenging of years.
Chair of Trustées
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Devon County Association for the Blind known as Devon in Sight Trustees’ Report
‘The COVID-19 pandemic has been a Society Changing Event.’ by Grahame Flynn, Chief Executive Officer
Overview
Devon in Sight is a small independent charity that provides lifechanging support to over 2,500 blind or partially sighted people each year across Devon and Torbay.
We mainly support older people experiencing a reduction in their central vision, people of working age who have suddenly lost some or all their sight due to a stroke, neurological conditions or major trauma, and younger people with congenital sight conditions and other complex needs. For all the people we support, sight loss can have a massive impact on their ability to carry out everyday tasks, and an equally significant impact on their emotional wellbeing.
Devon in Sight has a dedicated team of six staff and 17 volunteers supported by a dynamic group of six trustees and a Voting Membership of over 200 people. Together we provide the very best information and advice, practical help, and emotional support to enable people to overcome the many challenges of living with sight loss, to maintain their independence and wellbeing, and to live life to the full.
The national and local prevalence of sight loss
It is worth being reminded of some of the challenging ‘headlines’ regarding sight loss.
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e Around six million people are estimated to be living with sightthreatening eye conditions in the UK today [1, 2, 3, 4].
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e More than two million people are estimated to be living with sight loss in the UK today. This sight loss is severe enough to have a significant impact on their daily lives [5, 6].
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e The more than two million people living with sight loss includes: © people who are registered blind or partially sighted o people whose vision is better than the levels that qualify for registration
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Devon County Association for the Blind
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Trustees’ Report
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© people who are awaiting or having treatment such as eye injections, laser treatment or surgery that may improve their sight
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© people whose sight loss could be improved by wearing correctly prescribed glasses or contact lenses.
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e At least half of sight loss is avoidable [5, 6].
This is based on how many people are living with sight loss [5, 6]. The majority of sight loss due to refractive error can be corrected by wearing the right prescription glasses. Many forms of cataract are treatable. Early detection and treatment and making good lifestyle choices such as smoking cessation, healthy diet and exercise may reduce or slow the progression of some sight conditions.
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e The older you are, the greater your risk of sight loss [5, 6]. There are 1.2 million people living with sight loss who are aged 75 years and over. The proportion of people living with sight loss is:
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© one in nine people aged 60 years and over
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one in five people aged 75 years and over
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© one in two people aged 90 years and over [5, 6].
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e Every day 250 people start to lose their sight in the UK. This is equivalent to one person every six minutes [7].
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e The number of people in the UK with sight loss is set to increase dramatically. It is predicted that by 2050 the number of people with sight loss in the UK will double to over four million [5, 6].
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e Eye Health now the number one cause of hospital outpatient attendance in the UK [8].
As a charity we support people with sight loss right across the age spectrum, including people that have acquired sight loss because of an accident, injury or illness, and people that were born without sight, but age is the biggest determinant of the onset of sight loss.
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Devon County Association for the Blind known as Devon in Sight Trustees’ Report
Sight loss in Devon
Although sight loss could affect any of us, the biggest determinant of the onset of sight loss is older age, and this is a particular issue in Devon and Torbay. Being a popular retirement destination, the area has a higher proportion of people over 65 compared to the national average and asa result it is estimated that the number of people with sight loss will increase by 43% from 38,000 to 55,000 by 2030.
Devon is already an ‘old’ county. 25% of the population are over 65 compared to the England average of 21% and the number of people over 65 in Devon is set to grow significantly. Largely because of this, it is estimated that by 2030 the number of people with sight loss in Devon and Torbay will increase 43% from the current figure of 38,288 to 54,707 [9, 13].
Devon is also the third largest county in England, covering 2,590 square miles, and centred around the Dartmoor National Park, and it is one of the most sparsely populated counties, with a few large cities and towns, and a dispersed rural population. Issues of rural isolation are accentuated for our clients due to difficulties in accessing transport and local services, and people that retire here often do not have family living nearby to provide support as they get older.
The impact of sight loss
We know from national research, and from what our clients tell us, that being blind or partially sighted has a significant impact on people’s independence and emotional wellbeing. Because clients have little or no sight, even the most basic tasks such as reading medicine labels, cooker settings, and making a hot drink become difficult. They rely on others to help, losing their independence bit by bit. They can become tentative and fearful of going out — will they be able to see the curb or get on the right bus? Will they be able to avoid bumping into people around them, or recognise the faces of people they know?
Sight loss is often accompanied by other health issues and has a real impact on people’s emotional wellbeing. Research shows that older people with sight loss are three times more likely to experience depression than people with good vision, and that almost half of all falls sustained by blind and partially sighted people were directly attributable to their sight loss, leading to significant healthcare costs.
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Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Trustees’ Report
Research shows that people aged 65 and older with sight loss are more likely to face multiple health issues (including hearing loss and dementia) and may therefore have complex support needs. People with sight loss are also more likely to fall, and more likely to experience hip fractures as a result, so early intervention and support is essential to maintain people’s independence. They are also three times more likely to experience depression than people with good vision and yet nationally only 17% of people are offered emotional support in relation to their deteriorating vision. Having access to specialist emotional support and counselling is essential for improving people’s emotional wellbeing and helping people adapt to living with sight loss.
COVID-19 restrictions have compounded these issues for many blind and partially sighted people.
The COVID-19 pandemic introduced yet further challenges. 81% of the people we support are over 70 and many have health conditions, which means that they have had to shield. They have faced disruption to local transport services, the suspension of many local social gatherings that they relied on for regular social contact, the suspension of home visits by professionals for all but essential reasons, and restrictions on family travelling to see them from outside the area. Supporting the emotional wellbeing of people living on their own has been one of our main priorities during the pandemic.
Providing the right support, at the right time
As a charity we address the issues faced by local people living with sight loss by providing non-clinical community support which complements that of Optometrists in the High Street, Ophthalmologists in the Hospital Eye Units and Rehabilitation Officers in the Local Authority Sensory Teams. We provide emotional support, information, equipment demonstrations and training to enable people to live full and rewarding lives and to be actively engaged in their local community.
People often describe receiving a diagnosis of sight loss as a traumatic experience. Therefore, Devon in Sight supports people at the earliest possible opportunity to navigate the help that is available from the sector as a whole, and we providea listening ear as peopie adjust to the prospect of losing some or all of their sight.
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Devon County Association for the Blind known as Devon in Sight Trustees’ Report
We make sure that people fully understand their diagnosis, that they receive all the support, which is available, and that they can make best use of their residual sight through the correct use of lighting and magnification.
The good news is that even during the pandemic there has beena lot of support available to help people adapt to living with sight loss; if only they know about it and are able to access it. Therefore, the most important role for us as a charity is to be able to support people as soon as possible after their diagnosis, to help people navigate the support that available from across the health, social care and voluntary sectors, and for people to know that they are not alone as they deal with the huge emotional impact of sight loss.
To ensure that everyone who comes to us gets the very best support, in 2016 we developed a new Assessment and Outcome Framework called the Sight Loss MOT. Based on national research and best practice, the Sight Loss MOT looks at over 50 key issues, such as making sure that people understand their diagnosis, have access to the right statutory care, access to the latest assistive technology, social activities, financial support and emotional support.
The Sight Loss MOT has had a powerful impact on the people we support here in Devon. It also won a sector award in 2017 and has now been adopted by over 20 local sight loss charities across the UK also keen to improve the quality, and evidence the impact of their work.
‘Thomas Pocklington Trust provided grant funding to Devon in Sight to roll out the Sight Loss MOT to other sight loss charities and to further develop it throughout 2020 and 2021. We have been really impressed with the approach taken to sharing this work more widely and with the results achieved so far. This project, under the strong leadership of Chief Executive Officer Grahame Flynn and Business Development Manager Julian Garner, has been an excellent example of an organisation sharing its own work for the benefit of others. This has been reflected in the consistently positive feedback from the various organisations, and service users, across the UK who have benefitted from the training and support. It is always a pleasure to work with the team at Devon in Sight and we look forward to hearing more as the project continues.’
Alison Oliver Director of Partnerships Thomas Pocklington Trust
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Devon County Association for the Blind known as Devon in Sight Trustees’ Report
The impact we make
Devon in Sight supports around 580 clients a year through direct 1:1 casework and 1550 clients through our information, advice and guidance helpline which is registered with the Helpline Partnership. We assess our impact through changes in clients’ Sight Loss MOT scores, annual feedback surveys, and case studies.
Our impact is wide reaching and focuses very much on clients being able to live as full and independenta life as possible, despite their sight loss. From our Sight Loss MOT we know that of the eight subject areas, the main aspects in which people need support are in making the best use of their residual sight (74% of clients) and managing at home (69%). After receiving our support the number of people still requiring help in these areas drops significantly to 24% and 19%, respectively. Overall, 85% of people reported feeling more positive about living with sight loss, with feedback such as "The MOT has changed my life. It has helped me find out about services and equipment available to me” and “The biggest difference is having someone to refer to. If we needed to, it would be you we would turn to.”
Outcomes during the year
Between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021 we achieved the following outcomes (Note: prior year figures shown in parenthesis).
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e We received 1958 (1552) Helpline calls for information, advice and guidance
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e We provided case-work support to 2001 (526) individuals of whom 496 (293) were new clients and supported them through over 4,156 (3,397) individual interventions.
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e We carried out 6 (87) Sight Loss MOTs and subsequent case work. e We recorded 95 (180) onward referrals to 42 organisations e We recorded 388 (333) onward signposts to 112 organisations
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e Weran 18 Telephone Sight Loss Speaker Events for 270 people across Devon
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e We distributed our Newsletter in a range of accessible formats to 1838 named people. We increased the number of Editions to 5 (2).
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e Our strategy and governance was shaped by 220 Voting Members. e We encouraged 26 local VI Clubs and 11 Talking Newspapers
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Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight Trustees’ Report
Due to the Pandemic, we were not able to hold our Talk & Support Groups across 13 locations including Axminster, Budleigh Salterton, Crediton, Cullompton, Hele, Honiton, Kingsbridge, Okehampton, Sidmouth, Tavistock, Tiverton, Torquay and Totnes.
We were also unable to attend any community events (27) to engage with the public (576).
Of the people we supported:
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e 3% were under 18, 11% were 18 to 65, 86% were over 65 years of age © 65% were female and 35% were male
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¢ 98% of our client group identified themselves as being White British.
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e None of our clients identified themselves as being from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Communities.
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e Only 2 of our clients identified themselves as being gay, lesbian, or bisexual
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« The main sight conditions were Macular Disease (68%), Glaucoma (10%), Diabetic Retinopathy (4%), Retinitis Pigmentosa (2%), and Cataract (3%).
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Devon County Association for the Blind
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A strategy for beyond the pandemic
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic Devon in Sight has continued to provide services in creative and innovative ways.
The voluntary sector is having to adapt quickly to the challenges of the current economic climate post BREXIT, accelerated by the impact of the COVID - 19 pandemic on income, available resources, and the capability to provide services to people who are blind or partially sighted in their local communities.
Our clients have experienced significant challenges during the pandemic and will continue to face these as restrictions continue to lift; many will need support to re-build their confidence in leaving their homes and to improve their physical and emotional wellbeing after isolating at home for so long.
In October 2020 we developed a revised service strategy which focused on the key areas that would make the biggest difference to the lives of people with sight loss for the remainder of the pandemic, and as we emerged from the other side.
The strategy focuses on the three key areas of Early Intervention, Emotional Wellbeing and Complex & Crisis Case Support.
Early Intervention Programme
Our Early Intervention Programme ensures that people have the foundations of support in place.
By ensuring that people have access to the right information, equipment, training and support, our Early Intervention Programme will help people make best use of their remaining sight and maintain their independence.
Information, Advice & Guidance Helpline
The quality of the Information, Advice and Guidance we give to the public must be accurate, up-to-date, and formatted in an accessible way. Through our membership of the Helplines Partnership, we are working towards the nationally recognised Helplines Standard Accreditation.
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Devon County Association for the Blind
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A Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for the organisation ensures a consistent and professional approach to triaging of all enquiries and where possible we undertake a Client Fact Find to establish client need. This may identify the need for a full needs assessment.
The Sight Loss MOT (Needs Assessment Tool) Using the Sight Loss MOT we ensure that people have a diagnosis that is understood by themselves and their family, that where appropriate they are registered as being sight impaired, that they have the correct lighting and magnification to make best use of their remaining sight, and that they are aware of Independent Living Equipment, Assistive Technology Solutions and other support services available in their local area.
Independent Living Equipment
We demonstrate tried and tested Low Vision Aids and Daily Living Equipment to clients and distribute supplier catalogues to help inform client-purchasing decisions.
in 2020 we developed an Equipment Bursary Fund to supply our clients with some popular independent living equipment for free. This has been phenomenally successful.
A client in supported living was feeling really isolated as, due to her sight loss, she was unable to watch TV, read books etc. She was unaware of RNIB talking books and so our Sight Loss Adviser explained what they were, arranged for an audio player to be sent and then helped her to set up and use RNIB talking books. The client was over the moon as she loved reading and felt her sight loss had taken this away from her.
“Thank you for my USB Audio Player...it is wonderful! | didn’t know these things existed.”
Mrs Margaret Rourke - Mid Devon Client
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Devon County Association for the Blind
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Trustees’ Report
‘| just wanted to let you know how very grateful | am, having received a Daylight Twist Light today. It makes a massive difference to what | can see and will be an absolute godsend especially in the winter months.”
Ms Jenny Watkins — West Devon Client
“The liquid Level Indicator has made a vast difference and a mopping up saviour and the Twist Lamp has given me brighter vision and excellent lighting in my office.”
Malcolm Coiley - Newton Abbot Client
Assistive Technology Partnership
To tackle Digital Exclusion, in February 2021 we launched a formal Assistive Technology Partnership with Sight and Sound Technology Limited to offer hardware and software to the blind, partially sighted and those with learning and reading difficulties.
Emotional Wellbeing Service
We know from national research, and from what our clients tell us, that being blind or partially sighted has a significant impact on people’s independence and emotional wellbeing.
Because clients have little or no sight, even the most basic tasks such as reading medicine labels, adjusting cooker settings, and making a hot drink become difficult. They may have to rely on others to help, losing their independence bit by bit. They may also become tentative and fearful of going out; will they be able to see the curb or get on the right bus, will they be able to avoid bumping into people around them, and will they recognise the faces of people they should know?
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e Being told you are losing your sight can be difficult to come to terms with, with common effects being depression, reduced wellbeing, and a process similar to bereavement [10].
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¢ Only 17 per cent of people experiencing sight loss are offered emotional support in relation to their deteriorating vision [11].
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Devon County Association for the Blind
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Trustees’ Report
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e Often people experience changes in vision over many years, and this may mean that they need to learn and relearn how to adapt to living with sight loss. 71 per cent of blind and partially sighted people have experienced deterioration in their sight over the last 12 months [11].
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e Feelings of wellbeing are lower amongst blind and partially sighted people when compared to the rest of the population. More than four in 10 people attending low vision clinics are suffering from symptoms of clinical depression [12].
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e 31 per cent of blind and partially sighted people were rarely or never optimistic about the future [11].
Research shows that people aged 65 and older with sight loss are three times more likely to experience depression than people with good vision, and yet nationally only 17% of people are offered emotional support in relation to their deteriorating vision. Therefore, having access to specialist emotional support and counselling is essential for improving people’s emotional wellbeing and helping people adapt to living with sight loss.
The COVID-19 pandemic introduced yet further challenges. 81% of the people we support are over 70 years of age and many have health conditions, which means that they have had to shield. They have faced disruption to local transport services, the suspension of many local social gatherings that they relied on for regular social contact, the suspension of home visits by professionals for all but essential reasons, and restrictions on family members travelling to see them from outside the area. They continued to face these challenges as restrictions were lifted; many need support to re-build their confidence in leaving their homes and to improve their physical and emotional wellbeing after isolating at home for so long.
Individual Emotional Support
Supporting the emotional wellbeing of people living on their own has become one of our main priorities during the pandemic, and in November 2020 we set up a new Emotional Wellbeing Service with three levels of support.
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Devon County Association for the Blind known as Devon in Sight Trustees’ Report
Level 1 - Informal Emotional Support
Informal support for people’s emotional wellbeing starts as soon as they pick up the phone to us. As part of an initial assessment, we identify how people are feeling and what additional support they might need. People can attend one of our regular ‘Telephone Sight Loss Speaker Events’, they can be signposted to a befriending service for regular support, they can access Talking Newspapers and books and receive our regular newsletter in audio or large print - all designed to improve people's wellbeing and increase their connection to others.
In time we hope to re-start local Talk and Support Groups which provide a chance for people to meet others and learn about new services, equipment, and assistive technology.
“| like the new weekly telephone group call very much, it has been a valuable way of keeping in touch with other people and making new friendships. We speak about a variety of subjects such as the issues we experience in shops, our eye conditions as well as sharing ideas, tips and suggestions which helps us all learn from each other. The wonderful thing about the telephone group calls is that they take place in the comfort of our own home! Geography is not an issue, and it is lovely not having to rely on public transport and all the issues that brings. The group call has become an important part of my week. It stops the isolation and makes me feel cared about and valued.”
A client who joined our conference calls during COVID.
Level 2 — Emotional Wellbeing Call
All our clients are now offered an Emotional Wellbeing Call where they can talk specifically about how they are feeling about living with sight loss, often for the first time, and to explore what support they would find most heipful.
We have received a steady stream of referrals into the service from our partner organisations such as Guide Dogs, RNIB Eye Clinic Liaison Officers and Rehabilitation Officers from the Sensory Team.
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Devon County Association for the Blind known as Devon in Sight Trustees’ Report
Common areas of difficulties have been an unexpected diagnosis of sight loss, anxiety around their diagnosis, deterioration of sight, isolation and loneliness, or people having to deal with other issues as well such as a cancer diagnosis or a bereavement. Very often people don’t want to burden their family and friends with their concerns and have found the support from someone outside of their immediate circle supportive and helpful. Often the process of talking to our team about how they are feeling gives people a tremendous lift and reassures them that they are not alone.
Level 3 — Formal Counselling
We have also set up a new local counselling service as part of a national pilot. We identified two highly experienced counsellors in Devon with a background in supporting people with health issues or disabilities. We then worked with the RNIB to provide them with accredited training on sight loss awareness and counselling people with sight loss. We spot-purchase sessions with these counsellors using grant funding from the National Lottery Community Fund (Awards for All), the Devon County Council COVID-19 fund and from The Devon Community Foundation, enabling us to offer up to six sessions of counselling free of charge.
By having access to local counsellors, it is not unusual for a client to receive an Emotional Wellbeing Call in the morning and in the afternoon of the same day be contacted by a Counsellor to arrange their first session. Counsellors complete an assessment before and after seeing each client (using nationally recognised measures for anxiety and depression) and these have already demonstrated the tremendous benefit of this new service.
“Thank you, very much for doing what you said you were going to do. | have my first counselling session next week. Someone has done what they said they were going to do!”
Terry A, Mid Devon Client
Peer Support
As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic we hope to re-establish our programme of local Talk and Support Groups across the county including for the first time, Exeter. These will give people who are blind or partially
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sighted an opportunity to meet others, share their experiences and hear from speakers from partner organisations, community groups and equipment suppliers.
Re-introducing this service will be dependent on our ability to fund the service after the National Lottery Funding ends in October 2020.
Telephone Sight Loss Speaker Events In November 2020 we introduced a programme of weekly Telephone Sight Loss Speaker Events where clients could hear speakers from across the sight loss sector in the comfort of their own homes. This was a useful way of hearing about COVID-19 services from partners across the Health and Social Care Sectors and voluntary sector.
“lam relatively new to sight loss as my sight has only deteriorated rapidly over the last year. As a result, | find the information from the various speakers invaluable. All the talks are different and always interesting. It is also nice afterwards to hear the questions from those listening and their experience of sight loss problems. It has made me realise | am not alone with my problems. Thank you for this wonderful service”.
Gillian Williams - Client East Devon
Newsletter
Our Newsletter is available in large print, digital and audio formats. This is a vital communication tool for all our stakeholders.
During the COVID-19 pandemic we were able to attract funding from Devon County Council and See the Future to produce additional newsletters with a particular emphasis on making COVID-19 information accessible.
“Thank you for the coronavirus information you sent me. It was presented so clearly, and you were so clever to make it relevant to people with little or no sight. Thank you.”
Ann Wilson, South Devon Client
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Devon County Association for the Blind
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“Thank you for all your support with the newsletter its brilliant!
Mid Devon Client
“Thank you for such a lovely newsletter and | found it very informative”
West Devon Client
Complex and Crisis Case Support
Complex and Crisis Case Support provides intensive support for clients in crisis, or with wider issues compounded by their sight loss.
People may already be facing bereavement, chronic health conditions, end of life care, and in some cases enduring mental health problems (e.g. PTSD). Their sight loss cannot be fully separated from their other difficulties, causing them for example to miss hospital appointments, not receive appropriate social care at home, or have emerging safeguarding issues. Through direct support, as well as acting as a conduit between other services, the aim is to provide a coherent and joined up support package aimed at moving clients to a more stable and positive situation.
In 2019/20 Devon County Council reported that there had been a 31% increase in concerns reported to them across the county. Sadly, since the advent of COVID-19 we have seen an increase in the number of clients who have been referred into Adult and Children’s Safeguarding Teams. We have also provided sight loss specific support for the Adult Safeguarding Team and Police.
On 25 June 2020 the Charity Commission published inquiry into the governance, management, and oversight of the RNIB’s safeguarding arrangements including the RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning in Coventry. In response to the recommendations, we conducted a comprehensive review of our Safeguarding Adults and Children Policies and Procedures. We also nominated Safeguarding leads on the Staff, Senior Management Team and Board.
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Devon County Association for the Blind
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People in the Lead
Devon in Sight promotes a culture of listening and participation at all levels of the charity. Keeping ‘user voice’ at the heart of our charity will ensure that we continue to do the very best for people with sight loss in Devon.
We continue to receive encouraging comments and compliments about the work that we do. Whilst we recognise that from time-to-time things can, and do go wrong | am pleased to report that we have not received any complaints again this year.
“As a family, we would like to thank Devon in Sight for the support they gave our son. Your input into his case was massive. You gave part of yourself and that shone through, we are so pleased that you were able to show the care that was so often lacking from other people and agencies.”
Client’s Mother - East Devon
As we move into the next stage of the charity’s development, we are keen to increase opportunities for our stakeholders to get more involved in shaping new services and reviewing how we are doing, so we are therefore setting up a Devon Sight Loss Forum. The Devon Sight Loss Forum will be a valuable opportunity for people with sight loss to influence change within Devon in Sight and sight loss services in Devon.
Influencing Policy and Best Practice within the Sight Loss Sector
Although our priority is local service delivery, we can achieve wider impact by helping to shape policy and practice at a national, regional and local level through our links with Visionary (the national membership organisation for Sight Loss Charities), The South West Associations Network (SWAN) and Devon Vision Impairment Services (DEVIS).
We will continue to develop formal strategic partnerships with key Statutory and Voluntary Sector partners strengthening referral pathways and partnership working.
Our Sight Loss MOT has had a powerful impact on the people we support here in Devon. It was a natural progression for us to start looking at a specific version of the Sight Loss MOT for Children, Young People and their Families (CYPF).
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This version reflects the different care and support available to children and young people with sight loss and provides information and resources to help people navigate issues around Special Needs Education, and the transition into work and independent living.
The draft framework was developed in partnership with Laura Hughes of Moorvision, a Devon-based charity providing a range of support to children and young people affected by sight loss, and their families. We have completed a consultation with national sight loss partners and work will start shortly on a Devon specific framework in consultation with local partners.
We would like to thank Thomas Pocklington Trust for their support with this project.
Strategic Priorities 2021-2025
We have identified seven Strategic Priorities that will take us up to and include our Centenary Year in 2025. Consolidating our service offer, income generation and building capacity are vital in the coming years. We will review progress against our Five-Year Strategic Plan annually.
Priority 1: Funding our existing services will remain a key priority.
Our ability to sustain our services will depend largely on being able to secure significant multi-year funding in a highly competitive environment.
-
¢ We will continue to develop broad-based funding from trusts and grants, individual donations (e.g. Friends of Devon in Sight and the Equipment Bursary Fund), legacies, commissioning, contract funding, and by developing our business and community fundraising.
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e We will continue to build our profile with the public through traditional marketing, our website and social media.
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e We will respond to opportunities to collaborate or merge with other organisations with a shared ethos, area of benefit and complimentary charitable objects.
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Priority 2: We will consolidate our Community Sight Loss Service as our main frontline service.
Our Community Sight Loss Service focuses on the three key areas of Early Intervention, Emotional Wellbeing and Complex & Crisis Case Support.
Early Intervention Programme
Our Early Intervention Programme will ensure people with sight loss are aware of the support available to them (including people in hard-to-reach groups). By ensuring that people have access to the right information, equipment, training and support, our Early Intervention Programme will help people make best use of their remaining sight and maintain their independence.
-
e We will continue to develop our Helpline (Information, Advice & Guidance) as our Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for the organisation to ensure a consistent and professional approach to triaging of all enquiries and undertake a Client Fact Find where appropriate to establish Client need.
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e The quality of the Information, Advice and Guidance we give to the public must be accurate, up-to-date and formatted in an accessible way. Through our membership of the Helplines Partnership, we will work towards the nationally recognised Helplines Standard Accreditation.
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e Using the Sight Loss MOT(Needs Assessment Tool) we will ensure that people have a diagnosis that is understood by themselves and their family, that where appropriate they are registered as being sight impaired, that they have the correct lighting and magnification to make best use of their remaining sight, and that they are aware of the many Low Vision Aids, Daily Living Equipment, Assistive Technology Solutions and other support services available in their local area.
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e We will demonstrate tried and tested Low Vision Aids and Daily Living Equipment to clients and distribute supplier catalogues.
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¢ We will maintain an Equipment Bursary Fund to supply our clients with some popular independent living equipment for free.
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Devon County Association for the Blind
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- e We will continue to build our formal Assistive Technology Partnership with Sight and Sound Technology Limited to offer hardware and software to the blind, partially sighted and those with learning and reading difficulties.
Emotional Wellbeing Service
Our Emotional Support Service provides a range low-level! emotional support interventions to a number of free one-hour counselling sessions delivered in partnership with Living Options Devon, and with a number of local counsellors who have received training and who are accredited with the RNIB.
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e As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic we have reestablished our programme of local Talk and Support Groups across the county including for the first time, Exeter. These will give people who are blind or partially sighted an opportunity to meet others, share their experiences and hear from speakers from partner organisations, community groups and equipment suppliers. Giving voice to our clients is important to us and helps us influence change in the sight loss sector and beyond.
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¢ We will produce four editions of our magazine In Vision each year in a range of accessible formats.
Complex and Crisis Case Support
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e We will provide intensive support for clients in crisis, or with wider issues compounded by their sight loss. Through direct support, as well as acting as a conduit between other services, the aim is to provide a coherent and joined up support package aimed at moving clients to a more stable and positive situation.
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We will provide a robust response to Safeguarding concerns developing a portfolio of policies and procedures and programme of Staff training.
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¢ We will work closely with Adult and Children’s Safeguarding Teams and the Police where appropriate.
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¢ All our services will be supported by professional back-office functions including Finance, HR, Marketing, IT, Policies and Procedures and through the monitoring and evaluation of our services.
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Devon County Association for the Blind
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Trustees’ Report
Priority 3: We will develop Volunteering within the charity to help build capacity.
Volunteers support our organisation on many levels, Patronage, Trustees, Head Office functions, the Community Sight Loss Service and Community Fundraising.
- e We will review our Vision for Volunteering and update our Volunteering Strategy before embarking on a recruitment campaign to give more opportunities for volunteering to build capacity.
Priority 4: People in the Lead
People with sight loss must be at the centre of everything we do.
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e Wewill continue to promote a culture of listening and participation at all levels of the charity by encouraging feedback from our stakeholders both individually and through our Talk and Support Groups, Volunteering, Voting Membership and In Vision Magazine subscribers.
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e We will encourage our stakeholders to take a more active role in service development by setting up a Devon Sight Loss Forum.
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e We will build stronger links with local Sight Loss Clubs and Talking Newspapers & Magazines.
Priority 5: We will contribute to the development of policy and best practice at a local, regional and national level through effective partnerships with other sight loss charities, healthcare providers and commissioners.
Although our priority is local service delivery, we can achieve wider impact by helping to shape policy and practice at a national, regional and local level through our links with Vision UK, Visionary, The South West Associations Network (SWAN) and Devon Vision Impairment Services (DEVIS).
- e We will continue to develop formal strategic partnerships with key Statutory and Voluntary Sector partners strengthening referral pathways and partnership working.
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Devon County Association for the Blind
Trustees’ Report
known as Devon in Sight
-
e |tremains our vision to establish a distinctive role within the formal Eye Health and Sight Loss Pathways for Devon and Torbay.
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e We will continue to share our award winning Adult Sight Loss MOT (Needs Assessment Tool) with Sight Loss Associations nationally and develop a Sight Loss MOT for Children and Young People and their families.
Priority 6: We will explore opportunities to extend the Community Sight Loss Service if and when funding is available.
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e We will look at extending coverage to the City of Exeter and North Devon & Torridge, with additional Community Talk and Support Groups and Community Sight Loss Coordinators in those areas, and working alongside partner agencies.
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e We will share our Sight Loss MOT (Needs Assessment Tool) with partners to promote a consistent approach across Devon and beyond.
Priority 7: We will optimise the potential of our Centenary in 2025.
Devon in Sight was established in 1925 and has a long and proud history of serving blind and partially sighted people in Devon. 2025 marks our Centenary.
- e We will ensure that we use the build up to this milestone as an effective tool to build effective partnerships, develop sponsorship opportunities, recruit patrons and raise awareness of our charity to the general public
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a Society Changing Event. Radical transformations will be required to overcome the challenges the charity is facing, and are necessary to keep pace with the economic, social and structural changes we are experiencing.
Our clients have experienced significant challenges during the pandemic and will continue to face these as restrictions continue to lift; many will need support to re-build their confidence in leaving their homes and to improve their physical and emotional wellbeing after isolating at home for so long.
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Devon County Association for the Blind
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Trustees’ Report
It is really important that we create positive outcomes from the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nationally, we are sharing our experiences of the pandemic and the positive changes it has had on our services with our partners in the sight loss sector. These changes will have a positive effect on the future support and services offered to people who are blind and partially sighted in Devon.
Whilst our 95th Anniversary Year proved to be an even greater challenge than we anticipated | would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff, volunteers, trustees, Friends and Voting Members for their loyal support during this crisis.
Thank you
Grahame Flynn Chief Executive Officer
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Devon County Association for the Blind
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Trustees’ Report
References
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Public Health Action Support Team (2013) National Eye Health Epidemiological Model.
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Minassian D and Reidy A (2009) Future Sight Loss UK 2: An
-
epidemiological and economic model for sight loss in the decade 2010 - 2020. EpiVision and RNIB.
-
Figures for diagnosed diabetes are taken from the Quality and Outcomes Framework:
-
NHS Digital (2016) Quality and Outcomes Framework
-
NHS Wales (2016) Quality and Outcomes Framework
-
NHS Scotland (2016) Quality and Outcomes Framework
-
Department of Health Northern Ireland (2016) Quality and Outcomes Framework
-
Association of Public Health Observatories (2010) Diabetes Prevalence Model.
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Pezzullo L, Streatfield J, Simkiss P, and Shickle D (2018) The economic impact of sight loss and blindness in the UK adult population. BMC Health Services Research, 18:63.
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Office for National Statistics (2015) 2014-based National Population Projections: Principle projections.
-
Deloitte Access Economics (2017).Incidence and risk of sight loss and blindness in the UK. RNIB.
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Ophthalmology accounts for 8% of the 94 million hospital outpatient attendances and is the busiest outpatient attendance specialty. NHS Digital: Hospital Episode Statistics - Outpatient Activity 2017/18.
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Devon County Association for the Blind
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-
The RNIB’s Sight Loss Data Tool is the UK’s biggest collection of eye health datasets. It collates a wide range of publically available datasets and allows users to view local area data easily in one of three different automated reports.
-
https://Awww.rmib.org.uk/professionals/knowledge-and-research-hub/keyinformation-and-statistics/sight-loss-data-tool
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Thurston M, Thurston A and McLeod (2010) Socio-emotional effects of the transition from sight to blindness. The British Journal of Visual Impairment, Vol 28(2): 90-112.
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Slade J and Edwards R (2015) My Voice 2015: The views and experiences of blind and partially sighted people in the UK. RNIB.
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Noliett C, Bray N, Bunce C, et al (2016) Depression in visual impairment trial (DEPVIT): a randomized clinical trial of depression treatments in people with low vision. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci.57:4247-4254.
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Office for National Statistics, 2011
Page 30
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight Trustees’ Report
Financial Review by Steve Muncer, Honorary Treasurer
Review of the Year
(Note: prior year figures shown in parenthesis)
Despite very real concerns about the adverse impact the COVID-19 pandemic would have on our finances combined with the end of the funded National Lottery Project, we achieved a surplus in the year of £30,351 compared to a loss of £96,519 in 2019/20. A lot of effort has been put into maximising nonLottery Trust and Grants and minimising the adverse impact on other income streams, together with being very proactive in managing costs downwards. However, the single biggest driver to the turnaround has been investment performance with gains in investment values increasing by £74,935 in the year compared with a reduction of £41,781 last year.
Total income for the year was £151,204, down from £209,209 the previous year. This reduction was primarily caused bya fall in National Lottery funding to £50,228 from £122,268 as the funding ceased in October 2020. Excluding the Lottery, income was 9.7% higher than the prior year, with marked increases in non- Lottery Trust and Grants to £64,070 (£42,940) and legacies £6,124 (£1,524). Fundraising activities and donations were adversely affected by the Covid pandemic with income falling to £11,985 from £21,118. All other income lines were broadly flat and other than some historical commission, there was no income from equipment sales.
Total expenditure for the year was £195,788, a significant 25.8% reduction on the £263,947 spent the previous year. A major driver to this year-on-year reduction was a £48,000 fall in staff costs and travel as numbers were reduced by two and with all other staff volunteering to reduce their hours by 20%. Staff continued to work, mainly from home, during the pandemic, none were furloughed and no claim was made against the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The cessation of the National Lottery funding contributed toa fall of £18,846 in non-staff direct costs and there was also a small reduction in overhead and other costs.
Although total costs exceed expenditure by £44,588 (£54,738 in 2019/20), the £74,935 positive movement in investment values results in the Charity being able to report the surplus of £30,351. This is a complete turnaround compared
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Devon County Association for the Blind
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Trustees’ Report
to last year when investment values fell by £41,781 and reflects the recovery in equity values since their dramatic COVID-19 related fall at the end of 2019/20. Our strategy and specific investments have broadly stayed the same over the last 2 financial years and the £116,716 year on year movement in values demonstrates how external factors, largely outside our control, can impact on our finances. The good news is that, even if the rate of growth has slowed, investment values continue to grow in the current financial year.
Total funds at the year-end stood at £453,035 (£422,684) and comprised furniture and equipment ofjust £3,895 (£4,301) and liquid reserves of £449,140 (£418,383). Total funds are split between restricted, £11,917 (£7,343) and unrestricted, £437,223 (£415,341). Whilst our reserves appear healthy it is important to realise that we no longer have the security of owning our own building and our biggest source of existing funding from the National Lottery Community Fund ceased. None of our existing income streams are certain and we are mainly reliant on the generosity of individual funders and donors. We have done much to maximise income opportunities and to manage costs down but with the continued uncertainty over levels of income we will have to utilise our reserves to continue to provide the services our clients need.
Funding
Funding our services remains challenging and we would like to especially thank the following funders for their support:
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e The National Lottery Reaching Community Fund e Thomas Pocklington Trust
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e Carmen Butler - Charteris Trust e Edward Gosling Foundation
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e Mrs Gweneth Moxon Trust
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e Donald Forrester Trust
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e Drand Mrs A. Darlington Trust e Devon County Council e Norman Family Charitable Trust
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e Fairfield Trust e Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation e Edgar E Lawley Trust e Albert Hunt Trust e GC Gibson Trust
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Devon County Association for the Blind
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-
e¢ David Gibbons Foundation
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e Elmgrant Trust e Valerie Ayton Trust
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e WG Edwards Trust
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e Leonard Laity Stoate Charitable Trust
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e Forest Hill Charitable Trust
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e Heydown Trust
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¢ Woodroffe Benton Trust
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e Donald Ericsson Trust e Dartmoor Community Covid Fund
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e Sir John & Lady Amory’s Charitable Trust e Ritchie Charitable Trust
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e Neighbourly Community Fund
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e¢ Michael and Anna Wix Charitable Trust
We are also very grateful to those trusts that supported our work but who wish to remain anonymous.
We would also like to thank all our donors and fundraisers, notably Waitrose, Venture Capital, Persimmon Homes and Timothy Brindle and those regular donors who have signed up to be a Friend of Devon in Sight.
Lastly, we would also like to thank those families from whom we received either a legacy or ‘In Memoriam’ donation.
Our Reserves Policy
With no guaranteed National Lottery or other long term income streams in place, together with potential staff and property liabilities, the Board have recently agreed to increase the minimum level of liquid reserves from 6 to 12 months operating costs.
Our Designated Funds
The Trustees have reviewed existing and new designated funds as follows:-
Building Fund
During 2018/19 the Trustees disposed of Station House, our previously owned property in Topsham and moved into rented accommodation at Splatford
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Devon County Association for the Blind known as Devon in Sight Trustees’ Report
Barton. Although we signed a six-year lease (with a mid- point break clause) the Trustees nevertheless believe it is sensible to designate £200,000 for the purchase of a new office, if ever required in the future.
Redundancy Fund
Whilst not an immediate issue the Trustees believe that it is prudent to set aside monies within the general reserve for potential redundancy costs if the charity were ever to close. Although there have been changes in staff the assessment is that the fund ought to remain at £35,000.
COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the stark reality that to maintain core services we need to ensure that there is a specific buffer for the impact of the ongoing pandemic and potentially a further re-emergence of a new variant of Coronavirus. The nature of the pandemic and its impact and the level of external support available makes it difficult to project but the Trustees believe that this restricted fund ought to be at least £50,000.
Our Investment Policy
The Trustees undertook a detailed risk assessment in March 2018 with their Investment Managers Rowan Dartington, partly in anticipation of having additional funds to invest following the sale of Station House. This assessment showed Trustees appetite for risk edging upwards from the low medium band to medium risk. As the change was marginal the Trustees decided that rather than putting all the funds into one new portfolio they would continue to invest, broadly 60% in the existing low-medium ‘Balanced’ portfolio and the remaining 40% in a new medium risk Ethical Fund. While the former concentrates on income generation with some capital growth the Ethical Fund aim is to produce greater growth. The portfolio performance is kept under continuous review and recent performance has been strong since the marked fall in values caused by the pandemic in the spring of 2020. Although no change to our existing policy is recommended, a further substantive review is planned for September 2021.
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Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight Trustees’ Report
Our Risk Management Policy The Trustees continue to update and review the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. Steve Muncer Honorary Treasurer
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Approved by the Board on Friday 8th October 2021 and signed on its behalf by: Se\pestekynation Honorary Treasurer
Page 35
Devon County Association for the Blind
- known as Devon in Sight
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities
The trustees (who are also the directors of Devon County Association for the Blind for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees’ report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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¢ state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards 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 charitable company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by the trustees of the charity on 8 October 2021 and signed on its behalf by: a Dr A Jacobs. Chairmanvad Trustee
Page 36
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Devon County Association
for the Blind
| report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2021 which are set out on pages 39 to 74.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
As the charity's trustees of Devon County Association for the Blind (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of Devon County Association for the Blind are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, | report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination | have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
| have completed my examination. | confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of Devon County Association for the Blind as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
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the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).
| 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.
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Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Devon County Association for the Blind
Chartered Certified Accountants
2 Clyst Works Clyst Road Topsham Exeter EX3 0DB
8 October 2021
Page 38
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2021 (Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | 2021 | ||
| Current financial year | Note | E | £ | £ |
| Income and Endowments from: | ||||
| Donations and legacies | 3 | 56,435 | 75,993 | 132,428 |
| Othertrading activities | 5 | 3,313 | - | 3,313 |
| Investment income | 6 | 11,463 | - | 11,463 |
| Other income | 7 | 4,000 | - | 4,000 |
| Total Income | 75,211 | 75,993 | 151,204 | |
| Expenditure on: | ||||
| Raising funds | 8 | (41,779) | - | (41,779) |
| Charitable activities | 9 | (62,687) | (91,322) | (154,009) |
| Total Expenditure | (104,466) | (91,322) | (195,788) | |
| Other recognised gains and losses | 74,935 | - | 74,935 | |
| Net income/(expenditure) | 45,680 | (15,329) | 30,351 | |
| Transfers between funds | (19,903) | 19,903 | - | |
| Net movement in funds | 25,777 | 4,574 | 30,351 | |
| Reconciliation offunds | ||||
| Total funds broughtforward | 415,341 | 7,343 | 422,684 | |
| Totalfundscarriedforward | 22 | 441,118 | 11,917 | 453,035 |
The notes on pages 43 to 74 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 39
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
(Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)
| Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 2020 | ||
| Priorfinancial year | Note | £ | £ | £ |
| Income and Endowments from: | ||||
| Donations and legacies | 3 | 14,804 | 164,108 | 178,912 |
| Charitable activities | 4 | 2,078 | - | 2,078 |
| Othertrading activities | 5 | 13,328 | - | 13,328 |
| Investment income | 6 | 11,891 | - | 11,891 |
| Other income | 7 | 3,000 | - | 3,000 |
| Total income | 45,101 | 164,108 | 209,209 | |
| Expenditure on: | ||||
| Raising funds | 8 | (50,785) | - | (50,785) |
| Charitable activities | ) | (9,877) | — (203,285) — (213,162) | |
| Total expenditure | (60,662) | (203,285) | (263,947) | |
| Otherrecognised gains and losses | (41,781) | - | (41,781) | |
| Net expenditure | (57,342) | (39,177) | (96,519) | |
| Transfers between funds | (34,489) | 34,489 | - | |
| Netmovement in funds | (91,831) | (4,688) | (96,519) | |
| Reconciliation offunds | ||||
| Total funds brought forward | 507,172 | 12,031 | 519,203 | |
| Totalfundscarriedforward | 22 | 415,341 | 7,343 | 422,684 |
The funds breakdown for 2020 is shown in note 22.
All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods.
The notes on pages 43 to 74 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 40
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
(Registration number: 07371472) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2021
| 2021 | 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ | z | |
| Fixed assets | |||
| Tangible assets | 16 | 3,895 | 4,301 |
| Investments | 17 | 413,642 | 352,917 |
| 417,537 | 357,218 | ||
| Current assets | |||
| Debtors | 18 | 1,350 | 2,090 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 19 | 53,218 | 79,192 |
| 54,568 | 81,282 | ||
| Creditors: Amounts falling duewithin oneyear 20 | (19,070) | (15,816) | |
| Net current assets | 35,498 | 65,466 | |
| Net assets | 453,035 | 422,684 | |
| Funds ofthe charity: | |||
| Restricted income funds | |||
| Restricted funds | 22 | 11,917 | 7,343 |
| Unrestricted income funds | |||
| Unrestricted funds | 441,118 | 415,341 | |
| Totalfunds | 72 | 453,035 | 422,684 |
The notes on pages 43 to 74 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 41
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
(Registration number: 07371472) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2021
For the financial year ending 31 March 2021 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Directors’ responsibilities:
-
The members have not required the charity to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476; and
-
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial stat menis7on pages 39 to 74 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for isSue or|8 October 2021 and signed on their behalf by:
7 ‘sheng? Crewaunguuvoviwues Chairmanand Trustee
The notes on pages 43 to 74 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 42
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
1 Charity status
The charity is limited by guarantee, incorporated in England, and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the trustees is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.
The address of its registered office is: Unit 3 Splatford Barton Splatford Land Kennford Exeter Devon EX6 7XY These financial statements were authorised for issue by the trustees on 8 October 2021.
2 Accounting policies
Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.
Statement of compliance
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). They also comply with the Companies Act 2006 and Charities Act 2011.
Basis of preparation
Devon County Association for the Blind 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 notes.
The accounts are presented in £ Sterling and are rounded to the nearest £1.
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Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
Going concern
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern nor any significant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets held by the charity.
Exemption from preparing a cash flow statement
The charity satisfies the criteria of being a small entity as defined in FRS 102 and as a result has taken the exemption from preparing a cashflow statement.
Income and endowments
All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of the income receivable can be measured reliably.
Donations and legacies
Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance by the charity before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that these conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.
Legacy gifts are recognised on a case by case basis following the grant of probate when the administrator/executor for the estate has communicated in writing both the amount and settlement date. In the event that the gift is in the form of an asset other than cash or a financial asset traded on a recognised stock exchange, recognition is subject to the value of the gift being reliably measurable with a degree of reasonable accuracy and the title to the asset having been transferred to the charity.
Grants receivable
Grants are recognised when the charity has an entitlement to the funds and any conditions linked to the grants have been met. Where performance conditions are attached to the grant and are yet to be met, the income is recognised asa liability and included on the balance sheet as deferred income to be released.
Page 44
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
Deferred income
Deferred income represents amounts received for future periods and is released to incoming resources in the period for which, it has been received. Such income is only deferred when:
-
The donor specifies that the grant or donation must only be used in future accounting periods; or
-
The donor has imposed conditions which must be met before the charity has unconditional entitlement.
Investment income
Dividends are recognised once the dividend has been declared and notification has been received of the dividend due.
Expenditure
All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.
Raising funds
These are costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, the management of investments and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.
Charitable activities
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Support costs
Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, for example, allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.
Page 45
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
Governance costs
These include the costs attributable to the charity’s compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements, including audit, strategic management and trustees’s meetings and reimbursed expenses.
Taxation
The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
Tangible fixed assets
Individual fixed assets costing £500 or more are initially recorded at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
Depreciation and amortisation
Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:
Asset class Furniture and office equipment Fixtures and fittings Freehold interest in land and buildings
Depreciation method and rate 15% straight line basis 10% straight line basis 2% straight line basis
Research and development
Research and development expenditure is written off as incurred.
Page 46
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
Fixed asset investments
Fixed asset investments, other than programme related investments, are included at market value at the balance sheet date. Realised gains and losses on investments are calculated as the difference between sales proceeds and their market value at the start of the year, or their subsequent cost, and are charged or credited to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period of disposal.
Unrealised gains and losses represent the movement in market values during the year and are credited or charged to the Statement of Financial Activities based on the market value at the year end.
Trade debtors
Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for merchandise sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business.
Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the charity will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
Borrowings
Interest-bearing borrowings are initially recorded at fair value, net of transaction costs. Interest-bearing borrowings are subsequently carried at amortised cost, with the difference between the proceeds, net of transaction costs, and the amount due on redemption being recognised as a charge to the Statement of Financial Activities over the period of the relevant borrowing.
Interest expense is recognised on the basis of the effective interest method and is included in interest payable and similar charges.
Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the charity has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least twelve months after the reporting date.
Page 47
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
Foreign exchange
Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate of exchange at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are reported at the rates of exchange prevailing at that date.
The results of overseas operations are translated at the average rates of exchange during the period and their balance sheets at the rates ruling at the balance sheet date. Exchange differences arising on translation of the opening net assets and results of overseas operations are reported in other comprehensive income and accumulated in equity (attributed to non-controlling interests as appropriate).
Other exchange differences are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities in the period in which they arise except for:
1) exchange differences on transactions entered into to hedge certain foreign currency risks (see above);
2) exchange differences arising on gains or losses on non-monetary items which are recognised in other comprehensive income; and
3) in the case of the consolidated financial statements, exchange differences on monetary items receivable from or payable to a foreign operation for which settlement is neither planned nor likely to occur (therefore forming part of the net investment in the foreign operation), which are recognised in other comprehensive income and reported under equity.
Fund structure
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees's discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside for specific purposes at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.
Page 48
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
Pensions and other post retirement obligations
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme which is a pension plan under which fixed contributions are paid into a pension fund and the charity has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions even if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.
Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when they are due. If contribution payments exceed the contribution due for service, the excess is recognised as a prepayment.
Financial instruments
Classification
The company only enters into basic financial instrument transactions that result in the recognition of financial assets and liabilities, such as trade and other accounts receivable and payable and loans from banks/other third parties.
Recognition and measurement
Debt instruments like loans are initially measured at present value of the future payments and subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Debt instruments that are payable or receivable within one year, typically trade payable or receivables, are measured initially and subsequently, at the undiscounted amount of the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received. In the case of a non current liability not at a market rate of interest, the financial liability is measured initially and subsequently at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.
Page 49
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
impairment
Financial assets that are measured at cost and amortised cost are assessed at the end of each reporting period for objective evidence of impairment. If objective evidence of impairment is found, an impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.
For financial assets measured at amortised cost, the impairment loss is measured as the difference between an asset's carrying amount and the present value of estimated cash flows, discounted at the assets original effective interest rate.
For financial assets measured at cost less impairment, the impairment loss is measured as the difference between an asset’s carrying amount and the best estimate, which is an approximation, of the amount that the company would receive for the asset if it were to be sold at the reporting date.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount reported in the statement of financial position when there is an enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Page 50
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
Debt instruments
Debt instruments which meet the following conditions are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method:
(a) The contractual return to the holder is (i) a fixed amount; (ii) a positive fixed rate or a positive variable rate; or (iii) a combination of a positive or a negative fixed rate and a positive variable rate.
(b) The contract may provide for repayments of the principal or the return to the holder (but not both) to be linked to a single relevant observable index of general price inflation of the currency in which the debt instrument is denominated, provided such links are not leveraged.
(c) The contract may provide for a determinable variation of the return to the holder during the life of the instrument, provided that (i) the new rate satisfies condition (a) and the variation is not contingent on future events other than (1) a change of a contractual variable rate; (2) to protect the holder against credit deterioration of the issuer; (3) changes in levies applied by a central bank or arising from changes in relevant taxation or law; or (ii) the new rate is a market rate of interest and satisfies condition (a).
(d) There is no contractual provision that could, by its terms, result in the holder losing the principal amount or any interest attributable to the current period or prior periods.
(e) Contractual provisions that permit the issuer to prepay a debt instrument or permit the holder to put it back to the issuer before maturity are not contingent on future events, other than to protect the holder against the credit deterioration of the issuer or a change in control of the issuer, or to protect the holder or issuer against changes in levies applied by a central bank or arising from changes in relevant taxation or law.
Page 51
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
Investments
Investments in non-convertible preference shares and non-puttable ordinary or preference shares (where shares are publicly traded or their fair value is reliably measurable) are measured at fair value through profit or loss. Where fair value cannot be measured reliably, investments are measured at cost less impairment.
Investments in subsidiaries and associates are measured at cost less impairment. For investments in subsidiaries acquired for consideration including the issue of shares qualifying for merger relief, cost is measured by reference to the nominal value of the shares issued plus fair value of other consideration. Any premium is ignored.
Derivative financial instruments
The charity uses derivative financial instruments to reduce exposure to foreign exchange risk and interest rate movements. The charity does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.
Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value at the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured to their fair value at each reporting date. The resulting gain or loss is recognised in statement of financial activities immediately unless the derivative is designated and effective as a hedging instrument, in which event the timing of the recognition in statement of financial activities depends on the nature of the hedge relationship.
Fair value measurement
The best evidence of fair value is a quoted price for an identical asset in an active market. When quoted prices are unavailable, the price of a recent transaction for an identical asset provides evidence of fair value as long as there has not been a significant change in economic circumstances or a significant lapse of time since the transaction took place. If the market is not active and recent transactions of an identical asset on their own are not a good estimate of fair value, the fair value is estimated by using a valuation technique.
Page 52
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
3 Income from donations and legacies
| Unrestricted | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds General |
Restricted funds |
Total 2021 |
Total 2020 |
|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Donations and legacies; | ||||
| Donations from | ||||
| individuals | 10,506 | 500 | 11,006 | 12,280 |
| Legacies | 6,124 | - | 6,124 | 1,524 |
| Grants, including capital | ||||
| grants; | ||||
| Grants from other | ||||
| charities | 39,805 | 75,493 | 115,298 | 165,108 |
| 56,435 | 75,993 | 132,428 | 178,912 | |
| 4 Income from charitable | activities | |||
| Total | Total | |||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||
| 4 | £ | |||
| Resource Centre Equipment Sales | 5 | 2,078 | ||
| 5 Income from othertrading activities | ||||
| Unrestricted | ||||
| funds | Total | Total | ||
| General | 2021 | 2020 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Local fundraising and street | collection | |||
| income | 698 | 698 | 8,838 | |
| Training services | 2,615 | 2,615 | 4,490 | |
| 3,313 | 3,313 | 13,328 |
Page 53
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
6 Investment income
| Unrestricted | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| funds | Total | Total | |
| General | 2021 | 2020 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Interest receivable and similar income; | |||
| Interest receivable on bank deposits | 6 | 6 | 390 |
| Other income from fixed asset | |||
| investments | 11,457 | 11,457 | 11,501 |
| 11,463 | 11,463 | 11,891 |
7 Other income
| Unrestricted | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| funds | Total | Total | |
| General | 2021 | 2020 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| UK Government grants - employment | |||
| allowance | 4,000 | 4,000 | 3,000 |
Page 54
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
8 Expenditure on raising funds
| Allocated | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct | support | Total | Total | |
| costs | costs | 2021 | 2020 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Costs ofgenerating | ||||
| donations and legacies | 27,454 | 14,325 | 41,779 | 50,785 |
| 9 Expenditure on charitable activities | ||||
| Activity | Activity | |||
| undertaken | support | |||
| directly | costs | 2021 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| CommunitySupport | 96,915 | 38,196 | 135,111 | |
| Information Resources | 11,720 | 7,162 | 18,882 | |
| Transport | 16 | - | 16 | |
| 108,651 | 45,358 | 154,009 | ||
| Activity | Activity | |||
| undertaken | support | |||
| directly | costs | 2020 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| CommunitySupport | 132,904 | 54,920 | 187,824 | |
| Resource Centre Equipment Sales | 924 | - | 924 | |
| Information Resources | 13,992 | 10,298 | 24,290 | |
| Transport | 124 | - | 124 | |
| 147,944 | 65,218 | 213,162 |
In addition to the expenditure analysed above, there are also governance costs of £3,216 (2020 - £3,148) which relate directly to charitable activities. See note 10 for further details.
Page 55
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
10Analysis of governance and support costs
----- Start of picture text -----
Basis of allocation
Reference Method of aliccation
A Costs associated with fundraising
B Costs allocated on the basis of management assessment
Support costs allocated to raising funds
Premises
Governance Finance Information Staff Admin includingcosts supportOther Total Total
Basis of costs costs technology costs costs depreciation costs 2021 2020
allocation £ £ £ £ £ £ 3 £ £
Fundraising A 772 17 722 4,664 2,031 4,225 1,894 14,325 20,597
----- End of picture text -----
Page 56
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
Support costs allocated to charitable activities
| Premises | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basisof allocation |
Governance costs £ |
Finance costs £ |
Information technology 3 |
Staff costs £ |
Admin costs £ |
costs including depreciation £ |
Other support costs £ |
Total 2021 £ |
Total 2020 £ |
|
| Information | ||||||||||
| Resources | B | 386 | 9 | 361 | 2,332 | 1,015 | 2,112 | 947 | 7,162 | 10,298 |
| Community Support |
B | 2,058 | 46 | 1,924 | 12,438 | 5,416 | 11,264 | 5,050 | 38,196 | §4,920 |
| 2,444 | 55 | 2,285 | 14,770 | 6,431 | 13,376 | 5,997 | 45,358 | 65,218 |
Page 57
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
Governance costs
| Unrestricted | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| funds | Total | Total | |
| General | 2021 | 2020 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Independent examinerfees | |||
| Examination ofthe financial statements | 3,216 | 3,216 | 3,148 |
| 3,216 | 210 | 3,148 |
Page 58
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
| 11 Totalresourcesexpended | Direct charitable activity £ |
Direct fundraising £ |
indirect charitable expenditure £ |
Governance £ |
Total2021 £ |
Total2020 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resource centre purchases | - | - | - | - | - | 924 |
| Demonstration equipment | - | - | - | - | - | 1,820 |
| Access towork | - | - | - | - | - | 1,819 |
| Emotional support costs | 1,200 | - | - | - | 1,200 | - |
| Equipment donations | 3,819 | - | - | - | 3,819 | - |
| Wages, agencystaffand training Premises costs |
98,521 - |
22,400 - |
19,433 15,809 |
- - |
140,354 15,809 |
175,784 18,007 |
| Office and IT costs | - | - | 10,340 | - | 10,340 | 12,271 |
| Room hire | 6 | - | - | - | 6 | 4,099 |
| Volunteers travel | 103 | - | 413 | - | 516 | 2,282 |
| Transportand travel | 538 | - | 263 | - | 801 | 13,371 |
| Fundraising Newsletter |
- 3,713 |
5,054 - |
- - |
- - |
5,054 3,713 |
5,737 3,760 |
| Promotional andAGM | 751 | - | - | - | 751 | 3,139 |
| Independent examiners fees | - | - | - | 3,216 | 3,216 | 3,148 |
| Insurance | - | - | 1,129 | - | 1,129 | 1,282 |
| Legal and professional | - | - | 7,216 | - | 7,216 | 13,821 |
| Finance charges | - | - | 72 | - | 72 | 176 |
| Depreciation and loss on disposal | - | - | 1,792 | - | 1,792 | 2,507 |
| 108,651 | 27,454 | 54,467 | 3,216 | 195,788 | 263,947 |
Page 59
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
11Net incoming/outgoing resources
Net outgoing resources for the year include:
----- Start of picture text -----
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|2021|2020|
|£|£|
|Loss/(profit)|on|disposal|of|intangible|fixed|assets|2,009|(673)|
|Depreciation|of fixed|assets|1,792|2,507|
----- End of picture text -----
12Trustees remuneration and expenses
No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.
No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the charity during the year.
Page 60
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
13Staff costs
The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:
----- Start of picture text -----
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|2021|2020|
|£|-|
|Staff costs|during|the|year were:|
|Wages|and|salaries|127,450|151,973|
|Social|security|costs|9,103|11,520|
|Pension|costs|3013|4,310|
|140,066|167,803|
----- End of picture text -----
The monthly average number of persons (including senior management team) employed by the charity during the year expressed as full time equivalents was as follows:
----- Start of picture text -----
|||||
|---|---|---|---|
|2021|2020|
|No|No|
|Charitable|activities|F|8|
----- End of picture text -----
During the year 7 (2020 - 8) employees participated in the Defined Contribution Pension Schemes.
Contributions to the employee pension schemes for the year totalled £3,513 (2020 - £4,310).
No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year.
14Independent examiner's remuneration
----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|2021|2020|
|£|£|
|Examination|of the|financial|statements|3,216|3,148|
----- End of picture text -----
Page 61
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
15Taxation
The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.
16Tangible fixed assets
| 16Tangible fixed assets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Furniture | ||
| and | ||
| equipment __Total | ||
| £ | £ | |
| Cost | ||
| At 1 April 2020 | 19,231 | 19,231 |
| Additions | 1,386 | 1,386 |
| At 31 March 2021 | 20,617 | 20,617 |
| Depreciation | ||
| At 1 April 2020 | 14,930 | 14,930 |
| Charge for the year | 1,792 | 1,792 |
| At 31 March 2021 | 16,722 | 16,722 |
| Net book value | ||
| At 31 March 2021 | 3,895 | 3,895 |
| At31March2020 | 4,301 | 4,301 |
Page 62
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
17Fixed asset investments
Other investments
| Listed | ||
|---|---|---|
| investments | Total | |
| 3 | £ | |
| Cost or Valuation | ||
| At1 April 2020 | 352,917 | 352,917 |
| Revaluation | 76,427 | 76,427 |
| Additions | 161,505 | 161,505 |
| Disposals | (177,207) | (177,207) |
| At 31 March 2021 | 413,642 | 413,642 |
| Net book value | ||
| At31 March 2021 | 413,642 | 413,642 |
| At31March2020 | 352,917 | 352,917 |
The market value of the listed investments at 31 March 2021 was £413,624 (2020 - £352,917).
Page 63
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
18Debtors
----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|2021|2020|
|£|£|
|Accrued|income|1,350|2,090|
|19Cash|and|cash|equivalents|
|2021|2020|
|£|£|
|Cash|on|hand|205|233|
|Cash|at|bank|53,013|78,959|
|53,218|79,192|
|20Creditors:|amounts|falling|due|within|one|year|
|2021|2020|
|£|£|
|Other taxation|and|social|security|1,384|2,283|
|Other|creditors|2,166|2,456|
|Accruals|3,120|3,024|
|Deferred|income|12,400|8,053|
|19,070|15,816|
|2021|2020|
|£|£|
|Deferred|income|at|1|April|2020|8,053|33,007|
|Resources|deferred|in|the|period|12,400|8,053|
|Amounts|released|from|previous|periods|(8,053)|(33,007)|
|Deferred|income|at year end|12,400|8,053|
----- End of picture text -----
Page 64
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
21 Obligations under leases and hire purchase contracts
Operating lease commitments
Total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Land and buildings | ||
| Within one year | 4,475 | 10,740 |
| Between one and five years | - | 4,546 |
| 4,475 | 15,286 |
Page 65
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
22Funds
| 22Funds | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at | Other | Balance at | ||||
| 1 April | Incoming | Resources | recognised | 31 March | ||
| 2020 | resources | expended’ | Transfers | gains/(losses) | 2021 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted | ||||||
| General | ||||||
| Unrestricted Income Fund | 172,615 | 75,211 | (104,466) | (31,912) | - | 111,448 |
| Revaluation reserve | (32,274) | - | - | 2,009 | 74,935 | 44.670 |
| 140,341 | 75,211 | (104,466) | (29,903) | 74,935 | 156,118 | |
| Designated | ||||||
| Redundancy Fund | 35,000 | - | - | - | - | 35,000 |
| CommunityService Fund | 40,000 | - | - | (40,000) | - | - |
| Building Fund | 200,000 | - | - | - | - | 200,000 |
| Covid-19 Fund | - | - | - | 50,000 | - | 50,000 |
| 275,000 | - | - | 10,000 | - | 285,000 | |
| Total Unrestricted | 415,341 | 75,211 | (104,466) | (19,903) | 74,935 | 441,118 |
| Restricted | ||||||
| Big Lottery Fund grant -Resource Centre | ||||||
| Tech Hub | 353 | - | (212) | - | - | 141 |
| TalkingComputers | 3,478 | - | (448) | - | - | 3,030 |
| Page66 |
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
----- Start of picture text -----
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Balance at|Other|Balance|at|
|1|April|Incoming|Resources|recognised|3%|March|
|2020|resources|expended|Transfers|gains/{losses)|2021|
|£|£|£|£|£|£|
|For Clubs|315|-|(16)|-|-|299|
|Resource|Centre|Refurbishment|389|=|(389)|=|=|7|
|EPOS|and|Sage|2,808|-|-|-|-|2,808|
|NLCF|- Community Support|-|§0,228|(70,131)|19,903|-|-|
|Equipment|Bursary|-|-|3,858|(3,819)|-|-|39|
|Emotional|support/counselling|-|6,800|(1,200)|-|-|5,600|
|MOT Training|and|Development|-|15,107|(15,107)|:|-|-|
|Total|restricted|7,343|75,993|(91,322)|19,903|-|11,917|
|Total funds|422,684|151,204|(195,788)|-|74,935|453,035|
----- End of picture text -----
Page 67
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
| Balance at | Other | Balance at | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April | Incoming | Resources | recognised | 31 March | ||
| 2019 | resources | expended’ | Transfers | gains/(losses) | 2020 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | ||||||
| General | ||||||
| Unrestricted Income Fund | 196,992 | 45,101 | (60,662) | (8,816) | - | 172,615 |
| Revaluation reserve | 10,180 | - | - | (673) | (41,781) | (32,274) |
| 207,172 | 45,101 | (60,662) | (9,489) | (41,781) | 140,341 | |
| Designated | ||||||
| Redundancy Fund | 35,000 | - | - | - | - | 35,000 |
| CommunityService Fund | 65,000 | - | - | (25,000) | - | 40,000 |
| Building Fund | 200,000 | - | - | - | - | 200,000 |
| 300,000 | - | - | (25,000) | - | 275,000 | |
| Total unrestricted funds | 507,172 | 45,101 | (60,662) | (34,489) | (41,781) | 415,341 |
| Restricted | ||||||
| Big LotteryFund grant -Resource Centre | ||||||
| Tech Hub | 566 | - | (213) | - | - | 353 |
| Talking Computers | 5,746 | - | (2,268) | - | - | 3,478 |
| For Clubs | 439 | - | (124) | - | - | 315 |
| Resource Centre Refurbishment | 972 | - | (583) | - | - | 389 |
| EPOSandSage | 3,308 | - | (500) | - | - | 2,808 |
| Page68 |
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
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|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Balance|at|Other|Balance|at|
|1|April|Incoming|Resources|recognised|31|March|
|2019|resources|expended|Transfers|gains/{losses)|2020|
|£|£|£|£|£|£|
|Catalogue|See|the|Future|1,000|1,950|(2,950)|-|-|-|
|NLCF|- Community Support|-|138,334|(172,823)|34,489|-|cS|
|NLCF|-|Building|Capabilities|=|3,834|(3,834)|-|-|-|
|Assistive technology|-|9,250|(9,250)|-|-|-|
|Talk and support|-|900|(900)|98|-|-|
|Awards for all|-|9,840|(9,840)|-|-|-|
|Total|restricted funds|12,031|164,108|(203,285)|34,489|-|7,343|
|Total funds|519,203|209,209|(263,947)|-|(41,781)|422,684|
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Page 69
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
The specific purposes for which the funds are to be applied are as follows:
DESIGNATED FUNDS
Building Fund — Although there is a six year lease (with over 3 years remaining at the year-end) the Trustees believe it sensible to designate £200,000 for the purchase of a new office, if required.
Community Support Service — Although the service is predominantly funded through the National Lottery Reaching Communities Programme the charity has to generate additional income or use reserves to ensure that it is fully funded. The external funding for this project has now ceased and accordingly the designated fund has been fully expended this year.
Redundancy Fund - Whilst not an immediate issue, the Trustees believe that it is prudent to set aside monies within the general reserve for potential redundancy costs if the charity were ever to close. There have been some changes in staff but the Trustee’s believe that as at 31st March the fund should remain at £35,000.
Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund - The trustees have designated a specific reserve of funds to cover the cost of the impact of the ongoing pandemic and the potential of the emergence of a new variant of Coronavirus. The trustees believe that at 31st March 2021 £50,000 should be designated for this purpose.
Page 70
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
RESTRICTED FUNDS
BIG Lottery Fund Grant Resource Centre Technology Hub - Funds brought forward of £566 originally arose from an Awards for All grant to help create a technology hub within the Resource Centre. Of the funds brought forward £212 has been expended during the year via a depreciation charge. The fund has been fully applied, the remaining funds of £141 relates to the net book value of depreciating assets purchased and still retained.
Talking Computers Equipment Fund - These funds arose following the receipt of specific bequests for the purpose of purchasing talking computers. These bequests were given many years ago and whilst not specifically being used for talking computers will now be used to fund new PC’s to enhance the in-house publishing of our newsletter and distribution in spoken format and also towards other assistive technology equipment. £488 has been spent in the year via depreciation charge.
VIP Clubs - Funds brought forward of £439 were originally received from a specific donation for the purpose of assisting the local VIP clubs. Of the funds brought forward £16 has been expended during the year, resulting in £299 carried forward.
Resource Centre Refurbishment - Funds brought forward of £972 were originally received from the Exeter Foundation and See the Future fund to enable the refurbishment of the Resource Cenire. All the funds brought forward have been expended during the year via a depreciation charge.
EPOS and Sage - Funds brought forward of £3,308 originally arose from specific grants received from a family trust in respect of the implementation of a new computer based system for bookkeeping and electronic/on-line sales. There are remaining funds carried forward of £2,808.
National Lottery Community Fund Grant for the Community Support Service - Reflects grants utilised in the year from the Reaching Communities Fund and also the Claire Milne Trust to help provide our main Community Support service. Although the grants cover much of the expenditure, the service is not fully funded, and a transfer from unrestricted reserves will always be required to bring the balance of the fund back to nil.
Equipment Bursary - Funds totalling £3,858 were received for the purpose of purchasing equipment to be donated for the benefit of blind or partially sighted people. All of the funds were fully expended during the year.
Emotional support/counselling - Funds totalling £6,800 were received for the purpose of providing emotional support and counselling. Of the funds received, £1,200 was expended during the year. There are remaining funds carried forward of £5,600.
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Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
MOT Training and Developmentg - Funding has been received from Thomas Pocklington Trust to further develop the MOT framework to make more appropriate to younger people and to better support triaging of initial enquiries. The funding also included monies to provide additional on line training and support to peer groups on the use of the MOT process. All the monies received in the year have been expended but there are monies due in 2021/22 to complete the project.
Page 72
Devon County Association for the Blind
known as Devon in Sight
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
23Analysis of net assets between funds
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|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Unrestricted|
|Total|
|funds|at|
|31|March|
|General|Designated|Other|Restricted|2020|
|£|£|£|£|3|
|Tangible|fixed|assets|1,918|-|-|1,977|3,895|
|Fixed|asset|
|investments|83,972|285,000|44,670|-|413,642|
|Current assets|44,628|-|-|9,940|54,568|
|Current|liabilities|(19,070)|-|-|-|(19,070)|
|Total|net|assets|111,448|285,000|44,670|11,917|453,035|
|Total|
|funds|at|
|Unrestricted|funds|Restricted|31|March|
|General|Designated|Other|funds|2020|
|£|£|£|£|£|
|Tangible|fixed|assets|1,276|-|-|3,025|4,301|
|Fixed|asset|
|investments|110,191|275,000|(32,274)|-|352,917|
|Current|assets|76,964|-|-|4,318|81,282|
|Current|liabilities|(15,816)|-|-|-|(15,816)|
|Total|net assets|172,615|_ 275,000|(32,274)|7,343|422,684|
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Page 73
Devon County Association for the Blind
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021
known as Devon in Sight
24Analysis of net funds
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||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Other|At|31|
|At|1|April|non-cash|March|
|2020|Cash|flow|changes|2021|
|£|£|£|£|
|Cash|at|bank and|in|hand|79,192|(25,974)|-|53,218|
|Debt due|within|one|year|(15,816)|(3,254)|-|(19,070)|
|Current asset|investments|359,308|(15,356)|74,935|418,887|
|Net funds|422,684|(44,584)|74,935|453,035|
|Other|At|31|
|At|1|April|non-cash|March|
|2019|Cash|flow|changes|2020|
|E|£|£|£|
|Cash|at|bank and|in|hand|235,260|(156,068)|-|79,192|
|Debt due|within|one|year|(42,285)|26,469|-|(15,816)|
|Current|asset investments|326,228|74,861|(41,781)|359,308|
|Net funds|519,203|(54,738)|(41,781)|422,684|
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Page 74