IRIS VISION CHESHIRE
Annual Trustees’ Report & Accounts
April 2024 - March 2025
Registered with the Charity Commission 1153034
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
GENERAL
Name & Status. IRIS Vision Cheshire is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) which registered with the Charity Commission in July 2013 but became fully operational from 1st April 2014 when it had transferred to it the assets and responsibilities of its predecessor organisation, the IRIS Vision Resource Centre. The IRIS Vision Resource Centre had first registered with the Charity Commission in October 1993 as an unincorporated organisation, registration number 1045420, but its trustees and members decided to adopt incorporated status after conducting a risk assessment. The new charity, IRIS Vision Cheshire, continued and expanded the work of its predecessor, and has retained its charitable objectives, which are
TO PROMOTE THE RELIEF OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE IN ANY MANNER WHICH NOW OR HEREAFTER MAY BE DEEMED BY LAW TO BE CHARITABLE WITHIN THE COUNTY OF CHESHIRE AND ADJACENT DISTRICTS.
Due to loss of funding the charity closed its premises and made its staff redundant in 2022. The social activities continue to be funded by IRIS but are provided by Wishing Well, another local charity.
Principal address. The principal address of the organisation is 18 Holly Mount, Shavington, Crewe CW2 5AZ.
STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE
Governance. The charity is governed by volunteer trustees appointed in accordance with the CIO constitution.
The trustees listed served on the IRIS Vision Board during the 2024/25 year.
Trustees
Trustees who served on the Board during 2023/24 were as follows.
Kay Bailey (retired during year), James Cummings, Gwyn Griffiths (Chairman), Jennifer Holt and John Jones (deceased during year).
The remaining trustees wish to place on record their appreciation of the valuable work done by Mrs Bailey and Mr Jones over many years on behalf of the charity.
This Report is submitted by Gwyn Griffiths (Chairman).
BANKING AND FINANCE
Banks. The organisation’s primary bank is Lloyds, Victoria Street, Crewe. In addition it has cash and deposit accounts with CAF Bank, West Malling, Kent.
Risk management. The trustees recognise they are working in uncertain times, often making forward planning very difficult. Risk assessments are undertaken from time to time as necessary. Identifiable risks are managed through a comprehensive insurance policy.
ANNUAL REPORT 2024-2025
The charity's activities in 2024-25 were limited to continuing support to maintain the social group activities through a partnership agreement with the Wishing Well Project ; this agreement expires in August 2026 and IRIS will support Wishing Well in researching other potential future funding sources.
The charity finally secured access to its banking facilities allowing this, and two overdue Annual Reports, to be completed. The Trustees are confident that the submission of this Annual Report will bring the charity’s reporting back in line with the requirements of the Charity Commission whose understanding at this difficult time is much appreciated.
The difficulties in accessing the banking facilities resulted in the Chair of Trustees making a further payment to Wishing Well in respect of the funding of the social group, as noted in the Accounts (below). This was treated as an interest-free loan, and was repaid in 2025.
Chairman January 2026
Gwyn Griffiths
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES ACCOUNTS 2024 - 2025
| INCOMING RESOURCES | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations & Legacies | -------- | 2,100.00 | |
| Bank Interest | -------- | 29.76 | |
| Other Income | -------- | 47.27 | |
| General Income | 319.34 | -------- | |
| TOTAL INCOME | 319.34 | 2,177.03 | |
| RESOURCES EXPENDED | |||
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE | 980.84 | 921.24 | Note 7 |
| NET SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) | ( 661.50) | 1,255.79 | |
| Bank reconciliation | |||
| Opening balance 1 April 2024 | £141,989.96 | ||
| Receipts | £ 2,177.03 | ||
| Payments | £ 1,255.79 | ||
| Closing balance 31 March 2025 | £143,245.75 |
BALANCE SHEET AT 31 MARCH 2025
| 2023-2024 | 2024-25 | |
|---|---|---|
| FIXED ASSETS | ||
| Building | nil | nil |
| Total Fixed Assets | nil | **nil ** |
| CURRENT ASSETS | ||
| Stocks | ||
| Magnifiers, aids & equipment | nil | nil Note 2.3 |
| Cash | ||
| CAF Bank | 2,092.80 | 2,062.56 |
| Lloyds Bank | 139,897.16 | 141,183.19 |
| Total cash reserves | 141,989.96 | 143,245.75 |
| Total Current Assets | 141.989.96 | 143,245.75 |
| Less | ||
| Creditors (Trustee loan) | 14,560.00 | 29,487.41 Note 7 |
| Total Assets | 127,329.96 | 113,758.34 |
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 2024 - 25
1. Basis of preparation
1.1 Basis of accounting
These accounts have been prepared under the historic cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16[th] July 2014 and with the Charities Act 2011. The accounts have been produced on an accruals basis.
2. Accounting policies
The charity has applied a standard list of accounting policies as follows:
2.1 Incoming resources:
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Recognition of incoming resources. These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity receives the resources.
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Incoming resources with related expenditure. Where incoming resources have related expenditure (as with fundraising or contract income) the incoming resources and related expenditure are reported gross in the SoFA.
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Grants and donations. Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
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Tax reclaims on donations and gifts. Incoming resources from tax reclaims are included in the SoFA at the same time as the gift to which they relate.
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Volunteer help. The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the trustees’ annual report.
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Investment income. This is included in the accounts as Interest. The charity has no investments beyond monies held in bank or building society deposit accounts.
2.2 Expenditure and liabilities
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Liability recognition. Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.
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Governance costs. Details of governance costs are given in section 3 below.
2.3 Fixed Assets
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Stock. Although the charity holds some stock it is considered that the realisable value is now effectively zero. Any sales that are achieved will be regarded as windfall income. Some items now considered obsolescent have been donated to an overseas charity operating in settings where the equipment can be useful in assisting people with impaired sight, which the Trustees consider to be in accordance with its charitable objectives.
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Depreciation of fixed assets. As the charity no longer holds any fixed assets depreciation is no longer a consideration.
3. Support costs
Given the very low support costs incurred during the year (the servicing of trustee meetings and the preparation of the Annual Report and Accounts now falls to a Trustee on a voluntary basis) no support costs have been identified.
4. Trustee expenses
No trustee expenses were claimed during 2024/25.
5. Paid employees
The charity no longer employs paid staff.
6. Funds
There are no designated funds.
7. Trustee loan
As the charity was unable to access its bank account during the year, the payment due to Wishing Well, and the payment of an insurance premium in 2024-25. was made by the Chair of Trustees from his personal account. This is recorded in the accounts as a creditor on the Statement of Accounts. The loan was repaid in the 2025-26 financial year.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION
The Trustees are of the view that an audit is not required under Section 144 of the Charities Act as IRIS does not meet either requirement for audit:
Its annual income did not exceed £500,000 Its assets do not exceed £3,260,000.
Therefore an Independent Examination meets the requirements of the legislation.
STATEMENT OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
In connection with my examination of the 2024-25 Report and Accounts no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in any respect:
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Accounting records were not kept in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act
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The accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
(signed)
(name – printed)
(date)
[Section 130 requires that Trustees must ensure that accounting records are sufficient to show and explain all the charity’s transactions.]
INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION The Trustees are of the view that an audit is not required under Section 144 of the Charities Act as IRIS does not meet either requirement for audit: Its annual income did not exceed £500,000 Its assets do not exceed £3,260,000. Therefore an Independent Exatnination meets the requirements of the legislation. STATEMENT OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER In connection with my examination of the 2024-25 Report and Accounts no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in any respect: Accounting records were not kept in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act The accounts do not accord with the accounting records. (signed) (name - printed) (0444 irfiaLo , (date) Il 01. goJL. [Section 130 requires that Trustees must ensure that accounting records are sufficient to show and explain all the charity's transactions.]