METRO SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB OF VISION IMPAIRED PEOPLE
Report and Unaudited Accounts
For the Year Ended 31 March 2025
Charity Number 1158098
Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People
| Contents | |
|---|---|
| Trustees’ Annual Report | 2 - 9 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 10 - 11 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 12 |
| Balance Sheet | 13 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 14 - 22 |
1
Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People Trustees’ Annual Report (Continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
The Trustees present their report and unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The accounts are prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s constitution, the Charities Act 2011 and 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 (FRS102).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The charitable objective of Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People (Metro) is to relieve blind and partially sighted people, primarily resident in Greater London, who are in need, by providing or assisting in the provision of recreational items, services or facilities to meet their needs. Metro removes barriers and creates, provides and promotes regular sporting and active social activities for people living with sight loss in the Greater London Area. Our primary sports are athletics, bowls, cricket, goalball, football, skiing and tennis, all of which offer opportunities for personal development and tournament participation. Our aim is to help reduce isolation and improve self-esteem for visually impaired people. For those less active and/or new to sight loss; to this end we also run a ‘low intensity, high impact’ programme where we target those who are most isolated and vulnerable; which is also a primary activity. Metro also works with third party organisations who provide a wide range of activities. Metro is an inclusive, member led organisation. The majority of our Trustees are visually impaired and long-term Metro members.
Volunteers are vital in delivering our work, keeping the weekly and monthly practice sessions running and making competitions and tournaments safe and successful. The Trustees thank our wonderful volunteers for the time they dedicate.
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Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People Trustees’ Annual Report (Continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025 PUBLIC BENEFIT
Metro gives due regard to the Charity Commission general guidance on public benefit when carrying out activities to ensure that they are inclusive and available to the widest possible number of people. The benefits for participants include peer support, reduced isolation, development of social networks, increased independence and improved health and well-being.
The Annual Athletics Open is a highlight of the calendar and took place for the third time since the pandemic. It was a great success, and we would like to thank all the officials and volunteers who contributed to making it run smoothly.
Both our membership and participation in sport and social activities are now growing strongly after the pandemic. There is evidence that there is less support for people with sight loss to access services such as we provide, and they say they will feel less lonely if they are able to participate in sporting activities. There is a great need and the support that we provide is invaluable to the lives of blind and partially sighted people.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Sporting and physical activity
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Bowls: Our bowlers had a magnificent season having won several competitions across the different classifications. Bowls sessions continue every week at the Paddington Sport Centre.
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Cricket: We have two teams that participate in different leagues at different levels. Our development team concentrates on participation and combining that with a degree of friendly competition. This team continues to grow, give more people opportunities. The first team competes at a national level, where we were very competitive in the league, cup and T/20 competitions.
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Football: The core group continues to grow, with more people attending weekly practices sessions and tournaments. We have been using these sessions, combined with the competitions to further build the squad and had good season in 2024/25. Many of our new recruits are young and the future is bright.
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Goalball: We have teams at different levels in Goalball, to maximise participation; Regional, Intermediate and Elite. All groups have regular training sessions as well as tournaments. Our teams are growing in numbers and doing well and winning tournaments at the different levels.
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Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People Trustees’ Annual Report (Continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
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Skiing : Another popular event on the calendar is a trip to Norway, where we take a group of blind a partially sighted people to Ridderrennet to give them the opportunity to experience slalom skiing.
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Tennis: We have biweekly training sessions for blind and partially sighted players at the Islington Tennis Centre. Great coaching is provided to all attendees, some of whom take part in tournaments, where they have performed excellently.
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‘Low Intensity, High Impact’: this is our newest programme that targets the most isolated blind and partially sighted people, encroaching them to get ‘out’. Whilst this is a new programme, it is an incredibly important one for us and attracting greater participation and membership.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
We have raised funds through corporate support by way of goodwill advertising and donations, also from formal grant applications, and personal donations through our website.
Principal funders for the period covered by this report are:
-
Thomas Pocklington Trust
-
Souter Charitable Trust
-
Dorothy Hay Bolton Charitable Trust
-
William Allen Young Charitable Trust
-
Middlesex Sports Foundation
-
ESC Lottery Fund Sport England
-
Primary Club
-
Peter Harrison Foundation
-
Fight for Sight
-
Disability Sports Development
-
National Lottery Community Fund
-
The Dan Maskell Tennis Trust
-
Lennox Hannay Charitable Trust
It is the policy of the Trustees to hold sufficient unrestricted reserves to cover six months operating costs and to provide funds to offset any unexpected events which may arise and to provide for major planned
4
Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People
Trustees’ Annual Report (Continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
events including new developments. At 31 March 2025 actual unrestricted funds of £79,370 (of which £1,694 has been designated) which is deemed appropriate to cover six months operating costs.
In addition to the unrestricted funds, at 31 March 2025 the charity held £90,878 of restricted funds as set out in note 8a and 8b to the accounts.
Trustees of Metro Blind Sport would like to pass on their thanks to all funders, in particular to Thomas Pocklington Trust for their continued support.
5
Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People Trustees’ Annual Report (Continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People is registered with the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The Board of Trustees provides governance and oversight to the Charity. The Board may comprise up to twelve trustees. They have legal responsibility for the effective use of resources, in accordance with the constitution, and for providing effective leadership and direction. All trustees give up their time freely and no trustee remuneration was paid in the year. Trustees are required to disclose all relevant interests and register them with the Board and Chief Executive Officer and, in accordance with the Charity's constitution, withdraw from decisions where a conflict of interest arises. Each new trustee is given an appropriate induction programme and training relevant to their responsibility. Trustees are also encouraged to involve themselves as volunteers to the charity, which does not fall under the responsibility of a trustee, but shows commitments and interest.
The Board met five times during this year.
Management
As Metro moves towards being more independent, TPT continues to support Metro financially and with back office support. The Trustees are exceptionally grateful for this support.
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Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People Trustees’ Annual Report (Continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Name and registration
Metro is registered with the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) no: 1158098.
Registered office
5 Mead Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 1AU
Board of trustees
Nick Ebbeck (Chair) Andrew Law Ben Roback Mark Russell Lewis Rogers Naqi Rizvi (Joined 16 September 2024) Maja Vojnovic (Joined 16 September 2024) Anil Kanani (Treasurer) Amanda Green (Stepped down 4 November 2024) Steve Garbutt (Stepped down 16 September 2024) Sam Hoskin (invited to join 27/01/25, attended board 5 May 2025)
Senior Management
Rory Field Chief Executive Officer
Website
www.metroblindsport.org
Bankers
Barclays Bank PLC, 1 Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP National Westminster, Enfield, Lee House, Baird Road, Middlesex, EN1 1FD
Independent Examiner
Nicola Anderson FCIE, 189 Baldwins Lane, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 3LL.
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Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People Trustees’ Annual Report (Continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
Insurance brokers
Towergate Insurance, Unit 2 Grovelands Business Centre, Boundary Way, Hemel Hampstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 7TE
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES
The Charity's Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice including FSR102 the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Ireland. Under that law, the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the income and expenditure of the Charity for that period.
In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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observe the methods and principles of Charities SORP; and
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable the Trustees to ascertain the financial position of the
Charity and ensure that the financial statements comply with relevant charity legislation. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
8
Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People
Trustees’ Annual Report (Continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
The Trustees confirm that, so far as they are aware, there is no relevant information of which the Charity’s Independent Examiner is unaware. They have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as trustees in order to be aware of any relevant information and to establish that the Charity’s independent examiner is aware of that information.
Approved by the Board on 10 September 2025
Nick Ebbeck Chair
9
Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People Independent Examiner’s Report for the year ended 31 March 2025
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People (charity no: 1158098) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which are set out on pages 12 to 22.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner and basis of report
As the Charity’s Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
10
Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People Independent Examiner’s Report for the year ended 31 March 2025
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Nicola Anderson FCIE
Date: 11 September 2025
Charity Accountant and Independent Examiner
189 Baldwins Lane Croxley Green Rickmansworth Hertfordshire WD3 3LL
11
Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 March 2025
| Note Income from: Grants and donations 2 Charitable activities 3 Investments Total income Expenditure on: Charitable activities 4 Total expenditure Net income/expenditure for the year Reconciliation of funds Funds brought forward Funds carried forward |
2025 2024 Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds £ £ £ £ £ £ 114,863 5,376 120,239 127,367 - 127,367 1,527 100,075 101,602 1,211 34,958 36,169 1,093 - 1,093 1,137 - 1,137 |
|---|---|
| 117,483 105,451 222,934 129,715 34,958 164,673 (107,673) (53,556) (161,229) (164,897) (26,864) (191,761) |
|
| (107,673) (53,556) (161,229) (164,897) (26,864) (191,761) |
|
| 9,810 51,895 61,705 (35,182) 8,094 (27,088) 69,560 38,983 108,543 104,742 30,889 135,631 |
|
| 79,370 90,878 170,248 69,560 38,983 108,543 |
12
Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2025
| Note | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Current assets | |||
| Debtors | 6 | - | 1,440 |
| Cash at bank | 178,289 | 119,061 | |
| Total | 178,289 | 120,501 | |
| Creditors:amounts due within one year |
7 | (8,041) (11,958) | (8,041) (11,958) |
| Net current assets/net assets | 170,248 | 108,543 | |
| Funds of the Charity: | 8 |
||
| Restricted income funds | 90,878 | 38,983 | |
| Designated funds | 1,694 | 1,919 | |
| Unrestricted funds | 77,676 | 67,641 | |
| 170,248 108 | 248 108,543 |
The notes on pages 14 to 22 form part of the financial statements.
Approved by the Trustees on 10 September 2025 and signed on their behalf by
Nick Ebbeck Chair
Anil Kanani Treasurer
13
Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended March 2025
1. Accounting policies
Basis of accounting
The accounts are prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and 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 (FRS102
The Charity is a public benefit entity as defined by FRS102
Going Concern
The accounts have been prepared on the going concern basis as, after making enquiries, the Trustees have reasonable assurance that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The charity has secured a funding agreement with TPT until 2028, TPT will continue to administer the Charity. The Trustees are confident of securing funding from other sources.
Income recognition
Income is recognised once the charity has entitlement, receipt is probable, and the amount can be measured reliably.
Income from donations, gifts and grants, including donated facilities and services, comprises income for core activities and are of a general nature. Such income is only deferred when the donor specifies it must be used in future accounting periods or the donor has imposed conditions, which in themselves are not restrictions, which must be met before the Charity has unconditional entitlement
Income from charitable activities comprises income received under contract or where entitlement to grant funding is subject to specific performance conditions. This income is recognised as the related services are provided. Income is deferred when the amounts received are in advance of the performance of the service or event to which they relate.
14
Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended March 2025
1. Accounting policies (continued)
Income from investments comprises bank interest. This income is recognised when credited to the charity’s bank account.
Expenditure recognition
Resources expended are included in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis, inclusive of non-recoverable VAT.
Allocation of costs
Charitable activities include all costs directly related to the objects of the Charity.
Support costs are incurred in support of the above activities. Included in support costs are costs incurred in governance of the charity which are primarily associated with the constitutional and statutory requirements. Support costs are allocated to activities based on an estimate of staff time spent on each activity during the financial period.
Donated facilities and services
Donations received in kind and not in cash are brought into the Statement of Financial Activities at a value which the Trustees consider would represent the cost to the Charity if these items were purchased. The income is accounted for under donations and the expenditure under the appropriate expenditure.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the Trustees. Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the Charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes
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Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended March 2025
2. Grants and donations
| Institutions Pocklington Trust Dorothy Hay-Bolton Charitable Trust GC Gibson Joseph Strong Frazer Trust Vision4Growth Souter Charitable Trust Middlesex Sports Foundation William Allen Young Charitable Trust Donations (Unrestricted) below £1,000 Individuals Membership fees Total |
2025 2024 £ £ 103,672 114,339 9,000 4,000 - 3,000 - 1,000 - 2,819 3,000 - 1,000 - 2,000 - 693 |
|---|---|
| 118,672 125,851 1,567 1,465 - 50 |
|
| 120,239 127,366 |
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Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended March 2025
| 3 Charitable activities Fees Tennis balls Anniversary Celebration Collections Grants ESC London Lottery Sport England Primary Club Peter Harrison Foundation London Metro Futsal Club Grants under £1,000 Fight for Sight Mike Brace DSI Technology Disability Sports Development National Lottery Community Fund The Dan Maskell Tennis Trust Lennox Hannay Charitable Trust |
2025 2024 £ £ 945 816 473 290 - 105 109 - 7,945 - 16,000 9,000 18,000 - 3,430 3,000 1,024 990 25,476 14,968 - 4,000 - 1,000 6,000 2,000 20,000 - 1,200 - 1,000 - 101,602 36,169 |
|---|---|
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Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended March 2025
| 4Charitable expenditure Staff costs Service costs Support Costs (Pocklington Trust) Website & telecoms Other Independent Examination Administration Trustee Expenses Total 5 Staff costs Gross Salaries Employer’s NI Employer’s Pension Seconded from Pocklington Trust Contracted from Pocklington Trust Other staff costs |
2025 2024 £ £ 99,775 96,200 28,272 53,573 23,296 26,702 3,890 9,657 4,263 3,927 1,175 1,100 558 602 - - 161,229 191,761 2025 2024 £ £ 91,618 48,022 4,121 - 4,036 1,571 - - - 46,607 - - |
|
|---|---|---|
| 99,775 96,200 |
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Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended March 2025
The average number of staff, including contracted and seconded staff, during the year was:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Headcount |
2.3 | 2.5 |
No member of staff was paid over £60,000 (2024: none) |
The total remuneration (inc Employer’s NI & Pension) paid for key management was £65,274 (2024: £49,902 )
| 6 | Debtors | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Prepayments and accrued income | - | - | |
| Debtors | - | 1,440 | |
| Total | - | 1,440 | |
| 7 | Creditors: amounts due within one year | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Creditors | 6,676 | 9,866 | |
| Accruals | 1,365 | 2,092 | |
| 8,041 | 11,958 |
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Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended March 2025
8a. Funds of the Charity – Current year
| Movement on funds: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| At 01 Apr 24 | Income | Expenditure | At 31 Mar 25 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Restricted funds | ||||
| Archery | 415 | - | - | 415 |
| Athletics | - | 8,000 | (4,288) | 3,712 |
| Bowls | - | 1,000 | (1,000) | - |
| Cricket | 8,425 | 8,512 | (9.180) | 7,757 |
| Tennis | - | 3,500 | (3,500) | - |
| Multisport | - | 55,992 | (5,294) | 50,698 |
| Swimming | 988 | - | - | 988 |
| Gunnersbury | 7,832 | - | (2,000) | 5,832 |
| Cycling | 1,154 | - | - | 1,154 |
| Walking | 1,019 | - | - | 1,019 |
| Climbing | 5,628 | 212 | (760) | 5,080 |
| Rugby | 3,000 | - | - | 3,000 |
| Football | - | 3,430 | (2,965) | 465 |
| Goalball | - | 4,000 | (1,187) | 2,813 |
| High Impact LD | 10,522 | 7,484 | (18,006) | - |
| Sport Eng Equipment | - | 7,945 | - | 7,945 |
| Pocklington Intern | - | 5,376 | (5,376) | - |
| 38,983 | 105,451 | (53,556) | 90,878 | |
| Unrestricted Funds | ||||
| Designated Funds | 1,919 | - | (225) | 1,694 |
| General funds | 67,641 | 117,483 | (107,448) | 77,676 |
| 69,560 | 117,483 | (107,673) | 79,370 | |
Total funds |
108,543 | 222,934 | (161,229) | 170,248 |
| Allocation of net assets by fund | ||||
| Restricted | Unrestricted | Total | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Cash at bank | 90,878 | 87,411 | 178,289 | |
| Debtors | - | - | - | |
| Creditors | - | (8,041) | (8,041) | |
| 90,878 | 79,370 | 170,248 |
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Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended March 2025
8b. Funds of the Charity – Prior year
Movement on funds:
| Movement on funds: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Restricted funds Archery Athletics Cricket Tennis Swimming Gunnersbury Cycling Walking Climbing Rugby Football High Impact LD Sailing AnniversaryDinner |
At 01 Apr 23 £ 615 - 7,757 - 988 8,601 1,154 2,917 5,857 3,000 - - - - |
Income Expenditure At 31 Mar 24 £ £ £ - (200) 415 4,025 (4,025) - 7,250 (6,582) 8,425 250 (250) - - - 988 - (769) 7,832 - - 1,154 - (1,898) 1,019 165 (394) 5,628 - - 3,000 3,000 (3,000) - 14,968 (4,446) 10,522 300 (300) - 5,000 (5,000) - |
| 30,889 Unrestricted funds Designated Funds 2,369 General funds 102,373 104,742 Total funds 135,631 Allocation of net assets by fund Cash at bank Debtors Creditors |
30,889 2,369 102,373 |
34,958 (26,864) 38,983 - (450) 1,919 129,715 (164,447) 67,641 |
| 129,715 (164,897) 69,560 164,673 (191,761) 108,543 Restricted Unrestricted Total £ £ £ 38,983 80,078 119,061 - 1,440 1,440 - (11,958) (11,958) |
||
| 38,983 69,560 108,543 |
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Metro Sports and Social Club of Vision Impaired People Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended March 2025
9 Trustee remuneration and expenses
No trustee received any remuneration from the charity in the year (2024: 0)
No trustee received reimbursement (2024: none) for travel expenses to attend Board meetings.
10 Related party transactions
The Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) is a related party as it has significant influence over the charity.
Up to 31 March 2023 all TPT support was given in kind. From 1 April 2023 the charity and TPT entered into a 3-year agreement whereby TPT would pay an annual grant to the charity and would continue to provide in-kind support services.
The following transactions have been included in the accounts:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Income | ||
| Grants Awarded | 80,376 | 80,000 |
| In kind donations | 23,296 | 34,339 |
| 103,672 | 114,339 | |
| Expenditure | ||
| Staff services | - | 46,607 |
| Support services | 23,296 | 26,702 |
| 23,296 | 73,309 |
There were no amounts due to or from TPT at 31 March 2025 (2024: £Nil)
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