2024-03-31-accounts

Registered Charity Number: 1159188

York Blind & Partially Sighted Society CIO Operating as MySight York

Independently Examined

For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

CONTENTS

Charity Information .............................................................................. 1 .................................................................................. 3 Statement of Trustees Responsibilities ............................................. 18 ......................................................... 19 Statement of Financial Activities ........................................................ 21 Balance Sheet ................................................................................... 22

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

CHARITY INFORMATION

Charity Name

York Blind & Partially Sighted Society

Charity Number

1159188

Trustees

The following Trustees have held office since 1 April 2023: -

John Sole Chair Martin Fawcett Annette Gamston Eleanor Tew Caroline Clifford Appointed 18 July 2023 Major David Michael Crouch Appointed 23 May 2023 Andrea Glover Appointed 16 August 2023 Iain Mitchell Appointed 6 December 2023 Julie Richardson Appointed 21 February 2024 Lisa Wilcox Appointed 22 May 2024 Barbara Capaldi Resigned 18 October 2023 David Gawthorpe Resigned 18 October 2023 Nicola Walker Resigned 22 May 2024

Chief Executive

Scott Jobson

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

CHARITY INFORMATION (Cont.)

Principal Address and Address for General Enquiries

14 Merchants Place Merchantgate York YO1 9TU Tel: [phone] www.MySightYork.org

Independent Examiner

Alan Sidebottom FCA Azets Audit Services Limited Triune Court Monks Cross Drive York YO32 9GZ

Bankers

Unity Bank plc HSBC Virgin Money 9 Brindley Place 13 Parliament Street Jubilee House Birmingham York Newcastle-upon-Tyne B1 2HB YO1 8XS NE3 4PL

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Dear Members, Partners, and Supporters,

York for the financial year ended 31 March 2024. This past year has been a testament to our resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to supporting people with visual impairments in York.

Navigating Challenges and Embracing Opportunities

This financial year has been a challenging one. We started with the knowledge that we could not survive another year based on using reserves to balance the books, and closure of MySight York was a real possibility. The financial challenges have been exacerbated by the cost of living crisis, impacting our income from donations while increasing the demand for our services. Despite these obstacles, our team has worked miracles in continuing to deliver high-quality services and secure further charitable funding.

In response to these challenges, we have undertaken several strategic initiatives to ensure our sustainability and effectiveness:

1. : Financial Management and Fundraising

• Our successful bid to the National Lottery Fund secured £310,000 over three years, commenced on April 2024, to develop awareness training based on four key themes.

• The support from our emergency appeal over the Christmas period, along with new secured funding and a significant legacy, means that we end the year with sufficient funds to continue our vital work.

• Expenditure has been carefully managed, including negotiations with the landlord of our city centre offices to ensure value for money and reviewing services to avoid delivering statutory funded services without receiving appropriate funding.

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

2. : Service Adaptation and Enhancement

• We have sustained and expanded our core services, adapting to the evolving needs of our members. This

• maintaining contact and support for our members.

• Our Talking Space counselling service has been successfully reinstated, supported by four dedicated volunteer counsellors.

3. Staff and Volunteer Support :

• Recognising the importance of our team, we have reviewed and improved staff contracts, linking salaries to pay scales to ensure equity and acknowledging the vital contributions of our staff.

• Our volunteers continue to be an invaluable asset, and we have seen encouraging signs of volunteer participation, which has allowed us to continue vital services.

Achievements and Collaborations

This year, MySight York has accomplished several significant milestones:

• New Projects and Partnerships : We were selected by the Thomas Pocklington Trust to deliver a Yorkshire-wide project aimed at supporting visually impaired individuals into employment or training.

• Board Development : We have refreshed our Board of Trustees with new members, bringing in a wealth of experience and skills to strengthen our governance.

• Community Engagement : Our CEO, Scott Jobson, has actively connected with the York VCSE Assembly and the new Integrated Care Board, as well as being the Regional Chair of Visionary, ensuring MySight York remains integrated with key community health initiatives.

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Integration of Consultant's Findings

We commissioned an independent consultant to support our business planning and future direction which provided invaluable insights and recommendations guiding our strategic planning:

1. Service Review : We have updated our service review to ensure a clear understanding of the usage, costs, and funding for each service. This has helped us align our services with the Eye Care Support Pathway and focus on sustainability.

2. Premises : Discussions with our landlord about exiting our current lease are ongoing, with plans to move to a more cost-effective city centre location that meets our service delivery needs. We are also exploring opportunities at the York Community Stadium.

3. Fundraising : A formal fundraising plan has been developed, focusing on trusts, foundations, legacies, and community fundraising. This includes a legacy strategy to secure long-term funding.

4. Structure and Staffing : We are reviewing staff roles and responsibilities to ensure effective service delivery and considering the introduction of a part-time administrative role to alleviate workload pressures.

5. Financial Planning : We have implemented better financial reporting and management practices to support informed decision-making and long-term planning.

Core Services and Forward Vision

Our commitment to being a user-led organisation remains unwavering. We continue to pride ourselves on providing tailored support and advocating for the needs and voices of our members. Our core services include:

1. An Equipment and Information Centre or Sight Support Hub, in the city centre, offering practical and emotional support.

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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

(Cont.)

1. A Befriending Service that fosters social engagement and community involvement.

2. An Eye Clinic Liaison Officer and Support Service (ECLO) at York Hospital Eye Clinic, assisting those newly diagnosed with sight loss.

3. A variety of peer support, leisure, and learning activities designed to enhance confidence, well-being, and independence.

Future Outlook

Looking forward with confidence, the work of MySight York will continue to meet the needs of blind and partially sighted people. The next year will be one of consolidation and planning for the medium term. We aim to expand our delivery sites, engage with additional funders, and continue our relationship with existing ones. We will be reviewing our

future development. Additionally, we will develop a new strategy encompassing Service Delivery, Income Generation, Premises, and People (Staff & Volunteers).

In conclusion, it has been a challenging but hugely successful year, and I want to extend my personal thanks to all our staff for their commitment and resourcefulness, and to all our volunteers, including my fellow Trustees. Special thanks all our generous sponsors, donors, and members who have remembered us with legacies. Your support is invaluable in enabling us to provide excellent services to our community.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

John Sole Chairman MySight York

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The Trustees have prepared these Financial Statements 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 (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019) as detailed in the accounting policies.

Reference & Administrative Details

The Charity information on pages 1 and 2 forms part of this report.

Constitution

Charity CIO on 13 November 2014, number 1159188, succeeding York Blind and Partially Sighted Society (number 508914) which is now a linked Charity. On 1 April 2015, the activities and assets of York Blind and Partially Sighted Society were transferred across to the new CIO which commenced activities on that date.

The Trustees have taken advantage of the Charity Commission concession to link charities which have a common Trustee board allowing preparation of one set of financial statements for both charities.

Our Objectives and Activities

In planning the activities of the organisation, the Trustees have due regard to their duty to meet the Charity Commission The Trustees ensure that the objective and aims of the organisation are carried out through its activities for the public benefit and details its achievements and activities in this report.

The object of the Charity is:

• To promote the welfare of people who are blind, partially sighted or substantially and permanently disabled by defective vision.

• The aims are: -

• To provide a range of services designed to meet the needs of visually impaired people including an Equipment and Information Centre and Outreach facilities.

• To promote the needs of visually impaired people to statutory and voluntary organisations.

• To maintain an up to date record of visually impaired people, whilst ensuring compliance with the GDPR and ePrivacy regulations.

• Any other activities deemed to be desirable to further the welfare of visually impaired people.

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

which enable people who are blind or partially sighted achieve independence .

Our services are available to any visually impaired person in York and surrounding areas, plus his/her supporters and professional staff. Free membership of MySight York is available automatically to anyone registered blind/severely sight impaired or partially sighted/sight impaired, and to any visually impaired person in need of services.

We have almost 1,700 people (members) on our database, a significant increase in the past 3 years. Much of the increase comes from members outside of our core region, coming to us when their local services retrenched or closed over the past few years.

It should be noted that services are provided free of charge generally. As our member/user base increases, there is an added burden around cost, which we need to fund.

We receive no Government funding and we are enormously reliant on our own fundraising activities, in a market which is becoming ever more competitive to secure funding. Legacies and donations are vitally important to ensure continued sustainability of MySight York and as we have seen over the past 3 years, when these are not as frequent or substantial we can face difficulties. It will vitally important that we can continue to raise our profile to meet these objectives.

A continued focus of both staff and Trustees will be on how we continue to provide the services in an efficient manner; how we can control our costs and optimise our income streams and where best to do this from.

Achievements and performance

1. Achievements

2023-2024 marked another significant chapter for MySight York as we continued to expand our reach and enhance our services amidst ongoing funding challenges. Despite the persistent hurdles, we remained steadfast in our commitment to support our members, adapting our operations to meet evolving needs.

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The demand for our services continued to rise however, securing funding remained a critical concern, guiding our strategic priorities.

We established a strategic business plan to focus on developing our key priorities for a sustainable future grounded in shared values. Our strategy blends the best of traditional methods with innovative approaches to ensure comprehensive support.

We were pleased to start a new Community Connect Project funded via The National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund. This 3 year project is dedicated to transforming York into a more inclusive and accessible community.

We commenced a pilot Employment Support Project funded through Thomas Pocklington Trust, assisting visually impaired people to overcome employment barriers by providing specialist advice and support.

We were nominated, and won, the prestigious Visionary Award, in the Children and Young People category. By partnering with Explore York Libraries, Toy Like Me and York Specialist Teaching Team we developed specialist sensory sacks which contained themed stories, tactile books and items/props that bring books to life through all the senses.

Our biggest achievement however was turning a large deficit in 2022 2023 into a break-even position by year end 2024. This was a huge undertaking demonstrating determination, belief and commitment, from staff and supporters alike.

2. Performance

Equipment and Information Centre

Our Equipment and Information Centre remains a cornerstone of our efforts to facilitate accessibility, inclusion, and empowerment. By offering assistive technology, educational support, and communication tools, we help blind and partially sighted people overcome barriers, enhance independence, and engage more fully in life.

Between April 2023 and March 2024, we received 1,700 visits to our city centre office, reflecting the demand for our services. Our Equipment and Information Centre responded to 786 direct enquiries and sent 30 pieces of specialist

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

equipment through our Home Connections service.

• wanted

• “You helped me explore lighting ~~—~~ I found the right one. You helped me to

• explore clocks which talk I found the right one that works for me. You

• son of a client who had been given and Alexa Echo Dot by MySight York.

ECLO (Eye Clinic Liaison Officer) York Hospital Trust

Our ECLO at York Hospital continues to provide essential support to people with sight loss, helping them navigate the healthcare system and access appropriate services. This year, the ECLO supported 574 individual patients and handled 1,744 overall contacts. Additionally, 205 Certificates of Vision Impairment (CVI) were issued, and 745 onward referrals were made to support organisations.

• In the last couple of months, the world has opened up for me from being in

• helpful to have someone to talk to. Without it we would not know what was

• information, reassurance, and positivity. You have given us the chance to discuss and explain the difficulties we have which has helped us to put

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Befriending Service

Our befriending service continued to provide crucial social support through faceto-face and telephone interactions. Thirty-two clients received regular face-to-face visits, with 330 home visits completed by volunteers. Additionally, 396 telephone sessions were hosted, accumulating in 832 hours of total befriending activity. Twenty-six dedicated volunteers participated in this service.

• at home. I know. I look forward to our weekly get-

• to York. MySight has made a great difference to my life. I would not have

Groups and Activities

Our groups and activities play a vital role in fostering an inclusive community and providing peer support. Over the year, we hosted 308 group sessions with a total of 1,539 attendances. These sessions, which included telephone and hybrid groups, reached 41 individuals, with a total of 17,051 minutes of engagement delivered.

• were marvelous, particularly around York Minster. We were given the opportunity to touch/feel and surroundings were described to us. The Braille bestiary was fantastic ~~-~~ feeling and listening to the finished product”

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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Communications

Our quarterly newsletter remains a key platform for keeping members informed and connected. We currently send out over 1,600 newsletters in various accessible formats, including Braille, CD, email, large print, and USB. This year, we distributed 4,192 large print newsletters, 788 by email, 220 by CD, and 176 in MP3 format. They are also available on our website and through our Alexa skill!

• Really liked the information about the members of the committee, very helpful to have more than a name ~~.~~ Found Scott's piece also really informative ~~.~~ Well done to team, in particular well done Barbara”

Transcription Service

We continued to provide a transcription service principally used by York and Scarborough NHS Trust, to ensure patients within the trust receive information in their chosen format, thus meeting the accessible health standard.

We also assisted local businesses and educational establishments to create accessible documents, such as Braille, audio or large print materials.

Community Connect Project

The Community Connect Project, funded by the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund, began in April 2023 to make York a more “sight loss friendly city ~~.~~ ” It aims to enhance accessibility in sports, arts, IT, and children's activities ~~.~~ Key achievements include establishing a VI Tennis club, collaborating with the National Railway Museum, and holding successful events like “Let's Get Active.” The project directly involves three staff members and several volunteers, and last year impacted 432 individuals through 19 events.

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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Employment Project

The employment project is part of a broader initiative to support blind and partially sighted people in Yorkshire and Humber in gaining meaningful employment. Funded by the Thomas Pocklington Trust, it is programme. It is designed to assist visually impaired job seekers by providing tailored support such as CV advice, interview practice, support sessions, and action plans.

The programme has assisted three blind and partially sighted people into full-time employment.

Talking Space (Counselling)

Our Counselling Service is a supportive and therapeutic service providing emotional and psychological support to people affected by sight loss. Last year, Talking Space offered professional counselling to 20 people, helping to cope with the emotional impact of sight loss. This can include dealing with feelings of grief, anxiety, and depression, as well as building resilience and developing coping strategies.

Fundraising and Income Generation

Fundraising continues to be essential to our ability to deliver services. We have a strong reputation with funders and are financially stable in the short term, thanks to recent successes in securing funding. However, we face significant challenges, including financial pressures and the need for sustainable premises. By implementing the recommendations outlined in our new business plan, we aim to ensure the long-term viability and effectiveness of our services, continuing to support visually impaired people across York.

We are deeply grateful for the continued support from our donors and funders, which is crucial for our operations and the positive impact we have on the lives of people with sight loss.

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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Looking Forward

As we move into the next year, our focus will be on leveraging our strengths and adapting to new opportunities. We aim to enhance our service delivery though multi-site access, increase community engagement, and secure sustainable funding to support our mission. Together, we can build a more inclusive and supportive environment for everyone living with sight loss.

Financial Review

The Society sets an annual budget that is approved by the Trustees prior to the start of the financial year. Our full year income of £357,251 was exceeded in this financial year by our expenditure of £357,546. This produced a final result delivering a £295 deficit.

Our income and expenditure can be summarised:

• Income has increased in the year, this largely relates to lottery projects and donations.

• Costs decreased in the year to £357k from £385k in 2022/23.

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Our recent levels of income can be further analysed as follows:

	2023/24	2022/23	**2021/22 **
Local authority / CCG funding	28,415	25,832	24,975
Donations, trusts, community fundraising	129,836	106,773	117,205
Legacies	20,344	70,043	34,196
Equipment sales	8,992	10,853	11,937
Lottery projects	138,523	46,000	98,701
TPT projects	29,675	24,787	-
Other	1,466	1,026	689
Total	357,251	285,314	**287,703 **

The reduction in community fundraising and other income during 2022/23 continued to reflect the impact of Covid-19.

Legacy funding has continued to enable the Society to deliver the services its users

Reserves policy and going concern

Free reserves of £43k were held at 31 March 2024. Free reserves exclude those reserves which are restricted, designated, or which can only be realised by disposing of fixed assets held for Charity use.

The charity has opted to remove the designated Building Fund going forward.

The policy of the Executive Committee is that the Society should retain free reserves covering

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Key Management Remuneration

The pay policy of staff is based on the NJC scales with progression where appropriate. Annual increases are normally in line with the national agreement and subject to affordability at the time. New staff salaries are approved by the Executive Committee and are considered after external benchmarking of the post.

Structure, Governance and Management

We pride ourselves on being a user led organisation, admitting as members anyone who is registered blind or partially sighted living with sight loss and in need of services.

The Charity is managed by an Executive Committee (Board of Trustees) of at least 8, but no more than 15 members. In accordance with the constitution, every effort is made to ensure that many Trustees are visually impaired people. All Trustees are required to retire at the Charity themselves for re-election. New Trustees are either elected at the Annual General Meeting or co-opted by the board for the period to the next Annual General Meeting. New Trustees participate in induction training and an annual programme of Trustee training is organised by the Honorary Secretary and staff.

The Executive Committee meets bi-monthly, with additional meetings as and when required. A between meeting report is issued to Trustees by the Chief Executive. Day to day management of the organisation is delegated to the Chief Executive.

Plans

YBPSS Business Plan sets the future strategy of the organisation, based on Best Practice guidance nationally and local needs. The Trustees thereby wish to:

• deliver the activities identified in our Business Plan;

• continue to provide, develop and enhance the current range of core services and activities;

• consolidate and further develop fundraising activities so we will not be reliant on legacies;

• improve training and development of staff, trustees and volunteers.

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

STAFF

The Society and the excellent services it provides at the various locations can continue only because of its staff who support all our members throughout all our activities. Once again, our thanks to them all for their contribution over the past year, which has again been challenging. I therefore wish to thank personally all current staff and those who contributed during the year.

Current staff

Scott Jobson Chief Executive Barbara Fairs Deputy Chief Executive Deborah Wheller Sight Support Service Manager Catherine Bamford Befriending Manager Helen Flett Eye Clinic Liaison Officer Vicky Smith Community Involvement Officer Louise Railton Community Engagement Officer Lydia Wrightson Community Connector

This report was approved by the signed on its behalf by:

J Sole (Chair) Andrea Glover (Vice Chair)

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trustees financial statements in accordance with applicable law and UK Accounting Standards (UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the Charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;

• make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• state whether applicable 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 Charity will continue in business.

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 them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provision of the trust deed. 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.

The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Charity and financial information included on the Charity governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the York Blind & Partially Sighted Society CIO for the year ended 31 March 2024.

This report is made solely to the Charity's Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. My independent examination work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Charity's Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent Examiner's Report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity and the Charity's Trustees as a body, for my independent examination work, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the Charity Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in

section 145 of the 2011 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:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3. 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.

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

Independent Examiner's Statement (Cont)

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.

Alan Sidebottom FCA

Azets Audit Services Limited Triune Court Monks Cross Drive York YO32 9GZ

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024

			2024	2023
		Note	£	£
CURRENT ASSETS
Stock			10,447	9,456
Debtors		6	42,058	46,360
Cash in bank	and in hand		124,706	131,309
			177,211	187,125
LIABILITIES:	Amounts falling due within one
year
Creditors and	accruals	7	(24,052)	(33,671)
NET CURRENT ASSETS			153,159	153,454
TOTAL ASSETS LESS
CURRENT LIABILITIES		10	153,159	153,454
REPRESENTED BY:
FUNDS
Unrestricted		8	42,676	34,105
Designated	building fund	8	-	65,000
Restricted		9	110,483	54,349
		10	153,159	153,454

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on and signed on its behalf by:

J Sole (Chair)

Andrea Glover (Vice Chair)

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. Accounting Policies

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

Charity Information

York Blind & Partially Sighted Society is registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation under the Charities Act 2011. The address for general enquiries is York Blind and Partially Sighted Society, 14 Merchants Place, Merchantgate, York, YO1 9TU.

Accounting Convention

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis 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 (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019) ( Charities SORP (FRS102) ), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Ireland ( FRS 102 ), and the Charities Act 2011.

departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the following Charities SORP (FRS 102) rather than Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity.

York Blind & Partially Sighted Society meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. Accounting Policies (Cont)

Going Concern

At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Income

Income is recognised in full in the Statement of Financial Activities o in the year in which it is receivable. For subscriptions and rental income this is in the year in which it is receivable and for ticket sales and meeting suppers this is in the year in which the event occurs. Deferred income represents grants received specifically for future accounting periods.

Expenditure

Expenditure is included in the SoFA on an basis inclusive of any VAT that cannot be recovered and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.

All direct costs have been allocated across the functional categories of resources expended in the SoFA. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to headings, they have been apportioned on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.

The costs of generating funds relate to expenditure directly attributable to fundraising.

Costs of charitable activities include those costs incurred by the Charity in the delivery of its activities and services. Costs relating to an activity are allocated directly.

Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Pensions

The Charity operates a defined contribution scheme for employees. Contributions are charged as an expense to the SoFA in the period in which they fall due.

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. Accounting Policies (Cont.)

Staff costs

The costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense where settlement of obligations does not fall within the same period.

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the

Operating lease agreements

Rentals applicable to operating leases where substantially all the benefits and risks of ownership remain with the lessor are charged against income on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.

Stock

Stock is valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

Financial instruments

The Charity

of its financial instruments.

The Charity has only financial assets and liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments in accordance with section 11 of FRS 102. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and are subsequently measured at their settlement value.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity held for working capital.

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YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. Accounting Policies (Cont)

Debtors

Other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.

Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through profit and loss, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting end date.

Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected. The impairment loss is recognised in the income and expenditure account.

Creditors, loans and provisions

Creditors, loans and provisions are recognised where the Charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors, loans and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

Financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are only derecognised when, and only when, the Charity obligations are discharged, cancelled or they expire.

Amounts recognised as provisions are best estimates of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the reporting end date, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity.

Designated funds are funds set aside by the Trustees out of unrestricted general funds for specific future purposes.

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

26

YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. Accounting Policies (Cont)

Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of the Charity make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

The Trustees are of the opinion that there are no estimates and assumptions which have a material impact on the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities.

Legacies

Legacies are recognised as income when probate has been granted, the charity has established its entitlement to the funds and where sufficient information is available to allow it to measure its entitlement.

27

YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

2. INCOME
Year ended 31 March 2024	Unrestricted	Restricted	2024
	Funds	Funds	Total
			Funds
	£	£	£
Grants
NHS Humber and North Yorkshire
Integrated Care Board:
Equipment and Information Centre	-	14,140	14,140
Lottery Project	-	138,523	138,523
Other	-	3,550	3,550
TPT Project	-	29,675	29,675
Grant support	-	185,888	185,888
Donations	89,632	-	89,632
Legacies	20,344	-	20,344
Donations and legacies	109,976	-	109,976
Total donations, grants and legacies	109,976	185,888	295,864

28

YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

2. INCOME (Cont.)
Year ended 31 March 2024	Unrestricted	Restricted	2024
(Cont.)	Funds	Funds	Total
			Funds
	£	£	£
Other trading activities:
Community fundraising	4,510	-	4,510
Income from work	4,940	-	4,940
Total trading activities	9,450	-	9,450
Investment income
Bank interest	657	-	657
Income from charitable activities:
Hospital Eye Clinic
Service
NHS Humber and North Yorkshire
Integrated Care Board	-	11,330	11,330
York Hospital	-	28,415	28,415
Sales of equipment and aids	8,992	-	8,992
Social and group activities	1,734	-	1,734
Sundry income	809	-	809
Total income from charitable activities	11,535	39,745	51,280
Total income	131,618	225,633	357,251
During the year donations of £1,659 (2023: £1,644) were received from Trustees
of the Society.

29

YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

2. INCOME (Cont.)
Year ended 31 March 2023	Unrestricted	Restricted	2023
	Funds	Funds	Total
			Funds
	£	£	£
Grants
Vale of York Clinical
Commissioning Group:
Equipment and Information Centre -		12,140	12,140
Lottery Project	-	25,300	25,300
Postcode Lottery	-	20,700	20,700
TPT Project	-	24,787	24,787
Grant support	-	82,927	82,927
Donations	73,589	-	73,589
Legacies	70,043	-	70,043
Donations and legacies	143,632	-	143,632
Total donations, grants and legacies 143,632		82,927	226,559
Other trading activities:
Community fundraising	3,138	-	3,138
Income from work	5,694	-	5,694
Total trading activities	8,832	-	8,832
Investment income
Bank interest	227	-	227

30

YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 2024

2. INCOME (Cont.)
Year ended 31 March 2023	Unrestricted	Restricted	2023
(Cont.)	Funds	Funds	Total
			Funds
	£	£	£
Income from charitable activities:
NHS Humber and North Yorkshire
Integrated Care Board	-	11,330	11,330
York Hospital	-	25,832	25,832
Sales of equipment and aids	10,853	-	10,853
Social and group activities	882	-	882
Sundry income	799	-	799
Total income from charitable activities	12,534	37,162	49,696
Total income	165,225	120,089	285,314

31

YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

3. EXPENDITURE

Year ended 31 March 2024	Unrestricted	Restricted	2024
	Funds	Funds	Total
			Funds
	£	£	£
Other	4,260	-	4,260
Total expenditure on raising funds	4,260	-	4,260
Expenditure on charitable activities
Salaries (Note 4)	133,238	120,589	253,827
Rent, rates and service charges	16,728	-	16,728
Cost of equipment sold	5,708	-	5,708
Professional fees	7,585	-	7,585
Independent Examination	2,400	-	2,400
Lottery funding - overheads	-	48,198	48,198
Staff IT	1,700	-	1,700
Insurance	1,514	-	1,514
Consultancy	1,596	500	2,096
Maintenance	1,375	-	1,375
Stationery and photocopying	1,094	-	1,094
Sundry expenses	2,001	-	2,001
Postage	303	-	303
Bank charges	936	-	936
Newsletter	2,107	-	2,107
Phone	1,065	-	1,065
Social activities	159	-	159
TPT funding - overheads	-	198	198
Other costs	4,278	14	4,292
Total expenditure on charitable
activities	183,787	169,499	353,286
Total expenditure	188,047	169,499	357,546

32

YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

3. EXPENDITURE (Cont.)

Year ended 31 March 2023	Unrestricted	Restricted	2023
	Funds	Funds	Total
			Funds
	£	£	£
Other	4,251	-	4,251
Total expenditure on raising funds	4,251	-	4,251
Expenditure on charitable activities
Salaries (Note 4)	155,274	63,092	218,366
Rent, rates and service charges	58,700	-	58,700
Cost of equipment sold	6,738	-	6,738
Professional fees	11,061	-	11,061
Independent Examination	2,200	-	2,200
Lottery funding: overheads	-	27,292	27,292
Printed material	-	403	403
Lottery funding: equipment	-	6,074	6,074
Staff It	3,975	-	3,975
Insurance	1,520	-	1,520
Consultancy	1,540	872	2,412
Maintenance	1,930	-	1,930
Stationery and photocopying	1,021	33	1,054
Sundry expenses	1,966	-	1,966
Postage	1,299	5	1,304
Bank charges	914	-	914
Newsletter	2,831	-	2,831
Phone	2,707	-	2,707
All aboard planning	462	-	462
Social activities	182	-	182
TPT funding - overheads	-	11,420	11,420
Other costs	13,501	3,820	17,321
Total expenditure on charitable
activities	267,821	113,011	380,832
Total expenditure	272,072	113,011	385,083

33

YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

4.	STAFF COSTS	STAFF COSTS	STAFF COSTS	STAFF COSTS
					2024	2023
					£	£
Total staff costs comprise:
Gross salaries					230,312	197,969
					16,223	13,915
Pension contributions					7,283	6,482
					253,827	218,366
Average number of			employees		9.6	9.7

No employee received remuneration more than £60,000 in either year.

Key management personnel comprise 1 individual (2023: 1 individual) whose aggregate remuneration and benefits totalled £49,131 (2023: £46,216).

5. TRUSTEES AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

No Trustee or any person connected with him or her received any remuneration, expenses or benefits during the year (2023: no Trustee).

No Trustee, or anyone connected with a Trustee, has a material interest in any of the Charity

There were no other related party transactions in either the current or prior year.

6. DEBTORS

6. DEBTORS
	2024	2023
	£	£
Trade debtors	25	1,622
Other debtors	42,033	44,738
	42,058	46,360

34

YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

7. CREDITORS

7. CREDITORS
	2024	2023
	£	£
Trade creditors	10,258	8,023
Other creditors	13,794	25,648
	24,052	33,671

8. UNRESTRICTED FUNDS

As at 31 March	Balance	Income	Expenditure	Transfer	Balance
2024	1 April				31 March
	2023				2024
	£	£	£	£	£
Unrestricted funds
General funds	34,105	131,618	(188,047)	65,000	42,676
Designated funds
Building fund	65,000	-	-	(65,000)	-
	99,105	131,618	(188,047)	-	42,676
As at 31 March	Balance	Income	Expenditure	Transfer	Balance
2023	1 April				31 March
	2022				2023
	£	£	£	£	£
Unrestricted funds
General funds	40,952	165,225	(272,072)	100,000	34,105
Designated funds
Building fund	165,000	-	-	(100,000)	65,000
	205,952	165,225	(272,072)	-	99,105

35

YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

8. UNRESTRICTED FUNDS (Cont.)

Designated Building Fund

The purpose of the Building Fund was to enable the Charity to acquire its own premises at some time in the future.

9. RESTRICTED FUNDS

As at 31 March 2024

	Balance	Income	Expenditure	Transfer	Balance
	1 April				31 March
	2023				2024
	£	£	£	£	£
Eye Clinic Services	64,331	28,415	(28,770)	-	63,976
Lottery Fund	(12,982)	138,523	(126,888)	-	(1,347)
TPT Fund	3,000	29,675	(13,841)	-	18,834
Other	-	29,020	-	-	29,020
Total	54,349	225,633	(169,499)	-	110,483

Eye Clinic Information and Support Services

These services provide practical and emotional support to patients with a diagnosis of permanent sight loss. They operate from within the Eye Clinic Outpatients Department at York and Scarborough Hospitals and other locations commutable from York. The staff members (Eye Clinic Liaison Officers) also work with Hospital staff on issues of service delivery for blind and partially sighted patients.

36

YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

9. RESTRICTED FUNDS (Cont)

Lottery Fund

The Fund was originally conceived to support our members to access activities in their own communities, however, the pandemic meant this became impossible to facilitate. The Fund kindly agreed to divert the funding to the Keeping in Touch project and online activity groups, to ensure visually impaired people were supported and had regular telephone contact, and were still able to engage socially despite the lockdowns and social distancing made necessary by Covid-19.

TPT Fund

The Thomas Pocklington Trust Fund was conceived to provide funding for a visually impaired intern, a children s project, and an employment advisor.

As at 31 March 2023

	Balances	Income	Expenditure	**Transfer **	Balances
	1 April				31 March
	2022				2023
	£	£	£	£	£
Eye Clinic Services	40,900	49,302	(25,871)	-	64,331
Lottery Fund	6,371	46,000	(65,353)	-	(12,982)
TPT Fund	-	24,787	(21,787)	-	3,000
Total	47,271	120,089	(113,011)	-	54,349

37

YORK BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY CIO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

10. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

	10. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
	Restricted Funds £ Designated Funds £ Unrestricted Funds £ 2024 Total Funds £ As at 31 March 2024
	Current assets 110,483 - 66,728 177,211 Current liabilities - - (24,052) (31,533)
	110,483 - 42,676 153,159
	Restricted Funds £ Designated Funds £ Unrestricted Funds £ 2023 Total Funds £ As at 31 March 2023
	Current assets 54,349 65,000 67,776 187,125 Current liabilities - - (33,671) (33,671)
	54,349 65,000 34,105 153,454

11 . LEASE COMMITMENTS

Total commitments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

	Land and buildings	Land and buildings
	2024	2023
	£	£
Due within one year	13,538	49,875
Due between two and five years	-	228,000
Due over five years	-	78,375
	13,538	356,250

38

2023	Total	£		226,559	8,832	227	49,696	285,314		4,251	380,832	385,083	(99,769)	-	253,223	153,454
Restricted	Funds	£		82,927	-	-	37,162	120,089		-	113,011	113,011	7,078	-	47,271	54,349
Unrestricted Funds Designated Funds		£ £	Income from:	Donations and legacies 143,632 -	Other trading activities 8,832 -	Investment income 227 -	Income from charitable activities 12,534 -	Total income 165,225 -	Expenditure on:	Expenditure on raising funds 4,251 -	Expenditure on charitable activities 267,821 -	Total expenditure 272,072 -	Net Movement for year (106,847) -	Transfers between funds 100,000 (100,000)	Balances at 1 April 2021 40,952 165,000	Balances At 31 March 2022 34,105 65,000