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Leicester Deaf Action Group CIO Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period end date

From 05 04 2020 To 06 04 2021

Section A

Reference and administration details

Charity name Leicester Deaf Action Group CIO

Other names charity is known by N/A

Registered charity number (if any) 1162304

Charity's principal address 12 Frog Island

LEICESTER

Postcode LE3 5AG

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee Name	Office (if any)	Dates acted (if not for wholeyear)	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any)
Pamela Sly	Chairperson
Melanie Upton	Secretary		LDAG Trustees all agreed to appoint
Pamela Sly	Treasurer	From 8thJune 2019	LDAG Trustees all agreed to appoint

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name	Dates acted if not for a wholeyear
Pamela Sly
Melanie Upton
Kay Hannah
David Sly
Vicky Mackeprang
Louise Westley
Andy Ward	From 4thDecember 2020
Teresa Bignell	From 4thDecember 2020

LDAG Annual report 2017

Names and addresses of advisers

(Optional information)

Type of adviser Name Address N/A

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

N/A

Section B

Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document Leicester Deaf Action Group CIO – Constitution adopted 15[th] June 2015 (eg. trust deed, constitution)

How the charity is constituted Charitable incorporated organisation (eg. trust, association, company)

Trustee selection methods New trustees maybe nominated by existing (eg. appointed by, elected by) trustees of the charity. The nomination will be discussed with the board of trustees and if all are agreed they will be elected to join by the board.

How the charity is constituted Charitable incorporated organisation

(eg. trust, association, company)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
relationship with any related parties;
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

LDAG Annual report 2017

Objectives and activities

Section C

The objects of the Leicester Deaf Action Group CIO are:

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

To Relieve the needs of Deaf, Deafened, Deaf-blind and hard of hearing people in Leicester and the surrounding area in particular by the provision by the provision of support services, advice and education. In furtherance of the objects LDAG promotes independence and support Deaf, Deafened, Deaf-blind and hard of hearing people to participate fully in society.

We arranged a range of activities and events to aid the reduction of loneliness and aims to increase emotional wellbeing – see further details in activities section:

Weekly open house sessions , offering sessions to socialise, to gather together, sharing information from any external organisation that may benefit participants in the deaf community
Organizing yearly Christmas meal, Christmas parties
Celebrating other faiths Chines New Year, Eid and Diwali. At these times we encourage our group to bring and share foods that are associated with the celebrations and we learn more about each other’s faiths and cultures.
External events around Leicestershire – an opportunity to meet other deaf people, other deaf organisation and possibility to share information.
Continuing to provide any vital information such as changes in Social Security Benefits and setting up information sessions such as Brexit, changes in Budget from Government.
Finding new ways to fundraise ways in which we can include the Deaf community. Using scratch cards, bingo and other fun fundraising ideas
We registered to recycle printer ink cartridges and stamps.
Sustaining the support to the charity shop that has maintained continuing funds for LDAG

We confirm the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

LDAG Annual report 2017

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

The LDAG had a balance of:

£ 1,764.27 at the year-end of 2020

£ 11,341.68 at the year-end of 2021.

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grant making;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

Total £18,197.38 in reserves.

This money will be for the advancement of the charities works and also the continued redevelopment of the Deaf Centre’s kitchen and office area.

The charity is led by and supported by a whole team of volunteers. We are truly grateful for the support we have received and also for the opportunities that Deaf people have had. This has created a sense of ownership and a sense of Frog Island feeling like ‘home’.

The trustees aim to continue reviewing volunteers and Deaf people’s participation and highlight areas that need addressing.

LDAG Annual report 2017

Achievements and performance

Section D

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

This year has been a year for making sure we continue to provide and maintain services for the deaf community, remotely where possible as we have been unable to give access to facilities within the Deaf Centre. In March 2020 we had to close the Deaf Centre office and Charity Shop because of the Covid 19 pandemic lockdown We are still closed at this time and following government guidance.
We continue to have trustee meetings but via zoom because of the pandemic.
We have been using zoom meetings during lockdown to keep in contact with the Deaf Community.
We continue to maintain the VRS suite which has expanded the letter translation service that we facilitate, in partnership with Signing Network CIC. This service continues to be offered free of charge to our service users who do not have support budgets or direct payments. This has continued remotely during lockdown.
To enable us to improve and create a better image we continue to raise funds for new carpets and to improve the office area.
We have established a current relationship with The British Deaf Association to support us with any issues that may arise in the deaf centre.
LDAG is continuing to offer support to the Deaf Ministry Space has become a key part in LDAG and has established a deaf choir to sign songs and sign Christian songs to the community. This carried on remotely. This has been a good outreach for our charity name to the wider community in Leicestershire.
We maintain to provide representatives to the Leicester Deaf Forum; whose aim is to improve access to statutory services and improve the lives of Deaf people. Supported by the regional British Deaf Association Rep and their BSL charter work. These meeting have continued via Zoom.
We have established ongoing fundraising by using national online fundraising platforms such as Amazon Smile, every Click, Virgin Money, and PayPal.

LDAG Annual report 2017

Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

We are developing a reserves policy as we move forward and grow. The trustees appreciate that we are a charity in its early years and that this would influence our ability to maintain steady reserves. However, the trustees are in agreement that in order to grow and become sustainable that we need to work towards the holding the sum that is the equivalent to 3 months’ average expenditure. This should be sufficient to meet any unforeseen item of major expenditure and / or to be able to continue, in the short term, funding planned activities. As part of our forward planning, expenditure forecasts are prepared looking 5 years ahead. It is necessary to hold sufficient working capital to enable the monthly payment of rent and associated costs of running the centre

Details of any funds materially There are none. in deficit

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

In the 2020/21 accounts:
additional information, where relevant about: 32% of the charities income came from Donations
• the charity’s principal 68% of the charities income came from Leicester City
sources of funds (including Council Discretionary Grant
any fundraising);
• how expenditure has supported the key objectives 94 % of the charities running costs were on Centre running,
of the charity; admin, license, and miscellaneous. costs.
• investment policy and objectives including any 6% of the charities expenses Just, Giving monthly Direct Debit
ethical investment policy adopted. ,

Section F Other optional information

LDAG Annual report 2017

Section G

Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Pamela Sly Melanie Upton ~~13.01.22~~ Date

LDAG Annual report 2017