2025-04-06-accounts - Leicester Deaf Action Group

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

Period start date Period end date

From 05 04 2024 To 06 04 2025

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)
Pamela Sly	Chairperson
Melanie Upton	Secretary
Pamela Sly	Treasurer	From 8thJune 2019

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
Vicky Mackeprang
Louise Westley
Andy Ward
Teresa Bignell	Deceased December 2023

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

(eg. trust, association, company)

Charitable incorporated organisation

Trustee selection methods

(eg. appointed by, elected by)

New trustees maybe nominated by existing 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.

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.

Induction/Training

Leaflet - The essential trustee: what you need to know, what you need to do (CC3) Given to each trustee.

Structure

Governing document. Constitution.
Related Parties
Conversations taking place with the other Businesses within the Deaf centre and Number 12 Community space. - Signing Network CIC, Number 12 Transformation team, Leicestershire Deaf Forum. (LDF)

Risks

Considered by the Trustees
Take professional advice as required.
Regular review process.
• Adopted Safeguarding Policy and ensured it is rolled out to the groups and businesses who are based in and use the Deaf centre

LDAG Annual report 2017

Section C

Objectives and activities

The objects of the Leicester Deaf Action Group CIO are:

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

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.

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)

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
Organising yearly Christmas meal, and Christmas parties when possible.
Celebrating other faiths Chinese 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.
Working with and supporting Leicestershire Deaf Forum (LDF) as they campaign for the rights of Deaf people.
External events around Leicestershire – an opportunity to meet other deaf people, and other Deaf organisations 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 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
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:

£ 6946.74 at the year-end of 2024

£ -£148.75 at the year-end of 2025

Total £ 14,484.66 in reserves.

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

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

This money will be for the advancement of the charity's works and also the continued redevelopment of LDAG.

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

Section D

Summary of the main achievements of the charity ring the year

Achievements and performance

We continue to run the Charity shop throughout the year, as a centre, the access to the Centre has opened up to maintain services for the deaf community in a reduced capacity .
We will continue to have trustee meetings face to face and via Zoom and use texts to update each other. These records are useful for Visual records and for those who couldn’t attend.
We continue to maintain the VRS suite that has expanded the letter translation service that we facilitate, in partnership with Signing Network CIC. This has continued both Face-to-face and remotely it continues to be offered free of charge to our service users who do not have support budgets or direct payments. This service continues to be in demand, and we are encouraging deaf participants to use it to make enquiries regarding their issues.
To enable us to improve and create a better image we continue to raise funds and were supported by our volunteers and we gave Deaf people the opportunity to volunteer and learn new skills.
As part of Leicester Deaf Centre where we are based, we received one of the last The Queens Award for voluntary service.
LDAG is continuing to offer support to the Deaf Ministry Space has become a key part of LDAG and has established a deaf choir to sign songs and sign Christian songs to the community. This has been a good outreach for our charity name to the wider community in Leicestershire.
We maintain providing representatives to the Leicester Deaf Forum, which has temporarily paused but continues; its aim to improve access to statutory services and improve the lives of Deaf people.

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 2024/2025 accounts:

8 % of the charity’s income came from Donations.
• the charity’s principal 78% of the charity’s income came from the charity shop. sources of funds (including 14% of the remaining income came from a mix of in-house any fundraising); fundraising and refreshments.
• how expenditure has supported the key objectives 48% of the charity's expenses were on licenses and Heating of the charity; repairs.
investment policy and The remaining 52% was related to in-house fundraising, the charity shop, refreshment costs, and miscellaneous items.
objectives including any 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 ~~29.01.2026~~ Date

LDAG Annual report 2017

LEICESTER DEAF ACTION GROUP RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 6TH APRIL 2025

RECEIPTS Donations Refreshments Scratchcards Charity shop Total Deficit Reserves bought forward Total Profit Reserves carried over into 2025 - 2026 Signed Date	EXPENSES £151.10 £243.70 Refreshment £40.00 Scratch cards LCC Gambling Act Miscellaneous £1,556.28 Charity shop Voluntary meal Repair heating's £1,991.08 -£148.75 £14,633.41 -£148.75 £14,484.66 29.01.2026	£89.62 £20.00 £20.00 £17.94 £917.27 £75.00 £1,000.00
		£2,139.83