As always it has been an interesting year for VI Talk. There have been quite a few changes along the way. We still have 10 Facebook groups and have a presence on Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. Twitter has been a little challenging with accessible apps being prevented from running. We are still running Zoom chats twice a week and our wellbeing and book group each run once a month and continue to be popular. We still have our crochet club on Zoom and messenger group. We have also started online dance classes once a week. Jeanie who is a visually impaired dance instructor has kindly offered free Zoom classes to those who would like to take part. The classes are designed for anyone to take part, no partner required. As Jeanie says, it is about having fun moving to music and improving not only our physical wellbeing but our mental and emotional wellbeing too.
The team, Lacey was one of our moderators on Facebook but in October she became our 4th trustee. Lacey is our youngest trustee and it is wonderful to have her input on projects or issues raised. Lacey is enthusiastic and supportive. Since becoming a trustee she has gained an internship with Look, a charity which she has volunteered for for quite some time. Since volunteering for VI Talk Lacey has grown in confidence and is a valued member of the trustee board. Lacey is an admin on all Facebook groups, helps with emails and facilitates Zoom chats. Lacey has been working on our wellbeing group and encourages conversations.
Sam has stayed on as treasurer and was supporting Lacey and Kay as moderators on Facebook. She continues to support Kay but as 3 of the trustees now work fulltime, Sam takes a lead role in monitoring all 10 Facebook groups during the working week. Sam does a great job of making sure charity finances are look after. She also helps with
monthly updates across social media and schedules for Instagram. Sam also uploads our monthly newsletter to Mail Chimp and she is heard to say that she considered herself not very good with technology. She has proved herself wrong learning how to upload blogs and events to the website. Sam makes sure all paperwork is up to date and held securely.
Dawn has a lot of commitments outside of VI Talk but still supports the other members of the team with her wealth of knowledge and lived experience. Dawn continues to facilitate some Zoom chats on Monday evenings and is very proactive in our kitchen group. Dawn helps to keep emails up to date and when technology allows, she updates the directory on our website. Dawn is a kind and supportive member of the team.
Although our financial year ends in February I wanted to mention our newst trustee Jane. Jane joined the board to help with specific tasks. Jane has been running our book group on Zoom and is our resident fundraiser. Jane describes Vi Talk as small but mighty which is a huge complement. Jane has a background in law, she has excellent organisational skills. She has an understanding of the equality act and other legislation which is benefitial to blind and partially sighted people. I'm sure Jane is looking forward to supporting the other trustees and organising projects that match her skillset and qualities.
Kay also acquired an internship with her local blind society where she had been volunteering. Kay still helped with social media where she could and now her internship has finished, Kay is taking on some extra social media work which help Jo and maxine enormously.
Maxine continues to produce the monthly social media planner and work on social media throughout the week.
Kaz still facilitates Zoom chats on Mondays and although they have become quieter Kaz along with Dawn still opens a chat on Monday evenings in case anyone needs them. Helen has continued to run the Zoom and messenger crochet groups and we get excellent feedback from the participants.
We have taken on a new volunteer this year, Marie came on to facilitate some of the Wednesday Zoom chats which she had been attending. Marie is enthusiastic and very knowledgeable when it comes to technology. Marie has written some blogs for us about Android and has also prepared some cooking podcasts along with Dawn and Jo to try and encourage and support others in the kitchen. Marie has recently taken on preparing the monthly newsletter and she has given it a new feel which is great. Fundraising, Jane organised another successful festive market and raised more than enough to purchase this years Zoom licences. Jane has also organised quizzes, sometimes just for fun but always well received and enjoyed by all. I know she has even more plans for this year. It is due to donations and Jane's hard work fundraising that we haven't needed to apply for any grants this financial year. This shows I think how much our members recognise how hard we work and appreciate the support and services we offer.
We are still not running face to face events but instead making great use out of our Zoom licences and social media. We have toyed with some ideas but for now we have put these to one side to consider as we move forward. As always I am hugely proud of our small but dedicated team. We work quickly to find resolutions when problems arise and although small, each person brings different skills, qualities and lived experience. We all strive to provide
information, support and to break down social isolation for blind and partially sighted people.
END OF YEAR REPORT FOR 2022/23
VI Talk Financial Report End of year Summary 16th February 2023
Balance Brought forward 2021/2022 £8,520.51
INCOME for 2022/2023
Dona;ons (various ) £2,698.72 Fundraising £763.68 TOTAL INCOME FOR 2022/2023 £3,462.40
EXPENDITURE
Events £432.46 Flowers £15.83 Zoom licence £287.76 Website domain £30.00 Audio boom £74.29 Laptop set up £28.30 Postage £9.14 Hootsuite £499.99 Web maintenance £444.00 Total expenses for 2021/2022 £1,821.77 BALANCE carried forward to 2023/2024 £10,161.14