Charity Number 1169900
2023 TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
AND RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS
FOR
WARRINGTON VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE
For the period
1[st] APRIL 2022 TO 31[st] MARCH 2023
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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1[st] APRIL 2022 TO 31[ st] MARCH 2023
1. Reference and Administration
Charity Name:
Warrington Visually Impaired People
Registered Charity No:
1169900
Address:
Fairfield and Howley Centre Fairfield Street Warrington WA13AJ
Trustees
Name Position Notes
Mr. Steven Andrews Alderman Mr. John Taylor Mr. Geoff Settle Cllr Mr. Peter Walker Ms. L Welding Mr. Frederick Parkinson
He is an Alderman
Appointed January 2023
Senior Staff
Name Position Notes Mrs Fiona Patterson Centre Manager
2. Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
Warrington Visually Impaired People was founded in 2016 and is registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with the Charity Commission and is governed by a constitution dated 10[th ] July 2016.
Previously it was known as Warrington, Widnes and District Society for the Blind which was founded in 1923 and was registered as a charity with the Charity Commission.
Appointment of trustees
Trustees were appointed for a term of one year at the launch of the new Charitable Incorporated Organisation, by resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees.
There must be at least five charity trustees. If the number falls below this minimum, the remaining trustee or trustees may act only to call a meeting of the charity trustees or appoint a new charity trustee.
The maximum number of charity trustees is seven. The charity trustees may not appoint any charity trustee if as the number of charity trustees would exceed the maximum.
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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1[st] APRIL 2022 TO 31[ st] MARCH 2023
A charity trustee who has served for three consecutive terms may not be reappointed for a fourth consecutive term but may be reappointed after an interval of at least one year.
Trustee induction and training
New trustees undergo an orientation day to brief them on their legal obligations under charity law ,the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit, and inform them of the content of the Constitution, the committee and decision-making processes, and recent financial performance of the charity. They all have a copy of the constitution and latest trustees’ report and accounts. During the induction day they meet key employees and other trustees. Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role.
Organisation
The Society is governed by an Executive Committee comprised of a minimum of five trustees and a maximum of seven. The Executive Committee meets regularly during the year and appoints sub- committees as and when operationally necessary.
A Centre Manager has been appointed by the Executive Committee to manage the day-to-day operations of the charity. The Centre Manager has delegated authority, within terms of delegation approved by the Executive Committee, for operational matters including finance, employment and centre activities.
The Trustees in planning activities for the visually impaired in Warrington keep in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and we welcome all visually impaired people regardless of faith, age, gender, or personal circumstances.
3. Objectives and Activities
Objects of the charity
The relief of Blind and Visually Impaired people, their families, and carers in Warrington in particular but not exclusively by:
-
Giving assistance financial, and other wise to cases of visualIy impaired persons who, by reason of age, sickness, hardship or distress have need of such help with the object of improving their quality of life.
-
Arranging suitable activities for visually impaired, with the object of improving their quality of life.
-
Co-operating in and supporting the work of the official visitors of the visually impaired.
-
Providing a suitable Resource Centre, offering equipment, advice, and information.
-
Offering a listening, caring, supportive, service for all visually Impaired in the Warrington and District area.
Main Activities
The Trustees in planning activities for the visually impaired in Warrington keeping mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and we welcome all visually impaired people regardless of faith, age, gender and personal circumstances.
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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1[st] APRIL 2022 TO 31[ st] MARCH 2023
Home Visiting Service
-
To provide practical and emotional support to visually impaired adult residents in Warrington.
-
To provide assistance with simple daily living tasks, such as reading correspondence, making phone calls, and escorting to appointments, to enable visually impaired to live a more fulfilling and independent life.
-
To provide appropriate support in the immediate period following diagnosis of a visually impairment if required.
-
Each Visitor does maintain written records in respect of the individual subject to conform to the Data Protection Act2018.
If the service is not suitable for the needs of the individual, the person is referred to the appropriate service.
Centre Activities and Social Events
We have a centre which is open three days per week, providing a comfortable relaxed friendly atmosphere where all visually impaired people can come and enjoy a day out. Encouraging the Visually Impaired to join in activities they thought they could not achieve because of their lack of sight.
Some of the activities the centre offers consists of a lunch club, bingo, quizzes, bowling, games, themed days, sing-a-longs, outside entertainment, speakers who give information both relevant and historical, fundraising, and generally socializing with each other.
Outings and holidays are arranged several times throughout the year thus preventing and reducing isolation and loneliness enabling individuals to engage in experiences they thought impossible due to their visual impairment.
Chair Based Exercise Group
Many older people attend the centre, fall prevention is currently one of our main aims in reducing, and a chairbased exercise group runs each week with other activities based around the aim.
Younger Persons Group
As isolation and loneliness affects all age groups, a young person group meet bi-monthly in the town centre. They exchange experiences and knowledge offering support to each other, often encouraging each other to put things in place they would not do by themselves.
Transport
We have three minibuses which can provide transport for all the Visually Impaired involved with the centre. This enables the Charity to reduce the fact that Visually Impaired People find themselves isolated and lonely. Our minibuses also help the younger groups attend places they would never be able to attend, due to the lack of public transport and the cost of private transport. The minibuses are an extremely essential part of our Charity. We are mindful that they need to be replaced on a regular basis.
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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1[st] APRIL 2022 TO 31[ st] MARCH 2023
Aims and Objectives
our aims and objectives remain the same as in the previous year. We would also like to build awareness within Warrington of the charity and work we carry out within the community.
Trustees have agreed that some budget items will be carried forward into the next year; this will help best manage the new finances gained from the selling of Museum St to provide a future for the Visually Impaired People. We are going to look for another minibus as one off the ones we have is getting old and is need of work.
Due to the selling of Museum St the Charity has the funds and will in its budget allow for the purchase of new minibuses on a rolling program.
Over the next year we aim to put in place a number of sight loss courses aimed at helping newly registered people obtain as much information as possible to help maintain independence and come to terms with living with a sight loss. We are also offering our home visitors and some staff training on “Chair Based Exercises” offered by Warrington VA this will allow us to offer this to our members and also for our HV to support members at home.
We would like to focus on reaching out to more of the younger people with sight loss based in Warrington by working with the rehab team the aim would be to encourage a group to attend a session to find out how we can support them and what is needed for younger people within the community. Funding from the sale will be allocated for this service and will be carried forward.
One of our focuses will be to raise funds for the charity by bucket collections, events and social events and hope fully to get some sponsorship from local company.
Organize a Holiday to Llandudno and days out for our members, we will also be taking them to Bucklys Restaurant at Warrington College for the students to cook and serve meals. Trip on the Wizard canal boat for a ride up the ship canal and lunch out. Plus varies speakers to entertain over the year.
Complete the overhaul of our sensory garden that had been let go during the pandemic, we have had some support form Warrington Lions, we just need to wait till the weather is better to complete the work.
4. Achievements and Performance
Trustees
This year we welcomed one more Trustee Mr Fred Parkinson he brings with him fresh ideas different experiences he also has a passion and interest for helping the Visually Impaired People of Warrington. The Trustees this year will be peruse CIO as it has been in effect for five years. They have employed a new member of staff to help with fundraising and to look after events and the home visitors, to create a more efficient working office
Grants and fundraising
We continued to receive our grant from WBC towards the cost of running the Home Visitors Service and also our members continued to contribute £5 a month. We are also part of a local lottery to which we receive a percentage and “give as you live” which we also receive a percentage. We have done a bucket collection in IKEA which we raised £500 and will continue to find other avenues.
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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1[st] APRIL 2022 TO 31[ st] MARCH 2023
Centre Activities and Social Events
We collect our members from home on a Tuesday and Thursday and offer them a three-course lunch. We offer either a weekly quiz or other games. We took our members to Blackpool for a week which they loved and also Bucklys Restaurant which is part of Warrington college. We celebrated our centenary and held a party for all our members and invited the local mayor and other supporters of the charity. We have had a number of days out for lunch and afternoon tea.
Contribution made by volunteers
The volunteers this year have been amazing, and we held an evening to celebrate them and invited their partners and gave awards, one of our volunteers has been with us for 21 years. It is difficult to calculate the amount of time and effort each volunteer has donated to the charity this past year, the members have said they have been priceless, they all are very a valuable asset to the organization and all their hard work is very much appreciated by the Staff and Trustees.
Home Visiting
The service level agreement for our Home Visiting service with WBC was renewed for the next two years with extension for two more years. The funds have also increased due to the amount of service users now receiving visits from ourselves. We are very proud of all of our Home Visitors as they always go above and beyond what is expected of them. We now have 5 home visitors in place.
Next year the service will have been in place for 30 years. This a testament that the service is very much needed with being accessed by over 450 people across Warrington
5. Financial Review
The organisation is grateful to its supporters who donate to the charity on a monthly basis giving income of just under £7,300 per year
Although the income has remained constant over the last few years the trustees are aware that this has been due to receiving legacies and large donations rather than through fundraising activities. Over the next financial year more emphasis will need to be put on different methods of generating funds and the trustees and staff will discuss how to ensure a more even income stream.
Reserves Policy
It is the Trustees’ policy to try to maintain a balance on unrestricted cash which equates to at least one year unrestricted payments. It is held to smooth out fluctuations in cash flow and to meet emergencies.
6. Declaration
The Trustees declare that they have approved the trustees report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
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Signed: ………………………………………………….
Name: ………………………………………………….
Position ………………………………………………….
Date: ………………………………………………….
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TRUSTEUANNUAL REPOR T FOR THEF0D I"APRIL 21122 T031 sfA£4RCH2023 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE IEmBERSrRUsTEES OF WARRINGTOIY VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE CHAIUTY NUMBEIL. 1169900 I report on the accounts fortbe peri l°Apiil 2022 to 31° Makn 2023, wbich is 1 out on pages 11-17 Respettiye respo8]bIlItieS oftbe Trnstees aDd IDd¢pendent Ex*Jniner The trust¢¢$ of th¢ Charity are lesp)1bI¢ for the ptcpa¥aliou of the a¢cow)ts. They consider th&t an dit is not required for this year under sectioD 144 of the Charitie5 Act 2011 {the ChaTities Act) aDd that an independent examination is needed. It is my reStSIbIlIty to • examin¢ the a¢counts under section 145 of the ChaTities A¢L . follow th¢ pro¢¢dures laid dowll in th¢ G¢n¢ral Dllections given by the Cbarity Cojnrnisskon (uuder section 145(5Xb) of the Charities Act)" and slate whether paTtsculartllattets haye c4)me my alleDtiO B8Jls of Indep¢Dd¢Dt Examlner'$ StAttffj¢nt My examination was carried out in accordallce with the Gener Dirertions given by the Chartty Conllnission An examination includes ar¢ vi¢w of the aw)unting r¢¢ords kept by the cbarity a comparison of the a¢¢ounts presented with those r¢¢ord& It $0 includes ¢onsideration of any nUSUal item5 or di5c105ures rIi the accounts and seeking explallatioDS from the managelnellt cotiknnittre collcernitig any such matters. The procedure5 ulldertakerldo not proMde all the evidence that wlId be required in an auth"L and ¢onsffjuent]y no opinion is given to wh¢ther the a¢¢ount$ Fw¢t)t a '[¢ and fairf view and the report is lirniied to those matters set out the slatementbelow. IndepeDdent Exanthier's StstemeDt Jn CODllEctioll with my exa[DiDatio no have come to Illy #tt¢DtiOn: l. Which give m¢ reasonable ca¢ to believ¢ th2L in anymateiial rewl the requireTnents To keep awounting reo)rds in aOrdance with sectionlJO of the Cbariti¢s Act or . To Prepare a¢(x)unts wbich Ord with the xc(Junting rd$ and ¢iAnply with the aCCOUDtm8 Witements of the Cbaritie5 Act bave. notbeeD or 2. To wbicty in njy Opinio att¢ntioo should be draTrn in order to enable a pnTrpeE undetsthnding of Ihe a¢cowLts io be rwhaL Signed.. Date.. Address.. Page7
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1[st] APRIL 2022 TO 31[ st] MARCH 2023
ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR WARRINGTON VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE PERIOD: 1[st] APRIL 2022 TO 31[st] MARCH 2023
Receipts and Payments
a) Receipts
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Unrestricted
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Note funds Designated Funds 2023 Total Funds
Funds 2022
£ £ £
£ £
Donations & Legacies 3a 64,617 - - 64,617 7,380
Income from charitable
3b -
4,924 36,471 41,395 39,448
activities
Fundraising 3c 1,552 - - 1,552 853
Investment Income 3d 2,174 - - 2,174 1,894
Sub Total 73,267 - 36,471 109,738 49,575
Asset and Investment Sales - - - - -
-
Total Receipts 73,267 36,471 109,738 49,575
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b) Payments
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Unrestricted
Unrestricted Total
Note funds Designated Restricted Funds Total Funds
Funds Funds 2022
£ 2023
£ £ £
Expenditure on raising
funds 3e - - - - -
Expenditure on
3f -
102,531 27,188 129,719 101,150
charitable activities
Sub Total 102,531 - 27,188 129,719 101,150
Asset and Investment
- - -
26,995 26,995
Purchases
Total Payments 102,531 26,995 27,188 156,714 101,150
Excess Payments over
(29,264) (26,995) 9,283 (46,976) (51,575)
Receipts
Transfers between funds 14,788 (12,691) (2,097) - -
- - - - -
Cash at bank 1 [st ] April 34,056 112,691 23,995 170,742 222,317
Cash at bank 31 [st ] March 19,580 73,005 31,181 123,766 170,742
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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1[st] APRIL 2022 TO 31[ st] MARCH 2023
ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR WARRINGTON VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE PERIOD: 1[st] APRIL 2022 TO 31[st] MARCH 2023 (cont’d….)
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
c) Cash Funds
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Unrestricted Designated Restricted
£ £ £
HSBC Current Account 1,130 - -
- -
HSBC Home Visiting Account 31,181
- -
HSBC Hospital Desk Account 10,122
-
HSBC Fundraising Deposit Account 4,860 56,546
HSBC 2 [nd ] Reserve Account - 16,459 -
NatWest No1 Account 3,440 - -
Petty Cash 27 - -
Total Cash Funds 19,580 73,005 31,181
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d) Other Monetary Assets due
| Other Monetary Assets due | ||
|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted £ |
Restricted £ |
|
| Gift Aid Recoverable | - | - |
| Total Monetary Assets | - | - |
e) Investment Assets
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Fund Value
£ £
2,499 units M&G Chari fund Unrestricted 37,064
54 Royal Bank of Scotland Ordinary Shares Unrestricted 142
CCLA Ethical Investment Fund Unrestricted 379,145
CCLA Property Fund Unrestricted 94,472
Total Investment Assets 510,824
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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1[st] APRIL 2022 TO 31[ st] MARCH 2023
ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR WARRINGTON VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE
PERIOD: 1[st ] APRIL 2022 TO 31[st] MARCH 2023 (CONT’D….)
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (CONT’D)
- f) Assets Retained for charity’s own use
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Fund Value
£
Minibuses Unrestricted 32,569
IT Equipment Unrestricted 398
Furniture and Fixtures Unrestricted 3,822
Stock of Aids and Adaptations Unrestricted 2,489
Total Assets 39,278
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- g) Liabilities
| Liabilities | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fund | Value £ |
|
| Pension Liability | Unrestricted | 663 |
| Suppliers accounts to be paid | Unrestricted | 50 |
| Total Liabilities | 713 |
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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1[st] APRIL 2022 TO 31[ st] MARCH 2023
ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR WARRINGTON VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE
PERIOD: 1[st] APRIL 2022 TO 31[st] MARCH 2023 (CONT’D….)
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
1. Accounting Policies
The trustees have agreed that as the charity is not a company and has an annual gross income of less than £250,000 then it can prepare Receipts and Payments accounts.
2. Restricted Funds
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B/Fwd Receipts Payments Transfers C/Fwd
Fund
£ £ £ £ £
-
Home Visiting 21,898 36,471 (27,188) 31,181
Garden 94 - - (94) -
Minibus Fund 1,203 - - (1,203) -
Assistance Fund 800 - - (800) -
Total Funds 23,995 36,471 (27,188) (2,097) 31,181
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Home Visiting fund is a service agreement from Warrington Borough Council which supports visually impaired people who have just been diagnosed with a sight loss. This includes visiting clients in their homes and providing help and assistance where necessary.
Garden this fund provides for ongoing maintenance of the sensory garden at the Fairfield Center which visually impaired people use on a regular basis. The trustees have confirmed the project is now complete and the balance has been transferred to the unrestricted fund.
Minibus Fund contains donations and fundraising monies which have been received to be used to purchase replacement minibuses for the charity. The trustees have confirmed the project is now complete and the balance has been transferred to the unrestricted fund.
Assistance Fund was a legacy that was left to the society to provide assistance for people to obtain new technology to enable them to stay in their own homes. The trustees have confirmed the project is now complete and the balance has been transferred to the unrestricted fund.
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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1[st] APRIL 2022 TO 31[ st] MARCH 2023
ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR WARRINGTON VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE
PERIOD: 1[ST] APRIL 2022 TO 31[st] MARCH 2023 (CONT’D….)
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONT’D)
Designated Funds
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B/Fwd Receipts Payments Transfers C/Fwd
Fund
£ £ £ £ £
Minibus Fund 100,000 - (26,995) - 73,005
Hospital Desk 6,086 - - (6,086) -
Assistance Fund (Top Up) 200 - - (200) -
Garden 2,405 - - (2,405) -
Counseling 2,000 - - (2,000) -
Young People 2,000 - - (2,000) -
Total Funds 112,691 - (26,995) (12,691) 73,005
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Minibus Fund and Hospital Desk– The trustees have decided to use a legacy given in 2018/19 to fund a new minibus in the next year or so and to provide a hospital helpdesk at Warrington Hospital to provide people who have been diagnosed with a sight problem with help and support.
3. Notes to the Accounts
3a) Donations & Legacies
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Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Total Funds
funds Funds 2023 2022
£ £ £ £
Donations 16,031 - 16,031 7,029
Legacies 48,056 - 48,056 71
In Memory 530 - 530 280
Gift Aid - - - -
Total 64,617 - 64,617 7,380
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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1[st] APRIL 2022 TO 31[ st] MARCH 2023
ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR WARRINGTON VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE
PERIOD: 1[ST] APRIL 2022 TO 31[st] MARCH 2023 (CONT’D….)
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONT’D)
3b) Income from charitable activities
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Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Total Funds
funds Funds 2023 2022
£ £ £ £
Grants - 36,471 36,471 35,211
Luncheon club sales 4,320 - 4,320 3,008
Aids and adaptation sales 604 - 604 1,229
Total 4,924 36,471 41,395 39,448
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3c) Fundraising
| 3c) Fundraising | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds £ |
Restricted Funds £ |
Total Funds 2023 £ |
Total Funds 2022 £ |
|
| Raffles | 1,552 | - | 1,552 | 853 |
| Total | 1,552 | - | 1,552 | 853 |
3d) Investment Income
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Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Total Funds
funds Funds 2023 2022
£ £ £ £
Bank interest 401 - 401 16
Investment interest 1,773 - 1,773 1,878
Rental income - - - -
Total 2,174 - 2,174 1,894
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3e) Expenditure on raising funds
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Restricted Total Total
Unrestricted Designated
Funds Funds Funds
funds Funds
£ 2023 2022
£ £
£ £
- - - - -
Disability Day
- - - - -
Property Utilities
- - - - -
Property repairs
- - - - -
Legal Fees
- - - - -
Equip Hire
Total - - - - -
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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1[st] APRIL 2022 TO 31[ st] MARCH 2023
ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR WARRINGTON VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE
PERIOD: 1[st ] APRIL 2022 TO 31[st] MARCH 2023 (CONT’D….)
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONT’D)
3f) Expenditure on charitable activities
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Total Total
Unrestricted Designated Restricted
Funds Funds
funds Funds Funds
2023 2022
£ £ £
£ £
Staff costs 55,441 - 23,662 79,103 68,124
-
Staff & Volunteer expenses 1,310 2,865 4,175 1,994
Staff & Volunteer training 402 - 661 1,063 998
Rent and Insurance 16,039 - - 16,039 13,728
Phone, Zoom, broadband & IT
- -
1,896 1,896 1,177
Support &Software
Stationery, postage & office
913 - - 913 375
costs
Minibus costs 10,852 - - 10,852 6,195
Fees 1,262 - - 1,262 815
Accountancy fees 900 - - 900 -
Repairs and refurbishment 1,004 - - 1,004 394
Activities & Entertainment 580 - - 580 -
- -
Catering costs 8,980 8,980 3,697
Cost of aids and adaptations 814 - - 814 2,216
Bank Charges 152 - - 152 40
IT Equip 1,054 - - 1,054 1.095
Small purchases 932 - - 932 301
Total 102,531 - 27,188 129,719 101,150
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Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signed: …………………………………………… Name: …………………………………………… Position: …………………………………………… Date: ……………………………………………
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