Accounts Year Ending 31 March 2025
Sign and Share Club Accounts Year Ending 31 March 2025 Registered Charity Number 1177316 Trustee5 Annual Report Administrative Details: Banks: Natwest 33 Stepney Street Llanelli Carmarthenshire SA15 3UX Registered address: 17 Milton Meadows Milton, Nr Tenby Pembrokeshire SA70 8PL Trustees.. Adam Guichard IChairlBSL representative) Rhiannon Griffiths Ivice TreasLÈrerlLGBTQ+ Hannah Norman (Deaf BSL representative) Beth Hughes (Parent of deaf child rep) Vlolet John IHOH Representative) Shirley David ITreasurer/HRI The Sign and Share Club was set up as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and a constitution was adopted on l December 2017. The charity was registered with the Charity Commisslon on th 26 February 2018 and began operating as of 1st April 2018. Initial funding was from the Sign and Share Club unincorporated organisation (which ceased operation on 31 March 20181. The objerts of the charity are "To relieve the needs of deaf people by the provision of arts, sports. social activities, information, advocacy, training and support, and in such ways as the trustees may from tlme to time determine". Trustees are elerted by the members and meet on a bimonthly basis. Trustees must be re-elected at the Annual General Meeting. DBS checks are undertaken for all volunteers involved with children or vulnerable adults and were updatedlreviewed during the year. There are currently 8 volunteers, including the trustees. The Sign and Share Club is a member of Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Service and ha5 also worked in co-operation with several agencies and organisations during the year.
In particular.. Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Service5 RNID (formerly Action on Hearing Lossl Wales Council for Deaf People Pembrokeshire County Council Audiology Department, Hywel Dda University Health Board Open To All Project Ipembrokeshire C035t National Parkl The main artivities of the club undertaken for publlc benefit were.. Provision of social events in order to enable deaf people to meet others and thereby reduce loneliness and isolation including 3 Hard of Hearing Clubs lin Fi5h8uard, Narberth and Pembrokel Provision of information and signposting in order to improve deaf people's access to services and 5UPPOrt available in the communitv. Encotjraging the use of British Sign Language in order that Deaf people (who use BSL as their primary language) can communicate and interact with more people in the community. Chairman's Report This year the club has successfully run 25 meetings and events in person. including one online meeting, We had 6 group meetings at Johnston Institute and 7 group meetings at other venues. Our monthly coffee and chat meetings have also been a 8reat Success. 12 people were supported by our buddyin8 service, this included support to 80 to Community activities, meet for a chat and hospital appointments. In September 2024 we started running BSL classes In the communlty with 63 people attending 9 courses. 8 Deaf Awarenes5 courses were also held with different organizations. We plan to expand this further, running BSL Level I classes from September. We continue to support various businesses and organisations with improving accessibility for the deaf community and to provide our hearin8 aid repairs service, for those unable to attend avdiology. I would also like to thank shirley and Maria who currently continue this work. We are now applying for funding for this project to keep this going. We are very grateful for the various organisations who have given us funds so that our club can continue to grow. I want to thank Shirley for all the work she does in applying for this fundin8. Next year we plan to expand the club to include working with deaf children and their families. Thank you to all the trustees. volunteers, and staff. for their part in making the club a big success. Adam Gulchard
Activities and Performance During the year, 25 meetings/trlps/activities were held as follow5: 13 Main meetings l Online meetings 11 Coffee and Chat meetings Our main trips included: April - Egg box craft session119) May- Butterfly House, Aberystwyth1241 June- AGM and Jonny Cotsen1221 July- Aberglasney trip1191 August- Bingo and talk by British Deaf Association118} September- Cardiff Festival131 October- Fire Brigade talk1231 November- Wildlife Talk1181 December- Christmas dinner1281 and January- Pantomime- Torch Theatre1191 January-Eat Well for Less 1141 February- Bowling115) March- Lunch and Paint Your Pottery session1141 There was also one final online meeting in May 2024 wlth 6 attendees, which wa5 an art session. Coffee and Chat Sessions were held monthly (except In December} with an average of 11 people attendlng per session. Business Ualson Servlce During the year 44 individuals were given buslness support to improve accessibility. 262 people attended group meetings or training events where advice was given. 8 individuals have informed the club of specific steps subsequently taken. In February contact was made with the Hamad Bin Khalifa Islamic Centre in Mllford Haven and the intention is to encourage new members from the Muslim community. The Co-ordinator also attended the Deaf awareness and vlrtual reality project at Swansea University on 12th June 2024. This is a project to train Nurses and Dortors on deaf awareness using a VR headset. The VR setting was in a reception and made people aware of how a deaf person feels when they visit a Drs surgery. 8 club members also attended a consultation day with Rob Wilkes, in March 2025, to hear about a BSL Research Project and give their views. Deaf Awarene55 courses were provided to Access Pembrokeshire, Bluestone, Twr v Felin Hotel, Pembrokeshire Open to All, Dlnefwr Park, Stackpole Centre (National Trust) and Pembrokeshire National Parks.
Llstenlng Ears and Hands (LEAH) projert At the end of March 2025, we reviewed and removed inactive members of our database. We were left with 36 people who described themselves a5 Deaf on our database lincluding 2 Deaf children and l Deaf young person}, there were also 16 Deafblind people Ilncludlng 2 with Ushers Syndrome), 219 hard of hearing people (including 2 with visual lossl, 2 Deafened people. Thls mounts to 273 D/deaf and hard of hearing people. We also had 80 hearin8 people on the database. 23 have benefited from our Business Liaison Service and 57 from our BSL courses. A further 2 people are on our database due to Tinnitus. We made 75 home visits during 2024-25 involving 48 re-tubing5, issuing batteries to 19 people, 8iving maintenance and usage advice to 13 people and making 21 referrals to other agencies/organisations (including to audiolobry, Jobcentre Plus, loop providers, incontlnence advice service, the local Parkinsons Society group, and physiotherapyl. We also have 204 people in our closed FaceBook group many of whom are not on our database but benefit from the posts we make- providing information and publicising events for D/deaf and hard of hearing people Buddying Servlce 12 Dldeaf people have been supported by the Buddying Service during 2024-25. 49 sessions of support have been 8iven during the year, to go to community activitie5, meet up for a chat. and go shopping. An average of 16 hours per individual was provided. Future Plans Between November and December 2024, a paper survey was sent to 180 people and was made available online via email and FaceBook. The survey was completed by 66 people. 44% of responders were hard of hearing and 20% were D/deaf. The respondents included some profe5siona15 working with D/deaf people. However. 79% of respondents were female, and all described themselves as'white . Of the 312 people on our database at present 207 are hard of hearing, 49 are D/deaf and 2 have tinnitus. The remaining 54 are professionals and carer5 who access our services. Of the D/deaf and hard and hearing people only 2 are children and l is a young person11.2%). There are currently only 6 Welsh speakers on our databa5e11.9%1. This clearly demonstrates that we need to reach a more diverse audience. We consulted face to face at our main meetin8s and at our Coffee and Chat meetings durin8 October to December 2024 Inviting people to Say what they would like offered or changed and we attended a number of network events locally to discuss our services. We also had feedback forms from 38 paffjclpant5 on our Brlti5h $18n Lan8uage165LI courses and 53 people who attended our Deaf Awareness courses, which has fed into our service review, We carried out a Gap Analysis and created a Business Plan for 2025- 2030 based on thi5 Information. This includes 8 Specific objectives las set out below)
- To continue existing services but increose the number of D/deaf people we work w£th by 700% by the end of 2030 (from 33 7 in October 2024 to 662 in 2030) by offering services to D/deaf hildren/young people and their families To improve deaf access in the community by working with charities and businesses to review their services and provide recommendations for change.
- To recruit, or hire, an IT specialist in order to help the club improve the database and to use wider technologies for marketing our seTvices e.g. TikTok, Snapchat
- To expand the British Sign Language and Deaf Awareness trainin9 services, including working towards offerin9 Level 1 accredited training
- To increase the tutor capacity of the club in order to offer more courses, and courses at a higher level in future
- To increase the number of administrative staff and Buddying volunteers to meet the growing demand for our services
- To research acting as a demonstrator and retail agent for equipment for D/deaf people
- To increase our donation income from approximately £3,000, at present, to £4,832 by 2030 Finance Report In 2023 we received £10,000 grant fvnding from Awards for All, which has continued to support our Listening Ears and Hands Project (LEAH) for home visits, buddying and dropin seNi¢es during the year, but is now completed. CRONFA GYMUNEDOL COMMUNITY FUND Valero. Pembroke Refinery A £5,000 grant in 2024 from the Foyle Foundation to Cover core Gosl$ ha$ also been used in entirety, as has a £1,000 donation from Valero. also received last year. F.()Y1.. b()L Nl).4'J'inN Yapp CHARITABLE TRUST The Yapp Charitable Trust awarded £3,000 per annum for the 3-y8ar period November 2021- September 24, to cover our general njnnino eosts laxcluding equipment or new #ctivitièsl. Th& last of these donattrong wa# received on 301h November 2023 and helped to Cover our m costs in 2024-25. In 2023 £1,125 was received from Groundwork UK (Tesco Bags of Helpl specifically for our hearing aid repair service for people unable to attend Audiology due to disability or caring responsibilities, This fund has now been used.
We received a grant from the Poslwde Community Trust on 30th September 2024 of £9.833. This generous grant was for unspecified core Costs but could not be used to increase reserves or for some actsvities that might be allowed under our governing document. It was thefore treated as restricted funding and has n¢)W been fvlly utilised. POSTCODE •PEOPLÉ'SII POSTCODE COMMUNITY •LOTTERY TRUST Looking forward to 2025-26 we have already secured significant funding towards our ongoing servi¢es and have put in an initial idea lo the People and Places (Big Lottery) grant to expand our seNices, as outlined in the Future Plans section of this Annual Report. We are very grateful lo South Hook LNG who donated £1,800 in December 2024 towards the costs of courses in British Sign Language for families with a deaf member. The first of these courses was advertised at the Stsrt of 2025 but the costs will be incLsrred in 2025-26 financial year. The second course is planned to run in the first quarter of the upcoming financial year. IE55u Garfield Weston FOUNDATION We have been granted £4,000 per year, from 2024 -2027, from the Garfield Weston Foundation towards our core costs. This will Safeguard our core activities. We have also been award a fvrthfrr £2,500 per annum for the next 3 years by the Yapp Foundation, s18rts.ng in April 2025. THE Yapp CHARITABIE TRUST Risk Management and Reserv•8 The trustees have aged a finance poli¢y and procedures. Insurance is in place and is reviewed against any new activities. DBS checks are held for all volunteers working with children or vulnerable adults. Safeguarding training has been undertaken. The Iruslees have increased the level of reserves that should be held to betsveen 44 months running Costs, due lo plans to signifi¢anlly increase services over the next 5 years. This wlll ensure that, were unexpected expenditure to occur, or donations to reduce due to the difficult economic climate at present. services ¢ould be maintained whilst allernalive sources of funding are seclsred. This level of reserves equates lo £10,39110 £16,397. As of 31 March 2025, £14.988 was held in unrestrictsd funds, which is within this tsrget ranoe. This policy is reviewed annually.
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Sign and Share Club I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity I'the Trusfl for the year ended 31 It March 2025. Responslbllltles and Basls of Report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the pparation of the accounts in.accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.1"the Acr'}. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under 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 14515llbl of the Act. Independent 8xamlnerf8 8t•tem¢nt I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause lo believe that in, any material respeGt'. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act," or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records,. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reportsl Regulats'ons 2008 other th8n any requirement that the accounts give a 'lrue and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examin8tion. Name.. Address.. Mr P L Jenkins 1 St Petrox Close. Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, SA71 SQW Date, lolc Signe on behalf of the trustees.. Position Date
Statement of Financial Activities 2024-26 2023-24 NotsB UnroatrSctod Rutrlctod rotal Fund8 Total Fund• Recelpts Charrtable Actwrties Income 12.188 12,188 23,613 3.874 25,434 Dgnatlons 2nd LegacAo$ Fundra1ng itKLyne Total In¢¢• 2.756 20,757 Paymonts Charltablo A¥108 A¢tyvlty ¢o•ts Buddying Servic• Business Li8u8on Services 371 1,329 1.700 11,992 1,892 1,443 3,923 1,321 5833 6,159 1.723 Ctslf8e and ChaVDropin Fttml Support Hard of hèaring du Htsne ¥its 169 281 5.963 9,917 Trip$ and Events Tot41 A¢d¥lty ¢O•t• Total Charltable Actlvltles 397 Not R•celpt8lPaymonta Total Funds 8ffi Previo5 Year End 8,228 6,7eo 14,988 -5.158 3.070 17.518 20.688 1,441 16.077 10.758 Total Funds CIF CurrontY8ar End 17,518
ststement of Assets and Liabilities A8 of March 31, 2025 Totsl As of Mar 31, 2024 PY A8 of Mar 31 202S Flx•¢ A•80ts Cuh at b&nk and In nd N•t ¢urr•nt •M•t• 20,588 17,518 Cr•d0T¥.. amounts tslllng du• wthln on• ymr N•t ¢urr•rtt ••••ts IllabllltlMI Total •M•t• I4 ¢urr•nt Il•bllW•• 20,588 17.018 fotsl net a•••t• Ill•bllld•sl 20,S68 17,018 Br•akdown of Charlty Furvl• Unmtrfctsd- RM•rv 14,088 6,7eo R••trl¢t•d Fund• 10758 Tothl Ch•rtty lund• %0.588 17.618
io Sign and Share Club Accounts Year Ending 31 March 2025 Notes to the Accounts Accountlng Policlos The accounts have been prepared under the CeIpts and payments Convention and in 8ccordance with.. Charities SORP Applicable acwunting stsndards and The Charities Act 1993. The principal a¢counting policies adopted in the pparatiOn of the accounts are as follows.. Restricted funds are to be used for specified purposes as specified by the donor. Expenditu that meets these criteria is identified to the fvnd. Unrestricted funds are donations and other income reIVed or generated for the objects of the chanty without further specified purpose and is available as general fvjnds. Activity costs have been anatysed on a fvll ¢ost basis by project. Timesheets were analysed. All direct Costs, including staff bme costs, We allo¢ated to the appropriate project. Indirect costs (such as rent, administrative lime, insurance etc.,) were then apportioned on the basis of di¢1 staff time. The % apportionment was as follows.. Buddying Business liaison18SL Coffee and Chat Home visits Parent Support Tripslevents 3° 35Q 23% 10 32% 100° Fund Movements Restrictèd frJnd$ are ceiVed for a specific purpose withirs Ihe objects of the charity and must be accounted for separately. All income has therefore been shown as restricted Whe the donor has stated that the income ¢an only be used for a specified purpose or where it has been raised through an appeal for a Specthed purpose. d fund movements were as follows.. Fund Awards for All- LEAH ro Garfield Weston Groundwork UK Tesco Miscellaneous small rants and donations Postcode Community Trust South Hook LNG Valero Ya Foundation Total Restrlctgd Funds BIF Funds 4,970 Recel ts Pa ments 4.970 Transfers Balan¢• 8.000 679 3.103 679 3,103 9.833 9,833 250 gsg 1,046 25,91S 959 1,046 10,7S7 20,757 S,600
li Unrestricted fund movements were as follows.. Fund BIF Funds Recelpts Paymonts Tran•fer8 Balan¢• Designated Fund$ 773 238 15351 Unrestricted - Reserves 5,988 15.107 6,642 535 14,988 Total Unrestrtcted Funds 6,761 5,625 6,880 14.988 During 2024-25. £238 of the funding set aside to cover a shortfall in salary costs was used from the £773 designated. The remains ol this designated fund have n¢)w been transferred back lo the reserves. The following trustees received remuneration during the year. in ac¢ordan¢e with ¢kguse 6 of the Constitution. Neither trustee is present during discussions, or votes, on matters relating lo remuneration or employment Conditions. Adam Guichard, BSL Tutor £5,507 Shirley David, Interpreter £522 Interpreting fees are paid to Shirley David, when the club ha$ exhausted all other sourtts, but the club wish lo thank her for donating these fees ba¢k to the club in full. As stated in clause 8 of our Con$litufjon', 'A charity trustee must.. 11} declare the nature and extent of any inte$1, direct or indirecl, which he or she has in a proposed Iransaction 01 arrangement with the CIO or in any Iransacbon or arrangement entered into by the CIO which has not previousfy been declared,. and 12} absent himself or herself from any discussions of the chanty Iruslees in which il is possible that a conflict of interest will arise betsveen his or her duty lo act solely in the interests of the CIO and any personal Inte$t {including but not limited to any financial interesti. Any charity trustee absenting himself or herself from any discussions in accordance with this clause must not vote or be counted as part of the quorum in any decision of the charity trustees on the matter.. Support Costs Govgrnan¢• C08ts were". AGM £152 Committee £114 Insurance costs £242 Total £508 HR £174 IT £ 90 Total Support Costs £771 Relatgd Party Tr•n#•ctlon8 £522 was paid to Business & Emptoyment Support & Training IBESTI bul then lmburSed. This organisation is njn by Shirley David who is a trustee. BEST has provided ae¢ounting input seNices free of charge, using QuickBooks, lo the charity since it started in 2013. This charge is for the use of the sofvare {owned by Inturti and not for accounting services.
12 Salarl86 Nel Salary Nl and Tax £ 17,303 2,603 £ 19,906 Totsl Salarlè8 The Cowordinator work5 18 hours per week. One person was on a zerfrhour contract to undertake BSL training as and when required. The zero hours contract has been amended for 2025-26 as this worker is now seconded on a 6-hours ptrr month basis lo Wesl Wales Deaf Church. An application has been made to People and Places grant under the Big Lottery to extend both roles to 28 hours per week. Sign and sha Club offer a Smart Pension to all stsff. 0obtor6 There were no debtors at the year end. Credllor8 There were no creditors at the year end.