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2024-03-31-accounts

TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD FOR THE PERIOD 1 APRIL 2023 TO 31 MARCH 2024

1. Reference and administration details

Charity name: The Visually Impaired Sailing Association of Great Britain (VISA-GB) Registered charity number: 1178077

Charity's principal address: C/O Pocklington Hub, 3 Queens Square, London WC1N3AR Patron: Pip Hare

2. Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity 2. Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity 2. Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity 2. Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for
whole year		 Name of person (or
body) entitled to
appoint trustee (if
any)
Tim Sandford Acting Chairman &
Operations Manager
Anilkumar Kanani Governance &
Compliance
Alan McKee Trustee
Dee Jones Trustee
Stuart Curl Treasurer June 2024
Edward Kitchen Trustee and Charter
Manager		 1 April 24 to October
2023
Sue Hogge Membership Sec

3. Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document: CIO - ASSOCIATION Registered 24 Apr 2018 How the charity is constituted: Association Trustee selection methods: Appointed by one member or Trustee recommending an individual for the role of Trustee with an endorsement by second member or Trustee

4. Charity’s objectives and activities

Our main objective is to provide opportunities for blind and visually impaired people to participate in offshore sailing as part of a full crew member with the aim of improving their lives through empowerment, encouragement, and confidence building.

5. The Charity’s people

The Charity is run by blind and partially sighted sailing enthusiasts to help others to enjoy the freedom of sailing.

Between them the Charity’s current Trustees have over 40,000 nautical miles and over 75 years of sailing experience under their belt sailing in both local and international waters, with trips that include cruising for beginners, racing such as the Fastnet, Cowes Week and crossing oceans making them well qualified in the support and development of sailing programmes to benefit other visually impaired

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adults. The Trustees also have a wealth of experience running businesses and working in the private and public sectors.

6. Achievements and performance

We experienced an active 12 months and were delighted to return to Milford Haven, Wales, for two separate trips thanks to the support of the Whirlwind Trust and the Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT). The second trip included additional days to encourage new members to try sailing for the first time. With support from TPT we were also able to enter two boats into Sailing Vision Week in Falmouth. In July we had a joint venture with Metro Blind Sports and UKSA for a week of sailing in the Solent. Our thanks go to UKSA who help in the supply of yachts for a number of highly successful trips from their base in Cowes, their support enables us to add variety to our normal charters by offering short sails right through to cross channel passages.

One notable achievement for Visa-gb is our ability to provide a safe and secure environment for both men and women to sail together. Our sailing membership is now showing equal numbers of male and female sailors plus an increase in the number of female sighted volunteer crew.

The Trustees would like to say thank our members, volunteers, the skippers and fundraisers for their support. The wonders of technology, emails and zoom, also helped us to keep in touch. They all help Visa-gb keep on sailing. By the end of the accounting period we increased our volunteers and visually impaired sailors once again.

During the year we focused on continuing to build our sailing activities which included the introduction of more day sails, these are designed to encourage people who have not sailed before to have a go.

We continue to report on the positive impact sailing has on individuals taking part through interviews, testimonials and trip reviews, some of which are on our website. There is a marked improvement in self confidence and well being as a result of sailing with Visa-gb which not only has a positive impact on individuals but their family and wider community.

Achievements include:

A special mention must be made about members fundraising activities. In February Andrew Windsor, who first sailed in Milford Haven, raised well over £1000 by walking 10,000 steps a day through the dark and wet days of February. Our friend Nikki, of Pembrokeshire Cruising, swam a mile raising £1000 and Patrick Adams, a long term sailor and raconteur sang sea shanties and told tales to a packed house in Ledbury village hall raising a further £1000. In times of financial pressure and tight budgets this has made a big difference to our charity so a heartfelt thanks from us all.

To read a report about one of our trips please follow this link: sea-vision-wales-milford-havenseptember-2023

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It was in great sadness we learnt of the death of Keith ‘Lofty’ Sims, a founding member of Visa-gb. Lofty died whilst visiting family in the Philippines. For those that had met and sailed with Lofty knew him as a larger than life character, he was a real believer in all the of good sailing, and being a part of a crew, will do for anyone with a visual impairment. His fundraising activities became something of a legend. Lofty is much missed by all that knew him and, thanks to the generosity of his family, his legacy will help keep his spirit alive and kicking within the heart of Visa-gb. Here’s a link to learn - about Lofty’s Legacy: loftys legacy

6. Financial review

The Charity is a non-profit making organisation and does not intend to hold large reserves but sufficient to be able to plan and announce in advance a number of events every year. Membership of Visa-gb is free but members may be required to contribute for the cost of their participation at events we deliver. They are also free to make donations if they wish.

Financial Year April 2023 – March 24

The Accounts for 2023-24 have been prepared and a copy will be lodged with the Charity Commission. In summary they show:

Income for the year was £34,412 and was made up by Donations of £19,592 and Sailing Payments of £14,820.

Expenditure for the year was £22,479 and the largest items were Charter £14,353, Food £2,087, Insurance £1,792, Fuel and Berth £1,077, IT £868 and Volunteer Expenses £1,315.

We started the year 1 April 2023 with cash in the bank of £23,695 and we ended the year 31 March 2024 with cash in bank of £35,628.31. This excludes liabilities post 1 April 2024 of 13,629.00.

7. Declaration

The Trustees declare that they have approved this Annual Report and the Annual Accounts prepared by the Treasurer. The accounts have been approved by an Independent Examiner.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Signature(s):

Full name(s): Tim Sandford Position: Chairman , Visa-gb Date: November 2024

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THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED SAILING ASSOCIATION STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

INCOMING RESOURCES

Incoming resources from generated funds
Receipts
Donations and Grants
Sailing payments
Activities for generating funds
Fundrasing
Other (incl. refund yacht charter deposit
2021?
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES
RESOURCES EXPENDED
Costs of generating funds
Fundraising and publicity
Charitable activities
Travel (incl Volunteers)
Charter fee
Membership fee
Fuel/Berth
Insurance
Computer & Software
Crew cost (food) Other
Other
Carried forward
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash at bank and in hand
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Charter fee due in 2024
NET CURRENT ASSETS		 £
£
19,592.32
14,820.23
34,412.55
34,412.55
1,315.94
14,353.64
323.00
1,077.52
1,792.36
868.66
2,087.01
661.16
22,479.29
11,933.26
35,628.31
13,629.00
21,999.31
2024		 £
£
14,396.00
10,598.78
24,994.78
24,994.78
784.37
13,965.56
290.00
1,708.86
142.00
823.88
2,249.75
8.01
19,972.43
5,022.35
23,695.05
23,695.05
2023		 £
£
14,396.00
10,598.78
24,994.78
24,994.78
784.37
13,965.56
290.00
1,708.86
142.00
823.88
2,249.75
8.01
19,972.43
5,022.35
23,695.05
23,695.05
2023
19,972.43
5,022.35
23,695.05

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Visually Impaired Sailing Association members of On accounts for the year 31/03/2024 Charity no ended (if any) Set out on pages 1 and 2

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2024 .

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 the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination that give me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Date: 24/08/2024 Name: Katy Harding Relevant professional CPFA FMAAT qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 4 Highfield Court, Station Road Sutton Coldfield West Midlands B73 5LB

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IER

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

No disclosures required

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IER