2025-10-31-accounts - Vision Of Adventure

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VISION OF ADVENTURE CHARITY IIBN51 ENABLING BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED ADULTS TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS ¥. Annual Report and Accounts Year to 31st October 2025

	Trustees' Annual Report for the period	Trustees' Annual Report for the period	Trustees' Annual Report for the period	Trustees' Annual Report for the period	Trustees' Annual Report for the period	Trustees' Annual Report for the period	Trustees' Annual Report for the period	Trustees' Annual Report for the period
	From	Period start date			To	Period end date
		Day 1	Month 11	Year 2024		Day 31	Month 10	Year 2025

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name[Vision of Adventure ]

Other names charity is known by[VoA ]

Registered charity number (if any) 1180451

Charity's principal address 16, Gowan Close, Staveley, Cumbria

Postcode LA8 9NW

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Mark Colman	Chair
David Corso	Treasurer
Emily Banks
Nazia Aslam
Fran Higgins		To 13/02/2025
Tim Nuttall		From 20/08/2025

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Operations Manager – Vicky Binks Business Manager Chris Binks General Manager (from 01/10/25) Jill Corso

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Constitution adopted 23/10/18 (amended 16/2/19) Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) Charitable Incorporated Organisation How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company) Appointed by existing Trustees Trustee selection methods (eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

New trustees are expected to volunteer on some of the activities to ensure that You may choose to include they are fully conversant with the charities work, beneficiaries and outcomes. additional information, where relevant, about: • policies and procedures adopted Management and Trustees seek the views of both visually impaired and guide for the induction and training of participants in deciding the activities to be run and policies to be adopted. trustees; • the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network Courses we facilitate are fully risk assessed and are led by appropriately with which the charity works; qualified/ experienced staff with many years of experience. On our catered • relationship with any related courses kitchen leaders must have food handling qualifications and we parties; encourage our volunteers to also gain certification. • trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them. All trustees give their time voluntarily and received no remuneration or other benefits.

Section C Objectives and activities

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

THE RELIEF OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED ADULTS LIVING WITHIN THE UK BY PROVIDING AND FACILITATING RECREATIONAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, IN PARTICULAR THOSE CONNECTED TO ADVENTUROUS OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE SO THAT THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE SHALL BE IMPROVED.

The Trustees have taken care to ensure that all our activities comply with the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

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)

The courses, which are residential in nature and typically last a long weekend, allow participants to meet and socialise with like-minded others. Long term friendships develop among Visually impaired participants and also with the sighted guides. Isolation is reduced and mental and physical well-being are improved.

Participants on courses develop and increase their confidence by learning new or honing existing outdoor skills. The acquired skills may subsequently allow participants to join main-stream clubs and organisations to continue the activities. Skills gained and improvements to well-being are transferred other areas of their lives.

We encourage participants and guides to organise their own outdoor activities and events. We do this by offering administration support, providing information and advice on trips and allowing equipment to be borrowed. It remains a priority for the future.

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

We are still very well supported by our volunteers. This year we have welcomed back many of our regulars. We have not actively advertised but have recruited some new guides by recommendation. We have a well-defined process for safe You may choose to include further recruitment. statements, where relevant, about:

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

Section D

Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year		This was Vision of Adventure’s sixth year of activity. Courses and events This year we have welcomed back many of our regular participants and guides. We have also welcomed a number of new participants. We have been well supported by some regular funders as well as some who have not supported us before. In the Winter we ran Zoom Online cycle sessions which not only provided a way for people to keep fit but also a regular chance to meet online and socialise. Over the year most of our efforts were focused on our core offering of residential weekends and we ran 21 courses, providing around 126 places overall. We ran courses in, climbing, caving, tandem cycling, open water swimming, canoeing, multi activity and walking. In addition, this year we added “A swim tour” which proved very successful. Our climbing and cycling and open water swimming courses continue to be well oversubscribed. Most of our courses were fully booked, and we ran with very few spaces. Some of our triathletes, cyclists and swimmers have competed in mainstream events this year and this is something we wish to promote especially by encouraging long term guide/ athlete partnerships where possible. Staffing The founders Dave and Jill Corso stepped back this year. Chris and Vicky Binks were taken on as Business and Operations Managers respectively. They were already running their own CIC working in the outdoors with people with various disabilities. It was thought that this would make them an ideal partnership to take Vision of Adventure forward. In the event, running 2 organisations proved to be too big an undertaking and towards the end of the year Vicky stepped down and Chris indicated that he would do the same shortly. Jill continued to manage the swimming and cycling part of our programme and with Vicky managing all the other activities enjoyed the luxury of time to develop some new courses. We enjoyed a swim tour of the Lake District and our toughest ever cycle tour. Jill also continued for most of the year in her voluntary capacity as fundraiser and was successful in securing much needed funding from grant giving bodies and Trusts. In August we took on a paid fundraiser for the first time. We also took on an engagement officer, Sue Jones in September. Sue will ensure that we are keeping in touch with participants and that what we do has value. Both these posts were funded for their first year by Fight for Sight to whom we are very grateful.

Dave has continued in his role as Treasurer.

Sheila Tarpey continues as course host, taking responsibility for everything to do with food and providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere on our residential courses. The creation of this role has been a very successful move forward for VoA.

Trustees

We continue to be well supported by our existing trustees. Mark Colman (Chair), Dave Corso (Treasurer), Nazia Aslam and Emily Banks. Tim Nutall joined us in August.

It is the boards intention to increase its numbers as soon as possible. The aim is to recruit a new Treasurer to replace Dave and an HR trustee to assist with staffing issues etc.

Volunteers

Equipment & facilities

We sold our canoes as we found they were not being used enough relative to the time spent storing and maintaining them.

We purchased 2 electrically assisted tandems to help with our less able riders. These have proven to be extremely useful.

This year our volunteer bike mechanic has continued to be supported by a paid, professional bike mechanic. This is something we feel is essential.

We continue to use minibuses hired from Cumbria Community Transport, another charitable organisation without whom we could not operate.

We have changed our system on first and last days of courses so that equipment is now transported in the minibus, rather than staff/ trustee own vehicles.

Towing of trailers is still undertaken using the staff and trustee’s own vehicles.

Fundraising

We continue to be very well supported in by many Trusts and Foundations and finish this year in an adequate financial position.

Section E Financial review

Total Cash at bank at 31[st] October 2025 was £39,194.45 Brief statement of the charity’s £19,433.80 of this was Restricted Funds This has increased by £6500 since last policy on reserves year. Much of our Restricted Fund income comes from grants and the timing of their receipt affects the amount of money at year end. £19,760.65 was Unrestricted Funds . Slightly down on last year’s figure of £21,046.

In last year’s Annual Report we pointed out that we do not have any Contingent/Emergency Reserve. Again like last year Fundraising for the future has been difficult and we are hoping for an upturn.

The trustees continue to recognise that this is undesirable and consider that the appointment of a paid fundraiser is crucial to the future of the charity. This will be a priority next year.

Our target policy is to maintain Contingency/Emergency Reserves of 4 months core costs (permanent staff costs and fixed overheads). This will ensure the charity can continue to run in the event that there is a shortfall in income or any unforeseen expenditure. We are aware that it will be challenging to maintain our reserves at the desired level but feel that it is something we should strive for.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

Not Applicable

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

A trustee made a short-term loan of £6000 for a period of 1 week in late September. This covered a cash flow problem between the deposit/savings and current accounts when money was unable to be moved due to the withdrawal instruction period of the deposit/savings account.

Overall, the charity continues to rely heavily on grants from charitable trusts.

We are extremely grateful to a number of individuals who undertook sponsored events for us this year – this is something we would like to build on in future years.

We continue to be aware that we need to diversify and develop more sustainable funding streams.

Section F Other optional information

Future Plans

Our main aim for 2026 is to build more resilience into the charity for the future.

We are aware that the functioning of the charity is still very dependent on a very small number of people. This will need to be addressed in order to improve the charities sustainability.

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signatures
Names	Mark Colman	David Corso
Position	Chair	Treasurer
Date	27/04/26	27/04/26

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Charity Name No (if any) CC16a
Vision of Adventure 1180451
Receipts and payments accounts
From Period start date To Period end date
01/11/2024 31/10/2025
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Section A Receipts and payments

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Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Direct Donations 3,853 500 - 4,353 2,934
GiftAid 830 - - 830 3,176
Donations ,Fundraising via Charity
- 1,946 2,427
Collection Agency 1,946 -
Grants 4,000 73,286 - 77,286 80,038
Course Participant Fees - 43,528 - 43,528 34,860
Bank Interest 914 - 914 771
Merchandise Sales - - - 10
Sub total (Gross income for AR) 11,543 117,314 - 128,857 124,216
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
Sale of Canoes 5,500 - - 5,500
Sale of Tandem - - - - 550
Sub total 5,500 - - 5,500 550
Total receipts 17,043 117,314 - 134,357 124,766
A3 Payments
Fixed and Admin Costs
Admin Wages incl on costs 32,210 - - 32,210 47,327
Storage Costs 6,744 - - 6,744 7,125
Office Rent 126 - - 126 1,512
Insurance 1,922 - - 1,922 1,887
Software 1,760 - - 1,760 1,004
Training - - - - 385
Miscellaneous(both Admin & Course) 789 - - 789 806
Course and Event costs
Course Wages incl on costs 42,005 - - 42,005 40,649
Accommodation 15,694 - - 15,694 16,175
Transport 4,633 - - 4,633 3,401
Food Costs 6,124 - - 6,124 5,140
Bike Maintenance 204 - - 204 343
Additional Venue Hire 1,473 - - 1,473 190
External coaching costs 3,753 - - 3,753 528
Sub total [ 117,437 ] - - 117,437 126,473
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A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
Asset Purchases: - - - -
Tandems 9,684 - - 9,684 876
Course Equipment 1,964 - - 1,964 415
Computer Equipment - - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total 11,648 - - 11,648 1,291
Total payments 129,085 - - 129,085 127,764
Net of receipts/(payments) - 112,042 117,314 - 5,272 - 2,998
A5 Transfers between funds
Course Participant Fees 40,073 - 40,073 - -
Grants 70,685 - 70,685 - -
Donations - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 21,046 12,878 - 33,924
Cash funds this year end 19,762 19,434 - 39,196 33,924
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Section B Statement of	assets and liabilities at the end of the	assets and liabilities at the end of the	period
Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets	Details Cash at Bank (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Details Total cash funds	Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 19,761 - - 19,761 Agreement Error Unrestricted funds to nearest £ - - Fund to which asset belongs	Restricted funds to nearest £ 19,434 - - 19,434 OK Restricted funds to nearest £ - - Cost (optional) - -	Endowment funds to nearest £ - - -
				-
				OK
				Endowment funds to nearest £ - - Current value (optional) - -

Liabilities ned by one or two trustees on half of all the trustees B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use	Details Details Signature Caving Gear Computers Box Trailer Tandems Paddling Gear Climbing Gear Domestic Equip Restricted Donations Clothing Other Outdoor Equip Credit Note Restricted Participant Course fees Restricted Grants	Fund to which asset belongs Accum. Funds Accum. Funds Accum. Funds Accum. Funds Accum. Funds Accum. Funds Accum. Funds Accum. Funds Accum. Funds Fund to which liability relates Accum. Funds Accum. Funds Accum. Funds Accum. Funds Print Name Mark Colman David Corso	Cost (optional) Amount due (optional)	Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - When due (optional) - 4,135 14,799 500 Date of approval 27/04/2026 27/04/2026

B5 Liabilities

Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees Vision of Adventure (VoA) On accounts for the 31.10.25 Charity no 1180451 year ended (if any) Set out on pages 9-11 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/10/25 Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

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 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

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 Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

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

Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.

Signed: Date: 29.6.26 Name: Mike Platten CPFA Relevant professional Member Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) qualification(s) or body (if any):

Address: 6 Uplands Road, Farnham , Surrey, GU9 8BP

Oct 2018

IER

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material 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 .

IER 13

Oct 2018