Trustees' Annual Report
For the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021
Section A - Reference and administration details
Charity Name Open Ears Charity number 1181896 Charity Address 6 Westfield Road Leicester Leicestershire LE3 6HR Charity Trustees Anthea Own (Chair Person) Christine Pitts (Secretary) Julia Chapman (Treasurer) Mary Bucknall Marylin Kilsby Associate Committee Members Marilyn Baker Emily Owen Susanne Willdig. Tracy Williamson
Section B - Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts Open Ears is constituted by its Foundation CIO Constitution (dated 4/1/2019) Management of the charity The charity is managed by its trustees and committee members Selection of new trustees and The existing trustees and committee members are responsible for committee members the selection of new individuals. The final decision is made by a vote of this group of individuals.
Section C - Objectives and activities
Summary of the objectives and Open Ears is a non-denominational Christian charity for people activities of the charity set out in who have various degrees of impaired hearing, mainly (but not its governing document exclusively) those who communicate orally, assisted by hearing aids or cochlear implants and lip-reading.
Section C - Objectives and activities Continued….......
Objectives
The objectives of the charity are, for the public benefit:
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The advancement of the Christian religion among the hearing impaired
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The relief of need, hardship or sickness, in particular the relief of those with hearing impairments.
Activities
The activities of the charity are:
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Provide pastoral support to those in need
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Organise fellowship/bible teaching events
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Provide publications/information
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Provide training/demonstrations to church leaders to highlight the needs of those with impaired hearing and offer advice on suitable equipment e.g. loop systems
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Provide financial support to organisations providing relief to those affected by hearing impairments.
Section D - Achievements and performance
The main achievements of the charity during the period
The impact of the Pandemic has continued from 2020 into 2021. Like other charities we have faced many challenges as a result and have needed to adapt to ensure we are able to operate.
- Technology
The committee looked to Zoom Conferencing as a new way to meet remotely as we could no longer meet in person for the foreseeable future. This was made possible through Suzanne’s expertise with Speech to Text being provided through Zoom’s Caption Text functionality.
The positive outcome of this being we have been able to meet on a more regular basis and have used the time to focus on our direction for the future as well as how we might support our members during this difficult time.
The main achievements of the - Magazine - Hearing Eye
charity during the period Four editions of the magazine ‘Hearing Eye’ were produced with a continued…… circulation of about 225 per issue which included postal and email copies being sent to our members and other interested people. We continue to look for new and creative content to include within this magazine to reach the needs of our members and feedback to date has been positive.
Section D - Achievements and performance Continued….......
- Cards
We continue with sending out our own Christmas Card this year and complimented that with an Easter Card. And a birthday card where we are aware of this date. The aim of this being to reach out to our members to help them feel included as well as encouraging them to consider the true meaning of Easter and Christmas.
- Focus on Corporate Prayer
We continue to meet as a committee for prayer and have introduced some online community prauer meetings for our members. We are working on ways to overcome the barriers that hearing loss has with regard to these meetings, howeer with Speech to Text resources availanble this has helped..
- Social Media
We are currently looking at how we reach and communicate to our members. As a result and keeping up with others we are looking at social media as a means to reach people and have hired a consultant to assist us to do this.
- Online Conferences
We have successfully held severalonline conferences, prayer meetings and quiz evenings for our members. Positive feedback has been received regarding these meetings and we continue to look for addiitonal ways to support and reach out to our members.
- International
We continue to support Churches for All and Church Ear charities and their work with the hard of hearing.
- Giving
Members of the fellowship have continued to give enabling the aims of the charity to be fulfilled.
Section E - Financial Review
Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves
The charity's previous policy was to have as a minimum level of reserves, funds equivalent to three months worth of expenditure. However with the current worldwide economic situation as it is, as a result of the Pandemic and the low level of regular income we are receiving, the trustees have taken a decision to increase this to twelve months.
Section F - Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signed: Julia Chapman ____ Date: 30 October 2022 ______ Position: Treasurer, Trustee
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
Charity Name
Open Ears
Charity Number
1181896
As at
31 December
| Bank Other Assets Liabilities Reserves Funds at start of year Transfer Assets Results for the year Funds at end of year |
31.12.21 31.12.21 31.12.21 Restricted Unrestricted Total Funds Funds Funds £ £ £ £57,044 £7,634 £64,677 £4,097 £0 £4,097 -£670 £0 -£670 £60,471 £7,634 £68,104 £69,195 £2,885 £72,080 £0 £0 £0 -£8,889 £4,912 -£3,976 £60,307 £7,798 £68,104 |
31.12.20 31.12.20 31.12.20 Restricted Unrestricted Total Funds Funds Funds £ £ £ £65,263 £2,721 £67,984 £4,096 £0 £4,096 £0 £0 £0 |
|---|---|---|
| £69,359 £2,721 £72,080 |
||
| £76,795 £579 £77,374 £0 £0 £0 -£7,599 £2,306 -£5,294 |
||
| £60,307 £7,798 £68,104 |
£69,195 £2,885 £72,080 |
Signed by one trustee on behalf of all the trustees
Signature
Date of approval
| Julia Chapman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Treasurer, Trustee | Julia Chapman | 30 October 2022 |
Notes to the Accounts
Restricted v Non Restricted Funds
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These were as a result of net funds at the date of transfer of the assets (see notes below)
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Restriction - Funds received prior to this date are restricted and mayh only be spent on UK activities
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Funds received after this date are not subject to any restriction and may be spent on UK or International activities
Other Assets
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A deposit has been paid for a future Open Ears Conference of £3,932.
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Unfortunately due to the
Given the confidence of the liquidators of this amount being recoverable we have included this within other assets.
Liabilities
These relate to expenses in curred for which the purchse invoice has not yet been received.
Transfer of Assets
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Open Ears (1181896) was registered as a new CIO Charity on 6 February 2019
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Open Ears(284487) transferred its charity status to this new CIO charity (1181896)during 2019.
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On 21 September 2019 Open Ears (284487) transferred its assets and liabilities to Open Ears (1181896), the newly created CIO charity.
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On 18 November 2019, Open Ears (284487) was transferred to and merged with Open Ears (1181896)
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This merger was registered on 15 January 2020.
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Open Ears (284487) has been removed from the Register of Charities.
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This merger is now listed in the Register of Mergers maintained by the Charity Commission