31/03/2022 Page 1 of 2 Braillists Foundation Annual Report ## Braillists Foundation CIO ## Annual Report for the Period 01/04/2022 to 31/03/2023 ## Trustees The following people served as Trustees during the financial period: - Dave Williams (Chair) - Megan Hastings (née Paul) (Secretary) - Elaine Cheong (Treasurer from 11/11/2022) - Ed Rogers - Ilka Staeglin - Ben Mustill-Rose (to 22/01/2023) - Stuart Lawler (from 06/01/2023) ## Staff and Contractors The role of General Manager was the only designated paid role during the financial period. This was filled on a self-employment basis, with the General Manager responsible for his own tax, national insurance, holiday and sick pay. In addition, the Foundation procured the services of a freelance text transcriber and two freelance braille transcribers for which remuneration was arranged in line with industry best practice. The Foundation also procured the services of a freelance logistics executive during the previous financial period, a final invoice from whom was paid at the start of this period. ## Income and Expenditure The Foundation's income was obtained entirely through grant funding. All expenditure was made against grant funding. ## Decision-Making and Supervision The Trustees met 8 times during the financial period, with meetings lasting an hour on average. No meetings were declared inquorate and all business was ratified in meetings, although discussions took place by email outside meetings from time to time. Staff and volunteers met on a weekly basis, except where holiday or conflicts with significant events prevented this, and there was usually at least one Trustee present at all such meetings. Management of contractors was delegated to the General Manager, with Trustee supervision as appropriate. ## Activities and Achievements The following activities and achievements occurred during the financial period: - Establishing and delivering a free “Braille for Beginners On-Demand” course - Collaborating with Sight and Sound Technology Ltd to present the UK's first World Braille Day conference, Six Dots to Success - Helping to deliver three Hable Challenges in collaboration with Hable and Sight and Sound Technology Ltd - Supporting Bristol Braille Technology CIC's “Canute for Computer Science” project The Braillists Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, no. 1187244 31/03/2022 Page 2 of 2 Braillists Foundation Annual Report - Holding a local face-to-face Braillists group meeting in Bristol - Expanding the braille Book Club into four breakout rooms to allow braillists to practice their reading based on their ability - Procuring text and braille transcripts for all Braillists recordings, including Masterclasses, special events and the Braillecast podcast - Producing an SD card containing all audio and text content for distribution at exhibitions and by post to people who do not have access to the internet - Delivering a free “Braille Improvers” drop-in service in Q1, to introduce users of grade 1 braille to grade 2 - Continuing to deliver free Masterclasses to improve competency amongst braille users, with recordings available afterwards - Continuing to deliver a free “Braille Bar” drop-in service - Continuing to support the Braillists email forum for braille users to exchange advice and support, alongside dedicated groups for beneficiaries of “Braille for Beginners On-Demand” and Book Club - Continuing to publish the Braillecast podcast - Continuing to provide personalised and personable email support - Continuing to offer face-to-face “Braille and Beer” social gatherings The Chairman was honoured to have received a Point of Light award from the Prime Minister in recognition of his services to braille through the Braillists Foundation, which he dedicated to all of the Trustees, staff and volunteers who make the Braillists Foundation possible. The reach of the Braillists Foundation is comprised predominantly of blind and partially sighted people, but also includes teachers and other professionals supporting braille users. It can be summarised at the end of this financial period as follows: |Medium|Reach This Year|Reach Last Year| |---|---|---| |Newsletter|1596 subscribers|1272 subscribers| |Braillecast|c.616 weeklydownloads|c.410 weeklydownloads| |Masterclasses|582 registrants|417 registrants| |Braille for Beginners|123 registrants|137 registrants| |Braille Bar|c.30 attendees|c.30 attendees| |Book Club|c.25 attendees|c.20 attendees| |Facebook|376 likes/420 followers|359 likes| |Twitter|862 followers|636 followers| ## Future Plans In 2023-24, the Braillists plans to build on the work undertaken in 2022-23. 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