BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY
(BASIS)
Charity number 1188583
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2024
COMMUNITY

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS)
CONTENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Page
Legal and Administration Information
Trustees Annual Report
2*
Independent Examine¢s Report
Statement of Financial Activities
Balance Sheet
Notes to the Accounts
10-14

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS)
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Registration Number:
1188583
Trustees
J Maylin
S Leftwich
A Howell
S Foggo
C Eaton (resigned)
L Pratt (resigned)
A Rogers
C Carter (appointed)
Chair
Charlty Offl¢es:
Bradbury House
Witchards
Basildon
Essex
SS16 5BP
Bankers:
Lloyds Bank
9 Town Square
Basildon
Essex, SS14 1DU
Independent Examinors:
Community360
Winsley's House
High Street
Colchester
C011UG

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS)
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Governance
The charity is governed in accordan￿ V￿th its constitution registered on 17th March 2020.
Summa
of the
ose of the chari
To promote the welfare of. and to improve the Independen￿ and the qualty of life, for all those
tho have a visual impaimient, and their families and carers.
Ivitle
rrle
thls
ear
Eye Cllnlc Llalson: Sarah-Jane Piper, our Eye Clinic Liaison Officer, has continued to support
the Low Vision clinic at Orsett hospital. She is currently seeing an average of 15 patients each
week there. This means we are delivering the support needed at the earliest possible point in
someone's sight loss joumey particularly at a time when wait times for rehabilitation services
are long. We have faced some challenges due to the NHS Integrated Care Board taking the
decision to fund an RNIB ECLO to cover the Mid and South Essex Trust. However we believe
that having our ECLO at Orsett is a vital part of our referral pathway and therefore we are
working well alongside each other and hoping to conts'nue there.
Befrlendlng: There are currendy 146 people benefitting from our befri8nding scheme. We have
25 volunteers who have been fully trained and are dedicated to offering a multitude of activities
including companionship, sighted guiding on everyday tasks, telephone befriending and
shopping trips. Telephone befriending has continued on a larger scale this year due to a
growing need and increased levels of loneliness and isolation. Over 150 calls are made each
Home Vlslts for Inforniatlon. advlce and guldance and omotlonal support: We visited 305
people in their homes to provide information on assistive equipment, available benefits, support
groups, social actiwties and low visual aids. We supported over 900 people wtih information
and guidance, Govering all aspects of living with sight loss.
Awareness raislng talks: Staff and Volunteers of BASIS have delivered talks, to a range of
local communty groups and attended places such as Basildon Hospital's stroke department to
raise awareness of our serVi￿S as VRII as representing visually impaired people at Disability
and Inclusivity forums and local council meetings to raise awarene&8 of what it is like to live
with sight loss.
Soclal groups: We have continued the running of our social groups this year and added two
new ones in Thurrock which we hope has made a drfference in reaching more isolated people
in the area. These groups have been VRII attended by 117 people. and special thanks go to our
volunteers without whom we would not be able to offer these sessions.
Webslte and Social Media: Details of BASIS, $eM￿S can be found on our website
.ba
issouthessex.or
.uk which is fulty accessib￿ with the most up to date information. Our
Facebook and X channels regularly feature posts vitth inf0m￿tIOn on upcoming activities and
articles of interest to the visualty impaired.

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS)
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Essex Vlsion: Essex Vision is the strategic partnership fomed of BASIS, Essex Sight,
Support 4 Sight and Southend In sight. It was created to champion the implementation of
a Vision Strategy in E&sex and has evolved to work as a formal partnership from which to
collaborate on funding bids and joint working.
Children's Services: Thanks to an element of the National Lottery Communty Funding,
have continued working to develop our reach to supporting children and young people
in South Essex. We have connected with the teachers of visually impaired children locally
and met wth the families of visually impaired children through various community
outreach events.
Publlc ben
fl
The Trustees confimi that they have understood the guidance from the Charities
Commission regarding public benefrt and that all decisions taken this year relating to who
can benefit from the charity's purposes and how, were made in accordan￿.
Contributl
nsb
lunt
ers
We have largely been very fortunate to have retained our volunteer base with notable
contributions from the small team that have made over 3,000 telephone calls to those most
isolated visually impaired people. Also. mention must go to Steve Moxley and Stephen
Foggo who have continued lo run our keep rrt group in person and via Zoom, providing
vital lifeline to the members, enabling them to stay active and healthy.
Thanks to Kee Cheung for his ongoing support with promoting our activities, to JOY￿ Taylor
for running our Canvey Group so successful￿, to Kayleigh Rogers, Kyla Skingle, Sarah
Clark, Jason Reeves, Natasha Lavffence. Terry Murley. Mary Vince and June Maylin for
their support with social groups and to all those providing befriending. Special recognition
this year goes to Emily Shapland for her ongoing support of the clients she volunteers with
through our befriending scheme, not even pausing after the birlh of her new babyl
We raised money this year largely through succtssful bids lo trusts and foundations
including Essex Community Foundation and The National Lottery Reaching Communities
fund. We also re￿iVed donations through the generosty of our members.

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS)
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Chalr's Re
It's been a time of progression for BASIS and l am delighted to report on another very
successful year.
The board of Trustees has been strengthened by the addrtion of Clrff Carter who has
brought with him knowledge and experience from his professional life in the motor trade and
time spent in other Trustee roles.
At last year's AGM I was able to announce that BASIS had been awarded the Essex County
Council contract to provide sensory seNices to the visually impaired across the county. Our
staff and volunteers have spent much of this year developing and delivering these SeNi￿S
which have so far had an extremely positive impact on the referral pathway for visually
impaired people. By commissioning BASIS to provKle home visit assessments and to offer
infomation, admce and guidance, we have been able to help reduce the pressure on the
rehabilitation teams, shortening wait times for things like long cane training.
We are consistently meeting our targets under the new contract and look forward to this
relationship continuing in the coming years.
Our application for further funding from the National Lottery to continue the funding of our
befriending project, was successful and in April Y￿ receNed the first payment of a £129,667
grant over three years. This means we can continue to support some of the m08t vulnerabbe
people in our community whilst helping to redu￿ loneliness and isolation.
I woubj like to thank our staff, trustees and volunteers for their continued hard work and
resilience this year. Also thanks go to all that have donated to the charity which has meant
we have been able to continue providing the vital seNices our clients rely on. Myself and my
team pledge to work hard in the coming year to ensure that the visually impaired people of
South Essex feel supported.
June Maylin
Chair

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS)
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
CEO'S R
l am proud to report on some significant achievements this year. We have embarked on our
delivery of the sensory contract for Essex County Council in partnership with Essex Sight
and Support for Sight with some fantastic outcomes already. It has been a very successful
year for funding and a proud achievement for me personally when I was able to secure
£129,000 from the National Lottery fund over three years to continue our Befriending and
work with young people.
All of this has been largely thanks to the staff team al BASIS who I would like to personally
thank in this year's report.
As part of the new contrad, Sally Dunster has joined us in the role of Specialist sensory
practitioner. Sally has been an enomious asset to the team. delivering over 300 home visits
to visually impaired people in her first year and receiving nothing but wonderful feedback on
the difference She is making to people in the community.
Our resource ￿ntre has continued to be at the heart of our organisation with over 45 people
visiting for infomiation and demonstration of assistive equipment. They have been
welcomed and supported by our Centre Coordinator. Jo Willis, who has gathered so much
knowledge and experience in her first full year with us and continues to ensure the smooth
running of the charty.
While this financial year has ended well with at ￿ast 3 years of funding secured from the
local authority and the National Lottery, the fund raising climate is still very Challenging for
small charities like BASIS. We are very fortunate to have had the experien￿ and support of
our finan￿ admlnistrator Kim Barden throughout to manage the ever growing patchwork of
funding streams that we have to piece together to ensure the smooth running and
sustainabilty of BASIS.
Many of you know SaratFJane Piper who is our eye clinic liaison offI￿r and volunteer
coordinator. Sarah-Jane has supported over 600 people in the eye clinic setting this year as
well as overseeing the befriending project which has 146 people engaged currently. Her
relationship with the palients and staff at Orsett hospital is a vital link betsveen us and the
NHS so special thanks go to her for adapting so well to re￿nt changes al Orsett hospital
and finding new ways of working tcMJether for the benefrt of the patients.
Enormous thanks go to our team of volunteers who support the running of our social groups
and our Befriending project. Your contributions are what make our services possible and
make such a differen￿ to the people you support.
Our priorities for the coming year will include:
DeSivering a first rate Servi￿ to visually impaired people via our local authority contract.
Strengthening our partnership working within Essex Vision
Campaigning for an improved sight loss pathway and reduced vrait times for rehabilitation
Development of our Ghildren and young people's support

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS)
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Our services are also made possible by the support from other organisations and special
thanks go to.. Essex Sight, Support 4 Sight. Southend In Sight, Hearing Help Essex, Essex
Cares Ltd, Visionary, BBWCVS, Essex Communty Foundation, Basildon, Billericay and
Wickford Talking Newspaper, The National Lottery Community Fund, Rayleigh Town
Council, Essex County Council. The Reading Rooms, Ray￿Igh Baptist Church, RAVS,
CAVS, Community Agents, Canvey Royal British Legion, Jad( Evans Court and to all those
individuals that have donated or supported us in other ways.
Thank you.
Michelle Thomson
Chief Executive Officer

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS)
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
I report on the accounts of Blind and Sight Impaired Society (BASIS) for the year ended
31st August 2024 which are set out on pages 8 to 14.
Respecllve responslbllities of trustoos and examlnor
The Charty's Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity's
Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144 {2) of the
Charities Act 2011 (The Act) but that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to..
Examine the acwnts under section 145 of th8 Chanties Ad,
To follow the procedures laid dovm in the General Directions given by the Charity
Commissioners (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Ad, and
To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Bas1$ of Indopondont examlneVs Statsment
My examination was carried out in accordance wsih the General Directions given by the
Charity Commissioners. An examination indudes a review of the accounting records kept
by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented wrth those records. It also
includes considerations of any unusual ttems or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking
explanations from you as trustees conceming any such matters. The pr¢)¢8dures
undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and
consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Indopondont examIno￿$ statemont
In the course of my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which
gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect:
the accounting records Y￿re 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 rnmply with the applicable requirements conceming the
fomi and content of the accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and
Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give
true and fairf view whith is not a matter considered as part of an independent
examination.
I have come across no other matters in connection ￿ the examination to vthich attention
should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts
to be reached.
Shelley Rudling FMAAT AATQB for and on tehalt of..
Community360
Winsley's House, High Street, Colchester. Essex
Date
3110112025

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS)
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Unrestrleted Restrlcted
Funds
Funds
2024
2024
Total
Funds
2024
Totsl
Funds
2023
Incomlng rosour¢as
Donations and legacies
Income from charitable activities
Fundraising income
Investment income
17,966
10,057
10,529
1.373
17,966
157,240
10.529
1,373
17,965
109,500
91
4tXI
147,183
Total Incoming rnsources
39.925
147.183
187,108
127,956
Resources •xponded
Charitable activities
Cost of generating funds
26,516
3,629
153,106
300
179,621
3,929
131,208
3,796
Total re8ourcos expended
30.144
153,406
183,550
135,004
Net Incomel{oxp8nsol
9,781
(6,223)
3,558
(7,048)
Gain from disposal of assets
As at 1 Septembor 2023
105,621
36,704
142,325
149,373
As at 31 August 2024
115,402
30,481
14S,883
142,325
The notes on page 10 - 14 fonn part of these financial statements.

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS)
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 AUGUST 2024
Not•
2024
2023
Tanglble fixed a8S8ts
10,552
14,242
Current assets
Cash at bank and in hand
Prepayments
135,802
69
135,871
160,578
996
161,574
Current Liabilitio$
Creditors.. Due within one year
Total current Ilabllltles
540
33,491
33,491
Not currnnt assets
135,331
128,083
Nat assets
145,883
142,325
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Totsl fund$
13
13
115,402
30,481
145,883
105,621
36,704
142,325
These accounts have been approved by the Trustees on and s￿ned on their behalf:
Signed..
Date:
21 loi
2015
J Maylin, Chair

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS)
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
1. Accountlng Pollcles
Basis of the preparation of thè accounts
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention wth ttems being
re¢ognised at Cost or transadion value unless otherbvise stated in the relevant note lo
these accounts.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance wrth Accounting and Reporting
by Charities.. Statement on Recommended Prath'ce applicable to charities preparing their
accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicablè in the UK and
Republic of Ireland {FRS 102) (effective 1 January 20191- (Charities SORP {FRS 102)), the
Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and RepubliG of Ireland (FRS 102) and
the Companies Act 2006.
Cash Flow
The financial statements do not include a cash flow statement berAuse the charity, as a
small reporting entity, is exempt from the requirement to prepare such a statement under
Financial Reporting Standard 1 "Cash flow statements"
Value addèd L
Value added tax is not recoverable by the Charrty, and as such Is included in the Statement
of Financial Activities.
Tanglble flxed assots for use by the Association and deprKiation
Tangible fixed assets for use by the Association are stated at cost less depr8ciation.
Depreciation is provided at rates calculaled lo write off the cost of fixed assels, less thelr
estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following basis..
Officé & Kitchen Equipment
Special Equipment
crftlcal accountlng estlmates and judgèments
In the application of the chartty's accounting policies, the TNStees are reqUI￿d to make
judgements, estimates and assumptions aboLrt the carrying amount of assets and liabilities
that are not readily apparent from other sources. The eslimates and assoaated assumptions
are based on historical experience and other ta¢tors that are Considered to be ￿leVant.
Actual resulis may differ from Ihese estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to
aGcounting estimates are recognised in the period in bvhich the estimate is revised where the
revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the
revision affects both current and future penods.
There are no critical accounting estimates orjudgements in the financial statements.

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS)
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
2. Donations and legacies
Unrestrictod Restricted
2024
2024
Total
2024
Total
2023
Donations
Coronavirus Retention Scheme
Sundry Grants
16,966
16,966
16,465
1.000
1,000
1,500
17,966
17,966
17,965
Income from ¢haritabl• actlvltle$
Unrnstricted Restrictod
2024
2024
Total
2024
Total
2023
Grants Rec8lV8d'.
Goods and services
147,183
147,183
10,057
157,240
103,846
5,653
109,500
10.057
10,057
147,183
4. Income from Fundralslng Actlvltles
Unrestrlcted Rèstrlctsd
2024
2024
Total
2024
Totsl
2023
Fundraising Income
10,529
10,529
91
91
10,529

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS)
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Direct Charitable Expandituro
Unrestrietsd Restricted
2024
2024
Total
2024
Total
2023
Wages and salaries
Pensions
Coach hire
Training expenses
Travel expenses
Telephone
Printing, postage and stationery
Refreshments
Miscellaneous
Vehicle Gosts
Accomodation
Miscellaneous Equipment
Rent
Insurance
Accountancy
Project costs
Depreciation
13,918
1,877
108,201
7,230
2,428
1,515
2,291
2,033
1,470
28
1.940
2.670
5.835
4.108
4,022
1.249
540
4,671
2,875
153,106
122.119
9,107
2,428
2,014
2,474
2,033
1,473
254
10,742
2,670
5,835
4,302
4,022
1,249
540
4,671
3,689
179,621
80,888
4,509
6,408
600
200
1,822
967
192
12,186
3,368
499
182
226
8.802
194
3,637
10,451
927
598
350
4,105
131,208
814
26,516
6. Co81 of generatlng funds
Unrestrlcted Restrlcted
2024
2024
Total
2024
Total
2023
Fundraising costs
3,629
3,629
300
3,929
3,929
3,796
3,796
300
7. Debtors
2024
2023
Prepayments
69
69
996
996
8. Credltors
2024
2023
Accruals
Deferred Income
540
460
33,031
33,491
540

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS)
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
9. Tanglble fixed assets
Office &
Restricted Restricted
Speclal
Kitchen
Vehicles
Equipment Equipment Equipmont
Total
Cost
At 1 September 2023
Additions
Disposal
At 31 August 2024
Depreclation
At 1 September 2023
Charge forthe year
At 31 August 2024
10.495
10,335
32,325
29.860
83.015
10.495
10,335
32,325
29,860
83,015
4.592
1.476
6,068
5,750
1,399
7,149
29,572
28.859
250
68,774
3,689
72,463
30,137
29,109
Not book values
At 31 August 2024
4,427
3,186
2,188
751
10,552
At 31 August 2023
5,903
4,585
2,753
1,001
14,242
10. Staff costs
Staff cosls were as follows..
2024
2023
Wages and national insurance
Pensions
122,119
9,107
131,226
80,888
4,509
85,397
The average weekly number of employees during the year was:
K8y management personnel
For 2024, one member of staff vms paid as key management personnel. They recelved less
than £60,000 per annum.
11. Trustees remunèratlon
The trustees re￿iVed remuneration for travel expenses only, incurred while undertaking their
role of trustees.
12. Related party trdnsactlons
No person connected wth the trustees has receNed or is due to receive any remuneration
for the year directly or indirecily from the charitys funds.

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS)
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
13. Movement in funds
Asat
0110912023
Incomlng
rèsources
Expended
resources
Asat
3110812024
Restricted fund$:
Social Service FurKI
People's Health Trust
Big Lottery Fund
Visionary Grant
AFA
Independent Age
CAFRF
Clothworker Foundation
Essex Community Foundation
ECL Covid Fund
Vinci Foundation UK
RTCG
MLG
CSFCT
ECCIAG
ECCASS
TES
BLF
BCOF
ROSCA
1,512
656
2,764
559
7,700
126
1,111
(2,599)
{6561
(35,0261
(1401
{7,7001
23
33,031
769
419
126
455
2.000
9,883
1,110
7,209
(152)
(862)
(10,059)
(268)
(1,476)
(399)
(1661
{4,8831
(25,7051
(48,380)
11,054)
(12,774)
(8)
(1,100)
{153.4061
2,862
9.292
1,377
8,685
399
10,649
5,000
24.397
49,151
1,125
20.419
1.200
1.100
147.183
117
1,308
771
71
7,645
1,192
36.704
30,482
Unre8tri¢ted Funds
105,621
39,925
(30,144)
115,402
Total Fundg
142,326
187,108
183,550)
145,884
14. Analysls ol net assets between funds Unrestricted Restrlctsd
Funds
Funds
2024
2024
Total
Funds
2024
Total
Funds
2023
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Currenl liabilities
2.939
112.463
7,613
23,408
(540}
30.481
10,552
135,871
(540)
145,883
14,242
161,574
(33,491 }
142,325
115,402