2025-08-31-accounts

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS) Charity number 1188583 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2025

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS) CONTENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 Page Legal and Administration Inlcrtmatlon Trustees Annual Report 2-6 Indèp8nd8nt Examinoffs Report Slatement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet Notes to Ihe A¢wunts 10-14

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS) LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 Registration Numbor. 1188583 Trust608 J MaOin Chalr S Le￿Ich (resigned 0810412025) A Howell (resigned 1010212025) S Foggo A Rogers C Carter Charfty Offl¢•$: Bradbury House Wit¢hards 8asildon Essex SS16 5BP Banker8: Uoyds Bank 9 Town Square Baslldon Es$ax. SS14 1DU Indopondent Examlnèr8: Community360 Winslels Hou88 High Street Colchest8r C01 1UG

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS) TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 From 1st So mber 2024 to 31st Au ust 2025 This is a legal requirement as Blind and Sight Impaired Society (BASIS) is a Registered Charity in England or Wales. Aong ￿1th our a¢¢ounts, Ihe report tells people: about our charitys work where our money comes from how we've spent our money In the past year By we must also report how have carried out our chartvs purposes for the public benefit. This hèlps people, Including funders and beneficiaries. to understand why our charfty doès what it does. Governance The charity is governed In accordance with its constitution registergd on 17th March 2020. Summa of the r ose of the char To promote the welfare of, and to Improve the Independence and the quallty of lrfe, for all thosè vtho have a visual impainnent, and thelr famllies and carers. A¢tivitl•s rArrlod out thls Eyo Clinic Liaison: Sarah-Jane Piper. our Eye Clinic Liaison Offfcer. has continued to support the Low Wision dinic at Orsott ho$pllal. She Is currenty seelng an average of 60 peoplo gach week there, both patients and professionals. This means we are delivering th8 SUPPOrt needed at the earliesl posslble point in someone's sight loss joumey particularly at 8 time when wait times for rehabilitation semces are long. We have faced some ¢hallengos du8 to the NHS Integratgd Care Board taking the decision to fund an RNIB ECLO to ¢over the Mid and South Essex Trust. However we believe that hamng our ECLO at Orsett is a Mtal part of our rgferral pathway and therefore we are working well ak)ngsido each other and hoping to continue there. Befrlendlng: There are ￿rrentlY 165 people benefitting from our befrlending scheme. 49 of whkh were newly referred to us this year. We have 31 volunteers who have been fully trained and are dedicated to offerfng a multitude of a¢tiMties Indudlng o)mpanionshlp, slghtsd guldlng on everyday tssks, telephone befriending and shopping trips. Telephone befriending has continued on a larger scale this year due to a growng need and Increas8d18v8ls of loneliness and isolation. Over 150 ¢alls are made each week. Homo Vlsfts for Infomiatlon, advlco and guldance and emotlonal support: W8 vislted 273 people in thelr hornes to provid8 infomiatlon on assistive equlpment, available beneffts, 8UPPOrt gTOUPS. soclal activities and low visual aids. Our Sensory Praciitioner, Sally Dunster has worked tirelessly to support all of these people and we have had wonderful feedback on the positive impact her visits have.we supported over 900 people ￿th infomiation and guidance, covering all aspects of living vAth s￿ht103$.

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS) TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 Awaron•$s raising talks: Staff and Volunteers of BASIS have dellvered talk$, to a rango of local community groups and attended places such as Basildon Hospital's stroke department to raise awareness of our services as VMII as representing visualty impaired people at Disability and Inclusivity forums and local coun￿1 meeting5 to raise awaran8ss of what it is lik8 to live wth sight loss. Soclal group8: We have continued thè running of our social groups this year and added iwo new ones in Thurrock ￿lch we hope ha8 made a drffÈ￿n￿ In reathing more isolated people in the area. These groups have been well attended by 117 people, and speclal thanks go to our volunteers wttti(MJt whom we would not be able to offer these sessions. Web$lts and Social Media: Details of BASIS. seNices can be found on our website www.basissouthessex.or .uk which is fully accessible with the most up to date infomiation. Our Facebook and X channels regularfy feature posts wth inforMat￿n on upcoming actlvllies and artides of interest to the vi8uaUy impaired. Essex Vlslon: Essex Vision is the strategic partnershlp formed of BASIS, Essex Sight, Support 4 Sight and SoLrthend In sight. It was created to champion the implementstion of a Vi$l¢)n Strategy in Essex and has ev0￿ed to V￿rk a$ a fomal partnership frem which to )Ilaborate on funding bids and joint working. Chlldron's Ser¥lces: Thank$ to an element of the National Lottery Communlty Funding. we have masslvely grown our reach and offer of 8eNices for ¢hlldren and young pgople. We have worked 14 new families this year who have attended 3 activty sessions at the resource centre and a trip to Bar1e￿and5 fa￿. The parents have all reported th6 benefits of meeting wth other familios have similar lived experiences aniJ the ¢hildTrn enjoyed coming together for accessible play and learning. Braillolossons: Our Braille tutor June. has delrvered 107 Braille lessons this year to 7 people, all who have completed Grade 1 and well on the way to Grade 2. This is a skill that is not being taught to adutts anywhere else In the County, so we are proud to offer these lessons whlch have a lrfelong Impact. Public beneflt The Trustees conflmi that they have urKlerstood the guidance from the Charities Commission regardlng public benefit and that 811 de¢ision$ taken this y8ar relating to who can benefit from the charitys purposes and how, were made in accordance. Contrlbullons b volunteers We have largely been vary fortunate to hav8 retained our volunteer base wmh notsbl contributions from the small team that have made over 3.500 telephone calls lo those most isolated visually impaired people. Special mention to Stephen Foggo for his contribution to the running of Craft group and seated yoga. Thanks to Joyce Ta￿or for running our Canvey Group so successfulty. to Kayleigh Rogers, Kyla Skingle, Sarah Clark, Jason Reeves, Natasha Lawrence, Tery Murley, Mary Wince and Pauline Dotton for th8ir support wth social groups and Io 811 tt)08e providing befriending.

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS) TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 Fundln BASIS has continued to work within our commissioned contract wth Essex County Coundl to delNer Information. advice and guidance and home visit assessments to the visually impaired. In addltlon to th1$ V￿ ralsed money largety through successful blds to trusts and foundatlons includlng Essex Community Foundation,The National Lottery Award$ for Al fund and The Postcode Pla¢es Twst. We also receivèd donations through th8 generosity of our members. Chalrfs Re It has been a tlme of growth for BASIS and l am delighted to r8POrt on a successful year for our service ddivery and the posibve impact we have had within the Vl communlty. The board of Trustees has seen some changes wth the resignations of Ann Howell and Samantha Le￿ch who we would like to thank for the years of $8rvice they gave to BASIS. We have falxd some challenges in recruiting new Trustees this year but we conlinue to promote the opportunities and are hopeful of strengthening the board agaln very soon. Thls has been the second year of delNering Information Advice and Guidance and home sits under the Essex County Council Sensory contract. There is much change ahead for the Council due to devolution plans ￿thIch have created some uncertainty around the Continuation of the contract but we are consistently meeting our targets and have been reassured that the fvnding will L¥)ntinue beyond 2026. Through this contrad, we have been able to help reduce th8 pressure on the rehabilitation teams, shortening wait times for things like long cane training. The fundraising climale has been particularly challenging this year. With our current National Lottery funding coming to an end in April 2027, we have been working to diversify our income and strengthen our position. Our chlldren's services have gone from strength to strength this year and have seen 14 new families loln us for accesslblg actNitses and outiWS. I would Ilke to thank our staff. trustee3 and volunteers for thelr Lyjntlnued hard work thls year. Also thanks go to all that have donated to the charity whlch has Meant we have been able to continue providing the vital $eNlces our dlents rely on. Myself and my team pledge to work hard in the ¢oming year to ensure that tha visually impaired peopl6 of South Essex feel supported. June Maylin Chair

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS) TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 CEO'S Ro ort l am proud to report on some significanl achlevements thi5 year. We have continued with our delivery of the sensory contract for Essex County Counal in partnership wth Essex Sigm and Support for Sight wtih some fantastic outcomas. We have helped to redesign the pathway to ensure that people are receiving timely SnteNentions thich are making a po$itsve impact on wail times for rehabilitation. All of this has been largety thanks to the staff team at BASIS vtho I would Ilk8 to personally thank for their th￿Ie$S dedication. Sally has worked tirelessly. delivering over 230 home visits to Msually impaired people this year and received nothing but wonderful feedback on the difference she is making to peopl in th8.communty. Our resource centre has conlinued lo be at tha heart of our organisation with over 65 people Msiting for information and demonstration of assistive equipment. They have been Welcomed and supported by our Centre Coordinator. Jo Willis and June MaOin who have both continued to provide training in assistive technology and d8mon5trations of equipment such as magnifiers and lighting. While thi$ financial year has ended well with at least 18 months of funding secured from the local aLrthoTity and the National Lollery. the fund raising climate 15 Still very challenging for small charities like BASIS. We are very fortunate to havè had the experience and support of our finan￿ administrator Kim Barden throughout to manage our funding streams that we have to piece togeth8r to ensure the $moolh rUnn￿g and suslainability of BASIS. Many of you know SaTah-Jan& Piper who is our eye clinic liaison off￿er and volunteer coordinator. Sarah-Jane has supported over 600 people in the eye dini¢ setting Ihis year as well as overseeing th6 befriending project which has 146 people engaged currently. Her relationship wilh the patients and staff at Orsett hospital is a vital link belween us and thè NHS so 5peaal thanks go to her for her dedication to the patients. Enomious thanks go to our team of volunteers ￿0 support the running of our so¢ial groups and our Befriending project. Your contributions are what make our $eNicos possible and make $u¢h a drflerence to the paople y¢)u support. Our prioriti8s for the coming year are a ￿ntinuatiOn of this yearfs work and will inciude: Deliverlng a first rate service to wsualty Impaired people Ma our local authority contract. Strengthening our partnership working v￿thin Ess8x Vision Campaigning for an improved sight loss pathvrdy and reduced walt tlmes for rehabilitation Development of our ¢hildren and young people's support

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS) TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 Our semces are also made possible by tho support from other organisations and special thanks go to: Essex Sight, Support 4 Slght. Southend In Sight, He8rfng Help Essex, Essex Cares Ltd. Visionary. BBWCVS. Essex Community Found8tion, Basildon, Billericay 8nd Wlckford Talking Newspaper. The National Lottery Cornmunty Fund, Rayleigh Town Council. Essex County Council, The Reading Rooms, Rayleigh Baptlst Chur¢h, RAVS, CAVS. Communty Agents, Canvey Royal British Legion, Jack Evans Court and to all those indiwduals that have donatsd 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 2025

I report on the accounts of Blind and Sight Impaired Society (BASIS) for the year ended 31st August 2025 which are set out on pages 8 to 14.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The Charity’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 accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,

• To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and

• To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner’s Statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes considerations of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures 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.

Independent examiner’s statement

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 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 the 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 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.

David Courtier FMAAT AATQB for and on behalf of:

Community360 Winsley’s House, High Street, Colchester, Essex Date 18/12/2025

7

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIEfY (BASIS) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTivmES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 Unr••trlctsd R•strlGtsd Funds Fund• 2025 2025 Totsl Funds 2025 Tot*1 Fun incoming r•source8 Donations and legaclas Income from charftaNe a(IMtI8S Fundralglng Inoxne 30,080 11.047 434 30.080 187,886 17,966 157240 10.529 1.373 176,839 Totsl hmmlng rnsourc•s 41121 176.839 219.960 187,108 Charltable acffvltle8 C06t of garmung fund8 20.449 161 177.922 198.371 161 179.621 3.929 20.810 177,W22 198,532 ' 183,550 N•t I￿on￿0x￿7$•j 22.S11 <1.083) 21.428 Gain from dispo881 of assets A• at 15•pl•mbor 2024 115.402 30A81 145.883 142,325 at 31 August 2025 137,913 167 29.398 ￿11 145.983 The notss on pago 10. 14 flvm W of th959 financlal statgmgnts.

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIEfY (BASIS) BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2025 T•nglblo tsod •45%•1s 8.158 10.552 Cash at bank and In hand Prepayménts 159.628 135.802 69 134871 159,692 Curr•nt Uabllftl•s Creditors: Due vththin ona yoar Total Gurr•nt l1ablll￿¥ 540 540 N•t ¢urr•nt 159.152 135.331 N•t a8sel8 107.311 145,883 Unre¥trfGteAI fund8 13 13 137.913 29.398 167.311 115.402 30.481 144883 Total lund• Th688 account# have been approved by the Trustees on and sign8d on their b8h81P. Stgned: Ilknt)e J Maylin, C￿r

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIEfY (BASIS) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 1. Accounting Policio# Basls of the preparntion of th• accounts These accounts have been prepared under the histori¢al cost convention with Items belng racognisad at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated irs the relevant note to these accounts. The financial $tatem¢nts have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charftl8s'. Statement on Recommanded praGt1￿ appliGable to charities preparing their actsjunts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicablé in the UK and Republic of Ireland {FRS 102) leffgctive 1 January 2019)- IChariti8s SORP {FRS 102)). tha Flnancial R6porting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 102) and the Companles Act 2006. Cash Flow Tha financial statements do not include a cash flow siatement b6cau$8 th8 charity. as a Small reporting entty. is 8xempt from the requirement lo prepare such a Statement under Financial Rewrting Standard 1 "Cash flow statements.. Value added tax Value added tax is not recoverable by the ¢harity. and as such is included in th8 Statement of FinanGlai Actfvltles. Tangiblg fixed assots for use by tho Association and dgpwaciation Tangibl8 fixed assets for use by the Association are statgd at ¢ost1gss dgpreaation. Deprgciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets. less their e81imated resldual value. over their exp8ct8d useful liv8s on the following basis: Office & Kitchen Equlpment Sp￿la1 Equipment Crttlcal a￿?￿ntIng 8sthnatos and Judg•monts In the application of the chall￿$ ac¢ounting poliaes, the Trusle8s are required to make Judg8mants, estimates and assumptions about the carying amount of ass¢l$ and liabilities that are not r8adity apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on hlstorical 8xperience and oth8r f8Ctor8 that are considered to be relevant Actual results may differ from thes& estimates. The estimal8s and underf￿ng assumptions are rgvigwgd on an ongolng basls. Revlslons to accounting estimates are rewgnised in tho perlod In whlth th8 6slimate is revised wh8r8 tha revision affects only that p8rlod, or In the period of th? revision and fvture pgdods where Ihg revlslon affects both current and fij￿re periods. Thero ara no critical aC￿Unting estimatos or judgemgnts in the financlal statemonts. 10

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 2. Donations and legacles Unr•strithd RostAct•d 2025 2025 Total 2025 Tolal 2024 Donatlon8 10,080 10,080 16.966 Coronaviws Retgntion Stheme Sundry Grants 20.000 20.000 1,0(KJ 30.080 30,080 17,966 Inc¢xne from charltsblo actlvltles Unrgstrlctgd R8strlct•d 2025 2025 Total 2025 Total 2024 Grants Received.. Goods and servic88 176,839 176.839 11,047 187,886 147,183 10,057 157,240 11,047 11,047 176,839 In¢omo from Fundralsing Aclivitigs Unrnstriclod Rostrfct•d 2025 2025 Total 2025 Totsl 2024 Fundraising Income 434 434 10,529 11

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (contlnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 Olrect Charliable Exp•ndllur• Unrnstrictsd R•slrietsd 2025 2025 Total 2025 Totsl 2024 Wages and salaries Pensions Coach hlre Training expense$ Travel expenses Telephone & communicaoon Printing. postsg& and stationery Refroshments Goods Bought Miscellaneous Vehlcle costs Voluntggr costs Accomodatlon Miscellaneous Equipment Rent Insurance Accountancy Projed costs Depreciation 7.317 517 126,413 5.736 133,730 6,253 122.119 9,107 2.428 2,014 2,474 2,033 1,473 254 4,850 5,892 2,670 624 6,647 2,855 624 6.742 2,855 95 515 515 10.821 9,590 1.471 830 8.836 2.195 2,421 315 $40 8.233 2,394 198.371 10,821 1,017 8,574 1.471 830 8.836 2.195 2.418 315 5.835 4,302 4.022 1.249 540 4.671 3,689 179.821 8.233 1,721 177.922 673 20.449 6. C￿1 of g•ngratlng funds Unr•strlctsd Rgstrlcted 2025 2025 Total 2025 Total 2024 Fundraising costs 161 161 3.929 3.929 7. Debtors 202$ 2024 Prepayments 69 64 . Crodlto 2025 2024 Accruals Deferred Income 540 540 540 12

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (contlnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 9. Tangibl• fix•d assots Offic• & Restrl¢ted Restrlcted Speclal Kltchgn Vehlclgs Equlpmgnt Equlpm•nt Equlpmont Tolal Cost At 1 September 2024 Additions Disposal At 31 August 2025 D•prociati¢Jn At 1 September 2024 Charge for the y8ar Al 31 August2025 10,495 10.335 32,325 29,860 83,015 10.495 10.335 32,325 29,860 83,015 6.068 1,107 7,175 7.149 614 30.137 485 29,109 188 72.463 2,394 74,857 7,763 30,622 29.297 N•t book values At 31 August 2025 3,320 2.572 1,703 8,158 At 31 August 2024 4,427 3,186 2,188 751 10,552 1￿ Staff Gosts Staff costs wgr& 8$ follows: 2025 2024 Wages and nabonal insurance Pensions 133,730 6,253 139,983 122.119 9.107 131,226 Tho av8rago waekly number of emph)ye68 durfng the year was: K•y managemgnt ￿￿80n￿•1 For 2025, one member of staff was pald as key manag8ment personnel. They received less than £60,000 per 8nnum. 11. Trustees rnrnuneratlon Thè trustees receNed remuneration for travel gxpenses only. incurrad Whi￿ undertaklng thelr rol8 of trustees. 12. R•lal•d party transactions No person connected wilh th8 trustees has received or Is due to receivg ary remuneration for thè year diredy or indirocty from the chariws funds. 13

BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED SOCIETY (BASIS) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 13. Movemonl In funds Asat Incomlng Expèndèd 0110912024 rosources r•sour￿* 3110812025 Restrictgd funds: Social Service Fund Big Lottery Fund Visionary Grant AFA Independent Age CAFRF Clothworkor FoundatK>n Essex Community Foundation ECL Covid Fund Vinci Foundation UK RTCG CSFCT ECCIAG ECCASS TES BLF BCOF 23 769 419 {61 {7091 {1051 {14.3791 11261 11141 1862} {9,874) 1220) {1,107) 1331) 1117) (37,204) (68,782) 1446) (42,3491 (1,1921 1177.922) 60 314 4,221 18.600 126 455 2,000 9.883 1.110 7.209 341 1.138 9.518 890 6.102 519 9,509 850 117 {1.308) 771 71 7,645 1.192 30,482 37,142 68.266 375 42,097 {1,370) 255 7.393 176,839 29,398 Unroslri¢t•d Funds 115.402 43,121 (20,610) 137,913 Total Fund8 145.884 219.960 198.532 167.310 14. Analysls of net assots bolween funds Unrestrlctod Re8tr1ctsd Funds Funds 2025 2025 Totsl Funds 2025 Totsl Funds 2024 Tanglb16 fixed as$ots Current assets Current Ilablllti88 2,266 135.647 5,892 24.046 (5401 29.398 8.158 159,692 1540) 167.311 10,552 135,871 {540) 145,883 137.913 14