2025-04-06-accounts - UK Veterans Hearing Foundation

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UK VETERANS HEARING FOUNDATION (UKVHF) REPORT

CRN-1188611 - 18.03.2020

Head Office: 6 New Buildings Hinckley LE10 1HW

- April 2024 April 2025

Charity Board:

Chairman - Mr Paul Bennett

Founder- Mrs Samantha Bennett (Founder has stepped down, but is still actively supporting the charity)

Mr. Paul Bennett and Mrs. Samantha Bennett, the founders of the charity and the successful business owners of Hear4U & Healthscreen Ltd (BHHC), not only contribute their professional knowledge but also support the Foundation by offering office space, utilities, IT services, and marketing assistance. Additionally, they actively participate in our fundraising efforts.

Trustees:

Mrs Tyler Woolman-Trustee
Mr Steve Birdsall-Trustee
Mr Andy Kittsen- Trustee
Mr Nick Mercer-Trustee (Stepping down in September 2025)

Mr. Mercer will be stepping down as a Trustee in September 2025. He will remain involved with the charity as a Trustee Emeritus. We extend our sincere thanks to Nick for his dedicated service and longstanding commitment.

Mrs Elin Tattersall has unfortunately suffered a stroke and is currently not acting as a Trustee. Her future involvement with the charity remains uncertain, and we send her our best wishes for recovery.

Three of our trustees, including our chairman, have a unique bond as they are all ex-soldiers

who served together in the same sub-unit. With diverse post-military backgrounds, they bring valuable knowledge and experience to the board. In an effort to promote diversity, we have successfully added members with non-military backgrounds and female representation.

The board holds quarterly meetings to discuss, review, and plan actions, as well as to celebrate achievements.

In 2025-2026, the UKVHF will actively be looking for more Trustees to join our board with a range of skill sets to participate in the growth of the charity.

Chief Executve:

Mrs Chloe Knott

Chloe has run the charity since 2020, demonstrating remarkable passion and determination in her position, increasingly using her initiative whilst still receiving continuous support from the chairman, team and trustees; and from Autumn 2022 an external fundraising consultant.

Chloe's responsibilities encompass a wide range of tasks, from basic administration to representing the charity to donors and managing grant applications, oversees the day-today running of the charity. She has invested significant effort in launching and operating our online shop also.

“It’s been a challenging time for the charity, particularly given the limited support available for this specific need-it’s disheartening. As we enter our fifth year, we remain

determined to move forward and continue striving to secure the substantial funding

needed to support all the veterans still waiting,” says Chloe Knott.

From November 2024- August 2025” Chloe went on Maternity Leave

In addition, two part-time staff members have been working closely with Chloe, contributing their efforts to advance our charitable goals.

The beginning of the UKVHF Charity

The UK Veterans Hearing Foundation (UKVHF) originated as a not-for-profit community interest company known as the UK Veterans Hearing Help. The organisation previously provided support to over 500 veterans. Our foundation stands out for its innovative approach, being the only charity dedicated to fulfilling the specific needs we address. This distinction is particularly remarkable given the high demand for our services.

The need for our services became even more apparent when the Royal British Legion Hearing Fund opened in 2016, resulting in a surge of applications for hearing aid funding. Unfortunately, that fund closed in 2019, leaving many veterans without expected assistance. As a result, they have turned to us in desperate need of hearing support.

We have been devoted to providing them with top-quality hearing assessments, equipment, and support services. In collaboration with tinnitus specialists, we aim to improve the quality of life for veterans as they transition into civilian life post-service. Our efforts extend to addressing issues related to hearing damage, such as isolation, loneliness, mental wellbeing, and the maintenance of healthy relationships. We recognise the importance of these aspects for veterans, whether during retirement, for the well-being of their families, or to access employment and compete with individuals without hearing disabilities.

- Supportng Veterans in Accessing High Quality Hearing Equipment and

Clinical Care

Supporting veterans to get funding for appropriate hearing equipment and clinical

treatments remains the top priority for our Foundation.

Financial Support:
Year 1: £98,361.00
Year 2: £66,904.00
Year 3: £88,960.00
Year 4: £76,583.00
Year 5: £69,598.00

Total: £400,406

2025- Financial Year:

Our dedicated Foundation Manager has successfully continued to raised funds to sustain our operations. The majority of these funds have been allocated to serving our patients on the waiting list. Consequently, we have been able to provide hearing equipment and essential clinical support to veterans. During Chloe’s maternity leave, we have continued to prioritise sourcing grant funding throughout 2024/25. As Chloe plays a vital role in the charity, particularly in fundraising, her absence during maternity leave is understandably reflected in the end-of-year accounts. However, despite

challenges, including staff absence, we successfully secured 18 grants during the 2024– 2025 financial year and we continue consolidating new relationships.

Sustainable Equipment Practices:

Through our close commercial relationship with equipment manufacturers, we have established a pre-loved hearing pathway in 2023. This innovative approach allows us to refurbish, reprogram, and reuse used equipment for our waiting veteran patients. This new pathway has enabled our charity to support more veterans this year than in previous years, twice the numbers in fact! This pathway has continued to be successful, and as a result, the number of our beneficiaries is steadily increasing.

Advocatng for Mental Health Support for Deaf Veterans

At our foundation, we hold a deep conviction in providing services that are currently

unavailable through the NHS. We have honed our expertise in guiding our patients towards additional sources of assistance for various challenges, including:

Tinnitus
Isolation
Mental health issues (including the amplification of PTSD due to hearing-induced

isolation)

Furthermore, we are aware of the employment implications of hearing loss and have

successfully aided numerous veterans in regaining or maintaining employment. These consequences stemming from impaired hearing are significant concerns for us, and we strive to address them, as they appear to receive limited attention from other military charities.

Overview of Year 5 -April 2024-April 2025

The charity contunies to work to and with a 5-year strategy that considers the strengths and weaknesses of the organisation to foster continuous growth.
Ongoing efforts are being made to conduct updated and relevant research on hearing loss for veterans. At the beggining of 2024 we launched our very own survey to collect data to form our own reasearch to support our charitable aims and objectives.
The charity has made fundraising improvements in this past year, from outdoor market stalls to coffee mornings, supermarket collections and we have provisions for fundraising events throughout 2024 and upcoming future events.
With the support of our Fundraising Consultant we have been successful in securing grants to support the numerous veterans in our waiting system, as well as to further our charitable aims, research, and core costs. Focusing on targeted research and acquiring regular or larger donations the UKVHF have raised over £50,000 in grants. We provide comprehensive reports on grant outcomes, including end-of-grant fund reports that are submitted to donors, showcasing the impact achieved through each grant. This approach has led to repeat grants. We continue to apply for grants.
We have been actively raising our profile within the local community to garner support and donations from local charitable groups and funds.
To better serve our existing patients on the waiting list, we have analysed the profiles in our database. This analysis enables us to gain a deeper understanding of the distribution of our patient cohort based on factors such as location, service, regiment or branch, employment group, age, type of hearing injury, whether they use NHS equipment, and whether they have claimed compensation under the various Armed Forces

Compensation Schemes. This allows us to target donations specific to the veteran’s home location and/or profession or trade.

We continue to highlight where NHS’ provision has fallen short and advise veterans on

what the NHS should be providing for them.

Online Shop

The online shop has maintained steady performance despite challenging conditions throughout 2024. We have secured funding for the fourth consecutive year since the

shop’s launch; however, the current funding remains insufficient to fully support our operations.

The UKVHF has been delighted to welcome new volunteers who have contributed to the running of the online shop throughout 2024. These volunteers have taken on
responsibilities such as contacting suppliers, establishing partnerships, and

maintaining an adequate stock inventory to support increased sales.

Throughout 2024 we have made updates to our website, including new hosting, updates, and plugins to enhance its performance. These improvements ensure a better user experience for visitors to our online shop.
Moving forward, we are setting realistic targets and making informed decisions for the shop’s operation to guide our efforts and support continued growth.

Achievements

Since 2020, the UK Veterans Hearing Foundation has provided support and funding to over 100 veterans, assisting them in accessing vital hearing services.
We have successfully applied for grants for which we are eligible, and successfully received several awards, enabling us to further our mission and expand our reach.
Our efforts have yielded positive results in improving the mental health of veterans

who have received our support.

We have been fortunate to receive generous donations of top-of-the-range hearing

equipment and free services from manufacturers, enhancing our ability to provide the best possible care to our beneficiaries. The substantial increase in hearing aid donations in 2024-2025 has had a profoundly positive impact, significantly improving the quality of life for individuals with hearing impairments by providing greater access to essential auditory assistance.

The online charity shop has generated a modest income to support the Foundation’s activities and initiatives.
We have continued to make significant strides in raising awareness about the

prevalence of hearing injuries among veterans and shedding light on the plight of our over 1,000 waiting patients who were left unfunded when the Royal British Legion Hearing Fund closed in 2019.

Reserves Policy and Sustainability

The Foundation benefits from the generous support of our chairman, who provides in-kind

assistance by covering the majority of our office-related expenses, utilities, and business support. This support greatly contributes to our sustainability as an organisation.

Our trustees are actively working towards maintaining a reserve fund equivalent to

approximately six months of running costs. This reserve fund is essential to cover wages and necessary direct debits required for the smooth functioning of the Foundation.

Looking ahead, grants from Trusts and Foundations will have to play a significant role in the UKVHF. Currently, we are on a steady path, and such grants represent 90% of our annual income for the period 2024-2025.

Our Challenge- Contnues

Our greatest challenge is that the veterans hearing loss community is large, whereas NHS provision is patchy. The creation of the RBL Hearing fund exposed a backlog of patients being inadequately supported or not supported at all and unfortunately the Fund closed having used up all funds without meeting all the demand and leaving thousands of veterans expecting help. The main military charities which receive 85% of military charity donations each year, realised even they cannot support hearing cases and have to rely on the NHS.

They regard our services as ‘private healthcare,’ which it is COBSEO policy not to fund lest it trigger claims for various medical needs such as hips, knees, cataracts, and others, and they would be overwhelmed by the demand.

To treat our existing waiting veterans alone would require £8 million, while the estimated 300,000 hearing-impaired veterans (according to the 2014 RBL Lost Voices report) might a staggering £1,050 million to treat.

The RBL’s Poppy Appeal is the largest fundraiser in the military charity sector, generating only £70-90 million annually. So, the sector is unable to fund the substantial demand to fully support this area.

Yet while the ‘big 5’ military charities refuse to treat deafness as an urgent issue, the NHS lacks the capacity and manpower to adequately address it. As a result, the Veterans Hearing Foundation remains the sole charity dedicated to addressing the needs of military service-induced hearing loss, placing us under increased scrutiny and highlighting the importance of our work, where the NHS falls short. We highlight the needs and where we are able to receive funding, we fill the gaps in equipment and clinical provision.

Outcome of Financial Year

The financial year has shown a decrease in Year 5 compared to Year 4, and the reasons behind this rise have been thoroughly explained within this report.

While we are eager to resume accepting patients onto our database, it is essential that we have a realistic prospect of securing funding to provide them with the necessary help. We are committed to ensuring that our resources are utilised effectively to support the waiting patients who rely on us.

Throughout 2024, we have made significant progress, driven by a strengthened board and our dedicated fundraising team. We are confident that the various initiatives we have

undertaken will not only raise our profile but also generate funds to assist our waiting patients. Unfortunately, we lack confidence that the necessary resources and training will be allocated to the NHS to address this urgent need swiftly.

As we strive to secure additional resources, it is disheartening to acknowledge that over 1,000 patients from 2019 continue to wait in silence, now entering their sixth year of waiting.

2024-2025 Aims for the UKVHF

The UK Veterans Hearing Foundation has developed a comprehensive five-year strategy 2023-2027 with the aim of becoming the leading voice for veterans' hearing loss. This

strategy is based on the valuable data and insights we have gathered over the past three

years.

Our primary focus is to continue seeking grants to support the veterans currently awaiting

assistance within our system, as well as pursuing our other charitable objectives and

advancing new research initiatives. We are committed to producing relevant and contemporary research on veterans' hearing loss, which will enable us to create an updated report similar to the impactful "Lost Voices" publication. This report will showcase the connections between hearing loss, tinnitus, and mental health, providing crucial facts and statistics specific to veterans and their hearing-related challenges. Utilising this report, we will strengthen our grant applications and inspire increased donations.

To enhance our visibility and reach, we have devised strategies to expand our profile within both local communities and on a national scale. This involves establishing partnerships with other charities and actively networking within the business community. We are also engaging in dialogue with defense suppliers, advocating for their support and financial contribution to our cause.

In addition, we are committed to increasing our presence on various marketing platforms and exploring opportunities to collaborate with fundraising consultants and volunteers. Their expertise and dedication will play a pivotal role in the growth of our online shop and the overall success of the Foundation.

Our ultimate aspiration is to be recognised by COBSEO as the authoritative voice on military service-related hearing issues. As a charity, we strive to be the beacon of support for veterans facing hearing loss, serving as their primary resource in times of need.

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES I Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl mémbers of UK Veterans Hearing Foundation On accounts for the year ended 61h April 2025 Charity no {if any) I 1188611 Set out on pages I report to the Iruslees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity I'the Trust } for the year ended 0610412025. Responsibilities and As the charity Iruslees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 1.the Acl'l. 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 14515llbl of the Act. Independent I have completed my exatninalion. I confirm that no material matters have examinerfs statement come lo my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect,. the accounting records were nol kept in accordan with section 130 of the 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 conlenl of accounts sel out in the Charities {AceoLJnls and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a mattèr 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 lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached Signed- Date- 0210612025 Name: Lstephen Foster ACA Relevant professional qualificationlsl or body {if any): Address: S11 The Alkins Building, Lower Bond Street, Hinckley, Leicesler. LE10 1QU IER

Section B Dis¢losure Only complete if the examiner needs lo highlight mallers of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGIANO ANO WALES UK Veterans H8atlng Foundatio 1188611 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the perfod from 6th ApTiI 2024 5th April 2025 Section A Receipts and pa ments Unrestricted funds Restricted lund5 Endowment funds Total funds Last year lotht nv8rest lo Ihe rtearest £ to the e•StE toth¢ nearesl E to the noar¢s¢ £ A1 Recel ts Grnnis Donabons 58,954 4,2Ql ,9S4 4201 6,810 6,773 Sh Sub total (Gmss incoiTJe for AR) 69,$98 69,598 76.183 A2 Asset and Investment sales, 15•e table). Sub total 69,598 69,598 76,583 A3Pa ments Advertising Co51of $3le5 Rent SubcoThlraciois DDn?lion siaff Entertainment Post & $t4lionary Sundry WA9¢s Accountan Computer SOfAre Insurdn Bank Charge¥ 4,075 11,4S8 4.800 13,290 4,075 11,458 4.800 13.200 4,915 28,846 16.700 3,240 35 46.750 1.417 120 35 46,758 1,21JO 194 616 600 628 400 194 142 142 Sub total 05.669 0S,669 96,7SG A4 AsSOt and investment urehases, See table) Sub totsl 85,659 8S,659 96,755 Net ofreceipts/(paymentsJ 16,080 16.060 20.172 A5 Transfers be*t funds AS Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 59.611 43,551 59.611 43,551 79,784 59.611 CCXX Rl accounts ISSI 0210612025

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrostricted funds to nearesi £ Rostricted funds to nearesi £ Endowment fund$ to nearè8t£ Categlorio Dotas,,! B1 cash funds Currènt accounl 43.OD9 Paypal account 542 H4U Total cash funds 43,551 lagree b#8$rth ro¢ews and yentS ¢¢Ount1511 Unrestricted funds to nearest E Restricted funds Endowment lundg T)otail B2 Other monetary assets Fund lo vlhlch s$el belon urronl valu• t4onal Cts3¢ loplionall 83 Investment assets Fund to which asSOt Oelon DLtail:- Cost lopt5onall Current value B4 Assets retslned for tho charlty's own use Dotall¢ Fund to Whirh reiato Amount due onal When d B5 Liabllltles Signed by one or hvo Iru$iee5 on behalf of all the Iruslees Signature Print Name Date of roval ¢IG/zS CCXX R2 accounts ISSI 0210612025