Ripon Disability Forum
Annual Report
13[th] October 2025
Registered Charity Number: 1192414
Annual Report 2024–2025
1. Introduction
Preparing the annual report presents a recurring challenge, as we report on the financial year while already part-way into the following year by the time of the AGM. Where relevant, this report clarifies when activities occurred.
Although attendance at meetings has been low, this is largely due to members’ health conditions. To support wider participation, all meetings continue to offer a link via Zoom. More informal members meetings have shown an increased attendance and these will be built on over the next 12 months.
Our online presence continues to expand, with 855 social media followers from the disability and wider local community.
2. Outreach and Communications
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A distribution of leaflets was undertaken, including to local GP practices.
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Our new website—funded through a Ripon City Council grant—was created during the reporting year and launched in January. We continue to add information to increase awareness.
3. Partnership Working
Despite our limited capacity, we have been able to prioritise activity while remaining available to support local hubs, including:
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Boroughbridge Community Care
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Masham Community Office
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Nidderdale Plus
A positive example of this collaboration is the engagement with Masham Community Office, which encouraged local businesses to include accessibility information in the Community and Business Directory.
We once again participated in Ripon Sights and Sounds, focusing particularly on the Mapping Project while providing general information about the Forum.
4. Member Engagement and Activities
Historically, monthly meetings followed a formal agenda. Recognising that this format did not appeal to everyone, we trialled a new approach:
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Monthly meetings retained, but now with a mix of social activities, single-topic sessions, and quarterly business meetings.
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A social media survey guided us in identifying member priorities.
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Topic sessions have included presentations from the William Merritt Centre and a session on Mental Wellbeing.
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Social activities have included visits to the New Inn, the Walled Garden, and trying the accessible route from Hell Wath to Fountains Abbey.
5. Regional and Strategic Involvement
As long-standing members of the North Yorkshire Disability Forum, we continue to contribute to wider discussions and have played a significant role in the development of:
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Accessible North Yorkshire
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Accessible Transport initiatives
We regularly log accessibility issues and raise them with the relevant authorities—many being highway-related. Capacity challenges within these services remain, but work is progressing on improvements at the lower end of Harrogate Road and on the path and bus stop at the Walled Garden.
Progress can be slow, but persistence pays off. After years of campaigning, Ripon now has a Changing Places facility at the Bus Station. Challenges remain around access at the official opening and communication of the entry code, and we will continue advocating for improvements.
6. Key Projects
Accessible North Yorkshire & Mapping Project
These remain major areas of focus, underpinning our commitment to inclusive environments.
Accessible Housing Standards
We have worked closely with a housing developer and the Council to promote appropriate accessibility standards in new housing.
Additional Partnerships
We value collaborative work with:
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Ripon Cathedral
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National Trust
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Ripon Museums
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Ripon Festivals
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Disability Action Yorkshire
7. Funding and Acknowledgements
Our thanks go to the organisations whose financial support enables our work:
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North Yorkshire Council
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Ripon City Council
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Two Ridings Community Fund
We also acknowledge the contributions from personnel across:
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NYCC Health and Adult Services
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Public Health
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Highways Services
8. Appreciation of Trustees
Finally, we record our sincere appreciation for the dedication and hard work of all Trustees, whose commitment has made the achievements in this report possible.
| RIPON DISABILITY FORUM | RIPON DISABILITY FORUM | RIPON DISABILITY FORUM | RIPON DISABILITY FORUM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1192414 | ||||
| BALANCE SHEET | ||||
| FUNDS BROUGHT FORWARD 1STAPRIL 2024 |
||||
| £ | INCOME 2024/2025 £ |
EXPENDITURE 2024/2025 £ |
FUNDS HELD 1STAPRIL 2025 £ |
|
| CAF BANK GOLD ACCOUNT |
565.94 | 13.54 | 0 | 579.48 |
| CAF BANK CURRENT ACCOUNT |
2172.44 | 10807.81 | 9103.54 | 3201.71 |
| SUB TOTALS | 2738.38 | 10821.35 | 9778.54 | 3781.19 |
| NOTES | ||||
| Independent unqualifed audit carried out by | Signature: | Date: | ||
| Signed on behalf of trustees: | Signature: | Date: | ||
| Notes: General NYC expenditure: £5038.54 Ripon City Council Grant Expenditure: £1800 2 Ridings Community Grant Expenditure: £2940 Carried forward funds of £3781.19 includes funds for project costs from 2024-2025 deferred until receipt of 2024-2025 grant. These include: Gold Account Balance, retained as reserve funds: £579.48 RDF Project Fund: £1543.28 Relaunch of Take A Seat: £500. Launch of Accessible Ripon project: £500 Renewed Publicity materials: £250 Total: £3372.76 Available funds as of 1stApril 2025 for 2025-2026: £408.43 |
| RIPON DISABILITY FORUM | RIPON DISABILITY FORUM | RIPON DISABILITY FORUM | RIPON DISABILITY FORUM | RIPON DISABILITY FORUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS | ||||
| FUNDS BROUGHT FORWARD 1stAPRIL 2024 |
£ | INCOME 2024-2025 | EXPENDITURE 2024-2025 | FUNDS HELD 1STAPRIL 2025 |
| NYC GRANT | -4813.54 | 9000 | 5028.54 | -842.08 |
| RDF PROJECTS | 1543.28 | 0 | 0 | 1543.28 |
| 2 RIDINGS COMMUNITY GRANT |
2940.00 | 0 | 2940.00 | 0 |
| RCC PARTNERSHIP FUNDING |
0 | 1800.00 | 1800.00 | 0 |
| SUB TOTALS | -330.26 | 10800.00 | 9778.54 | 701.20 |
| RIPON DISABILITY FORUM | RIPON DISABILITY FORUM | RIPON DISABILITY FORUM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD 1STAPRIL 2024 – 31STMARCH 2025 | ||||
| RECEIPTS | 2024-2025 £ |
PAYMENTS | 2023-2024 £ |
2024-2025 £ |
| NYC GRANT 2023-2024 & 2025-2025 |
9000 | COMMUNICATIONS, SUBSCRIPTIONS |
585.50 | 465.02 |
| RCC GRANT | 1800 | OFFICE SUPPLIES | 51.80 | 30.01 |
| 2 RIDINGS COMMUNITY | 0.00 | TRAVEL & EXPENSES | 242.80 | 323.61 |
| PROJECT FUND | 0.00 | INSURANCE | 361.52 | 409.50 |
| BANK INTEREST | 7.81 | TRAINING | 1440.00 | 92.00 |
| REFUND | 0.00 | ROOM HIRE | 747.76 | 977.25 |
| EMPLOYMENT(HADCA) | 1751.63 | 2681.15 | ||
| BANK CHARGES | 60.75 | 60.00 | ||
| WEBSITE(2 RIDINGS) | 0.00 | 2940 | ||
| PROJECT FUND | 0 | 0 | ||
| DIGITAL MAP(RCC GRANT) | 0 | 1800 | ||
| SUB TOTALS | 10807.81 | 5241.76 | 9778.54 | |
| NOTES | ADDITIONAL LARGE INCOME |
2023-2024 NYC INCOME WAS NOT RECEIVED UNTIL APRIL 2024. |
4000.00 | |
| UNSPENT RESTRICTED FUNDS |
RDF PROJECT. HISTORICAL DONATION AMOUNT REMAINING. |
1543.28 | ||
| SIGNATURE: | DATE: |