Beyond Sight Loss Annual Report of the Chair to
- Members and the Charity Commission 2022 2023.
This is the 1st Annual Report of the current Chair of Beyond Sight Los, covering the year 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023.
Beyond Sight Loss (BSL) Role
Year on year BSL focuses on reducing isolation to all its members. As Chair my role is to ensure the up keep of BSLs efficiency and effectiveness when engaging with our internal and external stakeholders. Throughout the year BsL has continued to champion their aims and objectives, they have done this by keeping all stakeholders at the forefront of the business.
An inspiring and challenging year
The new found optimistic energy throughout BSL since the completion of being recognised as a charity continues to grow and inspire members and trustees. Although it has been extremely inspiring, it is fair to say it has been a very challenging year. One main challenge was to deal with the discontinuation of London vision. We now have a working relationship with Pocklington trust, who have assisted us with our zoom sessions, which will be reviewed in 2025. Throughout the year if members had any concerns they were contacted using their preferred method of communication. BSL work with Blind Aid and Vision Ability, which is a welcoming asset for our
Registered Charity Number 1194143. Registered Office c/o REAL, Jack Dash House 2 Lawn House Close, Docklands E14 9YQ Bank Account Beyond Sight Loss Barclays Bank Sort Code 20-45-45 Account No 00046078
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members. Many of our members have benefited from Blind Aids home visits, and Vision Abilities assistance with accessing benefits which otherwise could have been missed.
Participating in society socially, economically and politically
We are apart of society and believe by encouraging social, economical and or political engagement either face to face or on Zoom with others on a frequent occasion can increase the metal health and wellbeing of members. These engagements can only work to enhance and promote our members quality of daily life. This is why our activities and events covered a wide range of topics for our members to actively engage with their ever so welcomed and useful contributions.
At the members meetings all contributions are treated as equal, BSL did not hesitate to engage either face to face or on Zoom with the members on the many different topics raised, we continue to exercise the democratic philosophy, and will continue to strive to create conditions for social change. By creating favourable conditions for a number of social activities and events, and understanding the importance to create a collective and ever so positive voice against the many different daily obstacles faced by the visionally impaired. The inevitable progression to tackle the daily obstacles faced would be to become part of the advisory board of ORIEL at Moorfields eye hospital. Where possible BSL has continued to increase self worth through encouraging our members to be vocal with their current needs ensuring self dependence. I strongly believe by becoming part of the advisory board of ORIEL BSL has taken a positive step forward by becoming part of the solution.
Registered Charity Number 1194143. Registered Office c/o REAL, Jack Dash House 2 Lawn House Close, Docklands E14 9YQ Bank Account Beyond Sight Loss Barclays Bank Sort Code 20-45-45 Account No 00046078
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Trustees and Members
Throughout the year our Trustees have met on many occasions face to face or on Zoom to discuss the many different potential activities and events raised at the members meetings. These discussions covered the feasibility, suitability and the practicality of the many different potential activities and events our members wish to experience. In addition our members continue to give their welcoming feedback, which is shared with the Trustees at the management meetings. All feedback in due course is acted upon. From the feedback it was clear that some of our members felt there was a need for a splinter group to form and air their views and experiences as a visionally impaired Black and Asian minority living in Britain. This group is called ‘eyebelieve’, they produce a monthly podcast covering various topics from religion, dining out to shopping. Eyebelieve is not exclusive to Tower Hamlets, at present they have connected with other blind and or partially sighted Black and Asians throughout Britain.
Invites to Organisations
As well as the many different external activities and events held, BSL has invited many different organisations to give talks either face to face or on Zoom. These organisations explain who they are and how their organisation caters for the blind and visually impaired person. Feedback received shows our members have appreciated and benefited from these talks, which have covered advise on the latest updates on the availability of innovative equipment and services designed where possible to promote self-reliance, giving our members a positive outlook. These experiences were welcomed since they are designed to aid and assist the blind and visually impaired person to become independent with the recognition of self worth..
Registered Charity Number 1194143. Registered Office c/o REAL, Jack Dash House 2 Lawn House Close, Docklands E14 9YQ Bank Account Beyond Sight Loss Barclays Bank Sort Code 20-45-45 Account No 00046078
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Projects
The outcome of projects from the funds raised from Compass was ever so positive. We were placed in a financial position which enabled us to arrange extra outings for our members. In addition there was a period when we didn’t have to charge our members, plus our members enjoyed a further period of receiving reduced rates to events and activities. The outcome of the project called “Re-start” which was intended to recruit new volunteers, was successful. Through the successes of this project we were able to recruit new volunteers. Our current and new volunteers were incentivised with vouchers covering their expenses.
Financial Year
During this financial year BSL has Continued to strive in its excellence, we can now focus on the up coming financial year. BSLs continued focus is on providing excellence for all members and volunteers means we are ready to propel ourselves forward and maintain our strong position for the road ahead.
Closing Statement
BSL has continued to create a safe space for our members enabling them to engage with our regular and annual events. The informal feedback forms from our members have positively heightened BSLs enthusiasm to continue to strive for excellence. We now have a working relationship with Pocklington Trust, Blind Aid, Vision Ability, and we are part of the advisory board ORIEL Moorfields eye hospital.
Registered Charity Number 1194143. Registered Office c/o REAL, Jack Dash House 2 Lawn House Close, Docklands E14 9YQ Bank Account Beyond Sight Loss Barclays Bank Sort Code 20-45-45 Account No 00046078
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Throughout the year with the assistance of Pocklington Trust, the visiting speaker programme continued on Zoom and face to face, members were able to engaged using their preferred method of communication. From the feedback it was clear that some of our members felt there was a need for a splinter group called Eye-believe, to form and air their views and experiences as a visionally impaired Black and Asian minority living in Britain. BSL was able to utilise funding received from Compass and by providing projects such as re-start enabling BSL to make further investments in members and volunteers.
Once again the Management, Trustees and Volunteers have really performed above expectations over the last 12 months. I am exceptionally proud of our Management, Trustees and Volunteers in the way they delivered services to our members. This strong performance is a benchmark which has given BSL a remarkable platform to build upon for the year ahead.
Darren Meade MSc BA(Hons)
BSL Chair (on behalf of the trustees of Beyond Sight Loss April 2024)
Registered Charity Number 1194143.
Registered Office c/o REAL, Jack Dash House 2 Lawn House Close, Docklands E14 9YQ Bank Account Beyond Sight Loss Barclays Bank Sort Code 20-45-45 Account No 00046078
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Beyond Sight Loss
Financial Report - 1 April 2022 - 31 March 2023
| During the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023:- | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bank Balance as at 1 April 2022 | = | 21,729.56 |
| Petty cash Balance as at 1 April 2022 |
= | 54.46 |
| INCOME | ||
| Donations\Grants (PC/B) |
= | 985.00 |
| Activities (collected) (PC/B) | = | 2,046.58 |
| Meetings (collected) (PC/B) | = | 762.00 |
| TOTAL INCOME | = | 3,793.58 |
| During the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 expenditure:- | ||
| Volunteer costs (PC/B) | = | 691.02 |
| Volunteer Vouchers (PC/B) | = | 1,085.00 |
| Admin | = | 3,721.00 |
| Visionary | = | 27.00 |
| Activities (PC/B) | = | 5,197.23 |
| Meetings | = | 524.50 |
| Website (PC/B) | = | 181.56 |
Registered Charity Number 1194143.
Registered Office c/o REAL, Jack Dash House 2 Lawn House Close, Docklands E14 9YQ Bank Account Beyond Sight Loss Barclays Bank Sort Code 20-45-45 Account No 00046078
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| Podcasting (PC) | = | 12.00 |
|---|---|---|
| Stamps/stationary/key (PC/B) | = | 76.83 |
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE | = | 11,516.14 |
| Giving a year end balance money in bank | = |
13,495.01 |
| Giving a year end balance money in petty cash = | 566.45 | |
| OVERALL TOTAL | = |
14,061.46 |
Darren Meade MSc BA(Hons)
BSL Chair (on behalf of the trustees of Beyond Sight Loss April 2024)
Registered Charity Number 1194143. Registered Office c/o REAL, Jack Dash House 2 Lawn House Close, Docklands E14 9YQ Bank Account Beyond Sight Loss Barclays Bank Sort Code 20-45-45 Account No 00046078
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