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2024-03-31-accounts

Wakefield & District Society for Deaf People 2023 – 2024 Annual Report

Registered charity number: 1201337

Annual Report for Year Ending March 2024

Vision To enable all persons residing in the Wakefield and District with a hearing impairment to live fulfilling and independent lives through provision of services, to improve wellbeing.

Mission

The Charity’s mission is to continue to review services to ensure they meet the changing needs of deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing people. Aims To promote the general welfare of deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing people and to cooperate with other organisations having similar objects and aims.

1

Trustee Report (2023 – 2024)

Rachel Shenton once said “I always say deafness is a silent disability: you can't see, and it's not life-threatening, so it has to touch your life in some way in order for it to be on your radar.”

This is our ethos in the work we do – to put deafness on everyone’s radar so it is not a silent disability and individuals are equipped with the skills to navigate through life and for others to support all people with hearing loss. We have delivered more work – both internally and externally – than ever in the last 12 months delivering more opportunities for individuals to do BSL Level 1, introducing new projects such as our heritage project and our studio service, applying financial controls to our organisation and looking for other avenues to make an impact.

It has been yet, another busy and challenging year for our small organisation with greater outputs in different areas. We continue to reshape our organisation and in doing so, we are figuring out what our organisation should look like going forward and where we should focus our efforts in continuing to provide support that is relevant to those who need it.

At the same time, we have been more mindful of our finances looking to the future and identifying opportunities where we can make a bigger impact in the community that surround us. This led us to managing a cost of living crisis fund supported by Prosper Wakefield District delivering significant support where it was needed. The cost of living crisis has had an impact on us as an organisation but we finished the year with a record level of income through the application of a fresh financial controls approach.

We started our BSL Level 1 courses at Lightwaves Leisure Centre in January 2024 and we intend to continue with this work going forward because it is part of our ethos in creating an inclusive environment. You don’t just learn BSL on these courses – you learn about deaf culture, deaf awareness and the way deaf people live facing barriers in their everyday lives. We were able to bring the cost of these courses down with funding from Birkdale Trust. We would like to give them huge thanks for their support in this work.

We are very thankful to play a role in the #OurYear2024 initiative working with Wakefield Metropolitan District Council and play our part in contributing towards the history of the deaf community across the Wakefield District.

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We have produced BSL captioned videos in mental health, online safety and in several other areas making information accessible. This was a multi-approach initiative from various funders: Bentley Life Advancing Choices, Magic Little Grants, Age UK Wakefield and Sir George Martin Trust. We thank them for allowing us to do this work. We hope to continue with this work going forward.

Prosper Wakefield District have continued to provide support, both financially and through sound advice with the Prosper Main Grants funding a number of overheads allowing us to invest more into our community. This significant support towards our operations has been huge for us and we hope to explore further opportunities with them to continue making a bigger impact.

As reported in our last financial year, we received just before the year end (March 2023) two grants from St George Martin Trust and Age UK (Wakefield). Our St George Martin Trust grant was used to purchase further equipment for our studio service and the production of some of our accessible videos. Our Age UK (Wakefield) grant was used to purchase some equipment with a focus on improving digital inclusion bridging the digital divide that exists in our society.

Our numbers show that there continues to be a level of demand in our services and how we provide this work is imperative to achieving the person-centred approach we apply to our work.

We have engaged with more organisations in the last 12 months such as SignHealth, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Age UK, Wakefield District Housing and continue to develop new relationships to signpost for the benefit of our small but unique community.

We are playing a much bigger role in how existing services operate seeking new collaborative approaches to how we can redefine access to those services. There are no real answers to how we can tackle this because of the wide variety of needs that needs to be considered but we are making progress in a number of areas.

Much of this work could not have been done without the support of NOVA and the Mental Health Alliance’s support towards the Thinking Differently Consortium. Their funding has really allowed us to reconsider how we operate in the community and in which direction we want to be heading in. We are now clear in what we wish to do going forward and those opportunities will be explored in the forthcoming years ahead. This specific support will come to an end in the next financial year so we must move with an absolute conviction to explore new opportunities.

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Our door remains open for networking and collaboration and we want to work with our community so that access is and never should be an issue for individuals. Through this, we want to build connections with other people, local groups and the wider community.

In reflection, we know that there is so much more we can do to support our community within the Wakefield District and we know we are beginning to make an impact outwith Wakefield through our involvement across West Yorkshire. Our BSL captioned videos is representative of some of this work where there are no barriers to accessing information that people should already have access to and as referred to, we hope to continue with this work subject to funding.

There has never been a time when equality, diversity and inclusion has featured so much in our everyday lives and it is for communities supported by others to influence positive change that will make an impact. We will continue to do this work and whilst obstacles remain in all areas, we commit ourselves to working with others to remove such barriers.

This also marks our first year as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation formally constituted on 14 December 2022 and we have got off to a good start from a financial perspective with a net income of £61,220 offsetting the deficit made in the previous financial year (£43,114). Our focus will be to maintain this financial position in this very difficult third sector landscape where many organisations are feeling the strain due to external circumstances. Our former charity was an unincorporated association (224944) dating back to 3 September 1963 when we first became a charitable organisation.

We end our annual report narrative with these words:

“ Deaf people can do anything hearing people can do except hear ”

I. King Jordan (first Deaf President of Gallaudet University)

The rest of our annual report will highlight our Achievements and Performace for the financial year period ending in March 2024.

4

Achievements and Performance

Key Outputs:

Key Outputs:
2023/2024 2022/2023
247 Referrals 196
103 (120) Assessments 104
225 Support Work 95
190 Equipment Issued 188
319 Non Referral Contacts 239
182 (184) Drop Ins 152
306 General Enquiries 75

----- Start of picture text -----
Key Outputs
350 319
306
300
247
239
250 225
200 196 188 190 182 184
152
150 120
104 103
95
100 75
50
0
Referrals Assessments Support Work Equipment Issued Non Referral Drop Ins General Enquiries
Contacts
2022/2023 2023/2024 Updated after Review
----- End of picture text -----

This is our first year delivering our holistic Community Support Work approach and we have seen numbers increase in all of our core services.

We reported that we did 103 assessments but after a review, it was uncovered to be 120 assessments that took place. We reported we did 182 drop-ins and this was again uncovered to be 184. Our database has gone through a lot of change over the last 12 months and we continue to review it to make sure it reports what we need it to report and this means information will be displaced from time to time.

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Continued Achievements and Performance

Referrals 26%
Assessments 15%
Support Work 136%
Equipment Issued 1%
Non Referral Contacts 33%
Drop Ins 21%
General Enquiries 308%

This is reflective of the support that is required in our community and there continues to be a level of demand for those that need our support. We have seen an increase across all of our key services and we know there is more to be done to address the obstacles that exist within our community. Our personcentred approach to supporting individuals to navigate through their own difficulties means they will return to us time and time again for the support they need.

The vast majority of referrals into our organisation are self-referrals often seeking for additional support, normally around our assessments and our equipment service. We are trying to improve on this work by providing much more effective equipment that meets the needs of those we work with whilst also taking into consideration the circumstances they are in i.e. homelessness, health factors and other general issues.

We received 136 self referrals in this financial year (93 self referrals in 2022/2023) followed by 89 referrals from Wakefield Metropolitan District Council (72 referrals in 2022/2023). The vast majority of our referrals are selfreferrals and from Wakefield Metropolitan District Council – we had a total of 247 referrals in 2023/2024 (193 referrals in 2022/2023).

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Case study (Community Support)

Mrs T became first known to us in January 2023 through a Sensory Impairment Team referral and has received support from us on a regular basis. Mrs T’s life changed when she lost her husband and relied on him with regards to management of the home, in relation to bills & money budgeting. There was a safeguarding investigation pending, regarding possible financial abuse from a family member.

For a period of time, we increased her support work provision and continue to support her through numerous homelife issues. Mrs T also broke her leg and was in assisted living residence. We continued visiting throughout this time.

Mrs T requires ongoing support to read and manage her mail, support to reduce social isolation and to ensure her medication is ordered on time, along with attending appointments and ensuring appropriate communication support is arranged for her. She also required support to apply for benefits that she was entitled to. Mrs T also needed someone to go with her to withdraw cash, due to her confidence levels as she has never done this alone. An assessment was needed to enable Mrs T to continue living in her home independently.

Outcome:

This ongoing work has been provided by our holistic approach, ensuring we undertook an equipment assessment to ensure she was safe and well to live independently at her home as well as providing generic support work required.

We are now working alongside a number of agencies, including a BSL PA Agency who provides further support, we will continue to provide support where necessary.

Mrs T’s outcomes have been varied around her needs and correspondence, support with her quality of life, maintaining her personal dignity, respect, reducing risk and increasing independence.

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Community Support Work Service

We made a decision to start recording the nature of the work we did when delivering support work in the community halfway through the year because we felt that we were not recording this work fully. This will guide us going forward in presenting a more effective picture of the nature of work we deliver across the organisation wherever individuals may be in their lives. This element of work is increasing and is becoming more needed than ever.

These numbers are from October 2023 onwards and we will have a better picture of this work in the next financial year.

----- Start of picture text -----
Community Support Work
60
50
50
40
30 26 25
22
19 18 19
20 15 16 15
12
9 9
10 7 7
4 5 5 4
1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 2 1
0
Advocacy Benefits Communication Support Deaf Reg Form Form Filling Housing Interpretering Services Low Level Support Mail Translation NGT Telephone Calls Travel Pass / Card Utility Video Communication Health Emotional Support Befriending Hobbies Cleaning (Encouraging) Shopping Cooking (Encouraging) Personal Care Safeguarding Medication Clarification Faciltating Communication Appointments (Booking) Appointments (Attending) Budgeting Paying Bills Technology Support Employment
----- End of picture text -----

We are mindful that a number of our service users are in need of extensive support and we provide this in a way that works for them. We record the specific work we do with individuals and all other work is recorded as Low Level Support in a similar way as we do for the delivery of our support work in the community.

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Equipment Service

Our equipment service is a vital part of our Community Support Work Service. We delivered 120 assessments throughout the 2023/2024 year (104 assessments: 2022/2023) issuing 190 pieces of equipment (2022/2023: 188 pieces of equipment). Some of our assessments identified that there was no further support to be provided in the form of ongoing support including equipment.

We can see that from our equipment service, the vast majority of equipment we issue is associated to being alerted to the door and to support being able to hear the TV as well as everyday conversation.

The equipment service aims to improve:

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We pride ourselves on achieving 100% with our targets in relation to our assessments and equipment service which means for:

Priority 1: We should complete assessments within 7 days and issue equipment within 7 days of the assessment being completed. There is usually an element of urgency with Priority 1 referrals.

In 2023/2024, we achieved 90 % of Priority 1 Assessments completed within 7 working days (9 out of 10 assessments) and achieved 100% equipment fitted within 7 working days from a 100% target (10 out 10 issued with equipment).

Priority 2: To complete assessments within 20 working days and issue equipment within 60 days of the assessment being completed. We try to issue equipment on the same day as doing assessments but sometimes this is not always possible.

In 2023/2024, we achieved 96% of Priority 2 Assessments completed within 20 working days (213 out of 221 assessments) and achieved 99% equipment fitted within 60 working days from a 100% target (160 out of 161 issued with equipment).

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Case study (Equipment Service)

Ms S first received equipment in 2013. She is also registered with the Wakefield Council’s Deaf Registration Scheme. She then received some more equipment in 2018 and again in 2023 replacing aging equipment, which was highlighted by a house move. Ms S requested this support via WhatsApp – one of the many ways we can be contacted.

On visiting her and her young family to issue equipment, we recognised the need for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to carry out a safe and well visit to confirm that the home that her family was residing in was safe. We made this referral with Ms S at her home.

Ms S received a Bellman pager and charger, a bed shaker, a baby alarm monitor and a door transmitter from us. We attended the scheduled visit from WYFRS to facilitate communication between the local fire crew and Ms S. This resulted in further equipment being installed so she is alerted in the event of a fire during the night.

We continue to work with Ms S and with other services within Wakefield Council including the Adaptations Team associated to additional equipment that is necessary in the home. Despite several cancellations by Ms S, we continue to provide ongoing support through our Community Support work.

During some of our previous equipment service visits, several issues were raised that needed to be resolved by our support work provision. This has led to the development of the Community Support Work service, which allows a new holistic approach, enabling equipment and support requirements to be resolved during the same visit.

Outcome:

Ms S has now received equipment from us and from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. She is safe and well in her new home with her young family. She continues to receive ongoing support. Her outcomes have varied around her and her family’s needs and our correspondence with her, including increased choice and control, improving quality of life and improving health and wellbeing whilst reducing risk.

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Drop in Service

The Drop in Service is provided to support issues anyone may have. Safeguarding concerns can also be reported at these sessions.

This service is available Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9am – 12pm and on Thursday from 9am - 3pm.

During the year, we supported 184 visitors with 396 tasks through our Drop In Service with tasks (2022/2023 - 152 visitors with 173 tasks).

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Key Outputs - Drop In Service
450
396
400
350
300
250
184
200 173
152
150
100
50
0
2022/2023 2023/2024
Drop Ins Tasks
Drop In Service
120
97
100
80 74
60
35
40 32
29
22 24 23 22
18 17
20 86 135 32 1 2 22 1011 13 22 4 88 142 13 5 1 8 12 6 3 5 21 1 1
0
2023/2024 2022/2023
----- End of picture text -----

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Case study (Drop In)

Ms O frequently visits us with letters that she does not understand. Ms O is not from the UK and arrived in England less than ten years ago so she uses a mixture of BSL and her native Sign Language where she is from.

Ms O came in with a letter referring to her tax credits. We asked her to bring her payslips next time she visited so we could work together to understand her work situation.

On Ms O’s next visit, we contacted the tax credit office to confirm her current work situation and at that point, it was noted that she was no longer meeting the tax credits threshold. She was working 12 hours a week instead of the 16 hours threshold but a lack of accessible information when applying for this meant she did not know that she had to work a minimum number of hours nor inform the tax credits office of her change of circumstances.

At the end of the financial year, Ms O came to us with a letter from the tax credits office about an overpayment and her understanding from this letter was that she was owed money. After some explanation to her, she then realised that it was in fact that she owed HMRC money. She was exceptionally anxious about this overpayment as she wouldn’t be able to afford this and this did upset her.

Outcome:

Ms O has now received an indefinite suspension to her tax credits overpayment and she was extremely grateful for our support.

For Ms O, not only have we maintained her economic wellbeing but we are now trying to improve this by claiming her state pension.

We are now supporting her to claim her state pension as she is eligible for this but it is currently sitting with HMRC as they need to start dialogue with the country she originated from. Ms O applied for this via VRS (Video Relay Service) with our support so she understands the application process for claiming her state pension.

13

2023/2024 Progress

Providing indirect contributions into the new approach Wakefield District Housing to meet the needs of their tenants.

West Yorkshire Voice spoke to deaf members and they discussed a range of issues including access to services and a lack of knowledge around process in relation to booking BSL interpreters. They challenged the Purple Promise initiative based on recent experiences.

Feeding into NHS forums indirectly make sure that the deaf voice is heard.

Contributed to making other organisations more accessible such as Hepworth Gallery where there is now a BSL provision.

Led the initiative to create a ‘Deaf Corner’ page on our website.

Led discussions with Wakefield Council around their social media channels, increasing accessibility using the input of individuals and their feedback.

WMDC have acknowledged there have been inconsistencies in accessibility on their social media channels in the past and confirmed that a new social media strategy is being rolled out to start captioning videos and tag images with ALT text.

14

Other Developments

We have maintained our membership with the Third Sector Framework and we remain as a Tier 1 member and have a close relationship with NOVA Wakefield. The Third Sector Framework is a partnership between NOVA Wakefield, Wakefield Council, Wakefield District Health and Care Partnership and Young Lives Consortium.

We continue to welcome our Over 50s Group on a Thursday afternoon and they gave Wakefield and District Society for Deaf People as a small contribution towards our overheads during the financial year. Our Sports and Social Club continue to run events on a monthly basis.

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We launched our video service with the aim of creating more accessible information in a range of areas of importance – fireworks safety, online safety and mental health. We hope to develop this work further by adding new topics that are of relevance to our everyday lives.

Online Safety

Anxiety and Mental Health

A video commissioned by NOVUS Health

Our videos are promoted on our social media channels and can be accessed via our YouTube channel.

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We continue to deliver deaf awareness sessions across the Wakefield District and continue to work collaboratively with other organisations to provide some insights into working with the community we represent.

A deaf awareness session at

De Lacy Academy, Knottingley with 2 deaf students.

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Going Forward:

When this financial year started, we only had 3 members of staff employed. We now have five members of staff employed at the year end and with the recent grant from National Lottery Community Fund, we will add an additional staff member to our team taking us to six employees. This should reflect our ambitions to grow as an organisation and seek to do more for our community.

We have developed a new business plan to commence from April 2024 for two years and this business plan places a huge emphasis on maintaining the status quo but adding further elements to our work. We expect to be launching a new project for deaf children and young people focussing on bridging the social divide and in this work, we will bring families together. This is the first time we have committed vast amounts of resources to working with our younger community.

This small local based organisation is on a journey of change and it is to be expected that there will be more decisions to be made from a governance perspective as to how we continue to move forward. As reported in the last financial year, sustainability and financial viability is becoming a key strategic factor in the work we do.

Our relationship with NOVA Wakefield around the Thinking Differently Consortium since September 2021 has allowed us to look at several aspects of our work; one being the diversification of income sources. We have started on this work bringing in £82,551 in grants and donations (2022/2023: £19,028). This continues to be our focus and as we move forward, we will be seeking further funding opportunities to consolidate this work.

One of our challenges continues to be around engagement and addressing this issue is not straightforward. There has been a steady decline in our engagement over the last twenty years in line with the wider third sector and we are looking to address this as part of our work in diversifying our income

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Sources. We are looking at moving forward with outreach services at the heart of our work and we will be looking to do this at pace in the coming years. We have seen a rise in referrals in this financial year so it has not impacted the work we have done over the years.

We are now using all social media channels available to us (Facebook, X and Instagram) to publicise our events and share information where possible. We have approximately 1,200 followers across our social media pages.

We continue to work with other organisations for the benefit of our community that we represent and we will continue to advocate for them where possible.

19

Complaints / Compliments

Wakefield and District Society for Deaf People have not received any formal complaints about our services in this financial year.

100% of service user’s feedback was positive. We continue to get a poor response from our feedback forms. We have now moved our feedback forms online and there continues to be an option to complete this by hand.

Our first question is:

Would you recommend our services to your family or friends?

All of our respondents said “I definitely would ”

Further comments from our feedback forms:

“I don’t think they could do better and they are both pleasant”

“First class customer service.”

“Friendly. Lots of knowledge. Patient.”

“They do sign language to help me understand as well as talking to me”

“Very efficient friendly”

“Very good support and information provided”

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Equality & Diversity:

We continue to monitor users of our service and offer a variety of support to meet their needs, e.g. we have provided written information in various formats and engaged translators of different languages when requested, also arranged home visits when access to the deaf society building is difficult.

Policies & Procedures:

All policies & procedures are reviewed annually and are updated where necessary.

Safeguarding:

All officials, staff members and volunteers are DBS checked.

All staff and volunteers working in the support services have undertaken safeguarding children and adults training.

Information & Publicity:

Wakefield and District Society for Deaf People continues to participate in various meetings to raise awareness of the services and support we provide for deaf and hard of hearing people that reside in Wakefield. We continue to publicise in all avenues throughout the year.

We have social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) that regularly informs the deaf community of events and information relevant to this community. We launched a new website in 2022/2023 and have continued to monitor it adding a ‘Deaf Corner’ page as requested by our community to create a central point to access information.

7 South Parade, Wakefield, WF1 1LR

Telephone: 01924 375 958 Mobile: 07760 482 372 Email: enquiries@wakefielddeaf.org.uk Registered Charity Number: 1201337

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Wakefield and District Society for Deaf People Charity number 1201337 Annual Report and Financial Statements for the period 14 December 2022 to 31 March 2024 Wakefield & District Society for Deaf People WYCAS 0￿mY￿1T¥ AC¢QutsTitya

Wakefield and District Society for Deaf People Annual Report and Financial Statements for the period ended 31 March 2024 Conlonts Page Trustees. report 2to3 Examinerfs rewt Statement of financial acbmbes Balance sheet Noles to the accounts 7t0 13 Prepared by West Yorkshlre Communlty Accountancy Service CIO

Wakefield and District Society for Deaf People Trusto05' report for tho period 14 December 2022 to 31 March 2024 Referen¢e and administrntive dotails of the charity. its trust8es and advlsors The trustses duriNJ the fmancial arNI up to and the date the report was aprmed were: Namo P<>sition Dates Rlchafd Jo Chair Appointed 26 September 2022 Marie Vickers App)inted 3 October 2023 Ann Stokes AppOin￿j 3 October 2023 valer￿ Pratt Appoirbted 13 frAarch 2023 Michael Maddon Appointed 14 Decembgr 2022 Frank Wood Appointed 14 December 2022 John Pearson AppK)inlgJ 14 December 2022 Jackie Jackman Apwinted 14 December 2022 ResKJned 14 Decembw 2023 Charity number 1201337 R8g6lered in Engl8ThJ and Wales Registered and principal addr•ss 7 South Parade Wakefield WF1 1LR Line 4 Banknrs The CO￿￿rat￿8 Bank PO Box 250 Skèlmarsd￿￿ WN8 6WT CCLA Fund Managgrs Ltd PO Box 12892 Dunmow Essex CM6 9DL Indopend•nt •xamln•r E J Bevertey FCCA VI￿1 yo￿Shor• C¢)mmunlty A¢¢ountan¢y S•rvke CIO Slriryr House 34 Lupton Street Lggds LS10 2QW Structur•. gOV•man￿ and manageme The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organigalion {CIO) foundalion formed cffl 14 December 2022 and is uTr)vemed by a constitutM)n. This CIO was Ir￿rpOrated by the Irust88s of th• unincryraled tharyty waker￿Id And District Soci8ty for D8af People {charity rvjmbgr 224944} to laka over tha a¢livitTres and the assets and liabilitss of that unincorporatad charity. This transfgr of assets fmm tho unincorporalgj c￿lty to the navAy incorporatad CIO (charity number 12013371 t(KJk place on 1 April 2023. This reconstruction has been accounted for as a merger and thesè accounts show the Te5ults of the new CIO lolbvAng the transfer of assets ry) 1 Awil 2023 forthe ended 31 March 2024. Thg comparalive figures are the re5uM5 of the unirKorF*NabX tharity for th8 yaar andgd 31 March 2023. Method of recrultment and appolntment of trustsos The trustotrs of the charty are appointed by the Intstees at a dutyeonvened m88ting.

Wakefield and District Society for Deaf People Tru5toes' report (continued) for the period 14 December 2022 to 31 March 2024 Objectives and activitie5 The charity's objects The promotion of social indusion among deaf. dèaf blTrid aThJ hard of haaring p8opl& wl)o aro $0(aally excluded from s￿lety. or parts of ￿￿ty. as a result of beiro deaf. daaf bl￿d or hard of haariro and to relieve the needs of those peop￿ induding by bLrt not limited to: raising publ￿ awarerws of the issues affectirwJ deaf. deaf blind and hard of hearing pwle tM)th generalty 8rKI in relation lo their SOCI￿ exclUs￿n= prowdiThJ workshops. forums, a(thcy and general suppN( prowding recreational facilities and OPFKJthniti8S: C￿(perating wth other organisations haviTrJ the same or similar aims. Tho charlVs main activities Wakefield and Distr"cl &Kiety for Deaf Peoplo s￿l811$e$ in kyovwjirs ccrfnmunty SUPFKJrL engagement and equipment for Service users who are deaf, deafened, deafolind ar¥J hard of heariryJ. We also provide other services such as svJn language training and deaf awarer￿. Publi¢ ts¢n￿ stat•m8nt In setting our objectives and pl￿rIng t￿r ￿kn¥l￿e$ twr Trustees have given SerI￿J9 oMsideration to the Charity Commission's general guIdar￿e cffl puEAic LEnefit Achievemonts and pwfonnanc• Pleas8 see our annual re￿rt attathed to these aw)unls. Financiil rnvi•w The nel income for the peri(Kf was £61.220, i1K4ud￿9 net irxx)me of £19,951 on mrestricted funds and n8t ino)me of £41.269 on reslricted funds after transfers. R￿trY•S pdl¢y The charitys free reserves. exduding fixed assets, at th& perirA1 end £99,453. Thg trLÈSt8es have consJered Ihe level of reserves they Vish to Tetain appropriate to the chariws n*ds. Reserves a￿ set at 50% of the total grants awards given or commffted to in the current finan￿al year and shall be mantained at a minimum Jevd sufficiént to cover 3 months opèrating expensès. Reserves are defined as unrestricted funds when freew available to s[￿d on thè crfgantsatM)n's charÉF2blè purposes. Approved bythe boarij of trustses on . .. Signed.. (Twstee)

Wakefield and District Society for Deaf People Independent examinerfs report to the trustees of Wakefield and Dlstrfct Society for Deaf People I report to the charity trustees on my examinakn.on of the ￿%Jnts of the CIO for the period 14 December 2022 to 31 Marth 2024, which are set oul cffl pages 5 to 13. Rasponsibilitses and basis of report As the chaiity trustees tsf the CIO you arè resFThSIb￿ for Ihe preparatKxJ of the acoxsnls in accjjrdance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 I't￿ Acfl. I report in respect of my examinat*)n of the CIIYS accounts as carried out urhleT SèCtK)n 145 of the 2011 Act. In ¢arywng out my examination I have foN(>wwJ all the appli(3ble DiFeclN)n5 given by Charity Commissir)n under saction 145151{bl of thè ACL Independent examinerfs statement I have completed my exam4iation. I confimi that no Material matters have comé to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to beI￿ve that in any material respect-. l accounting records wèrè not kèpt in respect of thÈ charity as required by section 130 ofthe Charib'ès ACL 2 thè aecounts do not accord with those rectstds" or 3 the accounts do not compty with the applicable requirements conceming the fomi and content of accounts sel out in thè Charrties (Accounts ar￿ Reports) RegulatKTrns 2008 other than any requirement that thè accounts give a.tn￿ and fair vieW which is a matter considered as part of #n independent examination. I have no con¢eins and have Goffle ar￿$$ no other rnatters in ￿nneCt¢On wth ihe examination to whTrch attention should bè drawn in this rewrt in ordèr to trnab￿ 3 pioper understanding of the ac£ounts lo be leached. E J Beverley FCCA 2410912024 West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Ser¥ice CIO stnnger House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS102QW

Wakefield and District Society for Deaf People statement of Financial Activities (including summary income and expenditure account) for the period 14 December 2022 to 31 Mar¢h 2024 2024 2024 Unrestrict&J Restricted funds funds 2024 Total funds 2023 Tol81 funds Ineomo from: Grants and donations Deaf and Hard of Hearing suppcyi services Sales and fees Bar income Fundraislng events Deposit account uitsrest othgr Ir￿ome Total incomè 78.325 76.176 82.551 76.176 20,621 295 1,321 19,028 77,076 (21 20.621 979 1.321 2.258 1.000 2,000 103,589 28.721 154.501 183,222 Expendlture on: Salaries. Nl and Payroll c4)sts Insurance Utilit¢es Repair5 and maintenance Cleaning T9￿phO￿ and broadband ststionery and postage Photocopyng and lease IT maintenance Staff and volunteer development BSL Interpreter Fees BSL Translat#)n Fees Project Expendiiure WDSDP Group Expenthture BSL Courses E¥penditu Travèl ExFenses Equipment Bar experKlibJre Accountancy and IE Professional fees D8pr8ciation Total expendlture Net income l {expendltur• 131 70,408 70.408 1,715 2,555 4,266 3.799 2.735 81.714 129 1.188 1.367 2.298 4,140 30.501 1.748 210 110 493 2,051 2.525 3.684 720 549 1.570 931 1.667 1.260 3.112 1.213 549 239 120 931 1.667 1.414 4.163 1.142 2,231 2,155 10,354 627 154 1.051 1.142 21,126 2.231 2.155 10.354 627 503 1.980 923 2,424 146.703 143,1141 2.796 1,798 8,770 19,951 113.232 41,269 122,(N)2 61,220 Fund balan¢0$ brought forward Fund balances ¢arri•d forward 86,461 106.412 30.753 72.022 117.214 178,434 160.328 117,214 141 AJI incoming resources and resoLf¢OS denve continury actsvibes.

Wakefield and District Society for Deaf People Balance sheet as at 31 March 2024 2024 2024 2024 Total 2023 Total Flxed assets Tangible assets Total ass•ts 15) 6.959 6.959 8.757 8.757 6.959 Current assets Stock Debtors and pr6paym8nts Cash at bank and in hand Total currerrt assets 250 2.001 172.784 175.035 8T1 1.642 121.433 123,952 161 2.￿1 71,371 73,372 101.413 101,663 Current liabiltliés: amounts falling due within one y Creditors and ac(¥uals Total current Ilabllltks 2.210 2.210 15,495 15,495 1,350 3.560 P4•t current assets l (liabilities) 99.453 72.022 171.475 108,457 106.412 72,022 178.434 117,214 Funds Unrestricted fuNts G8neral unr8slricted fuTrJs Dgsignatsd funds Unrestricted fuTh Restricted funds Total funds 96.412 10.000 106.412 96.412 10.000 11￿.412 72.022 178.434 76.461 10,000 86.461 30,753 117.214 72,￿22 72,022 106.412 Tha financial statements were apwoved ty Ihe board of trustees on li. G3. 20?4 Signed.. (rwstse)

Wakefield and District Society for Deaf People Notes to the accounts for tho period 14 December 2022 to 31 March 2024 1 x¢ountlng pollcles Basis of accounting Th9Sg accounts have been prepared under the histori￿1 cost convention vnth itams rwnisgd at (x)st or transaction value unless otheTrbise stated in the rekvanl note(sl to these accounts. The financial ststements have been Prepar￿ in accordance Vith the Statement of Rec<Nmmended Practice.. A(xx)unting and ReForting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance wrth the Financial RepK)rtirwJ Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) and ith the Charities Act 2011. Ttr charity constitutes a wtAic b9￿ entity as ty FRS 102. Golng ¢onc8rn The Iruslees are &i5fied that there are m material uncertaintss abwl the charitys abiltyto continue. In¢omlng rosourrns AJI incoming resour￿ are indudwj in the Statement of Financ￿ ActNitses ISOFAI when the ch￿lty bec￿MeS ent￿ed to the reS￿rCes, rf it is more likety trwn not that the tr￿teeS wll receive the resources and the monetary value be measured Vlith sufficient reliatxlty. Grants and donatlons Grants and donations are Mly induded in ￿ SOFA vthen Ihe tharity has unc￿￿lIK￿81 e￿lleMent to the resources. Where grants are rdated to ￿rformar￿ and SFecrfic deliveratjles. fvaTe accounted for as the charfty eams the right lo consideration by its pwf(mance. Expendlture and Ilabllltles Expenditure is recognised on an acen￿l basis as a liabilty is in¢￿1re￿. knabilities are recognwj where it is more likely than not that Ihefe i8 a tegal or constructive obluation commrtb'ng the charity to pay oul the resources and the amount ofthe oblvJat￿n wi b8 rn￿ured vrith reasonaL4e ¢etsinty. Taxatlon As a chartiytht Ofganisation benefrts from rates rdief and 15 generdty exempt from irwme tax and caprtal gall￿ tax but Th)t from VAT. Irr￿0verable VAT 15 irKa￿ded in the ￿51 of those lterr￿ to it reL5. T8ngible Ilxèd assets Tangible fixed assets (￿s"r￿j than £W ar8 capitalwl aThJ induded at cost induding any inudental ax￿nseS of acquisilKJn. Gift￿ assets are sht)wn at th8 V8luè to thè charity on receipL Depreciation is provKlod on au tangible fixed assets at rates calraJLated to ¥fflte off the cost C￿ a straight line basis over their expected useful econ(¥nic INes as follows.. Freehold propety. nil lrnprovements lo fraehdd prop8ty. over 20 yew5 Fixtures arKI fittings.. over 10 ￿ar$ Computer equipment: over 3 years P•nsions The charity op8rat8s a defined C¢￿trIbu1y0n scheme for the tenefft of ils employEes. The u)sts of contributions are recc*Jrbised in the Ihey are payatAe.

Wakefield and District Society for Deaf People Notes to the accounts for the period 14 December 2022 to 31 March 2024 1 Ac¢ounttng pollcies conllnued Fund aeeounting Unrestri¢t8d funds arg avala￿0 for us8 at the discretion of the trustaas Én fUrt￿ranCe of tho ggneral Object￿eS ol the charity. Dèsignated funds are unrestrict&l funds eamiarked by the trustees for part￿[ar purposes. Restricted fvnds are subjected to restric￿ on th￿r expenditure imF4)sed by Ihg donor or through the lemis of an appeal. Further 0x￿anati￿ of tho naturè and fMJryKJSa of fund i% indudl in Ih? rrAès to lh$ a¢oxJnts. Rents under operating kases are Cha￿ on a straight ￿ne basi% over the lease term or to an earfier date rf the lease can tre determined finanual penalty. Stock stock is valL￿d at the lower of c05t and net realissle value.

Wakefield and District Soclety for People Notes to the accounts continued for the period 14 December 2022 to 31 Mar¢h 2024 2 Grants and donatlons 2024 2024 Unr6striGtsd Restrict fvnds 2024 Toia funds 2023 Total funds Birkdale Trust for Hear1￿ Impalrgd Ltsi Charitie5 Foundation Local Giving Ltd Nation￿ Lottery Communty Fu￿1 INLCFI NOVA Prosper Wakefiekj District Wakefield Mel. District Cujncil (WMDC) WG Edwards Charitsble FourKlali Age IUKI Jubilee Sir George Martin Trust Other donalions 3.000 500 500 18,848 37.500 14.265 77.888 2.C(10 18.848 37.5¢ 14.265 12,750 77.076 2.000 800 2,000 1,478 ,104 4,226 158.727 4.226 154.501 3 Staff costs and numbors 2024 2023 Gross S￿9￿&S Sockil security costs Employrnenl alk)wance Pensions 69,263 3,803 13,8031 1,145 70,408 81.714 Th8 average number ol employyes duriryJ the year Vas 4.6. beirKJ an average of 3.1 full time equivalent 12023". 4.3. 3.3 FfEI. There were no employees vAth emoluments above £60,01￿. Dofinod ￿ntrIbutI0Th p8nslon sch8m• 2024 Costs ofthe 5thgmo to tho charity for the ￿ar AJnounl of any contribukn.ons outstanding at th& w 8ThJ 1.145 258

Wakefield and District Society for Deaf People Notes to the accounts continued for the perlod 14 Docombor 2022 to 31 March 2024 4 Restricted lunds Balance Wf Inc￿ning Outgoi￿j Transfets Balance clf Gladys Harilman Fund Jwnmy Balmforth laderly) Fund Sch￿1 FuThJ NOVA- Thinkirvj Differendy Age IUKI WMDC- Support sor￿$ Charities Aid FouThJations Local Gwing Ltd Prosper Wakefield District (1) WG Ethvards Prosper Wakefiekl District (21 WMDC- Our year 2024 Birkdale Trust NLCF WMDC. Communty devdopment 11. 12,884 11,096 12,884 4.766 37.SCKJ 12.836 76.176 74,175 2.001 11.￿ 3.748 7,642 2,000 2,236 1,190 789 18,848 500 72,022 2.875 1.212 2.211 18,848 30.753 154,501 113.232 Fund name Purpose of restrictlon Gladys Hardman Fund To support deaf chiktren's activrbes. Jimmy Bdmforth {EJdety) Furbj To prowde support arKI acimt￿S for elderty deaf Feople. School Fund To support educational activ￿es. NOVA- Thtiing Drfferenty To support capacity and devd0pm￿t of the charty. Age {UKI To fr￿S on dKJital inclus￿n. WMDC - Supwrt To pmwde the Deal and Hard of Hearing Support s￿￿. This fund has bèan lulty sp￿ in the yoar and t1￿ balance relate5 to prepaJTrents ￿rrIed forward to next Jpar. From the Benuey Advanryng Life Chances smdl grants kyogramme. Towards makiro mental heatth accessible. Towards equipment. room hye. ulillies and pr(wty maintena￿e. ToWa￿S equipment. To respond to the changirwj envIr￿ment. Towards th8 Wakèfièkl Deaf Swaty H8rilage Project- a permanent display of the Society$ 102 ypar history and 8rtefacts. Birkdalo Trust To￿[￿S Bribsh Spjn Lan91140 sass￿nS. NLCF Children's and Young Pèrsons fundirYJ towards The Young Deaf WMDC - Communty devdopmgnt T0￿rdS Making Wakofiehl Indusive- to PrO￿de xca$sibl$ gvents by kvoMdirvJ BSL irrterpreters. Charthes Aid FoundatiLMs Local Giving Ltd PrOs￿r Wakefkl District (1) WG Edwards PrOsp￿r Wakefkl Distn"ct12) WMDC- Our sEar 2024 10

Wakefield and District Society for Deaf People Notes to the accounts continued for the period 14 December 2022 to 31 March 2024 5 Tanglbl• a￿ts Freghdd Proptrrty Fixtijres irnprovement arbj Fitbngs Computer Equipment Total Cost At 14 December 2022 Disposals Al 31 March 2024 1.207 99,139 46,076 5,405 40,671 4.662 389 4.273 151.084 5,794 145.290 1,207 99.139 De reciation Al 14 December 2022 Depn reversed re. disposds Charge for year At 31 Marth 2024 93.139 38.688 (5,405) 1,636 34.919 4.500 (389) 162 4.273 142,327 15.794) 1,798 138.331 99.139 Net bt)ok valu• At 31 Mard) 2024 1.207 5.752 6,959 At 1 Aprtl 2023 1.207 7.388 162 8.757 6 Debtors and propaymwts 2024 2023 Prepayynents 2.001 2.001 1,642 1,642 7 Cash at bank and in hand 2024 2023 Cash at bank Cash in harbj 172.216 121,380 53 121.433 172,784 8 Cr•dltors and ac¢fuals 2024 2023 Cr8ditors Accruals Taxati￿ and s￿181 S￿nty Other creditors 2.383 335 258 3.560 14,582 682 231 15.495 11

Wakefield and District Society for Deaf People Notes to the accounts continued for the period 14 Decomber 2022 to 31 March 2024 9 De61gnatod lunds anc6 bff IncomirwJ oU￿1￿j Transfws Balan( clf 8uikling maint￿an￿ fvrNI 10.OCKI 10,000 10,000 10.000 Fund namo Building maintenance knd Roason for d•slgnatlon To wl aslde funts maj(Y ￿￿ldr￿j rep8its. 10 Rolotad porty transaetlon$ Trustee expenses During the year 2 trustees VEre paid a total of £484 in respect oltravel (prevK)us Jear. £475). Trustee remunoratlon and beneffts No trustee received any remuneration or tenefrt durir¥J thL8 orlhè prevlous Jear. Prior to b8eoming a trustèe, Valariè Pratt %was employed by the charity. Remuneration and beneffts received by key managomènt ￿rsonnel The totsl emptye benefits receNed by key management personnel ￿[e £26,644 Iprewous year. £0). 11 Operating leases &¥pected future minimum lease payments over the remaining Irfa of the lease. analysed into the pericJ in vthh Ihe cc4nmitsnent falls due.. 2024 2023 Within one year In the second to fifth ￿rS indusp4 c￿er fve years from the balance sheet date 461 1.421 461 1.882 2,342 12 Merger accounting These accounts show the results foy the caribes Wakefield aThl DistrKt Soaety for 08af People charity number 224944. an LEnincOrp￿ated ¢harity and Wakefiekj arKI District Sooety for Deaf People chariiy number 1201337, a CIO set up to ￿ntinue the work of the uninc0rp￿*ed charity of the same name. transfar of assats took pL￿ on 1 Awil 2W23. therefore tho comparalive fvjures in these accounts re18te to thè untnthrWKa1￿ charity and the current fuures relat8 10 thè now CIO. 12

Wakefield and District Society for Deaf People Statement of Financial Activities including comparatives for all funds (including summary income and expenditure account) for the period 14 December 2022 to 31 March 2024 2024 20r3 2024 2023 Unrestricted unrastric￿ Rastricl￿1 Reslricied furxts funds funds 2024 Total funds 2023 Total fund8 Incomo Grants and t*Jnallons Deaf anil Har(1 of HeariThJ $uprA%t Sale8 and fe93 Bar income Fundraising events Deposit aCc￿jnt interest Other incc¥ne Total Ineom• 3.728 TT.076 78.325 76.176 15.300 82.551 76.176 20.621 295 1.321 2.258 19,028 77.076 20,621 295 1.321 2.258 979 979 3.506 1,000 2,000 103,589 582 418 28.721 87,871 154,501 15.718 183,222 Exp8ndltur• SaLqries, Nl and pensk)n Payrdl costs Insura Utilities Repairs aNI maintenance Cleaning Telephone aThJ broadbaTrJ Stationery and postage Photocopwng and1&7se IT maintenance Staff and volunteer deveknpment BSL Int8rpr8tar Fees BSL Transla￿￿ Fees Project ExpendI￿re WDSDP Group ExperKliture BSL Courses Expenditure Travel Expenses Equipment Bar expenditu Actx)untancy and IE Profgssional faes Dgpraciation Total upèndlture Net in¢om• l {•xp•ndltur• 81,714 70.408 70.408 1,715 2,555 4.266 3,799 2.735 3.794 1.213 549 1.690 931 1,667 1,414 4,163 1,142 2.231 2.155 10.354 627 2.796 81.714 129 1.188 1,367 4.266 2,051 2.525 2,298 4,140 30,501 4.140 30,501 1,748 210 110 493 855 239 Z39 720 549 1.570 931 1.667 1.260 3.112 120 154 1.051 1.142 3.314 17.812 21.126 2.231 2.155 10.3SI 627 503 1,980 923 2,424 146,703 (43,1141 2.7 923 1,798 122.002 61,220 8.770 19.951 128.891 (41,0201 113,232 41.269 17.812 (2,094) Fund balan¢os bmught forward Fund balan￿$ carri•d fop4vard 86,461 106.412 127,012 86.461 30.753 72,022 33.316 30,753 117,214 178.434 160.328 117.214 13