2024-12-31-accounts - Association of British Sign Language Education Professionals

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01/01/2024 Period start date To 31/12/2024 Period end date

Charity name: Association of British Sign Language Teachers and Assessors (ABSLTA)

Charity registration number: 1292957

Objectives and Activities

Objectives and Activities
	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The Association of British Sign Language Teachers and Assessors (ABSLTA) was established in 1989 with the purpose of supporting and enhancing the professional development of British Sign Language (BSL) teachers and assessors throughout the UK. ABSLTA aims to improve the quality of BSL education by providing professional development opportunities, networking, and community support for its members. The charity’s work is focused on advancing the education of BSL by empowering Deaf BSL teachers and assessors and promoting the growth of BSL education across the UK. To further support these goals, a new website was launched in October 2023 to provide improved access to resources, information, and member services.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	In line with its charitable purposes, ABSLTA provides a range of activities aimed at supporting BSL education and its practitioners. These include offering professional development resources and opportunities for Deaf BSL teachers and assessors, providing a platform for networking and community building through initiatives such as the ABSLTA Facebook page and private group, and delivering guidance and support to members and the wider public. A key part of the charity’s work was its monthly Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions, known as BSL Chat, which provided regular opportunities for members to enhance their skills and knowledge. In 2024, BSL Chat evolved into two groups—BSL Teacher’s Lounge and BSL TeachHub

		— offering two distinct CPD platforms: one informal and one formal, with each group taking turns to host sessions monthly. In May 2024, ABSLTA reviewed its website and made further amendments to improve access to resources, facilitate member engagement, and support the development of BSL education. Additionally, in April 2024, ABSLTA launched BSL Horizon, a conference held in Manchester. Trustees undertook their first formal trustee governance training in November 2024. The accounts highlight the use of donations and membership fees to fund these activities, including CPD sessions, conferences, and the development of educational resources.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The trustees of ABSLTA confirm that they have had regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit when carrying out the charity’s activities. In all its work, ABSLTA strives to ensure that its support for BSL teachers and assessors contributes to the advancement of BSL education for the public benefit. The update and improvements made to the website in 2024 have further enhanced the charity’s ability to promote greater inclusion and access to education for Deaf individuals and those learning BSL. Additionally, the launch of the BSL Horizon conference in April 2024 has provided a significant new platform to support the advancement of BSL education.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	Since becoming a registered charity in February 2023, ABSLTA has made progress in its governance and housekeeping, including developing key policies and building relationships with stakeholders and partner organisations. These steps aim to support the future establishment of a formal grant-making policy. Further discussions and development of this policy will continue into 2025 as the charity grows and evolves.
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38	ABSLTA does not currently engage in social investment or programme-related investment activities, and therefore no policy exists at this time. This will be considered as part of future strategic discussions.
	Para 1.38	Volunteers continue to play a vital role in ABSLTA’s operations throughout 2024. The charity remains reliant on the dedication of its committee members and other volunteers who generously give their time and expertise to support BSL teachers and assessors.

Contribution made by volunteers		All trustees continue to serve on a voluntary basis; however, during 2024, the trustees approved a policy allowing volunteers, including trustees, to claim travel expenses when representing ABSLTA. This ensures fair support for those contributing their time across the UK. Volunteers have been instrumental in managing events, delivering both informal and formal monthly CPD sessions through the BSL Teacher’s Lounge and BSL TeachHub platforms, and providing ongoing support to members. Their commitment is essential to the charity’s continued growth and success.
Other		Since ABSLTA was newly registered on February 22nd, formal policies are still in development. The charity will continue to evolve its governance and policies in line with its growth and strategic priorities.

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	ABSLTA has continued to build a stronger foundation in 2024, sustaining its positive impact on its beneficiaries: BSL teachers and assessors, Deaf communities, and BSL learners. ●Professional Development:The charity maintained its commitment to offering high-quality CPD through the BSL Teacher’s Lounge and BSL TeachHub, providing valuable learning opportunities that enhance teaching skills and professional growth. ●Website Updates:Further updates and improvements to the website have improved access to resources and information, supporting members more effectively and encouraging community engagement. ●Membership Growth:Membership has remained steady, with over 100 members, demonstrating ongoing demand for ABSLTA’s services and a growing network of support for BSL education. Impact:These achievements continue to strengthen BSL education, improve communication and learning opportunities for Deaf communities, and promote inclusivity and cultural awareness among BSL learners. ABSLTA’s work contributes to

raising the standard of BSL education in the UK and fostering greater social inclusion and awareness of Deaf culture.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:


Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	In our second year, ABSLTA continued to build on the achievements of 2023. We successfully met the goals set in our first year and added another 25 members through targeted outreach, bringing our membership growth to over 50. We also made further improvements to our website to enhance user engagement and resource accessibility. The BSL Teachers’ Lounge and BSL TeachHub continued to run bi-monthly CPD sessions, with amendments made based on member feedback to improve the experience. Additionally, we launched a pilot mentoring project, which has been successfully delivered to support professional development within our community.
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	In 2024, the fundraising sub-committee became active and developed a fundraising handbook pack designed to support members and supporters in their fundraising efforts. This handbook was approved by the trustees and published on the ABSLTA website. However, no formal grant applications have yet been submitted. We continue to recognise the importance of prioritising grant applications and broader fundraising initiatives moving forward.
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41	As we are still in the initial stages of development, specific investment performance metrics have not yet been established.
Other		Overall, ABSLTA has laid a solid foundation for growth and engagement, aligning with our strategic objectives and preparing for future initiatives.

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	At the end of the 2024 financial period, ABSLTA's bank balance stood at £3,813.71. Total income for the year was £7,314.85, with expenditures amounting to £3,501.14. Significant expenses during the year included updates and improvements to the website, trustee governance training, conference setup costs, and ongoing subscription and maintenance fees for Zoom, Google Workspace, and website domain hosting.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	Currently, ABSLTA has no reserve funds. We recognise the importance of holding reserves and aim to implement a reserve policy in our 2025 year plan. Reserves will be essential for ensuring financial stability and covering unexpected expenses in the future.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	As of now, ABSLTA holds zero reserves.
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	The absence of reserves is primarily due to significant investments in critical areas, such as the website and platform subscription and maintenance. These expenditures are vital for advancing our charity's objectives and operational capabilities.
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	The charity does not hold any restricted funds, and no funds are in deficit at the year-end.
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	At this time, there are no uncertainties regarding ABSLTA’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:


The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	ABSLTA’s principal sources of funds include membership fees, conference ticket sales, and public donations. These income streams support our ongoing operations and initiatives, including the recent website updates and professional development programmes for our members.
		Currently, ABSLTA does not have a formal investment policy. Our focus is primarily on utilising funds for operational needs and projects that directly support our mission. As


Investment policy and		we develop our financial strategy, we will consider the potential for social investment
objectives including any	Para 1.46	that aligns with our objectives.
social investment policy
adopted
		The principal risks facing ABSLTA include financial sustainability, reliance on
		membership fees and donations, and potential changes in regulations affecting the
A description of the		charity sector. Additionally, as we expand our offerings and activities, there is a risk
principal risks facing the	Para 1.46	associated with managing resources effectively to ensure the success of our
charity		programmes.
		No additional information to report at this time.
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (Trustee deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	ABSLTA operates under a constitution that serves as its governing document, outlining the purpose, structure, and operational guidelines of the charity.
How is the charity constituted? (E.g. unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	ABSLTA is constituted as an unincorporated association, which allows us to operate as a charity while maintaining flexibility in our governance and decision-making processes.
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	Trustees are selected through a nomination and election process as outlined in our constitution. Members of ABSLTA have the opportunity to nominate candidates for trustee positions, and the elected members vote during the annual general meeting (AGM). This ensures that the board of trustees is representative of the membership and accountable to them.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51	ABSLTA has established an induction programme for new trustees, which includes an overview of the charity’s mission, governance structure, and operational procedures. New trustees receive training on their roles and responsibilities, as well as information about relevant legal and regulatory requirements. Ongoing training opportunities are provided to ensure all trustees remain informed about best practices in charity governance.
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	ABSLTA operates with a flat organisational structure, facilitating open communication and collaboration among trustees and members. We engage with a wider network of organisations and stakeholders in the BSL community, including educational institutions, advocacy groups, and professional bodies, to promote the advancement of BSL education and support our members.

Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	ABSLTA has established collaborative relationships with various organisations in the Deaf and BSL community. These partnerships are aimed at sharing resources, knowledge, and best practices to enhance the overall impact of our work. We maintain transparency in these relationships to ensure they align with our charitable objectives.
Other		No additional information to report at this time.
Reference and Administrative details Charity name Association of British Sign Language Teachers and Assessors (ABSLTA) Other name the charity uses ABSLTA Registered charity number 1202057 Charity’s principal address Union House, 111 New Union Street, Coventry, CV1 2NT
Charity name	Association of British Sign Language Teachers and Assessors (ABSLTA)
Other name the charity uses	ABSLTA
Registered charity number	1202057
Charity’s principal address	Union House, 111 New Union Street, Coventry, CV1 2NT

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any)
1	Emma Iliffe	Chairperson	2014 - 2024	Founding Trustee, Elected by Members Resigned March 2024
2	Stuart Parkinson	Secretary	2018 - Present	Elected as a Standing Trustee by Members
3	Judith Kidd	Trustee	2019 - 2024	Elected as a Standing Trustee by Members Resigned October 2024
4	Jane Foulston	Trustee	2022 - 2024	Elected as a Standing Trustee by Members Resigned August 2024
5	Matt Jenkins	Chairperson	08/07/2023 - Present	Elected as a Standing Trustee (Secretary) by Members (2023) Elected as Standing Trustee (Chair) by Member(March 2024)
6	Angela Barringer	Treasurer	08/07/2023 - Present	Elected as a Standing Trustee by Members
7	Hamza Shaikh	Trustee	08/07/2023 - Present	Elected as a Standing Trustee by Members
8	Ola Postawa	Trustee	08/07/2023 - 2024	Elected as a Standing Trustee by Members Resigned January2024
9	Dolopo Akande	Trustee (Ad-hoc)	06/07/2024 - Present	Elected as an Ad-hoc Trustee by Trustees

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity The charity does not hold any funds or assets as custodian trustees on behalf of other charities or organisations. Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held Not applicable. and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such Not applicable. assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Type of Name Address adviser Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

We do not disclose specific personal details about our key personnel, including trustees, to protect their privacy. However, we ensure that any potential conflicts of interest are managed in accordance with our governance policies, especially when trustees hold positions in other organisations.

Other optional information

We are committed to transparency and accountability in our operations. While we may not disclose certain personal information, we provide relevant information about our governance structure and decision-making processes in our annual reports and communications.

Declarations

----- Start of picture text -----
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of
the charity’s trustees.
Signature(s)
Full name(s) Matt Jenkins Stuart Parkinson
Position (eg Secretary,
Chair Secretary
Chair, etc)
Date 16/09/2025 16/09/2025
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Association British Sign Language Teachers & Assessors1202057

Recei ts and a ments accounts p p y

CC16a

For the period 1/1/2024 31/12/2024 To from

Section A Receipts and payments

A1 Receipts	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £	Restricted funds to the nearest £	Endowment funds to the nearest £	Total funds to the nearest £	Last year to the nearest £
Membership Fees	3 998	-	-	3 998	3 180
Donation	3	500	-	503	300
Sponsors	-	875	-	875	-
Refunds	120	-	-	120	-
Tickets(Workshop and Conference)	1 706	-	-	1 706	420
Sales	51	-	-	51	11
Other	62	-	-	62	-
	-	-	-	-	-
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	5 940	1 375	-	7 315	3 911
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).	- - - 5 940	- - - 1 375	- - - -	- - - 7 315
	-
	-				-
*Sub total*	-				-
*Total receipts*
	5 940	1 375	-	7 315	3 911

A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
	-	-	-		-
	-	-	-		-	-
*Sub total*	-	-	-		-	-

*Total receipts*	5 940	1 375		-	7 315	3 911

A3 Payments

A3 Payments
OperatingExpense	72	-	-	72
Subscriptions	1 040	-	-	1 040
Technology	950	-	-	950
Travel and Transport	388	-	-	388

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

Gifts	34	-	-	34
Utilities	66	-	-	66
Other	951	-	-	951
		-	-	-
AGM,Meetingand WorkshopCosts		-	-	-	540
Audit Fees		-	-	-	120
Zoom and Vimeo Subscriptions		-	-	-	204
Committee Member Expenses		-	-	-	288
GoDaddyHostingFees		-	-	-	53
Domain Name Registration		-	-	-	8
New Website Development Costs		-	-	-	4 000
Exhibition DisplayMaterials		-	-	-	88
ConsultancyFees		-	-	-	495
**Sub total **	3 501	-	-	3 501	5 796

A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)		- - - - 1 375	- - - - -	- - - 3 501 3 814	- 5 796 - 1 885 - - - 1 885
	-
	-
**Sub total **	-
*Total payments* *Net of receipts/(payments)* A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end *Cash funds this year end*
	2 439	1 375	-	3 814	- 1 885
	-	-	-	-	-
	2 448	-	-	2 448	-
	4 887	1 375	-	6 262	- 1 885

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories

B1 Cash funds

Details	Details	Unrestricted funds to nearest £	Unrestricted funds to nearest £	Restricted funds to nearest £	Restricted funds to nearest £	Endowment funds to nearest £
Bank Account				-		-
		-		-		-

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

B2 Other monetary assets

B3 Investment assets

B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use

	-	-	-
	-	-	-
			OK
			Endowment funds to nearest £
	-	-	-
	-	-	-
	-	-	-
	-	-	-
	-	-	-
	-	-	-
Details	Fund to which asset belongs	Cost (optional)	Current value (optional)
		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
		-	-

Details	Details	Fund to which asset belongs	Fund to which asset belongs	Cost (optional)	Cost (optional)	Current value (optional)
				-		-
				-		-
				-		-
				-		-
				-		-
				-		-

CCXX R3 accounts (SS)

B5 Liabilities

Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees

		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
Details	Fund to which liability relates	Amount due (optional)	When due (optional)
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-

Signature	Signature	Print Name	Print Name	Date of approval
		Angela Barringer		07/09/2025
		Matt Jenkins		07/09/2025

CCXX R4 accounts (SS)