## **CARLISLE SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND** CIO Charity Number:1203340 Trustees Report 2023/24 This is the first reporting year for Carlisle Society for the Blind CIO transferred into Carlisle Society for the Blind CIO, registered 31 May 2023 with a Charity commission Foundation model constitution The registered address is 9 Brunswick Street, Carlisle CA1 1PB. During the year, the Society continued to make progress in achieving its objects. These are, to advance the education of the public in the needs and potential of visually impaired people and to relieve the needs of such persons in such ways as the Trustees shall from time to time in their discretion decide. The Society has no Liabilities and no debts. The reserves policy for the charity has set the figure of £25,000 (6 months running costs) ## **Carlisle Sight Support Trustees 31/05/2023 - 31/03/2024** Louise Towson (Chair) Colin Glover Dawn Rafferty Tim Linford (appointed November 2023) ## **Carlisle Sight Support Staff 31/05/2023 - 31/03/2024** Brenda Bell Angie Robson Mark Costello **Bank:** Virginmoney ## **Annual Report** 2023/4 marked the completion of the final year of the Vision Support Officer post, a project funded by the National Lottery - Reaching Communities Fund in partnership with the other 4 sight loss charities in Cumbria, which was due to end in September 2024. **35 people** were supported locally through the project in the year with **100** people supported over the three years. Angie and Brenda remained employed for 12 hours per week carrying out secretarial services, home visiting and office accounts. The usual services continued to run, such as the resource centre drop in (now open Wednesday and Thursday between 10am & 3pm), home visiting and the bi-monthly Low Vision Clinic. The latter run in partnership with North Cumbria Integrated Care where we engage with approximately **150 people per year** . In addition Carlisle Sight Support organised or participated in the following: - Monthly tea and chat group in Brampton - Monthly tea and chat group in Dalston - Monthly coffee morning in in Carlisle - Monthly Gourmet Gossip Lunch Club in Carlisle - Monthly goalball session at Denton Holme (started February 2024) - Bi-monthly Glaucoma support group (started January 2024) - Bi-monthly Charles Bonnet Syndrome group (started September 2023) - Twice weekly Tech for All advice surgery run in partnership with Lakes Vision Services (started November 2023) From December 2023 to the end of March 2024, our resource centre was designated as a warm spot and funded by Cumbria Community Foundation. Over the year we also provided 6 sessions of Living Well with Sight Loss training in partnership with the RNIB. In the summer of 2023 a number of members attended 4 weekly bouldering (climbing) sessions at Eden Rock and a cycle wise session at Harraby both funded by Active Cumbria. Also in summer 2023 a group of members went on a Scottish Borders day trip with Irvings Coaches. At the end of 2023 and through to February 2024 we worked in collaboration with the Fellfoot Forward Project, a partnership with The National Landscape Association of the North Pennines, where VIPs worked alongside community artists. 3 sound collages were created and a team of VIPs attended a live radio broadcast in Penrith between November 2023 and February 2024. - - - - - - - https://soundcloud.com/d s_s d/sight support radio show show 3? utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharin g One off and irregular events included: - Hosting Optelec electronic devise surgery - History sessions - Local walks - Music sessions with Ukes Akimbo, ukulele band. In February, members launched a campaign to highlight the lack of ECLO services in North Cumbria. Correspondence was had with the CEO and Chair of North Cumbria Integrated Care Trust. Whether by happy coincidence or not, news to employ an ECLO was released a month after the campaign began. ## **Funding partners this year included:** - Active Cumbria - Cumberland Council - Cumbria Community Foundation - Durham Council - Home Instead Charities - National Lottery - Reaching Communities Colin Glover - Vice Chair - Trustee. December 2024 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE ST YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Income Donations Fund Raising Boxes Legacies & Grants Interest Equipment Sales Low Vision Clinic Miscellaneous Room Hire 2023 561 214.50 17.63 78 15078.90 41470 37.12 15 54.clj 27 7332.00 1539.30 3960.00 1974 1550 3700 28233.45 Ex enditure Wages Telephone and Water Gas & Electricity Equipment Miscellaneous Cleaner Armstrong Watson Repairs Grants 43091.73 40035 881.35 725 948.70 92.52 2536.82 624.CKJ 716.40 1012 701 3741 650 658 1406.74 767 3645.91 4950 Expenses 951.41 693 54895.58 Balances as at 3151 March 2023 Loss for year 87892.89 26662.13 61230.76 Balances as at 31" March 2024 Royal Bank of Scotland Cumberland Building Society Virgin Money Cash In Hand 4372.28 56437.68 386.00 34.80 61230.76 Independent Examiner's Report Charity: Carlisle Society for the Blind Year Ended: 3110312024 I, the undersigned, independently examined the accounts of the above charity for the year ended. My examination was conducted in accordance with the Charities Act 2011. Summary of Findings: The charity's gross income does not exceed £250,000. The accounts have been prepared using Receipts and Payments. Scope of Examination: My examination included a review of the following.. Financial statements Accounting records Trustees, annual report Conclusion: Based on my examination, l am satisfied that the accounts present a true and fair view of the charity's financial position and activities during the year. Signed: 111201g.