KINGSTON SIGHTLOSS SUPPORT 2024 – 2025
ANNUAL REPORT
The Kingston Upon Thames Association for the Blind Charity number 249295 has been supporting blind and partially sighted residents of all ages since 1966.
Effective from 5 December 2024, Kingston Association for the Blind became a CIO, with a new charity registration number 1211269. The charity also uses the additional name Kingston Sightloss Support (KSS).
Annual report and Accounts 2024/25
From the registration of the new CIO, Kingston Sightloss Support (KSS), on 5 December 2024 until 31 October 2025, no separate reports or accounts were prepared for the CIO. During this period, operations continued under the former charity, Kingston Association for the Blind, while the transition to the CIO structure was being completed.
An Annual Report and independently certified accounts covering the period from 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2025 were prepared for Kingston Association for the Blind and are available on request. These documents could not be uploaded to the Charity Commission website because the former charity was closed on 7 March 2026, following the transfer of its funds/resources and activities to the new CIO, Kingston Sightloss Support (charity number 1211269).
For the annual report and certified accounts 2024-2025 Please contact kab@kingstonassociationforblind.org
The New CIO registered number: 1211269
The new CIO, Kingston Sightloss Support (KSS), remained dormant from its registration on 5 December 2024 until 31 October 2025, and no charitable activities were undertaken during this period.
To ensure continuity and align with the charity's financial year, all operations continued under the former charity, Kingston Association for
the Blind, until 31 October 2025. The new CIO commenced operational activities on 1 November 2025.
The Annual Report and independently examined accounts for 2025/26 will be prepared and submitted in due course and are expected to be uploaded to the Charity Commission website by August 2027.
Timeline and Transition to a CIO
At the beginning of 2022, following the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges of recruiting Trustees and attracting new members, particularly children and young people, the charity began reviewing its future direction. During consultations with members, it became clear that some felt the word "Blind" in the charity's name no longer reflected the wider community of people with sight loss that the organisation supports.
Following extensive discussions, the name Kingston Sightloss Support (KSS) was adopted. The Board of Trustees subsequently asked Roy Smith to investigate the process of converting the charity into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
At the Annual General Meeting held on 11 May 2022, Roy Smith reported that work had commenced on the transition to a CIO. A grant was secured from the Thomas Pocklington Trust to appoint Russell Cooke Solicitors to provide legal support throughout the process.
At the Annual General Meeting on 11 June 2024, members unanimously approved the conversion to a CIO and the new name, with no objections raised.
As the former charity and the new CIO effectively merged, there was continuity throughout the organisation. The Trustees, staff, volunteers and members remained the same, as did our contacts, website, email addresses, registered address, databases, systems, policies and bank accounts. As a result, service delivery continued without interruption during the transition.
We are excited about the future and look forward to modernising and developing the charity. We hope that the new name and CIO status will help us attract new Trustees, grow our membership, and reach more visually impaired residents of all ages who may benefit from peer support, our services and activities.
Our aim remains to ensure that no one affected by sight loss is left struggling alone.