## **COVENTRY & WARWICKSHIRE ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEAF** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the year ended 31 March 2023** The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019). ## **Governing document** Rules adopted 2 June 1954 as amended 20 February 1996 (and letter 3 July 1963) and scheme 9 March 1976. The charity constitution was updated on 24 April 2017. ## **Constitution** The charity was founded in 1910, and its principal office is the Henry Fry Centre, Hertford Place, Coventry. It is registered with the Charity Commission under registration number 218005 and when planning activities the trustees consider the Charity Commissions guidance on public benefit. ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objectives and aims Objects** The objects of the charity are to promote, for the benefit of deaf persons residing in the former County of Warwick (as at March 1974) and now forming part of the County of West Midlands (excluding the City of Birmingham), any charitable activity which will have the object of improving the conditions of life of the said persons. We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. Deaf people are those who are deaf, deafened, hard of hearing, deaf-blind and members of the diverse Deaf Community. ## **How our activities deliver public benefit** Such support should enhance the life of all deaf people with regard to their place in society. The Association also acts as a forum by which the wider community, both institutionally and individually, may communicate with deaf people. Coventry & Warwickshire Association for the Deaf aim to provide a public benefit in the form of a more inclusive society. ## **Grant making** The charity invites applications from societies for the deaf and individuals who are deaf within its geographical area. Page 1 ## **COVENTRY & WARWICKSHIRE ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEAF** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the year ended 31 March 2023** ## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE Charitable activities Coventry & Warwickshire Association for the Deaf - General** The 2021/22 year proved to be another challenging year for CWAD, particularly with the first part of the year still being influenced by the impact of Covid-19. Even with things slowly getting back to pre Covid-19 levels in the second half of the year, it is clear there is still a long way to go. The losses which occurred during 2020/21 continued into this year at a similar level. The Board made the decision to cut back on expenditure as much as possible, and sought grants to support its work. The charity did not provide any grants during the year or in the previous year. CWAD has also been supporting the Coventry & Warwick Deaf Community by providing and running the Centre which is used by the Coventry Deaf Sports and Social Club and houses other activities for the deaf community to enable them to thrive. This has kept vital services to the deaf community open. The Charity continues to work to refocus to ensure the services offered are relevant to the Deaf Community. ## **Coventry and Warwickshire Sign Language Interpreting Service (CWSLIS)** CWSLIS continues to provide a high quality and efficient sign language interpreting service to the residents of Coventry and Warwickshire which continues to be challenging. The service continues to review itself to adapt to changes in the way sign language is commissioned by public bodies. CWSLIS have used the funds we have received to ensure that deaf and hearing people can communicate on an equal basis. Whenever possible we ensure that the service provider, not the deaf client, finds the costs involved in providing an interpreter. The service once again met the target success rate of 95% in providing interpreters. The Service is based at Henry Fry Centre, Hertford Place, Coventry, CV1 3JZ. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW Financial position** Incoming resources during the year amounted to £134,536 (2021: £104,298). This increase is mainly due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the various lockdowns and periods of restrictions during the 2020/21 year. Resources expended totalled £150,767 (2021: £119,997). Gains on investments amounted to £18,228 (2021: £27,880), with the result that total funds increased by £1,997 to £417,438. Page 2 ## **COVENTRY & WARWICKSHIRE ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEAF** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the year ended 31 March 2023** ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **Reserves and investment policy** The Trustees have examined the charity's requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation. CWSLIS provides interpreters for the users of sign language and deaf-blind people. The service has been working towards reserve balances equal to one year's running costs, the level of reserves deemed a minimum for the service is £60,000, representing 6 months of running costs. Due to the risks around the service it is felt that an additional £35,000 is needed at this time. The actual free reserves for CWSLIS at 31 March 2022 designated to this service were £41,688. The Henry Fry Centre is the base of the charity and is also used to provide "in kind" support to local groups that support the deaf community. The minimum level of reserves to keep the centre open for 18 months is £60,000. In addition £100,000 is required for improvements, and as a contingency for major repairs. The balance of the General Fund covers the charitable grants to deaf individuals and groups and management of the charity. The minimum level of reserves for this aspect has been assessed as £50,000. This level has been determined to allow the charity some funds to reshape its' focus if necessary and to enable it to continue to provide charitable support for a minimum of 2 years if funding from other sources ceased. The Computer Reserve is to develop the IT and teaching facilities in the centre. This is set at the agreed resources to support that area of development, £9,000, which will be used solely for ICT and CCTV development. The Charity's overall minimum reserves total £314,000 against actual reserves at 31 March 2022 of £417,438. This currently gives a buffer of £103,438. The Trustees regularly review the level of reserves in the light of current needs and plan activities for public benefit accordingly. Funds not required at short notice are invested on a defensive strategy on a lower to medium risk profile. ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document** The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity. ## **Organisational structure** The charity is managed in accordance with its rules by a management committee. The management committee is entirely made up of volunteers whose prime responsibility is applying the association's funds in accordance with the objects of the charity. The latest amended rules were adopted at the Annual General Meeting of the association held on Tuesday 20 February 1996 and the constitution was updated at the Annual General Meeting of the association held on Monday 24 April 2017. There are no specific restrictions imposed by the governing document concerning the way in which the charity operates. There are no specific investment powers other than those imposed by the Charity Commission or by statute. The Coventry and Warwickshire Sign Language Interpreting Service (CWSLIS) was established as a result of a partnership between Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and the Coventry and Warwickshire Association for the Deaf in 1992. The stakeholders are now much wider such as the health authorities. CWSLIS is a non-profit making interpreting service employing two staff throughout the whole year, one on a part time basis within CWAD. Our aim is to provide a high quality, cost efficient Sign Language Interpreting service to the residents, service providers, and businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire. Page 3 ## **COVENTRY & WARWICKSHIRE ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEAF** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the year ended 31 March 2023** ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **Induction and training of new trustees** Trustees are appointed by the members at the Annual General Meeting and serve for one year after which period they may put themselves up for re-appointment. The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees Report and the financial statements. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of recommended practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2015 (FRS102)). Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to: - a. Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - b. Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - c. Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue its activities. - d. Observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the requirements of the Charities Act. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. ## **Risk management** The trustees have examined the major strategic, business and operational risks that the charity faces and have established procedures to lessen these risks. ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number** 218005 ## **Principal address** Henry Fry Centre Hertford Place Coventry West Midlands CV1 3JZ ## **Trustees** A Blincow (resigned 4.8.22) A Reeves (resigned 1.4.22) J Brown J Blackley R Randell L Spicer T Noone S Ali V Carter Page 4 ## **COVENTRY & WARWICKSHIRE ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEAF** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the year ended 31 March 2023** ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Independent Examiner** LDP Luckmans 1110 Elliott Court Coventry Business Park Herald Avenue Coventry West Midlands CV5 6UB ## **Solicitors** Robert Brown Payne Skillington Park House Park Road Station Square Coventry CV1 2FL ## **Advisers** ## **Bankers** HSBC Bank Plc 5/6 High Street Coventry CV1 5RE Barclays Bank 25 High Street Coventry CV1 5RE ## **Accountants** HB&O Ltd Highdown House Leamington Spa CV31 1XT ## **PLANS FOR THE FUTURE** We aim to increase the levels of grant given to previous levels, develop new services for the deaf community and maintain the level of interpreting service. The 2022/23 year should be a better year for the charity. We aim to make improvements of the Centre to maximise the benefit it provides. The trustees will continue to manage costs and make savings where possible. Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by: .................................................................... L Spicer - Trustee Page 5