Burnley and District Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Charity Number 221896 Burnley and District Blind and Visually Impaired Club CE 020599 - CIO 1187802
Annual Report and
Financial Statements
Year ended 31[st] March 2023
Burnley and District Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Year ended 31[st] March 2023
Reference and administrative details
| Trustees | Mrs Audrey Pate |
|---|---|
| Mr Peter Christopher Pate | |
| Mrs Sheila Wicks | |
| Mr Roger Whitaker | |
| Ms Jennifer Braddock | |
| Mrs Beverly Fort | |
| Secretary | Mr Mark Procter |
| Treasurer | Mr Peter Christopher Pate |
| Chairman | Mrs Audrey Pate |
| Principal Ofce | 93 Blacker Street |
| Burnley | |
| Lancashire | |
| BB10 2AF | |
| Operatonal address | Vanguard Community Centre |
| 65 Bevington Close | |
| Burnley | |
| BB11 4SD | |
| Bankers | Barclays Bank PLC |
| 1 Churchill Place | |
| London | |
| E14 5HP | |
| Registered Charity Number | 221896 |
| Independent Examiner | M B Procter |
| 40 Springfeld Bank | |
| Burnley | |
| BB11 3AU | |
| Solicitors | Smith Sutclife |
| 50 Manchester Road | |
| Burnley | |
| BB11 1HJ |
Burnley and District Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Year ended 31[st] March 2023
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
The trustees present their annual report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objectives and aims
The society’s objects are:-
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1) To visit the blind and visually impaired at their homes for the purpose of general help.
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2) By means of practical encouragement and assistance to enable the blind and visually impaired to learn to read and write Braille and Moon and other pastime occupations.
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3) To enable suitable and eligible blind persons and the visually impaired by monetary and other assistance to commence trading on their own account.
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4) To relieve the aged and infirm by grants and provisions and other necessities.
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5) To provide a library of suitable literature in raised type for free circulation amongst the blind and visually impaired.
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6) To provide social and welfare centres.
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7) To assist in the prevention of blindness
This it does primarily through the provision of a centre in Burnley where a club is held for various activities. Outings are arranged and Christmas functions are held. The club is organised with voluntary helpers through a committee, which, from time to time, responds to individual requests for grants and aids. The Society leases a house from the Bradford and Accent Foundation Limited, which it lets out.
In planning the activities for the year, the managing trustees kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit at their meetings.
Message from the Chair
Over the last twelve months the Blind Club has been successful in obtaining funding from the National Lottery again, for ongoing costs a second time and a Jubilee celebration dinner with an additional donation from Burnley Council towards the recent coronation buffet. We receive regular support from our collection boxes in the community and the efforts of volunteers and members continue to keep the Club on an even footing. A small financial loss on trading activity this year is mainly due to a partnership with the Vanguard Centre to increase security with CCTV in the building.
We are looking forward positively to the future of the Club and I’d like to thank everyone involved for their hard work.
Audrey Pate (Chair)
Burnley and District Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Year ended 31[st] March 2023
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (Continued)
FINANCIAL REVIEW Financial position
Receipts for the year were £28,865 (2022 - £16,380) , compared with payments of £28,921 (2022 - £13,007) resulting in a decrease in cash balances of £56 (2022 – an increase in cash balances of £3,373) . Regular income is mainly through investment dividends and rent. Due to the nature of the Charity and its beneficiaries, the income generated from its activities is not sufficient to cover the costs and the investment income is used to bridge the gap.
Investment policy
The Charity has Charities Official Investment Fund (COIF) investments totalling £251,042 (2022 - £260,191) at the year-end which are invested to provide income of £7,831 (2022 – £7169) in the year. A property is also leased to provide income.
Reserves policy
The managing trustees consider it prudent to maintain reserves of two years’ expenditure (approximately £40,000) that will allow the Charity to function for the foreseeable future. The reserves over and above are invested to provide income for the Charity and to enable activities to be provided at low or no cost.
Cash reserves at the year-end were £47,401 (2022 - £47,038) .
With this policy the managing trustees believe that they have taken all due care in reducing any foreseeable risk and with monthly monitoring of all aspects of the Charity, have eliminated such risks.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document
The Charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, constitution August 1951: scheme of 27 November 1972 and constitutes an unincorporated charity.
Meetings are held regularly.
Recruitment and appointment of new Trustees.
Holding Trustees are appointed by the Managing Trustees. The Managing Trustees are responsible for the management and administration of the Society and the function of the Holding Trustees is restricted to holding property.
Risk management
The Managing Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the Charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
Approved by the order of the Trustees and signed on their behalf on 10 May 2023 by:
Burnley and District Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Year ended 31[st] March 2023
Statement of Trustees Responsibilities
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP))
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, The Charities Act 2011, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the Charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently
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Observe the methods and principles in the Charity Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP)
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in business
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which 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 Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. 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.
Burnley and District Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Year ended 31[st] March 2023
Independent Examiner’s Report
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
The Charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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Examine the accounts under Section 145 of the Charities Act,
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To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under Section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
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To state whether particular matters have come to my attention
Basis of independent examiner’s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit. And consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair” view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent Examiner’s Statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements: - to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act, and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
Have not been met; or
- To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mr M B Procter
MBProcter Bookkeeping Services 40 Springfield Bank Burnley BB11 3AU
Date 08 May 2023
Burnley and District Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Year ended 31[st] March 2022
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
| Unrestrict ed funds |
Restricted funds |
31 March 2022 Total Funds |
31 March 2022 Total Funds |
31 March 2021 Total Funds |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Donatons | 9,889 | 9,889 | 469 | 7,051 | |
| Interest from investments |
7,313 | 7,313 | 7,156 | 7,015 | |
| Deposit account interest |
518 | 518 | 13 | 36 | |
| Rent received | 5136 | 5136 | 5,564 | 1,203 | |
| Other income including fund raising |
6,009 | 6,009 | 3,178 | 323 | |
| Total receipts | 28,865 | 28,865 | 16,380 | 15,628 | |
| Payments | |||||
| Charitable actvites |
23,771 | 23,771 | 8,057 | 8,168 | |
| Governance | |||||
| Treasurer’s Honorarium |
600 | 600 | 750 | 750 | |
| Secretary’s salary |
4550 | 4550 | 4,200 | 4,200 | |
| Total payments |
28921 | 28921 | 13,007 | 13,118 | |
| Net of Receipts/Paym ents |
(56) | (56) | 3,373 | 2,510 | |
| Cash funds last year end |
46,120 | 46,120 | 42,747 | 40,237 | |
| Cash funds this year end |
47,401 | 47,401 | 46,120 | 42,747 |
Burnley and District Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Year ended 31[st] March 2023
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
| Unrestrict ed funds |
Restricted funds |
31 March 2023 Total Funds |
31 March 2022 Total Funds |
31 March 2021 Total Funds |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash funds | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Bank Current Account |
16,631 | 16,631 | 15,891 | 12,969 | |
| COIF Charites Deposit Fund Account |
30,210 | 30,210 | 30,210 | 30,210 | |
| Cash in Hand | 560 | 560 | 938 | (474) | |
| Totals | 47,401 | 47,401 | 47,039 | 42,705 | |
| INVESTMENT ASSETS |
|||||
| COIF Charites Investment Fund, at valuaton |
251,042 | 251,042 | 260,915 | 240,186 | |
| ASSETS RETAINED FOR CHARITY’S OWN USE |
|||||
| Ofce furniture & Computer equipment |
4,186 | 4,186 | 2,988 | 2988 | |
| Leasehold property |
17750 | 17750 | 17,750 | 17,750 | |
| Totals | 21,936 | 21,936 | 20,738 | 20,738 | |
| OTHER ASSETS | |||||
| LIABILITIES | |||||
| Governance fees |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
These accounts on pages 7 and 8 were approved by the Managing Trustees on the date below And signed on their behalf by:
P C Pate (Trustee, Treasurer) 10 May 2023
Burnley and District Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Year ended 31[st] March 2023
Notes to the Financial Statements
- Basis of accounting
These accounts have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with the Charities Act 2011.
- Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are those that may be used at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the objects of the Charity. All the funds are unrestricted.
- Transactions with Trustees
An honorarium was paid to the Treasurer Mr C Pate (£600)
- Charitable Activities (payments)
| 31-03-23 | 31-03-22 | 31-03-21 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent – Vanguard Centre |
2,400 | 800 | 1,550 |
| Gifs and Grants | 1,592 | 700 | 1,230 |
| Transport | 3,031 | 1044 | 103 |
| Outngs | 1,186 | 0 | 0 |
| Other expenditure | 20,712 | 10,463 | 10,235 |
| Totals | 28,921 | 13,007 | 13,118 |
- Other expenditure includes for example: Salaries £4550, Food £3320, InKindDirect £2078, Security cameras £2200