2024-12-31-accounts

Trustees' Annual Report					for theperiod
From	Period start date			To	Period end date
	Day 1	Month January	Year 2024		Day 31	Month December	Year 2024

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name EQUIPMENT FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) 228438

Charity's principal address Park Cottage Donhead St Andrew Shaftesbury Postcode SP7 9DZ

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Trustee name	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	Susan Herald		Chair
	Eliot	Woolf	Vice Chair
	Alistair Stoker		Treasurer
	Janet Hillman
	June Williams
	William Young
	Esther McDonnell		Secretary
	RosemaryAmran
	Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)
	Name			Dates acted if not for whole year

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Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
Investment Managers	Rathbone Brothers Plc	1 Curzon Street, London, W1J 5FB
Bankers	Barclays Bank Plc	114 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3P 3HY

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document The charity is controlled by its Rules and constitutes an unincorporated (eg. trust deed, constitution) charity. The Rules were adopted in 1948 and were last amended in February 2003. The charity is administered by a committee, which under the Rules must How the charity is constituted not be less than seven members. In practice, the committee comprises all (eg. trust, association, company) the charity's trustees. It is the charity's approach that there should be about ten trustees. Where there is a requirement for new trustees, they are identified and Trustee selection methods appointed by the existing trustees with due regard to the skills and (eg. appointed by, elected by) experience needed. The Chair and other officers are elected by the Committee and come up for re-election in every third year of their holding office. All officers carry out their duties on an unpaid voluntary basis. The charity has no employees.

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

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You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

The 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.

• policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;

• the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;

• relationship with any related parties;

• trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Section C Objectives and activities

The object of the charity is the relief of needy people suffering from disability and to assist them to obtain the means of mobility, Summary of the objects of the independence and earning power. In practical terms, the charity makes charity set out in its grants of money to help eligible individuals to acquire equipment meeting governing document this objective, for example wheelchairs, adjustable beds, communication aids.

	Objectives and activities
	The object of the charity is the relief of needy people suffering from disability and to assist them to obtain the means of mobility, independence and earning power. In practical terms, the charity makes grants of money to help eligible individuals to acquire equipment meeting this objective, for example wheelchairs, adjustable beds, communication aids.
Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)	The trustees 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. The main activities of the charity are outlined above, all of which are undertaken for the public benefit. The committee holds quarterly meetings at which they consider what grants they will make. The charity does not advertise for nominations for grants but is listed on various charity directories and registers and considers all applications received which meet its eligibility criteria. The charity does not assist children under the age of 16, as a general rule, because aid similar to ours is offered by many charities specifically catering for children. Regarding people of 16 and over, our criteria for deciding whether an individual is eligible for a grant are (a) the individual's request comes within the ambit of the charity's objects; (b) her/his condition and needs have been assessed by an appropriately qualified person, and that person has confirmed the suitability of the equipment for which the grant is requested; and (c) the individual's income and/or assets, according to information given on the grant application form, are not sufficient to enable her/him to purchase the equipment without difficulty from her/his own resources. Grants are not made where the trustees believe the equipment concerned is legally required to be funded by the National Health Service or another responsible public body.

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Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

• policy on grantmaking;

• policy programme related investment;

• contribution made by volunteers.

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

The people supported by Equipment for Independent Living, i.e. adults with disabilities and long-term illness who are living at home, have faced ever-increasing challenges in the past year. Costs of living have increased for everyone, support and care services are overstretched in many parts of the country, and the cost of specialist equipment has risen.

From the many enquiries we receive, only some fall within our remit. When we are not able to help someone, we have attempted to signpost the applicant to alternative sources of support. During this year, we have paid out grants of approximately £44,000 to 41 beneficiaries. Some of the messages that we receive from recipients are truly heart-warming. It is clear that the equipment we have helped them to buy has made a huge difference to their lives. Mentioned below are some stories of recent beneficiaries. To protect their privacy, their names have been changed. Case 1. Hilary, aged 44, has a condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome as a result of which her joints are unstable and painful. Her mobility is reduced, and she uses a powered wheelchair indoors and outdoors. Hilary is a talented musician. To give her the freedom of movement to play her instrument, and to increase significantly her overall independence, she required a compact powered wheelchair with handsfree operation and a low back. Our charity contributed £1500 towards the total cost of £12,000. Case 2. James, a 67 year old married man, has had acute COPD for more than 10 years and his condition continues to deteriorate. He can walk only a few steps before he becomes so breathless that he needs to sit and rest. In addition, he suffers from severe pain in his lower limbs following fractures that have not healed well. His local NHS wheelchair service provided a manual wheelchair and he relies on his wife to push him in this. However, it does not enable him to go outdoors independently. With the purchase of an E-drive driving unit attached to his manual wheelchair, he could be independently mobile over longer distances. The equipment cost approximately £6500. EIL gave a grant of £1227, the amount outstanding. Case 3. Zane is 30 years old. He has cerebral palsy, a severe learning disability and epilepsy. He relies fully on his family for all care. He is nonverbal and significantly cognitively impaired. He has a specially moulded seating system to accommodate his severe postural needs, but this

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Section D Achievements and performance

cannot be used in bed at night, so he lies on a flat mattress. This is causing Zane’s posture to deteriorate further, as well as being uncomfortable and painful. He cries out in pain frequently during the night. He experiences muscle contractures and is at risk of pressure sores. Zane required a moulded sleep system to allow him to sleep in relative comfort, slow the deterioration of his condition and allow his parents to have less disturbance during the night. The equipment cost just over £2600 in total, towards which our charity contributed £1009 (being the outstanding amount).

Equipment for Independent Living has a long history. We believe the fund was established by King George III in 1772 to fund walking sticks and trusses for the deserving poor and was especially busy during the Crimean War providing prosthetics for wounded servicemen. By 1988 it had become the National Truss and Surgical Appliance Society and was funding equipment for disabled people over the age of 18 years, living at home and in financial need. Leonard Cheshire, VC, was our Patron and for many years we held our quarterly meetings in his premises. The Society updated its name to Equipment for Independent Living in December 1999.

Over the years, the charity’s trustees have provided a broad range of professional skills and experience. They have always given their time to the charity voluntarily, keeping its administration costs to a minimum and maximising the amount available to offer as grants. Demands on the charity have increased, and at the same time it has become increasingly difficult to recruit trustees who have the time and expertise to manage the charity's affairs in a timely and efficient manner. The charity's trustees have therefore decided to hand over its assets and all administrative responsibilities to another charity, Independence at Home, which has a professional team of assessors and similar aims to our own. By making this change, which will be effective from February 2025, the trustees believe that the needs of the people applying for grants can be addressed more speedily and effectively. The closure of our charity will be tinged with sadness, but the trustees are confident that Independence at Home is a good match and the assets will be in safe hands. We trust that the legacy of EIL will live on.

Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the The general policy of the trustees is to distribute the income of the charity charity’s policy on reserves rather than the capital in order to ensure the long-term future of the charity. In reaching their decision as to the appropriate level of reserves the trustees consider not only the total value of the assets of the charity, but also the income produced by those assets, which varies according to stock market conditions and bank interest rates. The trustees continue to keep the reserves policy under constant review and revise the policy as required. Details of any funds materially in deficit

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Further financial review detsils (Optional infonnation) The independently examined accounts for 2024 shows a 7¢A decrease in income to £25,36812023 £27,220}. You may choose lo include additional infomiation, where relevant about.. the charity's principal sour￿$ of funds {including any fundraisingl., how expenditure has 5UPPOrted the key objectives of the charity., investmet7t policy and objectives including any ethical inveslmenl policy adopted. We were able lo offer grants to all applicants meeting our eligibility cnteria. During the year 41 grants were paid totalling £43,95112023- 13 grants amounting lo £11,100), representing a 395% increase in the total value of grants. The increase results from th.e number of grant applications received and the follow up of outstanding grants. Govemance costs amounted lo £12,025, almost exclusively incurred on legal costs associated wrth the transfer of asset5 to Independence at Home. The investment portfolio is managed by Rathbone Investment Management Ltd with the aim of achieving a combination of investment income and capital growih, with the investment managers being aware that the general preference of the trustees is for income over capital appreciation. The trustees set a minimum target investment income of £24,000 per annum for the investment managers. A moderate level of fisk is aC￿pted. Our policy is not to invest in nianufacturers of armaments, tobacco products, or gambling operations. The investment powers of the charity are governed by the Trustee Act 2000. The tolal value of the managed investments performed satisfactorily durin the ear and ended the ear at £737,496 2023- £712,059 The trustses declare that they hav¢ approiT£+d the tiuskey, report 8.bove. .y'¥ tai3tV8 F 4111 natsiels, Datel TAP M&rch 2012

Equipment for Independent Living

228438

Recei ts and a ments accounts p p y For the period Period start date Period end date To from 01 January 2024 31 December 2024

CC16a

Section A Receipts and payments

	Unrestricted funds		Restricted funds		Endowment funds		Total funds		Last year
	to the nearest £		to the nearest £		to the nearest £		to the nearest £		to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Investment Income	25,368		-		-		25,368		27,220
VoluntaryIncome	-		-		-		-
	-		-		-		-		-
	-		-		-		-		-
	-		-		-		-		-
	-		-		-		-		-
	-		-		-		-		-
	-		-		-		-		-
Sub total(Gross income for AR)	25,368		-		-		25,368		27,220
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
	-		-		-		-
	-		-		-		-		-
Sub total	-		-		-		-		-
**Total receipts **	25,368		-		-		25,368		27,220
A3 Payments
Charitablegrant makingactivities	43,951		-		-		43,951		11,100
Governance costs	12,025		-		-		12,025		-
	-		-		-		-		-
	-		-		-		-		-
			-		-		-		-
	-		-		-		-		-
	-		-		-		-		-
	-		-		-		-		-
	-		-		-		-		-
**Sub total **	55,976		-		-		55,976		11,100
A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)
	-		-		-		-
	-		-		-		-
**Sub total **	-		-		-		-		-
**Totalpayments **	55,976		-		-		55,976		11,100
Net of receipts/(payments)	- 30,608		-		-		- 30,608		16,120
A5 Transfers between funds	-		-		-		-		-
A6 Cash funds lastyear end	64,163		-		-		64,163		48,043
Cash funds thisyear end	33,555		-		-		33,555		64,163

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestri¢ted lunds Restrl¢ted hJnd$ e¥t£ Endowment funds 81 Cash funds 8al¥¢es 3555 Tot8lc•sh fund5 33,555 Unr8stricted funds Rostrict•d furbds Erbdowmènt funds t(¥n•w•¥t£ 82 Other monotary assets Fvndt¥whlch Cost (Op￿￿> Curr•ntvJg B3 Investmeni asset5 InvB5bn 737.496 Fundto*thlth CDStIopibohTr41 B4 Assets retsln8d for the charity's own use Funrttowhirh knuDtdu• Whqfi duo B5 Uab4FtI•s &gnett by orlwo triLSleeson b8hall of all thètrustges Signaluro Prfnt Nar￿e B8nnett EkAL CCXX R1 atwunts ISSI

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustsesl members of EQUIPMENT FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING On accounts for the ygar ended 31* December 2024 Charity no lif anyl 228438 Set out on pages I report lo the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity l.the Trust.) for the year ended 3111212023 Responslbllltles and As the charity Iruslees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the ac¢ounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Art 2011 lkne ACVI I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts Carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable D1￿ctiOnS given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come lo my attention lolher than that disclosed below'l in connection with the examination which gives me cause lo believe that in, any material respect". a¢￿UntIng records were not kept in accordance wf(h seth'on 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the acLx)unting records Independent examiner's statement I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be reached. Please del the words in Ihe brackets if they do not appty. Slgned: Date.. Name: Danuta Tagg Relevant profèssional qualifisationlsl or body Irf anyl- FCA Iretiredl Address: The Stables Donhead Sl Andrew SP7 9EA IER October 2018