NFBU
The Voice of Blind People
Report and Financial Statements
for the Year Ended
31 December 2023
Charity Number (England & Wales): 236629
Charity Number (Scotland): SC040134

NFBUK
Re
ort and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December
2023
CONTENTS
PAGE
Legal and Administrative Infomiation
34
Trustees, Report
5-15
Independent Examination Report
20-22
Balance Sheet
23-26
Notes forming Part of the Financial Statements
including Statement of Financial Activities
2743

NFBUK
Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended
31 December 2023
Re
ort of the Trustees
The President (Chairperson) and trustees have pleasure in
presenting their report and the financial statements of the
charity for the year ended 31 December 2023.
LEGALAND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Charity Name: National Federation of the Blind of the United
Kingdom
English Reference:
Scottish Reference:
Registered Office:
236629
SC040134
Sir John Wilson House, 215 Kirkgate,
Wakefield, WF1 1JG
admin
nfbuk.or
01924 291313
Email:
Tel:
Governing Document:
Rules & Constitution dated June 1947
(as amended) and then revised 2010
Bankers: CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West
Malling, Kent, ME19 4JQ

Solicitors: Wrigleys Solicitors. 19 Cookridge Street, Leeds LS2
3AG
Accountant & Independent Examiners:
Stewart & Co Chartered Accountants, Castlecroft
Business Centre, Tom Johnston Road, Dundee, DD4 8XD
Patron:
Professor lan Bruce CBE
Trustees and Executive Council 2023
President:
Karf Farrell
Vice-President:
Jill Allen-King O.B.E
Honorary General Secretary: Dr Devaki Sivasubramanian
Honorary General Treasurer: Karl Farrell (Acting)
Ordinary Executive Council Members:
Liz Silver
Clive Lever (from September
2022)
Andrew Hodgson (from
September 2022)
Tesfai Berhane (from September
2022)

NPE3UK
Re
ort and Financial Statements for
the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Report of the Trustees
1. Foreword
The Trustees of NFBUK welcome readers to this their 2023
re
ort and accounts. We have
rovided an overview of the
current status of the or
anisation and the
ur
ose it serves.
The Trustees welcome whatever su
ort that readers mi
ht
choose to
ive.
2. Aims and Ob"ectives
The Federation is an independent, non-political, self-help
campaigning pressure group and registered charity. Registered
under the National Assistance Act, 1948 (as amended), and the
Charities Act, 1961 (as amended). Today it is still managed by
blind and partially sighted people.
Through representation and campaigning, the Federation
strives to improve aspects and quality of daily life for all blind,
deaf-blind, partially sighted people and those whose sight
impairment is part of multi disability, in the United Kingdom.
The organisation seeks to:
take action to improve the life conditions of blind, deaf-blind,
partially sighted people and those whose sight impairment is
part of multi disability by making representations and working
towards the improvement of information provided for them.

In furtherance of the above, the Federation has been involved
in a number of issues over the past year and this report is a
summary of some of these issues.
3. Structure Governance and Mana
ement
This report has been prepared in accordance with the Charities
Act 1993 and the Statement of Recommended Practice:
Accounting and Reporting by Charities (issued in March 2005).
Governing Document
National Federation of the Blind of the United Kingdom is a
registered charity and is governed by the Rules and
Constitution dated June 1947, (Revised April 2002 & October
2010).
Risk Management
The Trustees actively review the major risks which the charity
faces on a regular basis and will continue to increase reserves
where possible, combined with an annual review of the controls
over key financial systems and will provide sufficient resources
in the event of adverse conditions. The Trustees have also
examined other operational and business risks faced by the
charity and confirm that they have established systems to
mitigate the significant risks. The Trustees are confident that
internal controls are adequate, both at national and local levels.
The Charity is managed by an elected Executive Council which
normally meets at least every two months and implements
decisions following suggestions and discussions with members

and branches. Branches manage their own affairs under the
oversight of the Executive Council.
From our national office in Wakefield we service our members
and branches which are situated throughout the UK, including
one postal branch, Central Branch. We employ one part-time
office administrator who is supported by unpaid volunteers.
This member of staff was managed in the year under review by
the Honorary General Secretary and they received instructions
from the Executive Council. From 2018, we also employed a
part-time Shared Space Campaign Coordinator managed by
the President.
Our Executive, branch officers and members all work on an
unpaid voluntary basis. All members of the Executive Council,
(with the exception of any co-opted members), are regarded as
Trustees. They are ultimately collectively responsible for all
actions of the Federation nationally and locally.
There have been no changes in the aims or objectives during
this current year and we continue our support for blind, deaf-
blind, partially sighted people and those whose sight
impairment is part of multi disability.
Executive Officers serve for a period of three years but no more
than six consecutive years.
Branches
The Federation has 7 branches throughout the United
Kingdom, each branch having its own Chairperson, Secretary
and Treasurer. Each branch is governed by the Constitution
and Rules of the Federation and is obliged to send minutes to
the National Office. The Federation also has associate
members and membership is also open to affiliated
organisaiions.

4. Office Administration and servi￿ to Members
In addition to the foregoing work, from our national office in
Wakefield we service over 500 members and 7 branches
around the UK. As approximately 70 % of our members are
blind or partially sighted, individual communications require to
be sent out in many formats including Braille, audio, large print
and E-mail. all of which require a specialist range of skills from
our office staff and additional finance.
The majority of our members are over 65 and being blind or
partially sighted, many may live alone and rely on their regular
audio USB sticks or Braille communications from the
Federation, which arrive 2 or 3 times per month, keeping them
up to date with news about their local area, changes in
Government benefits and legislation in addition to Federation
activities. Each month they receive a Federation magazine i.e.
one month 'FedNews° giving them items of infonnation and
interest from a World, European, UK and local perspective. On
alternative months they receive a further Federation internal
magazine on USB stick entitled "FedTalk', on which they can
both listen and talk to the Executive, and also to other blind
friends and members from across the country. This valuable
Servi￿ comprises a large workload of our Office
5. Review of Pro
ress and Achievements
President's Report
NFBUK Has completed another year in campaigning and consultation to
defend and improve aspects and quality of daily lrfe for all blind, partially

sighted and deaf-blind people. and those whose sight impairment is part
of multi-disability. Issues related to street access have attracted most of
our campaigning and consulting attention, both at Branch level and
nationally.
Cyding lobbyists all over the UK have demanded more space and more
safety for cyclists on busy roads around cities and towns. As streets in
built-up areas cannot be easily widened, big changes are being PLrt in
place to provide for cycle tracks.
Some streets are being converted to one-way traffic and others are
being pedestrianised to allow for safer cycling and to stop cars and
trucks from taking short cuts through residential areas. This can result in
less car fumes but also more carefree cycling. Unfortunately, cyclists
want to also cycle on footways and not have to stop for lights if they can
get away with it. This behaviour makes many pedestrians and
particularly blind and partially sighted people feel insecure and
vulnerable.
Several of our Branches continued to consult with their local authorities
and other organisations on street access and to raise issues on behalf of
their members generally. These links have been established over many
years.
Sarah Gayton, our national Research and Campaigns Officer and Street
Access Campaigns Coordinator, has presented several petitions to the
Prime Minister. This is a right that all citizens have and Sarah has
organised small deputations of NFBUK members and representatives
from allied organisations to carry the petitions to the door of No 10
Downing Street and talk to the media about it.

Early in January, an NFBUK petition was handed in at No 10 on safety
and accessibility at bus stops which was also signed by over 160 other
organisations who agreed with our opinion. The petition was covered in
BBC Scotland Radio News, BBC East Midlands TV, BBC London Radio,
RNI8 Connect Radio. My London, Glasgow Live and Leicester Mercury.
Following this, Sarah Gayton was able to get a meeting room in
Parliament to show some of her film footage that illustrates the problems
occurring at bus stops to parliamentarians. The publicity helps to make
known our cause to the country's legislators.
Late in 2022, an NFBUK member had been able to ask the Mayor of
London at a public meeting to stop putting in bus stop bypasses. In
March 2023 several of our members attended the London Assembly
where that question was considered and they were able to talk with
people about the issues.
The Mayor of London encouraged us to meet with Living Streets to
discuss their research on bus stop bypasses and borders prior to any
meeting with him. Later in the year, Sarah Gayton and several members
met with Living Streets in London. They provided evidence as to why
floating bus stops and shared use bus boarders do not work for blind
and partially sighted people and why the design should not be used in
active travel schemes. Although Living Streets clearly state that floating
bus stops are a problem for blind and visually impaired bus users in
certain areas, they also think there could be areas where they could
work. However the NFBUK group were very clear that they wanted direct
access to and from the bus from the pavement and stated that the
designs were inherently discriminatory.
Nationally, NFBUK'S eviden￿ against floating bus stops and the like has
been uploaded to the Transport Select ComMitt￿S website which is
given at this link
htt s'.Ilcommittees.
arliament.uklwrittenevidence11208771 dfl
io

As well as showing her films to MPS and local government, Sarah
Gayton has placed them on Facebook and Twitter and on YouTube.
This includes members speaking at meetings and demonstrating the
problems we face.
NFBUK films have also inspired joumalists to write about those
problems highlighted. A member was filmed getting off a bus at a bus
stop border in East London. At these stops the cycle track can run along
the kerb where passengers step off the bus. Our member was filmed
being almost sandwiched betsveen two moving cyclists. The film was
shown to a Daily Mail joumalist who then wrote an article supportive to
our concerns.
NFBUK visits to Downing Str￿t during 2023 include:
January, A petition on the closure of Barclays Bank in Tamworth, which
was compiled to support a new member of the Midlands Connect
Branch.,
February where six petitions were delivered from ten disability
organisations and individuals about the ac￿ssIbl11ty of trains;
June, protesting about cuts to BBC local radio, supported by 6 Members
of the House of Lords, 36 MPS and 221 organisations.
August, emergency petition to stop the closure of ticket offices across
the UK and emergency showing of NFBUK film on the need for ticket
offI￿S and guards on trains, shown in Portcullis House, London;
NFBUK was at the emergency meeting with the Minister for Transport,
Huw Merriman. where he announced the complete withdrawal of the
-ais 10 close rail llCKei OTrices. I nis was nuing Decause tne
appearan￿S of NFBUK members in the media helped to sway public
opinion.
li

Surveys have shown that two out of three blind people don't go out
alone. For those that do venture out independently, it is accepted that
pavements can be obstructed and badly maintained and road crossings
can feel unsafe. To encourage more blind people and, indeed, everyone
to come out, to walk in the streets and be part of the local community,
pavements and indeed streets need to become more welcoming.
A positive plea for footrway improvements might make us and our
supporters feel good in a time when pedestrians are said to be top of the
hierarchy according to the modern highway code. But increasingly we
find pedestrian rights playing second fiddle to the need for provision for
cyclists at bus stops, road crossings and street intersections in our cities
and towns. Cyclists claim that, because bicycles are smaller. they pose
little threat to people on foot and can cycle around pedestrians crossing
the road in front of them. But pedestrians have been killed and injured in
collisions with speeding cyclists on footways and carriageways.
Sarah Gayton, has photographed and filmed much evidence of the bad
experiences of blind bus users and others struggling to cross cycle
tracks. Sarah has publicized much of that film footage on YouTube and
other modern media where the movers and shakers in society can view
it. She has shown her films to MPS in Parliament and local councilors
and borough officials as proof that NFBUK concerns are real.
When Sarah Gayton attends meetings with national or local government
officials or with other organisations, she is accompanied by NFBUK
members who wish to campaign. They can speak publicly or with
individuals of their experiences.
NFBUK met with PACTS (the Parliamentary Advisory Committee on
Transport Safety) bNice in 2023. We explained why we oppose the
12

provision of bus stop bypasses and shared use bus borders. We also
shared with them our evidence on the dangers of e-SCOOters both private
and rental. PACTS are undertaking further research on injuries not
being reported to the police from private e-scooters.
Sarah Gayton has attended meetings and events in Manchester.
Newcastle, Birmingham, Oxford, almost always in company with
members. She has travelled to many boroughs to film the use of e-
scooters and cycles to evidence local condrtions, particularly to monitor
their e-scooter rental schemes and their cluttering of pavements. Such
monitoring cannot be limited to daylight hours and the resulting data
seems to be far more comprehensive than any other non-government
agency's evidence. NFBUK evidence has often revealed antisocial
behaviour of e-SCOOter users where. otherwise. government would have
remained silent.
'During 2023, NFBUK became increasingly concerned that the Guide
Dogs for the Blind Association (GDBA). was unable to provide new
guide dogs for existing users whose dog needed to be retired through ill
health or old age, without a very long wait. Those guide dog users were
inevitab5y dependent on their dog to pursue their active lives. Lead by
our Vice President, NFBUK raised its concerns with GDBA and reached
out to guide dog users to highlight GDBA'S problems in training and
support for this vital service. During the year, the provision of dogs for
new and existing users declined even more.,
On support for sight loss, there has been very little take-up in 2023. This
issue is a project that will take years to develop. It also requires the
active involvement of lots of members to bear witness that blind and
partially sighted people are not getting the support they need to cope
with changes in their lives.
We have sadly had to record the closure of two of our historic Branches,
In Coventry and Birmingham, mainly due to an aging membership. We
clearly have to appeal to people of working age who these days have
lots of choice in leisure and leaming. But we do have resources and a
working structure in NFBUK that. with renewed vigor, can further the
causes of blind and partially sighted people in the United Kingdom.
I would like to close by thanking everyone who has contributed to our
work during the past year. both at national and branch level, in our
13

campaigns, socially and in giving to our funds. I would particularly like to
thank our employees, our Administratorlcommunications Co-ordinator
Louisa Pouncett for keeping the Offi￿ running on a day-to-day basis and
serving the admin needs of the EC and members in general and Sarah
Gayton our Research and Campaigns Officer and Street Access
Campaigns Coordinator, for her energetic and tireless work. I would
also like to thank Carol Hudson for her freelance fundraising on our
behalf, particularly in a time where donors are becoming cautious.
Karl Farrell
Back to contents
Future Plans
NFBUK has a continuing need to examine the way it operates with
regard to its governan￿ and communication by developing, maintaining
and regularly updating a Policy Statement that embraces the ambitions
of blind, deafblind and partially-sighted people.
External
riorities
Legislative:
Protect the interests of all visually impaired people with regard to
the reform of benefits such as Personal Independence Payments
& Universal Credit;
Influence the Govemment and the local authorities together with
other likeminded organizations, in the reform of social care and
health legislation, funding and related benefits. We must assert
our need for the provision of habilitation, rehabilitation and mobility
training support ServI￿S so that we can then live our own lives;
14

Mobility:
Call on local authorities to provide safe and attractive footways for
pedestrians on all streets, defined by a kerb and clear of badly
parked bicycles and abandoned e-scooters;
Work to secure equal access to all
foms of public transport
encouraging staff awareness training, and access to information
prior to and during joumeys;
Continue to campaign against "island" or'yloating" style bus stops
with their priorty cycleway and associated zebra crossings;
Work with cycling organisations to raise the awareness among
cyclists about the needs of visually impaired pedestrians;
Political:
Lobby the Government. broadcasting organisations and the media
in general on improving access to the media for visually impaired
people, including access to television and the Internet;
Social:
Campaign for the provision of information to access support for all newly
diagnosed visually impaired people;
Internal priorities
- Aim to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) thus
reducing the liability for trustees"
To support the Executive Council in training to update their skills;
Effective budgeting by strengthening all financial and resource
matters"
ensure the efficient running of the office and support of admin staff;
15

widening income streams through various means of fundraising, ia
the intemet and social media and seeking donations from
corporates and trusts.
Communication priorities for action include:
Overseeing the effectiveness of Fed News and Fed Talk and of our
website"
Encourage the development of new branches and the functionality
of existing ones, where applicable.
Strengthen the effectiveness and working of Central Branch by
exploring ways in which its members can more effectively communicate;
Strengthen the relationship between the branches and the EC by
improving internal communication and collaboration;
We will aim to democratise our campaign aims by consulting our
membership on which campaigns they wish to prioritise;
Improve, partially by funding, the participation of members in
involvement with local and national activities;
Encourage the development of social activities within the
organisation.
Continue to update our functionally sustainable website, and
encourage members to join and communicate via our e-group for active
members, and the development of other online and social media tools
which support existing and prospective members;
Raise the profile of NFBUK and our campaigns in the media;
Recruit and retain new members, strengthen involvement and
attract more people to contribute directly and indirectly to our
campaigns, Including sighted volunteers and campaigners
16

We will take action to update and agr￿ our business plan, taking into
account these planned ambitions and if necessary, seek outside
assistance to do so.
Karl Farrell
President
Back to contents
7. Financial Review 2023
Since its inception in 1947, NFBUK has supported the interests of blind
and partially sighted people both at local and national level. Our
Charity's income in 2023 was £69462 as against £58,548 in 2022. But
we also spent £87029 as against £96251 in 2022. We must increase
Our regular annual income because we can't rely on occasional legacies
to cancel out our annual deficits.
Collectively, our Branches. deficit rose from £2.218 in 2022 to £7,896 in
2023. Four Branches ended the year with a deficit and two Branches
closed. Branches held an average of £3,794 by the end of 2023.
Midlands Connect Branch did not submit any return for examination.
Our Head Office income jumped from £33,134 in 2022 to £58,214 in
2023. But spending also rose from £66.381 to £70.729. Our Fundraiser
collected only £8,369 for Head offi￿ funds at a cost of £3,760.
Donations from Life Members and other Members, as well as well-
wishers, fell from £19,279 in 2022 to £2,711 in 2023.
We were fortunate, though, to receive a legacy of £40,326 from a former
member and a grant of £5,000 from the Faimess Foundation. The grant
is provided to help members improve their skills using smartphones and
computers.
17

Of the fifteen items of spending listed for Head offi￿ this year, eight
show reductions over the previous year. These include insurance
expense, Advertising. Postage and Telephone. Printing and Stationery,
Fundraiser fees, Repairs and audio equipment, donations, and Water
Rates.
I would remind readers that funds held by Branches are regarded as
restricted to use by those Branches. Any Head Office funds donated for
a specific purpose must be spent as requested. Therefore, any money
paid into our CAF Bank Campaigns Fund can only be spent in that
cause.
We hope to raise more funds to support our activities. It is only
reasonable that funders want to know what a charity will do with their
donation so our freelance fundraiser led a workshop with the Executive
Council recently on planning projects to attract more funds.
Karl Farrell
Acting Honorary General Treasurer
8. Trustees, responsibilities in relation to the financial
statements
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees,
Report and the financial statements in accordance with the
applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards
(United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England & Wales 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
18

Charity and of the incoming resources and application of
resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these
financial statements, the trustees are required to:
Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them
consistently;
Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and
prudent;
state whether applicable accounting standards have been
followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and
explained in the financial statements:
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 accounting records
that disclose, with reasonable accuracy at any time, the
financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that
the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993, the
Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions
of the Rules and Constitution. 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.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity
of the charity and financial information included on the charity's
website. Legislation in the United Kingdom goveming the
preparation and dissemination of financial statements may
differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
19

fCF
Karl Farrell
President
Devaki Sivasubramanian
Honorary General Secretary
Date: 2<1,. IL
Date:
Financial Report
An Independent Examination of the financial statements is
required under Charity Regulations.
We report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended
31 st December 2023 as set out within these financial
statements.
Respective Responsibilities of Committee and Independent
Examiner
The Management Committee are responsible for the
preparation of the accounts in accordance with the terms of the
Charities Act 2011 , and the Charities Accounts (Scotland)
Regulations 2006, and they consider that the audit requirement
of the Charities Act 2011 and of the Charities Accounts
(Scotland) Regulations 2006 does not apply.
It is our responsibility to examine the accounts in accordance
with relevant legal requirements and based on our examination
to report our opinion
Basis of opinion
20

Our examination was carried out in accordance with the
Charities Act 2011 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland)
Regulations 2006. 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 of disclosure in the
Accounts, and seeking explanations from the Committee
concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do
not provide all the eviden￿ that would be required in an audit
and consequently we do not express an audit opinion on the
view given by the Accounts.
We have carried out such investigations as were necessary to
enable us to form an opinion as to whether proper accounting
records adequate for the purposes of the Charity have been
kept and the accounts of the Charity were in accordance with
the accounting records and that the view given in the accounts
for the year is in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and of
the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006.
Opinion
In our opinion, according to the best of our knowledge and
belief and in accordance with the information and explanations
given to us:
a) the Charity satisfied the conditions from exemption from
an audit of the Accounts for the year specified.
b) the Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet
and notes thereon have been properly prepared from the
records of the Charity. and are in agreement therewith;
c) the accounts comply with the tenns of the Charities Act
2011 , Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005;
21

The Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and the
founding Constitution of the Charity.
d) The accounts comply with the Statement of
Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting in
accordance with The Financial Reporting Standard applicable
in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland (FRS102)
22

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