NFBU
The Voice of Blind People
Report and Financial Statements
for the Year Ended
31 December 2024
Charlty Number (England & Wales): 236629
Charity Number (Scotland): SC040134

NFBUK
Re
ort and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December
2024
CONTENTS
PAGE
Legal and Administrative Infonnation
34
Trustees, Report
5-19
Independent Examination Report
20-22
Balance Sheet
23-26
Notes forming Part of the Financial Statements
including Statement of Financial Activities
2743
Appendix - Reports from NFBUK Branches
44-51

NFBUK
Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended
31 December 2024
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 2024.
LEGAL AND 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:
Karl Farrell
Vice-President:
Jill Allen-King O.B.E
Honorary General Secretary: Dr Devaki Sivasubramanian
Acting Honorary General
Treasurer:
Karl Farrell
Ordinary Executive Council Members:
Liz Silver
Clive Lever (from September
2022)
Andrew Hodgson (from
September 2022)
Tesfai Berhane (from September
2022)

NFBUK
Re
ort and Financial Statements for
the Year Ended 31 December 2024
Report of the Trustees
1. Foreword
The Trustees of NFBUK welcome readers to this their 2024
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).
Goveming 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
irnpairment 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
organisations.
4. Office Administration and Service 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 information 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
service comprises a large workload of our Office
5. Review of Pro
ress and Achievements
President's Report

NFBUK continued in 2024 its campaigning and consultation to defend
and improve aspects and quality of daily life for all blind, partially sighted
and deaf-blind people, and those whose sight impairment is part of multi-
disability. Issues related to street access continued in 2024 to be our
main campaigning and consulting focus, both at Branch level and
nationally.
Nationally in January, NFBUK campaigners Attended the launch of the
Roundtable Report on 'How to Make London an Accessible City for All,
by the Disability Policy Centre. Our campaigners found some allies
there and managed to get some press coverage from a report by the
Centre. In wet winter weather when cycle tracks become waterlogged,
cyclists take their bikes out of the cycle track and intrude onto
pavements. These situations lead to confused and erratic behaviour.
NFBUK has readily shared its evidence on the problems on island bus
stops and shared use bus borders (SUBBS) with other disability
organisations. SUBBS can be particularly dangerous because the cycle
track has no tactile-detectable kerb to indicate its presence. Sometimes
a small pavement upstand is put in to denote the edge of the cycle track.
This presents itself as a small hump on the pavement but it can't be very
pronounced lest it become a trip hazard.
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. Reports on Branch activities can be found in Appendix B of this
document.
Sarah Gayton, our Research and Campaigns Officer and Street Access
Campaigns Coordinator, has continued to take petitions to 10 Downing
Street. Those visits allow the media to meet our campaigners and

highlight recent developments. By February 2024 the NFBUK petition
against floating bus stops had 253 other organisations signed up to it in
support.
NFBUK continued to gather pictorial evidence of dockless bikes (bikes
available to rent online) left on pavements so that they become trip
hazards to pedestrians. The business model for these bikes relies on
the expectation that their next customer will claim them for their journey
but there is nowhere but on the pavement for abandoned bikes to be left.
By early April 2024 the NFBUK petition against floating bus stops had
gathered over 270 supporting organisations and a successful open
meeting for parliamentarians had been held at Portcullis House. At this
meeting, parliamentarians were shown film evidence of the problems
around floating bus stops and they were able to interview our members
who explained why they avoided those stops.
During the year, NFBUK members have been taken to new samples of
variants on the floating bus stop concept and found them horrifyingly
awkward to negotiate. Some members are guide dog users and they
have attended GDBA workshops on bus stops. NFBUK members also
attended workshops with the police and it is understood that our
evidence led the police to seek to make it nonnal practice for privately
owned e-scooters to be confiscated if found being used on public roads.
NFBUK investigations working with journalists have found some
instances of serious injury to pedestrians that were not included in
Transport for London statistics. We cannot know how many people
have been hurt where cyclists interface with bus passengers. But even
more uncertain is the number of blind and partially sighted bus travelers
who plan their bus journeys to avoid the uncomfortable interactions with
busy cycle tracks at rush hour. Blind pedestrians will not risk their
io

exposure to collisions because they cannot hear cyclists coming on
streets where there is a lot of background noise.
It is evident that the public increasingly shares blind peoples, dislike of
floating bus stops and shared use bus borders. TfL assessrnent of the
safety of bus stops does not include the latter type, configurations that
tended to be installed by outer London Boroughs. Research undertaken
for GDBA to determine how well guide dogs coped led to the discovery
that the dogs just could not cope with the shared use bus borders. This
research was later to influence Government that perhaps the design is
unacceptable.
Provision of Guide Dogs.
In order to implement the resolution passed at the 2023 Annual
Delegates Conference conceming guide dog issues, Jill Allen-King
organised two meetings during the year with management of the Guide
Dogs for the Blind Association. We held one meeting in July attended
by eight guide dog owners, representing all our branches, except
Stockport who do not have a guide dog owner, and another meeting in
October with ten members. Also attending were Peter Osbome,
Assistsnt Chief Executive and other members of the Guide Dogs staff.
Issues covered were the new method of training, long waiting list, the
allocation of resources. the affect on the health of our members who are
having to wait for a replacement dog.
Both of our meetings were reported in the Guide Dogs for the Blind
Association Annual Report, appreciating the work of the Federation.
Future meetings will be held.
A Touch Of Inclusion
li

At the AGM 2024, a motion, submitted by NFBUK was passed, calling
for us to campaign for fair and equal access to our finances. The need
for us to embark on this work was largely, but not solely due to the
impacts on us of the increasing use of touchscreen card readers,
inconsistencies in the way banks provide information about our accounts
in alternative formats, and the closure of many high street branches.
Following the formal AGM. we ran a workshop on the subject of Access
to money by our members and their peers. Having explained how the
need for such a campaign came about, the main purpose of the
workshop was to hear and collect members. stories of challenges they'd
experien￿ when managing or spending money, challenges not faced by
the non-disabled public at large.
The issues raised included:
Frustration experienced by members on encountering touch
screen card readers when paying for goods and services. One member
told of the difficulties she had when asked to key in a PIN number when
paying after receiving dental treatment. The challenges at dental
surgeries would appear several times in the coming months. This is
because the maximum amount payable in one transaction without the
need for a PIN to be entered is £100. Often, after a visit to the dentist in
which work has to be done, the amount payable exceeds £100.
The closure of many high street branches now means a taxi
journey of several miles each way to visit the nearest bank, where a
short walk or bus ride would have sufficed in the past.
A subgroup was set up to take action to try to find solutions to some of
the challenges identified in the workshop, and to identify organisations
that would bring Influen￿ to bear to make sure we weren't left behind as
high street branches continue to close, and technology continues to alter
12

the way we manage our accounts and pay for goods. We then
established contact with Adam Scarrett, who leads on inclusion at YJ
Finance, the national advisory body which gives service providers
guidance on how to put into place new ways of using banks and
spending at retail outlets, without excluding people who have additional
requirements, such as people with print impairments (note that I have
used the term because blind, Deafblind and partially-sighted people are
not the only disabled people with print impairments - people with
dyslexia would encounter many of the issues we do when faced with
touch screen card readers). In the following year, we would share
anonymised case studies from our rnembers with UK Finance, who
would then go on to include the points we raised in their main report on
the future of banks and retail outlets. It is hoped that that report will be
widely read among Servi￿ providers. One of the problems we have is
that most shopkeepers and other service providers currently only
discover that we have difficulties spending our money using touch
screens when they encounter a blind person who struggles or is unable
to enter their PINS on these machines. The UK finance report aims to
address this.
We would appreciate hearing from any member who is keen to take an
active part in the work the Touch Of Inclusion subgroup is doing.
Thanks go to the existing members of the subgroup for their support.
They are".
Liz Silver
Pardy Gill
Anna Lawson (whose specialist knowledge of equality law is
particularly valuable)
Clive Lever.
13

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.
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
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 office 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.
Back to contents
Future Plans
Our Charity strives to maintain acceptable standards in the way it
operates its governance and communication by developing, maintaining
and regularly updating a Policy Statement that embraces the ambitions
of blind, deafblind and partially-sighted people.
External priorities
Legislative..
Protect the interests of all visually impaired people with regard to
the reform of benefits such as Personal Independence Payments &
Universal Credit.,
14

Influence the Government and the local authorities together with
other likeminded organizations, in the refonn 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
services so that we can then live our own lives;
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
forms of public transport
encouraging staff awareness training, and access to information prior to
and during journeys;
Continue to campaign against "island" or "floating" style bus stops
with their priority 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;
Intemal priorities
15

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.
widening income streams through various means of fundraising, ia
the internet and social media and seeking donations from corporates
and trusts.
Communication priorities for action include:
Reviving our intemal magazines, Fed News and Fed Talk;
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.
16

Continue to update our functionally sustainable website, and
encourage mernbers 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
We will take action to update and agree our business plan, taking into
account these planned ambitions and if necessary, seek outside
assistance to do so.
Kad Farrell
President
Back to contents
7. Financial Review 2025
Report on annual accounts.
This is my first report as your newly elected honorary general treasurer
and I would like to take this opportunity to thank those members and
branches who nominated me.
Sadly and disappointingly, On￿ again in 2024 we ended the year with a
financial head office deficit of above £55,000 which is not only
unacceptable but also totally unsustainable.
17

I wish to extract the rnaximum value and use of every penny we have. I
would urge all members to join with me in trying to eliminate the annual
deficit and turn it into a surplus which can then be in tum invested to
make money for us. I would like to thank that small number of members
who responded to my earlier appeal to consider donating regularly to
head office general funds. To those who have not yet responded, l again
repeat my appeal to consider making a donation on a regular basis, no
matter how small. For example. compared to the cost of running a fully
funded NFBUK, our present full subscription of £16 a year is very small.
I think most of us could afford to pay to run the Federation on a modest
donation of £3 a week. That's hardly the cost of a cup of tea at your
local café. As the Government accepts that we are vision impaired, we
each receive thousands of pounds annually in benefits (that, incidentally,
NFBUK helped to win with other charities). Then the occasional
legacies we receive would be a real bonus. We are grateful to the small
number of life members who regularly voluntarily financially donate.
Branches could also consider carrying out more fundraising
opportunities and donating to our funds. It's your Federation and there
are no fairy godmother's or magic lucky money trees out there - charity
begins at home and needs to be worked at!
Undoubtedly, in addition to increasing our sources of income we also
need to address and cut down on our outgoings. In collaboration with
branches the E.C. needs to urgently undertake a thorough review of all
aspects of our ongoing expenditure and whether our limited resources
and revenue could be better expended in other directionslways.
There
should be no sacred cows" in this review. Past Experiments in offering
free or reduced membership has proven that this is not the solution and
members should remember that it costs money to campaign and
represent you. A blind person speaking on behalf of other blind people
carries much more weight and credence, as opposed to someone
sighted doing it for us. The Federation is a non political, self help
campaigning pressure group and registered charity. Therefore, I call on
all Members and branches. to work jointly with the E.C. on eliminating
our ongoing deficit and working together on recruiting, campaigning,
fund raising and building up the Federation in order to deliver our
objectives for our members going forward. The E.C. desires branches to
become more active in recruiting new members who can take up some
of the strain and spread the workload in getting our message across to
important decision makers.
18

Finally, I would like to thank Louisa in our office for her careful retention
and keeping of our finances throughout the year and to our accountant
Mr David Stewart, for extemally examining our financial records.
Douglas Gilroy
Honorary general treasurer
12 September 2025
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
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;
ObseNe 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:
19

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 governing the
preparation and dissemination of financial statements may
differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Mr Karl Farrel
Dr Devaki Sivasubramanian
President
Honorary General Secretary
Date:2810112026
Date:2810112026
Sbgrbed by-
Kttr￿- ,
92237E7E8IB9438
20

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
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
21

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 evidence 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 terms of the Charities Act
2011, Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005;
The Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and the
founding Constitution of the Charity.
22

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)
23

a)
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Appendix - Reports from NFBUK Branches
STOCKPORT BRANCH REPORT
Our Branch does not hold regular meetings, as there are only two
members who live in Stockport itself, namely myself as Secretary and
Ben Harland as Chairman. We chat regularly either on the phone or
when we meet face-to-face which is quite frequent. l am in contact with
our out-of-area members by e-mail. most of whom are on Merseyside,
as former members of the Liverpool and Wirral Branches.
Between us we represent the Branch on the Stockport Disability Forum,
and the Transport and Access Forum. We are also connected with
Disability Stockport and the local Blind Society.
During the year, we have been involved with access issues for the new
bus station in Stockport.
Stockport has now become part of the Bee Network for transport
services in Greater Manchester. Although some of the new buses have
speech announcements, I so far haven't found a talking bus, and some
of my friends tell me that sometimes the announcements are not
working, or are incorrect, giving the wrong names for stops.
I have received several enquiries via Head Office from people who think
we may be able to help them, including Wirral Council and enquiries
regarding bus services in Bolton.
I have served for a number of years on the local Police Independent
Advisory Group, but this group is now being disbanded and those of us
who are interested in joining the new version of the group have been
asked to re-apply. I have done so, but as yet have heard nothing, but
then other former members of the group have also heard nothing.
45

Peter Wilkins
Stockport Branch Secretary
West of Scotland branch
Report on the branch and its activities for the year ending 31 December
2024.
The annual general meeting (AGM) was held in January. The 2023
annual report and accounts were adopted: Election of office bearers -
the following were re-elected.. Michael Mccabe as chairperson.
Margaret Cowie (O.B.E.) as Vice Chairperson. Douglas Gilroy Secretary.
The following were elected to represent us on the following bodies:
Transport Scotland's "Roads for all Forum": Douglas Gilroy.
Scottish Accessible Transport Alliance (SATA): Michael Mccabe.
Scottish Council on Voluntary Organisations (SCVO): Michael Mccabe.
Glasgow Access Panel: Joyce MacPherson.
North Lanarkshire Access panel: Joyce MacPherson.
We were sorry to learn that due to economic reasons, SATA decided in
2024 to dissolve the organisation.
As can be seen from the foregoing list, the membership of the branch is
small but very dedicated in flying the federation flag.
Branch meetings were scheduled for: Monday 5 March 2024, Monday
15 April 2024, Monday 3 June 2024. Monday 22 July 2024, Monday 2
September 2024, Monday 14 October 2024, Monday 25 November
2024. Unfortunately, due to the chairperson being on holiday and the ill
health of the secretary, one meeting had to be abandoned.
Ordinarily meetings are held by telephone conference calls. For those
not familiar with the lay out or geography of the West of Scotland, it
might be useful to paint a verbal picture, for the need to use conference
calls i.e. by road south to north from Carlisle to Glasgow it is
approximately 100 miles: From Glasgow going further north to Fort
Williarn again it is approximately another 100 miles and from Fort William
46

to the North West peninsula is approximately 80-100 rniles. This is a vast
geographical area and underlines the need to recruit new members in
order to spread the workload and increase the number of our branches.
Douglas Gilroy
Past President
Branch secretary
LEEDS & DISTRICT BRANCH REPORT FOR 2024
This year we have had a number of meetings with Connecting Leeds
from Leeds City Council in regard to the Woodhouse Gateway which
extends from Leeds City Centre through to Headingley
This year we were unfortunate to lose two members. February saw the
passing of Steve Goulding MBE., a long time Vice Chairman. We
attended his funeral in March. Our President, Karl Farrell attended
representing the Executive Council.
A few months later, in May. our Treasurer, Philip Hepworth, died in
hospital, and his funeral was later in the month. This was very well
attended.
In June Mr Bernard Whitley was asked if he would take on the position
of Treasurer of Leeds & District Branch which he accepted.
Since then he and Anne Steele, in her position of Assistant Treasurer,
have been extremely busy sorting out bank books and signatures.
This years annual AGM was held @ the end of September @ the Village
Hotel North, Otley Road, were we also celebrated the 75th Anniversary
of Leeds & District Branch,
Socially we have had a number of visitors to our meetings. Bill Scully
came to recite poems with a broad Yorkshire accent, and he also
attended our Christmas party with his wife. The Archivist, from Kirkstall
Abbey Museum, Patrick Bourne, came one month with a number of
small artefacts which we were allowed to handle. This is always very
interesting and well appreciated by members.
47

Our Christmas Paty, held at our meeting in December was very well
attended. Food brought in by members was very good and
entertainment was provided by the aforementioned Bill Scully and
member Bryan Matthews brought his guitar so we could sing carols It
has to be said we were not very good. We then dispersed wishing
everyone a Happy Christmas.
Chair, Secretary's Report for the London Branch AGM on Saturday 25
January 2025
At our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in January 2024, 1 was elected as
Secretary for the Branch and Darren Vickers was elected as
Chairperson. However, after two months Darren resigned and so for the
rest of the year, with the permission of the Executive Council, l acted in
both capacities. The branch elected a new Treasurer, to succeed our
long-standing incumbent of this post, David Bamber, at that same AGM.
After a couple of months, he also resigned due to study commitments
and whilst we managed to find a replacement. he too eventually
resigned as his wife was seriously ill. By the end of the year, it had been
agreed that Karl Farrell, who had now been relieved of long-standing
national Treasurer commitments, was able to take on that branch role.
All of our branch meetings were held by Zoom. We felt that there would
be an advantage in holding live meetings once more, provided they were
hybrid, to encourage comradeship amongst members and to reduce
isolation. However, despite our efforts we didn't manage to find a venue
at a suitable cost and which was available at a convenient time. We will
continue to look for such a venue and we hope that we may be able to
develop a scheme to help those who have difficulty in travelling to come
to meetings with an escort.
For our first Meeting of the year in February, we were joined by Sarah
Gayton, our Research and Campaigns Officer and Street Access
Campaigns Coordinator. She updated us on our campaign against bus-
stop bypasses and similar installations. She also mentioned a recent
48

important meeting at Port Cullis House, where She had shown her film
footage on this subject to MPS and their researchers, which had made a
significant impact. She also reported on a recent meeting we had had on
this subject with the Department of Transport and a pan-disability
webinar with Inclusion London, where many disabled people with
differing access needs had spoken out against bus-stop bypasses. In
addition, she reported on our campaign activity to ban e-scooters and
regulate the use of e-bikes.
In March we discussed the forthcoming London hustings and issues that
Might be addressed to the candidates standing for the Mayoral and
London Assembly elections in May. These were mainly of an
environmental nature. l attended that meeting, together with Kasia
Kubasek, Hyacinth Malcolm and Sarah Gayton and I reported back to
our Branch Meeting in April.
During the next few months, we had useful discussions on campaign
issues.
Access to finance, or rather the lack of it as far as vision impaired people
are concerned. has been a common topic of discussion. As a result, we
put forward a proposal to nationally work on this issue at our national
AGM. London members, Clive Lever and Pardy Gill. have formed half of
the Sub-committee to take fonNard issues regarding our exclusion to
financial access.
At our September meeting, London Branch had compiled 12 questions
to be tabled at the national AGM in Leeds. Because of delays in
producing our national Annual Report, these could not be fully
considered at the AGM and a meeting to discuss them, and other
questions has been arranged for 1 February.
In November we were due to have a talk from our national
representative on the DBC (Disability Benefits Consortium), Sandra
49

Kane. She was unable to attend, but as I had deputised for her at the
most recent DBC meeting I was able to report on those proceedings.
Anxiety had been expressed by our members. particulady about
possible changes in the administration of PIP. I was able to report back
on this, but unfortunately not to a51eviate their fears, as despite a change
in Government, due to the dire state of central finance, such proposals
have not been ruled out.
We realise that we need to improve our communications amongst
members. To alleviate this problem, I produced two branch newsletters
in late summer and early autumn. However, due to other commitments I
have been unable to continue to do this, although I have forwarded
circulars and items of interest, which have come from our Head Office
and other sources, such as consultations by Transport for London.
A number of our members have been active in organising social events.
In the main these have been meals out, one of which was coupled with a
walk in St James Park. There has also been a visit to Kenwood House
and the Royal Academy of Music for a demonstration of keyboard and
stringed instruments. Two Christmas meals were organised, one north of
the river at the Travelers Rest in Kenton and one south of the river at the
Railway in Blackheath. These were both well attended.
We felt it was important to try and continue to organise a weekend away.
Brighton was suggested as a venue, but in the end, it was decided to
stick to the familiar resort of Eastboume. Because of lack of resources
for organisation, we settled for a fairly low-key affair, without organised
activities, at the Da Vinci Hotel. This was attended by seven members. It
was a very relaxing weekend. The Hotel was bed and breakfast only, but
we enjoyed going out for meals locally and the restaurants were easy to
locate. We only needed an evening meal as the breakfasts in the hotel
were so generous.
Andrew Hodgson
50

Annual Report from Nottingham Branch covering 2024
2024 has been an incredibly difficult year for Nottingham Branch.
In February we lost our Secretary, Neana Lawson. who had been a long
time member of the National Federation of the Blind of the United
Kingdom (NFBUK). Branch members were disappointed with the lack of
contact from the Executive Council having lost such a key member of
the team. We acknowledge that an email was sent by our EC link,
however, the email address was not monitored by anyone at the time
(having been monitored by Neana) and no follow-up contact was
received, so we were left feeling that we had been 'left to get on with it,.
l am very proud of regular attendees to Nottingham branch meetings as
we all pulled together and shared Neana's role between us. To keep the
branch moving forward. Within 3 months of Neana's passing, two
regular attendees at meetings were matched with Guide Dogs and were
required to undergo training with their new dogs. Immediately following
this the chairperson needed to take some time out due to personal
circumstances.
Despite all of the above. members have continued to support the branch
and we have played an active role in campaigning locally. We have
rnaintained contact with Trent Barton buses regarding their next stop
announcements, attended regular meetings regarding the accessibility of
Nottingham railway station. liaised with the local council regarding
proposed bus stop bypasses and regularly expressed an interest in
attending Disability Involvement Group meetings hosted by the local
council when they were rearranged. We have continued to meet
regularly via Zoom.
Karina Gregory - Chairperson, Nottingham Branch.
SOUTHENDAND ESSEX BRANCH
Mrs Jill Allen-King, OBE,
The AGM of the Southend and Essex Branch was held on January 14th
2025. Jill Allen-King gave a report on all the outside bodies that the
51

Branch was represented on. These include the Southend and District
Bus Users Group, C2C Rail Passenger Panel, Southend Association of
Voluntary Service, and Southend Airport Group.
The Branch continue to campaign for a lift being installed at Chalkwell
station, and they campaigned to stop ticket offices being closed earlier in
the year.
At the Bus Users AGM in September the Branch questioned bus
operators on the irregularity of services and the lack of bus services to
our local theatre, sea front, Chalkwell and Westcliff railway stations.
Jill travelled by car to the Guide Dogs AGM in Leamington Spa, and
raised questions about the My Guide service, the long wait for
replacernent guide dogs, and money not being used solely for the
training of dogs. Jill's guide dog had died suddenly in February, and
she is still waiting for a replacement.
Jill had written many letters to the local paper and all were published.
They covered Chalkwell lift and ticket offices, the state of pavements and
parked cars, electric cars and e-bikes, and proposed use of wheely bins,
as well as lack of bus services. Also Overhanging branches, etc.
Our previous Member of Parliament, Anna Firth. who has supported the
Branch and our campaigns, lost her seat in the election. Although the
new MP has responded to e-mails and had a forty minute phone call with
Jill, he would not support the Branch to stop the winter fuel allowance
being cut.
The Branch's on-going campaign is to have audio description provided
at both the local theatres, and this will be the main campaign for the next
year.
52

Douglas Gilroy
0141956 6766
07823501115
26 Elm Court
97 Main Street
Milngavie
G82 6JQ
ilro
53
mail.com
2410311953
Andrew Hodgson
07765 113327
020 8740 1109
Flat 32 Pocklington Lodge
Rylett Road
London W12 9PQ
ahod
son
nfbuk.or
andrewhod
son55
mail.com
1411111955
Liz Silver
01159 580744
07855 713241
58 Ashfield Road
Sneinton
Nottingham NG2 4LS
Isilver
liz.silver
nfbuk.or
honecoo
.coo
0210111957

EC Contact Information
Karl Farrell
07808 519720
19 Belgrade Road
Stoke Newington
London N16 8DH
karl.farrell
btinternet.com
09.01.1945
Jill Allen-King OBE
01702 477899
59 Silversea Drive
Westcliff on Sea
Essex. SSO 9XD
ill.allenkin
btinternet.com
1010311940
Devaki Sivasubramanian
07824 884848
Flat 7 Pocklington Lodge
Rylett Road
London W12 9PQ
dsivasubramanian
nfbuk.or
drshivdev
hotmail.com
1610511962

Clive Lever
01622 672277
07711607272
24 King Edward Road
Maidstone
Kent ME15 6PJ
clever
nfbuk.or
clive.lever1955
mail.com
1510211955
Sandra Kane
07592164782
71 Holder Road
Yardley
Birmingham
B25 8AP
skane
nfbuk.or