THE PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY
A company limited by guarantee
Report and Financial Statements
For the year ended 31st March 2025
Registered Company Number: 00917003 (England and Wales)
Registered Charity Number: 254052
The Partially Sighted Society
Contents of the Financial Statements For the year ended 31st March 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Legal and administrative information | 1 |
| Report of the trustees | 2 -6 |
| Independent Examiners Report | 7 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 8 |
| Balance Sheet | 9 |
| Notes to Financial Statements | 10 - 16 |
The Partially Sighted Society
Company Information
For the year ended 31st March 2025
Management Committee
KR Binks Chair R Magilton Vice Chair P Moore RL Mackay CV Kemp T Vadhia
Registered Office 1 Bennetthorpe Doncaster South Yorkshire DN2 6AA
Company Number 00917003 Charity Registration No 254052
Independent examiner Jon Lister Enterprise Chartered Certified Accountants 8 Castlegate Tickhill Doncaster DN11 9QU
Page 1
The Partially Sighted Society
Report of the Board of Trustees For the year ended 31st March 2025
The members of the Board of Trustees present their Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 2025.
Objectives and aims
The main objective of the charity is to help people with a visual impairment make the best possible use of their remaining vision. The main activities to achieve this objective are the provision of advice, information, equipment and clear print material.
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the Charity should undertake.
Members of the Board of Trustees
KR Binks Chair R Magilton Vice Chair P Moore CV Kemp T Vadhia RL Mackay
The members of the Board of Trustees are all directors of the company.
The Charity is incorporated and is registered with the Charity Commission, No 254052. The Company is registered in England and Wales, No 00917003. The Charity's address is 1 Bennetthorpe, Doncaster, DN2 6AA. The governing document is the Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 3 October 1967.
The Board of Trustees are the members of the company. The company is a company limited by guarantee and therefore has no share capital. In the event of a winding up the liability of members is limited to £1.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
Trustees are elected to serve for three years after which they may be reappointed for a further three year term. The Honorary Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Treasurer are elected by the trustees.
The Trustees will review their composition on an ongoing basis to ensure that all relevant skill areas are represented and where necessary recruit additional Trustees. The Trustee Board endeavours at all times to ensure and maintain the professional standards required to maintain the Charity's National reputation.
Organisational structure
The Board of Trustees meet quarterly and are responsible, with the CEO, for the strategic direction and policy of the Charity. The CEO has no voting rights. The CEO is responsible for the day to day provision of services and the implementation of policies agreed by the trustees.
Page 2
The Partially Sighted Society
Report of the Board of Trustees - Continued For the year ended 31st March 2025
Induction and training of new trustees
The Charity has produced a trustee guide for newly recruited trustees. This draws upon in-house information sources as well as various publications of the Charity Commission. A formal induction programme is available when new trustees are appointed.
Changes to the Board of Trustees
No changes during the year, the Board continues to consist of 5 trustees with no changes to the leadership positions.
The Partially Sighted Society are actively seeking appropriately qualified people with complementary skills sets to return the composition to a group of seven.
Wider network
The Charity takes advice from and uses services of other organisations to achieve and deliver its charitable objective and aims.
Related parties
The Charity continues to foster close working relationships with other charitable organisations working in the field of visual impairment.
Financial review
The trustees consider the Charity to be in a stable and healthy financial position and well placed to undertake activities in future years.
Reserves policy
It is the policy of the Charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month's expenditure. The Trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that that in the event of a significant funding drop, they will be able to continue the Charity's current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised.
This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
Investment policy and objectives
The Trustees annually consider the most appropriate policy for investing funds to meet the charity's requirements to generate income and capital growth.
Risk management
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems and protocols are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. The Trustees have conducted a review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed. A risk register has been established and is updated quarterly by the CEO. Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety of staff, volunteers and visitors to the Registered Office.
Page 3
The Partially Sighted Society
Report of the Board of Trustees - Continued For the year ended 31st March 2025
Activities
Following on from another successful and developmental year in 2024-25, the charity continued to grow in terms of services offered to beneficiaries, income across all streams including online sales and legacies and the new staff and those with extended hours have flourished.
The charity has in place effective systems and procedures to support strategic development and monitoring. This has helped to evaluate growth areas, identify new demands and effectively deploy resources. Feedback from beneficiaries in relation to our variety of services remains exclusively positive and exudes sincere gratitude as evidenced from volumes of written compliments. There have been no complaints.
The following are a selection of the year’s developments:
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The online 'build-a-book' system to support VI children’s school and home resources has been further promoted and seen considerable growth in orders. The print room has developed increasingly accurate systems and equipment to reduce waste and costs. Surplus or imperfect resources continue to be donated to our grateful partners in Africa.
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Investing in an extended hours contract with Gary Flack, as our resident low vision specialist optometrist, has seen significant rewards in terms of new developments, especially in affording more time to a greater range of beneficiaries, but especially in promoting new technological devices (see below) to support VI people. His expertise has now established a PSS training package for dispensing opticians that is receiving strong reviews as well as generating interest amongst professionals in the work of the charity. This is part of a strategy to upskill Opticians nationwide to better support people nationally with low vision. Gary is also supporting our communications officer with marketing and promotion.
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A new technological development has been our agreement to become a retail partner in the sales and training support for AI Meta Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses. These, whilst commercially available to all, have the potential to significantly enhance quality of life and accessibility for sight impaired and blind individuals. Shaun, our communications officer is seeing increasing uptake in the demand for training in the use of smart glasses and delivers this alongside training in making best use of accessibility features on personal mobiles, tablets and laptops.
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PSS podcasts are now an established programme available on all main media streams such as Spotify and YouTube and gaining in listener followers. They cover a range of visual impairment topics and conditions in an informal discussion style. Our communications officer, Shaun, has become a real expert as host and editor.
Page 4
The Partially Sighted Society
Report of the Board of Trustees - Continued For the year ended 31st March 2025
Activities (continued)
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All five trustees have been active in personal endeavours to support the charity this year. This has led to:
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improved links with Universities, and optometry businesses promoting PSS work and potential sponsorships
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supporting and promoting user groups
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analysing and monitoring investments
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checking, reviewing and editing policies
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proposing potential new developments
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establishing and supporting an independent UK NAAION group
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contributing to podcasts
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As forecast, our relatively new Mental Health and Well-being programme including Creative Well-being and Art Therapy, has seen considerable uptake. As word spreads, other organisations, including the NHS, are referring people to us. Our resident provider, Nickie, is having to carefully manage the demand to not exceed capacity and impact on the gold standard quality of provision. PSS has engaged two volunteers, supervised by Nickie, to enhance capacity, as well as a student placement from Sheffield Hallam University, a relationship we are hopeful will provide an employment route for future expansion of the service.
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The skills and development of our Administrator, Nichola, has enabled Anita, as CEO, to focus on more strategic matters and other staff to focus on core business roles. She has also established an onsite charity shop, including the supervision of two shop volunteers. Together, they have increased footfall and sales revenue over the year.
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Overall finances remain healthy. Despite a significant increase in employment costs as a consequence of an expansion of services and salary uplifts, we are still in excess of our reserves policy. As a result of passing an investment threshold, we were able to negotiate reduced fees with Brewin Dolphin, our investment company. The Board and Society leadership do not rest on a comfortable position and are constantly exploring new avenues to generate income aware of risks and changing economic circumstances. However, our development plan identifies areas of potential expansion in services to meet the growing and changing needs of the partially sighted community across the country.
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As an organisation we have begun to explore the benefits of AI to both support our beneficiaries, make the charity processes more efficient and reduce costs. This will be an area of continuing development into the future.
In summary we believe in a holistic approach to supporting an individual with any degree of vision impairment and we are proud to offer emotional, practical, clinical and social support.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to thank our developing staff team on their dedication to the needs of the partially sighted community both locally, nationwide and internationally. Their complimentary skills and devoted professionalism is providing a ‘gold standard’ support to the visually impaired community. Their support to each other and commitment to their own professional development has generated a clear team ethic and shared values.
Page 5
The Partially Sighted Society
Report of the Board of Trustees - Continued For the year ended 31st March 2025
Statement of the responsibilities of the members of the Board of Trustees
Company law requires the directors of the company (who are also trustees) to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the statements, the company and of the surplus or deficit of the company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the members are required to:
*Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.
The members of the Board of Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Statement as to disclosure of information to Independent Examiners
So far as the Board of Trustees is aware, there is no relevant information (as defined by Section 418 of the Companies Act 2006) of which the Independent Examiner is unaware, and each director has taken all the steps that he/she ought to have taken as director to make himself/herself aware of any relevant information and to establish that the company's Independent Examiner is aware of that information.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff for their continued professionalism and commitment ensuring continuity of service and support to those living or coming to terms with sight loss.
The Trustees report has been prepared having taken advantage of the small companies exemption in the Companies Act 2006.
The Trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
…………………………………………………………………. K Binks - Chair of the Trustee Board
Dated:
Page 6
Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees of The Partially Sighted Society For the year ended 31st March 2025
We report on the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 set out on pages 8 to 16.
Retrospective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 145(1) of the Charities Act 2011 and that an independent examination is needed.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to;
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011;
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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 2011; and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
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 you as 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:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respects the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and to prepare accounts which accord with accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 386 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the method and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities
have not been met; or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached
Jon Lister FCCA
Enterprise Accountancy Services Limited
Dated:
8 Castlegate Tickhill Doncaster South Yorkshire DN11 9QU
Page 7
The Partially Sighted Society
Statement of Financial Activities (including Income & Expenditure Account) For the year ended 31st March 2025
| Notes Incoming Resources from the generated funds Voluntary Income Donations & legacies 2 Incoming Resources from Charitable Activities Charitable Activities 3 Investment Income Investments 4 TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES RESOURCES EXPENDED Charitable expenditure: Charitable activities 5 Fundraising costs 6 Net gains/(losses) on investments 7 TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR Transfer Funds at 1 April 2024 Funds at 31 March 2025 12 |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds 2025 2025 2025 £ £ £ 194,583 4,900 199,483 205,021 - 205,021 5,585 - 5,585 405,189 4,900 410,089 442,242 4,900 447,142 14,732 - 14,732 47,388 - 47,388 409,586 4,900 414,486 4,397) ( - 4,397) ( - - - 1,657,301 - 1,657,301 1,652,904 - 1,652,904 |
Total Funds 2024 £ 52,756 184,613 25,511 262,880 396,183 6,382 51,537 351,028 88,148) ( - 1,745,449 1,657,301 |
|---|---|---|
Page 8
The Partially Sighted Society Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2025 Registered Company Number: 00917003 (England & Wales)
| Note FIXED ASSETS Intangible assets 8 Tangible assets 8 Investments 8 CURRENT ASSETS Stocks 9 Debtors 10 Cash at bank & in hand CURRENT LIABILITIES Creditors due within one year 11 NET CURRENT ASSETS Creditors: falling due after more than one year TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES FUNDS Unrestricted funds 13 Designated fiunds 13 Restricted funds 13 TOTAL FUNDS |
£ £ 4,206 585,237 960,570 1,550,013 26,988 36,643 69,726 133,357 30,466) ( 102,891 - 1,652,904 1,652,904 - - 1,652,904 2025 |
£ £ 5,609 613,153 784,185 1,402,947 33,883 28,028 222,425 284,336 29,982) ( 254,354 155) ( 1,657,301 1,657,301 - - 1,657,301 2024 |
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These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
The company is entitled to exemption from the audit requirement contained within section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2025. No member of the company has deposited a notice pursuant to section 476, requiring an audit of these accounts.
These financial statements were approved by the trustees on
The directors have acknowledged their responsibilities for preparing account which give a true and fair view of the Company and of the profit/loss (which ever is applicable for the year then ended in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of this Act relating to accounts, so far as applicable to the Company.
The directors have acknowledged their responsibilities for ensuring that the Company keeps accounting records which comply with the Companies Act 2006.
K. Binks - Chair of the Trustee Board
Date:
Page 9
The Partially Sighted Society
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31st March 2025
1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of accounting
The principal accounting policies which are adopted consistently in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below.
a) Accounting convention and charitable status
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and are in accordance with SORP FRS102 and applicable Accounting Standards and include the results of the company's operations described in the report of the board of management and all of which are continuing. The Company is a Registered Charity, No. 254052. Exemption has been taken from preparing a cash flow statement as the company qualifies as a small company.
b) Incoming resources: Revenue grants
Revenue grants are recognised in the statement of financial activities in the year in which they are received. Grants received in respect of funding the Arts and Mind Development post and the Project Manager post are recognised in the year to the extent that salary and fees have been paid.
C) Unrestricted funds and Support costs
Unrestricted funds are grants, donations, and other income received or generated for the charity's main activities. Unrestricted funds are designated at the discretion of the board of management. Support costs relating to the administration of the charity have been allocated to unrestricted funds. Those relating to artistic project delivery have been allocated to restricted funds.
D) Tangible Fixed Assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rate in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life:
Freehold land & buildings 2% Straight line basis Plant & equipment 25% Reducing balance basis Computer equipment 20% Reducing balance basis
E) Intangible Fixed Assets
Intangible fixed assets are recognised at cost and are subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses.
Intangible assets comprise of costs incurred in the development of an e-commerce website. The asset is amortised over its expected useful economic life of six years.
F) Fixed Asset Investments
Fixed asset investments are measured at cost (including transaction costs) and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in the fair value are reported in the SOFA.
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The Partially Sighted Society
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For the year ended 31st March 2025
| 2 DONATIONS & LEGACIES Donations and gifts Legacies receivable Grants 3 CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Sales within charitable activities Training Charitable rental income Employment allowance 4 INVESTMENTS Income from listed investments Interest receivable |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds 2025 2024 £ £ £ £ 29,372 - 29,372 30,110 163,210 - 163,210 22,491 2,000 4,900 6,900 155 194,583 4,900 199,483 52,756 Unrestricted Restricted 2025 2024 Funds Funds £ £ £ £ 202,593 - 202,593 178,075 1,828 1,828 788 600 - 600 750 - - - 5,000 205,021 - 205,021 184,613 Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds 2025 2024 £ £ £ £ - - - 18,281 5,585 - 5,585 7,230 5,585 - 5,585 25,511 |
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The Partially Sighted Society
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For the year ended 31st March 2025
| 5 | CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE Staff costs Depreciation, amortisation and impairment Provision of low vision aids Provision of information, advice & low vision services Equipment hire & maintenance Stock movement Support costs: Equipment hire & maintenance Property expenses Telephone & postage IT costs Sundries Bank charges Administration costs: Staff costs Staff training & CPD Accountancy Legal & professional Insurance Travel & meeting expenses Other governance costs |
General Restricted Total Total Funds Funds 2025 2024 £ £ £ £ 204,746 - 204,746 170,789 29,805 - 29,805 30,945 65,498 - 65,498 51,913 4,620 - 4,620 1,182 12,979 - 12,979 18,416 6,895 - 6,895 1,139) ( 2,518 - 2,518 3,082 14,402 4,900 19,302 19,872 2,417 - 2,417 2,594 30,353 - 30,353 31,097 2,174 - 2,174 1,370 3,234 - 3,234 3,601 41,571 - 41,571 33,981 1,200 1,200 - 927 - 927 3,673 14,194 - 14,194 21,890 2,932 - 2,932 1,763 1,361 - 1,361 749 415 - 415 405 442,242 4,900 447,142 396,183 |
|---|---|---|
Adminstration costs include payments to the Independent Examiner of £1,500 (2024: £1,500).
None of the Trustees (or other such connected with them) received any remuneration during the year. A total of £Nil (2023: £Nil) was reimbursed for travelling expenses.
| 6 | RAISING FUNDS Fundraising and publicity Advertising Investment fund management fees Other fundraising costs |
General Restricted Total Total Funds Funds 2025 2024 £ £ £ £ 3,806 - 3,806 3,381 9,003 - 9,003 - 1,923 - 1,923 3,001 14,732 - 14,732 6,382 |
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The Partially Sighted Society
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For the year ended 31st March 2025
| Employees The average monthly number of employees during the year was: Employment costs Wages & salaries Social Security costs Pension costs |
2025 2024 Number Number 7 5 £ £ 176,738 176,738 17,277 17,277 3,447 3,447 197,462 197,462 |
|---|---|
The total amount paid to key management personnel totals £45,737 (2024: £45,737).
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
| 7 NET GAINS/(LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS Revaluation of investments 8 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS |
2025 2024 £ £ 47,388 51,537 |
|---|---|
| COST At 1st April 2024 Additions At 31st March 2025 DEPRECIATION At 1st April 2024 Charge for year At 31st March 2025 NET BOOK VALUE At 31st March 2025 At 31st March 2024 |
Freehold land & Plant & Computer Total buildings equipment equipment £ £ £ 1,022,769 731,553 228,529 62,687 486 - 486 - 1,023,255 731,553 229,015 62,687 409,616 187,602 159,327 62,687 28,401 11,101 17,300 - 438,017 198,703 176,627 62,687 585,237 532,850 52,387 - 585,237 543,951 69,202 - |
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The Partially Sighted Society
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For the year ended 31st March 2025
| 8 INTANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS COST At 1st April 2024 Additions At 31st March 2025 AMORTISATION At 1st April 2024 Charge for year At 31st March 2025 NET BOOK VALUE At 31st March 2025 At 31st March 2024 8 FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS COST OR VALUATION At 1st April 2024 Additions/(disposals) Valuation changes Portfolio management fees At 31st March 2025 Investments at fair value comprise: Cash or cash equivalents Listed investments |
Software £ 8,415 8,415 2,806 1,403 4,209 4,206 5,609 Listed Investments £ 784,185 138,000 47,388 9,003) ( 960,570 2025 2024 £ £ 11,935 12,331 948,635 771,854 960,570 784,185 |
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Listed investments are included at the current market value quoted by an independent valuer at the balance sheet date. The historic cost of the investments at the balance sheet date is £841,200 (2024: £703,200).
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The Partially Sighted Society
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For the year ended 31st March 2025
| 9 10 11 |
STOCKS Finished goods and goods for resale DEBTORS Trade debtors Prepayments & accrued income CREDITORS Falling due < 1 year Trade creditors Accrued expenses Other taxation and social security Government grants Falling due > 1 year Government grants |
2025 2024 £ £ 26,988 33,883 2025 2024 £ £ 32,982 22,477 3,660 5,551 36,643 28,028 2025 2024 £ £ 18,446 20,275 2,620 2,350 9,245 7,202 155 155 30,466 29,982 - 155 |
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12 RETIREMENT BENEFIT SCHEMES
Defined contribution schemes
The Charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Charity in an independently administered fund. The Charity contributes a specified percentage of payroll costs to the
retirement benefit scheme to fund the benefits. The obligation of the charity with respect to the scheme is to make the specified contributions.
The amount recognised as an expenses in respect of defined contribution schemes was £3,057 (2024: £3,447).
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The Partially Sighted Society
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued For the year ended 31st March 2025
| 13 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS General funds Designated funds Property fund Redundancy fund Total unrestricted funds Doncaster MBC Total restricted funds Total funds |
At Incoming Outgoing At 01.04.2024 Resources Resources Transfers 31.03.2025 1,657,301 405,189 409,586 - 1,652,904 - - - - - - - - 1,657,301 405,189 409,586 - 1,652,904 - 4,900 4,900 - - 4,900 4,900 - - 1,657,301 410,089 414,486 - 1,652,904 |
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