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2020-12-31-accounts

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 00986407 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 262119

Report of the Trustees and

Audited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

for

BLINDAID

Supporting Londoners with Sight Loss

BLINDAID

Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

Page
Report of the Trustees 1 to 17
Report of the Independent Auditors 18 to 21
Statement of Financial Activities 22
Balance Sheet 23
Cash Flow Statement 24
Notes to the Cash Flow Statement 25
Notes to the Financial Statements 26 to 36

BLINDAID (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00986407)

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2020. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

MISSION STATEMENT

As London's oldest sight loss charity, BlindAid works to improve quality of life and promotes independence for blind and visually impaired Londoners. We provide individualised practical and emotional support to reduce the social isolation that many people living with sight loss can experience.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives

The charity seeks to alleviate loneliness and social isolation affecting visually-impaired people. It aims to empower service users to encourage and support independent living. The charity also supports people suffering the emotional consequences of visual impairment. Services are provided free of charge.

The charity's strategic objectives are:

Public benefit

The activities to achieve the charity's objectives are all carried out for the public benefit as described by the Charity Commission. The beneficiaries of the charity are members of the public who are in need because of health, disability or other problems arising from visual impairment and the activities of the charity seek to ensure these people can be supported by better services. The charity sets out in this report the charitable public benefit of its activities. The Board members have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.

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BLINDAID (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00986407)

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

COVID-19 Global Pandemic 2020

During February 2020, the senior management team made essential risk assessments in relation to the impact the COVID-19 virus may have on all aspects of the charity's operations.

We deliver service to blind and visually impaired people age 18+ however, the majority profile of our beneficiaries is 60+: with a high percentage of those people also having additional and/or complex health conditions. Therefore, a high percentage of our beneficiaries were themselves instructed to shield from the virus. Our Community Sight Support Service normally provides regular outreach visits to service users in their own homes. Each Sight Support Worker visits approximately 5 service users per day, travelling on public transport in between visits. The proximity of those environments with no opportunities to affect conditions was determined to be high risk for both service users and staff.

We had operated three Community Projects in separate locations in London within our area of operation. Service users travelled to centres on public transport or Dial-a-Ride to share classes on a variety of subjects; our Community Projects were therefore determined to be high risk for service users, staff, and tutors.

BlindAid also operates a Share London Project where trained volunteers are matched with service users to take them out on a variety of social outings around London; this service also was determined to be high risk.

The UK Government determined that C-19 virus was most highly transmissible indoors in enclosed areas. From Monday 16 March 2020 all community based BlindAid services were ceased, and all staff began working from home. All job descriptions, work instructions and relevant operating policies specifically relating to working from home during COVID-19 were issued. Senior management devised a work plan and an initial 'scripted framework' for Sight Support Workers to work through as they began calling service users. Calls were made initially, a minimum of once per week to offer company, conversation, and as much practical assistance as and where possible. BlindAid made significant contributions during the lockdowns of 2020 by making a significant number of safeguarding reports to local authorities throughout its area of operation. The safeguarding reports alerted local authorities to people who were previously otherwise unknown to social services but were now in immediate need of assessment for essential services to be set up for them such as medication deliveries. Our team worked tirelessly to connect people to food deliveries and for those in dire financial need to food banks and food delivery services.

We continued to make regular risk assessments throughout 2020 and to monitor the situation carefully throughout peaks, troughs, and new surges of the virus. Assessments and all reasonable precautions will continue to be essential until such time as the UK Government considers the pandemic is under control and receding. BlindAid will not return to working in the community until it is evidenced safe to do so. Until that time, BlindAid remains agile, adaptable, and flexible. We are keeping under review all other means of connecting with our beneficiaries to continue to deliver meaningful support for them throughout this difficult time. The sight loss world is particularly tactile and therefore many of our service users are experiencing additional anxiety which we can and must help mitigate.

In September 2020 BlindAid was awarded significant funding by Big Lottery to develop a 'Hybrid Sight Support Service'. A proportion of this funding was specifically to financially support our trained, skilled Sight Support Workers, employed by BlindAid to deliver a unique, vital, and valuable service for blind and visually impaired Londoners. We believe that no other charity in London provides the type of support that BlindAid does for its beneficiaries. To design our Hybrid Service, as always, we consulted with our service users and held 14 online Focus Groups. Each group was made up of service users from each borough in which we work. Groups were between 8 and 20 people and each group were asked a detailed selection of questions about our previous, current, and future services. The service users' responses were illuminating, informative, honest and most importantly provided the spine of a new way of operating in the future when it is deemed safe for our service users and us to make a return to working in the community once again. The service users' bright ideas for how our service should be shaped have been collated and are now built into our new service model, which will be put into operation when we make a return to working in the community once again. Our gratitude and thanks go to the Big Lottery Reaching Communities grant panel who assessed and awarded the grant that has helped BlindAid to revolutionise our core service.

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BLINDAID (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00986407)

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

COVID-19 Global Pandemic 2020 (continued)

During 2020 the Sight Support Workers way of working alongside our service users was diverted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, and due to the pandemic, referrals to our charity increased significantly and because all staff were working from home, our Sight Support Workers were able to support a substantial number of additional blind and visually impaired people who were in need.

Financial Mitigation:

In March-April 2019 the trustees acted prudently to de-risk the charity's investments by moving to safer investment funds. This action was primarily taken due to the then financial climate and impending Brexit and was completed before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been and continues to be impossible whilst the pandemic continues, to speculate on the eventual financial impact of COVID-19 on the charity's investments.

Senior management decided the charity would not furlough staff, but alternatively we elected to totally redesign the way BlindAid operated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we completed this task ahead of the UK first lockdown, moving to a work from home status on Monday 16 March 2020. Simultaneously, we needed to focus upon making sustained efforts throughout 2020 to mitigate its financial impact on BlindAid. Whilst making cost savings where appropriate and possible, we also made significant numbers of applications for funding to support our core services to many grant and trust organisations as well as applying for Government funding specifically for charities struggling due to COVID-19 pandemic which were available for charities via a wide variety of sources.

The prevailing circumstances relating to the COVID-19 global pandemic naturally remain under constant review by the board of trustees and senior management. BlindAid's approach will continue to be prudent, conservative, and cautious in its fiscal management as always, but especially throughout this unprecedented and challenging time for all organisations.

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BLINDAID (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00986407)

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE Charitable Activities and Achievements

The core activity of the charity for over 186 years has been to visit blind and visually-impaired people across the twelve inner London boroughs in their own homes.

Latest RNIB statistics findings are: Children 0-25 years = 0.2% approx 2 in every 1,000 children 48% of all adult sight loss is attributable to Age Related Macular Degeneration In 2013 there were an estimated 1.93 million people living with sight loss in the UK.

The number of people living with sight loss is increasing year upon year and is set to double to around 4 million by 2050.

BlindAid provides service for adults aged 18+, but the largest cohort of BlindAid beneficiaries are aged 45 years and above. BlindAid specialises in reaching this largely hidden community of blind and visually impaired Londoners, to alleviate the isolation that can result from sight loss. We deliver our Community Sight Support Service free of charge, for anyone with any type of visual impairment, resident in any of the 12 inner London Boroughs which is BlindAid's area of operation. Other major sight loss charities in London are currently focussing their activities upon services designed specifically for children, young people, and employment for blind and visually impaired people. BlindAid is the only sight loss charity based in central London offering a defined pathway of support and social connection, prioritising people who are isolated in the community.

In previous years, each of BlindAid's Sight Support Workers (SSWs), were responsible for supporting approximately 45-50 service users, visiting typically every fortnight. The frequency of visits may be varied to meet individual needs. SSWs typically focus on a particular borough, primarily for ease of logistics but will also visit individuals in other boroughs to optimise coverage, where capacity permits. Service users are visited at home, in sheltered accommodation or residential/nursing homes.

BlindAid's ethos is to treat each service user as an individual, prioritising those who are isolated and living alone, and delivering support as required and valued. Most service users have been diagnosed with sight loss in adulthood; this can be traumatic, and the individual period of adjustment can vary enormously depending upon personal resilience.

Referrals for our support are received from various sources; specialist sensory, social work and community mental health teams of local authorities; hospital eye clinics, and GPs, as well as from people who experience loss of vision (or their friends or family). An initial assessment visit is made to understand first hand individual needs, coping abilities and to determine whether the charity can be of assistance to meet those needs.

During a visit, the SSW will offer company and conversation to help alleviate loneliness and reduce isolation; practical help and guidance will also be offered where needed, appropriate and welcomed. The SSW will also encourage participation in, and signpost to both BlindAid Community & Online Projects and other suitable local social activities. Many service users who are extremely isolated have been visited consistently over many years. In some instances, the SSW will be one of the few social contacts some people have. Reaching out to people in the community is therefore very important to many service users and good relationships are usually established over time.

All SSWs are employed by BlindAid and are carefully selected; they all hold current enhanced Disclosure and Barring Certificates. Although many other charities use volunteers to undertake similar visits, BlindAid believes that deploying salaried, mainly full-time staff; provides greater consistency, reliability, and quality of support. SSWs receive regular vocational training, and the level and quality of service is regularly monitored through supervision meetings as well as through key performance indicators and annual audit telephone calls and Focus Groups with service users.

In 2020 SSW's visited service users between 01 January and 13 March 2020 inclusive. Thereafter, all SSWs began working from home. Regular weekly telephone calls were made to all service users in place of visits.

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BLINDAID (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00986407)

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

BlindAid's policy of facilitating coffee mornings in various Boroughs had been very successful since its inception in 2018. Naturally, these gatherings were ceased from March 2020, but were successfully re-established as online meetings and as they have attracted a wider cohort of people who physically could not have attended a coffee morning, the charity will continue to run the online social sessions post COVID-19 as it has proved to be extremely beneficial for the people who are truly isolated.

In 2019 BlindAid Sight Support Workers totalled 17, 14 full time and 3 part time workers. During 2020 through 2 retirements and one resignation our SSW team was reduced to 13 full time SSW and 1 part time as none of the roles were replaced. Fortunately, the beneficiaries who were supported by the members of staff who departed BlindAid, were absorbed by all other members of the team, and this was made possible as we were working from home and SSWs were not journeying between service users. In 2019 BlindAid's Sight Support Service made c13,000 individual visits to service users' residing in the twelve inner London boroughs and the City of London.

BlindAid has purposefully and successfully increased in the charity's reach each year, by optimising visiting logistics and reviewing processes to optimise lean activity. In 2019 the average number of people living with sight loss being supported per full time SSW was 48. In 2020 and due to the global pandemic and the charity's altered methods of working, this jumped to 65-70 per SSW.

The reasons for this were:

In 2020, SSWs conducted individual visits to service users only for the first 10 weeks of the year. From 16.03.2020 all employees began working from home and SSWs were supporting service users by telephone. Fortnightly visits were replaced by weekly calls and the numbers of beneficiaries per SSW increased sharply to 65-70.

This remarkable uplift was accomplished as two part time and one full time SSWs left the charity in 2020 and were not replaced to save resourcing costs due to the financial climate. The beneficiaries of those SSWs had already been assessed as needing BlindAid support, but we did not need to withdraw service from those service users because visits at home had been suspended due to the pandemic and all staff were working from home. This facilitated the reallocation of those service users who were accommodated across the SSW team.

Working Differently in 2020 - COVID-19 specific stats: 2,754 home visits were made in the first 10 weeks of 2020. Throughout the remainder of 2020 SSWs made 27,927 calls to support beneficiaries. A total of 30,681 contacts with our service users.

Waiting lists across all 12 Inner London Boroughs were reduced from 47 to just 6.

BlindAid sadly recorded a significant increase in the number of service users who passed away in 2020, over 100 service users passed away, all of whom are well known to our small team and our thoughts are with them and their families who suffered due to the pandemic.

By the time BlindAid transitioned to working from home (16.03.2020), we had completed a thorough search of our database and identified and contacted all service users who we established were not currently known to social services and with permission, the charity made over 300 safeguarding reports to local authorities, ensuring these isolated people were notified to their local authority and as a result would get the additional help they needed.

The charity provided vital ancillary services for beneficiaries during 2020 which, amongst others included:

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BLINDAID (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00986407)

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

BlindAid are keen to actively develop a broad specialist skill base for all SSWs to ensure maximum benefit for our beneficiaries. BlindAid invests in its employees and therefore, the charity offers staff four full day training sessions each year. The curriculum offers a variety of relevant vocational training sessions providing SSWs with the practical tools they need to fulfil their roles and to ensure that service users benefit.

The support provided by BlindAid's Community Sight Support team is not replicated by any other charity or organisation in London.

Collaboration with other charities in the Visual Impairment Sector has benefited Sight Support Workers as they have enjoyed accessible technology training provided by RNIB, who provided in-depth 'train the trainer' sessions that have allowed our team to share this important training for the past two years. SSWs also attended; two exceptional days training provided by The Macular Society who designed specific training for sight loss professionals called 'Skills for Seeing'. This training offered BlindAid SSWs additional new skills to work alongside service users to ensure they can learn to maximise even limited residual sight. These techniques utilise both skills and good light sources to maintain the use of residual sight for as long as possible.

Telephone Support Service:

The charity offers a telephone support service for:

During 2020 the charity has made Telephone Support more widely available to service users by delivering this via an ever growing number of volunteers. A percentage of our volunteers are themselves experiencing poor sight or are registered severely sight impaired or blind and so deliver peer to peer telephone support and guidance.

The charity has a good number of service users who are competent and willing to offer such peer support. Volunteers are primarily matched with people who share similar interests and for whom they are well placed to offer a regular social call. Training is provided on web based bespoke software that facilitates a telephone connection without either service user or volunteer needing to share telephone numbers for safeguarding purposes.

During 2019, the number of service users enjoying our telephone supports was 67. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic BlindAid saw an unprecedented number of applications from new volunteers for our Share London Project and because we were unable to offer face to face volunteering due to the pandemic many new volunteers chose to contribute by making social calls weekly to service users. Therefore, we were able to recruit, train and match a significantly increased number of volunteers, and so the number of service users enjoying Telephone Support regularly at the end of 2020 was 110. Most service users have been receiving a purely social call from their volunteers each week, and we intend to continue to promote our telephone support service to continue to grow the number of service users who can enjoy this valuable source of contact.

Community Based Projects:

In March 2020, the charity's network of three well established Community Projects all had to be closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our courses included healthy eating and safe-cooking skills; yoga or other exercise classes; art and craft; creative writing and importantly IT training at both beginner and intermediate levels. The classes typically run over 16-week terms and participants are encouraged to attend for a minimum of one full day each week. There is a strong social focus to the activities to encourage participants to get to know each other both during classes and over lunch. It is an intended outcome that people form independent peer support groups and continue to meet and communicate after their courses have ended.

All three community projects are open to BlindAid service users, but also welcome other people with sight loss who may be referred by local authority, NHS or other local services or charities. BlindAid encourages attendees to travel independently to the centres and provides sighted guide support, but also works in partnership with Dial-a-Ride to provide transport where independent travel is not possible.

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BLINDAID (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00986407)

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

From 16 March 2020 BlindAid worked to convert classes that had been available at community based projects. Several pilot classes were made available initially to service users online including yoga and mindfulness, creative writing: and art. The pilot classes were so successful that BlindAid has already determined that post COVID-19 we will retain online classes, because the service users attending online sessions, for the first time, included a cohort of people who have been previously excluded due to extremely limited mobility and who were not able to travel to classes at all.

During 2020 we were lucky enough to have hosted an online Poetry workshop, in collaboration with the poet and tutor, Erin Bolens. This session allowed service users to read and share the incredible pieces of work they had been working on during their course. Our 2020 art project is called Stereognosis and was sponsored by John Lewis. At the end of 2020 we were delighted to host an online Art Exhibition entitled 'Blue Postcards'. It was a simple but powerful concept; each service user was given a postcard size canvas together with blue paint. The standard and sheer variety of work was both inspired and excellent. The artist and course tutor, Scott, narrated an audio description for the 50 people who attended online. The artists were invited to talk about their individual pieces of art, the comradery between artists was tangible, as was the positivity about the weekly art sessions. We acknowledge the talent of our tutor, who rapidly adapted his teaching style, most remarkably to work with blind and visually impaired people via an online platform, gently guiding and encouraging our service users emerging artistic talents. Pre-COVID-19 pandemic: All BlindAid Community based Projects were managed by a project manager and supervised day to day by project coordinators who were based at each of the community venues. Classes were delivered by qualified subject tutors together with several dedicated volunteers who were on hand to assist service users where needed. Some of the charity's volunteers are themselves visually-impaired who, having joined the projects as service users, have chosen to return as volunteers to offer peer support for newcomers to the Projects subsequently.

The charity listens to service users' voices regularly during the time they are attending Community Projects. We create three structured purposeful engagements with service users allowing for feedback and the measurement of progress for all stakeholders. Service Users aspirations and abilities are noted during a pre-programme assessment; benchmarked again midterm and again finally before they leave the project. Service users' opinion, therefore, are fed into BlindAid's planning, preparation and feature in the final choice of the types of classes offered, helping the charity to meet the needs of the people attending as closely as possible.

During the first three months of 2020 all three of the Charity's Community Projects were extremely popular and oversubscribed as always. During the six years our Community Projects have been part of our core service programme, all three project locations have operated at full capacity.

On 13 March 2020, all three Community Projects were closed due to COVID-19 pandemic. BlindAid management team conducted risk assessments of each location, the various ways everyone involved in projects journeyed to the three individual venues. It was recognised and accepted that all Community Project must be closed to preserve the health and safety of all participants.

Therefore, Community Projects were only open between 1 January and 13 March 2020. The total number of service users attending was reduced due to COVID-19 pandemic:

Southwark - usually operates two days per week 2020: 37 SUs, 242 attendances (2019 - 111 SUs) Camden - usually operates one day per week 2020: 29 SUs, 139 attendances (2019 - 63 SUs) Tower Hamlets - operates one and a half days per week: 18 SUs, 154 attendances (2019 - 46 SUs)

Some classes were piloted as online classes during 2020. This proved very popular and defined another agile way of working for BlindAid. The provision of online classes appealed to an extended cohort of BlindAid service users. Online classes were attended by service users, who have previously simply not been able to physically attend our Community Projects due to lack of confidence to travel at all or a variety of additional health conditions.

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BLINDAID (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00986407)

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

Feedback from participants' who have attended BlindAid Community Projects in previous years has remained consistently and overwhelmingly positive; since 2014 and again this year to date 100% of service users have met/connected with at least one new friend from attending our classes. The total cost of the provision of our Community Projects from inception to date has been borne by BlindAid from its reserves. The charity is now actively looking for third party financial support to enable these valuable activities to continue, expand and benefit a wider cohort of people living with sight loss.

Information and Advice:

The collation and dissemination of relevant information for our beneficiaries has always been an important and integral part of all the charity's activities and services. Community Sight Support Workers have always offered the provision of advice and guidance for service users daily during their work. This may include information relating to specific eye conditions as well as details of other services available in their local area including social or sporting activities. In 2020 this connection became a vital service for our beneficiaries especially in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and we began tracking the SSWs activities particularly in this respect and so during 2020 we recorded 4,062 instances of SSWs engaging in the provision of information relating to the pandemic.

As a result, BlindAid has earned a reputation for solid unbiased quality information relating to many aspects of the pandemic and this feedback was gifted to us from many of the individual services users who participated in our 14 Focus Group calls undertaken in October and November 2020 and included between 8 and 20 service users in each group who were representative of all Boroughs in the charity's area of operation.

In February and March 2020, SSW's called every service user registered with BlindAid to ascertain their personal situation relating to food and medication arrangements. SSWs registered those service users who had never previously registered themselves for supermarket home deliveries of food as priority customers. SSWs also registered those service users in financial difficulties with free food delivery services and food banks where necessary. SSWs registered service users who had not previously had their medication regularly delivered to them at home with their local NHS pharmacy to ensure that there was no hiatus in them receiving the medication they needed throughout numerous lockdowns.

The UK's vaccination programme has been a key subject of conversation for service users and SSWs have been able to ensure that all service users had adequate access to NHS sources of information to ensure they were reading or being read the most appropriate sources of information to support them in their personal decision making about having a vaccination where at all possible.

The charity assists people with sight loss to obtain local authority and other statutory services or concessions to which they are entitled, and additionally acts as a broad information and advice hub for all visually-impaired people who contact the charity. For callers' resident elsewhere in the UK the charity will make referrals to other local sight loss charities through our membership of Visionary, an umbrella organisation for all small sight loss charities across the UK.

The Community Sight Support Service has also included the provision of local coffee morning events which are open to any blind or visually impaired residents in the area that can attend. These social events have proved an ideal forum through which we are able to disseminate a variety of relevant information and connect service users with local agencies regarding a variety of topics. Well established coffee mornings were closed in March 2020, however, they continued seamlessly as online line events for the remainder of 2020 and proved even more popular as a great number of attendees were able to join.

Social Activities:

In early February 2021; in collaboration with our corporate sponsor Williams Grant Distilleries, we co-hosted a Sound Meditation session at Sound of Mind Studios in Shoreditch and enjoyed refreshments at a nearby whole food café. Over 30 service users benefitted from this event and our gratitude goes to Williams Grant for funding this experience for BlindAid service users.

During the first lockdown of 2020 Williams Grant produced hand sanitiser and graciously provided two large boxes for use by BlindAid staff free of charge.

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BLINDAID (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00986407)

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

The charity's Annual Celebration is the largest social event for people with sight loss in the country and is an event that has been held for many years. Very sadly, our Annual Celebration was cancelled in September 2020 specifically due to COVID-19 pandemic. This event has previously gathered over 400 service users from across all the London boroughs it serves. We hope to be able to return to offering this wonderful event again in the future when it is safe to do so.

BlindAid provided several social events online during 2020.

During the first quarter of 2020 we ran 12 sessions of our very exciting Hearing Differently Project tutored by the composer Roberto David Rusconi and hosted by The Bloomsbury Theatre. Through the passion and dedication of both Roberto and our Project Manager, Clarissa, this project was rapidly converted to an online provision, and so our service users did not lose access to this valuable project for the remainder of the year.

Similarly, our Art Project, named Stereognosis, is tutored by Scott Atkins, a sculptor and artist who has exhibited in both London and Venice and the project was sponsored by John Lewis. Due to Scott's enthusiastic tuition, this was an exceptionally popular class.

Converting the art project to an online practical class that could continue to offer demonstrable tutoring for blind and visually impaired service users only via an online platform was challenging, but so successfully achieved.

As a result, an online Art Exhibition was held in December 2020 to showcase the exceptional standard of creativity attained by our service users. The exhibition was entitled Blue Postcards, based upon a simple concept of a postcard size canvas and the use of blue paint. The diversity of artistic interpretation using the limited concept was impressive. Around fifty people attended the evening Art Exhibition, which provided a forum for social connection in addition to formally showcasing and providing an audio description of individual pieces of work as they were shown on camera.

When we closed our Community Project venues in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic, our Creative Writing class tutor decided to gift her time to BlindAid, so that the class could continue online. This attendees from this class have created some of the most poignant and beautifully crafted written work and poetry this year. It has undoubtedly provided a much needed creative outlet for our vulnerable service users, most of whom were shielding for the greater part of 2020 due to additional health conditions. We thank and respect the gift of time on behalf of our service users during a very difficult year.

Share London Project:

In 2019 BlindAid launched a new social project called Share London. The project is funded by Big Lottery Reaching Communities and spans three years 2019 - until Q1 2022.

Share London was designed by BlindAid to recruit 240 volunteers throughout the three year life of the project and to induct, train and match them with likeminded blind and visually impaired Londoners to experience social activities and literally 'Share London' together. This project ensures that service users can enjoy all the culture, open spaces, galleries, and other interesting experiences that London offers with the security of a trained sighted guide alongside them. This unique social project offers beneficiaries a powerful combination of the confidence to leave home knowing their sighted guide will provide support if difficulties are encountered during the outing, as well as someone to share their interest with. In the first year (Share London attracted over 132 new volunteers who applied to join the project and BlindAid recorded a total of 682 (2019) varied activities undertaken by volunteer and service user partnerships. The nature of activities varied widely and included outings such as visits to museums and galleries, a walk in the park, going for a coffee or a trip to the theatre.

In 2020 external outings took place between 01.01.2020 and 16.03.2020, when social outings using sighted guide volunteers were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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BLINDAID (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00986407)

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

Due to COVID-19 pandemic Share London Project was not able to operate in the usual way in matching volunteers with service users face to face, and to allow them to enjoy the wonderful range of activities London has to offer together. The project is funded by Big Lottery Reaching Communities, who reached out to BlindAid early in 2020 to offer us an opportunity to repurpose our project, without loss of funding already awarded or funding due to be paid in 2021/2. BlindAid thanks Big Lottery for this opportunity as our volunteers stepped up and wasted no chances to support the service users that they had been matched with throughout 2020.

In 2020 BlindAid's Volunteer Specialist, recruited, trained and deployed the remaining 108 volunteers needed to attain the total of new volunteers we were aiming to recruit at the start of this project. Our 240th volunteer was registered one year and three months ahead of our project target. BlindAid thanks each of the wonderful Volunteers who stepped forward during an extremely difficult year to gift their time in providing support for BlindAid service users as this year you all achieved so much for our beneficiaries who have found themselves in need of new friends. Our volunteers collectively achieved a total during 2020 of 5,055 individual social contact calls with service users, with some volunteers offering to make a bigger difference and call more than one person each week.

Corporate Sponsors:

Ernst & Young (EY):

EY colleagues have worked with BlindAid each year for the past six years to provide an annual winter shopping trip which is a social event specifically designed for service users who would otherwise not be able to go out shopping independently. This event could not run in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. BlindAid were grateful to receive an unrestricted donation from EY Foundation in May 2020 of £1,000.

Williams Grant Distilleries:

BlindAid have also been very fortunate to work with Williams Grant employees on several sponsored events since 2018. In 2019 two events took place; BlindAid offered training for Williams Grant volunteers and those volunteers used their new skills to become sighted guides for BlindAid service users throughout the events and around 60 beneficiaries and volunteers enjoyed the two events. Early in 2020 BlindAid and Williams Grant co-hosted an event; a Sound Meditation session at Sound of Mind Studios in Shoreditch and enjoyed refreshments at a nearby whole food café. Over 30 service users benefitted from this event and our gratitude goes to Williams Grant for funding this experience for BlindAid service users. There were no further events during 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

In place of another event Williams Grant volunteers undertook some in-house fundraising activities and BlindAid were grateful to receive an unrestricted donation of £528.

Aids and Equipment:

The charity aims to improve the quality of life of visually-impaired people by assisting them to secure practical aids and equipment that facilitate independent living. The charity maintains a small stock of the most popular visual aids and equipment for demonstration or distribution to service users and upon request, orders for other products from various specialist suppliers are made where needed.

The Clothworkers Foundation Grant Award:

BlindAid had received funding annually from The Clothworkers Foundation. In 2019 the grant award and reporting timing was changed by Clothworkers Foundation and so the period of grant awards now runs from April to March annually. In previous years this had run between January and December. This grant funding enables the charity to provide financial support and the purchase of a variety of aids, equipment (not provided by statutory services) and other items that assist independent living.

In 2020 Clothworkers Foundation awarded BlindAid £50,000 and due to COVID-19 pandemic Clothworkers Foundation awarded an additional £6,000 to BlindAid as a contribution toward the increasing costs of distributing their funding.

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BLINDAID (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00986407)

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

It should be noted that in 2020, for the first time and due specifically to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, BlindAid encountered timing and practical difficulties in getting aids and equipment delivered and installed as seamlessly as in previous years. Many deliveries required rearranging and some several time, due to numerous lockdowns, and many beneficiaries were also anxious about having workmen in their homes to remove/install equipment. Whilst additional BlindAid resources needed to be invested, which increased cost to the charity, funding could not be expended as efficiently as usual and so £22,476 was pledged but not spent by 31 March 2021.

BlindAid provides financial assistance for beneficiaries from this grant in various ways.

Small grants are awarded for items such as talking aids, microwaves and talking scales for instance, and other small items under £100.00. The total in 2020 was £3,420 (2019 - £3,327).

The charity makes small awards to local organisations to help fund other social activities for visually-impaired people. This totalled £2,000 in 2020 paid in one grant, (2019 - £4,000).

The charity awarded 98 individual grants totalling £22,106 (2019 -140)

The total for individual grants, includes costs for sending out 500 BlindAid large print calendars to beneficiaries who register to receive one each year and who rely upon them.

British Wireless for the Blind:

BlindAid enjoyed a significant, longstanding relationship with BWFB, acting as the agent for BWFB across all 12 Inner London Boroughs which is a wide operating area. The charity held stocks of equipment and recorded/audited stock movement through many years. We also delivered and demonstrated how to use, listening devices (radios, cassette players, CD players) for registered blind or partially sighted people. All equipment is maintained or exchanged free of charge subject to BWFB criteria.

The BWFB agents grant received by BlindAid has gradually been reduced throughout the past decade, whilst at the same time, year on year, BlindAid increasingly subsidised BWFB charitable activities. At the end of 2019 BlindAid provided notice of its intention to cease its agency agreement with BWFB, and so effective 01 January 2020 BlindAid is no longer an agent for BWFB.

BlindAid beneficiaries will nevertheless continue to benefit from BWFB equipment because BlindAid will continue to promote and introduce BWFB services when new assessments for our own service are conducted. The charity will refer any beneficiaries who qualify for a free long term loan of audio equipment directly to BWFB. BWFB will manage the maintenance of the equipment and continue to deliver and demonstrate to blind and visually impaired people using their own recently recruited volunteers.

Greater London Fund for the Blind:

BlindAid has been a member charity of the Greater London Fund for the Blind (GLFB), together with 9 other local charities serving blind and visually impaired within the M25 area for many years. GFLB acted as an umbrella fundraising organisation on behalf of its member charities and made allocations to members as contributions toward the provision of their core services. BlindAid has participated in members meetings over a period of years with other GLFB member charities, all of whom provide a range of similar services. This forum sought to develop proactive working relationships through GLFB, with each other, and to develop a greater understanding of each other's activities to avoid duplication of service provision and share best practices.

In October 2019 Greater London Fund for the Blind repurposed and renamed their charity to The Vision Foundation at a formal launch event on 16 October 2019, which senior management from BlindAid were invited to attend. A consultation period followed, and on 11 March 2020 representatives of the member charities attended a meeting to vote on the dissolution of the membership. Each member charity was paid a proportionate settlement grant following this vote and the acceptance of the grant precluded any further regular allocations toward the delivery of core services for blind and visually impaired people in London.

11

BLINDAID (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00986407)

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

Collaboration and Consultation:

Throughout 2020 BlindAid has continued to actively seek and remain open to opportunities to collaborate with other charities where it is mutually beneficial. This has been more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, we have also joined more online webinars, and some online conferences which have been both informative and useful.

The charity, primarily through its Chief Executive, Operations Director, and our Fundraising Manager, maintains relationships with key visual impairment forums and many other charities both local and national, within and outside the visual impairment sector. BlindAid is also a member of Visionary, ACEVO and the Association of Chairs amongst others.

During 2020 we continued to work in some capacity with numerous other charities either working in the sight loss sector and/or those also supporting elderly people in the community.

BlindAid regularly consults service users using structured methods to ensure that their voices are heard, and their needs are being met effectively. This has included providing service users with an independent voice through our day to day contact with service users, annual service audits and in 2020 specifically with the launch of 14 Online Focus Groups, which included beneficiaries from all 12 of the London Boroughs in which we work. The feedback gained from these fascinating workshops was honest and provided a wealth of information that BlindAid has now embedded into our new Sight Support Service hybrid model that will be rolled out, post COVID-19 pandemic, as the charity returns to working in the community again when it is safe to do so.

In 2020 BlindAid was also approached to work with Healthwatch in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in relation to their Community Insights Repository. Healthwatch needed additional assistance to reach specifically blind and visually impaired residents within the Borough of Tower Hamlets to complete online questionnaires relating to the digitalisation of healthcare services in the Borough. BlindAid SSWs played a key role in assisting c40 service users who wished to participate in the provision of feedback questionnaires to have their views and voices heard by the local authority.

12

BLINDAID (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00986407)

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE Strategy Review

In 2016 the findings of significant independent research commissioned by BlindAid were carefully considered and almost all recommendations were included by the Strategy Committee in 2017. This resulted in a significant review of all the charity's activities. BlindAid continues to diligently deliver to the agreed five year strategic plan. To ensure relevance and continuity strategy is reviewed annually by trustees and senior management, taking account of beneficiaries' feedback, but regularly throughout 2020 exceptionally.

BlindAid supported a total of c1,800 people throughout 2020, who are living with varying degrees of sight loss and are resident in London, with the provision of various services ranging from guidance and information to complex practical support. An analysis of the charity's database evidenced that on average service users most typically access two of the charity's services, Sight Support Service and Community Projects. These two services accessed concurrently provide a holistic and beneficial development pathway for many of our beneficiaries.

RNIB Statistics (2021) indicate there are c65,000 people resident in the 12 inner London Boroughs who are registered blind and visually impaired, however, it is also accepted, there are many more people living with sight impairment who are not registered. BlindAid consistently seeks to increase the charity's reach with the trustees' endorsement of this charitable aim.

The trustees determine that the charity's core activity should continue to be the alleviation of the social isolation suffered by many people with sight loss, and to serve this aim the trustees endorsed substantial investment in our core services in previous years. To balance that planned expenditure; a key pillar of the five year strategic plan is that in conjunction with the inward investment from reserves to ensure service delivery could be provided for more service users each year, the charity must also develop its own ability to generate income and identify significant sources of new funding for the future.

In 2018 a fundraising consultant was commissioned to contribute to the charity's fundraising strategy, and to work with the senior management team to support learning and generate additional income for the charity. This collaboration was concluded in 2019, with trustees endorsing training investment in BlindAid staff to realise the development of the internal capacity to generate additional income for BlindAid. From January 2020 three senior staff adopted responsibility for fundraising, and whilst there is a resource/time cost to offset, this is significantly less than using external fundraisers. It is imperative the charity raises sufficient external funding eventually to wholly support its vital core services going forward and we aim to attain this within 2-3 years. The revenue generated in 2020 made a positive impact upon the charity's income and was a good contribution to support core services (see note 2).

The charity continues to invest the time essential for pursuing referrals proactively and so engages with other organisations in its area of operation as well as local authorities to secure as many referrals on behalf of people in need as possible. BlindAid welcomes referrals from any organisations across its area of operation. People living with sight loss do not need to be registered to be supported by BlindAid and beneficiaries may also self-refer, or their family/friends may make referrals on their behalf with their permission.

Throughout the past few years, the charity has undertaken specific analysis with both beneficiaries and staff to evidence and identify primary categories of beneficiaries. Whilst four broad groups were established for practical working methodologies; these can be generically split into two main cohorts of beneficiaries.

  1. People (18-60) who may be newly diagnosed and/or suffering acute impacts from sight loss and who, with guidance and support can work with their Sight Support Worker toward establishing and regaining a greater range of independent living.

  2. People (60-100+) who have significant/severe sight loss; but also suffer from additional complex health conditions, who because they are also particularly isolated, will have need of long term support from BlindAid, some to the end of their lives. It is for this second category of beneficiaries who are living with chronic sets of circumstances that whilst they may be improved, may not be readily resolved that BlindAid must retain some more substantial reserves to continue to offer longer term service where there is enduring identified need in the community. For these people, we mindfully reassess at regular milestone intervals to determine if it continues to be appropriate that service is not time limited.

13

BLINDAID (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00986407)

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Total incoming resources for 2020 (not including COVID-19 grants) were £406,646 an increase of 63% on the previous year (2019 - £249.026).

The charity was a member of the Vision Foundation (previously Greater London Fund for the Blind) which used to undertake public fundraising on behalf of its members; several smaller visual impairment charities. As a member, BlindAid used to receive 10% of Vision Foundation's income each year. In 2020 The Vision Foundation dissolved the membership and paid each member charity a transition grant, which for BlindAid was £180,000. This was a final settlement figure after which no further annual allocations toward BlindAid's core services will be received. BlindAid also received the final allocation payment due in Q1 2020, which was deferred by agreement until May 2020. This being the final annual allocation payment due to BlindAid in relation to Visions Foundations financial year 2019-2020.

The charity receives income from legacies, often from former service users. By its nature, such income is not possible to predict and thus can vary significantly from year to year. In 2020 the charity received a total of £1,000 this being a legacy from a Tower Hamlets service user (2019; £117: this being the final disbursement from a small legacy received in 2018).

The charity also received donations, grants and trust income totalling £146,080 an increase of 26% on previous year (2019 - £115,733). This figure includes a grant of £56,000 from The Clothworkers' Foundation. BlindAid disburses this funding in grants for visually-impaired people and some small organisations for people with sight loss on behalf of Clothworkers Foundation.

The other source of income for BlindAid is from the charity's investment portfolio. In 2020 the charity received £68,366 (2019 - £87,458). The reduction in income yield is twofold: It reflects the trustees' decision to move the charity's investment funds to more secure holdings presenting less financial risk which was completed in Spring 2019. The decision was promoted by the prevailing financial climate driven by the then impending Brexit. In addition, BlindAid sells some of its investments annually to fund its ongoing operational activities, (2019 - £600,000) however, in 2020 £200,000 worth of shares were sold in February only, because external funding was secured through in-house fundraising efforts to support charitable activities for the remainder of the year. In 2020 the investment portfolio saw a net reduction of £50,688 in its market value.

BlindAid has continued to deploy an element of reserves in direct furtherance of the charity's strategic objectives throughout the past 16 years or so. At the outset of this five year strategic financial plan, it was acknowledged, that by 2019/20 the charity would commence its own fundraising campaigns. This point in our fiscal planning was both expected and planned for. However, at this important transition point for BlindAid we also saw the impact of the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic, which naturally brought the charity's finances into to sharp focus.

During 2020 the trustees and senior management scrutinised the charity's finances regularly. It was established early in 2020 that BlindAid would employ conservative fiscal management, and that this would be intentionally pursued to achieve prudent costs savings, which were attained. It was further determined that due to the long term financial consequences/impact that may result from the COVID-19 pandemic, that the charity must now resolve to work to actively reduce its deficit expenditure year on year until the charity attains a breakeven point. Operational stability is vital and crucially underpins our increasingly important fundraising campaigns and it was therefore acknowledged that transition to breakeven operational status cannot be attained in the immediate term.

The deficit before investment movements, COVID-19 grants and one-off grant from Vision Foundation was £403,838 compared to a deficit of £790,497 in the previous year, an improvement of 49%. This reflects in part the continuation of the charity's investment in its services, but also cost savings immediately being attained.

Total resources expended were £810,484, a decrease of 22% (2019 - £1,036,567). The approved budgeted expenditure for 2020 was £1,005,579. The substantial decrease in expenditure primarily relates to 3 staff leaving BlindAid in 2020 and not being replaced. Additional cost savings included reduced staff travelling, as visits to service users at home were cancelled because of the pandemic; there were further savings made in the daily running of Lantern House in addition as all staff were working from home.

14

BLINDAID (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00986407)

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

FINANCIAL REVIEW (continued)

Investment policy

The charity's policy is to invest its assets across a range of asset classes to generate returns, through income and capital appreciation, to support its activities over the longer term.

The Charity's trustees determined to move some of the charity's investments funds to avoid undue risk which was completed in April 2019 as previously stated. For clarity, investments previously held in Charifund, a UK equities trust managed by M&G were transferred to L&G and invested in both UK and International Index Trusts. Investments managed by CCLA in COIF (Charities Official Investment Fund) were transferred to CCLA's new Diversified Fund.

The charity's investment strategy and policy will remain under review throughout 2020 and in addition now will remain under regular review going forward.

Reserves policy

BlindAid maintains a restricted endowment fund in accordance with donors' requirements.

In previous few years the trustees established designated funds to cover: fixed assets (including the refurbishment costs of the charity's offices completed in 2017); and projected costs of operating the community projects. On 16 March 2020 all three of BlindAid's Community Projects were closed due to COVID-19 pandemic. During the year, it was decided that BlindAid will not continue to cover the cost for all three Community Projects. Therefore, the charity is now fundraising for external funding to sustain its centrally located Camden Community Project over a further five year period.

During previous years, trustees agreed BlindAid should operate a strategic deficit budget to invest surplus reserves to expand the charity's services in support of Londoners living with sight loss. Due to the pandemic’s impact on the charity’s operations the strategic deficit funds balance has been revised down to £900,000 and is to cover the projected deficit over the next three years.

The trustees acknowledge that building and attaining the capacity in-house to secure sufficient external income streams to support BlindAid's core services, will take time. This financial transformation cannot be achieved quickly without substantial impact to BlindAid's prevailing excellent reputation for consistent, quality service delivery. Therefore, it is agreed that the charity will work consistently to reduce costs resulting in substantial reductions in the size of the deficit budgets year on year to support this transition which is now BlindAid's financial goal. It is our aim to reduce our expenditure where possible year on year whilst simultaneously increasing external funding, making the operational transitions essential to attain first, a breakeven budget and second a surplus.

The trustees have considered the minimum level of free reserves i.e. total reserves excluding restricted, endowment funds required to support the charity's operations. Relevant factors include projected financial performance and an assessment of the risks to the charity's existing income streams.

Following this review, the trustees have determined that a minimum reserve of six months' expenditure is appropriate which would equate to £577,840 as at 31 December 2020.

The policy and underlying factors are considered annually, and the minimum reserves requirement is, therefore, expected to change over time.

Going concern

The trustees consider the charity a going concern. There are sufficient reserves to support the planned operating activities of the charity.

15

BLINDAID (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00986407)

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Specific objectives for 2021 are:

  1. To navigate and guide BlindAid through the legal, economic, emotional and practical factors that the COVID-19 global pandemic will present to the charity throughout 2021 and beyond.

  2. Recruit several new trustees.

  3. Develop BlindAid's fundraising capability to support continuing expansion of services.

  4. Continue to recruit and deploy volunteers delivering ancillary services

  5. Continue to review investment strategy considering the current pandemic

  6. Launch BlindAid's Hybrid Sight Support Service - funded by Big Lottery Reaching Communities fund.

  7. Launch Big Lottery funded: SHARE LONDON - funded by Big Lottery Reaching Communities fund.

SHARE LONDON is a 3 year project (2020-2023) social project, providing trained sighted guide volunteers to support Londoners living with sight loss to offer them an opportunity to enjoy the variety of social activities London has to offer. This project further underpins and extends BlindAid's pathway of support through to independence.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

Directors/Trustees

The Members of the charity's Board who served during the year are the Directors of the Company under the Companies Act 2006. Current Members are listed on page 17.

Board Members are trustees within the meaning of the Charities Act 2011. Members are appointed by the Board; details regarding the method of appointment and removal of Members are in the Charity's Articles of Association.

New Board Members receive induction and training appropriate to their experience of trusteeship and knowledge of the field of visual impairment. All are encouraged to invest time visiting head office to understand each employee's work, and to spend time out each year with any of the Sight Support Workers meeting some of our Service Users first hand. Trustees are encouraged to attend the annual celebration of the Charity's work, to join staff training days, to visit BlindAid community projects to engage with service users and to understand the work the Charity undertakes to provide skills for blind and visually impaired people to maintain their independence.

The powers of the Board are described in the Articles of Association. The Board holds four meetings each year. Each Board Meeting is preceded by a meeting of the Finance & Resource Committee Chair: Honorary Treasurer and including the Vice Chair and the Chief Executive.

The day-to-day management of the charity is delegated to the Chief Executive under the Board's supervision.

Risk management

The Board reviews the charity's risk register at least annually. The work of Sight Support Workers (SSWs) in providing guidance and support to vulnerable people implies a duty of care. Safeguarding is of paramount concern and the charity has a full-time Service Manager who focuses on induction training for new Sight Support Workers. The Operations Director has oversight for the planning of the curriculum of on-going vocational training for the whole team, including volunteers. The charity recognises the importance of staff supervision and all SSWs attend supervision meetings every two weeks. The Service Manager also supervises performance management to ensure that all Sight Support Workers operate within agreed quality standards. The charity also acknowledges its duty of care to its staff in relation to remote working in the community. The charity has reviewed administration and finance functions and is satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate its exposure to its major risks.

16

BLINDAID (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00986407)

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Company number

00986407 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

262119

Registered office

Lantern House 102 Bermondsey Street London SE1 3UB

Trustees

K Cox – Chair (resigned 31.6.21) A Pankhania – Hon. Treasurer & Chair (appointed Chair July 2021) D Brecker (resigned 24.2.21) T Barnard M K Gaffar F M Hibbert K Ramo A Saunders

Company Secretary

S O'Hara - Chief Executive Officer

Auditors

Knox Cropper LLP (Statutory Auditor) 65 Leadenhall Street London EC3A 2AD

Bankers

Lloyds Bank PLC Camberwell Green Branch 25 Camberwell Green London SE5 7AB

Accountants

Brayne, Williams & Barnard Limited Rosemount House Rosemount Avenue West Byfleet Surrey KT14 6LB

17

BLINDAID (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00986407)

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees (who are also the directors of BlindAid for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law 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 charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES - continued

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable 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 charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the trustees are aware:

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Aug 21, 2021

Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by:

S O'Hara ..................................................................... S O'Hara (Aug 21, 2021 15:19 GMT+1) S O'Hara – Chief Executive

18

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of Blindaid

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Blindaid (the 'charitable company') for the year ended 31 December 2020 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our Report of the Independent Auditors thereon.

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

19

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of Blindaid

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Report of the Trustees.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

20

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of Blindaid

Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a Report of the Independent Auditors that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Independent Auditors.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Shoaib Arshad (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Knox Cropper LLP (Statutory Auditor) 65 Leadenhall Street London EC3A 2AD

Aug 24, 2021 Date: .............................................

21

BLINDAID

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
INCOME AND
ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies
2
288,280
Investment income
3
68,366
Other income
4
174,200
Total
530,846
EXPENDITURE ON
Raising funds
5
57,156
Charitable activities
6
Community Sight Support
service
589,202
Southwark Community
Project
24,821
Camden Community Project
18,894
Tower Hamlets Community
Project
20,854
Grants
12,155
Big Lottery Share London
59,876
Total
782,958
Realised & unrealised gains /
(losses) on investments
(46,804)
NET
INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
(298,916)
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
2,679,435
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED
FORWARD
2,380,519		 Restricted
funds
£
50,000
-
-
50,000
-
-
-
-
-
27,526
-
27,526
-
22,474
10,188
**32,662 **		 Endowment
fund
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(3,884)
(3,884)
438,327
434,443		 31.12.20
Total
funds
£
338,280
68,366
174,200
580,846
57,156
589,202
24,821
18,894
20,854
39,681
59,876
810,484
(50,688)
(280,326)
3,127,950
2,847,624		 31.12.19
Total
funds
£
161,577
87,458
-
249,035
64,224
670,603
106,611
60,050
66,469
71,575
-
1,039,532
402,604
(387,893)
3,515,843
3,127,950

The notes form part of these financial statements

22

BLINDAID (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00986407)

Balance Sheet 31 December 2020

Unrestricted Restricted
funds
funds
Notes
£
£
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
14
324,839
-
Investments
15
1,979,444
-
2,304,283
-
CURRENT ASSETS
Stocks
16
1,563
-
Debtors
17
47
-
Cash in hand
102,642
32,662
104,252
32,662
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within
one year
18
(28,016)
-
NET CURRENT ASSETS
76,236
32,662
TOTAL ASSETS LESS
CURRENT LIABILITIES
2,380,519
32,662
NET ASSETS
2,380,519
32,662
FUNDS
19
Unrestricted funds:
General fund
Fixed assets
Community projects
Strategic planned deficit
Restricted funds
Endowment funds
TOTAL FUNDS		 Endowment
fund
£
-
434,443
434,443
-
-
-
-
-
-
434,443
434,443		 31.12.20
Total
funds
£
324,839
2,413,887
2,738,726
1,563
47
135,304
136,914
(28,016)
108,898
2,847,624
2,847,624
1,155,680
324,839
-
900,000
2,380,519
32,662
434,443
2,847,624		 31.12.19
Total
funds
£
343,557
2,664,574
3,008,131
1,563
12,911
149,503
163,977
(44,158)
119,819
3,127,950
3,127,950
618,922
343,558
932,133
784,822
2,679,435
10,188
438,327
3,127,950

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by: Aug 22, 2021

............................................. ............................................. A Pankhania - Trustee K Gaffar - Trustee

The notes form part of these financial statements

23

BLINDAID

Cash Flow Statement for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

Notes
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations
1
Net cash used in operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Purchase of fixed asset investments
Sale of fixed asset investments
Interest received
Dividends received
Net cash provided by investing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents
in the reporting period
Cash and cash equivalents at the
beginning of the reporting period
Cash and cash equivalents at the end
of the reporting period		 31.12.20
£
(279,750)
(279,750)
(2,815)
-
200,000
-
68,366
265,551
(14,199)
149,503
**135,304 **		 31.12.19
£
(855,219)
(855,219)
(2,430)
(3,258,660)
4,000,198
749
86,709
826,566
(28,653)
178,156
149,503

The notes form part of these financial statements

24

BLINDAID

Notes to the Cash Flow Statement for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

1. RECONCILIATION OF NET EXPENDITURE TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Net expenditure for the reporting period (as per the Statement
of Financial Activities)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges
Interest received
Dividends received
Realised and unrealised (gains)/loss on investments
Increase in stocks
Decrease in debtors
Decrease in creditors
Net cash used in operations		 31.12.20
£
(280,326)
21,533
-
(68,366)
50,688
-
12,864
(16,143)
**(279,750) **		 31.12.19
£
(387,893)
23,234
(749)
(86,709)
(402,604)
(531)
537
(504)
(855,219)
2. ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET FUNDS
At 1.1.20 Cash flow At 31.12.20
£ £ £
Net cash
Cash at bank and in hand 149,503 **(14,199) ** **135,304 **
149,503 **(14,199) ** **135,304 **
Total 149,503 **(14,199) ** **135,304 **

The notes form part of these financial statements

25

BLINDAID

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS102, have been prepared under the historical cost convention with the exception of investments which are included at market value. They have been prepared in accordance with applicable United Kingdom accounting standards, the requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice' Accounting and Reporting by Charities' (SORP 2015), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

For legacies, entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either: the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor(s) to the Trust that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor’s intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is a treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.

Raising funds

Raising funds includes all expenditure incurred by the charity to raise funds for its charitable purposes and includes costs of all fundraising activities, events and non-charitable trading.

Governance costs

These represent those costs attributable to the management of the charity's assets, organisational administration and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

Allocation of support costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include back office costs, finance, personnel, payroll and governance costs which support the charity's programmes and activities. These costs have been allocated between cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities. The bases on which support costs have been allocated are set out in note 7.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. Freehold property is accounted for on a component cost basis with each component being depreciated over its economic life as shown below.

Freehold property Other assets
Fabric of building Over 70 years Fixtures & fittings 15% on cost & 4% on cost
Doors and windows Over 20 years Computer & office 25% on cost
Partitioning Over 10 years equipment

26

BLINDAID

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Stocks

Stocks consist mainly of small items of aids and equipment and are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

General funds - These are funds which can be used in accordance with the charity's charitable objects at the discretion of the board.

Designated funds - These comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Restricted funds - These funds are subject to specific restrictive conditions imposed by donors or funds received for specific purposes and projects.

Endowment funds - These are represented by a permanent endowment fund, the BlindAid Fund, which stipulates that the capital of the fund must be retained and cannot be spent. The BlindAid Fund is wholly invested in Legal & General International Index and Legal & General UK Index units (see note 15) and income arising from the Fund is used for charitable activities.

Pensions

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for the benefit of its employees and directors. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity. Contributions payable are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the year they are payable.

Termination benefits

Termination benefits are payable when employment is terminated before the normal retirement date , or whenever an employee accepts voluntary redundancy in exchange for these benefits. The charity recognises termination benefits when it is demonstrably committed to either (i) terminating the employment of current employees according to a detailed formal plan without possibility of withdrawal or (ii) providing termination benefits as a result of an offer made to encourage voluntary redundancy.

Donated services and facilities

Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the general volunteer time given to the charity is not recognised and refer to the trustees’ annual report for more information about their contribution.

On receipt, donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.

Investments

Investments are included in the Balance Sheet at bid-market value. Gains and losses on disposal and revaluation of investments are credited or charged to the Statement of Financial Activities. Investment income and gains arising on endowment funds are accounted for on a total return basis.

27

BLINDAID

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

2.
DONATIONS AND LEGACIES
Allocations by Greater London Fund for the Blind
Clothworkers funding
Big lottery funding
Corporate donations
General donation, grants and trusts
Legacies
3.
INVESTMENT INCOME
Investment income from listed investments
Deposit account interest
The shares in Lantern House Management Limited produce no income.
4.
OTHER INCOME
COVID-19 grants
5.
RAISING FUNDS
Raising donations and legacies
Staff costs
Advertising for legacies
Professional fundraising
Support costs
6.
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS
Grant
funding of
activities
Direct
(see note
Costs
7)
£
£
Community Sight Support service
368,378
-
Southwark Community Project
10,423
-
Camden Community Project
4,496
-
Tower Hamlets Community Project
6,456
-
Grants
-
27,526
Big Lottery Share London
29,253
-
419,006
27,526		 31.12.20
£
191,200
56,000
30,098
14,865
45,117
1,000
338,280
31.12.20
£
68,366
-
68,366
31.12.20
£
174,200
31.12.20
£
46,367
-
532
10,257
57,156
Support
costs (see
note 8)
£
220,824
14,398
14,398
14,398
12,155
30,623
306,796		 31.12.19
£
45,658
50,000
26,905
1,200
37,637
177
161,577
31.12.19
£
86,709
749
87,458
31.12.19
£
-
31.12.19
£
2,880
675
49,593
11,076
64,224
Totals
£
589,202
24,821
18,894
20,854
39,681
59,876
753,328

28

BLINDAID

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

6. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS (continued)

2019
Community Sight Support service
Southwark Community Project
Camden Community Project
Tower Hamlets Community Project
Grants
GRANTS PAYABLE
Grants
The total grants paid to institutions during the
1 grant to VI organisations for community
projects (2019 - 2)
The total grants paid to individuals during the
98 grants for general purposes (2019 - 140)
Small grants (not greater than £100)		 Grant
funding of
activities
Direct
(see note
Costs
7)
£
£
366,091
-
57,386
-
24,517
-
35,419
-
-
44,259
483,413
44,259
year was as follows:
year was as follows:
 Support
costs (see
note 8)
£
304,512
49,225
35,533
31,050
27,316
447,636
31.12.20
£
27,526
31.12.20
£
2,000
31.12.20
£
22,106
3,420
25,526		 Totals
£
670,603
106,611
60,050
66,469
71,575
975,308
31.12.19
£
44,259
31.12.19
£
4,000
31.12.19
£
36,932
3,327
40,259

7. GRANTS PAYABLE

The grants to individuals and grants to organisations were funded by a grant of £50,000 received in the current year from The Clothworkers' Foundation (2019 - £50,000).There was also a further £6,000 received as a contribution towards the administration costs of disbursing the grants.

8. SUPPORT COSTS

SUPPORT COSTS
Raising donations and legacies
Community Sight Support service
Southwark Community Project
Camden Community Project
Tower Hamlets Community Project
Grants
Big Lottery Share London		 Governance
Other
costs
£
£
6,016
4,241
148,160
72,664
12,276
2,122
12,276
2,122
12,276
2,122
8,972
3,183
23,738
6,885
223,714
93,339		 Totals
£
10,257
220,824
14,398
14,398
14,398
12,155
30,623
317,053

29

BLINDAID

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

8. SUPPORT COSTS (continued)

2019
Raising donations and legacies
Community Sight Support service
Southwark Community Project
Camden Community Project
Tower Hamlets Community Project
Grants		 Governance
Other
costs
£
£
5,499
5,577
215,252
89,260
35,277
13,948
26,454
9,079
23,393
7,657
23,132
4,184
329,007
129,705		 Totals
£
11,076
304,512
49,225
35,533
31,050
27,316
458,712

The charity initially identifies the costs of its support functions. It then identifies those costs which relate to the governance function. Having identified its governance costs, the remaining support costs together with the governance costs are apportioned between the charitable activities on the basis of time expended on each activity.

9. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

31.12.20 31.12.19
£ £
Auditors' remuneration 5,340 5,176
Depreciation - owned assets 21,533 23,234

10. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2020 nor for the year ended 31 December 2019.

Trustees' expenses

There were no expenses reimbursed to trustees for the year ended 31 December 2020 nor for the year ended 31 December 2019.

30

BLINDAID

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

11. STAFF COSTS

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs		 31.12.20
£
556,280
46,182
41,835

644,297		 31.12.19
£
570,063
48,000
40,828
658,891

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

31.12.20 31.12.19
Office staff 6 6
Community Support Services staff 16 17
22 23

The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was:

31.12.20 31.12.19
£70,001 - £80,000 1 1

The amount of employer's pension contribution for the highest paid employee was £5,318 (2019 - £5,268.

There are two employees included in office staff that are considered to be key management personnel. Their aggregate emoluments for the year was £124,995 (2019 - £123,760).

31

BLINDAID

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

12.
2019 COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Unrestricted Restricted
Endowment
funds
funds
fund
£
£
£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies
111,577
50,000
-
Investment income
87,458
-
-
Total
199,035
50,000
-
EXPENDITURE ON
Raising funds
64,224
-
-
Charitable activities
Community Sight Support service
670,603
-
-
Southwark Community Project
106,611
-
-
Camden Community Project
60,050
-
-
Tower Hamlets Community Project
66,469
-
-
Grants
27,316
44,259
-
Total
995,273
44,259
-
Realised & unrealised gains / (losses) on
investments
402,604
-
-
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
(393,634)
5,741
-
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
3,073,069
4,447
438,327
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
2,679,435
10,188
438,327		 Total
funds
£
161,577
87,458
249,035
64,224
670,603
106,611
60,050
66,469
71,575
1,039,532
402,604
(387,893)
3,515,843
3,127,950

13. PENSION COMMITMENTS

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the charity to the fund and amounts to £41,835 for the year (2019 - £40,828). There were £4,564 of contributions outstanding at the balance sheet date (2019 - £4,929).

32

BLINDAID

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

14. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

COST
At 1 January 2020
Additions
At 31 December 2020
DEPRECIATION
At 1 January 2020
Charge for year
At 31 December 2020
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 December 2020
At 31 December 2019
15.
FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS
Listed Investments
MARKET VALUE
At 1 January 2020
Additions
Disposals
Gains / (losses)
At 31 December 2020		 Freehold
property
£
192,325
-
192,325
75,325
3,846
79,171
113,154
117,000		 Fixtures
Computer
and
& office
fittings
equipment
Totals
£
£
£
238,112
48,248
478,685
-
2,815
2,815
238,112
51,063
481,500
24,279
35,524
135,128
9,559
8,128
21,533
33,838
43,652
156,661
204,274
7,411
324,839
213,833
12,724
343,557
2020
2019
(£)
(£)
2,664,574
3,003,508
-
3,258,660
(200,000)
(4,000,198)
(50,687)
402,604
2,413,887
2,664,574

Investments included in Unrestricted Funds are:

COIF Income Units of £238,520 (2019 - £424,488) and Diversified Income Fund - Class 3 of £1,105,960 (2019 - £1,163,111), which are invested in the COIF Charity Funds managed by CCLA Investment Limited.

L&G International Index Trust of £295,171 (2019 - £265,196) and L&G UK Index Trust of £224,908 (2019 - £258,568).

Shares of £1,100 (2019 - £1,100) in Lantern House Management Limited, an unlisted company.

Investments included in Endowment Funds are L&G International Index Trust of £311,147 (2019 - £279,549) and L&G UK Index Trust of £237,081 (2019 - £272,563), less an amount allocated to General Unrestricted Funds under Total Return Accounting.

33

BLINDAID

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

16.
STOCKS
Stocks
17.
DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Other debtors
Greater London Fund for the Blind
18.
CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Trade creditors
Social security and other taxes
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income
19.
MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Net
movement
At 1.1.20
in funds
£
£
Unrestricted funds
General fund
618,922
68,366
Fixed assets
343,558
(21,534)
Community projects
932,133
(79,396)
Strategic planned deficit
784,822
(266,352)
2,679,435
(298,916)
Restricted funds
The Clothworkers' Foundation
10,188
22,474
Endowment funds
Endowment fund
438,327
(3,884)
TOTAL FUNDS
3,127,950
**(280,326) **		 31.12.20
£
1,563
31.12.20
£
47
-
47
31.12.20
£
2,831
11,983
8,067
5,135
28,016
Transfers
between
funds
£
468,392
2,815
(852,737)
381,530
-
-
-
-		 31.12.19
£
1,563
31.12.19
£
1,711
11,200
12,911
31.12.19
£
14,642
12,765
8,634
8,117
44,158
At
31.12.20
£
1,155,680
324,839
-
900,000
2,380,519
32,662
434,443
2,847,624

34

BLINDAID

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

19. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
General fund
Fixed assets
Community projects
Strategic planned deficit
Restricted funds
The Clothworkers' Foundation
Endowment funds
Endowment fund
TOTAL FUNDS		 Incoming
resources
£
68,365
-
-
462,481
530,846
50,000
-
580,846		 Resources
expended
£
-
(21,533)
(79,396)
(682,029)
(782,958)
(27,526)
-
(810,484)		 Gains and
Movement
losses
in funds
£
£
-
68,365
-
(21,533)
-
(79,396)
(46,804)
(266,352)
(46,804)
(298,916)
-
22,474
(3,884)
(3,884)
(50,688)
**(280,326) **

Designated funds comprise the following:

35

BLINDAID

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

20. ENDOWMENT FUNDS

Balances as at 1 January 2020
Return for the year
Investment loss
Allocated to Unrestricted Income Fund
Net movement for the year
Balance as at 31 December 2020
2019 Comparative
Balances as at 1 January 2019
Return for the year
Investment gain
Allocated to Unrestricted Income Fund
Net movement for the year
Balance as at 31 December 2019		 Unapplied
Total Return
£
223,327
(3,884)
-
(3,884)
219,443
Unapplied Total
Return
£
223,327
78,081
(78,081)
-
223,327		 Trust for
Investment
£
215,000
-
-
-
215,000
Trust for
Investment
£
215,000
-
-
-
215,000		 Total
Endowment
£
438,327
(3,884)
-
(3,884)
434,443
Total
Endowment
£
438,327
78,081
(78,081)
-
438,327

The Trustees have exercised their powers under Section 104A(2) of the Charities Act 2011 to apply a total return basis for endowment funds.

21. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year

36

A11-1 Blind Aid Financial Statements 31.12.20

Final Audit Report 2021-08-24

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