CHARITY COMMI5510N FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Trustees, Annual Report for the period From 1st Oct 2023 Period end dale Parlod start dats To 30 Sep 2024 Charity name: Braille Chess Association Charity registration number: 263049 Objectives and Activities SORP refererKe Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing docum8nt p1.17 The Objects of the Association are the furtheran of education amongst blind and partially sighted people in relation to the game of chess by:_ The promotion of ches5 tournaments with oVer-thbO3rd play, and by correspondence. The publication and distribution of chess literare including the provision of an audio Service. The entouragement of the participation of blind chess playÈrs in mainstream toumaments. Any other activity connected with the promotion of chess among blind and partially sighted people During the year 2023-2024 we were able to run a nomial over-the-board programme, including two weekend congresses, the annual chess theme breal and a week-long tournament in the summer. At the same time. we did hold a remote toumament with members playing either by phone/Skypeftoom or else using online chess platforms such as Liches5. We played our correspondence games and email tournaments as usual. We published ourquartedy gazette whith is distributed to member5 in various formats and also published on our website. Our new website was launched in August 2023. We provided audio selections of articles from Chess Magazine to our members. There is an allowance for members who wish to develop their skills through coaching and although coaching weekends weren't possible, online coaching was Summary ofthe main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. Para 1.171 1.19
arranged. We supplied adapted chess Sets and talking chess clocks to members. Statement confimiing whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit Para 1.18 The BCA complias with thè principles set out in the latest edition of the Good Governanc8 Cod& for Trustees. We are also mindful of the guidance on public benefft Issued by the Charity C(Nnmission. Additional information (optlonal) You ma hoose to indude further statements where relevant about.. SORP r8ferarKa Pard 1.38 Policy on grant making Parn 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment PaTa 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other Achievements and Performance SORP refer*6
We were particularly pleased to be able to send Gary Hogan (Carterton. Oxfordshirel to two international events. the International Braille Chess Assoaation's IIBCAI world individual thampionships in Rhode5. Greece from 8 to 18 October 2023, hls first trip abroad for the BCA, and the IBCA individual European th championships in Ploesti Romania from 15 to 25 June. G3ry was accompanied by Owen Phillips Icarshaltonl as coach. In Greece Gary scored a credible four from nine, holding his own against higher-rated layers. In Romania Gary also scored four from a possible nine points amd finished 47 out of 63 player5, one place above his seeding. We were proud of Gar¢s adiievements and Iwk forward to him representing us abroad in the future. Our autumn international toumament was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Solihull from to 12 November 2023. Owen Phillips won the Open on tie-break and Mark Hague ILondon) won the Challengers, section. Our 30th annual chess theme break was held at the Lauriston Hotel. Weston Super Mare starting 2 January2024. This used to be run by Peter and Celia Gibbs IHinckley), but this year, trustee Julie Leonard (Tewkesburyl took on the bulk of the organi5ing. A lot of support was also provided by Gerry Walsh Imiddlesbroughl. The theme break is a relaxed event featuring social activtties, some chess training and an all-play-all handicap competition. Bittor Ibanez (London) won the mini tournament. Our AGM and spring congress took place at the Leicester Hilton Hotel from IS to ity March 2024. It was held in memory of Peter Gibbs (Hinckley) who had died the previous year. Steve Bumell (North Shields) won the Open and Bittor Ibanez and John Fullwood Icamberleyl shared first prize in the Challengers. section. Colin Chambers Icheltenhaml was elected honorary life member in appreciation of his involvement with the association going back to 1972. We ran our week-lon& seven-round British championship from 22 to 29, June 2024 at the Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate. The tournament was held in memory offomierchampio Graham Lilley of st Helen'5. and we were pleased to have his brother and sister-in-law, Summary of Ihe main 2chi6vements of the charity, identrfying the difference the chariws work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any whjer benefits to society as a whole. Part 3.20
John and Maria Lilley with us. Two new members. Brandan Read IWeston-Super-Marel and Ben Fletcher-Harris Isheffieldl were playing in their first event. Bill Armstrong ILeekl won the Open while Gill Smtth {Bristoll, Voldi Gailans {Romfordl and Ben Fletcher-Harris shared first place in the challengers. section. The multi-fom)at event of the year was our remote Summercupwhich started on 13 July. Competttors played a game every two weeks over a ten-week period. The event was put on to offer members the chance to play competitive chess at a time when there is not so much over- the-board chess going ori. Brandan Read won the Open and Paul Inglis Ilsle of Manl won the Challengers. section. Neda Koohnavard (Erithl won the ladies trophy. A huge effort went into organising and running this event and we must extend particular thanks to Julie Leonard and Gerry Walsh. Voldi Gai13ns helped with Zoom I sessions and Bittor Ibanez compiled a database of games. Regarding correspondence chess, we continued to run our usual league and championship. In the league scheduled to finish on 31st October 2023, Alec Crombie Iuppingham) won division I and Malcolm Jones (Birmingham) won division 2. A new league began in January 2024 and is due to run till 31° October 2025. Our 47, correspondence championship began in January 2023. George Phillips IKingston-upon-Thames1 won the Premier group and Voldi Gallan5 (Rornfordl won the challengers, section. Our thanks go to Paul Benson IRuncornl for running these events. We held 2 BCA email competitions. The 19th featured four divisions. Bill Armstrong took first place in division l. Phil Gordon Ilsle of Wight) won division 2. Anton Emery {St8ffordl finlshed first in division 3 and Michael Flood (Londonl won division 4. The 20 email competition also featured four divisions. Once again the overall winner was Bill Am)strong. Brandan Read. playing in his first email tournament, finished Irst in division 2. Voldi Gailans won division 3, and first place in division 4 was shared between Tony Elbourn IGosPOrtI, Tony Lawton (Reading) and Gill Smith. A new email tournament 15 undeTh¥ay.
These email tournaments are amongst our most popular events, and we would like to put on retord our appreciation of the work Eamonn Casey (County Westmeath) and Philip Doyle {Dublin) put into making them such a great success. We have implemented further improvernents to our website. Membership application forms and entry fomis for tournaments have proved popular with members and those wishing to loin the association. Our thanks go to Olly LeonaTd for the work he does as Website Co-ordinator. The amount of toaching activity has increased significantly. Several members now take advantage of regular online how good is your chess sessions. Participants must try to work out moves made in a high-level game and are awarded points based on the accuracy of their suggestions. Our thanks go to Voldi Gailans and Gerrywalshwho have put a lot of effort in to getting these sessions up and running. Finally, our Publicity Officer, Abi Baker {London} has been busy. She wa5 interviewed by RNIB Connect and was involved in putting together a video illustrating how V15ually impaired people play chess which was posted on the ECF'S webstte. We were also involved in a summer Chess Fest in Trafalgar Square in London. Additional infomation (optlonal) You ma hoose to include further statements wh8re relevant abouL' Achievements against objectives set Para 1.41 P&rfornan of fundraising aGtivtties against objectives set Pwa 1_41 Investment perfomwnc8 against objectives Para 1.41 Olh8r
Financial Review Review of th8 charity's financial position at the end of the period Para 121 Atthe end of September we held £121,849 in bank accounts and the value of our investments was £47,815. The BCA aims to hold funds sufficient to support at least 2 years. worth of attivities. This enables us to obtain preferential rates when booking venuesand accommodation. and when ordering adapted chess set5 and clocks. It also means we can plan participation in international events. We currently have £114.329 which can be spent on general purposes. Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held 1.22 Amount of reserves held Para 1Q2 Reasons for holding zero r85eNes Details of fund malèrially in deficit Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuiw as a going cOnM Para 1.22 NIA P¥a 1.24 NIA Para 121 NIA Additional infomiation (optional) You ma choose to indude further statements where relevant aboutr. The rnajority of our income was raised by a professional fundraiser from Erant-giving trusts and foundations. The charity's prinopal sour$ of funds (including any fundraising) Para 1.47 Several years ago. the charity benefitted from an unexpected and significantly large legacy. We took advice from a financial adviser and chose to put some fvnds into an investment to increase their value in the medium to long temi and meanwhile provide some income. Our investments are held in a Charities Offla1 Investment Fund. Inveslment policy and obj8clives including any social investment policy adopted Para 1.46 A description of the prinripal risks facing the chartty P8ra 1.46 Other
Structure, Governance and Management D8scription of chariws trusts.. Type of goveming document trust deed, ro al charter How is the charity constituted? (e.g. unincorporated association, CIO Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body enttt18d to appoint one or more trustees Para 1.25 Consittution. Para 125 Pa 1.25 Twstees are elected by Annual General Meeting. Additional inforniation (optional) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about.. Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of tnjstees pa 151 The Gharitrfs organisational structure and any wider neork with which the charity works Pa 1.51 We are affiliated to the English Che55 Federation, Chess Scotland, the English Federation for Correspondence Chess and the International Braille chess Relationship with any related partiès Para 1.51 Association. other Reference and Administrative details Chari name Other name the chari uses Re istered chari number Charity's principal address Braille Chess Association 263049 58 Earf Russell StreeL LeISter. Postcode.. LE2 8LH
Namés of the Charity trusteos who rnanage the charity Dat•s actèd rf not for who TrusiÈe name Office (If any) Name of person lor body) •ntltlad to a oint trustee ifan William AStrong DrBGuy Whitehouse Chairman Secretary Gill Smith Julie Leonard Treasurer Until 1610312024 Gazette Editor Mark Hague Membèrship Secratary Audio Librarian Junior Development and Coaching Officer Until 1610312024 Mark Kirkham Voldi Gailans Until 1610312024 Abi Baker Tristram Cole Publicity Director Treasurer From 1610312024 10 Gary Wickett Membership Secretary Chair of Tournament Sul{)mM[ttee From 1610312024 John Fullwo(xl From 1610312024 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Cor orate truslees- names of the directors at the date the re Dire¢tOT name rtwasa ved Name of trustees holding tide to property belonging to the charity Trustee name Oates acted rf not for who
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others Description of th8 assets held in this capacity Nam8 and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the cuslodian charity's objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such ass8ts from the charitys own assets Additional information (optional) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional infomiation) Type of Name Address adviser Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optlonal Informatlon) Exemptions from disclosure Reason for wn-disdosure of ke rsonnel d8tails Other o tional infonnation
Declarations The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees. report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees Signaturels) Full namels) Tristram Cole Position (e.g. Secretary, Chair, etc) Treasurer Date 1910512025
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALE5 Braile Choss A8S0tiat(<)n 263049 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the perlod 5tattL dale Per.. knd date 301(19r2024 To 01110r2tr23 Section A Receipts and payments Llnre5trrted funds Restnthd funds Endowment fvnds Total funds Last year io the noaro$1£ tolh• nEareGi£ tvthè rbtsar£ Al Recelpt$ Dtsnauons, legac, grants Chess toumamÈnl$ Fundraising by tnefflber& Intsresl Divid8$ membw5hlpsuipnS &)rfyensalion from bank 6&297 34,125 3A02 7,510 73,007 34.125 66,212 42,088 1,ODJ 774 990 760 50 Sub totsl(Gmss income for ARJ 107.164 7A10 114.674 111,409 A2 Asset and invÈstment sates, Is¢& table). Adapted sèts and docks BCA Merchandise 1.685 1.685 363 2,04B 2.062 241 2A03 Sub tolal 116,722 113712 A3Pa Chess loutnatngnts Profe85[on Fee5 Braillp pv¢On lindwlry Committee ¢xpcng¢$ Post, print, Stationary SubsJiplion$ and wbhc8b.¥ Inswrdn¢e Loiteryprize5 B8nk¢haryes 546 11.698 2200 £010 1.050 68,SS6 12.746 7265 13,060 2,282 17T 46D 74$ 517 676 605 420 113 661 6fj1 Sub total 86J41 A4 Assèt and Invèstmènt purthas•s. Isè• tab) 18d sets and clocks BCA Merthand 1814 2,314 514 4S27 391 514 Sub total 514 2.814 157 89.669 Not of r8c8ipts/(paymonts) AS Transfvrs betweon funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds thi$ yearend 27.700 647 27.053 114329 121849 796 CCXX R1 accounls ISS}
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment fund$ to n&arest £ Categoriès Detsils to nearest£ to nearnst £ B1 Cash funds CAF Bank Lbyds Bar 33>31 rotaicash funds 11432 ¥l($l) OK Unrestricted funds OK ReslJl¢ted funds tg n•arnst£ OK Endowment funds to nèarost E Oetalls FdtDwh1¢h assetbelon Dètails CCLA COIF Inwmounit5 Costlopttona Curr•nt valu• B3 Investment ass¢ts 19.405 CCLA COIF A)JMu1ati0n urrfL8 unrestrlrknj 28.411 Fundto which a55etbelDn unresbfj¢t Cost Iopiionall Curr•nt valu• lonal Detalls Tarble cknes5 sets B4 Assets rotained for the charitys own us8 2,320 T?jng C$S untpstrG*J 311 unresthctal 251 Furwj to whkh Yel8ies Ythèn duo lonal D•tall$ B5 Liabllltlos Signed by or Iwo trustees on behaff Df all thE ttustees SKJnature Print Name Dale ol roval Tristram Co 19105125 CCXX R2 aOnts ISSI
Inde endent Examiner's Re raille Chess Association ort to the frustees of Independent examiner's report tothe trustees of Braile Chess Assoclatlon I report to the charity truslees on my examination of the accounts of Braille (hess A5$0ciation Ithe Trust) for the year ended 3Q September 2024. RÈsponslblliknes and basis of report As the charity trustee5 of the Trust you are re5POn5ible for the preparatKin of the accounts In accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111'the Act'l. I report in respect of my examination of the TrusV5 accounts carried out under Section 145 tsf the Art and in carrying out my exarnination I have followed all applicable Directions glven by the Chartty Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. ndependenl examlnerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material rnatters have come to my attention in connection with the examinatiC*n giving me tausè to believe that in ary material respect= accJnting record5 were not kept in re5pett of theTrust as required by section 130 of the Act,. or the account5 do not accord wth those records- or the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements conceming theform and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than ary requirernent that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter conside¥ed as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection wth the examination to whlch attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reathed. Lisa White FCCA Dunkley's Woodlands Grange Woodlands Lane Bradley Stoke Bristol BS32 4JY Date.. l.1.051.7 ? ZS