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
p￿1.17
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-th￿bO3rd play, and by
correspondence. The publication and
distribution of chess litera￿re 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 1.17￿￿1
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
cOn￿M
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 Off￿la1
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
P*a 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
ne￿ork with which the
charity works
P*a 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 LeI￿Ster. 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 A￿Strong
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￿$
membw5hlpsu￿￿ip￿nS
&)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 p￿v¢￿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
7￿265
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($l) OK
Unrestricted
funds
OK
ReslJl¢ted
funds
tg n•arnst£
OK
Endowment
funds
to nèarost E
Oetalls
F￿dtDwh1¢h
assetbelon
Dètails
CCLA COIF Inwmounit5
Costlopttona
Curr•nt valu•
B3 Investment ass¢ts
19.405
CCLA COIF A￿)JMu1ati0n urrfL8
unrestrlrknj
28.411
Fundto which
a55etbelDn
unresbfj¢t
Cost Iopiionall
Curr•nt valu•
lonal
Detalls
Tarble cknes5 sets
B4 Assets rotained for the
charitys own us8
2,320
T?j￿ng C￿$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 a￿O￿nts 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=
acc￿Jnting 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