See
what Deaf
Choices UK is
DC
saying...
Annual Report
2023-24
DEAF CHOICES UK
Thrive with Language and
Literacy for Life
The Boatshed, Steamer Quay, Totnes, Devon TQ9 SAL
info@deafchoicesuk.com - vvvvw.deafchoicesuk.com - 01803 712 852
DC
CONTENTS
Introduction to Cued Speech
Strategic Overview
Operational and Practise
Overview
Charity Outcomes
Other DCUK Activities
P.16
P.18
Review and Plan 2024-2027
P.21
The Deaf Choices Team
P.25
Funding and Risk Management
Statement of Financial
P.28
P.29
Activities
Legal and Financial
P.30
Deaf Choices UK
The Boatshed, Steamer Quay
Totnes, Devon TQ9 SAL
Telephone 01803 712 853
1nfo@deafchoicesuk.com
www.deafchoicesuk.com
Registered with the Charity Commission of
England and Wales No. 279523
A Company Limited by Guarantee No. 1477997
DC
Welcome to Deaf Choices UK.
DCUK. Our name reflects our
approach.
We believe in the importance
of informed choice. We
support parents of deaf
children and professionals to
make the best CHOICE(S) for
Communication, Language
and Literacy.
Deaf Choices UK is currently
the only UK charity providing
Cued Speech training
Introduction to Cued Speech DC
Cued Speech (CS) is a communication
system developed for the deaf and hard
of hearing (DHH), elaborated by Dr. R.
Orin Cornett in 1966 in the United States.
After several years of teaching physics,
mathematics and electronics at academic
level, Dr. Cornett became the Director of
Higher Education at the U.S. Office of
Education where he was surprised to
learn that DHH students had lower
reading skills than their peers.
Knowing that many DHH children were
born into hearing families, the
transmission of linguistic and
communicational skills proved to be a
major challenge for parents of deaf
children. Insufficient learning of the
spoken language also led to an additional
difficulty in lip-reading, which is essential
for people with hearing loss.
These observations led Dr. Cornett to
develop a system to facilitate language
acquisition for DHH children by
representing sounds visually using both
the lips and the hand. He started by
establishing the main goal of this system:
to render spoken language accessible
visually for DHH people, as it already is
audibly for hearing people.
"A few months of study convinced me that
the underlying cause of their reading
problem was the lack of any reasonable
way to learn spoken language, without
which they could not use speech for
communication, become good lipreaders,
or learn to read."
Dr. R. Orin Cornett
His research showed that developing a
finger spelling system had already been
tried and did not prove efficient due to its
complexity and slowness compared to
spoken language. His solution was to use
"cues" meaning that he decided to group
consonant sounds in 8 hand
configurations according to visual
contrast and frequency of occurrence. He
also grouped vowel sounds in four
positions around the lips.
He had always assumed that deaf people
must be proficient readers, as written
language was surely more accessible to
them than spoken language. His
explanation for this lower level of literacy
was that the acquisition of language skills
began with oracy, not literacy, which
posed a consequent difficulty for deaf and
hard of hearing children to learn a
language in the first place.
Cued S
British
echchart
ngllsh IPA
Rule 1
Rul• 2
A study conducted in 1982 by Gaye
Nicholls for her master's thesis at McGill
University showed that CS did not only
improve language reception, but that it
enhanced both auditory perception and
lip-reading abilities of deaf subjects.
Il*h.. 51d• Plllr•rnvnt
Trd•h•p•S
Rule 3
• ¥.. To¢e TMEFt
Strategic Overview
DC
Cued Speech UK (CSUK) 1975-2024
The Brand change represents the change
in direction of our philosophy and values
after 50 years which is a direct response to
a change in need reflected by our
beneficiaries.
The Charity was established in the UK in
1975 as the National Centre for Cued
Speech and was part of KIDS, a
registered charity for children with a
disability. The Charity became
independent in 1980 when it was also
incorporated as a company limited by
guarantee. In 2000 it was renamed the
Cued Speech Association, and this was
revised in 2017 to Cued Speech UK
(CSUK).
DCUK realised the powerful significance of
offering parents informed, unbiased
choice. (It is not just one choice that is
needed for a deaf child but many
throughout their lives in order to achieve
their potential socially and emotionally.)
The change has been experienced as
2024 Cued Speech to Deaf Choices UK positive with our beneficiaries and other
professionals and we feel much more
Following a year of consultation with our
confident about explaining what we do, in
Trustees, stakeholders and beneficiaries
addition to still holding the ethos of the
we changed our name and brand to Deaf benefits of learning Cued Speech and its
Choices UK.
value across the life of a deaf child.
Our Charity Aim has changed:
"Deaf Choices UK (DCUK) aspires to give
deaf children improved access to:
DEAF CHOICES UK
offering language and literacy for life
Language - by empowering their families
On 6th December we were accepted to make fully informed choices.
by the Charity commission as Deaf
Literacy - by supporting their educators to
Choices UK.
access information, training, and
On the 23rd December we were
resources.
accepted by the Companies house as
being Deaf Choices UK.
On 15th January our new Deaf
Choices UK website went live with
new content.
Strategic Overview
DC
We provide knowledge, information and
training around the unique benefits,
concepts, and skills of using Cued
Speech.
Governance
The Trustees work in line with DCUK
Articles of Association.
Our offer supports deaf children and
those with Special Educational Needs
and Disability (SEND) to thrive at home,
succeed in education, and achieve their
potential.
All Trustees apply with a full CV and two
references and are interviewed by the
Executive Director and another Trustee.
New Trustees are 'voted in, on their first
meeting by the full Board. All Trustees
must complete Level I Safeguarding
training and submit an enhanced DBS
check.
The DCUK Articles of Association and
Memorandum of Association reviewed in
October 2001 have not changed.
This year we received resignations from
Win Burton and Tina KinNin-McGinley.
The brand identity has not changed we
still use the same recognisable blue and
the same font.
Tina, a Teacher of the Deaf, was a
Trustee for 19 years and brought a
professional and educational perspective
to meetings. Her strategic and practical
knowledge were hugely valued. Tina has
asked that we replace her with an
individual with similar strengths and skills.
DCUK continues to be the only charity in
the UK that offers Cued Speech training
to families with a deaf child and the
professionals who support deaf children.
Win Burton served as a Trustee to CSUK
for more than 20 years. Win was a
mother to four children two of whom were
deaf. Win was a bilingual 'cuer' and cued
in both French and English. She provided
the board with first-hand experience of
parenting deaf children and supported
the team by quality assuring written
documents and funding applications. Her
immense knowledge and skill were
invaluable and are missed by all.
Strategic overview
DC
Volunteers
Policies
Volunteers provide a vital contribution to
the work of DCUK.
Safeguarding - We are registered with
the Safeguarding Network -
"Safeguarding Network - confidence in
safeguarding" This is an online resource
produced for schools. The site is updated
with the latest reports and articles and
relevant training events.
Our volunteers support training activities,
demonstrate how to cue at public events,
provide external advice and guidance,
take part in fundraising activities, provide
expert advice in specialist areas of
delivery and trial our new resources.
It contains information and training in all
the key areas which should be
considered when working with children.
Volunteers cannot work on their own with
children and when working with us they
must have an enhanced DBS and have
completed level I Safeguarding training.
Safe9uardlng Network
web8lte
(Scan th• QR code on
your 8martphon•)
Policies on employment, holidays,
behaviour and inclusion are available in
the DCUK Handbook.
Staff Handbook
(Scan the QR codo on
your smartphone)
HR Procedures and guidance are
supported by Westcountry HR.
www.westcountryhr.com
Health and Safety at work is overseen by
Peninsular
www.peninsulagrouplimited.com
Will Collinson - A Deaf Choices
UK volunteer
Operational and Practise DC
Overview
Why Cued Speech?
opportunities and the best possible
outcomes in education and for life for
their child. Deaf children want to be able
to feel included in their family and
community and to be able to have access
to language, literacy, education and
employment equal to their hearing peers.
DCUK beneficiaries are:
(a) Those deaf children who are not able
to benefit fully or at all from hearing aids
or implants.
(b) The very significant number of
children who use listening (via
technology) but subsequently fail to
acquire a practical understanding of
English.
(c) Visual learners such as children who
have auditory processing issues,
language delay, dyslexia, auditory
neuropathy, and those who do not have
English as a first language.
(d) Those children who are struggling to
access literacy in education at Key Stage
We are confident that access to CS from
an early age will give deaf children life
changing skills.
Income received from our benefactors is
used to support two streams of work:
l.Working with Deaf Babies and
Children aged 0-4. Project funded is
CHOICES programme for the parents
of newly diagnosed deaf children.
2. Language and Literacy for life.
0-18.
(d) is recognised as a new cohort. This
reflects the focus of work with Key Stage
I literacy.
Within these two work streams are
embedded several projects. Each project
has ring-fenced income achieved through
grant applications to Charitable Trusts.
Outcomes
l. Deaf babieslchildren will demonstrate
greater participation within the family.
2. Deaf children's self-confidence will
grow in their personal relationships.
3. Deaf children will have increased
literacy skills.
Core funding is used to maintain the core
functions integral to the charity's activities
and is not ring-fenced.
Income is achieved through applications
to Charitable Trusts, income received
from standard appeals, donations, and
fundraising activities.
Charitable Activities
Every parent of a deaf child wants equal
Operational and Practise DC
Overview
An example of working with a child
agedO-4
Impact on Willow's Development:
Becca noticed significant improvements
in Willow's development with CS. By 12
months old, Willow was meeting all her
developmental and language milestones,
babbling a full range of sounds, and
starting to say words like "Dada," dog,"
"bird, and "thank you." When Willow
started nursery, she was confident,
happy, and well-engaged with her peers.
Case History Willow 2023 -2024
Willow failed her newborn hearing
screening and was referred to Kathy by
Plymouth Audiology department following
newborn hearing screening. The
audiologist explained that DCUK UK
offered free support and that CS could
help with Willow's language and
communication. Willow was diagnosed
with moderate hearing loss, and her
mother, Becca, a preschool teacher, was
concerned about Willow's social and
language development.
Becca shared her advice to other
parents: "It's ovenNhelming to learn your
baby is deaf, but CS gives them the best
chance for full language and literacy. If I
can do it, anyone can."
Becca's initial meeting with the DCUK
Regional Family Advisor, Kathy, via
Zoom was overwhelming, but Kathy's
clear explanations helped Becca
understand and decide to try CS. Becca,
aware of the challenges of learning
British Sign Language (BSL) and its
limitations for literacy, appreciated that
CS allowed her to communicate fully with
Willow from the start. Becca was aware
that while Willow had hearing aids to
support her hearing, cued speech would
provide visual confirmation of sounds that
might not be accessed.
Continued Progress and Family
Involvement:
Since October 2023, Kathy has continued
working with Becca and her husband
Chris, visiting them weekly or bi-weekly.
Chris decided to learn to cue, and now he
can cue single words and short phrases.
Becca practices cueing harder words and
paragraphs, while Willow remains eager
to engage in play and communication.
Becca reported that Willow's speech and
language have made great strides.
Willow enthusiastically anticipated
Kathy's visits, demonstrating her
10.
Operational and Practise DC
Overview
progress by playing games and practising
new words and signs. At her new
nursery, Willow attempts to repeat names
she hears, and cueing helps her
understand and pronounce them
correctly. When she misunderstands
something, cueing clarifies it, making
Willow more confident as she knows she
can always understand her parents.
At three, JJ, profoundly deaf despite
hearing aids, was referred to DCUK. His
mother sought help as JJ struggled with
anxiety and minimal engagement. Kathy,
the Regional Family Advisor (RFA) for
the Southwest, noticed JJ'S frustration
and limited hearing.
Initially denied cochlear implants due to
cognitive and emotional challenges, JJ
and his mother made significant progress
with CS over six months. Seeking
specialized education, they chose
Eggbuckland (EB) School in Plymouth,
which collaborates with CSUK, using
cued stories and songs to support
literacy. JJ thrived at EB, one of 30
children using CS, where teachers also
learned to Cue.
Conclusion:
CS has had a profound impact on
Willow's development, boosting her
language skills, social confidence, and
overall engagement. Becca's dedication
and the support from CSUKIDCUK have
ensured Willow thrives despite her
hearing loss.
An example of the impact of Cued
Speech on language and literacy for
life
DCUK helped with JJ'S Educational
Health Care Plan (EHCP). By age five, JJ
showed significant language and literacy
improvement using CS and BSL. After six
months at EB, JJ successfully received
cochlear implants at age six. His literacy
lagged behind peers, but his behaviour
and engagement improved markedly. JJ
continued using CS to integrate visual
English with the new acoustic signals,
supported by BSL.
JJ'S Journey with Deaf Choices UK
11.
Operational and Practise DC
Overview
Now seven, JJ'S transformation is extraordinary. His expressive language is age-
appropriate, his literacy is catching up, and he excels in social interactions, attending
mainstream classes. During a recent visit, the DCUK Executive Director saw JJ and his
profoundly deaf friend enthusiastically engaging with CS literacy resources, cueing,
singing, and dancing.
ATH
IJK
Kathy Kenny on ITV regional news
JJ cueing at Eggbuckland
12.
Operational and Practise DC
Overview
Nan in a Van (NIAV) and DCUK and the
Development of Software for deaf
children.
In July 2023 a Parliamentary written
question was posed by Anthony Mangnall
MP.
In the report 2022-2023, we had three
unique software prototype interventions
that we hoped to continue to develop for
deaf people, these were NIAV, Cassie
ICUE and UCUE. We had established
good partnerships with other charities to
work on projects together.
I was able to ask the Secretary of State
for Education: "how many primary
schools in England use literacy resources
at Key stage I designed specifically for
(a) deaf children and (b) other visual
learners that include visual languages to
support access and inclusion in early
literacy as of July 2023" (195561)
In July 2023 we finished the development
of the animated NIAV stories. These
stories were animated by avatars one
who used Cued Speech to tell the story in
English and one to describe the pictures
using British Sign Language.
Tabled on: 20 July 2023
Minister David Johnston's reply in brief:
The department recognises the
importance of supporting all children and
young people with Special Educational
Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including
deaf children and those with a hearing
impairment.
However, once the animation for NIAV
was completed the company Robotica
who were developing our Avatar, went
into liquidation. We had a partnership
agreement in place which is legally
binding and the Intellectual Propety for
NIAV belongs to DCUK, however the
other two products are currently dormant.
The reasons are two- fold; we put all our
focus on NIAV and secondly, we now
need additional funds to move the avatar
projects ICUE and UCUE forward.
On the Get Information About Schools
service, there are 197 primary schools
and five all-through schools listed as
providing for children with hearing
impairments, there are 20,788 Primary
Schools in the UK.
Market Research into the need for
support for early literacy at the
foundation stage Key Stage l and
onwards:
13.
Operational and Practise DC
Overview
The Children and Families Act 2014
requires all local authorities to publish a
local offer of services for children and
young people with SEND in their area, to
ensure that families are aware of services
that are available in their area and are
able to contribute to shaping the services
to meet local needs. Information about
the support available for children with
sensory impairment should be included
within that local offer.
The Year I phonics screening check
(PSC) assesses whether children can
accurately decode a selection of words
that include common Grapheme
Phoneme Correspondences (GPCS): the
first step in word reading. Performance
overall in the PSC has improved
substantially since 2012, the year of its
introduction.[footnote 4]
Results for 2023 show outcomes close to
pre-pandemic levels.[footnote 5] There is
also a positive correlation between
performance in the PSC and performance
in PIRLS (Progress in international
reading literacy study) 2021.
"The economic cost of insufficient early
literacy support is likely to be significant.
Each year a group of children who do not
meet the expected early years standard
generates lifetime economic costs of
around £830 million.
Successive PIRLS reports also show a
reducing gap between the lowest and
highest scoring pupils, which seems to be
the result of an improvement in the
performance of the lowest attainers.
[footnote 6]
This equates to £7,800 for each five-
year-old who could reasonably have
been expected to meet the standard.
Much of this loss stems from the knock-
on effects on academic success and later
employment outcomes. The typical child
who does not meet the literacy standard
at age five loses out on around £5,300 of
earnings over their lifetime and costs the
government around £2,500 more over
their lifetimes through higher spending on
education and welfare, as well as lower
tax revenue., Early literacy matters:
Economic impact and regional disparities
in England Karol Rodriguez Cabrera,
Rachel Gomez and Jon Franklin
February 2024
However, over l in 4 pupils still move to
secondary school without having met the
expected standard in the Key Stage 2
national reading test.[footnote 7] This
hinders them in secondary school, both in
English and more widely across the
curriculum (Ofsted the English Education
Subject Report 2024)
14.
Operational and Practise DC
Overview
In October 2023 we moved our funds and
staff time to focus on creating a
comprehensive literacy intervention for
children who are struggling with Key
Stage I phonics.
programme. Included in the resource
pack are 5 sets of ten hard-copy book
versions, five lesson plans per book (50
lesson plans) pupil activity sheets for
each lesson and a card game which
supports children with phonic awareness,
segmenting and blending. We have also
included completion certificates for the
child for every book. The resource pack
will include an introduction and
demonstration and ongoing training and
support from DCUK to educators and
volunteers as needed.
Activities for the launch of this resource
have been numerous.
The Training Lead and Choice Advisor
have developed Nan in a Van (NIAV), a
series of 10 e-books which use digital
avatars to present the story in both Cued
English and British Sign Language and
ten hard-copy A4 reading books that
mirror the animated story. Designed for
Deaf Children and children with Special
Educational Needs and Disability
(SEND), this is a unique intervention in
deaf education and gives children
equality of access to literacy.
The resource offers a perfect introduction
to literacy for all children and a supportive
intervention for those struggling to access
literacy with the aim of all children
returning to the main literacy program
used in school once they are confident
with letters and sounds.
The narrative in the books match the roll-
out of phonemes recommended by the
government's own 'Letters and Sounds,
We are extremely proud of the quality of
this intervention which is now complete.
How to Cue
Letters
Can you rnakl these hand5haptS Wlth y¢ur
own hand by the sldo of your faco?
Bb
Dd
Con you put hond5hape
at youp.
lamNan
Gg
Hh
Jj
Kk
thToai
Ll
Pp
Cor4 pul th
artdshdpo OL th* sldl
•f y•UT ltst* it..
Qq
Tt
Can yt)u Mov* rh
hondsh4p¢ btLw*en rhtse Iwo 9[¢$1
Book I
dty*n
Yy
15.
Charity Outcomes
DC
Numbers trained April 2023- end March 2024
139 Family members
179 Professionals
0 540 People presented to
0 410 deaf children supported
Attended 14 deaf related events
Delivered 14 CS Foundation Group
Sessions
Delivered 13 CS workshops
152 Home Visits
17 On-line Zoom Training
Sessions
42 DeaflParent Child Groups
I Charity Event
30 Pre-school and School Visits
26 Online Self-study
Registrations
8 Post CS Foundation Online
Sessions
60 Love Reading Sessions
6 Choices Programmes
10 NIAV Demos
Increased participation in family
Increased literacy
Increased confidence
Significant changes 22 %
Little change 50 %
Significant changes 48 %
Little change 30 %
Significant changes 45 %
Little change IIO/o
No change 28%
No change 22 %
No change 44%
16.
Charity Outcomes
DC
How do we collect Data?
to 4 so that we have a quantitative
measurement of change. A fifth box asks
the parent whether they have noticed a
change in each area since the start of
their cueing journey.
Information is documented in our
database or Social Impact Tracker (SIT).
We collect names, ages of beneficiaries,
gender, types and number of
interventions, case notes, location, and
the practitioner's name.
For children aged 4 and older, we look at
indicators that reflect language, literacy,
and sociallemotional development. We
measure Receptive Language,
Expressive Language, Literacy, Social
Skills, and Emotional Wellbeing through
behaviour both at school and home.
Additionally, each section has an
observation or comment box which can
be completed by the child, the
parenvcaregiver, or the teacher.
Outcomes are recorded using a
questionnaire for parentsladults, which is
designed to gather information to support
our outcome measurements.
The questionnaires have been
redesigned this year to provide more
accurate indicators and are now divided
into two age groups: 0 - 4 years and 4
years and older.
During further interviews, the Executive
Director interviews the parents of the
deaf child to give a more impartial view of
the practitioner intervention. Case notes
from these interviews are made into
individual case studies and are edited
and approved by the parent in question.
We have researched other assessments
used in education and by hearing support
specialists and have adapted these. This
allows our assessment to be compared
with other multiagency assessment tools.
It is important to note that on many
occasions, developmental age is more
significant than incremental age. The
questionnaires are used every six months
to track change.
These interviews are the parent and child
stories and are 'owned' by them. We
gather signed authorisation to use photos
and case studies from our families. We
record anecdotal and qualitative data and
evidence during home or school visits
which are used for reporting. Additionally,
some of our families have agreed to and
taken part in BBC Children in Need
interviews for radio and television.
For children aged 0 - 4 or those who are
pre-verbal, we measure three indicators:
Attending, Eye Contact, and Facial
Expression, and we have four
measurements of change in each area.
These boxes can be given a score from I
17.
Other DCUK Activities
DC
Activities
The Website
June 2023 the Team met with their local
MP Anthony Mangnall who then
supported the ED with a Parliamentary
written question
In December 2023 we changed our name
from Cued Speech UK to Deaf Choices
UK and created a new website to support
the new brand - deafchoicesuk.com
Conferences and Engagements
In March 2024 we were able to meet with
the Minister David Johnston.
We have also delivered demonstrations
of NIAV to the Leeds multiagency team
supporting deaf children, Manchester
Heads of Service, Hertfordshire Teachers
of the Deaf, Cambridge Cochlear Implant
Group, The Annual conference for
Audiology in October, and the (Special
Educational Needs and Disability) SEND
conference held in London in June.
The Brand change represents the change
in direction of our philosophy and values
after 50 years which is a direct response
to a change in need reflected by our
beneficiaries.
We changed the website to include less
narrative and written material and more
films and videos. The website is now split
into four key areas and easy to navigate
and more engaging.
DCUK
Hom•
Wh•t •r• my ¢hol¢••7
Our Off•r
R••our¢••
Lov• Llt•r•¢y
About U•
Welcome to
Deaf Choices UK
Form•rly known •• Cu•d Sp••ch UK
Welcome to Deal Choices UK. DCUK. Our name reflects our approath.
We support parent5 of deaf children to mak• the best CHOICEISI for
Lan9uage, Literacy and Cofflmunication.
W• b•li•v• th •v•ry d•af child artd •v•ry family has è uniqu• $•t of nteds
and DCUK is here to help you n8vigate and explore the choice$ that are
4vail•bl• to you. $0 that you can mJk• an informed choi¢•.
Deal Choic•s UK is th• ¢)nly charity ift th• UK that provid• trèirting in Cu•d
Speech.
Nfjwsl•tter Sign Up
Al
18.
Other DCUK Activities
DC
Marketing
new schools within the Southwest
through the attendance of a deaf child
within their cohort who has been
accessing cued speech at home with
their family.
To support and promote the change in
brand we ran a marketing campaign with
Crest Marketing which included features
in 3 magazines, I podcast, 2 newspaper
articles and a feature on West Country
news during National Deaf Awareness
week. The TV feature demonstrated our
work with Eggbuckland school and NIAV.
Forging good relationships with Teachers
of the Deaf (TODS) resulted in a positive
engagement with a school in Exeter.
A teaching assistant in a school in
Calstock in Cornwall, who we taught to
cue, has been using Cued Speech to
support special educational needs
children in her class to access literacy
learning, the results have been inspiring.
What has worked Well this year?
Collaboration and Partnership working:
Working in collaboration with other
services and agencies has worked well
for the Charity this year. We have made
new partnerships with Exeter Audiology
Services (CHIME) who are keen to refer
newly diagnosed deaf babies to our
CHOICES programme for children aged
between O and 4.
Home Visits
The number of home-visits has increased
significantly this year with families feeling
more confident post-covid and numbers
are now equal to those pre-covid.
The Charitie's six-week CHOICES
program has brought families together
and is a good example of parent-led and
family-focused learning model.
The sustained and embedded referral
pathway for Plymouth Audiology Services
continues to thrive for Deaf Choices UK
and for newly diagnosed deaf children.
Partnerships in schools have also been a
success story over the last year. Our
work with schools mainly focuses on
delivering training in Cued Speech to the
team around a deaf child and providing
an understanding of the impact of CS as
an intervention to support literacy
learning. We have been referred to four
Early Years and Love Reading
The delivery of 'Love Reading, sessions
through Early Years groups in the
Southwest and in Hertfordshire have
worked well with parents and toddlers
really enjoying cued stories in particular
classic fairy tales such as the Ginger
19.
Other DCUK Activities
DC
Bread Man. The repetition in these fables
provide clear visual affirmation of
repeated sounds through the cues of
cued speech.
willing to engage with the Charity and
while some collaborations have been
'super-easy,' some have been slow to
progress.
Our Family Advisor in the Northeast has
continued to produce excellent resources
which are included in our family pack.
She has made filmed, cued stories and
"Dear Zoo,, in particular has proved very
popular.
Our collaboration with the software
company Robotica has been challenging
this year with the company failing to meet
our timelines and deadlines, at the end of
the year we found that the Directors had
separated due to conflicting ideology.
Self Study
Thankfully our literacy resource Nan-in-a-
Van was completed. The delay did give
us time to reflect on the purpose of the
resource and how to make it 'teacher and
classroom, friendly. In response to this
and following consultation with our pilot
schools, we have embarked on
developing a whole classroom resource.
This includes access to the online
'books,' hard-copy versions, lesson plans
and pupil activity sheets. The resource
will be delivered with training. NIAV
provides a specialist literacy intervention
for deaf children and children with special
educational needs (SEN).
The Cued Speech online self-study has
proved to be very popular with more
professionals and parents accessing it.
The learning is usually supplemented via
l - I sessions with a CS practitioner.
We have done some very successful
networking and public relations with a
member of our team representing the
Charity at conferences, networking
events and through radio interviews.
These events have resulted in new
referrals, partnerships and even interest
from potential trustees.
Key Challenges in the Delivery
It is interesting to note that there are
strengths and weaknesses in some
delivery areas. For example, we have
made some great relationships with
Teachers of the Deaf, but some are not
20.
Review & Plan 2024~2027 DC
Early Intervention 0 - 4
l. The peri, post and the hosted post
faced challenges for different
reasons. The Southwest post has
been the most successful with the
highest levels of engagement.
2. Remote interventions across the UK
and Globally using support over
ZOOM have been successful with
excellent outcomes for parents and
deaf children.
Our project O- 4 has been generously
funded by the Sylvia Adams Foundation
and in the last year through the Sylvia
Adams Legacy Trust. 2017- 2024.
Funds were also received from the Henry
Smith Foundation 2018- 2021 and 2021-
2024. These two significant funds will end
in September 2024.
Additional funds were also received for
core costs from BBC Children in Need,
Foyle Foundation, Garfield Western.
We received funding for The National
Lottery Community Fund to support the
salary of the Training lead and the
Executive Director.
Given the above information DCUK Plan
2024 - 2027 will focus on three main
areas of work which are under an
umbrella title 'Language and Literacy for
Life,
Early Intervention 0 - 6+ (needs led)
Research and Development, and Active O
18. The projects are not mutually
exclusive and overlap in some areas. All
of our projects have the same outcomes
and outcome measurements.
Over the last seven years we have
looked at providing regional support to
parents with a deaf child in three areas
across the UK. The support has been
provided by Regional Family Advisors
(RFA) using four different models of
intervention:
a post hosted by the Local Authority
Hearing Impairment Service. (LA
HIS) (Wales and Herts)
a peripatetic post in the North East.
(Newcastle)
a post working out of our South West
Regional Office.
Remote working using ZOOM .
21.
Review & Plan 2024~2027 DC
Early Intervention 0 - 6+ . (El)
disseminate the Nan-in-a-van (NIAV)
resource to all Primary Schools
across the UK , starting with our key
area in the South West.
"Changing lives through Early
Intervention.
Focuses on the provision of language for
newly diagnosed deaf babies. Support in
the transition from Pre-school to Primary
School and literacy learning at Key Stage
l. The intervention includes training in
cs
Our Objectives O-6+
To improve the early language
acquisition of deaf babies and
children aged O- 6 through the
provision of training in Cued Speech
to the parents and the team around
the child.
To enhance the knowledge and
understanding of the choices
available to deaf children through the
provision of home support, which
includes the CHOICES programme,
to parents of newly diagnosed deaf
babies following the newborn hearing
screening.
To improve the literacy levels of Key
Stage l Deaf and SEND children
including deaf children through the
dissemination of a specialist
interventions designed by DCUK
called, "Nan in a Van,, (NIAV) into all
Primary Schools across the UK.
To gather data around the impact of
DCUK interventions in order to
evidence outcomes.
Use evidence to help to plan for a
second literacy resource.
l. The provision of language for newly
diagnosed deaf babies through
training parents in CS and supporting
parents at home with a deaf child,
focusing our face-to-face intervention
or working through ZOOM. The
intervention is free where there is a
deaf child.
2. The delivery of a programme called
CHOICES. CHOICES supports
parents to navigate the 'deaf World,
and the choices for language and
literacy that may be available to
them. CHOICES helps parents to
choose interventions which will
uniquely meet the needs of their deaf
child and to understand the
progressive journey of a deaf baby
and child through infancy and onward
into education.
3. The provision of literacy intervention
at Key Stage I to Deaf and SEND
children who are struggling with
accessing literacy. We intend to
22.
Review & Plan 2024~2027 DC
Research and Development.
Objectives
Focuses on the development in training
resources in CS for parents and
professionals and the further
development of Resources and
interventions. This includes:_
The continuing development of online
training resources and the delivery of
training to schools.
Delivery of face-to-face CS introductory
training to the team around a deaf child.
Supporting young people 16 - 25 at key
transitional points through education and
into employment.
Other areas of work under this project
include:
To improve training in cued speech
To improve the accessibility of
training in cued speech
To gather data on training outcomes
to inform the further development of
training resources
To improve self confidence in young
deaf people 16 - 25 thereby
improving their ability to access
employment.
'ACTIVE' 0 - 18+
Seeks to build on self-confidence,
inclusion and improved literacy for deaf
children through activities. The activities
are physical, social, emotional and
educational.
Activities
Training the professional team
around the deaf child using ZOOM.
Updating the Online training and
developing a self-assessment app for
improving cueing.
The dissemination of NIAV into
schools
Training volunteers
Development of new resources
Commissioning research.
Activities
Family coffee mornings with
children's activities for deaf children
and their siblings.
Promoting and encouraging the use
of visual manual languages including
British Sign Language (BSL) and
Cued Speech (CS) .
Family activity days for families with a
deaf child such as visits to local
attractions.
Supported engagement with sports,
recreation and arts activities. (eg.
football, dance, theatre, horse riding,
cricket, skiing.)
23.
Review & Plan 2024~2027 DC
Love reading sessions to improve literacy
skills using cued stories and our Nan~in-
a-van reading resource.
Supporting parent-led support groups
Training volunteers
Supporting young people 16- 25 into
education or employment.
We will be taking a proactive approach to
generating core funds through the
dissemination and sales of a specialist
Key stage I literacy intervention NIAV. In
addition to this we have key project and
core funding from The National Lottery
Community fund and BBC Children in
Need plus many smaller grants to
support our work this financial year. 2024
2025.
Objectives
To improve social engagement of
deaf children
To improve family participation
To improve self confidence through
activities
To improve mental health outcomes
of young deaf people
To improve the outcomes of young
people in education and employment
To improve the participation of deaf
young people in their communities
From September we will be focusing our
work throughout the Southwest region
and will grow our business outwards
through a best practice model.
We will continue to deliver training in CS
and offer family support face-to-face in
the Southwest and across the UK
through ZOOM.
We will be taking fonNard the activities
and members of the Plymouth Deaf
Children's Society. This small Charity
was due to fold, however, its activities
enhance those that DCUK already deliver
within the Plymouth area. DCUK are
delighted to be able to continue to deliver
these with funds ring-fenced for the area.
Conclusion.
Plan for 2024 - 2027
Due to changes in the needs of our
beneficiaries and changes in our funding
we have responded proactively and have
generated a new strategy to support the
Charity to move forwards.
We will be changing our funding streams
to:_ "Language and Literacy for Life."
Activities include a monthly family coffee
morning for deaf children and adults, and
activities such as football and dancing for
deaf children. DCUK will have a
representative Trustee on their board and
will greatly benefit from this alliance.
0 - 6+ Early Intervention.
Research and Development
0 - 18+ Active
24.
The Deaf Choices Team
DC
At the end of the financial year 2023 - 2024, DCUK maintain a highly motivated office
team of 8 part-time employees who use their transferable skills to meet the needs of
our beneficiaries and cover a number of projects delivered across the UK.
Henrietta Ireland is the Executive Director of CSUK. Her energy and
creativity have continued to bring opportunities to the Charity and her
ability to fundraise has continued to bring income into the Charity.A
successful funding bid to the National Lottery Community Fund has
ensured some imperative core funds over the next three years and it has
given her the opportunity to consider the best pathway and plan for the Charity during
this time.Henrietta is currently working on a re-branding and marketing plan and
continues to network with potential partners.
Louise Creed is highly skilled at writing budgets for the Charity which is
an art and takes considerable experience and accounting genius. Without
this our funding bids would not have been successful. Louise keeps clear
and rigid spending targets and holds all project spending to account.
Debbie Hawke runs the day-to-day and month-to-month administration of
the Charity. Her role is integral to the efficiency and safety of our practice
and delivery.
Mark Murton can and does do everything and is remarkably successful in
achieving his goals. This may be re-writing the web-site or writing
standard appeals, and publishing the Annual Report. If he can't do it, he
finds out how. Mark also manages new referrals of families and the CSUK
online training site.
Cate Calder is the CSUK Training Lead. Cate is the creative and
professional gift to CSUK. She has spent the last 18 months as the key
point-of-contact for Robotica Machine Learning (RML) the company who
are making our digital interventions for us. Cate's eye for detail has
ensured that our products cue with accuracy and that the lip shapes made by Cassie
are 99 % faultless. Enabling Cassie to get to such a degree of accuracy has taken time,
diligence and commitment.
In addition to this she has monitored and overseen training delivered both online and
face-to-face and has been the highly respected - and in demand - voice and the face
of CSUK at conferences and seminars across the UK.
25.
The Deaf Choices Team
DC
Kathy Kenny is the Lead Regional Family Advisor. Kathy continues to
focus her work as an RFA in the Southwest region but will take referrals
from other regions and when requested, from abroad! Her training as a
teacher and her experience of deafness through having a deaf child
herself, means that she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work.
Kathy is really starting to reap the rewards of persistent engagement with families and
professionals over the last five years. She has multiple referrals from audiology and
works with our key schools in the South West where there is a specialist unit for deaf
children. As the Lead Practitioner, Kathy also oversees the work of the other Regional
Advisors offering them advice, guidance and supervision.
Carly Simpson, an RFA based in the North East, working in Newcastle,
North Yorkshire and Leeds.During and following the 'Lockdown years,,
Carly helped us generate a lot of creative material for you tube and the
website including cued stories, songs and view-it-cue-it. Carly never
stops looking for work opportunities and this has paid off this year with referrals of
families wanting to learn to cue and the provision of training for professionals.
Sagira Jetha, is an RFA in Hertfordshire. She is a hosted member of the
Hertfordshire Hearing Impairment Team and is a highly valued member
of the team. Her work was affected by Covid with less parents wanting to
engage with mother and baby or toddler groups. However numbers have
been improving month-on-month from September. Her Line manager in Herts is Claire
Gamon who will be leaving the Service in July. Claire has been a great advocate for
CS and her foresight helped us to set up our successful partnership in 2019. She will
be missed.
We are proud to also have 7 experienced Trustees on hand to offer specialist
advice and expertise to the team.
Peter chose Cued Speech for his profoundly deaf son in 1985 (a year
after he was born) and attended a number of beginners and intermediate
courses in Canterbury. Peter became a trustee in 1986 and was elected
chair of National Centre of Cued Speech Management Committee for a
number of years until 1995 during a time when fundraising and raising the profile of
Cued Speech were the key objectives. His son benefitted from Cued Speech and now
works for ITV adding sign language bubbles to the current programmes. His ability to
communicate in the deaf and the hearing world is excellent.
26.
The Deaf Choices Team
DC
Vicki Macklin discovered Cued Speech in 2020 whilst looking for
Speech and Language resources to help her son Ryan, who was 4 years
old at the time. Speech and Language support was focussed on Makaton
whereas Vicki wanted to teach him sounds and speech. Ryan's
vocabulary had outgrown the Makaton signs he knew. During the COVID lockdown all
SALT support stopped.
As a parent of a deaf child with speech difficulties, and being deaf herself, Vicki hopes
that she can bring some experience and insight to the Cued Speech team from
personal experience, including sharing the benefits she has found using cued speech
which have gone beyond lip reading. Vicki think it is no coincidence that Ryan is in the
top reading and phonics groups at school.
Vicki is an IT Project Manager by profession.
Sarah Elumba-Hill has a Bsc Information Technology degree and has
worked in Information Technology and Sales. She now runs her own
business, Hill Top Brews LTD, where she sells and supplies roast to
order coffee beans, equipment and supplies.
Sarah has been profoundly deaf since birth and has worn hearing aids for 34 years and
now wears a Cochlear Implant. She looks forward to learning to Cue. Having
experienced a different type of multi-sensory speech therapy growing up, she sees the
benefit of how Cued Speech can improve the quality of life for a deaf person.
Ken is the grandfather of a deaf child brought up with Cued Speech.
Ken's early career was with the Merchant Navy, before moving into a
sales career in the food industry. Ken became aware of Deaf Choices UK
after his granddaughter was born deaf. She lives in France with her
parents and brother, who all attended a Cued Speech course in Exeter. His
granddaughter, now 11, not only speaks fluent French and English but uses Cued
Speech and signing in both languages. The whole family has benefited enormously by
learning to cue.
Tina is a qualified teacher of deaf children (B.Ed Hons/Ad Dip Ed) and is
currently the senior manager of the Hearing Needs team in the Sensory
Support Service in Manchester. Tina as well as managing a large team of
teachers of the deaf and specialist teaching assistants, also continues to
teach deaf children who are educated either through BSL or using an oral approach
from newborn to year 11.
She has used Cued Speech with many pupils over the last ten years for teaching
26.
The Deaf Choices Team
DC
lipreading, phonic skills and spelling. She introduced Cued Speech to the Service and
19 staff have now had some degree of training within it. Many of the staff use it with
profoundly deaf pupils who have English as a second language.Tina runs a Cued
Speech club for parents and staff which is well attended. The staff from the
Manchester SSS regularly attend the Cued Speech Association's cue camp.
Christine Hardy is the Chair person of the charity, and brings with her a
wealth of knowledge from growing up in the deaf community, as a child of
a deaf adult. With NVQ Level 6 in British Sign Language and a rich and
varied background in which she has used her linguistic skills in the
working world, she will be a vital member of our committee. She currently works
'Advocacy, Rights and Awareness Manager, for Deafblind UK, whom she has worked
for now for ten years, and has an educational background in both linguistics and law.
Jacob Twomey is passionate about leveraging marketing expertise for
good, and he brings his 8 years of commercial experience to the Board of
Trustees. He will be instrumental in developing and executing strategic
plans for the exciting new initiative of establishing a trading branch for the
charity.
Jacob's experience in branding, lead generation, and business development, combined
with his positive and collaborative outlook will be invaluable as we work towards
creating a sustainable trading branch. This will allow us to generate income to support
our goal in enabling as many deaf children and families as possible with access to
language and literacy. With his dedication and consultancy, we are confident that this
new venture will have a significant impact on the lives of deaf individuals in our
community.
26.
Funding and Risk Management DC
Our application to the National Lottery
needs to fulfil its outcomes which if
successful will provide income generation
by year 4 which will easily cover DCUK
core costs.
part-time employees 6 full-time
equivalents, who have the skill and
knowledge to deliver within several
different work and social contexts.
Careful budgeting enables us to provide
all our family interventions for free for
parents of deaf children.
With Thanks
We are most grateful to our funders who
have supported DCUK to continue to
deliver essential interventions to deaf
children and their families.
From September 2024 we will lose 2
Regional Family Advisors in Herts and
the North East, due to the termination of
funding, these posts will not be replaced.
The ED lobbied extensively to get the
post in Herts adopted by the Local
Authority Hearing impairment Service but
as of the date of writing this report, this
has not been confirmed.
Multi-year funding helps the Charity to
evaluate the strengths and weaknesses
of its models of delivery and its activities.
Unrestricted funding enables the Charity
to be flexible and responsive in meeting
costs not directly related to projects such
as the cost of computers, staff training,
marketing and publicity.
Core funding is essential to support staff
costs such as that of the Executive
Director and Training Lead.
Project funds are essential for meeting
the fast-changing needs we observe
when working with deaf babies and
children.
Efficient and Effective Delivery
DCUK keep their overheads low. 60 % of
funding goes towards staff wages,
however, our team is small with only 8
28.
Statement of Financial
Activities
DC
Income
Donations
30,421
292,819
323,240
341,761
Charitable activities
598
2105
2703
3,824
Investment Income
1678
115
1793
319
Total Income
32,697
295,039
327,736
345,904
Expenditure
Expenditure on
charitable activities
(244)
(308,000)
(308,244)
360,152
Total Expenditure
(244)
(308,000)
(308,244)
360,152
Net income and
net movement of
funds
32,453
(12,961)
19,492
14,248
Net movement of
funds
32,453
(12,961)
19,492
(14,248)
Reconciliation of
Funds
Total funds brought
forward
59,917
59,810
119,727
133,975
Total funds carried
forward
92,370
46,849
139,219
133,975
29.
Legal and Financial
Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2024
DC
Fixed Assets
Tangible Fixed Assets
5,574
4,181
Current Assets
Stocks
743
743
Debtors
1,518
5,072
Cash at bank and in hand
121,586
141,048
Total Current Assets
123,847
146,863
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
9,694
11,825
Net current assets
114,153
135,038
Total assets less current liabilities
119,727
139,219
Net assets
119,727
139,219
Restricted income funds
59,810
46,849
Unrestricted Funds
59,917
92,370
Income
donated by charitable trusts, companies
and individuals. The remaining £4496
included tuition fees and charges,
membership subscriptions and
Total income received in 2023124 was
£327,736, of which £323,240 was
30.
Legal and Financial
DC
investment income.
Charitable Trusts
Expenditure
The Henry Smith Charity
W A Handley Trust
The Sylvia Adams Charitable Trust
Souter Charitable Trust
Communications Trust
St James Place Foundation
Bloss Family Foundation
Okemement Chapter Rose Croix
The Belvedere Trust
Dorothy Hay-Bolton Charitable Trust
Vandervell Foundation
PF Charitable Fund
Dorothy whitney elmhirst trust
David family foundation
Viscount Amory's Charitable Trust
The Fulmer Charitable Trust
Marsh Christian Fund
Elizabeth & Prince Zaiger Trust
Benham Charitiable Trust
Bothwell Charitable Trust
BBC Children in Need
The National Lottery Community Fund
Total expenditure was £308,244.
£274,321 was spent directly on
charitable activities and the support
costs of £33,923 includes our rent of
£13,216.
Reserves
Expenditure exceeded income by
£19,492 resulting in an increase in
funds from £119,727 to £139,219 of
which £46,849 is restricted to specific
work.
The Association's policy is to hold a
designated reserve of £30,000 and in
addition, operating reserves equivalent
to not less than three months,
expenditure. The balances held at 31
March 2024 met that requirement.
Donors
Individual Donations
The Directors are grateful for the
support, interest and encouragement
received during the year from trusts,
companies, organisations and
individuals, including members who
gave more than the minimum
membership fee. During the year
donations were received from five
anonymous donors and from the
following:
A Mills
CAF charity BACS anon
Carole Fletcher
Cathy Groeger
Anonymous
Jane Young
Ken Orpin
Mr C Millar
Mr Mark Evans
Peter Bowman
Win Burton
31.
DEAF CHOICES UK
Makes Spoken language visible for
deaf babies, children and adults
The Boatshed, Steamer Quay, Totnes, Devon TQ9 SAL
info@deafchoicesuk.com - vvww.deafchoicesuk.com - 01803 712 852
Registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales No. 279523
A Company Limited by Guarantee No. 1477997
Company registration number: 01477997 Charity registration number: 279523
## Deaf Choices UK Limited
formerly known as
## Cued Speech UK Limited
(A company limited by guarantee) Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Contents**
|**Contents**||
|---|---|
|Reference and Administrative Details|1|
|Trustees' Report|2 to 6|
|Independent Examiner's Report|7|
|Statement of Financial Activities|8|
|Balance Sheet|9|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|10 to 22|
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Reference and Administrative Details**
## **Trustees**
Mr K Orpin Mrs C Hardy, Chairperson Mr P G Bowman Ms S C Elumba-Hill Ms V Henry-Macklin Mr J P Twomey
## **Charity Registration Number**
279523
**Company Registration Number**
01477997
The charity is incorporated in England and Wales.
## **Registered Office**
The Boatshed Steamer Quay Road Totnes Devon TQ9 5AL
## **Independent Examiner**
Westcotts (SW) LLP Chartered Accountants Petitor House Nicholson Road Torquay Devon TQ2 7TD
Page 1
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Trustees' Report**
The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **Cued Speech Definition**
Cued Speech is a visual manual code for spoken languages that enables accurate lip reading. As a speaker says each word, they make a hand shape near the face that replaces the missing acoustic information for the deaf receiver.
## **Name change to Deaf Choices UK January 2024**
After formal consultation over nine months with the Board of Trustees, stakeholders, and other members of the public, it was agreed that it would benefit the charity to change the name :-
- On 6th December we were accepted by the Charity Commission as Deaf Choices UK.
- On 23rd December we were accepted by Companies House as being Deaf Choices UK.
- On 15th January our new Deaf Choices UK website went live with new content.
In January 2024 we changed our name from Cued Speech UK to Deaf Choices UK and created a new website to support the new brand. The brand change represents the change in direction of our philosophy and values after 60 years, which is a direct response to a change in need reflected by our beneficiaries.
## **Objectives and activities Charitable Aims**
## 2023 - Jan 2024
To ensure that all deaf children and adults are given the opportunity to have full access to English and the their home language through Cued Speech regardless of hearing loss. With this they can develop their language and literacy skills enabling them to reach their full potential.
## As from January 2024
“Deaf Choices UK (DCUK) aspires to give deaf children improved access to :-
Language - by empowering their families to make fully informed choices.
Literacy – by supporting their educators to access information, training, and resources.
We provide knowledge, information and training around the unique benefits, concepts, and skills of using Cued Speech.
Our offer supports deaf children and those with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) to thrive at home, succeed in education, and achieve their potential.”
Page 2
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Trustees' Report**
## **Our Activities**
Over the last year we have been funded to provide two main areas of work :-
0 - 4 Early intervention
Working with newly diagnosed deaf babies and children through the provision of free support and training in Cued Speech at home provided by our Regional Family Advisors. The work also included the delivery of our parent intervention called CHOICES.
## Language and Literacy for Life
This has included our work with Robotica and the development of specialist reading resources for special education needs children including deaf children. The later part of the year focused on the development of the intervention for Key Stage 1 “Nan in a Van” (NIAV). NIAV is now complete and ready to disseminate into schools.
## Other Charitable Activities
## Research and development.
Publicity through attending events, conferences and seminars.
The delivery of training in cued speech across the UK.
The development of a new website.
Marketing and publicity through CREST marketing company.
The design of creative material such as cued stories and films for parents of deaf children to use and enjoy.
The delivery of training in cued speech into schools to support deaf children.
## _**Public benefit**_
Cued speech is a visual/manual code for spoken languages that enables accurate lip reading. As a speaker says each word, they make hand shapes near the face that replace the missing acoustic information for the deaf receiver.
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
Page 3
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Trustees' Report**
## **Trustees and officers**
The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Trustees:
Mrs H W Burton (resigned 20 October 2023)
Mrs T Kirwin-McGinley (resigned 23 October 2023)
Mr K Orpin
Mrs C Hardy, Chairperson
Mr P G Bowman
Ms S C Elumba-Hill
Mr G Allerton-Ross (resigned 13 April 2023)
Ms V Henry-Macklin
Mr J P Twomey (appointed 12 February 2024)
Secretary:
Mrs H W Burton (resigned 20 October 2023)
Mrs T Kirwin-McGinley (resigned 23 October 2023)
## **Structure, governance and management**
## _**Nature of governing document**_
The activities are governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association. Under the Memorandum, the charity has the power to make any investment which the trustees see fit.
## _**Recruitment and appointment of trustees**_
Charity members elect the Trustees who meet quarterly to oversee the work of the paid staff.
## _**Organisational structure**_
At the end of the year there were 8 part-time employees.
The Team consists of: -
Henrietta Ireland – Executive Director Louise Creed – Business Manager Debbie Hawkes – Senior Administrator Mark Murton – Training co-ordinator Kathy Kenny – Lead Regional Family Advisor (South West region) Sagira Jetha – Regional Family Advisor Hertfordshire Carly Simpson – Regional Family Advisor North West
Page 4
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Trustees' Report**
## _**Major risks and management of those risks**_
## _Risk overview_
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed and in particular those that are affected by fluctuations in the financial position of the Charity and we are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate the Charity’s exposure to major risk.
## _**Financial Review**_
Total income received was £327,736 (2023 - £345,904), of which £323,240 (2023 - £341,761) was donated by charitable trusts, companies and individuals. The remaining £4,496 (2023 - £4,143) included tuition fees and charges, membership subscriptions and investment income.
Total expenditure costs have been reduced to £308,244 (2023 - £360,152), due to a decrease in the exceptional costs.
## _**Reserves Policy**_
Income exceeded expenditure by £19,492 resulting in an increase in funds from £119,727 to £139,219, of which £46,849 (2023 - £59,810) is restricted to specific work and £92,370 (2023 - £59,917) is unrestricted funds.
The Association's policy is to hold a designated reserve of £30,000 (2023 - £20,000) and in addition, operating reserves equivalent to not less than three months' expenditure. The balances held at 31 March 2024 met that requirement.
## **Conclusion**
Deaf Choices UK have experienced a strong year financially with income matching activities. However, the next year from September 2024 will require the Charity to make some prudent decisions around savings. Major donations will be coming to an end in September from Henry Smith, and Sylvia Adams Legacy Trust made their last payment in March 2024. We will be looking to maximise the potential of our literacy resource NIAV, to bring in revenue. We will continue to look for alternative funding and apply to new trusts and funds.
DCUK will be losing two Regional Family Advisors in Hertfordshire and the North East, and these posts will not be replaced. However, we will maximise our delivery through online platforms such as ZOOM, for engaging with families and look to improve the potential of publicity through other media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Page 5
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Trustees' Report**
## **Statement of trustees' responsibilities**
The trustees (who are also the directors of Deaf Choices UK Limited for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland". The report and accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions in the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they 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 its income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards, comprising FRS 102 have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that can disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and 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.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
## **Small companies provision statement**
This report has been prepared in accordance with the small companies regime under the Companies Act 2006.
The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 13 September 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
.. ....................................... Ms C Hardy Trustee
Page 6
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Deaf Choices UK Limited ('the Company')**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
Since the Company's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of , which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of Deaf Choices UK Limited as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
...................................... S R Smith FCA on behalf of Westcotts Chartered Accountants Petitor House Nicholson Road Torquay Devon TQ2 7TD
16 October 2024
Page 7
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Total**
**2024**
**Total**
**2023**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Total**
**2024**
**Total**
**2023**|
|---|---|
|**Note**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**||
|**Income and Endowments from:**||
|Donations and legacies
3|30,421
292,819
323,240
341,761|
|Charitable activities
4|598
2,105
2,703
3,824|
|Investment income
5|1,678
115
1,793
319|
|Total income||
||32,697
295,039
327,736
345,904|
|**Expenditure on:**||
|Charitable activities
6|(244)
(308,000)
(308,244)
(360,152)|
|Total expenditure||
||(244)
(308,000)
(308,244)
(360,152)|
|Net income/(expenditure)||
||32,453
(12,961)
19,492
(14,248)|
|Net movement in funds||
||32,453
(12,961)
19,492
(14,248)|
|**Reconciliation of funds**||
|Total funds brought forward||
||59,917
59,810
119,727
133,975|
|Total funds carried forward
19||
||92,370
46,849
139,219
119,727|
All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2023 is shown in note 19.
The notes on pages 10 to 22 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 8
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **(Registration number: 01477997) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2024**
||**2024**
**2023**|
|---|---|
|**Note**|**£**
**£**|
|**Fixed assets**||
|||
|Tangible assets
13|4,181
5,574|
|**Current assets**||
|||
|Stocks
14|743
743|
|Debtors
15|5,072
1,518|
|Cash at bank and in hand
16|141,048
121,586|
||146,863
123,847|
|**Creditors: Amounts falling due within oneyear**
17||
||(11,825)
(9,694)|
|**Net current**assets||
||135,038
114,153|
|**Net**assets||
||139,219
119,727|
|**Funds of the charity:**||
|**Restricted income funds**||
|||
|Restricted funds
19|46,849
59,810|
|**Unrestricted income funds**||
|||
|Unrestricted funds|92,370
59,917|
|**Total funds**
19||
||139,219
119,727|
For the financial year ending 31 March 2024 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
## Directors' responsibilities:
- The members have not required the charity to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476; and
- The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
The financial statements on pages 8 to 22 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on 13 September 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
.. ....................................... Mrs C Hardy Trustee
The notes on pages 10 to 22 form an integral part of these financial statements.
Page 9
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## **1 Charity status**
The charity is limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales, and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the trustees is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £Nil towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.
The address of its registered office is: The Boatshed Steamer Quay Road Totnes Devon TQ9 5AL
## **2 Accounting policies**
## **Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates**
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.
## **Statement of compliance**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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)) (issued in October 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
## **Basis of preparation**
Deaf Choices UK Limited meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.
## **Going concern**
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern nor any significant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets held by the charity.
## **Exemption from preparing a cash flow statement**
The charity opted to early adopt Bulletin 1 published on 2 February 2016 and have therefore not included a cash flow statement in these financial statements.
## **Income and endowments**
All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of the income receivable can be measured reliably.
Page 10
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## _**Donations and legacies**_
Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance by the charity before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that these conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.
## **Expenditure**
All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category.
## _**Charitable activities**_
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
## **Support costs**
Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **Governance costs**
These include the costs attributable to the charity’s compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
## **Taxation**
The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Fixed assets are initially recorded at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
## **Depreciation and amortisation**
Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:
**Asset class Depreciation method and rate** Fixtures and fittings 25% reducing balance
Page 11
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## **Stock**
Stock is valued at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell, after due regard for obsolete and slow moving stocks.
## **Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
## **Fund structure**
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside for specific purposes at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.
## **Pensions and other post retirement obligations**
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme which is a pension plan under which fixed contributions are paid into a pension fund and the charity has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions even if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.
Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when they are due. If contribution payments exceed the contribution due for service, the excess is recognised as a prepayment.
## **Financial instruments**
## _**Classification**_
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the charity after deducting all of its liabilities.
Page 12
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## _**Recognition and measurement**_
All financial assets and liabilities are initially measured at transaction price (including transaction costs), except for those financial assets classified as at fair value through profit or loss, which are initially measured at fair value (which is normally the transaction price excluding transaction costs), unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction. If an arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, the financial asset or financial liability is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.
Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost.
## **3 Income from donations and legacies**
|**3**
**Income from donations and legacies**||
|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2024**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Donations;||
|Donations|30,091
292,785
322,876|
|Membershipsubscriptions|330
34
364|
||30,421
292,819
323,240|
|||
||**Unrestricted**|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Donations;||
|Donations|51,049
290,293
341,342|
|Membershipsubscriptions|380
39
419|
||51,429
290,332
341,761|
Page 13
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
|**4**
**Income from charitable activities**||
|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2024**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**|
|CS training income|597
530
1,127|
|Miscellaneous income|1
1,575
1,576|
||598
2,105
2,703|
|||
||**Unrestricted**|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**|
|CS training income|275
464
739|
|Miscellaneous income|10
3,075
3,085|
||285
3,539
3,824|
|**5**
**Investment income**||
||**Unrestricted**|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2024**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Interest receivable on bank deposits|1,678
115
1,793|
||1,678
115
1,793|
|||
||**Unrestricted**|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Interest receivable on bank deposits|278
41
319|
||278
41
319|
Page 14
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
**6 Expenditure on charitable activities**
|**6**
**Expenditure on charitable activities**||
|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2024**|
|**Note**|**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Charitable activities|83
24,988
25,071|
|Staff costs|-
222,363
222,363|
|Allocated support costs
7|161
54,882
55,043|
|Governance costs
7|-
5,767
5,767|
||244
308,000
308,244|
|||
||**Unrestricted**|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2023**|
|**Note**|**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Charitable activities|1,237
19,080
20,317|
|Staff costs|-
230,658
230,658|
|Allocated support costs
7|60,226
43,540
103,766|
|Governance costs
7|346
5,065
5,411|
||61,809
298,343
360,152|
In addition to the expenditure analysed above, there are also governance costs of £5,767 (2023 - £5,411) which relate directly to charitable activities. See note 7 for further details.
Page 15
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## **7 Analysis of governance and support costs**
## **Charitable activities expenditure**
|**Charitable activities expenditure**||
|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2024**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Staff training|-
2,287
2,287|
|Repairs and maintenance|-
143
143|
|Insurance|-
2,913
2,913|
|Rent|-
13,216
13,216|
|Legal and professional|-
720
720|
|Telephone and broadband|-
5,743
5,743|
|Printing, postage and stationery|-
2,817
2,817|
|Depreciation|161
1,232
1,393|
|Bank charges|-
60
60|
|Subscriptions and licenses|-
4,631
4,631|
|Exceptional costs|-
21,120
21,120|
||161
54,882
55,043|
||**Unrestricted**|
|---|---|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Repairs and maintenance|-
791
791|
|Insurance|-
2,698
2,698|
|Rent|-
13,216
13,216|
|Legal and professional|-
720
720|
|Telephone and broadband|-
4,902
4,902|
|Printing, postage and stationery|-
3,692
3,692|
|Depreciation|215
1,643
1,858|
|Bank charges|11
68
79|
|Subscriptions and licenses|-
4,216
4,216|
|Exceptional costs|60,000
11,594
71,594|
||60,226
43,540
103,766|
Page 16
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
Independent examiner fees
Examination of the financial statements Other fees paid to examiners Meeting Costs
||**Unrestricted**|||
|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**Restricted**|**Total**|
||**General**|**funds**|
**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Independent examiner fees||||
|Examination of the financial statements|-|1,000|1,000|
|Other fees paid to examiners|68|2,999|3,067|
|MeetingCosts|278|1,066|1,344|
||346|5,065|5,411|
## **8 Net incoming/outgoing resources**
Net incoming/(outgoing) resources for the year include:
||**2024**|
**2023**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|
|Depreciation of fixed assets|1,393|1,858|
## **9 Trustees remuneration and expenses**
No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year (2023 - None).
No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the charity during the year (2023 - None).
Page 17
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## **10 Staff costs**
The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:
|**10**
**Staff costs**
The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:||
|---|---|
||**2024**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**|
|**Staff costs during the year were:**||
|||
|Wages and salaries|202,110
208,945|
|Social security costs|12,849
13,679|
|Pension costs|7,404
8,034|
||222,363
230,658|
The monthly average number of persons (including senior management / leadership team) employed by the charity during the year expressed as full time equivalents was as follows:
||**2024**
**2023**|
|---|---|
||**No**
**No**|
|Number of staff|6
6|
|No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year (2023 - None).||
|**11**
**Independent examiner's remuneration**||
||**2024**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**|
|Examination of the financial statements||
||1,000
1,000|
|**Other fees to examiners**||
|||
|All other services|3,174
3,067|
Page 18
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## **12 Taxation**
The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.
## **13 Tangible fixed assets**
|**13**
**Tangible fixed assets**||
|---|---|
||**Furniture and**
**equipment**
**Total**|
||
**£**
**£**|
|**Cost**||
|At 1 April 2023|21,758
21,758|
|At 31 March 2024|21,758
21,758|
|**Depreciation**||
|At 1 April 2023|16,184
16,184|
|Charge for theyear|1,393
1,393|
|At 31 March 2024|17,577
17,577|
|**Net book value**||
|At 31 March 2024|4,181
4,181|
|At 31 March 2023|5,574
5,574|
|**14**
**Stock**||
||**2024**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**|
|Consumables|743
743|
|**15**
**Debtors**||
||**2024**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**|
|Due from group undertakings|326
313|
|Prepayments|4,018
547|
|Other debtors|728
658|
||5,072
1,518|
|**16**
**Cash and cash equivalents**||
||**2024**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**|
|Cash on hand|200
200|
|Cash at bank|140,848
121,386|
||141,048
121,586|
Page 19
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## **17 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
|**17**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**|||
|---|---|---|
||**2024**|
**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Other taxation and social security|4,164|4,507|
|Other creditors|1,277|1,300|
|Accruals|6,384|3,887|
||11,825|9,694|
## **18 Pension and other schemes**
## **Defined contribution pension scheme**
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost charge for the year represents contributions payable by the charity to the scheme and amounted to £7,404 (2023 - £8,034).
## **19 Funds**
||**Balance at 1**
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**Balance at**
**31 March**|
|---|---|
||**April 2023**
**resources**
**expended**
**Transfers**
**2024**|
||
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**|
|**Unrestricted funds**||
|**_General_**||
|||
|General funds|39,917
32,697
(244)
(10,000)
62,370|
|**_Designated_**||
|||
|Designated funds|20,000
-
-
10,000
30,000|
|**Total unrestricted funds**||
||59,917
32,697
(244)
-
92,370|
|**Restricted funds**||
|||
|0-4 UK|16,105
100,291
(108,674)
-
7,722|
|0-18 UK|9,215
153,600
(131,101)
-
31,714|
|Love Reading|22,558
47,811
(67,925)
-
2,444|
|Wales|11,932
(6,663)
(300)
-
4,969|
|**Total restricted funds**||
||59,810
295,039
(308,000)
-
46,849|
|**Total funds**||
||119,727
327,736
(308,244)
-
139,219|
Page 20
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
||**Balance at 1**
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**Balance at 31**|
|---|---|
||**April 2022**
**resources**
**expended**
**March 2023**|
||
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**|
|**Unrestricted funds**||
|**_General_**||
|||
|General funds|49,734
51,992
(61,809)
39,917|
|**_Designated_**||
|||
|Designated funds|20,000
-
-
20,000|
|**Total unrestricted funds**||
||69,734
51,992
(61,809)
59,917|
|**Restricted**||
|||
|0-4 UK|14,527
129,100
(127,522)
16,105|
|0-18 UK|25,810
110,600
(127,195)
9,215|
|Love Reading|9,870
44,212
(31,524)
22,558|
|Wales|14,034
10,000
(12,102)
11,932|
|**Total restricted funds**||
||64,241
293,912
(298,343)
59,810|
|**Total funds**||
||133,975
345,904
(360,152)
119,727|
The specific purposes for which the funds are to be applied are as follows:
The company's policy is to hold a designated reserve of £30,000 (2023 - £20,000), and operating reserves equivalent to not less than three months expenditure.
The restricted funds projects are explained in full in the Trustee's Report.
Page 21
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## **20 Analysis of net assets between funds**
||**Total funds at**|
|---|---|
||**Unrestricted funds**
**Restricted**
**31 March**|
||**General**
**Designated**
**funds**
**2024**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Tangible fixed assets|483
-
3,698
4,181|
|Current assets|73,712
30,000
43,151
146,863|
|Current liabilities|(11,825)
-
-
(11,825)|
|Total net assets||
||62,370
30,000
46,849
139,219|
|||
||**Total funds at**|
||**Unrestricted funds**
**Restricted**
**31 March**|
||**General**
**Designated**
**funds**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Tangible fixed assets|644
-
4,930
5,574|
|Current assets|48,967
20,000
54,880
123,847|
|Current liabilities|(9,694)
-
-
(9,694)|
|Total net assets||
||39,917
20,000
59,810
119,727|
## **21 Related party transactions**
There were no related party transactions in the year (2023 - £Nil).
Page 22
Company registration number: 01477997 Charity registration number: 279523
## Deaf Choices UK Limited
formerly known as
## Cued Speech UK Limited
(A company limited by guarantee) Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Contents**
|**Contents**||
|---|---|
|Reference and Administrative Details|1|
|Trustees' Report|2 to 6|
|Independent Examiner's Report|7|
|Statement of Financial Activities|8|
|Balance Sheet|9|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|10 to 22|
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Reference and Administrative Details**
## **Trustees**
Mr K Orpin Mrs C Hardy, Chairperson Mr P G Bowman Ms S C Elumba-Hill Ms V Henry-Macklin Mr J P Twomey
## **Charity Registration Number**
279523
**Company Registration Number**
01477997
The charity is incorporated in England and Wales.
## **Registered Office**
The Boatshed Steamer Quay Road Totnes Devon TQ9 5AL
## **Independent Examiner**
Westcotts (SW) LLP Chartered Accountants Petitor House Nicholson Road Torquay Devon TQ2 7TD
Page 1
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Trustees' Report**
The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **Cued Speech Definition**
Cued Speech is a visual manual code for spoken languages that enables accurate lip reading. As a speaker says each word, they make a hand shape near the face that replaces the missing acoustic information for the deaf receiver.
## **Name change to Deaf Choices UK January 2024**
After formal consultation over nine months with the Board of Trustees, stakeholders, and other members of the public, it was agreed that it would benefit the charity to change the name :-
- On 6th December we were accepted by the Charity Commission as Deaf Choices UK.
- On 23rd December we were accepted by Companies House as being Deaf Choices UK.
- On 15th January our new Deaf Choices UK website went live with new content.
In January 2024 we changed our name from Cued Speech UK to Deaf Choices UK and created a new website to support the new brand. The brand change represents the change in direction of our philosophy and values after 60 years, which is a direct response to a change in need reflected by our beneficiaries.
## **Objectives and activities Charitable Aims**
## 2023 - Jan 2024
To ensure that all deaf children and adults are given the opportunity to have full access to English and the their home language through Cued Speech regardless of hearing loss. With this they can develop their language and literacy skills enabling them to reach their full potential.
## As from January 2024
“Deaf Choices UK (DCUK) aspires to give deaf children improved access to :-
Language - by empowering their families to make fully informed choices.
Literacy – by supporting their educators to access information, training, and resources.
We provide knowledge, information and training around the unique benefits, concepts, and skills of using Cued Speech.
Our offer supports deaf children and those with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) to thrive at home, succeed in education, and achieve their potential.”
Page 2
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Trustees' Report**
## **Our Activities**
Over the last year we have been funded to provide two main areas of work :-
0 - 4 Early intervention
Working with newly diagnosed deaf babies and children through the provision of free support and training in Cued Speech at home provided by our Regional Family Advisors. The work also included the delivery of our parent intervention called CHOICES.
## Language and Literacy for Life
This has included our work with Robotica and the development of specialist reading resources for special education needs children including deaf children. The later part of the year focused on the development of the intervention for Key Stage 1 “Nan in a Van” (NIAV). NIAV is now complete and ready to disseminate into schools.
## Other Charitable Activities
## Research and development.
Publicity through attending events, conferences and seminars.
The delivery of training in cued speech across the UK.
The development of a new website.
Marketing and publicity through CREST marketing company.
The design of creative material such as cued stories and films for parents of deaf children to use and enjoy.
The delivery of training in cued speech into schools to support deaf children.
## _**Public benefit**_
Cued speech is a visual/manual code for spoken languages that enables accurate lip reading. As a speaker says each word, they make hand shapes near the face that replace the missing acoustic information for the deaf receiver.
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
Page 3
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Trustees' Report**
## **Trustees and officers**
The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Trustees:
Mrs H W Burton (resigned 20 October 2023)
Mrs T Kirwin-McGinley (resigned 23 October 2023)
Mr K Orpin
Mrs C Hardy, Chairperson
Mr P G Bowman
Ms S C Elumba-Hill
Mr G Allerton-Ross (resigned 13 April 2023)
Ms V Henry-Macklin
Mr J P Twomey (appointed 12 February 2024)
Secretary:
Mrs H W Burton (resigned 20 October 2023)
Mrs T Kirwin-McGinley (resigned 23 October 2023)
## **Structure, governance and management**
## _**Nature of governing document**_
The activities are governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association. Under the Memorandum, the charity has the power to make any investment which the trustees see fit.
## _**Recruitment and appointment of trustees**_
Charity members elect the Trustees who meet quarterly to oversee the work of the paid staff.
## _**Organisational structure**_
At the end of the year there were 8 part-time employees.
The Team consists of: -
Henrietta Ireland – Executive Director Louise Creed – Business Manager Debbie Hawkes – Senior Administrator Mark Murton – Training co-ordinator Kathy Kenny – Lead Regional Family Advisor (South West region) Sagira Jetha – Regional Family Advisor Hertfordshire Carly Simpson – Regional Family Advisor North West
Page 4
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Trustees' Report**
## _**Major risks and management of those risks**_
## _Risk overview_
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed and in particular those that are affected by fluctuations in the financial position of the Charity and we are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate the Charity’s exposure to major risk.
## _**Financial Review**_
Total income received was £327,736 (2023 - £345,904), of which £323,240 (2023 - £341,761) was donated by charitable trusts, companies and individuals. The remaining £4,496 (2023 - £4,143) included tuition fees and charges, membership subscriptions and investment income.
Total expenditure costs have been reduced to £308,244 (2023 - £360,152), due to a decrease in the exceptional costs.
## _**Reserves Policy**_
Income exceeded expenditure by £19,492 resulting in an increase in funds from £119,727 to £139,219, of which £46,849 (2023 - £59,810) is restricted to specific work and £92,370 (2023 - £59,917) is unrestricted funds.
The Association's policy is to hold a designated reserve of £30,000 (2023 - £20,000) and in addition, operating reserves equivalent to not less than three months' expenditure. The balances held at 31 March 2024 met that requirement.
## **Conclusion**
Deaf Choices UK have experienced a strong year financially with income matching activities. However, the next year from September 2024 will require the Charity to make some prudent decisions around savings. Major donations will be coming to an end in September from Henry Smith, and Sylvia Adams Legacy Trust made their last payment in March 2024. We will be looking to maximise the potential of our literacy resource NIAV, to bring in revenue. We will continue to look for alternative funding and apply to new trusts and funds.
DCUK will be losing two Regional Family Advisors in Hertfordshire and the North East, and these posts will not be replaced. However, we will maximise our delivery through online platforms such as ZOOM, for engaging with families and look to improve the potential of publicity through other media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Page 5
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Trustees' Report**
## **Statement of trustees' responsibilities**
The trustees (who are also the directors of Deaf Choices UK Limited for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland". The report and accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions in the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they 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 its income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards, comprising FRS 102 have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that can disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and 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.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
## **Small companies provision statement**
This report has been prepared in accordance with the small companies regime under the Companies Act 2006.
The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 13 September 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
.. ....................................... Ms C Hardy Trustee
Page 6
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Deaf Choices UK Limited ('the Company')**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
Since the Company's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of , which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of Deaf Choices UK Limited as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
...................................... S R Smith FCA on behalf of Westcotts Chartered Accountants Petitor House Nicholson Road Torquay Devon TQ2 7TD
16 October 2024
Page 7
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Total**
**2024**
**Total**
**2023**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Total**
**2024**
**Total**
**2023**|
|---|---|
|**Note**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**||
|**Income and Endowments from:**||
|Donations and legacies
3|30,421
292,819
323,240
341,761|
|Charitable activities
4|598
2,105
2,703
3,824|
|Investment income
5|1,678
115
1,793
319|
|Total income||
||32,697
295,039
327,736
345,904|
|**Expenditure on:**||
|Charitable activities
6|(244)
(308,000)
(308,244)
(360,152)|
|Total expenditure||
||(244)
(308,000)
(308,244)
(360,152)|
|Net income/(expenditure)||
||32,453
(12,961)
19,492
(14,248)|
|Net movement in funds||
||32,453
(12,961)
19,492
(14,248)|
|**Reconciliation of funds**||
|Total funds brought forward||
||59,917
59,810
119,727
133,975|
|Total funds carried forward
19||
||92,370
46,849
139,219
119,727|
All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2023 is shown in note 19.
The notes on pages 10 to 22 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 8
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **(Registration number: 01477997) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2024**
||**2024**
**2023**|
|---|---|
|**Note**|**£**
**£**|
|**Fixed assets**||
|||
|Tangible assets
13|4,181
5,574|
|**Current assets**||
|||
|Stocks
14|743
743|
|Debtors
15|5,072
1,518|
|Cash at bank and in hand
16|141,048
121,586|
||146,863
123,847|
|**Creditors: Amounts falling due within oneyear**
17||
||(11,825)
(9,694)|
|**Net current**assets||
||135,038
114,153|
|**Net**assets||
||139,219
119,727|
|**Funds of the charity:**||
|**Restricted income funds**||
|||
|Restricted funds
19|46,849
59,810|
|**Unrestricted income funds**||
|||
|Unrestricted funds|92,370
59,917|
|**Total funds**
19||
||139,219
119,727|
For the financial year ending 31 March 2024 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
## Directors' responsibilities:
- The members have not required the charity to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476; and
- The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
The financial statements on pages 8 to 22 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on 13 September 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
.. ....................................... Mrs C Hardy Trustee
The notes on pages 10 to 22 form an integral part of these financial statements.
Page 9
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## **1 Charity status**
The charity is limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales, and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the trustees is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £Nil towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.
The address of its registered office is: The Boatshed Steamer Quay Road Totnes Devon TQ9 5AL
## **2 Accounting policies**
## **Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates**
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.
## **Statement of compliance**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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)) (issued in October 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
## **Basis of preparation**
Deaf Choices UK Limited meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.
## **Going concern**
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern nor any significant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets held by the charity.
## **Exemption from preparing a cash flow statement**
The charity opted to early adopt Bulletin 1 published on 2 February 2016 and have therefore not included a cash flow statement in these financial statements.
## **Income and endowments**
All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of the income receivable can be measured reliably.
Page 10
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## _**Donations and legacies**_
Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance by the charity before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that these conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.
## **Expenditure**
All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category.
## _**Charitable activities**_
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
## **Support costs**
Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **Governance costs**
These include the costs attributable to the charity’s compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
## **Taxation**
The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Fixed assets are initially recorded at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
## **Depreciation and amortisation**
Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:
**Asset class Depreciation method and rate** Fixtures and fittings 25% reducing balance
Page 11
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## **Stock**
Stock is valued at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell, after due regard for obsolete and slow moving stocks.
## **Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
## **Fund structure**
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside for specific purposes at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.
## **Pensions and other post retirement obligations**
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme which is a pension plan under which fixed contributions are paid into a pension fund and the charity has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions even if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.
Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when they are due. If contribution payments exceed the contribution due for service, the excess is recognised as a prepayment.
## **Financial instruments**
## _**Classification**_
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the charity after deducting all of its liabilities.
Page 12
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## _**Recognition and measurement**_
All financial assets and liabilities are initially measured at transaction price (including transaction costs), except for those financial assets classified as at fair value through profit or loss, which are initially measured at fair value (which is normally the transaction price excluding transaction costs), unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction. If an arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, the financial asset or financial liability is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.
Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost.
## **3 Income from donations and legacies**
|**3**
**Income from donations and legacies**||
|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2024**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Donations;||
|Donations|30,091
292,785
322,876|
|Membershipsubscriptions|330
34
364|
||30,421
292,819
323,240|
|||
||**Unrestricted**|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Donations;||
|Donations|51,049
290,293
341,342|
|Membershipsubscriptions|380
39
419|
||51,429
290,332
341,761|
Page 13
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
|**4**
**Income from charitable activities**||
|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2024**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**|
|CS training income|597
530
1,127|
|Miscellaneous income|1
1,575
1,576|
||598
2,105
2,703|
|||
||**Unrestricted**|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**|
|CS training income|275
464
739|
|Miscellaneous income|10
3,075
3,085|
||285
3,539
3,824|
|**5**
**Investment income**||
||**Unrestricted**|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2024**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Interest receivable on bank deposits|1,678
115
1,793|
||1,678
115
1,793|
|||
||**Unrestricted**|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Interest receivable on bank deposits|278
41
319|
||278
41
319|
Page 14
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
**6 Expenditure on charitable activities**
|**6**
**Expenditure on charitable activities**||
|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2024**|
|**Note**|**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Charitable activities|83
24,988
25,071|
|Staff costs|-
222,363
222,363|
|Allocated support costs
7|161
54,882
55,043|
|Governance costs
7|-
5,767
5,767|
||244
308,000
308,244|
|||
||**Unrestricted**|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2023**|
|**Note**|**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Charitable activities|1,237
19,080
20,317|
|Staff costs|-
230,658
230,658|
|Allocated support costs
7|60,226
43,540
103,766|
|Governance costs
7|346
5,065
5,411|
||61,809
298,343
360,152|
In addition to the expenditure analysed above, there are also governance costs of £5,767 (2023 - £5,411) which relate directly to charitable activities. See note 7 for further details.
Page 15
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## **7 Analysis of governance and support costs**
## **Charitable activities expenditure**
|**Charitable activities expenditure**||
|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2024**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Staff training|-
2,287
2,287|
|Repairs and maintenance|-
143
143|
|Insurance|-
2,913
2,913|
|Rent|-
13,216
13,216|
|Legal and professional|-
720
720|
|Telephone and broadband|-
5,743
5,743|
|Printing, postage and stationery|-
2,817
2,817|
|Depreciation|161
1,232
1,393|
|Bank charges|-
60
60|
|Subscriptions and licenses|-
4,631
4,631|
|Exceptional costs|-
21,120
21,120|
||161
54,882
55,043|
||**Unrestricted**|
|---|---|
||**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total**|
||**General**
**funds**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Repairs and maintenance|-
791
791|
|Insurance|-
2,698
2,698|
|Rent|-
13,216
13,216|
|Legal and professional|-
720
720|
|Telephone and broadband|-
4,902
4,902|
|Printing, postage and stationery|-
3,692
3,692|
|Depreciation|215
1,643
1,858|
|Bank charges|11
68
79|
|Subscriptions and licenses|-
4,216
4,216|
|Exceptional costs|60,000
11,594
71,594|
||60,226
43,540
103,766|
Page 16
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
Independent examiner fees
Examination of the financial statements Other fees paid to examiners Meeting Costs
||**Unrestricted**|||
|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**Restricted**|**Total**|
||**General**|**funds**|
**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Independent examiner fees||||
|Examination of the financial statements|-|1,000|1,000|
|Other fees paid to examiners|68|2,999|3,067|
|MeetingCosts|278|1,066|1,344|
||346|5,065|5,411|
## **8 Net incoming/outgoing resources**
Net incoming/(outgoing) resources for the year include:
||**2024**|
**2023**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|
|Depreciation of fixed assets|1,393|1,858|
## **9 Trustees remuneration and expenses**
No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year (2023 - None).
No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the charity during the year (2023 - None).
Page 17
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## **10 Staff costs**
The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:
|**10**
**Staff costs**
The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:||
|---|---|
||**2024**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**|
|**Staff costs during the year were:**||
|||
|Wages and salaries|202,110
208,945|
|Social security costs|12,849
13,679|
|Pension costs|7,404
8,034|
||222,363
230,658|
The monthly average number of persons (including senior management / leadership team) employed by the charity during the year expressed as full time equivalents was as follows:
||**2024**
**2023**|
|---|---|
||**No**
**No**|
|Number of staff|6
6|
|No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year (2023 - None).||
|**11**
**Independent examiner's remuneration**||
||**2024**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**|
|Examination of the financial statements||
||1,000
1,000|
|**Other fees to examiners**||
|||
|All other services|3,174
3,067|
Page 18
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## **12 Taxation**
The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.
## **13 Tangible fixed assets**
|**13**
**Tangible fixed assets**||
|---|---|
||**Furniture and**
**equipment**
**Total**|
||
**£**
**£**|
|**Cost**||
|At 1 April 2023|21,758
21,758|
|At 31 March 2024|21,758
21,758|
|**Depreciation**||
|At 1 April 2023|16,184
16,184|
|Charge for theyear|1,393
1,393|
|At 31 March 2024|17,577
17,577|
|**Net book value**||
|At 31 March 2024|4,181
4,181|
|At 31 March 2023|5,574
5,574|
|**14**
**Stock**||
||**2024**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**|
|Consumables|743
743|
|**15**
**Debtors**||
||**2024**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**|
|Due from group undertakings|326
313|
|Prepayments|4,018
547|
|Other debtors|728
658|
||5,072
1,518|
|**16**
**Cash and cash equivalents**||
||**2024**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**|
|Cash on hand|200
200|
|Cash at bank|140,848
121,386|
||141,048
121,586|
Page 19
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## **17 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
|**17**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**|||
|---|---|---|
||**2024**|
**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Other taxation and social security|4,164|4,507|
|Other creditors|1,277|1,300|
|Accruals|6,384|3,887|
||11,825|9,694|
## **18 Pension and other schemes**
## **Defined contribution pension scheme**
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost charge for the year represents contributions payable by the charity to the scheme and amounted to £7,404 (2023 - £8,034).
## **19 Funds**
||**Balance at 1**
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**Balance at**
**31 March**|
|---|---|
||**April 2023**
**resources**
**expended**
**Transfers**
**2024**|
||
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**|
|**Unrestricted funds**||
|**_General_**||
|||
|General funds|39,917
32,697
(244)
(10,000)
62,370|
|**_Designated_**||
|||
|Designated funds|20,000
-
-
10,000
30,000|
|**Total unrestricted funds**||
||59,917
32,697
(244)
-
92,370|
|**Restricted funds**||
|||
|0-4 UK|16,105
100,291
(108,674)
-
7,722|
|0-18 UK|9,215
153,600
(131,101)
-
31,714|
|Love Reading|22,558
47,811
(67,925)
-
2,444|
|Wales|11,932
(6,663)
(300)
-
4,969|
|**Total restricted funds**||
||59,810
295,039
(308,000)
-
46,849|
|**Total funds**||
||119,727
327,736
(308,244)
-
139,219|
Page 20
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
||**Balance at 1**
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**Balance at 31**|
|---|---|
||**April 2022**
**resources**
**expended**
**March 2023**|
||
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**|
|**Unrestricted funds**||
|**_General_**||
|||
|General funds|49,734
51,992
(61,809)
39,917|
|**_Designated_**||
|||
|Designated funds|20,000
-
-
20,000|
|**Total unrestricted funds**||
||69,734
51,992
(61,809)
59,917|
|**Restricted**||
|||
|0-4 UK|14,527
129,100
(127,522)
16,105|
|0-18 UK|25,810
110,600
(127,195)
9,215|
|Love Reading|9,870
44,212
(31,524)
22,558|
|Wales|14,034
10,000
(12,102)
11,932|
|**Total restricted funds**||
||64,241
293,912
(298,343)
59,810|
|**Total funds**||
||133,975
345,904
(360,152)
119,727|
The specific purposes for which the funds are to be applied are as follows:
The company's policy is to hold a designated reserve of £30,000 (2023 - £20,000), and operating reserves equivalent to not less than three months expenditure.
The restricted funds projects are explained in full in the Trustee's Report.
Page 21
## **Deaf Choices UK Limited**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## **20 Analysis of net assets between funds**
||**Total funds at**|
|---|---|
||**Unrestricted funds**
**Restricted**
**31 March**|
||**General**
**Designated**
**funds**
**2024**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Tangible fixed assets|483
-
3,698
4,181|
|Current assets|73,712
30,000
43,151
146,863|
|Current liabilities|(11,825)
-
-
(11,825)|
|Total net assets||
||62,370
30,000
46,849
139,219|
|||
||**Total funds at**|
||**Unrestricted funds**
**Restricted**
**31 March**|
||**General**
**Designated**
**funds**
**2023**|
||**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**|
|Tangible fixed assets|644
-
4,930
5,574|
|Current assets|48,967
20,000
54,880
123,847|
|Current liabilities|(9,694)
-
-
(9,694)|
|Total net assets||
||39,917
20,000
59,810
119,727|
## **21 Related party transactions**
There were no related party transactions in the year (2023 - £Nil).
Page 22