Charity Number: 511288 Company Registration Number: 01535327 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NorriNGHAMSHIRE (A company limited by guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE CONTENTS Pages Charity reference and administrative details Trustees. report (including directors, report) 2-18 Statement of trustees, responsibilities 19 Independent Examiner's report 20-21 Statement of financial activities 22 Balance sheet 23-24 Cash flow statement 25 Notes to the financial statements 26-47 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE CHARITY REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Legal and administrative information Charity reglstration number 511288 Company Registration Number 01535327 Trustees F Dale L Ellis M Evans J Fisher L Jones K Skill G Stapleton (Treasurer) {Chair) (Vice Chair) Company secretary M J Conroy President L Jackson OBE Registered office 10 - 12 Carlton Street Nottingham NG1 1NN Independent examiner UHY Hacker Young 14 Park Row Nottingham NG16GR Bankers National Westminster Bank plc 16 South Parade Nottingham NG12JX HSBC Bank plc 26 Clumber Street Nottingham NG13GA Mansfield Building Society Regent House, Regent Street Nottingham NG18 1SS NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 The directors, who are also trustees, present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" (FRS 102) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in notes to the accounts. They comply with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and 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 published on 16 July 2014, as amended by Update Bulletin 1 published on 2 February 2016, and Update Bulletin 2 affecting reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019. Trustees of the charity The directors of the charitable company are its trustees for the purposes of charity law. The trustees who have served during the year and since the year end were as follows: D Cartwright (co-opted January 2024} F Dale L Ellis (resigned March 2024). M Evans B Fitzpatrick (appointed November 2023) J Fisher L Jones (resigned November 2023) S Kauser Stephen Payne (co-opted March 2024) K Skill G Stapleton Structure, governance and management Legal status and governing documents My Sight Nottinghamshire ("My Sight Notts") is the working name for Nottinghamshire Royal Society for the Blind. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission and is a company limited by guarantee, not having a share capital and governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The liability of each member in the event of winding up is limited to £1. The charity has obtained, under section 30 of the Companies Act 1985, license to omit the word "Limited" from its name. Anyone over the age of 16 who is visually impaired (or the parent or guardian of a visually impaired child under the age of 16) can become a member of the Company. At all times the number of members shall not be less than ten. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Appointment of trustees The Chair of the trustees is nominated by the Board of trustees. The full capacity of the board is elve trustees. One quarter of the trustees are subject to retire by rotation annually. If one quarter of the number of trustees is not a whole number, the number will be rounded. If there is only one trustee who is subject to retirement by rotation, they shall retire. The trustees to retire by rotation are those who have been the longest in office since their last appointment or reappointment, but between persons who became or were last re-appointed trustees on the same day, those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree amongst themselves) be determined by lot. No person other than a trustee retiring by rotation shall be appointed or re-appointed as a trustee at any general meeting unless.. They are recommended by the trustees., or Not less than fourteen nor more than thirty-five clear days before the date for the meeting. notice has been executed by a member qualified to vote at the meeting to the Charity of the intention to propose that person for appointment; and Receives a majority vote from members eligible to vote. Trustee recruitment. induction and training The Trustees, skills base is reviewed by a Governance Working Group (which includes the Chair and the CEO) and the Board's skills need, gender balance and percentage of visually impaired trustees is assessed. New trustees are sought based on the needs identified by the Governance Working Group (and later discussed at the trustees, board meeting). The charity then advertises, sends mailings to appropriate sectors and petitions existing contacts for candidates to apply to join the board. Selected candidates will have the opportunity to stand for election onto the board by the membership at the next AGM. A candidate may be co-opted onto the board in advance of the vote if there is a need for their skills to be utilised in the interim. New trustees have access to information intended to brief them on their legal obligations under charity and company law, the content of the Articles of Association. the committee and decision- making processes, the development of the company's strategy and recent financial performance of the charity. They are given the opportunity to meet employees and other trustees prior to appointment. Once elected to the board, all trustees receive training on their roles and responsibilities as a trustee, including safeguarding training. There will always be one appointed safeguarding trustee on the board. Trustees are encouraged to attend an internal vision impairment awareness training day to familiarise themselves with some of the issues facing our client group and to attend other external training events, where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role or enhance their understanding of the voluntary I sight loss sectors. Organisation The board of trustees, which shall not be less than six in number (unless determined otherwise by ordinary resolution) and shall not exceed twelve in number, administers the charity. The board meets bi-monthly and there are sub-committees and working groups covering Services, Finance & Fundraising and Governance which meet regularly. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 A Chief Executive is appointed by the trustees to manage the day-to-day operations of the charity. To facilitate effective operations, the Chief Executive has delegated authority, within terms of delegation approved by the trustees, for operational matters including finance, employment and service related activity. Regular Subcommittees, comprising of a number of trustees, CEO and a manager. meet regularly to identify and recommend changes to strategy around finance, fundraising, development of services and policies. Recommendations are made to the full Board for approval. Recommendations are implemented by the CEO and his management team. Management team During 202312024 the management team consists of.. M Spouge (Finance); L Fenton (Fundraising); E Lucas (Services). Remuneration of key management personnel The remuneration policy for key management personnel is decided between the trustees and CEO when a new employee is appointed. For the CEO remuneration, the board of trustees will decide this on an as and when basis. No bonuses are paid to any key management personnel. The criteria for setting the remuneration level relates to the previous experience of the new employee. Umbrella body My Sight Notts is a member of Visionary - Linking Local Sight Loss Charities, providing valuable resource and support to local vision impairment charities. My Sight Nottinghamshire's CEO stood down as trustee and Vice Chair of Visionary this year and took up the role of Member Representative for Visionary's Midlands region. Related parties The charity has several areas of activity that involve joint working initiatives with other parties which share their aims in respect of the development of accessible services for people with visual impairments. This includes other local and national charities and community associations in addition to local authorities and health bodies. Some of the related parties we have worked with this year include: Sight Support Derbyshire. The Macular Society. Thomas Pocklington Trust, RNIB, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board. Nottingham University Hospitals, Kingsmill Hospital, Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham Trent University (NTU), Nottingham Contemporary. Nottingham Playhouse, New Medica, Inspire at Mansfield Library and MHR. Risk management The trustees have a risk management strategy comprising of.. Quarterly reviews of the charity's risk register at- managers, meetings, various subcommittees and at trustee board meetings., An annual review of all the risks the charity May face: The establishment of systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified. and NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 The implementation of procedures designed to minimise any potential impact on the charity should such risks materialise. Due to financial concerns in recent years, the Finance Subcommittee has Risk Review as a standing agenda item and continued to meet monthly, to address ongoing financial difficulties. A key element in the management of financial risk is the development and monitoring by the Finance Department, of a rolling eighteen-month forecast (in addition to the existing fixed forecast and management accounts) and the setting and regular review of our reserves policy by the trustees. The potential for a drop in legacy income has long been identified as a significant risk and one that we encountered last year, with a substantial legacy having an unprecedented delay to completion. With other areas of income also generating fewer overall funds in the previous year, we redoubled our efforts in diversifying our income from the NHS and the private sector. This has long been part of our income strategy but has been slow to yield dividends due to changes brought about by the after effects of the Covid Pandemic. However this is beginning to change and has resulted in an NHS training contract, other NHS training opportunities and discussions around subcontracting Community Low Vision Services from a private healthcare provider going forward. Fundraising events and activities are also risk assessed both financially and with regard to the health and safety of participants and the general public. My Sight Nottinghamshire have now adopted the same risk assessment criteria for the implementation of its social events, activities and day trips. In recent years we have identified risks which have resulted in better emergency procedures and contingency plans and have given the impetus for better planning. Particular attention has been focused on non-financial risks arising from fire, health and safety of service users, visitors, volunteers, staff and event participants. We have identified that there are some risks in matters relating to safeguarding of vulnerable adults. To mitigate this, all service delivery staff receive updated safeguarding training, our Services Manager is trained as Safeguarding Lead for the charity and we have appointed a Safeguarding Trustee. All trustees have accessed safeguarding training. We recently developed a Cyber Security Policy and Procedures. which all staff are required to sign and acknowledge and we have delivered training on Cyber Security to all staff. Objectives and activities The objects of the charity are: That people in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire who are living with a visual impairment have the same life opportunities as everyone else; To provide opportunities for people with sight loss in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to achieve their own unique goals and enjoy a full and independent life beyond sight loss: NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 To improve the lives of people living with sight loss locally by providing support services, training, information, advice, social and leisure opportunities with the aim of enhancing their quality of life and increasing their independence. The trustees confirm that they have referred to the Charity Commission's published guidance on the Public Benefit requirement under the Charities Act 2011 when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in the commissioning and continuation of services and activities. Vision Independence, inclusion and empowerment for people with sight loss in Nottinghamshire. Statement of purpose To enable independence, inclusion and empowerment for people with visual impairments by providing access to a person centered program of support. Strategy My Sight Nottinghamshire's Strategy is based on outcomes from ongoing consultation with local people with visual impairments and the strategic outcomes of the UK Vision Strategy. The key principles of My Sight Notts, strategy.. 1. To develop and deliver services in consultation with local people with sight loss. 2. To deliver services and activities that reflect the eight areas of the Sight Loss MOT: Understanding your eye condition Making the best use of your sight Health and Wellbeing Managing at home Getting out and about Your finances and planning for the future Work, learning and having your say Having someone to talk to 3. To identify gaps in service provision, provide services where need is greatest and use our influence to improve the provision of public services for people with visual impairments in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. 4. To work in partnership with other organisations providing services for our client group. including local authorities, those charities providing services for people with sight loss as well as organisations serving a wider demographic, who are likely to include people with visual impairments amongst their recipients such as Nottinghamshire Deaf Society, Age UK Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and Diabetes UK. 5. To commit to a Finance and Fundraising Strategy with diverse income streams, which can deliver essential services for people with visual impairments, whilst maintaining the stability of the organisation. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 My Sight Notts, Services Supporting Independence Providing early intervention whilst people are awaiting rehabilitation and mobility training Teaching daily living and independent living skills Providing low vision assessments Providing sight loss advice on assistive equipment and technology solutions Smart Rooms - where people with sight loss can come and try out various smart solutions and other technologies and equipment Support with skills and confidence building to move nearer to, and into, employment Emotional support Shared Vision.. is an intensive course. providing a space to look at practical solutions as well as space to talk and share experiences with others going through the same thing. Shared Vision will support people going through the stages of grieving, depression and anxiety associated with sight loss. Peer Support: we provide a range of activities for peer support including social groups, coffee mornings, walking groups and shared emotional support. Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO): based in the Macular Clinic in Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals. Our ECLO supports people immediately after their diagnosis, reassuring them and ensuring they are referred internally to our services and signposted for additional support elsewhere. Our ECLO liaises with consultants to ensure patients are given Certificates of Visual Impairment and referrals to Low Vision where appropriate. Our Level 4 Advanced Counselling students support people with poor mental health through talking therapy either face to face, on the phone or via video conferencing apps. Creating social connections Our social groups and coffee mornings meet in five locations across the county and provide a range of peer support and activities Talking News service provides audio service for local news. stories of interest and What's On guides, delivered across the county every two weeks. Our physical activities enable people to engage or re-engage with swimming, gym. walking and rambling as well as having the opportunity to try elite Paralympic sports such as Boccia and Goalball. Our choir provides an uplifting opportunity to sing in a variety of community spaces. There is also an exchange programme with a visually impaired choir in Liverpool. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 A partnership with NTU and the Nottingham Contemporary enabling people to access arts and cultural activities through innovative audio description. For Professionals Accessibility audits, training, transcriptions and Digital Accessibility Group. Accessibility Audits We work with businesses to ensure that they can be as accessible as possible for people with sight loss. In 202312024 this has included working with managers to ensure that an individual can stay in work through reasonable adjustments and advice on Access to Work assessments" as well as carrying out full audits on buildings, websites, apps and literature. We produce a full audit report as well as an offer to train staff in sight loss awareness. Sight Loss Awareness Trainlng We offer our Sight Loss Awareness training to professionals ensuring that any of their staff or visitors with sight loss are safe in the knowledge that people are trained to support them. The training is a mixture of practical and classroom activities and includes looking at the emotional consequences of being diagnosed with sight loss, barriers to independence, tech solutions and practical sighted guiding. We can deliver this training in house at our premises on Heathcoat Street in Nottingham or on site at the client's premises. Transcription Our transcriptions service converts a wide variety of documents into Braille. large print or audio file. Dlgital Accessibillty Group Our Digital Accessibility group is made up of staff, volunteers and members with different eye conditions. different levels of sight and levels of tech knowledge. The group supports businesses to ensure that any software. websites or apps are accessible for people with sight loss. These are tested using a variety of different magnification and speech over software. Volunteering Volunteers are invaluable assets to My Sight Notts, offering time, skills and empathy to help improve the lives of individuals with sight loss. 133 volunteers added significant value to the work we do throughout 202312024. Our excellent Lead Volunteers in our social groups, Walkie Talkie Wednesdays walking group and our rambling group deserve a special mention, going above and beyond for the service users they support, planning a variety of activities ensuring they are fun. informative and interactive. The trustees and management acknowledge that without this volunteer help many activities, services and events, which are currently undertaken, would not be possible. Service Development and Impact All of the services at My Sight are impacting positively on the lives of people living with sight loss. There are however, three newly developed areas that had a significant impact in 202312024, worth noting.. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 A New Services Structure At the beginning of the year, we looked at a change of structure in the way that we deliver services for people with sight loss. This meant not only some different staff roles but a completely new internal referral process and new way of supporting people through our services. Previously the referral process had been piecemeal and we were not supporting people as well as we could have, we discovered that people were falling through the net. Feedback informed us that people trying to access our services were confused as different staff members would call them about different things - it was apparent that staff hadn't spoken to each other. Something urgently needed to change. After consultation with service users, we decided on a model based on a single point of access. We felt that this was something that we could adopt and started to use this model for our services. As a result, all referrals now go to our Referrals Coordinator who will carry out a robust assessment based on the eight areas of the Sight Loss MOT. Once this has been completed, the person is triaged and referred to the most relevant member of staff who will hold that 'case'. Whilst piloting this system, we quickly discovered that the process was organic and needed to work with the service users. As a result, the new structure is evaluated regularly through case review meetings and changed as needed. Overall, the model has proved successful and we have seen a significant increase in the number of people we have supported as well as ensuring they receive a quality service. Healthcare Professionals and Sight Loss Awareness Training We have been delivering sight loss awareness training to healthcare professionals across Nottinghamshire. The training was designed to enable them to think about the barriers to independence faced by people with sight loss {particularly in their workplaces), along with the emotional consequences of sight loss. We also talked about communication - written and verbal and how the lack of knowledge and unwillingness to change, could impact on a person's life. The training included information on common eye conditions and the opportunity to learn how to safely guide someone with a visual impairment should they need it. From June 2023 to March 2024, we trained 180 health care professionals over 18 sessions. This included those from.. Nottingham University Hospitals and Sherwood Forest Hospitals nursing, administration staff and volunteers,. optometrists,. local authority rehab and housing workers. occupational therapists,. community health and wellbeing staff,. stroke teams., psychotherapy and counselling students; physiotherapists., student wellbeing teams and personal assistants. 1000/0 of the people that attended the training agreed or strongly agreed that they had increased their skills and knowledge and that they intended to apply the learning in their roles. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 The impact of the above, reaching more professionals with a more efficient referral process, along with a reduction in rehabilitation workers has resulted in a significant increase in the demand for our services. This is demonstrated below.. In 2021- 2022 we supported 120 new people In 2022 - 2023 we supported 117 new people In 2023 - 2024 we supported 240 new people In the first quarter of 2024 we supported just under 100 new people, suggesting a possible figure of 400 new people requiring support for 2024- 2025. This is a phenomenal rise of referrals and one that we now need to plan for. Works for me Funded by the Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT). Works for Me is an employment service that supports people with sight loss to gain the skills and confidence to move nearer to, or into, work. My Sight Notts and Yorkshire based sight loss charity, Mysight York, were chosen by TPT to pilot the service in different areas of the country- they already run this service from their base in London. Offering a range of interventions, with the focus on skills and confidence rather than actual job outcomes, Works for Me has proved to be an essential service for people with sight loss. From April 2023 to March 24 Works for Me supported 45 people to increase their skills and confidence. This resulted in.. 3 people gaining employment 20 people accessing training 6 people accessed volunteering opportunities 8 people having the confidence to challenge their employer and staying in work as a result 11 people supported with reasonable adjustments and Access to Work 19 people supported to write an effective CV and to access job sites 750/0 of working age people with sight loss are unemployed. There is a lack of understanding among employers about the support available to them to employ people with disabilities into work. Works for Me has impacted not only on the people we support, but also the employers we work with. It has helped to raise awareness of the talent employers are missing out on by not employing people with disabilities. It also raises awareness of government support that's available to help employers take on people with disabilities. Achievements and Performance Works for Me With funding from the Thomas Pocklington Trust, we were able to set up Works for Me - an employment service supporting people to gain skills and confidence to move into or nearer to employment. io- NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 The Macular Society Partnership We worked in partnership with the Macular Society to restart their social and information group for Nottingham city - something that had stopped over the pandemic. The group started in October of 2023 with 3 participants and by April it had over 25 people regularly attending. A New Services Structure The implementation of a new structure in our seNices department. the adoption of a new Customer Relationship Management {CRM) system and a change in some staff roles has enabled an increase in referrals and a pathway through My Sight Notts that puts people at the heart of their support. Training Healthcare Professionals With funding from Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board's (ICB) training budget we were able to train 180 healthcare professionals, increasing their skills and knowledge of sight loss and the impact this has on individuals. This training will ensure a much better patient experience. Innovative Audio Description In collaboration with Nottingham Trent University's School of Art and Design and the Nottingham Contemporary, we embarked on an Information Knowledge Exchange project that focused on innovative approaches to audio description. This collaboration to make arts and cultural experiences more accessible to people with sight loss, ensures inclusivity and enriching engagement for all. Other My Sight Notts Achievements My Sight Notts is committed to providing activities for people with visual impairments of all ages. As such, in August, we facilitated a family trip to Stonebridge City Farm in Nottingham. There were a total of 22 participants enjoying a range of activities. In September, Nottingham Playhouse put on the play of 'The Real and Imagined Life of the Elephant Man,. The cast was a mix of people with physical and sensory disabilities and neurodiversity. To celebrate the launch of the play. we were invited to contribute to a display on the history of disability in Nottinghamshire. Our display showcased our own 180-year history as well as the history of tactile writing and magnification. We were also invited to watch the play. Also in September, we launched the Mansfield Tech Support Hub at Mansfield Library. Working in partnership with Inspire, we were able to deliver a monthly drop-in IT session for people with sight loss. In October, we were visited by a delegation of people with disabilities from Cuba who had come to England on a cultural visit through De Montford University. They had asked to hear our choir and we spent most of the afternoon talking to them and how our countries support people with disabilities. We are hoping that we can continue to engage with them and are looking at ways we can facilitate joint choir events online. In 2023 - 2024.. Our Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO) supported 1294 people Our Sight Loss Advisors specialising in tech supported 76 individuals Our sight1055 advisors specialising in equipment supported 199 individuals NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT {INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Our employment service. Works for Me, supported 45 people Our activities (including social groups, swim, gym, walking and rambling) supported 166 individuals Our choir had 11 members Shared Vision supported 70 individuals Our Anything's possible tech sessions supported 33 individuals We trained 180 healthcare professionals in sight loss awareness Outcomes Our outcomes are based on the eight areas of the Sight Loss MOT- an assessment and impact tool that measures a person's journey through our services. Using our new CRM system and the Sight Loss MOT assessment tool. we found that.. 60 1 of the people we have worked with have increased their independence 80 % of people that did not understand their eye condition. have a better understanding and are able to make informed decisions on treatment plans and registration 100 % of people have better skills and knowledge in making the best use of their sight 580/0 of people reporting poor mental and physical health and wellbeing feel better 65 % of people have reduced isolation and loneliness 650/0 of people have increased their employment skills and confidence For Professionals Transcriptions Our transcriptions Servi￿ converts a variety of documents into Braille. large print or audio file. In 202312024 this has included transcribing council tax and housing benefit letters for Bolsover District Council, open day flyers for VisionAid, patient leaflets for Nottingham University Hospitals, Braille and large print menus for various restaurants and cafes as well as a whole range of personal cards and letters for individuals. Digital Accessibility Group Our Digital Accessibility group is made up of staff. volunteers and members with different eye conditions. different levels of sight and levels of tech knowledge. The group supports businesses to ensure that any software or apps are accessible for people with sight loss. These are tested using a variety of different magnification and speech over software. In 202312024 this has included working with the RNIB on an accessibility app, MHR Ltd on their HR software and Healthwatch Nottingham and Nottinghamshire on the NHS app. Training We offer our Sight Loss Awareness training to professionals ensuring that any of their staff or visitors with sight loss are safe in the knowledge that people are trained to support them. 12- NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 The training is a mixture of practical and classroom activities and includes looking at the emotional consequences of being diagnosed with sight loss. barriers to independence, tech solutions and practical sighted guiding. We can deliver this training in house at our premises on Heathcoat Street in Nottingham or on site at the client's premises. In 202312024 we delivered training to a variety of different businesses including the Theatre Royal and Concert Hall, Nottingham Trent University and various health care professionals. Accessibility Audits We work with businesses to ensure that they are as accessible as possible for people with sight loss. In 202312024 this has included a full access audit of Nottingham Contemporary. We continue working with organisations to ensure employees can stay in work through reasonable adjustments and advice on Access to Work assessments" as well as carrying out full audits on buildings, websites and literature. We produce full audit reports as well as an offer to train staff in sight loss awareness. Fundraising 202312024 has marked a significant improvement in our fundraising income compared to recent years. We are incredibly grateful for the continued generosity of our supporters, whose funding enables us to drive positive impact across our projects and services. Trusts and Grants - income: £280,079 (£104,944 202212023) Donations from trusts. foundations. and grant-giving bodies remain a cornerstone of our income, generating £280.079 this year. We have been successful in securing multi-year funding, providing greater stability for our projects and the organisation overall. These grants include.. The National Lottery Community Fund.. An award of £496,852 over five years to help 'Enable Independence for Visually Impaired People," with the first installment received at the close of this financial year. The Henry Smith Foundation: A three-year commitment of £153,400 to support mental health and wellbeing initiatives for older adults living with visual impairments in Nottinghamshire. The Masonic Charitable Foundation: A pledge of £36,000 over the next three years to support our social hubs, aimed at reducing social isolation. We also received the final installment of the Global Radio's 'Makes Some Noise, grant to support our Tech Befrienders program. We extend our sincere thanks to the following funders for their generous contributions: BNA Charitable Incorporated Organisations Boots Charitable Trust Charles Littlewood Hill Trust 13 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT {INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Foreman Hardy JN Derbyshire Trust Nottinghamshire Masonic Grand Lodge Sir John EaS￿oOd Foundation Sport England The Clothworkers Foundation The Jesse Spencer Trust The Jones 1986 Charitable Trust The Skerrit Trust The Thomas Farr Charity Thomas Pocklington Trust Other donations, fundraising and gifts: £92,746 (202212023: £28,340) In addition to grants, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the community groups and individuals who have rallied to support our mission this year. These fundraising efforts are instrumental in helping us expand our reach and make a greater impact. Special thanks to: The Park Garden Trail - raising an impressive £3,880 Juliette Bacon, who raised nearly £5,000 by running the London Marathon Amar Alwitry, who raised over £1,800 through his JustGiving appeal Our President Len Jackson and his wife Di. whose dedicated efforts including annual quiz and bridge events, raised £2,500 John Godber Dance Group, contributing £570 Wollaton Rotary. donating £500 Our Visually Impaired Choir, whose carol singing at Victoria Centre raised £1,395 Bassetlaw Social Group, raising £924 through a Christmas raffle Councilor's Appeal, contributing £50 Other donors, supporters and regular givers This incredible support from our community strengthens our programs, builds our resilience, and empowers us to continue making a difference. We thank every one of our supporters, knowing that together. we are creating lasting, positive change. Charity Shops - £87,717 income (202212023: £84,107) Our two charity shops in Mapperley and the City Centre continue to generate valuable unrestricted funds for the organisation. While mindful of the rising operational costs, both shops remained profitable, contributing a combined income total of £87,717-a slight increase from the previous year. Legacy income £116,551 (202212023: £93,264) Legacy income remains one of the charity's most meaningful sources of support, with Gifts in Wills totaling £116,551 this year. We are deeply grateful to those who have chosen to support the charity in this lasting way, ensuring their legacy lives on through our work. 14_ NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Financial review 2023124 was a year of financial improvement for the charity with an impressive increase in income compared with the previous year. Cost cutting measures and salary savings implemented at the end of last year released more funds to streamline and improve our service delivery. We achieved our aim to secure more multiyear grant funding so most of our existing services will be fully funded for the next few years. We ended the year with a comfortable surplus enabling us to make a start on building back our depleted reserves and improving future financial stability for the charity. Total incoming resources increased this year by 68 % to £639,487 (2023: £380,577) and total resources expended decreased by 8 % to £598,737 (2023: £651,633) which resulted in a year end surplus of £40,750 {£271,056 deficit in 2023). The year saw an increase in income from trust and grant applications to £280.079 (2023: £104,944) and an increase in income from donations and gifts to £92,746 (2023.. £28,340), however legacy income increased only slightly to £116,551 {2023.' £93,264) which is lower than our historical averages for the second year. Income from our charity shops increased slightly to £87.717 (2023: £84,107) and our training and accessibility services brought in £10,688. At the year end the charity had unrestricted funds of £132,232 (2023: £196,016) a decrease of £63,784. There is an amount of £46,000 included as designated funds. At the year end, the charity had restricted funds of £170,360 (2023: £65.826) significantly higher than last year, multiyear funding instalments from the Lottery and Henry Smith were received in March for spending during 202412025. Looking ahead. many of our services will have significantly greater financial stability, with full and partial funding for most over 3 and 5 year periods. However, we will continue to focus on securing further multiyear funding from trust and grant giving bodies and securing new income from NHS. the public sector and the private sector, as we aim to have all existing services fully funded. This will ultimately enable us to meet the increasing demand for our services, ensuring more individuals with visual impairments receive the support they deserve. Our Finance Subcommittee will continue close financial monitoring to ensure we capitalize on this year's success, enhancing our sustainable income model and building back our charitable reserves. Plans for future periods Due to the significant increase in referrals to our services, we have implemented regular case review meetings in order to ensure that we are not overwhelmed with referrals or a lack of resources to be able to cope with this increase in demand. These review meetings will enable us to keep track of resources and capacity to ensure we can meet this increased demand without overextending ourselves. Over 202312024 we recognised the importance of having an employment service supporting people with visual impairments and so, thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, we are in a position to be able to continue delivering an employment support service in Nottinghamshire into 202412025. The service will have a new name but will continue to offer tailored support to empower individuals to build the necessary skills and confidence to move 15 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 nearer to, or into, work. Part of the new project will be around collaborating with employers to create more inclusive workplaces for people with sight loss. We are committed to increasing the range of support dealing with the emotional impact of sight loss, with particular emphasis on increasing our provision of counselling sessions and Shared Vision groups. We will also explore ways in which we can support the wellbeing of our staff including the introduction of reflective practice sessions with a clinical supervisor. We will consider options for joint working with our two local authorities and explore ways in which local sight loss charities can develop partnerships and share resources from fellow Visionary members from around the region. We will implement a new CRM database system, Charity Log, which will enable us to record details and outcomes from the Sight Loss MOT. It will also record details of individuals, interactions with My Sight Notts. We will be able to monitor ladder outcomes, track which services people are using and collate and report on a variety of information including numbers of people accessing our services. number of sessions and various demographics. 202412025 will also see us exploring partnerships with accredited training providers to continue to offer sight loss awareness training to healthcare professionals. This will ensure that the training is recognised as a valuable resource for continuous professional development. This will not only support healthcare workers as individuals but support them to provide better care for patients with sight loss, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes. We also aim to enhance our training sessions with VR technology and CPD accreditation. In response to the growing demand for audio description and online digital support. we have committed to continuing involvement in projects like the Information and Knowledge Exchange Programme with NTU and the Nottingham Contemporary throughout 202412025. We will also work with health partners to ensure their apps and websites are accessible. We will continue consulting with service users, volunteers, staff and trustees, developing our strategy to strengthen our current services and identify new services where needed. Any new services would have to be fully funded. Pension liabilities The charity participates in The Pensions Trust's Growth Plan. Until 30 September 2013, all contributions to the scheme were on a defined benefit basis. From 1 October 2013, contributions are made on a defined contribution basis. The scheme has been in deficit for a number of years and all participating employers are making yearly repayments as part of the recovery plan in place. At the year end the charity s estimated additional contributions to the recovery plan amount to £2,743, including inflationary increases. over the remaining six years to 31 January 2025. A liability of £2.743 has been recognised in this year's financial statements. More information on this is included in note 19. 16- NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 From 1 February 2017 the charity joined National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) Workplace Pension Scheme as part of the Government workplace pension reform. NEST is a trust-based defined contribution scheme and all eligible employees are auto enrolled. Reserves policy The committee has considered the reserves held by My Sight Nottinghamshire as at 31 March 2024 and continues to monitor this closely. The charity needs reserves to enable it to develop its long term aims as well as to ensure the continuation of its current activities. In order to meet their responsibilities and to ensure that the charity continues to operate on a going concern basis, the committee has reviewed the requirements and risks faced by the charity in both the short and medium term. The trustees have agreed that the charity should endeavor to maintain a level of free reserves which is no less than 4 months and no more than 12 months running costs. The charity defines Fts free reseNes as the sum of its cash reserves plus the value of its investments. The free reseNes of the charity at the balance sheet date stood at £132,232 (2023 £196,016). Total funds at the year-end were £302,592 (2023 £261.842). Unrestricted funds at the year-end were £132,232 (2023 £196,016) while restricted funds were £170,360 (2023 £65.826). Included within the unrestricted funds are designated funds totaling £46.000 (2023 £25.000). The board believes the charity's free reserves and known forecast income are adequate to meet the obligations of the organisation in the medium term. The majority of its services are now funded through restricted funds, secured from a number of new multiyear funding streams. However, the charity's free reserves remain low and the organisation is committed to building back reserves over the next few years. A designated fund to safeguard against future shortfalls in legacy income has been written into the charity's accounts,. an amount will be deposited into this fund every year that we receive more than our forecasted legacy income. Should other unrestricted funds be available, these may also be considered to bolster this fund. Whilst the charity's finances are more stable, with significant sources of known income available for a number of years, the board recognises the continued need for regular scrutiny of income and expenditure and to this end the management and trustees have agreed that the Finance and Fundraising Sub Committee meetings shall meet bi-monthly to monitor cash flow with our rolling forecast and identify income opportunities and cost savings where necessary. 17 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Financial review The charity has a surplus of £40,750 this year compared to a deficit of £271,056 in 2023. The total incoming resources have increased by £258,910 to £639,487 and total resources expended have increased by £52,896 to £598,737. Income from grant applications amounts to £280,079 (2023 - £104,944) this year and income from donations and gifts has increased from the prior year to £92,746 (2023 - £28,340). Legacy income has increased to £116,551 (2023 - £93,264) with legacy income coming from a range of individuals this year as last year. Charity shop income has increased by 4,/0 this year to £87,717 (2023- £84,107). Total resources expended have decreased by 8% to £598,737 (2023 £651,633). Management and trustees work together to regularly review the expenditure that the charity incurs and work at implementing policies to help reduce overall costs. At the year end the charity had unrestricted funds of £132,232 {2023 - £196,016) an increase of £63,784. There is an amount of £46,000 included in designated funds (2023 - £25,000). At the year end, the charity had restricted funds of £170,360 (2023 £65,826), an increase of £104,534. 18 NorriNGHAMSHIRE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND TRADING AS MY SIGHT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES, RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Statement of trustees, responsibilities The trustees (who are directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure. of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to: Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently., Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP (FRS 102); Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent., State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards 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 charity will continue in operation. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that 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. In so far as we are aware.. There is no relevant information of which the charitable company's Independent Examiners are unaware" and We have taken all the steps that we ought to have taken in order to make ourselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charitable company's Independent Examiners are aware of that information. Signed on behalf of the trustees= M Conroy Company Secretary Date:........ 11/25/2024 10:34 UTC Charity registration number.. 511288 Company registration number.. 01535327 ENV8909829•- 1212612024 1tJ:e8 AM UTC 19- UHY UHY H&