Finance Score: 2

Governance Score: 0

Support Score: 11

Liabilities <10%: +3
Positive trading contribution: +2;Strong growth: +2
Fundraising costs high: -5

Good trustee age range: +3
All female board: -3

Large volunteers +3
Grant maker support: +8

Overall GiG Score: 13

DORSET BLIND ASSOCIATION

We work to help people with sight loss lead full, independent, healthy and socially active lives. We deliver practical services directly into the community to make these are as accessible as possible to all service users and while the sight loss condition itself sadly cannot be cured, the charity works to stop that sight loss from causing or leading to other physical or mental health problems.

Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

This charity has been successful in attracting volunteers relative to its size
The charity has received backing from multiple prominent grant makers recently
This charity has a robust balance sheet
More than half of total income was derived from trading and fees in the latest year
There has been strong growth in spending over the last 5 years
There have been no material income shortfalls in recent years
The Board appears to be well diversified in terms of age

Regulatory & Governance issues to consider:

The Board is completely female

Financial issues to consider:

Fundraising costs are extremely high relative to funds raised

Established: 13 years

www.dorsetblind.org.uk

info@dorsetblind.org.uk

01202712861

Charity Commission for England and Wales

Tweets

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?

Sources of Income ?

Y/E	Income £k	Spending £k	Surplus/ Deficit	Fundraising Cost £k	Total Funds £k	Unrestricted Funds £k	Mths Rsrvs	Staff	Volun- teers
31/03/23	£949	£827	£122	£409	£628	£618	9	19	400
31/03/22	£729	£691	£38	£323	£527	£523	9.1	19	392
31/03/21	£703	£531	£173	£242	£492	£487	11	17	300
31/03/20	£611	£622	£-11	£287	£306	£293	5.6	17	300
31/03/19	£605	£502	£103	£192	£321	£312	7.5	14	300
31/03/18	£456	£446	£10	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/17	£390	£389	£1	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/16	£381	£378	£2	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/15	£291	£318	£-27	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/14	£305	£363	£-58	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/13	£351	£344	£7	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/12	£355	£321	£35	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0

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Financial Ratios

Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 112.9%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 49.8%
Highest pay band: Less than £60,000
Liabilities/Assets: 4%
Liabilities/Income: 3%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 98%
Reserves/Spending: 9 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 3 months
Quick Ratio: 4.6

Asset Split ?

Listed activities

Disability

How it operates

Provides advocacy/advice/information
Provides services

Where it operates

Bournemouth, Dorset, Poole,

Who it helps

People With Disabilities

Who works here?

19 employees
400 volunteers

Who's supporting them? ?

Donations from Grant Makers ?

We have details on the following significant donations. Multi-year donations are allocated to the years for which they are earmarked.

Major supporters in last 5 years

Henry Smith Charity	£150,000
National Lottery Community Fund	£118,855
The Clothworkers Foundation	£24,000
DCMS	£9,895

Specific Donations

Amount	When Months	To be used for
National Lottery Community Fund - Finance management for older visually impaired people in Dorset
£8,100	19/08/2022	The funding will be used to continue to provide a financial management advice and support service for older visually impaired people across Dorset. The project aims to help those struggling with ....more The funding will be used to continue to provide a financial management advice and support service for older visually impaired people across Dorset. The project aims to help those struggling with their finances due to communication difficulties caused by their sight loss improve their financial management skills at the earliest possible stage and improve their mental health and well-being.
Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust - Dorset Blind Association - 27/06/22
£2,000	12/07/2022	Core Funding
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to Dorset Blind Association (DBA)
£150,000	09/06/2021 36	towards three years' continuation funding of the salary of a Community Support Worker at a project providing practical help and support for visually impaired people throughout Dorset.
Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust - Dorset Blind Association - 18/02/21
£1,250	03/03/2021	Sight Equipment Vehicle Service
National Lottery Community Fund - Dorset Link
£102,175	28/01/2021 35	The funding will be used for a new “Dorset Link” project which will provide a countywide support service for working age people (18-64 years old) with visual impairment who live in Dorset.
DCMS - Coronavirus Community Support Fund
£9,895	29/09/2020	"The fund aims to:1) To reduce closures of essential charities that provide essential services to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis by ensuring they have the financial resources to ....more "The fund aims to:1) To reduce closures of essential charities that provide essential services to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis by ensuring they have the financial resources to operate, thereby reducing the burden on public services.2) To ensure essential services are provided to vulnerable people, both in the short and long term through increased community support through the work of charitable organisations."
National Lottery Community Fund - Finance management for older visually impaired people in Dorset
£8,580	27/03/2020 11	The organisation will use the funding to continue its financial management advice and support service for older blind and partially sighted people. The project aims to help those struggling with ....more The organisation will use the funding to continue its financial management advice and support service for older blind and partially sighted people. The project aims to help those struggling with financial management due to low income and communication difficulties caused by their sight loss, reducing stress and improving health and wellbeing.
Quartet Community Foundation - Finance management for blind and partially sighted peoiple
£4,030	23/09/2019 6	Personalised support for blind and partially sighted people in Dorset to manage their finances.
The Clothworkers Foundation - Grant to Dorset Blind Association
£24,000	22/05/2019	purchase of two vehicles for a charity which works with people with sight impairment in Dorset
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to Dorset Blind Association
£60,000	07/09/2017 36	towards three years' running costs of a project providing support for people who are blind and partially sighted in Dorset
National Lottery Community Fund - Dorset Blind Association Community Support Service
£411,751	04/06/2015 60	The funding will be used to expand this project which provides a range of practical and emotional support for visually impaired people across Dorset, helping with the adjustment to living with sight ....more The funding will be used to expand this project which provides a range of practical and emotional support for visually impaired people across Dorset, helping with the adjustment to living with sight loss. Continuous and person-centred support will be provided, with the aim of assisting people to live full, healthy, independent lives in their local communities. The charity will work with a range of partners and will offer services including home visits, advocacy support, social and activity clubs.
Sport England - Goalball in Dorset
£4,650	19/02/2015	Funding under Sport England's Small Grants funding programme for a Revenue project titled 'Goalball in Dorset'. This project lists its main activity as Goalball.
Sport England - Visually impaired cricket in Dorset
£3,755	25/02/2014	Funding under Sport England's Small Grants funding programme for a Revenue project titled 'Visually impaired cricket in Dorset'. This project lists its main activity as Cricket.
Lloyds Bank Foundation - Grant to Dorset Blind Association
£16,000	26/04/2013	Dorset Blind Association provides practical help and support to visually impaired people. The Home Support Service Co-ordinator for Poole helps people stay living in their own homes and manages a ....more Dorset Blind Association provides practical help and support to visually impaired people. The Home Support Service Co-ordinator for Poole helps people stay living in their own homes and manages a team of volunteers who provide regular social contact.

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Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (6)

Current Trustees appointed

Gender Split

Based on 5/6 persons

Age Range of Trustees: 47-79

ANN COLLIGAN Appointed: 2024, Occupation: Retired

HEIDI ROCKETT Appointed: 2014, Occupation: Accounting Technician

JAMIE PERRY Appointed: 2018, Occupation: None

JESSICA MARY WEBSTER Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Housewife

MARIA LUISA GRUNDMANN Appointed: 2010, Occupation: None

TESSA LYNNE BASTARD Appointed: 2017, Occupation: None

Legal constitution

Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 09/02/2011, number: 1140321
Registered at Companies House on 10/11/2010, number: 07435564

Gift Aid

Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid

Event History

30/09/2011 - Asset transfer in from DORSET BLIND ASSOCIATION
18/01/2023 - Asset transfer in from CHANCERY HOUSE
24/08/2023 - Asset transfer in from SOUTH WEST DORSET TALKING NEWSPAPER

Policies in force

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Investment
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Filing Record

12 returns made; all on time

Recent reorganisation events:

Asset transfer in from CHANCERY HOUSE on 18/01/2023
Asset transfer in from SOUTH WEST DORSET TALKING NEWSPAPER on 24/08/2023

Main office

17 BOURNEMOUTH ROAD
POOLE
BH14 0EF

Objectives

1 TO ADVANCE PUBLIC EDUCATION ABOUT BLINDNESS AND DEAFNESS AND THE NEEDS OF THE VISUALLY AND/OR HEARING IMPAIRED IN THE COUNTY OF DORSET AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS2 TO PROMOTE THE RELIEF IN NEED OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A SIGHT AND/OR HEARING LOSS IN THE 0COUNTY OF DORSET AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS

Defined Area of Benefit:

THE COUNTY OF DORSET AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS

Data Sources