Finance Score: 5

Governance Score: -1

Support Score: 8

Strong growth: +2
Multiple Deficits: -2
Future income +5
No PartB

No conflicts policy: -1
Dynamic board: +3
All male board: -3

Large volunteer base +3
Overall weighted support: +5

Overall GiG Score: 12

FOREST SENSORY SERVICES

Reduce the impact of sensory impairment by assessing needs and providing access and information on sensory aids, equipment, activities and training. We provide:Education to facilitate independent living;Self help, social contact and mutual support;One-to-one sensory assessments and supply of equipment;Activities and training

Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

This charity has been successful in attracting volunteers relative to its size
There has been strong growth in spending over the last 5 years
A significant proportion of recent income was derived from major grant makers including the Government and there are significant future grants due to be received
The Board appears to be dynamic in terms of composition

Regulatory & Governance issues to consider:

This charity does not have a Conflict of Interests policy
Why is the Board completely male?

Financial issues to consider:

On several occasions in recent years income has been less than spending
A PartB annual return has not been required and so detailed financial information is not available from the online data

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?

Sources of Income ?

Y/E		Income £k	Spending £k	Surplus/ Deficit £k	Fundraising Cost £k	Total Funds £k	Unrestricted Funds £k	Mths Rsrvs	Staff	Volun- teers
31/07/23		£92	£103	£-10	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
31/07/22		£66	£71	£-4	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
31/07/21		£80	£48	£33	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
31/07/20		£50	£52	£-2	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
31/07/19		£40	£53	£-13	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
31/07/18	*	£84	£49	£35	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
31/07/17		£59	£37	£21	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
31/07/16		£36	£68	£-32	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
31/07/15		£33	£52	£-19	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
31/07/14		£57	£54	£4	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
31/07/13		£41	£55	£-13	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
31/07/12	*	£32	£64	£-31	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

Show more rows -->

Show financials table -->

Download accounts

Highest pay bracket: less than £60,000

Established: 14 years

www.forestsensoryservices.org

support@forestsensoryservices.org

01594827711

Charity Commission for England and Wales

Tweets

Listed activities

Disability
Education/Training

GiG Classification

Provides financial or material assistance

How it operates

Provides advocacy/advice/information
Provides services

Where it operates

Gloucestershire,

Who it helps

Elderly/Old People
People With Disabilities

Who supports them? ?

Donations from Grant Makers ?

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

Major supporters in last 5 years

National Lottery Community Fund	£143,525
Barnwood Trust	£14,500
DCMS	£2,800

Specific Donations

Amount	When Months	To be used for
Barnwood Trust - Gloucestershire Funders (Organisational & Group Funding)
£7,000	11/10/2022	Respite care for carers of people with sensory loss
National Lottery Community Fund - Forest Sensory Services
£143,525	10/03/2021 59	The organisation will use the funding over five years towards the salaries of their two staff. The grant will directly contribute to the work that the organisation does to support people in the Forest of Dean District of Gloucestershire who have ....more The organisation will use the funding over five years towards the salaries of their two staff. The grant will directly contribute to the work that the organisation does to support people in the Forest of Dean District of Gloucestershire who have experienced hearing or sight loss
Barnwood Trust - Organisational and Groups Funding
£7,500	14/12/2020	Support for people with sight and hearing loss
DCMS - VSCE CMC Fund
£2,800	02/10/2020	NET, Comic Relief and Children in Need will use this funding to provide: increased support to vulnerable people and hidden groups, thus reducing the burden on public services; reach local grassroots and small organisations who can provide an ....more NET, Comic Relief and Children in Need will use this funding to provide: increased support to vulnerable people and hidden groups, thus reducing the burden on public services; reach local grassroots and small organisations who can provide an on-the-ground community response to the crisis; and, support local charitable organisations to mobilise volunteers to enable better targeted support in communities through empowered local groups.
Garfield Weston Foundation - Multi-Year Grant (3 Years) award
£25,000	13/11/2017 36	Core costs
National Lottery Community Fund - Community Clubs
£10,000	05/08/2015 12	The group will use the funding to deliver balance and mobility classes, as well as cookery classes, to people who are living with visual impairments. This will enable beneficiaries to become more active and also teach them how to prepare ....more The group will use the funding to deliver balance and mobility classes, as well as cookery classes, to people who are living with visual impairments. This will enable beneficiaries to become more active and also teach them how to prepare nutritionally balanced meals.

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (5)

Current Trustees appointed

Gender Split

Age Range of Trustees: 53-78

DAVID JOHN ADAMS Appointed: 2011, Occupation: Director

DARRYL JAMES ANNIS Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Director

DAVID WARNER Appointed: 2023, Occupation: Retired

JAMES SPIERS (Chair) Appointed: 2012, Occupation: Director

MICHAEL AMEY Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Trustee

Legal constitution

Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 02/06/2011, number: 1142207
Registered at Companies House on 17/11/2010, number: 07441944

Gift Aid

Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid

Policies in force

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Investment
Paying staff
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Filing Record

12 returns made; AR18: 128 days late, AR12: 17 days late,

Main office

Forest Sensory Services
Forge Centre
Valley Road
CINDERFORD
Gloucestershire
GL14 2LJ

Objectives

TO RELIEVE THE CHARITABLE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY AND/OR AURALLY IMPAIRED THEIR FAMILIES AND CARERS IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY BY THE PROVISION OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING, SOCIAL AND REHABILITATION ACTIVITIES THAT ASSIST THOSE PEOPLE TO LEAD AN ACTIVE LIFE

Data Sources

Watch Inspiring Videos

Save the upside down forest

Change the ending - the pain of Alzheimers

Help Dads in prison stay in touch with their children