DEVON COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND

Registered charity 1140978 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as DACB, DCAB, DEVON IN SIGHT

To provide support, resources & facilities to visually impaired people across Devon by:- Offering advice and support about equipment & magnifiers. To sell equipment where required.- Informing about Charity services and signposting to other services- Matching people to trained volunteers who can visit them or take them out.- Running social and training activities- Providing grants

Causes: Education/training · Disability · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£206k

Latest spending

£267k

Registered

2011

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity incurred an annual deficit of £67,653, resulting in a reduction of total funds from £665,986 to £598,333. The trustees report that the charity has underlying losses of around £125,000 per annum and expects to continue running down its liquid reserves to subsidize services and provide match funding for future grants. Despite the deficit, the charity maintains a strong liquid reserve position of £589,808, supported by significant legacy income received in recent years.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Legacies (61% of income)

“Our largest source of income was legacies where we received £124,902 (£143,160) in the year.” — page 43

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves policy: 12 months operating costs (held: £590k)

“There has been no change in our reserve policy in the year and we continue with a minimum level of 12 months operating costs.” — page 44

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Devon in Sight (matched by registered charity number).

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

Aviapool — “We are extremely gratfeul to Aviapool who were one of the official sponsors of our ‘Race Across Devon’ fundraising challenge, contributing t…” (source page)
Brixham Trawler Agents — “Devon in Sight is thrilled to announce that Brixham Trawler Agents stepped up as a major sponsor for our recent ‘Race Across Devon’ fundrais…” (source page)
TRS Bespoke Interiors — “Thank you to TRS Bespoke Interiors for supporting Devon in Sight with a donation towards our local sight-loss services across Devon.” (source page)

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook

Register events

Received assets from another charity (06/02/2013) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (06/02/2013) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (06/02/2013) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (06/02/2013) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.

Trustees · trustee networks

Alvis Merrall-Spiers
Christopher John Hoar · trustee of 1 other charity
Dr David William Adams
Paul Hannan
SCOTT BAILEY
STEPHEN MUNCER
Sharon Jane Wood

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Devon · Torbay

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/03/2025	£206k	£267k
31/03/2024	£249k	£228k
31/03/2023	£435k	£179k
31/03/2022	£112k	£164k
31/03/2021	£151k	£196k

Common questions

Is DEVON COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity incurred an annual deficit of £67,653, resulting in a reduction of total funds from £665,986 to £598,333. The trustees report that the charity has underlying losses of around £125,000 per annum and expects to continue running down its liquid reserves to subsidize services and provide match funding for future grants. Despite the deficit, the charity maintains a strong liquid reserve position of £589,808, supported by significant legacy income received in recent years. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds DEVON COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND?

Funders whose own accounts filings name DEVON COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND as a grant recipient include THE CLARE MILNE TRUST, THE WO STREET CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, FOREST HILL CHARITABLE TRUST, MISSES BARRIE CHARITABLE TRUST, THE EDGAR E LAWLEY FOUNDATION.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
THE CLARE MILNE TRUST	FY2025	£20k
THE WO STREET CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2021	£4k
FOREST HILL CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£2k
FOREST HILL CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£2k	General
MISSES BARRIE CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£2k
THE EDGAR E LAWLEY FOUNDATION	FY2023	£2k
FOREST HILL CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£1k
THE FAIRFIELD CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£0

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The National Lottery Community Fund	10/03/2023	£10k	Emotional Wellbeing Support Service for People Living with Sight Loss
Postcode Lottery	26/04/2022	£20k	Emotional wellbeing support for people with sight loss
The National Lottery Community Fund	12/03/2021	£10k	Emotional wellbeing support for people with sight loss
The National Lottery Community Fund	18/07/2019	£10k	Inform and Inspire
The National Lottery Community Fund	01/09/2016	£419k	Devon Sight Loss Hubs
The National Lottery Community Fund	10/12/2014	£10k	Training and Technology Centre for People with Sight Loss