WATFORD SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE BLIND

Registered charity 302491 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The charity provides a club where visually impaired people may meet socially enjoying weekly activities, entertainment & support specifically for those with sight loss. Regular days out and an annual holiday for members can be enjoyed. The club is open every week for two days & runs entirely on a self funded and voluntary basis.

Objects

A PLACE WHERE BLIND PEOPLE MAY MEET FOR SOCIAL INTERCOURSE ENTERTAINMENT AND EDUCATION TO PLY CRAFTS PECULIAR TO BLIND PEOPLE AND WITH THE OBJECT OF ENABLING BLIND PEOPLE TO ENTER INTO INDUSTRY AND THE PROFESSIONS AND TO BECOME AS FAR AS POSSIBLE SELF SUPPORTING.

Area of benefit: WATFORD.

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Disability · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£65k

Latest spending

£50k

Registered

1963

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity had no employed staff and no volunteers claimed expenses during the year. The trustees report that designated reserves of £95,000 are considered more than adequate against a policy target of two years' running costs. The charity received a £184,000 National Lottery grant for hall refurbishment, which contributed to an increased profit for the year.

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

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: none

“During the year, we received a grant from the National Lottery of £184,000 which was used to pay for the refurbishment and extension of the hall.” — page 10

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves policy: two years running costs and any unforeseen costs (held: £95k)

“The Trustees policy is to accumulate free reserves at a level to cover two years running costs and any unforeseen costs.” — page 4

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

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

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

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
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Watford Social Centre for the Blind (matched by registered charity number).

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

Trustees · trustee networks

Jenny Marshchair
Abigael Radcliffe
Dennis Dumbleton · trustee of 1 other charity
Diane Abbott
Edward Marsh
HILDA MATHER
Nicholas John Rayner · trustee of 1 other charity
Rachael Gilthorpe · trustee of 1 other charity

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

Operates in: Hertfordshire

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£65k	£50k
31/12/2024	£238k	£41k
31/12/2023	£77k	£38k
31/12/2022	£45k	£27k
31/12/2021	£24k	£25k

Common questions

Is WATFORD SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE BLIND financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity had no employed staff and no volunteers claimed expenses during the year. The trustees report that designated reserves of £95,000 are considered more than adequate against a policy target of two years' running costs. The charity received a £184,000 National Lottery grant for hall refurbishment, which contributed to an increased profit for the year. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

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	11/04/2024	£191k	Blind Centre accessibility refurbishment