"O give thanks to the Lord, call on His Name, make known His deeds among the peoples" (Psalm 105:1 RSV)
The Torch Trust For The Blind is a Christian charity and mission with a worldwide vision for blind and partially sighted people. Torch aims to overcome sight loss as a barrier to finding a personal faith in Christ and to living a fulfilled Christian life.
The principle concern of the Torch Trust is the spiritual welfare of blind and partially sighted people, but its activities also extend to the general welfare needs of those it serves, especially those living in the poorer countries where the Torch Trust is active. Its principal activities are the production and distribution of Christian literature in formats that blind and partially sighted people can read, the promotion of Christian fellowship and companionship, and the provision of practical support to serve unmet personal needs.
Through its magazines and library services Torch now directly serves over 8200 (a 5% increase on last year) blind and partially sighted people around the world, and many more through the work of its network of Torch Fellowship Groups, holidays and other activities.
The year has been full of activity, with many new projects and initiatives running alongside the many continuing services and programmes.
Torch produces six Christian magazine titles in a mix of braille, giant print and audio formats: The Torch, Torch Times, Christian Herald Digest, Spark, Searchlight and Torch Family News. The latter title, Torch's quarterly news magazine, is also published in standard print.
Torch also produces two series of audio daily Bible readings: CWR's Every Day with Jesus and SU's Daily Bread. Both are now available in the new DAISY "talking book" CD format, giving easy and direct access to the content. Torch continues to produce the New Daylight daily Bible readings in braille for the St John's Guild. All told, Torch distributed 156,000 periodicals during the year.
With new systems in place to streamline selection and despatch of library books, loans increased dramatically to 23,500 from around 15,000 in the previous year. A pilot library of books in the new DAISY CD format was instituted, seeking user feedback to guide the introduction of this new media to Torch's mainstream library.
New technology has also paved the way for an increase in the rate at which additions are made to the library catalogue. In the year 175 books were added to the collections: 66 in braille, 20 in giant print, 70 on audio cassette and 19 on DAISY CD.
Torch carries a huge legacy of audio recordings of Christian books in the form of tapes and cassettes. With volunteer effort the huge task of converting these to digital masters commenced with around 10% completed in the year.
Giving blind and partially sighted people access to the Bible has always ranked high on Torch's agenda. During the year Torch Fellowship Groups were encouraged to purchase a Giant Print Bible from Torch and donate it to a local library. Each volume of the Bible (there are 19 in a complete Bible) carries the contact details of the local Fellowship Group on the flyleaf, so that those who find this Bible useful have a local opportunity to find out more. Several dozen such presentations have been made. Librarians have commented favourably on the quality of the production and most presentations have been covered in the local press. This project is being extended to invite churches to be donors and retirement homes to be recipients.
Torch continues to produce a range of Christian books and booklets. The smaller ones are offered free of charge, the larger are charged at prices comparable to standard print editions (though the cost is usually greater). The Trust has become a member of the Right to Read campaign that seeks to highlight the uncomfortable fact that only a tiny fraction of books published ever become available in accessible media, and to lobby for improvement.
Signalling its commitment to making more Christian publications available more quickly to more blind and partially sighted readers, Torch launched a book in both braille and giant print simultaneously with the launch of the standard print edition at Spring Harvest, the UK's largest Christian convention. Presented in covers matching the print edition and at the same price, several copies of the book, Stretch by Gerard Kelly, were eagerly purchased by blind and partially sighted delegates. This surely represents a Christian publishing "first", maybe the first time any book has been simultaneously launched in these three media.
Another significant book to be added in both media was the hugely popular Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. This book is the basis of a Christian discipleship course that requires the students to read sections of the book on a daily basis. Without an edition they can read, blind and partially sighted people are effectively excluded from participation. Producing printed materials in accessible media that enable blind and partially sighted people to participate in church programmes is to become an area of new emphasis in Torch's forward strategy.
In the coming year Torch plans to take its campaign to Christian book publishers with a proposal of partnerships that will help increase the pace at which Torch makes additions to the range of books and booklets available for distribution, sale or loan.
The number of Torch Fellowship Groups meeting across the UK remained constant at around 130 with new Groups opening, replacing those closing, mainly due to the advanced age of the participants. By the end of the year the long search for a leader to oversee the renewal and development of the UK Fellowship Group network was successfully completed, with David Palmer joining the Torch Trust on 1st October 2005.
Those leading the local Groups have been encouraged and trained through an ongoing programme of Regional Days at venues across the UK. They have been encouraged to develop and strengthen links with local Social Services and the local charities commonly known as County Associations for the Blind. Representatives of these organisations were invited to an Open Day for Professionals at Torch House. Around 50 attended and many commented favourably of the event. One visitor wrote: "I must congratulate everybody on a very successful day".
An Association Director who wasn't able to come sent this heartening message: "I regard the work done by Torch as absolutely vital and we work closely with the local Groups who do such brilliant work."
This initative has developed into a major plank in the strategic aims for 2006 which we have dubbed the "Year of Connections" with the objective of achieving a step increase in the rate at which new connections are made - firstly with blind and partially sighted people that can benefit from all that Torch offers, secondly with Christian people and churches who can pray for the work and support it as volunteers or with finances. With regard to the former we intend to go to more exhibitions and events targeted toward blind and partially sighted people and those that serve them, and to build yet stronger links with the County Associations.
Holidays for blind and partially sighted people are another important aspect of Torch's "Fellowship" programme. Torch Holiday and Retreat Centre mounted a fuller than ever programme that included more themed holidays and breaks. As usual a group went to the Keswick Convention and another went on a tour of the Holy Land.
Torch's Holiday and Retreat Centre is located in the bustling Sussex village of Hurstpierpoint, yet at the end of its long drive enjoys a peaceful location with uninterrupted views of the South Downs. It's a place where it's normal not to see, and many blind and partially sighted people from all over the UK have enjoyed holidays and breaks through the year. In the quietness and joy many report a fresh encounter with God. During quieter periods the Centre accepts groups from churches and other Christian organisations, bringing valuable revenue to defray fixed costs.
Recognising both the demand of the Disability Discrimination Act and the real needs of often multiply-disabled guests, a wholesale remodelling of the ground floor of the centre, with a new terrace and ramps, has been undertaken. Now there is a fully accessible suite opening directly onto the new terrace, plus an accessible guest shower-room. The revised ground floor layout has greatly improved the Centre for all guests. Staff used the opportunity to redecorate most of the accommodation.
Torch's new website has proved accessible to blind and partially sighted users and is becoming an increasingly important source of new enquiries. Not only is the website a valuable "shop window" for Torch, it will progressively become a means of delivering service to the Trust's beneficiaries. Already three of Torch's magazine titles can be downloaded from the site.
The Torch Trust is a truly international organisation serving blind and partially sighted people in many parts of the world. Torch magazines are sent to readers in some 97 countries. Among the countries with major readership groups were Malawi, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and India.
When the Tsunami hit the shores of the Indian Ocean it was evident that this would be particularly traumatic for the surviving blind people with familiar surroundings swept away. Torch was able to pass on gifts to assist blind people via partners in the area.
The Torch Trust takes a particular interest in Eastern Europe and Africa where it is has established local operations. Their basic running costs are met from Torch's general income with restricted gifts being used to fund specific projects and initiatives.
In Eastern Europe the activities are centred in Romania where the Torch Trust supports the work of Dezna Torch, based in the Arad district.
Construction of Casa Torch, a Christian family home for visually impaired children currently cared for in the notorious orphanages continued, though with some disappointing delay. Work now continues apace towards completion with a new team of vigorous and able volunteers from a Scottish church thoroughly committed to conclude the project by the end of 2006. Torch is seeking a suitable Christian couple to become houseparents.
During the summer a camp was run in Dezna to which 30 blind and partially sighted children came from all over Romania. The days were filled with activities and the evenings with stories and other Bible-based content. Volunteers travelled from across the UK to staff the camp, which was hugely enjoyed, by children and volunteers alike.
The Torch Trust also contributes to the support of an independent Romanian charity known as Pro-Lumina that has similar aims to those of Torch. In particular, financial support provided by Torch supporters has again helped Pro-Lumina to organise houseparty holidays for blind and partially sighted people incarcerated in Romania's asylum system. Torch continues to emboss and supply the braille "plates" necessary for Pro-Lumina's braille production.
The Torch Trust has had a long involvement in Africa. Around one third of Torch's magazines are mailed to addresses in African countries. Over twenty accessible media libraries have been set up, stocked with books from Torch in the UK.
In the early nineties the Torch Trust established the Torch Trust for the Blind (International) Malawi, which has its headquarters in a suburb of the southern Malawian city of Blantyre. Here five Malawian staff produce braille Bibles and other Christian literature in six African languages. During the year giant print production facilities were installed and the New Testament is now available in giant print in the Chichewa language. Work began towards a braille Bible in Tumbuka, a language common in the northern part of Malawi.
Supported from the Blantyre headquarters, over 70 Fellowship Groups now meet regularly across Malawi. Many are located in poor rural communities where blindness is prevalent.
Here the spiritual dimension of the work is supplemented with the provision of practical personal support under the banner "Aid Africa". Once more, a shipping container full of aid items was sent to Malawi and its contents distributed through the Fellowship Groups network. Items ranged from "blindness aids" like white canes and braille writing frames, to the clothes and toiletries that are so much needed by the blind people of Malawi, often the poorest among the poor in this the world's tenth poorest country.
With the wholesale failure of harvest across the country, 2005 was a very tough year for Malawians. For many of the 2,300 blind people connected with Torch Fellowship Groups, mere survival became uncertain. Nevertheless, it was striking to see the hunger for spiritual sustenance even among those so hungry for food. With generous donations from Torch supporters it was possible to send funds to provide at least some food to around 1,500 of these.
The work is spreading across the border into neighbouring Mozambique. Now there are 7 Torch Fellowship Groups in this country and Malawian volunteers travel regularly to encourage them.
The income of the Torch Trust for the Blind arises principally from donations and legacies, supplemented by sales of accessible media literature (mostly sold at below cost) and Torch Holiday and Retreat Centre income. The Torch Trust does not run fund raising campaigns or appeals but relies on effective communication of its activities and needs and on faith in God through a commitment to regular prayer.
Overall income grew by over 12% with notable rises in both Gift Aid tax recovery and legacies. The former is a result of a new focus on Gift Aiding of donations and improved administration. Also showing a modest but encouraging improvement was the income from housparties, holidays and retreats, reflecting the increased activity levels at Torch Holiday & Retreat Centre. The prior year's interest income was exceptional and arose from investing funds from the sale of Hallaton property but since expended on the new Torch House.
| Resource | Total 2005 (£000) | Total 2004 (£000) |
|---|---|---|
| Donations | 311 | 302 |
| Tax recovered | 17 | 6 |
| Legacies | 190 | 130 |
| Sales of literature | 34 | 41 |
| Houseparties, holidays and retreats | 48 | 44 |
| Interest | 2 | 12 |
| Total Incoming Resources | 602 | 534 |
The expenditure of the Torch Trust is prioritised to achieving its aims and objects. Expenditure on the generation of income is modest, and management and administration costs are kept to a minimum consistent with proper operation of the Trust. The aspect of the Trust's work directed to transcribing, producing and distributing accessible media literature is, by its nature, highly labour intensive. It is in these areas of work that most of the staff are employed and most materials are consumed.
To both speed literature production and improve its quality new machinery was acquired. Included within the establishment expenditure is a depreciation charge of £96 thousand (2004: £87 thousand).
| Resource | Total 2005 (£000) | Total 2004 (£000) |
|---|---|---|
| UK Outreach | 34 | 33 |
| Production braille, giant print and cassettes | 72 | 81 |
| Overseas Outreach | 78 | 79 |
| Staff pay and costs | 338 | 274 |
| Houseparties, holidays and retreats | 28 | 32 |
| Establishment | 160 | 150 |
| Administration and Support | 112 | 106 |
| Total Resources Expended | 822 | 755 |
The funds balance at year-end rose to £2.722 million, only just above the value of fixed assets. The Trust again operated at a substantial deficit during the year and clearly has little flexibility in facing a further year of comparable losses. Since the year-end the recovery of VAT has boosted funds and allowed interest free loans to be repaid. The Trust is therefore debt-free save for a small mortgage.
Extrapolating the experience of this year, the Trust has budgeted for an increase in donation and legacy income and expects to see some savings in operating expenses; though these will be offset by National Minimum Wage increase. Shortly after the year end the Trust received news of two exceptionally large legacies each of which would be adequate to cover the budgeted deficit.
This was the first full year in the new Torch House. It has proved to provide a pleasant and effective environment for the wide scope of activities undertaken by the headquarters operation. With the new equipment purchased and systems developed in preparation for the relocation, the efficiency of routine activities has noticeably improved.
As expected the neighbouring plot was acquired for construction of a doctor's surgery. Torch was therefore able to recover the third share in the cost of site infrastructure and access road from them.
There remained just a small number of issues to be resolved at the end of the year: the final payment owing to builders J Hallam pending completion of snagging estimated at £33,000, the attempt to obtain a refund from Severn-Trent in respect of excessive charges for water supply connection and the ongoing efforts to recover VAT paid on the construction.
The Trustees operate the charity in line with the principles established by the founders and which have served the charity well for over 40 years. During this period the charity has frequently operated with no appreciable reserves and has expended all of its incoming funds on its charitable activities within a short period of receipt. As a Christian organisation, the charity has found its principle of faith dependency on God, coupled with a careful management of resources, to bring adequate stability to its finances while maximising resources expended to meet its aims.
In this context the Trustees normally consider cash reserves of one month's average expenditure to be more than adequate to meet imminent financial demands from ongoing charitable operations and would act to disburse any greater reserves in pursuit of the Trust's charitable aims.
The Trust has considerable fixed assets, mainly the three properties for which freehold is owned, with just a small mortgage on one. At the year-end, cash reserves were just a little higher than this, but with a final payment to the builders of the new Torch House of £33,000 due at completion of snagging.
The board of Trustees comprises six members, three of whom are blind and therefore able to represent the constituency served by the Torch Trust. The supervision of the Trust's operations and activities has been delegated by the board to the Chief Executive. The Chief Executive reports regularly to the Trustees and he, the Company Secretary and the General Administrator attend board meetings in an ex-officio capacity.
The Trustees, aided by the Chief Executive, select new Trustees who can contribute to the overall direction of the Trust from their experience of Christian leadership, their experience of blindness or their professional expertise. All Trustees must be wholeheartedly committed to the Christian faith, in particular to the basis of faith set out in the governing documents. Those that are charged with leadership of the various aspects and departments of the work of the Torch Trust report to the Chief Executive and meet at least monthly to consider operational matters. Certain aspects of the work are overseen by committees chaired by either the Chief Executive or a Trustee.
A key objective for the year was the recruitment of staff, in part to replace retiring staff but mainly to add the skills and gifting that are needed for the ongoing development of this diverse ministry. To a large degree this was achieved with several well trained and talented people joining under a sense of God's call to the work, some of them making courageous decisions to give up larger salaries and accept Torch's standard National Minimum Wage basis.
When planning the relocation of Torch headquarters into Market Harborough an aspect of the vision was that local Christians could increasingly become involved as staff and volunteers. This has come to pass with several of the new staff coming from local churches and others getting involved in a variety of tasks on a voluntary basis.
Nevertheless there are still some key vacancies unfilled and the search for those whom God has prepared to serve with Torch continues.
The Torch Trust for the Blind is a registered charity (no. 1095904) and company limited by gaurantee (no. 4616526). The full audited Report and Accounts for the year ended 30th September 2005 (from which this Annual Report has been prepared) are available on request from the Chief Executive and also from Companies House or the Charity Commission.
This charitable company was formed in 2002 with aims and objects equivalent to those of the older unincorporated charity of the same name (registered no. 208678). Audited Report and Accounts for this charity are also available. During the year reported the Trust completed the transfer of all assets from the old unincorporated charity to the new incorporated body. There were no other financial activities related to the old charity to report for the year ended 30th September 2005.
Torch relies on the commitment of some 40 staff and over one thousand volunteers
Torch Trust for the Blind, Torch House, Torch Way, Northampton Road, Market Harborough, Leics. LE16 9HL, UK
Tel: 01858 438260
Fax: 01858 438275
Email: info@torchtrust.org
Website: www.torchtrust.org
Registered Charity No. 1095904