BRITISH LIMBLESS EX-SERVICE MEN'S ASSOCIATION (BLESMA)

Charity number: 1084189
Charity reporting is up to date (on time)

Charity overview

Activities - how the charity spends its money

Blesma supports all serving and ex service men and women who lose limbs or the use of limbs, or one or both eyes in service or as a result of service. It also supports those ex service men and women who lose limbs not as a result of service or loss of use of limbs as a result of a traumatic incident. Blesma also supports widows and dependents of the above.

Income and expenditure

Data for financial year ending 31 December 2023

Total income:
£5,365,544

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Donations and legacies £4.11m
Charitable activities £0
Other trading activities £0
Investments £1.00m
Other £251.73k

Total expenditure:
£6,083,240

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Raising funds £1.16m
Charitable activities £4.92m
Other £0

£1,327,170 investments gains (losses)

Charitable expenditure

Charitable expenditure

Some charities generate all, or a substantial part, of their income from investments which may have been donated to the charity as endowment or set aside by the charity from its own resources in the past. Such investments usually take the form of stocks and shares but may include other assets, such as property, that are capable of generating income and/or capital growth.

In managing their spending and investments charities need to strike a balance between the needs of future and current beneficiaries. They also need to take account of spending commitments that may stretch over a number of future years. To do this, charities will normally adopt an investment strategy designed to generate both income and capital growth. To maximise returns trustees may commit to investment strategies for several years.

Investments can experience large swings in value so trustees may, in a particular year, decide to realise and spend part of their charity’s capital or to invest part of its income.

By clicking the investment gains checkbox the charitable spending bar is adjusted to take account of capital growth as well as income. This shows the balance the charity is striking, between spending on current beneficiaries and retaining resources for future beneficiaries.

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Raising funds and other expenditure £1.16m
Charitable expenditure £4.92m

People

53 Employee(s)

11 Trustee(s)

92 Volunteer(s)

Employees with total benefits over £60,000

Number of employees
£70k to £80k 2
£80k to £90k 1
£90k to £100k 1

Fundraising

No information available

Trading

This charity does not have any trading subsidiaries.

Trustee payments

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity.

What, who, how, where

What the charity does:
  • General Charitable Purposes
  • The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
  • Disability
  • Armed Forces/emergency Service Efficiency
Who the charity helps:
  • Elderly/old People
  • People With Disabilities
  • Other Defined Groups
How the charity helps:
  • Makes Grants To Individuals
  • Provides Services
  • Provides Advocacy/advice/information
  • Sponsors Or Undertakes Research
Where the charity operates:
  • Northern Ireland
  • Scotland

Governance

Registration history:
  • 19 December 2000: Standard registration
  • 21 March 2017: Funds received from 1059010 NORMANDY VETERANS ASSOCIATION BENEVOLENT FUND - NO...
  • 20 June 2022: Funds received from 1006623 OPEN DOORS
  • 05 May 2023: Funds received from 1166685 THE QUEEN'S LANCASHIRE REGIMENT VETERANS CHARITY.
  • 06 July 2023: Funds received from 261179 THE H J CHARITABLE TRUST
  • 12 May 2025: Funds received from 280302 THE ANDERTON FOUNDATION
Organisation type:
Charitable company
Other names:
  • BLESMA (Working name)
Company number:
04102768 Open in new window
Gift aid:
Recognised by HMRC for gift aid
Other regulators:
No information available
Policies:
  • Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
  • Campaigns and political activity 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
  • Social media policy and procedures
  • Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
  • Trustee expenses policy and procedures
  • Volunteer management
Land and property:
This charity owns and/or leases land or property

Trustees

Trustees are the people responsible for controlling the work, management and administration of the charity on behalf of its beneficiaries. Generally trustees are treasurer, chair, board member etc. The trustees are responsible for keeping this list up to date and can do this by updating their details as they happen through the online service

11 Trustee(s)

Name Role Date of appointment Other trusteeships Reporting status of other trusteeships
Edward Grant Martin Davis CB CBE Chair 29 June 2024
None on record
Lisa Johnston Trustee 29 June 2024
None on record
Neil Heritage Trustee 20 August 2023
None on record
COLIN WHITWORTH Trustee 20 August 2023
None on record
Alan Mistlin Trustee 20 August 2023
PENGUINS AGAINST CANCER
Received: On time
Richard Gilbert Trustee 19 June 2022
None on record
Robert Kerrigan Trustee 13 June 2021
None on record
Liam Maguire Trustee 13 June 2021
None on record
Stephen White Trustee 13 June 2020
None on record
Miles Courtenay Ambler Trustee 10 June 2018
None on record
Alison Laura Grant Trustee 11 June 2017
None on record

Financial history

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Financial period end date

Income / Expenditure 31/12/2019 31/12/2020 31/12/2021 31/12/2022 31/12/2023
Total gross income £9.84m £4.76m £4.23m £3.96m £5.37m
Total expenditure £6.23m £5.23m £5.40m £6.35m £6.08m
Income from government contracts N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Income from government grants £413.04k £277.34k £31.19k N/A N/A
Income - Donations and legacies £5.90m £4.06m £3.01m £3.02m £4.11m
Income - Other trading activities £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Income - Charitable activities £413.04k £65.00k £165.38k £198.93k £0
Income - Endowments £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Income - Investment £909.62k £475.93k £640.26k £709.72k £1.00m
Income - Other £2.61m £153.43k £406.34k £23.08k £251.73k
Income - Legacies £4.24m £2.23m £687.58k £1.24m £2.11m
Expenditure - Charitable activities £5.17m £4.17m £4.29m £5.29m £4.92m
Expenditure - Raising funds £1.06m £1.07m £1.11m £1.06m £1.16m
Expenditure - Governance £51.16k £62.30k £51.61k £44.00k £65.76k
Expenditure - Grants institution £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Expenditure - Investment management £110.33k £113.14k £124.27k £127.20k £119.75k
Expenditure - Other £0 £0 £0 £0 £0

Assets and liabilities

Definitions for assets and liabilities
Own use assets

These are assets, other than investments, which are held for more than 12 months and used to run and administer the charity such as buildings, offices, exhibits and fixtures and fittings.

Long term Investments

Investments are assets held by the charity with the sole aim of generating income which will be used for their charitable purposes such as deposit accounts, shares, rental property and unit trusts.
Investment assets are re-valued every year and included in the balance sheet at their current market value.
Long term investments are held for more than 12 months.

Other assets

These are assets held generally for less than 12 months such as cash and bank balances, debtors, investments to be sold within the coming year and trading stock.

Defined benefit pension scheme asset or liability

This is a surplus or deficit in any defined benefit pension scheme operated and represents a potential long-term asset or liability.

Total liabilities

These are all the amounts owed by the charity at the balance sheet date to third parties such as bills due but not yet paid, bank overdrafts and loans and mortgages.

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Asset / Liability 31/12/2019 31/12/2020 31/12/2021 31/12/2022 31/12/2023
Own use assets £3.38m £3.30m £3.14m £3.00m £2.91m
Long-term investments £32.05m £33.76m £36.66m £32.77m £32.97m
Other assets £6.43m £5.52m £5.04m £3.37m £3.88m
Defined benefit pension scheme asset or liability £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Total liabilities £550.40k £415.53k £414.42k £510.80k £523.43k

Accounts and annual returns

This table shows the charity's record of submitting annual returns, accounts and trustees' annual report (TAR) for the last five financial periods.
Title Reporting year Date received Received Download
Annual return 31 December 2023 23 July 2024 On Time
Accounts and TAR 31 December 2023 23 July 2024 On Time Download Open in new window
Annual return 31 December 2022 06 July 2023 On Time
Accounts and TAR 31 December 2022 06 July 2023 On Time Download Open in new window
Annual return 31 December 2021 01 July 2022 On Time
Accounts and TAR 31 December 2021 01 July 2022 On Time Download Open in new window
Annual return 31 December 2020 02 June 2021 On Time
Accounts and TAR 31 December 2020 02 June 2021 On Time Download Open in new window
Annual return 31 December 2019 22 May 2020 On Time
Accounts and TAR 31 December 2019 22 May 2020 On Time Download Open in new window
Submit annual return Open in new window

Governing document

Details of the type of governing document the charity has and when it was established.
It is not the full text of the charity's governing document.

MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION DATED 17 OCTOBER 2000 AS AMENDED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION(S) DATED 23 JUN 2016 as amended on 13 Jun 2021 as amended on 25 Jun 2023

Charitable objects

TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE AND WELL-BEING OF ALL SERVING AND EX-SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE LOST A LIMB OR LIMBS OR ONE OR BOTH EYES AS A RESULT OF SERVICE IN ANY BRANCH OF HER MAJESTY'S FORCES OR AUXILIARY FORCES AS MAY FROM TIME TO TIME BE DEFINED. 2)TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE AND WELL-BEING OF ALL THOSE SERVING AND EX-SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SUFFER LOSS OF A LIMB, PERMANENT LOSS OF SPEECH, HEARING; OR THE LOSS OF SIGHT IN ONE OR BOTH EYES; OR THE USE OF A LIMB. 3) TO ASSIST NEEDY WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS AND NEEDY DEPENDANTS OF THE ABOVE

Area of benefit

The area the charity can operate in, as set out in its governing document.

NATIONAL AND OVERSEAS

Contact information

Address:
British Limbless Ex-Service Mens
Association
115 New London Road
Chelmsford
Essex
CM2 0QT
Phone:
02085483512
Email:
info@blesma.org
Website:

www.blesma.org Open in new window