September 2025 Cornwall Region Chairman’s Report
Yet another year has flown by, and as we look ahead to next year, it’s a good time to pause and reflect on what has been another busy and rewarding year for the Cornwall Region. As always, there has been a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes, and I want to begin by offering my sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed their time, skills, and energy. It is this collective effort that continues to make Cornwall such a strong and respected region within our organisation.
Our regional events remain the cornerstone of our activities and are now the main source of income that keeps the region thriving. It has been fantastic to see the new Sports Committee working so effectively to ensure these events not only continue but grow in quality and participation. A special thank you goes to Zerren, who has taken on the leadership role with great enthusiasm and now represents Cornwall at the national level, a role that is already helping to strengthen our voice and visibility within the wider organisation.
The dedication of our Safety Team also deserves particular recognition. They have continued to work tirelessly, often in difficult and unpredictable conditions, to ensure that all of our events are conducted safely and professionally. Many members of the team have also given up their time to support national-level events, showcasing the high standard of skill and commitment that Cornwall brings to lifesaving across the country.
The new Officials Pathway is another positive development this year, and we are now beginning to see new officials coming through at events. This is a great sign for the future, and I would encourage anyone interested in officiating to get involved as it’s a rewarding way to contribute and gain valuable experience.
As an organisation, we must also keep looking for new funding opportunities to support our lifesaving activities and community outreach. Grants, sponsorships, and local partnerships can make a real difference in sustaining our programmes, and if anyone has ideas or is willing to help with fundraising or applications, please do get in touch. Every little bit of support helps us do more.
Our clubs have continued to demonstrate the very best of our values, particularly through their commitment to patrolling. Many have gone above and beyond by providing additional out-of-hours patrols throughout the summer, ensuring our beaches remain safe for everyone. The region has been pleased to assist with funding to support this work, and it’s been heartening to see such a strong spirit of collaboration between clubs.
The Flood Rescue Team also continues to develop and will soon be recruiting new volunteers. This team plays a vital role in our emergency response capability and is a shining example of how our members put their training and dedication to use in service of the wider community. If you are interested in joining or supporting this team, please keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities.
This past year has also seen continued effort in training and development. Many of our members have undertaken new qualifications or refreshed their existing skills, ensuring that Cornwall remains at the forefront of lifesaving excellence. Our trainers and assessors deserve special thanks for their ongoing commitment, often giving up weekends and evenings to make sure our members have the skills they need.
Communication within the region has also improved, with more regular updates, social media activity, and better sharing of good news stories. It’s great to see the achievements of our clubs and individuals being celebrated, as these stories truly reflect the passion and dedication that runs throughout the Cornwall Region.
It is always difficult to single out individuals for special thanks, as so many people contribute in different ways, from committee members and team leaders to parents, supporters, and of course, the volunteers who simply turn up and make things happen. So, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to every single person who has played a part this year.
Together, we have achieved a lot, and we should all take pride in the progress we’ve made. With continued teamwork, enthusiasm, and community spirit, I’m confident that the year ahead will be just as successful, if not more so.
Thank you all for your commitment and contribution to the Cornwall Region.
Yours in Lifesaving
Nigel Bowden
Chairman surf Life Saving Cornwall
September 2025 Inland Rescue Boats Report
The IRBs within the Cornwall Region continue to operate well and are currently stored across several clubs. One based at Porthtowan, one at Perranporth, and another at Hayle. Having multiple boats strategically located across the region provides greater flexibility and allows for more training opportunities, helping us to steadily increase the number of qualified IRB drivers and crews.
These boats have been invaluable for developing our members’ skills and ensuring that more clubs can access IRB training. The increased training capacity has already resulted in a noticeable improvement in both confidence and competency among our crews, which is great to see.
However, as with any equipment that is heavily used in a marine environment, our boats are now showing their age. Maintenance costs continue to rise each year, but thanks to careful budgeting and support from the region, we have been able to meet these costs and keep them operational. This year, a significant amount of work has gone into replacing trailer bearings and other fittings to keep the boats roadworthy and ready for transport to events. Without this essential maintenance, our ability to
support regional and national events would be severely limited, so a big thank you goes to everyone who has contributed their time to this work.
The jet ski has again proven to be a real asset. Being one of the only regions to have a jet ski at its disposal has made a big difference, particularly when dealing with challenging surf conditions. Its versatility and speed have made it an excellent tool for both safety and support operations, and it has clearly demonstrated its worth throughout the season.
This year, we have also temporarily taken on an additional boat, kindly donated by Newquay Surf Life Saving Club. Unfortunately, their storage facility has collapsed, leaving them without a secure location for their IRB. In the meantime, the region has agreed to maintain and operate the boat, keeping it serviceable and using it at regional events until Newquay are in a position to take it back. We’re very grateful to be able to support another club in this way, and it highlights the strong cooperation that exists between clubs across Cornwall.
Looking ahead, we are planning to continue offering IRB driver and crew courses across the region next season. These courses are vital to maintaining our operational capability and ensuring we have trained teams available for both events and lifesaving activities. Details will be shared on our social media and through club communications once dates and venues are confirmed. If your club does not currently have access to an IRB but would like to get involved, please do keep an eye out for these opportunities, it’s a great way to develop new skills and support the wider lifesaving community.
Finally, a huge thank-you must go to our Safety Team. They have once again excelled themselves this year, operating in some extremely testing surf and weather conditions to ensure the safety of all participants. Their professionalism, teamwork, and calm under pressure are a credit to the region. We are always looking to expand this dedicated team, so if anyone is interested in joining, please get in touch, we would be delighted to welcome you aboard.
In summary, our IRB operations remain strong, well-coordinated, and forward-looking. With continued maintenance, training, and teamwork, we’re in an excellent position to keep improving and supporting the region’s events and lifesaving activities for years to come.
Surf Life Saving Cornwall Treasurer Report for 2024 With the cost of running the Region Events increasing year on year we needed to increase the entry fees to events for the members. Swimming pool hire, insurance, maintaining equipment and safety boats has all increased. We also have to pay a fee to some beach owners now if we wish to use their beach for an event. The introduction of using the Live Heats system for recording event results has been very successful but does incur more costs – providing wristbands, mobile phones for officials and computer equipment. The costs need to be considered each year to ensure we are covered.
Diane Green Region
Treasurer Surf Life Saving Cornwall
Surf Life Saving Cornwall 2024
Income and Expenditure Account 2024
For the year ended 31st December 2024
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||||||||
| Income | Club Affiliation fees | 850.00 | 950.00 | ||||||
| Event Entry fees | 27,646.83 | 23,883.34 | |||||||
| Flood Rescue Team | 0 | 324.82 | |||||||
| Live Heats | 0 | 387.78 | |||||||
| OceanPerf | 5443.20 | £ | 4,682.10 |
||||||
| Stillwater Entry Fees | 13,686.16 | 12,600.28 | |||||||
| Old Region Vehcle | 0.00 | 506.66 | |||||||
| 47626.190 | 43,334.98 | ||||||||
| Expenses | Duplicated entry fees | 3,375.00 | £ | 25.00 |
|||||
| Equipment | 817.50 | 3229.00 | |||||||
| Event expenses | 8,041.86 | 3,363.21 | |||||||
| Flood Rescue Team | 1,583.88 | 1,985.71 | |||||||
| Insurance | 1,521.74 | 1,041.00 | |||||||
| IRB | 5,056.78 | 2950.08 | |||||||
| Live Heats | 4,695.25 | 4285.11 | |||||||
| Medals | 7,794.00 | 750.00 | |||||||
| Oceanperf | 5,443.20 | 3666.05 | |||||||
| Office | 0.00 | 100.00 | |||||||
| Oxygen | 0.00 | 506.64 | |||||||
| Region Officials | 1,803.00 | 1337.00 | |||||||
| Region Vehicle | 5,128.60 | 5721.24 | |||||||
| Region Jet Ski | 1,025.00 | 845.00 | |||||||
| Safety Cover Provision | 0.00 | 33.39 | |||||||
| Sharpe's Funding | 0.00 | 1312.15 | |||||||
| Sharpe's Grant Support | 152.50 | ||||||||
| Stillwater Expenses | 1,715.60 | 1763.25 | |||||||
| Swimming Pool Hire | 4,523.00 | 3659.00 | |||||||
| Website | 107.00 | 0 | |||||||
| Cornwall Team | 1,407.36 | 1734.08 | |||||||
| £ | 54,038.77 |
£ | 38,459.41 |
||||||
| Income over | Expenditure | -£ | 6,512.58 |
£ | 4,875.57 |
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Sectfion A Independent Examinef s Report Report to the tntsteesl mernber4 of SUQF LIFÉ 5AK)iU(7 c&vK)ALL Charity no (If any) On accounts fof the year ended zoLc Set out on pages I report to Ihe trustees on my examinatK)n of the accounts of the thve charity ('the Trusn for the year er Responslbilities and As the tharity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the prepar81ion basis of rnport of the accounts in accor(lance wrth kne requirements of the Charitses Act 2011 (Ih8 Act.) I report in SPe of my examinab'on of the Trust's accounts carried out under sethon 145 of the 2011 Aix and in carrying out my examinatson, I have followed the applicable Direthons given by the Charity Commission (Aer sectKXI 145(5)(b) of the ACL I have ccxnpleted my examinon. I c(Jffirm that no material matters have come to my attents'on (other than that disdosed below ") In (x)nnection wth the examinats'on which gives me cause to believe that in. any material spe Independent examlnef s statement accounbng records were not kept in a(x0rdan with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord wth the accountirwJ rwds I have no C(rns and have come aLYOSS no otrr matters in conneth'ixt with the examinatson to attents'on shwld be drawn in Ord to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be readd. delete woth in brnckets rfy ckn not appty. Dato: Signed: 10 Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (il any): Address: October 2018 IER