Chairman's Report 2024
This year has been a difficult one. As a Charitable Organisation we have been subject to and affected by the impact of the Cost of Living crisis. The financial downturn and increased costs have affected our ability to maintain our performance over the year in relation to keeping our income above the necessary expenditures of operating and managing the centre and its facilities.
The Centre Manager, Sarah works away at maintaining the balance we hope to strike in maintaining financial viability and sees the challenges the charity faces, personally. She is aware of the trust we as trustees place on her shoulders, but occasionally needs the support and encouragement of us all to continue in her endeavours. Sarah’s task is not an easy one and balancing practical and logistical considerations in the smooth running of the centre. Moving through the minefield of blocked toilets, maintaining our partnership arrangements and pursuing grant funding is difficult, but Sarah manages them with a smile on her face and a steely determination. We are grateful and fortunate in having her as our manager at LRAC.
I have passed on my personal thanks to Sarah in her recent Appraisal and I would ask that other Trustees take the time, following the AGM to either pass on any comments about her role as Centre Manager or to myself and I will add them to her Appraisal Document. Sarah continues to support Stuart through her line management, which enables our Groundsman to maintain the building and the grounds to such a high standard.
Our discussions in that appraisal, and reflecting the current financial situation looked at whether the model of operating at Kenwick was appropriate and fit for purpose. There has been a steady reduction in the Grant Funding from other organisations which has usually been able to offset any under funding from the revenue the centre generates. Whilst we can, in the short term, sustain a period of our expenditure being slightly above what we earn this cannot continue long term or should the pressures increase. From a general discussion with Sarah on this subject we as Trustees should I feel consider this issue and look at what strategically we might want to change to ensure the continuing existence of the Charity. I therefore propose that sometime in the New year we set aside sometime other than a meeting to specifically look at how we operate as a charity. This maybe the basis for a revision of how we obtain our funding or a tweaking of how we operate currently.
The Centre Manager Report will detail what has been happening at the centre over the last year but I would just like to note a couple of items that has stood out for me over the past year.
Firstly, I would like to note the continuing success of, one of our own trustee’s daughter, Ros Canter. It seems despite the difficulties of losing a former high performing horse she has been able to improve her winning ways with her replacement on Lordships Graffalo. Wins at Badminton 2023, Burghley 2024 and the recent Gold Medal at the Paris Olympics has sealed her position as Number 1 in the country. It is nice to note that although Ros’s success is of course down to her own ability and
determination, Heather and Barney have been there in the background supporting and encouraging. I would also like to think that the facilities at LRAC have also played a part in her success.
Secondly, I would like to note the contribution Spencer and Back to Bear has made to also putting the Charity on the National and Global Map. Through his efforts he was able to secure a World Championship Event which was held here at Kenwick in July.
I was bitterly disappointed that I wasn’t able to be here on the day but would like to applaud his considerable efforts in running such a successful event.
I mentioned in my last report my concerns about maintaining a healthy number of trustees to oversee the governance of LRAC. The pressure to retain a quorate board of trustees is a constant. Whilst I am extremely grateful to those trustees who remain on the board, I am aware that there comes a time when pressures elsewhere result in trustees having to make difficult decisions about remaining as a trustee. I will therefore at our next meeting put forward a proposal re Trustees making a practical contribution towards ensuring the quorate primacy. This may well entail a change to our Governance Document re the role of Trustees in nominating and proposing a replacement prior to their resignation. This option, if adopted, does not mean that our efforts to constantly re new the number of trustees on the board should be forgotten We need to constantly be vigilant to encourage and welcome any new potential trustee.
Finally, my thanks go to all the trustees who have continued to support the charity throughout the year and to note that we have had the bonus this year of welcoming back a former Trustee into the team. Bonny Hodge was a significant contributor and asset when she was last a trustee, I have no doubt that this will remain the same during her time with the Charity. Welcome indeed to Bonny.
Eastfield Low Church Road Middle Rasen Lincolnshire Rural Activities Centre Kenwick Hill Louth LNII 8NR Market Rasen Lincs LN8 3TY 20/8/24 07572540945 er cassellsaccountants.co.uk Dear Sirs Independent Examination 2024 11 As requested, we have completed the examination of the accounts of the centre for the year ended 31/3/24. Our testing and confirniations were carried out as per nornial practices. A copy of the accounts is enclose(L and your records can be collected from the office. Yours sincerely P A Yarnell
Lincolnshire Rural Activities Centre Year ended 3113124 31/0312024 3110312023 Income Grants Interest 94315.38 9797.00 5472.79 97618.94 18906.00 3366.22 Totsl income 109585.17 119891.16 65678.45 1688.69 13451.37 3184.41 1941.70 32962.57 8393.74 60385.06 1473.60 10520.63 9110.18 933.70 18210.38 15230.39 Wages Telephone Heat & light Cleaning pps Repairs Misc 115863.94 Total expenditure 127300.93 Surplus for the year -17715.76 4027.22 279203.31 275176.09 brought forward reserves 279203.31 Reserves carried forward 261487.55 Funded by 91924.15 79433.37 31670.82 76174.97 0.00 Uoyds Cambridgeshire Virgin Hampshire Cash 68735.60 82782.98 32270.51 77698.46 0.00 Total funds 261487.55 279203.31 Examined & Approved by P A Yarnell BA(Hons) FCCA Cassells Limited 1310812024
Eastfield Low Church Road Middle Rasen Lincolnshire Rural Activities Centre Kenwick Hill Louth LNII 8NR Market Rasen Lincs LN8 3TY 20/8/24 07572540945 er cassellsaccountants.co.uk Dear Sirs Independent Examination 2024 11 As requested, we have completed the examination of the accounts of the centre for the year ended 31/3/24. Our testing and confirniations were carried out as per nornial practices. A copy of the accounts is enclose(L and your records can be collected from the office. Yours sincerely P A Yarnell
Lincolnshire Rural Activities Centre Year ended 3113124 31/0312024 3110312023 Income Grants Interest 94315.38 9797.00 5472.79 97618.94 18906.00 3366.22 Totsl income 109585.17 119891.16 65678.45 1688.69 13451.37 3184.41 1941.70 32962.57 8393.74 60385.06 1473.60 10520.63 9110.18 933.70 18210.38 15230.39 Wages Telephone Heat & light Cleaning pps Repairs Misc 115863.94 Total expenditure 127300.93 Surplus for the year -17715.76 4027.22 279203.31 275176.09 brought forward reserves 279203.31 Reserves carried forward 261487.55 Funded by 91924.15 79433.37 31670.82 76174.97 0.00 Uoyds Cambridgeshire Virgin Hampshire Cash 68735.60 82782.98 32270.51 77698.46 0.00 Total funds 261487.55 279203.31 Examined & Approved by P A Yarnell BA(Hons) FCCA Cassells Limited 1310812024