FOLLIFOOT PARK DISABLED RIDERS GROUP Trustees Annual Report Year end June 30[th] 2022 Registered Charity Name Follifoot Park Disabled Riders Group Charity Registration Number 1042415 Principal office Regional Agricultural Centre Great Yorkshire Showground Railway Road Harrogate HG2 8PW Charity Trustees Morag Bennett (Chair) Fiona Barwick (appointed Secretary 8 November 2021) Wendy Thorburn (retired as Secretary/Trustee 8 November 2021) Sue Oxley Lyn Cowburn Ann Gannon Peter Nelson Peter Whatley John Haigh (appointed 19 November 2022) Investment Managers Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management 23 High Petergate York YO1 7HS Bankers CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ Independent Examiner Anna Bennett Hallidays Riverside House Kings Reach Business Park Yew Street Stockport SK4 2HD
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FOLLIFOOT PARK DISABLED RIDERS GROUP
Trustees Annual Report (continued)
Year end June 30[th] 2022
Governing Document & Constitution
Follifoot Park Disabled Riders Group, which is also known as Follifoot Park DRG (“the Charity”) is an unincorporated charity governed by its constitution adopted on 13 July 1994 and as subsequently amended on 19 October 1994 and 20 January 2014. The Charity became registered with the Charity Commission on 28 November 1994 with number 1042415.
The constitution appoints an Executive Committee to hold the assets of the Charity and administer the Charity for the furtherance of its charitable objects. The Executive Committee are the charity trustees in accordance with Charity Law.
The Executive Committee meets 12 times a year.
Charity Trustees are nominated and elected by the membership in accordance with the constitution.
Recruitment and Appointment of the Executive Committee (Trustees)
Under the requirements of the Constitution, the members of the Executive Committee are elected to serve for a period of one year, excepting the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer who serve for three years, after which they must be re-elected at the next AGM.
At the AGM in 2021 Wendy Thorburn resigned as Secretary after many years and Fiona Barwick was duly elected as the new Secretary.
The Executive Committee seeks to ensure that the needs of the group are reflected through the diversity of the trustee body. Traditional business skills, equestrian knowledge, safeguarding and volunteer experience are all well represented on the Executive Committee and the areas of responsibility are allocated accordingly to specific trustees. The Chair has overall responsibility for the provision of the charitable activities and ensures that key performance indicators are met. The Secretary has responsibility for the day-to-day operational management of the charity and office. The charity does not currently have a treasurer as a trustee.
To enhance the pool of trustees, the charity has created different layers of volunteers who have responsibility for specific tasks. I.e. bookkeeping, coordinating rides, volunteer recruitment and administration. By doing this the charity aims to build the volunteer’s skills and experience, giving them the potential to become trustees in the future.
There is a scheme of delegation in place which allows the charity to identify any areas of skill or knowledge which have been lost due to retirements and to fill these positions in a timely manner. Young people are encouraged to join as volunteers so that they build an understanding of the aims of the charity.
Objectives and Activities
The Charity’s objectives (‘the objects’) are to provide or assist in the provision of social welfare, facilities for riding or other recreational facilities for disabled people with the object of improving their conditions of life.
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The Charity runs 14 riding sessions every week excluding school holidays. Carriage driving operates 4 days a week from April to November and the mechanical horse Storm is used for rides on two days a week. This allows 130 people to benefit from the activities offered. Sessions are between 30 minutes and 1 hour. Riders/drivers come primarily from the local area but may also live within a 30 mile radius. The use of the mechanical horse allows people to benefit from the movement of riding in a very predictable environment, this can be used for rehabilitation after illness and injury as well as for those who may then progress to riding a real horse. The carriage driving offers another activity for those who are unable to ride either Storm or a real horse.
The Charity is run by volunteers and they are essential in being able to provide the activities outlined. Currently there are 128 volunteers, ranging widely in age and skills, who offer an hour or two of their time each week.
Activities include an annual gymkhana open to all riders and an annual picnic for volunteers, riders, carers and families.
We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities.
CHAIR OF TRUSTEES REPORT – ACHIEVEMENTS FOR THE YEAR
The last year has been an interesting one with a gentle return to normal activities following nearly 2 years of turbulence caused by the Covid 19 pandemic. As a group we’ve continued to adhere to Government guidelines, always putting the health and safety of our riders and volunteers first, whilst at the same time being determined to provide accessible riding and carriage driving for those who want it.
January saw a rise in Covid cases and we were braced for a difficult start to the year, but we found that each ride was well prepared for this and they were flexible and committed to making sure their ride continued. The return to normal has had some impact on us in terms of both volunteer numbers and availability but we are hopeful that this will improve in the future and once again the Ride Coordinators have managed the situation so well.
TRUSTEES
We have a very effective team of 7 Trustees who look after the varied aspects of our charity and work hard to ensure it runs smoothly. Wendy Thorburn stepped down from her role as Secretary in November 2021 and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Wendy for the many years she gave to the Charity. She had a wealth of experience in all matters FPDRG and looked after many aspects of the administration on a daily basis. Fiona Barwick was appointed to the role of Secretary at the AGM and her knowledge of both horses and investments will be of great benefit to the Trustee committee.
To even out the workload, individual trustees look after different areas within the Charity. Currently Lyn Cowburn manages the riders, Ann Gannon manages the volunteers, Sue Oxley organises Health & Safety, Peter Whatley looks after the hoists and equipment and Peter Nelson organises advertising and volunteer recruitment. In addition Ann Gannon and Peter Nelson coordinate safeguarding issues.
SAFEGUARDING
With safeguarding becoming an ever-increasing requirement for charities, the role out of our DBS checks has continued this year. At the time of writing all the eligible checks are complete and this further strengthens our governance, our ability to fund raise and above all helps to protect riders and volunteers.
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VOLUNTEERS
In this day in age we are incredibly fortunate to be able to say that everyone in the charity is a volunteer. When people ask about how FPDRG is structured they’re always amazed that it can operate this way and I believe it’s this core value that makes our charity so well supported in the wider community and such an enjoyable place to volunteer. The whole team is currently made up of 128 volunteers, allowing the rides to happen week in week out, all year long, in all weathers.
Our volunteer numbers are lower this year than last as a result of people’s normal lives returning. We saw an increase in new volunteers during the pandemic when volunteering was at the forefront of everyone’s mind but people are now busy with their own lives once again. We have seen a special milestone for some volunteers this year who have now been with the Charity for 30 years, this is an incredible achievement and shows their amazing dedication and commitment, congratulations to them all.
We greatly appreciate all our volunteers whether it be the ride coordinators planning the rides, ride leaders making sure the ride is safe or the many volunteers sidewalking and chatting to the riders, everyone plays a vital role in making it all happen and hopefully enjoys their time in doing so. We also have volunteers helping in other ways, in the office, taking minutes at meetings or helping with the invoicing and all these things make a huge difference to the charity running smoothly. We are very fortunate indeed and I would like to thank everyone for all that they do.
RIDING AND CARRIAGE DRIVING
We continue to run 14 pony rides a week during term time, sessions on Storm the mechanical horse two days a week and carriage driving 4 days a week during the summer months. This means we’re able to provide the enjoyment of riding and carriage driving to over 130 people and we have a waiting list of over 35.
We have noticed a decline in the number of 2-5 year olds coming through over the last year and this is likely to be as a result of health services being under pressure and referrals delayed. This is unfortunate as we’re all aware of the benefits to those children of starting to ride early, so we will continue to try and reach out to them in different ways.
There have been some difficulties in last minute cancellations recently, due in the main to shortages of care staff or drivers. However, in general the rides have seen an increase in numbers as riders are able to get out and about more, especially those in care homes. Carriage driving has had a busy few months, with Betty in her gleaming coat regularly seen trotting out on the roads around the stables.
HEALTH & SAFETY
We have appointed new Health and Safety advisors, Strathmore Services Ltd, who are based in Harrogate. They’ve reviewed our policies and procedures and agreed that these are thorough, robust and appropriate for our activities. Health and Safety is very important in what we do and the new advisor will be available to assist us should we have an issue or need advice at any time.
GYMKHANA & PICNIC
We are delighted to be planning two events again this summer after a two year break and the gymkhana will take place on the 1[st] of July with many riders looking forward to this fun event. The picnic will be taking place in August, once again at the home of James Meysey-Thompson and hosted by our Patron Michael Abrahams. Everyone is very
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much looking forward to the day and after such a long break there will be families going who have never been to either of these lovely events.
FINANCIAL
FPDRG continues to be financially stable due to the generosity over the years from individuals, legacies and support from local businesses and our strong reserves have proved fundamental in helping us through the pandemic.
Our investments continue to give a good rate of income and we’re glad to have them managed professionally given the turbulence in the markets which is continuing.
We took the decision this year to change from producing a full set of accounts to receipts and payments accounts. As a small charity this is more suitable and saves us both time and money. We have also appointed a new accountant, Hallidays, to carry out our annual year end account’s examination.
We continue to update our administration procedures, scanning documents and moving to online record keeping rather than paper based and the invoicing system is now well establised. Whilst this has taken some time to do, in the longer term we are more prepared for changes in technology, more secure and the administration is becoming easier and quicker.
So this year it has been great to be able settle back into our routine, get the housekeeping in order and most of all see our riders back in the saddle on a regular basis, enjoying their time on the rides. I’d like to say thank you to all the volunteers, to Michael Abrahams for his support as Patron, and to Julie and Chris Pedley, their family and all the staff at Follifoot Park Riding Centre and I think we are all looking forward to the year ahead.
Morag Bennett Chair of Trustees
Reserves Policy
The Executive Committee have considered the level of reserves that the Charity needs and are of the opinion that the Charity should have sufficient funds to settle the annual governance and support costs of its charitable activities. Accordingly they have determined that the level of an unrestricted reserve should be around £20,000 but should be frequently reviewed.
At 30[th] June 2022 the total amount of unrestricted reserves of the charity were £325,674 (2021 £313,846). The free reserves of the Charity amounted to £27,078 (2021 £9,750) and the Executive Committee considers these funds to be adequate and will continue to ensure Follifoot Park Disabled Riders Group the Charity has sufficient free reserves.
Financial Review and Investment Policy
The financial review of activities is set out in the attached financial statements. There are financial controls in place to review the finances monthly and to check expenditure.
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The trustees have agreed the following investment terms, objectives and policies with the investment manager:-
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The portfolio is managed under a full discretionary service;
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The portfolio is managed on a low to medium risk basis with the aim of providing high income rather than focusing on capital growth;
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The bulk of the portfolio will be invested in medium to high income equities and fixed interest bonds through investment trusts and unit trusts;
The investment strategy is reviewed with the investment manager on a regular basis.
Signatures
The trustees annual report was approved on 28[th] October 2022 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:-
MORAG BENNETT FIONA BARWICK Trustee Trustee Fiona Barwick …………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………
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----- Start of picture text -----
Charity Name No (if any)
Follifoot Park Disabled Riders Group 1042415
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period Period start date Period end date
To
from 01/07/2021 30/06/2022
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
£
A1 Receipts
Donations and legacies 24,657 - - 24,657 12,778
Charitable activities 11,492 - - 11,492 966
Investment income 20,840 - - 20,840 16,069
Other trading 5 - - 5 -
Bank interest received 2 - - 2 -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for
56,996 - - 56,996 29,813
AR)
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
Receipts from sale of investments 51,742 - - 51,742 58,076
- - - - -
Sub total 51,742 - - 51,742 58,076
Total receipts 108,738 - - 108,738 87,889
A3 Payments
Expenditure on raising funds - - - - -
Expenditure on charitable activities 38,142 - - 38,142 33,911
Investment management costs 917 - - 917 854
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total [ 39,059 ] - - 39,059 34,765
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
Purchase of investments 51,242 - - 51,242 67,995
Purchase of assets 1,364 - - 1,364
Sub total [ 52,607 ] - - 52,607 67,995
Total payments 91,665 - - 91,665 102,760
Net of receipts/(payments) 17,073 - - 17,073 - 14,871
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 12,662 - - 12,662 27,533
Cash funds this year end 29,735 - - 29,735 12,662
----- End of picture text -----
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
09/02/2023
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| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Signature Creditors Details Details Carriages & Tack Office Equipment Horses Bank Account Canaccord Dealing Canaccord Income Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Debtors Details Fiona Barwick |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 25,962 - 1,648 - 2,125 - 29,735 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 1,154 - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Canaccord Genuity 243,769 - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) 16,428 1,617 2,500 - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) 3,771 - - - - Print Name Morag Bennett Fiona Barwick |
Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - |
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Current value (optional) 288,409 - - - - Current value (optional) 9,796 291 100 - - - - - - When due (optional) Date of approval 01/02/23 01/02/23 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
09/02/2023
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Independent examiner’s report to the Trustees of Follifoot Park Disabled Riders Group
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Follifoot Park Disabled Riders Group for the year ended 30 June 2022.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011(‘the Act’).
We report in respect of our examination of the Trustee’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out our examination we have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
We have completed my examination. We confirm that no material matters have come to our attention in connection with the examination giving us cause to believe that in any material respect:
(1) accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or (2) the accounts do not accord with those records.
We have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed
Name: Anna Bennett Member of the ICAEW Address: Hallidays Riverside House Kings Reach Business Park Yew Street Stockport SK4 2HD
Date:…8/2/23…………