NUNEATON & BEDWORTH UNIT 616 OF THE SEA CADET CORPS
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1059141
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES.........................................................................................................................1 Chair of the Board of trustee’s Report............................................................................................................... 2 Commanding Officer’s Report.......................................................................................................................... 3 Achievements and Performance.......................................................................................................................5 Financial Review...........................................................................................................................................12 Acknowledgements.......................................................................................................................................13 Legal and Administrative Information.............................................................................................................. 14 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT.........................................................................................................15
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF
NUNEATON & BEDWORTH UNIT 616 OF THE SEA CADET CORPS
The Charity Trustees present their report, together with the financial statements of the charity, for the year ended 31st March 2025. The financial statements comply with both the Charity’s Constitution and the Charities Act 2011.
Aim of the Sea Cadet Corps
The aim of the Sea Cadets Corps is to give young people the best possible head start in life, through nautical adventure and fun, based on the customs and traditions of the Royal Navy. Our aim is to develop young people and support them towards responsible adulthood.
Charitable Purpose
The charitable purpose of the Unit is to promote the development of young people in achieving their physical, intellectual, and social potential as individuals and as responsible citizens. This is achieved by the provision of education and leisure time activities using a nautical theme, based on the traditions of the Royal Navy and in accordance with the principles, ethos, and practices of the Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC).
In furtherance of the purpose, the Unit offers young people a structured environment in which to develop; provides access to education and training including sailing, rowing, windsurfing, paddle sports, power boating, seamanship, navigation, marine engineering, cooking, music, first aid, drill, piping, and public services; it provides opportunities for young people to obtain a range of qualifications and a wide range of opportunities for community involvement.
Public Benefit
The trustees continue to give regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance ‘Charities and Public Benefit’ provided by the Unit in relation to the charitable purpose of the Sea Cadets movement as set out in the activities and achievements outlined in this report.
To achieve its aim the Unit encourages recruitment of young people from all backgrounds and abilities including where possible, and within the realms of Health and Safety, those with disabilities and develops their skills and abilities by:
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Regular structured activities with a nautical theme
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Enabling young people to take part in activities connected with the wider Sea Cadet Corps
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Movement such as waterborne activities, events and competitions at district, area, and national levels
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Availability of formal achievements whilst completing courses to earn badges and promotions.
We continue to target recruitment within the local area giving young people opportunities to take part in activities that in many cases would otherwise be unaffordable.
We are only able to do this because we are wholly volunteer led and all funds raised or received are used entirely for the charitable purposes of the Unit.
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’ CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEE S REPORT
Miss Rebecca Turvey
It was a challenging period marked by significant change and uncertainty. We lost two of our long-standing members—who are greatly missed—and experienced changes within the command team. Despite this, our cadets have exceeded expectations and demonstrated the corps’ values in true Vanquisher style.
Early in the year, we saw several personnel changes, but over the past 12 months we’ve built a stable team of dedicated volunteers who consistently go above and beyond for our cadets.
Our main focus throughout the year has been to maintain performance and keep the unit steady for our young people—a goal I believe we have achieved as a team. Looking ahead, we plan to recruit more young people and volunteers, especially as many cadets will soon shift their attention to professional careers after turning 18. We also aim to strengthen ties with local resources for support and funding, enhance access to local water facilities, and replace our fleet of vehicles so we can continue participating in boating and other events.
Like all charities, the cost-of-living crisis has affected us, forcing an increase in membership fees. However, we believe this is justified by the additional events, qualifications, facilities, and equipment we provide. We remain committed to assisting families who need support.
Financially, the unit remains stable, thanks to grants and community fundraising efforts. Our trustees continue to develop their skills in grant applications and unit management.
Changes in personnel impacted cadet numbers, but we are actively working to rebuild and reach our capacity of 40 cadets.
In our pursuit of excellence, we are proud to have received our third consecutive Burgee—a fantastic achievement for both our volunteers and cadets. More good news followed: we secured a place in the National competition for kayaking and in the area competition for the girls' rowing team—both firsts for Nuneaton & Bedworth. These accomplishments reflect the remarkable capabilities of our young people.
Our relationship with Shustoke Sailing Club remains strong. Their support gives us valuable access to water activities, including rowing, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, and kayaking at the unit level. Several volunteers are working towards becoming qualified instructors; we hope they’ll achieve this soon or make substantial progress.
The unit band shone at both the Carnival and the Nuneaton Remembrance Parade, led admirably by Leading Cadet Nataniel as Drum Major. The hard work of our cadets and volunteers is truly impressive. Many of these young people hadn’t played an instrument until one volunteer began teaching drumming via Zoom during lockdown—an initiative that has paid off tremendously. Their drive to succeed and seize every opportunity is genuinely inspiring.
The Unit Management Team has provided unwavering support to our cadets and uniformed volunteers, often working behind the scenes. Their contributions have kept me afloat over the past year.
Special thanks to Mrs Kutcyzsnka, Ms Gawrys, and Mrs Rowntree for their dedication at events, involvement in fundraising, and steadfast commitment to the unit and our youth. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed.
A warm welcome back to PO (SCC) Nick Humber, who has returned to Command after district-level support. With his leadership, we will continue to grow and help our young people see what they can achieve.
To the wider Command Team, thank you. Those words may seem small, but their meaning is immense. You are an outstanding team.
Finally, to all our Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, cadets, supporters, and friends of the unit—thank you. The unit wouldn’t stay afloat without each of you. I deeply appreciate everything you do, year after year. Team Vanquisher forever.
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COMMANDING OFFICER’S REPORT Petty Officer (SCC) Nick Humber
I am very proud to report another successful year at TS Vanquisher under my command. I feel very privileged to hold this position.
Our cadets have achieved so much over the last year from qualifications, promotions, activities, competitions, and events. As have our Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs).
We now have access to water, a full fleet of boats, qualified instructors, a full Command Team, and interactive whiteboards in all classrooms. Once the accessible wet room is completed, we will be working toward overnight authorisation allowing us to run weekend courses and activities.
Our training plan, which has been taken over by our new Training Officer, PO (SCC) Jonathan Dudley, has maintained a good balance between the Core Training Programme, and other fun activities which help to develop our cadets’ skills and principles. It cannot go unsaid how grateful we are to PO (SCC) Eva Thompson for her dedication to the role of Training Officer during her tenure, and we wish her all the very best for the role of Bandmaster.
Our unit band continues to be active, having participated in the Nuneaton Remembrance Parade for another year. Our cadet’s performed amazingly well, surpassing all expectations, including their own! They have also performed at numerous events throughout the summer season. We continue to host additional band training during some weekends, outside of usual parade evenings, in order to facilitate further progression.
Our senior cadets have engaged with lots of ‘beyond unit’ training which has enhanced their Sea Cadet experience, whilst also increasing exposure to cultural capital. We had cadets attend the District Naval Experience Week, the South-West Area Summer Camp, South-West Area Band Training course amongst many, many others. These events were also supported by CFAV’s from our unit and my extended thanks goes to these volunteers for assisting with the facilitation so that these events could go ahead. Another highlight of the calendar during this last year was cadets and CFAV’s from Nuneaton and Bedworth unit participating in the Birmingham International Military Tattoo. A recent highlight for our Junior Sea Cadets was a unit visit to Nuneaton Fire Station where they had an enjoyable experience and took on tasks such as firefighting and team building competitions.
Collaboration with other units within the district has been a strong point over this last year; we have supported other units to achieve Paddlesports and Piping qualifications, and worked collaboratively with other units to facilitate beyond unit training for our Junior Sea Cadets. The collaboration has meant that our cadets have been able to also access training hosted by other units within the district which all adds to the cadet experience for all cadets.
We have participated in many events to support the local community such as Nuneaton Carnival, Broughton Astley Carnival, Charity Bonfire event, as well as supporting the military funeral of a well-respected veteran within the local area and attending many parades throughout the year.
Our links with the Royal Navy continue to be strong as we continue to have regular support visits from Royal Navy Personnel which our cadets find informative and inspiring.
We have had cadets attend Area competitions for Swimming, Football, Band and Drill & Ceremonial categories and have achieved very respectable results.
Our cadets and CFAV’s have held various fundraising events: car washes, bag packs to support with raising funds for the unit.
An integral part of our unit is our Unit Chaplain, Rev’d Dr Allan Smith RNR, who is supportive in so many ways – assisting with instructing for paddlesports, helping to keep our Corps Values at the heart of our unit, and always being on hand to provide a listening ear and guidance. Our church parades are always events that are very much looked forward to. We thank Bish for his continued support.
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ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE 2024-25
Achievements and Performance
Our cadets have achieved:
| Our cadets have achieved: | |
|---|---|
| 1st Good Conduct Badge (Cadet) | 5 |
| 2nd Good Conduct Badge (Cadet) | 2 |
| 3rd Good Conduct Badge ( Cadet) | 5 |
| Award in Young Sports Leadership | 1 |
| Band Drumming Proficiency | 1 |
| Basic Peer Educator | 3 |
| Basic Peer Educator Training | 4 |
| BC Paddle Discover Award | 17 |
| BC Paddle Start Award | 4 |
| BTEC L1 | 5 |
| Cadet of the Year | 1 |
| First Aid - Cadet First Aid Basic | 2 |
| LL - Lord Lietenant's Cadet | 1 |
| Marine Engineering - Intermediate | 1 |
| Offshore - Sail Grade 1 | 1 |
| Powerboat - RYA Powerboat Level 1 | 3 |
| Power - RYA Powerboat Level 2 Displacement | 2 |
| Power - RYA Powerboat Level 2 Planing | 2 |
| Physical Training - Class 3 | 3 |
| Rowing - BR Explore Rowing - Go Row 1 (Fixed) | 4 |
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| Rowing - BR Explore Rowing - Go Row 2 (Fixed) | 5 |
|---|---|
| Rowing - BR Explore Rowing - Go Row 3 (Fixed) | 1 |
| Rowing - SCC Competent Crew | 5 |
| Rowing - SCC Supervised Cox | 1 |
| Rowing - SCC Taster | 6 |
| Sail - Dinghy Sailing Taster Certificate | 1 |
| Sail - RYA YSS Stage 1 | 6 |
| Sail - RYA YSS Stage 2 | 5 |
| Sail Cruising - RYA Start Yatching | 1 |
| SCC - JSC Blue Waterbourne Activities | 4 |
| SCC - JSC Red Unit Activities Badge | 2 |
| SCC - JSC Yellow Community and Citizenship Activities Badge | 3 |
| Wind - RYA YouthWS- Stage 1 | 3 |
Our Cadet Force Adult Volunteers have achieved:
| 1st Good Conduct Badge (Adult) | 1 |
|---|---|
| 2nd Good Conduct Badge (Adult) | 1 |
| Adv Trg - Basic Hill Walking Instructor | 1 |
| BC Paddle Start Award | 1 |
| BC Paddle Discover Award | 1 |
| Catering and Stewarding Instructor - Stewarding Instructor | 1 |
| First Aid - First Aid at Work | 5 |
| First Aid - For Mental Health - Level 2 | 2 |
| First Aid - SCC Instructor | 5 |
| Physical Training Instructor - Intermediate | 1 |
| Paddlesport Safety and Rescue Course | 1 |
| Power - RYA Powerboat Level 2 | 1 |
| Power - RYA Safety Boat | 1 |
| Rowing - SCC Rowing Instructor - Moderation | 2 |
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| Rowing - SCC Rowing Instructor - Training | 2 |
|---|---|
| SCC Responsible for Information | 8 |
| SCC Safeguarding | 6 |
| SCC Health and Safety | 5 |
| Safeguarding at Sea Cadets - Intro | 6 |
| Unit Management Team (UMT) Induction | 1 |
| Water Safety Equipment (WSE) Authorised Maintainer (Buoyancy Aids ONLY) | 3 |
| Working with Young People (WYP) Foundation | 1 |
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The Cadets have been active on the water and off it too:
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Leading in local community fundraising and activities:
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Promotions and Development were to be had
Page 9
TS Vanquisher attended competitions and medals were won:
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The sounds of the band could be heard across the town:
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Vanquisher went to Birmingham Tattoo and had the most amazing weekend:
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Christmas came and we had lots of festive fun
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FINANCIAL REVIEW
Due Process
In accordance with Part 2, 26 of the Sea Cadet Constitution 2017, the charities income and expenditure accounts were approved by the Trustees (Unit Management Team) at their meeting on 15th October 2025 and are presented to the charity members for consideration and adoption.
Basis of Accounts
Nuneaton & Bedworth Sea Cadets is a registered charity and prepares its accounts on a Receipts and Payments basis, this is the simplest of accounting methods and is adopted by small charities with an annual income of £250,000 or less. All income and expenditure are recorded at the time the funds are received or paid.
Performance for the Financial Year
We are pleased to report that the accounts have remained stable. Fundraising through community events and grants have resulted in us again requiring an Independent Inspection of accounts for the 2024/25 year, the fifth consecutive year. Full details are included in the notes to the accounts.
Areas for Improvement
Our fundraising efforts this year have centred around the continuation of our refurbishments and replacing or purchasing equipment to deliver more training opportunities to our young people. There have been some challenges, but we have overcome them and are looking forward to a positive future.
Reserves Policy
The trustees continue to review the charity’s requirements for reserves, considering the main risk to the organisation, that being a reduction of income. The trustees have established a policy whereby the reserves in total that are not invested in tangible fixed assets held by the Unit, should be up to the equivalent of 6 months' overhead costs of the charity.
The level of these reserves has been determined by the need to meet the working capital requirements of the charity and for the charity to carry out of its legal obligations. At the end of March 2025, the total of the charity’s unrestricted reserves stood at £1,841, and a further £15,364 in restricted funds.
Structure, Governance and Management
Units of the SCC are formed and operated entirely by volunteers in local communities. Each Unit is a self-supporting youth organisation and an independent charity with a central support management and training structure provided primarily by the Marine Society and Sea Cadets (MSSC). The unit becomes a part of the SCC by virtue of its affiliation to the MSSC, the parent body of the SCC. In accepting this affiliation, the unit undertakes to comply with all regulations issued by, or on behalf of, the MSSC Council.
The Unit was registered as an unincorporated charity on 12th November 1996 and is governed by a constitution approved by the Charity Commission of England and Wales. A revised constitution issued by the Marine Society and Sea Cadets was ratified by the Board of Trustees at its meeting in December 2017.
Recruitment and Appointment of the Trustees
Trustees serve and are re-elected on an annual basis. A minimum of 4 office holders: Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Commanding Officer. UMT office holders are elected at the first meeting following the Annual General Meeting (AGM). UMT members are elected from the membership of the Sea Cadets Unit which is drawn loosely as being those with an interest in the unit.
The constitution lays down specific controls for UMT membership and will be observed for all future recruitment. In the event of a vacancy arising during the year (known as a casual vacancy), the trustees have the power to co-opt new trustees. All trustees will serve until the date of the next AGM, after which the post will be filled by election. The trustees are represented by a wide range of individuals drawn from the local community. Trustees have the power to appoint additional trustees to act jointly with them for all purposes. A trustee whose term of office has expired can be appointed for a further term of office.
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Responsibilities of the Trustees
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state affairs of the charity and of its financial position at the end of that year.
In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:
Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently.
Make judgement and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
State whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice (SORP) have been followed, subject to any departure disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is appropriate to presume that the charity will not continue existence.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charity (Accounts Reports) Regulations 2008. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
No final report would be complete without acknowledging the efforts and dedicated service of the adult volunteers who make the unit a success. For any Sea Cadet Unit to succeed it is fully reliant on its teams to work together. Our uniformed and civilian instructors, management team and unit assistants all have one common aim, that of delivering the best experience for our young people.
In this modern age, time is a precious commodity and like with all teachers and trainers there is a lot goes on behind the scenes, outside of parade times and over weekends that is not observed but makes such a big difference.
Thank you for your commitment and continued support.
This report has been approved by the trustees and signed on its behalf on 30th January 2026 by Rebecca Turvey, Chair of the Board of Trustees.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The charity would like to thank the following for their financial support this year in enabling the Trustees to further enhance the Sea Cadet Experience.
| enhance the Sea Cadet Experience. | |
|---|---|
| NuneatonandBedworth BoroughCouncil | Marine Society and Sea Cadets |
| Coventry Building Society | Friends and Family of the late D Hibbert |
| Heart Of England–Dulverton Trust | Borough Lottery |
| Heart Of England The ASDA Foundation |
Borough Lottery Shustoke Sailing Club |
| Supports through Easyfundraising | Hinckley Social Theatre & Travel Club |
| Supports through Easyfundraising 29thMay 1961 |
Hinckley Social Theatre & Travel Club Pop Up Gaming |
| May 1961 Heart of England–Harry Payne Trust |
Pop Up Gaming Cheshire Ceilings |
| Warwickshire County Council | Jubilee Sports Centre |
| Warwickshire County Council Kevin HargravePhotography |
Higham Lane School |
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| LEGAL ANDADMINISTRATIVE | LEGAL ANDADMINISTRATIVE | INFORMATION |
|---|---|---|
| Charity Details | ||
| Charity Name: | Nuneaton & Bedworth Unit 616 of the Sea Cadets Corps | |
| Charity Status: Unincorporated |
||
| Registered Charity No: 1059141 |
||
| Registered Office and | ||
| Operational Address: Rear of Jubilee Sports Centre |
||
| Greenmoor Road | ||
| Nuneaton | ||
| CV10 7EZ | ||
| Telephone Number: 02476 353717 |
||
| Email: Nuneaton.sccoffice616@gmail.com |
||
| Website: www.sea-cadets.org/nuneatonbedworth |
||
| Trustees: | Chair Rebecca Turvey (appointed 26 Jul 23) |
|
| Treasurer Agnes Barnoczki (appointed 7 May 23) |
||
| Trustees | Kerri Rowntree | |
| Nick Humber | ||
| Reverend Dr Allan Robert Smith RNR | ||
| Holding (Custodian) Trustees: The | Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) | |
| Independent Examiner: Alison Dunmore MICB BA(Hons) |
||
| Ichthus Bookkeeping | ||
| 5 Park Way | ||
| Droitwich | ||
| WR9 9HE | ||
| Bank: Lloyds Bank |
||
| 4 High Street | ||
| Bedworth | ||
| CV12 8NE |
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF NUNEATON AND BEDWORTH UNIT 616 OF THE SEA CADETS CORP
I report on the financial statements of Nuneaton and Bedworth unit 616 of the Sea Cadets Corp. for the year ended 31[st] March 2025 which are set out on pages 18-22.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under Section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’) and that an independent examination is required.
It is my responsibility to:
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Examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act 2011
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To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under Section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act); and
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To state whether any particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view, and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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(1) Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements
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To keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
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To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met; or
- (2) To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Alison Dunmore
Date: 30.01.2026
Page 18
Nuneaton & Bedworth Unit 616 of the Sea Cadet Corps
Receipts and Payments Account for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
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Nuneaton & Bedworth Unit 616 of the Sea Cadet Corps
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31 March 2025
These financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 15th October 2025.
And were signed on its behalf by
Rebecca Turvey
Agnes Barnoczki
Chair
Treasurer
Page 20
Nuneaton & Bedworth Unit 616 of the Sea Cadet Corps
Notes to the Accounts
Page 21
7 Charitable Activities Course Fees- Internal Course Fees- External Training Materials Fuel 3rd Party Travel Catering 391 391 120 1.951 3.755 594 552 1,689 8,661 744 273 11 1,419 744 273 11 1,419 8 Operating Costs Unit Health, Hygiene & Well-bein Office Equipment <£250 Off ice Stationery & Printing IT Consumables Building Maintenance Grounds Maintenance Boat Maintenance Vehicle Maintenance Other Maintenance 454 287 454 287 679 227 1,736 180 10,745 1,638 180 4,189 301 19.875 296 638 843 456 1,931 2% 638 456 1,931 4,905 4.905 9 Overheads Water & Sewage Rates Electricity Gas Broadband Rent Rates Insurance Certification 94 1,592 64 642 157 2,234 236 1,949 252 354 1,167 1,076 1,523 1% 6.752 241 170 150 40 424 411 150 81 1.720 535 5.289 41 1,296 535 3,799 1.490 Pase 22
10 Fees Charged AudiVAccountancy fees Other Revenue Costs Bank Charges 65 65 500 65 65 500 11 Fundraising Costs Special Events Goods for Resale Other Fundraising Costs 927 333 10 825 333 10 825 1,971 12 Assets UnitAssets 6,494 6,494 6,494 6,494 15.085 15,085 Pase 23