C088E5 MEADOW GROUP RIDING FOR THE DISABLED AssoaATION CHARrrY NUMBER 1074165 ANt4UAL REPORT, RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT AND STATEMEMf OF ASSETS & UABILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 COBBES MEADOW GROUP RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION Annnal Report aud Actoullts forthe ye*r¢nded JJ March 2023 Contents Page Legal and Administrative Information Report of the Trustees 3to5 Independent Examinerfs Report Receipts and Payments Account Statement of assets and liabilltles and other note5 8t09 ## **COBBES MEADOW GROUP RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023** ## **Legal and Administrative Information** |Trustees|Mr David Hall (Chair)| |---|---| ||Mrs Marguerite Heath (Secretar - appointed 19**th**April 2022)| ||Mrs Gerrie Serpell (Treasurer)| ||Mrs Mary Mustafa| ||Mr Philip Harland| ||Mrs Catherine Mccully| ||Mrs Suzi Ross-Browne| ||Mr Barnaby Swire| ||Mrs Sally Murch| ||Mrs Christine Sladden| ||Mrs Teresa Whitehead (appointed 19**t**April 2022)| |Registered charity number|1074165| |Governing document|Constitution| |Principal address|Candlers Way| ||St Augustine's| ||Chartham| ||Canterbury| ||Kent| ||CT4 7TU| |Independent examiner|| ||Bay Tree Accountancy| ||Chartered Accountants| ||Stelling Minnis| ||Canterbury| ||Kent| ||**CT46AA**| |Bankers|National Westminster Bank PLC| ||20 High Street| ||Ashford| ||Kent| ||**TN24SSH**| 2 COBBES MEADOW GROUP RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION Report aDd AetouNts for theyear ended 31 Mar¢h 2023 Trustees, Annual Report Alm and organlsatlon The Cobbes Meadow Group was started in 1972 and at thattime was a Group WFthin the slngle national Riding for the Disabled Association IRDA) charty. In 1999 the national RDA charlty was broken up and the Groups within it, includin8 Cobbes Meadow Group, became individual charities in their own right. The Group is governed by a constitution agreed at that time between RDA National and the Charity Commission on behalf of Groups across England and Wales. The aim of Cobbes Meadow Group is to provide disabled people with the opportunity to ride and/or carriage drive to benefit their health and well-being. The charity is managed by the Committee of Trustees whith has control of the Group's property and funds. The Group'5 constitution requires a committee of at least 3 and no more than Iltrustees. No trustee may be a paid employee oftheGroup, but must be a memberof the Group. Election of trustees occurs at the Annual General Meeting IAGMI usually in June each year to which nominations may be made by any member or the Committee. One third of the Committee must retire at each AGM with the longest in office retiring first. Retiring trustees are eligible for re- election. If a vacancy occurs, the Committee may appoint a ￿placement until the next AGM. Day to day njnning of the Group is the responsibility of a Management Subcommittee whlch reports to the Trustees. The Treasurer and Secretary of the Committee of Trustees sit on this subcommittee which then appoints its own Chairman. The charity employs no paid staff. Maria Conneely retired as a trustee in January 2022 and former Treasurer and trustee, Colin Caverhill. sadly died in March 2022 leaving 2 vacancies on the Committee of Trustees. Teresa Whitehead and Marguerite Heath agreed to serve as trustees and were appointed at a Committee Meeting on 19th April 2022 with Marguerite Heath agreein8 to stand as Secretary to the Group. Both positions Y￿re ratified by the AGM on 14, June 2022. Revlew of progress and achlevements The work of the Group focuses entirely on providing opportunities for disabled adults and children to rlde and carriage drive. The year under review was significantly different to the year ended March 2022 which had been adversely affected for the first 6 months by the pandemic lockdowns. By the beginning of April 2022 the Group was again providing riding for children on Mondays and Wednesdays and riding for adults on Tuesdays and Thursdays with carriage driving sessions on Fridays. The Tuesday sessions restarted after the pandemic with a new leader and a small group of volunteer5 providing riding sessions to a few riders but by the end of the year the group had increased to 18 volunteers and 14 riders. Thls was an ex￿lIent outcome to what had been of considerable concern to the trustees in losing a day of providing riding to adult riders. In dditlon the riding sessions on the first Saturday of the month for both children and adults continued during the year with strong leadership from the coaches and great support from our volunteers. The trustees would like to see if it is possible to have an additional Saturday session during the month. These are important astheycan be attended by children and young adults who may be at school or have other commltments during the week. COBBES MEADOW GROUP IUDING FOR THE DISABLED AW)CIATION Annual R¢poTt #nd Aeeoutsts forib¢ ye8rettd¢d 31 Mxrcb 2023 A source of income for the Group comes from donations for the use of our facilities whlch are an indoor and an outdoor riding school and meeting room. A long standing supporter, who ran do8 training sessions at the Centre on various evenings in the week, sadly died and this ended a useful stream of income. Furthermore, it wa5 noticeable that expenses and outgoings had Increased and from the start of the year the Trustees and those on the Management Committee were looking at attracting additional sources of income to cover the increasing costs. Details are to be found under the heading "Review of Financial Activities". Our charitable objective is to provide disabled people wlth the opportunlty to rlde and/or carriage drive to benefit their health and well-being. The Trustees are pleased to be able to report that riding sessions during the year returned to a level close to numbers achieved in 2019-2020. Carriage driving sessions were more Ilmited in the number of participants who could be accommodated because the Group was not able to use its carriage adapted for loading wheelchair as the pony used for this carriage was injured. However, 5 participants were able to drive each week in the periods from Aprll to July and September to December. The Trustees can report that the pony is fit and well and the wheelchair carria8e is back In action and used by an additional 3 to 4 users each week. Review of flnandal actlvltles The accounts for this financlal year show an excess of income over expendItu￿ of £20.565 compared to £1922 in the previous financial year ended 2022. Thls is mainly due to an increase of £18.CK(i in donations from our riders and drivers reflecting a much higher level of actsvity than the previous year. Although income from use of our facilities was down nearly £1,500, other fund raising activltles raised over £7,(￿, an increase of £4,833 on the previous year. Sources of income were from a diverse range of activities and donors. £958 came from volunteers shaking bucket5 for small cash donations at the end of the Aldington point-to-point races in Aprll 2022, £500 from Waitrose supermarket, a collection at Chartham Vineyard raised £643 and a "hjn do8 dav, raised £501 from loc31 people. Thanks must be extended to Richard Baines of City Awards who donated trophies and rosettes for that event. The East Kent Ploughing Match commlttee donated £500 to the Group and a similar sum was donated by the Lower Hardres Gardening Society with £l,C(ti received from the Sir John Swire Foundation again. Our Christmas Fair raised £2,0(YJ and will be repeated in 2023. Particular thanks must be given to a member of Canterbury Sunrise Rotsry Club who personally donated £4,2￿ in sponsoring"PoppV, a new horse we had recently acquired. This donation, with 8ift aid, will cover the livery cost5 for Poppy for a whole year and we are extremely grateful for this very generous donation. We submitted a funding pplicatlon to the Kent Community Fund and received a most welcome donation of £2,￿0 from Hornbeam Charitable Fund-community First and a furthergenerous donation of £4,0￿ from The Kent Reliance Provident Society Community Fund both of which have been used for the care of our other horses and ponies. Thanks are due to all our supporter5 who kindly donated funds to us and whom I have not publlcly thanked by name. COBBES MEADOW GROUP RIDIIYG FOR THE DISABLED A&SOCIATION Report Aeeounts for theyt*rebded 31 March 2023 On the expenses side our costs were up byjust over £9,(MJO overall with the main increase being for the livery and Ca￿ of our horses and higher costs being incurred in the runnlng and maintenance of our 2 horse boxes which are used to transport horses from their "homes" to the Centre 4 days per week. We had some savings on property ￿paIrS and maintenance from the previous year. It is noticeable that our elertricity costs have increased since July 2022 when our fixed tem) at a lower tariff ended. Our overall expenditure was £41,758 for the year, up from £32,569 in the previous year- however thankfully more than covered by the additional income of £27,(YXI received in the year. io. The policy of the Trustees is to have a financial reseNe equal to one yearfs normal operatlng costs. This had been in the order of £30,CQO but in the light of the increased livery costs and other expenses the Trustees will need to review this. although funds brought forward from year end 2022 amounted to £44,683, which proved to be an appropriate sum. ii. The major items of expenditure for the operation of the charity are veterinary and pony care and INery costs which this year together amounted to £26,373, an increase on the previous yearfs figure of £16,528. The other item of expenditure which also increased was for transport which was incurred for repairs to the 2 horse boxes, for additional fuel due to increased usage and for increased insurance costs. The fact that actlvlty levels have increased and several fund-raisin8 events have been held and also planned for next year, gives the Trustees confidence for the year ahead and it Is the oplnion of the Trustees that the charity is considered to be a going concern for the next 12 months. 12. The Independent examinerfs report lattachedl has been seen and noted by the Committee of Trustees. 13. The Trustees have examined the major strategic. business and operational risks which the charity faces and confirm that Systems have been established to eTrable the charity to lessen or mitigate these risks. Furthermore, the Trustees consider that the Group's objective5 and activities comply with the Charity Commission guidance on Public Benefit. 14. The Trustees conslder that the charity 15 in a sound financial position. Approved by and signed on behalf of the Committee of Trustees Signed.. Date- Is, Oc• lo28 ## **COBBES MEADOW GROUP RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023** ## **Independent examiner's report** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Cobbes Meadow Group Riding for the Disabled Association ("the Trust") for the year ended 31 March 2023. ## **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'). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5Xb) of the Act. ## **Independent examiner's statement** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: - a. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or - b. the accounts do not accord with those records. I 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. Bay Tree Accountancy Chartered Accountants Stelling Minnis Canterbury Kent CT46AA Signed: Date: 1st November 2023 **6** COBBFS MEADOW GROiJP IUDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION Report AtCDlllIts fortbe yeaTtttdtd 31 March 2023 Recelpts and Payments Account Unresblrted Restrlrted Totsl Fund Fund 2023 Totsl 2022 Income Grants and donations Receipts from arti¥itles- note 3 22,958 27,310 4,200 27,158 27.310 20,333 10,585 Fundralsln8 actlvltles other Investment income Bank interest 7,319 7,319 2.486 536 536 137 Other In¢ome Sale of assets 950 Total Income 58,123 4,200 62,323 34,491 Expenditure Dirtrt charitsble eypendlture Veterinary and pony care Tack and clothing Equipment, including repairs Tran5POrt Insurance Ihorsesl Purchose costs of clothlng Costs of public website C05t5 of outings, event5 & other activlties 22.173 747 280 4,804 2,293 4.2C(I 26,373 747 16,528 31 1,668 1,434 2,142 2,293 228 390 228 390 223 Management and adminlstration- note 4 Purchase of horse Purchase of equipment Totsl expendlture 6.643 6,643 10,543 37558 4,2(KJ 41,758 32,569 Excess of Income over expendtture Cash funds brought forward Cash funds carrled forward 20.565 43,723 20.565 1,922 960 44,683 42,761 960 65348 44.683 ## **COBB ES MEADOW GROUP RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023** ## **Statement of Assets and Liabilities and other notes** ## **Note 1 Monetary assets** - **cash and bank account** |NatWest Current account
Yorkshire Building Society
**Unrestricted**
£
27,981
36,307
64,288
**Restricted**
£
960
-
960
**Other monetary assets**
Inland Revenue (Gift Aid tax refund)
Donation from East Kent Ploughing Match Association
**Liabilities**

March 2023 expenditure, paid in April 2023|**Unrestricted**
£
27,981
36,307
**Restricted**
£
960
-|



**Total**
£
28,941
36,307| |---|---|---| ||64,288
960|
65,248| |||£
4,138
500
£
427| **Note 2 Non-monetary assets** - held for charity's own use |_All stated at original cost value_
|£| |---|---| |Land at the Former St Augustine's Hospital, Chartham|19,974| |Riding school, Linnet Room and viewing gallery extension|125,370| |Sand school (all above insured for £385,289)|28,202| |Equi-Trek Super-Sonic horsebox 2010 (insured £20,000)|24,186| |Renault Master Horsebox 2015 (Insured £20,000)|30,420| |Hoist and associated equipment|1,660| |Sensory Ride|2,290| |Muck trailer|350| |_All stated at insurance value_|| |4 ponies owned at year end (Ralph insured for£1,200 and Poppy for £3,600)|4,800| |4 ponies loaned at year end (Rupert insured £500)|500| |4 carriages plus 3 sets of harness|12,650| |Tack, jumps and general equipment|15,427| 8 COBBES MEADOW GROiJP RIDIIYC FOR THE DISABLED ￿%socIATIoN Attnual Report gttd AfeDunts fortbe y¢8rtMded 31 Mar¢h 2023 ststement of assets and Ilabllltles and other notes- continued Note 3 Receipts from xtlvltle5 2023 2022 Riders and drivers. subscriptions Sale of merchandise Donations for use of facilities 26,614 8.405 690 2,180 10,585 27,310 Nots 4 M?na8ement and admlnistratlon 2023 2022 Property Costs including maintenance and Lrtilities Administration Insurance (public liabilitylpersonal accldentlbuildlng/contentsl Training Costs including courses Independent Examiner's fee Sundry expenses 3,523 95 1.730 6,661 351 1,457 1.231 550 293 450 10,543