2022-12-31-accounts - The Arborfield Association

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Charity number: 1086189

THE ARBORFIELD OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION

REPORT AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

The Trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2022. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in Note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s Trust Deed, the Charities Act 2016, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (FRS102) effective 1 Jan 2015.

Section 1 - REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

1.1 NAME OF THE CHARITY . The Arborfield Association more commonly known as the Arborfield Old Boys’ Association (AOBA).

1.2 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER . 1086169 Dated 19 April 2001.

1.3 ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL OFFICE .

The Arborfield Ols Boys’ Association C/O RHQ REME The Prince Philip Barracks MoD Lyneham LYNEHAM CHIPPENHAM SN15 4XX

1.4 NAMES OF TRUSTEES .

Maj (Retd) G Wright Rivers Chairman Lt Col (Retd) M J Tizard Vice Chairman Lt Col (Retd) I Cleasby MBE Lt Col (Retd) R McKeegan-Brown Treasurer Maj (Retd) D Sparrow Mr B Leslie Mr J Baker Mr M Jobes Mr A Dickson Mr R Traves Mr N Canning Secretary

1.5 NAMES OF PRINCIPAL OFFICERS .

Maj (Retd) Wright Rivers - Chairman Mr N Canning – Secretary Lt Col (Retd) R McKeegan-Brown – Treasurer

1.6 ADVISORS TO THE CHARITY

Auditors: Bankers: Solicitors: Burton Sweet Nat West Not appointed Cooper House Leicester Rcsc Lower Charlton Bede House Trading Estate 11 Western Boulevard, Shepton Mallet Leicester Somerset LE2, 7EJ BA4 5QE

Section 2 - STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

2.1 GOVERNING DOCUMENT . The AOBA first registered on 19 April 2001. The AOBA has a Constitution which is reviewed and agreed by the membership at the AGM every 3 years. It was last reviewed in 2021.

2.2 RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES . Trustees are selected by virtue of their knowledge, experience and expertise and are all volunteers. Succession planning is in place to ensure the Board remains current and effective.

2.3 ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE . The Board of Trustees is an independent decision making governing body which meets at least twice a year. The board consists of 10 Trustees led by a Chairman. Trustees are given responsibility for different areas of the business and report to the Board of Trustees at least twice a year or more frequently if required.

2.4 RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER CHARITIES . The AOBA raises its own income through donations and membership fees but also receives donations from the REME Charity.

Section 3 - OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

3.1 STATEMENT ON PUBLIC BENEFIT . The AOBA provides public benefit by supporting military veterans and in particular those who have served in any of the Arborfield Apprentice Schools and/or Colleges.

3.2 OBJECTS. The defined objects of the AOBA are to promote the efficiency of the Army by;

a. Maintaining contact between former apprentices of the Schools and Colleges and their REME Junior Soldier Successors, and;

b. Fostering mutual friendship between them and providing for social gatherings for them.

c. Fostering esprit de corps, comradeship and preserving the traditions of The Schools and Colleges.

d. Relieving either generally or individually Beneficiaries of former Apprentices of The Schools and Colleges and their Dependents, who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress.

e. Commemorating and remembering Members or former Members of the Armed Forces of the Crown and in particular those former Apprentices of The Schools and Colleges and their junior soldier successors who have lost their lives or suffered injury, or put themselves at risk of loss of life or injury, in service to the public.

3.3 EXPLANATION OF OBJECTS . The AOBA fulfils it objects by holding several formal gatherings each year where former apprentices and their families can meet. It also maintains a website and distributes several newsletters per year and has its own band. It maintains historical records relating to the Apprentice Schools and Colleges

3.4 EXPLANATION OF THE 2022 THEMES AND ACTIVITIES. The AOBA themes for 2022 were to continue to support those in need. To hold annual parades at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) and The Royal British Legion (TRBL) London Cenotaph. To hold a family church service at the NMA to remember and honour past members. To hold an Annual General Meeting. To hold a Reunion Gala Dinner to celebrate those veterans who marked their 50[th] anniversaries. To produce a number of member’s newsletters, to maintain the AOBA website and to ensure the band represented the AOBA at various functions, parades and funerals.

3.5 STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE OBJECTS . The Trustees make an annual estimate of the likely financial call on the AOBA based upon historical data and a planned budget. The Trustees’ strategy is to ensure the continued day to day operation of the AOBA, and to provide a grant from the REME Charity should it be required. Income is based upon the subscription fees from the predicted number of members.

Section 4 - ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

4.1 SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT . The AOBA recognises the importance of managing performance and does this by measuring a number of key areas. The keys areas are considered are the number of members, the income generated, the number of attendees at the annual reunion.

4.2 PERFORMANCE ACHIEVED . Set against the background of an everdecreasing number of ex-apprentices to recruit from, we achieved a membership of 715. This led to an income of £38519.47 and with gift aid added gave a total of £41205.47 through membership subscriptions. Our reunions continued to be well supported with 213 members attending compared to 206 in 2021.

4.3 FACTORS OUTSIDE OF THE CHARITIES CONTROL . The AOBA has a decreasing pool of ex-apprentices from which to recruit. The Army Apprentice Colleges opened in 1939 and formally closed in 2004 with the numbers of apprentices coming through the schools peaking in the 1960s, and substantially declining thereafter. As the older generation dies (those who joined in 1950 are now c89 years old and those who joined in 1960 are c79 years old), so the numbers available to recruit from, reduces.

Section 5 - FINANCIAL REVIEW

5.1 RESERVES POLICY . The Trustees’ policy is to split the funds into Current and Savings accounts. Our reserves are deemed to be those funds allocated to the Savings account.

5.2 DEFICITS . The AOBA has no deficits.

5.3 FUNDING SOURCES . The bulk of the funding comes from member subscriptions but the REME Charity (Registered Number 1165868) does provide a small grant to assist with reunion costs. Other income comes from sales of badges and ties. The AOBA does on occasion benefit from a legacy.

a. G eneral income . Income for the year totalled £20530.13 and included £11497.78 from members subscriptions and £2686.00 in gift aid. In addition, the REME Charity provided a grant of £6181.35. Income from sales was £80.00

b. Extraordinary income . The AOBA received a legacy of £20675.34 from Mr Sancto.

5.4 EXPENDITURE . Expenditure for the year £21405.43 and comprised principally £7828.00 spent on the annual reunion and gala dinner, £5961.56 on publication of

the newsletter, £0 on charitable grants (paid in 2023), £187 on offsetting costs to the London cenotaph parade, £0 (£600 paid in 2023) supporting the AOBA Band, and £3904.52 in fixed overhead costs and IT licencing costs. £2325.60 was spend on additional stock (ties).

Section 6 - PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS

6.1 FUTURE AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND PLANNED OUTPUTS . The AOBA has been operating since 1948 and as a Charity since 20001. Our future aims are modest and based around the following themes.

a. Increasing membership. Our dedicated recruitment officer aims to increase membership numbers in particular to those celebrating their 50[th] anniversary in the coming year.

b. Data protection. Our GDPR compliance sites at c80%. We aim to increase this to c85% by the end of the following year.

c. Marketing. Our aim is to increase marketing through better use of social media. Our aim is to increase brand awareness and thus over time recruit younger members into the association.

d. Parades. We must continue to be represented at the TRBL London Cenotaph parade and try to increase the number of tickets available to our members.

e. Anniversary. It will be the AOBA 75[th] anniversary in 2023 and we will plan to celebrate it by holding a larger than normal NMA parade and reunion.

f. Support. We aim to continue and potentially increase our support members and their families.

Section 7 - STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

7.1 The Trustees are satisfied that the attached accounts give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees have:

a. Selected suitable accounting policies and then applied them consistently.
b. Observed the methods and principles in the Charities SORP.
c. Made judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.

d. Stated whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.

e. Prepared the financial statements on the going concern basis.

7.2 The Trustees confirm they have kept proper accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the charity’s Articles of Association and current law. They further confirm they have been responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and have taken reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Maj (Retd) GRG Wright Rivers Chairman of Trustees

Date: 011123