KENT SEARCH AND RESCUE (LOWLAND) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2024 Charity Number 1091181 IrÈNf
KENT SEARCH AND RESCUE 2024 IN NUMBERS Serving Kent For 25 Years 72 MEMBERS 17 MEDICS 6 SEARCH DOGS 14 FLOOD RESPONDERS ALL UNPAID VOLUNTEERS 128 DAYS DEPLOYED 301 SEPARATE INCIDENTS 7,561 HRS DEPLOYED 12,000 HRS TRAINING 3,750 HRS FUNDRAISING 68% MISSING= MALES 19% MENTAL HEALTH 11% DEMENTIA 38% DESPONDENT/RISK OF SUICIDE 3 MEDICAL INCIDENTS 3 X INCIDENT VANS 3 X RESPONSE CARS 3 X POWER BOATS 4 X KAYAKS, 2 X CANOES 8 X BIKES 2 X DRONES c.£90,000 ANNUAL EXPENDITURE TO PROVIDE 24171365 SERVICE ACROSS KENT ALL FUNDED BYYOUI AMAZING SUPPORTERS 11,922 FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS 6,281 X/TWIThER FOLLOWERS 1,677 INSTAGRAM FRIENDS
KENT SEARCH AND RESCUE (LOWLAND) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 3181 DECEMBER 2024 Contents PAGES Report of the trustees 1-3 Independent examinerfs report to the trustee8 Statement of Financial Activities Balance sheet Notes to the financial ststements 7-10
KENT SEARCH AND RESCUE (LOWLAND) TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT The trustees are pleased to present their annual report for the year ended 318t December 2024 together with the financial statements for thal period. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS Charf rfncl l address: Kent Search and Rescue Kent Pollce Marine and Search Division Coldharbour Outstation London Road Aylesford Kent ME20 7SL Trustees Lord Jcmathan Evans (Chainytan) - resigned 22nd Jan 2024 Mr John Welr (Chairman) - appolnted 22rn1 Jan 2024 reslgned 21st Oct 2024 Mr Andrew He8elwood (ChaimHn) Mr Marttn lfjngman Mr Brian Tinham Mr Bary Doggett Mr Peter Ayling Mr Mark Rist Mr Carl Hynes - appointed 22nd Jan 2024 Mr David Paul - appointed 20th Jan 2025 Mr Mathew Deadman- appointed 20th Jan 2025 Mrs Ann Spickett- appointed 20th Jan 2025 Mr Damd Schooledge- resigned 22nJ Jan 2024 Mr Stewart Baird - re8lgned 251h Juty 2024 Mr Adrfan Harper- resigned 7th Oct 2024 Mr Andrew Whitehouse - resigned 20th Jan 2025 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT The ¢harfty is govemed by a Constitutlon adoptsd by Ihe members. th8 Fatest version of whlch was adopted on 25th January 2021. The board of trustees Is authorised to appolnt new trustees to flll vacancies arising through reslgnation or death of an existing trustee.
KENT SEARCH AND RESCUE (LOWLAND) TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT- continued OBJECTIVE8 AND ACTNmE8 The prfmary obhctive of th8 charty Is to protsct and preserve good health and Ilfe by th8 provislon of volunteer search and rescue teams to asslst organlsatlons involved In the search andlor rescue of m1881ng or vulnerable persons. The secondary obieeiive is tha provlslon of programs to help prevenl the need of search and rescue teams by means of educatlon of the general public. The charfty activities assi8t In the relief of suffering and dl8tre8S amongst per80ns endangered by accklents or n8ra1 hazard8 in the lowland areas of Ken( partlcularly by woviding adequate arrangernents for the secure and effident search and r&8cue of any person or persons so endangered. The trustee8 have had due regard to the guidance Issued by the Charity Commlsslon on wblic benefft, ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORAIANCE - OPERATIONAL UPDATE 2024 has been a busier year than 2023, with almost 1,000 hours more on active deployments (7,561 hours) vAth a number of mulll-day deployments, where the team was out 8earchlng for multiple operatlonal perfod8 8pannSng more than one day. The team conllnued to be available 241T throughout Ihe year, deploylng on 128 days, IndudlrrfJ both Chrlstmas Day and Boxing Day. Tha number of despondenc suicldal and mental health ca888 con11nu to be hlgh compared to hlstorical Ilmes. Thls does seem to reflect wider sod* where 8Xtemal issues such as peer pressure, soclal medla, hlgh Inter88t rates and inflation and the cost•of-livlrKJ problem8 may all play their part. The links wlth partrr5. ineJwJing Kent Police, Kent Fire & Rescue and HM Coastguard remain8 very strong. a8 does the a88oclation with the Kent and Medway Resilience Fonrn. trtsad of Unlt remaln8 the chalr of the Kent Voluntary Sector Ewency GroLV linking us closely with other volurrtear organlsations supporting Ught and resilience operaUon8. Fundraislng is Increasingly becoming a challeng8, which 18 In line with wider report8 from the whole of the thlrd sector postthd. C08t of living pre88ure8 and the hlgher Intere8t rates have had a bearlng on both organl8atlonal and Individual donatlons. The year a180 Saw the launch of the Kent Charlty Trek, which 18 designed to be an annual fundraislng event to ralse money, not Just for KSAR, but al80 for other Kent based charftles. The event was a 8uccess with 2 di8tances 25kn1 and Sokm. The event raised a total of £14,000 for the charftles Involved. The evenl is being run again in May 2025, hopefvlty building on the Success of first year.
KENT SEARCH AND RESCUE (LOWLAND) TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT- continued Team tralnkng has been to a high standard. with the aim for the year for m&nbers to go back to basics of search, which has achieved. The speciallst tsam8 continue to amass experience. Th8 underwater search team has been vthing wlth extemal agencies to be able to use our Remote Operated UrKlernatsr Vehicle to recover bodles. Thls Is an area In which our practlces are leading the way. The yclallst teams, induding both the underwatsr search and the aerial search team8, have been deployed as stand4lone assets to support Ihe crown acleS A major prthct for 2023 2024 was the acquisition and fftut of a replacement Incident Support Vehicle. The vehicle was commissioned In July and as well as holding the majority of Search klt, it has a secondary role as a back-up Incident Control Vehicle, with a computer and power suppty. The prevlous Inddent Support Vehld8 is being repurposed a8 a dedlcated transport vehide for erWater search equipment. Our pwctlve work wilh Kent Police, under Opwation Concem, Wre srnall team8 identified and attended calls of concem Ihat would have otsrwise required actlon by a pollce patrol contlnues to be a SUCC8. In addrtlon, the Safe arKI tky campaign was run agaln for the 7th year, l)olh for tha 8ummer football and at chrlstsnaeW Year. There were a number of intervenllons, keeplng the public safe and away from the river. FINANCIAL REVIEW For the year ended 311t December 2024 the trustees consider the financlal posltion of the charity to be in Ilno with expectatlons. The re8•rve8 at the end of th8 year vRre £251,846 (2022: £265,363). Reserves are held to fulfil the charities alms and objectives in the fure and to be Sufficlent to cover expendltures for a IwelmOnth pernd. DECLARATION The trustees declare that they have approved th8 trustees, r8POrt above. Slgne behaff of the charity's trustees: Martin Kingman - Trustee 26th February 2025
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORTTO THE TRUSTEES OF KENT SEARCH AND RESCUE (LOWLAND) I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity (charity number 1091181) for the year ended 31 st December 2024. RESPONSIBILITIES AND BASIS OF REPORT I report to the trustees on my examlnatlon of the accounts of the above tharlty fthe Tru8f) forthe year ended 3181 Decernr 2024. As the tharitys trustees, you aro responsible for the preparallon of the accounts kn aCcdanCe with the requirem of the Charitles Act 2011 (Ihe I report in respect of my examination of the T8 accounts carrfed out urKler section 145 of the 2011 Act and In carrylng out my examlnallon. I have followed all the applicable Dlrecllons given by the Charfty Commi8sion under seclion 145(5)(b) of th8 Act. BASIS OF THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMEMr I have completed my examinalion. I confirm trwt no materlal matters have come to my attention In connectlon with the examination vthlch gives me cause to belleve that In, any matsrfal RspecL' the accountlryJ records were not kept In accordance whh 8edlon 130 of the Charltss Art. or the accounts did not accord wlth the accounting records; or the accounts did not compty y1h the 4)pllcable requlrements conceming the form and contsnt of accounts set out In the Charftles (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 thr than any requirement that the accounts glve a u8 and falrf vlew whith Is not a matter considered a8 part of an Inde1lent examlnation. I have no concems arKI have come across no other matter8 In connection with the examination to which attention should be dra In thls report in order to enable a prow urxler8tarIn9 of the accounts to be reached. Roger P B Storey - Chartered Management Accountant 26 C Orchard Road, Bromley. Ken( BR2 8NE Date." 26th February 2025
KENT SEARCH AND RESCUE (LOWLAND) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2024 2024 2023 Unrestricted Restricted Resetves Funds Funds Total FLJnds Totsl Funds Notes Income from: Fundraising events Donations and Grants Member subscriptions Training services Interest reTrived 26.345 38,984 2,340 120 2,189 26,345 45,984 2,340 120 2.189 27.285 47,465 2,640 1.250 1,590 7,000 Total income 69,979 7.000 76,979 80,229 Expenditure on: Charitable activities 70,455 20,041 90,496 87,588 Net movement in funds 476 -13.041 -13,517 -7,3S9 Total funds brought forward 40,935 94,600 129,828 265.363 272.722 40.459 81,559 129,828 251,846 265.363 Movement in Sinking Fund Asset Reserve 9,585 -9.585 Total funds carried forward 50,044 81,559 120,243 251,846 265,363 The notes to the accounts fonn part of these financial statem8nls.
KENT SEARCH AND RESCUE (LOWLAND) BALANCE SHEET AT 31st DECEMBER 2024 31112r2024 3111212023 Flxad a880ts 156,051 152,801 Curr•nt assets Prepayments and acuued income Cash at bank arKI in hand 1,442 98,358 99AOO 3,626 113.999 117.624 Currant Ilabilitles Accruals & Deferred Income Klt deposits 2,912 2,150 5,062 2,150 4,005 Not current a88•ts 9&795 112.662 Total Assets le current liabllltl8s 251.846 265A63 Fund8 Reslricted funds Unrestrlcted funds Sinking FurKI Asset Reserve Operational Costs ReseNe 81.559 50,044 85,243 35.000 261,846 40.935 94.828 35,000 SA63 Ap by the trustees on 20th January 2025. n Klngman . Trustee
KENT SEARCH AND RESCUE (LOWLAND) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 318t DECEMBER 2024 Accountlng Pollc1•8 1.1 Basl of Pre 'on of Flnandal Statements The financlal 8tstements have been prepared In accordance wlth the Charity Commlssion's Ststement of Recommended Pracllce appllcable to charitss preparing their accounts In accordance with the Financlal Reporting Standard applicable In the UK and Republlc of Ireland IFRS 102) (SORP FRS 102) as updated by the Charitles SORP {FRS 102) updats bulletin. The charity 18 a public benefit entity as definad by FRS102 1.2 Income reco nition All income is recognised once the charity has entiuement to tha income, it is probable that the income will be recelved and the amount of Income recelvabl8 can be measured reliably. 1.3 Ex en nition Liabllitles are recognlsed as exwditure as Soon as there is a legal or constructive obllgation committlng the charity to that expenditure, it is probable Ihat settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured rellably. All expenditure Is accounted for on an accruals basls. All expenses induding support costs aThJ govemance costs are allocated or apportioned to the appllcable expendlture headings. 1.4 Urnestrl funds Unrestrlctsd funds can be used In accordan with the charitable objects at the discretlon of the trustees. The trustees have establlsw two Reserve Accounts, namely the Sinking Fund Reserve Account and the Operatlonal Costs Re8erve AccounL The fomier wlll provide funds to replace the charity's motor vehldes, boats, drones and other large items of equipment as they come to the end of thelr useful lives. The latter Re8erve 18 to ensure there are sufficient funds to cover at least 12 months of orvJolrvJ non4li8ryetionary expenditure In the event that income levels decrease 8ubstantially due to unfor88een event8. ed assets Tangible fixed assets are stated at Cost less depreciatlon. Depreciatlon 18 provlded at ratss calculated to wrfts off th8 Cost or valuation over thalr expected ful lives on the following basis: Motor vehides 10 years: Other 8earch equty)ment 5 to 10 years; IT and radio equipment 5 year8.
KENT SEARCH AND RESCUE (LOWLAND) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2024 - continued 1.6 Fund accounts'n Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised or set aside for particular restricted purposes. Expenditure on charitsble actlvitEes 2024 2023 Equipment and clothing Depreciation Training Fuel and other vehicle costs Insurances IT and communications Charitable donations Member welfare and event costs Finance & Carriage charges Memberships and affiliations Independent examinerfs fees Lossl(Gain) on disposal of assets 2,766 42,479 1,355 17,246 14,940 9,522 13,810 38,584 428 11.744 13.410 10.098 200 1.528 170 155 157 -2,696 1.675 92 145 275 90,496 87,588
KENT SEARCH AND RESCUE (LOWLAND) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 St DECEMBER 2024 - continued 3 Tangible fixed assets IT and other Motor radio search vehicles equipment equipment Total COST At 1&t January 2024 Additions Disposals & adjustments At 31 st December 2024 172,601 40,746 49,760 126,649 349,010 4.982 45,728 -5.660 -5,660 125,971 389,078 213,347 49,760 DEPRECIATION At 1st January 2024 Charge for year Disposals & adjustments At 31SI December 2024 78,822 22,178 48,087 1,035 69.300 196,209 19,265 42,478 -5,860 -5,660 82,905 233,027 101.000 49,122 NET BOOK VALUE At 31¥1 December 2024 112,347 638 43,066 156,051 At 3151 Dernber 2023 93,779 1,673 57,349 152,801 Taxation The charity's activities fall within the exemptions afforded by the provisions of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. Accordingly, there is no taxation charge in these accounts. 5 Analysis of net assets between funds Unrestricted Reserves funds Restricted funds Total funds Tangible fixed assets Current assets Current liabilities 52,606 1,443 -4,005 50,044 22,382 97,861 81.063 156,051 496 99,800 -4,005 81,559 251,846 120,243
10 KENT SEARCH AND RESCUE {LOWLAND) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2024- continued Movement in funds At 1st January 2024 Receipts Payments Transfers At 31st December 2024 Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Sinking fund asset reserve Operational Costs reserve 94,600 40,935 7,000 69,979 -20,041 -70,455 81,559 50,044 -9,585 94,828 -9,585 85,243 35,000 35,000 265,363 76,979 -90.496 251846 Trustees. Remuneration and Transactions with related parties No trustee received any remuneration during the year or had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity during the year (December 2023, £0). One member of the Management team controls a company that provides Infomiation Technology Services to the charity. These services, which are all provided on an arm's length basis, resulted in costs to the charity totalling £395 during the year (2023, £1,190). This Management team member also has an interest in a separate Community Interest Company, which licences dedicated search specific software to the charity for use during operational search activity. t)uring the financial year the charity was charged licen fees for this sofhvare totalling £6,000 by this Community Interest Company (2023. £6,000). Operatlng profit This is ststed after charging.. 2024 2023 Depreciation of owned assets 42,478 38,584