## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From 01.01.2024 Period start date To 31.12.2024 Period end date Charity name: ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY ASSOCIATION Charity registration number: 1093950 SCO39054** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Association is an
armed forces sector charity with around 595
members world-wide. The aims of the
charity are to further the efficiency of the
Service, and to give support and relief to
serving and retired members of the Service,
and their dependants, particularly in times of
hardship,
sickness,
bereavement
and
supporting serving families during times of
military conflict.| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|In furthering the aims of the Association, the
charity arranges annual reunions, branch
social functions and fundraising events.
Advice, support, camaraderie and friendship
is offered to all the RFA community and to
bereaved families, with Service ceremonial
arranged where the family wishes it. During
hostilities, the Association aims to work
closely with the serving RFA to assist with
family support groups at key locations in the
UK.
We hold an archive collection of historic RFA
material, and this is added to as ships and
individuals give or bequeath papers, records,
honours, pictures etc. The archive is located
in Building 1/078 within HM Naval Base at
Portsmouth with some items loaned to a new
RN museum in Hartlepool.
The Association helps to promote knowledge
and appreciation of the vital logistics support
provided to the armed forces by the Royal
Fleet Auxiliary Service and its historic
achievements, through participation in
national events and initiatives, and
publishing information. It also administers
the (Commodore RFA) James Coull
Memorial Award, which is presented
annually to an RFA seafarer who has| |||performed an outstanding act or
achievement**.**| |---|---|---| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|Trustees regularly receive and discuss all
newly issued, appropriate, Charity
Commission guidance.| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|The charity makes modest grants to serving
and retired members of the RFA in time of
financial need and to other marine charities
sharing our broad aims. Additional help to
individuals is in the form of friendship and
advice, with referral to the main full time,
professional Service and Maritime charities
when appropriate. In 2024 Welfare requests
increased by 20% over the previous year, Of
the 25 received 11 resulted in cash grants
being awarded totalling £9278.
A Grant of £300 was made to each of our 5
branches for local maritime charitable
purposes.| |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|There is no policy on social investment.| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|Our volunteers run the regional branches,
provide local welfare support and assist the
trustees with their deep maritime experience
and expertise. They give greater depth to the
identity of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Their
experience, enthusiasm, belief and love of
the service are a great asset to the RFA
community.| |Other||Nil| ## **Achievements and Performance** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the|Para 1.20|Fundraising and Publishing.
The membership is currently declining as our
membership age increases and is currently
around 595. Income was stable at £29615
but membership income continues a slow
decline to £4423. Costs increased to| |charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.||£226930, with the biggest increases being
welfare claims increasing by £1745 to and
the £1500 paid out to branches.
Information is mainly provided to Members
and others via our newly upgraded web site,
www.rfaa.uk and on an ad hoc basis sent by
Mail Chimp. We operate Facebook and
Twitter accounts.
A RFAA Handbook and Yearbook is issued
to each member in February every year.
Normally printing costs is covered by
advertising but this year it had to be
subsidised by £1000, and its future is not
secure.
The RFA Memorial.
The Association supports the RFA memorial
at the National Memorial Arboretum and the
RFA Falklands memorial at Marchwood.
RFA Historical Society
The Association maintains the large amount
of material donated by the now defunct RFA
Historical Society and meets all website
costs.
Charity Offices.
The Association has its archive held in
Room 15, Building 1/078, Stony Lane, HM
Naval Base, Portsmouth. This location is
significantly cheaper and more secure than
other options. Improvements to access
continue to be sought. The office is close to
RFA HQ in Whale Island. By the very nature
of the membership the trustees are scattered
throughout the United Kingdom and most of
the charity management is conducted using
electronic means with 3 video meetings per
annum.
Remembrance.
Trustees and members attended
remembrance services around the UK
including a small contingent at the Cenotaph
in Whitehall. Many small groups and
individuals represent the RFA service
around the country and poppy wreaths are
purchased out of association funds to
support this.| |---|---|---| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: N/A Achievements against Para 1.41 objectives set |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|N/A| |---|---|---| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|N/A| |Other||N/A| ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|The Associations financial position is
extremely sound with £199,967 of
unrestricted funds held at year end.| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|The reserves policy is to hold a minimum of
three years average operating costs to
enable time for an orderly closedown of the
Association should circumstances require
this.| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|Current financial reserves allow for a
minimum of 7 years at current operating cost
levels.| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|N/A| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|N/A| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|N/A| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|The charity’s income is derived from
member subscriptions (enhanced by Gift
Aid), social internal fundraising events (e.g.
the annual Reunion) and sales of books and
regalia (within permitted limits). The RFAA
Golf Society holds an annual commercially
sponsored golf tournament, and this is now
the major funding source raising £8.6k profit
in 2024. No funding is received from the
serving RFA or from public fundraising.| |---|---|---| |Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|Our reserves are held in cash deposits. It
has been decided not to increase financial
risk by investing in equities in these
financially turbulent times. Policy is to earn
good interest with minimum financial risk.| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|The risks to the Association, its property and
to the trustees, are regularly assessed and
appropriately insured. A formal risk
management process is in place. Principle| risks are loss of sponsors as the maritime industry faces hard economic times and loss of RFA relationship as a new Commodore is appointed. Loss of members is increasing due to an ever-ageing community and IT risks remain as attacks on business systems continues to increase in society. Nil Other ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|Constitution, which was amended in 2024 to
incorporate requirements of the Charity Act
2022 and to change a meeting quorum from
people present, to a minimum number of
votes cast in person and by post.| |How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|Unincorporated Association| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|Up to eleven trustees can be elected from
amongst the full membership. These
trustees are selected to provide a wide
representation of geographical areas,
specialisations and ranks and both former
officers and ratings are represented. Three
further trustees may be co-opted, and there
is one ex-officio trustees (serving RFA)
Trustees may serve for up to nine years in a
single term but must be re-elected by the
membership each year.| |**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements|where relevant about:| |---|---|---| |Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees|Para 1.51|Every effort is made to identify recruits to
ensure continuity and the spread of
expertise. New trustees are provided with
Charity Commission guidance documents
and encouraged to read themselves into
their role. An area on the RFA Association
website (www.rfaa.uk) exists to provide a
central point of information, guidance and
recent history.| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|The charity has a governing board, which is
led by the Chair of the Trustees. There are
six branches throughout the UK, each with
Branch Chair and a committee of volunteers,
who deliver the aims of the charity locally
though the Midlands branch is currently
inactive due to lack of a local committee.| |||The charity has a Memorandum of| |Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|Understanding (MOU) with the parent
Service (RFA) that is of mutual benefit. The
Association is a member of the
Confederation of British Servicemen’s’ and
ex-Servicemen’s’ Organisations (COBSEO)
and of National Council for Voluntary
Organisations (NCVO).| |---|---|---| |Other||Nil| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|Royal Fleet Auxiliary Association| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|RFAA| |Registered charity number|1093950 and SCO39054 (Scotland)| |Charity’s principal address|12a Beechcroft Road
Gosport
Hampshire
PO12 2ER| ||| **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |






|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Mr A Morle|National Chair|1.1.24 - 31.12.24|Members AGM| ||Mr P M Fry|DeputyChair|1.1.24– 31.12.24|Members AGM| ||Mr M Troman|Welfare Director|1.1.24 - 31.12.24|Members AGM| ||Mr A Sherlock||1.1.24 – 31.12.24|Members AGM| ||Mr R Bennett|Membership
Secretary|1.1.24 - 31.12.24|Members AGM| ||Mrs G Forth||1.1.24 - 31.12.24|Members AGM| ||Mr A August|Archivist & Almoner|18.5.24 – 31.12.24|SecondedpendingAGM 25| ||Mr M Day||1.1.24 – 18.5.24|Members AGM -resigned| – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name** Nil Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity **Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year** Nil ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others.** Description of the assets Nil held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Additional information (optional)** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** |**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**| |---|---|---| |**Type of**
**adviser**
**Name**
**Address**||| |N/A||| |||| |**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**||| |N/A||| ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details N/A ## **Other optional information** N/A ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** |**Signature(s)**
**Full name(s)**
**Position (eg Secretary,**
**Chair, etc)**
**Date**|Signed on original|Signed on original| |---|---|---| ||Andrew Morle|Peter Fry| ||

National Chair|Deputy Chair and Treasurer| ||30 May 2025|| ||30 May 2025|| ## **ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY ASSOCIATION** End of year accounts 01/01/2024 to 31/12/2024 ||**ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY ASSOCIATION**|**ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY ASSOCIATION**|**ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY ASSOCIATION**||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |a|**ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY ASSOCIATION**||||| ||||||| ||||||| |||||End of year accountsyear accountsear accounts|| |||||01/01/2024 to 31/12/2024|| |~~es~~|~~es~~|~~es~~|||| |~~es~~|~~es~~|~~es~~|||| |**Receipts andpayments**
~~es~~|~~es~~|~~es~~|||| ||||||| |**Receipts in**||**2024**|**_2023_**|**_2022_**|**_2021_**| |**Donations and Fund Raising Activities**||**£17,814.77**|_£21,841.46_|_£57,574.86_|_£14,983.55_| |_RFA Golf Event_|£12,821.90||_£12,672.55_|_£5,027.00_|_£13,532.00_| |_Fundraising Events/General Donations_|£4,130.77||_£8,093.91_|_£51,547.86_|_£951.55_| |_Donation to J.Coull_||||_£1,000.00_|_£500.00_| |_Welfare Donations_|£862.10||_£1,075.00_||| |**Membership Fees**||**£4,423.00**|_£4,373.00_|_£5,191.00_|_£5,772.00_| |_Annual Subscriptions_|£4,123.00||_£4,373.00_|_£4,591.00_|_£5,142.00_| |_Life Memberships_|£300.00|||_£600.00_|_£630.00_| |**Reunion Income**||**£2,649.10**|_£1,423.46_|_£1,933.00_|_£3,440.44_| |**Branch Fundraising**||**£1,369.20**|_£895.60_|_£1,192.19_|_£1,019.70_| |_Plymouth & District_|£795.85||_600.00_|_£1,014.19_|_£500.00_| |_Solent_||||_£56.00_|_£59.56_| |_North West_|||||| |_S&N_|£144.00|||_£87.00_|| |_Retailling_|£429.35||_£295.60_|_£35.00_|_£460.14_| |**Bank Interest**||**£3,359.35**|_£2,752.85_|_£606.94_|_£7.37_| |**_Total Receipts_**||**_£29,615.42_**|**_£31,286.37_**|**_£66,497.99_**|**_£25,223.06_**| |~~a~~|~~a~~||||| |**Payments out**
~~a~~|~~aGG~~|~~GG~~|~~GG~~|~~GG~~|~~GG~~| |**Payments out**
**Business and Operational Costs**
~~a~~||**£17,818.70**
|_£17,144.21_
|_£13,419.46_
|_£12,841.81_
| |_Accounts Administration_|£3,000.00||_£6,000.00_||_£4,500.00_| |_Yearbook, Force4 and Curating_|||||| |_Website, eForce4, Ceremonial_|£710.00||_£2,557.00 _|_£ 548.00_|| |_Rent and Rates_|£75.94||_£453.61 _|_£ 445.28_|_£758.14_| |_Postage_|£1,576.10|||_£ 1,495.51_|_£1,019.79_| |_Insurance_|£763.67||_£814.37 _|_£ 755.60_|_£571.40_| |_Branch Costs_|£1,500.00|||_£ 1,250.00_|| |_Printing_|£1,682.00||||_£230.00_| |_Telephone_|||_£143.88 _|_£ 100.90_|_£143.88_| |_Trustees Expenses (Mandatory)_|£1,231.29||_£1,141.00 _|_£ 3,060.44_|_£72.84_| |_Other Ceremonial Expenses_|£197.40|||_£ 1,249.50_|| |_Office Supplies_|£76.51||_£144.89 _|_£ 43.00_|_£69.70_| |_Bank Charges_|||||| |_Subscriptions/Professional Fees_|£265.00||_£260.00 _|_£ 391.00_|_£1,169.00_| |_AGM costs_|£2,505.00||_£2,117.20_||_£1,018.00_| |_Golf Expenses_|£4,235.79||_£3,512.26 _|_£ 4,080.23_|_£3,289.06_| |**J.Coull Award**||**£0.00**|_£0.00_|_£11.51_|_£23.26_| |**Welfare Support**||**£9,111.50**|_£7,366.30_|_£0.00_|_£1,500.00_| |**Other Trustee Expenses**|||||| |**_Total Payments_**||**_£26,930.20_**|**_£24,510.51_**|**_£13,430.97_**|**_£14,365.07_**| ||||||| |||**2024**|_2023_|_2022_|2021| |**_Receipts - Payments =_**||**_£2,685.22_**|_£6,775.86_|_£53,067.02_|_£10,857.99_| |**_Balance in bank 31/12/2023_**||**_£211,555.38_**|_£204,779.52_|_£151,712.50_|_£140,854.51_| |**_Total Funds accounted foryear end_**||**_£214,240.60_**|**_£211,555.38_**|**£204,779.52**|**_£151,712.50_**| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| |**_Banked at:_**|||||| |**_Lloyds TSB Current Account_**||**_£145,314.20_**|**_£145,988.33_**|**_£141,965.32_**|**_£89,505.24_**| |**_CCLA Savings Account_**||**_£68,926.40_**|**_£65,567.05_**|**_£62,814.20_**|**_£62,207.26_**| |**_Total Funds in bank atyear end_**||**_£214,240.60_**|**_£211,555.38_**|**_£204,779.52_**|**_£151,712.50_**| ||||||| ||||||| |**_Restricted Monies - in bank butnot_**
**_available for the RFA Association to spend freely._**|||||| |**_J Coull Memorial Endowment Fund_**||**_£7,513.77_**|**_£7,397.77_**|**_£7,302.74_**|**_£6,295.33_**| |**_RFA Memorial Fund_**||**_£6,759.06_**|**_£6,759.06_**|**_£6,759.06_**|**_£7,479.06_**| |**_Total Restricted Funds_**||**_£14,272.83_**|**_£14,156.83_**|**_£14,061.80_**|**_£13,774.39_**| ||||||| |**_Designated Monies in bank but ring-fenced_**|||||| |**_RFA Summer Ball_**||**_£2,200.00_**|**_£2,200.00_**|**_£2,200.00_**|**_£2,200.00_**| |**_Welfare_**||**_£10,000.00_**|**_£10,000.00_**|**_£9,000.00_**|**_£9,000.00_**| ||**_Golf_**|**_£5,000.00_**|**_£5,000.00_**|**_£5,000.00_**|**_£5,000.00_**| |**_Total Designated Funds_**||**_£17,200.00_**|**_£17,200.00_**|**_£16,200.00_**|**_£16,200.00_**| ||||||| ||||||| |**UN-RESTRICTED FUNDS AVAILABLE AT THE END OF THE YEAR**|**UN-RESTRICTED FUNDS AVAILABLE AT THE END OF THE YEAR**|**UN-RESTRICTED FUNDS AVAILABLE AT THE END OF THE YEAR**|**UN-RESTRICTED FUNDS AVAILABLE AT THE END OF THE YEAR**||| |**_Total Funds - Restricted Money =_**||**_£199,967.77_**|**_£197,398.55_**|**_£190,717.72_**|**_£137,938.11_**| ||||||| ||||||| ||||**Additional**
**Monetary**
**Assets**|**_Plymouth and_**
**_District Branch_**|£1,813.36| |||||**_Scottish and_**
**_Newcastle_**|£634.98| |||||**_Solent Branch_**|£2,901.23| |||||**_London_**|£839.14| |||||**_North West_**|£950.60| |||||**_Midlands_**|£2,008.31| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| |Signed by two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees|||P M Fry
Treasurer||A Morle
Chair| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Association (Charity Registration in England and Wales 1093950. In Scotland SC039054)** I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on pages 1 to 2 attached to the Trustees Annual Report. ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. 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) or under Regulation 10(1)(d) of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (the 2006 regulations and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to - examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 and section 44(1) (c) of Charities and Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (the 2005 Act); - 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 - to state whether 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 and in accordance3 with Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. 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 trustee for 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 - (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and section 44(1)(a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations; and - to prepare accounts that accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act and section 44 (1)(b) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 9 of the 2006 Regulations 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. ## Signed on Original P A Nicholls MBE MAAT 5 Nursery Road Havant Hants PO9 3BG 1 April 2025