## Trustees Annual Report (Accompanying Receipts & Payments Accounts) **Section 1 Charity Name** ## **Legal & Administrative Information** **Essex Search & Rescue (ESSEXSAR)** **Charity Commission Registered Number:** **1096661** **For the Financial Year beginning on: 01/10/2020** **For the Financial Year Ending on: 30/09/2021** **Charity’s Principal Address:** ## **PO Box 10576, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 9NY** **Description of the Charity’s Trusts:** **Governing Document:** ## **Constitution dated 12[th] February 2020** **Objects of the Charity:** The Charity’s objects (“the objects”) are to assist in the relief of suffering and distress amongst persons endangered by accident or natural hazards in lowland areas primarily in the County of Essex, but not restricted to this area. In particular by providing adequate arrangements for the secure and efficient search for and rescue of any person or persons so endangered, by trained personnel. **Specific Investment Powers** None. Essex Search & Rescue (ESSEXSAR) is a member of the Association of Lowland Search & Rescue (ALSAR) www.alsar.co.uk ## **Section 2 Trustees and Governance:** ||||| |---|---|---|---| |Name of Trustee|Dates during
which the named
trustee acted if
not for the whole
period of this
report|Names of
Directors of
any corporate
charity trustee
at the date of
this report|Name of person
(or body)
entitled to
appoint any
charity trustee| |Steve Crouchman|||Members| |Colin Booth|||Members| |Martyn Tillet|||Members| |Steve Jarret|||Members| Trustee selection method: Trustees are appointed by the membership as honorary officers and committee members. Names of the Charity’s Custodian Trustees: No appointment has yet been made ## **Section 3** ## **Activities & Achievements** The charity has again had a busy year, albeit not at the levels of the previous year 2019/2020 and continues to perform well operationally, despite the influence of COVID. Essex Search and Rescue remain operationally one of the busiest Lowland Rescue teams in the UK. The team was called out 50 times during the year, which included members and the whole team being deployed to assist our fellow teams in the neighboring county of Herefordshire and London. Several of the callouts continued for 2 days or more. In total, 4550 hours were spent on operational search. As of 31[st] August 2021, the charity’s volunteers currently stood at 46 operational and non-operational members, a decrease on the previous year of 2019/2020. As with the whole of the country COVID had a dramatic effect on the team and its members, especially with regards to training. The Trustees continually reviewed the dynamic changes that came into operation for COVID and planned accordingly. Member’s welfare, operational response, public safety and income and expenditure were all reviewed. As a result, we were able to offer an operational response over the whole period of lock down, with training being taken online (including video conferencing). With income severely reduced and mainly limited to funds from clothing recycling, the trustees took the decision to halt all expenditure, except that which would affect our operational response and the health and safety of our members, to preserve reserves. An operational COVID response plan was drawn up by health care professionals in the team and continually reviewed for the safety of members and the communities we assist. Our K9 unit continue to be used more on searches, with several new dogs in training. dogs and support are requested on a regular basis by Essex Police. On many occasions they are being deployed ahead of foot teams (and in same cases, without the need for foot teams to be deployed). They have managed to continue their very high level of training, with considerable personal commitment from the handlers and their families to put in regular practice. Enhanced training for K9 support was able to continue, which gives the team member the ability to carry out several functions under pressure pending the arrival of additional assistance. Some skill areas have been affected in the year due to face-to-face training being limit, the mountain bike team membership has decreased. However, we are looking to increase the number of trained riders as soon with the lifting of all COVID restrictions. In addition, our canoe team training took an enforced break but is back on course and due to go fully operational early 2022. We were able to qualify almost every member of the team in Bank Search for those team members able to swim between lock downs. Several of the team completed National operational management courses. The project to have drones for operational search deployment came a step nearer in the later part of the year with a large donation from a local community group and the donation of a drone kit from a construction company. We hope to have these operational early 2022. ## **Finance & Fund-Raising** Total draft figures for the year ending 30th September 2021 as follows. |Total Income|£28,776| |---|---| |Total Expenditure (inclusive of VAT)|£19,531| |Total cash in hand at the end of the year|£56,921| ## **Contribution of Volunteers** All our members are volunteers and have maintained the high level of training required to maintain an operational response during lockdown. In addition, several members have assisted in the national COVID response The volunteers fundraising activities this year have been greatly reduced. However, they have become more creative, taking the opportunity to explore new avenues of raising funds and deliver awareness of Essex Search and Rescue in the local communities which we support and social media. Essex Search and Rescue would not exist without the tireless efforts of our volunteers, who not only raise funds and awareness, but also make themselves available to search for vulnerable missing people and support the community 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. Our volunteers also bring skills and experience they have gained in their life outside of the team to pass and readily pass these on to others with a large amount of good humor and team work. ## **Relationships to other parties** We continue to have an excellent relationship with Essex Police and continue to develop relationships with other blue light and emergency response organisations, Essex Fire Service, HM Coastguard, and the RNLI. We continually seek joint training and opportunities to aid and support each other. The team is also represented on the Essex Volunteers Network and local Resilience Forum. We have had good support from several local councils in Essex, and also dementia charities, and we have had mutual training activities with them. We hope to continue these relationships. ## **Section 4 Policies Reserves** It remains the Trustees’ intention to hold reserve funds equivalent to the total annual running costs of Essex Search & Rescue, as well as to build further reserve funds to replace equipment as required in the future. Expenditure in 2020/2021 is anticipated to decrease from the levels in previous years and will relate in the main to ongoing operational costs, maintenance of existing equipment and replacement of limited life items. **Risks** We continue to look carefully at our financial obligations. Outgoings are regularly monitored and no expenditure is authorized unless sufficient funds are available. **Insurance** Team members are insured against personal injury whilst on callout or training via the Essex Police volunteer policy. A further policy is in place with Hiscock to cover public liability risks up to £10m, property loss or damage up to £20,000, medical malpractice, and trustee indemnity. **Health & Safety** We continue to utilize a generic Health & Safety policy, which is based upon good practice and Lowland Rescue guidance. However, we intend to develop and implement a more specific and relevant policy next year. Prior to each search and training, an individual Health & Safety Risk Assessment is prepared, which takes in account local conditions, time of search, number of searchers available **,** and weather conditions. Health and Safety issues and documentation are reviewed and updated on a regular basis. ## **Other policies** The charity has adopted policies covering: Health & Safety Risk Management Casualty Care Infection Control Diversity & Equal Opportunities Safeguarding Confidentiality Volunteer membership Bullying & Harassment Data Protection Continual Professional Development Code of conduct Use of search dogs Search operations TRiM. GDPR All new team members have signed an acknowledgement form to confirm that they have read and accepted the above policies. **Section 5 Signature and Declaration** **Declaration: I declare in my capacity of charity trustee, that:** **The trustees have approved the report above; and Have authorized me to sign it on their behalf** **Signature:** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Full Name: Colin Booth
Position: Trustee
Date:
16 [th] February 2022
**----- End of picture text -----**
**Receipts and Payments Accounts** ## **Section A Unrestricted Funds** |Note
**A0**
**A1a**
**A1b**
**A1b**
**A1c**
**A1d**
**A2a**
**A2b**
**A2c**|Name of Charity
**Essex Search & Rescue (ESSEXSAR)**
Charity Commission registered number
**1096661**
**30/09/2021**
Breakdown using either
0r:
**Functional Analysis**
**Your own analysis x**
**Last year's**
**This year's**
**amounts to**
**amounts to**
**Receipts**
**the nearest £**
**the nearest £**
**Donations, legacies and**
**similar receipts**
Donations
18,822
5,613
Bag It Up
1,508
21,975
Fund Raising Events
0
0
**Operating activities to**
**further charity's objects**
Sale of uniform to members
669
433
Membership fees
555
755
Training fees
Interest
13
1
Petrol Refund
**Operating activities to**
**generate funds**
**Investment income**
**receipts**
**Sub-total (A1a+A1b+A1c)**
21,567
28,776
**Other receipts (not counting**
**as "Gross Income")**
Sale of vehicle & equipment
0
0
Transfer from Restricted Fund
685
200
**Total Receipts**
A1
22,252
28,976
**Payments**
**Payments for generating funds**
Fund raising costs
0
0
Cost of uniform
402
87
Training costs
933
490
**Charitable Payments**
**(I) Grants paid**
**(ii) Charitable Activities**
Travelling Expenses
107
0
VAT (to be reclaimed)
2,018
**(iii) support costs**
Admin cost for operations
8,288
6,785
**(iv) Management & Administration**
Independent Examiner Fee & Trustee Admin
**Sub total (A2a+A2b)**
9,730
9,380
**Other payments (not counting**
Control Vehicle
1,534
1,850
**as "Expenditure"**
Operational Equipment
854
8,300
Transfer to restricted fund
879
0
**Total Payments**
(A2a+A2b+A2c) A2
12,997
19,531
**Net of receipts/(Payments)**
A1-A2
9,255
9,445
**Cash funds last year end**
A3
38,221
47,476
**Cash funds this year end**
A1-A2+A3
47,476
56,921
x|Name of Charity
**Essex Search & Rescue (ESSEXSAR)**
Charity Commission registered number
**1096661**
**30/09/2021**
Breakdown using either
0r:
**Functional Analysis**
**Your own analysis x**
**Last year's**
**This year's**
**amounts to**
**amounts to**
**Receipts**
**the nearest £**
**the nearest £**
**Donations, legacies and**
**similar receipts**
Donations
18,822
5,613
Bag It Up
1,508
21,975
Fund Raising Events
0
0
**Operating activities to**
**further charity's objects**
Sale of uniform to members
669
433
Membership fees
555
755
Training fees
Interest
13
1
Petrol Refund
**Operating activities to**
**generate funds**
**Investment income**
**receipts**
**Sub-total (A1a+A1b+A1c)**
21,567
28,776
**Other receipts (not counting**
**as "Gross Income")**
Sale of vehicle & equipment
0
0
Transfer from Restricted Fund
685
200
**Total Receipts**
A1
22,252
28,976
**Payments**
**Payments for generating funds**
Fund raising costs
0
0
Cost of uniform
402
87
Training costs
933
490
**Charitable Payments**
**(I) Grants paid**
**(ii) Charitable Activities**
Travelling Expenses
107
0
VAT (to be reclaimed)
2,018
**(iii) support costs**
Admin cost for operations
8,288
6,785
**(iv) Management & Administration**
Independent Examiner Fee & Trustee Admin
**Sub total (A2a+A2b)**
9,730
9,380
**Other payments (not counting**
Control Vehicle
1,534
1,850
**as "Expenditure"**
Operational Equipment
854
8,300
Transfer to restricted fund
879
0
**Total Payments**
(A2a+A2b+A2c) A2
12,997
19,531
**Net of receipts/(Payments)**
A1-A2
9,255
9,445
**Cash funds last year end**
A3
38,221
47,476
**Cash funds this year end**
A1-A2+A3
47,476
56,921
x|Name of Charity
**Essex Search & Rescue (ESSEXSAR)**
Charity Commission registered number
**1096661**
**30/09/2021**
Breakdown using either
0r:
**Functional Analysis**
**Your own analysis x**
**Last year's**
**This year's**
**amounts to**
**amounts to**
**Receipts**
**the nearest £**
**the nearest £**
**Donations, legacies and**
**similar receipts**
Donations
18,822
5,613
Bag It Up
1,508
21,975
Fund Raising Events
0
0
**Operating activities to**
**further charity's objects**
Sale of uniform to members
669
433
Membership fees
555
755
Training fees
Interest
13
1
Petrol Refund
**Operating activities to**
**generate funds**
**Investment income**
**receipts**
**Sub-total (A1a+A1b+A1c)**
21,567
28,776
**Other receipts (not counting**
**as "Gross Income")**
Sale of vehicle & equipment
0
0
Transfer from Restricted Fund
685
200
**Total Receipts**
A1
22,252
28,976
**Payments**
**Payments for generating funds**
Fund raising costs
0
0
Cost of uniform
402
87
Training costs
933
490
**Charitable Payments**
**(I) Grants paid**
**(ii) Charitable Activities**
Travelling Expenses
107
0
VAT (to be reclaimed)
2,018
**(iii) support costs**
Admin cost for operations
8,288
6,785
**(iv) Management & Administration**
Independent Examiner Fee & Trustee Admin
**Sub total (A2a+A2b)**
9,730
9,380
**Other payments (not counting**
Control Vehicle
1,534
1,850
**as "Expenditure"**
Operational Equipment
854
8,300
Transfer to restricted fund
879
0
**Total Payments**
(A2a+A2b+A2c) A2
12,997
19,531
**Net of receipts/(Payments)**
A1-A2
9,255
9,445
**Cash funds last year end**
A3
38,221
47,476
**Cash funds this year end**
A1-A2+A3
47,476
56,921
x| |---|---|---|---| |||18,822
1,508
0
669
555
13|5,613
21,975
0
433
755
1| |||21,567
0
685|28,776
0
200| |||22,252|28,976| ||||| |||0
402
933
107
8,288|0
87
490
0
2,018
6,785| |||9,730
1,534
854
879|9,380
1,850
8,300
0| |||12,997|19,531| ||||| |||9,255|9,445| |||38,221|47,476| |||47,476|56,921| 1 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Indopendènt Examiner's Report Report to the trustees/ members of Essex Search and Rescue On accounts for the year ended 30th Sepletnber 2021 Charity no lif any) 1096661 Set out on pages I repoil lo Ihe Irusloc's on 111y Pxdminifjlion of the accounts of Ihe above charity I'the Trust") for the year ended 3010912021. f Ihp r.harily'£ Irusloes, you 8re respon51blc for Ihe preparation of the oiccounls In accordancc with Ihc requirements of the Charities Act 2011 I the Act") I roporl 111 rospecl of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried oul undei section 145 01 the 2011 Acl 8nd in carrying out my examinalion, I have lollowed all Ihe 8pplicable Directions given by the Charity Commis510ri under section 1451511bl ol the Acl. Independent I have complelpd my oxaminalion. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come lo my allenlion in connection with the exarnination which gives me causp lo believe Ihal in. any malerial respect". the accounling records were not kepl in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act., or Ihe account% did not accord with the accounting records.. o Ihe accounts did not comply with the applicable requirernents conceFning the form and content ol accounts sel oul In the Charikies IAccounls and R?portsl RegLilalions 2008 other than arhy requiremenk that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view which is not a matter considerod as part of an indepondenl oxaminalion. I have no concerns and have come across no olher matler% in conneclion wilh the oxamination lo which attenlion should be drawn in Ihis report in order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounls to be reached. Responsibilities and basis of report Signed.. Date.. Name.. Charlolle Firkins Relevant professional qualification(s) or body {if any).. FPFS Address.. 2 Plume Avenue Maldon CM9 6LD Oct 2018