SUSSEX SEARCH AND RESCUE Registered Charity No 1097190 www.Sussar.org.uk Trustee Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year end 31st December 2023 2023 Statistics Sl Callouts $4 Tralnlni exerclses 7,131 T¢>tal hours donated 64 Volunteers Includes: 8 Medlcal 1st Responders 8 Swfft Water Tethnklans. 2 Flood Flrst Responders 4 Incldent Vehl¢les 3 Rescue 8oats 3 Search Blkes £40k Annual Expendlture £500k Equlvalent value wovlded to Sussex Pollce and Communlty Soclal medla supporters: 6,370 facebook page Ilkes. 5.849 X fornierfy Thwltter followers 1,110 In5tagram followers Sussex Search and Rescue is registered as a charity in England and Wales No 1097190. Registered address- CIO Haywards Heath Police station. Bolnore Aoad. Haywards Heath West Sussex. RH16 4BA. SUSSEX SEARCH AND RESCUE Registered Charity No 1097190 www.Sussar.org.uk Reference and Admlnlstratlon detalls. Cha rlncl al addross: Clo Haywards Heath Police Station Bolnore Road Haywards Heath West Sussex RH164BA Istered Charl No: 1097190 me f the charl trust mana Mr Daniel Wood Mr Andrew Nixon Miss Jackie Deacon Chair Secretary Treasurer Structure Governance and Mana ement The charity is govemed by a constitution, wthich is adopted by the members. Trustees are elected by members annually at the Annual General meeting held in January. Th8 charfty Is managed by the Honorary Officers, namely the Chairnan, the Secrelary and the Treasurer, together wilh the support of an elected executive committee. The charfty works in partnership wrlh Sussex Police and all members are police vetted before being accepted as operational wthin the team, this vetting is renewable every three years. The charity Is also a fvll member of the wider national network of the Associaticffi Lowland Search and Rescue. Ob'ectives and activiti The primary objectives of Sussex Search and Rescue are: -To relieve the suff8ring and distress among persons endangered by accident or natural hazard by the provision of a trained search and rescue unit to assist Sussex Poli￿ and other agencies. Sussex Search and Rescue is registered as a charity in England and Wales No 1097190. Registered address: CIO Haywards Heath Police station, Bolnore Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex. RH16 4BA. SUSSEX SEARCH AND RESCUE Re8lStered Charity No 1097190 www.Sussar.org.uk -To preserve and protect good health by the provision of education and training in outdoor safety and skills with a view to promoting the safe enjoyment of outdoor recreation. -To promote research into the Scien￿ of search and rescue and to disseminate the useful knowledge gained. for the benefit of the public. The trustees have continued with their duty having due regard to the commission's public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or dulles to which the guidance is relevant. ratlonal achl•v•ments We were very proud after the declslon of the Chlef Constable Jo Shlnner, to agree to continue as our Patron. The trustees and team fully appreciate the confidence and support of the Chief Constable and her recognition of the importance of the team in her force's work to locate vulnerable missing people. Total number of call outs Increased slightly to 51, these were primarily in Sussex but also, 8S usual, included 8SSiStS V•ith other neighbouring counties as requested. A couple of these had the added complexity of having attracted a high level of local and national publicity. Several searches requested or required the use of our Sonar capability, some of which were cross team searches using the specialist capabilities of each team. After securlng our licence as an Outreach Training Centre, 2023 saw the first successful MOD 2 and MOD 3 waler courses take place, which induded participants from our inhouse team and also several from surrounding county teams. This is an essential resource to ensu￿ our water capability is able to requalify inline wth the Defra stsndards, (the only stsndards recognised by all emerg8ncy services and Lowland Rescue for water teams in the UK). By holding this licence to host training courses we are also able to offer surrounding ￿Unty teams options to request or attend courses for retraining their capabilities and encourages further cross team collaboration cost effectively. The trustees would like to acknowledge and recognise the substantial time and effort on top of business as usual that has been put in by our Water team lead and those others invofved to get us to the required level to obtain this status to be able to use this in house and offer wider within the Lowland rescue communty. Having secured a new base for our equipment with West Sussex Fire and Rescue serrfices, the equipment team ensured this transition happened seamlessly with minimal effect on our operation status. We have settled in well and it has been a big factor in enhancing our relationship with the West Sussex Fire and Rescue service team. We remain an active member of the Sussex ￿s￿lien￿ forum, which held regular meetings throughout the year and also ran several preparatory exercises on potential scenarios which Sussex Search and Rescue is registered as a charity in England and Wales No 1097190. Registered address.. CIO Haywards Heath Police Station, Bolnore Road, Haywards Heath. West Sussex. RH16 4BA. SUSSEX SEARCH AND RESCUE •ts••*S Registered Charity No 1097190 www.Sussar.org.uk could affect the communities across Sussex, we were recognlsed as one of the key resources which could be deployed should these scenarios become reality. As a member of the Association of Lowland Rescue. we annually provide them and to the police, ststistics on all incidents attended, these are built up nationally with the intention of improving search planning for futu￿ incidents. Membershlp The member volunteers committed to a total of 7,131 registered hours in 2023, with unquantified unregistered hours. proving their cornmitrnent and dedication continues to be the greatest asset of the organisation. The team finished the year wth a membership number of 64 which induded 55 operational members 7 non-operational members 6 support members During the year the Iniiow included.. 11 new members under training, whlch was over our initial target of 8 Sadly, the team saw elght retirements, one transfer to another county team and one move to a support role. We also saw a very successful recruitment campaign attracting over 140 applicants. Durfng 2023 the truste8s agreed It would be beneficial to set up a Team Memb8rs Attitude Survey to understand the team moral and views, especially for those who may not participate in more public discussions. This was an extremely valuable exercise and whilst the majority of members where content with how the organisats'on was run. it highlighted some valuable points for committee consideration. e.g. The need to improve communication and the pressures on members both financlally and personal. These and other issues identified from the survey helped shape committee activity and team policies. The trustees would like to express their appreciation to the learn for their parkncipation. candour, honesty and support during this process. Tralnlng Unfortunately, during 2023 we found ourselves without a training officer, however we were fortunate to have a training team who stepped up and ensured the invaluable training sessions Sussex Search ènd Rescue is re8lStered as a charity in England and Wales No 1097190. Registered addres5: CIO Haywards Heath Police station. Bolnore Road, Haywards Heath. West Sussex. RH16 48A. SUSSEX SEARCH AND RESCUE Registered Charity No 10971 www.Sussar.org.uk continued and w8 were able to put on a total of 54 training eXe￿aSeS in various disciplines required to keep the team competent. Alongside the main search training nights. our specialised capabilities also had their monthly trainings sessions. Sonar, which included a course run by an intemational sonar trainer. and a presentation by our sonar lead at the south east regional water training conference. Water, which included a team exercise with the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and one with the HM Coast Guard. 2023 saw: 11 new search technicians recruited and qualffied 5 members qualify up to team leader level. 8 members obtain the Outdoor First Ald qualfficatlon 1 member qualified as an Outreach Water Instructor 4 water team members were qualified to M002 - Water First Responder level. 2 water team members progressed and qualified to MOD3 - Water Technirian level. 4 water team members requalified to MOD3 - Water Technician level. 2 members completed and qualified in the Search Operab'ons course. Flnanclal Revl•w The charity finished the year in a healthy financial position with £53k of unrestricted reserrfes which are held in order to fulfil future charitable aims and objectives, build a fund towards future replacement of the vehides and to be sufficient to cover a minimum of 12 months op8r8tional expenditure. In 2023 the organisation was successful in securing £17.7k in grant funding. Three restricted grants from the Ruth Lee annual funds, Sussex resilience forum and the Gatwick Community fijnd for various equipment for the team and two unrestricted grants Irom the Peoples Postcode Lottery and Brighton and Hove Council. The fundraising income remained consistent year on year, even though we received a one off £10k legacy in 2022. Events and organisational donations where back on par with pre pandemic 18vels. Tearn members excelled themselves yet again with the exira time and effort put in to attend around 90 fundraising activities, community tslks and events. Sussex Search and Rescue is re8iStered as a charity in England and Wales No 1097190. Registered address.. CIO Haywards Heath Police station, Bolnore Road, Haywards Heath, West Susse%. RH16 48A. SUSSEX SEARCH AND RESCUE Registered Charity No 109719) wvAv.Sussar.org.uk Declaratlon The Trustees declare that they have approved the trustees. report above. Signed on behalf of the Charities trustees: Signature: Full name- Jackie Deacon Position: Trustee Date: 28° October 2024 Sussex Search and Rescue is registered as a charity irb England and Wales No 1097190. Registered address= CIO Haywards He3th Police station, Bolnore Road, H3yw3rds Heath, West Sussex. RH16 4BA. Ind¢wndent examlnerfs rnport to the tnutees of 5u55ex Searth and Rescue (Re￿3￿red number 10971901 I report to the trusteeson my examination of the accounts of Su55ex Search and Rescue for the period ended 31 December 2023 Responsibilities and basis of rewrt As the charlty trustees of the Trust you are responslble for the preparatlon of the accounts in accordance with ihe requirements of the Charities Act 20111'the ACVI. I report in ￿speCt of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Art and in carrying Out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission Ur￿er section 14515llbl of the Act. Independent examlnerfs statement I have completed my examlnation. I confim that no material matters have come to my attention in connedion with the examlnatlon gfvirw me cause to believe that in any materbal respect.. l. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust a5 required by sectlon 130 of the Act: or 2. the accounts do not accord with those record5,' or 3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requlrements eoncerning the fomi and content of accounts set out in the Charities IA¢counts and Reports) Re8ulations 21))8 other than any requirement that the accounts give a,tn￿ and falrview which is not a matter considered as part of an Independent examinatlon. I have no concerns and have come acro55 no other matters In connection with the exomlnation to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper under5tandlng of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Alison Henton, FCA 18 Lucastes Lane Haywards Heath West Sussex RH16 ILD Date: /g io SUSSEX SEARCH AND AESCUE - 1097190 TWI Ji.42 14 S* of•i•¢t• ijx J.i ij ijsi (•bh T• T*1 •si IiJ*? UnpMiti¢l J*J IA4J 17 1 Wairf