**Co No 5088108** ## **Angel Community Canal Boat Trust** ## **Annual Report 2023/24** Registered Charity Number: 1103542 Company Number: 5088108 Co No 5088108 **Angel Community Canal Boat Trust** (ACCT), also known as ‘ _The Angel Boat_ ’, is a charity which operates two skippered community canal boats for use by local residents and community groups at a cost they can afford. It was originally established in 1976 as Islington Narrow Boat Association (INBA) and continues to be based at City Road Lock in Islington on the Regent’s Canal. The charity enables up to 2,000 people a year to have the opportunity, on a trip lasting from three hours to 5 days, to: - experience the fun and activity of a canal cruise - learn about the history and development of their local area and London through the inland waterways - see the extensive flora and fauna of the canal environment and understand the ecological balance - gain the confidence and social skills necessary for travelling, working and living together on a canal boat, and, for many, to have the novel experience of a period away from the city, cars, street lights, TVs and all that comes with life in an inner-city area. The charity’s narrow boat, _Angel II of Islington,_ is designed along traditional lines for both residential and day trips. From the 2023/2024 year, ACCT has in addition run a second narrow boat, _Long Tom_ , which is designed for day trips. Owned jointly with the London Canal Museum, _Long Tom_ provides trips run for the Museum operated by ACCT. This allows a further several thousand passengers a year to discover the Regent’s Canal. The charity has also developed and runs projects based on its two boats and the canal, focussing on the needs of particular groups of people from our local community. ACCT is supported by Islington Council, and receives grants from a variety of charities and grant-making organisations (both local and national), donations and subscriptions from supporters and hire fees from user groups, which are related to their ability to pay. Many of our users are local children and young people and others who would not be able to afford the cost of such an experience if we did not exist and if we were not able to charge heavily subsidised rates. Co No 5088108 ## **Contents** ||Page| |---|---| |Chair’s report|2| |Robin King|5| |Skipper’s report|7| |Volunteers’ report|9| |Trustees’ report|14| |Statement of financial activities|19| |Balance sheet|20| |Notes to the accounts|21| |Independent Examiner’s report|26| |Skipper’s log 2022/23|27| |Supporters and funders 2022/23|29| ## **100 Club** To become a **Friend of the Angel Boat** you only need to donate a regular annual sum to support the charity. This regular donation will give local people the opportunity of a trip to remember, to learn new skills and to have new experiences. As a Friend you can also contribute to the development of our operations by offering ideas to improve or expand our service to the community or by helping us in doing so. To sign up to be a member of the 100 Club, just contribute at least £100 a year. In return, in each year you contribute we offer you and one guest an evening trip on the Angel Boat, along with other 100 Club members. In the company of some of our trustees and other guests of our organisation you can enjoy a trip to Camden and back, working locks, steering or simply enjoying the ride while enjoying food and drink. If you haven’t, why not join the **100 Club** now and help support _The Angel Boat_ ? 1 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Chair’s Report** This was a transitional year for ACCT. The year from April 2023 was the first time in this charity’s existence we had two boats to run. _Long Tom_ , _Angel II_ ’s little brother and owned jointly with the London Canal Museum (LCM), came on stream. For three days a week throughout much of the year, ACCT provided _Long Tom_ with a volunteer skipper to run trips for LCM along the Regent’s Canal. For the rest of the time, _Long Tom_ was available to ACCT, in addition to _Angel II_ , to provide our usual mixture of canal trips – although only for day and evening trips. Only _Angel II_ is suitable for residential trips. This transition brought additional requirements to which our small team had to adapt. Finding, training and managing the necessary volunteer skippers took up a considerable amount of volunteer time as well as creating additional tasks for Phil, our skipper. The presence of _Long Tom_ making frequent trips on the Regent’s Canal, and the publicity given to _Long Tom_ by LCM, resulted in an increased number of inquiries about booking a boat. Receiving these inquiries for bookings for two boats, and managing the booking arrangements, added more essential tasks to be covered by our small active team. As a result, we facilitated a considerable growth in visitors at LCM lured by trips on _Long Tom_ , and over 3.600 passengers were carried by our skippers on those trips. However, ACCT saw a slight reduction compared with the previous year, in the total number of trips booked despite having a second boat, and a small reduction in number of passengers carried through ACCT bookings during the year. _Long Tom_ is proving to be a very popular boat with its seating arrangement and the excellent views through its large windows. Feedback from users of all ages and backgrounds confirms that a day boat works very well as an addition to _Angel II_ ’s very different (and more traditional) charms. From an operating viewpoint, _Long Tom_ is also an easier boat for our volunteer skippers to learn to manoeuvre compared with . the additional length and weight of _Angel II_ 2 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Chair’s Report** (continued) The large number of trips _Long Tom_ makes and the thousands of passengers it carries result in additional demands on maintenance which is not insignificant. Willing volunteers and our skipper Phil have risen to the task. The year showed that our booking system needed improvement and a dedicated (and willing!) person to operate it. That is now in place and we are very grateful to Nigel Bartlett, volunteer skipper, for taking on that challenge. It also showed that our outreach and marketing to local community groups required revitalising to ensure that all parts of our local community benefited from the additional opportunities that two boats now provided. This is now a priority for ACCT and we continue to look for volunteers who would like to join us in the rewarding work of bringing in new groups, and bringing back groups we have not seen in recent times. Islington contains so many who would benefit from the opportunities we offer, but many of whom still need to be introduced to us and made aware of what we can offer them. Although the accounts show a deficit for the year, our financial arrangements with LCM for managing _Long Tom_ result in additional funding to support our charitable objects. An ageing boat ( _Angel II_ is now 25 years old) brings additional expenditure and it was decided that a repaint could not be put off any longer (unless we wanted to concede defeat to rust!) That essential expense swallowed up what would otherwise have been a healthy surplus, and provides us now with one of the smartest narrow boats on the Regent’s Canal. Such ‘exceptional’ expenses will no doubt continue as long as we keep _Angel II_ afloat and running, but we are now in a much stronger position to take them in our stride. Hire fees in 2023/24 were held for the 5[th] year running, reflecting the financial circumstances of many of our hirers, but for 2024/25 we have taken the steps to increase these across the board to increase our financial stability. Support for those who cannot afford the fees is provided by grants, and from the income generated by those who can afford to pay. 3 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Chair’s Report** (continued) However, we still retain the reputation for the lowest hire fees on the Regent’s Canal, and wish to continue to encourage those of limited or modest – or no - means to experience the canal with us. In sum, an interesting year, a developmental year, and one from which we have learned a great deal about the way we best operate with two boats. Thanks go again to the many who help and support us - our team of volunteer skippers (Nigel, Alan, Skev, David B, Martin, Tim, David K, Chris and Phil B, shortly to be joined by Joanna), our volunteer crew members, volunteer admin people, our Hon Treasurer Susan, our Hon Secretary Debbie and cotrustees with special mention of Lou and Nancy for their boat cleaning skills, our skipper Phil, PTE and the Thomas family for facilitating our annual review meeting, our mooring and our office/storeroom, Martin, Tim, Craig and Sam at our partners LCM for all their help and the many others who support us whether financially or by action. Giles Eyre 4 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Robin King** Born on 15th Nov 1948 in Edgware, Robin died on 2nd Dec 2023, 76 years old, in Islington, where he had lived for many years. He qualified as an architect, and was with local architectural practice PTE from its beginnings in July 1974 in Jerusalem Passage. He worked mainly on rehabilitation projects for Islington Council. In the late 1980s he became involved with the Anderson’s Yard Campaign Group, an action group seeking to protect the old Collins Music Hall Site on Islington Green from huge office development. In about 2001 Robin became involved with Virginia Low in the setting up of the Stuart Low Trust and joined the trustee body. He took groups from SLT on residential canal trips on the narrowboat Angel of Islington, which was when those of us involved with _Angel II_ got to know him. Robin was persuaded to join the trustee body of the charity then running _Angel II_ , Islington Narrow Boat Association, and became a trustee and director when we subsequently incorporated the charity as Angel Community Canal Boat Trust. He remained a trustee director until his death, and a reliable crew member until a year or so before his death when he began to have balance issues. In his gentle and patient way he was a great teacher of boating skills to our novice passengers, and enthusiastic about the canals and the therapeutic nature of canal trips. He was very sad that his ill-health prevented him from continuing to crew. Robin had very special attributes. He was *_ compassionate, a great listener, someone who regularly came up with very apposite comments whatever you were talking about. He was always happy to prepare meals in the confines of a boat’s galley, and when the boat was in dock, there was no job too grubby or uncomfortable for him to volunteer for – whether painting around the gas locker or + blacking the bottom of the boat – which involves lying on the floor of a 200 year old dry dock and working on a surface a few inches above the head! His work as a volunteer was acknowledged by being one of the volunteers recognised when ACCT was awarded QAVS in 2014, and when SLT received the 5 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Robin King** QAVS in 2015 and in 2016 when he received the Pat Haynes Commended Trustee of the Year award made by Voluntary Action Islington. We join with his long-term friend Jane in grieving the loss of Robin but also celebrating the life of a very special, kind and giving friend. Robin is very much missed. Robin King (1948-2023) ACCT Trustee 6 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Skipper’s Report** This was our first full year operating our shared boat _Long Tom_ , which has proved very popular with our existing and new hirers as well as helping our partners at London Canal Museum reach their highest visitor numbers to date. The addition of _Long Tom_ has enabled us to recruit and train volunteer skippers who crew all trips as well as assisting with general maintenance and repairs. Each volunteer brings a lifetime’s experiences, many of which are transferrable to boating, such as careers as an electrician or carpenter or in IT. Our residential trips are the highlight of our season, and I particularly enjoy seeing the young people trying something completely new to them and seeing the group come together to work as a team. One such group is One Degree Academy who wanted their year 4 students to have a residential experience, so we completed 3 X 2 day trips with an overnight stop to cover the class of 30 students. They have since booked 3 more trips for 2024 and a provisional 5 similar trips for 2025, having recognised the benefit of such trips for their young students, and have now added these trips to their curriculum. Our usual youth residentials for local youth clubs, adventure playgrounds and Scout/Guides groups provide the opportunity for these young people to take part in a 5-day canal adventure and opens the door to a whole new world for them, many of them visiting “the countryside” for the first time. As well as learning to steer a boat and operate canal locks safely the main observations from group leaders is improved communication skills, teamwork and a significant increase in self-confidence. After 24 years of service _Angel II_ was in need of a makeover and at the end of last year’s trips, we booked in to dry dock for a repaint. Thanks to Paul & Jack and especially Jabus the signwriter _Angel II_ started the current season looking bright and shiny once more. ## Some comments from our users: _‘Amazing trip loved by all. The children loved doing the locks and taking it in turns steering the boat.’ (Youth group leader)_ _‘We had a great time-brilliant to get the young people out on the water. Very different from an average camp.’ (Scout group leader)_ 7 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Skipper’s Report** (continued) _What the young people gained from the trip? ‘Independence skills, daily life skills like cooking, washing up, etc. Great fun and bonding time.’ (Youth group leader)_ _Best thing about the trip? (Young people on residential trip)_ - _‘Being away from home and on a boat.’_ - _‘Chilling at the front and looking out at nature and being on the move on a boat.’_ - _‘I can’t believe Phil let me drive the boat.’_ _‘Blackberry picking along the River Lea.’_ - _‘Going shopping and cooking and eating together.’_ Phil Gavigan 8 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Volunteers’ report** ## **A view from our volunteer skippers** ## **From Nigel Bartlett - The Joy of Skippering Canal Boats** There are several reasons why I love to skipper canal boats. The top one has to be the pleasure it brings to almost all our passengers. Naturally there are exceptions, such as the passenger who said “ _I enjoyed the trip, but the boat isn’t wide enough_ ”. I still don’t know an appropriate response to someone who thinks that a narrowboat is too narrow but, on this occasion, a smile and thanks for the feedback sufficed. Why do people enjoy our trips? Perhaps because there is something very calming about being close to water. This feeling is helped by the speed at which we travel. Top tip: If you’re in a rush don’t travel by canal! If you can, let your mind slow down to a walking pace, enjoy the wildlife on and around the canal and wave to the people on the towpath. The number of people who smile and wave back may surprise you. I find it particularly rewarding when we have children on the boat. They are almost always keen to work the locks and put huge effort in when opening and closing the gates and operating the paddles. The enjoyment and sense of achievement that they feel is reflected in their huge smiles. I can only imagine the conversations they have on their next school day. On our longer trips I like to give our passengers the opportunity to steer the boat. Sometimes it inspires them to open up about their lives in a way that strangers usually do not. There was a retired military man who told me about the posttraumatic stress disorder for which he is now having treatment. At the end of our trip he had decided that he and his wife were going to rent a canal boat for their next holiday. They had been discussing the idea for a while; she was keen but he was undecided until that day. On one trip I was chatting to a passenger who seemed to be enjoying the ride. I asked him if he had had any boating experience. He thought about it for a bit and then volunteered “ _Well, I was a cross-channel ferry captain for nine years_ ”. And then he proceeded to tell me about the early days and what happened when they first introduced bow thrusters to the fleet. 9 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Volunteers’ Report (** continued) Skippering a boat also offers plenty of opportunities to practise and (hopefully) improve my boat-handling skills. As Phil says “ _Every day’s a school day_ ” and there is always something new to learn about the boat, the canal and the weather. When things go awry, as they sometimes do, it encourages discussion and a little lighthearted ribbing over a drink after the day’s boating has finished. I get so much pleasure from skippering canal boats and I don’t have to pay for the running costs or maintenance. What could be better? ## **From Alan Byrne (aka Canalan)** Although my name is Alan, I am Canalan when I am volunteering as a skipper on . _Long Tom_ I would like to start by thanking Phil for his training as he is right that “ _Every day’s a school day_ ”. However, one day I received a passenger compliment and Phil kindly added, “ _I taught Alan everything he knows_ ”, so I smiled until he then added “ _But not everything I know!_ ”. What I didn’t know is that when you get children to help with the bottom 2 locks at Camden, then you get all the “ _Gongoozlers_ ” [bystanders] to clap. Lesson learnt. Wow! What a wonderful year I have had working for ACCT & the London Canal Museum. It is really pleasing to see new skippers joining the team and to see them skippering charters for ACCT, but why does Nigel always get the Hen Parties? No wonder he wants to manage all the bookings! 10 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Volunteers’ Report (** continued) This time last year I was one of the only skippers on _Long Tom_ & loving it, getting nearly all of the long trips until Giles kindly asked me to share them with others in our growing group of skippers! Thanks for the opportunity, Giles! **Memorable passengers -** Graham, a Tory MP, a Trump fan and a cross-channel ferry skipper. **My Highlights -** Witnessing both Skev and Nigel doing a 180 degree turn at Paddington Basin on Little Venice trips they skippered with me; being the audio guide for our first blind passenger on _Long Tom_ on a short trip to Camley Nature Park and being his guide dog to get him to and from his seat; involving passengers in helping with locks and with steering when on a straight piece of the canal I am about to qualify as a Camden Tour Guide and to celebrate my 65th birthday I took all my colleagues from Little Venice to Angel. Hopefully, this will generate new leads and more passengers for future trips. Camden Guide colleagues. ## **From Nancy Harrison, Trustee** ## **September 2023** ## **Angel Canal Festival** As ever the Angel Canal Festival was held in September 2023, with the day beautifully sunny (as had been the entire summer 2023). Moored just below City Road lock, _Angel II_ was in prime position for the admiring crowds. Although presenting a bit tattered and ever so slightly shabby after being out for the summer project was (however with a solution already on the cards – more to follow below…) _Angel II_ festooned with bunting and popular with the towpath visitors, with many people wanting a peek inside. The full team was there and we chatted to those on the towpath and made many new contacts. The wonderful weather had brought out 11 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Volunteers’ Report (** continued) sizable crowds, who scooped up jars of jam via the side hatch of _Angel II_ and a tremendous number of tickets were secured for the annual Fundraising Raffle (with was on thanks to Lou, Susan and Debbie – our crack team of ticket sellers). _Long Tom_ hand (slightly down the towpath from Angel) to supply short trips around the basin, overseen by Skipper Phil and organised by Giles, which were very popular. A successful day overall. ## **Christmas 2023** A very jolly party for all of the Angelboat and _Long Tom_ supporters was hosted by our friends at the London Canal Museum – with lovely food and drinks, it was a great chance for all of us to get together and meet new team members. ## **Winter 2023** Post Christmas, what better way to begin the new year than to have an overhaul. New Year’s Resolutions - we all do it (join the gym, change your hairstyle, lose weight…) and _Angel II_ was no exception. A late winter trip to the wetdock saw her get the full treatment -- a much needed renovation of the roof and a full repaint (including _Angel II’s_ name and some roses, but alas no castles…). She returned back to Diespecker looking stunning – the team assembling on either side of the tunnel as she emerged majestically to all our admiring eyes. ## **A wash and a brush-up** After Angel’s return to home base once the external overhaul had been completed, a full inside inspection and clean were the logical next step for the New and Improved Angel. A small team of volunteers scrubbed, shined, swept and organised the interior. New curtains for the sleeping berth windows, with a wide green and white vertical striped all-weather fabric (lined in black-out fabric) were made, giving the sleeping areas a cheery water-side look (surprisingly appropriate). In addition, the main cabin curtains were given a serious clean to tackle historical wear-and-tear grime. Plans are afoot to tackle some further issues with the berth cushions after the summer project. 12 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Volunteers’ Report (** continued) ## **New uniforms** Although not really uniforms as such, the new (elegant) navy blue tee-shirts are wonderful and stylish. Embroidered logos both front (top left) and across the back, the design features both _Angel II_ and _Long Tom_ into the design, and will be worn by everyone from both teams. Complimenting the tee-shirt are logoed baseball-style hats (also embroidered) – giving all of us a polished and wonderfully coherent look. Nancy Harrison 13 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Trustees’ Report** The Management Committee presents its report and independently examined financial statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2024. ## **Reference and Administrative Information** Charity Name: Angel Community Canal Boat Trust Working Name: The Angel Boat Charity registration number: 1103542 Company registration number: 5088108 Registered office: 3 Vincent Terrace, London N1 8HJ Operational address: 38 Graham Street, London N1 8JX Employer’s Insurance: Travelers Insurance Co Ltd Policy No. XE14375AA000/205 ## **Management Committee** Giles Eyre Chair Susan Sorensen Hon. Treasurer Debra Whitaker Hon. Secretary Nancy Harrison Luisa Myers-Nobbs Martin Linsey Robin King (Died 2[nd] December 2023) **Independent Examiner** Victoria Lloyd, ACA 32 Burgh Street, London N1 8HG ## **Bankers** Co-operative Bank, 25 Islington High Street, London N1 9LQ ## **Structure, Governance and Management** ## Governing Document The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 30 March 2004 and registered as a charity on 30 April 2004. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up members are each required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10. On 31 March 2005, the assets of Islington Narrow Boat Association (registered in 1976 as charity number 271457) were transferred to the company for the express purpose of taking over the charitable operations of Islington Narrow Boat Association as of 1 April 2005. The Company has identical objects to Islington Narrow Boat Association and the approval of the Charities Commission was obtained for the 31 March 2005 asset transfer. 14 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Trustees’ Report** (continued) ## Recruitment and Appointment of Management Committee The directors of the Company are also the charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and are known as members of the Management Committee. Under the terms of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, one third of the directors are required to retire each year at the Annual General Meeting. The directors retiring are Giles Eyre and Susan Sorensen. Giles Eyre and Susan Sorensen, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election. Anyone interested in appointment as a director should contact any one of the existing directors. ## Risk Management Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety of staff, volunteers, users and visitors. Written procedures for the protection of children and vulnerable adults and enhanced Criminal Record Bureau disclosures are maintained for all staff and volunteers. Internal control risks are minimised by implementation of procedures for financial management and control. ## Organisational Structure The Management Committee meets at least four times a year and is responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. Day to day responsibility is delegated to the Chair with day-to-day operational management the responsibility of the Project Manager and Skipper. ## **Objectives and Activities** The objects of the Company are, inter alia, ‘to provide or assist in the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure-time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life of those persons resident in or in the vicinity of the London Borough of Islington, who have a need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, poverty or social and economic circumstances’. This is achieved by the operation of two canal narrow boats, _Angel II of Islington_ (the asset of the Company) and _Long Tom_ (owned jointly with the London Canal Museum, a charity), and the employment of a full-time skipper, providing day and residential cruises on the Regent’s Canal and connecting waterways from its base at Diespeker Wharf, 38 Graham Street, London N1 8JX. Groups using the boat include schools, playgroups, adventure playgrounds, Scouts and Guides, homeless and psychiatric hostels, ethnic minority and refugee groups, female survivors of domestic abuse and their children and senior citizens, young people and adults with special educational needs and learning difficulties and those participating in educational and environmental projects involving waterways or local topics. ## **Public Benefit Statement** The directors have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers or duties. 15 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Trustees’ Report** (continued) ## **Achievements and Performance** The main achievement of the year has been the operation of our second boat, _Long Tom,_ which has involved preparing it for use, recruiting and training volunteer skippers and working in partnership with the London Canal Museum in providing trips for visitors to the museum. The skippers were trained on _Angel II_ by our skipper Phil and all have acquired the Certificate in Community Boat Management. In addition to skippering the regular trips with the museum, these volunteers acted as skippers for those groups and organisations booking direct through ACCT. This new body of volunteers also helped in maintenance of _Long Tom_ and with other tasks in support of ACCT. _Long Tom_ proved popular by users as a day boat with its large windows and seating arrangements. The total number of trips provided by ACCT to community and other groups was about the same as the previous year, although we were no longer taking bookings on _Angel II_ for the London Canal Museum because of the acquisition of _Long Tom,_ and the distribution between different types of users was very similar. In addition, under the arrangement with the London Canal Museum we provided _Long Tom_ with skipper for approximately 97 days of museum trips carrying 3,656 passengers. It is anticipated that having established the volunteer skipper body and the new systems necessary for the operation of this additional boat, going forward the total number of trips booked through ACCT will increase in 2024/25. The presence of _Long Tom_ on the Regent’s Canal has also raised the profile of ACCT amongst the public. Due to considerable deterioration of the paintwork over the life of _Angel II_ the boat underwent a major external repaint, including the signwriting, during the winter. It is anticipated that this will now last the rest of the boat’s useable life as a community boat. ## **Financial Review** Details of the year’s operations are to be found in the Statistical Summary from the Skipper’s Log and the List of Hirers (page 27). The total number of passengers carried on ACCT booked trips fell significantly to about 1,100 as a consequence of the very large number of passengers on the London Canal Museum trips, now covered by the agreement over _Long Tom,_ no longer being counted. Total grant resources utilised in the year were £12,090, representing a very small reduction from the previous year. Contributions to hire fees and trip costs were attributed to Solace/ survivors of domestic abuse fund (£250) the Bowe fund for schools (£250), the John Murray Trust (£8,020), Camden Giving (£250), the Arnold Clark Community Fund (£1,000), and Cloudesley (£1,265) and other donated income designated for hire fees (£1,025). A residual sum of £13,489 of grant income was carried forward for activities in 2024/25. In addition, a further grant of £15,000 from the John Murray Trust for the funding of residential trips in 2024/25, which was received in March 2024, was deferred to 2024/25. Donations and Friends’ subscriptions received in the current year were £2,285 16 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Trustees’ Report** (continued) lower than the previous year from which £1,125 was applied to hire fees; donors of sums exceeding £500 and £200 are listed at Note 8. As reported in 2021/22, grant resources used directly for contributing to trip hire and costs are now described as either designated or, where specified by the donor, as restricted. The general funds earmarked for future Trust projects or capital developments continue to be treated as designated. The trustees resolved in 2022/23 that the New Boat Fund, hitherto described as restricted, should be redefined as an unrestricted designated fund in accordance with the Charities Commission guidance. The accounts are set out on pages 19 to 25, and show an overall deficit of £5,828 compared to a surplus of £3,503 in the previous year. This results from a number of factors, the most significant being the requirement for a major refurbishment of _Angel II_ at a cost of £8,175 to be funded from reserves. After taking account of this non-recurrent expense, there was a small surplus of £2,347. There was increased net income from the operation of _Long Tom_ but this was offset by a reduction in donation income which needs to be addressed. Total expenditure amounted to £67,904 and is broken down in note 2. _Angel II_ has been fully depreciated but a depreciation charge of £3,064 has been applied to _Long Tom_ calculated at 15%per annum. The Trust remains dependent upon the level of grant aid in addition to donations from supporters, both individual and corporate. It continues to actively explore ways to expand its income base. All outgoings, in light of the uncertainty of grant income, are constantly reviewed so as to remain within income constraints. ## **Policy on reserves** As indicated above, the designated ACCT funds are to cover future capital projects and refurbishment in addition to any major boat repair. In addition, an ACCT fund for trips funded from donations has been created. The general fund is maintained at a level to cover approximately 50% anticipated expenditure, but the designated reserve can also be drawn down if there is a shortfall on income. The designated and restricted funds representing grant balances carried forward are intended to be utilised within the year. The new boat fund has been redefined by resolution of the trustees as a designated fund, to cover the reduction in value of the existing boat since purchase and to contribute to its replacement. ## **Trustees’ assessment of the charity as a “going concern”** The trustees have considered the short- and medium-term financial status of the charity in the light of the overall balance sheet and the prospects for community, private and grant body support in future years. The net current assets of £146,185 are more than double annual expenditure and the charity has no long-term liabilities. Despite the withdrawal of local authority grant support, the charity has maintained its income by securing grant funding and donations from a wide range of corporate, charity and private sources. Operational risks have been managed through the careful application of sound procedures and appropriate insurance. The Charity recognises that it will need to replace the existing narrow boat, _Angel II_ , within the next few years and had set aside £82k in the New Boat 17 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Trustees’ Report** (continued) . fund, including the depreciation provision for the newly-acquired half share in _Long Tom_ This reserve may well be supplemented by any resale value of the current boat. Although the replacement cost would be significantly in excess of £100,000, there is a further reserve of £20,000 designated for future projects and contingencies and the possibility of raising an appeal to meet any shortfall. The trustees are therefore confident that the charity is a going concern for the foreseeable future. ## **Responsibilities of the Directors** Company law requires the directors to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the year end. In preparing those financial statements, the directors are required to: - select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and - prepare the statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business. The directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Members of the Management Committee, who are directors for the purpose of company law and trustees for the purpose of charity law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report were: Giles Eyre Nancy Harrison Susan Sorensen Debra Whitaker Luisa Myers-Nobbs Martin Linsey Approved by the Management Committee on 2[nd] July 2024 and signed on its behalf by: Giles Eyre Director 18 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Statement of financial activities For the year ended 31 March 2024** |Notes
2024
2024
Unrestricted
General
Funds
£
Unrestricted
Designated
Funds
£
**Incoming resources**
Hire Fees
19,865
8,320
Grants and donations
8
6,961
3,865
Gift Aid tax reclaim
8
3,187
-
Income from fundraising
497
-
Interest and other income
17,616
-
_________
________

48,126
12,185
_________
________

**Resources Expended**
**Cost of Generating Funds**
Fundraising and publicity
-
-
**Charitable Expenditure**
Boat and running costs
2,3
59,729
8,175
_________
________
_
**Total resources expended**
59,612
8,175
_________
________

Net income before transfers
(11,603)
4,010
Net transfers between funds
18,680
(20,771)
________
________
_
**Net movement in funds**
**7,077**
**(16,140)**
**_________**
**________**
_
**Fund balances:**
at 1 April 2023
7
23,620
126,379
**at 31 March 2024**
7
**30,697**
**110,239**
**_________**
**________**|2024
Restricted
Funds
£
1,765
-
-
-
-
________
1,765
________
-
-
_______
-
________
1,765
1,470
________
**3,235**
________
2,014
**5,249**
**________**|2024
Total
Funds
£
29,950
10,826
3,187
497
17,616
_________
62,076
_________
-
67,904
_________
67,904
_________
(5,828)
-
_________
**(5,828)**
**_________**
152,013
**146,185**
**_________**|2023
Total
£
33,115
17,187
3,570
43
1,802
_________
55,717
_________
-
52,214
_________
52,214
_________
3,503
-
_________
**3,503**
**_________**
Prior year
148,511
**152,013**
**_________**| |---|---|---|---| There were no recognised gains or losses other than the result for each year as shown above. The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement of financial activities. There were no related party transactions during the year. 19 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Balance Sheet** ## **As at 31 March 2024** |Notes
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
5
**Current assets**
Cash at bank and in hand
Debtors and Prepayments
**Creditors & deferred income:**
**Amounts falling due within one year**
6
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Funds**
Unrestricted general fund
7
Unrestricted Designated funds
7
Restricted funds
7|2024
£
17,361
__________
148,935
12,369
(32,480)
__________
128.824
__________
146,185
**__________**
30,697
110,239
5,249
__________
146,185
**__________**|2023
£
20,425
__________
132,380
12,361
(13,152)
__________
131,589
__________
152,013
**__________**
23,620
126,379
2,014
__________
152,013
**__________**| |---|---|---| ## **Audit Exemption Statement** For the year ending 31[st] March 2022 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. ## **Directors’ responsibilities:** - the members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476, - the directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts, - these accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime. The financial statements were approved by the Board on 1[st] July 2024 and signed on its behalf by: Giles Eyre Susan Sorensen Director Director The accompanying notes are an integral part of this balance sheet. 20 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Notes to the Accounts** ## **1 Accounting policies** ## _a) Basis of accounting_ The accounts are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with applicable accounting standards. The accounts, incorporating a Statement of Financial Activities, have been prepared in accordance with Statement of Recommended Practice - ‘Accounting & Reporting by Charities’ and applicable accounting standards (‘SORP FRS102’ & ‘SORP FRSSE’). ## _b) Fund accounting_ Unrestricted general funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Unrestricted designated funds are funds which have been set aside at the discretion of the Trustees to help finance specific operations. Restricted funds are funds subject to specific restrictive conditions imposed by donors or by the purpose of the appeal or for specific capital projects. The purpose and use of restricted funds is set out in the notes to the accounts. ## _c) Resources expended_ The cost headings comprise operating staff costs, fundraising & publicity activities, general administration costs and depreciation. Central overheads are allocated on the basis of their use with the aim of ensuring that those costs remaining within administration relate to the management of the charity’s assets, and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements. ## _d) Tangible fixed assets_ Depreciation of _Angel II_ and its fixed equipment was provided at a rate calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, on a straight-line basis over its expected useful life of 20 years. Depreciation of _Long Tom_ is being provided for on a reducing balance basis at 15% per annum agreed with the join owners, the London Canal Museum. ## _e) Taxation_ No corporation tax has been provided in these accounts because the income of the charity is within the exemption granted by Section 505 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. 21 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Notes to the Accounts** (continued) ## **2 Analysis of total resources expended** |Staff costs
Fundraising and publicity
“_Angel II_” running costs
“_Long Tom_” commissioning and running costs
Trip supplies and activities
Administration costs
Other
Depreciation
**Total**|2024
£
34,350
45
13,834
6,263
3,009
6,424
915
3,064
_________

67,904

**_________**|2023
£
32,428
-
6,886
3,426
3,558
3,691
1,150
1,075
_________
52,214
**________**| |---|---|---| ## **3 Net incoming/(outgoing) resources for the year** is stated after charging: |Depreciation of tangible fixed assets|2024
£
3,064
**_________**|2023
£
1,075
**_________**| |---|---|---| The _Angel II_ narrow boat is fully depreciated. The _Long Tom_ narrow boat will be depreciated on a reducing balance basis at 15% per annum. ## **4 Staff costs** Particulars of employees are shown below: |Employee costs during the year amounted to:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs|2024
£
34,350
-
_________
34,350
**_________**|2023
£
32,428
-
_________
32,428
**_________**| |---|---|---| The company benefited from the Employment Allowance which exempted small companies from the Employers National Insurance charge. The average number of persons employed by the Trust during the year was 1. The trustees do not receive remuneration for their services to the charity. No employee earned more than £50,000 per annum. 22 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** **Notes to the Accounts** (continued) ## **5 Tangible fixed assets** The net book value of tangible fixed assets consists of the _Angel II_ narrow boat which is now fully depreciated and the _Long Tom_ narrow boat for which one year and four months depreciation has been charged. |Previous year
**Cost**
1 April 2022 (boat purchased April 2000)
1 April 2022
Additions (boat purchased Dec 2022)
Disposals
31 March 2024
31 March 2023

**Depreciation**
1 April 2023
1 April 2022
Charge for the year
Disposals
31 March 2024
31 March 2023

**Net book value**

**31 March 2024**
31 March 2023
|2024
Narrow
boats
£
77,860
21,500
-
__________
99,360
**__________**
(78,935)
(3,064)
-
__________
(81,999)
**__________**
**__________**
**17,361**
**__________**|2023
Narrow
boats
£
77,860
21,500
-
__________
99,360
**__________**
(77,860)
(1,075)
-
__________
(78,935)
**__________**
**__________**
**20,425**
**__________**| |---|---|---| All fixed assets have been used for the charitable activities of the charity. |**6 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**||| |---|---|---| ||2024|2023| ||£|£| |Salary and skipper expenses payable|-|271| |Other creditors|6,841|3,177| |Accrued Grant Income (including donations received up to 31stMarch|25,639|9,704| |2023 in respect of projects in 2024/25 and future years)||| ||__________|__________| ||32,480|13,152| 23 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Notes to the Accounts** (continued) ## **7 Funds** |**Unrestricted**
General fund
Designated grants
ACCT trips
ACCT projects
ACCT New Boat Fund
**Total unrestricted**
**Restricted**
Restricted grants
**Total funds**|Balance
1 April
2023
£
23,620
7,690
3,875
35,879
78,935
_________
149,999
2,014
_________
**152,013**
**________**|Incoming
Resources
£
48,126
11,160
1,025
-
-
_________
60,311
1,765
_________
**62,076**
**_________**|Resources
Expended

£
(59,729)
-

-
(8,175)
-
_________
(67,904)
-
_________
**(67,904)**
**_________**|Transfer of
Funds

£
18,680
(13,460)
(2,050)
(7,704)
3,064
________
(1,470)
1,470
________
**-**
**________**|Balance
31 March
2024
£
30,697
5,390
2,850
20,000
81,999
_________
140,936
5,249
_________
**146,185**
**_________**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| The designated grants fund and restricted grants fund represent grant income brought forward from previous years to be applied in support of community boat trips in the current and future years. It also includes the provision for future ACCT capital projects and refurbishment in addition to any major boat repair, and running costs of the charity should income levels reduce in order that appropriate action could be taken. The new boat fund is to cover the reduction in value of the existing boat since purchase and to contribute to its future replacement. **8 Grants, Donations and Friends** |**Grants for trips**
Camden Giving
Solace/Survivors of domestic abuse
Bowe (schools)
John Murray Trust – residential trips*
John Murray Trust – day hire
Arnold Clark – community fund
Cloudesley
Trips funded from donations

**Total**|2023/2024
£
Rec’d in
Year
-
-
-
-
7,000
-
5,000
-
__________
12,000
**__________**|£
B/F from
2022/23
250
1,764
280
3,000
3,410
1,000
-
3,875
__________
13,579
**__________**|£
Utilised in
Year
250
250
280
2,800
5,220
1,000
1,265
1,025
__________
12,090
**__________**|£
C/F
to 24/25
-
1,514
-
200
5,190
-
3,735
2,850
__________
13,489
**__________**| |---|---|---|---|---| ***** excluding a grant received in March 2024 deferred to 2024-25 24 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Notes to the Accounts** (continued) |**Notes to the Accounts**(continued)||| |---|---|---| |**Donations and Friends**
Donations of £500 and more:
J Douglas
D Wadham
Anon
Angel Association
Total donations over £500
Donations of £200 - £500
Arlington Association
Individuals (7)
Other Friends’ subscriptions and donations
Total donations
Less allocated to hire fees
Tax reclaimed from Gift Aid
Total|2023/24
**£**
2,500
1,000
1,000
500
**5,000**
275
1,700
2,711
**9,686**
(2,725)
3,187|

2022/23





**7,243**




**11,971**

(1,125)

3,570| ||**10,148**|
**14,416**| 25 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Independent Examiner’s Report** ## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Angel Community Canal Boat Trust (‘the Company’)** I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2024. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’). Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charities Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act. ## **Independent examiner’s statement** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe: - accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or - the accounts do not accord with those records; or - the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or - the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)] I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Name: Victoria Lloyd, ACA (ICAEW) Address: 32 Burgh St, London, N1 8HG Date: 6[th] July 2024 26 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Skipper’s Log 2023/24** ## **Number of Bookings:-** ||**2023/24**|_2022/23_| |---|---|---| |Day trips|10|_41_| |Part days|56|_46_| |2-day trips|7|_3_| |3-day trips|3|_6_| |4-day trips|1|_0_| |5-day trips|3|_3_| |Evenings|17|_8_| |**Total**|97|_107_| |**Types of Trips:-**||| |---|---|---| ||**2023/24**|_2022/23_| |Schools|7|_4_| |Special needs groups|5|_2_| |Youth clubs/|10|_10_| |Playgrounds||| |Guides and scouts|6|_10_| |Survivors of domestic|1|_3_| |abuse||| |Elderly and isolated|5|_12_| |Private|53|_46_| |Other|10|_4_| |**Total**|97|_107_| |Days of trips operated|97|_16_| |for London Canal||| |Museum||| |**Ethnic Monitoring (% of Users):-**|**Ethnic Monitoring (% of Users):-**| |---|---| |White UK|37%| |Black (Caribbean, African,|5%| |British & Other)|| |Asian|6%| |Others (Inc. European,|17%| |Greek, Turkish, Middle|| |East)|| |Not stated|35%| ||**2023/24**|_2022/23_| |---|---|---| |**Total number of**|1,083|_1,811_| |**passengers carried:-**||| |Total number of|757|_1,097_| |adults (18+)||| |Total number of|326|_714_| |under 18s||| |Plus on trips operated||| |for London Canal||| |Museum|3,656|_-_| **‘Private’ encompasses all bookings not made in the name of established community organisations.** 27 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Skipper’s Log 2023/24** ## **List of Hirers 2023** 1[st] Islington Scouts 7[th] St Pancras Guides Awesome Adventure Play Barnes School Canal & River Trust Camden Carers Discovery Scouts Dragon Hall School Global Generation Gospel Oak Rangers Gower School Haywards Adventure Playground Hilldrop Ccommunity Centre Homerton Adventure Playground Islington Pensioners Leaside Trust Manor Gardens Welfare Trust N1 Residents Association North Bridge School Northgate School One Degree Academy Parent House Pillion Trust Prospex Rosebowl Youth Centre Roundhouse Youth Centre SEN Family Saturdays St Luke’s Community Centre St Mary’s Solidarity Hun Women’s Group Young Hackney Youth Hubs ‘Private’ hirers are not listed 28 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** ## **Supporters and Funders 2023/24** Thank you to everyone who has supported us, whether through volunteering, making donations, providing grants or being our 100 Club members. This has enabled us to provide much needed services to people in our community. A special thanks also to: - Bill Thomas and PTE Architects - James Douglas - John Murray - Angel Association - Arnold Clark - Arlington Association - Camden Giving - Canal & River Trust - Cloudesley - The Co-op - London Borough of Islington ## _**And all the Friends of the Angel Boat**_ 29 Angel Community Canal Boat Trust **Co No 5088108** For more information about ACCT go to www.angelboat.org or contact us on info@acct.org.uk or phone on 07970 175 488 And find us on Facebook! F THE