Cheshire Search and Rescue Team
Suites 4&5 Rex Building Alderely Road Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 1HY Charity Number: 1105454
TRUSTEE’S ANNUAL REPORT
1[ST] April 2020 – 31[st] March 2021
Trustees:
Robert Davies MBE - Chairman Alan Parmenter – Independent Trustee Simon Lane MBE– Team Leader Mark Susca – Deputy Team Leader Mark Simpson – Deputy Team Leader Richard Lane – Deputy Team Leader Rachel Smith – Secretary Robert Pearce – Treasurer
Jim Oliver – Training Lead
Anthony Horrigan – Non-Executive Trustee
Mark Clayton – Non-Executive Trustee
Malcolm Pritchard – Non-Executive Trustee
Stephen Hill – Non-Executive Trustee
Structure, Governance and Management:
Constitution Adapted:
Constitution: Unincorporated
Trustee Selection: Trustees are appointed and reappointed at the Annual General Meeting
Policies: Governance policies are presented and reviewed by all Trustees and provided to all members Objectives and Activities:
To assist Cheshire Police and any other Police / Search and Rescue / Emergency Service resource within mainland UK to locate and assist missing persons. This included medical assistance where qualified and to be an additional resource to assist at any major incident within mainland UK.
To Assist in the relieving of suffering and distress amongst persons endangered by accident or natural hazard, principally in Cheshire but without geographical limitation, and to support any other rescue organisation, and to provide adequate arrangements for the secure and efficient search and rescue of any persons so endangered.
Achievements and Performance:
This reporting period has been extremely busy. It has also found us having to completely re visit how we operate safely and maintain an effective capability whilst working within the confines and restrictions we faced as the nation was caught in the grip of a dangerous pandemic.
The year had started off well, training was being carried out routinely and we were able to qualify some of the team with varying qualifications ensuring we remained fully manned. In addition, the team received some fantastic news that after receiving The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, our Team Leader Simon Lane was named in the New Year’s Honours list and awarded an MBE for his services to charity being Search and Rescue. We also in this reporting period were able to start responding to calls from the Ambulance Service to assist with the recovery of casualties who were in areas that required special access. N addition to this we have also been on call and assisted the Air Ambulance with recovery taskings in conjunction with the police and ambulance service.
As we found ourselves in the grip of the pandemic, we reviewed our own training strategy and certainly in the early stages decided to cancel a pre-planned residential course. Unfortunately, we had pre purchased a lot of food. However, we able to donate a lot too several other charities who were working within the community. These included food banks and charities feeding the homeless. We then suspended all training. As the country came out of lockdown and with consultation of the police and our National Governing body, we conducted some low level but essential training to ensure Operational capability was not compromised. That is a policy will continue to follow but currently all training is suspended again as we are in another National lockdown.
Operationally it proved difficult. However, the team Operational Trustees were given the task of drawing up several different courses of action to be put forward for discussion and a decision made utilising the simplest but importantly safest to not only the Casualty but our individual members who were coming forward to deploy when required despite the pandemic looming in the background.
A plan was put into place and taken to our colleagues within our Constabulary for ratification to ensure we fell within their compliance. It included a description and issue of PPE and how we would affect searching and Rescue within this restricted environment. This took into account the needs of the Casualty to ensure we also provided PPE where required for both their medical security and importantly that of our members.
I can report that the team has been quite busy carrying out searches and our capability has not thankfully impeded and we remain resolute to providing the best service we can to the community and our colleagues within the constabulary. Aside from search, we have now established a firm link with our local ambulance service and now working in collaboration in rescuing casualties in joint operations who find themselves injured in geographically challenging locations. As I write this the team is getting some rest from assisting in a flood recovery and on standby to move to another location to assist a Mountain Rescue team with a possible evacuation of a village.
The year has been extremely challenging and tough year on our team members, some of whom are also key workers but have still attended the call when asked for which we commend them, and the rest of the team for their Stirling efforts throughout, turning out day or night knowing they have put themselves at extra risk.
I am pleased to report that with careful planning by the Operational Trustees, collaboration from the emergency services, especially our intimate colleagues within the police. Importantly our members and their resolve should not be underestimated The Operational capability of Cheshire Search and Rescue Team has not been put at jeopardy at any point throughout the reporting period. The team is made up of an extraordinary bunch people who do an extraordinary thing and ask for nothing in return.
Financial Review:
Funds are split between two bank accounts to ensure adequate levels of protection and resilience, with a positive balance of £10,000 Reserve maintained to ensure annual financial coverage. The Team does not invest or seek to capitalise on income or fundraising. There are no employees and no funds paid to members and no remunerations or expenses paid.
Declaration:
NAME: Robert Davies MBE POSITION: Trustee / Chairman DATE: 22 January 2021 SIGNATURE: R Davies
Cheshire Search & Rescue
Profit and Loss Report
01 April, 2020 - 31 March, 2021
| Sales | ||
|---|---|---|
| 4001 - Members Subs | 8,372.00 | |
| 4002 - Donation Gift Aid | 4,289.02 | |
| 4003 - Donation - NO Gift Aid | 13,773.03 | |
| 4030 - Mem Clothing Payment | 453.20 | |
| 4900 - Other income | 30,041.12 | |
| Total Sales | £56,928.37 | |
| Direct Expenses | ||
| 5000 - Cost of Sales - Goods | 652.29 | |
| 5012 - ST Refund | 2,090.00 | |
| 5060 - Other Direct Expenses | 9.99 | |
| 5700 - Equipment | 8,604.99 | |
| 7700 - Medical Consumables | 311.92 | |
| Total Direct Expenses | £11,669.19 | |
| GROSS PROFIT / LOSS | £45,259.18 | |
| Overheads | ||
| 7100 - Rent | 650.00 | |
| 7300 - Vehicle Fuel | 734.34 | |
| 7310 - Vehicle Repair and Servicing | 707.60 | |
| 7320 - Vehicle Licences | 530.00 | |
| 7500 - Printing | 212.74 | |
| 7520 - Office Stationery | 664.83 | |
| 7530 - Telephone | 999.03 | |
| 7620 - Consultancy & Professional Fees | 110.00 | |
10 Nov 2021 20:46
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| 7630 - Business Insurance 4,033.61 |
|
|---|---|
| 7640 - Equipment Hire 968.13 |
|
| 8030 - Office Equipment and IT Depreciation 341.19 |
|
| 8200 - General Expenses 12.90 |
|
| 8220 - Clothing Costs 247.80 |
|
| 8230 - Training Costs 1,589.19 |
|
| Total Overheads | £11,801.36 |
| NET PROFIT / LOSS | £33,457.82 |
10 Nov 2021 20:46
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Charity Name
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of Cheshire Search and Rescue Team
On accounts for the year Charity no ended 31MAR21 (if any) 1105454 Set out on pages 6 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended DD / MM / YYYY 31 / 03 / 2021 .
- Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
-
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed: Date: Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:
October 2018
1
IER
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
No significant issues, there are more electronic receipts this year over previous years but this is as a result of Covid safety and changing in buying habits.
October 2018
2
IER