2023-03-31-accounts

Registered number 05246504

CanalAbility

Report and Unaudited Accounts

31 March 2023

DOUGLAS JONES PHILLIPS LTD

Accountants

Contents

Contents
	Page
Legal & Administrative information		2
Foreword by Chair of Trustees		3
Principle Activities and Charitable Aims		4
Objectives and Activities for the Public Benefit		4
Trustees Report
- Trustees		5
- Statement of Trustee Responsibilities		6
- Employment Policy		6
- Activities and Achievements		7
- Governance and Internal Control		8
Financial Review (including reserves)
- Statement of Financial Activities		9
- Income and Expenditure Account		10
- Balance Sheet		11, 12
- Independent Examiners Report		13
- Notes to the Financial Statements	14, 15,	16, 17

1

Legal and Administrative Information

Trustees	M Balkham
	I Ramsay
	C Fraser
	I Gates
	B Seaton
Company Secretary	C Fraser
Company number	5246504
Charity number	1108452
Registered office	Lock View
	Burnt Mill Lane
	Harlow
	Essex
	CM20 2QS
Bankers	HSBC Bank PLC
	Canada Place
	Canary Wharf
	London
	E14 5AH

2

Foreword by Chair of Trustees

Here is my annual report as acting Chair of Trustees, for the year ending 31st March 2023;

The health and emotional wellbeing of our community is at the forefront of what the charity does. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of service and equality, delivering support that builds the confidence and skills of our clients. Being on and around the water also has significant benefits to emotional health and wellbeing. We are committed to ensuring that these benefits are also enjoyed by our volunteers who contribute so much to the experience of our clients.

We all believe in the power of CanalAbility to change lives but we had no illusions about the reality of the situation we continued to face during the past year. For 2021/22, building resilience was again at the forefront of the Board’s considerations. We knew we had to be as responsive and adaptable as possible to the challenges which lay ahead, drawing on our agility which we needed to come through Covid.

As the country moved beyond the pandemic, we continued to play an important part supporting people and communities in helping to improve their health and wellbeing. We achieved this in an environment where we experienced great challenges in terms of welcoming cruisers back, on an initially reduced income and dealing with the tail of the pandemic and its associated restrictions on gatherings. Our staff and volunteers once again proved themselves exceptional in their abilities to adapt and overcome, in a true spirit of “we just have to get on with things”.

We know we continue to face significant financial and volunteer pressures and also in keeping our fleet afloat and in good order to meet client needs into the future. In relation to this, I presented our fleet strategy at this year’s AGM.

I was recently at the mooring when a two-boat trip returned carrying the Befriending Group of a local charity. These were elderly people and the noise was startling as they were singing and generally kicking up a storm! Clearly having a great time. What was lovely was the praise that they heaped upon our volunteer crews that had taken them out for the day. I know that this positive impact we make on people’s lives is not isolated. It happens day-in day-out, year round and this is why we do what we do.

More detail is available on our website www.canalability.org.uk and you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter @CanalAbility.

Marc Balkham, Chair of Trustees

3

Principal Activities and Charitable Aims

The principal activity and charitable aim of the company is the provision of recreational and leisure facilities associated with canal boats, for people who by reason of their disability, youth, social or economic circumstances have need of such facilities, in order to improve their spiritual, mental and physical well-being. This is achieved by providing holidays, short breaks and day trips on specially adapted canal boats.

Objectives and Activities for the Public Benefit

The Charities Commission guidance on public benefit has been considered by Trustees and is a focus in ensuring that CanalAbility (the Charity) delivers its aims and objectives whilst complying with that guidance.

The Charity operates to make boating activities on the inland waterways accessible to people with disabilities and to community groups, enabling them to achieve the benefits and enjoyment such activities provide. The benefits include building confidence, motivation and personal development by empowering our users – especially those with disabilities – to achievements and aspirations not otherwise available. An appreciation and understanding of the river is encouraged and simply being ‘on the river’ delivers a spiritual and mental wellbeing.

The Charity operates three boats to provide day trips and holidays and short breaks. Users are encouraged to take an active part in the boating activities and a range of specialist equipment is provided to enable this for people with a wide range of disabilities. Our users include hospices, care homes, members of disability support groups, families, community groups and educational establishments.

To cover its operating costs, the Charity relies on grants and donations as well as the fees charged for the boats and facilities offered. In setting the level of fees Trustees give careful consideration to the accessibility to the services by those on low income.

4

Trustees Report

Trustees

The directors of the charity are its Trustees for the purpose of charity law and throughout this report are collectively referred to as the Trustees. CanalAbility has a board of Trustees who meet regularly and are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity.

Marc Balkham

Chair of Trustees

Re-elected October 2021

Marc decided to become a trustee after meeting with the people who work and volunteer for CanalAbility to promote positive experiences for the local community. His other big passion is music and Marc runs music projects for young adults with learning difficulties.

Ian Ramsay Director of Fleet & Site Re-elected October 2021

Ian joined CanalAbility in 2011 having found us online when looking for a canal boat holiday for a friend in a wheelchair. In January 2016 he took over as co-opted Trustee for fleeting and moorings.

Before retiring Ian had a long history working as an engineer in the merchant navy, ending with 7 years as a Chief Engineer.

Charles Fraser Company Secretary

Re-elected October 2020

Charles has a long history of boat related activities and spent numerous holidays on canal boats. Charles qualified as a solicitor in 1997 and has been working at Longmore's Solicitors in Hertford since 2015.

Ian Gates Treasurer

Re-elected October 2022

During Ian's career in business systems he has worked in many different industries and in many countries and will endeavour to bring these experiences to the benefit of the charity.

Benjamin Seaton Trustee Ben…..

Elected October 2022

5

Statement of Trustee Responsibilities

Company and charity law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the surplus or deficit of the charity for that period.

In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently,

• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent,

• state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements,

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.

The Trustees have overall responsibility for ensuring that the charity has appropriate system of controls, financial and otherwise. They are also responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity. 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.

Employment Policy

The directors of the company are also the charity Trustees for the purpose of the charity law. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association the members of the management committee are elected to serve for a period of three years after which they must be re-elected at the next Annual General Meeting.

6

Activities and Achievements

Introduction.

• Our 2021/22 year saw us start to return to some semblance of normality after the worst of the Covid pandemic, despite some restrictions remaining in place at the beginning of the financial year.

• Despite these challenges, we were delighted to welcome back our loyal clients and introduce new clients to the therapeutic benefits of our local waterways.

Income

• Our Boating Income increased year on year to 45K as we resumed operations, achieving approximately 75% of pre-Covid levels.

• Although the HMRC Job Retention scheme continued on a flexible basis to September 2021, this was not claimed by CanalAbility post May 2021.

• Through the efforts of our General Manager and support staff, we applied for and received Grants from a number of local funding bodies for which we are extremely grateful. These were aimed at Restart activities and ensured that we could relaunch operations with confidence.

Grants, donations and fundraising

• We would like to once again thank our Funders, Sponsors and generous individual Donors, who continue to support us on a regular basis.

Expenditure

• Our expenditure increased by 16K year on year. Whilst this was expected as we returned to more normal operations, we continue to see increasing costs to maintain and operate our fleet of three boats.

Volunteers

• Our volunteers remain the lifeblood of our Charity, and it is with their dedication and determination that we have been able to return in such good health.

• We continue to actively seek new volunteers to support all areas of the Charity including Crew, Maintenance and Administration.

Finally, a huge thank you to our staff and trustees who work tirelessly to keep the charity afloat, our volunteers who carry out roles as diverse as skippering, maintenance and gardening and our clients who return time and time again to enjoy the therapeutic benefits that being out on the water brings to their health and wellbeing.

This report was approved by the Trustees and signed on its behalf

Marc Balkham, Chair of Trustees

7

Governance and Internal Control

Governing Document

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 30th September 2004 and registered as a charity on 4th March 2005. The charity had previously operated as an unincorporated body, charity number 1006432 registered in November 1991. 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 required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10.

Governance and Internal Control

Where appropriate, systems or procedures have been established to mitigate the risks the charity faces. Internal control risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for authorisation of all transactions and projects. All policies recommended by The Charity Commission are adopted and procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety of staff, volunteers and clients. These procedures are periodically reviewed to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the charity and Charity Commission

Reserves

The Trustees have examined the charity's requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation. It has a policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets held by the charity should be at least three months of the fixed running costs. The reserve target for 2022/23 was set at £60,000. The strategy is to build reserves through planned operating surpluses and increased fundraising.

Investment powers, policy and performance

Under the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the charity has the power to invest in line with its financial policy.

8

CANALABILTY

Statement of financial activities For the year ended 31st March 2023

		Unrestricted	Restricted	Year	Year
		funds	funds	ended	ended
				31/03/23	31/03/22
	Notes	£	£	£	£
Incoming resources
Donations		11,663		11,663	3,836
Grants	1		16,050	16,050	17,614
HMRC Grants
Sponsorship
Fundraising events			1,578	1,578	8,046
Income from charitable activities		55,932		55,932	44,481
Income from investments		342		342	5
Total incoming resources		67,937	17,628	85,565	75,902
Resources expended
Boat repair, maintenance and running costs		26,155	9,866	36,021	32,033
Staff costs	2	12,478	9,812	22,290	18,142
Training		686	20	706	1,420
Heat, Light & Power		1,084	297	1,381	1,050
Insurance		3,463	722	4,185	3,584
Advertising		171	28	199	1,558
Telephone		450	149	599	640
Office expenses		1,045	4,996	6,041	1,739
General expenses		4,812	5,880	10,692	1,240
Accountancy		641		641	542
Depreciation and amortisation		9,000		9,000	9,000
Loan interest
Total resources expended		(59,985)	(31,770)	(91,755)	(70,948)
Net incoming resources before other
recognised gains and losses		7,952	(14,142)	(6,190)	4,954
Other recognised gains/losses
Gains and losses on fixed assets		0	0	0	0
Transfers
Gross transfers between funds		0	0	0	0
Net movement in funds		7,952	(14,142)	(6,190)	4,954
Total funds brought forward		77,038	25,956	102,994	98,040
Total funds carried forward		84,990	11,814	96,804	102,994

9

CANALABILITY

Income and Expenditure account

For the year ended 31st March 2023

Income Total expenditure Operating (deficit)/surplus Income from investments Gains and losses from disposals of fixed assets Net retained (deficit)/surplus for the financial period	Year ended 31/03/23 £ 85,223 91,755 (6,532) 342 (6,190)	Year ended 31/03/22 £ 75,987 70,948
		4,949 5
		4,954

10

CANALABILTY

Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2023

Notes 31/03/23 £ Fixed assets Tangible assets 3 Current assets Stocks 0 Cash at bank and in hand 114,047 114,047 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 4 (26,146) Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year 5 Net assets Funds Unrestricted 6 Restricted 7	Notes 31/03/23 £ Fixed assets Tangible assets 3 Current assets Stocks 0 Cash at bank and in hand 114,047 114,047 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 4 (26,146) Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year 5 Net assets Funds Unrestricted 6 Restricted 7	31/03/23 £ £ £ 16,525 25,625 16,625 25,625 0 115,474 115,474 (28,445) 87,901 87,029 104,526 112,654 (7,722) (9,660) 96,804 102,994 84,990 77,038 11,814 25,956 96,804 102,994	£ 25,625
	114,047 (26,146)
			112,654 (9,660)
			102,994
			77,038 25,956
			102,994

The trustees' statements required by the Companies Act 2006 are shown on the following pages which form part of this Balance sheet.

11

CANALABILITY

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31st March 2023

Balance sheet (continued)

Trustees' statements required by the Companies Act 2006 For the year ended 31st March 2023

In approving these financial statements as Trustees of the company we hereby confirm;

For the year ended 31 March 2023 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006

The trustees 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 profit and loss account has not been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.

The financial statements were approved by the Board and signed on its behalf on

Trustee – I Gates

12

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of CanalAbility

We report on the accounts for the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2022, which are set out on pages 2 to 18.

Respective responsibilities of the trustees and examiner

As the Charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts, you consider that the audit requirement of Section 43 (2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act) does not apply. It is our responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under Section 43 (7)(b) of the Act, whether particular matters have come to our attention.

Basis of independent examiner's report

Our Examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the charity Commissioners. 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 trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not express any audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention.

(i) which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirement

• to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act and

• to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the

• have not been met, or

(ii) to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of accounts to be reached

Douglas Jones Phillips Ltd Accountants 33 High Street Old Harlow Essex CM17 0DN

May 2023

13

CANALABLITY

Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

1 Accounting policies

1.1 Accounting convention

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with FRS102, the Financial Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (as applied to small entities by section 1A of the standard).

The charity has taken advantage of the exemption in FRS1 from the requirement to produce a cashflow statement because it is a small company.

1.2 Incoming resources

Voluntary income is received by way of donations and gifts and is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable. Gifts donated for resale are included as income when they are sold. Donated assets are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified and a third party is bearing the cost. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included.

Grants, including grants for the purchase of fixed assets, are recognised in full in the Statement of Financial Activities in the year in which they are receivable.

Income from investments is included in the year in which it is receivable.

1.3 Resources expended

Resources expended are recognised in the year in which they are incurred.

Management and administration costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

1.4 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:

Plant and Machinery 5% / 10% on cost or valuation

1.5 Stocks

Stock is valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

14

CANALABILITY

Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

1 Grant Income Unrestricted Restricted Year ended Year ended funds funds 31/03/23 31/03/22 £ £ £ £ 0 16,050 16,050 17,614 Other Grants 0 16,050 16,050 17,614 2 Number of Employees Year ended Year ended 31/03/23 31/03/22 The average monthly number of employees (excluding the trustees) during the period 2 2

15

CANALABILITY

Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

3 Tangible Fixed Assets Cost At 1 April 2022 At 31 March 2023 Depreciation At 1 April 2022 Charge for the Year At 31 March 2023 Net Book Value At 1 April 2022 At 31 March 2023 4 Creditors: amounts falling due within 1 Year Other Loans Deferred Income Other Taxes and Social Security Other Creditors 5 Creditors: amounts falling due after 1 Year Other Loans Total Loans Repayable in one year or less (note 4) Repayable between one and two years Repayable between three and five years Repayable in five years or more	Plant & Machinery £ 232,156 232,156 206,531 9,000 215,531 25,625 16,625 Year ended 31/03/23 £ 1,938 20,073 (4,255) 8,390	Total £ 232,156
		232,156
		206,531 9,000
		215,531
		25,625
		16,625
		Year ended 31/03/22 £ 1,938 18,934 0 7,573
	26,146	28,445
	Year ended 31/03/23 £ 7,722 1,938 1,938 5,784 0	Year ended 31/03/22 £ 9,660 1,938 1,938 5,814 1,908
	9,660	11,598

16

CANALABILITY

Notes to the financial statements

for the year ended 31 March 2023

6 Unrestricted Funds General Funds	01/04/22 £ 77,038 77,038	Incoming £ 67,937 67,937	Outgoing £ (59,985) (59,985)	31/03/23 £ 84,990
				84,990

Purposes of unrestricted funds

The unrestricted funds are available to be spent for any purposes of the charity, and include the funding of our fixed assets.

7 Restricted Funds Restricted Funds	01/04/22 £ 25,956 25,956	Incoming £ 17,628 17,628	Outgoing £ (31,770) (31,770)	31/03/23 £ 11,814
				11,814

Purposes of restricted funds

The restricted funds are funds that have been given for designated purposes and projects.

8 Analysis of Net Assets between Funds Fund Balances at 31/03/23 represented by; Tangible Fixed Assets Current Assets Current Liabilities Long Term Liabilities	Unrestricted Funds £ 16,625 102,233 (26,146) (7,722) 84,990	Restricted Funds £ 11,814 11,814	Total Funds £ 16,625 114,047 (26,146) (7,722)
			96,804

17