## **Trustees’ annual report (including Directors’ report) for the period** **From: 1 April 2022** **To: 31 March 2023** **Charity name: Downland Volunteer Group Charity registration number: 1112181 Company number: 5572984** ## **Objectives and activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|TO RELIEVE PERSONS IN THE
DOWNLAND AREAS WHO ARE ELDERLY,
SICK OR DISABLED OR WHO ARE
OTHERWISE IN NEED BY THE
PROVISION OF VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST
SUCH PERSONS IN ANY WAY THAT MAY
BE REQUIRED| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|Main activities are a volunteer car service
and operation of a local minibus service.
We provide transport for persons in the
Downland areas of West Berkshire who are
elderly, sick or disabled or who are
otherwise in need. We take people to
Hospitals, Doctors' Surgeries, Dentists,
Opticians, to social meetings and to
anywhere else that may be appropriate.| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|In planning our activities we have kept in
mind the Charity Commission guidance on
public benefit.| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other ## **Achievements and performance** |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|This last financial year has been eventful. Covid
still plays a part in what we do. We now for
instance, offer weekend transport whether it is for
covid vaccinations on a Saturday at the surgery
or hospital appointments over the weekend as
the NHS catches up on the backlog of patients
awaiting treatment.
Another thing that happened last year, was one
of our regular users, Mrs Barbara Butlin, sadly
died and left a generous legacy in her Will to the
Downland Volunteer Group. Her wish was this be
used to help patients in the Downland villages to
attend appointments at the surgeries;
consequently we have reduced the suggested
contribution for these trips.
The other major event this last year is that we
ordered a new 100% electric minibus to replace
the existing Handybus, which we should receive
this Autumn once it is fitted out.
These buses are very expensive, both to buy and
fit out according to our needs. So we’re very
grateful to the West Berks Council, Greenham
Trust, The Englefield Trust and The Miss
Lawrence Trust based in Kintbury, all of whom
wish to encourage the use of electric vehicles to
improve the environment, plus other generous
donations from private individuals. Consequently,
the cost to the DVG will be less than had we
considered a diesel engine replacement. Also,
the running costs are expected to be less than a
diesel vehicle.
Looking at the numbers for the last financial year
we made a total of 746 trips. Compared to the
previous year where we made 302 trips once
lockdown was lifted. However, we are still not
quite up to the pre-covid number of 885 trips.
These trips breakdown as follows:
Chieveley Surgery 190 25%| |---|---|---| West Berks Community Hospital 167 22% Royal Berks Hospital RBH 67 9% Other Hospitals 48 6% Compton Surgery 27 4% Other surgeries 12 1% Other destinations 247 33% We currently have 38 volunteer drivers who take passengers in their own cars, 8 Handybus drivers and 12 office support volunteers all of whom offer their services for free. Donated volunteer time totals 1,533 hours supporting our community. We support the Downland Luncheon Club. It's been going since 1998; it happens on the last Friday of the month, except in August and December; and it provides a meal and social gathering. Many of the people who operate it are also members of DVG; and we help provide financial support for their Christmas lunch, which is something that we've done for a number of years. I got a note today from the organiser, just to say thank you. It's very well appreciated. ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: **----- Start of picture text -----**
Para 1.41
Achievements against
objectives set
Para 1.41
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set
Para 1.41
Investment performance
against objectives
Other
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Financial review** Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period > Para 1.21 Our overall financial position on the current account is that we started with £7,251 and we have finished with £8,838; and we have total |||assets amounting to £195,079 compared to
£38,930 last year. The increase due to two
exceptional one-time events: the bequest from
Mrs Butlin and grants towards the Handybus
replacement. All in all, the financial position of the
DVG remains healthy and we made an operating
surplus in 2022/23 of £1,647 on our operating
income of £14,786 compared to the small loss
we made last year.| |---|---|---| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|The current reserves are financial balances
relating to Mrs Butlin’s bequest, replacement of
the Handybus in the next year and to de-risk any
material changes in operating costs. For
example, it is expected the office computer
system will need review and update in the next
year or so.| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|We have total assets amounting to £195,079.
The Trustees are satisfied that the level of
reserves as shown on the balance sheet are
adequate to cover known and anticipated costs in
the short term. Please see annual accounts for
further detail.| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|N/a| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|N/a| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|N/a| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: Para 1.47 The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) Para 1.46 Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted Para 1.46 A description of the principal risks facing the charity Other ## **Structure, governance and management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document:
for example,trust deed,
memorandum and articles of
association etc|Para 1.25|MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF
ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 23
SEPTEMBER 2005| |How is the charity
constituted?
for example limited company,
unincorporated association,
CIO|Para 1.25|Charitable Company| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|Selected by the DVG Committee, who are
elected at the DVG’s AGM.| |||| **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: Para 1.51 Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees Para 1.51 The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works Para 1.51 Relationship with any related parties Other ## **Reference and administrative details** |Charity name|**Downland Volunteer Group**| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|**DVG**| |Registered charitynumber|**1112181**| |Charity’s principal address|**The Surgery, High Street, Compton, NEWBURY**
**RG20 6NJ**| ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
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20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Joe Clerkin|Chair||| ||Jean Pocock|||| ||Gareth Beard|Treasurer|Appointed 17 May2022|DVG Committee| ||Michael Purchase||Appointed 17 May2022|DVG Committee| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name Joe Clerkin Jean Pocock Gareth Beard** Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity **Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year** ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** Description of the assets N/a held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Additional information (optional)** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (optional information)** |**Names and addresses of advisers (optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (optional information)**| |---|---|---| |**Type of**
**adviser**
**Name**
**Address**||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (optional information)**||| |||| ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details ## **Other optional information** ## **Declarations** **The company has taken advantage of the small companies’ exemption in preparing the report above.** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report (including directors’ report) above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees/directors** > **Signature(s)** Joe Clerkin **Full name(s)** Joe Clerkin **Position (for example** Trustee **Secretary, Chair, etc) Date** 29/01/2024 22123 21122 Fixed Assets Fixed Assets None None Current Assets Current Assets .21688 C.O.l.F. 8838 MelroBank Current X 96162 MetroBank Savi 68034 357 Cash in Hand O Debtors-clients O Debtors-DOT O Debtors-Handybus O Debtors-Therapy Groups O Debtors-w Berks DC O Insurances Pre 31383 7251 MelroBank Current MetroBank Savin s Butlin MelroBank Savi s Hand Cash in Hand Debtors-clients Debtors-DOT Debtors-Handybus Debtors-Therapy Groups Debtors-w Berks DC Insuran￿$ Prepaid 296 Total Assets ORW 195079 Total Assets 38930 Current Liabilities Current Liabilities Accruals-Audit Accruals-mileage Claims O Accruals-Audtt O Acfflials-mileage Claims 255 33 Totals Liabilities O Totals Liabilities 288 Capital Employed 195079 Caprtal Emtyo 38642 Financed By.. Financed By.. Accumulated Fund Accumulated Fund Opening Balance SurplusllDeficit) for year Less Handybus Total 38930 Opening Balance 1647 Surplusl{Defi¢it) for year -10000 30577 39452 413 DFVI 39039 Restricted Funds Legacy 96162 DRW Handybus replacement Interest 351 DRW 2?>? Balance Sh88t March 22 Total 164547 Totals 195124 Totals 39039 DRW 'BUDGET 23124 NC 2477 3487 ' Le55 Dn¥8￿ Eyw58A. DeptotTrnniwt_ Giant DDplol Tmnw DwoTTraMPQrt andybuseing¥ LBi8Hanoybuy"Co*y- arthr￿¢BIr We51 COU￿11 I80￿￿9 m￿Ch FL￿l￿N O Aè4rthUr￿ Co•is 1SubJl*fromBullltsB¢ [D￿￿￿￿•PC,I￿ Fott 318T 1749 i Btyemg Nl•t¢hFunNg (Ind￿d￿G0wW￿￿I Totil In¢*?m•lTun 13100 PC'I & F￿¢ 237 48t Tof•l Inrrrm ITymov 117 -35 75 Yumo¥•r pJ U1￿cDS1 1135 AGM 8S Audtt F•oi aD AGM Crils F••• ¢18 D8$ CDili .IIivuF A5Ètsll4rr•ni r￿￿- OBai & P1VT¥s￿nItoa 1103S ss owfflpinlB￿Rnr Pbrklr DI￿￿P8th1 Lw41 & Profq¥blDnllCo8l8 22 Luncn c* otfu CosTb 212 poo Roundir49 offi￿ ￿￿1￿1￿￿￿N DI*¢*P¥￿ Pwi W•b￿*S PLdWCo HantrybulCOSt•IF￿￿￿0mWrn Toli1EXp•n￿h*• | RDunthWI Roundmgb 095 Te*phonè IZ7 PL***Coth _ .8uTpluqD•fiolllfwyNr Tol•l Y*1 exp•ffkn 3703 D•n¢ttitr*y•4rb•won4c 1121• Mf• Bog￿￿1 IN•f•ii I08thAru* NIA Intwoit lo Bthlln Acc¢Juri Hindybub TIF44￿MIntQr1 hit•f••l io Hindbtuil￿0Unt B•qu••¢ Int•t*•t¢O BUtyltlA¢¢fAIDt IgPlieomirrtGr4rf• lo￿] NIA IWA lTht•r•W lo 117Yg01' T0141 r. 2919 6/11 DRW **JC DOWNLAND VOLUNTEER GROUP ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023 INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO DIRECTORS OF THE DOWNLAND VOLUNTEER GROUP Having examined the necessary documentation I have pleasure in reporting on the abbreviated accounts and the profrt and loss account enclosed with this report for the year ended 31 March 2023 vithout undertaking a full audit. Inde ndent Examinerfs Statemont l am of the O￿nIOn that: the financial stat8ment8 are in agreément wth the accounting records kept by the company urKler Section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.. having ￿ard to. and on the basis of, the infomation contained in those accounting records, the attached financial statements have been drawn up in a manner consistent with the accounting provisions of the Companies Ad 2006, $0 far as these provisions are applicable to the company; and the audit exemplion conditions have been met by the company and. at no 'me during the year. did the company fall into a non*xempt category; no matter has come to my attention in connection with the examinalion which gave me ￿asonable cause to believe that in any material respect accounting records have not been kept, or that the accounts do not accord with those records: there are no matter3 which have come to my attention in connection with the examination. to vthich the directors attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. l am satisfied that the Treasurer, supported by the Directors, has put in pla￿ safe. efficient arrangements and maintain robust controls on payments as an integrated part of the overall financial control system. This is my tenth examination as the appointed Independent Examiner for the Downland Volunteer Group and I would like to place on re¢ord my sincere thanks Gareth Beard, for all his hard work in preparsng the accounts and for providing me with the infonnation and records required to undertake the examination. Signed.. David R Weller DMA, ONCIHNC Independent Examiner Date". 2& April 2023