Charity No: 1126085 Shropshire Rural Support TRUSTEES, REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 June 2024
Shropshire Rural Support Reference and administrative details (as at 30 June 2024) Patron Anna Turner, Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire President Christine Downes Charity registration number 1126085 Trustees Andrew Bebb Rev. Adam Clayton Geoff Black lohn Brown Tony Howell Simon Latter Roger Parry Roger Pemberton Officers Andrew Bebb (Chairman) Geoff Black FCA (Treasurer) Jane Latter (Co-ordinator) Principal office c/0 S L Latter & M D Shepherd Mutual House Sitka Drive Shrewsbury SY2 6LG Bankers Lloyds POBox6 I Pride Hill Shrewsbury Shropshire SYI IDG
Shropshire Rural Support Contents Page Trustees, report Independent examiner's report Receipts and payments account Statement of assets and liabilities Notes to the financial statements 10
Shropshire Rural Support Trustees, Report The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of Shropshlre Rural Support (the charity) for the year ended 30 June 2024. STRUCTURE. GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT CONSTITUTION The organlsation is an unincorporated charity established under a constitution signed and dated 4th December 2007. The charity was granted charitable status in September 2Crf)9 and is registered charity No. 1126085. METHOD OF APPOINTMENT OR ELEcfioN OF TRUSTEES Trustees are appointed during the charit¢s Annual General Meetin& where existlng members of the charity are proposed and seconded by other members. Interim vacancies arislng duringthe year are filled by recommendatlon of the Board of Trustees. All trustees must offer themselves for reolection at the Annual General Meeting. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE AND DECISION MAKING The managernent of the charity Is the responsibility of a Management Commlttee comprisingthe Board of Trustees and the Co-ordinator of the organisation. This committee meets on a regular basis to discuss the financial position as well as planned events in the future which will helpto Increase awareness and raise funds. There Is also an Annual General Meeting to which all the volunteers of the charity are invited to attend, along with other active members of the local rural community. OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES POUCIES AND OBJECTIVES In shaping the Charity's objertive5 and planning its activities the trustees have considered the Charity Commi55ion's revised guidance on public benefit. The Charity's objectives are: l. Through voluntary and partnership effort, develop and offer support services that meetthe needs of those suffering from all forms of stress arising from their rural way of life regardless of economic status. 2. Endeavour to make statutory authorities and other public bodies aware of the issues giving rise to rural stress, and to offer construrtive suggestlons on how these issues can be addressed and alleviated. AcfiviTIES FOR ACHIEVING OBJEcfivES The charity'5 funds are raised by donations received from businesses, individuals and groups.
Shropshire Rural Support ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES Shropshire Rural Support has seen a steady increase in activity again this year wlth referrals increasing and noticeable rise in the number of referrals that are coming through our helpline. We have seen requests from a number of new contarts including some of the countys vets, the Mayfair Community Centre, Church Stretton and the Butty Van. 2022 2023 19 io 2024 29 SRS helpline FCN referral RABI Social prescribers CLA k-111 APHA/tradlng standards NFU Livestock Market Health Check Fire & Rescue NHS discharge team Butty Van Mayfair Community Centre, Church Stretton Shows/Events Vets TOTAL 23 38 The trustees have held 6 meetings this year, with thanks to the Shrewsbury NFU and Roger Parry for hostingthe meetings. We have again been overwhelmed by the generosity shown to the charity, ranging from individual donations, corporate donations and Young Farmers clubs, a5 well as a highly successful Ball organised by Cath Suckley of Hopton Farms, which raised a staggering £13,000. There has been a lot of activity during this yearfs show season. Shropshire, Burwarton, Oswestry, Minsterley & Wattlesbough shows were attended along with Whitchurch YFC and Cruckton Ploughing Matches. All provided platform to be able to promote the services of the charity. Along with the agricultural shows, SRS has been invited to take part in Churchmere Medical Practice's patient group Information day in Whitchurch, and Oswestry Town Council's Well Being Day. The charity also provided speakers for the West Mercia Rural Crime event, Newport Rotary Club and the Farmers, Day Race at Ludlow Race Course. Involvement with the Len's Light charity has been significant this year. Shropshire Rural Support welcomed Andrew & Linda Eadon as theytravelled from John O'Groats to Land's End on a John Deere tractor via the country's livestock markets raising aWanesS of mental health issues in the farming community. The Big FarmingTea Break was launched in February and again it was supported by Market Drayton Market, it was also an opportunity to present the new SRS mugs kindly sponsored byTractor Hire UK. The President and Co-ordinator were invited to the FCN regional conference in Stafford In Nov 2023 where they
Shropshire Rural Support were warmly welcomed. Pontesbury Perambulation was kindly organised by Roger Pemberton and family in aid of SRS, a 10 mile walk in the vicinity of Pontesbury. Following a detailed route the walkers enjoyed varied scenery and a welcomed midway drlnk at the Habberley Arms and finally an ice cream treat from Hoof & Scoop to finish. SRS are verygrateful to Rogerfs hard work In organising thls event. The number of volunteers has increased this year and we have hosted a couple of meetings which act as an Information share and training. The Samaritans ran a 'Listening Skills, workshop for SRS which was well supported. The meeting in May included a guest speaker from the Admiral Nurses, who gave a short but informativetalk about the role they play and how we could work together. We would liketo increase our volunteer base so role5 such as answering the helpline, having a regular presence at the markets, visiting isolated and lonely people can be achieved. SRS launched a text service this year following a survey condutted with the SFYFC. The results showed that the majority of youngfarmers knew about SRS but would prefer to use a text message ratherthan a phone call to reach outfor help. SRS has joined in partnership with SHOUT, a text helpline with a bespoke text number. The Livestock Market Health check service run by Shropshire Council has continued to be welcomed by all 6 sites within Shropshire. Unfortunately, the service wa5 reduced in March 2024 to one visit per month to each of the market5, It is hoped that SRS can work in partnership with the Council and provlde additional support in the weeks thatthe Council are absent. The use of social media, Facebook and Instagram has increased our digital presence. This is something that we will increase in the future, thanks to Daisy and Noah, I0 young volunteers who have instigated this wlth Alistair Thornley's support. The increase in the use of the SRS support line indicates that the continued promotion of the services of the charity is reaching more of the rural community. Sadly the need is as great as ever but there are still many more areas that need to be explored such as vets, agricultural stores, farms with a large workforce and agrichemical suppliers to name a few. Shropshire Rural Support certainly has a busy year ahead. FINANCIAL REVIEW There was a surplus in the year of £9,736 {2023: Surplus: £12,522). As mentioned in the review of activities, there have been many generous donations from individuals, groups and companies in the year. However, the trustees are mindful that there is a continuing need for fundraisingto meet the Charity's forecast expenditure in the years ahead. Consequently, the trustees are actively considering various fund-raising attivities for the forthcoming year. RESERVES POUCY Detailed budgeting is maintained to ensure that the organisation's reserves adequately cover approximately two years, typical expenditure. The charity maintains funds not needed on a day-to-day ba515 in an appropriate interest bearing account. At the year end the charity held free reserves of £56,65612023: £46,920). PLANS FOR THE FUTURE The Charity intends to Increase awareness of the organisatlon by effectlve promotion and publiclty, and to ensure adequate fundraising activity to rneet the reserves policy of the charity.
Shropshlre Rural Support BASIS OF ACCOUNTING The accounts of the Ch8rity have been prepaRd on a Receipts and Payments basis In accordance wSth charlty re8ulatlons. 17 Thls report wa5 approved by the Trustees on and signed on thelr behalf. by: Andrew Bebb Chalman
Shropshlre Rural Support INDEPENDENf EXAMINER'S REpokn ¥0 ThE TRusfE I rwt on acwnts ofthe Charftyforthe year tred 30Jurrt 2024 whlth arn set out M pa8es 9 to 11. the dHrW$ you Ire resp)nslble for the preparntlon oltht accounts In Kcordance wlth the rnqthm•nts ofthe Act 20111*he ACVI. I report In respect of my eyamlnatlon of the charlty's accounts carrled out under sectlon 14 of the Act nd In carryln8OUt my examhMth?n I haye followed all the applkable dlrectbns 8fven tythe Chartty CommITr section 14SI5)Ib}ofthe Art. I h3v• compknd my examklatlon. I mnfirm th•t no matsrfal matters have come to my attenJon In connectkn wlth the ex•mlnatlon 81vI me cause to bellÈve that k) any matethl wespectr. l. accounts rocords not kèpt In r•sp•ct ofthe charlty a$ required sectkn 130 of th• 2. the accounts do attord wlth those records. vA4th attentk>n should be drawn In th15 report In othr to enaW• a proper under$tsTrth of the a(wunts to be reached. 14 0(knb6r 2024
Shropshire Rural Support RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT- Year to 30 June Unrnstrlctsd: Funds ilnrestrfrted Funds Receipts 37.879 2&814 7,CKIO 1,052 Donations Grants{prino's Countryslde Fund) Interest Total RO1p.ts 2.190 Payments stsff salarfe5 Communlcationsi postsge, printlng, statlonery & travel Insurdn Governance costs Texting SeNlce lannual sub to May 2025) Promotioha TO Payments 19,688 2,453 627 132 16,286 . 2,716 636 107 1,796 30.333 1.700 21,344 Net ReIPtS- unrestrfcted funds 9,n6 :. 11522 Cash and Bank Balan5 broughtforNard Cash and Bank Balan5 TrIed foward 46.920 66,656 46,920
Shropshire Rural Support STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES as at 30 June BJik •d Cash Bal*eès Cash atbankand in hand ..AcMu1ated Funds 46,920 SS8ned on behalf of the tNstees Ofi ... '.Tfustee
Shropshlre Rural Support NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Trustees, remuneratlon and related party transactlons Durln8 the year. no Trustees received any remuneration12023 - £Nil). Durlng the year, no Trustees received any benef in klnd12023 - £NII). During the year, no Trustees received any reimbursement of expenses (2023 - £Nil). IIJ