## Association of Lowland Rescue ## **Trustees Report 2020/2021** February 2021 saw our Chair Gareth Pritchard step down and a new Chair, Teresa Archer elected in March 2021. We continued to work on the four objectives set in 2019 as follows: ## **1. Supporting, engaging and communicating with our Teams and being transparent in our dealings** Each team has a named trustee contact and is encouraged to work with their trustee to resolve any local issues and receive support. We continue to provide regular updates and meetings to keep the organisation informed and engaged. ## **2. Ensuring our Tasking Agencies, SAR Strategic Partners and the Charity Commission have confidence in LR** Despite the ongoing limitations of the pandemic, we have continued to take part in virtual meetings with our primary tasking authorities through the NPCC, and engaged in the UKSAR Operators Group and various sub groups to move forward on important learning and development across SAR. ## **3. Demonstrating good governance and managing key risk areas** It is important in terms of overall governance that, as an organisation, we have accurate data on our activities and resources in LR. This assists in terms of internal management but also supports some of the developments we are undertaking and need external support. LR team members continue to develop the AIR (Annual Incident Report) database and to collate such important data. The 2020 AGM took place over Zoom and attendance was excellent with a high percentage of our Teams attending. We elected a Vice-Chair as well as two new Trustees to give us a good complement of seven Trustees. Since then we have had two resignations, and will be looking to appoint additional trustees at the 2021 AGM. . ## **4. Establishing a Sub-Group to generate options of the future structure of LR – ensuring that we have a diverse membership of the group and including our younger members.** We had postponed work on this as the pandemic continued and we have had limited capacity on the trustee board. This does however remain an important strategic aim and work will take place during 2022 to move forward. ## **Key points from 2020 data include:** - There were **34 Lowland Rescue Teams** - There were **1572 operational members** and 507 non-operational members across the teams. This compares with the operational numbers from 2019 (1587 operational). The lack of increase as has been seen in previous years may be explained by the impact of the COVID pandemic on the ability to recruit and train new members - Resources available across the teams included: - 47 dogs - 99 vehicles - 48 boats - 46 drones - 94 bikes - 40 canoes and kayaks The main change has been with the increase in drones compared to 2019 (25 drones) - In total over **91,000 person-hours** (80,000 in 2019) of Lowland Rescue incident activity were completed - In 2020 there were **2158 incident callouts** (1746 in 2019) including assists and **1642** (1594 in 2019) of these associated with searches for missing people. - There was a dramatic increase to almost 450 ‘other’ incidents related to providing support during the COVID pandemic either providing food and PPE for the local community or working in hospitals and vaccination centres. - Operationally callouts were fairly stable across the year and days of the week with a slight reduction mid-week although comparison with previous years’ show there are no clear month or weekday trends established. Peak callout times were at around 09:00 and 19:00 again consistent with previous years - Based on the full economic costs of a police officer (National Policing Guidelines 2018) **the total value of the Lowland Rescue Services** provided for incidents alone would be **£5.4 million** . This excludes all costs associated with training and equipment Teresa Archer Chair, Lowland Rescue September 2021 ## **– Annual General Meeting 2021** # **Treasurer's Report for the financial year 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021** ## **Issues and Challenges faced during the year** Financial year 2020/21 was a challenging year with the main challenge being the lack of face to face activities such as training due to the COVID-19 pandemic which restricted spending. Our main source of income continues to be the annual team subscription fee of £110 (£3,910) which only covers half of the Association's annual fixed running costs(annual average £6,243). The remaining unrestricted income (£2,589) is variable and comes mainly from donations through platforms such as Virgin Money Giving (which is to close this year). The result of the above is that the Associations unrestricted funds amount to a mere £18,929. ## **– Financial Results (As per Chappell Associates Chartered Accountants)** The Associations Statement of Income and Expenses shows a surplus of £42,862 for this financial year. In this reporting period we received £56,590 in Grants; VTF £49,460 JLP OFCOM £4,500 CAF PPE £3,000 Operating revenue for the year was £74,214 made up most notedly of; General Sales £9,857 Donations Unrestricted £2,589 Team Subscriptions £3,910 Grants for ALSAR £56,590 Attachment 4 Page 1 Operating expenses for the year were £31,352 which includes most notedly; General Purchases £1,961 OFCOM radio licenses £3,223 Insurance £1,457 LRFR Medical kit £3,058 Grants (PPE) £7,266 SDH restricted fund £8,787 Training course £4,435 ## **Cash on Hand** Lloyds Current Account £84,499 Loyds Saving Account £20,003 Total £104,502 Restricted SDH £2,235 VTF 18/19 £15,642 VTF 19/20 £11,400 VTF 20/21 £35,016 JLP(OFCOM) £1,277 Total Restricted £65,570 Operating £18,929 Reserve £20,003 Total £104,502 ## **Plans for the forthcoming year** Priorities for the forthcoming year; - Set Departmental budgets for the year and closely monitor actuals to ensure we break even on SDH and VTF. - Consultation with teams and review of the Team Annual Subscription fee. - Consultation with teams and review of the OFCOM radio license fee. - Find a replacement platform to Virgin Money Giving for donations. - Recruit a new Treasurer Attachment 4 Page 2 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the tN$toesl members of ASSOCIATION OF LOWLAND SEARCH AND RESCUE On accounts for the year ended 31 MARCH 2021 Charlty no (rf any) 1150317 out on pag•s I repfyt to the twstees <)n my examhiatlon of the accolffts of the above charity fthe Trusn for ts year erKled 31103r2021. Rospon8lbllltl¢s and basls of report As the chwiws truslees, you are responsible for the prepar8tK)n of the accounts in acc(¥dance with the rewirements of the Charities Act 2011 I report in respect of my a￿•￿inati￿ of the TNst's accounts ¢arried out LThler sedion 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have folkyhed all the applicable tlirectsons given by the Charity Commission urKler section 145(5)