THE LADYBIRD BOAT TRUST Annual Report 2022/2023
This Report covers the period of the Trust’s operation from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.
The Name of the Trust is “ The Ladybird Boat Trust”. Registered Number 1153894.
Principal office is located at Cedar Lodge, St Mary’s Road, Ramsey St Mary’s, Cambs, PE26 2SN, England .
TRUSTEES
Mick Mean - Chairman & Crew member Any Nicol - Treasurer & Crew Member Jenni Jones - Secretary & Crew Member Tony Buckland – Boat Manager & Crew member Richard Birch - Crew Member Pat Cole - Crew Member
The above are the six voting Trustees.
CONSTITUTION
The Trust is a “Charitable Incorporated Organisation” registered on 23 September 2013 operating from Cambridgeshire, whose only voting members are its Trustees.
CHARITABLE OBJECTIVES
“Providing recreational and leisure time activity, in particular trips on the “ Ladybird ” boat and other boats, in the interests of education and social welfare for people living in the area of benefit who have need by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, poverty or social and economic circumstances, with a view to improving the conditions of life of such persons.”
CHARITABLE ASSETS
The principal asset of the Trust is the wide beamed river boat the “ Ladybird ”, together with such other craft and associated items of equipment and plant used in connection with the operation of such vessels from time to time.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP OF THE TRUST
All accredited members of the crew of the boat “ Ladybird ” (or other boats) are recognised as nonvoting “Associate Members of the Trust”.
MEETINGS OF TRUSTEES
The Trustees normally hold 4 meetings a year, one of which is the Annual General Meeting, at which the Chairman (or Chairperson) is elected for the ensuing year.
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APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES
New, or additional, Trustees are appointed by the other remaining Trustees at a meeting of which proper notice has been given and on the agenda for which such appointments or vacancies are listed.
METHODS OF OPERATION
The Trustees met on four occasions during the year of this Report to determine the policy issues of the Charity. Where such matters are of a specific “operational” nature, those Trustees who are crew members may determine those matters and report their decisions to the next full meeting of all Trustees. The Trust operates a series of Working Groups to consider particular operational subjects comprising members of crew who have a specific interest, experience or qualification in any of those subjects. Those Working Groups report to the Trustees who determine what actions shall be taken. There is no provision for any one Trustee to take decisions on policy matters and a “collective decision-making ethos” is adopted throughout. All Trustees acknowledge that they can be held to account for all decisions taken.
FINANCE
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(i) The principal asset, the “ Ladybird ” boat was transferred to the ownership of the Trust by St John Ambulance by Deed of Transfer dated 13 December 2013. The Ladybird Boat Trust is responsible for all costs, liabilities and outgoings related to the operation and maintenance of this boat and its associated equipment. Built in 2007, the “ Ladybird ” is estimated to have a useful and operational life of twenty years. The Trust has therefore determined that an appropriate portion of its income shall, on an annual basis, be set aside, invested and maintained for the purposes of substantial refurbishment of the “ Ladybird ” or its replacement at the end of that period of time.
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(ii) Whilst retaining the overall policy of offering trips within its Charitable Objectives free of charge to its users, the Trust recognises and supports the policy of seeking income by way of donations, patronage, or commercial generation from a wide variety of sources (both individual and corporate) in order to meet the annual running costs of its craft together with the proportion of income to be set aside in (i) above,
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(iii) The Trust operates a “Receipts and Payments” system of accounting, in accordance with the requirements of the Charity Commission.
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(iv) The financial activities of the Trust are scrutinised by External Examination, and the Examiner’s Report is attached to this document.
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(v) Trustees and Associate Members receive no financial benefit or reward in kind. Payments are made to reimburse Trustees and others of expenses properly and necessarily incurred.
DETAILS OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITY AND INVESTMENT
As part of this Report, there is attached a Statement of Financial Activity prepared by the Treasurer to the Trust. The Trust can confirm that during the period of report it has, from time to time, reviewed its financial controls and made appropriate amendments wherever necessary.
ACTIVITIES OF THE TRUST DURING THE YEAR UNDER REPORT
Following the highly successful transfer of the “ Ladybird ” boat from St John Ambulance in 2013, the Trust has benefitted from the generous support of not just Patrons and the crew, but many members of the public, other charities, and local authorities.
Since 2013 the Charity has been able to maintain significant and satisfactory income in excess of expenditure brought about by stringent expenditure controls and good management. It was
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essential that, notwithstanding the satisfactory financial position, the Trust maintained its standards and levels of operation for the benefit of those for whom it was created. The Trust is satisfied that this has been done, as has been evidenced by the many acknowledgments of thanks and appreciation received throughout the year from its users of all ages and levels of disadvantage.
The “ Ladybird ” is regularly inspected by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and has been given a wholly satisfactory clearance in terms of both the structural and technical integrity of the boat and its equipment and the recruitment, operation and training of its crew. Technical maintenance continues to be undertaken by those crew members who have the experience and expertise to do so.
The “ Ladybird ” service continues to be as popular as ever and can expect to continue to be in high demand. The Trust has continued with its policy of the recruitment of additional crew and the training of additional Boat Masters as required. During the 2022 summer season, Ladybird carried 2225 passengers on 138 trips, and in the 2022/23 winter training season the Trust recruited 3 additional crew, while 2 crew members left.
SERIOUS INCIDENTS
The Charity can confirm that during the year in question there have been no serious incidents that need to be reported to the Charity Commission.
POLICY ON PAYMENT OF STAFF
The Charity employs no staff, and therefore has not adopted such a policy. Volunteers (including Trustees) are reimbursed expenses properly incurred in the execution of the Charity’s functions.
Mick Mean, Chairman of the Trustees
Jenni Jones, Secretary to the Trust
31 July 2023 31 July 2023
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES ThE LpDYeiRO BOAT TRUST Receipts and payments accounts Forth• penod frorn 0110412022 0110412023 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted fund l• near••t Restn"eted lunds Endowment fund# Total funds tothB rnarot £ to the no•r•At É A1 R•c•l Is Prlv¢ I9.7 19,497 940 72 23 3,140 4.599 GrDrt• ?2 lrt•r••t J,140 Glft tot•lfGmss income lorAR) 21.270 28.ZTO A2 ABs•l and InstM•nI ••1•4 Sub total Total rncowts 28,270 10.270 A3Pa •ntJ no IiJ¥w F•1 Inbuf41• S•¥vl¢ln IIEl•etrlel OoThii•l Us•¥p UnSform•lEWpThrn 43$ 716 4JS 718 713 Sub total 33.011 23.011 A4 AsB•t and Inv•8tm#nt purchos48, (we tsblg) Sub total Totalpoyments 23.011 23,011 N•t ofroc•lW/(payments) A5 Tranf•Fs b•tw•n fund• A6 Ca•h funds last yoar •nd Cash Ilwds thls year enrl 5,259 5,259 5.259 5,259 CCXX Rl aitounls ISSI 2710412023
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrostrfctad n(h Endowm•nt funds fvnds B1 Ca•h fund• Balay¥ Current Account Bar¢lay• DePlt Account 20A2J Tot•1 ¢•8h funds 23.230 fvnd• fund fund Details nMrnAtÉ Fund Curr•nt v•lu• Det?Ils R•Mrv• Fund BJ Imie•tment au•ts Al•dlum T•nn 50,000 72.634 RM•r¥• Fund Long Tomi Fund totffilch CuMnt¥al Details Bl A•••t• r•tsln•d for lh• ch•rfty'• own u Details Fund to ¥trthfv Amotsntdu• When du• 86 Uiblllti Signed by one trwt8•5 on bèhallol all the trne$ &9nat Print Nm• Dat? of rov41 CCXX R2 accounts ISS) Jis 27104r2023
CHARITY COMMISSION
..J FOR ENGLAND AND WALE5
Independent examiner's report on the
accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
R0POrt to thè trustoos
THE LADYBIRD BOAT TRUST
On accounts for the yoar
endod
31 MARCH 2023
Charlty no
(If any)
1153894
Set out on pages
ONE
I report lo the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the atjove
chanty (Ihe Trust.) for the year ended
As the charity's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the
accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charilies Act 2011
{Ihe Act'>.
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's acrounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I
have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under seclion 145{5>lb) of the Act.
Re$ponslbllltles and
basls of report
Independent he charity's gross Ir0 exceeded £250.000 and l am qualified to
examlner's statement undertake the examination by being a qualffied member of finsert name of
applicable listed bcKly]]. Delete [ ] rfnot applicable.
I have cy)mpleted my examination. I confirm that no materi81 matters have
come to my attenlion in connection wrth the examination (other than that
disclosed bel
R•lovant professlonal quallficalion(s) or body (If anyl: Address: (o Si0y i r4L) ILG Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highligm material matters of concem (see CC32. Independent ex8rrMnation ol chanty accounts: dire&ions and guidance for examiners). IER 2018 Oct