## **York Rescue Boat**
**York ECO Business Centre Amy Johnson Way Clifton Moor**
**York YO30 4AG**
## **Charity Number 1155849**
JWPCreers LLP Chartered Accountants Genesis 5 Church Lane Heslington York YO10 5DQ
Dear Sirs
The following representations are made on the basis of enquiries of trustees and management with relevant knowledge and experience such as we consider necessary in connection with your independent examination of the charity’s financial statements for the year ended 30 April 2022. These enquiries have included inspection of supporting documentation where appropriate. All representations are made to the best of our knowledge and belief.
## **General**
- 1 We acknowledge that the work performed by you is substantially less in scope than an audit performed in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) and that you do not express an audit opinion.
- 2 We confirm that the charity was entitled to exemption under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 the requirement to have its financial statements for the financial year ended 30 April 2022 audited.
- 3 We have fulfilled our responsibilities as trustees as set out in the terms of your engagement letter dated 24 January 2019, under the Charities Act 2011 for preparing financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view and for making accurate representations to you.
- 4 All the transactions undertaken by the charity have been properly reflected and recorded in the accounting records.
- 5 All the accounting records have been made available to you for the purpose of your independent examination. We have provided you with unrestricted access to all appropriate persons within the charity, and with all other records and related information requested, including minutes of all management and trustee meetings and correspondence with The Charity Commission.
- 6 The financial statements are free of material misstatements, including omissions.
## **Assets and liabilities**
- 7 The charity has satisfactory title to all assets and there are no liens or encumbrances on the charity’s assets, except for those that are disclosed in the notes to the financial statements.
- 8 All actual liabilities, contingent liabilities and guarantees given to third parties have been recorded or disclosed as appropriate.
- 9 We have no plans or intentions that may materially alter the carrying value and where relevant the fair value measurements or classification of assets and liabilities reflected in the financial statements.
## **Accounting estimates**
- 10 Significant assumptions used by us in making accounting estimates, including those measured at fair value, are reasonable.
## **Legal claims**
- 11 We have disclosed to you all claims in connection with litigation that have been, or are expected to be, received and such matters, as appropriate, have been properly accounted for, and disclosed in, the financial statements.
## **Laws and regulations**
- 12 We have disclosed to you all known instances of non-compliance or suspected non-compliance with laws and regulations whose effects should be considered when preparing the financial statements.
## **Related parties**
- 13 Related party relationships and transactions have been appropriately accounted for and disclosed in the financial statements. We have disclosed to you all relevant information concerning such relationships and transactions and are not aware of any other matters which require disclosure in order to comply with legislative and accounting standards requirements.
## **Subsequent events**
- 14 All events subsequent to the date of the financial statements which require adjustment or disclosure have been properly accounted for and disclosed.
## **Going concern**
- 15 We believe that the charity's financial statements should be prepared on a going concern basis on the grounds that current and future sources of funding or support will be more than adequate for the charity's needs. We have considered a period of twelve months from the date of approval of the financial statements. We believe that no further disclosures relating to the charity's ability to continue as a going concern need to be made in the financial statements.
## **Grants and donations**
- 16 All grants, donations and other income, the receipt of which is subject to specific terms or conditions, have been notified to you. There have been no breaches of terms or conditions in the application of such income.
Yours faithfully
**JA Watt** .............................................................................................................................. **Signed on 01/02/23 @ 17:4** 45 Signed on behalf of the board of trustees
Date 31 January 2023
**YORK RESCUE BOAT UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED**
**5 APRIL 2022** Charity number 1155849
## **YORK RESCUE BOAT**
|I N D E X|P A G E|
|---|---|
|__________________________________________________________________________________||
|REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION|1|
|REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES|2 - 4|
|INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT|5|
|RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT|6|
|STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES|7|
|NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS|8 - 10|
- 1 -
## **YORK RESCUE BOAT**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
Charity name: York Rescue Boat Charity number: 1155849
## **REGISTERED ADDRESS**
York Rescue Boat York ECO Business Centre Amy Johnson Way Clifton Moor York YO30 4AG
## **BOARD OF TRUSTEES**
David Grabowski Joanne Lynch Alistair McCleary James Watt
- 2 -
## **YORK RESCUE BOAT**
## **ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2022**
## **Structure, governance and management**
York Rescue Boat is a charitable incorporated organisation registered at the Charity Commission. It is governed by a foundation constitution registered 19 February 2014 amended on 11 July 2017.
## **Objectives and activities**
The aim of the York Rescue Boat (YRB) is to save life. It will achieve this through the following activities:
1. Provision of land and river-based water safety patrolling within the York area.
2. Provision of flood rescue in York and as part of the national contingency framework.
3. Support to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.
4. Education to members of the public to increase awareness of the risks associated with the rivers.
5. Fundraising and communication to support the activities identified.
As trustees, we are confident that we have complied with the duty under section 17(5) of the Charities Act and the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.
The volunteers undertake on a twice sometimes 3 weekly basis foot patrols along the Rivers Ouse and Foss. These patrols will react to any incident on the river that they observe or are made aware of including people falling into either river, jumping into the rivers, attempting to swim in the rivers, these are particularly prevalent in the summer months especially as the number of tourists increases.
The YRB has also seen an increase in the number of call outs from the Police and Fire and Rescue Service to aid in search and body recovery. The YRB is also part of the national flood rescue effort. YRB also undertakes educational training on water safety in schools and organisations within York and the surrounding area, often in conjunction with the Royal National Lifesaving Society (RLSS).
The charity does not make any grants and has not made no financial investments since its inception.
The charity is entirely staffed by enthusiastic volunteers, who between them act operationally, manage and train themselves, fundraise and complete the myriad of tasks required to maintain the high quality and well-regarded service that they provide to the people of and the visitors to York.
## **Achievements and performance**
The charity continued to provide a service not only for York and the surrounding area, but further afield. Due to the continuing effects of Covid 19 and the accompanying restrictions the YRB’s activities were again curtailed during the national lockdowns and continued to have some effect on the charity and how it would normally operate, which has required it to adapt and develop. The YRB team has met those challenges and adjusted the way it works to ensure the safety of the team and members of the public. It has done this and whilst maintaining a professional approach that has been greatly appreciated by the emergency services we support. The restrictions have not stopped YRB planning and preparing for the time when it will be able to undertake normal patrols and activities.
This year has seen a reduction in the number of incidents that were dealt with (80 down from 87 in 2021), there has been an increase in the number of call outs (61 up from 52 in 2021). There has been an increase in the number of persons lives saved (3 up from 2 in 2021). Incidents are occurrences recorded that happen when YRB are on a designated patrol, call outs are occurrences where the on call team is requested by the emergency services.
There has also been an increase in volunteer hours (8,175hrs up from 5,693hrs in 2021)
- 3 -
## **YORK RESCUE BOAT**
## **ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2022 (Continued)**
## **Achievements and performance (continued)**
## **Breakdown of incidents and callouts compared to (2020/2021)**
- Concerns for Safety 37 (29)
- Casualties in water 17 (25)
- Missing from Home 20 (12)
- People Assisted 37 (38)
- Mental Health Related 51.9% (33%)
- Sinking boat and 5 persons rescued 1 (0)
There has been an increase in the number of Police call outs which are now more than those by the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS). This is often to undertake protracted searches for vulnerable persons. When it is a water-based incident, YRB are being called out by the Police at the same time as they call the FRS.
## **Equipment and Infrastructure**
A new boat has been ordered and will arrive in the summer of 2022. It has been paid for by the fundraising efforts of the family of Sonny Ferry who died in the river Foss in the early hours of 13th April 2019. To celebrate his life, Sonny’s family launched The Sunshine Campaign with the express aim of raising £45,000 to enable York Rescue Boat to replace the current boat, which is 24 years old.
The new Operations van, paid for by grants, has been ordered and again it is expected in the summer of 2022. This will allow YRB to use the current van for fundraising and educational events.
Members are working hard with waterfront buisness’s on the River Ouse to source alternative moorings for our boats. York Sea Cadets have allowed YRB access to their moorings and facilities for training.
## **Manning, Training and Recruiting**
Manning – currently there are 26 operationally qualified volunteers and 16 volunteers under training or in support roles such as fundraising, HR or admin support.
A further 10 Volunteers have undertaken training as Flood Rescue technicians thanks to a £10,000 grant from Aviva.
Recruiting – has started again. Our revised recruitment policy is now to focus on recruitment by word of mouth and recommendation, the results have been encouraging.
YRB have also undertaken constructive and positive meetings with York FRS, which has resulted in YRB now having an FRS radio to enable boat to boat communications with FRS. Training was carried out with the FRS in March 2022 for Helms and Boat Crew, with further training and exercises being planned.
## **Additional governance issues**
In accordance with the York Rescue Boat constitution a trustee is voted onto the board by a simple majority of existing trustees and approved by a majority during the AGM. The constitution allows for up to 7 trustees. However, since 2016 there has been a near 100% turnover of trustees with only the treasurer remaining from the original cohort. Currently there are 4 trustees. It is hoped to recruit at least 2 more for sustainability reasons.
The charity is independent, but the work carried out by the volunteers on the operational side requires qualification certification by national bodies such as DEFRA. More recently the operational teams have been subjected to an increasing number of call outs on behalf of the emergency services, Police and the Fire and Rescue Service to aid in activities such as riverside and riverbed search and body recovery, this is in addition to our core objective which is to preserve and save life by the provision and maintenance of an inshore/river rescue service along the River Ouse and River Foss in York and the surrounding area, a swift water/flood rescue team and by promoting all aspects of water safety.
- 4 -
## **YORK RESCUE BOAT**
## **ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2022 (Continued)**
## **Additional governance issues (continued)**
The nature of some of the work undertaken by the volunteers is hazardous and, in some circumstances, can be classed as a ‘risk to life’ activity. All volunteers are fully trained to national standards (DEFRA) prior to being employed on the operational side. All activities are risk assessed and as operational activities expand these activities will become increasingly subject to external licensing and audit, for example on the Flood Rescue and Swift Water capabilities.
Training and operational procedures are subject to periodic review and as the charity grows it is hoped to implement a more systemic review process to identify development areas that can be addressed to improve both processes and procedure.
## **Financial review**
The charity made a net receipt of £33,353 (2021: net receipt of £17,399) thanks to all the donations and fundraising which took place in the year.
The free reserves on 5 April 2022 are £42,928 (2021: £29,710). Any reserves which have been generated in the year are carried forward to the next financial year and are used to provide additional training and equipment and used against operational costs – fuel, maintenance costs etc.
## **Further financial review details**
YRB generates most of its running costs through self-generated fundraising. It applies for both government, business, and individual grants to fund training and major equipment purchases.
All purchase orders over £100 require Trustee approval:
£100 - £499 – 1 Trustee £500 - £999 – 2 Trustees Over £1,000 – all Trustees to approve.
Daily running costs involving sums less than £100 do not require trustee approval but are audited by the bookkeeper and treasurer on a regular basis and must be supported by receipts.
During the 2021/2022 tax year, YRB was able to generate some significant grants including £45,000 from Patricia & Donald Shepherd Trust to put towards a new operations van and approx another £7,495 to date from the Sunshine Campaign (a fundraising initiative by the family of Sonny Ferry who drowned in the Ouse in Apr 2019).
Signed on behalf of the trustees.
JA Watt Signed on 01/02/23 @ 17:46
alistair mccleary Signed on 01/02/23 @ 21:09
J Watt 31 January 2023
A McCleary
- 5 -
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **YORK RESCUE BOAT**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 5 April 2022 which comprises of the receipts and payments accounts, the assets and liabilities statement and the notes to the accounts.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Charities Act; or
- the accounts do not accord with those records; or
- the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
N P Clemit Countersigned on 02/02/23 @ 16:40
N Clemit ACA, FCCA JWPCreers LLP Chartered Accountants Genesis 5 Church Lane Heslington York YO10 5DQ
1 February 2023
- 6 -
## **YORK RESCUE BOAT**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2022**
||Notes|Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Total|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||2022|2022|2022|2021|
|||£|£|£|£|
|Grants||1,533|100,034|101,567|33,665|
|Donations||23,482|1,545|25,027|20,628|
|Fundraising||12,005|-|12,005|2,119|
|Charitable activities income||286|-|286|1,446|
|||_____|_____|_____|_____|
|**Total receipts**||37,306|101,579|138,885|57,858|
|||_____|_____|_____|_____|
|Fundraising costs||2,517|-|2,517|189|
|Charitable activities|2|20,638|2,661|23,299|31,387|
|Assets purchased|3|884|78,832|79,716|8,883|
|||_____|_____|_____|____|
|**Total payments**||24,039|81,493|105,532|40,459|
|||_____|_____|_____|____|
|**Net receipts**||**13,267**|**20,086**|**33,353**|**17,399**|
|Transfers between funds||(19)|19|-|-|
|||_____|_____|_____|____|
|**Net movement in the year**||13,248|20,105|33,353|17,399|
|Cash at bank at 5 April 2021||29,710|59,339|89,049|71,650|
|||_____|_____|_____|_____|
|**Cash at bank at 5 April 2022**|4|42,958|79,444|122,402|89,049|
- 7 -
## **YORK RESCUE BOAT**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES – 5 APRIL 2022**
|2022
£
**ASSETS HELD FOR CHARITY’S USE**
Vehicles
55,438
Equipment
12,659
______
68,097
**CASH AT BANK**
Current account
121,254
PayPal account
1,148
______
122,402
|2021
£
1,992
12,532
______
14,524
88,080
969
______
89,049|
|---|---|
Approved on behalf of the trustees on 31 January 2023
JA Watt Signed on 01/02/23 @ 17:46
…………………………………………..
alistair mccleary Signed on 01/02/23 @ 21:09
…………………………………………..
J Watt – Trustee A McCleary - Trustee
- 8 -
## **YORK RESCUE BOAT**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS – 5 APRIL 2022**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **BASIS OF ACCOUNTING**
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention, on a receipts and payments basis, in accordance with Section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and following the guidance for accounting for smaller charities issued by the Charity Commissioners.
## **2. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**
|Unrestricted Restricted
funds
funds
£
£
Boat cost
2,799 1,306
Equipment
1,593
528
Motor cost
2,991
827
Insurance
2,465
-
Phone
89
-
IT costs and postage
1,901
-
Website
158
-
Subscriptions
1,464
-
Training 190
-
Storage 5,137
-
Independent examination
1,740
-
Sundry
111
-
______ _____
20,638 2,661
------------------ 2021 ----------
Unrestricted Restricted
funds
funds
£
£
Boat cost
467
1,393
Equipment
1,835
15,046
Motor cost
3,367
572
Insurance
2,672
-
Phone
87
-
IT costs and postage
511
-
Website
225
-
Subscriptions
970
-
Storage
4,170
-
Sundry
_____
_____
14,376
17,011
**3. ASSETS PURCHASED**
Unrestricted Restricted
funds
funds
£
£
Vehicles
-
72,589
Equipment
884
6,243
____
_____
884 78,832
|2022
£
4,105
2,121
3,818
2,465
89
1,901
158
1,464
190
5,137
1,740
111
______
23,299
----------
2021
£
1,860
16,881
3,939
2,672
87
511
225
970
4,170
______
31,387
Total and
Restricted
2022
2021
£ £
72,589
-
7,127
8,883
_____
_____
79,716 8,883
|
|---|---|
- 9 -
## **YORK RESCUE BOAT**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS – 5 APRIL 2022**
## **4. FUNDS**
|**4. FUNDS**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||Transfer||
||Opening|||between|Closing|
||balance|Income|Expenditure|funds|balance|
||£|£|£|£|£|
|**Unrestricted**|29,710|37,306|24,039|(19)|42,958|
|**Restricted**||||||
|Provisional ground Mark Lodge|278|-|-|-|278|
|D A Platt Scrappy Fund|80|-|-|-|80|
|Pontoon|6,500|-|-|-|6,500|
|North Yorkshire Police|971|3,665|3,735|-|901|
|Sunshine Campaign|32,662|7,495|22,559|-|17,598|
|York Butchers Company Charitable Trust|214|-|37|-|177|
|George A Moore Foundation|500|-|-|-|500|
|Ed De Nunzio Charitable Trust|947|-|89|
-|858|
|Charles and Elsie Sykes Trust|4,878|-|1,774|
-|3,104|
|BGC Main Grants|1,384|-|-|-|1,384|
|Fundraising/Educational Van
|-|17,086|11,618|-|5,468|
|Tesco Bags of Help COVID-19|92|1,000|1,111|19|
-|
|Communities Fund||||||
|Aviva Fund|461|2,362|154|-|2,669|
|Operations Van Fund|10,372|58,600|39,180|-|29,792|
|Crowdfunder ltd|-|7,329|-|-|7,329|
|Donations defibrillator & Kit bag|-|1,542|1,236|-|306|
|Nestle|-|500|-|-|500|
|York Children’s Trust|-|2,000|-|-|2,000|
||______|______|______|______|______|
||59,339|101,579|81,493|19|79,444|
||______|______|______|______|______|
||89,049
|138,885
|105,532
|-|122,402|
- 10 -
## **YORK RESCUE BOAT**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS – 5 APRIL 2022**
## **4. FUNDS (continued)**
Provisional ground Mark Lodge fund represents monies towards cardiac AED and training.
D A Platt Scrappy fund represents monies towards kayaks and drysuits.
Pontoon fund represents monies received from Masonic Relief Chest Fund, Minster Lions and Freemasons Charity towards a pontoon.
North Yorkshire Police represents monies towards resuscitation kits.
Sunshine Campaign represents monies towards a new boat & boat trailer.
York Butchers Company Charitable Trust represents monies towards the maintenance of the boat.
The George A Moore Foundation money towards repairs & renewals on equipment.
Ed De Nunzio Charitable Trust monies towards repairs & renewals.
The Charles & Elsie Sykes Trust monies towards boat repairs & new equipment.
Fundraising/Educational Van monies towards a new vehicle.
BGC Main Grants represents monies towards equipment.
Tesco Bags of Help COVID-19 Communities Fund represents monies towards fuel.
Aviva Fund represents monies towards equipment.
Operations Van Fund represents monies towards a new operations van.
Crowdfunder ltd represents monies towards kayaks.
Donations defibrillator & kit bag represents monies towards new equipment.
Nestle represents monies towards reach & search poles.
York Children’s Trust represents monies towards educational equipment.
- 5 -
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **YORK RESCUE BOAT**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 5 April 2022 which comprises of the receipts and payments accounts, the assets and liabilities statement and the notes to the accounts.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Charities Act; or
- the accounts do not accord with those records; or
- the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
N P Clemit Countersigned on 02/02/23 @ 16:40
N Clemit ACA, FCCA JWPCreers LLP Chartered Accountants Genesis 5 Church Lane Heslington York YO10 5DQ
1 February 2023