Waterways Experiences c.i.o. Trustees. Annual Report for the year ended 310ecembor 2022 The Waterways Experiences ch8nty was establlshed in 2014, under its f0mr name WEXP. It took on the previously undertaken by the-Reach our Charity that had s8Ned the community for ovèr 35 years. It is a membership Charstable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), charity number 1156576. Th8 address is Nash Mills Recreation Centre. Red Lion Lane, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 9TE. Our ObJoCt5v• is to provide boat trlps and holldays on the Grand Unlon Canal for people With disabilities or those who are otheNlse disadvantaged. The Trustees believe that we fully comply with the Charfty Commission's guidan¢e on public benefft and continue to work èffectively towards the obJ8ctiV8s established for the charity. Tho TrustO0• are elect•d by the members. Those Serving during the year were: Sally Ash: John Benn8tt: Paul Bènn8tt {Chair>: Elèna Br8tul8scu: Chrfstopher Noble: David Posnett; Mal¢olm Tebbutt. Andrew Thomson and Carol Walls. The constitution provides for there to be up lo nine trustees at any one time. In accordance vth our constitution. Trustees who hav8 served for three yoars are required to resign but are able to offer themselves for r64lection at the forthcoming AGM. Paul Bennett offers himself for revelection having mPleted his fix8d period of servlce. Both Sally Ash and John Bennètt have completed the maximum nln8 years as Trustees and will therefore be stepping dovm. Opwrtunilies are available for n8w truslees to ioln Ihe Trustee Board and this wll be addressed at the AGM. Facllllles comprfse three canal boats, wharf moorings and a range of boat basa faclllb'es that include a visitors, centre. We own and operate two of the boats - purpose-built 12 passenger ide beam. canal t(Jats {Close Shave and Sheldrnke 11); these are used for day-trips and residential holidays which are fully accessible for people with disabiliti'es. We also maintain and operate under lin Sheldr8ke 111, a fully accessible "broad beam. canal boat owned by Neighboudy Charitable Trust arKI licensed to carry up to foty passengers. Tho boal base is wtthin the Nash Mills Recreati(xi Centre and is leased from Dacorum BC. It has moorings with ele¢tricity', water and pumFWUt faciliti8s'. a visrfÉor centre: car pa. gardens: workshops and stores. Our bank is Santander Business Banking. Voluntoers rernain the backbone of the charity, with no paid employees. We depend mplet81y on our 17312021.. 130) volunteers who run the entsre or9anisation vthether as trustee, as a senior team leader on our Steering Group. or as one of many support members dealing with matters such as skippering, crewng. administration. finance, operations and maSnlenance of our boats.
Oporatlonal Managemont is delegated to a Steering Group who have day to day responsibility for the running of the chariVs activtties. The Steering Group comprises reprèsantatives from the key suptx)rt teams under Ihe chainnanship of maIlm T8bbutt. The trustees wish to acknovAedge with thanks the remarkable achievements of our hard-working team leaders and team rnembers. all of whom serve IN) a voluntary basis. Operational activitj88 are subjed to a regular review by the charity. 2022 has shown a strong recovery in our activity levels and We close to the peaks eXperiend in 2019. A number of Clients were not able to enjoy our offering in 2020 and 2021 due to th8 dominance of the Covid-19 pandemic arKI the consequent r8dUt offering of trips on the Canal.The last Iwo years have not been easy. wlth a major reduction in th8 Services that could offer to our clients and with strict procedures being put in pl to protect both volunt88rs and clients. Annual Reports for 2022 from our Maln Team Laadors are available. As in wevious years it has been our custom to provide reports from our main team leaders about their adivities during the year. We are again atAe to provide these rep)rts to our Member5 In relatlon to 2022 and they can be accessed Our R18k Management arrangements remain actively under rewew. We are satisfied that th8 prfncipal risks to which the charity is exposed. induding the non-availabilily of boats or volunteers, are balng well managed. The mainlenance team's règime of monitoring and preventstiV8 management ensures that we are able to maximise the availability of the boats throughout the year. We have been able to (xjmplete the major refurbishment of Shaldrak6 111 earfier in the year. W8 have also undertaken the replacement of th8 heaters on both of our wldebeam boats which has b88n welcomed by dients. The retum to a hlgh level of aclivity does mean that the maintenance sdthule is busy and there will be times during the coming ye8r when the vessels ara withdrawn from seNice In order to achieve the maintenance progr8mme. Our regular painting programme also glv88 the vessels a new lease of life after 8 period of down-time. We acknovAedge the swJnlficant efforts of the malntenance team during this difficult time. and r8fer you to the more detsiled port from their team leader. Great importance is attachad to the recruitrnenL tralnlng and motivan of our volunteers. During 2022 we have continued our Conderable efforts to provide a wide ranging training prograrnme for our volunteers on the water in order to ensure that we Continue to work to the highest standards. This has very successful and has also help8d with volunteer engagement and recruitment. The Covld 19 Pandemic had a signfficant impad on the charity and our clnts. However. wé have como through it strongly. having spent over 21 months of dealing with the various Covid pr•eautions And rigk assessmènts. We are dellghted to b8 busy On again and ab18 to Welme a greater numb8r of wsitors and also introduce new volurrteer5 to our Charity. Our volunteers contr'nue lo be very acuve and supportive throughout the year, and we are pleased to see the resumption of our usual social events for volunteers after years wthout such opportunities. We did experience the loss of trained and experienced volunteers during the pandemic which is a considerable loss to the charity. However. the work of our Volunteer Support Team has meant Ihat we have a growing number of new volunteer5 and they are progressing well
through our training and support tKogrammes. We shall be (xMtinuing to work hard on our volunteer suppor( newsletteF5 and training programmes in the coming year. 2022 saw fvrther development of our new websti8. taking advantage of more up to date functionalty and technology. We have also worked on streamlining our crewing logistics prosseS and completed important testing of our Boats, induding work with Sheldrake111 to help us continue to meet the standards required by the MCA. We have had the opportunty to resume our plans for varlous projects, priotitise our programme and progress the related fundraising. We will be see.ng to complele the upgrade of Sheldr8ke 11 during 2023. with the prospect of doing the similar thing for Close Shave in 2024. Our wharf refurblshment and extension plans have been delayed due to 8Xt8rnal factors, but it is hoped that this will also get stsrted within the for88e88ble fvture. We would like to aCknOedge the work done by our Fundraising Team, as we have benefiited from some significant donations during the year and project funding has been able to progress successfully. W8 would also like to thank all our dienis for their continued support and posrtiV8 feedba(. We continue lo re1ve very positive messages and a large number of rep8at tK)okings and gratuities continue to confirm a hwJh level of client satisfaction. The Trustees have sel a dear target for the charity. to ensure that al least 80% of our trips during Ihe summer months are for our Prilty groups: this in¢lud8s catering for young people with disabilities or those frorn a disadvantaged bathground. This was nol posslble during the pandemic of 2020 and 20211)ut we have been able to resurne a major programme of'Enable' trips and Young Carers weekends during 2022 with plans to grow this important offering in 2023. We ¢x)nlinue to make considerable efforts to ensure our boats are being used by our prlorlty groups. The charity also makes the boats available at extra Gost for use by th8 vAd8r communlty, outside the priority groups that we serve. This provides a leaming and training expernCe for our crew members but also additional funding support for the activities of the charity and allows us lo keep prfces low for our priority groups. We have in place effective policies and pro(dures for s8feguardlng and for the health and safety of all our volunteers and dients. During 2022. these have been kept under regular rgview to rellect newloamings and experiences during the year. We seek to be prepared and ready to respond to changes in circumstanc8s. Our special thanks go to our Health and Safety Team who have been wothng very hard to ensure we are providing 8 safe and enjoyable dient experience during tho post Cowd 19 pandemic period.
Flnanclal revlew The attached Finartial Acttvibes Report Wds prepared in acithan( wtth the Statement of Recomm8nded Prathc8 applicable to Charities (FRS 102) and has been Indynd8nY examined. Income from all sour, and the net surplus. are shown below with the Comparative figures for the year to 31 December 2021. Boat Hirg Income 82.313 40,gD4 DireGt Costs of Boat Hire AGtivitses (887191 16,406) 13A51 (45,160) {DefidtySurplus on Boat Hire ACbvitS Unrestricted t>onalion&Collecllons & Grants 14,256) 25,937 Bank Interest 105 TOTAL UNRESTRICTED INCOME 7,150 21,686 Restricted t)onations 14,868 17.862 TOTAL SURPLUS TO RESERVES 22.018 39.548 During the year to 31 December 2022 the charity received various donations and grants that were slgnlficant io our onoing ¢hariLable Yr There are many organisab'ons and indtviduals to thank, and it is difficult to list them dl here. Hthvever, the larger donors include: Da¢orum BC Grant Support. Neighbourty Charitable Trus( The Cooperative Trust. the Provincid. Hemel Hempstead and Gadden Freemasons, Lodges. Rotary Club of Hemel Hempstead: Klngs Langley School. Hertlordshire Councillors, Comrnunity Fund. Grants of £2,667 were received from Da¢orum BoTough Council from Iheir Covid-19 buslness support grant schemes. We now hold £19.771 (2021-£26,607) v4nhin our Enable Fund and a further £10.451 (2021-£12,832) in our Youth Fund al the year*nd to be a4)plied towards the costs of future residential trips for young people. Reserves of £9.692 aTrJ Q.881 respectsvely. were utilised duTing the year to coveT the relevanl trip costs. We have received donations of £11.512 during 2022 specLficdEy for our Wharf development Project Resee. The Charty is required to peri(xlically review its intemal ffinanaal controls. This exercise was undertaken during 2020 and wll b8 repeated in 2023. It Is expected to be repe8t8d every three yoars. The Trustees have assessed the (tharTWs abilty to continue as a going Con. they have assured themselves of the validty of this assumpts.on when prepartng these accounts. In making this assessment. the Truslees have taken into account all available infomalion about the future for al leasL but not limited to, 12 months from the date the accounts are approved. The Tiustees recognise the impact that the Covid-lg pandemic had on the charty and
have taken this into account when preparing our projedions for the fonhcoming Thvo years. Members, including trustees, are entiued to reimlmjrsemenl of travel expenses vthen carrying out duties on b8half of the chanty. Trust88s are not entitled to remuneration or any benefits other than Ihose availabk to all members. Total travel expenses paid to trustees for the period was £36012021 £162). One trustee had a benefiual interest in a company whith Ydas paid £0 {2021.'£80) for speoalist services. We also note that donakn'ons are made lo the charity during the year by members of the tharity. indudirvJ trustees. Raservos Polley and doslgnallon The charity has maintslned its Fdicy for the designatiw of unrestricted reserves. The trustees have agreed that these designated reserves should o)ntinue to indude som8 funds attrlbuted towards long-terni boat maintenance, mechanical replacements and refurbishrnent of our tsvo wide beam boats. They have also recognised Ihe need to retain reserves for the purposes of accumulating fvnds for specific Future Projects such as the extension and development of the Wharf area at Nash Mills. (see below) As shown below, the charlty has sustain8d an overall surplus over the past year and thls will be added to our general reserves brought foard. The broughl forward balanc8 on our General Reserves of £37,651 has been improved to £59.263 (before any new designation of reserves) and is now above our preferred level. W8 plan to continue to seek some small surpluses from operab'ng aclivity in the years ahead that will provide some support for our project work as well as r8pl8nish the General Resepées. We will therefore continue to keep matters under active review and seek lo ring-fence an approprfate level of designated funds to specffic funding areas (Shown below), that can be sustained from the current level of bank funds. To support our development plans the brought-forward deslgnated funds and general reserva have been designated by the trustees as follows.. oi 5uYplus on Boat H5rt Mo¥emenl from Restrkt•d Reser4es at31 De¢ 202Z 202Z Boat Refurblshment Fund Wharf Refijrblshment Fund New Boat Fund General Reserve aosing Balance of G*rnl and De51gnated Rese$ 13,556 29.263 197.651 14062 219.263 Our Dèvelopmont Plans Waterways Experien5 wll cryrtinue to wovide safè and 8njoyabl8 canal trips and holidays for the local Gommunty partiGularly young, disabled or disadvantaged people. The Trustees a keen to ensure that we c¥n otinUe to provide free boating holidays through our ENABLE work for disadvantaged young people. During 2022 wa were prevented from running our usual summer residential trips, funded by the Youth and Enable Funds. However, we were delighted to be able trj deliver a full programme of residential trips during 2022, with 8 view to further expansion of these activities into 2023. The cA)mbined Enable and Youth ReseNes stsnd at
£30,222 (2021..£39,439) at the end of the year, and would keep this activity going for approximately a further two years. We have established an intemal project team to research and advis8 on the design and sourcing of a n8w fourth boat for the Gharity, including obtaining appropriate esllmates for costs. The timing for the commissioning of the new boat now depends largely upon the sourcing of support funding to add to our own efforts in this regard. The extension and improvement of the wharf has received increasad attention during 2022 with a view to undertaking the project in the foreseeable future. This will provide better access for clients and safer operating environment for volunteers when servicing the b08ts at the wharf. These projects will help the Charity to meet the increasing demand for trips and to relieve pressure on our existing fleet. The demands placed upon our widebeam boats are considerable, with daily usage and plenty of traffic from peop18 and wheelchairs. The interiors have been deteriorating and subject Io wear and tear to such an extent that we have had to plan for a refurbishment of them both in Ihe coming two years. Sheldrake 11 is planned to be refurbished first, during 2023. Additional Reserves of £30.000 have been designated to these refurblshment projects at thls flnanclal year end. We owe our success to our very 8nthusla8tlc and generous mémber8, SUPPOrters and cllents. The Trustees wlsh lo acknowledge our magnlflcent Volunleers and thank them all for thoir absolutely invaluablé part In our success. Agreed by the Trustees 26 January 2023 and signed on their behalf Paul Bennett Chairman
C[entIal P8ge 1 Waterways Experiences CIO nable Gwwral Hollda Charllabktr Actlvltl8s Inccme from Boat Hir8 82.313 82.31> 40,904 Boat r8charg8s frx EnaW8 aThY yth tslps Less.. ExpendibJffj1soe b81crAf) (8} 4.192 75.077 179.2691 13S7171 15.616 {12A721 9,4 5.187 Depreciation 9,450 9.443 lfiCIt11SUrplu• from 8o•t Mlr• •¢tlvlil•¥ Oth•r Incomo 6,166 112.5721 16.406) 14.2561 Restricted Donalknns 11.512 14868 17,862 Unroslrict8d DonaticcC41#n5 & (>arts 13.451 13.451 25.937 B•nk Intero81 10S 105 Toial Oth¢r In¢¢m• 25.068 31234 28.424 22.018 43,804 39,548 NEf SURPLUS from all acllvltkn• 192181 D88• Boat M8inl8Mnc• BoBt prov1 Boifj8d Ggs LlcorK88 + Sur¥•y8 Insuranc eclricty Baso Klglnlwmi 1.224 8.903 1.319 379 3,095 S,093 1,214 3.650 1,27 1,58 518 1,63 32.345 1.835 3.788 2.5 5.891 VonI0•f5. Trnvel VoKJni••rs' Sotiol Evo Crow Cl)thiNJ MorkètiNJ &nd Fundmlfio #¢AMb•8 815 2,491. fj3 Heath & Safety harf Devdoprngnt Ccéts Debt Rets)¥ery wxl le crots VouGhBrTrip Olher Expenseg 808t Hlre Totsl 'Enable Hdiday EN4*rKltura 1.287 '.rA 1.391 75,077 4.1¥2
Page 2 Waterways Experiences CIO 311tW22 31112121 FIXED ASSETS te2 31,711 41,161 CURRENT ASSETS LE&8 cURRETr LIABILMES Currnnt Asmts Deblor8 and PTepayi1ts Sto¢k8 3.212 3.745 3,234 1,422 Dèbtors IHMRC) 1,680 835 Cash at Bank and in Hand 256,029 ' 225,525 264155 231.527 L•••: Curr•nt U•bllltl•• Refundable Depos 8,192 9.397 Creditors 8nd A(vuwl ExF•) 3.051 1.966 Hir8 Charges in 1.475 195 11,558 NET CURRENT A8SET8 251.437 219,969 TOTAL ASSETS lty LIA8ILmES £283.148 £261,130 RESERVES l)•¥lqn•t•d R• Movement on Reurves Balan¢M brought for•rd 12,832 12,127 10.023 1.8 26,607 160.000 37,651 261,130 221,582 B08t In¢on le$s Expenses 0 16,4061 16,4061 14,2561 Other Inc4)m8 Red 0 11.512 0 2,856 13,556 28.424 43,804 location Belween Re8erve8 -2.881 -1.8 4,692 14,462 101 Designaln of Reserves 30.000 30,000 Totsl Reserves IrrIed forward 10,451 11127 21,535 0 19.771 190,000 29,263 £283.14B £261,130 Analysi• of Re••rve it•m8 42.350 see Not91 219,263
Page 3 wateayS Experiences CIO RESERVES FOR FUTURE PROJECTS AND GENERAL RESERVE h•ve bn designatsd by the TrustO•8 as follows: Movoments In tho Year a11Jan 2022 Ileslgnation D•fl¢il on Boating activities Other In¢om• R•c•lvod Movement at31 Dgc 2022 Rostrlct•d Boat Refu1$hMent R8s8rve N8w Boat and Wharf Development Rese Goneral Resorve 40,0(K) 120,1JX) 37.651 70,000 120.000 6.406 13,556 14,462 197.651 16.406) 13.556 14,462 219263 Shor• Solar Panels Boat En ino Hoisl Totsl COST 34,180 8,500 30,5LM) 10,523 5,465 3.484 1,820 94,432 Pur¢hase8 Totsl 34.160 8.500 30.500 26,474 2.550 15.505 3.416 850 3.052 29.890 3,400 18,557 4,270 5.100 11.943 10.523 5.465 3,464 1,820 94.432 DEPRECIATION 3.156 3.232 1,990 348 364 53,271 9,450 62,721 12 m to 31112122-10% enst 1.052 552 180 Total 3,784 2,338 544 NET BOOK VALUE 31112122 6,315 1,681 1,126 1.276 Approvad by the Twstees on 26 January 2023 and slgngd on thalr behalf Paul Bennati chaIrnn Androw Thomson, Treasuror