2025-03-31-accounts

The Adventure Dolphin (Pangbourne) Charity

Registration Number 1156978

Report of the Trustees for the Financial Year 2024 –2025

Contact Details: (Please use email wherever possible [e-mail]

Website: www.adventuredolphin.co.uk

Adventure Dolphin (Pangbourne) Charity,

The Dolphin Centre, Whitchurch Road,

Pangbourne, Reading, Berkshire RG8 7DA

Office Tel: [phone]

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The Adventure Dolphin (Pangbourne) Charity was originally established in 2005 as a fundraising organisation that would work alongside the statutory youth service of West Berkshire Council. It aimed to enhance opportunities for young people from the Pangbourne area of West Berkshire to participate in outdoor and adventurous activities. Primarily, the focus for the period between 2005 and 2010 was to raise funds for a replacement building and projects that were outside of the scope and remit of West Berkshire Council. This included the construction of a purposedesigned climbing room and the provision of specialist equipment for users with mobility and cognitive limitations. In 2014, the impact of reducing funding for Local Authority Services resulted in West Berkshire Council deciding that its role at the Dolphin Centre would be to focus on programmes supporting services to schools and other Children’s Social Services priority groups. The Council would no longer provide financial support for discretionary services during evening and weekend programmes for the wider population. At this point, the Trustees of the Adventure Dolphin (Pangbourne) Charity decided to explore ways in which these valuable outof-school personal and social development programmes could continue to benefit the local youth population. A new legal entity in the form of a “Charitable Incorporated Organisation” (CIO) was established. The undertakings and operations of the previous charity were transferred to it in accordance with a Transfer Deed dated 16th May 2014, when the new charity was registered. The parties to the transfer deed were:

(1) The Adventure Dolphin (Pangbourne) Charity (Registered Charity Number 1111555)

(2) The Adventure Dolphin (Pangbourne) Charity (Registered Charity Number 1156978).

This completed the transition from a fundraising charity to an operational organisation delivering outdoor and adventurous activities.

In 2017, the Charity faced a further challenge. West Berkshire Council announced that, from the start of the 2018–2019 financial year, it had no ongoing operational requirement for the Dolphin Centre building. To continue operating a programme of outdoor and adventurous activities, the Charity needed to secure ongoing access to suitable premises. Although several alternative options were considered, most members of the Adventure Dolphin (Pangbourne) Charity believed that the best way to continue meeting the organisation's charitable objectives was by securing longterm tenure in the Dolphin Centre. For their part, West Berkshire Council initially considered bids from the private sector, but when these failed to yield a firm proposal, they offered the Centre to the Charity. As a result, the Charity took over the running of the Centre in its entirety on 1st June 2018. The intention is that West Berkshire Council, who lease the centre from Pangbourne Parish Council (the freeholder), will sub-lease the Centre to the Charity. Through no fault of the Charity, negotiations on the Lease have been protracted and are still in progress at the time of this Report. During the year, we have had regular meetings with the Council representatives, and progress is being made. The Council have stated that the Charity will be offered a Sub-Lease of 3 years from the date of signature with an option to extend for a further 7 years. This will be at a peppercorn rent, reflecting the intended community use of the building, and we have been resident in the building since June 2018.

PURPOSE OF ADVENTURE DOLPHIN (PANGBOURNE) CHARITY

The charitable objectives of the CIO, as set out in its constitution, are:

● to promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of West Berkshire in particular Pangbourne and the surrounding area the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation (in particular water and land based activities) for individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age , infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving their condition of life; and

● to advance the education and development of the young people in the area of benefit and to promote their mental, spiritual, moral and physical development and improvement so as to develop their full capabilities, grow to full maturity as wellrounded individuals and enable them to become responsible members of society. The Trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

A Board of Charity Trustees manages the Charity. The constitution requires a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 15 Trustees to be registered. The founding Trustees were recruited from the existing Trustees of the previously established Charity, who also invited other individuals with specific knowledge and skills to join them. Now that the Charity is established, Trustees are appointed through co-option and ratified at the Charity’s AGM. Each Trustee is to serve a 3-year term. During the 2024 – 2025 financial year, the following changes in registered Trustees were recorded:

During the year, 6 Trustees have stood down

• Tony Fitzgerald

• Dr Brian Davies

• Anne Huddart

• Peter McIver

• Christine Campbell

• Malcom Sanderman

Trustees Continuing are

• Alan Brown

• Kevin Dennis

• Donald Fisher-Jeffs

• Andy Pincock

• Robert Syfret MBE

• Chris Whitehead

Trustee re-elected

• Chris Whithead

The Board of Trustees concentrate on Strategic Planning and Oversight for the longterm development of the Charity. This encompasses business and financial planning, licensing, insurance, and regulatory compliance, as well as succession planning.

OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT

Day-to-day operations are vested in the Trustees, who have welcomed the support of Carl Wenczek, who has helped coordinate the running of the building and bookings

for community groups, replacing Caroline Collins and assuming the role of Centre Manager. To further develop our work in various areas, we have appointed Jade Gingell as our Business Development Manager. This is part of the structural changes we have been undergoing. This involves the Charity in the direct oversight of programmes and their development, as well as the transition to activities running themselves through partnerships with the Charity or by setting up affiliated clubs that deliver the activities, such as Pangbourne Paddlesport Club. Pangbourne Paddlesport Club is now in its second full year of operation. It has achieved both an increase in membership and competition success, reaching the National Hasler Championships representing the Southern Region.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

In June 2018, the Charity took over the running of the Centre from West Berkshire Council. The Council also handed over all the activity equipment in the building at no charge. Even so, the Charity was aware that the Council had been running the Centre at a loss as the cost of the Council’s paid staff based at the Centre was greater than earned income. The challenge for the Charity has been to run the Centre successfully and eliminate the deficit. This has been a significant challenge this year, with continued increases in energy costs and failing equipment in the plant room, as well as flooding and the lift breaking down, all of which are expensive for us. On the positive side, hiring the Hall for community use generates a steady income. The Charity now runs the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme. We piloted evening courses with scouts and partnered with “Wild Adventure” to offer school holiday courses, and began offering daytime activity programmes to schools to generate income.

A dedicated team of volunteers have been very successful in running the Centre both efficiently and cost-effectively. The end-of-year accounts show a deficit of £14,439, as we forecast last year. This comprised £13,000 for new kayaks and £4,000 for utility costs. As reported in the previous year, we are transitioning to an accrual-based system, which indicates a small surplus of £900 for the year. The trustees remain deeply concerned about the significant loss reported in FY22-23 and are implementing several initiatives to increase income.

Reserves: The trustees have set a target of one year’s operating costs to maintain the building's operation. Based on estimated building costs (unknown to the charity) and charity activity costs, this is set at £100,000. The reserve figure does not include any capital expenditure for wear and tear, remedial works or depreciation of equipment. An initial review of remedial works was conducted at the time West Berks handed over the keys and is subject to regular review. The list of works is extensive and includes the replacement of the lift and plant room repairs. West Berkshire Council have agreed in principle to undertake some of these works, but there will be a shortfall which the charity will need to meet. The Charity is waiting for a signed lease and for West Berkshire Council to either undertake these works or compensate the Charity before making any significant investments.

ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES

This year, the Charity is moving to accrual accounting, which accounts for earnings as soon as they become due and expenses as soon as they are committed (regardless of when the transactions take place).

● The fixed costs of running the Centre should be covered by income from Centre hire. The Trustees continue to recognise that the Charity needs to make provision to cover three specific financial risks.

● Income generation through the Paddlesport Club courses and classes is highly dependent upon good weather, water conditions, and the state of the national economy. Poor attendance can result in failing to cover hiring costs.

● Although appropriate insurance cover is in place, the Charity recognises the need to ensure that any “Excess” provisions of an insured claim against the Charity can be covered from the reserves.

● The Centre is insured against fire by West Berkshire Council. Assurances have now been obtained from the Council that in the event of the building being destroyed by fire, it will be rebuilt. The Charity still wishes to support low-cost or no-cost activity for young people who would not normally be able to participate in outdoor and adventurous activities due to their, or their families’, personal circumstances.

PROJECT DEVELOPMENTS

This year, the Centre has worked closely with Pangbourne Parish Council to help resolve the lease and investigate an extension to our boat storage area. The latter is to develop Junior School's use of our Bell Boats. The summer saw a rise in anti-social behaviour on the meadow, and the Trustees and staff are working together to monitor the situation. Recently, we have been liaising with local councils to develop holiday and food (HAF) opportunities during the school holidays. Berkshire Youth have helped us to initially develop this offer. We have received funding from the Parish Council, The Good Exchange, and the Greenham Common Trust Community Fund. If successful, we would be able to offer these activities directly to our customers. A pilot programme was run over the Easter holiday for 4 days and attracted over 45 young people each day. A new team was assembled to deliver 200 meals during that time, as some students received free school meals, and we also had to establish an activity team.

“Wild Adventures” decided to end its partnership with Adventure Dolphin at the end of March. Several schools that had originally booked with them were disappointed, so the Centre has stepped in to fulfil the bookings. This has led the Centre to develop an offer for schools, aiming for the summer of 2026, building on the lessons learned from this year’s pilot.

Berkshire Youth are helping us to investigate the start of a youth club in the Autumn.

Links have been established with a North Hampshire group, Spotlight UK, to explore the possibility of offering activities to families over weekends and during the summer holidays.

The website is being revamped, a new booking system has been developed, and links have been established with local groups across various age groups.

This year, we have received generous grants to enable and support an increase in youth provision. We are grateful to Pangbourne Parish Council, Greenham Trust, The Good Exchange, Pangbourne and Reading Rotary Clubs, Tesco and the Co-Op.

ACTIVITIES

This report covers the second year of the transformation in the way activities are run at the Centre. This has been both exciting and challenging, and will take another year or two to achieve the desired results in securing both funding and a delivery team.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award remains our largest membership group, encompassing all three Awards: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. They meet on a Monday evening, with those training at the bronze and gold levels attending one week, and those completing Silver attending the following week. We had eight groups at Bronze who completed a walking expedition. At Silver, we had five open canoeing groups completing their expeditions on the River Thames. At Gold, we had five groups, four of which were water-based, while one chose to do a sea kayak expedition and paddle through the Great Glen, training in Poole Harbour. The others completed an open canoe camping expedition along the River Wye, having trained on the River Severn. The walking group chose North Wales, training in the Brecon Beacons. I am pleased to report that most have gone on to achieve their full Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards. Over 70 Awards were presented to the successful candidates on 16th September by Clive Williams OBE, our President.

Clive also awarded Jake Humphries the 4th annual President's Award. The SE Operations Officer for the West of Berkshire, Annette Robinson, made a presentation to Linda Clark in recognition of her 38 years of service at the Centre, supporting both the Water-based and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programmes. Annette also thanked Jake Humphries for managing the provision and it’s team, which included Jan Porter, Peter Walker, Nadine Hinton, Ceri Hinton, Lynne Davies, Nick Vaughan Fowler, Gwen James, Anthony Casey, Bob Sutherland, Brian Billsbury, Rob Syfret, and Kevin Dennis. The Centre had been granted a three-year licence from the Awarding Body, one of a handful of open Award Centres. Jan Porter was recognised for her dedication to the Award with an invitation to Buckingham Palace for a Gold Award Presentation Garden Party.

The Charity supported several participants, allowing them to participate in the Award. The group received grants from both Pangbourne and Reading Rotary clubs. As part of the young people’s programme, the group completed 1688 volunteering hours to help the community. The voluntary team provided approximately 3,000 hours of support to the groups over the year.

This year, the Centre piloted an evening course for a scout group. The youngest group, the squirrels, used our Bell Boats, while Beavers and Cubs used rafted open canoes. Scouts and Explorer Scouts used kayaks. This proved successful, and we hope to enlarge the offer in the summer. Thanks go to Cliff and Sally Coombes, Nick and Donna Hatchett, Ian Blatchley, Lizzie Feuillade, and Ed Edwards for all their efforts in delivering the programmes.

To deliver a larger programme, we have begun recruiting and training a voluntary team. This has taken place at the Centre for First Aid, Health, Safety, and Safeguarding, where they are continuing their professional development. The rescue and safety skills training took place in a swimming pool over the winter, before moving on to the water over Easter to upskill everyone. So far, 20 leaders have completed the training. Thanks to Cliff and Sally Coombes, who have agreed to coordinate the programme.

Climbing with Born to Climb continued to develop, with additional needs groups and school groups also attending. This is in addition to the evening groups, which follow the NICAS award training structure to levels 1 and 2. The regular resetting of the wall is being investigated so we can offer level 3. The team are currently training a young person supported by the Charity through their climbing wall leader qualification in recognition of the need to recruit and train more leaders. Thanks to Gerry and Carl.

The Trustees continued to support Wild Adventures as they further developed their half-term and summer holiday programmes into piloting daytime activities for schools. These made a great start and proved popular. However, Wild Adventures decided to terminate our partnership at the end of the Easter holidays. We thank Beth Young, the Director, and all her team for their enthusiasm and energy whilst based at Adventure Dolphin. The Trustees have begun work to bring these programmes in-house, with pilot schemes being proposed for the summer of 2025.

During the year, Pangbourne Paddlesport Club increased membership to just under 100, which was excellent. The Chairman, Stuart Quinton, and his committee must be congratulated for their efforts, although partly due to prevailing weather conditions, they were only able to run one set of introductory courses. This was a contributing factor stalling the membership. This is an arm's-length members' club concentrating on the development of paddlesport in all aspects. The club is fully approved by Paddle UK (Formerly British Canoeing). The Club achieved good results in the Regional Hasler Race Series and qualified for the National Finals in September. The active members carried out a river clean-up, which featured in the canoe press. The club held their first Regatta in June, encouraging the wider community to participate. Winter is the traditional training ground for the Devizes – Westminster canoe race, through the Waterside Series and Thames-side races. One of the founder members, Vicky Metcalfe, was interviewed by the press before the DW, in which she explained why she has entered so many times and become a member of the 1000 club, comprising competitors who have finished the 125-mile race over 8 times. This year in the Waterside series, Faye Butler and Caroline Walker won the Ladies K2;

Vicky Metcalfe and Damon came second in the mixed C2, and Peter Walker and Rob White won the men’s C2; Robin Tilbury and his partner finished 4th. In the actual DW, Peter and Rob finished the gruelling race, which gained Peter the honour of 8 straight through finishes. He was also awarded the Jon White trophy. The Trustees have worked with the Club to develop a memorandum of understanding enabling the club to further develop. The Trustees also supported the club financially by purchasing £13,000 of K1 and K2 boats and equipment to support the club's development in attracting younger members. The club uses the Centre on a Saturday and Sunday morning all year, and Tuesday and Thursday evenings from Easter through to October.

In January, the Paddlesport Club confirmed their usage of the Centre. This has enabled the Charity to pilot the delivery of one-off taster sessions, primarily to uniformed groups from the Scout and Guide Associations. To enable this to happen, we held a leader training day in November and four swimming pool sessions in January, followed by a day on the water in March. This enabled everyone to upskill and update their CPD requirements with their respective Governing Bodies. This was completed, and thanks go to everyone who attended and delivered the training, particularly Cliff Coombes and Alan Brown.

The Centre has once again been used by eight regular community groups, with the Scouts increasing their use following the development of both a badger and a squirrel group. The use of spare capacity in our office space has been utilised for hot desking by a local charity.

The Centre has again supported the village fete, an important day in the life of the village.

SPECIAL THANKS

Several Trustees have stepped down over the past year. As a Charity, we now need to urgently recruit more Trustees to support the future vision and programme development.

I would like to thank Anne Huddart, who has made several successful grant applications, significantly contributing to the improvement of equipment at the Centre and raising our profile within the village through regular articles in the local magazines. Chris Whitehead, assisted by Peter McIver and Bill Whitaker, ensured that the building could open, keeping running costs to a minimum, especially as we are in a period of increased costs, inflation, and expensive repairs. To Andy Pincock, the vice chairman and treasurer, for his work reviewing our policies and procedures with Alan Brown and Mal Sanderman. To Tony Fitzgerald, who supported Andy Pincock in taking over as treasurer. I thank all the support of our secretary, Christine Campbell, and finally Carl Wenczek, who has done such a magnificent job in supporting the Trustees and developing his role as Centre Manager, and Jade Gingell, our Business Development Manager, who is making things happen.

Although it has been stated many times, although the Trustees look after the building and programmes, the success of the Centre is through its members and users and long may it continue.

Kevin Dennis

Chairman May 2025

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees Adventure Dolphin (Pangbourne) Charity On accounts for the year ended 31st March 2025 Charity no {if any) 1156978 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ('the Trust") 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 Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Responsibilities and basis of report Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act. or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the fonn and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirernent that the accounts give a Irue and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets rf they do not apply. Date: Signed: Ltli Name: Robert H C Plumb Relevant professional qualifi¢ation(s) or body (if any): B Comm CA (SA) FRICS Address: Uplands Cottage Iplhitchurch RG8 7HH

ADVENTURE DOLPHIN {PANGBOURNE) CHARI Summary of Accounts 31st March 2024 - 31st March 2025 112 31st March 2025 31st March 2024 Note Activities- D of E Activitie5- Climbing Activities- Paddling Pangbourne Paddlesport Club IPPCI Activities- Youth Activities- Wild Adventures Activities- Scouts l Guides l Other Annual membership Rentals Other Ventures - Nino's catering van Donations Interest Training Flood damage IcSaimedl Prior year Total income £29,070 £10,160 £0 £5,629 £1,5(K) £10.406 £2,590 £25 £26.863 £1,000 £2,058 £1,081 £680 £8,905 £474 £1￿),440 £21.408 £7,655 £3,486 £7,125 £1,848 £1.523 £16,686 £32,955 £1,012 £93,699 Paddle UK affiliation BEL / LEL affiliation Insurance Activities- D of E Activities- Climbing Activities- Paddling Pangbourne Paddlesport Club IPPC) Activities- Youth Activities- Wild Adventures Activities- Scouts l Guide51 Other utilities Building- running & maintenance Building- repairs Building- cleaning Building- projects Equipment- purchases including renewals Equipment- repairs & maintenance Hirings Office supplies & services Social events Training Gifts Grants Transaction fee5 Flood damage Ito claim) Prior year Total expenditure £1,178 £400 £3,199 £8,887 £4,562 £236 £0 £1.118 £120 £0 £18,724 £11.191 £2,796 £10,046 £0 £359 £119 £21,547 £1,191 £213 £2,055 £0 Eo £763 £8,905 £17.312 £114,919 £678 £350 £1,599 £6,230 £2,338 £2,773 £859 £200 £20.303 £7.920 £11,339 £9,829 £494 £20.561 £3,015 £13,463 £2,496 £282 £350 £45 £780 E674 £106.577 Net surplus I Ideflcitl -£14,479 -£12,879

ADVENTURE DOLPHIN IPANGBOURNEI CHARITY Summary of Accounts 31st March 2024- 31st March 2025 3￿￿¥th 2014 E5Th9a2 £79,

ntsnder £9.415 £0 Debtc 4.075 C￿dIr￿S £iX173 £0 PtEpa¥rnEfits Ixoj Éo Deferrtd income E125 £21,823 CCLA £0 £514 Plyl e5 Marnthon Auount EO Ptttycèsh £101.731 I 'Actlvitits.P￿dlIw.c¢w&r1 AD paddlinKartfvrts1&5DpFwdt(>PPC4eLited 2 É474 d&rn¥e repjirs I￿ F¥23-24wx irt FY225. 3 'PnDrYtar' Is £13.117forr*equlPTrW Ifwthd b¥vantsrtutrnd in FY2>24lplusÉ4.195¢yJtsrWdir4ftyys￿1e￿¢￿￿TCoDSurr￿th FY23-14. 4 Debtors.creditars, prepawrentsafyj deferred inoyri¥erefvXiDdydEd In Prior￿￿O?￿b.