2025-03-31-accounts - The Sabre Trust

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CHARITY NUMBER: 1161190

THE SABRE TRUST

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 THE SABRE TRUST

Charity Registration Number: 1161190

TRUSTEES

Mrs Phillipa Farmer Mr Kevin Masters Miss Vivien Mills Ms Katrin Moon Mr William Porter Mr. Daniel Smith Mr. Darron Phillips Mr. Guy Blundell

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

Andrew Revis, Revis and Co Accountancy Services Ltd., First Floor, 50, High Street, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3AG

BANKERS

Santander UK PLC, 15 North Street, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1LB

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THE SABRE TRUST ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

PAGE
Trustees' Report	3-7
Independent Examiner's Report	8
Receipts and Payments Account	9
Statement of Assets and Liabilities	10

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THE SABRE TRUST

TRUSTEES' REPORT

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The Trustees present their report and examined financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (FRS 102) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, The Charity’s Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK published on 16 July 2014, as amended by Bulletin 1.

Reference and administrative details

The Sabre Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, and its registration with the Charity Commission under number 1161190 was approved on 7th April 2015. The company registration number is CE003857.

The trustees acting during the year were: Mrs Phillipa Farmer (Chair) Mr Kevin Masters Miss Vivien Mills Ms Katrin Moon Mr William Porter (Treasurer) Mr Daniel Smith Mr Darron Phillips Mr. Guy Blundell (Appointed 31/07/2024)

Structure, governance and management

The governing document of the Trust is a Constitution and the governing body is made up of eight Trustees, who are the only voting members of the organisation.

The six original Trustees were hand-picked by the Founding Trustee, based on her knowledge of each individual, through their work together as volunteers for the Prince’s Trust (now The King’s Trust). Four new Trustees were appointed by the Board in accordance with the Constitution. Six of the Trustees perform the task of assessing the grant applications. The purpose of selecting the Trustees is to provide an unbiased and independent assessment of each applicant for funds. This process ensures fairness and openness. The assessors check the integrity of each application but also add value to the process by using their years of experience dealing with young people to make suggestions or offering other support to the applicants. All applications are discussed at regular meetings, when decisions are made about which applications should be approved and for how much.

When the need arises alternative or additional trustees will be appointed in accordance with the Constitution. New Trustees will be appointed by a vote at a Board meeting. Trustees will be sought to add value by their skill base and knowledge.

A Member of the Executive Committee wishing to resign during the term of their appointment could do so by

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notifying the Secretary in writing, and their resignation takes effect from the date their resignation was received by the Secretary. In the event of a casual vacancy among the Honorary Officers or Additional Members of the Executive Committee, the Executive Committee could appoint another eligible person to act for an appropriate period but not beyond the next Annual General Meeting.

At the meeting of the 31st July 2024, the Trustees approved the appointment of Mr. Guy Blundell to the Board. Mr. Blundell is an IT expert and his role is to update the website and other communication and recording methods to assist the board with administrative functions.

In April 2025, the Trustees agreed to change the charity’s accountants from Kreston Reeves to Revis and Co. The reason was a financial one, the former company having significantly increased their costs, which made it unsustainable for the charity. The Trustees agreed to maintain a firm of accountants to demonstrate professionalism and transparency for both current, and any future sponsors and stakeholders.

Objectives and activities

The objects of the CIO are, for the public benefit, the advancement of amateur sport, in particular, but not exclusively, by providing funds to assist disabled athletes to participate, coach and train in the sport of wheelchair fencing.

Our Vision

The Sabre Trust’s mission is to help disabled persons to access a positive fencing experience and so enhance their quality of life.

Our Culture and Values

We have recognised that in order to achieve our vision we must continually improve the way we communicate with the disabled community using a variety of means.

The Sabre Trust is a registered charity, and our volunteer network is critical to our success in all we do. Our goals and vision are set out above and below. We are clear that we need to engage with:-

•Disabled people who are currently engaged in fencing;
•Disabled people who would like to fence.
•Disabled people who would like to be involved in fencing as a coach or official;

And our stakeholders are:

British Fencing
WheelPower
Why Sports
Sport and Recreation Alliance
Any sponsors we may have
Our celebrity supporters
Our suppliers

The principles apply to each and all of the above. Inevitably there may be differences of approach to and for the specific groups identified, but they are all of major importance to The Sabre Trust.

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Our Mission

We will always be “people-centred” concentrating our efforts and resources where we think we can make a significant difference. We are committed to the values of honesty, equality, integrity and helpfulness. We recognise we live in an increasingly diverse society and will endeavour wherever practical to carry out Grant Application assessments in a manner so as not to disadvantage through socio economic backgrounds. We have as a primary focus, disabled people interested in fencing, so have a duty of care to make reasonable adjustments to the way we communicate so that people with all disabilities are able to access the organization through the Grant Application process. We are also committed to sharing information that is within our knowledge regarding aspects of daily life that may benefit the disabled people we deal with.

The way we relate to one another, with key partners and the wider community, will be characterised by a respect for the views of others and the integrity of our approach. We will treat people with fairness and equality at all times.

Public Benefit Statement

The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Trust’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities

Achievements and performance

Following pressure from the international wheelchair fencers, the National Governing Body was forced into a U-turn about the term ‘seated fencing’ and has adopted the correct term, Para Fencing, bringing it in line with World Ability Sport. The sport is still an all-inclusive sport, and national competitions allow all people to partake in the sport, even if their disability is not one that can be officially recognised by the international federation.

On the international stage, Great Britain’s wheelchair fencers have continued to dominate the scene, and in the last year several new fencers have represented Great Britain, all of them supported by The Sabre Trust. A total of two females and five males received grants from the Trust in this financial year. All applicants are new to the sport, and for the first time, one applicant is taking part in the new sport of Disability Modern Pentathlon. Of the other applicants, two required the equipment to fence in their first international competitions. Three are likely to fence internationally in the next year. All of the athletes have competed in the domestic competitions, during the year and all of them have won medals in those competitions. The final applicant is another first for the Sabre Trust. A young man with Downs Syndrome has started fencing at the fencing club where one of the Trustees is a coach. Although not a wheelchair fencer. The young man has a learning disability and requires one-to-one coaching. He has an awkward body shape, and none of the conventional fencing clothing is able to fit him, so help has been given to supply bespoke fencing clothing enabling the young man to take part in the sport. The help given to this individual is in line with the objectives of the charity, to provide help to people of all disabilities.

The Trust has a policy that all equipment provided to applicants must be returned to the Trust if the applicant has no further need for it. Some of the equipment is supplied to other applicants, thus saving money, and making best use of the Trust’s resources. Of the applicants listed above, most of them received some used equipment.

The main organization linking disabled people with disability sports is WheelPower and The Sabre Trust is developing a stronger working relationship with this organization to enhance future activities, and encourage more people to take up the sport. WheelPower is organizing activities throughout the UK and throughout the year, for people to come and try disability sports. These events are supported by The Sabre Trust.

Marketing and Communications

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Our website has been completely re-built by Trustee, Guy Blundell, a professional website developer. The new website if fresh, modern and inviting, giving up-to-date information. The Trustees now have a professional email address and the whole function of the charity has been updated. The final book in the trilogy of stories about the Wheelchair Musketeers has been published, and copies have been distributed. All proceeds from sales go to the Sabre Trust. Copies of the books have been circulated to the Spinal Injury Units in the UK and Republic of Ireland, together with the military rehabilitation establishments, and children’s hospitals. We are committed to meeting the needs of customers in a professional manner and we have developed a Customer Charter to show that commitment.

Engaging our Partners and Stakeholders

The Sabre Trust has continued to work alongside a number of stakeholders in an effective manner, and will continue to do so to deliver this plan over the next year. We continue to work closely with WheelPower, by delivering wheelchair fencing camps, and assisting at WheelPower events; Why Sports, by supporting their events, and who, in return, have offered to publicise our charity on their website, and Sport and Recreation Alliance, of which The Sabre Trust is a member.

Financial review

Income for the year amounted to £3402 a decrease of around £253 on the previous twelve-month period. The only source of income during the year was donations £3402

Expenditure for the year amounted to £4942 an increase of around £2018 on the previous twelve-month period. This resulted in a loss? for the year of £1540.

The Trustees established that funds would remain capped at £500 per person for new applicants, but the increase in costs of fencing equipment, due mainly to the war in Ukraine, where a lot of fencing equipment is produced, means that the figure for established athletes would have to be increased, and measured on a case by case basis, and measured against available funds.

The figure will be reviewed at the beginning of the next financial year.

Reserves Policy

The executive committee will confirm and review on an annual basis the policy in respect of the reserves held by The Sabre Trust and to ensure that these are normally maintained at a minimum level equivalent to the essential activities of the organisation for a minimum three months, should all other income, including but not limited to: grants, donations and sponsorship fail to materialise. The trustees believe that the level of free reserves is necessary in order to safeguard the future of the charity. The trustees aim to keep at least one year’s average general expenditure, equivalent to around £5,000.

Plans for the future

To review the objects of the charity following the decision by World Ability Sport (formerly IWAS) to change the name of the sport from wheelchair fencing to Para Fencing, thereby enabling athletes with a visual impairment to partake in a form of fencing.

Increase the available resources to assist people with all disabilities who would like to take up the sport of fencing.

Secure funds to help pay for new wheelchairs for talented athletes who want to become international wheelchair fencers.

Continue to improve the IT for the charity, - the website, e-Newsletters and GDPR compliant emails. Continue to improve communication to the disabled community via e-Newsletters and the books.

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To develop the new Wheelchair Musketeers Fencing club.

To help and support several visually impaired fencers who have approached The Sabre Trust for assistance.

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Miss Vivien Mills Date:

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE SABRE TRUST

I report to the charity's Trustees on the examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025 which are set out on pages 9 to 10.

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 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 in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Andrew Revis FMAAT Revis & Co Accountancy Services Limited 1[st] Floor 50 High Street Cosham

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RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

RECEIPTS Donations Other Income Total receipts PAYMENTS Grants made Just giving charges Equipment Purchases Website Costs Legal & professional ees Total payments Net (payments)/receipts Cash and bank deposits at 1 April 2024 Cash and bank deposits at 31 March 2025 Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Net (payments)/receipts Total funds carried forward	Unrestricted Funds £ 3,402 0 3,402 957 0 303 202 3,480 4,942 -1,540 7,529 5,989 7,529 -1540 5,989	2025 Total Funds £ 3,402 0 3,402 957 0 303 202 3,480 4,942 -1,540 7,529 5,989 7,529 -1540 5,989	2024 Total Funds £ 3,075 580
			3,656
			1,000 36 1,888 0 0
			2,924
			732 7529
			5,989
			6,797 732
			7,529

The Sabre Trust has not acquired or discontinued any fundamental activities during the above financial year. The Charity has no recognised gains and losses other than those included in the above Receipts and Payments Account. Therefore, no separate statement of total recognised gains and losses is needed.

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STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

AT 31 MARCH 2025

2025 £ 5,989 5,989 5,989 5,989 7,529 -1,540	2025 £ 5,989 5,989	2024 £ 7,529 7,529 7,529 7,529 6,797 732 7,529
	5,989 5,989

5,989		7,529

These accounts were approved by the Trustees on and signed on its behalf by:

Miss Vivien Mills Trustee

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