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2020-12-31-accounts

CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION Registered Charity 1162659

Trustees’ Annual Report

and

Financial Statements for the year ending

31[st] December 2020

Annual report for year ending 31[st] December 2020

Covid 19 strikes

Like most of the UK and certainly those in the charity sector, the year ending December 2020 was a difficult one fraught with many unnecessary frustrations on the way.

We started the boating year with a much needed publicity incursion into our major client base, the schools of the Boroughs of Richmond upon Thames and Royal Kingston, with a personalised letter and flyer sent to every school head teacher detailing where we operated and what we could offer them in terms of a unique experience on the river, normally associated with elite rowing clubs, universities and public schools, where we could teach essential life skills to their pupils at minimum cost.

We also made contact with the local organisation Achieving for Children, which signpost schools to activities.

Literally, both of these approaches were making an impression with the first interested schools and academies soon responding, many of them newly formed without their own outdoor sports activity centres, when the first Covid shutdown was announced and that of course continued through the year up to July 2021 when, just a few weeks before the end of term the rules relaxed sufficiently for us to contact a few local schools and shoehorn in some sessions.

A further complication was the closing of Hammersmith Bridge, which stopped traffic under and over the bridge for safety reasons, putting an end to events like the Great River Race for which, through corporate involvement, we had trained teams, lent boats and generated funds that subsidised the school bookings.

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However, the trustees had recognised at the end of the previous year that both our client footprint and income sources were far too risk adverse, relying on a single client source, schools, and a single major event, the Great River Race, for funds and that there needed to be a complete diversification of our activities in those areas.

The year was not wasted and we took the opportunity to improve our governance, updating policies and structuring our databases to comply with GDPR so that confidential matters were kept so and that our volunteers were able to access information that was pertinent to them.

We registered a further working name of Thames Community Rowing, aimed at attracting non-school participation and concentrating on areas like sensory impairment, women’s only groups, fitness sessions and disadvantaged groups and we also carried out a competition for a new logo which was won by Isabella Spicer , a teenager from Twickenham with another Student, Ella Harrison, from Shepperton, a close second.

The plan agreed is to prepare the grounds for using Thames Community Rowing as an alternative name for non-school clients when the restrictions imposed by Covid 19 are relaxed in 2021.

----- Start of picture text -----
The winning logo design by
Isabella
----- End of picture text -----

We continued our liaison with The Traditional Boat Society and were rewarded with a grant which was in excess of £20,000 following a long and successful presentation at their annual general meeting to build a new skerry to be located in the Reading Area.

The new Skerry Floreat under construction in Richmond.

Following our previous survey of the Reading area, we started negotiations on the use of the Sea Cadet Corps water base at Blakes Lock Reading, agreeing terms that were detailed in a memorandum of understanding the draft of which was completed for discussion in November with a view to signing off the following year that would give us tenure for the next five years against a defined

We continued to have meetings with what was known then as The Environment Trust to reinforce our interest in using a derelict Victorian deep-water boathouse on the Twickenham embankment with the provision of a floating pontoon to the east and the addition of a rear storage area and toilet arrangement. To this end we provided the architects and surveyors with a means of accessing the boat house from the river.

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ALL wrapped up and nowhere to go. Roll on 2021!

Thames Eyot Boat House.

During the year we supported another Charity with the free loan of a number of our boats and coaches in order that they could continue with a charity fundraising paddle, which was about to be curtailed due to the closure of Hammersmith bridge. This event occurred in a short break in the Covid shut downs and necessitated the consideration of covid risk assessments and the recording of crews for track and trace purposes.

We ended the year in a much more buoyant mood than when we started knowing we had put the year to good use, had gained funds that supported the refurbishment of our boats and also the purchase of much needed covers for all the boats to offer protection from the weather during the long periods of non-use.

During the year we added to our Trustees with a new and well qualified trustee, Chris Shaw, who, along with our Charity administrator, Chris Leeson, started leading us in a much-needed transition to a more viable charity with a sense of purpose for the future backed up with David Golton heading funding.

My thanks to all the other trustees that have shown commitment and guidance during the year, Vic Griffiths, Peter Dolan and Patrick Ducker as treasurer.

Thanks also to our President and founder Bamber Gascoigne and also to Peter Dolan, both Patrons of the charity, for their financial contributions to the charity which are greatly appreciated, especially in a year when clients dried up and funds also.

Robin Corti

Chair, Skerries for Schools and Thames Community Rowing.

8th August 2021

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Annual Report, and Financial Statements

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Governing Document

Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation whose only voting members are its charity trustees adopted 13[th] July 2015

Objectives

Patrons

Bamber Gascoigne Founder & Patron
Peter Dolan Patron

Trustees

All served from 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2020 unless indicated. Details regarding recruitment/appointment and training of Trustees are shown under Governance & Management

Robin Corti Chairman & Secretary
Peter Dolan
Patrick Ducker Treasurer
To 11
thOctober 2020		 Matthew Ford
David Golton
Victor Griffiths
From 11
thOctober		 Chris Shaw

Advisers

Steve Kemsley Operations Manager Mark Edwards Master Boat Builder Chris Leeson Administration

Charity Registration Number: 1162659 Bankers : CAF Bank Ltd., West Malling, Kent Custodian Trustee None Principal Address: c/o 14th Richmond Scout Boating Centre, The Hut, Retreat Road, Richmond, TW9 1NN Website: www.skerries4schools.org

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Structure, Governance and Management

Skerries For Schools is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation whose only voting members are its charity trustees. Trustees are appointed by existing members. No specific training is required or given.

Day-to-day operations are in the hands of the Operations Manager.

Background

Skerries for School started as an unregistered charity (referred to as the “Legacy Charity”) with the same objectives seeking funding from loans, supporters and grant awarding bodies to build the skerries it needed. The CIO was registered on 14[th] July 2015 and the Legacy Charity transferred its assets and liabilities to the CIO on 1[st] January 2016 by means of a General Vesting Document dated 22[nd] December 2015. The transfer was accepted by the Trustees on 31[st] January 2016.

Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the CIO. They are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the CIO and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Trustees are also responsible for the preparation of the Annual Report and Financial Statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charity Commission.

Investment and Reserves Policy

The Trustees’ cautious approach to risk extends to their investments; day-to-day funds are kept with a bank covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, and the Trust has no cash transactions. The Trustees do not consider that a specific Reserves Policy is necessary at this time.

Financial Review

By means of a General Vesting Document, dated 22[nd] December 2015 the unregistered (Legacy) charity Skerries For Schools transferred the following assets and liabilities to the new CIO on 1[st] January 2016:

Four skerries donated or purchased for use, by means of grants, by the Charity for training, tuition or hire & reward. All with oars:

All valued at £54,400.00  Cash at Bank £11,757.09 (received 8[th] June 2016)

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These were formally accepted at the meeting of Trustees on 31[st] January 2016.

The CIO does not raise funds from the general public, either directly or through other people or organisations. It does seek grants from those organisations which award them

The charity’s trustees have elected to prepare accounts on a Receipts and Payments basis under section 133 of the Charities Act 2011. Under Guidance Note CC 16b, depreciation is precluded. While the value of the trailer and skerries have not been subjected to depreciation, the Trustees estimate that they have a ten-year useful life.

Operations

In order to fulfil its objectives the Charity arranges the training of volunteers to British Rowing Standards. All coaches are subject to enhanced clearance from the DBS and are given First Aid Training.

Skerries are fixed seated rowboats designed for less experienced crews, with greater stability than a skiff or wherry. They carry a team of eight rowers, a coach and up to two extra passengers (e.g. teaching staff).

Participating schools are able to book coached sessions in Skerries, for which they pay an hourly rate, through the charity’s website. The rate has been set to recover the Charity’s marginal costs. Local Boroughs have been approached to help fund schools who might have had difficulties in meeting costs.

To enable the Charity to cover its operational costs, skerries are made available to other organisations and groups at times when schools are not using them, at more commercial rates.

The main base of Skerries For Schools is the pontoon near Richmond Bridge. To enable schools in the Kingston area to use the skerries, and to make use of the non-tidal section of the Thames, the use of a second base has been arranged near Kingston Bridge.

A feasibility study is being conducted with a view to establishing a base in the Reading Area in 2021.

Public Benefit Guidance

The Trustees are confident that Skerries For Schools has been run for public benefit as evidenced by efforts to keep costs to schools as low as possible, by the provision of suitably trained and qualified coaches who give their time unpaid, and by direct contact with schools to encourage participation. Since their discussions leading to the registration of Skerries For Schools with the Charity Commission, the trustees have had due regard to the Commission’s public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.

Policies

Trustees have adopted policies as follows:

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Objectives, Activities, Achievements and Performance

The number of skerry sessions booked remained steady in 2016, but has showed an increase during 2017 and 2018 but reduced slightly in 2019. No sessions were possible in 2020 due to Covid-19 Restrictions. The number of individual skerries booked, and paid for, excluding the “taster” and other promotional sessions. – some schools use two skerries at the same time - were

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
32 35 48 60 48 None

Sessions with Schools were not possible in 2020 due to Covid-19 Restrictions Other sessions were promotional or “taster” sessions..

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit

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Independent examiner's Report to the Trustees of Skerries For Schools A Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Registered Charity 1162659 I re￿rt on the accounts of the Trust for the y¢aT er)ded 31 December 2020, which a￿ set out on pages 10 & Res iv The charity's thjstees are r¢swin5ible for the werAr8tion of th¢ accounts. The charity's trnstees consider thal an audit 15 not r¢quircd for this year under x¢tion 144(2) of the Charities Aci 2011 (the 2011 Act) hnd that an independ¢nt examinaiion is neajcd. It Is my reswlnsibility to: examin¢ the accounts under section 145 of the 201 l Act io follow the pr(￿ureS Iiid dowm In th¢ genera) Diwions given by the Charity Commission under seciion 145(5Kb) of the 201 l Act Io SL whether wticular matters have ¢ome io my attention Basis of in My examination was ¢aTried out in t￿OrdanCe with th¢ gen¢Tal DiTethions given by th¢ Chwity Commission. An examination includes a review of the 8ccounlin8 rKords kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts prtsenkd with those records. It also includes consideration of 4ny unusual items or dis¢losures in the accounts, and seekin8 ¢xplanations from you coJKcming any such matters. The undertaken do not provi(k all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is 8iven &8 to whether the accounts preseni a 'true and fair vi¢w' and the rewrt is limit&1 to thos¢ mairs sei out in ihe statement below. Ind endent In Connection with my examinatioN no matter has C￿1¢ to my attcnlion: ( l ) which gives me Teasonable cause to believe thai in any material respect the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and compty with the accountin8 r¢quirements ofth¢2011 A have not been meL or 12) lo whic14 in my opinion. attentiim should be in or(kr to enabl¢ a p￿￿r understanding of th¢ a¢wunis 10 be Nome.. St¢phen AEexander FCA Address:5, Cole Park View, Twickenham. TWI IJW

Skerries 4 Schools CHARffA8LE INCORPORATEO ORGANISAIION Registered Chanty 1162659 Statement of Financial Activities forthe PerkJ Isi Jamary 2020 10 31st Dtt&nber 2020 UNestricted Funds Re5tricled Funds T¢rtJl Totrl 3M9 Dcnathy￿ & Grfl Ahl Repad spL￿s(X5hip of Skerry far￿ffE- SkerEs Purchase Use Lrf Skernes 10.545 17,592 17.592 7,536 16,025 Total InC(￿ing Re51)urces 10,050 18,592 28.642 25,925 Oirtgoing Res￿ree$ Direct Acti¥ilies SkerrEs etc. IP£quisknl 15,312 15,312 11.673 7,536 9.728 11.673 PrixTK)knal Fees & Costs Repa￿1 of Stht Term Lo Total for Direct ALlivib 11.673 15,4LM) 27.073 19,264 (fvert￿ads & A(kninistration 79 Totsl (MJ¢goirvJ Resow 11.733 15,4 27.133 19,343 Net kncomiw ￿￿to￿ng) Resources (1,6841 3,192 6.5B2 Ch￿ge in Fixed Assests C￿$1￿￿11￿ of S4S Fl(Yeal Net M(r4ement in Funds 21.164 3,192 24.351 6.5B2 Funds Bioughl F￿vard 16,(MiO 63,224 Funds c￿led Forward 74,970 19,192 94.163 of which Tanjb￿ Assets 77,248 12,2781 77.248 16.915 19,192 15.406 74.970 19,192 94.163 io

Skerries 4 Schools CK4RITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISAnC Registered Ch&nty 1162659 Balance Sheet asat 31-Cc.Xl asat I￿an-20 Fixed Assets T￿a￿t4? A55ets Tcrtal Fix&J Assets Current Assets Cblo Cash am1 at B 77,248 24.625 41.658 24,975 41.658 Current Lialxlitie5 lthe with one year) I￿)) 118.252) Current Assets 24,914 23.406 Te￿ Liilitie5 18,Lll) I 18.(K(l ) NET ASSETS 94,163 Unrestnded FuThts Restr￿ed FuThJs 74,970 19,192 16.LX)O TOTAL FUNDS 94,163 Rot1 Culi, cha￿￿n 19th Juty 2021 Patr￿k t*xker, Treas 19th Juty 2021 li