**Operation Sabre Trustees’ Annual Report 2024/25** Issued 26 January 2026 1 Annual Report 2024/25 (FINAL) ## **Message from the President** I am pleased to present the Trustees’ Annual Report for Operation Sabre for the year ending 31 March 2025. The past year has once again demonstrated the strength, resilience, and compassion that define Operation Sabre. Through sustained humanitarian effort, strong international partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to public safety and human dignity, the charity has continued to deliver meaningful and practical support to vulnerable individuals and communities, particularly in Romania. This work has been achieved despite ongoing economic pressures and logistical challenges, and reflects the determination, professionalism, and shared values of everyone involved. Operation Sabre remains a wholly volunteer-led charity, and I wish to place on record my sincere thanks to our volunteers, who have generously given their time, skills, and energy throughout the year. Many have attended and delivered fundraising talks and presentations across the Shropshire and Mid-Wales, represented the charity at community events, and travelled overseas in their own time to support humanitarian activity. Their commitment lies at the very heart of our impact. I would also like to thank my fellow trustees for their professionalism, integrity, and careful stewardship throughout the year. Their collective experience and oversight continue to ensure that Operation Sabre operates ethically, transparently, and in full alignment with its charitable purposes and public benefit obligations. Finally, I extend my sincere gratitude to our donors, supporters, partner organisations, and the wider community whose generosity and trust make our work possible. Together, we continue to demonstrate the power of voluntary action, international cooperation, and humanitarian values to deliver lasting and meaningful public benefit. ## Steve Worral l **Stephen G Worrall BEM, PhD, MBA** President ## Contents 1. Reference and Administrative Details..................................................................... 4 2 Annual Report 2024/25 (FINAL) Issued 26 January 2026 2. Structure, Governance and Management ............................................................... 4 3. Objectives and Public Benefit ................................................................................ 5 4. Review of Activities and Achievements ................................................................... 6 5. Volunteers and Delivery Model .............................................................................. 7 6. Financial Review .................................................................................................. 8 7. Risk Management ................................................................................................. 8 8. Plans for the Future .............................................................................................. 9 9. Trustee Declaration .............................................................................................. 9 Appendices ........................................................................................................... 10 Appendix A – Financial Accounts 2024/25 ................................................................ 11 Appendix B – Volunteer Impact and Contribution Statement ..................................... 12 Appendix C – Public Benefit Statement (Charity Commission CC16 Alignment) .......... 14 3 Annual Report 2024/25 (FINAL) Issued 26 January 2026 ## **1. Reference and Administrative Details** **Charity name:** Operation Sabre **Charity registration number:** 1163222 as registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales **Principal address:** C/O Millwright Barn Stoney Stretton Shrewsbury Shropshire SY5 9PZ Operation Sabre is a UK registered charity established to deliver humanitarian aid, support emergency services, and promote community resilience through practical assistance, partnership working, and the application of humanitarian values. The charity operates both within the United Kingdom and internationally, with a particular focus on supporting vulnerable communities and emergency service organisations in Romania. ## **Trustees during the period:** The charity was governed throughout the year by a Board of Trustees as recorded on the Charity Commission register. Trustees collectively bring extensive experience in emergency services leadership, humanitarian response, logistics, safeguarding, governance, risk management, and community engagement. The trustees are responsible for setting the charity’s strategic direction, ensuring that activities remain aligned with its charitable purposes, safeguarding beneficiaries and volunteers, overseeing financial management, and ensuring compliance with charity law and regulatory requirements. ## **Financial Arrangements:** Operation Sabre banks with Lloyds Bank, Shrewsbury. Details of the charity’s income and expenditure for the year ended 31 March 2025 are included within the financial accounts appended (Appendix A) to this report. ## **2. Structure, Governance and Management** Operation Sabre is governed by a Board of Trustees who hold collective responsibility for the charity’s strategic leadership, governance, and financial oversight. The trustees ensure that the charity operates in accordance with its governing document, the Charities Act 2011, and relevant guidance issued by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Trustees met regularly during the year to review operational activity, financial performance, safeguarding matters, risk management, and forward planning. Decisions were taken collectively and recorded appropriately, with due consideration given to proportionality, risk, sustainability, and the delivery of demonstrable public benefit. 4 Annual Report 2024/25 (FINAL) Issued 26 January 2026 The trustees draw upon their professional expertise where relevant, while maintaining a clear distinction between governance responsibilities and operational delivery. This approach supports effective oversight while ensuring that the charity remains volunteer-led, accountable, and values-driven. No trustee received any remuneration for acting as a trustee during the reporting period. Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, such as travel and accommodation incurred wholly and exclusively in furtherance of the charity’s charitable activities, including overseas humanitarian missions, were reimbursed in accordance with the charity’s expenses policy. ## **3. Objectives and Public Benefit** The charitable objectives of Operation Sabre are focused on the relief of need, the advancement of public safety, and the promotion of community resilience and wellbeing. In particular, the charity seeks to: - Relieve poverty, distress, and hardship through the provision of humanitarian aid and practical assistance. - Support emergency services and civil protection organisations through the donation of equipment, safety improvements, and partnership working. - Promote community resilience, dignity, safety, and wellbeing through humanitarian action, cooperation, and shared values. ## **Public Benefit** The trustees confirm that they have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit throughout the reporting period. Public benefit considerations are embedded within trustee decision-making, activity planning, delivery, and review processes. Operation Sabre’s work delivers clear and identifiable public benefit to vulnerable individuals, emergency services organisations, and wider communities. Further detail on how public benefit is identified, delivered, and reviewed is set out in Appendix B – Public Benefit Statement (CC16 Alignment). 5 Annual Report 2024/25 (FINAL) Issued 26 January 2026 ## **4. Review of Activities and Achievements** _(April 2024 – March 2025)_ Throughout the reporting period, Operation Sabre delivered a sustained programme of humanitarian and charitable activity. Evidence of this work was regularly shared through written updates and photographic records published on the charity’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/operationsabre), supporting transparency, accountability, and public confidence. ## **Humanitarian Aid and Overseas Activity** During the year, Operation Sabre coordinated and delivered multiple consignments of humanitarian aid to Romania. Aid included electric wheelchairs, clothing, footwear, toys, bedding, hygiene products, and essential household items for vulnerable families, children, and adults. Seasonal support was also provided, including Christmas gifts and winter clothing. Trustees and volunteers were actively involved in sourcing, sorting, packing, transporting, and distributing aid. The majority of donated goods were generously provided by churches, social clubs, knitting groups, and community organisations across Shropshire and Mid-Wales. One overseas visit was undertaken during 2024/25 to ensure accountability, strengthen partnerships, and support local organisations. Activities included minor building works, painting and decorating, the installation of outdoor sports and recreational facilities, and inclusive sporting activities with residents of the Capus de Campie Special Needs Home. ## **Emergency Services Support** Operation Sabre continued to maintain strong and trusted working relationships with emergency services partners. A particular focus during the year was on fire safety and risk reduction, including the assessment and 6 Annual Report 2024/25 (FINAL) Issued 26 January 2026 improvement of fire alarms, smoke detectors, emergency lighting, and fire extinguishers within supported institutions. ## **Partnership Working** The charity worked closely with Romanian emergency services, care homes, Red Cross organisations, and local community partners. These partnerships ensured that aid was targeted, ethical, culturally appropriate, and delivered in accordance with safeguarding requirements and identified local need. ## **Public Engagement and Transparency** Operation Sabre used social media and other communication channels to provide regular updates on activity, acknowledge donors and volunteers, and demonstrate charitable impact. This approach supports public trust, accountability, and engagement. ## **5. Volunteers and Delivery Model** Operation Sabre operates entirely as a volunteer-led charity and proudly declares that it has never employed any paid staff. All charitable activities are delivered by trustees and volunteers who give their time, skills, and expertise freely in support of the charity’s objectives. Volunteers support the charity by delivering fundraising talks and presentations across the United Kingdom, attending community events, sourcing and preparing humanitarian aid, and representing Operation Sabre to supporters and partner organisations. Volunteers also give significant personal time to attend overseas visits to Romania, often using annual leave or unpaid leave. This 7 Annual Report 2024/25 (FINAL) Issued 26 January 2026 approach ensures that donated funds are directed as far as possible towards direct charitable benefit. Further detail on the scale, nature, and estimated public value of volunteer contribution is provided in Appendix C – Volunteer Impact and Contribution Statement. ## **6. Financial Review** The trustees present the financial review for the year ended 31 March 2025, as detailed in the appended accounts (Appendix A). ## **Income** Total income for the year amounted to **£21,518.77** , derived primarily from public donations, fundraising activities, regular giving, and Gift Aid reclaimed on eligible donations. ## **Expenditure** All expenditure was incurred wholly in furtherance of the charity’s objectives. Key areas included humanitarian aid procurement, transport and logistics, insurance, safety equipment, and essential governance and administrative costs. ## **Reserves Policy** The trustees maintain a prudent reserves policy to ensure financial resilience and the ability to respond to unforeseen humanitarian need. Reserves are reviewed regularly and remain appropriate to the charity’s size and risk profile. ## **7. Risk Management** The trustees have reviewed the principal risks facing Operation Sabre and consider the charity’s risk profile to be appropriate for its size and activities. Key risks include financial risk, operational risk associated with overseas aid delivery, safeguarding risk, and reputational risk. These risks are mitigated through trustee oversight, robust financial controls, safeguarding policies and procedures, regular risk assessments, trusted partnerships, and appropriate insurance cover. 8 Annual Report 2024/25 (FINAL) Issued 26 January 2026 ## **8. Plans for the Future** Looking ahead, the trustees intend to build upon the charity’s strong foundations and sustained impact. Planned priorities include: - Continuing and, where feasible, expanding humanitarian aid deliveries - Strengthening international emergency services and civil protection partnerships - Broadening the charity’s supporter base and diversifying funding streams - Maintaining high standards of governance, safeguarding, transparency, and accountability The trustees remain committed to ensuring that Operation Sabre operates sustainably, ethically, and in full alignment with its charitable purposes and public benefit obligations. ## **9. Trustee Declaration** The trustees declare that this Trustees’ Annual Report has been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Charity Commission’s guidance on Trustees’ Annual Reports and Public Benefit. Approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf: ## Steve Worral l **Name:** Stephen G Worrall **Position:** Trustee / Chair **Date:** 26 January 2026 9 Annual Report 2024/25 (FINAL) Issued 26 January 2026 ## **Appendices** **Appendix A – Financial Accounts 2024/25** **Appendix B – Volunteer Impact and Contribution Statement** **Appendix C – Public Benefit Statement (Charity Commission CC16 Alignment)** 10 Annual Report 2024/25 (FINAL) Issued 26 January 2026 ## **Appendix A – Financial Accounts 2024/25** ## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** |||**2024/25**|**2023/24**| |---|---|---|---| |RECEIPTS||£|£| |Specialist Fire training||0.00|3,408.37| |Donations||15,460.28|16,339.62| |Fundraising - talks||2,432.27|3,369.59| |Members subscriptions||340.00|240.00| |Gift Aid||3,286.22|2,146.52| |||21,518.77|25,504.10| |PAYMENTS||£|£| |Specialist Fire training May 2023||0.00|2,420.33| |Humanitarian aid mission costs May 2023||0.00|952.19| |Humanitarian trip expenses November 2024||3,766.35|3,186.97| ||- health & welfare, admin, corp|95.93|301.01| |overheads|||| |Insurance||1,224.09|1,163.44| |Handover ceremonies||105.46|25.00| |Humanitarian aid Romania||7,021.96|3,694.97| |Humanitarian capital spend||9,144.12|2,520.53| |Humanitarian Aid Ukrainian Refugees||0.00|3,613.04| |Fundraising – donation gift sacks & pens||40.00|1,436.12| |Gift for hosts||179.39|116.04| |Miscellaneous||90.00|45.00| |||21,667.30|19,474.64| |BANK BALANCE|£|£|£| |Lloyds Opening balance as at 1 April||17,674.04|11,644.58| |Plus receipts|21,518.77||| |Less payments|-21,667.30||| |Surplus/Deficit||-148.53|6,029.46| |Bank balance as at 31 March||17,525.51|17,674.04| |REPRESENTED BY|||| |Lloyds account balance|at 31 March|17,525.51|17,674.04| |||17,525.51|11,644.58| 11 Annual Report 2024/25 (FINAL) Issued 26 January 2026 ## **Appendix B – Volunteer Impact and Contribution Statement** ## **Volunteer-Led Delivery Model** Operation Sabre operates entirely as a volunteer-led charity and is proud to declare that it has never employed any paid staff since its establishment. All charitable activities are delivered by trustees and volunteers who freely give their time, skills, professional expertise, and personal commitment in furtherance of the charity’s objectives. This delivery model is a deliberate and values-led choice by the trustees. It ensures that the maximum possible proportion of donated funds, goods, and resources are directed towards beneficiaries and charitable activity, rather than administrative overheads or staffing costs. ## **Nature of Volunteer Contribution** Volunteers contribute to Operation Sabre across a wide range of activities, including but not limited to: - Planning, coordinating, and delivering humanitarian aid missions. - Sourcing, sorting, packing, and transporting donated goods. - Undertaking safety assessments and installing life-saving equipment such as fire alarms, smoke detectors, emergency lighting, and fire extinguishers - Delivering fundraising talks and presentations to community groups, churches, schools, clubs, and organisations across Shropshire and Mid-Wales - Representing the charity at public and community events - Maintaining partnerships with overseas emergency services, care institutions, and humanitarian organisations - Supporting refurbishment and improvement projects within beneficiary institutions Volunteers frequently give up evenings, weekends, and annual leave to support these activities. Overseas visits to Romania are undertaken in volunteers’ own time, an approach that ensures that charitable funds are preserved for direct charitable benefit. ## **Valuation of Volunteer Contribution and Public Benefit** The trustees recognise that volunteer time, skills, and personal sacrifices represent a significant and sustained public benefit. While volunteer time is not recorded as income within the charity’s financial accounts, the trustees consider it important to acknowledge its scale and impact. Since Operation Sabre members first undertook humanitarian visits to Romania in 2012, the trustees estimate that the cumulative value of volunteer time, professional expertise, foregone earnings exceeds £1 million. This estimate is based on: - The number of overseas missions undertaken since 2012. - The average number of volunteers involved per mission. 12 Annual Report 2024/25 (FINAL) Issued 26 January 2026 - The duration of missions, including preparation, travel, and on-site activity. - The professional and technical skills contributed, particularly in relation to emergency services safety and risk management. The trustees believe this figure provides a conservative indication of the scale of public benefit delivered through volunteer commitment over more than a decade. ## **Impact on Public Benefit** The contribution of volunteers directly enhances public benefit by: - Increasing the volume and reach of humanitarian aid delivered. - Improving safety standards within institutions supporting vulnerable people - Strengthening emergency response capability through equipment and expertise - Reducing operational costs and maximising the impact of donations - Building long-term, trusted partnerships that support sustainable outcomes. The trustees consider volunteer contribution to be fundamental to the charity’s identity, effectiveness, and impact. 13 Annual Report 2024/25 (FINAL) Issued 26 January 2026 ## **Appendix C – Public Benefit Statement (Charity Commission CC16 Alignment)** This appendix sets out how Operation Sabre meets the Charity Commission’s public benefit requirements, in line with guidance contained in CC16: Public benefit – running a charity. ## **Identifiable Benefit** Operation Sabre’s activities provide clear and identifiable benefits, including: - Relief of poverty, distress, and hardship through the provision of humanitarian aid - Improved safety and protection of life through the installation of fire safety and emergency equipment - Enhanced wellbeing, dignity, and inclusion for vulnerable individuals - Strengthened emergency service capability and preparedness. These benefits are tangible, measurable, and evidenced through delivery records, photographic documentation, partner feedback, and sustained engagement with beneficiary organisations. ## **Identifiable Beneficiaries** The charity’s beneficiaries are clearly identifiable and include: - Vulnerable children, adults, and families experiencing poverty, disability, or social exclusion. - Residents and staff of care homes and specialist institutions - Emergency services and civil protection organisations - Wider communities that benefit indirectly from improved safety and resilience Access to charitable benefit is based on need and vulnerability, with no unreasonable restrictions placed on who can benefit. ## **Wider Public Benefit** In addition to direct beneficiaries, Operation Sabre’s work delivers wider public benefit by: - Reducing risk to life and property through improved safety standards - Supporting social cohesion and inclusion within communities - Promoting humanitarian values, volunteering, and civic responsibility - Enhancing international cooperation and goodwill The trustees consider these wider benefits to be significant and aligned with the charity’s purposes. ## **Private Benefit** 14 Annual Report 2024/25 (FINAL) Issued 26 January 2026 Any private benefit arising from the charity’s activities is incidental and necessary to the delivery of charitable purposes. Volunteers and partner organisations do not receive personal financial gain from the charity’s work. Trustees receive no remuneration for their role. ## **Trustee Oversight and Decision-Making** The trustees actively consider public benefit when planning and reviewing activities. Decisions are guided by: - The charity’s stated objectives - Identified need. - Proportionality of cost and impact - Safeguarding and risk considerations The trustees are satisfied that Operation Sabre operates exclusively for public benefit and in accordance with Charity Commission guidance. 15 Annual Report 2024/25 (FINAL) Issued 26 January 2026 P•eredCkntyt4wthr1163222 RECEIPTSANDPAYMEPItsACCC*W4TKX¢TrIEYEARFMIED31 MAKHZ015 202411$ Speclll%t li¥etr&ni 15,460.28 1432.27 Vth)bvSwb5uiption5 GIftAld 3.286.22 21.J18 77 PAYMEP4 5wtiali5t ￿re1[anir￿Mty2D7l HumanLL*i5￿trIp VApth5E5N(fv￿nb￿2D1 .hèallh% ¥thI￿*.*y￿#￿,COlvQ￿h&￿5 3,166_39 95.93 1.?74.09 105 46 7.021.96 9.114.A2 Insule￿[e Handow¢wemonl*s 1uThdrAtsin8-d￿￿surI%fv prn5 Giklorhosf5 40.00 t19.J9 1.661.30 17,674.04 Plusi@cdPt5 21.518.7P -2L661.30 rpluWt)olrii -148.53 I7￿25￿1 LI0￿%4¢￿￿jltb￿￿￿e&3l L7.575.Sl 17525.51 Oate. Independent examinerfs report on the accounts S•¢tlon A Indopèndent Examin•r'$ Report Report to the trustse m¢mb¢rs 0 OPERATION SABRE On accounts for th• yea en 31 MARCF4 2025 Charity no (' an 1163222 Set out on p￿9 l EtKMt lo Ihe Iru%lr.os on my exarninab.on ol thè arr**nts of Ihe ai¥Jve ctrority I'lhÈ Trust-l l(* the year ended DD ' D[Ivl j YYYY. R•$ponsibilitie5 andA5 the ch¢inly truslves ol the Trus( you are re5F￿SIL4e for the preparatiLY¥ (rf basis of reportlhe 3ux)unts in aM)rdan￿ Mlh Ihe ￿UiTernents of Ihe Charilw 20111 Act"). I rep￿rt in respect of my examinats.on of the Trust's accwts carried oul under secbon 145 of the 2011 Aci and in ¢arrwng oul my examination, I have fdlowed the dppIKable thr8cIK)ns givtrn by the Charily Commission undcr sedion 14515 Ibl of the Act. I havè cx)mWÈtod my •xaminaiioTh l eonfvm that no Tr￿jaI mattws have Inerf&Etatpmerf come lo my attention le¢k8FlhaRtha*disdos8d-balgwFI In wnnectson wilh I ex8rnination gives me (ause lo believe that in, any material ￿pecI.. accounting records were ¥Y)t kept in aLrorfance wlh seLthn 130 ofthe Act or the accounts do not awyd with tho accounb"ThJ I￿0$ I have no 0)n￿rns and *￿e (xjme acmss nlher mcillvro in (xjnnection Ilie ex8minats()n lo which 8MeDlion shoU￿j be drawn irÈ (Kdor trj undorstandino of the accounL% 10 hp. rpar.lTrp.Il. ' Plet£lbtr dÈlÈl* Ihe words th Ihe bradr&ts rfthey do nol ap￿y. Date: 1810, Slgned: Namè.. CAKALINOWSKI RelE¥8nt protesslona qualificationlsl or bod {il any): CIPFA IRETIREDI Address.. 19 surroN LANE SHRFWSBURY SY3 700 Sectlon B Dls¢losuTe Onty w￿￿ete il the examiner needs to highlight nMtIw5 of concem (see CC32. Independeni examinafy'on of charity accounts. directions and guidance for examiners1- Gl¥e herg brlef d¢tsii$ of IER October 2018