2021-06-30-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01.07.2020 Period start date To 30.06.2021 Period end date Charity name: Merseyside Lowland Search & Rescue

Charity registration number: 1166213

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	To relieve suffering and distress amongst persons endangered by accidents or natural hazards and the preservation of life by providing search & rescue services in Merseyside in co-operation partners, government bodies and other relevant organisations.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	During this financial year, MerSAR has again developed itself into a stronger and more qualified team and the progress is ongoing to provide Merseyside communities with an excellent Search and Rescue team, the team have also assisted Cheshire SAR on 10 of their call outs as volunteers along with focussing on the aim of gaining full accreditation from the the governing body Lowland Rescue Team members continue to develop their skills bringing more capabilities into the team, they will be focussing on Team Leader training, Search Management, medical, water safety and much more. Due to the pandemic, fundraising events has been a minimum however when restrictions did allow, the team attended various events to liaise with the Merseyside community and making people aware of who the team are and what the team do. The team have continued to raise its profile and enable the charity to achieve the objectives set out in the constitution.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The trustees have complied with guidance issued by the charity commission on public benefit.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38
Other

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	MerSAR can offer considerable resources to support UK Emergency Services in times of crisis. MerSAR operates a command and control vehicle plus a 4x4 vehicle operated by its members. MerSAR are also available to support neighbouring Lowland Rescue search teams such as Cheshire Search and Rescue which is continuing, and relationships are building well. The team are also building relationships with the likes of Mountain Rescue due to Cheshire bordering North Wales and Greater Manchester.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against Para 1.41 objectives set Performance of fundraising Para 1.41 activities against objectives set Investment performance Para 1.41 against objectives Other

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	The team’s income is largely derived from donations from the general public and from individual trusts, as well as from sponsored events and financial support from individual team members. The team occasionally receives donations towards the purchase of specific pieces of equipment. Team expenditure covers members' training costs, insurance, vehicle running costs, purchase of personal protective equipment and other consumable items. During this period, we have become fortunate to receive a couple of grants to help towards costs and equipment. This came from trusts and emergency grant funding relating COVID-19 which has helped us through the crisis as we have not been able to fundraise or attend events as much as we would have liked to during this period
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	Last financial year, the charity aimed to maintain reserves of £4,500 by the end of this financial year which we can safely say was achieved. We again would like to maintain this amount of reserves for the upcoming financial year
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£4,500 at present
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	N/A
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	N/A

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	The charity receives its income from the general public and from individual trusts, as well as from sponsored events and financial support from individual team members. The team’s expenditure covers training, insurance and vehicle running costs and purchase of consumables.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	CIO
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	Trustees are voted in to post by full members of the team at the Annual General Meeting.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Merseyside Lowland Search & Rescue
Other name the charity uses	MerSAR / Merseyside Search & Rescue
Registered charity number	1166213
Charity’s principal address	2 East Street Birkenhead CH41 1BY

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	LesleyAshcroft	Treasurer	3rdFebruary2020 to date
	David Alcock	Trustee	3rdFebruary2020 to date
	Eugene Chapman	Trustee	23rdSeptember 2020 to date

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity	NA
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects	NA
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets	NA

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date
	Lesley Ashcroft	David Alcock
	Treasurer	Trustee
	15.02.22
	Eugene Chapman
	Trustee
	15.02.22
	15.02.22

Merseyside Lowland Search and Rescue YE 30 June 2021

Independent examinerfs report to the Trustees of Merseyside Lowland Search and Rescue I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of Mersey5ide Lowland Search and Rescue for the year ended 30 June 2021. Respon$lbllltbes •nd basls ol report As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible fof the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Art 20111'the arfl. I report in respert of my examination of the Tfustee's accounts carrted OLrt under Section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my eyomination I have followed all the applicable Dirertions given by the CharSty Commission under section 1451511bl of the 2011 Act. Independent exarnlnerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention In connecrion with the examination 8IVbng me cause to believe that IA any material respect.. 111 accounting records were not kept Trn ￿SpeCt of the Trltst as regulred by sertion 130 of the Art,. or 121 the accounts do not acwrd with those records. or 131 the accounis do not compty with the application requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Re8ulations 2W8 other than any requirements that the atcount$ give a'true and fair view. which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have tome across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understandlng of the actounts belng reached. Andrew Chappell FCA. MIM8t, FFTA 10 Decembef 2021 Chappell As$￿1•teS Umfted Chartered Accountants & Re*tered Audltors Westfield House Bratton Road Westbury Wiltshire BA13 3EP

Merseyslde Lowland 5ear¢h and Rescue Charfty Number 1166213 In¢om• and ExpendltureA¢count for theryear end•d 30JuM 2021 Unrestricted fund Restritted fund Income Donation5 and 8rants 12745 ContrSbutions to PPE 12943 Expenditure Trainin8 and search deployments 11484 DeprKiation 513 2277 11997 2277 Exce55 of incomeover expenditure 946 -2277 Funds brouaht fon¥èrd 10364 9109 Funds carried forward 11310 6832 Represented by.. Fixtures. fiitin8s and eqvipment Moior vehicles Cost 6286 28770 Depreciation -3376 -21938 2910 6832 Bank balance Total assets 11310 6832 Forthe year in question. the charitable compay was entitled to exemption from an audit under section 477 of the CompaniesAci 2￿6. The members have not requlred the charitable companyto obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in Question in accordance with section 476 of the Act. Thetrustees/direttors acknowledge their resp)nsibilities for comp￿Ing with ihe requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect io accrjunting records and the Pfeparation of accounts.