2022-06-30-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01.07.2021 Period start date To 30.06.2022 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 made another excellent development as a team, passing the full accreditation from the governing body Lowland Rescue and gaining further qualifications such as Team Leader, Bankside Searcher or Search Management. Again, we have witnessed a huge advancement within the team becoming stronger, more efficient and more professional on a regular basis developing more skills as the opportunities come along. The team are currently providing Merseyside communities with an excellent Search and Rescue team which is ever evolving and changing for the better. The team have also assisted Cheshire SAR on 22 of their call outs and 3 times assisting Staffordshire SAR, putting in a total of 320 hours of voluntary work on the ground, that is solely on callouts and does not include any admin, training, events, or other work. Team members have continued to and will continue to develop their skills bringing more capabilities into the team, they will be focussing on Team Leader training, Search Management, medical, water safety, drones and most importantly, aiming to purchase their own fully equipped command and control unit which would suit the team perfectly with all resources in one place and a central point for incident control.

		Coming out of the pandemic, we did still see a struggle raising funds, these reasons range from people not having cash available or foundations understandably focussing on recovery from the pandemic and directing funds to other areas and means. The team continue to liaise with the Merseyside Community by attending events to raise awareness or attending schools/clubs to make people aware of who we are and what we 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 alongside a command and control unit. 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 organisations such as 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 managed to receive a few grants to help towards costs, software, computers, and various individual items throughout the year. This came from specific trusts and also companies who were willing to either donate funds or offer grants towards specific items

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 reserve 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 Para 1.51 and training of trustees The charity’s organisational structure and any wider Para 1.51 network with which the charity works Relationship with any related Para 1.51 parties 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
	15.02.23
	Eugene Chapman
	Trustee
	15.02.23
	15.02.23

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Independent examlnerfs report to the Trustees of Merseyside Lowland Search and Rescue I report to the Trustees on my examinatton of the accounts of Merseyslde Lowland Search and Rescue for the year ended 30June 2022. Re5ponslbllltTes and basls of report As the chèritytrustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparatlon of the accounts In accordance with the requiremerrts of the Charltie5 Act 20111'the acy), I report in respett of my examination of the Trustee's accounts carried out under sertion 145 of the 2011 Act and In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions 8iven by the Charity Commlsslon under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Act. Independent examlnerfs ststefflent I have completed my exarninatlon. I confirm that no materlal matters have come to my atterrtlon in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respert: 111 ac¢ountln8 records were not kept in ￿SpeCt of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act- or 121 the accounts do not accord with those records,. or 131 the accounts do not compty with the application ￿qUirementS Concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Actounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than anv quirements that the accounts give a 'true and fair view. which is not a matter consmlered as part of an independent examination. I have no concem5 and have come across no other matters In connertion with the examination to whlch attentlon should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understandin8 of the accounts being reached. Andrew Chappell FCA, Mlmgt, F￿A l December 2022 Chappell Ass¢xi*e5 Limited Chartered Accountants & Reglstered Audltovs Westfield House 8ratton Road Westbury Wiltshlre BA13 3EP

Merseyside Lowland Search and Rescue YE 30 June 2022