Charity Number 1167465
Trustees Report to AGM 5[th] December 2023 (for April 2022- October 2023) Objectives and Activities:
Aim: To bring people with disabilities into sport and outdoor activity with Carriage Driving and competing where able.
Achievements : People being able to hold the reins, steer and negotiate cones etc. Sense of freedom and enjoyment. Meeting other people and socialising. Working towards awards for competency and Endeavour .
Annual Review
As there were no sessions held between April 2022 and April 2023 this report also covers April 2023 to October 2023
From April 2022 until April 2023 no sessions were held for participants because for the first 6 months the showground was still being used as a vaccination and testing centre for Covid19.
Over the winter months the volunteer members undertook training and assessments so that we could be ready to restart in April 2023 which we did. Even so in the past year we have not managed to run as many sessions as we had hoped due to animal health concerns as the weather was either too hot or too windy/wet, and also not enough volunteers to run safely at some others. Our participant numbers have also dropped this year on previous years, some not attending as still worried about COVID and others have moved on. We are gradually getting new participants but until we can guarantee we have enough volunteers that are trained and assessed we are going to continue to have problems.
We have a major problem with getting the use of horses for the sessions as the cost of fuel along with the cost of shoeing and feed has gone up considerably and people cannot afford to bring the horses (some over 50 mile return trip) without a contribution to the lorry fuel. We do not take in enough money to pay a mileage allowance so we need to find ways to raise money to cover this otherwise the group will have to close sometime next year as the money will run out. Without encouraging people to bring their horses we cannot continue to run as our stalwart horse Badger is now getting old and will probably not be able to be used again next year. Financial Review:
The cost of the insurance and venue is normally covered by our weekly income and membership subscription, although this year our membership numbers are down and as we have had to cancel so many sessions we have a shortfall although there is enough in the account to cover all the bills we will struggle beyond a couple of months driving next year without a great increase in our revenue. The detailed accounts are available at the AGM, or on request for the financial year to 31[st] March 2023. We are very grateful for donations received during the year.
The costs of the horses, shoeing, travelling etc are covered at the moment by volunteers who have funded this for the last thirteen years when we started, this will have to be reviewed in this financial climate. We have no paid staff
Structure, government and management :
We are managed by 5 trustees plus one co-opted member and have regular meetings and we comply with the Charity Commission scheme for a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. We urgently need more people to become trustees. Prospective trustees are put forward and voted on if there is an available space. Chair, treasurer and secretary are voted on by the membership at the AGM. The list of trustees is available on the charity commission website as well as at the AGM.
The current trustees for Carmarthen Carriage Drivers are as follows: Penny Hopkins: Chair Thelma Jones: Secretary Lynne Brooks: Treasurer Ray Hopkins Maggie Eaton Co-opted member Donna Harries
RDA/CARMARTHEN CARRIAGE DRIVERS; Charity Number 1167465
Statement of accounts for period 1[st] April 2022-31[st] March 2023
Bank Balance as at 1[st] April 2022 £5,968.11
EXPENDITURE INCOME
NFU Insurance RDA Membership Assessments 79.20 Bank Charges 24.00
Car Boot Sales 220.00 Bank Compensation 300.00
Sub Total £804.76 Sub Total £520.00
£5,683.35
Bank Balance as of 30[th] March 2023
Credit £5,632.55 Cash in hand £50.80
Final Total £5,683.35
There are two uncleared cheques outstanding plus and outstanding bill of £85 for assessments, payable to P Hopkins in th sum total of £1126.
This is as a result of Natwest bank incorrectly freezing the Society’s account. It is interesting to note that although the bank acknowledged their error and paid £300 in compensation, they still charged £24 for stopping the cheques and refused a donation from the giving machine in the sum of £15.98.
These accounts have been prepared from 1[st] April 2022-31[st] March 2023
Signed by Chairperson …………………………………….
Treasurer …………………………………….