Charity Number 1167465
Trustees Report to AGM 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 awards.
Annual Review
Over the winter months the trustees met several times but we could not see our ways around the problem of having no horses available. We had one pony in training but it needed assessing and also a lack of trained and qualified coaches. We eventually managed to get Ruby, the new pony, assessed and two new coaches but this was very much later in the year than we had anticipated. Thanks to the Regional Chairs of RDA, we were given a grant of £2500 to help towards getting a horse to the showground so that we could continue. We hoped that Donna would still be able to bring May but her lorry broke down and has not been replaced. Matthew who brings his pony works shifts so we are only able to run two out of every three weeks. We didn’t start until August so have tried to keep running until later on in the year. It is still hard to get volunteers and as a lot of us are retired it will get harder to continue. As well as this, we still are desperate to get another horse in order to help run the sessions. We restarted again in February half term and managed a couple of sessions before the start of the new financial year. The owners of Carmarthen Showground themselves a charity, have kindly allowed us to use the showground for our weekly sessions rent free this year which will help considerably.
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 did not charge the membership fee as it was not worth it for the clients.
The cost of bringing the horse to the showground is now covered by the money we were given by RDA. However, extra costs such as the care of the horse are not covered and is paid for by the volunteers who have funded this for the last thirteen years from when we started, meaning that this may have to be reviewed in this financial climate.
Structure, government and management :
We are managed by 6 trustees- and have regular meetings and we comply with the Charity Commission scheme for a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. 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. We have co-opted one of our members onto the committee.
The current trustees for Carmarthen Carriage Drivers are as follows: Penny Hopkins: Chair Thelma Jones: Secretary Lynne Brooks: Treasurer Ray Hopkins Kayleigh Bowen Amanda Kennedy
RDA Carmarthen Carriage Drivers Charity N0 1167465
Annual Accounts for period from 1st April 2024-31st March 2025
Bank Balance as at 31st March 2024 £4,423.00
| EXPENDITURE | INCOME | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| NFU Insurance | 348.99 | Membership and Driving Fees | 802.00 |
| RDA Insurance | 441.00 | Donations | 20.00 |
| Assessment | 78.30 | RDA Grant | 2500.00 |
| Safety Catch | 49.50 | ||
| M Rees Travelling Exp | 126.00 | ||
| D King Bike parts and repair kit | 63.95 | ||
| Sub Total | 1107.74 | Sub Total | 3322.00 |
| Bank Balance as at | |||
| 31st March 2025 | 6424.26 | ||
| Cash in Hand | 37.10 | ||
| Uncleared cheque (Income) | 213.00 | ||
| Final Total | 6674.36 |
Treasurer
Chair