**Annual Report and Accounts For the year ended 30 September 2022** **www.opendofe.org** Registered Charity No. 1169592 Charitable Incorporated Organisation No. CE008073 ## **Open DofE Centres in West Sussex** ## **Annual Report and Accounts For the year ended 30 September 2022** ## **Table of Contents** |Public Benefit Declaration|2| |---|---| |Report of the Trustees:|| |Chair’s Report|2| |Treasurer’s Report|3| |Achievements & Performance|3| |List of Leaders & Volunteers|4| |Receipts and Payments account for the year ended 30 September 2022|5| |Statement of assets and liabilities at 30 September 2022|6| |Notes to the Accounts|7| |Trust Information|8| |Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Open DofE Centres in|9| |West Sussex (the CIO)|| ## **Open DofE Centres in West Sussex Annual Report for the year ended 30 September 2022** ## **Public Benefit Declaration** The Trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. Our Charity’s aim is to provide open access for the delivery of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in West Sussex. We pride ourselves in supporting all the young people to ensure they complete their full Award, to provide them with the experience and life skills their participation gives them individually. The following reports describe how the charity meets its aim. A silver team on their expedition, away in the Peak District ## **Report of the Trustees** ## **Chair’s Report** The financial year started with a successful renewal of our Adventure Activities Licence Authority (AALA) licence, for which a 2 year licence was awarded. As noted in last years report, our Chichester location were starting to transition to operate under the Chichester Boys club, a very logical move, with both organisations using the same venue, that the Boys club own. This has been concluded, with the Open Centres in West Sussex now operating solely from Horsham. Personnel wise, I welcome David Hatton, who is now our treasurer. Keith Ediss has decided to step down as a trustee, though remains as a leader for the centre. I really appreciate the work Keith has done over the last couple of years, in quite challenging times & for his introduction of the Xero accounting system for our accounts in the coming year. It has continued to be a busy 12 months, during which all levels of the award “caught up” with expedition opportunities for all the young people who had registered with us over the last 2+ years. For both the silver and gold levels, the expeditions were also undertaken in areas away from the local area, back to areas previously visited, pre COVID times, which both the young people and leaders enjoyed. Ongoing interest from new participants remains steady, though less busy than the last couple of years. All trustee meetings have continued to be held virtually, very much for convenience, rather than necessity now, as the trustees live a number of miles from each other. The focus now for us is to consolidate our position, after the various challenges over the last couple of years. With a great team of experienced and passionate leaders and sound finances, as an organisation, we Page 2 remain in a strong position with good interest from young people to do their award, though a little calmer than the last couple of years. Cathy Childs Chair ## **Treasurer’s Report** The Accounting Period for the fifth year of operation is 1st October 2021 – 30th September 2022. Compared with last year, the Coronavirus pandemic is now over and we are back to being able to run as pre pandemic. All activities are back to running with camping being allowed and now returning to more adventurous areas further afield. This has meant that our running costs have increased compared to last year, although we have also had at the time of planning the fuel for transportation sky rocketing .This being the case we opted to ensure we had enough coverage for continued increases, but with the proviso that if it levelled out or cost us less than expected , we would refund amounts to the young people. This was the case with reduced fees for the gold final expedition to Brecon and refund for all silver participants completing their expedition in either the New Forest or Peak district. In general, the Charity has seen an increase in numbers and income, which has led to a the charity being in a strong position going forwards, especially with the need for some new equipment in the expedition season of 2023, mainly tents. Keith Ediss Treasurer. A gold team away in Wales at the top of Pen Y Fan ## **Achievements & Performance** This year saw the centre continue with the momentum to catch up on the expeditions that had been delayed due to the COVID pandemic. The award is not just about the expedition; however it was this activity that had to involve working with others and that was the barrier for a number to complete their full award. Bronze expeditions were undertaken on the South Downs and the Weald, silver in the Surrey Hills, New Forest and White Peak, and golds in autumn 2021 locally on South Downs and Surrey Hills, then a 2[nd] cohort travelled to the Dark Peak and Brecon Beacons in 2022. All, with as always, some varying weather conditions. It was great for all the young people to spend time away with their teammates and be able to camp. There did though, continue to be a greater emphasis on our training being held out of doors at weekends rather than indoor evening sessions over the winter months. This was also partly drive by a change in the weekly meeting night, which does not suit all, however we remain grateful for a convenient hall to meet at. It was good to see a return of Volunteering opportunities where participants were able to work with other Page 3 people again, in charity shops, youth sports teams, the church and Scouting/Guiding groups. Rock climbing has proved to be a popular activity for the Physical section as well as swimming, running and team sports such as football, netball and rugby. For the Skill section home baking/cooking continued to be a popular life skill as well as an increased interest in handicrafts such as knitting and crochet. It was good to see Gold Residential opportunities returning to “normal” again with young people enjoying a whole range of exciting ventures, many were activity based though one young person did some basket weaving in Scotland. Our overall completion rate was 113.6% (66 enrolments and 75 completions), which is a fantastic achievement, though statistically achieved as the enrolments were slightly lower than the previous year. This financial year covered Horsham alone after the move of Chichester to be part of the Boys Club. Our enrolments during the 12 months Our completions during the 12 months ## **List of Leaders & Volunteers** The following individuals, either regularly or occasionally, have contributed to the successful delivery of the Duke of Edinburgh Award for young people in West Sussex during the period. They are listed in alphabetical order Linda Batchelor Mike Harrod Paul Brooks David Hatton Cathy Childs David Munn Simon Donaldson Charlotte Nichols (CJ) Keith Ediss Michelle Pope Oliver Foord Melanie Sykes Barry Goodchild Martin Tomlinson Kate Hall Richard Ward Dorothy Harrod Page 4 ## **Open DofE Centres in West Sussex (Charity No 1169592) Receipts and Payments account for the year ended 30 September 2022** |**Income**
**Note**
Expeditions
**10**
Grants and Donations
**2**
**Direct Charitable Expenditure**
Equipment Repair / recurring costs
Expeditions
**10**
Fees and Insurance
**9**
Training
**8**
**Other expenditure**
Bank Charges/Fees
Support Costs
**3**
Tracker Licenses)
Contributions to Training costs
Fees & Interest
Registrations
Sales and Events
Sundry
Registrations
Transport and Fuel
**Asset purchases**
Camping and Navigation Equipment (including
**Total expenditure**
Net Surplus/(Deficit) for the year
Cash and bank balances brought forward
Cash and bank balances carried forward|2021-22
2020-21
2020-21
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Unrestricted
Funds
Total
£
£
£
504
504
432
432
14,193
14,193
4,301
4,301
822
822
182
182
-
0
0
0
3,215
3,215
4,751
4,751
-
0
95
95
281
281
330
330
19,015
0
19,015
10,091
10,091
£ -
0
8
8
£ 5542
5,542
1,723
1,723
£ 1131
1,131
2,136
2,136
£ 1484
1,484
3,507
3,507
£ 1182
1,182
1,510
1,510
£ 3545
3,545
3
3
2021-22| |---|---| ||12,884
0
12,884
8,887
8,887
138
138
0
0
662
662
846
846| ||13,684
13,684
9,733
9,733
1,174
1,174
1,548
1,548| ||14,858
0
14,858
11,281
11,281| ||4,157
0
4,157
-1,190
-1,190
9,671
0
9,671
10,861
10,861| ||13,828
0
13,828
9,671
9,671| Page 5 ## **Open DofE Centres in West Sussex (Charity No 1169592) Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 30 September 2022** |Insurance
value
Insurance
value
Cash in hand
**Cash and bank balances**
Santander Current a/c
Paypal
**Represented by funds:**
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
**Other assets and liabilities**
Fixed Assets
Equipment
Computer equipment
Current Assets|30/9/2022
30/9/2021
£
£
59
150
12,403
7,560
1,366
1,961
13,828
9,671
13,828
9,671
12,153
12,153
1,467
1,467
13,620
£
13,620
£| |---|---| **David Hatton Treasurer and Trustee 6 June 2023** **Catherine Childs Chair of the Trustees 6 June 2023** Page 6 **Notes to the accounts** ## **1 Accounting policies** |**1 Accounting policies**||| |---|---|---| |These accounts are prepared on a receipts
**2 Grants and Donations**
Grants - unrestricted
Total
**3 Support Costs**
Post, printing, stationery & phones
Website development and maintenance
Meetings
Award events
Premises hire
Clothing and Sundry
Refunds
Total|and payments basis.
30/9/2022
822
£
822
£
-
£
130
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
532
£
662
£|30/9/2021| |||182
£| |||182
£| |||-
£
137
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
709
£
-
£| |||846
£| ## **4 Trustees' Remuneration, Expenses and Benefits** No trustee or person connected to them received any remuneration or benefits during the year ## **5 Risk Management** The trustees have carried out a Risk Assessment audit of all the major risks relating to the operation of the Charity and its conduct of DofE training and expeditions. They actively review this regularly, and are satisfied that systems and procedures are in place to mitigate their exposure to major risks. A specific assessment was carried out by AALS in Summer 2019 to assess the Charity's suitability to be have the AALA Licence renewed. This has now been renewed for 2 years. ## **6 Reserves Policy** The General Fund represents unrestricted funds arising from past operations, and unrestricted grants or donations. The aim is to keep at least one year’s running costs in reserves. - **7 Outstanding guarantees and secured debts** The trustees confirm, in accordance with the Charitable Incorporated Organisations (General) Regulations 2012, that at the year end the CIO did not have any outstanding guarantees to third parties nor any debts secured on assets of the CIO. - **8 Training Costs** Leader trainning costs for a first aid course which was charged out to other people as well as for our own team. ## **9 Fees and Insurance** An increase this year due to renewal of our AALA licence. ## **10 Expeditions** An increase in costs and revenue this year as we were able to begin expeditions with over night camping after the previous year. Page 7 ## **Trust information** ## **Trustees** |_Trustee Name_|_Office(if any)_|_Appointed_|_Retired_| |---|---|---|---| |Catherine Childs|Chair|11/10/2016|| |Keith Ediss|Treasurer|1/10/2020|1/11/2022| |Ollie Foord||29/6/2021|| |BarryGoodchild||28/9/2018|| |Kate Hall||11/10/2016|| |David Hatton|Treasurer from
1/11/2022|26/4/2022|| |Martin Tomlinson MBE||11/10/2016|| Trustees are recruited from persons who are familiar with the aims and policies of the Charity, and the aims of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and have appropriate skills, knowledge, and experience to undertake specific roles. Correspondence addresses: Chair: Catherine Childs, 124 Fairfield Drive, Dorking, Surrey RH4 1JJ Treasurer: David Hatton, 34 Hill Mead, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 2PU Bankers: Santander plc, Bridle Road, Bootle, Merseyside L30 4GB Independent Examiner: Michael Merritt MA FCA, 87 Worcester Road, Chichester, PO19 5EB Constitution: Constitution dated 11[th] October 2016 Charity Registration No: 1169592 Charitable Incorporated Organisation No. CE008073 Web site: www.opendofe.org Page 8 Independent Examlnerfs report to the Trustees of the Open O of E Centres In West Sussex 1.the CIO") I reporttothe Charity trustees cfi my examination of the ac(OLbnts of the CIO the year ertled 30 September 2022. Responslbllltlesand basls of teport As the Charity trustees of the Cll) you are Ye5ponsible forthe preparatlon of the aCC￿nts in accordan￿ with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111.the Actl. I report in respect of my examlnhtion ol the CIO'S accouAts carriEd out under 5(Ytion 145 of ihe Act In carrying out my examination I hiive followed all apE￿icable th"rections¥ivery by the Charity Commission L¢nder Section 145151 Ibl of the Art. Independent examinerfs 5tatemenl I have completed my exarn1n3tlc￿. I confirm that no matedal mattets have tt*Tre to my attentlon in connection with the eKaminatioi) giwn8 me cause to believe that in any tnatef131 respect.. Accounting records were Th)t kept as required try SEtti(Jn 130 of the Act.. or The accounts do not ac￿r￿ with those records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters io which your attention should be drawn to enable proper understanding of the a&xounts to be reached. Stgned.. Name.. M W Merrilt Relev3nt professional oual>ficatign'. FCA Address.. 87 Worcester Roail, Chichester, West Sussex POI9 SEB D3te.' S Jurie 2023 Page 9