Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1 September 2023 Period start date To 31 August 2024 Period end date
Charity name: Wilby Riding for the Disabled incorporating Carriage Driving working name Venture RDA
Charity registration number: 1173610
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | Venture RDA is set up to work across the spectrum of disabilities, age range, social status and rural and urban environments. The focus of the work is to ensure that each individual has the chance to derive therapeutic benefit and opportunity to achieve personal goal. |
| 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 |
Venture RDA offers regular riding sessions for children with a variety of needs. The sessions in corporate activities that encompass the following skill sets; pony care, riding skills, physical development, cognitive support, speech and language skills, self esteem and confidence and relationship building. These skills show the children empathy and care through looking after the ponies. They allow children to try new things whilst building physical and inner strength. The focus on the child as an individual gives them a voice, a voice that can be heard. The families meet like minded others, who face the same day to day difficulties which gives them a network and subsequent strength as well. Venture RDA offers skills to the children and families that can open new doors when at times the families and children may feel many are closing. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | Trustees have ensured that guidance is read an understood. |
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 | Summary of actvites Between September 2023 and August 2024 we provided 750 riding sessions for 106 children of these 88 where new to Venture RDA up from 525 sessions for 74 participants in the previous year Our three most important difference outcome for the lives of participants are- RDA ensures all children make progress physically whilst involved with the project. The specific outline of a child's development cannot be stated, due to every child being individual. However, this physical development could range from fine motor skills, to core strength, to gross motor skills. The RDA ethos means that all children build positive relationships at a pace or level suitable to them. Children can interact with ponies, side helpers and coaches. The children are able to experience respectful and kind relationships. Also, the families involved build a network of support and friendship. At every visit every child will achieve, no matter the size of the achievement. Achievement grows confidence, confidence grows enjoyment, enjoyment grows positivity. Positivity is the heart of Venture RDA, someone believing in you gives you inner strength, the children who come to RDA are encouraged and genuinely cared about. |
Communication and language are benefitted by having to say specific commands to the ponies, and having to speak to people who may not be very used to her speaking mannerisms What we have learnt about our project whilst we have been delivering it this year. We have continuing to understand the role and importance of Venture RDA for the families as a whole. It is a place where the participants grow and continue to develop through the three differences but also the place where the whole family finds support, build relationships with others. Siblings also are finding Venture RDA can offer support, build relationships and confidence. When we see a dwindling of local authority provision for families and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, outlets and facilities like ours become eve more valuable. Adults have a space to talk, feel safe and understood and share familiar stories with people who understand and can sympathise, support and encourage. Our riders have a sense of belonging and we have learnt from our families how important this is, particularly for our riders who are now aged over seven years old and are often finding they are asked to leave mainstream groups as the provision is not adapted for them. This has taught us that longevity of opportunity is vital and we aim to be able to let our riders stay riding with us for as long as possible. Also with a growing demand and growing number of participants we acknowledged the need for more ponies and one that was more weight barring. Also that our families struggle to find a place to hold birthday parties that can accommodate their class group who all have needs and celebrate fully with them. What we have done with this learning- We have continued to develop our activities within the family room, with having a weekly theme that allows children to broaden their horizons, partake in shared experiences and understand the world around them. These activities are focussed on expressive arts and design, knowledge
of the world and fine and gross motor, all with opportunities to develop communication and language and social, emotional and personal skills. We have managed to have acquire one pony on loan for an extended periodallowing us to offer more rides. We held our second Family Fun Dayinviting all participants and their extended families to a family fete style event that was tailored to ensure that all our riders could take part in every activity and share with their families, their friends and community. We held our first Christmas Party this was valuable to our families and riders to build friendships, and meet Father Christmas in a setting where their needs could be met. We continue to seek another pony to allow us to invite more riders to ride with us. We now offer birthday parties to our participants after a successful trial which consists of a horse ride, a craft and activities in the yard.
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Income from riding amounts to circa £4.5k pa. However, the Charity initiated a fund-raising campaign during the year and was successful in raising an additional £80k in the 12 months to 31 August 2024 for the purposes of purchasing a Mechanical Horse, hoist and building to house it. As a result, the Charity Reserves increased to almost £113k by the end of August 2024. However, this amount includes: • £95,628 being the value designated for the mechanical horse under construction • £3,000 ring-fenced for potential replacement of ponies • Leaving £14,047 as “free” unrestricted reserves to cover approx 6 months of ongoing running costs |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Reserves are held to ensure that the Charity has the capacity to run for up to 6 months, if funding reduced / ceased. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £112,675 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | The RDA family is a federation of member groups which are governed by a Membership Agreement with RDA UK and a standard group 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 | Prospective trustees apply and are notified of a decision within 21 days. All applicants are given fair consideration. Posts are decided collectively with nominations from trustee group members, first and seconded. |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Wilby Riding for the Disabled Incorporating Carriage Driving |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | Venture RDA |
| Registered charity number | 1173610 |
| Charity’s principal address | 77 The Ashway Brixworth NN6 9UZ |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karen Mackaness | President | |||
| Kevin Hives | Vice Chair | |||
| WendySpillane | Ponywelfare | |||
| Karen Vessey | Compliance | |||
| Sarah Hedgecock | Treasurer | |||
| JD Hives | Secretary, Safeguarding and Risk Assessments |
| 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Claire Stuart | Chair | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
– 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 Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
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
Wilby Riding for the Disabled Association Charity Number 1173610
Income & Expenditure for the 12 months to 31 August 2024
| Income Income from riding Grant income Fundraising Interest Received Other income less Cost of Charitable Activities Livery fees Pony lease Grant refund Vet and Farrier fees Repairs, maintenance and renovations Riding equipment Horses Insurance Training Legal & Professional Other costs Net surplus / (deficit) Reserves bfwds Reserves cfwds |
2024 2023 £ 4,492 4,018 68,000 12,094 11,078 2,556 1,550 - |
|---|---|
| 86,126 17,662 |
|
| 19,959 14,558 1,339 227 617 1,304 492 288 1,394 907 244 260 627 |
|
| 25,212 17,004 |
|
| 60,915 658 |
|
| 1 - 51,760 51,102 |
|
| 112,675 51,760 |
| Wilby Riding for the Disabled Association Charity Number 1173610 Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2024 Fixed Assets Assets under Construction to 31 Aug 24 Current Assets Trade Debtors (Fairfields Sch x 2 invoices) Prepayments - livery for Sep 22 Bank Account: Business Current Account Bank Account: CCLA COIF Charities Deposit Fund Current Liabilities Trade Creditors(Mechanical Horse balance to pay to Racewood and for Hoist) Net Assets Reserves Free Unrestricted funds Designated funds - assets under construction to date Designated funds - mechanical horse to completion Designated funds - replacing ponies Total Funds |
£ £ 31-Aug 31-Aug 2024 2023 60,628 520 43,815 2,385 51,412 48,856 (43,180) |
|---|---|
| 112,675 51,761 |
|
| 14,047 11,761 60,628 35,000 40,000 3,000 |
|
| 112,675 51,761 |
Independent eX8miner report to the truste85 of Wllby Riding for the Disabl8d Incorporatlng C8mage Drlvlng, worklng name Ventur8 RDA, charlty numb8r 11736141 I report to the trustees on my examination of the 8ccounts or.. WilbyRidingfor the Disabled incorporating Carriage Driving. working name Venture RDA, charity number 7 Y73610, (the Gharity) for the year enLled 37 August2024. Responsibllltles andbasls of report As the trustees of the Ch8rity, you are responsible ft)r the preparation of the accounrs in accordance with the requirements of the Ch8riti88 Act 207 7 ('the Act ). I report in respect of my ex8min8tion of the Ch8rity& 8ccounts carried Out under section 745 of the 201 l Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Chgrity Commission uncler section 145(5J(bJ of the Act. Independent 8xamlner statement I have completed by examination. I confirm th8t no material matters have come to my 8ttention in connection with the ex8min8tion giving m8 C8use to b81ieve that in any mat8rial respect.. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by sectlon 130 of the Act,. or 2. the accounts do not 8ccord with those records,. or 3. the 8ccounts do not comply wit17 the applic8bie requirements concerning the form 8nd content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and R8POrtsJ Regulations 2008 other th8n 8nyrequirement that the accounts give a true 8nd fairview which is not 8 matter corisiderettas part oran ii?ttepenttent 6xamination. I hav8 no concerns and have come across no Dther m8tters in connection with the examination to which 8ttention should be dr8wn in this report in order to enable a proper underst8nding of th8 accounts to be re8ched. Signgd.. J C9nknl Name.. Relev8ntprofession81 qu81ificstion or membership of profession81 bodies (if 8ny).' Address.. LJ4TT i Date."