## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From 01 April 2022 To 31 March 2023**
**Charity name: Ayre to Air**
## **Charity registration number: 1174164**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|**The organisation’s purpose is the**
**promotion of efficiency in the Armed**
**Forces of the Crown by the provision of**
**support, facilities and activities for the**
**efficiency and wellbeing of Service**
**Personnel**|
|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|**The aim of the Ayre to Air CIO is to**
**build, maintain and operate a Pitts S2AE**
**aircraft that was bequeathed by the**
**family of the late Sgt Anthony Ayre such**
**that Service Personnel and qualifying**
**civilians may be afforded an opportunity**
**to experience aerobatic flight at**
**minimum personal cost. As a non-profit**
**making organisation, supported by**
**volunteer members of the RAF Sport**
**Aircraft Association (RAFSA), the**
**maintenance and operating costs are**
**kept to the very minimum, thus making**
**the activity of aerobatic flying**
**accessible to those who would**
**otherwise be unable to participate.**
**Aerobatic Flying is a physically and**
**mentally demanding activity that**
**undoubtedly “stretches” the individual,**
**leading to significant personal and**
**professional flying development.**
**Taking it one step further and entering**
**an aerobatic competition brings with it**
**the immeasurable benefits associated**
**with sporting activity and competition.**
**In turn, these benefits further enhance**
**the individuals’ contribution to the**
**efficiency of the defence of the UK.**|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity|Para 1.18|**The guidance issued by the Charity**
**Commission on public benefit was used**
**to assist the Trustees with the**
**Organisation’s planning of activities**|
Commission on public benefit
**during ‘virtual’ online meetings held during the reporting year.**
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers 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|**The main areas of achievement during**
**the reporting period fall within the**
**following 3 areas:**
**Aircraft Build & Initial Operation: A**
**particularly frustrating year in terms of**
**aircraft operation and the delivery of**
**aerobatic flying and experience. The**
**source and cause of an ongoing engine**
**malfunction could not be identified.**
**Replacing parts in a methodical order**
**was the only pathway to resolution but**
**incurred a great deal of expense. Hardly**
**any flying was achieved within the year**
**bar short duration local test flights**
**conducted as part of the rectification**
**process.**
**Sourcing and Raising Finance: The**
**spiralling and significant cost of**
**necessary engine rectification works**
**was of concern to the Trustees.**
**However, generous donations made by**
**QinetiQ and the Adrian Swire Charitable**
**Trust afforded a degree of security,**
**noting that the aircraft was unable to**
**generate any significant income through**|
**its operation. Funding the installation of the engine management system was achieved through a loan to the Charity by AAKOS Ltd. The Charity was able to repay the loan in full within the reporting period. Promotion & Engagement: The profile of the Spirit of Ayre organisation continued to be raised through the publication of storyboards, brochures, reports and the RAFSA website.**
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41||
|---|---|---|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41||
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41||
|Other|||
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|**At the end of the period, the Charity had**
**recorded a profit of £18.277. However,**
**this is slightly misleading as the engine**
**fault investigations and rectifications**
**had yet to be paid for. The Charity**
**continues to operate on limited funds**
**and tight margins. It would be fair to**
**say that at the end of the period, the**
**financial position was of concern given**
**the lack of flying; the aircraft must be**
**self-funding through flying activity.**|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22||
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|**Nil**|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|**The Charity does not hold sufficient**
**funds to be able to allocate a reserve.**|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24||
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23||
**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||
|---|---|---|
|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||
|Other|||
## **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|**Appointed by the Chairman in**
**consultation with the Trustees.**|
## **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|Ayre to Air|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses||
|Registered charity number|1174164|
|Charity’s principal address|C/O RAF Waddington Flying School
RAF Waddington
Lincs
LN5 9WA|
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## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
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20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Alistair James
Seymour|Trustee & Chairman|||
||Gary Paul
Coleman|Trustee|||
||Christopher Martin
Hives|Trustee|||
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## – 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
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
|**Type of**|**Name**|**Address**|
|---|---|---|
|**adviser**|||
**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**|||
|---|---|---|
||Christopher M Hives||
||
Trustee||
||14 May 2024||
||14 May 2024||