Charity Number 1175033
EAST LIVERPOOL RIDING FOR THE DISABLED
TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
EAST LIVERPOOL RIDING FOR THE DISABLED
| CONTENTS | Page |
|---|---|
| Legal and Administrative | 1-3 |
| Trustees Report | 4-8 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 9 |
| Income and Expenditure | 10 |
| Financial information and Statement of assets | 11-14 |
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
EAST LIVERPOOL RIDING FOR THE DISABLED
Trustees Natalie Burns Pauline Edge Carole Burns Freddy Carpen-Jukes Mary Angela Heatherington Jane Alison Owens Helen Turner Chairperson Natalie Burns Vice Chairperson Pauline Edge Treasurer Carole Burns Secretary Helen Turner
All Trustees served throughout the year unless otherwise noted.
Charity number 1175033
Registered address 7 Montgomery Close Whiston Prescot L35 3RD Activity Address Woodhouse Stables School Lane Rainhill L35 6NW
EAST LIVERPOOL RIDING FOR THE DISABLED
TRUSTEES REPORT
The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the Charity for the period ending 31 March 2023.
Chairpersons’ introduction
It is with great pleasure that I introduce the Annual Report which sets out, for all our volunteers, supporters, funders and members of the general public our achievements and growth in the past 12 months.
With an insight into our future and development.
Introduction
East Liverpool RDA was founded in 2017 by Natalie Burns a keen horse rider and competitor in the industry.
Natalie has developed this Charity with significant personal investment and that of her mother, Carole. Natalie set up the Charity at 27 years old wanting to have equine assisted therapy in Liverpool, the City where she grew up and to meet a personal goal, to open a registered charity.
The Charity has been built up initially with use of the family’s own equines, thus enabling the ride sessions to get underway and for the Charity to reach its participants.
The Charity was initially set up as part of a wider commercial stables within the area, however the Charity needed to relocate. The move meant that the Charity had to build stables and further purchase equines that now belong to the Charity to enhance the income to maintain and run the Charity in a purposeful facility.
The achievements of this Charity have been phenomenal; in the past 7 years the obstacles and pressures we have overcome have made us a resilient and dedicated group of volunteers and a community asset.
East Liverpool RDA continues to grow and reach individuals in the community that would not ordinarily have access to this sport or may think it is out of reach. IT’S WHAT YOU CAN DO THAT COUNTS.
East Liverpool Riding for the Disabled is a Merseyside based Charity that works within the local community to provide horse riding and therapy sessions for children and adults with disabilities across the Merseyside area. This Charity is a truly voluntary organisation. We are led by volunteers and funded by kind-hearted people who make donations, provide funding and grants.
East Liverpool RDA brings together individuals, carers and families from all different backgrounds and allows them escape the struggles and hardships they have to face in daily life. Our sessions give our riders and participants social and interactive skills but most importantly it brings enjoyment and fulfilment to their lives.
Sessions give carers and families the chance to take respite of the demands their role of caring for a person living with disability can bring.
We are self-contained within a sole use property adapted to our needs.
Aims and Purpose
To provide the opportunity for disabled children and adults to benefit from the positive experience of horse riding, contact, care and stable management.
EAST LIVERPOOL RIDING FOR THE DISABLED
Our priority is to improve lives, promote wellbeing and enhance the health of those in our area who would most benefit from what we are able to offer.
Objectives and Activities
Sessions are provided for participants from across Merseyside. The therapeutic benefits of being around horses, to not only ride but also to be in contact with horses is tremendous. The benefits of horse riding are immense enjoyment, mental fitness, and stimulation in the open outside fresh air.
There are significantly more physical benefits in terms of enhancing balance, developing core strength, coordination, reflex acceleration, etc., the emotional experience of bonding with the horse or pony and often immeasurable improvements in terms of patience, self-discipline, self-confidence and self-esteem and self-worth.
We are set up in an area of significant deprivation within Merseyside and reach participants with a huge range of disabilities; physical, mental, emotional, and learning. We engage those of all ages and abilities from a variety of backgrounds. We utilise an inclusivity programme that we established to ensure that participants can access our service without prejudice. As such this programme enables sessions to be subsidised, should they face a barrier. This ensures the community benefit derived from our service.
Adults and children (who may spend a lot of their time struggling) can learn to ride and for those with problems with mobility the horse or pony enables them to be an equal in speed, grace and agility in the arena.
Whatever the activity our participants engage in, that be riding, care tasks, quiet corner, or contact sessions, the feedback is captured by questionnaires and by engaging in conversation with carers and parents. The feedback to date reflects our efforts to expand and is showing that we are a valued and welcomed asset to the community.
We aim to enhance self-belief, self-worth and confidence. Being around horses provides a multi-sensory experience, simply stroking horses, hearing and using motor skills to partake in activity or care tasks is hugely beneficial and rewarding to our participants.
EAST LIVERPOOL RIDING FOR THE DISABLED
Volunteers
We would like to thank our group of extremely dedicated volunteers, without who, we would not be able to operate as we do.
Our volunteers have stood by the Charity’s aims, objectives and beliefs and turn up in all weathers so that the Charity ensures that it continues to enrich its Participants’ lives whatever their disability, background or age.
The volunteer’s dedication and commitment to the Charity is admirable and the Board wishes to thank them all for their effort and commitment.
The Board are committed to ensuring the recruitment of volunteers from a diverse area within our community and a group of volunteers on the Board that reflects the needs of the Participants.
The Board are focused on ensuring that the Volunteers and Trustees are adequately trained and constantly reviewing the practise and need to adapt as required to current changes.
The training programme for volunteers is established and updated regularly in conjunction with volunteer feedback and participant views. Volunteers have access to all procedures and policies and access to dedicated trustees for Safeguarding.
EAST LIVERPOOL RIDING FOR THE DISABLED DL
EAST LIVERPOOL RIDING FOR THE DISABLED
Structure, Governance and Management
East Liverpool RDA was established in 2017 registered with the Charities Commission of England and Wales and we adopted the Articles of Management recommended by RDA National Office at our inaugural meeting on 1st July.
We immediately took the necessary steps to register at Charities Commission our Registered Charity no. is: 1175033.
Accounts are submitted annually to the Charities Commission.
East Liverpool RDA Group is a Member Group of the Riding for the Disabled Association. The RDA National is registered as a Charitable Company Limited (no:5010395) by Guarantee governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association and registered charity number 244108.
The Charity is constituted and run by the Trustees, although matters will generally be settled by consensus, they are the only members to have voting rights. Additional Full Members (with voting rights) need to be proposed and seconded by existing members and approved by the Committee at a scheduled meeting. In pursuing a desirable expansion of voting membership it must be borne in mind that a quorum at a General Meeting requires 35% of members to attend.
Although various responsibilities are delegated to individual members of the Committee, every effort will be made to keep the Committee informed of any significant developments. The Secretary will maintain a list of voting members and details of the allocation of specific responsibilities.
Meetings will be held at least four times a year with a minimum of four weeks’ notice and an agenda circulated no fewer than ten days beforehand. The Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer should feel empowered (in consultation with each other) to take any necessary decisions between scheduled meetings.
The Group operates independently of any single Equestrian Centre or Riding School.
The Board of Trustees maintains and reviews a skill audit to ensure that the Group has the appropriate skill set, experience and support in delivering the Group’s aims and objectives and its legal obligations.
The Charity’s board of trustees is developed in a way that allows a clear line of communication depending on role and concern. Each trustee is appointed to ensure that each role within the Charity was fairly represented. As such we appointed trustees into the following roles: we have 2 safeguarding officers. These roles are given in addition to each board member’s role. The aim of this allocated role is set out in a role specification given to each member, this is to ensure clear communication, order, and best practise. All trustees have access to policies, procedures and legal advice as required.
The legal responsibility for the direction and administration of the Charity rests with the elected Trustees. The Trustees are required to submit themselves for re-election at the Annual General Meeting which is held in September in accordance with the Charity’s Constitution.
EAST LIVERPOOL RIDING FOR THE DISABLED
All trustees, staff and volunteers are encouraged to undertake additional training as their roles and interests require.
The Board of Trustees are committed to investing in the Group’s volunteers and professional member of staff to make sure that the support required is in place in support Participants with a professional and consistent high quality experience.
Achievements and Performance
We presently cater for participants with a wide range of physical and mental disabilities such as autism and cerebral palsy, participants with deafness, heart-hand syndromes, learning disabilities, developmental delay, Down’s syndrome, Pradar-Willi syndrome, hydrocephalus, Microcephaly, Kawasaki disease, spina bifida, as well as several others.
Again, this year we have seen a significant increase in participants with Mental Health problems. The demand for sessions has increased significantly for us this year. As a result, we have introduced “Tea with a Pony” to enable us to facilitate participants with dementia and living in care facilities.
With the exception of East Liverpool RDA, there are very few opportunities in the areas we serve for adults and children with disabilities to learn to ride within a supportive, RDA-approved environment, taught by RDA qualified coaches.
This year has seen a huge expansion for our Charity in the purchase of additional stables and a further pony so we can facilitate and enrich the lives of more Participants.
EAST LIVERPOOL RIDING FOR THE DISABLED
Policy on Reserves
The Charity’s policy on reserves is to generate and maintain a balance which is sufficient: a) to preserve the financial viability of the Charity in the event that unforeseen and/or unavoidable circumstance precipitate a short-term fall in its income; b) to enable the Charity, in the interests of meeting its objectives, to undertake from time to time the setting up of new and innovative projects on a pilot basis to demonstrate the viability and potential benefits of such activities as a precursor to securing the external funding necessary to maintain such projects on an on-going basis. For these purposes the Charity will endeavour to generate and maintain reserves which are at least 50% of its annual turnover.
The results for the year and the Charity’s financial position at the end of the year are shown in the attached financial statements. The Trustees are satisfied with the overall position and can confirm the Charity has the resources to fully discharge its obligations.
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EAST LIVERPOOL RIDING FOR THE DISABLED
Financial Review
In a normal year, the Charity receives no government core grants, service level agreements or contracts to cover revenue costs and depends on fundraising, donations, fees from riders and funding from small and medium sized charitable trusts.
The total income for this financial year is £110,974.39 (2021-2022: £70,931) and the main source of income was from our Ride Sessions, Donations, Fundraising, Grants, other ride/horse associated activities and sponsorship of our equines.
The pay of the staff member is reviewed annually and based on performance and usually increased in accordance with average earnings. The remuneration is set to ensure that it is fair and will attract and retain staff of the appropriate calibre and experience required by the Charity.
The Trustees wish to thank our participants first for their continued support through sponsorship and donations and secondly, the Trustees wish to thank the Funders for their continued support.
EAST LIVERPOOL RIDING FOR THE DISABLED
| 2022-2023 | 2022-2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| EXPENDITURE | INCOME | |
| Income | £ | £ |
| Donations | £8,774.07 | |
| Fundraising/Grants | 79,850.33 | |
| Horse Sponsorship | 1,637.00 | |
| Equipment for other horse related activities (refunds) | 87.59 | |
| Other ride/horse associated activities | 2,147.54 | |
| Ride Sessions | 17,194.23 | |
| Yard (Refunds) | 187.70 | |
| Equipment (refunds) | 276.52 | |
| Office/membership/insurance/DBS checks (refunds) | 13.31 | |
| Worming programme (refunds) | 235.18 | |
| Healthcare: Vet/Dental/Physio/Farrier/nutritionist/Equine Hygiene | 159.05 | |
| Uniform | 37.00 | |
| Tack (refunds) | £374.87 | |
| Total Income | £110,974.39 | |
| Expenditure | ||
| Centre awareness/fundraising activities | £3,430.80 | |
| Charity expansion | £9,995.60 | |
| Equipment | £5,329.75 | |
| Equipment for other horse related activities | £724.84 | |
| Feed & Bedding | 9,158.63 | |
| Husbandry | ||
| Hay & Forage | 4,196.00 | |
| Healthcare: Vet/Dental/Physio/Farrier/ Nutrionist/Equine hygiene | 5,675.98 | |
| Horsebox: Fuel/tax/maintenance | 2,648.46 | |
| Muck trailer/waste removal | 1,750.00 | |
| Office/membership/insurance/DBS checks | 2,965.77 | |
| Rent/Utilities/Water | 14,850.00 | |
| Staff salaries | 25,713.39 | |
| Tack | 3,207.90 | |
| Telephone/technology/website/computers | 528.82 | |
| Training | 418.50 | |
| Uniform | 1,081.81 | |
| Volunteer expenses | 700.95 | |
| Wagon refurbishment | 0.00 | |
| Worming programme | 1,352.50 | |
| Yard & Field maintenance | 6,360.48 | |
| Other ride/horse associated activities | 349.39 |
Total
£100,439.57
EAST LIVERPOOL RIDING FOR THE DISABLED
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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Accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act 2011 (“The Act”)
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The account do not accord with the accounting records
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