REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER:
1175204
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2023
FOR
VETERANS OUTDOORS CIO VETERANS OUTDOORS CIO
CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 October 2023
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Page
Report of the Trustees 1
Independent Examiner's Report 2
Statement of Financial Activities 3
Balance Sheet 4
Notes to the
Financial 5 to 10
Statements
Detailed Statement of Financial
11
Activities
VETERANS OUTDOORS CIO
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
for the Year Ended 31 October 2023
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The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 October 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objectives and aims
The objects of the charity are:
- to provide support and outdoor wellbeing for military veterans, those still serving and their families; - to offer horticultural therapy and other outdoor wellbeing activities on estates and farms in the South West.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a CIO Foundation constitution registered on 18th October 2017 and amended on 1st November 2021.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number
1175204
Principal address
4 Stonesclose Galpin Street Modbury Ivybridge Devon PL21 0RZ
Trustees
H J White Chair Ms L Sinclair-Willis J Rossiter (resigned 30.5.23) Ms G T Phillips N Griffiths C Weston-Baker (appointed 31.1.23) Ms K Mullane (appointed 26.10.23)
Independent Examiner
Ian Barrett Barretts Chartered Accountants & Chartered Tax Advisers 22 Union Street Newton Abbot Devon TQ12 2JS
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 19 February 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
H J White - Trustee INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF VETERANS OUTDOORS CIO
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Veterans Outdoors CIO
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Veterans Outdoors CIO (the Trust) for the year ended 31 October 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
| 1 | accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or |
|---|---|
| 2 | the accounts do not accord with those records; or |
| 3 | the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. |
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Ian Barrett
Barretts Chartered Accountants & Chartered Tax Advisers 22 Union Street Newton Abbot Devon TQ12 2JS
2 April 2024 VETERANS OUTDOORS CIO
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the Year Ended 31 October 2023
| 2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total funds funds funds funds Notes £ £ £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total funds funds funds funds Notes £ £ £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total funds funds funds funds Notes £ £ £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total funds funds funds funds Notes £ £ £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total funds funds funds funds Notes £ £ £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total funds funds funds funds Notes £ £ £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total funds funds funds funds Notes £ £ £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total funds funds funds funds Notes £ £ £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total funds funds funds funds Notes £ £ £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total funds funds funds funds Notes £ £ £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total funds funds funds funds Notes £ £ £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total funds funds funds funds Notes £ £ £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donations and legacies |
54,319 | 116,700 | 171,019 | 169,930 | |||||||
| Investment income |
2 | 393 | - | 393 | - | ||||||
| Total | 54,712 | 116,700 | 171,412 | 169,930 | |||||||
| EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities |
|||||||||||
| Charitable Activities | |||||||||||
| 58,660 130,747 189,407 192,664 |
|||||||||||
| NET INCOME/ (EXPENDITURE) |
(3,948) | (14,047) | (17,995) | (22,734) |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total funds brought forward |
16,196 | 34,500 | 50,696 | 73,430 | |||||||||||
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
12,248 | 20,453 | 32,701 | 50,696 | |||||||||||
| VETERANS OUTDOORS CIO BALANCE SHEET 31 October 2023 2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total funds funds funds funds Notes £ £ £ £ FIXED ASSETS |
|||||||||||||||
| Tangible assets | 5 | 389 | - | 389 | 389 | ||||||||||
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||||||||||||||
| Cash at bank and in hand |
12,180 | 20,453 | 32,633 | 51,056 | |||||||||||
| CREDITORS | |||||||||||||||
| Amounts falling due within one year |
6 | (321) | - | (321) | (749) | ||||||||||
| NET CURRENT ASSETS |
11,859 | 20,453 | 32,312 | 50,307 | |||||||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES |
12,248 | 20,453 | 32,701 | 50,696 | |||||||||||
| NET ASSETS |
12,248 | 20,453 | 32,701 | 50,696 | |||||||||||
| FUNDS | 7 | ||||||||||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
12,248 | 16,196 | |||||||||||||
| Restricted funds |
20,453 | 34,500 | |||||||||||||
| TOTAL FUNDS |
32,701 | 50,696 | |||||||||||||
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 19 February 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:
H J White - Trustee VETERANS OUTDOORS CIO NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 October 2023
1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
| 2 | 2 | INVESTMENT INCOME | INVESTMENT INCOME |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 2022 £ £ |
|||
| Deposit account interest | 393 | - | |
| VETERANS OUTDOORS CIO NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-continued for the Year Ended 31 October 2023 |
3 TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 October 2023 nor for the year ended 31 October 2022.
Trustees' expenses
No trustees' expenses were reimbursed in the year to 31st October 2023 (2022: £nil).
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES |
COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES |
COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES |
COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted Restricted Total funds funds funds £ £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
|||||||
| Donations and legacies |
27,970 | 141,960 | 169,930 | ||||
| EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities |
|||||||
| Charitable Activities | |||||||
| 41,074 151,590 192,664 |
|||||||
| NET INCOME/ (EXPENDITURE) |
(13,104) | (9,630) | (22,734) | ||||
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | |||||||
| Total funds brought forward |
29,300 | 44,130 | 73,430 | ||||
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
16,196 | 34,500 | 50,696 | ||||
| 5 | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS | ||||||
| Computer equipment £ COST |
|||||||
| At 1 November 2022 and 31 October 2023 |
389 | ||||||
| NET BOOK VALUE | |||||||
| At 31 October 2023 | 389 | ||||||
| At 31 October 2022 | 389 | ||||||
VETERANS OUTDOORS CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 31 October 2023
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 2022 £ £ |
|||||||
| Trade creditors | 321 | 749 | |||||
| 7 | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS | ||||||
| Net At movement At 1.11.22 in funds 31.10.23 £ £ £ Unrestricted funds |
|||||||
| General fund | 3,696 | 8,552 | 12,248 | ||||
| Garfield Weston Foundation |
12,500 | (12,500) | - | ||||
| 16,196 (3,948) 12,248 Restricted funds |
|||||||
| Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust Force for Change GrowingTogether |
2,000 | (2,000) | - | ||||
| D'Oyly Carte Trust | - | 3,000 | 3,000 | ||||
| RAF Benevolent Fund |
- | 1,000 | 1,000 | ||||
| Veterans' Foundation | 7,500 | (7,500) | - | ||||
| RNRM Greenwich | 4,000 | (4,000) | - | ||||
| ABF Soldiers Charity |
2,500 | - | 2,500 | ||||
| AFCTF Afghanistan | 13,500 | (13,500) | - | ||||
| Sundry grants and trusts |
5,000 | (5,000) | - | ||||
| AFCFT Sustaining Active and Healthy Lifestyles |
- | 3,953 | 3,953 | ||||
| Postcode Lottery | - | 10,000 | 10,000 | ||||
| 34,500 (14,047) 20,453 |
|||||||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 50,696 | (17,995) | 32,701 | ||||
VETERANS OUTDOORS CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 31 October 2023
7 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming Resources Movement resources expended in funds £ £ £
Unrestricted funds
| General fund | 54,712 | (46,160) | 8,552 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield Weston Foundation |
- | (12,500) | (12,500) | |
| 54,712 (58,660) (3,948) Restricted funds |
||||
| Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust Force for Change GrowingTogether |
3,250 | (5,250) | (2,000) | |
| D'Oyly Carte Trust | 4,000 | (1,000) | 3,000 | |
| RAF Benevolent Fund |
4,000 | (3,000) | 1,000 | |
| Veterans' Foundation | 35,000 | (42,500) | (7,500) | |
| RNRM Greenwich | 12,000 | (16,000) | (4,000) | |
| ABF Soldiers Charity |
10,000 | (10,000) | - | |
| AFCTF Afghanistan | 1,750 | (15,250) | (13,500) | |
| Sundry grants and trusts |
500 | (5,500) | (5,000) | |
| AFCTF Other | 1,750 | (1,750) | - | |
| AFCFT Sustaining Active and Healthy Lifestyles |
9,500 | (5,547) | 3,953 | |
| MacRoberts Trust | 10,000 | (10,000) | - | |
| Postcode Lottery | 14,950 | (4,950) | 10,000 | |
| Clare Milne Trust | 10,000 | (10,000) | - | |
| 116,700 (130,747) (14,047) |
||||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 171,412 | (189,407) | (17,995) | |
VETERANS OUTDOORS CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 31 October 2023
7 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Comparatives for movement in funds
| Net At movement At 1.11.21 in funds 31.10.22 £ £ £ Unrestricted funds |
Net At movement At 1.11.21 in funds 31.10.22 £ £ £ Unrestricted funds |
Net At movement At 1.11.21 in funds 31.10.22 £ £ £ Unrestricted funds |
Net At movement At 1.11.21 in funds 31.10.22 £ £ £ Unrestricted funds |
Net At movement At 1.11.21 in funds 31.10.22 £ £ £ Unrestricted funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General fund | 16,800 | (13,104) | 3,696 | |
| Garfield Weston Foundation |
12,500 | - | 12,500 | |
29,300 (13,104)
16,196
Restricted funds
| Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust Positive Pathways Artemis |
17,728 | (17,728) | - | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust Force for Change Growing Together |
6,991 | (4,991) | 2,000 | |
| Awards for All National Lottery |
7,170 | (7,170) | - | |
D'Oyly Carte Trust |
1,178 | (1,178) | - | |
| Finnis Scott Foundation |
2,250 | (2,250) | - | |
| RAF Benevolent Fund |
2,000 | (2,000) | - | |
| The Fore | 6,513 | (6,513) | - | |
| Torbay Community Grant |
300 | (300) | - | |
| Veterans' Foundation | - | 7,500 | 7,500 | |
| RNRM Greenwich | - | 4,000 | 4,000 | |
| ABF Soldiers Charity |
- | 2,500 | 2,500 | |
| AFCTF Afghanistan | - | 13,500 | 13,500 | |
| Sundry grants and trusts |
- | 5,000 | 5,000 | |
| 44,130 (9,630) 34,500 |
||||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 73,430 | (22,734) | 50,696 | |
VETERANS OUTDOORS CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 31 October 2023
7 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Incoming Resources Movement resources expended in funds £ £ £ Unrestricted funds |
Incoming Resources Movement resources expended in funds £ £ £ Unrestricted funds |
Incoming Resources Movement resources expended in funds £ £ £ Unrestricted funds |
Incoming Resources Movement resources expended in funds £ £ £ Unrestricted funds |
Incoming Resources Movement resources expended in funds £ £ £ Unrestricted funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General fund | 27,970 | (41,074) | (13,104) | |
| Restricted funds | ||||
| Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust Positive Pathways Artemis |
- | (17,728) | (17,728) | |
| Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust Positive Pathways 2 year grant Get Grounded |
35,000 | (35,000) | - | |
| Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust Force for Change Growing Together |
9,500 | (14,491) | (4,991) |
| Awards for All National Lottery |
Awards for All National Lottery |
- | - | (7,170) | (7,170) | (7,170) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devon Community Foundation |
2,000 | (2,000) | - | ||||
| D'Oyly Carte Trust | 4,000 | (5,178) | (1,178) | ||||
| Finnis Scott Foundation |
- | (2,250) | (2,250) | ||||
| RAF Benevolent Fund |
- | (2,000) | (2,000) | ||||
| The Fore | - | (6,513) | (6,513) | ||||
| Torbay Community Grant |
- | (300) | (300) | ||||
| Veterans' Foundation | 15,000 | (7,500) | 7,500 | ||||
| Western Power | 8,597 | (8,597) | - | ||||
| RNRM Greenwich | 11,913 | (7,913) | 4,000 | ||||
| ABF Soldiers Charity |
10,000 | (7,500) | 2,500 | ||||
| AFCTF Afghanistan | 33,250 | (19,750) | 13,500 | ||||
| Sundry grants and trusts |
12,700 | (7,700) | 5,000 | ||||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 169,930 | (192,664) | (22,734) | ||||
| 8 | RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES | ||||||
| There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 October 2023. VETERANS OUTDOORS CIO DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the Year Ended 31 October 2023 2023 2022 £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Donations and legacies |
|||||||
| Donations | 1,645 | 8,969 | |||||
| Grants | 169,374 | 160,961 | |||||
| 171,019 169,930 Investment income |
|||||||
| Deposit account interest | 393 | - | |||||
| Total incoming resources | 171,412 | 169,930 |
EXPENDITURE Charltsble *ctlvltAe8 Staff remutteratioll 50,809 51.876 Core Service de]ivery Costs S¢TVi¢¢ d¢liv¢ry subcontractor remuneTation 103.999 85.413 2,591 21.775 Fundraising 21,482 23,635 Offic¢ exp¢ns¢s 130 Rent 539 289 Insur¢¢ 574 Website development 636 564 Trhining 76 416 Advertising 127 731 AccounLincy alld bookkeepin8 3,926 4,457 Subscriptions 303 Sundry expens¢5 75 L¢gai and professional fees 3,980 1.152 Staff expense8 463 341 189.407 192.064 Totsl resources expejmled 189,407 192,664 Netexpendlture (17.9951 122,7341
1ST NOVEMBER 2022_ 315TOCTOBER 2023 Reg Charity no.. 1175204 Veterans Outdoors ANNUAL REPORT FOR 22/23 ry) VETEIIANS OUTDOORS ' * Ww•V.veteranUtd0r&Uk '"x;N
CEO INTRODUCTION Jeremy Hibbard, Chief Executive Veterans Outdoors is not just surviving it's thriving. In the financial world. it'5 said that if your new bu5ine55 is Still going three years after launch, it's probably going to survive. The end of 2023 marked three years since our re-launch and I'm pleased to say that Veterans Outdoors is not just surviving - it's thriving. 2023 was the year we turned f rom being valuable into being vital. Veterans tell us we're the onlyorganisation in the South West to provide the kind of longer- term, wrap-around care that sorne need in order to move forward with their lives. Gp's surgeries, Op. Courage and Hasler Coy. We'll often get four or five referrals in a week and about 213 of themwill befemale veterans, in line with the irnportant role now played by Arterni5, our project cleated exclusively for women frorn a Service background. Emotional resilience training, which we began trialling last year, is now at the very heart of what we do and our programme of courses continues to evolve and expand, with training for spouses and partners too. We have alway5 believed that to support a veteran sotnetirne5 you need to support their farnily as well. Every activity we organise 15 efficiency. We remain a sfflall tearn but our now carefully evaluated so that we can fully dedication, innovation and attention to detail assess its therapeutic benefit enabling us means we're punching well above our weight to build exactly the right programme for in the complex world of veterans, care. each beneficiary. And with the referrals comes recognition for the whole V.0. team. Our funders, referral partners and, of course, our beneficiaries, contact me often to praise Si, Jodi, Sam, Catherine and Bernard for their care and Jeremy Hibbard, Chief Executive This ha5 translated into a significant increase in the nutnber5 of referrals we now get from key partners like NHS Mental Health Services,
CONTENT PAGE Content Page CEO Introduction Our year in numbers Ellie's Story Charlle's Story Rich's Story Chair's Report 10 Thank You 11
OUR YEAR IN NUMBERS Ouryear in numbers £171,412 I N 202212023 GRANTS & DONATIONS Weranatotslof £189,407 204 DDD EVENT DAYS EXPENDITURE IrKludirrf 204 ONLINE EVENTS ACTIVE BENEFICIARIES OFOUR BENEFICIARIES fj38/ MALE REGISTERED DISABLED 62/ 18/ FEMALE FAMILIES OF VETERAN5 OR THOSE STILL SERVING io/ STILL SERVING
ELLIE'S STORY Ellie's Story Ellie and her husband. both ex-Army, joined us in 2022. They attended moorland walks and then Ellie, thinking her anxiety was under control, signed up for an Artemis mindfulness event. When she attended, she realised she still had serious anxiety issues and had been avoiding events that she couldn't attend without her husband. This was reinforced at an Artemis Yoga class where she realised that her anxiety symptoms, raised heart rate and racing thoughts were having an adverse effect on her wellbeing. The one-to-one session I had was invaluable, it was lovely to be able to speak about my anxiety issues in a completely safe and non- judgemental way.. During our regular monitoring, Her Strength. kindness. welfare team noticed determination to help others Ellie'5 low scores and invited has continued to grow. She now her for a one-to-one session regularly volunteers for a local where she acknowledged her charity helping others with their issues had worsened during finances and she has also recently COVID. She was struggling to entered and completed a 5Km run leave the house and had which is something she thought she abandoned her dream of taking her would never be able to do. grandchild swimming. and She says "The one-to-one session We worked with Ellie to help I had was invaluable, it was lovely her find coping strategies. to be able to speak about rny She made changes to her lifestyle anxiety issues in a completely safe and attended a 12-week fitness and non-judgemental way. l am her confidence more confident, I feel fitter and increased, she offered to run an I'm more active. l am really happy online baking course for other and have the confidence to do female veterans. It was a big thingsindependentlv." success and a big turning point for her. She lost weight. got fitter, found her confidence, and joined her local swimming pool where she now takes her grandchild swimming. course. As Ellie, Army Veteran
CHARLIE'S STORY Charlie's Story A road accident while cycling home prematurely ended the career of Royal Marine Commando Paul 'Charlie' Charles. A broken neck, f ractured skull and traumatic brain injury were among injuries forcing him to give up the only job he'd ever wanted. After a period at the RN Recovery Unit, Hasler. he was referred to Veteran5 Outdoors. He attended some of our event5 and activities, joined our veterans. horticultural group and found a real passion for being in an outside environment. With the support ofsi ond the teom dt Veterans Outdoors I've been able to achieve my goals and lead a happy life As he adapted to his lifelong injurie5, he made new friends and his Eventually he found the confidence to put in hours of hard work, confidence grew. He was mentored dedication and training to take part by the charity s Head of Operations, in the 2023 Invictus games where Si Richardson, who Charlie describes he won a gold medal and three as both an inspiration and role model. silvers in the swimming. He says Charlie told us.. "Knowing I had the "Life changed dramatically for me continued support of Si and the but with the support of Si and the charity. I have been able to grow. team at Veterans Outdoors I've been thiiveand recover. living tnybesl life." able to achieve my goals and lead happy life. If it wasn't foi thern I wouldn't be where l atn today.. Charlie, Royal Marine Veteran
CHARLIE'S STORY V•*¥
RICH'5 STORY •4
RICH'$ STORY Rich's Story Rich was referred to Veterans and courses have given him time to Outdoors by Op Courage focus on his wellbeing, learn new 5ki115 in March 2023. Nine years and meet like-minded people who he previously he'd been discharged now sees in his own time. The Veteran5 from the RAF after a motorbike accident which left him in constant pain with knee. rib and shoulder damage as well as a brain injury. Outdoors Soil-to-supper Horticulture Therapy Course at Dartington"reignited my passion for gardening and helped with my confidence". He went on to use his gardening and growing knowledge, along with his carpentry skills, in the regular weekly sessions at Pentillie Castle in Cornwall and at Beaumont Park Since the accident his life had spiralled downwards. 'He'd got divorced and his living arrangements were unsettled." He found himself anxious, losing v.0. introduced Rich to confidence and withdrawing from landscaping firm and he's now everyday life. "I was just wasting my landed a full-time job which he loves. days away" he said,"1 felt I didn't belong He's outdoors and using his carpentry. anywhere or to anything." A brief Rich is still an active beneficiary with moment £ontemp13ting suicide was a V.O.. attending evening and weekend wake-up call. "I knew I had to get my events like kayaking on the River Dart. mental health back on track, find my own It ensures he keeps up the self-care place, rneet like-minded people and start he needs for his wellbeing. continues talking again." to try new thing5 and has a laugh with fellow veterans."It's the best I've felt for 10 years," he says, "life is so much better now." in Plymouth. local Sewing seeds for personal and horticultural growth at Pentillie Rich, RAF Veteran Four months on, with determination and the support of Veterans Outdoors he's doing just that. A series of V.0. events
CHAIR'S REPORT Digging deep on Pentillie Wednesdays, one of our most popular activities. Chair's Report As a charity becomes more vital and the community it serves depend, increasingly, upon it, the need for sustainability increases too. Funders will look more closely to see whether they are getting value for money. That's particularly true in the current, tough, economic climate. The trustees and l are proud to oversee There's always more work to do, so in an organisation that. we believe, delivers the coming months communicating excellent value. We continue to be our value is going to be as important as irnpre55ed at how Jeremy and team the wellbeing work we do every day. deliver the long-terrn SUPPOft that the We hope that 311 those who've nefited NHS and others can t, for 3 fraction of from our support will spread the word, the budget that the NHS is saving bv enabling us to continue developing our having Veterans Outdoors a5 a referral unique programmesol care. partner. That'5 a topic for di5CU55i0ns that we must now open at a regional 3nd national level. Haydn Whlte. Interim Chair This small. tightly run charity is setting new benchmarks for the way that veteransarecaredfor.with a programme of wr3P3round care that, veteran5 tell us, theycan'tfind anywhere else. It's holistic, flexible and bespoke for each veterarb who come5 to us. Haydn White, Chair io
THANK YOU Thank You We couldn't achieve any of this without the support of our visionary and generous funders. In 22123 these included: 29th May 1961 Charit3bletrust The MacRobert Trust Army Benevolent Fund The National Lottery- Awards 4AII Armed Force5 Covenant Fund Trust PF Charitabl¢Trust The Astor Foundation Postcode Local Trust The Carew Pole Charitable Trust Roger Clutterbuck Charitable Tiust The Clare Milne Trust Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund The De L35zlo Found3tio Royal N3V313nd Royal Marines Charity D'oyly Carte Charitable Trust Edgar E. Lawley Foundation Souter CharitableTrust The ElmgrantTrusl 5t. J3me5 Place Foundation The Finnis Scott Foundation The Swire Charitable Trust The Hedley Foundation Theveterans Foundation Lennox Hannay CharitableTrust li
VETEFIANS OUTDOORS Contact 45tonesc105e. address: Galpin Street, Modbury, Ivybridge, Devon. PL21 ORZ. Veterans Outdoors is run by CEO Jeremy Hibbard reporting to 3 board of Trustees chaired during the 22123 period by Haydn White. Othertrustees duringthe pertod wereGrani2 Phillips Ires.), Jamie Rossiter Ires.). Nick Griffiths. Charles Weston-Baker. Laura Sinclair-willis and Kelly Mullane. Trustees are recruited by invitation.