**SPEAR Search and Rescue Trustees Annual Report (2023-2024)** 

## **Reference and Administration Details** 

**Charity Name:** SPEAR Search and Rescue 

**Charity Address:** The Compass Centre, Nelson Road, London Heathrow Airport, Hounslow, TW6 2GW 

**Charity Number:** 1177543 

## **Trustees:** 

Jamie Read (Chair of Trustees) Steve Fox (Trustee) Peter Parry (Secretary and Treasurer) 

## **Structure, Governance and Management** 

**Type of governing document:** Constitution. Adopted 14th March 2018 

**How the charity is constituted:** Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) 

**Trustee selection methods:** Trustees are appointed or reappointed annually at the Annual General Meeting held in June. 

## **Additional Governance:** 

- The charity trustees are responsible for the general control and management of the charity. Trustees give their time freely with no renumeration or other financial benefits. 

- The trustees meet monthly and are responsible for the decisions made for the running of the  charity.  In  addition  to  the  required  roles  of  Chair  of  Trustees,  Treasurer  and Secretary, trustees have been assigned roles to oversee particular aspects of running the charity. 

- Once  resources  permit,  membership  will  be  open  on  a  cyclical  basis  to  allow  for volunteers to receive the necessary training. Members currently consist of Trustees and volunteers who have passed screening and are understood to have the required level of training prior to joining. 

- All members give their time freely without renumeration. Out of pocket expenses are reimbursed with the presentation of receipts. 

- There is a safeguarding and child protection policy in place. 

## **Objectives** 

To preserve and protect life in the event of disasters, hazards, crises and emergencies on affected populations and/or individuals within the UK and internationally; in particular to provide a dedicated and trained volunteer search and rescue service to assist and support 



the emergency services and other agencies in the operation of search and rescue and by providing medical and humanitarian aid in such circumstances and to provide training and equipment to local communities to increase their capacity and capability to react and provide assistance in the immediate aftermath of such disasters, crises and emergencies. 

## **Activities for public benefit** 

The nature of the charity dictates that we serve the public benefit in times of emergency. With thanks, these have not presented to require a response from SPEAR Search and Rescue. 

In order to ensure we are fully trained and equipped to respond when required, members have been working hard to ensure the partnerships have been nurtured, training has been a high quality and administration and networking activities are purposeful for the charity’s objectives. 

## **Partnerships and Alliances** 

Bosch continues to support us with the use of their tools for training. 

Buckinghamshire Fire Station Commander agreed to allow us access to use their USAR Facilities. 

Fire  Rescue  charities are  an  invaluable  source  of  donated  equipment,  this  year  we received a Draeger Airline. 

## **Training** 

Continued challenges with securing training venues, which have been difficult due to changes in insurance requirements and increased costs to suppliers and users. 

Oxfordshire FRS in talks with SPEAR with regards to access of their training facilities. 

## **Financial Review** 

## Information presented for the period 1[st] June 2023 to 31[st] May 2024 

|Total incoming:|£4,018.30|
|---|---|
|Total Expenditure:|£0|
|Balance as of 31stMay 2023:|£4,639.66|



## **Financial Summary** 



The financial summary reflects a dramatic reduction in charitable activities, due to people’s commitment, sickness and absence.  However, the charity didn’t have any expenditure during this year, which is why the balance looks healthy. 

Focus of the next 12 months must be to increase donations, whether through fundraising activities or grants. A new fundraising strategy for 2024-2025 is currently being developed. 

The key financial objectives of the charity remain as to: 

1. Facilitate the recruitment and training of new members. 

2. On going relationship building and partnerships with UKIVRA members, namely SAIRAID and SERVEON. 

3. Relieve the financial burden on individual members by providing training, equipment and expenses at zero cost to members. 

## **Future Plans** 

The following goals are agreed by the trustees for the next 12-24 months: 

- Introduce  further  policy  and  governance  to  ensure  the  improved  running  of  the organisation,  with  individuals  committing  to  training  dates;  such  as  incentivised  or gamified training attendance. 

- To secure grants from charity and governmental schemes. 

- Look at the attraction and recruitment of new members. 

## **Declaration** 

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. 

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees: 

**Name** : Jamie Read **Position:** Chair of Trustees **Date:** 03.06.24 



**Signature:** 


**Name** : Steven Fox **Position:** Trustee **Date:** 03.06.24 **Signature** : **Name** : Peter Parry **Position:** Secretary & Treasurer **Date:** 03.06.24 

**Signature:**