Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1 Sept 2024 Period start date To 31 August 2025 Period end date
Charity name: Dovecote Farm RDA Group
Charity registration number: 1177676
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | Providing disabled people with the opportunity to ride to benefit their health and wellbeing. |
| 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 |
Groups of children aged between 5 and 15yrs from the Grantham Additional Needs Fellowship (GANF) schools are offered weekly riding sessions in term-time. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | Trustees regard RDA National guidance. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | Volunteers (20 on roll) support weekly sessions by preparing arena, tacking up ponies, leading and side-walking, hat fitting and interacting with riders. |
| 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 | Delivered weekly sessions throughout the school year. Endeavour awards achieved by school pupils. Regional physiotherapist attended and provided advice. |
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
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Balance on 31 August 2025: £38,527.22 The charity closely balances income against expenditure; however, a one-off legacy increased income in this period. Income £56,445.31 School fees £2,900.00 Fundraising £1,927.38 Donations £1521.64 Legacy (W. Wren) £50,000.00 [Monies received in error (Pony Club) £96.29] Expenditure £21,872.26 Pony/centre hire £4,500.00 DBS/First Aid course fees £343.20 RDA Regional physiotherapist £30.00 Volunteer gifts/’thankyou’ lunches) £348.40 Equipment £58.97 Insurance £512.00 Arena resurfacing (using legacy) £15,983.40 [Reimbursement of monies (Pony Club) £96.29] |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Reserves policy: reserves of £4K usually held to cover annual costs in the event of school funding difficulties, maintenance and fixed costs and shortfall from donations and fundraising. Excess reserves currently held due to bequest. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | Balance at 31 August 2024. Reserves in excess of £10K transferred to savings account until used for charity’s purposes. |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | Not applicable |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | None |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | None |
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 | GANF school fees. Reduced fees continued in this period to address school budget constraints. Donations and fundraising as above. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | Savings account opened 2026 to hold excess reserves. |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | Inability of schools to continue due to circumstances beyond our control (eg staffing, transport). |
Other
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
Constitution adopted 23 March 2018 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Association |
| 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 | Trustees are elected by voting members of the group. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 |
As per RDA National policies and procedures. |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | RDA Regional and National. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | RDA Regional and National. |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Dovecote Farm RDA Group |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1177676 |
| Charity’s principal address | Dovecote Farm, Church Street, |
Orston, Nottingham NG13 9NS
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janet Watson | Chair | |||
| Alison Parnham | Secretary | |||
| Alex Fogg | Treasurer | |||
| Heather Gunn | Safeguardingofficer | |||
| Jane Clayton | Coach | |||
| Mike Muscott | Coach | |||
| Jean Hopkinson | Coach | From March 2025 | ||
– 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 None. 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 |
Janet Watson | Alison Parnham |
|---|---|---|
| Janet Watson | Alison Parnham | |
| Chair | Secretary | |
| 15 January 2026 | ||
| 15 January 2026 |
Financial Summary for Dovecote Farm RDA Group
| Date | Cheque Number |
Details | Income | Expenditure | Balance | Bank Statement balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st September 2024 - 31st August 2025 | £3,954.17 | |||||
| 16/09/2024 | Fundraising | Just Giving | £251.45 | £4,205.62 | ||
| 18/09/2024 | Donation | Grantham RotaryClub | £500.00 | £4,705.62 | ||
| 30/09/2024 | Fundraising | Just Giving | £67.76 | £4,773.38 | ||
| 11/10/2024 | Payment | Regional Physio Visit | £30.00 | £4,743.38 | £4,743.38 | |
| 04/11/2024 | Fundraising | Just Giving | £38.64 | £4,782.02 | £4,782.02 | |
| 29/11/2024 | Fundraising | Square - trialpayment for Xmas Fayre | £0.05 | £4,782.07 | ||
| 02/12/2024 | Fundraising | Square - Xmas Fayre | £45.18 | £4,827.25 | ||
| Fundraising | Jane Clayton - Xmas Fayre | £524.30 | £5,351.55 | |||
| Donation | MossyMoo - Xmas Fayre | £75.00 | £5,426.55 | |||
| Donation | Caffe Arancia | £25.00 | £5,451.55 | |||
| 03/12/2024 | Donation | Rushcliffe Borough Council cheque - Mayor of Rushcliffe nominated charity | £811.84 | £6,263.39 | ||
| 05/12/2024 | Payment | Jane Clayton - stirrups | £58.97 | £6,204.42 | ||
| Donation | Charlotte Birch - Xmas Fayre | £14.10 | £6,218.52 | |||
| Donation | FA Barton - Xmas Fayre | £25.00 | £6,243.52 | |||
| 06/12/2024 | Income | Square(ponyclub)Received in error | £73.70 | £6,317.22 | ||
| 09/12/2024 | Donation | JL Hollingshead - Xmas Fayre | £60.50 | £6,377.72 | £6,377.72 | |
| 06/12/2024 | Income | Square(ponyclub)Received in error | £22.59 | £6,400.31 | ||
| 18/12/2024 | Payment | J Fogg- reimburse for Xmas lunch | £160.00 | £6,240.31 | ||
| Payment | South Notts PonyClub - reimburse Squarepayments | £96.29 | £6,144.02 | |||
| Donation | CL Wright - Xmas Fayre | £20.00 | £6,164.02 | |||
| 19/12/2024 | Invoice | Sandon/Ambergate School - Autumn Term 2024 | £700.00 | £6,864.02 | ||
| 07/01/2025 | Donation | Just Giving- Village Link | £490.20 | £7,354.22 | £7,354.22 | |
| 20/01/2025 | Payment | uCheck Limited topup | £53.20 | £7,301.02 | ||
| 28/01/2025 | Payment | AlyGreenway- Mike Muscott First Aid Course | £55.00 | £7,246.02 | £7,246.02 | |
| 24/03/2025 | Payment | uCheck Limited topup | £60.00 | £7,186.02 | ||
| 27/03/2025 | Payment | J Watson - refreshments | £10.10 | £7,175.92 | £7,175.92 | |
| 26/04/2025 | Payment | RDA GroupInsurance | £512.00 | £6,663.92 | ||
| 30/04/2025 | Invoice | Sandon/Ambergate School - SpringTerm 2024 | £1,050.00 | £7,713.92 | ||
| 07/05/2025 | Payment | uCheck Limited topup | £60.00 | £7,653.92 | ||
| 12/05/2025 | Donation | Bill Wren Legacy | £50,000.00 | £57,653.92 | £57,653.92 | |
| 05/06/2025 | Payment | uCheck Limited topup | £60.00 | £57,593.92 | £57,593.92 | |
| 26/06/2025 | Payment | J Watson - flowers for Jill | £24.65 | £57,569.27 | ||
| 04/07/2025 | Donation | RotaryClub of Grantham | £500.00 | £58,069.27 | ||
| 08/07/2025 | Payment | AlyGreenway- PennyStorr First Aid Course | £55.00 | £58,014.27 | £58,014.27 | |
| 16/07/2025 | Payment | J Fogg- reimburse for end ofyear lunch | £153.65 | £57,860.62 | ||
| 21/07/2025 | Payment | H Gunn invoice Sep24 - Jul 25 | £4,500.00 | £53,360.62 | ||
| 23/07/2025 | Invoice | Sandon/Ambergate School - Summer Term 2024 | £1,150.00 | £54,510.62 | ||
| 24/07/2025 | Payment | Sporttrack Equestrian | £15,983.40 | £38,527.22 | £38,527.22 | |
| £56,445.31 | £21,872.26 | £38,527.22 | ||||
| RDA Financial Balance as at 31st August 2025 | ||||||
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Dovecote Farm RDA Group
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Dovecote Farm RDA Group (the Trust) for the year ended 31 August 2025.
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 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination, which took the form of a face-to-face meeting with the treasurer where we went through the accounts on a line by line basis. 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:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
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.
Signed: AJ Rigby
Name: Mrs Allison Rigby
Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies (if any): Management Accountant (retired)
Address: 7 Court Gardens, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 7SN
Date:15[th] December 2025