www.wabc.org.uk
To All Supporters of Wallingford Accessible Boat Club
Dear All
Wallingford Accessible Boat Club – End of Season Update
Financial Year: January - December Passenger Operations: April - September
Herewith a brief outline of where we are at the end of this 2023 season. I am very pleased to report we have had a successful one - in fact, a very successful one indeed!
Firstly, to our number one aim “Getting disabled and less mobile people out on the river”. We once again undertook in January a major recruitment drive for additional volunteer boat crew. We had an amazing response from local water-loving people, many of whom owned a boat themselves, which made the training task that much easier. We embarked on an intense training programme not only for the new recruits but also the retraining of our existing crews. Following Environment Agency ‘best practice’ recommendations at the end of 2022, we decided to adopt the Inland Waterways Helmsman Certificate (IWHC) as the Club’s standard in place of Power Boat Level II certification. We established a focused training project which proved very successful and despite the adverse weather and river conditions we had sufficient team members trained up to commence live passenger voyages by mid-May. With one or two exceptions, all our team were fully trained by mid-season making additional resource available to increase our voyage capacity.
The excellent news is that by the end of September we had completed over 65 passenger voyages carrying 252 people – the disabled, the less mobile, their friends and families – as well as completing countless training voyages. As we had set ourselves a ‘stretch’ target of 200 passengers at the start of the season we all gave ourselves a big pat on the back! ‘A fantastic achievement - Well done, Team’.
One of the success factors in this regard lay our technology system, specifically our passenger booking and crew scheduling system integrated into our website, www.wabc.org.uk, which enabled clients to book a voyage according to their requirements with minimal human intervention of our back-office Administrator, neither an easy nor straight-forward accomplishment.
According to all the feedback we have had, our passengers thoroughly enjoyed their river experiences and we have more lovely testimonials which give in some cases quite moving accounts of what a voyage on the river means to them – just wonderful and very heart-warming. If one ever wonders why we are doing what we are doing then these accounts say it all! There is no doubt that the support we are receiving by way of cash donations and kind words of encouragement from every quarter confirm to us all that in WABC we have a ‘jewel’ of a project that really meets a major community need. This is just
brilliant and so pleasing for us all. One interesting demographic of passenger use which came to light was the attractiveness of our offering to Care Homes. We had visitors from Homes all over South Oxfordshire and one local Care Home had 11 different voyages over the season, each one with 4-5 clients. So much pleasure by so many, a delight to behold!
So, our Wheelyboat WOW-one has been very busy this season, as have our wonderful volunteers. We could do nothing without them – their commitment and willingness to go that extra mile has made all the difference to our operational achievement!
We are planning to increase the number of passenger voyages we can accommodate as soon as we can in 2024 but are, again, dependent upon the availability of our new ‘HQ’ (passenger loading and support facilities at Riverside, Wallingford) which South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) are developing. I am glad to report distinct progress is being made here following the granting of all necessary permissions by the Environment Agency in July – after 11 months of waiting! We hope to see on-site works commencing in early Spring 2024. Fingers crossed.
The plan is to increase the number of passenger voyages per week by 20% but this depends on the additional crew resources becoming available as well as the new facilities coming on stream. Getting the maximum use of the community asset we have in the WABC operation remains a top priority.
Until the availability of our Riverside facilities in Wallingford, we will be dependent once again on the help and support of our wonderful friends in Benson - the Marina & the Waterfront Cafe as well as the owner of our new mooring site at Preston Crowmarsh. The expectation is that we will be seeking to use their facilities for at least a couple of months into the new season.
As a small voluntary organisation our finances continue to be critical to our development progress and we have to keep a very watchful eye on them. We need to raise approximately £15,000 per annum, our strategy to achieve this being through the kindnesses of the local community by donations, the generosity of grant making bodies, trust funds and sponsorships as well as our own direct efforts. Todate (10 months through our financial year) we are on track to achieve this thanks in part to a very special fundraising event we staged in September, WheelyFest, a charity music extravaganza, where 11 live bands donated their time and expertise, playing for 7 full hours in Wallingford Sports Park, under the music direction of a very talented supporter, actress and singer Sarah Eastwood. We are so thankful to her. Our two objectives were to increase the awareness of WABC and to raise Club funds, both of which were amply achieved. What a brilliant, fun event it was too!
Two ‘bucket collections’ will complete our 2023 Fundraising programme – a collection at Wallingford’s very popular Firework Display and a pre-Christmas collection at local supermarket Waitrose.
I believe our decision in 2022 to attract Sponsors has proved to be a critical success factor in our development to-date as it has allowed the Trustees to plan ahead with a level of confidence in our financial stability. Once again, our sincere thanks to Tailormade Building Solutions, Pettits of Wallingford, Champion & Co., Winterbook Estate Agents and NP Design & Print. I am sorry that we lost one of our original Sponsors but delighted we recruited a replacement in InstaVolt, the UK’s largest fully-
open public EV charging network. I am very happy to include their logos here which we try to promote at every opportunity. Our Sponsors, as well as our Patrons, give us that extra confidence and additional substance which is critical for our sustainability – we plan to be a permanent feature of Wallingford Rivertown Life for many years to come so it is important we get the building blocks right with an eye to the future.
Our promotional activity continues to be critical to our future aspirations. Whilst our brand is recognised by some there is a lot more we have to do to get our message fully understood by the majority especially the fact that we offer our clients a unique experience and voyages completely free of charge.
As such the promotion of our simple consistent message using all practical forms of media has continued throughout 2023 and will do so into next year. As Club objectives are simple to understand they are very attractive to the public at large which is extremely gratifying and makes our PR task easier. We just have to do our best to keep our name ‘out there’ via press releases for the media, our bi-annual newsletter ‘Wheels on Water’ - the Autumn issue available hot off the press - as well as face-to-face discussions. I am delighted our promotional video, available on the home page of our website, has proved to be very successful and is now a key element of our Awareness Programme.
Finally, I want to acknowledge and thank all our volunteers in all departments of our not-insignificant operation – without them we could get no-where and it really strikes home to me that no matter how innovative an idea maybe it means nothing without the people, their commitment and expertise, to make it a reality. So, a big thank you to them!
Additionally, we are extremely fortunate to have wonderful community support which gives us all great confidence that we shall indeed get to the end of the road and achieve our objective with a community service that enables the impossible to become possible for many local disabled and less mobile people and a service of which that we can all be very proud. We are all very thankful for that support.
If you have any thoughts or comments to make do please get in touch. I would be glad to hear from you.
All the best,
John
John Jenkins MBE
Trustee
Wallingford Accessible Boat Club Tel: 07976-297835 john.jenkins@wabc.org.uk
20[th] October 2023
WALLINGFORD ACCESSIBLE BOAT CLUB
Receipts and payments account for the period 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2023 Registered Charity No. 1179179
Receipts and payments
| Restricted funds £ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Restricted funds £ 0.00 0.00 0.00 |
Restricted funds £ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Restricted funds £ 0.00 0.00 0.00 |
Endowment funds £ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Endowment funds £ 0.00 0.00 0.00 |
Endowment funds £ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Endowment funds £ 0.00 0.00 0.00 |
Total funds £ 2,097.00 26,140.79 494.27 0.00 7,950.00 36,682.06 3,831.30 0.00 5,420.00 1,600.39 243.00 1,352.43 2,343.46 0.00 899.15 567.97 180.00 773.22 17,210.92 |
Total funds £ 2,097.00 26,140.79 494.27 0.00 7,950.00 36,682.06 3,831.30 0.00 5,420.00 1,600.39 243.00 1,352.43 2,343.46 0.00 899.15 567.97 180.00 773.22 17,210.92 |
Last year £ |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,175.00 | |||||||||
| 13,498.26 | |||||||||
| 16.76 | |||||||||
| 789.00 | |||||||||
| 7,000.00 | |||||||||
| 25,479.02 | |||||||||
| Fund raisingexpenditure | 3,831.30 | 238.15 | |||||||
| Wheelyboat | 0.00 | ||||||||
| Training | 5,420.00 | 2,117.50 | |||||||
| Insurance | 1,600.39 | 1,765.76 | |||||||
| Life Vests | 243.00 | 0.00 | |||||||
| Stationeryand PR | 1,352.43 | 1,173.94 | |||||||
| Boat repairs and maintenance | 2,343.46 | 1,972.88 | |||||||
| Equipment | 2,056.03 | ||||||||
| Storage | 899.15 | 1,110.60 | |||||||
| Subscriptions and other fees | 567.97 | 230.00 | |||||||
| Independent Examiners Fee | 180.00 | 0.00 | |||||||
| Telephone & Data Costs | 773.22 | 891.45 | |||||||
| Sub total | 17,210.92 | 11,556.31 | |||||||
| Administrative expenses Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end Represented by : |
|||||||||
| 1,883.22 | 2,422.86 | ||||||||
| 19,094.14 17,587.92 |
|||||||||
| 13,979.17 | |||||||||
| 17,587.92 | 11,499.85 | ||||||||
| 55,778.76 | 44,278.91 | ||||||||
| 73,366.68 | 55,778.76 | ||||||||
| Last year £ |
|||||||||
| Lloyds Bank Treasurers Account | 18,526.70 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 18,526.70 | 22,762.00 | ||||
| Lloyds Bank Reserve Account | 54,839.98 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 54,839.98 | 33,016.76 | ||||
| 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |||||
| Cash funds this year end | 73,366.68 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 73,366.68 | 55,778.76 | ||||
| Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Details | Fund to which asset belongs Cost Unrestricted 40,328 - Print Name Barry Haines |
Current value | ||||||
| Wheelyboat | 40,328 | ||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| Date ofapproval | |||||||||
| Barry Haines | 11/07/2024 |
1
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF WALLINGFORD ACCESSIBLE BOAT CLUB
PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
I report on the accounts of the charity for the period ended 31 December 2022 set out on page 1
RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
-
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by
the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement above.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention
-
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
-
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting
-
requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or
-
to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
B R Haines FCCA Independent examiner
Rear Of 81 High Street Wallingford Oxfordshire OX10 0BX
2
WALLINGFORD ACCESSIBLE BOAT CLUB
Receipts and payments account for the period 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2023 Registered Charity No. 1179179
Receipts and payments
| Restricted funds £ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Restricted funds £ 0.00 0.00 0.00 |
Restricted funds £ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Restricted funds £ 0.00 0.00 0.00 |
Endowment funds £ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Endowment funds £ 0.00 0.00 0.00 |
Endowment funds £ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Endowment funds £ 0.00 0.00 0.00 |
Total funds £ 2,097.00 26,140.79 494.27 0.00 7,950.00 36,682.06 3,831.30 0.00 5,420.00 1,600.39 243.00 1,352.43 2,343.46 0.00 899.15 567.97 180.00 773.22 17,210.92 |
Total funds £ 2,097.00 26,140.79 494.27 0.00 7,950.00 36,682.06 3,831.30 0.00 5,420.00 1,600.39 243.00 1,352.43 2,343.46 0.00 899.15 567.97 180.00 773.22 17,210.92 |
Last year £ |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,175.00 | |||||||||
| 13,498.26 | |||||||||
| 16.76 | |||||||||
| 789.00 | |||||||||
| 7,000.00 | |||||||||
| 25,479.02 | |||||||||
| Fund raisingexpenditure | 3,831.30 | 238.15 | |||||||
| Wheelyboat | 0.00 | ||||||||
| Training | 5,420.00 | 2,117.50 | |||||||
| Insurance | 1,600.39 | 1,765.76 | |||||||
| Life Vests | 243.00 | 0.00 | |||||||
| Stationeryand PR | 1,352.43 | 1,173.94 | |||||||
| Boat repairs and maintenance | 2,343.46 | 1,972.88 | |||||||
| Equipment | 2,056.03 | ||||||||
| Storage | 899.15 | 1,110.60 | |||||||
| Subscriptions and other fees | 567.97 | 230.00 | |||||||
| Independent Examiners Fee | 180.00 | 0.00 | |||||||
| Telephone & Data Costs | 773.22 | 891.45 | |||||||
| Sub total | 17,210.92 | 11,556.31 | |||||||
| Administrative expenses Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end Represented by : |
|||||||||
| 1,883.22 | 2,422.86 | ||||||||
| 19,094.14 17,587.92 |
|||||||||
| 13,979.17 | |||||||||
| 17,587.92 | 11,499.85 | ||||||||
| 55,778.76 | 44,278.91 | ||||||||
| 73,366.68 | 55,778.76 | ||||||||
| Last year £ |
|||||||||
| Lloyds Bank Treasurers Account | 18,526.70 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 18,526.70 | 22,762.00 | ||||
| Lloyds Bank Reserve Account | 54,839.98 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 54,839.98 | 33,016.76 | ||||
| 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |||||
| Cash funds this year end | 73,366.68 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 73,366.68 | 55,778.76 | ||||
| Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Details | Fund to which asset belongs Cost Unrestricted 40,328 - Print Name Barry Haines |
Current value | ||||||
| Wheelyboat | 40,328 | ||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| Date ofapproval | |||||||||
| Barry Haines | 11/07/2024 |
1
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF WALLINGFORD ACCESSIBLE BOAT CLUB
PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
I report on the accounts of the charity for the period ended 31 December 2022 set out on page 1
RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
-
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by
the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement above.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention
-
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
-
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting
-
requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or
-
to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
B R Haines FCCA Independent examiner
Rear Of 81 High Street Wallingford Oxfordshire OX10 0BX
2