Epsom RDA
Annual Report and Accounts
For the year ended 31st March 2025
ves Vision & Object
Epsom RDA’s mission is to provide disabled people with the opportunity to improve their health and well-being through the therapeutic power of horses.
We are a thriving charity providing therapy, fun and achievement for nearly 200 disabled participants delivered by a team of over 250 volunteers and our own herd of ponies. We hold riding sessions every day; each one is unique in terms of the people we support, and coaching is adapted to the needs of each participant.
The therapeutic benefits of interactions with horses are well recognised. Riding helps exercise and strengthen muscles, mobilises joints, and helps participants develop their balance, independence, and sensory perception. Being able to spend time caring for horses also has a positive impact on confidence levels, relationship building, and communication skills be it for riders or our team of dedicated volunteers. Each session, whether it is riding or learning about caring for horses, is planned to encourage our participants to enjoy themselves, and from that enjoyment gain emotional, social, educational, and physical benefits.
We have faced a number of challenges over the last 12 months. These have included strains on two of our most valuable resources; our herd and our volunteers. For the second year running, illness affected the majority of our herd in winter 2025 and this meant we had to stop riding for nearly three months. We are also seeing challenges in volunteer retention which means that we have not been able to increase the number of people we support, nor have we been able to broaden our offer.
Our over-arching ambition remains to increase the number of people we support, broaden our offer and increase our impact. With an ageing herd and finite volunteer resources, we must think creatively about how we achieve this and this will be our focus for the year ahead.
Whatever the challenges, our goal is that even more disabled people benefit from the therapeutic power of horses.
Content
Foreword from Epsom RDA Chair Laura Hales
Partcipants
Competton
Volunteers
Horses and Ponies
Property & Grounds
Fundraising & Events
Communicatons
Planning for the Future
Financial Review and Accounts
Governance
Safeguarding
Trustees as at 31st March 2025
Administraton and contact details
Chair Foreword
Thank you to everyone that has worked so hard over the course of a challenging year. For the second year in a row, our herd have been out of work due to a liver problem which has meant that we have had to stop all sessions for nearly three months. We are truly sorry to all our riders and participants that have been unable to come to their sessions during this time.
At the time of writing, we are cautiously but optimistically welcoming our riders and participants back. Whilst the challenges of an ageing herd remain, we hope that the plans we have put in place around ongoing professional care will ensure that the issue does not return.
Recognising our herd as one of our most important assets, we employed a horse and pony welfare manager in 2024-25. Our first paid member of staff, we see this professional expertise as essential to maintaining a healthy herd and so ensuring that our riders and participants can enjoy their experience of Epsom RDA for years to come.
On a positive note, the herd being unfit for ridden work did enable us to offer stable management and pony care sessions to some of our participants as an alternative to riding. It was a real highlight to see the benefit of our participants spending one-to-one time with ‘their’ equine and deepening that humanhorse connection that we know is so valuable.
Some entrenched challenges remain, most notably in terms of our waiting list, with many more disabled people needing us than we have places available. We are still unable to open our waiting list to new participants and will be exploring ways that we can broaden participation, perhaps through one-off sessions for people on our waiting list and developing pony care sessions as a more regular and structured activity.
Thank you to all of you that have made Epsom RDA such a worthwhile and enjoyable place to be for our riders and participants. I am looking forward to working with you over the coming year to ensure that we continue to enable our riders and participants to benefit from the therapeutic power of horses.
Laura Hales - Chair
Partcipants
In 2024-2025 we delivered 2,327 sessions of therapy for 233 people.
This is a very slight drop in the number of therapy sessions in comparison the last year, which is not what we were aiming for. The number of sessions provided has been impacted by the health of the herd, preventing us from having participants attend for a couple of months.
During 2023-24 we took the decision to close our waiting list to update and move the list to a new database. Everyone on the list was contacted, and their details confirmed, along with the ongoing desire and suitability to be on the waiting list.
We currently have 32 people on our waiting list, down from 55 following the review last year. We have placed some people from the waiting list into spaces as they have become available resulting in the number of participants this year being slightly higher than last year.
The waiting list remains closed due to the lack of availability of suitable places to allocate new participants to. This is due to most new applicants wishing to attend on weekends and evenings, resulting in high demand for few places. We hope the provision of places to new participants will pick up as our herd returns to full strength.
Competton
Last year due to the ponies’ health we were unable to run our usual dressage competition or to enter riders into the regional and national championships. However, in the Autumn, six riders entered the
Virtual National Dressage Championships and did brilliantly, all attaining a place in the top ten for their class, with one rider winning the Introduction to Dressage Class on Shannon.
Volunteers
Our wonderful volunteers continue to be the backbone of all we do. As a pre-dominantly volunteer managed and staffed charity, we could not do it without them.
We were delighted to be able to acknowledge the commitment and achievements of a few of our special volunteers during our Annual Prize Giving in November. We presented Over and Above Awards to several volunteers in recognition of them taking on far more than we normally ask of volunteers. This included a special shout out to the maintenance team for being an absolutely wonderful team, often staying on late to finish jobs, putting up new shelters and keeping the muck heap safe and accessible. We also presented length of service awards to volunteers who have dedicated 25, 30 and 35 years to Epsom RDA!
To support our volunteers, we have delivered full stage one and two training sessions as provided by our training team provide annually. In addition, this year we hosted a very special lecture on Autism. This training was organised in response to requests from volunteers Autism is a condition common to many our participants, both from specialist schools and attending independently.
We have 255 volunteers and still need to keep recruiting more; we still need more session helpers and have a couple of trustee positions to fill, notably, we very much need a trustee to represent the participants on the board.
In return for their hard work, we aim to continue to ensure that our excellent volunteers receive the recognition and training they deserve and
require.
Horse and Ponies
This year we have successfully welcomed and settled in two new horses to the herd. River, a Clydesdale mare, has come to us on loan and Shannon Pie was offered to us for purchase in December. Both quickly became part of the Epsom RDA team taking to their new jobs well and enjoying life with us. Unfortunately, we lost two of our existing herd this year.
In December we lost our longest serving herd member at the grand age of 30, our beautiful Marigold, the matriarch of our herd.
Monreith Marigold, was a 13.2hh Highland pony and came to us in 2000 when she was just five years old. She was the longest serving member of the Epsom RDA herd and over her exceptionally long career, she gave countless people the opportunity to experience the joy of riding. She took many of our participants to Regional and National Championships, winning Nationals not once but twice!
She was a determined, spirited lady and certainly kept the volunteers on their toes, especially when it came to picking out her back feet! But she loved her job, loved a pamper (especially her gorgeous long mane) and particularly liked extra strong mints!
Rags was affected by the liver infarction last year and, on the advice of the vet, he was put to sleep after a week of cuddles from all who knew and loved him.
This gives us a total herd of 15, although Tandi remains on loan to continue her driving training with a view to re-homing her in future.
Whilst the first few months of 2025 being so challenging, we are optimistic that the action we have taken will mean we can offer a full programme of riding and events over the coming year.
Grounds & Property
Our gardening and maintenance teams continued to work hard to keep our site safe and welcoming for our riders and participants.
Once again, we hosted several companies for corporate volunteering sessions during the spring and summer months. These included Axa Health, Blueprint Partners, Epsom College, ICM Investment Management, Nuffield Health, Petplan, Pfizer, SGN, Surrey County Council and Zoetis.
The corporate volunteer days are a mutually beneficial in providing us with labour to keep our site well maintained as well as providing valuable team building exercises for companies taking part. Jobs
included tidying of our sensory track, cutting grass, strimming, weeding and demolishing and rebuilding field shelters for our herd.
We are particularly grateful to SGN once again for bringing their plant and delivering more complex work.
We are enormously grateful to our team, not only for the larger projects but also for keeping everything in sage working order for our riders, participants, and everyone at Epsom RDA.
Fundraising and Events
Our events fundraising continues to grow consistently this year. Our highly committed and imaginative fundraising and events team delivered a range of well-attended and extremely popular events including a summer open day, a dog show, dressage, working equitation, pole work clinics and an extraordinarily successful Christmas Carols at the Stables.
Our open day in September 2024 was the showstopper of our events programme where we hosted over 1,000 people. This year, we hope to build on that success and host an Open Day to remember on 31[st] May. Volunteers from every session are involved in making all our events a success, as well as non-session volunteers from our maintenance, gardening, and IT teams – we thank them all for their continued massive support and dedication.
In addition to these events, the team has also hosted educational events and lectures delivered by guest speakers, including our well-attended feed presentation. As well as raising funds through ticket sales to the public, these events continue to prove popular training opportunities for our volunteers. Likewise, our regular pole work and dressage clinics, and our working equitation clinics, are also popular with the public and serve to both increase our income and raise our profile in the community.
Our tack sales draw in many from outside Epsom RDA. So much is the demand that we now host monthly tack sales on the second Friday of the month. Thanks to the many donations we receive, it ensures that we always have plenty of stock to sell and many of our visitors return every month. Funds from our tack sales continue to increase, in some cases achieving revenues of over £400 in one evening.
In December 2024, we hosted our annual Carols at RDA and as in previous years, it proved to be extremely popular. Last year we made the decision to sell tickets online – the first time we have trialled this option – and it proved to be a success! The majority of attendees had purchased their tickets online prior to the Carols, ensuring we had much smaller queues at the entrance and we raised over £600 in tickets alone.
As always, we continue to review our ongoing events over the calendar year and look to optimise the opportunities where we can. As always, we are also continually thankful for the donations we receive from various organisations and individuals over the year and 2024 was no exception.
Communicatons
The focus of our communications in 2024-25 has been to develop more regular and structured communications for our riders, parents and carers so that they feel part of the wider Epsom RDA community. A carer for one of our riders has taken on the task of creating Hoofbeats, a regular newsletter for our riders, parents and carers. We hope that improved communications will create an environment where our rider, parent and carer community feel able to express their ideas, suggestions for improvement and become more involved in Epsom RDA life.
Planning for the Future
2025 will see continuation of our work in terms of delivering on our strategic objectives which are to:
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To deliver a varied and worthwhile experience to enhance health and well-being; this includes ensuring partcipants have actvites suitable to their level and opportunites to progress, broadening our ofer to include non-ridden actvites and improving the volunteer experience;
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To maximise the number of participants able to benefit from being with horses; this includes improving the management of our waitng list, maximising the number of riders at each session and investng in volunteer recruitment, training and retenton;
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- To be an excellent organisation that is financially robust with a mixed revenue funding model; this includes developing a fundraising strategy, ensuring that we meet our obligatons on governance and health & safety, communicatng efectvely and commitng to being a diverse and inclusive charity.
With the pressures on our two most important assets; our volunteers and our herd, we will need to think very carefully about how we deliver our objectives over the course of the coming year and beyond.
Financial Review and Accounts
The financial year ended 31st March 2025
Overview
For the year ended 31st March 2025 the charity showed an annual operating surplus of c. £11.3k (c.£3.4k surplus in 2023-24). These figures do not include any income or expenditure related to the Future Strategy which is classed as non-operating expenses and income. This comprised total operating income of c.£119k (c.£97K in 2023-24) with operating expenses of c.£108k (c.£93k in 2023-24). Income has increased since last year, however, costs have seen a significant increase. The cost increases are seen mainly in the rising cost of feed and in pony care. The rise in pony care costs includes increased vet bills but also the strategic decision taken by the trustees to bring in a paid Horse and Pony manager. Initially this was a self-employed role but, after an initial review period, it was agreed that this was a paid post and it has been an employed position since February 2025, funded from designated funds. The total surplus for the year was c.£11.3k (against a surplus of c.£28k in 2023-24). Operationally this is a c.£8k increase on 2023-24 but recognises that pony purchase in 202425 was less than 2023-24.
Income
The trustees took the opportunity to review the fee level for 2023-24 and agreed to hold it at £10 for the third year running against a cost per ride of £45(£40 in 2023-24). Our aim is to cover the cost of running the herd (less the cost of buying new herd members and the cost of the Horse and Pony Manager), however, due to rising pony care and feed costs the income of c.£41k was slightly less than the cost of maintaining the herd at c.£48k. The remaining cost of running the charity relies on donations and our regular income from livery (this has reduced in 2024-25 as we sadly said goodbye to Charlie after a long and happy retirement with Jane), use of the school and letting space to Austin & Jenkins builders.
The total income for the year is standing at c.£119k which is increase on the c.£97k in 202324. Donations for 2024-25 were much higher at c.£47k against 2023-24 which were c.£34k. Events during the year netted c.£7k a slightly up against £6.5k last year. This reflects the work the events team have put into getting a regular programme of events as well as the Open Day and Carols at the Stables. Income has also benefitted from a rise in interest rates during the year with interest at c.£4.9k against c.£2.5k in the previous year.
2024 2023-25 24
We have also received support from generous donors including: -
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Annette Emery Gemstone Jewellery who continues to make and sell jewellery with the profits used to buy items we need for our ponies
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Epsom and District Caledonian society
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Epsom Fireworks
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Former Participants who continue to donate monthly
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Harold Bell Infiel Charity
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HOGGS golf club
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John Lewis
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Papillon School
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Rotary Club of Ewell St Mark’s and Mitcham Buffalos
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The Thompson Family Trust for their ongoing regular monthly donation
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Lucy Morris who was sponsored to raise the c.£2k we needed to buy a sit on mower for the sensory track
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Tricia Goodwin for her contribution to Marigold’s bills
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Laurence Anastasi
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Sarah Chadwick at Banstead Waitrose
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Leatherhead Golf Club
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Heather Powell
Of course, we are also grateful for all the donations we receive from volunteers, friends and relations of participants, the local allotments and gardeners who donate when collecting our quality manure, hot chocolate reindeers and pocket money as these unrestricted funds go directly to supporting the upkeep of the herd and their home to the benefit of our participants. We are also grateful for the volunteers who never claim expenses, donate carrots and cotton wool pads and organisations who give us time and labour.
Expenditure
The upkeep of the herd forms a major part of our outgoings. This year our herd (15 ponies at year end – 14 of which are part of our active herd with Tandi being on a loan for reschooling) cost c.£68k (c.£39K in 2023-24 when we had the same number of ponies) which includes expenses for feed, hay, farriers, dentist, vet, Horse and Pony Manager and various equipment including our new bits, saddle pads and other essential tack. The increase in expenditure continues to be driven the rising costs of hay, feed (including new supplements for all our herd) and services (we remain grateful for those services who have held their prices lower for ourselves). We have started to source our medicines online to reduce costs. A further c.£3.9k was donated by the organisers of the Epsom fireworks and Annette Emery Gemstones all of which was used to purchase new equipment. This excludes the cost of purchasing new herd member Shannon Pie with River coming to us on loan. (2023-24 the cost of purchases was c£16K in 2024-25 this was c.£3.6k).
The average cost of keeping a herd member during the last year was £3,786 an increase from the previous year where it was £2,720 per annum (this excludes the cost of the Horse and Pony Manager who is funded from designated funds). This is the equivalent of £73 per week which is a c.40% increase on the prior year. So, a donation of £6 can buy a bale of hay, £74 pays for a most ponies to be visited by the farrier (Romeo though is a draft size and comes in at £168 every 6-8 weeks so do consider if you would like to buy him some new shoes! ) and £50 pays for a visit from the equine dentist.
Our next expense is in keeping the site safe, secure, and well maintained. The cost of maintaining the buildings and grounds in 2024-25 c.£25k (2023-24 was c. £29k this reflects the investment made on site in 2023-24).
Other expenses include insurance, utilities, training, security, and general office expenses. All essential to our operation but the rise for 2024–25 reflects the general economic position as all costs have increased during the year. To mitigate this the trustees have ensured all contracts for maintenance of the site have been reviewed to ensure best value for money.
As always, we are grateful to Steve and the maintenance team for all their hard work keeping our site safe and well maintained. Also, to the gardening team for maintaining the sensory track and general garden spaces.
Reserves
As a charity we are in the fortunate position that we have always been prudent with our use of incoming funds versus expenditure. At the end of 2024-25 we had c £250k cash in hand in various bank accounts (c.£239k in 2023-24).
The Trustees have several ringfences in place on this money:
Future Strategy Fund (formerly Indoor School Project) - £25k
Trustees have re-prioritised the updating and improving of the site so we can have dedicated fund raising and maximise our service provision by investing in smaller projects. The £25k legacy received during the 2023-24 year was ringfenced to this fund and will be held against future strategic investment in the charity.
Minimum Reserves as required by the Charity Commission - £120K
All charities have a statutory duty to set minimum reserves to ensure their continued status as a going concern. Our minimum reserves were set some years ago to be held at a year running costs. The trustees reviewed these during 2024, as we do on an annual basis, and agreed that £120k was still the appropriate amount to hold. These funds are there for dire emergencies and can only be utilised for general running costs should our status change and we need to use them to remain a going concern.
Funds available for use as at 31[st] March 2025– c.£105k (in 2023-24 c.£64k)
This is the cash we have in hand that we can use to keep our herd fed and well, to maintain our land and buildings and to make improvements for the safety, wellbeing, and enhancement of our offer to our participants. We also keep a further amount to funds in the designated funds account mentioned above for major works to ensure our site is safe and secure for our herd and our participants. During 2025 we will be reviewing our pasture maintenance and will be investing in more shelters to allow us to make the best use of all our lands.
The employment of the Horse and Pony Manager during 2024-25 has proved to have added considerable value to the charity. As we have an aging vintage herd and continuing health issues it was impossible to ask that this role be carried on in a voluntary capacity (and we are extremely grateful to those volunteers who continue to support this role). Given the success of this the trustees have agreed that we need to appoint a deputy in 2025-26. Having trained individuals focusing on the care of our herd it gives our volunteers more time to concentrate on our participants. The health and availability of our herd is key to us being able to offer equine therapy and, as such, has been prioritised as essential expenditure. The trustees have agreed to fund this from designated funds in 2025-26.
During 2023-24 the Trustees delegated authority to the Finance, Performance and Governance Committee (FPGC) to manage the running of the charity by allocating budgets to designated Trustees who have the responsibility for property management, health, safety and cleaning, the upkeep of the herd and general running costs (e.g., insurance, rubbish removal, utilities, professional services including the bank account, audit fees etc). FPGC had full authority to spend within their budgets and there is a procurement policy which was agreed by the Trustees which gives us a framework to ensure we spend wisely and get the best value for money we can. Towards the end of 2023-24 the number of trustees reduced so the committee was suspended with decisions reverting back to the trustees under the same terms as FPGC. The governance remains in place.
In addition, Epsom RDA owns:
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The freehold of St Ebba's Farm, which cost £84,657 (inclusive of legal fees).
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Equipment including two tractors, a trailer, three harrows and sundry other tractor attachments,
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A hand operated motor mower, a strimmer and various workshop tools, competition fences, poles, and games
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equipment with an approximate current value of £15,000 (2024 - £15,000)
Notes to the accounts
Restricted Funds
We have had £6,541 added to our restricted funds during the year in addition to the £25k held for the strategic improvement fund. £2,427 of the added funds has been utilised during the year. Of the remaining funds £1,986 has been raised by Lucy Williams in our gardening team for the purpose of purchasing a sit on mower for the sensory track and there is a further £2,128 available from the fireworks donation to fund the purchase of more equipment for the ponies.
Designated Funds
The Designated Fund is £60,107 (closing balance as at 31st March 2024 £40,880). The trustees added a designated sum of £35,000, including £20,000 designated for major works (total of £3,583 spent in the year from designated funds) towards the purchase of new herd members and the costs related to said purchases. The remaining £12,190 was used to provide maintenance to the site including the provision of a new sewage pump, new field shelters and other essential site work. This designated fund represents amounts set aside by
the trustees out of the general fund to meet the cost of future improvements to the property, provision of paid staff for horse and pony care and the purchase of new herd members. The interest on the balance in the Fund provides income for general purposes to help meet the charity’s running expenses.
The following projects have been identified by the Trustees, for implementation as and when funds become available: -
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To purchase equipment necessary for maintaining the estate.
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To maintain or expand our herd which, although it has been added to over the past year, will need to be expanded further as participants return and in recognition of the age of the some of the current herd members.
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To fund the care of our herd by employing a Horse and Pony care team (in 2024-25 this was the Horse and Pony Manager)
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Future Strategy initiatives have been identified and the trustees have agreed these will be funded through specific fundraising and the legacy received during 2023-24.
During the year, the trustees carried out work as held on the capital project list. This included:
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essential maintenance work needed to ensure the safety and upkeep of our buildings and ground
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provision of equipment for the herd and participants
as well as a list of other projects where donors require a specific use for the funding being offered.
EPSOM RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2025 TO THE TRUSTEES
I report on the accounts of Epsom Riding for the Disabled Association for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 4 to 8.
Respectve responsibilites of Trustees and 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, following the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners, (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act) and to state whether particular matters have come to our attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. 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 you as 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 below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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(a.) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or
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(a.) To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
T W Slater ACA,CTA Shaw Gibbs Limited 79a High Street Teddington Middlesex TW11 8HG 30[th] June 2025
Receipts and Payments Accounts Income and Expenditure
Epsom Riding for the Disabled Association inc Carriage Driving For the year ended 31 March 2025
| General | Restricted | Designated | Designated | Total 2025 | Total 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purposes | Funds | Funds | |||||
| Income | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Ride Money | 41,484.00 | 41,484.00 | 35,811.00 | ||||
| Livery Fees | 4,818.00 | 4,818.00 | 5,640.00 | ||||
| Use of School | 2,475.00 | 2,475.00 | 2,400.00 | ||||
| Interest income | 4,856.00 | 4,856.00 | 2,498.00 | ||||
| Total Regular Income | 53,633.00 | 53,633.00 | 46,349.00 | ||||
| Gross Income | |||||||
| Plus Other Income | |||||||
| Donations | 25,344.00 | 25,344.00 | 12,617.00 | ||||
| Online donations | 14,859.00 | 14,859.00 | 12,181.00 | ||||
| Ring fenced Donations | 0.00 | 6,541.00 | 6,541.00 | 9,337.00 | |||
| Tack sale | 3,220.00 | 3,220.00 | 4,269.00 | ||||
| Events | 12,382.00 | 12,382.00 | 8,359.00 | ||||
| Other revenue | 3,043.00 | 3,043.00 | 3,909.00 | ||||
| Total Other Income | 58,848.00 | 6,541.00 | 65,389.00 | 50,672.00 | |||
| Total Income | 112,481.00 | 6,541.00 | 0.00 | 119,022.00 | 97,021.00 | ||
| Less Herd Upkeep Costs | |||||||
| Pony care | 43,196.00 | 43,196.00 | 18,645.00 | ||||
| Pony costs-equipment | 2,337.00 | 1,756.00 | 4,093.00 | 6,836.00 | |||
| Pony feed | 20,003.00 | 20,003.00 | 12,824.00 | ||||
| Pony purchase | 0.00 | 3,583.00 | 3,583.00 | 15,607.00 | |||
| Pony schooling | 260.00 | 260.00 | 1,335.00 | ||||
| Total Herd Upkeep Costs | 65,796.00 | 1,756.00 | 3,583.00 | 71,135.00 | 55,247.00 | ||
| Gross Profit | 46,685.00 | 4,785.00 | -3,583.00 | 47,887.00 | 41,774.00 | ||
| Expenses | |||||||
| Cost of running site | |||||||
| Maintenance of grounds | 1,423.00 | 1,423.00 | 3,449.00 | ||||
| Repairs & maintenance - building | 2,144.00 | 2,144.00 | 2,731.00 | ||||
| Light, Power, Heating | 2,385.00 | 2,385.00 | 1,296.00 | ||||
| Cleaning and sanitary | costs | 622.00 | 622.00 | 2,209.00 | |||
| Fuel costs and servicing | 683.00 | 683.00 | 699.00 | ||||
| Motor vehicle expenses | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 | ||||
| Gardening | 790.00 | 790.00 | 939.00 | ||||
| Health, Safety and Safeguarding | 95.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 95.00 | 54.00 | ||
| Insurance | 2,791.00 | 2,791.00 | 2,733.00 | ||||
| New Works | 1,360.00 | 219.00 | 12,190.00 | 13,769.00 | 14,594.00 | ||
| Telephone and Internet | 613.00 | 0.00 | 613.00 | 481.00 | |||
| T t l C t f R i |
Sit | 12 906 00 | 219 00 | 12 | 190 00 | 25 315 00 | 29 285 00 |
| Other Running Costs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fundraising | |||||
| Competition costs | 79.00 | 79.00 | 1,804.00 | ||
| Event costs | 4,771.00 | 452.00 | 5,223.00 | 2,092.00 | |
| Prize Giving costs | 984.00 | 984.00 | 633.00 | ||
| Fundraiser Partner costs | 360.00 | 360.00 | 446.00 | ||
| Total Fundraising | 6,194.00 | 452.00 | 0.00 | 6,646.00 | 4,975.00 |
| Finance and Legal costs | |||||
| Audit & Accountancy fees | 2,434.00 | 2,434.00 | 2,131.00 | ||
| Bank fees | 6.00 | 6.00 | 215.00 | ||
| Subscription costs | 299.00 | 299.00 | 235.00 | ||
| Total Finance and Legal cost | 2,739.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,739.00 | 2,581.00 |
| Training | |||||
| Training - coaching and busary | 0.00 | 0.00 | 20.00 | ||
| Training - first aid | 492.00 | 492.00 | 840.00 | ||
| Staff Training | 120.00 | 120.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Total Training | 612.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 612.00 | 860.00 |
| Other Administrative and Misc costs | |||||
| IT Software and consumables | 264.00 | 264.00 | 380.00 | ||
| Printing & stationery | 459.00 | 459.00 | 173.00 | ||
| General expenses | 569.00 | 569.00 | 87.00 | ||
| Total Other Administrave and Misc | 1,292.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1,292.00 | 640.00 |
| Total Other Running Costs | 10,837.00 | 452.00 | 0.00 | 11,289.00 | 9,056.00 |
| Total Operating Expenses | 23,743.00 | 671.00 | 12,190.00 | 36,604.00 | 38,341.00 |
| Operating Surplus (Loss) | 22,942.00 | 4,114.00 | -15,773.00 | 11,283.00 | 3,433.00 |
| Future Strategy Costs Fund and Income | |||||
| Future Strategy Costs Project | |||||
| Future Strategy costs | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Future Strategy funding | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | -25,000.00 |
| Total Future Strategy Costs Project | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | -25,000.00 |
| Total Non-operating Expenses | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | -25,000.00 |
| Net Surplus (Loss) | 22,942.00 | 4,114.00 | -15,773.00 | 11,283.00 | 28,433.00 |
| Transfer of funds | -35,000.00 | 35,000.00 | |||
| Balance at 1st April 2024 | 173,007.00 | 25,000.00 | 40,880.00 | 238,887.00 | 210,454.00 |
| Balance at 31st March 2025 | 160,949.00 | 29,114.00 | 60,107.00 | 250,170.00 | 238,887.00 |
Receipts and Payments Accounts Balance Sheet Epsom Riding for the Disabled Association inc Carriage Driving For the year ended 31 March 2025
Bank Accounts
Opening Balance Cash Received Cash Spent Closing Balance
| ERDA CIO current account ERDA old charity ERDA Virgin National Counties Building Soc Accessible savings account Metrobank savings account Metrobank credit card Total |
32,678.00 116,944.00 116,648.00 32,974.00 3,682.00 720.00 4,402.00 382.00 15.00 397.00 0.00 97,689.00 3,734.00 101,423.00 102,429.00 7,098.00 109,527.00 2,027.00 21.00 2,048.00 0.00 204.00 -204.00 |
|---|---|
| 238,887.00 128,532.00 117,249.00 250,170.00 |
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Receipts and Payments Accounts Notes to the Accounts at 31st March 2025
Epsom Riding for the Disabled Association inc Carriage Driving For the year ended 31 March 2025
1. Restricted Funds
| Donor PA System donaton Ray Lee Heated towel rail Donatons from saturday sessions Pony equipment Annete Emery Gemstones New bits and saddle pads Donatons at Epsom Fireworks Sit on mower Lucy Kelly Strategic improvement fund Anonymouse legacy |
Fund as at 1st April 2024 Received Spent Fund as at 31st March 2025 £ £ £ £ 0.00 452.00 452.00 0.00 0.00 219.00 219.00 0.00 0.00 84.00 84.00 0.00 0.00 3,800.00 1,672.00 2,128.00 0.00 1,986.00 0.00 1,986.00 25,000.00 0.00 0.00 25,000.00 |
|---|---|
| 25,000.00 6,541.00 2,427.00 29,114.00 |
2. Designated Funds
| 2. Designated Funds | |
|---|---|
| £ | |
| Opening balance | 40,880.00 |
| Allocaton of funds for new herd | 15,000.00 |
| Allocaton of funds for major | |
| works | 20,000.00 |
| Total receipts | 35,000.00 |
| Less | 0.00 |
| Purchase of new herd - Shannon | |
| Pie | -3,583.00 |
| Replacement washing machine | -290.00 |
| New feld shelters | -11,630.00 |
| Installaton of new fre | |
| monitoring system | -954.00 |
| Mudslabs for felds | -722.00 |
| Japanees Knotwood treatment | -847.00 |
| Pump replacement | 2,253.00 |
| Total spent | -15,773.00 |
| Closing balance | 60,107.00 |
Receipts and Payments Accounts Notes to the Accounts at 31st March 2024 continued Epsom Riding for the Disabled Association inc Carriage Driving For the year ended 31 March 2025
3. New Works (Improvements and Equipment) Purchased in year
| New Works (Improvements) Water pump repair Water pump replacement(shared cost) Replacement washing machine New field shelters Installation of new fire monitoring system Mudslabs for fields Japanese knotweed treatment Pigeon control and clean of indoor school Fencing Additional security Heated towel rail Preparaton of faraway felds for pasture Total New Works (Improvements) Equipment Saddles Saddle Pads New bits Reins,stirrup leathers lead ropes Rugs/flymasks Haynets for fields Other equipment Total Equipment Total new works (Improvements and equipment) |
£ 206.00 -2,253.00 (designated) 290.00 (designated) 11,630.00 (designated) 954.00 (designated) 722.00 (designated) 847.00 (designated) 514.00 106.00 234.00 219.00 (restricted) 300.00 13,769.00 1,660.00 881.00 ( restricted) 623.00 (restricted) 216.00 (part restricted) 596.00 46.00 71.00 4,093.00 17,862.00 |
|---|---|
GOVERNANCE
Epsom RDA is currently managed by six elected trustees including the Chair. Within the group and with the changes in Trustees there is a wide range of skills and experience bringing well rounded expertise to manage the charity on a day-to-day basis and plan and deliver for the future. We are currently recruiting for two further trustees.
The changes to the trustees during the year are listed below:
We welcomed three new trustees:
Gill McPherson joined as Horse and Pony Trustee in October 2024;
Ann Stuart joined in October 2024 as Honorary Secretary
and Allie Philpin joined in December 2024 as Fundraising trustee.
Louise Jackson, Communication Trustee stood down in September 2024
Jo Lee, Horse and Pony Trustee stood down in September 2024.
Gill McPherson who took over the role of Horse and Pony Trustee from Jo also stood down in January 2025.
The Board now operates in a hybrid fashion meeting remotely and in person. The Board met eight times during the year. Lindsay Bright has been invited to the trustee meetings as official minute taker.
The Annual General Meeting was held on 10th November 2024. Our thanks to the kind support of Epsom Downs Racecourse who once again hosted our meeting.
Safeguarding
Everyone within Epsom RDA has the right to report any issues which cause concern about another person in confidence, this can be done to the appointed Safeguarding Officer or direct to our National body, RDA UK.
At Epsom RDA we have a
-
Safeguarding Policy Statement
-
Safe recruitment – standardised application form, requirement for two references and disclosure checks
-
An appointed Safeguarding Officer who can be contacted by email: safeguarding@epsomrda.org.uk
All in the Group are aware of who to contact if there is a safeguarding concern with the details sign posted on our coffee room noticeboard as well as detailed on our website.
All Coaches that run Sessions have a current (within 3 years) safeguarding certificate and are required attend a formal training course provided by RDA UK to renew their certificate. More information on safeguarding guidelines and policy can be found at RDA Natonal Safeguarding.
Trustees as at 31st March 2025
Laura Hales, appointed Chair on 2[nd] March 2023 re-elected 10[th] November 2024
Angela Wilson, Treasurer re-elected at AGM on 26th November 2023.
Liz Clark, Volunteering, appointed 14 February 2022
Rebecca Courtman, Health, and Safety and Safeguarding re-elected 10[th] November 2024
Ann Stuart, Honorary Secretary, and Governance joined 18[th] of October 2024 and was ratified at the AGM on 10[th] November 2024
Allie Philpin, Fundraising and Covering Horse and Pony, joined on 1st December 2024.
Reference and Administraton
Formal name : Epsom Riding for the Disabled Association
Charity Registered Number : 1180061
Registered Ofce : St Ebba’s Farm, Hook Road, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 8QW
Honorary Ofcers :
Chair – Laura Hales
Treasurer – Angela Wilson
Secretary – Ann Stuart
Objects:
Providing disabled people with the opportunity to participate in equine therapy to benefit their health and well- being in the Surrey / Southeast area.
A Member of the Riding for the Disabled Association incorporating Carriage Driving
Registered Company No 5010395 Registered Charity No 1180061
For more informaton:
Website: www.epsomrda.org.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/epsomrda
Instagram: www.instagram.com/epsomrda
Twitter: www.twiter.com/epsomrda
Enquiries:
info@epsomrda.org.uk