A Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered in England and Wales – No 1180762
Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement
2024
Principal Address
C/O The Saunders Club, Saunders Avenue, Bedworth, Warwickshire, CV12 8RJ
Anker Radio Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement 2024
Chairman’s Report
2024 has been a year of moving forward for Anker Radio we have welcomed new members & made good progress in improving links with the George Eliot Hospital NHS trust, there is still work to be done but the fact that George Eliot staff are starting to join the station & working with us hopefully means we are going in the right direction.
We now have a studio that we can broadcast from at the Saunders Club and members that were unable to broadcast from home are able to get back into a radio studio and start producing their own programmes again.
I would like to thank my fellow Trustees that have served with me on the Trustee Board over the last Twelve Months.
Thanks go to Rob Newbold for continuing to put together a programme schedule & coming up with new programme ideas and thanks also to Richard Todd for the continued Sports Output on Anker Radio.
And finally, thanks to our technical manager Chris Ward who makes what can sometimes seem impossible, possible.
Apologies If I have missed anyone out but thank you if you have contributed to the success of Anker Radio in the last 12 months.
I hope that 2025 is a year when Anker radio can look forward and not back & continue to provide and improve our service to the George Eliot hospital and the local community.
Finally on a sad note one of our longest serving members Colin Tyers passed away on 2[nd] January 2025.We will miss him.
John Goodman Chairman
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Anker Radio Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement 2024
The Trustees of Anker Radio are pleased to submit their Report and Accounts for the year 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024.
Organisation Anker Radio is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered in England and Wales on 20[th] November 2018 and governed by a constitution last amended on 9[th] December 2020.
Anker Radio is managed by the Charity Trustees who are elected by the membership in accordance with the published constitution. In the period covered by this review, We have had 4 Charity Trustees of the CIO.
The Trustees are: -
John Goodman – Chairman (Elected unopposed in 2023)
Dave Jennings – Vice Chairman (Elected unopposed in 2024)
Barry Hayward – Treasurer (Elected unopposed in 2023)
Geoff Veasey – Secretary (Elected unopposed in 2024)
At the AGM in 2024 The Members were also invited to apply for the positions of:-
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⚫ Head of Output
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⚫ Sports Editor
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⚫ Membership Secretary
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⚫ Head of Music & promos
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⚫ Fund-Raising Manager
A Nomination was received for the post of Head of Output and Rob Newbold was elected unopposed.
A Nomination was also received for Sports Editor and Richard Todd was elected unopposed.
No nominations were received for the roles of membership secretary, Head of Music & promos and Fundraising manager.
Any workload associated with the vacant posts during 2024 was picked up by the trustees.
Technical Manager is a position appointed by the Trustees, in 2024 the trustees appointed Chris Ward.
Throughout the year Anker Radio continued to operate with no paid staff, being run entirely by a membership of volunteers.
These are the objectives of the CIO
- (1) the relief of sickness, poor health and old age amongst people living in the area served by The George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust or its successors by providing a local broadcasting service for hospitals, residential homes and similar institutions, and for patients receiving community care; and
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Anker Radio Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement 2024
- (2) the advancement of health and prevention or relief of sickness for the public benefit through the promotion of the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle, and the importance of maintaining good personal mental and physical health by (mainly, but not exclusively) the means of broadcasting health education messages to people living in the area served by The George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust or its successors.
In furtherance of the first objective, Anker Radio provides a hospital radio service to patients at the George Eliot Hospital via 1386am, 88.9fm.
Anker Radio also streams its service online via the internet and downloadable iOS and Android Apps such as my tuner radio app.
This allows hospital patients and listeners in residential homes and similar institutions to listen to the service.
The second of these objectives is a localised version of the second model objective agreed between the HBA and the Charity Commission and allows Anker Radio to target its services at the local population outside the hospital with the intent of helping and encouraging them to live a healthy and active life in the local community and thus requiring making less use of the health services.
Anker Radio also uses its social media presence & on-air promos to disseminate information and messages in support of this objective.
We amended our constitution in December 2020 (following advice from The Hospital Broadcasting Association (HBA) to facilitate remote attendance at hybrid and fully virtual General Meetings in future without recourse to emergency legislation.
Related Organisations Anker Radio is a member of the Hospital Broadcasting Association (HBA), the national charity that supports and promotes hospital broadcasting in the UK.
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Anker Radio Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement 2024
Review of Activities
Anker Radio provides a radio service to the George Eliot Hospital 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a week. Our service can currently be heard on 1386am also on 88.9fm and online via our website ankerradio.co.uk.
Our schedule is made up of a wide variety of programmes, from Folk to Rock, Dance, Jazz, Blues, Eighties and Seventies Programmes. Plus, sport and health promotion messages. We have continued broadcasting the live syndicated Andy Lloyd Morning Show which started in 2023 between 9am & 12pm every weekday morning, this programme is broadcast on around 15 other stations.
By the end of 2024 on average, we broadcast 58 Hours of programmes a week produced by Anker Radio volunteers, which is up on the 39 hours produced in 2023 & the number does vary with Live Sport. We fill the other hours in the week with syndicated programmes and with programmes from the HBA shared programmes list.
We have continued to follow the Sky Blues on our Sports programmes. We were unable to provide commentary on Nuneaton Town from The Oval due to lack of Volunteers, but we do provide score flashes on air & via social media. We provided scores from our other local sides Bedworth United, Atherstone Town, Nuneaton Griff, The Nuns & The Old Ed’s.
We have been working with Castlemead radio in Hinckley who also lent us part of their storage space in Hinckley to store our surplus equipment.
We also continued to make made use of the HBA Shared Programme list.
We have continued to run the word on health feature along with other heath related content such as promos for the over 60’s football group and the local walk & talk group. We have also continued broadcast news & events from the George Eliot Hospital Trust during 2024.
We are now 3 Years into our 5 year Ofcom licence for 88.9fm & we have 2 years left to run on our 1386am Licence. Current Licence costs for each service are £350 per year. Plus any associated PRS & PPL costs.
Nuneaton & Hinckley have been included in round 6 of the small-scale DAB licencing timetable, applications to run a multiplex were invited in the spring/summer of 2024 with a closing date of mid July 2024 although anker radio did not apply to run the Nuneaton & Bedworth Multiplex we have engaged with the company that did apply for the multiplex. There were 25 areas applied for in round 6 by various companies so far 9 have been licenced by Ofcom up to the end of 2024. Nuneaton and Bedworth was not one of them so we would expect a decision by Ofcom during 2025
Anker Radio will continue to develop a pragmatic and sensible digital strategy & work with other stations and companies.
The Trustees recognise the need to respond to any opportunities provided in a way that is cost effective and supports the charitable objects, as appropriate.
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Anker Radio Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement 2024
At the time of writing, we currently have 19 members a mixture of life members, active/non active members and associate members.
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP AGAIN AT THE GEH
Anker Radio and League of Friends joined GEH volunteers to liaise on promoting a seasonal Food Bank at various collection points around the hospital. Collection totals increased by 299% after we began promoting it. The Food Bank becomes a permanent venture as of 2025. We will continue to promote and support it.
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP AGAIN AT THE GEH cont.
Conversations with and liaison with other volunteer groups during 2024 have made it very clear to Anker Radio Trustees that all such groups are all determined to help maintain our visible presence and our footfall on the GEH site and are also committed to helping us to restore our on site broadcasting capability. It is clear that they consider Anker Radio very much to be still "part of the team." Their attempts to include us and to support our initiatives with practical and financial help have been utterly heartwarming. For the first time since before the pandemic and before our enforced relocation away from the GEH we once again have “feet on the ground.” We are moving towards having our programme content audible on site again and in becoming visible via promotional displays in the Main entrance and hopefully elsewhere.
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Anker Radio Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement 2024
LEST WE FORGET
Anker Radio representatives walked with other GEH Volunteer groups in the Nuneaton Remembrance Parade on Sunday. 10th November and helped in laying a wreath on behalf of all volunteers.
DISPLAY BOARDS Finally we have off our own back located keys and at last managed to begin emptying and updating the time-expired contents of the Anker Radio Boards in the hospital. The first 2024 update has now been added and more will follow.
ARE LISTENER REQUESTS MAKING A COMEBACK?
GEH is not alone in not restoring NHS ward access and direct patient contact after lockdown(s). However: Trustees are looking into visiting Care Homes, Hospices and Residential Settings in an attempt to reintroduce some kind of request show. Our constitution encourages community participation beyond the GEH boundary anyway. We also feel this would be a positive way of showing goodwill and possibly of great comfort to those who perhaps may be ex-GEH patients but who cannot get out and about more regularly.
NUNEATON CARNIVAL
Thanks to a new partnership with KE6/King Edward VI College (aka KEGS), This year we successfully completed the full Nuneaton Carnival route. KEGS provided the vehicle and driver and we shared the signage. Dave Jennings and Geoff Veasey walked alongside with collecting tins. The vehicle was also made available for the Mayor, Mayoress and Deputy Mayor to use should they need it. (They didn't-they walked most of the route with us!). Anker Radio is now one of Nuneaton Carnival's Partners
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Anker Radio Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement 2024
THE SAUNDERS STUDIO
The new studio in The Saunders Club was first used in May. Once teething troubles had been ironed out, we had a Formal Launch on Saturday 27th July which was a lovely event. It was in The Saunders Club so those attending had a chance to see the facilities now open to us. All members were invited. Our founder Terry Hancock attended, as did several other members-(all having been invited). They included John Goodman, Dave Jennings, Geoff Veasey, Richard Todd, Pat Godfrey-Young, Louise Smith, Morley Barnes and Mervyn Lawrence. Members unable to attend but who sent apologies included Barry Hayward, James Dewis, Karl Stein and Stephen Culliford.
Nuneaton and Bedworth Mayor Bill Hancox, formally welcomed visitors before the Hospital Broadcasting Association presented a Long Service Award commemorating forty years of broadcasting to Anker Radio. Then Jim Lee of Radio 4 literally “ cut the ribbon." Refreshments were provided after guests had taken up an offer to view the new facility. This catering was at no cost to the Charity as all four Trustees shared the expense. Other Guests attending included Dr. Naj Rashid, CMO at the GEH: Natalie Mills (Chair of The GEH Patients Forum): Leader and Deputy Leader of NBBC (Chris Watkins and Cllr Jill Shepherd repectively): Bhim Saru (Deputy Mayor and President of the British Ghurkha Association): Christian Hancox representing GEH Volunteers:Dave Grove (Bedworth CAB):Sam Smette (Chair of the Hospital Broadcasting Association) and Peter Lee (a well-known local writer and historian).
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Anker Radio Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement 2024
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Anker Radio Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement 2024
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Anker Radio Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement 2024
At the opening of the Saunders Studio Sam Smette (Chair of the Hospital Broadcasting Association) presented Chairman John Goodman with a Certificate celebrating Anker Radio 40 Years of broadcasting to Nuneaton Hospitals ( This certificate presentation was delayed by Covid as in 2025 as Anker radio celebrates 45 years of broadcasting to Nuneaton Hospitals.)
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Anker Radio Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement 2024
FUND RAISING
2024 was a difficult year financially Trustees continued to put their own money into various activities and to pay some invoices or expenses in an attempt to keep the station afloat and running. Obviously this cannot continue indefinitely. Due to our parlous financial state (which you can see by scrutinising the financial report we must become self sufficient by increasing income received via donations & running more fund raising events. It is a criteria of a registered charity that we must remain solvent.
If we are not...we fold. Members were invited at our last meeting to fill the vacant post of Fund Raising Officer or to help resurrect the Fund Raising Committee. No volunteers were forthcoming so the post remains vacant and the initiatives you read about below are largely the work of Trustees and a few of our more active members.
A week after the studio launch Anker Radio had a stall at a tabletop sale in the Saunders Club. This, combined with a collection made at the Launch raised a total of £210 for Anker Radio funds. Anker Radio tins continue to bring in loose change which have been added to our funds.
£110 was raised for Anker Radio at Nuneaton Fire Station Open Day in September.
COLLECTING TINS continue to be returned and re-sited thanks to a response to a previous appeal for them. As you will see from the financial account sheets, we were running on a shoestring up to the end of 2024.
Fund raising, no matter how small or large the amount generated therefore, remains essential.
A Grant Application submitted in November 2024 by Trustees, to Warwickshire County Council Councillors Grant Fund 2024/2025 has been successful. We learned at the start of 2025 that we are to receive £1,150 thanks to Bedworth and Nuneaton Councillors supporting it. Termed “Survival into 2025,” this application was exactly that. If the following names are your local councillors, you may wish to contact them to say “Thank You.” Jeff Clarke, Sue Markham, Mandy Tromans and Bhagwant Singh Pandher: supported us by agreeing to a personal allocation.
We also received our anonymous £1000 donation from the Heart of England foundation, we have received this donation for many years.
Also after a gap of a few years Richmond Villages Bede renewed the sponsorship of our weather which brought in welcome funds.
This year we also got “Friends of Anker Radio off the ground with Reaper Records becoming the 1[st] friend of Anker Radio they have also generated about £350 by buying some surplus stock from us.
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Anker Radio Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement 2024
BEDE VILLAGE Our members raised £70 by running a stall at the Bede Village Christmas Fayre in November. Well done to all. It was good to see members dropping in to support us, too. We received many encouraging comments and messages of support whilst operating the stall. Bede are a major sponsor, so it was a good PR exercise for us, too.
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Anker Radio Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement 2024
Looking Forward
We will be running the first of hopefully many fund-raising events by running a quiz on 11[th] January 2025 to bring in much needed funds.
Although we looked to run a recruitment drive in 2024 we were beaten time wise by other events.
We will look to undertake a volunteer recruitment drive in 2025.
We will also look to expand our community involvement and will look to broadcast more local interest & health & wellbeing material.
We also investigate expanding the programme schedule to provide more local programmes so we rely less on shared and syndicated programmes.
In Our aim is to improve the sports coverage to include covering more of our local teams.
We will also look at the financial viability of broadcasting on Small Scale DAB
The Trustees will start to look at arranging fund raising events to bring in funds, we will also look at arranging some social events every couple of months.
We hope to be involved once again with the Nuneaton Carnival and engage with the new community carnival committee on ways we can work together.
Acknowledgements
The Trustees would like to acknowledge all the help and support given to us by the president, committee members and staff of the Saunders Club in Bedworth over the last 12 months & we are extremely grateful to them for their continued support.
The Trustees would like to acknowledge all the help & support given to us by Bedworth citizen advice bureau allowing us to use a room for our trustee’s meetings also allowing us to use a room on a temporary basis for storage of our equipment.
The Trustees would like to thank our sponsors for their support during 2024.
Signed on behalf of the trustees,
John Goodman Chairman
Barry Hayward Treasurer
Date:26/04/2025 Date:- 26/04/2025
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Anker Radio Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement 2024
Anker Radio Annual Accounts 2024
Receipts & Payments Account
Reporting period from 1[st] January until 31[st] December 2024
| AR Cash Account Current A/C opening balance 1st January 2023: £ 1,337.38 INCOME Membership (PayPal, BACS, cheques & cash) PayPal (Members/Supporters transactions portal) Donations Crowdfunder (Personal Donations) Fundraising Activities (Tins/Events) Transfer of Funds (from AR Gold Deposit Account) Cash Account Interest /Refunds (Nett) EXPENDITURE Licences & Memberships Insurance (Liability) Music Royalties OB Van Costs (Insurance/MOT/Tax/Maintenance) Internet Services/Telecoms Equipment Storage (Hinckley) Maintenance Stationery & Consumables Postage Banking Fees Miscellaneous (Studio equipment/Sundries) Current A/C closing balance 31st December 2024: £ 513.76* |
2024 Totals £ 355.00 268.21 972.00 304.25 390.00 3,329.26 23.32 _ (5,642.04) 2,312.78 £ 1,491.55 1,372.29 1,090.80 1,034.88 729.14 618.92 0.00 0.00 6.30 60.00 61.78 _ 6,465.66 |
|---|---|
2024 Expenditure exceeded income by £ 4,152.88 (Nett)
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Anker Radio Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement 2024
- BACs transfer of held Funds into AR cash account
** This is a Transfer from the ‘Gold Reserve Account’, not
new funds, but to support the ‘Cash Account’ outgoings.
*** New Studio Electrical installation cost.
Gold Deposit Account
| AR Gold Deposit Account opening balance on 1st January 2024: INCOME: Interest transactions_added_to Gold A/C: 26thMarch 26thJune 26thSeptember 27thDecember EXPENDITURE: Transfer_of Gold Deposit funds to AR Cash Account: 15thApril 23rdApril 8thJuly 27th August _AR Gold Deposit Account closing balance on 31st December 2024: |
£ 4,283.78 2024 2023 26.70 17.75 18.78 20.39 10.97 29.27 5.88 26.53 __ _ 62.33 93.94 810.48 - 1,000.00 - 518.78 - 1,000.00 - ____ 3,329.26 £ 1,016.85* |
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*Funds transferred from ‘ Reserve ’ account to AR Cash Account to support Station running costs
Gold Account Interest Rate fell from 2.5% to 2.3% in October 2024
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Anker Radio Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement 2024
Treasurers Report
Financial Overview
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Anker Radio manages its Finances in compliance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 & the Charity Commissions guidelines ‘Internal Financial Controls for Charities (CC8)’
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Accounts for year ending 31[st] December 2024 have been prepared on a Receipts & Payments basis.
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At the end of the year under review, Anker Radio is financially stable & has adequate cash reserves to meet known commitments.
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Costs have risen in every sector across the UK, reflected in increased costs for Public Liability & Motor Insurance, Broadcasting & Music Licences.
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Internet Costs alone have risen by in excess of 130% during 2024.
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Due to the move from our George Eliot base, a new cost to cover equipment storage off site became necessary. No doubt this cost will further increase during 2025. We look to negate this additional cost soonest, & welcome any practical input from our Membership regarding a storage solution.
Reserves Policy
- It is the Policy of the Charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use, should be maintained at a level equivalent to between 3 & 6 months expenditure. The Trustees consider that Reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the Charity’s current activities, whilst consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised.
Income
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Financial downturn in the UK remains a major factor in creating AR income. Potential Sponsors continue to cite ‘unaffordable’ pressures to donate to Charities such as ours, as they too have to look towards financial pressures & cost savings.
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Due to having a good monetary reserve fund, we have been able to support our cash account by making funding transfers.
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In 2024 we saw no major donations from our supporters, although we should see a £1,000 donation from HOE in early 2025.
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Limited Fundraising saw a small increase in revenues from last year, although we expect 2025 to be when the main Events drive, utilising our Saunders Club base facilities, will result in a strong financial upturn for AR. Donations, as predicted, were down on the 2023 figure.
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Supporters using the online Crowdfunder platform have continued to make small, but welcome contributions. Members who may wish to further contribute funds might wish to explore this option.
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Anker Radio Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement 2024
Expenditure
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The Trustees maintained tight control on expenditure during 2024. Nonetheless, as we were involved in a major new Studio project, with associated expenses/costs, all outgoings were carefully monitored. Reserve funds, there for the purpose , were released into our Cash account to meet our financial commitments to Service suppliers, as & when needed.
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Expenditure for 2024 increased by some £4,152.88 over 2023. This was down to inflation driven increases in Licence(s), Insurances & Internet costs across the UK, over which Anker Radio have little control.
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The OB Bus Insurance/Tax costs were lower than 2023 (down by 67%), following the decision to SORN said vehicle until an acceptable ‘sale’ offer has been found. This task will be a priority in 2025.
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Internet Services costs increased dramatically during 2024, in line with UK inflationary trends. When current ‘package(s)’ contracts are due for renewal, reliable but cheaper alternatives will be sought.
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The Trustees continue to review our current Service providers costs & will seek to source more cost effective alternatives in the market place, if viable for the Radio Station.
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Discussions with our Liability Insurers are currently ongoing & we firmly believe that we can obtain a reduction in costs without a policy compromise for 2025.
Management of Major Risks
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Ensuring that Anker Radio generates income to cover the running costs of providing a Hospital Radio service must be considered as a priority. Historically our main revenue sources have been revenue streams through grant funding, personal/covenant donations & Fundraising events.
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Obviously, all Funding streams have associated risks, but due to having prepared a financial buffer afforded by our Reserve Account, the Trustees remain confident that we will continue to fulfil our financial commitments & with them, our long term future
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The new Studio location affords us the opportunity to hold larger Fundraising events. A number of Events are already being planned & will be communicated to Members following diary confirmation(s). Member support for these Fundraisers, in any capacity, will contribute to our future Broadcasting security.
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Discussions with new revenue streams are ongoing & all local & National grants/schemes are being pursued, for the benefit of the Radio Station.
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Excess equipment is being reviewed & if practicable, will be made available for sale to interested parties, as a further revenue stream. Any Member with an interest in specific items should contact the Trustees, who will afford them a Priority opportunity to secure.
In conclusion, whilst revenue remains my main focus, I would like to express my thanks to all those who have made a contribution, financially or physically, to the Station over 2024. The new Studio & Saunders Club venue affords us a great opportunity to fly the flag & I hope that Members will continue to rally to the cause. I look forward to seeing Members at the next Event.
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Anker Radio Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement 2024
Barry Hayward Anker Radio Treasurer 26[th] April 2025
Charity Details
Anker Radio
A Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Reg Number 1180762
Trustees
John Goodman – Chairman
Dave Jennings – Vice Chairman Barry Hayward – Treasurer Geoff Veasey – Secretary
Principal Address
C/O The Saunders Club Saunders Avenue Bedworth Warwickshire CV12 8RJ
Bankers
CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling ME19 4JQ
Signed on behalf of the trustees,
John Goodman Barry Hayward Chairman Treasurer
Date:- 26/04/2025 Date:- 26/04/2025
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