Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team
Annual Report for year ended 31[st ] March 2024
Registered Charity No 1180863
CHARITY NAME: Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team
REGISTERED OFFICE:
Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Teams whose registered address is Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team are based out of council garages in Adams Avenue, Sarn Bridgend CF32 9RX however all communication should be directed the Charity Secretary
The team is a charity registered with the Charity Commissioners, No. 1180863. The Charity is a member of the regional body of South Wales Search & Rescue Association, it is also a member of Mountain Rescue England and Wales who are both representative bodies for mountain search and rescue.
The Trustee board for the financial year were:
| Chair | Mr Mark Songhurst (1 April 2023 – 19 March 2024).Stood down as Chair and Trustee 19 |
|---|---|
| March 2024 | |
| Chair | Miss Kate Murray |
| Secretary | Mr Nicholas McAllister |
| Treasurer | Mr Mark Lewis |
| Trustee | Mr Michael Jeffery |
| Trustee | Mr Robert Wallis |
| Trustee | Mr Paul Williams |
| Trustee | Mr Jonathan Powell |
| Trustee | Mr William Oliver |
The objects of the Charity, as specified in the constitution, are to assist in the relieving of suffering and distress amongst persons endangered by accidents or natural hazards in South, Mid and West Wales geographical area, but also without geographical limitation, and to provide adequate arrangements for the secure and efficient search and rescue of any persons so endangered. We are also equipped and trained to offer search and rescue in natural disasters.
The team comprises up to 52 volunteers who live within and bordering our operational area. As well as being on call in all weather, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, there is a significant amount of on-going training in advanced first aid, mountain and water search and rescue. This can only be achieved through the dedication of our volunteers and the generosity of their employers.
During the year, the team responded to a total of 49 incidents. The Team callouts involved providing assistance to both South Wales and Dyfed Powys Police Forces and the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust in conducting searches for missing, vulnerable, and injured persons. 17 % of the calls were for casualties with lower leg injuries. 36% of calls were relating to searches for missing persons.
The team has worked closely with helicopters from the Coastguard, Air Ambulance, and National Police Air Support. Invaluable Joint medical working with the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust and the
Hazardous Area Response Team has proved vital to all services. We continue to work closely with our neighbouring Mountain and Cave Rescue teams and South Wales Search and Rescue Dog Association offering mutual aid when required.
Whilst dealing with Inland waterways incidents the team has worked jointly with both South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
Training
Training has primarily been delivered face to face, however where appropriate some hybrid online training has been incorporated into team activity. The team trains every Monday evening (except bank holidays) and a full weekend each month.
Team Medical training continued to be of great importance within the training calendar of all members.
Our August 2023 training weekend comprised of a residential multi-day joint training exercise with three Stations from Area 13 Coastguard. This provided a great opportunity for shared learning and interagency operational training.
During this year we recruited and trained 11 new members who successfully completed their training and are now on the call out list.
Specialist training outlined below has also been undertaken in addition to our routine weekly and monthly Team training. During this period:
2 members attended an advanced driving course and gained ROSPA gold awards
-
2 members successfully completed a Blue Light Driving Course
-
1 member attended a 4x4 instructor training course
-
5 members either renewed or completed various recognised water training courses.
1 member attended an instructor casualty care course
8 members attended the Mountain Rescue casualty care training courses.
- 1 member attended a Pet First Aid course and gained Level 2 (VTQ) accreditation.
Finance
The biggest expenditure remains with the running of our vehicles of £9,582.23
Following the sale of our Team Landrover 130 in February, our fleet currently consists of 3 Team vehicles, a Toyota Hilux based at Pontardawe fire station. Our Mobile control vehicle and second response vehicle are kept at our headquarters in Sarn, Bridgend. They have been maintained and serviced by Gotboost Ltd in Pyle, we would like to thank Stef and his team for their hard work keeping the vehicles on the road.
The knock-on impact of covid, continues to have a lasting negative impact on funding combined with a national cost of living crisis has meant challenges with fundraising - as many in the voluntary sector are also experiencing. Our income from organised events and grants have increased since last year but remain lower than pre-pandemic times. Whilst we have funds to run the day-to-day activities of the
team, large investments such as vehicle and specialised equipment replacement are more uncertain. Excluding receipts from the vehicle sale and reclaimed input VAT from prior years, there was an underlying deficit of £4,001 as summarised in the table below.
| Receipts £ | Total | Assets | VAT | General | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sale of vehicle | 7,500 | 7,500 | 0 | 0 | |
| Reclaimed input VAT | 11,709 | 0 | 11,709 | 0 | |
| Donations and interest | 21,277 | 0 | 0 | 21,277 | |
| Total receipts | 40,486 | 7,500 | 11,709 | 21,277 | |
| Payments £ | Total | Assets | VAT | General | |
| Spend from restrictedgrant | 815 | 815 | 0 | 0 | |
| Runningcosts | 25,278 | 0 | 0 | 25,278 | |
| Totalpayments | 26,093 | 815 | 0 | 25,278 | |
| Surplus /(Deficit) £ | 14,393 | 6,685 | 11,709 | (4,001) |
FUNDS
The sale of our Landrover vehicle in February generated £7,500.00.
We are grateful for calling authorities for contributing towards our Team vehicle’s fuel costs.
Related Party Transactions
Payments to Trustees – There were no payments to Trustees during this reporting period.
Transactions between Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team charity 1180863 (“WBMRT”) and the Western Beacons Mountain Search and Rescue Team charity 500652 (“WBMSART”). Our organisation was formed as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), taking on similar charitable aims to the unincorporated charity WBMSART, which no longer operates and has been closed down following the Team’s decision to convert to become a CIO. The Trustees of the WBMSRT were Mr Marcus Neal, Mr Selwyn Keenan, Mr Robert Wallis, and Mr Antony Lloyd. The administrative process of transferring assets and liabilities from the previous charity to the current CIO, and for donors transferring their standing orders for donations, has now been completed. The asset transfer from WBMSART to this organisation of £1,827.87 was made this year prior to WBMSART being dissolved in accordance with the Dissolution Regulations 2012.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT
The accounts have been subjected to an independent examination by Mr. R D S Jones BSc ACMA (retired), and his report will be submitted to the Charities Commission with the accounts following their approval by the Trustees at the AGM
VOLUNTEERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
The trustees would like to acknowledge and thank all the members for their hard work and commitment this year. It is also important to recognise the families of our volunteers who support the team by supporting members to undertake the training, callouts and events associated with raising our charity profile and fundraising throughout the year.
PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT
The Trustees confirm they have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to the guidance published by the Charity Commission including public benefit guidance.
Approved by the Trustees on 2[nd] September 2024 and signed on their behalf by;
Miss. Kate Murray Chair
Mr. Mark Lewis
Treasurer
For the statements of our financial activities please see the details on the Charity Commission website.
Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team (CIO)
Financial Activities
April 2023 - March 2024
| TOTAL | |
|---|---|
| Income | |
| Donations and legacies | 9,776.38 |
| Collection Tins | 445.14 |
| Subs | 665.00 |
| Team Weekend | 1,445.00 |
| Total Donations and legacies | 12,331.52 |
| Fundraising | 337.55 |
| Event Income | 2,000.00 |
| Fundraising Amazon | 64.17 |
| Just Giving | 4,187.45 |
| Lottery Income | 356.40 |
| Total Fundraising | 6,945.57 |
| Services | 11,753.98 |
| Total Income | £31,031.07 |
| TOTAL | £31,031.07 |
| Expenditures | |
| Advertising/Promotional | 333.61 |
| Equipment | 2,336.66 |
| Radio | 679.31 |
| Total Equipment | 3,015.97 |
| Insurances | 865.97 |
| Medical | |
| Control Drugs | 2.95 |
| Total Medical | 2.95 |
| Office/General Administrative Expenses | 480.74 |
| Phone Costs | 754.81 |
| Raising funds | 179.99 |
| Repair and maintenance | 162.25 |
| Training | -76.00 |
| Accommodation | 660.00 |
| Driver Training | 790.33 |
| Misc | 17.36 |
| Search Training | 945.00 |
| Team Weekend Food | 511.40 |
| Total Training | 2,848.09 |
| Uncategorised Expense | 2,785.15 |
| Utilities | |
| SSE | 4,944.44 |
| Water | 137.24 |
| Total Utilities | 5,081.68 |
| Vehicles | 5.98 |
| Bravo Juliet | 569.29 |
| Bravo Mike | 1,434.58 |
| Bravo Oscar | 1,055.43 |
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Cash Basis Friday, 19 April 2024 10:29 am GMT+01:00
Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team (CIO)
Financial Activities
April 2023 - March 2024
| TOTAL | |
|---|---|
| Bravo Romeo | 1,270.13 |
| Fuel | 5,246.82 |
| Total Vehicles | 9,582.23 |
| Total Expenditures | £26,093.44 |
| NET OPERATING INCOME | £4,937.63 |
| Other Income | |
| Asset Transfer from (WBMSRT 500652) | 1,827.87 |
| Interest Earned | 142.18 |
| Sale of Team Asset | 7,500.00 |
| Total Other Income | £9,470.05 |
| NET OTHER INCOME | £9,470.05 |
| NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | £14,407.68 |
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Cash Basis Friday, 19 April 2024 10:29 am GMT+01:00
Charity Name No (if any) Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team 1180863
Receipts and payments accounts
CC16a
| For the period from |
Period start date 01-Apr-23 |
To | Period end date 31-Mar-24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
Last year to the nearest £ |
||||
Donations |
19,307 | - | - | 19,307 | 23,312 | ||||
| Donation / transfer from Western Beacons Mountain Search and Rescue Team |
1,828 | - | - | 1,828 | 13,247 | ||||
| Refund of input VAT | 11,709 | - | - | 11,709 | - | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Interest received | 142 | - | - | 142 | 3 | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | 32,986 | - | - | 32,986 | 36,562 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
|||||||||
Sale of vehicle |
7,500 | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Sub total | 7,500 | - | |||||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
|||||||||
| 36,562 | |||||||||
Vehicles |
4,335 | - | - | 4,335 | 4,552 | ||||
| Equipment | 2,201 | 815 | - | 3,016 | 3,500 | ||||
| Insurance | 866 | - | - | 866 | 1,058 | ||||
| Base | 1,398 | - | - | 1,398 | 1,218 | ||||
| Training | 2,848 | - | - | 2,848 | 5,397 | ||||
| Fuel | 5,247 | - | - | 5,247 | 4,948 | ||||
| Utilities | 5,082 | - | - | 5,082 | 1,354 | ||||
| VAT to be reclaimed in futureperiods | 2,785 | - | - | 2,785 | 1,963 | ||||
| Other | 516 | - | - | 516 | 184 | ||||
| **Sub total ** | 25,278 | 815 | - | 26,093 | 24,174 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
|||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | |||||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
|||||||||
| 24,174 | |||||||||
| 15,208 | 12,388 | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| 31,021 | 25,133 | ||||||||
| 46,229 | 37,521 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| CCXX R1 accounts (SS) Categories B1 Cash funds |
1 Details Total cash funds Current account Deposit account |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 7,428 38,801 - 46,229 |
Restricted funds to nearest £ 5,685 - - 5,685 |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7,428 | 5,685 | - | ||
| 38,801 | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| 46,229 | 5,685 | 04/08/2024 - |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
| Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Details (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Details Details Signature |
OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name |
OK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| Date of approval | |||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
04/08/2024
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