2025-03-31-accounts - Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team

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Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team

Annual Report for year 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025

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 Miss Kate Murray Secretary Mr Nicholas McAllister Treasurer Mr Mark Lewis 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 55 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, water and technical 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 37 incidents. The Team callouts involved providing assistance to both South Wales and Dyfed Powys Police Forces and the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust (WAST) in conducting searches for missing, vulnerable, and rescuing injured and lost persons. 24% of the calls were for casualties with lower leg injuries. 15% 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 WAST 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 Search and Rescue Dog Association South Wales 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 March 2025 training weekend consisted of a residential multi-day joint training exercise with Royal Air Force (RAF) Valley Mountain Rescue Service and South Wales Police. This provided a great opportunity for shared learning and interagency operational training.

During this year we recruited and trained 13 new members. 3 withdrew, 6 have successfully completed their training and are now on the call out list with a further 4 finalising their training and are expected to pass assessment and be added to the call out list in the near future.

Specialist training outlined below has also been undertaken in addition to our routine weekly and monthly Team training. During this period:

Medical:

2 members were successful in recertifying on the Remote Rescue Medical Technician (RRMT) course.
1 member attended the pre-hospital trauma life support course.
4 members successfully completed the iBLS course

Search:

4 members attended the Search managers SML level 1 course

1 member attended the Search managers SML level 2 course

Water:

3 members attended level 2 Mod course

1 member attended Mod 2 instructor recertification course
1 member attended SRTA (Advanced) course.

Finance

The biggest expenditure remains with the running of our vehicles of £8,752.34

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 are maintained and serviced by South Wales Police (SWP), we would like to thank SWP for their support and work keeping the vehicles on the road. The Trustees on advice and formal request from the Operations Group via the Team Leader have approved in principle the procurement of a second 4x4

Team vehicle to support operational delivery of our Constitutional objectives once relevant funds to purchase this item have been raised.

Income remains low with a running loss of £411.25. The legacy impact of the pandemic continues to have a lasting negative impact on funding combined with the ongoing 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, primarily due to large scale “one off” events such as being nominated by the organisers of 10 Y FAN as their charity of the Year, which we have started to receive funds for and WBMRT’s 60[th] Anniversary raffle. Whilst we have funds to run the day-to-day activities of the team, large investments such as buying a replacement 4X4 vehicle, long term refurbishment or relocation of our Base HQs and specialised equipment replacement are more uncertain.

Safeguarding

We are working towards safer recruiting and vetting procedures within WBMRT.

Acknowledgments

1 member received the Mountain Rescue England and Wales (MREW) Distinguished Service Award

1 member became a National Flood Rescue Tactical Advisor with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).

DESIGNATED FUNDS

We are grateful for calling authorities contributing towards our Team vehicles fuel costs, which enabled us to reclaim £2,454.03.

Related Party Transactions

Payments to Trustees – There were no payments to Trustees during this reporting period.

INDEPEDENT EXAMINERS REPORT

The accounts have been subjected to an independent examination by Ms Laura Bowen FMAAT, and her report will be submitted to the Charities Commission with the accounts following their approval by the Trustees and ratification by WBMRT members 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 the 16[th] May 2025 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.

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl mombers of Westem Beacons Mountain Rescue Team On accounts for the year ended 31$1 March 2025 Charity no lif anyl 1180863 Set out on pages 3&4 I report to Ihe trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity 1.the Trust.) for the year ended Responsibilltles and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordan with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 rthe Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out undèr section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515)Ib) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have Gom8 to my attention (other than that disclosed below ') in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examiner's statement I have no concerns and have Gome across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable proper understanding ofthe accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Sbgned: Date: 19" April 2025 Name: Laura Bowen - Lilywhite Accountancy Relevant professional qualification{s) or body (if any}: FMAAT Addross: 33 Cysgod y Gors Gorslas, Llanelli Carmarthenshire SA14 7NW IER October 2018

Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of conrn (see CC32, Independent examination of ¢harity a¢¢ounts.' directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief detall8 of any itams that the examiner wishes to disclos8. IER October 2018

CHARITY COMMIS510N FOR ENGIAND ANO WALES We5tèm Boacons Mountain R8scue T•am 1180883 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the yrlod from To ri12024 31st March 2025 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestrlcted lunds tho nojrgit Restrlcted funds Endowm•nt funds Total fund8 Last y¢ar to tho noamt £ to tho nearn•l£ tot n•are•t A1 Recei Donations Oonaiion l Tr&n&ltr frrm Weslem Baaccn8 Mountain Sewrth Rescuè Team Fundraising InrAim Interest r8cthwY Serviceb miie8ge reclaim Rofund ol I IVAY 15.1Q6 15,108 19,307 1,828 .026 S76 2,823 676 142 11.70# Sub tot•l(Gross income AR) 26,231 92,986 28,231 A2 A88et and Inv••tm•nt •ale8, 189? tablo1. Sale ol vahlcle 7,$00 Sub total 7,800 rot•l recelpt$ 26,231 26,231 40.486 A3Pa ments 6,298 Z,77J 17 2.Z21 5,209 2,454 598 3,171 S.097 26,642 4.336 3,016 866 1,398 2,B4B 0,247 5,082 2,785 $18 26.093 Equipment Insura Base Tr8inin9 F1 2,173 17 2.221 2,4S4 VAT 10 be re¢11itt*d In luluw periods Other 3,171 5,097 26,N2 Sub total 600 A4 A886t and investment urcha808, Bee table Sub total 26.042 600 26,642 26,093 Net of receipts/{payments) A5 Transfers botween funds A6 Cash funds last yèar end Cash funds thls year end 189 600 411 14,593 46.229 46,418 5,685 5.086 51,914 61,503 37,521 51.914 CCXX R1 accounts ISSI 07105r2025

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories 81 Cash funds 82 Other monetary assets 83 Investment assets 84 Assets retained for the charity's own use 85 Liabilities Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees	Details Current Account Deposit Accout *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details	Details Current Account Deposit Accout *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details	Unrestricted funds to nearest£ 7,041 39,377 . 46,418 01 Unrestricted funds to nearest£ Fund to which asset belom1s Fund to which b I asset e onas	Restricted funds to nearest£ 5,085 . . 5,085 OK Restricted funds to nearest£ Cost (optional)	Endowment funds to nearest£ Endowment funds to nearest£ Current value (optional) ~~.~~ ~~.~~ ~~.~~ . ~~.~~ Current value (optional)





	Details





	Details
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					Dateof a roval
					19th A ril 2025 20/5/25

Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

t t

07/05/2025

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories 81 Cash funds 82 Other monetary assets 83 Investment assets 84 Assets retained for the charity's own use 85 Liabilities Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees	Details Current Account Deposit Accout *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details	Details Current Account Deposit Accout *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details	Unrestricted funds to nearest£ 7,041 39,377 . 46,418 01 Unrestricted funds to nearest£ Fund to which asset belom1s Fund to which b I asset e onas	Restricted funds to nearest£ 5,085 . . 5,085 OK Restricted funds to nearest£ Cost (optional)	Endowment funds to nearest£ Endowment funds to nearest£ Current value (optional) ~~.~~ ~~.~~ ~~.~~ . ~~.~~ Current value (optional)





	Details





	Details
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					.
					.
	Details Signature {/{Jr�,•�J				When due (optional)






					Dateof a roval
					19th A ril 2025 20/5/25

Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

t t

07/05/2025