West Cornwall Search & Rescue Team
Charitable Incorporated Organisation, No: 1184377
Trustees’ Annual Report & Statement of Financial Activity for the Year Ended 31[st] July 2024
Trustees
Andy Brelsford Ruth Fox-Rockley Christian Jennings Rebecca Swan
Small Charity Support: Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements
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Trustees’ Annual Report
& Statement of Financial Activity
for the Year Ended 31[st] July 2024
Contents
| Contents | Contents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reference and Administration Details .......................................................... 3 | |
| 1.1 | Charity Name & Registration ............................................................................ 3 | |
| 1.2 | Charity’s Address ............................................................................................... 3 | |
| 1.3 | Names of the Trustees Who Manage the Charity ............................................. 3 | |
| 1.4 | Names of Advisors & Senior Members of Staff ................................................. 3 | |
| 1.5 | Bank ................................................................................................................... 3 | |
| 2 | Structure, Governance & Management ........................................................ 4 | |
| 2.1 | Type of Governing Document ........................................................................... 4 | |
| 2.2 | Charitable Objects ............................................................................................. 4 | |
| 2.3 | Trustee Selection Methods ............................................................................... 4 | |
| 3 | Activities ..................................................................................................... 5 | |
| 3.1 | Statutory Declaration ........................................................................................ 5 | |
| 4 | Achievements & Performance ..................................................................... 5 | |
| 4.1 | Outputs and Outcomes for the Charity’s Beneficiaries .................................... 5 | |
| 4.2 | How the Public Have Benefitted. ...................................................................... 6 | |
| 4.3 | Contributing to Activities Run by Other Organisations ..................................... 6 | |
| 4.4 | Trustee Development........................................................................................ 6 | |
| 5 | Financial Review .......................................................................................... 6 | |
| 5.1 | Details of Any Funds Materially in Deficit ......................................................... 8 | |
| 5.2 | Policy on Reserves ............................................................................................. 8 | |
| 5.3 | Principal Sources of Funding and Outgoings ..................................................... 8 | |
| 5.4 | Remuneration of Trustees ................................................................................ 8 | |
| 5.5 | Financial Status ................................................................................................. 8 | |
| 5.6 | Statutory Statements on Liabilities ................................................................... 8 |
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Trustees Annual Report & Statement of Financial Activity
for the Year Ended 31[st] July 2024
1 Reference and Administration Details
1.1 Charity Name & Registration
The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registration no: 1184377, registered with the Charity Commission on 11[th] July 2019.
The charity is registered with HM Revenue & Customs
1.2 Charity’s Address
Unit 10, United Downs Industrial Estate, United Downs, St Day. TR16 5HY e-mail: info@westcornwallsar.co.uk
website: www.westcornwallsar.co.uk
1.3 Names of the Trustees Who Manage the Charity
| Role | Appointed | Resigned | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andy Brelsford | Chair | July 2019 | |
| Ruth Fox-Rockley | March 2020 | ||
| Christian Jennings | Secretary | July 2019 | |
| Rebecca Swan | Treasurer | July 2019 | |
| Matthew Owen | 7thFebruary 2024 |
1.4 Names of Advisors & Senior Members of Staff
None
1.5 Bank
Lloyds Bank, 7 Boscawen Street, Truro, Cornwall. TR1 2QT
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2 Structure, Governance & Management
2.1 Type of Governing Document
Constitution – based on the Charity Commission’s ‘Association’ model governing document.
2.2 Charitable Objects
As defined in West Cornwall Search & Rescue Team’s Constitution (Governing Document):
The charity’s objects (“objects”) are:
To preserve and protect life and in particular to provide and maintain an emergency rescue service for the benefit of the public:
-
a) By provision of a dedicated and trained volunteer service to assist and support the emergency services in the operation of search and rescue in West Cornwall;
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b) By provision of a back-up service to other search and rescue groups across the United Kingdom if called upon and able to do so; and
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c) By provision of advice and guidance where requested to enable residents of, and visitors to, the County of Cornwall to access and enjoy the natural environment in safety
2.3 Trustee Selection Methods
There must be at least four charity trustees. The maximum number of trustees is nine.
In accordance with the Constitution, Trustees are appointed or re-appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened annual general meeting of the charity members.
In appointing Trustees due consideration is given to ensuring that the Trustees have, between them, the skills and experience necessary to manage the charity effectively and in accordance with charity law.
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3 Activities
3.1 Statutory Declaration
The Trustees of West Cornwall Search & Rescue Team confirm that they have paid due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
4 Achievements & Performance
4.1 Outputs and Outcomes for the Charity’s Beneficiaries
This year we were called out 26 times – 18 by Devon & Cornwall Police & 8 by other agencies (inc 1 from SWAST). We searched for 18 individuals. We had an average total of 35 active call-out members with an average attendance at callouts of 15.
We have a Welfare Officer to look after the welfare of our members, given the nature of the work they undertake. 6 members made use of this support service in the period in question.
We have set ourselves a strategic goal of having kit of a high specification for search and rescue purposes, maintained to the highest standards in order to give us a flexible range of options in securing the best outcome for the missing person. Our Equipment Officer, supported by the wider Ops Team, is responsible for ensuring this goal is met. We are pleased to report that there have been no instances of equipment failure to report for the year in question.
Likewise, we maintain a technical rescue capability, headed by a dedicated officer and utilising industry-standard rope rescue equipment and techniques (compatible with our local Fire & Rescue Service). This also includes a water capability which is increasingly important given the impacts of climate change on our weather and we are able to operate in flood and extreme weather conditions.
We own and operate two vehicles, looked after and maintained by our Vehicles Officer, to ensure we can provide a swift response to any incidents. Both vehicles are registered ambulances – one with one-road capability and one which is predominantly used for incident control purposes. Both vehicles are regularly serviced and maintained and only suitably trained drivers are authorised behind the wheel. The vehicles have done 15,672 and 61,677 miles respectively.
We maintain a base in West Cornwall where we store our kit and vehicles and which we use as a venue for training and social activities. A Base Officer is tasked with ensuring the base complies with relevant health and safety and fire safety legislation, assessments have been carried out and all electrical equipment is covered by in-date PAT testing. This year we built a new drying room to allow us to properly dry wet kit and bring it quickly into useable state.
All of our members attend regular (weekly) training. Attendance at training is monitored and skills are tested by assessment. Our Training Officer is responsible for designing a suitable programme of learning, working with other Ops colleagues, so that all members have the opportunity to regularly refresh their skills. Average training attendance is around 18 people.
We also have a Medical Officer who ensures that the level of medical skill within the team is appropriate for the nature of our workload. All members have basic life support and enhanced first aid skills. 7 members have the highest level of ‘Casualty Care’ (overseen by Mountain Rescue (England & Wales)) and we have 4 HCP (Health Care Professionals) on the team, We do not carry any controlled drugs.
We have one active search dog, graded through Mountain Rescue Search Dogs (England) who attended 12 callouts in the period in question.
A full review of health and safety has been carried out in line with our policy and a risk assessment has been shared with all members. There have been no H&S incidents and no near misses in the 12 months covered in this report. The Team Leader has operational responsibility for day-to-day health & safety.
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We have also fully reviewed our Data Security and Protection policy and are satisfied that we are fully compliant with the requirements of the GDPR. Our Team Leader is also our Data Security Officer for the purposes of reporting. There have been no data security incidents in the period covered by this report.
We have a comprehensive Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults policy and have appointed 2 Designated Safeguarding Officers. Our Chair of Trustees takes the strategic lead for Safeguarding. There have been no referrals to a DSO in the period covered by the report.
4.2 How the Public Have Benefitted.
The public have benefitted from our activities, mostly without realising, by being able to go about their lives secure in the knowledge that if they get into difficulty, there will be someone there to call upon for assistance.
The families of the 15 people we have searched for / rescued have particular reason to be grateful for our voluntary service and some show their gratitude in the form of donations or fundraising activities although in common with all voluntary search and rescue activities in the UK, our services are provided free of charge to the users.
We are involved in various community events to provide rescue cover or demonstrations and talks about safety in the outdoors as part of our Marketing and Fundraising programme although the ongoing cost of living crisis has once again impacted fundraising during 2023/24.
4.3 Contributing to Activities Run by Other Organisations
West Cornwall Search and Rescue Team is a member of Mountain Rescue (England & Wales) and Peninsula Mountain and Cave Rescue Association. These two bodies give us access to forums sharing resources and good practice, allowing us to ensure we meet the same standards as teams in other parts of the county. This means the people of West Cornwall can be confident of receiving the highest possible care and attention in the event they find themselves needing our services. It also gives other teams and statutory services such as the Police, Fire & Rescue, Ambulance Service and Coastguard, the confidence to work alongside us.
We are also members of the British Cave Rescue Council as members, allowing us access to peer support in the field of underground rescue.
As a consequence of our geographical location, we have only one neighbouring team – East Cornwall Search & Rescue Team and we have agreed protocols for joint response where appropriate to improve resilience in both our services.
4.4 Trustee Development
Trustees are encouraged to participate in development opportunities as and when appropriate.
Our Board includes a solicitor, an experienced emergency planning officer, a technical rescue expert, a fundraiser and will writer and a charity sector senior manager.
Whilst we each try to take responsibility for specific areas of work relevant to our skill-base, we maintain a collegiate approach to decision making.
We have drawn up, and regularly review, a set of strategies, policies and plans as follows:
Policies
Asset Management
Code of Conduct
Data Security & Protection
Governance
Health & Safety
People (inc Diversity & Equality & Whistleblowing)
Reserves & Investment
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Safeguarding Sustainability Strategies Five Year Vision Fundraising Strategic Risk Assessment Plans Fundraising Operations
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5 Financial Review
5.1 Details of Any Funds Materially in Deficit
The Charity has no funds which are materially in deficit.
5.2 Policy on Reserves
The Charity’s policy on reserves is to generate and maintain a balance which is sufficient:
-
a) to preserve the financial viability of the Charity in the event that unforeseen and/or unavoidable circumstance precipitate a short-term fall in its income;
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b) to enable the Charity, in the interests of meeting its objectives, to make capital purchases where an opportunity to secure value for money presents itself.
For these purposes the Charity will endeavour to generate and maintain reserves which represent 24 months running costs. This has been achieved during this year.
5.3 Principal Sources of Funding and Outgoings
Our principle sources of income once again came from public donations (including collecting tins) and public fundraising activities throughout the year. We generally use grant funding applications as a way of securing funds for specific equipment purchases and give talks and demonstrations which normally elicit donations to our costs.
Our principle sources of outgoings are in maintaining and running our two vehicles and in constantly updating our kit – team members clothing, first aid supplies, technical rescue equipment and external training courses being the main items of expenditure.
We also reimburse out-of-pocket expenses for officers and members needing to attend regional or national courses and events.
5.4 Remuneration of Trustees
All Trustees act in a voluntary capacity and receive no remuneration or other material benefits from their services to the Charity. Out-of-pocket expenses necessarily and reasonably incurred by Trustees in promoting the purposes of the Charity are reimbursed at cost.
5.5 Financial Status
Though modest, West Cornwall Search & Rescue Team’s current resources from unrestricted donations are more than sufficient to meet its outgoings for at least next year. All the indications are that this will remain the case for the foreseeable future.
5.6 Statutory Statements on Liabilities
The Trustees declare that:
-
✓ The charity has given no guarantees where potential liability under the guarantee is outstanding at the date of this statement ( eg: any outstanding/ongoing contract or legal undertaking to buy or provide specific services);
-
✓ The charity has no debt outstanding at the date of this statement which is owed by the CIO and which is secured by an express charge on any assets of the CIO ( eg: a mortgage on property owned by the charity);
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf,
A Brelsford
Andy Brelsford – Chair Name (& role, if applicable)
Date: 18[th] October 2024
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West Cornwall Search & Rescue Team Charity No 1184377 Receipts and Payments Accounts 31st July 2024
West Cornwall Search & Rescue Team Administrative Details Charity name West Cornwall Search & Rescue Team Charity reglstration number Charity No 1184377 Trustees Rebecca Swan Andrew Brelsford Christian Jennings Ruth Fox-Rockley Independent Examin•r Whffield Limitèd Ground Floor, Building A Green Court Truro Business Park Threomilestone TR4 9LF
West Cornwall Search & Rescue Team Gharity No 1184377 Independent Examlnerfs Report I report to the tfuslee5 on my examlnalion ofihe attounls of Ihe above charity I'lhe Trust'i ror Ihe ar ended 3110712024. Rèsponslbllltlgs and bas18 of report As the charitytW51eÈ& of the Trust, you ètÈ responsible foi the preparation ol the accoun15 in accordance vAlh requirements ol Ihe Charilies Act 20111.lhe Aci'l. I rÈport respect of rnyexaminallon ol the Tru51's accounts carried out undÈr$eclion 145 of Il* 2011 Acland in oarrying out my examin81ion, I have followed th8 applicable Direcuons given by Ihe Charily Commission underseclion 14515llbl of the Ad Independent Examln8r8' Statement I have tom ele{l my examinalion. l conlitm that no materi81 mallet5 have me to my altenlion In cOnneC0M1h Ihe ex8mlnalion which gives me cau88 to believe that In, any m8lerial respect.. 1. accounting record5 were nol kepl in accordancè ryth section 130 of the Ad OT 2. the accounts do not accord Vhlh the accounling record8 I have no coneerns and have Come 8uo8s no olher mallers in connection Ih8 examination to vthlch alienlion Should be drawn In orderlo enable a proper understanding of lh& accounts lo be reached. SbJrEd.. Dats.. Name.. Relevanl professqon81 quallfic81ionl51 or body lif any).. Address". Whyfield Umiled Ground Floor, Building A Green Court Truro Business Park Thfeemll&8tone Truro Cornwèll TR4 9LF
West Cornwall Soarch & Rescu& Team Charily No 118d377 Rec6lpt$ and paymer7ts accounts Sectlon A- Re¢elpts and payments Unr88trScted fund$ Restrleted funds Total Fund5 Prior year A1." R8c8ipIs Incom6 14,119.00 14,119.CK) 16,819.90 Sub Totsl 14.119.00 14,119.00 16,819.90 A2.. Assef 3nd inveslm&nl s81gS Asset 8nd investment sales Sub Total Total Reeelpts 14,119.00 14,119.00 16,819. A3.. Paym8nls Cost ol charilatAe activites 9,613.40 9,613.40 15,465.58 Sub Total 9,613.40 9,613.40 15.465.58 A3. Assgl and inve8lmenlpurch8s8S Asset and invesfrnent purchases Sub Tot81 Total Payment5 9.613.40 9.613.40 15,465.58 N8t of receiptsllpaymenlsl AS Transfers beeen funds A6 Cash funds last year end 4,505.60 4,505.60 1,354.32 17,254.40 17,254.40 15,900.08 Cash Funds this year end 21,760.00 21.760.00 17,254.40
West Cornwall Search & Rescue Team Charity No 1184377 Statment of Assets & Llabilites Unreslricled funds Reslri¢ted funds B l.. Cash funds Bank account Savings account 20,721 25,421 Total e2sh lundg 46,142 B2.. Other nnetary assels VAT Debtor Stod 167 1,100 1,267 Fund lo which asset belongs Cost B4." Ass81s relain8d for th8 charity's own use Equipment Building Motor Vehicles 16,716 150,000 21,000 187,716 Signed by one or two trustees on beh81f of all the Iruslees Signature 1.. RÈbottak¥aiilNov42014 11-.S6GhlTI Print name.. Rebecca Swan Signature 2.. Print name..