RALPHH Chairman’s Report for the Year 2024-25
It has been a record-breaking year for the Robert Allen Life Promotion and Healthy Hearts (RALPHH) Trust as the reputation of the charity continues to grow.
A remarkable 29 defibrillators were given to the sports department of schools and to sporting clubs. Expanding from previous sports areas, RALPHH has assisted clubs in horse riding, canoeing and cricket for the first time. However, rowing continues to be the largest area of focus. The geographic reach of all of this partnership work now extends from Gateshead in the North East to Fowey, Cornwall as well from Colwyn Bay and Chester to King’s Lynn, Eastbourne and the Isle of Wight. We have also been able to enhance the support for sport for disabled people in the last year. So much of this progress has been possible thanks to the donations of pre-owned defibrillators from a major facilities management group which have then been refurbished as necessary by the charity. Therefore, there has been no need for RALPHH to make any financial grants linked to defibrillator availability in the last 12 months. A considerable over-performance against plan has also had the consequence of a sizeable rise in costs linked to travel, but Trustees are fully aware of the position and the reduction in assets was at least in-part anticipated at the start of the financial year.
The year also saw a doubling in the cardiac testing schemes sponsored by RALPHH. The testing programme run through British Rowing attracted RALPHH support for a third consecutive year, whilst a new programme linked to a collection of schools in the Windsor area happened in January.
The on-line information contained on the RALPHH website has again been accessed by many people and was confirmed as being just as relevant and important by a cardiac specialist, as had been the case when first written in 2020. We welcome the reinforcement of the relevance of this material by professional cardiologists.
The investment made in the previous year in improving our on-line presentation has led to increased popularity, ably supported by improvements in the use of social media.
In 2024-25 both Andrew Beard and Susmita Brockhizen stepped down as trustees. It is questionable whether RALPHH could have become as properly established at its instigation without Andrew’s welcome guidance. We wish him and Susy well in the future. Joining the Board have been Edmund Green and Connor Rawlins, both of whom having made an immediate impact in the cause of the charity.
A key challenge in the year ahead will be to increase fund-raising, after several years of grants and expenditure exceeding income. Most of this was pre-planned by the Trustees but fund-raising must assume a much higher priority, whilst continuing to build defibrillator numbers and adequately supporting the other objectives of the charity.
RALPHH has ongoing benefit from the extensive volunteer efforts made. As a charity we continue to work exclusively by drawing upon the efforts of concerned people and organisations who, whilst very keen that people of all ages and abilities have access to exerting sport, do so in a manner which includes the appropriate care for their safety and well-being.
26[th] June 2025
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