Charity Registration Number: 1186548
Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire (1186548) Trustees Annual Report August 2024-July 2025
1. Objectives and Activities
Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire exists to provide specialist search and rescue support to Thames Valley Police, local authorities, and partner emergency services. Our charitable purpose is the preservation of life through the deployment of trained volunteers, specialist search teams, and technical resources to locate vulnerable missing persons across Oxfordshire and surrounding counties.
To achieve this, we:
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Maintain a fully trained, on-call volunteer search team available 24/7
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Provide specialist capabilities including search management, foot teams, water search, drone operations, medical support, and technical search equipment
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Deliver training programmes to ensure operational readiness and safety
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Work collaboratively with police, other emergency services, and other Lowland Rescue teams
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Engage with the community to promote safety, awareness, and volunteer recruitment
All activities are undertaken to advance public safety and wellbeing, in line with our charitable objectives.
2. Public Benefit Statement
The trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire provides a free, life-saving emergency service to the public. Our work directly benefits vulnerable individuals who are missing or at risk, as well as their families, the wider community, and statutory emergency services. The service is delivered entirely by trained volunteers and funded through donations, grants, and community support.
Charity Registration Number: 1186548
3. Achievements and Performance (2025)
2025 was a year of significant operational activity and organisational development. Key achievements include:
Operational Response
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Responded to 60 callouts for the emergency services
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Deployed 944 volunteer hours on live incidents
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Supported neighbouring Lowland Rescue teams on cross-border searches
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Expanded our operational capability with additional drone pilots and search technicians
Training and Skills Development
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Delivered weekly training sessions covering a range of areas including navigation, search skills, first aid, casualty care, water safety, and search management
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Qualified a new intake of operational search technicians
Equipment and Infrastructure
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Acquired new and replacement search equipment including a new drone, helmets and other PPE
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Upgraded our vehicles to improve on-scene coordination including a new router
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Improved digital systems for callout management with the implementation of a new mapping system.
Community Engagement
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Delivered talks, demonstrations, and raised awareness at local events
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Strengthened partnerships with local councils and the emergency services
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Increased public awareness of our work through social media and outreach
4. Financial Review
Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire remains financially stable due to careful management and strong community support.
Income
Income was generated through:
- Public donations
Charity Registration Number: 1186548
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Local authority and community grants
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• Fundraising events
Expenditure
Expenditure focused on:
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Operational equipment and maintenance
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Training and accreditation costs
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Vehicle running costs
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Insurance and compliance
The charity holds reserves in line with its financial management policy (1.5 times annual running costs) to ensure continuity of service and the ability to respond to unexpected operational needs.
5. Structure, Governance, and Management
Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire is a registered charity governed by a board of trustees who oversee strategy, compliance, safeguarding, and financial stewardship.
Key governance points:
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Trustees meet regularly to review operations, risk, and financial performance
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All operational members are volunteers and receive no remuneration
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A full range of policies exist in the organisation and are regularly reviewed
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The charity maintains full compliance with Lowland Rescue national standards and works closely with Thames Valley Police under an existing Memorandum of Understanding
6. Risk Management
The trustees maintain a risk register covering operational, financial, and governance risks. Key mitigations include:
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Mandatory training and competency assessments
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Regular equipment checks and maintenance
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Insurance coverage appropriate to operational activities
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• Financial controls and dual-authorisation processes
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Safeguarding and data-protection policies
Charity Registration Number: 1186548
7. Plans for the Future (2026 and beyond)
Looking ahead, Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire aims to:
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Expand operational capacity with additional trained volunteers
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Invest in new technology to enhance search effectiveness
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Strengthen partnerships with emergency services and local authorities
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Improve training facilities and storage infrastructure
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Increase community engagement and fundraising resilience
Our focus remains on delivering a professional, reliable, and compassionate service to the people of Oxfordshire.
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Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire 1186548
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period 01/08/2024 31/07/2025
To
from
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Donations 20,746 - - 20,746 22,720
Grants 500 16,625 - 17,125 31,288
Payments 8,239 - - 8,239 7,560
Investment 1,203 135 - 1,338 1,059
Fundraising Events 4,258 - 4,258
Mantime 7,900 - 7,900 6,075
VAT recovered via VAT126 6,112 - - 6,112 5,282
- - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for AR) 48,958.00 16,760 - 65,718 73,984
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see
table).
Sale of assets - - - 200
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - 200
Total receipts 48,958 16,760 - 65,718 74,184
A3 Payments
Subscriptions 2,245 1,120 - 3,365 3,402
Insurance 7,085 4,242 - 11,327 11,442
Vehicles and Storage 1,410 335 - 1,745 1,769
Repairs 4,502 3,254 - 7,756 3,580
Fundraising 1,412 - - 1,412 40
Consumables and Other 7,695 2,517 - 10,212 9,573
Training 2,843 3,495 - 6,338 8,900
VAT on expenditures 6,719 - - 6,719 5,508
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total [ 33,911 ] 14,963 - 48,874 44,214
A4 Asset and investment purchases,
(see table)
Equipment purchase 13,375 2,355 - 15,730 9,752
- - - - -
Sub total [ 13,375 ] 2,355 - 15,730 9,752
Total payments 47,286 17,318 - 64,604 53,966
Net of receipts/(payments) 1,672 - 558 - 1,114 20,218
A5 Transfers between funds - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 56,570 11,449 - 68,019 -
Cash funds this year end 58,242 10,891 - 69,133 20,218
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CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
02/03/2026
1
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Categories Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 12,454 - - 10,891 4,152 - 1 - 40,855 - 780 - - - 58,242 10,891 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 1,558 - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Restricted - Restricted - Restricted - Various Search & Rescue assets Unrestricted - Restricted - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees Print Name Signature Details Toyota Hilux Water Incident Vehicle Various Search & Rescue assets Current Account Restricted Funds Account Cash B1 Cash funds Paypal Account Term Deposit Account Ringfenced Funds Account Strategic Reserve Account B2 Other monetary assets Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) VAT refund owed by HMRC B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Details B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets Details Details Ford Transit Incident Control Vehicle Ford Transiit Custom Incident Support Vehicle CCXX R2 accounts (SS) 2 David Woodgate |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Categories Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 12,454 - - 10,891 4,152 - 1 - 40,855 - 780 - - - 58,242 10,891 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 1,558 - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Restricted - Restricted - Restricted - Various Search & Rescue assets Unrestricted - Restricted - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees Print Name Signature Details Toyota Hilux Water Incident Vehicle Various Search & Rescue assets Current Account Restricted Funds Account Cash B1 Cash funds Paypal Account Term Deposit Account Ringfenced Funds Account Strategic Reserve Account B2 Other monetary assets Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) VAT refund owed by HMRC B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Details B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets Details Details Ford Transit Incident Control Vehicle Ford Transiit Custom Incident Support Vehicle CCXX R2 accounts (SS) 2 David Woodgate |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Categories Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 12,454 - - 10,891 4,152 - 1 - 40,855 - 780 - - - 58,242 10,891 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 1,558 - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Restricted - Restricted - Restricted - Various Search & Rescue assets Unrestricted - Restricted - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees Print Name Signature Details Toyota Hilux Water Incident Vehicle Various Search & Rescue assets Current Account Restricted Funds Account Cash B1 Cash funds Paypal Account Term Deposit Account Ringfenced Funds Account Strategic Reserve Account B2 Other monetary assets Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) VAT refund owed by HMRC B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Details B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets Details Details Ford Transit Incident Control Vehicle Ford Transiit Custom Incident Support Vehicle CCXX R2 accounts (SS) 2 David Woodgate |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Categories Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 12,454 - - 10,891 4,152 - 1 - 40,855 - 780 - - - 58,242 10,891 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 1,558 - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Restricted - Restricted - Restricted - Various Search & Rescue assets Unrestricted - Restricted - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees Print Name Signature Details Toyota Hilux Water Incident Vehicle Various Search & Rescue assets Current Account Restricted Funds Account Cash B1 Cash funds Paypal Account Term Deposit Account Ringfenced Funds Account Strategic Reserve Account B2 Other monetary assets Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) VAT refund owed by HMRC B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Details B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets Details Details Ford Transit Incident Control Vehicle Ford Transiit Custom Incident Support Vehicle CCXX R2 accounts (SS) 2 David Woodgate |
Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - - - - OK Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - When due (optional) Date of approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various Search & Rescue assets Signature Details Toyota Hilux Water Incident Vehicle Various Search & Rescue assets Current Account Restricted Funds Account Cash Paypal Account Term Deposit Account Ringfenced Funds Account Strategic Reserve Account Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) VAT refund owed by HMRC Details Details Details Ford Transit Incident Control Vehicle Ford Transiit Custom Incident Support Vehicle 2 |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 12,454 - - 10,891 4,152 - 1 - 40,855 - 780 - - - 58,242 10,891 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 1,558 - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Restricted - Restricted - Restricted - Unrestricted - Restricted - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - Print Name David Woodgate |
Restricted funds to nearest £ - 10,891 - - - - - 10,891 OK Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Amount due (optional) - - - - Name |
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| 10 May 2026 | ||||
| 02/03/2026 |
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report 'Il!I,,:Ili on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of, Lowland,Rescue O,xfordshire On accounts, for,the year ended 31 July 2025 Charity no (if any) 1186548 ;Illdl, Set out on pages 'Llmberg of a itio styo, )' I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above: charity ("the Trust") for the year ended 31107 12024. Responsibilities and As the charity trustees, you are responsible fok the preparation of the basis of report accountg, in accordance with the Charities Ad,2011 ("the Act"). I report in respèct;of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section:145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section;145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ") in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect,: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 Ai of the Act; or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records" or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 oth:er than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the.accounts to be reached, Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: II Icig/lG Name: Beverly Judd Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Chartered Accountant (ACCA) Address: 47 Besselsleigh Road Wootton, Abingdon OX13 6DW IER October 2018
Section B Dlsclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER ,'Il October 2018