**Trustees' Annual Report for the period** Period start date Period end date 01 January 2025 31 December 2025 ## Section A: Reference and administration details **Branch Name** Armourers Branch 1366 **Other names / number Branch is known by** 1366 **Registered charity number (if any)** 1186859 **Branch's principal address** Leslie Lloyd The Secretary Royal Air Forces Association Armourers Branch 1366 33 Bedford Terrace, Billingham **Postcode TS23 4AE** **Names of the Branch charity trustees who manage the charity (generally known as the Branch Committee) (Please include all trustees for the Branch including custodian trustees in relation to branch property)** _**(Note: Details required are for the period 1 Jan – 31 Dec 25 only)**_ |1
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12|**Trustee name**|**Office(if any)**|**Dates acted if not for wholeyear**| |---|---|---|---| ||Martin Turner|Chairman|Inaugural AGM 2015| ||Leslie Lloyd|DepChairman|23 March 2024| ||Leslie Lloyd|Secretary|5 March 2022| ||Paul Mather|DepSecretary|Start Date 25 Feb 2023| ||Colin Dillan-Davies|Treasurer|20 March 2020| ||Lawrence Humphreys|DepTreasurer|5 March 2022| ||GaryMitchell|DepWelfare Officer|End Date AGM 2026| ||Chris Middleton|Standard Bearer|AGM 2016| ||Duncan Charles|MembershipSecretary|Start 7 Aug2023| ||Paul Hodgson|Social Media and Comms|Start Date 11 Oct 2024| ||Jim Gardiner|Welfare Officer|Start Date 23 Mar 2024| ||Lionel Spooner(Coopted)|Branch Events Officer|4 Nov 2025| Section B: Structure, governance and management ## **Description of the branch’s trusts** Royal Charter, Rules, Byelaws, Area and Branch Regulations of the Royal Type of governing document Air Forces Association. (e.g. trust deed, constitution) Unincorporated association How the Branch charity is constituted (e.g. trust, association, company) Trustees are elected by the branch membership. In addition, Trustees are Trustee selection methods appointed for either 1, 2 or 3 years by the membership at an AGM held (e.g. appointed by, elected by) between 1st January and the 31st of March. ## **Additional governance issues (Optional information)** |You may choose to
include additional
information, where
relevant, about:
Policies and
procedures adopted for
the induction and
training of trustees;
The branch’s
organisational structure
and any wider network
with which the charity
works.
Relationship with any
related parties
(including branch club).
Trustees’ consideration
of major risks and the
system and procedures
to manage them.|The Charity’s Organisational Structure| |---|---| ||The charity is a branch of the Royal Air Forces Association which is a Royal
Charter body and registered as a charity in England and Wales under number
226686 and in Scotland under SC037673 (“the Association”). The Association has
many branches all of which share the same charitable object as the Association
and are subject to the same constitution.| ||Trustee Induction & Training_(Please insert any induction training_
_or training courses completed by Trustees)_| ||As directed by the Royal Air Forces Association.| ||Related Party Relationships_(e.g. Club if operated)_| ||**Related party relationships – club (if operated) – N/A Armourers Branch do**
**not operate a club.**| ||Risk Management_(include details of any Risk Management_
_documents held)_| ||As directed by the Royal Air Forces Association.| ## Section C: Objectives and Activities Summary of the To promote, through the comradeship engendered by its members, the welfare by objects of the charitable means of all serving and former members of Her Majesty’s Air Forces, their branch set out in spouses and dependents, together with the widows and widowers and dependents of its governing those who died whilst serving or subsequently. document ## Section D: Achievements and performance in 2024 Summary of the Chair Report main > achievements of The Armourers Branch continues to actively engage in the Governance via > the branch the RAF Associations Governance Documentation which is underpinned by during the year the Charity Commission. The Armourers Branch carries out the following activities for its Members, Beneficiaries and the wider public: - Provide Qualified Welfare assistance and advice to all Beneficiaries. - Provide Funeral support offering Branch Standard, wreath, card and funeral details advertising where requested. - Provide Comfort Pack to beneficiaries who have periods of hospitalisation and illness. - Fundraising through Association Public and Armourer Branch events. - Presents the Branch Standard for Ceremonial events where requested. ## **Achievements for this committee year are as follows: Awards:** ## **Annual Conference Awards 2025** Sir Thomas Pike Trophy for Fundraising Sir John Baker Trophy for Best Branch Communications **Area Conference Awards for 2025** Area Conference Fundraising Certificate Branch Highest Wings Appeal Total Area Conference Fundraising Certificate Branch £10,000 Wings Certificate Area Conference Certificate Branch Communication Award ## **Administration:** Monthly Video Conference Meetings continue. Comprehensive minutes for each Monthly Meeting Physical Annual General Meeting 7 March 2025 Branch Newsletter – The Big Bang – 2 editions this committee year. Total of 14 editions to date Introduction of a Branch Events Coordinator in 2025 (Coopted) ## Treasurer Report ## **Finance:** Ratification of Accounts Date: 25 Feb 2026 by Chairman, Dep Chairman, Treasurer and Dep Treasurer Independent Examiner Report carried out 11 Feb 2026 by Mr Bernard Lines General Account - **£12262.89** Welfare Account – **£9976.89** Total Funds 31 Dec 2025 - **£22.239.78** Branch General account 3 Signatories and 2-person Authorisation Continues Branch Welfare account 4 signatories and 2-person Authorisation Continues ## **Total Wings Appeal raised - £25,633.70** ## **Rebates** RAFATRAD Event Support Rebate - **£11,664.66** RAFA Membership Rebate - **£3,060.40** ## **Donations** Donations Given: **£5000** to the RAF Association Wings Appeal **£3000** to the RAFA Eastbourne Accommodation Development Fund ## Branch Welfare Officer Report Summary of the main **Significant Welfare Expenditure** achievements of the branch Total expenditure on Welfare and Wellbeing inc Donations - **£14,330.02** during the year (cont) Funerals/Welfare Visits - **£3192.18** Comfort Packs - **£756.33** 70 Christmas Boxes to serving personnel on operations, total spend **£2138.51** . **Welfare:** Welfare Contacts 39 not including Comfort Packs Distributed 14 Comfort Packages to poorly Armourers Comfort Pack follow ups 14 Outreach Calls 14 From 1st January 2025 to 31st of December 2025 there were 39 welfare calls to the branch welfare officer, these requests for assistance came from both branch members and from armourers from outside of the branch. These welfare calls resulted in both signposting of individuals to both local and national organisations and further escalation to RAFA HQ for support from the regional welfare teams and any assigned local case workers. In addition, during December we conducted a branch outreach program to contact those individuals that have received a comfort pack during the 12 month period, a total of 14 individuals were contacted and all were either fully recovered or still in the slow process of recovery, there were no requests for additional support from the WO. Fundraising Report _(please insert details of the Branch Fundraising activities i.e. Wings Appeal events)_ Total Fundraising for Branch 1 Jan to 31 Dec 2025 - **£20067.18** Wings Appeal raised inc RAFTRAD 1 Jan to 31 Dec 2025: **£25,633.70** Wings Appeal The end of year figures from RAFA Wings Appeal have been received. The Branch has donated **£1834.22** to the Wings Appeal during 2025. This came from a number of sources: Members stalls in the Weymouth Area Sale of Branch logo clothing Lytham 40s weekend stall Branch donations and various other further fundraising initiatives Membership Engagement Report _(please insert details of the Branch Membership Engagement (newsletters, social media etc.)_ Membership: Total Membership Year ending 2025 is 744 New or returning Members 2025 is 92 Branch Business Card, an Armourer themed Poker Chip, is distributed to RAF Armourers past or current that are not yet Branch members at the ceremonial or funeral events that we are invited to. This has seen a welcome increase in new members plus the return of some whose membership had lapsed. We also use word of mouth and the Branch newsletter “The Big Bang” to reach out for new members. Summary of Wellbeing / Social Report _(please insert details of the Branch_ the main _Wellbeing and Social events/activities)_ achievements Branch Coffee mornings every Thursday continue. of the branch during the year Prepared and delivered 70 Christmas Boxes to serving personnel on (cont) operations, total spend **£2138.51** . AGM Dinner Wellbeing Event and Welfare Check Attended Bomber Command Reunion in Lincoln – Welfare Check and Membership Drive Attended TOSAAARS Reunion Cyprus – Welfare Check and Fundraising Commemoration Report _(please insert details of the Branch Commemoration events/activities (Remembrance, Standard Bearers Attendance at Funerals etc.)_ **Branch Funerals** 23 funerals including 4 non-Armourer (compared to 29 in 2024) 22 Wreaths for funerals. Others to Spilsby, West Raynham, Bomber Command, Cenotaph, Lytham Battle of Britain, Hangar 42 Battle of Britain, IBCC, NMA Armourers Memorial. ## **Ceremonial: The Branch Standard paraded at:** 20 Events during 2025: 1. AGM 2. RAF Foundation Service - St Clement Danes 3. Wayland Prison VE day Service 4. VE Fylde Wreath Laying 5. VE Runnymede Service 6. RAFA National Standard Dedication – St Clement Danes 7. Fylde VJ Day 8. Spilsby Wreath laying 9. West Raynham Wreath Laying 10. Westminster Abbey - Battle of Britain Service 11. Fylde Battle of Britain Wreath Laying 12. Hangar 42 Battle of Britain Wreath Laying 13. Armourers Memorial Dedication – National Memorial Arboretum 14. Branch Standard Dedication – RAF Cosford 15. Thetford RAFA Polish and Czechoslovakia Memorial 16. Wayland Prison Armistice Day 17. Lytham Railway Station Armistice Day Wreath Laying 18. Bomber County Weekend – International Bomber Command Centre – Wreath Laying 19. Bomber Command Memorial London – Wreath Laying 20. The Branch paraded 74 Armourers at the Cenotaph in London for Remembrance Day. Wreath laying included. Community Engagement Report _(please insert details of the Branch Community Engagement activities (other groups you connect with, joint events such as Veterans Breakfasts)_ Please see Wellbeing / Social Report and Commemoration Report ## Section E: Financial Review Statement on Branch Expenditure _(How has branch expenditure supported the key objectives of the branch)_ Branch funds are a mix of donations from Branch members and rebates from Membership fees or Wings Appeal rebates for Welfare fund. The Key objective for our Branch is simple. The Branch will support the Welfare need of any Beneficiary within the regulatory framework of the RAF Association and Charity Commission. Our expenditure supports this objective. Statement on Branch’s Reserve Policy ( _Branch Regulations stipulate that any Branch with total assets amounting to more than £5,000 should have a reserves policy and any Branch with assets over £10,000 should consider transferring excess funds across to the Branch Deposit Fund held at Association HQ. A template reserves policy can be found on the Branch Portal)_ The Armourer’s Branch has recognised the need for a financial reserve and has set the level at £2000. Based on future expenditure and receipts we will review this annually and adjust as necessary. The Branch finances continue to be in a healthy condition. Statement on Branch’s Investment Policy ( _Please include a statement on Branch investments and holdings and how these are managed (if applicable))_ The Armourer’s Branch does not have any investments. ## Section F: Declaration We confirm that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the branch’s trustees. > **Signature** Martin Turner (Wet signature on original) **Full Name** Martin Turner **Position (eg. Chair, Secretary)** Chairman **Date** 7 March 2026 11 p,ni Otxw Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trugtees I management committee Royal Air Forces Association Amourers Branch No 1366 On accounts for the year ended December 2025 Charity no lif any) 1186859 Independent You are responsible for the Pfeparation of the accounls in accordance wilh examiner's statement applicable legal requirements I have completed my examination of the accounts of the chanty I confim) thal no matenal matters have Gome to my attention In connection with the examination which give me cause to beI￿ve that the accounting records ￿re not suffic*nt to show and explain all Ihe Branch transactions for the year the accounts did not accord wrth Ihe accounting records. or the accounts did nol contain a sufficient record of the assels and Iiabilrties of the Branch I have no concerns and have corne across no other matters In conneclion with the examination lo which attent￿￿ should be drawn. Dat•: 1 1110212026 Signed: Name: , Mr Bemard Lines Disclosure Only complete If the examiner needs to highlight matenal matters of concem Glve hero brlef detalls of any items that tho examiner wlgh•s to di$¢l030. No Items to disclose 20210901 IER Temolate BCyC)v1