## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From 1/04/2022 To 31/03/2023**
## **Charity name: SAXON GROUP RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION INCORPORATING CARRIAGE DRIVING**
**Charity registration number: 1187766**
## **Objectives and Activities**
|||
|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Saxon Group RDA provides therapeutic horse riding and non-riding
activities for Adults and Children with physical or learning
disabilities, including all autistic spectrum disorders.
Horse riding provides opportunities for improved physical and
mental wellbeing through therapy, enjoyment, skill development
and achievement.
Saxon Group RDA specialises in riding, dressage, show jumping
and endurance activities and is completely volunteer run.|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Saxon Group RDA are based at Widbrook Equestrian Centre in
Bradford on Avon and operate riding and horsecare sessions on
one day a week. In September, we implemented a new initiative
which takes place on the second Tuesday of each month. This is
“Tea with a Pony” (TWP), which is aimed at people living with
Dementia, learning and/or physical disabilities or loneliness, and
their support or family member.
We currently own 6 equines who are trained in our activities as
listed below:
•Horse riding, including both coached individual, shared and
group lessons and therapy riding to provide physical exercise to
improve physical and mental well-being and build confidence.
•Stable management sessions to encourage participation and
knowledge of horse care.
•Horse Grooming to encourage further interaction with equines,
and build a greater rapport, understanding and confidence with
them.
•Proficiency Sessions to encourage additional learning and skill
development to support the other “hands-on” activities.
•All session are subject to a small fee in order to support the
cost of horse upkeep, including, but not limited to, livery costs,
venue hire, feed, tack, veterinary dentist, physiotherapy and
farrier care and insurances.|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|The Trustees have, at all times, taken due regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit requirement.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Policy on grant making|Not applicable|
|---|---|
|Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Not applicable|
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Saxon Group RDA is run entirely by volunteers, without whom it
would not be able to function.
Volunteers undertake a minimum of two dedicated Training Days a
year, plus continuous review, to ensure they continue to follow best
practice. Activities they are trained in include:
•Handling equines, including catching, grooming, tacking up, and
leading.
•Side-walking alongside vulnerable riders to ensure their safety.
•Assisting riders to mount and dismount.
•Assisting horse grooming and stable management sessions,
including Proficiency sessions.
•First Aid
•Safeguarding
In addition to assisting with the weekly sessions, our volunteers
also help raise awareness of the Group’s activities and are
enthusiastic in their fundraising activities.|
|Other||
## **Achievements and Performance**
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.||**Activities & Achievements: 2022-2023**
Following the uncertainty of the pandemic, the Group is fully open
to existing and new participants, and all riding and therapy
sessions have been resumed.
The increase in interest for non-riding activities (eg stable
management, grooming, proficiency and knowledge), has
continued and these sessions remain an integral part of the
activities offered by the Group. By the end of the year, we were
able to offer riding and therapy riding to a total of 30 participants,
and grooming, horse-care and stable management to an additional
9 participants. It is hoped that these numbers will continue to
increase through 2023-2024.
The Group also benefitted from a number of new volunteers, which
has allowed us to continue the sessions with either 1 to 1 or shared
coaching for all ridden and therapy sessions. This has had the
additional benefit of allowing horses and volunteers to have a brief
rest between sessions.
We are able to loan 2 additional ponies for grooming and horse-
care sessions, which enables us to maintain the number of
sessions for both children and adults. These sessions continue to
be very beneficial for participants, who have enjoyed the close
interaction with the ponies. For participants either unable to ride or
waiting for a suitable space to become available, we are also able|
|---|---|---|
to offer sessions on a small “mechanical horse” where they can carry out exercises to help maintain their fitness. In September, we implemented a new initiative, “Tea with a Pony” (TWP). We provide a safe and welcoming environment where people living with Dementia, learning and/or physical disabilities or loneliness and their support or family member, can come and watch a coaching session, groom a pony or just have a cuddle with a pony. Participants can do as much or as little as they feel comfortable with, and are then able to partake of refreshments provided before heading home. Sessions are run every 2nd Tuesday of the month from 11am to midday, and are proving increasingly popular. In the summer, the Group qualified 8 riders for the RDA Nationals at Hartpury, and they attended with 4 of our horses. In addition, for some classes, we were able to lend the horses to other RDA Groups who were unable to travel their own horses. All our 4 horses were placed in every class they were entered, with riders from both our own and the other Groups. Sadly, classes were cancelled on the final day for H&S reasons due to the unusually high temperatures. We were recommended as an active group to be part of the NHS Primary Care Network for Social Prescribing and invited to take part in a pilot for their JOY Scheme for Wiltshire. Social Prescribing enables PCNs to offer alternative treatment, in the form of volunteering or joining a group or activity as an alternative to prescribing drugs to improve mental health for individuals. Our website was up and running by the end of the year, and has proved invaluable in raising awareness of the Group and in communications with riders and other interested parties. **Fundraising** : **Grants:** Sadly, in June, we had to sell one of our horses who was no longer suitable for us, but we were fortunate to be offered a small pony almost immediately, as a replacement. We however, still required a larger horse to be able to take adult riders. Having previously ascertained the minimum number of equines required to remain in a sustainable position, the Group concentrated on raising funds to purchase another horse, which would bring the number of equines in our Group, up to 6. The Group was fortunate to obtain a National Lottery Community Fund Grant for £10,000.00 towards the purchase of another horse, and with a grant from Sporting Heritage and additional fundraising, we were able to purchase one by the end of 2022, bringing the total up to the desired 6. Grants from Wiltshire Council, RDA National Office, Mid West RDA, and a Colonel Willliam Llewellyn Grant also enabled us to purchase other greatly needed items of equipment. **Donations** We were also very fortunate to receive significant donations from a number of sources, and we would particularly like to thank the Beneficiaries of a lady who loved horses - J McLeman, E Walton, E Forryan, P Taylor, J Smith and A E White, for their generosity. We would also thank the following: Corsham Link; Warminster Bowls Club; Bradford on Avon Choral Society; Charities Aid Foundation; an anonymous donor; The Lodge of Friendship & Unity Raffle; Norton St Philip Co-op; Rotary Club of Frome; Worshipful Com Masters; K Chatman and several WI Groups for their generous donations. We also had a number of donations from volunteers and families of some of our participants.
## **Other Fundraising**
Other fundraising included a Tombola, a Bring and Buy sale in honour of a previous rider, a car boot sale, a Curry Night at the Agra restaurant in Warminster and a Tack Sale in October, all of which raised a total of £1,858.00.
## **Going Forward**
- The Group will continue to offer riding and therapy to our riders, as well as non-riding horsecare proficiency and knowledge, both practical and theory.
- We will continue to fundraise to sustain the group and support our horses, to raise awareness and generate support.
- We will continue to embrace technology to keep riders and volunteers engaged and up to date with our activities and keep everyone connected and,
- most importantly, we will continue to keep everyone safe.
- We will continue to maintain the website, to increase public awareness and help attract new volunteers participants and supporters.
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|||
|---|---|
|Achievements against
objectives set|Refer to previous commentary|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Targeted fundraising and grant applications were focussed
primarily on securing funds to purchase 2 horses. One to replace
the horse we had to sell, and another larger horse, as noted
previously. This brought the total number of equines owned by the
Group up to 6, which, due to our increased number of participants,
was reviewed and assessed as being the number necessary for
the Group to remain in a sustainable situation.
We also required funds to replace old, worn, broken equipment; to
provide a removeable ramp for wheelchair users; to carry out
modifications to existing equipment for H&S reasons; to purchase
seating for carers and family of our participants; and purchase new
equipment boxes for each horse, which are being made to our
specification, by the Bradford on Avon Men in Sheds.
At the end of this reporting period, we had received a National
Lottery Community Fund Grant, several other grants and a number
of substantial donations. This enabled the Group to purchase the
equines and to update, repair, purchase all equipment, tack etc
that had been identified during the year.|
|Investment performance
against objectives|Not applicable|
|Other|None|
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period||At the end of the accounting period, the Group remains in a
financially stable position due to the fundraising efforts, grants,
sponsorships, and donations of time or money.
The Group had been open fully for lessons, and as a result, fees
from participants (riding, therapy riding & horse care & proficiency)
were payable regularly.
In addition, the receipt of grants and several generous donations,
had enabled purchase of a new horse, and a pony, along with tack
etc, which has gone a long way to ensure the Group is in a
sustainable position going forward.|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held||The Group holds reserve funds in a Deposit Account, separate but
linked to the everyday Treasurers Account. Funds are set aside to
cover unforeseen or unavoidable events such as:
•
Emergency treatment to a sick or injured horse.
•
The equivalent of a minimum of 6 months running costs, ie
livery, feed, farrier, insurance, etc in case of a sudden and
steep drop in income, as experienced at the beginning of
Lockdown in March 2020.
•
Unexpected replacement of broken equipment, tack, rugs etc
that are necessary for the carrying out of our activities, or for
horse welfare.
•
Unexpected repairs to essential equipment, such as hoist or
trailer.|
|Amount of reserves held||The Group’s aim has been to maintain a minimum reserve of
£5,000 in the Deposit Account, and a similar amount in the
Treasurers Account, with 6 months normal running costs as a
minimum.
Balances at the end of the current reporting period are:
Deposit Account: £5,448.34
Treasurers Account: £20,984.42
The aim, going forward, is to increase the reserve funds to the
equivalent of 9-12 months running costs.|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves||Not applicable.
Refer to previous commentary.|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit||Not applicable|
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern||•
The main source of concern for the future of the Group, is
keeping horses healthy, injury free and sound. This is essential
in order to be able to conduct riding sessions.
•
Purchase costs of new horses is increasing all the time, and
with each new purchase, the fundraising has to aim higher.
Likewise, costs of tack, and equipment is increasing.
•
Livery and running costs associated with keeping horses are
also increasing. With the horses aging, greater care will be
needed to keep them in good health, and additional feeds,
specialist health visits etc, will be necessary to maintain them.
The small fee payable for riders will be reviewed annually to
offset this.
•
All horses have regular physiotherapy, dentist and farrier visits
to maintain their health and soundness, and these costs are
also increasing.
•
Insurance costs increase at every renewal.
•
Lack of volunteers is always a concern as a proportionally large
number are required to assist each individual rider. The
website and an ongoing recruitment drive continues to generate
interest and following an influx of new volunteers, numbers are
once again stabilising.|
|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|
|---|---|
|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|•
Riders fees for riding sessions, therapy riding, stable
management and proficiency sessions.
•
Donations from participants of “Tea with a Pony”
•
Fundraising activities
•
Grant applications
•
Gift Aid donations
•
Other donations|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Not applicable|
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Refer to previous commentary|
|Other||
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|**Structure, Governance**|**and Management**|
|---|---|
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|Not applicable|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|**Constitution of the Saxon Riding for the Disabled Association**
**Incorporating Carriage Driving**|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|**Saxon Group RDA is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation**
**(CIO).**|
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|**Trustees are self-nominated volunteers and voted onto**
**the committee annually by the members at the AGM.**|
**Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|||
|---|---|
|Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|**There is a trustee induction pack provided to all new**
**trustees issued by RDA UK.**|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Saxon Group RDA is a member group of RDA UK, which is a
network of staff and volunteers that exist to provide direction and
support to it’s 489 member groups. Saxon Group RDA is part of the
‘Mid-West’ Region of RDA UK, who provide further guidance on
development and direction at a local level, and sits within the
‘Wiltshire County’ area.|
|Relationship with any related
parties|We have a close working relationship with Widbrook Equestrian
Centre (WEC) that has been our base for operation for over 40
years. There are signed contracts between Saxon RDA and WEC
that govern the loan arrangements for the horses and the contract
of use for the hire of facilities.|
|Other||
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|Saxon Group Riding for the Disabled Association Incorporating
Carriage Driving|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|Saxon Group RDA|
|Registered charity number|1187766|
|Charity’s principal address|Saxon Group Riding for the Disabled Association
C/O Widbrook Arabian Stud & Equestrian Centre
Trowbridge Road
Bradford on Avon
Wiltshire
BA15 1UD|
**Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if**
**not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body)**
**entitled to appoint trustee**
**(if any)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Kady Chatman|Chair|||
||Ean Garner-Richardson|Group Organiser|||
||Patricia Jane Kimber|Treasurer|||
||Joanna Rutherford|Rider Coordinator|||
||Avril Richards|Volunteer Coordinator|||
||Judy Buxton|Horse Welfare Officer|||
||Donna Turnbull|Safeguarding Officer|||
||Sharon Turnbull|Media Officer|||
||Tessa Stanton||||
||||||
## – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
**Director name**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year**
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
|Description of the assets
held in this capacity|Not applicable|
|---|---|
|Name and objects of the
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity’s objects|Not applicable|
|Details of arrangements for
safe custody and
segregation of such assets
from the charity’s own
assets|Not applicable|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
**Type of Name Address adviser**
**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
## **Other optional information**
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s) Full name(s)** Kady Chatman Patricia Jane Kimber **Position (eg Secretary,** Chair of Trustees Treasurer **Chair, etc) Date** 31/03/2023
|**SAXON GROUP RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION INCORPORATING**
**CARRIAGE DRIVING**
**BRADFORD-ON-AVON. CHARITY NO. 1187766**|**SAXON GROUP RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION INCORPORATING**
**CARRIAGE DRIVING**
**BRADFORD-ON-AVON. CHARITY NO. 1187766**|**SAXON GROUP RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION INCORPORATING**
**CARRIAGE DRIVING**
**BRADFORD-ON-AVON. CHARITY NO. 1187766**|**SAXON GROUP RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION INCORPORATING**
**CARRIAGE DRIVING**
**BRADFORD-ON-AVON. CHARITY NO. 1187766**|**SAXON GROUP RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION INCORPORATING**
**CARRIAGE DRIVING**
**BRADFORD-ON-AVON. CHARITY NO. 1187766**|**SAXON GROUP RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION INCORPORATING**
**CARRIAGE DRIVING**
**BRADFORD-ON-AVON. CHARITY NO. 1187766**|**SAXON GROUP RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION INCORPORATING**
**CARRIAGE DRIVING**
**BRADFORD-ON-AVON. CHARITY NO. 1187766**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR 2022-2023**|||||||
||||||31.03.2023||
|**TREASURERS ACCOUNT**|||||||
|**INCOME: 1/04/22- 31/03/23**|||||**Total**||
|||**Rider Fees**|RidingFees|||£13,839.45|
||||Competition Entries|||£1,982.00|
|||**Fundraising**|Donations|||£10,137.77|
||||Grants|||£12,401.10|
||||Donations(eligiblegift aid)|||£7,887.89|
|||**Insurance**|NFU refunds/payouts|||£1,555.11|
|||**Other**|Incl sale of horse|||£3,232.28|
||||**TOTALS INCOME**|||**£51,035.60**|
|**EXPENDITURE: 1/04/22- 31/03/23**|||||||
|||**Operating Costs**|NFU Insurance|||£4,093.75|
||||RDA Affiliation/insurance|||£675.00|
||||CleaningProducts|||£0.00|
||||Venue Hire|||£2,381.85|
|||**Horses**|Livery|||£3,130.27|
||||Farrier|||£1,140.00|
||||Feed|||£445.45|
||||Vets fees|||£4,940.01|
|||**Horse Welfare**|Saddler|||£1,375.00|
||||Physio|||£355.00|
|||**Website**|Hosting|||£144.00|
|||**Competitions**|EntryFees|||£1,518.50|
||||Towing|||£457.28|
|||**Miscellaneous Purchases**|Tack|||£1,912.42|
||||Equipment|||£1,426.40|
||||TowingCosts|||£325.30|
||||Other(incl 2 horsepurchases)|||£13,024.91|
||||**TOTALS EXPENDITURE**|||**£37,345.14**|
|**EXCESS/DEFICIT OF INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE**||||||**£13,690.46**|
|**DEPOSIT ACCOUNT**||||||**Total**|
|Interest||||||£10.32|
|HMRC||||||£0.00|
||||**TOTALS INCOME**|||**£10.32**|
|**Income 1/04/2022- 31/03/2023**|||||||
|**Overall Final Income(Treasurers & Deposit Accounts)**||||||**£51,045.92**|
|**Overall Final Expenditure(Treasurers & Deposit Accounts)**||||||**£37,345.14**|
|**Opening Balances: 1/04/2022**|||||||
|Treasurers Account||||||£7,293.96|
|Deposit Account||||||£5,438.02|
|**Balances brought forward**|||||||
|Treasurers Account||||||£13,690.46|
|Deposit Account||||||£10.32|
|**Final Balances at year end 31/03/2023**|||||||
|Treasurers Account||||||£20,984.42|
|Deposit Account||||||£5,448.34|
|**Overall Final Balances (Treasurers & Deposit Accounts)**||||||**£26,432.76**|
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examinerfs
report on the accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
Report to the tru8teesl
members of
SAXON GROUP RIDING FOR THE DISABLED, INCORPORATING
CARRIAGE DRIVING
On occounts for the yg•r
endad
31103r2023
Charity no
(If any)
1187766
Sot out on pago8
I report lo the Iru5tees on my examknation of the accounts of the above charityllhe
Tru8V) for the year ended
Rospon•lbllhlu and b••l• As thè charty trustees of ts Tru81. you are responsble for the pRpar8tion of the
of r•port accounts in a)[dan wth Ihe rg4uir8rn8nts ol the Charities Act 2011 ("the AGr).
I report n respect of my examinatw ofthe Trust's a¢¢ounts carrted out under
8ection 145 of 2011 Acl ond in carrying out my examination, I have followed the
appl'cable Oirectiws gNen by ts Charity Commission under section 145(511b} of
the Act.
I have compleled my examinatn. I confimi that no material matters have come to
my attenlK)n (other than that disclosed below.) In connection with the examination
which gNes me cause to b8l*ve that In. any material re8P6Ct'.
aCunting records wwe not képt in acrxJrdan¢e wth section 130 of the Act
Indep•nd•nt •xamlnoe*
•tataffl•nt
the a¢Ints do not aco)rd with the accountirvj records
I ha¥e no CA)ncem8 and have come a¢ros8 no ottr mattorn in connection with the
examination to whth attention should be drawn in oTder to enable a proper
understanding of Ihe accounts to be reach¥J.
. Ple8se dete the in the br8¢kets rfthey do not apply.
Signed:
11. Oc
Dot•:
Name:
Rélovant prof0981onal
qualificalion{•) or body
(If any>".
Ci1ThfL I L(LLJ IVIAfvlAc5
(CiM14
ALLULlhJTAdr
Addros8:
f al
I P(a
IER
Octobgr2018
Section B
Disclosure
Onty rf the examwEr needx to hh1wjht matters of c¢Mcem (see CC32,
1rK1epnt ewinatx)n of charty a¢¢Ints.. directM)ns guKlance for examiners).
Glvo brfef detsll$ of
any itsm8 that tho oxamlnor
wlshes to di•clo89.
IER
Octoberf2018