## **FLEETWOOD BEACH WHEELCHAIRS** **ANNUAL REPORT 2021** **2** ## **CONTENTS** |Chair of Trustees report ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….|3| |---|---| |Becoming a registered charity ………………………………………………………………………….….|3| |Preparing for wheels on the beach …………………………………………………………………….|4| |Making memories! ………………………………………………………………………………………………………|5| |Summary …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………|7| |Thank you to our partners ……………………………………………………………………………………………………|8| |Financial report …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………|10| |Income & Expenditure 2020 – 2021 ..……………………………………………………………………|10| |Balance Sheet 2020 – 2021 …….……………………………………………………………………………….|11| |Independent examiner’s report ……………………………………………………………………………..|12| |Gallery of images ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..|13| |Feedback ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..|14| |Officers and contact details ………………………………………………………………………………………………….|15| Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs – Annual Report 2021 **3** ## **CHAIR OF TRUSTEES REPORT** I am pleased, and somewhat relieved, to be completing this, the first Annual Report of our charity, Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs. I hope it conveys the amazing journey we have taken over the last 18 months or so and the exciting plans we look forward to progressing in the future. ## Becoming a registered charity … Our registration as a Charity was confirmed on 11[th] February 2020 in an email from the Charity Commission to say that we met all the necessary criteria. This was wonderful news as many of you will recall we only formed the current steering group in November 2019. At this point we had achieved our initial targets: - securing funds of £5,000 and the opening of a bank account - the appointment of trustees and the agreement of a constitution Prior to having access to our own funds, our modest set up costs were covered by a donation from Healthier Fleetwood . As we formally set out on our journey, The Haldane Trust had confidence in us and granted us the initial funding which covered the cost of our first ever chair, the three-wheel Hippocampe. As anyone associated with a charity will know, opening an appropriate bank account is essential but not straightforward, further complicated by the impact of the COVID pandemic. The Rotary Club of Fleetwood rescued us by temporarily acting as our ‘bank’ while we opened our own, independent account. Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs – Annual Report 2021 **4** ## Preparing for wheels on the beach … With generous funding from Rotary District 1190 (Cumbria & Lancashire) and Fleetwood Rotary Club we obtained our second chair, a Sandcruiser, which arrived in August. We needed to find appropriate premises, close to the beach, with easy access, good parking, hot and cold water and, ideally, toilet facilities. Just such a property was available, the former ‘kite shop’ in the block close to the beach huts, approximately 200m from Marine Hall. Working with the landlords, Wyre Council, we were able to agree legal terms for a contract and a rent and our thanks to Council officers involved for their invaluable support and expertise. Having a home, now named ‘The Wheel Base’, was the spark that we needed. A small and socially-distanced band of volunteers spent a week cleaning, painting and furnishing the premises to get them ready for operations. Policies and procedures were agreed by the Trustees, insurance for the premises, equipment and public liability was confirmed and an appeal for volunteers was met with a great response! With opening day approaching we launched our dedicated freephone telephone number 03000 111 003 to manage inquiries and bookings. Using our social media accounts and the local press we announced that we would open soon. A post on Facebook in the week before we officially launched the service reached over 400,000 people and was shared more than 3,000 times – demonstrating the incredible level of interest and goodwill that we have received throughout. Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs – Annual Report 2021 **5** ## Making memories … We welcomed our first visitors on Saturday 12[th] September, of course observing the COVID guidelines for hygiene and social distancing at all times. From the start the reaction was amazing. The smiles, laughter and lovely comments from those using the chairs, and their families and friends is exactly why we wanted to set up Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs. Many said this was the first time in years, or even in their lives they had been able to spend time on the beach with their loved ones. Our opening hours were Saturdays and Sundays, 10am to 4pm, with requests for a chair outside those times, covered by volunteers as required. It is our intention to work towards a 7-days a week service, subject to the weather conditions and the on-going COVID restrictions. By mid-September our fleet of chairs had doubled to four following a generous grant from Fleetwood Town Council which enabled us to order a second Sandcruiser chair and a smaller Sandpiper chair, great for children. We have built up a great working relationship with our supplier Ross Handling , and look forward to working with them on expanding our range in the future We also have a MoLift 205 hoist to assist the safe transfer of people between chairs, removing another obstacle to being able to access the beach. Within two weeks of launch, the family of one of our visitors, Amy-Rose Brown , set up a fund-raising page on our behalf which soon reached its target and we were able to order a Firefly Go To seat insert, a very popular and useful accessory. Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs – Annual Report 2021 **6** Further kind donations from the public were gratefully received and with careful management and negotiation, we were able to order a 5[th] chair, a Debug which arrived in October. By now Fleetwood was under Tier 3 restrictions and the service was adapted as appropriate. In effect from this time on we have not been able to operate the service to the level we would have wished. With the health of our visitors and volunteers a priority, Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs is suspended while the lockdown continues. Work does go on behind the scenes. Volunteers continue to carry out security checks on the premises and maintenance on the chairs to ensure we comply with our obligations as a tenant and for the insurance policies. Support for the service also remains strong and as the new year began we were thrilled to accept another kind donation, this time from The Rotary Club of Blackpool Palatine which allowed us to order a sixth chair, a DeBug EZ Roller. At the time of writing our 7[th] chair, another Sandpiper, is en-route. The cost of this equipment has been provided by a successful bid to Sport England / Active Lancashire for projects which help disadvantaged members of the community enjoy outdoor activities for their health and wellbeing. When we can operate again, our intention is to rotate our fleet of seven chairs so as to enable us to put six chairs on the beach for public use and have a seventh chair as an eye-catching demonstrational and promotional opportunity to support our fundraising and public awareness activities. Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs – Annual Report 2021 **7** ## Summary We set ourselves several goals and I am delighted to say that in our first year we have achieved many of them ahead of schedule: - we have a secure and practical venue to operate from - we have an extensive fleet of chairs, suitable for a wide range of needs - we are financially sound, sufficient to cover our operating costs for the next 12 months - we are building relationships with local authorities, organisations and businesses that will underpin our plans for the future - we have an amazing cohort of volunteers who, when the restrictions ease, cannot wait to welcome our visitors again - we have the tremendous sense of just how important our service is, changing lives and making memories As we look to the future the Trustees will ensure the charity remains true to our aims and is financially viable. We want to expand the range of facilities and opportunities available to individuals with disability and their families. We will raise awareness of issues affecting those living with disability and will establish partnerships encouraging more visitors to Fleetwood in a post-COVID world. I would like to offer my personal thanks to my fellow Trustees, the many volunteers, our partners, suppliers, everyone who has made a donation and of course our wonderful visitors who make everything so worthwhile. Thank you all. ## Michael Gray Chair of Trustees, Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs February 2021 Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs – Annual Report 2021 **8** ## **THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS** We have several organisations to thank for the healthy and optimistic position we find ourselves in today … ## North Berwick Beach Wheelchairs & Beach Access North East There are around a dozen locations in the UK offering beach wheelchairs, two groups in particular have been incredibly helpful and supportive in our journey. North Berwick, near Edinburgh is possibly the most well-established group and their officers have provided advice and practical support from the start – even sharing their logo with us! Whitley Bay-based Beach Access North East has also given us the benefit of their first-hand experience of setting up a beach wheelchairs service. We would not be where we are now without the assistance of both these wonderful organisations. ## Rotary Club of Fleetwood Our chair of trustees, Michael Gray, is a member of Fleetwood's proactive Rotary Club and from his initial presentation they have encouraged and supported him to research and establish the charity. The Club made a substantial donation towards the cost of a chair, and many Rotarians also volunteer their time and goodwill for Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs. This support is invaluable. ## Fleetwood Town Council A large donation from the Town Council's Community Fund supported the purchase of three chairs in our fleet. Two of our trustees are also local Councillors, passionate about making Fleetwood a better place to live, work in and to visit. The support of the Town Council ensures the charity is always closely linked to the community. Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs – Annual Report 2021 **9** ## Wyre Council Securing suitable premises was always essential to the founding and the longterm success of Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs. Wyre Council has worked closely with us with the leasing of our 'Wheel Base' headquarters just a few metres from the Promenade. Officers of the Council have continued to provide their expertise and support despite the demands of the pandemic. ## Healthier Fleetwood The first organisation approached to get the idea off the ground was Healthier Fleetwood, a not-for-profit organisation with a remit to "connect the community". They helped form the initial steering group and much of the administration and marketing has been overseen by officers of Healthier Fleetwood, as well as contacts to potential funders and partners. ## Ross Handling A beach wheelchair is a specialised piece of equipment, well-engineered, reliable and robust, and of course designed to give easy and comfortable access to the beach and other difficult terrain. We are pleased to be partnering with Ross Handling as our preferred supplier and look forward to working with them in the future, taking advantage of developments in the technology and their range of products. ## Baxter Life Care Ltd This family-run business provides a range of value-for-money social care services across the Fylde Coast. The company supports us with their expertise and advice, and has provided specialist equipment for the use of our visitors. We are also delighted to welcome Baxter Life Care Ltd as our website sponsors which will open up discussion with other potential partners. Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs – Annual Report 2021 **10** ## **FINANCIAL REPORT** Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs - Charity Number: 1187870 Income & Expenditure for the year ended 10 February 2021 |Fixed Assets|Unrestricted|Restricted|Total| |---|---|---|---| ||Funds £|Income Funds £|Funds £| |Income|||| |Donations|15,663||15,663| |Grants||11,234|11,234| |Total Income|15,663|11,234|26,897| |Expenditure|||| |Advertising|251||251| |Equipment|5,366|9,976|15,342| |Insurance|1,089||1,089| |Legal Costs|605||605| |Maintenace & Repairs|2,046||2,046| |Stationery|26||26| |Total Expenditure|9,383|9,976|19,359| |Net Income|6,280|1,258|7,538| Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs – Annual Report 2021 **11** ## **FINANCIAL REPORT** Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs - Charity Number: 1187870 Balance Sheet for the year ended 10 February 2021 |Fixed Assets|Unrestricted|Restricted|Total| |---|---|---|---| ||Funds £|Income Funds £|Funds £| |Beach Wheelchairs|4,504|9,976|14,480| |Accum. Depreciation|0|0|0| |Total Fixed Assets|4,504|9,976|14,480| |Current Assets|||| |Bank|5,846|1,258|7,104| |Debtors|434|0|434| |Total Current Assets|5,846|1,258|7,538| |Current Liabilities|||| |Creditors|0|0|0| |Net Current Liabilities|0|0|0| |Total Assets|11,234|10,350|21,584| |less Current Liablities|||| Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs – Annual Report 2021 **12** ## **FINANCIAL REPORT** ## Independent examiner’s report on the accounts Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs – Annual Report 2021 **13** ## **GALLERY** These images, and the photo of Matt on the cover of this report, say far more than any words can about the benefits of our service and the simple joy of being on the beach. Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs – Annual Report 2021 **14** ## **Feedback** ## Just some of the comments we have received from visitors to Fleetwood … "Had a brilliant time, threw stones into the sea for the first time. Loved the water, touching the waves. All said, Matthew loved the chair!" "Wonderful experience that gave my husband a sense of freedom and a unique experience." "Thank you for making Archie's day amazing!" "Felt like normality being able to get down to the sea. Brilliant idea. Will visit again! Keep it up, good luck." "Great to be able to go onto beach with the grandchildren." "Fabulous! First time on the beach for 22 years." "Fantastic day. Ellie loved the chair, easy to use and very comfortable. The staff were excellent and very helpful." "Sarah really enjoyed her time on the beach and she will definitely be back!" "Fabulous day out on the beach. Amazing to have this available to access the beach when otherwise we’d be sat on the side. My 11 year old son loved it as did his family. Fantastic experience. Loved it. Will be back. Thanks." "Brilliant. Never used one before and Thomas absolutely loved it. Fantastic, thank you for setting this up." "Amazing to have the chance to get to the water’s edge. It was bliss." "First time on the beach at 24 years old! Fantastic service." From our official opening date in September 2020 to the suspension of service due to the COVID restrictions we have welcomed over 50 visitors to use the beach wheelchairs. Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs – Annual Report 2021 **15** ## **TRUSTEES & OFFICERS** Chair: Michael Gray Vice-Chair: Lorraine Beavers Treasurer: Julie Sandham Secretary & digital / marketing: David Gore Trustee & volunteer officer: Janet Simpson Trustee & press officer: Malcolm Lewis Trustee: Cheryl Raynor Trustee: Karen Murdoch Trustee: Reece Slater ## **CHARITY REGISTRATION & CONTACTS** Registered charity: No. 1187870 Registered address: 48 Rossall Promenade, Thornton Cleveleys, FY5 1LP E-mail address: fleetwoodbeachwheelchairs@outlook.com Website: www.fleetwoodbeachwheelchairs.co.uk Facebook: @FleetwoodBW Twitter : @FBWheelchairs Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs – Annual Report 2021