tllEttm]000 F"LEIETW BE.ACH WHE:E:LCHAIRS Fieetwood Beach Wheelchairs Fleelwood Beoch Wheelchoirs - Annual Report 2024
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CONTENTS
Chair of Trustees Report ........................................................................................................................ 3 Volunteer Officer’s Report .................................................................................................................... 6 Hire Information Report ......................................................................................................................... 7 Thank You To Our Partners ................................................................................................................. 8 Rotary Club of Fleetwood Fleetwood Town Council Healthier Fleetwood Wyre Council Baxter Life Care Ltd Financial Reports - Accounts for 2022 - 2023 Independent Examiner’s Report………………………..………….….……………………..9 Income and Expenditure………………………………….…………….........................10 Balance Sheet…………………………………………………..………………………...11 Photo Gallery ..................................................................................................................................... 12-14 Trustees & Officers ................................................................................................................................. 15 Charity Registration & Contacts ........................................................................................................ 15
Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs – Annual Report 2024
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Chair of Trustees Report
It gives me great pleasure to submit my report on behalf of the Trustees for the closing year. This is our fourth year of service on the beach, and during this period the Charity saw its 1000[th] visitor to use our beach wheelchairs. At close of play before Christmas we attained a magnificent total of 1019 chair users.
It is remarkable to note that of all our users there has only been one person that we have not been able to give access to the beach to, safely and comfortably, and that was a visitor with such profound scoliosis that it was simply not possible to meet their need. Once again we have been able to give service to visitors from right across the United Kingdom as well as our local community. We have accommodated individuals, families, care homes, schools, community groups and associations from far and near. Local providers of accommodation and leisure facilities have added to our service users as Fleetwood and its surrounding areas has attracted visitors to the location.
The year started poorly for us as we had to recover from the damage caused by a burst pipe at our Base, which was reported on in my last annual report. Added to this set-back was the conversion of the shower and toilet unit next to us which was being turned into a Changing Places facility. The building work restricted access to our Wheel Base and affected operations for several weeks until the conversion was completed.
After these interruptions to service we rapidly got back into operations with all ten chairs being out on the beach at one time on more than one occasion. As things took off we were hit with a devastating blow caused by reports of sewage being dumped in the sea which led to a beach access restriction. The situation was repeated on a second and later third occasion. This considerably hampered our operations as people simply stayed away from the resort. Of all the things that people with disabilities need to avoid the fear of infection or illness from such a source is probably one of the most serious ones.
We have continued with our presentations to groups and have visited Masonic Lodges, Rotary Clubs, Mothers’ Union Meetings, Inner Wheel, Church Groups and the Golf Club in order to illustrate what we do and to raise funds. We have had a very successful Quiz Night and hope to repeat that again this year. A Charity Concert was also held on our behalf and we will repeat that again this year.
Fundraising has become an essential part of our profile as we offer services entirely free of charge, but our costs have increased in that our rent has been increased and the cost of our insurance has been raised in line with inflation. The cost of utilities has also increased. Our equipment continues to have to be replaced because of the nature of our work. Keeping a healthy bank balance is a priority. Nobody benefits financially from what we do. All our volunteers and Trustees give their services entirely free of charge. Consequently we have initiated fundraising by holding two events at the Affinity retail outlet in Fleetwood, two collections at local Cooperative stores, and we operated an information stall at the King’s Coronation Celebration at Marine Hall, Fleetwood. We are keen to look out for any opportunities to advertise our service and raise funds and contributions. One of our collection activities was featured on Granada Television News in March when one of our Trustees, who is a wheelchair user, did a sponsored “Wheelchair Push” around the town to raise funds.
In addition the Mayor of Wyre, Julie Robinson, has made Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs one of her recipient Charities of the Year and has held events to raise funds for us and her other selected Charities.
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We have also made contact with Fleetwood Town Community Trust, which is affiliated to Fleetwood Town Football Club, and hope to develop a beneficial relationship into the future.
During the year we took delivery of a new piece of equipment, a Beach Rollator, which gained considerable interest. During September one image of the unit being used on the beach attracted a total of 10.4 million views and accompanying posts gave us 20.8 million views worldwide. This was so remarkable that the supplier of our equipment has taken an interest in helping with publicity. We await events on this for 2024.
We have now purchased a second Beach Rollator as a result of a generous donation from a local firm.
The completion of the Changing Places Unit next to our Wheel Base has been a considerable asset to our operations and helped us to provide a “complete service” to our users. Many of our clients travel long distances to use the beach. Consequently they need to be changed and “freshened-up” before going on the beach and very often they need changing and refreshing again after being on the beach. Our thanks for this are due to Wyre Council, Fleetwood Town Council, Muscular Dystrophy UK, The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and DANFO for taking up the gauntlet and providing this facility.
This unit is a considerable benefit and adds to the attractions of Fleetwood as a Town that truly cares for people with disabilities and wants tourism. Fleetwood is Disability Friendly and we need to get that message across to people.
Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs has been nominated for the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. As a result we had a very comprehensive interview and scrutiny in January 2024 to see if we meet the exacting criteria for receipt of the Award. We eagerly await the outcome.
During the year we were awarded the Wyre Business Awards’ “Community and Charity Organisation of the Year”. We are proud to hold this Award as it reflects the work and dedication of the volunteers who support us and celebrates the “extra mile” that they take for our users.
Both this award and being nominated for the King’s Award are tremendous accolades for the work of our volunteers who turn out in all weathers to meet the needs of our visitors and help to get them comfortably and safely onto the beach. I cannot praise them enough for their hard work and dedication. Like all voluntary organisations we can always do with having more volunteers to spread the workload. They truly are a happy and loyal Team.
The weather this year has also been very much against us. Strong winds have forced us off the beach for long periods and a succession of weather fronts with strong winds and heavy rain has kept our activities down as the year came to an end.
We look to begin operations again very soon. We continue to have our monthly Board of Trustees meetings but have recently lost the use of the New Boston Hotel , which has been a great friend to us for the last two years. We will be moving our regular Board meetings to The Men’s Shed in Manor Road, Fleetwood, for the foreseeable future. This will help to benefit that charity and ourselves at the same time.
As we move into the future we must now consider using more innovative media techniques to enhance our public profile. As a result of some brilliant re-working of our Facebook page and web-site Paul Foulkes has extended our reach and it is no exaggeration to say that this has given us a World-wide audience. With this in mind we
Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs – Annual Report 2024
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must consider the use of YouTube and Tik-Tok as platforms for addressing a wider audience.
I would like to thank Fleetwood Town Council for its continued support, Rotary of Fleetwood and Healthier Fleetwood for the help they give us. As an original Rotary Project initiated by the Fleetwood Club we continue to have a number of Rotary members as volunteers and, in fact, one of our volunteers has joined Rotary of Fleetwood as a result of our association with the Club.
In addition I would like to thank all our supporters and followers, wherever they are in the World, and we appreciate their “Shares” and “Likes”. We hope to give inspiration to others to follow our lead and liberate the beaches and foreshores wherever such a service can be provided.
We look forward to another successful year ahead.
Michael Gray
Chair of Trustees, Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs March 2024
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Volunteer Officer’s Report
We had a very successful 2023, despite some bad weather, which caused freezing pipes and subsequent flooding of the wheelbase at end of 2022/early 2023. We also had to contend with the sewage spillage onto the beach which made the national news, causing a number of cancellations to our bookings. However, there were also many nice sunny days which increased our drop-in footfall. In regards to telephone bookings, these have certainly increased for schools, day centres, care homes where we have multiple chairs out on the beach and our clients arriving in mini buses. The opening of the Changing Places next door to our wheelbase initially closed our operations in Spring 2023 for health and safety reasons while building work was completed. But after its official opening, it has helped considerably with the managing of these multiple bookings, providing us with extra space and in particular a second hoist for the use of our clients. I can foresee that these types of bookings will become more prevalent as word is passed around the community.
Single private bookings continue as in previous years, with many of the clients becoming "old friends" with our team of volunteers. On a number of occasions we now recognise names and can look forward to welcoming clients back for repeat visits.
On the volunteer front, we really do need some sort of a recruitment drive. Although we have many volunteers "on the books," it does seem to be the same few personnel who willingly turn out time after time. We have also lost a few through house move, illness, or other commitments.
All of our volunteers are immensely proud of what we have achieved at Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs and while we haven't actively ever asked for any recognition, the accolades continue to pour in, with many awards now adorning the walls and shelves in the wheelbase, and we all excitedly await the results of a nomination for the Kings Award for Voluntary Service.
Let's hope 2024 takes us forward with a larger team of volunteers and sunny days for making happy memories on our beautiful Fleetwood Beach.
Janet Simpson Volunteer Officer
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Annual Information Report – Jane Harvey Year: 2023 - 24
| Year:2023-24 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of clients | Booked | Drop in | |
| Q1 April– June | 90 | 70 | 20 |
| Q2 July– Sept | 161 | 137 | 24 |
| Q3 Oct– Dec | 14 | 11 | 3 |
| Q4 Jan– March | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| Total | 272 | 223 | 49 |
Chairs/equipment hired:
| De bug | **EZ roller ** | Hippocampe | **Sandcruiser ** | **Sandpiper ** | **Rollator ** | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Q1 ** | 26 | 15 | 21 | 14 | 14 | N/A |
| **Q2 ** | 59 | 23 | 26 | 39 | 12 | 2 |
| Q3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| **Q4 ** | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 94 | 40 | 50 | 57 | 27 | 4 |
Total hires since opening: 1026 Notes:
1[st] rollator added to fleet 24.7.23.
2[nd] rollator added to fleet November 2023. Issues with pollution affected service in summer 2023
Annual monthly summary
Year: 2023-24
| Month | No. of clients |
Booked | Drop in |
Chairs/equipment | Chairs/equipment | Chairs/equipment | Chairs/equipment | Chairs/equipment | Chairs/equipment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De bug |
EZ roller |
Hippocampe | Sandcruiser | Sandpiper | Rollator | |||||
| April | 11 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | N/A | |
| May | 30 | 22 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 6 | N/A | |
| June | 49 | 41 | 8 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 5 | N/A | |
| July | 28 | 25 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 | |
| August | 77 | 68 | 9 | 26 | 11 | 13 | 19 | 7 | 1 | |
| September | 56 | 44 | 12 | 21 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 4 | 1 | |
| October | 13 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
| November | No hires | |||||||||
| December | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| January | No hires | |||||||||
| February | No hires | |||||||||
| March | 7 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Totals | 272 | 223 | 49 | 94 | 40 | 50 | 57 | 27 | 4 |
Total since opening: 1026
Notes:
Rollators added to fleet in July and November 2023.
Issues with pollution affected service in summer 2023
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Thank You to Our Partners
We have several organizations to thank for the healthy and optimistic position we find ourselves in today …
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, together with Rotary District 1190, 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.
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 was overseen by David Gore of Healthier Fleetwood. He has now left the board of Trustees to concentrate on his professional work but still continues to give his support through Healthier Fleetwood.
Wyre Council
The Council has worked closely with us in leasing to us the 'Wheel Base' headquarters just a few metres from the Promenade. Officers of the Council have continued to provide their expertise and support despite throughout the pandemic.
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.
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Independent Examiners Report
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
| Report to the trustees/ members of On accounts for the year ended Set out on pages |
Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs | Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs | Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29thFebruary 2024 | Charity no (if any) |
1187870 | |
| 1 and 2 |
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 29[th] February 2024
DD / MM / YYYY .
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in Responsibilities accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). and basis of I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of report 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 come to my examiner's attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: statement
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities 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 other 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. .
Signed: Name: James Christopher Wight Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 2 Leonards Place, Little Singleton, Poulton Le Fylde. Lancashire FY6 7YZ
Date: 27[th] March 2024
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Financial Reports
Accounts 2023 – 2024
----- Start of picture text -----
Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs
Charity Number: 1187870
Income & Expenditure for the year ended 29 February 2024
2024 2023
Unrestricted Restricted Unrestricted Restricted
funds funds Total funds funds funds Total funds
£ £ £ £ £ £
Income
Donations 12,956 - 12,956 12,655 - 12,655
Grants - 703 703 - 460 460
Interest 808 - 808 354 - 354
Total Income 13,764 703 14,467 13,009 460 13,469
Expenditure
Advertising 45 - 45 568 - 568
Cleaning 80 - 80 202 - 202
Computer 330 - 330 201 - 201
Depreciation 1,260 5,922 7,182 1,091 5,922 7,012
Electricity - - - 136 - 136
Equipment 575 - 575 697 - 697
Honararium 200 - 200 225 - 225
Hospitality 100 - 100 321 - 321
Insurance 1,530 - 1,530 1,436 - 1,436
Legal Costs 724 - 724 - - -
Licences 20 - 20 20 - 20
Maintenace & Repairs 392 - 392 596 - 596
Office Equipment 274 - 274 301 - 301
Postage 9 - 9 16 - 16
Refreshments 473 - 473 91 - 91
Rent 1,300 - 1,300 1,625 - 1,625
Stationery 544 - 544 360 - 360
Sundries 225 - 225 169 - 169
Telephone 532 - 532 206 - 206
Travel - - - 403 403
Wheelchair Equipment 475 219 694 1,616 460 2,076
Total Expenditure 9,088 6,141 15,229 10,280 6,382 16,662
Net Surplus/Deficit 4,676 - 5,438 - 762 2,729 - 5,922 - 3,193
----- End of picture text -----
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Financial Reports
Balance Sheet
| Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs | Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs | Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs | Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs | Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs | Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs | Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charity Number: 1187870 | |||||||
| for theyear ended | 29 February 2024 | ||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
| Fixed Assets | Unrestricted funds |
Restricted income funds |
Total funds | Unrestricted funds |
Restricted income funds |
Total funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Beach Wheelchairs | 4,504 | 23,545 | 28,049 | 4,504 | 23,545 | 28,049 | |
| Introduction of Assets | 677 | 595 | 1,272 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5,181 | 24,140 | 29,321 | 4,504 | 23,545 | 28,049 | ||
| Accum Depreciation | 2,181 | 8,451 | 10,632 | 1,091 | 2,529 | 3,620 | |
| Depreciation | 1,260 | 5,922 | 7,182 | 1,091 | 5,922 | 7012 | |
| 1,740 | 9,767 | 11,507 | 2,323 | 15,094 | 17,417 | ||
| Current Assets | |||||||
| Bank Prepayments |
38,972 635 |
0 0 |
38,972 635 |
33,693 766 |
0 0 |
33,693 766 |
|
| 39,607 | 0 | 39,607 | 30,655 | 0 | 34,459 | ||
| Current Liabilities | |||||||
| Accruals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 16 | ||
| Net Current Assets(Liabilities) | 41,347 | 9,767 | 51,114 | 36,782 | 15,094 | 51,876 | |
| Capital Account | |||||||
| Balance BF | 51,876 | 55,069 | |||||
| Net Surplus/Deficit | -762 | -3,193 | |||||
| Balance CF | 51,114 | 51,876 | |||||
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Photo Gallery
These images 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 2024
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Trustees & Officers
Chair & Trustee: Michael Gray Vice-Chair & Trustee: Lorraine Beavers Treasurer & Trustee: Julie Sandham Secretary & Trustee: Janet Simpson Volunteer Officer & Trustee: Leslie Gray Trustee: Cheryl Raynor Trustee: Jane Harvey Trustee: Reece Slater Trustee: Stephen Ireland
Charity Registration & Contacts
Registered charity: No. 1187870 Registered address: 48 Rossall Promenade, Thornton Cleveleys, FY5 1LP Freephone: 03000 111 003 E-mail address: fleetwoodbeachwheelchairs@outlook.com Website: www.fleetwoodbeachwheelchairs.co.uk Facebook: @FleetwoodBW Twitter: @FBWheelchairs
Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs – Annual Report 2024
16 Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs ?_022 WINNEIt 4kVI?td Ilhee/eOojr •• Fleelwood Beoch Wheelchoirs - Annual Report 2024