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Thames Sailability - Annual Repot 2020
Contents
Who we are ........................................................................................................................................................... 1 Chairman’s Welcome ........................................................................................................................................... 2 What we do with your money ............................................................................................................................ 4 Why we make a difference .................................................................................................................................. 5 What we did last year .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Safety ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Thank You ............................................................................................................................................................. 9 Where the money came from in 2020 ............................................................................................................. 10 Plans for next year and beyond ........................................................................................................................ 10 Trustees’ Report and Financial Statement ....................................................................................................... 11 Objectives and Activities ............................................................................................................................... 11 Structure, Governance and Management ................................................................................................... 11 Trustees Selection and Appointment ........................................................................................................... 11 Financial Review and Results ........................................................................................................................ 12 Financial Position ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Reserve Policy ............................................................................................................................................. 13 Reference and Administrative Details ......................................................................................................... 13 Balance Sheet for the Year Ended 31 December 2020 ............................................................................ 14 Income and Expenditure for financial year ended 31 December 2020 ................................................. 15 Income and Expenditure for financial year ended 31 December 2020 continued .............................. 16 Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2020 ............................................ 17
Thames Sailability - Annual Repot 2020
Who we are
Thames Sailability is a new charity set up in June 2020. The new charity took over activities which had already been running for several years. The new charity was able to take ownership of the boat Impossible Dream and run its finances independently.
The charity trustees all had experience of operating the boat and providing the service while under the auspices of the boat’s previous owner, Sporting Activities for the Disabled (SAD). All the trustees were involved in preparing for the Charity to take over ownership and ensuring it could do so in a fit and proper manner.
What we are here for
Thames Sailability provides accessible boating for wheelchair users, people with reduced mobility, and those with learning challenges.
We are based on the river Thames at Walton on Thames and Shepperton. Our specially adapted motorboat, Impossible Dream, takes up to 10 passengers, including up to 3 wheelchairs. Trips take place all year round.
The photograph shows the boat decked out for the Lord Mayor’s river procession in 2018.
Most trips are for organised groups such as schools, but outings for families and social groups are also possible.
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Thames Sailability - Annual Repot 2020
Chairman’s Welcome
One of the joys of preparing our first Annual Report should have been celebrating what has been accomplished. Unfortunately and in common with most organisations we have experienced a year where our normal operation has been all but wiped out. However, the achievement of officially becoming a charity should not be forgotten and thanks must be given to those members of the team involved in this enormous task. Thames Sailability is now fully established with all the required documents, bank account, policies and web site ready to commence operating when the time comes.
Even though we have only achieved a fraction of our expected annual trips Impossible Dream still needed regular maintenance and cleaning
to prevent deterioration and keep it ready should a trip opportunity arise. Clearly, our unique provision for people who would otherwise not be able to experience the tranquility and sights along the river is only possible thanks to our volunteer crew and benefactors. Therefore I would like to express a huge ‘thank you’ to them for their continued support and availability throughout these difficult times.
Hopefully it won’t be long before we can return to delivering memories to our ever expanding list of clients. The Thames Sailability team and Impossible Dream are ready and waiting.
Colin Brown
Chair of Trustees
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Thames Sailability - Annual Repot 2020
Our boat, “Impossible Dream”
Impossible Dream is based on a Powercat 695 day fishing boat that was adapted by its previous owner, the charity Sporting Activities for the Disabled (“SAD”), with allflat decking and side access suitable for wheelchair use. She has a stable twin-hull design with two 40hp outboard engines (normally used one at a time when cruising).
When SAD had no further use for her they lent the boat to the adaptive sailing group at Queen Mary Sailing Club in west London. A spin-off group, which called itself Thames Sailability, was formed to operate Impossible Dream on the Thames as the river was felt to be more suitable than the reservoir.
A further series of modifications was undertaken by the new group. Impossible Dream has a boarding ramp suitable for wheelchairs and powered chairs, and anyone with reduced mobility. It has a safe covered area with fixed and moveable seating, and a canvas canopy which can be adjusted to suit the weather.
The founders of Thames Sailability all had extensive experience both of boating and of adaptive and special needs boating. Impossible Dream started taking passengers in 2015.
We have continued to adapt the boat to improve safety and convenience, and this programme continues with further upgrades planned for 2021.
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Thames Sailability - Annual Repot 2020
What we do with your money
Any boat owner knows that boating is an expensive undertaking. Thames Sailability is no different in that respect. Most of our money is used for:
Mooring our year-round berth in Shepperton Marina, which is generously subsidised by the marina itself. Maintenance the two outboard engines need regular maintenance, and every so often the boat has to be craned out of the water to inspect and clean below the waterline. Fuel although we cruise at low speeds, we cover a lot of miles in a year. Safety lifejackets and other safety equipment have components with use-by dates which have to be replaced, as well as keeping all equipment up to scratch and fit for purpose. Legal we carry all the necessary insurances and licences Other we market ourselves so that as many people and organisations as possible can get to enjoy a trip on the Thames.
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Thames Sailability - Annual Repot 2020
Why we make a difference
“There is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats”.
- (“The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame).
Being on or near the water promotes calmness and feelings of well-being which are beneficial to everyone (including the crew). Our trips also provide fresh air and close-up views of the wonderful wildlife.
An important element of our trips for Special Needs passengers is the opportunity for social interaction with people outside their usual family/school/carer bubble and to adapt to a new environment. We encourage participation where appropriate, i.e. by helping steer the boat. The relative peace and relaxation that comes with an hour cruising up and down the river is also greatly appreciated by teachers and carers.
You can find out more about sailing or motor-boating from the RYA at https://www.rya.org.uk/programmes/rya-sailability/Pages/hub.aspx
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Thames Sailability - Annual Repot 2020
What we did last year
Of course our activities in 2020 were heavily disrupted by Covid, but we were able to keep going during the less drastic lockdowns because most of the boat is “outside” and is big enough to maintain social distancing.
We ran 32 trips in 2020. (This compares with 127 in 2019.)
We carried 134 passengers in 2020. (This compares with 837 in 2019.)
In 2020 Impossible Dream sailed about 160 miles. That is 21,440 passenger-miles!
We didn’t count, but in 2019 our skippers made approximately 100 circumnavigations of Desborough Island. Nearly all were anticlockwise!
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Thames Sailability - Annual Repot 2020
Safety
Safety is our top priority. All our skippers hold recognised qualifications, but must then complete our own programme and training days which are specific to the boat and our use of it. Our Safety Policy is extensive and is constantly under review.
Every trip on the water is preceded by a risk assessment, starting with the weather and river conditions forecast at least one day before. The only time we were not able to notify our passengers in advance of a cancellation was when Impossible Dream could not break through the ice that trapped her in her berth (we have since moved to a different berth!)
In 2018 we took Impossible Dream down the Thames to the RNLI station at Chiswick to liaise and discuss safety matters.
Impossible Dream carries a wide selection of life jackets and buoyancy aids to ensure passengers can be equipped appropriately. Her specially-made access ramp makes her safe to board for anyone with limited mobility including wheelchair users.
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Thames Sailability - Annual Repot 2020
Our people
At the time of writing we have 7 skippers and 3 crew. All have extensive experience across all types of boats, from ocean sailing to dinghy racing, commercial river cruiser captains to maritime police. Many already have a background in adaptive and special needs boating from Queen Mary Sailability, and we are able to draw on the comprehensive training programme and operational experience at QMS, which is one of the largest and most successful Sailability centres in the country.
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Thames Sailability - Annual Repot 2020
Thank You
Thank You to our supporters …
Shepperton Marina,
Everybody who made a Gift Aid declaration,
The Royal Yachting Association, especially the Sailability team
Mike Browne and Sporting Activities for the Disabled,
Alan Woolford, our founder and President who started off Thames Sailability,
All our volunteers and their supporters.
Raising funds and awareness at Shepperton Marina
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Thames Sailability - Annual Repot 2020
Where the money came from in 2020
We received grants and donations (included above) from the following, for which we are enormously grateful:
| Sporting Activities for | |
|---|---|
| the Disabled | 10,000 |
| Shepperton Marina | £1,500 |
| Voluntary Support North Surrey |
£500 |
Plans for next year and beyond
We have a number of new volunteers for skipper and crew who are keen to be trained up. Growing our team will allow the boat to be operated on more days.
We can increase options for physical access to the boat by modifying the Port side access point so it replicates the one on the Starboard side.
The canvas cockpit cover needs cleaning and repairing or replacing.
We will be reviewing all our safety equipment, especially life jackets and buoyancy aids, and replacing wherever necessary
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Thames Sailability - Annual Repot 2020
Trustees’ Report and Financial Statement
The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report together with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2020.
Objectives and Activities
The objectives of the Charity as per the Constitution are:
to provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their disability with the object of improving their conditions of life, in particular by providing opportunities to enjoy boating activities on the River Thames and its adjoining waterways .
The objectives are met by providing river trips in a safe environment on the boat Impossible Dream.
The Charity has no paid staff, and all activities and their organisation are undertaken by volunteers. Professional services are used only in specialised areas, such as major engine and hull maintenance.
The Charity does not employ professional fundraisers.
The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and believe the charity’s activities are fully compliant (FRS102: 1.18).
Structure, Governance and Management
The Charity was set up as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) established under a Constitution which sets out the objects of the Charity and its governance. Thames Sailability was founded in 2015, and was registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales on 5 June 2020.
The Charity is governed by the Board of four trustees, which meets on a regular basis. The day to day operations of the Charity are managed by a Management Team appointed by the trustees, who themselves are all members of the Management Team and who support and advise on all financial matters.
Trustees Selection and Appointment
Trustees are selected and appointed by the Management Board, and are appointed subject to confirmation by a vote of the Members at the Annual General Meeting.
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Thames Sailability - Annual Repot 2020
There are currently no trustees selected as representatives of any other organisation, nor is any other organisation entitled to appoint a trustee.
Trustees
Mr. Colin William Brown Mr. Derek William Beake (Chairman) (Secretary) Mr. Nigel Jeremy Horsfield Mr. David Edmund Jillings
All of the trustees were founders of the Charity, and remained in post at the end of the year.
Related Parties
The Charity has no subsidiaries. There are no related parties in the Charity.
The Charity is affiliated to the Royal Yachting Association, and operates in a manner which ensures that body’s standards continue to be maintained.
Financial Review and Results
The Charity has ended its first financial year in a healthy financial state. Donations already received and held as petty cash and on behalf of Thames Sailability were received into the new bank account, as well as a large donation from Sporting Activities for the Disabled which forms our operating reserve. The boat Impossible Dream was acquired as a donation free of charge by Sporting Activities for the Disabled.
Donations from passengers in 2020 were significantly reduced by the effect of the Coronavirus pandemic, which curtailed activities. Running costs (mostly fuel) were also reduced, but the more significant operating costs such as mooring fees still had to be paid. Nevertheless, as the result of extensive fundraising by the Charity’s management and members, a modest operating profit of over £1,000 was made (not counting exceptional income when the books were first opened).
Financial Position
The income of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2020 amounted to £16,660 whereas costs for charitable activities were £4,700. The net surplus for the year was £11,961.
The overall net assets of the Charity at the conclusion of its first financial year are £21,961.
The Charity does not hold any investments.
The Charity is entitled to exemption from examination under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 for the year ended 31 December 2020. Nevertheless, the accounts have been reviewed by an independent examiner and found to be in order.
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Thames Sailability - Annual Repot 2020
The trustees are satisfied that the Charity continues as a going concern.
Reserve Policy
It is the policy of the trustees to maintain unrestricted funds, which are the free reserves of the Charity, at the minimum level of £10,000.
Reference and Administrative Details
Registered Charity Number 1189796
Registered Charity Address 13 Richmond Drive, Shepperton, TW17 9EB. Charity Secretary Mr. Derek William Beake Independent Examiner David Wilkinson, FCA
The report of the trustees was approved by order of the board on 10 March 2021 and signed on its behalf by
David Jillings - Trustee
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Thames Sailability - Annual Repot 2020
Balance Sheet for the Year Ended 31 December 2020
Notes 2020 2019 Non-Current Assets Impossible Dream 1 10,000.00 Current Assets Cash in hand 149.43 Cash at Bank 11,343.80 Not 21,493.23 applicable Debtors & Pre-payments CAF (Gift Aid Pending) 56.74 Freemantles School 315.00 Walton Leigh School 96.00 Insurance & Mooring Fee Pre-payments 2,467.70 Creditors None 0.00 Nett Assets 24,428.67 Reserves Fixed Assets 10,000.00 Other Reserves 0.00 Income & Expenditure Account 14,428.67 Members Funds 24,428.67
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Thames Sailability - Annual Repot 2020
Income and Expenditure for financial year ended 31 December 2020
| Income Note Cash held at date of incorporation Pre-incorporation Donations Subscriptions Subscriptions received (net of fees) Passenger Donations Cash Receipts Accounts 1 Other Donations SAD Legacy SAD Boat Insurance, Licence & RYA Personal donation (Direct) Personal donations (via CAF, net of fees) Shepperton Marina Voluntary Support North Surrey Other Cash Donations Gift Aid Gift Aid on subscriptions Gift Aid on Donations Sales Sale of 2 buoyancy aids Total Income |
2020 | 2019 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 235.00 582.00 |
644.01 85.10 817.00 15,188.62 601.37 30.00 17,366.10 |
Not applicable |
||
| 10,000.00 705.44 2,000.00 467.54 1,485.64 500.00 30.00 |
||||
| 18.23 583.14 |
||||
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Thames Sailability - Annual Repot 2020
Income and Expenditure for financial year ended 31 December 2020, continued
| Expenses ID Running Costs Fuel Boat Insurance 2 Environment Agency Licence 3 Boat Safety 4 Repairs & Maintenance Mooring Fees 5 Engine Servicing Anti-Covid Measures & Sundries Signwriting Administration Costs RYA Affiliation 6 CIO Insurance Internet & Web-hosting Sundries Crew training Other Total Expenses Surplus / (Deficit) |
2020 | 2019 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 104.82 184.76 175.12 0.00 129.68 857.10 1,172.49 80.82 20.00 |
2,724.79 212.64 0.00 |
2,937.43 | Not applicable |
||
| 130.00 73.04 9.60 |
|||||
| 0.00 0.00 |
|||||
| 14,428.67 | |||||
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Thames Sailability - Annual Repot 2020
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2020
Balance Sheet
-
Impossible Dream was donated free of charge by Mike Browne and Sporting Activities for the Disabled and is now registered in the name of Thames Sailability. The Bill of Sale shows a price of £1 having been paid by Thames Sailability to SAD, but this has been ignored in these accounts.
-
For accounting purposes only, a nominal value of £10,000 has been included under the heading of "Assets". This is not intended to reflect market value or replacement cost and is not related to the value for which the boat is insured.
Income & Expenditure
-
The accounts include a payment made by Freemantles School in respect of passenger trips made during 2019. Although a donation was requested early in 2020 (prior to Thames Sailability being incorporated), payment has only reached us in January 2021 due to administrative issues. The sum of £315.00 is therefore included here.
-
Boat Insurance - The premium for 2020 is included here but was paid in advance by SAD prior to the incorporation of Thames Sailability. The payment from SAD is treated as a donation for the purposes of these accounts. The insurance premium for 2021 is due in July 2021 will appear in the accounts for that year.
-
Environment Agency Licence - The Licence for 2020 is included here but was paid in advance by SAD prior to the incorporation of Thames Sailability. The Licence for 2021 will appear in the accounts for that year.
-
Boat Safety Examination - A boat safety examination was carried out prior to the incorporation of Thames Sailability and was paid for by SAD. The next examination will be due in October 2023.
-
Mooring Fees - Shepperton Marina has changed its policy regarding discounts this year. In the past, we have received a discount of 50% for our annual moorings. This year we have been charged at the full published rate but we have been granted a donation equivalent to 50%.
-
RYA Affiliation - The fee for our affiliation to the RYA was paid in advance by SAD.
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustee’s report above:
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature (s) Full name (s) Colin Brown Nigel Horsfield Position Chair Trustee Date 31 March 2021
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