Thames Sailability Annual Report 2024 A Charity Run Entirely by Volunteers Registered Charity Number 1189796
Who we are:
Thames Sailability was established in June 2020 as a charity to assume ownership and management of the vessel, Impossible Dream, from its previous owner, Sporting Activities for the Disabled (SAD). Since 2015, Impossible Dream had been serving the local community; however, SAD was preparing to cease operations. They extended an offer to the existing crew of Impossible Dream to continue its operation independently. The crew accepted this offer, formed a management team, and thus Thames Sailability was founded.
We provide accessible boating for wheelchair users, individuals with reduced mobility, and those with learning disabilities. Located on the Thames, we operate from Shepperton Marina. Our specially adapted motorboat, Impossible Dream, can accommodate up to 10 passengers, including three wheelchairs. Trips are available throughout the year.
Most of our excursions serve organised groups such as SEN schools and day care clubs for young adults. Additionally, outings for families and social groups are available.
- “Believe me my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”
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Chairman’s Welcome
The year 2024 began much like 2023 ended, with river conditions continuing to hinder our usual services. The frequent presence of RED boards at locks indicated a year marked by weather events that limited our capacity to maintain consistent operations throughout the year.
These warnings, issued by the Environment Agency, advise all boat users to avoid navigation due to the strong flows that render it challenging and hazardous. Given that safety is our top priority, we consistently cancel trips when Red Boards or Yellow Increasing Boards are active. Consequently, our passenger numbers were somewhat lower than we would have liked. Thames Sailability extends apologies to our users for any inconvenience this has caused, but we trust they understand that this precautionary measure was necessary and beyond our control.
SEN schools and day care clubs for children and young adults now dominate our service. However, Impossible Dream also welcomed many seniors from local care homes for river trips. Regular operations increased to two or three excursions on three days a week, with additional trips as needed.
The recent recruitment campaign has successfully brought in several new volunteers, making our operations more sustainable given the current demand. Several additional, fully trained skippers have joined the team. However, due to increasing demand, the campaign needs to continue as we still require more volunteers to conduct additional trips on the river. Impossible Dream can only deliver trips when trained, qualified crew members are available. Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering and contributing to this initiative.
Thames Sailability is run entirely by unpaid volunteers. We owe our unique experiences on the river to their dedication. A heartfelt 'thank you' to all volunteers for their ongoing support and availability.
Colin Brown. Chair of Trustees
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We’re here to make a difference.
The calming effect of water is well-documented, promoting tranquility and a sense of wellbeing. These therapeutic benefits are especially significant for individuals with disabilities and life challenges. When combined with fresh air, close-up encounters with wildlife, social
interaction, and opportunities to assist in steering the boat, the experience becomes highly beneficial for our special passengers. Their appreciation is evident in their positive behavior, smiles, and frequent requests to return. Additionally, this experience provides caregivers with a moment of relaxation and respite from their demanding responsibilities.
What we did last year
The extremely wet weather has significantly impacted our ability to deliver all booked journeys this year. Consequently, we had to cancel approximately half of our scheduled and fully resourced trips. While our boat is well equipped to handle adverse conditions, we adhere to the advice provided by the Environment Agency.
| Year | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trips completed. | 130 | 122 | 174 | 110 | 32 | 127 |
| Passengers carried. | 791 | 696 | 1060 | 617 | 134 | 837 |
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Our special boat, “Impossible Dream”
In addition to our dedicated volunteers, Impossible Dream is our primary asset, and we take great pride in maintaining and enhancing her condition. In recent years, we have invested significantly in refurbishments and upgrades, resulting in lower maintenance costs this year.
Operating throughout the year sometimes necessitates managing a vessel in freezing conditions. Crew members must arrive early to ensure that Impossible Dream remains safe and presentable. Ice frequently forms on both sides of the glass; however, our investment in onboard heating has proven effective. This enhancement has facilitated easier screen clearing and improved safety for all involved.
Safety will always be our TOP priority.
We comply with all safety and legal requirements for operating our craft. Our license from the Environment Agency mandates adherence to the MCA Small Boat Code. Additionally, we have implemented policies for areas not covered by the code, such as safeguarding.
Safety is prioritised. All skippers are qualified and undergo specific training on procedures, boat operations, and safety equipment. Our safeguarding policy and basic risk assessments are available for clients to integrate into their own documents if needed.
Prior to each trip, the operating skipper assesses river conditions and weather forecasts to decide if the trip can proceed. This year, several trips were cancelled due to unsuitable river conditions based on advice from the Environment Agency and our understanding of the river. Trips operate
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throughout the year, with cancellations happening only when conditions are deemed unsafe, typically with sufficient notice.
Impossible Dream is equipped with necessary safety and rescue equipment, including various buoyancy aids for passengers. Access ramps ensure safe boarding for wheelchair users and individuals with limited mobility.
Where the money came from in 2024
We are grateful for the donations we receive from our clients, which help cover some of our operating costs. However, support from local organizations is crucial for the sustainability of Impossible Dream. Securing grants is an ongoing task that our team diligently pursues. We have successfully obtained funding from several local bodies, which is essential for covering the remaining operational costs, including maintenance and repairs. We acknowledge our supporters by allowing them to display their logos on Impossible Dream. With the continued support of these major benefactors, our operations can achieve significantly more and reach a broader audience.
| Spelthorne Borough | £3,000.00 |
|---|---|
| Central SurreyVoluntaryServices | £2,000.00 |
| Sunbury&Shepperton RotaryClub(PF) | £1,713.00 |
| Shepperton Marina | £1,738.38 |
| Shepperton Aurora RotaryClub | £500.00 |
| Runnymede Ramblers | £339.61 |
| Mark Gubbins Gig | £309.03 |
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Sunbury & Shepperton Rotary Club presenting us with the final instalment of the President’s Fund at the Shelterbox event.
Our treasurer Chris and Trustee Derek accepting the first instalment of the Sunbury and Shepperton Rotary President’s Fund.
Trustee David receives a cheque from Shepperton Aurora Rotary
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Local Community Event Support.
Shepperton Aurora Rotary event to celebrate their support for Shelterbox.
We gave their guests the opportunity of a cruise around D’Oyly Carte Island.
The Mayor of Spelthorne was attending.
Shelterbox arrives at Shepperton Lock.
As a local charity, participation in community events and river celebrations is of paramount importance to us. Since our inception, we have actively engaged in numerous events and will continue to do so whenever feasible.
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Impossible Dream ready to for river celebration events
How we spend 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:
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Mooring - Our year-round berth in Shepperton Marina, which is generously subsidised by the marina itself.
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Maintenance -
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Fuel -
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Safety -
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The two outboard engines need regular maintenance, an every so often the boat must be craned out of the water t inspect and clean below the waterline.
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Although we cruise at low speeds, we cover a lot of miles in a year.
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Lifejackets and safety equipment have 'use-by' dates and must be replaced regularly to ensure they are effective.
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Legal - We carry all the necessary insurances and licences.
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- Administration We market ourselves to ensure as many people and organisations as possible can enjoy a trip on the Thames. We support this effort through our website and email accounts.
The year ahead.
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The boat is still in good condition after its major refit two years ago, enabling us to focus on our service.
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The crew recruitment campaign will involve investments in substantial training events.
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Enhancing the skills of our team is crucial for enabling Impossible Dream to operate on additional days. Therefore, we will persist in encouraging our volunteers who aspire to become qualified skippers to complete the RYA Power Boat 2 courses.
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All our safety equipment, especially life jackets and buoyancy aids, will be serviced and replaced wherever necessary.
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We will have our outboard motors serviced.
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The project to replace the canopy with a more comfortable and watertight alternative arrangement will proceed as planned.
Celebrating 10 years of Serving the Local Community.
In 2025, Thames Sailability will mark its 10th anniversary. Over the years, we have continually expanded our capacity and services, driven by the growing demand for our offerings. This achievement has been made possible through the generous support of our local community benefactors and the dedication of our volunteer crews.
As we look forward to sustained growth, it is essential to focus on maintenance, repair, and eventual replacement plans for Impossible Dream. Additionally, we must develop a succession plan for our crew and management team.
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The Management Team
Our Management Team are all unpaid volunteers, and crew Impossible Dream. We welcomed Mark Gubbins to the team this year who took on the task of attracting new volunteers. The remainder of the team are all founder members of Thames Sailability. They all work tirelessly to keep our operation safe and reliable.
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President Vivienne Leighton
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• Chairman: Colin Brown • Secretary & Recruitment: Mark Gubbins • Treasurer: Chris Bound • Bookings Administrator: Nigel Horsfield • Fundraising Derek Beake • Without Portfolio: David Jillings
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[st] December 2024.
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, by providing opportunities to enjoy boating activities on the Thames and its adjoining waterways .
✓ The objectives are met by providing river trips in a safe environment on the boat Impossible Dream.
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✓ The Charity operates entirely with volunteers, using professional services only for specialised tasks like 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
Thames Sailability, founded in 2015 and registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on June 5, 2020, is managed by a Board of four trustees. The trustees regularly meet and appoint a Management Team to handle daily operations and financial matters.
Trustees Selection and Appointment
Trustees are selected by the Management Board and require confirmation by Members at the Annual General Meeting. Currently, no other organisation has the authority to select or appoint a trustee.
Trustees
Mr. Colin William Brown (Chairman)
Mr. Derek William Beake
Mr. Nigel Jeremy Horsfield
Mr. David Edmund Jillings
All the trustees were founders of the Charity and remained in post at the end of the year.
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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 the body’s standards continue to be maintained.
We are registered with the Fundraising Regulator. This registration demonstrates that we operate all fundraising activities in accordance with The Code of Fundraising Practice.
Financial Review and Results
The Charity ended the year in a healthy financial state.
Due to two periods of bad weather, passenger numbers and donations dropped significantly. While fuel costs decreased, mooring fees, insurance, and licenses increased as expected.
We were successful in many of our fund-raising initiatives, and we received ongoing support from several local organisations, all of which allowed us to meet our increased outgoings and return a small surplus.
Financial Summary
The income of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2024 was £14,622, with expenditure amounting to £6,161. The net surplus for the year was £8,461.
The overall net assets of the Charity at the end of the year were £41,708, including Unrestricted Reserves of £8,708.
The Charity does not hold any investments.
Although the Charity is exempt from examination under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011, the accounts have been reviewed by an independent examiner and found to be accurate.
The trustees confirm that the Charity remains a going concern.
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Reference and Administrative Details
Registered Charity Number 1189796
Registered Charity Address
13 Richmond Drive, Shepperton, TW17 9EB.
Charity Secretary Independent Examiner
Mark Gubbins
David Wilkinson, FCA
The report of the trustees was approved by the board on 10[th] April 2025 and signed on its behalf by
Colin Brown – Trustee.
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| THAMES SAILABILITY- 2024 | THAMES SAILABILITY- 2024 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance Sheet | |||||||||
| Notes | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||
| Non-Current Assets | |||||||||
| ImpossibleDream | 1 | 10,000.00 | 10,000.00 | ||||||
| Current Assets | |||||||||
| Cash in hand | 214.57 | 182.21 | |||||||
| CashatBank: | |||||||||
| (1) CurrentAccount | 6,886.74 | 2,099.06 | |||||||
| (2)"LiquidityManager"35DayAccount | 20,471.53 | 17,861.21 | |||||||
| 37,572.84 | 30,142.48 | ||||||||
| Debtors | |||||||||
| CAF(Donation& GiftAidPending) | 17.80 | 16.94 | |||||||
| Freemantles School | 450.00 | 170.00 | |||||||
| Walton LeighSchool | 470.00 | 0.00 | |||||||
| Whitestone CareHome | 40.00 | 0.00 | |||||||
| Pre-payments | |||||||||
| Insurance,Licence &Mooringsfor 2024 | 3,157.97 | 2,918.14 | |||||||
| Creditors | |||||||||
| None | 0.00 | 0.00 | |||||||
| Nett Assets | 41,708.61 | 33,247.56 | |||||||
| RESERVES | |||||||||
| Non-Current Assets | |||||||||
| FixedAssets (ImpossibleDream) | 1 | 10,000.00 | 10,000.00 | ||||||
| Restricted Reserves | |||||||||
| Reserves Carriedforward | 2 | 23,000.00 | 15,000.00 | ||||||
| Unrestricted Reserves | |||||||||
| ReservesBroughtForward | 8,247.56 | 8,839.74 | |||||||
| Surplusfrom Income &Expenditure | 8,461.05 | 4,407.82 | |||||||
| TransfertoRestrictedReserves | -8,000.00 | -5,000.00 | |||||||
| TotalofUnrestrictedReserves | 8,708.61 | 8,247.56 | |||||||
| Total | 41,708.61 | 33,247.56 | |||||||
| Notes on the Balance Sheet | |||||||||
| 1 | The Bill of Sale shows a price of £1 having been paid by Th For accounting purposes only, a nominal value of £10,000 is replacement cost and is not related to the value for which th |
ames Sailability to SAD for "Impossible Dream". included here. This is not intended to reflect market valu e boat is insured. |
e or | ||||||
| 2 | The Trustees consider it vital for the future of the Charity tha Dream" and/or its engines. During the year, the trustees ha £8,000. |
t provision is made for the eventual replacement of "Impossible ve passed a resolution to increase the Restricted Reserves by |
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THAMES SAILABILITY - 2024
Summary of Income & Expenditure
Income Notes 2024 2023
Subscriptions
Subscriptions received (net of fees) 263.38 242.64
Passenger Donations
Receipts from passengers/clients 2,679.66 2,652.94
Grants & Other Donations
Government or Local Authority
Spelthorne Borough Council 3,000.00 2,500.00
Central Surrey Voluntary Services 2,000.00 0.00
Other
Walsingham Care 0.00 500.00
Egham United Services Club 0.00 1,000.00
Shepperton Aurora Rotary Club 500.00 1,100.00
Sunbury & Shepperton Rotary Club 1,713.00 80.00
Shepperton Marina 1,738.48 1,654.36
Mark Gubbins Gig 309.03 417.73
Men in Sheds (Greeno Centre) 100.00 0.00
Runnymede Ramblers 339.61 0.00
Laleham Evening WI 100.00 0.00
Attic Self Storage 185.00 0.00
Personal donations (via CAF, net of fees) 482.00 445.24
Other Personal Donations 351.50 322.87
10,818.62 8,020.20
Gift Aid
Gift Aid recovered via CAF, net of fees) 250.59 176.56
Sales
None 0.00 0.00
Interest
Interest on savings 610.32 307.53
Total Income 14,622.57 11,399.87
Expenses 2024 4407.82
ID Running Costs
Fuel 600.43 614.79
Boat Insurance 555.89 501.61
Environment Agency Licence 120.70 118.35
Boat Safety Examination 0.00 172.59
Mooring Fees 3,357.25 3,094.24
Sundry Maintenance 468.75 42.18
5,103.02 4,543.77
ID Maintenance & Repairs
Engine Service 0.00 1,100.93
Heating & Shore power 0.00 682.57
Replacement of Buoyancy Aids 473.84 0.00
473.84 1,783.50
Crew Training 0.00 0.00
Administration Costs
RYA, RTS and FR Subscriptions 235.00 215.00
CIO Insurance 283.89 227.66
Printing & Admin 10.57 171.79
Internet & Web-hosting 55.20 50.33
584.66 664.78
Total Expenses 6,161.52 6,992.05
Surplus 8,461.05 4,407.82
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Contact Us:
Info@thamessailability.org.uk
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