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2023-10-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01/11/22 Period start date To 31/10/23

Period end date

Charity name: London Search and Rescue

Charity registration number: 1192257

Objectives and Activities

SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document		 Para 1.17 The objects of the charity are to preserve
and protect life
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.		 Para 1.17 and
1.19		 In pursuit of the charity’s objects,
London Search and Rescue provides and
maintains an emergency search and
rescue service for the benefit of the
public by:
(1) The provision of a dedicated and
trained volunteer service to assist
the emergency services in the
operation of search and rescue
within London; and
(2) By the provision of support to
other search and rescue
organisations across the UK if
called upon and able to do so.
Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit		 Para 1.18 The Trustees confirm that in fulfilling
their obligations and discharging their
duties in respect of London Search and
Rescue that they have regard to the
guidance issued by the Charity
Commission on public benefit.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

SORP reference
Contribution made by
volunteers		 Para 1.38 London Search and Rescue is a charity
run entirely by volunteers. Our volunteers
consist of trustees, the senior leadership
team, support services and operational
teams.
It is our operational teams who undertake
our search and rescue operations and
form the bedrock of the charity’s
activities. Our operational teams are on-
call to attend any call-outs day or night
within the whole of the Greater London
area.

During the year the charity organised continuous development and training for existing search operatives and organised training for new search operatives. The operational teams are supported by volunteers with considerable expertise in specialist support including IT, data management, human resources, communications and marketing, risk management and legal. The operational teams and support services teams are managed and supervised by a senior leadership team that reports to the trustees.

Achievements and Performance

SORP reference
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.		 Para 1.20 In the year from 1 November 2022 to 31
October 2023, London Search and
Rescue has been called-out to assist
emergency services in the operation of
search and rescue of missing and
vulnerable people on 48 occasions
totalling 1,500 hours of volunteer search
activity.
These searches have benefitted the
individuals concerned, their loved ones
and the wider community.

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period		 Para 1.21 At 31 October 2023 cash at bank totalled
£157,046 (2022: £110,495), of which
£21,903 (2022: £24,059) was unrestricted
funds and £135,143 (2022: £86,436) of
restricted funds.
Total income received was £204,047
(2022: £125,733).
During the year London Search and
Rescue received the balance of £170,000
for the purchase of two new Incident
Control Vehicles (the total donation
received was £251,500).
Total expenditure was £27,058 (2022:
£38,933) plus a further £130,437 (2022:
£20,000) on vehicles.
As mentioned in last year’s report, a
£20,000 deposit was paid to a company
supplying the original vehicle that
subsequently went into administration;
the charity continues to pursue
recovering this money.
The charity received unrestricted
income totalling £8,947 generated via
various fundraising activities,
donations, and grants for which we
continue to be exceptionally grateful to
all contributors. The funds have helped
to improve the operational capabilities,
including running medical courses,
upgrading and replacing much needed
equipment and to pay for the running
costs of the existing incident control
vehicles.
The charity also successfully applied for
National Lottery Community Fund
grants totalling £20,000, £10,000 to
enhance our Air / Drone capabilities and
£10,000 for night vision and specialist
lighting equipment.
Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held		 Para 1.22 Incomes received during the year are
spent to achieve the stated aims,
objectives and activities of the charity
and in line with any requirements of
donors or grant awarding bodies. Any
surplus funds are carried forward to be
utilised in future years. The charity
aims to hold only sufficient unrestricted
reserves to cover one year of running
costs in the event that income levels
decrease substantially due to
**unforeseen circumstances. **
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 Unrestricted Reserve:
£21,903 (£2022: £24,059)
Restricted Reserve:
£135,143 (2022: £86,436)
Reasons for holding zero
reserves		 Para 1.22 N/A
Details of fund materially in
deficit		 Para 1.24 N/A
Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern		 Para 1.23 N/A

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s
trusts:
Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)		 Para 1.25 The Charity is governed by its
Constitution.
How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)		 Para 1.25 The Charity 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		 Para 1.25 Trustees can be appointed in three ways:
(1) By election
(2) By nomination (with the
nomination entity being the Board
of Trustees)
(3) Ex officio (chair only)

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees		 Para 1.51 Prior to nomination / election trustees are
provided with an information and briefing
pack which clearly defines their
responsibilities and obligations.
Following nomination / election, trustees
are offered legal training to review their
legal obligations in more depth and
established trustees are offered refresher
training on their legal obligations.
These policies and procedures are
currently the subject of a review and
refresh as part of the charity’s overall
focus on improving and strengthening its
governance. In this respect the charity
has recently appointed a Charity
Secretary as well as a number of support
specialists to support improved
governance.
The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works		 Para 1.51 The operational teams and support
services teams are managed and
supervised by a Senior Leadership Team
(SLT). The SLT reports to the trustees
formally through reports to the Trustees
ahead of Trustee board meetings and
informally as necessary and appropriate.
Relationship with any related
parties		 Para 1.51 None
Other The Board of Trustees operates a risk
register and a register of conflicts, both
of which documents are periodically
reviewed to ensure they remain current.

The Board of Trustees has a schedule of meetings set out for the year to ensure that risks, finance and funding are continuously reviewed, as well as other issues that arise during the course of the year. The trustees also meet informally from time to time when necessary and are on hand to deal with urgent issues that might arise.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name London Search and Rescue
Other name the charity uses LONSARor LondonSAR
Registered charity number **1192257 **
Charity’s principal address The Warren, Croydon Road, Hayes, Bromley, BR2 7AL.

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity






 Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for whole
year		 Name of person (or body) entitled
to appoint trustee(if any)
Paul Lewis Chair
Sean McCarry Internal
development
Steve Wood Operational
development
Steve McGowan Training and
accreditation
Chris Murphy Support services
Duncan Hardy Support services

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) Paul Lewis Position (eg Secretary, Chair Chair, etc) Date

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A
Independent Examiner’s Report		 Section A
Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/
members of
On accounts for the year
ended
Set out on pages
Responsibilities and
basis of report		 Charity Name
London Search and Rescue
31 October 2023
Charity no
(if any)
1192257
8&9
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/10/2023.
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the
accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011
(“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of 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 examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

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.

Date: 12/08/2024

Signed: Name: Kathleen Moss Relevant professional Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 48 Lawn Terrace, London, SE3 9LP

Oct 2018

IER

1

Charity Name No (if any) London Serach and Rescue 1192257 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 01 November 2022 31 October 2023

Section A Receipts and payments

A1 Receipts Unrestricted
funds
to the nearest £
8,947
2,134
2,500
467		 Unrestricted
funds
to the nearest £
8,947
2,134
2,500
467		 Restricted funds
to the nearest £
-
190,000
-
-		 Restricted funds
to the nearest £
-
190,000
-
-		 Endowment
funds
to the nearest £		 Total funds
to the nearest £
8,947
192,134
2,500
467
-
-
-
-
204,047
-
-
-
204,047		 Last year
to the nearest £
Fundraising 8,947 - -
-
-
-		 8,947 21,609
Operations 2,134 190,000 192,134 100,429
Training 2,500 - 2,500 1,994
Support 467 - 467 1,701
Trustees and Directors(insurance and o
-		 - - - -
- - -
-
-
-		 - -
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total(Gross income for AR)
14,047		 190,000 204,047 125,733
(
,
table).
Kit Loan - -
-
-		 - 3,000
Vehicle - - -
Sub total - - 3,000
Total receipts
14,047 - 204,047 128,733

A3 Payments

A3 Payments A3 Payments
Fundraising - - - - 3,026
Operations 6,795 9,040 - 15,835 47,299
Training 746 1,816 - 2,561 3,760
Support 3,306 - - 3,306 2,238
Trustees and Directors (insurance and other) 5,356 - - 5,356 2,610
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total 16,203 10,855 - 27,058 58,933
A4 Asset and investment
~~h~~
Kit Loan		 ~~(~~ ~~bl )~~
- - - - -
Vehicle - 130,437 - 130,437 -
Sub total - 130,437 - 130,437 -
Total payments 16,203 141,292 - 157,495 58,933
Net of receipts/(payments) - 2,156 48,708 - 46,552 69,800
A5 Transfers between funds
- - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 24,059 86,435 - 110,495 40,695
Cash funds this year end 21,903 135,143 - 157,046 110,495

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of
all the trustees
B1 Cash funds
B2 Other monetary assets
B3 Investment assets
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use
B5 Liabilities		 (agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
Details
Cash on hand
Total cash funds
Details
Stock
Details
Details
Details
Vehicle deposit
Vehicles
Loan
Signature		 Unrestricted
funds
Restricted funds
to nearest £
to nearest £
21,903
135,143
-
-
-
-
21,903
135,143
OK
OK
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted funds
to nearest £
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which asset
belongs
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which asset
belongs
Cost (optional)
20,000
-
130,437
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
liability relates
Amount due
(optional)
3,000
-
-
-
Print Name
Steve Wood		 Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
OK
Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
When due
(optional)
Date of approval
Steve Wood 13 Aug24