Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1/1/2024 Period start date To 31/12/2024 Period end date
Charity name: AquaPaddle
Charity registration number: 1194714
Objectives
The two key objectives of AquaPaddle are:
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the promotion of community participation in healthy recreation in particular by the provision of facilities for paddle boarding and associated water sports; and
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to provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare and mental wellbeing for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age infirmity or disability, financial hardship, or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life.
Activities, Achievements and Performance
Our focus in 2024:
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to broaden and strengthen the foundations of AquaPaddle
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to organise more AquaPaddle BlueSpace activities
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to increase the number of locations where AquaPaddle 5ks are run
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to increase the number of AquaPaddles run
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to increase the number of registered AquaPaddlers
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to build a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with British Canoeing (Paddle UK - 2024), the largest body in Britain promoting paddle sport activities
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The Board of Trustees formally met 4 times in 2024, and management meetings moved to once a month. The AquaPaddle website continued to be developed, improved and promoted through social media helping grow AquaPaddle. The website allows those interested in participating in AquaPaddle 5kms to register as a user, to obtain an AquaPaddle registration number, and to register participation in an AquaPaddle 5km. The web-based timing tool continues to perform well on the 5k AquaPaddles. All governance and operational documents were completed and reviewed and approved by the Trustees. The finances of AquaPaddle were organised on Xero accounting software. A donation page was set up on GiveTap.
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In 2024 AquaPaddle provided the following BlueSpace sessions:
- a. In August and September 2024, AquaPaddle once again partnered with Surrey Care Trust to offer a BlueSpace Paddleboarding session for young cares undergoing mentoring. The session aimed to foster confidence and well-being by introducing the participants to paddleboarding, allowing them to experience the positive effects of being out on the water and learning a new
skill. Working alongside their local Delivery Partner in Thames Ditton, AquaPaddle organized the event for 26 young people, accompanied by their care workers, with a mix of both girls and boys in attendance.
Both sessions began with an introduction to the equipment and a focus on safety, followed by engaging warm-up games. Participants were then taught to paddleboard in a safe and fun environment. The Guildford session was on the River Wey and was along a scenic route past through the city. The Thames Ditton session took the paddlers passed historic Hampton Court Palace. They learned essential skills like controlling their boards, entering and exiting the water, and working together in team challenges, including forming a "snake of boards."
By the end of the sessions, all participants were able to stand and confidently navigate their paddleboards. Beyond mastering a new skill, many overcame personal challenges such as fear, anxiety, and nervousness in group settings.
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b. Also in August 2024, AquaPaddle's Delivery Partner, ELCAN in Newham, ran a series of BlueSpace Paddleboarding sessions for Spotlight, London Jaguars and the DOST Centre Charity at their paddle base on the Limehouse Cut, part of the River Lea.
- i. A comment from one of the Charity involved in the sessions “ I would like to thank Moo Canoes/Aquapaddle for providing young people with a great opportunity to be able to learn and experience a sport that they most likely never will off their own back. Many of the young people who engaged in the session live close to the canal but may have never had the opportunity to try canoeing or engage with nature in this way. The fully funded session removes financial barriers, giving young people an equal chance to participate. The sessions promoted teamwork and problem solving within the group, challenging young people to work in pair and navigate through the difficulties that the sport brings. Many young people were scared at the beginning, but the session encourage them to overcome their fears while learning new skills and sport which has a positive effect on their confidence. Young people managed all of this while taking part in a sport that allows them to improve their health and wellbeing through active movement .”
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c. During the 2024 Coaching Season, over 80 individual BlueSpace (Blue Therapy) sessions were run at 5 locations, with more planned for 2025.
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In 2024 we increased the number of AquaPaddle locations from 20 to 30+. In addition to the existing locations, we now have locations from Scotland to Cornwall including 2 in Wales.
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At the 30 AquaPaddle locations we ran a total of 230 AquaPaddle 5ks, in which we had a total of 2,324 attendees.
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Through our website we had registered just over 5463 individuals AquaPaddlers by the end of 2024.
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In 2022 we made an agreement with British Canoeing, the largest body in Britain promoting paddle sport activities. They continued the agreement for another year in October 2023. The funding is for safety equipment for 15 new AquaPaddle 5k locations for a total value of £30,000.00 during 2023/2024. These funds are still being used as although we have grown in number of locations, these are mainly made up of location in
Scotland and Wales or commercial operations which are not covered by the agreement. The cross promotion also continues with them.
Trustee Statement
The trustees confirm that they have had due regard to the charities commission’s public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.
Volunteers
The AquaPaddle Charity is entirely run by volunteers, and its AquaPaddle 5ks are run by volunteers at the various locations. During 2024 more than 200 volunteers helped to run the charity and run the AquaPaddle events.
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | At the year-end (31stDecember 2024) AquaPaddle held a cash balance of £4,406.66. £2,200.00 of which related to the Grant (for Blue Therapy Sessions) from the PLA Active Thames fund (disclosed under Restricted Funds). The remaining sessions under this agreement were held during the 2025 season. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | No reserves are currently held. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | NIL |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | AquaPaddle is still in its early stages & uses small donations to cover expenses and working with a management team providing their time for free. |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | By December 2024 Year End the contingent loan relating to the cost of developing the website was reduced from £8,640 to £4,608 and this remaining balance was settled during the 2025. |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | At this stage, there are no concerns about the charity being a going concern. |
Structure, Governance and Management
AquaPaddle is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation governed by its constitution. AquaPaddle’s only voting members are its trustees.
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | AquaPaddle |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charitynumber | 1194714 |
Charity’s principal address
22 Merton Way West Molesey Surrey KT8 1PQ
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold Jager | Chair | |||
| Brett Scillitoe | ||||
| AnthonyWagstaff | ||||
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)
Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)
Date
Charity Name No (if any) Aquapaddle 1194714 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 1st Jan '24 31st Dec'24
Section A Receipts and payments
| Section A Receipts and payments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts Income - Donations - Individuals & Clubs 4,936 Income - Donations - Corporate - Income - Donations - Charities 225 Grant Income - Corporate 7,200 Grant Income - Blue Therapy Income - Merchandise 315 LongTerm Loan - Trustee LongTerm Loan - Trustee - - 12,676 - - Sub total - Total receipts 12,676 A3 Payments DC - DeliveryPartner Costs(Coaching) 2,020 DC - Kit & Equipment costs 199 IT & Hostingcosts 616 Telephone & Internet Hosting 130 Printing, Stationery 197 Travel - National 902 Insurance 1,729 ConsultingFees - Marketingcosts 400 LongTerm Loan - Repayment to Trustee Sub total 6,193 Website Development 4,480 Marketing& SafetyEquipment Loan repayments - Trustees 3,100 - Sub total 7,580 Total payments 13,773 Net of receipts/(payments) (1,097) A5 Transfers between funds 0 A6 Cash funds last year end 503 Cash funds this year end (594) Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ Sub total(Gross income for AR) A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 0 5,000 5,000 Restricted funds |
to the nearest £ Endowment funds |
Total funds to the nearest £ 4,936 - 225 7,200 - 315 - - - - 12,676 - - - 12,676 2,020 199 616 130 197 902 1,729 - 400 - - - - - 6,193 4,480 - 3,100 - 7,580 13,773 (1,097) 0 5,503 4,406 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
| - - - - - - - - - - - |
4,936 | 5,048 | ||
| - | - | |||
| 225 | ||||
| 7,200 | 4,000 | |||
| - | 5,000 | |||
| 315 | 712 | |||
| - | 1,373 | |||
| - | 1,000 | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| 12,676 | 17,133 | |||
| - - - |
- | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | 12,676 | 17,133 | ||
| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
2,020 | - | ||
| 199 | 728 | |||
| 616 | 491 | |||
| 130 | 115 | |||
| 197 | 99 | |||
| 902 | - | |||
| 1,729 | 1,744 | |||
| - | 210 | |||
| 400 | 64 | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | - | |||
| 6,193 | 3,451 | |||
| - - - - |
4,480 | 6,640 | ||
| - | 1,586 | |||
| 3,100 | 2,373 | |||
| - | ||||
| 7,580 | 8,226 | |||
| - | 13,773 | 11,677 | ||
| 0 | 0 0 0 0 |
(1,097) | 5,456 | |
| 0 | 0 | - | ||
| 5,000 | 5,503 | 47 | ||
| 5,000 | 4,406 | 5,503 |
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Details Current A/c Details Details Details Website Marketing & Safety Equipment Details Short Term Loan Long Term Loan - Trustee Long Term Loan - Trustee Contingent Liability re Website Dev'mt Deferred Income (re Blue Therapy) Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
to nearest £ 2,206 - - 2,206 Agreement Error to nearest £ - - - - - - Unrestricted Unrestricted Unrestricted Unrestricted Unrestricted Unrestricted Unrestricted Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates |
to nearest £ 2,200 - - 2,200 Agreement Error to nearest £ - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) 13,120 1,586 - - - - - - - 32 67 2,200 4,608 2,200 Restricted funds Restricted funds Amount due (optional) |
to nearest £ Endowment funds |
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| OK | ||||
| to nearest £ Endowment funds |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| 10,368 | ||||
| 445 | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| When due (optional) |
||||
| Short Term Loan | Unrestricted | 32 | ||
| Long Term Loan - Trustee | Unrestricted | 67 | ||
| Long Term Loan - Trustee | Unrestricted | 2,200 | ||
| Contingent Liability re Website Dev'mt | Unrestricted | 4,608 | ||
| Deferred Income (re Blue Therapy) | Unrestricted | 2,200 |
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
Signature
Date of Print Name approval