HAPPY LANDINGS DRIVING GROUP RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION INCORPORATING CARRIAGE DRIVING Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] March 2024 Page **1** of **9** ## CONTENTS Our Aims and Activities ........................................................................................................................... 3 Achievement and Performance .......................................................................................................... 3 Volunteer Members ............................................................................................................................ 3 Location and Facilities ......................................................................................................................... 4 Period under Review ............................................................................................................................... 4 Financial performance ........................................................................................................................ 4 Outlook ............................................................................................................................................... 4 Risk Management ............................................................................................................................... 4 Organisers Report ................................................................................................................................... 5 Structure and Governance ...................................................................................................................... 5 Independent Examiner’s Report ............................................................................................................. 6 Financial Statement Year ended 31[st] March 2024 .................................................................................. 7 Notes to Accounts ................................................................................................................................... 8 Reference Information ............................................................................................................................ 9 Page **2** of **9** ## OUR AIMS AND ACTIVITIES Happy Landings Carriage Driving Group’s (HLDG) objective is to promote the objects of the Riding for the Disabled Association incorporating Carriage Driving (RDA) by providing disabled people with the opportunity to carriage drive to benefit their health and well-being in the West Sussex and neighbouring area. HLDG’s activities enable our disabled driver participants to live more fulfilling lives and provides them with direct and indirect benefits some of which can be life changing. All participants that can are able to learn new skills in a safe environment including horsemanship, carriage driving and communication as well as improving their personal well-being through activity and social interaction. For the more disabled we take them out to experience the pleasure of carriage driving along quiet lanes while the more ambitious are able to progress to participation in local or even national competitions with other groups. Many of the disabled people we seek to help are in urban residential care and, by reason of mental or physical disability, are socially isolated without access to external stimulus and activity. They include, for example, people with acquired brain injury, cerebral palsy, challenging behaviour and epilepsy. For many, carriage driving in specially adapted vehicles, supported by trained coaches and helpers, is the only activity they are able to do. The Trustees confirm that they have taken regard of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. ## Achievement and Performance The RDA with which we are affiliated, has clearly shown the benefits of association with horses. Carriage driving, in specially adapted vehicles, offers the same therapy for those unable to sit on a horse. Many of the disabled drivers (those that are able enough) have shown their desire for improvement by taking and passing approved proficiency tests. Benefits to our participants include: - social interaction at regular meetings - physical improvement - better communication and relationships - development of horsemanship skills - increased motivation and personal satisfaction - enhanced personal confidence and independence. Equestrian activities are physically demanding, and our disabled drivers are given the opportunity to participate to their fullest ability. We help both our disabled members and volunteers lead healthier and active outdoor lives. We receive a lot of feedback from the disabled drivers, their relatives and carers as to how much they look forward to our regular sessions. The disabled drivers remain with HLDG for many years usually until they are unable to attend our sessions. ## Volunteer Members HLDG enjoys strong support from a committed team of volunteer members, several of whom have been trained as qualified coaches that are needed to accompany the disabled participants. All volunteers are required to complete basic training before being able to help with our activities to ensure safe delivery of our activities. Records of training and skills acquired are maintained in accordance with RDA National guidelines. All volunteers are required to be cleared to work with vulnerable adults. There are also many supporters assisting with fund raising and increasing community awareness to the needs of the disabled. Page **3** of **9** ## Location and Facilities HLDG operates from a country estate at Tismans Common, near Rudgwick, West Sussex, where we drive from April to October each year on Wednesday mornings. Our facilities and the use of the grounds of the estate are kindly provided by the owner at no expense to HLDG. We also use RDA Cranleigh indoor school on Monday afternoons in the winter months to provide extra sessions. Our horses are kept stabled or loaned to us by our volunteers who ensure their welfare. They are brought to the venue for each session. HLDG also owns a number of specially adapted horse drawn carriages that will take wheelchairs and ambulant disabled drivers. ## PERIOD UNDER REVIEW This Report and Accounts relate to the year ending 31[st] March 2024. ## Financial performance A surplus for the year of £8,741 was achieved (£2,125 – 2023). Assets of £14,169 were acquired including a new custom built Fenix Freedom carriage designed to carry wheelchairs. Reserves increased to £32,166 which should enable the Group to cover expected operating costs and acquire another pony over the next two years. Donations of £27,621 were significantly higher than the prior year due, in part, to a generous legacy from a former volunteer. Operating expenses increased by 46% to £10,551 due to a significant increase in insurance and horse welfare costs coupled with general inflation. HLDG is operated entirely by our dedicated volunteers. ## Outlook Availability of suitable ponies is a primary constraint to the number of driving session that can be offered. There are three ponies currently in regular use. Efforts to increase the availability by one or two will continue but the number of driving sessions for the 2024 season are expected to be maintained at previous levels. Personal development of our volunteer helpers and coaches will continue and new volunteers will be welcomed. ## Risk Management The Trustees have considered the major risks to which the charity is exposed and satisfied themselves that systems or procedures are established in order to manage those risks. This report was approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf. John Massey John Massey (Sep 20, 2024 10:20 GMT+1) _**John Massey OBE** – Chairman_ Page **4** of **9** ## ORGANISERS REPORT Last year’s driving was very successful with not a single session having to be cancelled due to the weather. The three ponies worked well all year. It was the last year that Flash would be available to HLDG and we were on the lookout for another pony as a replacement. A new Fenix carriage was bought for use with Rocky. A total of 211 participant sessions were held. There were 18 drivers who each drove fortnightly. Sadly, one of our regular drivers, Norman Watson, died in November 2023. He had been driving with us for many years and whose passion for the sport saw him win numerous trophies and rosettes. His family said carriage driving gave him so much joy. Three new volunteers joined HLDG and all fitted in well. There were 30 volunteers in total, five of whom are RDA coaches and one who has started training. Carolyn Mudford, a great helper who continued to come between bouts of medical treatment, sadly died. Such was her commitment that she left a handsome legacy to HLDG. Driving finished at Tismans in October 2023 and then moved to Cranleigh RDA on a Monday afternoon. Sessions at Cranleigh continued until March 2024 with a couple of weeks break over the Christmas period. Socially, another very successful lunch and croquet match for the volunteers was hosted by the Chairman and his wife. HLDG celebrated the King’s coronation on the 3[rd] May with a red, white and blue themed party at Tismans and our president and founder, Ann Sheldrake, made a special appearance to join in. Fund raising continued with a skittles evening, 100 Club and the Christmas raffle. ## Carol Porter Carol Porter (Sep 20, 2024 08:45 GMT+1) _**Carol Porter** -Trustee and Group Organiser_ ## STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE HLDG is a CIO affiliated with the RDA and is governed in accordance with its founding constitution which is in accordance with RDA requirements. The board of five Trustees is responsible for governance and oversight of the charity’s activities. The board aims to meet at least quarterly. Trustees are nominated and elected by the membership. Membership is open to anyone wishing to assist in furthering the purpose of HLDG and who agrees to exercise their powers as a member in good faith. Membership is subject to approval by the Trustees to ensure that they are suitable and meet the safeguarding requirements. All volunteers are require to be “Green Carded” to show they meet the required standard of training before being allowed to participate in driver session An operations committee, chaired by the Group Organiser and Trustee, comprises a number of members who meet frequently to plan all participant sessions, events and review performance. Page **5** of **9** ## INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT ## **Report to the Trustees and Members of Happy Landings Driving Group Riding for the Disabled Association Incorporating Carriage Driving (Charity no: 1196839) on the accounts for the year ended 31[st] March 2024 set out on pages 7 to 8** I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (HLDG) for the year ended 31st March 2024. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report:** As the Charity Trustees of HLDG 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 the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. ## **Independent Examiner’s Statement:** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Stephen Monk Stephen Monk (Sep 19, 2024 21:29 GMT+1) ## _**S G Monk FCA (retired)**_ 35, Portland Avenue Hove, East Sussex, BN3 5NF Page **6** of **9** ## FINANCIAL STATEMENT YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2024 |**RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS**|**2024**||2023| |---|---|---|---| ||||| |**Receipts**|**£**||£| |Donations|**27,621**||5,621| |Fundraising (Note 2)|**2,939**||2,425| |Drivers Donations|**2,500**||2,100| |Goods sold|**0**||55| ||**33,060**||10,201| |Assets sold|**400**||0| |**Total Receipts**|**33,460**||10,201| ||||| |**Expenditure**|||| |Operatingexpenses(Note 3)|**10,551**||7231| ||||| |Assetspurchased|**14,169**||845| |**Total Expenditure**|**24,720**||8,076| ||||| |**Surplus for theperiod**|**8,741**||2,125| ||||| |**ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31st MARCH 2024**|||| ||||| |Bank balance|**32,166**||23,425| |Equipment|**7,356**||6,592| |Carriages|**24,342**||14,860| |Horses|**2,500**||2,500| |**Total Assets**(Note 4)|**66,365**||47,377| Page **7** of **9** ## NOTES TO ACCOUNTS 1. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with UK charities Financial Reporting Standard (FRS102 - 2019) on a receipts and payment basis. 2. Fundraising |Fundraising|||| |---|---|---|---| ||**2024**||**2023**| ||**£**||**£**| |Events|**1,773**||1,425| |Raffles|**536**||479| |100 Club|**380**||150| |Other|**250**||371| ||**2,939**||2,425| 3. Operating expenses |Operating expenses|||| |---|---|---|---| ||**2024**||**2023**| ||**£**||**£**| |FundraisingEvents|**1,516**||1,393| |FacilityHire|**540**||585| |Insurances|**2,543**||1,734| |Admin|**201**||746| |Volunteer Expenses|**446**||| |Equipment maintenance|**280**||0| |Horse welfare|**5,025**||2,773| ||**10,551**||7,231| 4. Fixed assets (except horses) are valued at cost less 10% annual depreciation. Horse valuations are estimated at the yearend based on likely resale value. ||**£**||**£**| |---|---|---|---| |Equipment at 31 March 2023|||6,592| |Defibrilator|1,450||| |Other|132||| ||||| |Less 10%depreciation|||818| ||||7,356| ||||| |Carriages at 31st March 2023|||14,860| |New carriage|12,587||| |Less disposals|400||| ||||| |Less 10%depreciation|||2,705| ||||24,342| Page **8** of **9** ## REFERENCE INFORMATION Charity name Happy Landings Driving Group Riding for the Disabled Association Incorporating Carriage Driving Charity number 1196839 Contact details Carol Porter Ash Tree Cottage Coolham Road Coolham HORSHAM RH13 8GP 01403741355 carolporte@aol.com www.Happylandings-RDA.co.uk Trustees Chairman John Massey OBE Secretary Angela Figgis Treasurer Susan Underhill RDA Representative Janice Massey Organiser Carol Porter Page **9** of **9**