2025-03-31-accounts - Emergency Services Aid Charity

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period end date 01 April 2024 31 March 2025 To

From

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Emergency Services Aid Charity Other names charity is known by ESAC Registered charity number (if any) 1199449

Charity's principal address 2 CHESTNUT STREET WORCESTER Postcode WR1 1PA

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Aidan Goundry	Chairman
Dan Poucher	Treasurer


















Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)
Name		Dates acted if not for whole year

March 2012

TAR

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser	Name Address	Name Address




Name of chief executive	or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Constitution

Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) CIO How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company) Trustees are appointed by majority vote of the existing board of trustees Trustee selection methods

(eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

The trustees govern the day-to-day operations of the charity but also plan, organise and run all expeditions overseas. The charity works closely with other charities and some government organisations who assist and advise on the expeditions.

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
adopted for the induction and As the charity draws the majority of its volunteers from the emergency training of trustees; services or armed forces there is a policy in place to dissuade volunteers
the charity’s organisational and prohibit trustees from revealing the name of the organisations they structure and any wider work for when acting on behalf of the charity. This is to prevent any network with which the charity organisations being accidently affiliated with the charity or any of its works; undertakings.
relationship with any related parties;
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Section C Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

The objects of the CIO are: 1. The advancement of health and the saving of lives in such parts of the world as the trustees shall determine, and in particular but not exclusively in developing countries, through the provision of emergency service and recovery vehicles, training, equipment and medical supplies to help more effectively reduce loss of life and injury. 2. The relief of financial need and suffering among victims of natural or other kinds of disaster in the form of money (or other means

March 2012

TAR

deemed suitable) for persons, bodies, organisations and/or countries affected.

The trustees always keep in mind the Charity Commissions guidance on public benefit. The main activities of the charity are to: - Obtain emergency vehicles (fire engines, ambulances and police vehicles) ensure these vehicles are fit for purpose and then deliver them to countries in need overseas. - Obtain emergency services related aid, such as firefighting and medical equipment and send it to countries in need overseas. These activities benefit the population of the countries we support by Summary of the main activities offering increased emergency services coverage and better life saving undertaken for the public equipment. benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

March 2012

TAR

The charity currently has no intentions of grant making or investment.

Our Operation Zephyr volunteers made a significant contribution, not just financially but physically, helping the charity to collect vehicles and donations and ensuring the vehicles were mission ready for the long drive to Africa. They also drove the vehicles to The Gambia and assisted in basic training in their use upon arrival.

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

Section D Achievements and performance

March 2012

TAR

Section D Achievements and performance

The charity’s activities this financial year were around preparing for Summary of the main Operation Zephyr 2 that departed in September 2024. Volunteers have achievements of the charity been fundraising with a view to procuring vehicles and kit. In addition to during the year this a container was filled with donations and sent to The Gambia. A convoy comprised of 18 fire engines and ambulances was successfully donated to The Gambia.

Section E Financial review

March 2012

TAR

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

There is no set reserve figure however there must always be sufficient funds to cover the charities overheads. By the nature of the operations conducted it is prudent to have sufficient reserves for the individual missions to cover unforeseen contingencies which will be higher than that for day to day business, the charity will use any of these residual funds as it sees fit and in line with the charity long term aims.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);

The charity’s main source of income is through donations raised in order for volunteers to come on Operation Zephyr 2 (September 2024). A financial target has been set that each volunteer must meet.

The charity has no overheads. Running costs for the charity website and emails.

how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s)	D Poucher (treasurer)
	Aidan Goundry (chairman)

	Aidan Goundry (chairman)	Dan Poucher (treasurer)

March 2012

TAR

Date 0511012025 TAR Maich 2012

ESAC examination of accounts 24-25

Numbers relate to The Commission’s Directions and guidance for examiners.

1 Check whether the charity is eligible to have an independent examination

The charity income is more than £25000 and requires external scrutiny of the accounts. It is a non Charity company which received less than £250,000 gross income so a qualified auditor (accountant) is not required. The accounts are recorded in “receipts and payments” basis

2 Check for any conflict of interest that prevents the examiner from carrying out their independent examination.

I have been appointed by the board and am confident there are no conflicts of interests, the board are all aware I am married to a volunteer of the charity and am therefore familiar with its aims and objectives but have no day to day involvement and can remain independent. I am a trustee for a separate trust account and have the necessary competence and skills for this type of accounting.

3 Record your independent examination

I have had access to the bank accounts for the financial year 24-25, a spreadsheet maintained by the trustees explaining expenditure and files containing individual receipts where recorded.

4 Plan the independent examination

I have reviewed the charities constitution and the way it is controlled and managed. Suggestions to improve the way receipts were logged in the previous year has made them easier to trace and compare. Due to the nature of the charities work funds are raised for specific missions which stand alone and there are very few assets of finances that are carried over from one mission to the next. Therefore if each mission is financially sound then there are very few risks to be borne.

5 Check that accounting records are kept to the required standard

I am confident accounts are kept to the required standards, they are up to date and easily accessible via the current account. The fixed assets are few and of minimum value. This accounting period covered the latest mission in Sept 24.

6 Check that the accounts are consistent with the accounting records

As detailed above Section 5. I have dip sampled a number of transactions each month and find no discrepancies. I have questioned some of these with the trustees and have been given satisfactory explanations. There was a substantial amount of funds (£20,000) transferred into various foreign currencies during the mission however I am satisfied there were always two trustees present for use of this and the amount is consistent with that spent on fuel and sundries to achieve the mission.

7 If the accounts are prepared on an accruals basis and one or more related party transactions took place the examiner must check if these were properly disclosed in the notes to the accounts.

Accounts are kept on a receipts and payments basis not accruals

8 Check the reasonableness of the significant estimates and judgments and accounting policies used in accounting for the types of fund held and in the preparation of the accounts

There are no funds held that are applicable to this section.

9 The examiner must check whether the trustees have considered the financial circumstances of the charity at the end of the reporting period and, if the accounts are prepared on an accruals basis, check whether the trustees have made an assessment of the charity’s position as a going concern when approving the accounts

I am satisfied the trustees understand their responsibilities to manage the charities money and resources and can meet its liabilities. It has a reserves policy for each specific mission and due to limited outgoings between missions is unlikely to face financial difficulties in this respect. The accounts are a factual account of cash transactions during this period.

10 Check the form and content of the accounts I have checked and conclude the accounts have been properly prepared, all accounting statements are present, and the charity can lawfully prepare such accounts.
11 Identify items from the analytical review of the accounts that need to be followed up for further explanation or evidence
I am satisfied the charity has at this stage a very simple business plan with regards the finances and fund raising. Each volunteer can justify their own fundraising sources and they are consistent with known sources. There are no branches or divisions at this stage with different accounting procedures.
12 Compare the trustees’ annual report with the accounts

The trustees annual report and the accounts are consistent and report on the public benefit.

13 Write and sign the independent examination report

Attached

14 Statutory duty to report matters of material significance to the Commission and Examiner’s discretion to report relevant matters to the Commission

I understand the statutory and discretionary matters that require reporting to the Commission and find neither applicable.

Sarah Williams 2/09/25

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees

Emergency Services Aid Charity

On accounts for the year ended

5[th] April 2025

Charity no (if any)

1199449

Set out on pages

1-4

Responsibilities and basis of report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 05/04/2025.

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 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 gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

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.

Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.

Signed:

Sarah Williams

2/09/2025

Date:

Oct 2018

IER

Name:

Sarah Williams

Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any):

Not Applicable

Address:

17 Swallow Mead, Caddington, Luton, Beds, LU1 4FP

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

none

Oct 2018

IER