Trustees Annual Report 2024 (CC)
Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue (BLSAR), is a group of volunteers, about 70 strong, who support Thames Valley Police in searching for, and rescuing vulnerable missing people, mainly in Berkshire. These individuals are likely to be depressed or suicidal, living with dementia, or suffering from poor mental health. As part of a national organisation, Lowland Rescue, our members are trained to national standards which allows them to support teams in surrounding counties to undertake searches, and further afield when required. The training and resources of the team allow us to deploy searchers on foot, on or in the water including the use of sonar, and the use of drones (RPAS). Once the missing person has been found members of the team have been trained to provide a high level of medical care.
The training and resources also allow us to support Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) with water searches and provision of RPAS capability. In the past the team have assisted RBFRS with evacuation of homes in flood affected areas. We are also able to support other statutory agencies such as local authorities. Support has included the deployment of sand bags, and during the COVID crisis, the administration of vaccines.
BLSAR relies on several different funding streams to provide the necessary finances to keep the team running. These streams include: payment for services provided such as marshalling and first aid cover at events such as the Bracknell Half Marathon and Wokingham Fireworks; donations from members of the public through bucket collections and money raised by families who have benefitted from searches conducted by the team; we have also been successful with several grant applications which have financed capital for new equipment and vehicles.
The money raised is predominantly spent on the running costs of the team which currently runs at about £25,000 to £30,000 per annum. Purchasing of new, and replacement, equipment means that the team can provide the
services as mentioned above. The team are currently in the process of trying to locate a new base where vehicles and equipment can be stored. To this end a proportion of the team income has been ring fenced for any work that maybe required to make premises serviceable for our needs.
Berkshire Lowland Search & Rescue (BLSAR)
Toutley Depot, Forest Road, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 5QP treasurer@BerkshireRescue.org.uk www.BerkshireRescue.org.uk Tel: 0300 321 0384
ACCOUNTS
FOR THE 12-MONTH PERIOD 1 APRIL 2023 – 31 MARCH 2024
Charity No: 1202260
Section A Receipts and payments (12 months)
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 8,243 24,516 671 1,013 129,714 826 |
Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 8,243 24,516 671 1,013 129,714 826 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - 5,408 - - 2,627 - |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - 5,408 - - 2,627 - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 8,243 29,924 671 1,013 132,341 826 |
Total funds to the nearest £ 8,243 29,924 671 1,013 132,341 826 |
12 month ended 31/03/2023 to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Training Courses and Event Services | 8,243 | - | - | 8,243 | - | ||||
| Grants and Donations | 24,516 | 5,408 | - | 29,924 | - | ||||
| Merchandise and Equipment Sales | 671 | - | - | 671 | - | ||||
| Team reimbursments | 1,013 | - | - | 1,013 | - | ||||
| Merger of Charities | 129,714 | 2,627 | 132,341 | - | |||||
| Other income | 826 | - | - | 826 | - | ||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | 164,983 | 8,035 | - | 173,017 | - |
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). | - - |
- - |
- - |
- - |
- - |
- - |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| **Total receipts ** | |||||||||
| 164,983 | 8,035 | - | 173,017 | - |
A3 Payments
| A3 Payments | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Departmental Operations except Fundraising | 15,499 | 2,627 | - | 18,125 | - | ||||
| Fleet upkeep & fuel | 3,239 | - | - | 3,239 | - | ||||
| Training | 3,455 | - | - | 3,455 | - | ||||
| Insurance & Affiliation | 6,635 | - | - | 6,635 | - | ||||
| HQ Costs | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Misc/Admin | 140 | - | - | 140 | - | ||||
| Cost of Courses and Event Services | 40 | - | - | 40 | - | ||||
| Fundraising Costs | 109 | - | - | 109 | - | ||||
| **Sub total ** | 29,117 | 2,627 | - | 31,743 | - | ||||
| - - |
- - |
4,858 - |
|||||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) | |||||||||
| Titan Stretcher | 4,858 | - | - | 4,858 | |||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | 4,858 | - | - | 4,858 | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts /(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
|||||||||
| 33,975 | 2,627 | - | 36,601 | - | |||||
| 131,008 | 5,408 | - | 136,416 | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| 131,008 | 5,408 | - | 136,416 | - |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the 12m period
| Categories | Details | Details | Details | Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | |||||||
| B1 Cash funds | Current Accounts | 25,148 | 5,408 | - | |||||
| Reserve Accounts | 105,810 | ||||||||
| Paypal | - | ||||||||
| Cash | 50 | - | |||||||
| Total cash funds | 131,008 | 5,408 | - | ||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
|||||||
| B2 Other monetary assets |
Details | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | |||||
| Unclaimed VAT rebate | 835 | - | |||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||
| B3 Investment assets | Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
|||||
| N/A | - | - | |||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
|||||
| Land SAR Equipment | Unrestricted | 4,300 | |||||||
| Medical Equipment eg defibrillators |
Unrestricted | 2,018 | |||||||
| Water SAR Equipment | Unrestricted | 3,451 | |||||||
| Sonar - Humminbird | 2 - Morrisons Foundation |
2,401 | |||||||
| Water Rescue Vehicle and boat trailer |
DfT Maritime Fund 2019 |
7,235 | |||||||
| Incident Control Unit | Unrestricted | 34,364 | |||||||
| B5 Liabilities | Details | Fund to which liability relates |
Amount due (optional) |
When due (optional) |
|||||
*The restricted funds relate to:
| Opening Balance |
Received | Spent | Closing Balance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1: TVP Police and Crime Commissioner - SARMAN | £ 20.00 | £ - | £ 20.00 | £ - |
| 2: Morrisons Foundation - Sonar | 2,607.54 £ |
2,607.54 £ |
£ - | |
| 3: Nurture Holdings - Equipment | - £ |
2,408.36 £ |
£ 2,408.36 | |
| 4: Berkshire CommunityFoundation - Defibs | 3,000.00 £ |
£ 3,000.00 | ||
| £ - | ||||
| £ - | ||||
| Total | 2,627.54 £ |
5,408.36 £ |
2,627.54 £ |
5,408.36 £ |
Signed by the treasurer and one trustee on behalf of all the trustees
| Signature | Print Name | Date Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Nick McLean | 30/05/24 | |
| Adam Waller | 20/05/2024 |
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue CIO members of
On accounts for the year 31 March 2024 Charity no 1202260 ended (if any) Set out on pages 1 – 4 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2024 .
Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the CIO, you are responsible for the preparation of basis of report 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 gives 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.
Signed: Date: 21[st] May 2024 Name: Karl Cantwell Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 16 Canada Road Erith DA8 2HE
October 2018
5
IER
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight 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 .
October 2018
6
IER
Berkshire Lowland Search & Rescue (BLSAR)
Toutley Depot, Forest Road, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 5QP treasurer@BerkshireRescue.org.uk www.BerkshireRescue.org.uk Tel: 0300 321 0384
ACCOUNTS
FOR THE 12-MONTH PERIOD 1 APRIL 2023 – 31 MARCH 2024
Charity No: 1202260
Section A Receipts and payments (12 months)
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 8,243 24,516 671 1,013 129,714 826 |
Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 8,243 24,516 671 1,013 129,714 826 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - 5,408 - - 2,627 - |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - 5,408 - - 2,627 - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 8,243 29,924 671 1,013 132,341 826 |
Total funds to the nearest £ 8,243 29,924 671 1,013 132,341 826 |
12 month ended 31/03/2023 to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Training Courses and Event Services | 8,243 | - | - | 8,243 | - | ||||
| Grants and Donations | 24,516 | 5,408 | - | 29,924 | - | ||||
| Merchandise and Equipment Sales | 671 | - | - | 671 | - | ||||
| Team reimbursments | 1,013 | - | - | 1,013 | - | ||||
| Merger of Charities | 129,714 | 2,627 | 132,341 | - | |||||
| Other income | 826 | - | - | 826 | - | ||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | 164,983 | 8,035 | - | 173,017 | - |
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). | - - |
- - |
- - |
- - |
- - |
- - |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| **Total receipts ** | |||||||||
| 164,983 | 8,035 | - | 173,017 | - |
A3 Payments
| A3 Payments | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Departmental Operations except Fundraising | 15,499 | 2,627 | - | 18,125 | - | ||||
| Fleet upkeep & fuel | 3,239 | - | - | 3,239 | - | ||||
| Training | 3,455 | - | - | 3,455 | - | ||||
| Insurance & Affiliation | 6,635 | - | - | 6,635 | - | ||||
| HQ Costs | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Misc/Admin | 140 | - | - | 140 | - | ||||
| Cost of Courses and Event Services | 40 | - | - | 40 | - | ||||
| Fundraising Costs | 109 | - | - | 109 | - | ||||
| **Sub total ** | 29,117 | 2,627 | - | 31,743 | - | ||||
| - - |
- - |
4,858 - |
|||||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) | |||||||||
| Titan Stretcher | 4,858 | - | - | 4,858 | |||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | 4,858 | - | - | 4,858 | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts /(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
|||||||||
| 33,975 | 2,627 | - | 36,601 | - | |||||
| 131,008 | 5,408 | - | 136,416 | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| 131,008 | 5,408 | - | 136,416 | - |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the 12m period
| Categories | Details | Details | Details | Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | |||||||
| B1 Cash funds | Current Accounts | 25,148 | 5,408 | - | |||||
| Reserve Accounts | 105,810 | ||||||||
| Paypal | - | ||||||||
| Cash | 50 | - | |||||||
| Total cash funds | 131,008 | 5,408 | - | ||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
|||||||
| B2 Other monetary assets |
Details | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | |||||
| Unclaimed VAT rebate | 835 | - | |||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||
| B3 Investment assets | Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
|||||
| N/A | - | - | |||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
|||||
| Land SAR Equipment | Unrestricted | 4,300 | |||||||
| Medical Equipment eg defibrillators |
Unrestricted | 2,018 | |||||||
| Water SAR Equipment | Unrestricted | 3,451 | |||||||
| Sonar - Humminbird | 2 - Morrisons Foundation |
2,401 | |||||||
| Water Rescue Vehicle and boat trailer |
DfT Maritime Fund 2019 |
7,235 | |||||||
| Incident Control Unit | Unrestricted | 34,364 | |||||||
| B5 Liabilities | Details | Fund to which liability relates |
Amount due (optional) |
When due (optional) |
|||||
*The restricted funds relate to:
| Opening Balance |
Received | Spent | Closing Balance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1: TVP Police and Crime Commissioner - SARMAN | £ 20.00 | £ - | £ 20.00 | £ - |
| 2: Morrisons Foundation - Sonar | 2,607.54 £ |
2,607.54 £ |
£ - | |
| 3: Nurture Holdings - Equipment | - £ |
2,408.36 £ |
£ 2,408.36 | |
| 4: Berkshire CommunityFoundation - Defibs | 3,000.00 £ |
£ 3,000.00 | ||
| £ - | ||||
| £ - | ||||
| Total | 2,627.54 £ |
5,408.36 £ |
2,627.54 £ |
5,408.36 £ |
Signed by the treasurer and one trustee on behalf of all the trustees
| Signature | Print Name | Date Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Nick McLean | 30/05/24 | |
| Adam Waller | 20/05/2024 |
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue CIO members of
On accounts for the year 31 March 2024 Charity no 1202260 ended (if any) Set out on pages 1 – 4 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2024 .
Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the CIO, you are responsible for the preparation of basis of report 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 gives 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.
Signed: Date: 21[st] May 2024 Name: Karl Cantwell Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 16 Canada Road Erith DA8 2HE
October 2018
5
IER
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight 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 .
October 2018
6
IER