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2024-12-31-accounts

Sussex Search and Rescue (Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

Trustee Annual Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 December 2024

(Charity Registration No. 1204106)

Reference and Administrative Details

Charity number

1204106

Trustees

The trustees who served during the year of this report were as follows:

Daniel Wood Paul Wilman Sarah McCarthy Alastair Hornby Jackie Deacon John Griffiths Simon Bennett Christopher Peacock Andy Nixon

Chair (Elected 9[th] May 2024) Secretary (Elected 9[th] May 2024) Treasurer (Elected 9[th] May 2024) Trustee (Coopted 12[th] April 2024) Trustee (Coopted 30[th] May 2024) Chair (Resigned 11[th] April 2024) Secretary (Retired 9[th] May 2024) Treasurer (Retired 9[th] May 2024) Secretary (Retired 26[th] January 2024)

Bank

Lloyds Bank plc

Registered Office

C/o Haywards Heath Police Station Bolnore Road Haywards Heath West Sussex RH16 4BA

Structure, governance and management

After a consultation and following a motion approved by its members at a special general meeting held in 2023, Sussex Search and Rescue changed its legal structure and was registered with the Charities commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 26[th] July 2023.

It was agreed that moving from an unincorporated charity to a CIO was more appropriate given the organisation’s growth in size and complexity.

With reference to the Charities Statement of Recommeded Practice (SORP) (FRS 102), as the charity’s purposes and beneficiary class remain unchanged this restructure will be treated as a merger of the two organisations.

Unincorporated Charity – Sussex Search and Rescue, 1097190 and the

CIO – Sussex Search and Rescue, 1204106

The financial accounts have been prepared to reflect this requirement of the SORP.

The restructured charity is governed by a constitution, which has been adopted by the voting members. The board of Trustees are elected by the members with overall management for the charity. They will hold office for two years, with the provision to be reappointed for a second term.

At the Annual General Meeting (AGM), the trustees appoint, in consultation with the membership a Management Committee who aid with the day-today management of the charity. Delegation to the Management Committee is defined by a terms of reference document for the Management Committee.

The charity works in partnership with Sussex Police and all members are police vetted before being accepted as operational within the team. This vetting is renewable every three years.

The charity remains a full member of the wider national network of the Association Lowland Search and Rescue.

Objectives and activities

natural hazard by the provision of a trained search and rescue capability to assist Sussex Police and other agencies.

The trustees have continued with their duty having due regard to the commission's public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.

Achievements and performance during the year 2024 Statistics

----- Start of picture text -----
37 Callouts
2013 Search Hours
67 Volunteers
Includes: 6 Advanced Medical 1st Responders
8 Swift Water Technicians, 2 Flood First Responders
4 Incident Vehicles
2 Rescue Boats
Underwater Sonar capability
Social media supporters:
5.8k facebook page likes, 6.5k Followers,
1.2k Instagram followers
----- End of picture text -----

Operational achievements

The Chief Constable Jo Shiner, continues as our Patron. The trustees and team fully appreciate the confidence and support of the Chief Constable and her recognition of the importance of the team in her force’s work to locate vulnerable missing people.

Total number of call outs reduced in 2024 to 37, these were primarily in Sussex but also, as usual, included assists with other neighbouring counties as requested.

The split of call outs across the county included:

Several of these were multiple day searches which adds a level of complexity for search planning and physical and mental demand on our volunteers.

One notable search of this year was when one of our newly qualified search technicians was on route to an assist call out and identified the misper while on route to the rendezvous point.

We remain an active member of the Sussex Resilience Forum, which held regular meetings throughout the year and we were recognised as one of the key resources which could be deployed should the need arise.

As a member of the Association of Lowland Rescue, we annually provide them and to the police, statistics on all incidents attended, these are built up nationally with the intention of improving search planning for future incidents.

Membership

The member volunteers continued to commit to several thousand of registered hours in 2024, with unquantified unregistered hours, highlighting that their commitment and dedication continues to be the greatest asset of the organisation.

The team membership numbers at the end of year were at 67 which included

During the year the Inflow included thirteen new members under training, who have all now qualified and are operational as licenced search technicians.

Sadly, the team saw eight retirements during the year, with one then fortunately deciding to rejoin the team and one member moved to a support role.

We had a great PR opportunity in 2024 when one of our members was interviewed and filmed for a short piece based around women in Search and Rescue which then aired on Meridian News.

Following on with the considerations and feedback from the members attitude survey in 2023, it was agreed by the committee that a number of social events could be beneficial to team morale and cohesion and a quarterly event was held for team members and their families.

Training

The training team ensured the invaluable training sessions continued and we were able to put on regular training exercises in various disciplines required to keep the team competent.

Alongside the main search training nights, our specialised capabilities also had their monthly trainings sessions.

Sonar, Water, and Advanced Medical trainings.

Qualifications during 2024 included:

Financial review

Following the change of status of the organisation and the setup of the new CIO, all physical assets of the previous unincorporated organisation were transferred as per the approval of the members and the charities commission. This included an initial cash transfer into the CIO bank account, some funds have remained in the unincorporated organisation while it is closed down and all remaining payments and receipts are moved to the CIO. The final transfer will be completed in the early part of 2025.

The charity finished the year in a healthy financial position with £53k of unrestricted reserves which are held in order to fulfil future charitable aims and objectives, build a designated fund towards future replacement of the control vehicles and to be sufficient to cover a minimum of 12 months operational expenditure.

In 2024 the organisation was successful in securing £14.4k in grant funding. Four restricted grants were received from the Ernest Kleinwort

trust, Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation, Sussex Resilience Forum and Thales Community Funds for various equipment and trainings for the team and two unrestricted grants from the Grace Trust and the Chalk Cliff Trust.

Income from 20 fundraising activities, community talks and events raised £13.8k which included funds of £6.6k from a new event, where we were nominated as their Charity of the year .

Team members excelled themselves yet again with the extra time and effort put in to attend these activities.

Approval

This report was approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

…………………………………..

Paul Wilman Secretary Date: 12[th] February 2025

SUSSEX SEARCH AND RESCUE -1204106

Bringing the missing home

Receipts and payments account for the period July 2023 to December 2024

Receipts
Donations
Training Courses
Interest Received
Transfer of Funds - SuSAR 1097190
VAT Refund
Asset and investment sales
Sale of assets
Total receipts
Total Income
Payments
Operational equipment
Vehicle repairs, maintenance and fuel
Member training
Fundraising equipment & Marketing
Insurance
Other expenditure
Asset and investment sales
Purchases of assets
Total payments
Net of receipts (payments) for the year
Reconciliation of funds in the year
Cash funds at previous year end
Net income (expenditure) for the year
Cash funds at year end		 2024
2024
2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
20,263
6,492
26,754
-
-
-
-
5,000
-
5,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
25,263
6,492
31,754
25,263
6,492
31,754
2,736
492
3,228
3,063
-
3,063
1,532
-
1,532
96
-
96
3,217
-
3,217
377
-
377
11,022
492
11,513
-
11,022
492
11,513
14,241
6,000
20,241
-
-
14,241
6,000
20,241
14,241
6,000
20,241		 2023
Total
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
25,263
25,263
2,736
3,063
1,532
96
3,217
377
11,022
11,022
14,241
-
14,241
14,241

Statement of assets and liabilities as at 31 December 2024

Cash funds
Operations account
Net assets and liabilities		 2024
2024
2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
14,241
6,000
20,241
-
-
-
14,241
6,000
20,241
14,241
6,000
20,241		 2023
Total
£
-
-
Assets retained for the Charity's
Fund to which
own use.
Asset Belongs
Vehicles
Unrestricted
Computer Equipment
Unrestricted
Radio Equipment
Unrestricted
Radio Equipment
Restricted
Medical Equipment
Unrestricted
Medical Equipment
Restricted
SAR Equipment
Unrestricted
Water Equipment
Restricted
Water Equipment
Unrestricted
Sonar Equipment
Restricted
Other Equipment
Unrestricted		 Cost 2024
£
56,651
11,864
2,729
25,736
3,643
1,555
4,985
18,565
4,820
7,566
1,180
139,296

Signed on behalf of the trustees by: Date: 12th February 2025

……………………………………………… ……………………………………………… ……………………………………… Sarah McCarthy Daniel Wood Paul Wilman Treasurer Chairman Secretary

Sussex Search and Rescue Financial Statements for the period

1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024

Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees of the Sussex Search and Rescue.

This report on the financial statements of the Sussex Search and Rescue for the year ended 31 December 2024 set out on the following pages is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with s145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act).

Respective responsibilities of Trustees and the examiner

As trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements; and consider that the audit requirement of s144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibilty to examine the accounts under s145 of the Act, state on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charities Commissioners under s145(5)(b) the Act, and state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiners' report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions under s145(5)(b) of the Act .

The proceedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a "true and fair view" and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiners' statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

to keep accounting records in accordance with s130 of the Act; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act and regulations have not been met, or

Bytheway and Co.

Bytheway & Co Chartered Certified Accountants Heame House 23 Bilston Street Sedgley Dudley DY3 1JA

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