Trustees Annual Report
Reporting Period:04/10/2024 - 01/05/2025
1. Reference and Administrative Details
Charity Name: Coalwave Charity Number: 1210346
Legal Structure: Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Foundation model) Principal Office: England
Trustees:
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Pauline Fraser (Chair)
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Wendy Rudland
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James Merilo
2. Structure, Governance and Management
Coalwave is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) operating under a foundation model, where the only members are the charity’s trustees.
The trustees are responsible for the overall management and control of the charity and meet as required to set strategic direction and oversee governance.
During the reporting period:
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Trustees reviewed the charity’s operational model and long-term viability
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A formal decision was taken to refine the charity’s objects
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All decisions were made in accordance with the charity’s constitution
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Conflicts of interest were considered, and none were identified in relation to key decisions
3. Objectives and Activities
The charity’s current object is to promote recreational provision for social welfare for the benefit of inhabitants of Northumberland and surrounding areas. During the reporting period, the trustees resolved to amend the object to:
“To relieve the needs of disabled individuals and to promote their health, wellbeing, and social inclusion through the provision of aquatic activities and related recreational opportunities.”
During the reporting period, the trustees undertook a review of the charity’s original broader objectives. This review identified the need to refine the object to better reflect the charity’s intended activities and delivery model.
The updated object focuses specifically on:
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Disabled individuals as the primary beneficiary group
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• Aquatic activities as the core method of delivery
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Improving health, wellbeing, and social inclusion
4. Achievements and Performance
During the reporting period, Coalwave undertook a combination of early-stage charitable delivery and strategic organisational development.
The charity delivered targeted support in the form of:
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Preparation of professional reports to support Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) applications
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Provision of supporting diagnostic evidence for individuals
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Volunteer-led delivery of these services
These activities contributed to supporting disabled individuals in accessing appropriate services and recognition of their needs.
Alongside this initial delivery, the trustees conducted a strategic review of the charity’s operating model.
This review identified that the original model—combining the development of facilities with service delivery—was not financially achievable at this stage.
The trustees concluded that:
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The charity’s primary beneficiary group is disabled individuals
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Aquatic activity offers the most effective and accessible method of support
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A partnership based delivery model is more viable and sustainable
As a result, the trustees resolved to amend the charity’s objects to better reflect its intended activities and long-term direction.
The amended constitution was approved and submitted to the Charity Commission for consent
Pending approval, the trustees made the decision to pause further service expansion to ensure full compliance with the charity’s governing document and regulatory requirements.
During this period, progress has been made in:
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Delivering targeted beneficiary support through volunteer-led activity
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Refining the charity’s strategic direction
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Aligning its objects with a realistic and sustainable delivery model
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Positioning the organisation for future funding and partnerships
Coalwave supported 15 individuals through this work during the reporting period,providing evidence to support access to statutory services and appropriate educational and health provision.
5. Financial Review
During the reporting period:
The charity operated with a small surplus during the reporting period
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Total income: £278.00
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Total expenditure: £108.00
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Surplus: £170.00
The charity is in an early stage of development and has focused on planning and organisational development alongside limited early-stage service delivery.
The trustees have adopted a prudent approach to financial management and have not committed to expenditure beyond the charity’s current capacity.
Reserves Policy:
The charity aims to maintain sufficient reserves to meet its short-term obligations and support initial delivery once operational.
Fundraising Activity:
During the reporting period, the charity paused active fundraising.
This decision was taken following the trustees’ resolution to amend the charity’s objects and pending approval from the Charity Commission.
The trustees considered it appropriate to temporarily suspend fundraising activity to ensure transparency and consistency with the charity’s updated purposes, and to avoid seeking funding prior to formal approval of the amended objects.
Fundraising activity is expected to resume once regulatory approval is confirmed.
The trustees will seek to build income streams aligned with the charity’s revised object following regulatory approval.
6. Plans for the Future
Following approval of the amended objects, Coalwave plans to move into an active delivery phase.
Key priorities include:
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Developing accessible aquatic sessions for disabled individuals
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Establishing partnerships with local facilities and organisations
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Securing funding aligned with disability-focused provision
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Building operational capacity to support sustainable service delivery
The trustees aim to begin delivering services as soon as regulatory approval is confirmed.
7. Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
The trustees confirm that they have complied with their duties under charity law and have acted in the best interests of the charity.