2025-12-31-accounts - Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01 January 2025 Period start date T0 31 December 2025 Period end date

Charity name: CLEVELAND MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM

Charity registration number: 252905

Objectives and Activities


Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team provides a voluntary Search and Rescue service for people who are in difficulty in the upland areas of the North York Moors. In addition, we provide this service when needed to lowland, urban, animal and water/flood issues both locally and in other parts of the UK as required
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	The Team’s work is broad and varied. It comprises, in the above-mentioned areas: Rescues of people who are injured, Searches for people (some of whom are described as vulnerable) who are lost or missing and sometimes evacuation of people in communities subject to flooding conditions. Sadly, sometimes we are involved in the recovery of the deceased. Additionally, we are trained in swift water rescue techniques where people find themselves in difficulties in water environments such as flooding and rivers. Occasionally we give assistance to animals like dogs who are in a precarious position. This is to hopefully prevent the animal’s owner attempting a self-rescue and subsequently getting into difficulties. To be able to carry out this work the Team operates a fleet of four vehicles, one a Control vehicle equipped with state-of-the-art IT and radios, and three 4x4 vehicles of which two are Land Rovers. The IT facilities in the vehicles have been updated to keep in touch with developments and now include in the Land Rovers iPads which show inter alia, location, route finding and essential internet connectivity. A well-equipped modern, secure Base houses the vehicles and our equipment. This equipment includes inter alia technical equipment for crag work, comprehensive medical equipment, water rescue equipment, as well as drying and secure storage. The Base IT facilities have also been updated. We are pursuing plans for a technical rescue training facility in the Base. The Base also lends itself to be operational purposes and has a Control Room for use in local Call Outs. Furthermore, there are audio visual facilities for our

Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document

Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team provides a voluntary
Search and Rescue service for people who are in
difficulty in the upland areas of the North York Moors.
In addition, we provide this service when needed to
lowland, urban, animal and water/flood issues both
locally and in other parts of the UK as required

Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.

The Team’s work is broad and varied. It comprises, in
the above-mentioned areas: Rescues of people who are
injured, Searches for people (some of whom are
described as vulnerable) who are lost or missing and
sometimes evacuation of people in communities
subject to flooding conditions. Sadly, sometimes we
are involved in the recovery of the deceased.
Additionally, we are trained in swift water rescue
techniques where people find themselves in difficulties
in water environments such as flooding and rivers.
Occasionally we give assistance to animals like dogs
who are in a precarious position.
This is to hopefully prevent the animal’s owner
attempting a self-rescue and subsequently getting into
difficulties.
To be able to carry out this work the Team operates a
fleet of four vehicles, one a Control vehicle equipped
with state-of-the-art IT and radios, and three 4x4
vehicles of which two are Land Rovers.
The IT facilities in the vehicles have been updated to
keep in touch with developments and now include in
the Land Rovers iPads which show inter alia, location,
route finding and essential internet connectivity. A
well-equipped modern, secure Base houses the
vehicles and our equipment. This equipment includes
inter alia technical equipment for crag work,
comprehensive medical equipment, water rescue
equipment, as well as drying and secure storage. The
Base IT facilities have also been updated. We are
pursuing plans for a technical rescue training
facility in the Base.
The Base also lends itself to be operational purposes
and has a Control Room for use in local Call Outs.
Furthermore, there are audio visual facilities for our

	own training and for local groups to be invited to the Base for talks and demonstrations. All Search and Rescue Team members are rigorously trained to meet local demands and the MREW (our national representative body) guidelines. We also provide PPE equipment to our members. Some of our Team are Support members, who amongst other things raise money for the Team by reaching out to the local public and local organisations. Often this involves a presence at local shows and events which contributes to the public awareness of hill safety and our activities. These members are also rigorously trained.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	It can be confirmed that the Team has regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit. The services of the Team are totally free to the public.

own training and for local groups to be invited to the
Base for talks and demonstrations.
All Search and Rescue Team members are rigorously
trained to meet local demands and the MREW (our
national representative body) guidelines. We also
provide PPE equipment to our members.
Some of our Team are Support members, who amongst
other things raise money for the Team by reaching out
to the local public and local organisations. Often this
involves a presence at local shows and events which
contributes to the public awareness of hill safety and
our activities. These members are also rigorously
trained.

Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit

It can be confirmed that the Team has regard to the
Charity Commission guidance on public benefit. The
services of the Team are totally free to the public.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:


Policy on grant making	The Charity does not provide grants
Policy on social investment including program related investment	The charity does not run a program of social investment.
Contribution made by volunteers	The Charity is entirely dependent upon volunteering. No payments are made to any volunteer for their contribution to the fulfilment of the objectives of the charity. In 2025 volunteers gave 2714 hours of their time to search and rescue to respond to 61 Call Outs (52 in 2024, 51 in 2023), whilst there was a further 11 Incidents to which the full Team was not deployed. Incidents are classed as occasions when we are asked for advice by the authorities or times when we are stood own before we are deployed (see below for further explanation). The Team undertook training from basic to advanced levels on 179 times amounting to a further 7319 hours beyond which there are administration and other activities is in addition to the above hours.
Other	There are 4 Base Trustees named below. They have been appointed and do not require re-election. Like the other Trustees they submit a report to the AGM. The elected Trustees submit a report to the Annual General Meeting.

Achievements and Performance


Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	In Cleveland MRT we define ‘calls for service’ in two ways: • A Call Out is where at least one member leaves home or work etc to head to the Base or to an RV, having been requested to do so in relation to a search or rescue etc (even if stood down on the way there). • An incident includes a range of circumstances such as event cover where injuries are dealt with (e.g. the Boltby Bash Mountain Bike Enduro event) or a standby (e.g. for flooding) or we were cancelled before anyone left home etc or the Call Out Officer dealt with a Police / Ambulance call for advice but where no deployment took place or a SARCALL log was transferred to another Team to deal with. A SARCALL log is the electronic method we use for data capture on a Call Out. Cleveland MRT is part of the North East Search and Rescue Association and supports the work of this organisation and provides mutual support to neighbouring Mountain Rescue Teams when an incident exceeds the capability of a single Team. We regularly receive compliments and expressions of gratitude via emails, social media, donations and the press. We regularly receive thanks and verbal appreciation from the Police and Ambulance Service. They indicate that we make a difference.

Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.

In Cleveland MRT we define ‘calls for service’ in two
ways:
• A Call Out is where at least one member leaves home
or work etc to head to the Base or to an RV, having
been requested to do so in relation to a search or
rescue etc (even if stood down on the way there).
• An incident includes a range of circumstances such
as event cover where injuries are dealt with (e.g. the
Boltby Bash Mountain Bike Enduro event) or a standby
(e.g. for flooding) or we were cancelled before anyone
left home etc or the Call Out Officer dealt with a Police /
Ambulance call for advice but where no deployment
took place or a SARCALL log was transferred to
another Team to deal with. A SARCALL log is the
electronic method we use for data capture on a Call
Out.
Cleveland MRT is part of the North East Search and
Rescue Association and supports the work of this
organisation and provides mutual support to
neighbouring Mountain Rescue Teams when an
incident exceeds the capability of a single Team.
We regularly receive compliments and expressions of
gratitude via emails, social media, donations and the
press. We regularly receive thanks and verbal
appreciation from the Police and Ambulance Service.
They indicate that we make a difference.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	The Team was able to meet the objective to provide a search and rescue service 24/7 throughout 2025.
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	The fundraising activities of the Support Group and others achieved the objective to provide money to operate the Team and enable projects, such as the acquisition of drone equipment and the required training and licencing that will enhance our search capabilities. Their contributions continue to enable us to meet all our objectives. Fundraising as raised by the Support Group £24,592.24 and the fundraising costs associated with that were £797.00. This is achieved by unpaid volunteers in our Support Group. The group has 14 members and collected over £4,000 by attending events.
Investment performance against objectives	The Charity maintained sufficient cash funds within bank accounts to ensure that it can operate whilst also placing funds in 1 and 2 year fixed term investments to ensure that funds are available to meet current and future needs.
Other	NONE

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	The balance of accounts shows a surplus for the year of £24,094
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Reserves are held to enable the Charity to meet its objectives in the event that fundraising activities cease for a period of 1 year and to enable projects for continuing and enhancing the provision of search and rescue within the Team’s operational area.
Amount of reserves held	Working capital reserve for 3 to 6 months - £25,000 General reserves for 2 years of running activity - £100,000 Unspecified reserves (new kit etc) - £38,000 Earmarked reserves – vehicles - £100,000 Earmarked reserves – base maintenance/improvement - £30,000 Earmarked reserves – Tech Wall - £28,000
Reasons for holding zero reserves	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	NONE
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	N/A

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	The principal sources of income are through unsolicited donations from members of the public, fundraising at events supported by, or organised by, the charity. Notable support is received from local organisations and businesses. Acknowledgement to Sytner Group, Mercedes-Benz of Teesside for supply of a loan vehicle.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	The charity holds most of its funds in High Street banks and a small sum in Charifund Accumulations Units, a specialist charity investment product with M&G. The investment policy is to avoid exposing the charity funds to risk of loss, hence investments are made with banks that benefit from the FSCS £120,000 limit.
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	The principal risks facing the charity are through action or inaction that harms public trust reducing the requests for the services provided by the charity and a loss of public support. The charity has prepared a risk register to aid with monitoring and review of the risks faced by the charity. Risk Register Rev3 b.xlsx This was updated and approved by the Team during the year.
Other	NONE

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Association
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Team Trustees are noted below. They are the Committee/Trustee members of the Team and are elected on an annual basis at the Team’s AGM. Should a Trustee position become vacant throughout the year an SGM can be called to elect a replacement.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Trustees are directed to the Charity Commission website to learn about the responsibilities of Trustees. Training is provided on the procedures to be followed by Charity Trustees. New Trustees receive ‘hand-over’ meetings and on-going support with and by existing and retiring Trustees.
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	The Team Constitution was last amended February 2022 and defines the running of the Team. Additionally, there is a comprehensive set of Standard Operating Procedures and Risk Analyses. Both are reviewed on a regular rolling basis by the Trustees and Operational Leads. Operational Leads are not Trustees, they are members with special skills in a particular field. All Team members are encouraged to regularly read our documentation, and they are regularly distributed to the whole Team. There are 5 committee/trustee meetings a year and an AGM every February. We are currently working our way through our Strategy Plan which was developed during the year. This will ensure constant updates of procedures and development of new ones where appropriate.
Relationship with any related parties	We have excellent links and regular meetings with North Yorkshire Police. At these meetings, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, The Fire Service, Mountain Rescue Dogs and several Northern Rescue Teams are represented. Cleveland Police and North East Ambulance Services including The Great North Air Ambulance also regularly converse with us. In addition, we hold regular meetings with the local LRFs, Coastguards and Lifeboat service. Some of our practices involve training with some of these assets. The Charity is affiliated to and is a key partner in the North East Search and Rescue Association (NESRA), which represents the Mountain Rescue Teams in North East England. This is a coordinating body and is operational when several Teams are deployed in a labour challenging Search event where several Teams work together.

Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name CLEVELAND MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM Other name the charity uses Registered charity number 252905 Charity’s principal address Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team, Newton under Roseberry, MIDDLESBROUGH, TS9 6QP

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any)
	Sid Bollands	Base Manager
	Rachael McManus	Call Out Officer
	Gari Finch	Chair
	Paul OConnor	Equipment Officer
	Richard Rigby	Medical Officer
	Kath Pincott	Fundraising
	Grant Grieve	PRO
	Daniel Slane	Secretary
	Tim Wood	Team Leader
	JennyHall	TrainingOfficer
	Alison Selby	Treasurer
	Austen Floyd	Vehicle Officer
	Vacant	Members Rep
	Vacant	TechnologyOfficer

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name	Dates acted if not for wholeyear
Gari Finch
David Little
Sid Bollands
Rob Johnson

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets None held in this capacity

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects

Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address adviser

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

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

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

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Martyn Gareth Finch Position (eg Secretary, Chair Chair, etc) Date 14th May 2026

Charity Name No (if any) CLEVELAND MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM Receipts and payments accounts For the period Period start date Period end date To from 1-Jan-25 31-Dec-25

CC16a

Section A Receipts and payments

A1 Receipts	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 71,682 24,592 6,808 4,674 - - - - 107,756 - - - 107,756 16,642 8,302 19,656 7,558 2,488 2,017 5,445 5,834 5,272 73,214 10,447 - 10,447 83,661 24,095 - 297,352 321,447	Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	Total funds to the nearest £ 71,682 24,592 6,808 4,674 - - - - 107,756 - - - 107,756 16,642 8,302 19,656 7,558 2,488 2,017 5,445 5,834 5,272 73,214 10,447 - 10,447 83,661 24,095	Last year to the nearest £
Donations	71,682				48,493
Fundraising	24,592				27,132
Bank Interest	6,808				2,137
Other	4,674				43,806
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	107,756				121,568

A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
	-
	-				-
*Sub total*	-				-
*Total receipts* A3 Payments
					121,568

Vehicles	16,642				7,780
Training	8,302				8,730
Base	19,656				10,272
Equipment	7,558				8,127
Comms and IT	2,488				2,910
Medical	2,017				1,379
Insurance	5,445				2,892
Fundrasingcosts	5,834				4,716
Miscellaneous	5,272				901
**Sub total **	73,214				47,707

A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)
DRONE	10,447
	-
**Sub total **	10,447				-
*Total payments* *Net of receipts/(payments)* A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end *Cash funds this year end*
					47,707

	24,095	-	-	24,095	73,861
	-	-	-	-	-
	297,352	-	-	297,352	223,491
	321,447	-	-	321,447	297,352

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets	Fundraising Signature Details Control Vehicle V1 LR Ambulance V2 LR Ambulance V3 Electronic Medical Monitoring Equipment Drone Equipment Current Accounts Other Accounts Paypal Details *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Details M&G Charifund Details Base Equipment	Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 86,268 - 175,859 - 59,310 10 - 321,447 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Alison Selby Gari Finch	Endowment funds to nearest £
			-
			-

			-
			-
			OK
			Endowment funds to nearest £
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			Current value (optional)
			50,111
			-
			-
			-
			-
			Current value (optional)
			539,075
			224,999
			20,000
			45,000
			45,000
			15,000
			12,500
			-
			-
			When due (optional)






			Date of approval
		Alison Selby	6-May-26
		Gari Finch	6-May-26

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Charity Name Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team members of

On accounts for the year 31[st] December 2025 Charity no 252905 ended (if any)

Set out on pages CC16a pages 1 and 2 and Trustees Annual Report pages 1 to 9

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/12/2025.
Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report 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 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.

Date: 19[th] April 2026

Signed: Name: David Chefneux Relevant professional CIPFA – Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy qualification(s) or body (if any):

Address: Orchard House, Middle Street, Gayles, Richmond, North Yorkshire. DL11 7JF

October 2018

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 Not Applicable any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

October 2018

IER