SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 30[th] September 2025
Registered Charity Number 261220
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
Reference and Administrative Details
| Name of Charity: | Sway Welfare Aid Group |
|---|---|
| Alternative Name: | SWAG |
| Charity Registration Number: | 261220 |
| Contact Address: | Mrs S M Millett |
| Trecarnwenn | |
| Mead End Road | |
| Sway | |
| Lymington | |
| Hampshire | |
| SO41 6EH | |
| Trustees: | Dr Sally Smith (Chairman) |
| Sharon Millett (Treasurer) | |
| Jonathan Hartley | |
| Sue Cornwell | |
| Janet Kirk | |
| Angela Willows | |
| Paul Loveridge | |
| Mark Parker | |
| Bankers: | CAF Bank Ltd |
| 25 Kings Hill Avenue | |
| Kings Hill | |
| West Malling | |
| Kent | |
| ME19 4JQ | |
| Independent Examiner: | Mike Butler ACMA |
| Mallard House | |
| Brighton Road | |
| Sway | |
| Lymington | |
| Hampshire | |
| SO41 6EB |
2
Page
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
Structure, Governance and Management
The Sway Welfare Aid Group (SWAG) was established by constitution dated 28th October 1970, to serve the needs of the civil parish of Sway.
SWAG is managed by the trustees on behalf of all residents of Sway to whom they report at the Annual General Meeting, currently held in February. Trustees and other officers are elected at the Annual General Meeting and serve for one year, renewable annually. New trustees may be co-opted during the year and stand for election at the AGM. All trustees are made aware of their responsibilities under the Charities Act.
During the year the trustees take all executive decisions.
Trustees serve voluntarily and receive no remuneration.
The trustees serving during the year under review were Sally Smith (Chair), Sharon Millett (Treasurer), Jonathan Hartley, Sue Cornwell, Janet Kirk, Paul Loveridge, Mark Parker and Angela Willows.
At the AGM, residents of Sway are entitled to propose possible areas of benefit for the trustees to consider.
Public Benefit Statement
The trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and consider that the activities of the Sway Welfare Aid Group during the year are fully in accordance with these objectives.
Objectives and Activities
The charity’s objectives are to relieve need, financial hardship and social isolation among residents of Sway.
SWAG makes grants to both individuals and local organisations, endeavouring to reach residents who might benefit.
In addition, we provide the following:
A medical transport service, manned by volunteer drivers, to take sick, elderly or infirm people to attend hospital and other medical appointments where they cannot provide, or are not capable of using their own transport. Mileage expenses of the drivers are met by the charity. The service is free but donations are accepted.
A Lunch Club, meeting twice per month, for retired people living alone. Volunteers cook and serve the meal, and the participants pay only a nominal charge for the food; all other expenses are met by the charity. In December, members enjoy a full Christmas Lunch which is always well-attended!
A weekly Community Café held in the Church rooms which provides a focal point for social interaction among people in the village. The café runs on a “donations only” basis.
3
Page
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
Sway Welfare Aid Group is affiliated to the Good Neighbours Network (GNN), an umbrella group of about 120 small charities in Hampshire which is currently supported by the Council for Social Responsibility (CSR), an independent social action charity under the auspices of the Diocese of Portsmouth and through which SWAG currently benefits from centrally funded public and employer’s liability and personal accident insurance.
The trustees are grateful to all our volunteers who organise much of the charity’s work and without whom we would be unable to provide these services.
Achievements and Performance
During 2024-25, SWAG continued to support the residents of Sway, especially those in our community who are vulnerable. Despite an economic environment which remains challenging and thanks to the generosity of our supporters and the work of our volunteers and activity coordinators, SWAG was able to respond quickly with financial support to those in need, has delivered efficient and reliable help with medical transport for elderly residents, and provided valued social interaction opportunities for Sway residents.
Financial status
The trustees have continued to invest the funds of the charity cautiously - this is reviewed annually. Thanks also to the generosity of the people of Sway, the charity has concluded another twelve months in a secure financial position for the coming year and beyond. Please see our financial report for further details.
Grants
As previously, SWAG has concentrated its grant resources on individuals and families. We have responded to all requests for financial assistance received which were commensurate with our charitable objectives.
The amount of the annual heating grants was reviewed and remains at £800 per year. Seven households in the village benefitted from these grants, paid in 2 instalments in December 24 and March 25.
Through a financial grant to the local primary school (St Luke’s), we were able to provide indirect support to a number of low-income Sway families whose children attend the school.
The relevant details of grant sums disbursed can be viewed in the Financial Review section of this report.
Community Café
The Community Café had another extremely successful year thanks to the leadership of the two coordinators, Sue Cornwell and Grete Steen, supported by a committed team of helpers. Meeting some 50 times, welcoming an average of 25 (including the helpers) per session and operating on a donation’s basis, the Café continues to provide a highly valued opportunity for social engagement for a loyal group of local clients, many of whom live alone. The Café also extends a welcome to a small number of residents of Sway Place residential home. The organisers have continued to provide “Soup and Sandwich” in addition to the regular coffee and tea once a month during the winter and this has proved very popular with people enjoying home-made soup and freshly prepared sandwiches.
The Café has been fortunate to receive a recent grant of £200 from the Sway Carnival Committee.
4
Page
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
Lunch Club
Due to the dedication and enthusiasm of the coordinators and a team of volunteer cooks and helpers, the Lunch Club met on 23 occasions with an average attendance of 27, providing members with a two-course hot meal for a small nominal sum and is an opportunity for social interaction which is much appreciated by our members who live alone.
Transport is provided to those members who require it by SWAG volunteer drivers.
Both the Community Café and the Lunch Club have raised, through voluntary donations and subscriptions respectively, sums which contribute towards the cost of food and refreshments and to room hire costs for both activities which are otherwise funded from SWAG charitable funds.
Medical Transport Service
Our medical transport service provided an impressive 507 journeys to various hospitals, local surgeries and other medically-related facilities providing a service to 96 clients, some requiring support on a regular basis for limited periods of time and driving in total 9381 miles!
The trustees’ thanks are due to the volunteer team of coordinators led by Hugh Marchant who give up their free time to run the service, in addition to themselves acting as volunteer drivers. There are currently 62 volunteer drivers. We have been fortunate to attract several new volunteer drivers this year, which has enabled us to maintain our driver strength at approximately the same level as the year before.
Thanks goes to all our volunteer drivers, whose efforts are so appreciated by the residents who rely on this service to be able to get to their medical appointments.
Support for Sway community activities
In 2024-25 SWAG again granted to the Sway Thursday Afternoon Club a sum sufficient to cover the group’s venue hire costs.
Referral activities
Over the period of this report, SWAG, acting as a local agent, made a number of referrals to the New Forest Basics Bank. We also inform clients of the local Fareshare scheme and are aware that some have taken advantage of this.
Future Outlook
Thanks to donations from Sway residents over the years, and the prudent management of our invested reserves, SWAG has during our last financial year been able to continue to support our local community in the various ways described and we anticipate being able to continue to do so in the current year.
Finally, the trustees wish to reiterate their thanks to all our volunteers who willingly give their time to help with all our activities and without whose help we would be unable to continue to provide assistance to the residents of our village.
Page
5
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
Financial Review
Funds
SWAG has three funds, an Unrestricted Fund that provides for all the charity’s activities, an expendable Endowment Fund that is invested to provide interest and dividend income for the Unrestricted Fund and a Restricted Lunch Club Fund, the income for which comes from the subscriptions paid by lunch club members for their meals. The trustees agreed to close the Blackrock General Fund and transfer the funds to the Blackrock Equity Fund to consolidate and increase the yield.
Donations and Fundraising
Overall donations are down on last year by £3,900 after Gift Aid was added. The appeal raised donations of £4,298 including Gift Aid recovered but was down by £1,500 on the previous year. This included a single generous donation £2,500 including Gift Aid.
Donations from our medical transport clients was down by £641 to £5,998 including Gift Aid recovered. Community Café donations amounted to £1,019 including Gift Aid which was up by £276. In memory of two Sway residents, donations were up by £2,024 to £2,841 including Gift Aid. There was also a donation of £304 in memory of another Sway resident left specifically for the Lunch Club.
The charity did not run any fundraising events this year.
Charitable Activities
Three Small Fuel Grants were requested and £600 was granted.
The trustees maintained the same amount as last year, of £800, for the charity’s regular heating grants paid to needy beneficiaries in the village, paid in two £400 instalments in December and March. Seven families benefitted from this scheme.
Requests for help under the normal hardship scheme increased by almost £10,000 to £12,169, benefitting seven families.
Organisations to benefit from SWAG grants in the year under review were:
-
£3,000 to St. Luke’s Primary School – support to vulnerable families
-
£100 to Spudworks towards planting in their dementia garden
-
£494 to Sway Thursday Afternoon Club for room hire for their meetings
-
£144 for the replacement of infant defibrillator pads at the Village Hall
The cost of the medical transport service was up by £795 to £5,771. The costs of this service largely represent the money paid to SWAG volunteer drivers for their fuel and are directly related to the miles driven on the charity’s behalf. The donations received from clients, using this service, together with the recovered Gift Aid were sufficient to cover the transport service and support costs providing a small surplus of £227.
Lunch Club members pay a nominal £5 per session for their food. SWAG continues to meet the room hire and other support costs from Unrestricted Funds and a transfer of £782 from the Unrestricted Fund to the Lunch Club has been made for this.
The cost to operate the Community Café was £1,309 and it generated £1,019 in donations including Gift Aid recovery, therefore a deficit of £290 for the year.
6
Page
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
No trustee has claimed expenses for their work for the charity in the period under review.
There were no related party transactions in the year.
Investment Performance
In December the trustees agreed to transfer the General Fund holding in the BlackRock bond fund to the BlackRock equity fund as it was considered the portfolio was becoming overweight in bonds, bearing in mind falling bond valuations under the prevailing market conditions of rising yields. The overall valuation this year has grown to £484,603, an increase of 1%.
The total income from investments was £18,689, a yield of 3.9%.
Overall Position
Expenditure of charitable activities increased by 52% on the previous year to £32,838 and we’re pleased to report that income still exceeded expenditure, creating a surplus of £6,493.
Total reserves in the unrestricted fund were £47,646.
The charity remains in a strong financial position.
Approval
This report and the associated accounts were approved by the members on 24[th] February, 2026 and signed on their behalf.
Signed
Signed
Dr Sally Smith Chair
Sharon Millett Treasurer
Page
7
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
Independent Examiners Report
I report on the accounts of the Sway Welfare Aid Group for the year ended 30[th] September 2025, which are set out on pages 9 to 12.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed under the Act. It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act;
-
follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act); and
-
state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, 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 examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
-
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
-
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or
-
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mike Butler ACMA Independent Examiner
Date: 23[rd] December, 2025
Signed
Page
8
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the year ended 30th September
| STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Notes Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies 2 Charitable activities Investments Fund raising activities Total Expenditure on: Raising funds 3 Charitable activities 4 Total Net Gains/(losses) on investments Net income/(expenditure) Transfers between funds Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
for the year ended 30th September 2025 Unrestricted Fund Restricted Lunch Club Fund Expendable Endowment Fund Total Funds £ £ £ £ 17,468 304 17,772 2,985 2,985 18,689 18,689 0 0 36,158 3,289 0 39,446 115 115 28,993 3,845 32,838 29,108 3,845 0 32,953 (444) 0 5,382 4,938 6,606 (556) 5,382 11,431 (35,714) 782 34,933 0 (29,108) 226 40,314 11,431 76,754 609 444,289 521,652 47,646 835 484,603 533,083 |
2025 2024 Total Funds Last Year £ 21,673 2,665 18,250 80 |
|---|---|---|
| 42,668 | ||
| 119 21,600 |
||
| 21,719 | ||
| 31,517 | ||
| 52,466 | ||
| 0 | ||
| 52,466 | ||
| 469,186 | ||
| 521,652 |
9
Page
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
BALANCE SHEET at 30th September 2025
| Note Fixed assets: Investments - Endowment 5 Investments - Unrestricted funds 6 Current assets: Debtors 7 Deposit account Cash at bank and in hand Liabilities: Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 8 Net assets or liabilities The funds of the charity: Endowment fund Unrestricted fund Lunch Club fund Total charity funds |
2025 2024 £ £ 484,603 444,289 0 35,376 1,194 906 47,480 40,417 822 1,604 (1,016) (940) 533,083 521,652 484,603 444,289 47,646 76,754 835 609 533,083 521,652 |
|---|---|
The notes on pages 11 and 12 form part of these accounts.
Approved by the trustees on 24[th] February, 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
Signed
Dr Sally Smith – Chair of Trustees
10
Page
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 30th September 2025
1. Accounting policies:
a) The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with SORP2016, the
Financial Reporting Standards FRS 102 and the Charities Act 2016.
b) Donations are credited to income when received.
c) Income from investments is credited to income when received.
- d) Investments are stated at their market (bid) value at the balance sheet date.
2. Donations:
| 2. Donations: Donations received In memoriam GiftAid recovery Donations in the Previous Year: Donations received In memoriam GiftAid recovery 3. Costs of fundraising: Appeal Publicity and Draw 4. Charitable activities: Hardship grants to individuals Heating grants to individuals Grants made to organisations Transport service Lunch Club Community Café Total costs of charitable activities |
2025 2024 Appeal Transport Lunch Club Café Other Total £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 3,548 4,930 304 855 2,782 12,420 17,688 2,841 2,841 817 750 1,068 164 530 2,511 3,167 4,298 5,998 304 1,019 6,153 17,772 21,673 4,795 5,503 595 6,796 817 1,004 1,136 149 879 5,799 6,639 0 743 8,492 2025 2024 £ £ 0 59 115 60 115 119 2025 2024 Direct Support Total £ £ £ £ 12,169 233 12,402 2,304 5,600 5,600 5,600 3,911 3,911 4,025 4,688 1,083 5,771 4,976 3,490 355 3,845 3,595 1,079 230 1,309 1,101 30,937 1,901 32,838 21,600 |
General support costs are divided among the various activities in proportion to the share of the total direct costs made by each activity (see below).
11
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SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
| Allocation of Support Costs: Grant making Transport service Lunch Club Community Café 5. Investments - Endowment: Carrying value at start of period Additions at cost Unrealised gain/(loss) on investments Carrying value at end of period 6. Investments - General Funds: Carrying value at start of period Disposals at cost Realised gain/(loss) on investments Carrying value at end of period 7. Debtors: GiftAid refund due Uncredited cheques Pre-payments: Postage in hand 8. Creditors: Accrued mileage costs |
2025 |
|---|---|
12
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SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 30[th] September 2025
Registered Charity Number 261220
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
Reference and Administrative Details
| Name of Charity: | Sway Welfare Aid Group |
|---|---|
| Alternative Name: | SWAG |
| Charity Registration Number: | 261220 |
| Contact Address: | Mrs S M Millett |
| Trecarnwenn | |
| Mead End Road | |
| Sway | |
| Lymington | |
| Hampshire | |
| SO41 6EH | |
| Trustees: | Dr Sally Smith (Chairman) |
| Sharon Millett (Treasurer) | |
| Jonathan Hartley | |
| Sue Cornwell | |
| Janet Kirk | |
| Angela Willows | |
| Paul Loveridge | |
| Mark Parker | |
| Bankers: | CAF Bank Ltd |
| 25 Kings Hill Avenue | |
| Kings Hill | |
| West Malling | |
| Kent | |
| ME19 4JQ | |
| Independent Examiner: | Mike Butler ACMA |
| Mallard House | |
| Brighton Road | |
| Sway | |
| Lymington | |
| Hampshire | |
| SO41 6EB |
2
Page
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
Structure, Governance and Management
The Sway Welfare Aid Group (SWAG) was established by constitution dated 28th October 1970, to serve the needs of the civil parish of Sway.
SWAG is managed by the trustees on behalf of all residents of Sway to whom they report at the Annual General Meeting, currently held in February. Trustees and other officers are elected at the Annual General Meeting and serve for one year, renewable annually. New trustees may be co-opted during the year and stand for election at the AGM. All trustees are made aware of their responsibilities under the Charities Act.
During the year the trustees take all executive decisions.
Trustees serve voluntarily and receive no remuneration.
The trustees serving during the year under review were Sally Smith (Chair), Sharon Millett (Treasurer), Jonathan Hartley, Sue Cornwell, Janet Kirk, Paul Loveridge, Mark Parker and Angela Willows.
At the AGM, residents of Sway are entitled to propose possible areas of benefit for the trustees to consider.
Public Benefit Statement
The trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and consider that the activities of the Sway Welfare Aid Group during the year are fully in accordance with these objectives.
Objectives and Activities
The charity’s objectives are to relieve need, financial hardship and social isolation among residents of Sway.
SWAG makes grants to both individuals and local organisations, endeavouring to reach residents who might benefit.
In addition, we provide the following:
A medical transport service, manned by volunteer drivers, to take sick, elderly or infirm people to attend hospital and other medical appointments where they cannot provide, or are not capable of using their own transport. Mileage expenses of the drivers are met by the charity. The service is free but donations are accepted.
A Lunch Club, meeting twice per month, for retired people living alone. Volunteers cook and serve the meal, and the participants pay only a nominal charge for the food; all other expenses are met by the charity. In December, members enjoy a full Christmas Lunch which is always well-attended!
A weekly Community Café held in the Church rooms which provides a focal point for social interaction among people in the village. The café runs on a “donations only” basis.
3
Page
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
Sway Welfare Aid Group is affiliated to the Good Neighbours Network (GNN), an umbrella group of about 120 small charities in Hampshire which is currently supported by the Council for Social Responsibility (CSR), an independent social action charity under the auspices of the Diocese of Portsmouth and through which SWAG currently benefits from centrally funded public and employer’s liability and personal accident insurance.
The trustees are grateful to all our volunteers who organise much of the charity’s work and without whom we would be unable to provide these services.
Achievements and Performance
During 2024-25, SWAG continued to support the residents of Sway, especially those in our community who are vulnerable. Despite an economic environment which remains challenging and thanks to the generosity of our supporters and the work of our volunteers and activity coordinators, SWAG was able to respond quickly with financial support to those in need, has delivered efficient and reliable help with medical transport for elderly residents, and provided valued social interaction opportunities for Sway residents.
Financial status
The trustees have continued to invest the funds of the charity cautiously - this is reviewed annually. Thanks also to the generosity of the people of Sway, the charity has concluded another twelve months in a secure financial position for the coming year and beyond. Please see our financial report for further details.
Grants
As previously, SWAG has concentrated its grant resources on individuals and families. We have responded to all requests for financial assistance received which were commensurate with our charitable objectives.
The amount of the annual heating grants was reviewed and remains at £800 per year. Seven households in the village benefitted from these grants, paid in 2 instalments in December 24 and March 25.
Through a financial grant to the local primary school (St Luke’s), we were able to provide indirect support to a number of low-income Sway families whose children attend the school.
The relevant details of grant sums disbursed can be viewed in the Financial Review section of this report.
Community Café
The Community Café had another extremely successful year thanks to the leadership of the two coordinators, Sue Cornwell and Grete Steen, supported by a committed team of helpers. Meeting some 50 times, welcoming an average of 25 (including the helpers) per session and operating on a donation’s basis, the Café continues to provide a highly valued opportunity for social engagement for a loyal group of local clients, many of whom live alone. The Café also extends a welcome to a small number of residents of Sway Place residential home. The organisers have continued to provide “Soup and Sandwich” in addition to the regular coffee and tea once a month during the winter and this has proved very popular with people enjoying home-made soup and freshly prepared sandwiches.
The Café has been fortunate to receive a recent grant of £200 from the Sway Carnival Committee.
4
Page
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
Lunch Club
Due to the dedication and enthusiasm of the coordinators and a team of volunteer cooks and helpers, the Lunch Club met on 23 occasions with an average attendance of 27, providing members with a two-course hot meal for a small nominal sum and is an opportunity for social interaction which is much appreciated by our members who live alone.
Transport is provided to those members who require it by SWAG volunteer drivers.
Both the Community Café and the Lunch Club have raised, through voluntary donations and subscriptions respectively, sums which contribute towards the cost of food and refreshments and to room hire costs for both activities which are otherwise funded from SWAG charitable funds.
Medical Transport Service
Our medical transport service provided an impressive 507 journeys to various hospitals, local surgeries and other medically-related facilities providing a service to 96 clients, some requiring support on a regular basis for limited periods of time and driving in total 9381 miles!
The trustees’ thanks are due to the volunteer team of coordinators led by Hugh Marchant who give up their free time to run the service, in addition to themselves acting as volunteer drivers. There are currently 62 volunteer drivers. We have been fortunate to attract several new volunteer drivers this year, which has enabled us to maintain our driver strength at approximately the same level as the year before.
Thanks goes to all our volunteer drivers, whose efforts are so appreciated by the residents who rely on this service to be able to get to their medical appointments.
Support for Sway community activities
In 2024-25 SWAG again granted to the Sway Thursday Afternoon Club a sum sufficient to cover the group’s venue hire costs.
Referral activities
Over the period of this report, SWAG, acting as a local agent, made a number of referrals to the New Forest Basics Bank. We also inform clients of the local Fareshare scheme and are aware that some have taken advantage of this.
Future Outlook
Thanks to donations from Sway residents over the years, and the prudent management of our invested reserves, SWAG has during our last financial year been able to continue to support our local community in the various ways described and we anticipate being able to continue to do so in the current year.
Finally, the trustees wish to reiterate their thanks to all our volunteers who willingly give their time to help with all our activities and without whose help we would be unable to continue to provide assistance to the residents of our village.
Page
5
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
Financial Review
Funds
SWAG has three funds, an Unrestricted Fund that provides for all the charity’s activities, an expendable Endowment Fund that is invested to provide interest and dividend income for the Unrestricted Fund and a Restricted Lunch Club Fund, the income for which comes from the subscriptions paid by lunch club members for their meals. The trustees agreed to close the Blackrock General Fund and transfer the funds to the Blackrock Equity Fund to consolidate and increase the yield.
Donations and Fundraising
Overall donations are down on last year by £3,900 after Gift Aid was added. The appeal raised donations of £4,298 including Gift Aid recovered but was down by £1,500 on the previous year. This included a single generous donation £2,500 including Gift Aid.
Donations from our medical transport clients was down by £641 to £5,998 including Gift Aid recovered. Community Café donations amounted to £1,019 including Gift Aid which was up by £276. In memory of two Sway residents, donations were up by £2,024 to £2,841 including Gift Aid. There was also a donation of £304 in memory of another Sway resident left specifically for the Lunch Club.
The charity did not run any fundraising events this year.
Charitable Activities
Three Small Fuel Grants were requested and £600 was granted.
The trustees maintained the same amount as last year, of £800, for the charity’s regular heating grants paid to needy beneficiaries in the village, paid in two £400 instalments in December and March. Seven families benefitted from this scheme.
Requests for help under the normal hardship scheme increased by almost £10,000 to £12,169, benefitting seven families.
Organisations to benefit from SWAG grants in the year under review were:
-
£3,000 to St. Luke’s Primary School – support to vulnerable families
-
£100 to Spudworks towards planting in their dementia garden
-
£494 to Sway Thursday Afternoon Club for room hire for their meetings
-
£144 for the replacement of infant defibrillator pads at the Village Hall
The cost of the medical transport service was up by £795 to £5,771. The costs of this service largely represent the money paid to SWAG volunteer drivers for their fuel and are directly related to the miles driven on the charity’s behalf. The donations received from clients, using this service, together with the recovered Gift Aid were sufficient to cover the transport service and support costs providing a small surplus of £227.
Lunch Club members pay a nominal £5 per session for their food. SWAG continues to meet the room hire and other support costs from Unrestricted Funds and a transfer of £782 from the Unrestricted Fund to the Lunch Club has been made for this.
The cost to operate the Community Café was £1,309 and it generated £1,019 in donations including Gift Aid recovery, therefore a deficit of £290 for the year.
6
Page
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
No trustee has claimed expenses for their work for the charity in the period under review.
There were no related party transactions in the year.
Investment Performance
In December the trustees agreed to transfer the General Fund holding in the BlackRock bond fund to the BlackRock equity fund as it was considered the portfolio was becoming overweight in bonds, bearing in mind falling bond valuations under the prevailing market conditions of rising yields. The overall valuation this year has grown to £484,603, an increase of 1%.
The total income from investments was £18,689, a yield of 3.9%.
Overall Position
Expenditure of charitable activities increased by 52% on the previous year to £32,838 and we’re pleased to report that income still exceeded expenditure, creating a surplus of £6,493.
Total reserves in the unrestricted fund were £47,646.
The charity remains in a strong financial position.
Approval
This report and the associated accounts were approved by the members on 24[th] February, 2026 and signed on their behalf.
Signed
Signed
Dr Sally Smith Chair
Sharon Millett Treasurer
Page
7
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
Independent Examiners Report
I report on the accounts of the Sway Welfare Aid Group for the year ended 30[th] September 2025, which are set out on pages 9 to 12.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed under the Act. It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act;
-
follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act); and
-
state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, 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 examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
-
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
-
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or
-
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mike Butler ACMA Independent Examiner
Date: 23[rd] December, 2025
Signed
Page
8
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the year ended 30th September
| STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Notes Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies 2 Charitable activities Investments Fund raising activities Total Expenditure on: Raising funds 3 Charitable activities 4 Total Net Gains/(losses) on investments Net income/(expenditure) Transfers between funds Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
for the year ended 30th September 2025 Unrestricted Fund Restricted Lunch Club Fund Expendable Endowment Fund Total Funds £ £ £ £ 17,468 304 17,772 2,985 2,985 18,689 18,689 0 0 36,158 3,289 0 39,446 115 115 28,993 3,845 32,838 29,108 3,845 0 32,953 (444) 0 5,382 4,938 6,606 (556) 5,382 11,431 (35,714) 782 34,933 0 (29,108) 226 40,314 11,431 76,754 609 444,289 521,652 47,646 835 484,603 533,083 |
2025 2024 Total Funds Last Year £ 21,673 2,665 18,250 80 |
|---|---|---|
| 42,668 | ||
| 119 21,600 |
||
| 21,719 | ||
| 31,517 | ||
| 52,466 | ||
| 0 | ||
| 52,466 | ||
| 469,186 | ||
| 521,652 |
9
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SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
BALANCE SHEET at 30th September 2025
| Note Fixed assets: Investments - Endowment 5 Investments - Unrestricted funds 6 Current assets: Debtors 7 Deposit account Cash at bank and in hand Liabilities: Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 8 Net assets or liabilities The funds of the charity: Endowment fund Unrestricted fund Lunch Club fund Total charity funds |
2025 2024 £ £ 484,603 444,289 0 35,376 1,194 906 47,480 40,417 822 1,604 (1,016) (940) 533,083 521,652 484,603 444,289 47,646 76,754 835 609 533,083 521,652 |
|---|---|
The notes on pages 11 and 12 form part of these accounts.
Approved by the trustees on 24[th] February, 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
Signed
Dr Sally Smith – Chair of Trustees
10
Page
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 30th September 2025
1. Accounting policies:
a) The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with SORP2016, the
Financial Reporting Standards FRS 102 and the Charities Act 2016.
b) Donations are credited to income when received.
c) Income from investments is credited to income when received.
- d) Investments are stated at their market (bid) value at the balance sheet date.
2. Donations:
| 2. Donations: Donations received In memoriam GiftAid recovery Donations in the Previous Year: Donations received In memoriam GiftAid recovery 3. Costs of fundraising: Appeal Publicity and Draw 4. Charitable activities: Hardship grants to individuals Heating grants to individuals Grants made to organisations Transport service Lunch Club Community Café Total costs of charitable activities |
2025 2024 Appeal Transport Lunch Club Café Other Total £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 3,548 4,930 304 855 2,782 12,420 17,688 2,841 2,841 817 750 1,068 164 530 2,511 3,167 4,298 5,998 304 1,019 6,153 17,772 21,673 4,795 5,503 595 6,796 817 1,004 1,136 149 879 5,799 6,639 0 743 8,492 2025 2024 £ £ 0 59 115 60 115 119 2025 2024 Direct Support Total £ £ £ £ 12,169 233 12,402 2,304 5,600 5,600 5,600 3,911 3,911 4,025 4,688 1,083 5,771 4,976 3,490 355 3,845 3,595 1,079 230 1,309 1,101 30,937 1,901 32,838 21,600 |
General support costs are divided among the various activities in proportion to the share of the total direct costs made by each activity (see below).
11
Page
SWAY WELFARE AID GROUP
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
| Allocation of Support Costs: Grant making Transport service Lunch Club Community Café 5. Investments - Endowment: Carrying value at start of period Additions at cost Unrealised gain/(loss) on investments Carrying value at end of period 6. Investments - General Funds: Carrying value at start of period Disposals at cost Realised gain/(loss) on investments Carrying value at end of period 7. Debtors: GiftAid refund due Uncredited cheques Pre-payments: Postage in hand 8. Creditors: Accrued mileage costs |
2025 |
|---|---|
12
Page
(HARITY (OMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES I ""'--"-"'--'- accounts Inflananflanfr aY2minaOe rannrt nn th Report to the trustee81 mpmhprq nf gnded So S 4fknlA- 10 LS (if anyl 201220 Set out on pago8 q-IL report to ine trustees on my examinaDon OT tne accounis oi (ne at)ove charity ('the Trust.) for the year ended Re8pon8lbllltlo8 and Da818 Ot roport As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounis In accofaance wnn tne requirements oi tne inaritles Aci 21JI 1 {"the Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's a¢xounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination. I have followed all the applicable DirectM)ns given by the Charity Commission undei section 145(5Xb) of the Act. Indopendont trh• charty's gr$ income excoodod £250,000 and l am qualbfiod lo oxamlnevs statement undertake +he examination by being a qualified member of [ingert name of applicable listed body]l. Delete I l rf not applK8bl8. come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that dlsclosed below ") whWI gives me Gause lo believe that in, any malerlal respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Acl., or the accounts did not accord with the accounting re¢ords.' or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the fom and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulatrons 2008 other than any requirement that the acwunts give a 'true and fair. view which is not a matter rnnoitlor•(l Ao prlrt rtl An inrl#npnrl•nt •YAmin#tinn I have no concerns and have come across no olher mattets in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enab a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. ' Please delete the words in the brackets rf they do not apply. Date: It3 Slgned: li Name: riic4AEL Rol8vant prof8ssional qUi*illlG&lliUfl ISI or [uY cnA IER Oct 2018
(if anyl- AAArAe•' 4110 HOUSE so41 ectlo Only Gompkte if the examiner needs to hhlight material matters of concefn (see CC32, Independent exaMInatH of charty accounts: dirèctions and guKlanco for examiners). Give here brief details of any itams that the examiner wlshes to disclose. IER Oct 2018