INDEPENDENT LIFEBOAT CHARITY hafftyN&2670J• Trustees Annual ort For the year ended 30 th eptember 2024 11 t•rWun¢•ry5•rvk•
Trustees Annual Report September 2024 Reference and Administration Charlty Name Solent Rescue Charity Registration Number 267039 Reglstered Address 12 Culford Avenue Totton Southampton Hampshire S0409BY Trustees Name Carl Seabourne Bruce McKoen Russell Hemmings Lee Cooper Linda White Nathan Mansbridge Office Chair Secretary Treasurer Lifeboat Operations Manager Fund Raising Manager Trustee Appointment July 2022 December 2022 September 2022 November 2018 july 2022 December 2022
Structure, Governance and Management Governin Document The charity is unincorporated and governed by a constitution. first adopted in 1972, a reviewed constitution was signed during the financial year bringing the constitution up to date and in Ilne with the latest Charity Commission model. intment of Trustees Nominated by members/trustees at the AGM. Objectives and Activities Ob ective5 The advancement of health or saving of lives. To provide and maintain apparatus, equipment, vehicles and vessels for the saving of INe5 and a55iStance of persons in distress at sea or on land within an area of 16 miles radius of Lepe, Exbury in Hampshire. Artivities Section 17151 of the Charities Act and the Charities (Atcounts and Report51 Regulations 2008 require the trustees of a charity to have regard to the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance would be relevant. All tru5tee5 are aware of this guidance and confim)ed understanding. Training the Cfew both landside and afloat is extremely important in being able to provide for the public benefit as is the correct asset maintenance. Solent Rescue does not provide grant facilities and does not have a programme of investment. All grants and donations are solely used for the purpose of crew training, operations and malntenance. There are no paid member5 of the Charity, all members of Solent Rescue are volunteers. The charity relies on these volunteers to crew the boat5, maintain a landside operation within Lepe Country Park and maintain all the Solent Rescue assets.
Chairmans Report This year Solent Rescue has reached a significant milestone however that has not been without its challenges. Organisationally, the biggest achievement we have had is gaining our probationary declared facility status. This is somethlng we have all been working towards for many years and demonstrates the crew's determination, dedication and commitment to our aims and objectives a5 set out in our constitution. Bein8 a probationary declared facility means that we can be 'tasked' by His Majesty's Coastguard IHMCGI at any time, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, the hundred and sixty-five days of the year to emergencies at sea or on the coastline. This means that ourteam can be called upon at a moment's nots'ce to respond to life threating emergency as co-ordinated by HMCG. It is important to highlight that this is in addition to our normal operations and In no way replaces them. Therefore, we aim to have at least one of our rescue boats on the water within our operational footprint between 09:00 and 17..00 (which is when the Solent is normally at its busiest) every weekend, to immediately respond to incidents as they happen, thus reducing the sponse time of 3waitt.ng a pager crew needing to assemble and launch a lifeboat. Moreover, we a150 provide safety cover for major events that happen on the Solent such as Round the Island Race and public holidays. Solent Rescue has proven itself to be an adaptable and Ilexible service over the past 12 months, demonstrating the endless resourcefulness of our team as well as the generosity of local businesses. In early September there was significant storm damage to the beach we launch from resulting in the beach needing significant work to restore. Thi5 led to the beach rieeding to be closed for an extended period, meaning we would not be able to provide our life saving service. Within hours of this news, we managed to plan for Solent Rescue One lour large rescue boat) to be relocated to a local marina (free of charge thanks to the generosity of a local business holder who owns the berth). We also planned and implemented a new process to adapt the way crew respond to pager incidents and organised a secondary and tertiary launch site for our D-class lifeboat (Solent Rescue 21. There are many similar situations that occur that need to be rapidly implemented and thanks to the quick thinking of our management team, the generosity of our supporters and the seemingly endless adaptability of our crew, we have been able to continue to maintain our normal levels of servi to the community. Although overcoming the above succe55fully was indeed a challenge we do see this as one of our standout moments for the reasons highlighted. However, we would be remiss if we did not menkn.on our biggest milestone which was our first pager tasking in our 53-year history. On a seemingly benlgn Sunday evening the pager sounded for the first time which triggered a response from our boats and operational support crew to launch our D-class lifeboat to reports of a missing vessel whereby the occupant had not been heard from for over 12 hours. Our lifeboat was quickly launched and headed out into the western Solent along with a lifeboat from the RNLI and coastguard rescue teams. The casualty vessel was located, and the loan sailor was found unwell and trapped on the vessel. The crew of our lifeboat worked alongside the RNLI and the coastguard rescue team to extract the casualty from their vessel and on to our D-class lifeboat Whe they were taken ashore to await the arrival of an ambulance.
This event left all members within Solent RescLte feeling extremely proud of what we had all achieved collectively and it is moments like this, where we rescue or help someone in their moment of need which motivates us to strive to be the best we can be and continue to provide a lifesaving service to our communitv. In addition to our boat5 crew, we also have our operational support team in the country park manning a lookout to keep a watch over the many thousands of beach users, support the b03t crews with launchlrecovery and communications and finally provide first aid to members of the public should they need it. Beirsg a probationary declared facility has extended our operational reach and capability thus increasing our value for money to the public. In the past twelve months Solent rescue had attended 36 incidents cOMpad to 17 in the previous 12 month period, ranging from minor injuries in the country park to pulling a person from the water in pari-arrest la critical condition). None of this would be possible without the significant amount of time being given by our team. Over the last year the total number of volunteers hours was a staggering 6.485 hours btheen our 41 volunteers, compared to 5,593 hours in the prior 12 month period. Of that 6,485 hours, 188 hours was time directly attending incidents. The remaining time was spent on maintenance, training. unit administration, patrols and manning the lookout. BBC Saving Lives at Sea Solent Rescue has been the first independent lifeboat to feature on the BBC'S saving lives at sea. During which Solent Rescue collaborated with our partner agency, the RNLI, to successfulty save the life of a young jet skier. This is a breakthrough achievement not just for us at Solent Rescue but for the wider independent lifeboat community and is something we are extremety proud of. This resulted in correspondenee from the head of the RNLI congratulating us and recognising the value and impact of Solent Rescue. Maintenance During the 2023124 financial year Solent Rescue experienced issues with the engines on Solent Rescue l. Signiffcant effort by volunteers as well as local tompanies occurred to try to diagnose and fix the issue, LFnfortunately the root cause was not able to be diagnosed, and Solent Rescue needed to fund the purchase of 2 new engine5 to get the boat operational again. Solent Rescue would like to thank Tohatsu in Lymington for their support in purchase of the 2 new engines as well as the continued maintenance of these engines. Following some difficulties with maintenance we have been extremely lucky to have brought in two new volunteer members of crew who are both qualilied marine engineer5. They have already had a very positive impact in terms of both proactive and corrective maintenance of our vessels carrying out the vast majority of works in-house to industry standards which have kept costs down and we foresee significantly reduced malntenance tosts going forward. National Independent Ufeboat Assoclatlon (NILA) We are pleased to be working with the National Independent Lifeboat A550ciation by sharing dats and other information to build awareness of independent lifeboats in the public and political landscapes to develop best practice nab'onally. It is hoped that by taking thi5 national approach there will be much needed funding streams developed in the form of governmental grants and a wider knowledge of sea related safety by the public.
Fundraising As mentioned in the financial review below this year has seen a significant increase in grants and donations. Specific grants we have received intlude those from Exonmobil and Hampshire County Council to cover the purchase of new drysuits and lifejackets, charitr.es Aid Foundation ICAFUKI to cover 50% of training costs over the next 2 years and a grant from the Lord Leverhulme Charitsble Trust to help with Solent Rescue 2 paIrs. Also received was a general grant from the National Lottery. During the nèxt linancial year we will be conducting a refit of Solent Rescue One and Solent Rescue Two which will continue to ensu the safety of the crews and extend the lifetime of the rescue platforms. The refi't combined with the preventative maintenance schedule will vastty reduce costs of reactive corrective maintenance going forwards. Trainlng With training comes expense, and although we will conduct most of the training inhouse we do need to outsource some of it to professional awarding bodies. This type of training includes enhanced first aid capabilities via a casualty care course, professional RYA qualifications such as the intèrmediate and advanced powerboating qualifications. and the sea survival courses. As we also hold enhanced clinical skills. it is vltal we have a very strong clinical governance framework which we outsource to a specialist, ensuring we have the appropriate expertise giving us guidance and a health care professional IHCPC advanced paramedic practitronerl as our clinical lead which also comes at a significant but necessary cost given the nature of our work. Slgnlficant Post Year End Events Since the end of this current financlal perlod Solent Rescue has reglstered for the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme IGASDSI. GASDS allows Solent Rescue to claim 25% gift aid on all small donations under £30, at the time of publishing this report work is ongoing to calculate the value that can be claimed whlch can also be back dated 4 years. Summary In summary Solent rescue has experienced a challenging yet rewarding year and continLFe5 to be at the best operational state it has been in many years which in turn puts us in the best position we can possibly be to conrinue to work toward5 our outlined aims and objectives. Solent Rescue is grateful to all our member5 who volunteer their time and shills and the many supporters who have contributed to helping us to meet our aim5 and objectives.
Financial Review Reserves Poli To ensure that the Charity continues to be in a position to carry out the main objective of advancement of health or saving of life a cash reserve policy of £25,(])O has been put in place. Taking into account the ring fenced funds this general reserve level has been breached due to the replacement C05t of 2 new engine5 for Solent Rescue I, given this situation the Trustees are now approving all spend until such a time Whe cash levels return to a level where approvals can be delegated back the operational teams. Significant effort to return to the reserves level has already occurred and at the time of writing the adjusted bank account is back to within £2k of the set reserves level, the implementation of the GASDS will further help towards a return to the reserves level. Given this the trustees consider the charity going concern for the next financial year. Rin n¢ed Funds As at 30, September 2024 £24,098 of funds are ringfenced, the majority of this balance relates to a £IOk grant from the Charities Aid Foundation to cover 50% of all training cost5 over the next 2 year5 therefore Solent Rescue has ringfenced a further £IOk to be spent on training. Income This current year has seen a big Step change in the funding receipts, returning to a level seen in previou5 years Wlth 2022123 being a significantly challenging period. Solent Rescue has seen 3 70% year on year increase in the amount of donations from street colleth.ons and 298% increase in general donations, these are donations from companies or individuals to cover the general runr¢ing of cost5 of Solent Rescue and not tied to a particular type of spend. Profit and Loss Account For period ending 30, September 2024 Note Sept 2023124 Sept Sept Sèpt 2023124 2022123 2022123 Income Grants Donations Total Income ProfiVIIo551 on Sale of a5Sèts 28,415 20,180 4.244 7,699 48,595 11,943 12181 Empenses Fuel Maintenance Road Vehicle Costs MedicallFirst Aid Training CW Gear Misc C05t5 Depreciatign Total Expenditure SurplusllDeficitl for perlod 5.050 11,798 1.399 4,349 1.045 2.750 15,033 1.396 2.662 4.743 2.389 2,047 16,197 2,736 23.978 154.9591 16,3641 147,2171 135A921 Operating Expenditvre Less Depreciation Total Operating Cash Expenditure Capital Expenditure Capital Disposals Totsl Capitsl Expenditure 54,959 123.9781 47,217 116,1971 30.981 31,020 25,(543 7(KJ Ii.IcMJI 25,043 Total Cash Expendlture 56,024 30.620
Balance Sheet As at 30, September 2024 Note 3019124 3019124 3019123 3019123 8ulldings Boats and Vehicles Crew Personal Protectton Total Fbxed Assets 18.060 44.224 2.987 20,977 43.229 65271 64,206 Cash In Hand and at Bank Debtors Total Current Assets 42.047 2,975 45,022 46.459 S.992 52,451 Current Lsabilitie5 Totsl Assets arml Llablllties 110293 116,657 Capitsl and ReseNes Reserves brought forward Surpluslldeth-citl in period Total CapSts1 and Re5ep4es 116,657 16.3641 152.149 135,4921 110.293 116,657 Note5 to Accourrts These accounts have been produced on a cash basi5. and have been through the indepen(lent review process as described by the Charity Commission. Signfficant increase year on yearfrom spectffc grdnts and general donations, see Chaimians pOrt for more detsil In line with policy the new SRI engines have been depreciated by a full year charge. Solent Rescue has no long term debts I liabilities at the time of the balance sheet date. Short term debt consists of VAT and fuel duty refunds due. The financial 5tstements were approved by the Trustees on .. and were signed on its behalf by.. Russell Hemmin ACMA CGMA-Treasurer Carl Seabourne- Chairman Bruce McKoen- Secreta
Independent Examiners Report To the trustees and members of Solent Rescue, charity number 267039. I report to the trustees and members on the account5 for the above charity for the year ended 30, September 2024 as set out on pages 7-8 above. As the charity trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011. 1 report in respect of my examinatr.on of the charity accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in tarrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Art. I have completed my examlnation, I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examinats'on which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect,. Accounting records were kept in accordance of section 130 of the act and The accounts do accord with the accounting records I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the ex8mination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed- Date.. &4 JQWGr JOL Relevant professional qualificationlsl or body: hcHty, cGU4 Address.. 3(L, Llerdcyv clo fvdCL tr16d AZI kLfj
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