## **FRIENDS of M.V.FREEDOM** **P** roviding access to the sea for people living with disability ## **Encourage - Enjoy - Empower** Hon President: Councillor Kate Wheller Hon. Chairman: Dirk Aldous Q.P.M. Hon. Treasurer: Michael Garrett Hon. Secretary: Steve Evans. secretary@mvfreedom.co.uk **TRUSTEES CHARITY COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1ST APRIL 2020 TO 31ST MARCH 2021** ## Section A Reference and administration details **Charity name** Friends of M.V.Freedom **Other names charity is known** M.V.Freedom **by Registered charity number (if any)**[283955] **Charity's principal address** 8, Bedford Terrace, Long Bredy, Dorchester **Postcode DT2 9HW** Website www.mvfreedom.co.uk Charity No: 283955 1 ## **FRIENDS of M.V.FREEDOM** ## **Names of the Trustees who manage the charity:-** 1. Dirk Aldous Q.P.M. Chairman 2. Michael Garrett - Treasurer 3. Andrew Brown 4. Rikk Butler 5. Sheila Collins 6. Meridy Phillips 7. James Smith 8. Keith Tyndall ## **Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees) - NONE** ## **Section B Structure, governance and management** **Description of the charity’s trusts** Type of governing document: Constitution (Adopted in 2020 and Charity Commission informed) How the Charity is constituted: Association Trustee selection methods: Election by members ## **Additional Governance issues (Optional Information)** changes. The eight person Committee included a chairman, treasurer, membership secretary, and fundraisers. The Hon. Secretary, himself a qualified skipper, supplies the administrative needs of the trustee group and in addition is responsible for the organisation and welfare of the other four charity skippers who are all MCA/RYA trained and qualified.He also leads a boat maintenance team with strong skills and experience, including two ex - naval engineers. All the Charity’s policies and procedures have been reviewed in light of the previous years experience, and where necessary improvements made to better meet the needs of the charity, its members and the law. Annual reviews will continue. Website www.mvfreedom.co.uk Charity No: 283955 2 ## **FRIENDS of M.V.FREEDOM** ## **BUSINESS PLAN:** The Charity adopted a Business Plan in 2018, and it is in the process of being redrafted to meet the perceived needs of the next three years. In its final year, despite Covid 19 all four of the planned Strategic Aims were either achieved or exceeded. Fortunately, the success of the previous years fundraising has ensured that the Charity remains financially sound. The supporting priorities of the Marketing, Business, and Fundraising strategies are all being reviewed, and will be added to by the development of a Business Continuity Strategy. They will be regularly monitored by the trustees during their meetings. **The Charity has NO paid staff and the trustees, treasurer, skippers, fundraisers, maintenance team, and other volunteers all give their time and experience free of charge.** We do not at present keep records of the amounts of time volunteers commit to the charity but they are considerable, and the lifetime skills they possess are invaluable to the overall success of our work. ## **INDUCTION TRAINING:-** Yachtmasters were recruited, but it was felt appropriate to introduce a series of induction sessions to familiarise them with our new boat and the various anchoring locations, and passenger handling policies used by the charity during our sea going trips. ## **STRATEGIC RISKS:-** 1. Loss of boat through major breakdown - regular maintenance. 2. Loss of local support and finance through reputational damage - good communications. 3. Loss of suitable trustees or inability to recruit same - succession planning. 4. Loss of sufficient qualified skippers and crew - succession planning. ## **SECTION C - OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** ## **SUMMARY OF THE OBJECTS WITHIN THE GOVERNING DOCUMENT:-** “To assist in charitable works directed towards the relief of persons living with disability by the provision of a specially adapted sea going motor vessel that enables them to participate in sea going activities on the Dorset Coast.” Website www.mvfreedom.co.uk Charity No: 283955 3 ## **FRIENDS of M.V.FREEDOM** ## **MAIN ACTIVITIES FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT** The formal objective of the charity is to make it possible “for people living with disability to have access to the sea, by the provision of a specially designed boat that provides them with enjoyable but also therapeutic trips around Weymouth Bay, the Isle of Portland, Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove and the World Heritage site of the Dorset Jurassic Coast. The aim being wherever possible to leave our passengers with some lasting benefits from the experience. The Charity is now formally collaborating with the MCA/RYA Green Blue environmental project, that enables charity members, our crews and passengers, to learn more about the environmental problems of the sea, and sea life. We can then make a contribution towards the preservation of clean sea water in the interests of its inhabitants and our area. The MCA/RYA interactive educational resources are superb and we are training and encouraging our crews to engage with our passengers in their use. In addition, our new vessel has been equipped with smaller horsepower engines than previously, special engine room filters to prevent accidental spillage of oils and other contaminants into the sea, and all our cleaning and COVID required sanitisation fluids are approved by the RYA as completely ECO friendly. ## **PUBLIC BENEFIT:-** The Trustees remain mindful of the Charity Commissioners requirement to have regard to their guidance on public benefit. The Charity trustees read the Charity Commission guidance PB1 and PB2 when preparing and reviewing their 3 year Business Plan. directed at assisting those members of the public who are living with disability to gain access to the sea, and whenever possible experience its long-lasting benefits. This can be demonstrated in a range of differing outcomes from improved confidence, communication, friendships, relaxation, escape from isolation, and new skills such as basic navigation and helming the boat, greater knowledge of the seas environmental problems, and occasionally complete lifetime changes. provide to our passengers are evidenced regularly. Our comment box surveys, questioning of carers, letters of thanks, testimonials, repeat visits and the enormous appreciation that the many differing communities of Weymouth and Portland demonstrate for MV Freedom, combined with the high level of financial support that is so willingly forthcoming from all quarters, and so often by those who can least afford it, remains an inspiration to the entire charity. ## **MAIN ACTIVITIES:-** During the 2020 - 2021 season our services to those living with disability were totally lost owing to the COVID 19 restrictions. The charity took advantage of the absence of passenger trips to sell the existing boat, from which the sale proceeds were added to the reserves retained for stage payments on the new boat. Whilst this was advantageous, the COVID restrictions re Website www.mvfreedom.co.uk 4 Charity No: 283955 ## **FRIENDS of M.V.FREEDOM** quired that our entire year’s fundraising programme had to be cancelled until September, when our fundraising team managed to organise a very successful Covid compliant, sponsored swim. This ensured that our income still exceeded our outgoings. A reformed fundraising committee continued to meet regularly to monitor their strategy and identify new initiatives. Despite a number of changes in our membership, numbers have remained stable this year at 56, with recruits bringing new skills and energy to the fundraising initiatives. Whilst the Charity benefitted considerably from generous corporate donations during 2019, the criteria for grant applications changed enormously during the past year, as many new initiatives emerged that were aimed exclusively at Covid related needs and services. This affected our fundraising strategy considerably, but the Charity continued to benefit from the loyal financial support raised from every element of the local communities local authorities, businesses, hotels, clubs, individual residents and holiday makers. The main focus of our fundraising strategy was to ensure that our programme continued to meet the maintenance and running costs of between £15k-£17k annually, to provide for the growing demand for our enjoyable and empowering seagoing experiences. In future, we shall seek to “feed” a long term savings plan for the replacement of the new boat to ensure the longevity of the Charity. ## **Additional details of objectives and activities:-** Our Business Plan had four strategic aims:- - a) Increasing the number of those persons living with disability that we take to sea. ACHIEVED FOR PAST TWO YEARS - FINAL YEAR TRIPS CANCELLED THRU COVID 19 b) Widening our client base to include more young people, the elderly and ex military personnel. - ACHIEVED FOR THE THIRD YEAR - (BY BOOKINGS TAKEN BUT SEE a) ABOVE) - c) Maintaining our fundraising targets. - ACHIEVED DESPITE COVID RESTRICTIONS. - d) Increasing our savings to enable the purchase of a replacement vessel that will future proof the charity in the interests of our community, and those living with disability in particular. - ACHIEVED! - NEW BOAT DELIVERED 15TH APRIL, 2021. Website www.mvfreedom.co.uk Charity No: 283955 5 ## **FRIENDS of M.V.FREEDOM** ## **VOLUNTEERS:** - The massive and willing contribution of unpaid time, labour and experience from our volunteers is at the very heart of the charity, and without which nothing could be achieved. The Charity is so fortunate to have phenomenal community support from Weymouth and Portland in particular. The recognition and appreciation of the service provided by M.V. Freedom, is constantly apparent by the ever increasing level of bookings received. That together with the arrival of our new specially designed motor catamaran will ensure the longevity of the Charity for many years to come. ## **SECTION D - ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** **----- Start of picture text -----**
THE FRIENDS OF M.V.FREEDOM
Are thrilled and honoured to have received
The
Queen’s Award
for Voluntary Service
The M.B.E. for Voluntary Groups
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Main achievement:-** would be a serious ommission not to mention it for another year. Our charity has carried tens of thousands of delighted passengers over the years, and for this tremendous recognition on top of the delivery of a brand new boat for the 2021 season after nine years of fundraising, could not have come at a better time. It is a huge tribute to the hard work and commitment of our volunteers over many years, and particularly to the generous donations received from every element of the local communities and many corporate donors. We hope that all our supporters will feel able to share our delight and pride in this wonderful moment in the Charity’s history! For further details and happy photographic memories. See www.mvfreedom.co.uk or facebook. Website www.mvfreedom.co.uk Charity No: 283955 6 ## **FRIENDS of M.V.FREEDOM** ## **SUMMARY OF ADDITIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS:** 1. - brand new 10 metre motor catamaran, now arguably the best motor vessel of its size and type delivering services on the South Coast, if not in the UK. 2. Managing to equip the new vessel with state of the art electronics to enable wheelchair users to steer the boat from their seated position. 3. Recruiting four more experienced volunteer MCA/RYA skippers. 4. Increasing and maintaining the availability of a choice of trained volunteer crew to - provide uninterrupted cover for two trips a day, for 5-6 days a week from April to October inclusive. 5. Providing our service to both military veterans clubs in our area. 6. the Weymouth and Portland areas. 7. Maintaining our volunteer membership levels. 8. Reviewing our eleven policies and procedures. 9. Reviewing and updating our website style and content. 10. Introducing video conferencing for our AGM and possible future trustee - meetings when circumstances make it necessary. ## **SECTION E: FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **BRIEF STATEMENT ON CHARITY RESERVE POLICY:-** The trustees have reviewed the continuing success of our fundraising activities and improved cash balances, and have decided that we will seek to hold £20,000 in reserve, but available for allocation to any unforseen or planned event. This figure remains slightly in excess of expenditure recorded in the last full operational year. We shall continue the charity’s fundraising activities, and when possible deposit any surpluses in a reserve account as a long term savings plan towards the provision of the next boat to ensure the longevity of the charity. ## **DETAILS OF ANY FUNDS MATERIALLY IN DEFICIT:-** None. ## **FURTHER FINANCIAL REVIEW DETAILS:-** **As we have NO paid staff, premises or road vehicles to maintain, all monies donated are used exclusively towards supporting the key objective of the charity.** The onset of Covid 19 has been a setback to our strategy for 2020-21, and there are signs that fundraising in the forthcoming year may prove to be much more difficult from many of our usual supporters. The Charity is reviewing its fundraising strategy to take account of that and re-focusing our efforts towards those forms of fundraising that can be continued without breaching any current Covid 19 restrictions that remain. Website www.mvfreedom.co.uk Charity No: 283955 7 ## **FRIENDS of M.V.FREEDOM** Our current 28 year old motor catamaran was sold at the end of the 2019 boating season, the proceeds of which contributed to our ability to contract for the new vessel. The buyer generously agreed to allow the Charity to retain the vessel for use last season between April and July inclusive. for the immediate future, from our usual wide range of initiatives and support e.g. sea going donations, over 100 collection pots placed around Weymouth establishments, quiz nights, musical events, Christmas carol services, sponsored walks, bucket days at local supermarkets, Rotary support and events, talks to various organisations, collaboration with other charities and the provision of our volunteers to assist them, as well as more specific individual donations from local businesses and public authorities. See our website www.mvfreedom.co.uk We shall continue to apply in the months ahead for donations towards important extra equipment for our new boat that is specifically designed to improve the safety and longer term benefits for our passengers, as well as assisting with on-gojng running costs. We are extremely fortunate to continue receiving the support of the Weymouth and Portland District Councils, through the present Mayor; and our President, a past Mayor of Weymouth. The Charity is also grateful for the continuing support of the Weymouth Harbour Master. running of the charity are invested in interest bearing accounts, rates are extremely low. ## **SECTION F:OTHER OPTIONAL INFORMATION.** - [Population growth] - [Social Deprivation] - [Effect on Carers] - [Long term health problems] - [Number of residents claiming disability allowances] •[Substantial increases in Learning disabilities and dementia Recent National and local research ] continues to reinforce the absolute need for the service that M.V.Freedom provides in Weymouth and Portland and the surrounding areas. Weymouth and Portland are in the top 10% of areas of UK deprivation, and with many other community problems within the population. Our voluntary service is a valuable addition to the statutory services, and in helping to reduce their costs. **Sources:-** County Council - Policy and Research Dept. Website www.mvfreedom.co.uk Charity No: 283955 8 ## **FRIENDS of M.V.FREEDOM** ## **SECTION G - DECLARATION:-** The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees report. Signed on behalf of the trustees:- Chairman. Full name: Dirk Aldous Secretary. Full name: Steven Evans Date: 17th July, 2021 Website www.mvfreedom.co.uk Charity No: 283955 9 **----- Start of picture text -----**
Charity Name N
Friends of MV Freedom
Receipts and payments acco
For the period Period start date
To
from 1st April 2020
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
funds funds funds
to the nearest
to the nearest £ to the nearest £
£
A1 Receipts
One off donations 3,019 - -
Collection pots 974 - -
Trip donations 360 - -
HMRC tax relief on gift aid and on fuel 2,042 - -
Fund raising events 6,139 - -
Bank interest 2,279 - -
Virgin Money Giving 4,322
PayPal 1,675
Grants & Large donations 10,506 - -
4,564 -
31,316 4,564 -
Sub total (Gross income for AR)
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
Sale of old boat 42,042 - -
- - -
Sub total 42,042 - -
Total receipts 73,358 4,564 -
A3 Payments
Boat running costs excl fuel 869 - -
Boat capital improvements - - -
Insurance 169 - -
Harbour fees 738 - -
Administration costs 574 - -
Fuel costs - - -
Legal costs 607 - -
New boat
New boat extras 1,350 4,564 -
- - -
Sub total 4,307 4,564 -
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
Stage pmts made new boat 246,842 - -
- - -
Sub total 246,842 - -
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Receipts and payments acco** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Total payments 251,149 4,564 -
Net of receipts/(payments) - 177,791 - -
A5 Transfers between funds - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 233,433 - -
Cash funds this year end 55,642 - -
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of
Unrestricted
Categories Details funds
to nearest £
B1 Cash funds Barclays Community Account 9,855
Petty Cash 9
Barclays Bank investment account 100
Skipton Building Society 46,021
Total cash funds 55,986
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s)) Agreement Error
Unrestricted
funds
Details to nearest £
-
B2 Other monetary assets
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
Details asset belongs
B3 Investment assets
Fund to which
Details asset belongs
B4 Assets retained for the New MV Freedom boat
charity’s own use
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Fund to which
Details liability relates
B5 Liabilities
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees Signature Print N
Mr D. W. Ald
Mr M. J. G
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
o (if any)
ounts CC16a
Period end date
31st March 2021
Total funds Last year
to the nearest £ to the nearest £
3,019 7,565
974 4,234
360 10,397
2,042 10,342
6,139 9,137
2,279 1,319
4,322
1,675
10,506 10,506
4,564 74,000
35,880 116,994
42,042
- -
42,042 -
77,922 116,994
869 7,258
- -
169 1,281
738 708
574 798
- 3,602
607 1,973
5,914 -
- -
8,871 15,620
246,842 53,000
-
246,842 53,000
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **ounts** **----- Start of picture text -----**
255,713 68,620
- 177,791 48,374
- -
233,433 -
55,642 48,374
the period
Restricted Endowment
funds funds
to nearest £ to nearest £
- -
- -
- -
- -
OK OK
Restricted Endowment
funds funds
to nearest £ to nearest £
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Current value
Cost (optional)
(optional)
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Current value
Cost (optional)
(optional)
- 299,842
- -
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Amount due When due
(optional) (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Date of
Name
approval
dous QPM
28th July, 2021
Garrett
28th July. 2021
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts** ## **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report** |**Report to the trustees/**
**members of**
**On accounts for the year**
**ended**
**Set out on pages**|Charity Name
Friends of M.V Freedom| |---|---| ||| ||31 March 2021
**Charity no**
**(if any)**
283955| ||| ||1 and 2
(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)| I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended **31 / 03 / 2021** . **Responsibilities and** As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the **basis of report** 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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. **Independent** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have **examiner's statement** come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: - the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or - the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or - the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. * _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._ |**Signed:**
**Name:**
**Relevant professional**
**qualification(s) or body**
**(if any):**
**Address:**|**Date:**|| |---|---|---| |||20 August 2021| |||| ||Rhys James Evans|| |||| ||Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)|| |||| ||12 Castle Hill Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 9NQ|| **Oct 2018** 1 **IER** ## **Section B Disclosure** Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). **Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** . **Oct 2018** 2 **IER**