## Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat ## Trustees’ Annual ## Report ## 1 November 2023 – 31 October 2024 Charity No: 299584 Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat Western Esplanade Sandown Isle of Wight PO36 8JS **Contents** ## 1. Introduction 2. Governance - Constitution Patron Trustees Management Committee 3. Charitable Objectives 4. Achievements & Performance - Lifesaving Training Awards 5. Financial Review Cash Reserves Fundraising Donations Collection Boxes Grants Lotto New Build Fund New Boat New Station Roof 9. Trustee Sign Off 2 **Introduction** Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat is a charitable and not-for-profit organisation created with the aim of preserving human life by providing a 24/7 emergency lifesaving service around the south coast of the Isle of Wight. The charity is run entirely by volunteers from the local Sandown and Shanklin community and receives no funding from the government. It is also not affiliated to the RNLI. Sandown bay is one of the main tourist attractions on the Isle of Wight offering stunning beaches, swimming, windsurfing, paragliding and fossil hunting. In addition, Sandown and Shanklin hold various beach related events throughout the year including regattas, swimming races and fun runs. The Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat provides the safety for these events and therefore not only supports the massive tourist influx to Sandown Bay by providing sea and beach safety, but also supports the local community in its beach related community events. In addition, crew members from the Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat visit local schools and organisations giving water safety training and give sea awareness talks to local organisations. Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat is a highly visible and integral part of the local Sandown and Shanklin community. It develops members of the local community and helps to encourage more people to use Sandown Bay's beaches safely. 3 ## **Governance** ## **Constitution** The governance of the Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat is defined in its Constitution which was last amended in 2018. The charity is constituted as a trust and has its financial year end on 31 October. ## **Patron** The Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat is proud and honoured that Mrs. Susie Sheldon, Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight is the charity’s patron. ## **Trustees** The constitution endows the members of the Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat with the power to appoint up to 5 of their number to be Trustees. The Trustees as at the end of 31 October 2023 are: Mark Birch (Operations Manager & Lead Coxswain), Christopher Bartlett (2nd Coxswain, Training Officer), Richard Burns (Launch Authority & Fundraising Manager) and Neil Styles (Safeguarding Manager). ## **Management Committee** The Trustees of Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat are invested by the Constitution with the power to appoint a Management Committee to oversee the general management of the charity. The members of the Management Committee as at the end of 31 October 2024 are: Mark Birch (Operations Manager), Christopher Bartlett, Richard Burns, Sarah Bartlett (Honorary Secretary) & Jennifer Venables (Honorary Treasurer). 4 ## **Charitable Objectives** The objectives of Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat are to preserve and save life at sea for the benefit of the public by: The promotion of technical education in life saving and resuscitation of the apparently drowned, and to provide suitable training of personnel. The provision of volunteer life-saving services to the beaches and coastline in the area from Bembridge West to St Catherine’s Point, and to ensure that this service is efficient and dependable in every way. The promotion of sea awareness and the principles which underline safety at sea through public lectures, demonstrations, classes of instruction and competitions. 5 ## **Achievements and Performance** ## **Lifesaving** Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat provided 24/7 emergency support 365 days last year. The lifeboat was specifically called upon to attend numerous emergency lifesaving situations. In addition, whenever possible, the lifeboat provided a visible presence at sea during peak season, giving sea safety advice where necessary, and were available to respond to requests by local authorities to curb anti-social or dangerous behaviour by members of the public using Sandown Bay. ## **Training** All members of the lifeboat crew voluntarily gave up their time on Wednesday evenings and Sundays throughout the year to train new crew members and to provide the mutual support required to ensure that all crew members have the highest possible knowledge of sea safety and experience. In addition, various crew members have voluntarily attended professional sea safety and first aid courses. The level of commitment shown by the crew to training ensures that Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat can provide the best possible emergency service. ## **Awards** On 12 July 2024 the Isle of Wight Lord Lieutenant, Susie Sheldon, presented the lifeboat with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service at a special civic event. On 7 October 2024 numerous members of the crew received the King Charles III Coronation Medals to honour the service of those with 5 years or more of service to the charity. These included Mark Birch (31 years), Stephen Woodhams (24 years), David Howes (23 years), and Daren Sands (27 years). 6 ## **Financial Review** ## **Cash Reserves** As of the 31 October 2024 the charity had a bank / cash reserve of £313,945 which was split between operational reserves and the funds donated for the new build of the lifeboat station extension. The charity has adopted a low- r is k strategy on the investment of reserves and holds the cash in two bank accounts: a major part of the cash reserve is invested in an interest-bearing savings bank account; the remaining funds required for operational purposes are held in a separate running account. ## **Fundraising** The Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat has a dedicated team of volunteer fundraisers. The team consists primarily of Mary Birch, Angie Burns, Jackie Kelly, Katrina Kelly, Keith Kelly & Janet O’Mara. The team is also supported by members of the lifeboat crew and the management committee. The Trustees would like to express their gratitude to the dedication and hard work of all fundraisers. In this financial year the fundraisers raised £4370. ## **Donations** Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat gratefully received a total of £23,638 in donations this year. ## **Collection Boxes** Numerous businesses in Sandown and Shanklin kindly agreed to collect funds for the Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat by displaying collection boxes on counters and other locations within 7 their business. The Trustees are grateful to all the local businesses and organisations who have supported the charity in this way. This raised £3292. ## **Lotto** Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat received £11,859 from The Lifeboat Lotto Scheme this year, an average of £988 per month. ## **The New Build Fund** The appeal for funds to build a new extension to the existing lifeboat station was launched in 2004. The target amount was set at £150,000. The side wall has now been rebuilt to the station after the cliff fall. Work continues. The funds reserved for the new build still stands at £87’632 as at 31 October 2024. ## **The New Boat** The new Atlantic 75 is still being stored and worked on by Will Squibb Ltd, Attrills Yard, The Duver, St Helens, Isle of Wight, PO33 1YB. Work continues. No storage fees are being charged. 8 ## **Tru s tee S i g n O f f** The below Trustees declare they approve this report. Signed by the following trustees: **Full name Mark Birch Position Trustee & Operations Manager Date 25 August 2025 Signature Full name Christopher Bartlett Position Trustee & Training Officer Date 25 August 2025 Signature Full name Richard Burns Position Trustee Date 25 August 2025 Signature** 9 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR f NGLAND AND WALES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period fram 01-Nov.Z3 To 31-Orl-24 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds Reslricted funds Endowment funds Total funds Last year loy* wrest £ k) noare81£ tottw nearp5t£ iothe neare5t£ to the nearest £ A1 Re￿pts R￿lpt5 57.752 57,772 36.896 ross income AR) 57,752 57,772 26,B96 Inves (see table). None 57.752 36,896 A3Pa ments Payments 33.B97 1097 35.994 15.808 Sub total 33.897 I097 15,ao8 A4 A￿et and investment urchasts see table None Sub total 33,897 2.097 15,808 Net ofre¢e1￿[p&yMents) AS Transfers between fund¥ A6 Cash funds last ￿ar end Cash fiinds this year end 23, 21,77 21.088 Xl2, 226,3 89.63 87. 292.168 313.945 21,088 CCXX R1 a¢ctyJnts ISSI 0311212024 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Un￿Stricted funds to wrost£ Restricted funds Endow¥llent funds to r￿Test £ Categori Detsit8 to noarest£ B1 Cash funds 225.Tr6 87,$55 614 Total cash funds 226,390 87,555 Unrestricted funds ti) Jwrest £ Re5trTrcted funds En(lowment funds to n&arest£ DEtails FurMI to which Cvrr•nt valu8 onal C*tslls CostloOionall Ful￿ towhich Currentvalue onal 45.ODQ Details Cost lopttonall B4 Assets retained for the chaiity's own use Build l*(gtsti 37,372 Ne* Tf t6,000 Bo*Trw*x2 15.000 P￿ti[￿Y￿ I 25.000 ti"tecbtr) FiTh5rKJ 3.500 Tr*[ Yanwh• EwEs121 & Spwes 149.372 wh￿ dug onal Futyjtowfftfjch Amount due Detalls 85 Liabilities Signed by one or￿￿) tru51ees on bèhaw ol all trLtstees D*e of roval Stgnatu Print Name Mark Bireh Richard Burr CCXX R2 accwnts ISSI 0311212024 , (HARITY COMM15510N Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat On accounts for the year ended 31 Oct 24 Charity no (if any) 299584 Set out on pages he p3qe ￿Urji￿￿rs uf addibonal sheL' I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trusf) for the year ended 31110 12024 Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance wrth the requirements of the Charities Ad 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)Ib) of the Act_ Independent I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have examinerfs statement come to my attention in connection wrth the examination 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 con￿mIng the fomi 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 fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no Loncems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examinats-on to which attentson should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date: 29/IIJL Name: Graeme Shorter Relevant professional qualification{s) or body {if any): NIA Address: 14 Princes Way Shanklin Isle of Wight P037 7DU IER Oct 2018