The Baldwin Trust
Narrowboats for community use on Leicestershire waterways
R8gi8t8rgd Charity No. 515488
ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 11112024 TO 3111212024
Having been forned in 1983, in our 2024 season, The Baldwin Trust continued
its important service on the waterways of Leicestershire.
Administration details of the Trust
Charity name: The Baldwin Trust
Other names.. Baldwin Boat TrusL Baldwin Charitsble Trust
Registered numb8r: 515488
Principal address for communication CIO-28 Holboume Close. Barrow upon
Soar, Loughborough LE12 8NE.
mitte
Acting Chair.. Mr Richard Jayes. Barrow upon Soar, Leics. Appointed by
principal Trustees.
Secretary: Mrs Hannah Coombe. Syston Leics. Appointed by principal Trust8es.
Treasurer: Mr Martin Charles. South Croxton, Lelcs. Appointed by principal
Trustees.
Mr Dave Kemble, Leics. Appointed by existing Trustees.
Mr Martin Charles, South Croxton, Leics. Appointed by existing
Trustees.
Mr Richard Jayes. Barrow Upon Soar, Leics. Appointed by existing
Trustees.
Mrs Ellen Reeve, Loughborough, Leics. Appointed by existing
Trustees.
Baktsvi C￿ty No. 515188

Mr Simon Blackbum, Birstall, Leics. Appointed by existing Trustees.
Mr Chris Trivett, Groby LeiGS. Appointed by existing Tnjstees (Dec 2024)
(Mrs Ellen Reeve retired from her role as a Trustee - October 2024)
tional detai .
Goveming documentr Deed of Settlement dated 311111983 amended 81111984.
Constr'tuted as: A Charitable Trust.
Trustee selection: Appointment by existing Trustees, nomination by management
officers.
Governing Document amended in December 2024 to update Charitable
Objectives, removing reference to Leicester Glenfiith Hospital, ￿lch no longer
exists.
Other matters.
The Trust is required to maintain a minimum of three Trustees, and a management
team with specific responsibilities and skills including training, crew allocations, boat
maintenance, booking and scheduling, IT and web site upkeep.
The Trust is a member of the NCBA (National Community Boat Association). All
volunteers, as applicable, undergo induction and crew training.
All skippers are required to hold a current Gertrficate in Community boat management
which must be renewed every 5 years. They must also hold current Emergency First
Aid certificates.
The crew (including the skippers) operating the boats are all unpaid volunteers.
Ob'ectives and activities.
When planning activities for the year, the Trustees have considered the Charity
Commission's guidance on public benefit. and in particular, the specific guidance on
tharities for the provision of facilities for recreation in the interests of social welfare.
The Baldwin Trust Charitable Objectives are defined as:
(i)
the relief and benefit of principally but not exclusively the people of
Charnwood, LeI￿stershire and surrounding areas.
May 2025

the provisions of facilikn'es for recreation for the persons mentioned above
in sub-dause (i) with the object of improving the conditions in life of such
persons who by reason of social circumStan￿S or their mental or physical
disability have need for such facilities.
such Charitable bodies or for such other purposes as shall be exclusively
charitable as the Trustees rnay from time to time decide.
To facilitate this work, It is important that we maintain our narrowboats,
Dandelion and Hasleyon Days.
Both boats are spectfically designed to accommodate up to 12 passengers and cater
for those using a wheelchair and having other mobility challenges. Modifications and
additions have been made to the boats to enhance and assist our client's
experience. Audio visual screens have been fitted which incorporate British Sign
Language and feature safety instructions in both English and Hindi languages.
Both boats also have features to assist those with other challenges.
One boat operates from Leicester Marina in Thurmaston, the other from Barrow
Boating, Barrow upon Soar.
During 2024 the Trust achieved a total of 146 trips on the boats. This is a reduction
of 140k fewer trips than the previous year. (2023 being 169 trips)
The utilisation of each boat differs, with the boat based nearer to the City of Le+￿ster
fulfilling 100 trips, whereas the boat based nearer to Loughborough fulfilling 46 trips.
This reduction in the number of trips primarily relates to a significant number of trips
having to be Cancelled due to weather-related reasons.
The River Soar l Grand Union canal, where we operate our boats, suffered severe
flooding during 2024 making tt impossible for us to operate our boats safely.
Because of these Can￿lIations, we felt tt was correct to offer vouchers for the trips to
be carried forward in our 2025 session. Some trips were refunded and others re-
booked for later in the 2024 season.
May 2025

There have been a variety of beneficiaries who have been on our trips. Good,
planned maintenance has ensured that minimal breakdowns and mechanical failures
occurred.
We carried approximately 2000 clients on our boats during the 2024 season and
testimonials and user comments show the benefit we provide to the local
communities.
Achievements and erfomance.
Certain users of our service (especially care and residential homes) have been
somewhat slower in arranging trips with the Trust, but other organisations have
shown a greater increase in interest and have made bookings with us.
There has been an increase in groups engaged with various physical and mental
challenges. These include wellbeing groups, Dementia Awareness groups,
Bereavement Groups, SEND groups and many more.
We have encouraged our volunteers to estsblish contacts in their local communities
who would benefit from participating in one of our trips, and this has started to work
well.
The Trust have incorporated an online trip booking system which is allied to an
online ticketing payment system. This has been Inco￿orated with a brand new
website for the Trust.
This means that our users can not only book and pay online, but they can also check
boat availability and choose the desired routes and trip timings. The new system also
provides other important information about the trips and incorporates policies and
directives.
The Trust have been very successful in maintaining volunteer numbers at circa
approaching 100 and their continued loyafty has been maintained through constant
contact.
May 2025

Qualified skippers are essential for the smooth running of our organisation. During
the 2024 season this number was 15 and we envisage this number increasing in our
2025 season.
The Trust has further strengthened its wort(ing relationships with Voluntary
Community servi￿5, Charnwood Borough Council and Voluntary Action Leicester in
a bid to improve the professionalism of Trustee perforrnan￿, source new members
and train Funding group members in writing bid applications for funds. A major
partnership with th8 Canal and River Trusl has been developed whereby the Baldwin
Trust boats have been used by the Canal and River Trust to market the wellbeing
benefits of increased use of the waterways system by local and city populations. This
will hopefully continue throughout 2025 and beyond.
Our 'Supported Cruises" initiative, has been successful. (This being the rebranded
name for what was initially called our "Project Waterside Scheme")
This scheme offers those less fortunate members of our communities subsidised and
sometimes free trips on our boats. The Trustees agree on beneficiaries of the
Supported Cruise, based on the need and financial position of the group proposed,
keeping the Charitable Objectives in mind.
This has proved to be very important, as society has had to combat the economic
and mental anguish of conflict and turbulent political and economic challenges.
This has been further overshadowed by problems in the NHS and general industrial
unrest and conflicts around the world. This has caused a greater numb8r in society
to suffer mental health issues. increased povety and feelings of isolation and
loneliness. These are some of the people that our Trust reaches out to. Our
volunteers have worked hard to provide trips and the environment to assist in
beneffting these challenges. The help and support of all volunteers is particularly
appreciated.
Structure
overnan￿ and mana
ement.
During the period, volunteer members are encouraged and recruited to functional
sections for training, boat maintenance, new boat development and funding as well
as other areas.
May 2025

We have also formed new teams for dealing with boat festivals and Community
events, medialpress and PR to promote the work of the Trust. This has all been
done utilising the tslents of the wonderful group of volunteers supporting our Trust
with some external help also.
Without the commitment of the volunteers, none of this would have been possible.
The Trust has continued to recruit and train new volunteers to maintain our core of fit
and capable crew and skippers.
The paid services of a self-employed Volunteer Coordinator continued in 2024. This
relates to engagement with all volunteers, improving systems for managing crew
allocation of the boats, and the trip booking and payment system.
The paid services of a self-employed secretary also continued in 2024.
The charges made for these two services are viewed by the Trustees as being of
great value to the charity.
Grants and Fundraisin
The Trust continued to approach fiJnders. organisations and the general public for
donations. Our fundraising in 2024 has helped us to maintain and improve our boats
and our service for the benefit of both our users and also our volunteers.
However, during 2024, it has become increasingly difficult to obtain grants and
donations due to the economic downtum experienced by many.
We are very grateful for the funding that we have received during 2024, which has
helped us to maintain our important seriice to the community.
Financial Review
In 2024, expenditure exceeded income by £10,062. Expenditure was £47,616
and income was £37,554.
The above figures are taken from the 2024 accounts approved by our independent
financial examinerlaccountanL
Our Reserves policy was confinned to remain at £40,000.
R.G Jayes
Acting Chair of T stees
May 2025

THE BALDWIN TRUST- charlty no. 515488
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS - FOR THE YEAR ENDED 3151 DECEMBER 2024
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Total
2024
Total
2023
RECEIPTS
Grant5 and donations including Gift Aid
Fundraising- bear5 and collection boxes
Interest on depoyts
Income from cruises
Dandelion
Halseyon Days
Project Waterside supported trip5
8.449
1.943
2.699
1.507
9,956
1,943
2.699
30.285
753
.415
6.125
16.831
3,954
6,125
16.831
7.219
14.660
13.9541
Total recelpts
40,001
1.507
3,954
37,554
54,332
PAYMENTS
Costs associated with fundraising
advertising. marketing consultancy.
social media and funding applications
Digital ticketing system
Governance (independent examination)
Meeting5 and venue hire
Insurance (employers liability)
Insurance (trustees liobilityl
Insurance (public liability)
Training courses and certificates
Administration. postage, slotionery
Office equipment
Volunteer co-ordinator
Softwore
Telephones
Uniforms
Social event5
Trovel allowances
Crew allowances
Boat mointenance & refurbishment
Dandelion
Halseyon Days
Boat mooring, Wate￿ayS licences and
insurance
Dandelion
Halseyon Day5
Transport costs (Project Water5idel
9.558
2.340
660
695
6.260
15,818
2,340
660
695
12.298
600
205
616
433
153
440
790
199
90
291
199
90
291
610
8.824
492
610
8.824
492
348
682
8,870
997
350
354
2,129
2,122
348
370
312
1,496
520
1.496
520
2.037
1,931
2.037
.931
2,962
2,835
5.319
4,056
5,319
4.056
300
4.910
3,040
665
300
Total payments
40.744
6.872
47.616
45,117
Net recelpts/(payments) for the year
Reconclllallon
Cash funds last year end
17431
19,3191
110.0621
9.215
127.489
10.826
138.315
129.100
Cash tunds thls year end
126.746
1.507
128.253
138,315
The a55ets and liobilitie5 statement on poge 2 forms part of the reporting package.

THE BALDWIN TRUST- charlly no. 515488
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
AS AT 31st DECEMBER 2024
2024
2023
CASH FUNDS
Lloyds - current occount
Lloyds - deposit account
Nationwide - business instant saver
44,473
20,430
63.350
50,907
87,408
Combined unrestricted and restricted funds
128,253
138,315
ASSETS RETAINED FOR THE CHARITY'S OWN USE
Dandelion
at trustees valuation
Halseyon Days - at trustees valuation
56,500
135,000
56,500
135,000
191,500
191,5CO
Signed on behalf of the trustees
Richard Jayes
14th May 2025

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE BALDWIN TRUST
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Baldwin Trust (the Trust) for the
ended 31st December 2024 set out on pages l and 2.
Responslblllties and basts of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you ore responsible for the preparation of the accounts in
accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the Acti.
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of
the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions
given by the Chority Commission under Section 145151 (bl of the Act.
Independent examlner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material malter5 have come to my
attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any materiol
respect:
l. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the
Act", or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concems and have come across no olher matters in connection with the
examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
signed:
Meirion Thomas, FCA ICAEW
T 9 & 20 Baxter Gote
Loughborough
Leics LEI I ITG
14th May 2025