BRECON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 517732
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
BRECON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
| STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 | |
|---|---|
| CONTENTS | Page |
| Charity information | 3 |
| Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31st March 2025 | 4 |
| Report of the Independent Examiner to the Trustees of Brecon Mountain Rescue Team | 6 |
| Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31st March 2025 | 7 |
| Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2025 | 8 |
| Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31st March 2025 | 9 |
2
BRECON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
CHARITY INFORMATION
Trustees of the charity as at 31st March 2025
Trustees of the charity as at 31st March 2025 A Stamford-Plows - Chairman R Powell - Team Leader M Jones - Deputy Team Leader D Turpin - Deputy Team Leader R Williams - Deputy Team Leader S Williams - Secretary D Turpin - Treasurer J Neale - Member N Parry - Member P Wesley - Member J Evans - Member Correspondent S Williams Treasurer D Turpin Independent Examiner R D K Roche-Saunders Chartered Accountant 34 The Watton Brecon Powys LD3 7EF Bankers National Westminster Bank plc 9 High Street Abergavenny Monmouthshire NP7 5SA Charity registration number 517732
3
BRECON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
Constitution, principal activity and public benefit
Brecon Mountain Rescue Team (the ‘team’) is a charity, registered with the Charity Commissioners under number 517732 and affiliated to the Mountain Rescue Council of England and Wales. It was registered on 3rd July 1986 and is governed by its constitution. The charitable purposes for which it was formed are to relieve suffering and distress amongst persons endangered by accidents or natural hazards within the area of South Wales and to provide adequate arrangements for the secure and efficient search and rescue of any person or persons so endangered. The Trustees consider that these purposes are for the public benefit; they are provided to any member of the public, without charge.
Management
The charity is administered by a management committee comprised of individuals with responsibilities for various aspects of the charity’s operations. Since the last Annual General Meeting the chairman was Ashley Stamford-Plows, the team leader was Robert Powell, the secretary was Steffan Williams and the treasurer was Dominic Turpin.
Review of the year
The team responds to calls from the police and ambulance services, and offers its services to members of the public who find themselves in difficulties, whether in the mountains, on open land, in lowland or urban areas, and assists other teams, the armed forces and other search and rescue organisations.
Construction of the new Headquarters building is now complete, and the team makes full use of its facilities, being able to respond more quickly than previously to emergency calls for help. The equipment and medical supplies are now stored more safely, the vehicles are garaged indoors, and the team members can train all together. The building also offers a free venue for local community organisations, and enables the team to increase its educational outreach work and to save lives through learning.
The team remained available to respond to calls for assistance throughout the construction phase, attending 83 callouts during the year under review, down slightly from 88 in the previous year. As ever, the team members are always ready to offer their services to members of the public as and when required, and will always be ready to come to their assistance if they should get into difficulties.
With the completion of the new Headquarters, the team’s major fund-raising effort over the last few years is at an end, and the focus returns to the raising of funds for the day-to-day running expenses. Major donations received during the year included a restricted donation of £30,000 from the Critchley Charitable Trust towards the cost of new team waterproof jackets and £30,000 from the Karin Brass Memorial Fund for general purposes.
The Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31st March 2025 on page 8 shows that income was £208,934 (compared with £198,615 in the previous year), while expenditure was £96,067 (£68,767). Net income was thus £112,867 (£129,849).
….continued on page 5
4
BRECON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 (continued)
Reserves and expenses
The reserves policy is to endeavour to maintain the reserves at two years’ estimated unrestricted expenditure. The team’s budget plans are based on that intention, which is designed to ensure that the charity continues to have sufficient available resources to ensure that its primary objective will not be hampered by a short-term imbalance between income and expenditure. The Trustees consider that this level of reserves can realistically be met.
The charity provides a vital emergency service and requires certainty of funding. To that end, funds will be sought beyond the minimum level of reserves where possible in order to increase the proportion of income generated from the charity’s own assets, to reduce the dependency on short term fundraising and to avoid spending unrestricted funds on capital purchases.
Funds are invested in pursuit of income from low-risk investments. During the year, monies were held in National Westminster Bank, with a very small balance invested with Virgin Money.
No trustee receives remuneration or expenses, other than reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses for expenditure incurred on behalf of the team. Where certain conditions are met, members are reimbursed with their travelling costs on a non-profit pence per mile basis; this scheme is available to any member who wishes to claim, including the trustees, and the amounts paid out are shown in total in the vehicles expenses section of note 3.
Prospects for the year ahead and general development plans
The major redevelopment of the team’s Headquarters is now virtually complete and is being used for all the intended purposes. There are no major fundraising activities at present, and raising funds for day-to-day activities is presently the focus.
Conclusion
As ever, the team depends largely for its income on donations and fundraising; we remain most grateful to the trustees of the grant making charities and the members of the general public who continue to support us so faithfully and trust that this support will continue. In addition to the financial assistance which the team enjoys, we also receive support and understanding from our members’ employers, family and friends when we receive our emergency calls: this assistance is priceless and we are very grateful. We are confident that we can continue to depend upon this support, so that we can continue to provide our service to those who call upon us.
The Trustees have approved the Trustees’ Report above.
……………………………………… ………………………..……………2025 Chairman of the Trustees
5
BRECON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER TO THE TRUSTEES OF BRECON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of Brecon Mountain Rescue Team (the charity) for the year ended 31st March 2025.
Respective responsibilities of the trustees and the independent examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. They 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. It is my responsibility to:-
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
-
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act), and
-
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of the independent examiner’s statement
Your attention is drawn to the fact that the charity has prepared accounts in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). I understand that this has been done in order for the accounts to provide a true and fair view in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principle effective for reporting periods beginning on or after 1st January 2015.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:-
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act;
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
the financial statements do 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.
………………………………………
6th May 2025
R D K Roche-Saunders Chartered Accountant 34 The Watton Brecon
6
BRECON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 (Referred to as SOFA)
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Prior year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | income funds | funds | funds | |
| Incoming resources (note 2) | ||||
| Donations and legacies (a) | 132,193 | 30,000 | 162,193 | 151,393 |
| Other trading activities (b) and | (c) 38,669 | - | 38,669 | 39,173 |
| Bank interest (d) | 1,672 | - | 1,672 | 2,471 |
| Other items (e) | 6,400 | - | 6,400 | 5,578 |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | |
| Total | 178,934 | 30,000 | 208,934 | 198,615 |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | |
| Resources expended (note 3) | ||||
| Raising funds | 6,886 | - | 6,886 | 8,097 |
| Charitable activities | 89,181 | - | 89,181 | 60,670 |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | |
| 96,067 | - | 96,067 | 68,767 | |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | |
| Net income, and | ||||
| net movement in funds | 82,867 | 30,000 | 112,867 | 129,849 |
| Total funds brought forward | 1,097,114 | - | 1,097,114 | 967,265 |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | |
| Total funds carried forward £1,179,981 | £30,000 | £1,209,981 | £1,097,114 | |
| _ | _ | _ | _ |
7
BRECON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST MARCH 2025
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Prior year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed assets | funds | income funds | funds | funds | |
| Tangible assets (note 4) | 1,265,545 | - | 1,265,545 | 1,278,914 | |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | ||
| Current assets | |||||
| Stocks on hand | 10,100 | - | 10,100 | 8,000 | |
| Debtors (note 5) | 2,757 | - | 2,757 | 2,798 | |
| Balance at bank and in hand | 244,636 | 30,000 | 274,636 | 159,132 | |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | ||
| Total current assets | 257,493 | 30,000 | 287,493 | 169,930 | |
| Creditors: amounts falling | due | ||||
| within one year (note 6) | 31,057 | - | 31,057 | 33,330 | |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | ||
| Net current assets | 226,436 | 30,000 | 256,436 | 136,600 | |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | ||
| Total assets | |||||
| less current liabilities | 1,491,981 | 30,000 | 1,521,981 | 1,415,514 | |
| Deferred income grants | 312,000 | - | 312,000 | 318,400 | |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | ||
| Total assets less liabilities | £1,179,981 | £30,000 | £1,209,981 | £1,097,114 | |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | ||
| Funds of the Charity | |||||
| Restricted income funds (note 7) | - | 30,000 | 30,000 | - | |
| Unrestricted funds (note 7) | 1,179,981 | - | 1,179,981 | 1,097,114 | |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | ||
| Total funds | £1,179,981 | £30,000 | £1,209,981 | £1,097,114 | |
| _ | _ | _ | _ |
8
BRECON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
1 Accounting policies
Basis of accounting
These accounts have been prepared on the accruals basis under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value (unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts), in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and with the Charities Act 2011.
The financial statements are presented in pounds sterling, which is the functional currency of the team, and are rounded to the nearest £1.
Public benefit
The Trustees consider that the aims and objectives of the team are such that it constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
Going concern
The Trustees are satisfied that the team should continue to be regarded as a going concern and that these accounts are properly prepared on that basis.
Stock
Stocks of merchandise are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.
Depreciation
Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its estimated residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:-
| Brecon Mountain Rescue Team - Headquarters | Written off over 50 years |
|---|---|
| Fixtures and fittings at the new Headquarters | 25% of cost per annum |
| Drone | 33⅓% of cost per annum |
| Motor vehicles | 20% of cost per annum |
The Trustees intend that the new headquarters be fully maintained, and consider that its useful economic life should exceed 50 years.
9
BRECON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 (continued)
1 Accounting policies (continued)
Recognition of income and expenditure
Income is included in the SOFA when the team becomes entitled to the resources, when it is more likely than not that the Trustees will receive the resources and when the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability. Legacies are received occasionally, and similar parameters of certainty are applied.
Funding grants are brought into income over the depreciable life of the assets for which they were received.
The team is operated entirely by volunteers, and the value of this help is not included in the accounts.
Expenditure is recognised when it is more likely than not that there is a legal obligation committing the charity to pay.
Assets
Tangible fixed assets for use by the charity are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £1,000.
Value Added Tax
Brecon Mountain Rescue Team is not registered for Value Added Tax (VAT) but, as a charity, is able to reclaim input VAT on appropriate expenditure. The figures in these accounts, both for the current year and for the previous year, exclude VAT.
10
BRECON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 (continued)
| 2 | Analysis of income | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| (a) | Unrestricted donations and gifts | ||
| Boxes | 4,275 | 4,928 | |
| SWSARA grant | 55 | 1,378 | |
| General donations | 58,951 | 66,253 | |
| Donations in memory | 6,307 | 447 | |
| Jane Hodge Foundation | 5,000 | - | |
| Karin Brass | 30,000 | - | |
| Pontfaen YFC | 4,000 | - | |
| GE Aerospace | 5,000 | - | |
| West Midlands Wealth Management | 3,000 | 3,000 | |
| Legacies | 11,930 | 67,151 | |
| HF Holidays | - | 7,000 | |
| _ | _ | ||
| 128,518 | 150,157 | ||
| _ | _ | ||
| Gift aid | 2,547 | - | |
| _ | _ | ||
| Membership subscriptions | 1,128 | 1,236 | |
| _ | _ | ||
| Total of donations and legacies | 132,193 | 151,393 | |
| _ | _ | ||
| (b) | Charitable activities | ||
| Sales of merchandise | 4,930 | 10,104 | |
| _ | _ | ||
| (c) | Fundraising | ||
| General fundraising | 5,500 | 3,089 | |
| Black Dragon | 15,393 | 11,523 | |
| Beat the Beacons | 10,153 | 12,279 | |
| Collections at Royal Welsh Show | 693 | 178 | |
| 200 Club | 2,000 | 2,000 | |
| _ | _ | ||
| 33,739 | 29,069 | ||
| _ | _ |
11
BRECON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 (continued)
| 2 | Analysis of income (continued) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| (d) | Interest | ||
| National Westminster Bank | 1,663 | 186 | |
| Leeds Building Society | - | 1,072 | |
| Virgin Money | 9 | 1,213 | |
| _ | _ | ||
| 1,672 | 2,471 | ||
| _ | _ | ||
| (e) | Sundry income | ||
| Deferred income grants | 6,400 | 1,600 | |
| Fuel reimbursement by Police | - | 2,278 | |
| Sale of containers | - | 1,700 | |
| _ | _ | ||
| 6,400 | 5,578 | ||
| _ | _ |
(f) Restricted donations
This donation of £30,000 from the Critchley Charitable Trust is towards the purchase of new team waterproof jackets. With the completion of the building works, all donations which were previously recognised as restricted have been recognised as unrestricted donations.
12
BRECON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 (continued)
| 3 | Analysis of expenditure | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Expenditure on raising funds | |||
| Staging fundraising events | 1,700 | 2,475 | |
| Fees payable to donation schemes | 551 | 451 | |
| Purchase of merchandising items, adjusted for stock | 4,464 | 4,716 | |
| Advertising, marketing and sundry items | 171 | 455 | |
| _ | _ | ||
| 6,886 | 8,097 | ||
| _ | _ | ||
| Expenditure on charitable activities | |||
| Vehicles and drone running expenses | |||
| Fuel | 2,663 | 2,361 | |
| Mileage reimbursement | 2,131 | 2,073 | |
| Repairs and maintenance | 7,536 | 2,947 | |
| Road fund licences | 149 | 240 | |
| Insurance for the drone | 995 | 978 | |
| Drone expenses | 278 | 362 | |
| Insurance on Gator | - | 323 | |
| Breakdown cover | 181 | 356 | |
| _ | _ | ||
| 13,933 | 9,640 | ||
| _ | _ | ||
| Communications | |||
| Worldtext | 1,935 | 812 | |
| Radios, headsets, batteries, aerials, repairs etc | 667 | 115 | |
| Data SIM | 262 | 422 | |
| Starlink | 1,186 | 1,128 | |
| Spot Tracker contracts | 2,524 | 3,950 | |
| EE | 885 | 395 | |
| SARMAN | 840 | - | |
| _ | _ | ||
| 8,300 | 6,822 | ||
| _ | _ |
13
BRECON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 (continued)
| 3 | Training | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Sundry course fees | 4,889 | 3,412 | |
| _ | _ | ||
| Headquarters | |||
| Telephone, internet and subscriptions | 26 | 1,294 | |
| Postage and stationery | 201 | - | |
| Insurance | 4,706 | 1,868 | |
| Electricity | 3,783 | 2,517 | |
| Water charges | 216 | 202 | |
| Sundry maintenance and stores | 5,030 | 1,664 | |
| Alarm annual maintenance fee | 612 | 155 | |
| Information Commissioner fees | 35 | 35 | |
| Sundry items | 88 | 25 | |
| Website maintenance costs | 830 | 768 | |
| Conference fees | 114 | 1,026 | |
| Basewarming costs | - | 2,000 | |
| _ | _ | ||
| 15,641 | 11,554 | ||
| _ | _ | ||
| Team clothing and equipment | |||
| Total payments | 5,338 | 8,216 | |
| _ | _ |
This heading comprises the purchase, repair and replacement of items of clothing and rescue, specialised climbing and safety equipment necessary for the efficient running of the team.
Medical requisites
Total payments
2,450 168 _ _
This total comprises expenditure on consumable items and on stocks of controlled drugs, which have to be kept ‘in-date’.
14
BRECON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 (continued)
| 3 | Administration costs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| Independent examiner’s fees | 1,250 | 1,250 | |||
| Other professional advice | - | 800 | |||
| Fire survey | - | 905 | |||
| _ | _ | ||||
| 1,250 | 2,955 | ||||
| _ | _ | ||||
| Depreciation | 37,380 | 17,903 | |||
| _ | _ | ||||
| Total of expenditure on charitable | activities | 89,181 | 60,670 | ||
| _ | _ | ||||
| 4 | Tangible fixed assets | ||||
| Freehold land | Furniture | Motor | Total | ||
| and buildings | and | vehicles, | |||
| equipment | trailers | ||||
| At cost, 31st March 2024 | 1,249,867 | 25,298 | 131,287 | 1,406,452 | |
| Additions during the year | 20,033 | - | 3,978 | 24,011 | |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | ||
| At cost, 31st March 2025 | 1,269,900 | 25,298 | 135,265 | 1,430,463 | |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | ||
| Depreciation | |||||
| As at 31st March 2024 | 6,247 | 7,325 | 113,966 | 127,538 | |
| Provided during the year | 25,797 | 7,324 | 4,259 | 33,380 | |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | ||
| As at 31st March 2025 | 32,044 | 14,649 | 118,225 | 160,918 | |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | ||
| Net book values:- | |||||
| 31st | March 2024 | 1,243,620 | 17,973 | 17,321 | 1,278,914 |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | ||
| 31st | March 2025 | 1,237,856 | 10,649 | 17,040 | 1,265,545 |
| _ | _ | _ | _ |
15
BRECON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 (continued)
| 5 | Debtors | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| Sundry debtors and | prepayments | 2,757 | 2,798 | ||
| _ | _ | ||||
| 6 | Creditors: amounts falling due within | one year | |||
| Accrued charges | 1,550 | 3,823 | |||
| Retention due on new base building | 29,507 | 29,507 | |||
| _ | _ | ||||
| 31,057 | 33,330 | ||||
| _ | _ | ||||
| 7 | Summary of movement of funds | ||||
| Balance at | Movement in funds | Balance at | |||
| 31.3.24 | Incoming | Transfer | 31.3.25 | ||
| resources | |||||
| Restricted fund | - | 30,000 | - | 30,000 | |
| Unrestricted fund | 1,097,114 | 82,867 | - | 1,189,981 | |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | ||
| £1,097,114 | £112,867 | £- | £1,219,981 | ||
| _ | _ | _ | _ |
The monies held in the restricted fund are for the purchase of new team waterproof jackets; the unrestricted fund holds funds for the general operational running costs of the charity.
These details are also shown for the previous year.
| Balance at | Movement | in funds | Balance at | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31.3.23 | Incoming | Transfer | 31.3.24 | |
| resources | ||||
| Restricted fund - new base | 595,184 | - | 595,184 | - |
| Unrestricted fund | 372,081 | 129,849 | ||
| 595,184 | - | 1,097,114 | ||
| _ | _ | _ | _ | |
| £967,265 | £725,033 | £595,184 | £1,097,114 | |
| _ | _ | _ | _ |
16
BRECON MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 (continued)
8 Additional disclosures
The freehold title of the land at Ffrwdgrech Industrial Estate, Brecon, on which the new Headquarters has been built is recorded as being vested in the names of Ewan Thomas, Dominic Turpin, Duncan Forbes and Ellen Petrina Park Guinan, who hold it on trust for mountain rescue purposes This land is not at present included as an asset in these accounts.
17