Safer Waters Association
TRUSTEES. REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st October2024
The Trustees of the Safer Waters
ststeme
rthe
arended
l* October202
senttheirre
rt and the finanaal
The financlal statements have been prepared In accordan￿ with the accountlng polkles set out sn
note to the fin3nual statements and compty with the Safer Waters Constitution. the Charities Act
(Northem Ireland) 2008 and"Accounting and Reporting by Charities= Statement of Recommended
Practlce applicable to tharities preparlng their accounts In accordan￿ wlth the Financlal Reportlng
Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)- {as amended foraccounting periods
commenan8 from l January 2016).
Ob
vltles
The prinapal objettive of theAssociation s to ensurethe safety and wellbeing of those who
partiapate In organised sporting and community events on the sea and inland waters through, but
not restricted to, the followlng activities:
to particlpate In organised on-th&water sportlng events:
to provide a tralned safety boat seNice:
to advise and educate on safety on thewater matters;
to encourage communty Involvement In Improvlng safety on the water:
to offer relevant RYA (Royal Yachtlng Assoclatlon) accredited tralnlng course5 to members
and the general publlc
In managlng the buslness of the Assoclatlon, the Trustees have had due regard to the CCNI'S publlc
benefitguidance.
Safer Waters partklpated In twelve organlsed events over the last year for the publlds benefSt, wlth
four further events beln8 cancelled due to adverse weather. We were unable to support just one
event owlng to lack of avallablllty of boats or crew and one other event was cancelled by the
or8anisers. These events consisted of charity dips, communty swims, an International Salling Even¢
Coastal Rowlng Events and safety coverfor large counc&run events (Sea Bangor).
Total numbers of participants covered: 2,103 in sporting events plus a further 30,000 {estlmated) at
Sea Bangor 2024. This required a totsl of 160 volunteer days to achievei providing both on shore
personnel and boat crews.
We additionally ￿pOnded to requests from HM Coastguard to rendwasSistan￿ on four occasions,
mainly attending disabled vessels and assistin8 them to safety. However, as we are not a"dedared
asset", we do not 8aln fonnal recognEtlon for these actlons.

Safer Waters Assoclation
TRUSTEES, REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31•t October 2024
Tralning
Durlng the year we carrled out 7 RYA approved PowerboatTralnlngcoursesi quallfylng 25 candldates
to Powerboat Level Two stsndard and 2 RYA approved Marine Radio SRC (VHF radio) courses
enabling8candidatesto re￿1ve theirVHF radio r￿n￿s.
Flnandal rarf
Income for the yearwas £26.6k made up of signifKant amounts from Charitable Activitles,
specfflcalty tralnlng1£6.2k) and from Voluntary Receipts. In particular the Gala Ball (£9.8k),
fundraising (£2k). donations {£2.9kl and membership fees (£2.6k). Expenditure was £28.9k and the
signrficant costs induded repayment of loans (£7.5k}. training costs (£4kl, asset purchases (£5.Ikl,
boat malntenance (£3k) and Gala Ball expense5 (£2.8k). Thls ￿suked in a net loss for the year of
£2.3k whlch is viewed as entirely satisfactory gwen the exceptlonal nature of the loans repayment
and the asset purchases.
Cash at bank at 31A October 2024 was £15.445 madeup of £6.5k In Restrlcted Funds and £8.9k In
Unrestrlcted Funds. The Restricted funds are held for specific expenditure and the Unrestricted
Funds are held to cover operatlonal costs during the winter and spring months and any unforeseen
expenditure that may occur.
Fartors affectlngthe flnandal p￿ftIOn In future perfod5
The principal factors whkh wlll thct the finandal posltlon In future perlods Indude the abllity to
retaln ex15tln8 members and attratt new members, to contlnue to generate funds from the use of
training resources, donations from event support and fundralslng by members, whllst lookin8 after
the assets of the Association and maintsining a tight rein on expenditure.
Rlsk Factors
The Trustees are satlsfled that the tharltable purpose of the Assoclatlon has been malntalned, that
all monles have been accounted for and that the assets are secure and have been used in the
dellvery of Safer Waters servkes to commUni￿baSed events. The Trustees have assessed the major
rlsks to whlch the Assoclatlon Is exposed and are sattsfled that approprfate systems are In place to
mitigate exposure to the major risks. It should be further noted that in order to mitigate the legal
and f inancial risks to members, the Association has decided to become a charitsble company limfted
by guarantee and hopes to rna￿ the change In earty 2025.
Safer Waters Is an Unlncorporated Assoclatlon made up of Members who share the same values.
There are three categories of membership, Adult. Famity and Junior.
The structure, 8ovemance and management of the Assoclation is dearly documented In the Safer
Waters Constltutlon. In summary. the management of the Assoclation is in the hands of the Trustees
supported by a Board of Management.
The Board of Management is elected annualty at the Annual General Meeting by the membershlp of
the Assodatlon. The Trustees are appolnted by the Board of Management.

Safer Water5 Association
TRUSTEES, REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31•t October 2024
Board of Man￿eMent (•pointed Jan 2024)
Tntstees (appolnted/reappolntedJan 2024)
Mr. Michael Meharg
Commodore (C/P)
Mr. Mlchad Meharg
Mr. Mark Mcclughan
Secretary (co-opted
Mr. Rithard Barbour
Mr. Rlchard Bames
Treasurer
Mr. Allan Black
Retlred In year due to
ill health
Mr. Robin Gordon
Training
Mrs. Jan Hollinger
Development
Mr. Jonathan Mitchell
Events & Logistics
Membershlp
The table below records the number of members of theAssodation compared to prev5ous year.
Membershlp Category
202312024
202212023
AduFt
21
21
Famllv
38
40
Junlor
62
64
The Trustees are indebted to the many members of the Assoclatlon who glve so willlngty of their
tlme, knowledge and expertlse to mana8ethe da￿t0-daY aLtivitles, to carry out the maln tharitable
actlvitles of tralnlng and event support and to fundratse In so many dlverse ways. Wlthout thls
valuable contrlbution the A￿OCIatIon would not have been ableto athieve so much.
Name of Charity:
Safer Waters Association
CharFty Reglstratlon Number. NIC 108273
Re8lstered Address:
Bregenz House,
5 Quay Stre¢
Bangor
BT20 SED
Charity Trustees:
(during the period)
Mr. M. Meharg
Mr. R. Barbour
Mr. A. Black

Safer Waters Association
TRUSTEES. REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31•t October2024
Exem
"ons from Disdosure
None
Funds held as Custodlan Trustee on behalf of Others
None
Mr. M, Meharg
ur
Trustees