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Trustee Report for A.G.M. 06-11-19

The Charity is run by Trustees who are all volunteers with assistance from other volunteers. The Trustees follow the guidance of the Charity Commission. Meetings are held on a regular basis.

The Charity provides low cost hire and maintenance of mobility scooters, wheelchairs and power chairs.

During this year we have worked with the Williams-Williams trust to buy new scooters for the person that meet their criteria.

We received £2000 from Tesco carrier bags and bought 2 new scooters.

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 August 2021

The Trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2021. The Trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out overleaf.

Structure, governance and management

The activities of the Charity are monitored by the Trustees who all act in a voluntary capacity. The Trustees follow the principles of governance and control advocated by the Charity Commission. Formal meetings and discussions are held on a regular basis.

Objectives and activities

Activities

He Charity provies low-cost hire and maintenance of mobility scooters, wheelchairs and other aids to its members.

Results

The incoming resources for the year amounted to £38,151.73 (2019 - £35,750) all of which has or will be used in providing the charity’s activities.

Strategy

The Group seeks to raise funds to carry out its activities and minimize the cost to its members.

Donations

The Trustees have divided the donations to the Group into Restricted and Unrestricted Funds. Restricted Funds (grants, large donations, and scooter sales) are monies that have a single purpose use; as requested by the individual donors to the Group or by the Trustees in writing for projects (e.g. building renovation, equipment). These donations can only be spent on the requested use but can be carried forward into the the next financial year if the project has not been completed. Unrestricted Funds are to be used for any prupose covered by the Group’s strategy as set out above.  The Trustees may use these funds without limitations and may transfer money from the Restricted Funds or to Reserves as and when necessary.

Reserves Policy

Funds are held to meet the projected costs of the Group for a period of at least three months, together with the costs of winding up the Group and/or meeting extraordinary expenses. The actual amount of the provision is reviewed each Committee Meeting considering existing circumstances. The degree of uncertainty over public funding, and a reduction in private funding available, reflecting the current economic situation, means the excess of funds over those required by the Policy will be allowed to carry forward and for the time being is not considered excessive.

Investment Policy

The Charity funds activities on a regular basis and, as such, is not involved with investment activities. Reserves are invested in interest bearing accounts to provide maximum income but with short term acess.

Risk Review

The Trustees have conducted their own review of the major risks to which the Charity is exposed and systems have been established to mitigate these risks. These procedures are reviewed annually to ensure they still meet the needs of the Charity.

Year under review

During the year we have worked on behalf of our membership, currently around 220, and members of the public purchasing items for sale.

Activity has again been impacted by the pandemic - the number of items of equipment remained lower than usual until the year end, and servicing and repair was limited by many of our members needing to remain indoors. As a vehicle hire operation we were allowed and able to remain open throughout lockdowns, but our opening hours were halved in line with the reduced demand, and the number of volunteers similarly reduced.

Donations increased but fundraising was non-existent and sales much reduced, while expenditure on scooter maintenance and accommodation remained. It was not until July 2021 that we were able to give up the second storage unit which had been leased for equipment not in use.

However, as a retail and hospitality business we were able to access further grant funding from Dorset Council, which was used to offset reduced income and increased costs, to waive subscriptions for all members, and allowed us to commission and purchase a purpose-built ramp at the front of our building which has been much appreciated by both staff and members. Further grant funding has been retained for future investment.

We worked with several partners, including those making referrals to us from Blandford Community Hospital, Sovereign, Hanover, Aster and other housing providers, social services, NorDDIS in Gillingham, and the Charity of William Williams.

One of our trustees stood down in June, and another was unable to be actively involved for much of the year, but the five trustees and one volunteer remaining were able to maintain the reduced service. As permitted by the Charity Commission, our AGM was postponed and will be held in 2022.

The future

Since the start of the 2021/22, activity has gradually increased but we continue to operate on restricted hours with a reduced number of staff and our ability to recruit further trustees and volunteers remains a concern.

Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities.

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that year. In preparing these financial statements the Trustees are required to:

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently

- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP

- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent

- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Trustees are:

Carolyn Carter

Sheila Brown

John Colgan

Peter Collins

Lorna Hill

Michael Wells