Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust Charity. Registered Number: Annual Report 2009/10

Transcription

1 Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust Charity Registered Number:

2 Contents Page 1 Reference and Administrative Details Structure, Governance and Management Trusteeship Funds Administration Air Ambulance Appeal Objectives and Activities Achievements and Performance Background Income Expenditure Summary Financial Review Reserves Policy (fund balances) Investment and Grant Making Policies Trustee's Statement on the Accounts... 9 APPENDIX A /2010 Financial Accounts

3 1. Reference and Administrative Details Name of charity: WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICES NHS TRUST CHARITY The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust Charity (registration number ) is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust is a corporate body in its own right. It is led by a Board of Directors comprising a Chairman, five Non-Executive Directors, a Chief Executive, a Director of Finance and four other Executive Directors. The Trust acts as the Corporate Trustee of the Charitable Funds held on behalf of the ambulance services in Wales. During the year 2009/10 the members of the Trust Board were: Chairman: Stuart Fletcher Non-Executive Directors: Clare Cookson (left the Trust ) Dilwyn Evans Peter Price Dr Kevin Fitzpatrick Elfed Roberts (left the Trust ) Philip James (joined the Trust ) John Morgan (joined the Trust ) Stuart Castledine (joined the Trust ) Executive Directors: Alan Murray Chief Executive (left the Trust ) Mike Cassidy Deputy Chief Executive Tim Woodhead Director of Finance (Seconded to Betsi Cadwaladr ULHB ) Wayne Harris Interim Director of Finance (joined the Trust ) David Jackland Director of ICT 2

4 Sara Jones Jo Davies Director of Unscheduled Care / Clinical Director Director of Personnel & Development Address of Principal Office: Treasurer: Bankers: Independent Auditors: Solicitors: Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust Trust Headquarters HM Stanley Hospital St Asaph Denbighshire, LL17 0RS Wayne Harris Interim Director of Finance Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust Trust Headquarters HM Stanley Hospital St Asaph Denbighshire, LL17 0RS Barclays Bank plc Corporate Banking Centre 70 Kingsway Swansea, SA1 5JB KPMG LLP on behalf of the Auditor General for Wales. Malborough House Fitzalan Court Fitzalan Road Cardiff, CF24 OTE Morgan Cole Bradley Court Park Place Cardiff, CF10 3DP Registered Charity Number:

5 1 Structure, Governance and Management 2.1 Trusteeship All funds donated for the benefit of ambulance services in Wales are held within this Charity. Further, separately identifiable sub funds are held under the main Charity s umbrella these being three Regional General Purpose funds, a National General Purpose fund, a Community First Responder Scheme and a Heartstart fund. During the year two new First Responder Schemes in the South East area, relating to Brynmawr First Responders and Torfaen First Responders, were added under the Charity s umbrella. The Trust Board is the sole corporate trustee of the charities managed by the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and is accountable for their administration and stewardship. The duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship lie with the body corporate. On appointment Executive and Non-Executive Directors take part in an induction programme and they are made aware, as Board members, of their responsibilities as the Corporate Trustee of Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust Charity. The induction also includes an overview of the aims, objectives, and the recent performance of the charitable fund. The Board members are also updated regularly with any changes in Charitable Fund legislation. The Trustees are aware of their responsibilities and aim to ensure that: a. All legislation and Charity Commission regulations are complied with. b. The Trust s rules and regulations are adequate and are adhered to. c. The Trust s charitable funds investment policy is approved by the Board and kept under regular review. d. The financial activities and the statement of affairs of the Trust s charities are regularly reviewed. e. Expenditure approvals are given by the Board for expenditure requests over delegated thresholds. f. Delegated financial limits are approved for charitable fund expenditure. 2.2 Funds Administration During the year ending 31st March 2010 the following occurred:- 4

6 The Trust s Charitable Funds Committee met regularly to review the administrative affairs of the Charity and the management and administrative arrangements for all of the Charity s funds. The Trustees received regular reports on the management of the Charity s funds. Additional reports were also received by the Trustees for consideration and approval on the Charity s operations and policies. Individual charitable transactions have been subject to formal control procedures and reported to nominated fundholders on a regular basis. An unqualified independent audit report was received from the Independent Auditor for the operation and accountability of the Charity s funds. The Charitable Funds Committee has considered any risks to which the Charity may be exposed during the year. This has included a review of the systems and procedures operated by the Charity. 2.3 Air Ambulance Appeal An appeal has previously been launched to fund the long-term operation of an air ambulance service for Wales. This appeal has been registered as a separate charity with the Charity Commission. Therefore, no air ambulance appeal funds are held within the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust Charitable Fund accounts. 2 Objectives and Activities Ambulance services in Wales receive numerous voluntary donations and gifts mainly from local communities within the principality. These gifts in law are regarded as charitable donations and as such are administered under the laws of trusteeship and the charitable acts laid down in statute. All donations received are held in a separate charitable trust account and are used in accordance with the Charity s objects as laid down in the governing document approved by the Charity Commission. Although the general objectives of the Charity are fairly wide ranging i.e. with reference to utilising funds for any charitable purpose or purposes relating to the National Health Service, they are principally used to purchase additional equipment and provide extra training for staff to further enhance the quality and standards of care provided by ambulance services in Wales. Certain funds are also used to purchase additional amenities for the benefit of ambulance staff providing this is in accordance with the wishes of the donor. The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust Charity are sincerely grateful for the donations and legacies received, which are usually associated with the 5

7 delivery of professional services and high standards of patient care provided by individual members of the service. The recognition and support given to the ambulance service within Wales is appreciated and we would like to thank everyone for their continued support. 6

8 3 Achievements and Performance 4.1 Background The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust charitable funds' overall prime aim is to benefit patient care. Therefore the Trustees have a policy of encouraging funds to be spent (in accordance with the donors' wishes) rather than to be accumulated. In line with this policy a valuable 62,000 was spent during the year to enhance the standards of patient care and ambulance staff welfare. 4.2 Income Total Income during the year was 48,000 (2008/09 63,000). This included donations of 39,000 a legacy of 8,000 and investment interest of 1,000. No planned or specific fundraising activities were performed by the Charity during the year. The majority of the income was from numerous individual donations of small value but their worth to the continued support of ambulance patient care throughout Wales cannot be overstated. The Trustees would like to thank the many individuals who have made donations in the year, particularly in a climate of competing calls on their charitable giving. During 2009/10, there were no sales of equity fund investments and there was an unrealised gain of 23,000 for the year to 31 st March This compares to an unrealised loss of 20,500 as at 31 st March Expenditure Total expenditure on charitable activities during the year amounted to 62,000. Of this, 22,000 was used to purchase a wide range of medical equipment and medical and surgical items for use on ambulances to enhance pre-hospital emergency care. The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust has approximately 2,930 staff based at over 100 sites. During the year 40,000 was spent by the Charitable Funds for the benefit of staff and amenities throughout Wales. Management and administration expenses in the year totalled 10,000 which represented 4.0% of the average fund balances in the year. 7

9 4.4 Summary The total charitable fund balances held at 31st March 2010 were 247,000 (31 st March ,000). Fund balances therefore decreased by 1,000 during the year. This decrease in fund balances is after accounting for the gain of 23,000 on investment assets. The decrease in fund balances before the gain of 23,000 on investment assets was 24, Financial Review 4.1 Reserves Policy (fund balances) There are currently no recurrent commitments against Charitable Fund Balances; donations are applied only to support non recurrent expenditure on staff and patient welfare. The Trustees consider that public donations should be applied within a reasonable period of receipt, normally within 12 months, as long as there are no approved long term plans that require accumulation of balances, and that expenditure represents appropriate use of funds. During the year expenditure exceeded income by 24,000 representing a decrease in fund balances of 10% After adjusting for the gain on investment assets however there was only a decrease of 1,000. The Trustees therefore actively encourage fund holders to use their funds rather than accumulate, and look to reducing current balances at a rate of 20% per annum over the next 5 years. 4.2 Investment and Grant Making Policies The Trustees have approved a budget and reserves policy during the year with the aim of utilising charitable funds in accordance with the donor s wishes. The Trustees also re-confirmed their objective not to increase the total funds held between one year and the next unless special circumstances arose in accordance with the purposes for which the funds were given e.g. if funds were given to contribute towards a purchase in a future time period. Donations are usually identified with specific regional areas and are accounted for and expended on this basis. The Charitable Funds Committee in conjunction with Charitable Funds managers are currently considering options to expend the current accumulated funds. 8

10 The Charity s investment policy is in accordance with the governing document as approved by the Charity Commission. This is to hold a minimum of 20% in interest earning bank accounts and a maximum of 50% in fixed income or equity funds. This is in order to obtain the maximum return on investment with the minimum of risk to the funds. The Charity does not currently have a policy of making grants to other bodies and none were made during the 2009/10 financial year. 5 Trustee's Statement on the Accounts The full annual accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act (1993), the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (1995) and the Statement of Recommended Practice 2005 and were approved by the Trustees on 29 September The full annual accounts have been independently audited; the auditor s report was unqualified and will be submitted to the Charity Commission. The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the aims and objectives and the making of grants. The grants made during the year are detailed below. As a result of these grants the public attending the hospital either as patients or visitors will benefit from the enhancement of equipment and services funded by them. Patients Welfare - Purchase of small pieces of equipment and enhancement of services and facilities over and above that normally provided by the NHS. Staff Welfare and - Enhancement of staff facilities and by providing education over and above that would normally be provided by the NHS. Capital Equipment - Purchase of equipment in addition to or an enhancement of that which would be normally provided by the NHS. Mr W Harris On behalf of the Trustees 9

11 The full 2009/10 accounts are shown at Appendix A in this report. Additional copies of the Trust's Charitable Fund Accounts are available on request from the following address:- Mr W Harris Director of Finance Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust Trust Headquarters HM Stanley Hospital St Asaph Denbighshire LL17 0WA Tel:

12 APPENDIX A 2009/2010 Financial Accounts 11