SEVERN AREA RESCUE ASSOCIATION
Lifeboat and inland search and rescue, including flood and cliff rescue and missing person search, on the Severn, Wye, Usk and other rivers, and across Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and parts of SE Wales, Herefordshire and beyond. Activities were conducted by SARA as Charity 505504 prior to 1 Jan 2022
Objects
THE PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY BY THE PROVISION AND MAINTENANCE OF A RESCUE SERVICE (INCORPORATING BOTH MARINE OPERATIONS AND LAND OPERATIONS) WITH, IN PARTICULAR, SPECIALIST SKILLS IN SWIFT WATER / FLOOD, LAND SEARCH, LIFEBOATS, RESCUE BOATS, MARINE RESCUE AND CLIFF RESCUE.TO ASSIST GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES AND COUNTY AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN THEIR PROVISION OF EMERGENCY SERVICES; ANDTO ADVANCE PUBLIC EDUCATION IN OUTDOOR SAFETY, PARTICULARLY IN AND AROUND WATER.FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE CIO'S OBJECTS, THE PRINCIPAL AREA OF MARINE OPERATIONS COMPRISES THE BRISTOL CHANNEL AND THE SEVERN, WYE, AVON, AND USK RIVERS (AND THEIR RESPECTIVE TRIBUTARIES) AND LAND OPERATIONS PRINCIPALLY EXTEND TO SOUTH EAST WALES, THE WEST OF ENGLAND AND THE MIDLANDS.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity ended the financial year in a robust financial position with net assets of £655,000 and free unrestricted cash reserves of approximately £101,000. This cash level is within the trustees' stated policy target of five to six months of operational running costs. The charity is financed by voluntary contributions and grants, with no paid fundraisers employed.
What the accounts disclose
“Grants, donations and legacies provide a vital income stream, alongside local fundraising activities, and are key elements in covering the Charity’s running costs and supporting its investment plans.” — page 21
“SARA has no paid fundraisers and does not pay for the services of any fundraising organisation or people.” — page 18
“The Trustees' policy is to maintain unrestricted cash reserves equivalent to approximately five to six months of actual operational running costs excluding depreciation (circa. £100,000 to £125,000)” — page 18
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Investment
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Social media policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
- Volunteer management
Trustees
- Christopher John Burgess
- David Hill
- Gareth Raymond
- Judith Mary Harvey
- Keith Andrew Beckett CBE
- Mark George Carwardine
- Shaun Robinson Egan
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £404k | £311k |
| 31/12/2024 | £343k | £316k |
| 31/12/2023 | £357k | £268k |
| 31/12/2022 | £274k | £268k |
| 31/12/2021 | £274k | £268k |
Common questions
Is SEVERN AREA RESCUE ASSOCIATION financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity ended the financial year in a robust financial position with net assets of £655,000 and free unrestricted cash reserves of approximately £101,000. This cash level is within the trustees' stated policy target of five to six months of operational running costs. The charity is financed by voluntary contributions and grants, with no paid fundraisers employed. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 18/11/2022 | £10k | SARA Cotswolds -emergency rescue vehicle |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS' FUND OF BENEVOLENCE | 1 | £57k |
| ST EDMUNDS TRUST | 1 | £20k |
| THE HDH WILLS 1965 CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £20k |
| The Belstead Ganzoni Charitable Settlement | 1 | £4k |
| COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY | 1 | £4k |
| THE LINDER FOUNDATION | 1 | £3k |
| THE HADFIELD CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £3k |
| THE ANNIE TRANMER CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £3k |
Charities like this
- SEVERN RIVERS TRUST
- CAMBRIDGESHIRE SEARCH AND RESCUE
- PETT LEVEL INDEPENDENT RESCUE BOAT ASSN.
- SUFFOLK ACCIDENT RESCUE SERVICE
- HAMBLE LIFEBOAT LIMITED
- LONDON SEARCH & RESCUE
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEVERN AREA RESCUE ASSOCIATION | £404k | — | 0 | within | 0.0% | no doubt |
| SEVERN RIVERS TRUST | £2.9m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| CAMBRIDGESHIRE SEARCH AND RESCUE | £119k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| PETT LEVEL INDEPENDENT RESCUE BOAT ASSN. | £159k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SUFFOLK ACCIDENT RESCUE SERVICE | £313k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| HAMBLE LIFEBOAT LIMITED | £126k | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |