ANNUAL REVIEW 2023/24

As chairman of Whirlwind, I am tasked every year to write the Trustees’ report for inclusion
with our accounts. I face but one difficulty: how to write something different? I perversely
wish for drama, for testing circumstances so that I can write something fresh. How we were
affected by financial, political or global crisis. How we mitigated, how we coped. We have
faced challenges such as COVID, inflation and war before and through them all there was
much to report. In the past two years, little has affected our usual activities and the charities
we support operated normally. The annual statistics are broadly similar: we donated ca.
£180,000 to 40 organisations last year and supported over 9000 individuals. I could almost
cut and paste without excessive criticism. However, this vacuum leaves me space to reflect
on Whirlwind and how we look seventeen years on from inception.

In the last five years, we have overhauled our administration in all aspects. Our Survey
Monkey Apply application program is accessible, efficient and organised and has
transformed the way we store and view data so that the selection process for donations is
much easier and better informed. The process is no mere algorithm however. We still have
that essential human interaction from our secretariat to guide applicants through the
process. All applications are reviewed and debated by the board, as always.
Continual adjustment to our website protocols have made us more accessible and
increasingly more targeted and currently we can generally support most applicants who fit
our criteria.

The board has extraordinary strength in depth regarding matters financial and this has
informed and driven our investment strategy to great effect which enabled us to not only
withstand hard knocks but also to donate inflation linked funds without affecting long term
growth.

We have modernised but our core remit is unaltered from the inception of Whirlwind:
enabling the less fortunate to have access to life affirming outdoor pursuits. The founding
trustees Ben, Steve and David had that vision seventeen years ago and it is clearly as
relevant and as necessary today.

So, nothing new this year, but I can report that Whirlwind is in great shape and doing what it
has always done and doing it well.

Steady as she goes.