REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1053912
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 FOR GOWER BIRD HOSPITAL
Bevan Buckland LLP Chartered Accountants Ground Floor Cardigan House Castle Court Swansea Enterprise Park Swansea, Wales SA? 9LA
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GOWER BIRD HOSP IT AL
CONTENTS OF THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 3-4 |
| Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees | 5 |
| Receipts and Payments Account | 6 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 7 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 8 |
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GOWER BIRD HOSPITAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The trustees present their annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Legal and administrative information
Gower Bird Hospital is based at and operated from Valetta, Sandy Lane, Pennard, Swansea, SA3 2EW, the home of Simon Allen and Karen Kingsnorth.
Gower Bird Hospital was established by a Deed of Trust made on 8 March 1996. The objectives of the charity are to relieve the suffering of birds and animals which are in need of care and attention, in particular by the provision of a hospital for the care and rehabilitation of such birds and animals; and to return to their natural habitat those which are fully cured.
Achievements in 2024:
Our expert staff and volunteers treated and rehabilitated 1137 wildlife casualties at the hospital.
Allowing for those that did not survive 48 hours after admission, 71 % of these casualties were successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild, demonstrating the effectiveness of our care and rehabilitation programs.
Breakdown of admissions:
848 Birds: (e.g., gulls, thrushes, corvids, tits, pigeons, ducks, birds of prey)
264 Mammals: (e.g., hedgehogs, bats)
24 Domestic birds: (referred to RSPCA or reunited with owners)
1 Reptile (adder)
Our helpline had 1904 interactions with the public, providing support and guidance for wildlife situations.
Our team of dedicated wildlife team and specially-trained volunteers ensured all patients received consistent and thorough care, giving them the best chance of returning to their natural environment.
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Research, Education and Collaboration
Britain's National Hedgehog Conservation Strategy:
GBH was a key stakeholder and a member of the organising team: National-Hedgehog-Conservation-Strategy-Jan-25.pdf.
Swansea University Hedgehog Gene Flow Project:
Understanding how landscape connectivity affects gene-flow can help to guide the management of animal species of conservation concern, hence our involvement with is project. The work will be published in 2025.
The Sanger Institute and The Darwin Tree of Life Project:
Ongoing processing of hedgehog lungworms for genome sequencing. The tissues supplied for hedgehog sequencing are complete and we have written the introduction to the hedgehog section of the publication:
The genome sequence of the western European hedgehog. Erinaceus europaeus Linnaeus, 1758
Local veterinary practice training:
We welcomed a staff visit from one of our local veterinary practices for an exchange of information and training.
Facilities
The reception and hedgehog unit exterior wood on the walls and windowsills were treated and repainted. Waste f o d security was improved by building a concrete plinth and purchasing a metal storage container to sit on it for refuse bin storage.
Stainless steel mesh was deployed in the continuing maintenance of enclosures.
Goals for 2025
Public and Wildlife Welfare
Continue providing high-standard care for displaced wildlife. Renew and enlarge the biggest flight aviary for larger birds. Upgrade two more aviaries.
Collaboration and Education
Continue collaborations to improve research, standards, education and ultimately animal welfare. Update and improve Gower Bird Hospital website.
Reserves policy
The trustees· policy is to maintain cash reserves sufficient to cover about 12 months of normal activity. At 31st December 2024 unrestricted cash reserves amounted to £102,701 and restricted reserves amounted to £2,500. The trustees have also designated £65,000 towards a new wildlife rehabilitation centre.
This report was approve
/1/i£ ... and signed on their behalf by
Simon Allen- Trustee
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF GOWER BIRD HOS PIT AL
I report on the accounts of Gower Bird Hospital (charity number 1053912) for the year ended 31st December 2024 which are set out on pages 7 to 9.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner and basis of report
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts.
The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 (2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
-
Examine the accounts under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
-
State whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission.
An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records.
It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters.
The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
(a) To keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
(b) To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act been met; or
(2) To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper under ri • the accounts to be reached. Henry Uoy Davies Ground Floor Cardigan House Bevan Buckland LLP Castle Court Chartered Accountants Swansea Enterprise Park Swansea, Wales Date ......................... . 2-S/ 7i 2.s- SA7 9LA
Ground Floor Cardigan House Castle Court Swansea Enterprise Park Swansea, Wales SA7 9LA
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GOWER BIRD HOSPITAL
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Unrestricted | Designated Restricted | Designated Restricted | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Receipts | |||||
| Donations and similar income | 55,734 | 55,734 | 54,549 | ||
| Fund raising | |||||
| Fees for charitable services | 5,417 | 5,417 | 6,021 | ||
| Bank Interest | 1,160 | 1,160 | 822 | ||
| Government Grants | |||||
| Total receipts | 62,310 | 62,310 | 61,392 | ||
| Payments | |||||
| Cost of fund raising | |||||
| Cost of charitable activities | 11,776 | 11,776 | 9,900 | ||
| Wages and salaries | 45,279 | 45,279 | 34,559 | ||
| Establishment costs | 9,785 | 9,785 | 17,426 | ||
| Administration expenses | 4,131 | 4,131 | 4,516 | ||
| Professional fees | 1,176 | 1,176 | 1,068 | ||
| 72,147 | 72,147 | 67,470 | |||
| Purchase of fixed assets | 1,278 | 1,278 | |||
| Total payments | 73,426 | 73,426 | 67,470 | ||
| Net receipts/(payments) for the | |||||
| year | (11,115) | (11,115) | (6,078) | ||
| Transfers between funds | |||||
| Cashfunds last yearend | 113,945 | 65,000 | 2,500 | 181,445 | 187,523 |
| Cash funds this year end | 102,830 | 65,000 | 2,500 | 170,330 | 181,445 |
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GOWER BIRD HOSPITAL
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Cash funds | ||
| Bank Accounts | 169,912 | 180,872 |
| Cash in hand | 417 | 394 |
| 170,330 | 181,265 | |
| Other monetary assets | ||
| Debtors | 639 | 352 |
| Inland Revenue (Gift Aid) | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Donations in advance | ||
| 5,639 | 5,352 | |
| Assets retained for charity's own use | ||
| Buildings, aviaries, pens, runs, CCTV systems, | ||
| radio tracking, computers, cameras, research, | ||
| surgical & sundry equipment, mobile phone, Medical Fridge | ||
| Nilfish Powerhouse, at a cost, | ||
| including donated labour and materials of | ||
| £58,386 (2020: £56,106) | ||
| Liabilities | ||
| Suppliers | 378 | 249 |
| Professional fee for independent examination | 1,218 | 1,128 |
| Accrual | ||
| PAYE &NI | ||
| 1,596 | 1,377 | |
| These accounts were approved by the trustees_on ..2_.S./.1./.ZS. and signed on their behalf by |
and signed on their behalf by · ·- -· . L ............ Simon Allen Trustee
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GOWER BIRD HOSPITAL
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Karen Kingsnorth, an employee, and Simon Allen, a trustee, are joint owners of the premises from which the charity operates.
No rent is charged to the charity for the use of the accommodation but electricity, heating oil and telephone which are all metered separately for the charity's use of £837 (2023: £4,897), initially met by Ms Kingsnorth and Mr Allen, are reclaimed. During the year a gross wage of £24,127.98 (2023: £22,325) was paid to Ms Kingsnorth.
None of the trustees received any remuneration nor expenses during the year.
DESIGNATED FUNDS
The charity has designated £65,000 towards a new wildlife rehabilitation centre.
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