CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND - UK
Charity Number 1079874
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 29 FEBRUARY 2024
| CONTENTS | Page |
|---|---|
| Trustees' Annual Report | 2 |
| Report of the Independent Examiner | 5 |
| Statement of Financial Affairs | 6 |
| Balance Sheet | 7 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 8 |
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CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND - UK
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT
The Trustees present their report and the financial statements of the Cheetah Conservation Fund - UK ( “the Charity” ) for the year ended 29 February 2024.
LEGAL STATUS AND TRANSFER TO CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION (CIO)
The Charity is an unincorporated organisation and its governing document is the Declaration of Trust dated 16 February 2000.
TRUSTEES
The Trustees who served the Charity during the period were as follows:
Giles Clark Katie Clements Dr Jane Galton Laurence Morgan Spencer Phillips (appointed 21 November 2023) Ahson Toru (appointed 21 November 2023) Philip Wale (resigned 21 November 2023) Julia Wall-Clarke (appointed 21 November 2023)
OBJECTIVES OF THE CHARITY
The Charity undertakes to promote for the public benefit the conservation and protection of the cheetah and other predators, and the ecosystems of their natural habitats, including local communities where humans and cheetahs co-exist, through the provision of grants to affiliated Cheetah Conservation Fund organisations in Africa for conservation, education, research and promoting bio-diversity.
ORGANISATION
The Charity works in association with Cheetah Conservation Fund Namibia (CCF Namibia), a registered voluntary trust in Namibia and the Cheetah Conservation Fund Somaliland (CCF Somaliland). The Charity also collaborates closely with Cheetah Conservation Fund USA and other international affiliates in Canada and Europe, all dedicated to raising funds for cheetah conservation.
RESERVES POLICY
The Trustees have considered their policy on financial reserves in light of the planned activity of the Charity and have concluded that they should have as a minimum the equivalent of three months' operating expenditure available in reserve.
INVESTMENT POWERS AND RESTRICTIONS
The Trust Deed permits any investments comprised in the trust fund to be held in the name of any clearing bank, any trust corporation or any stock broking company which is a member of the Stock Exchange as nominee for the Trustees and to pay any such nominee reasonable and proper remuneration for acting as such.
REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS, ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
The Charity has focused its activities on raising awareness of the plight of the cheetah and fundraising to support CCF’s cheetah conservation work in Namibia and in other cheetah range
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CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND - UK
countries, as well as providing funds to CCF Somaliland for implementing activities in the Horn of Africa to reduce the illegal wildlife cheetah pet trade and human wildlife conflict. Funds are also provided for the care of cheetah cubs confiscated from this trade.
The Charity decided to invest in a full-time fundraiser to build income and a Director of Development was appointed in March 2023. Fundraising activities were supported by two part time consultants and volunteers. The focus is on building individual giving, major donor, grant and corporate portfolios.
There is an active cadre of 22 volunteers, supporting events as well as conducting their own fundraising activities. The Charity maintained its’ youth programme of 34 members, providing online conservation education to budding conservationists through our Cheetah Cubs Club.
We raised a total of £247,738, an increase of 86% on the previous year. The funds came from individual giving, grants, events, corporates, major donors and legacies. The Charity won grants from UK Trusts and Corporate Foundations including one training and mentorship programme that brought 228 students and 25 teachers to CCF from 12 schools for conservation and ecology workshops at CCF HQ in Namibia. The teachers were trained to build sustainable conservation education programmes in their schools. We started a programme of fundraising trips to Namibia which was very successful and will be repeated in 2024/25. Our Conservation Circle membership grew by 23% with members providing annual gifts. We also launched the “Cheetah Adoption” scheme.
One Trustee is an integral member of CCF’s Global International Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) team successfully supporting proposals for DEFRA IWT Challenge Fund and other grants. CCF UK is also a member of the DEFRA Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Liaison Group, which includes the Big Cat Task Force.
The Charity increased awareness of the plight of the cheetah and increased followers across all social media platforms; 50%, 17%, 10% and 105% increase on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn, respectively. We also launched a Tik Tok CCF global platform which is managed by CCF UK. Social media was also instrumental in recruiting volunteers, participants for events, adopters and increasing regular donations.
CCF UK-led initiative to have a social media content generator in Namibia funded by a UK Trustee took longer than expected to implement, but a part-time content creator and videographer is now secured in 2024 to generate content for use across platforms and website to help generate awareness and income.
We sent £153,485 to CCF for the Livestock Guarding Dog programme, farmer training, school education outreach, residential cheetah care and unrestricted funds for Namibia; for cheetah care and veterinary products in Somaliland; and to the Mara Meru cheetah project in Kenya. The Director of Development, consultants and volunteers work remotely, with no overheads, reducing our cost base and maximising funds available for direct work on the ground.
GRANT MAKING POLICY
Requests for grants are reviewed and approved by the Chair and Board of Trustees. Grants are provided for cheetah conservation, education, farmer training and research into cheetah behaviour, reproduction and ecology as well as for general upkeep and welfare of orphaned cheetahs.
TRUSTEE SELECTION
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CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND - UK
Trustees are identified by members of the board and their inclusion is subject to a vote in accordance with the Trust Deed.
REVIEW OF MAJOR RISKS
The Trustees have considered risks and feel that risk management policies currently in place are sufficient.
PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT
When planning our activities for the year, the Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
CHARITY'S PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
Cheetah Conservation Fund UK c/o 46 Abbot’s Ride, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 8HZ
Approved by the Trustees on 26 November 2024 and signed on behalf of the Trustees by
Spencer Phillips
Chairman
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CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND - UK
REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND-UK
I report on the accounts of the Cheetah Conservation Fund - UK for the year ended 29 February 2024, which are set out on pages 6 to 9.
Respective Responsibilities of the Trustees and the Independent Examiner
The Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that an audit is not required 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 of the 2011 Act;
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i. to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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ii. to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of the Independent Examiner's Report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. 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 which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with Section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records;
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a "true and fair” view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Thomas Walker
ICAEW number 4291499
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CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND - UK
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDED 29 FEBRUARY 2024
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds |
||
| Note | 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 |
|
| INCOMING RESOURCES | |||||
| Donations and legacies | 2 | 122,268 | 58,631 | 180,898 | 133,322 |
| Charitable activities | - | 64,963 | 64,963 | - |
|
| Interest receivable | 3 | 1,877 | - | 1,877 | 205 |
| TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES | 124,145 | 123,593 | 247,738 | 133,527 |
|
| RESOURCES EXPENDED | |||||
| Raising funds | (98,545) | (5,000) | (103,545) | (42,595) |
|
| Charitable expenditure: | |||||
| Charitable activities | 4 | (35,341) | (118,145) | (153,485) | (113,775) |
| Governance | 5 | (1,192) | - | (1,192) | (682) |
| TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED | (135,078) | (123,144) | (258,222) | (157,053) |
|
| NET (OUTGOING)/ INCOMING | |||||
| RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR | (10,933) | 449 | (10,484) | (23,526) |
|
| Balances brought forward | 101,244 | 6,495 | 107,739 | 131,265 |
|
| Balances carried forward | 90,311 | 6,944 | 97,255 | 107,739 |
The notes on pages 8 and 9 form part of these financial statements
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CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND - UK
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 29 FEBRUARY 2024
| Notes | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 97,255 | 107,739 | |
| Accrued income | - | - | |
| TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS | 97,255 | 107,739 | |
| CURRENT LIABILITIES | |||
| Accrued expenses | - | - | |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT | 97,255 | 107,739 | |
| LIABILITIES | |||
| FUNDS | |||
| Restricted | 7 | 6,944 | 6,495 |
| Unrestricted | 90,311 | 101,244 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 97,255 | 107,739 |
These financial statements were approved by the members of the Board of Trustees on 26 November 2024 and were signed on their behalf by
Spencer Philips
Chairman
The notes on pages 8 and 9 form part of these financial statements
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CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND - UK
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 29 FEBRUARY 2024
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice; Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) and the Charities Act 2011. The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS102.
Fund accounting
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes. Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Charity for particular reasons. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund.
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are accounted for on a receipts basis. Gifts in kind donated for distribution are included at valuation and recognised as income when they are distributed to the projects. Gifts donated for resale are included as income when they are sold. Donated facilities are included at the value to the Charity where this can be quantified and a third party is bearing the cost. Donated products and services are included as income at their estimated value and a corresponding amount included in charitable activities. No amounts are included in the financial statements for services donated by volunteers.
Resources expended
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis, inclusive of any VAT which cannot be recovered. Fund raising costs are those incurred in seeking voluntary contributions and include the cost of disseminating information in support of charitable activities. Management and administration costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the Charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
Going concern
At the time of approving the financial statements the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and have therefore prepared the accounts on a going concern basis.
2. DONATIONS AND FUNDRAISNG
| Donations Legacies |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds Total Funds 2024 2024 2024 2023 £ £ £ £ 98,268 58,631 156,898 92,322 24,000 - 24,000 41,000 |
|---|---|
| 122,268 58,631 180,898 133,322 |
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CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND - UK
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS VEAR ENDED 29 FEBRUARY 2024
| 3. INTEREST RECEIVABLE Bank interest 4. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES CCF Namibia CCF Somaliland CCF USA Mara Meru Kenya 5. GOVERNANCE Expenses Bank charges |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds Total Funds 2024 2024 2024 2023 £ £ £ £ 1,877 - 1,877 205 15,703 38,590 54,293 50,000 19,638 17,572 37,210 61,378 - 59,963 59,963 - - 2,020 2,020 2,398 |
|---|---|
| 35,341 118,145 153,485 113,775 |
|
| 978 - 978 510 214 - 214 172 |
|
| 1,192 - 1,192 682 |
6. TRANSACTIONS WITH TRUSTEES
There were no transactions with any trustees in the year to 29 February 2024 (Dr Jane Galton received £1,595 in the year to 28 February 2023 for reimbursed fundraising costs and administration expenses).
7. RESTRICTED FUNDS
| Education Kenya cheetah support Kenyan Genetics Livestock guard dog programme Reducing Illegal Wildlife Trade Cheetah care Fundraising trip to Namibia UN convention for Migratory Species Total |
Balance at 28 February 2023 Incoming resources Resources expended Balance at 29 February 2024 75 8,800 (8,875) - 420 1,920 (2,020) 320 - 5,985 (5,985) - 6,000 22,293 (23,730) 4,563 - 17,632 (17,572) 60 - 2,000 - 2,000 - 5,000 (5,000) - - 59,963 (59,963) - |
|---|---|
| 6,495 123,593 (123,144) 6,944 |
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