2021-03-31-accounts

Friends of the Strays of Greece Chairman’s Report 1 April 2020-31 March 2021

The beginning of the financial year coincided with Covid 19 lockdown and it was evident that the road ahead was going to be a very challenging journey into unknown territory. My main concern was our inability or organise fundraising events and to continue communication with our volunteers and supporters as I clearly understood that personal and family priorities would, of course, be uppermost in everyone’s thoughts.

However, I must commend Geraldine Mangley who administers the charity’s Facebook page for her commitment to our cause as her efforts produced wonderful results in respect of communication and virtual fundraising. Our supporters responded extremely generously throughout the period and this enabled us to maintain the same level of financial support to the many individuals and shelters in Greece who depended upon us.

Our charity shop had closed in the middle of March 2020 and I had no idea as to whether or not it would re-open. As the weeks passed, it was clear that the manager and the volunteers were anxious about returning as most were older ladies and some had underlying health issues. I appreciated that apart from the lost revenue stream, permanent closure would be regrettable as the shop was a very important part of the lives of many individuals, both volunteers and customers some of whom were lonely and suffered with mental health issues. However, with no realistic options I decided to enter talks with the landlord to discuss the situation as we had signed a new lease from 1 April 2020. The outcome was that he very kindly agreed for us to vacate the premises at the end of August with no penalty whatsoever and this was actioned. The actual dismantling of the shop contents was extremely challenging as few people were prepared to assist because of Covid risks. However, some of the shop volunteers and two of the charity supporters worked very hard to complete the task and I couldn’t have done it without them. It was a sad day though when the doors finally closed.

The next major challenge was when the implications of Brexit became evident in January 2021 as I certainly hadn’t appreciated the detrimental affect the new regulations would have on our work.

The main issues were in respect of transport between Greece and the UK. We regularly received large donations of dog and cat food from UK companies and we often sent pallets of supplies via a transport company in Dartford. However, the volume of EU inspired paperwork which was both complicated and expensive made it unviable. This was a very regrettable situation for many groups and individuals in Greece who really valued this supply source.

My ability to transport dogs to the UK was very challenging indeed and it took me several months to navigate through the maze of regulations. New paperwork was essential and, in order to obtain this, I had to complete a legal agreement, authorised by the Foreign Office in London, between our charity and the Municipal vet in Greece from whom we had to organise Health Certificates allowing the animals to travel. Each shelter has its own Municipal vet but all but one of the shelters that we support were unable to obtain the certificates because of lack of cooperation from the Municipality.

Our two transport options were to obtain Health Certificates which would allow us to bring dogs into the UK via a DEFRA registered transport company which drove from Greece to the UK or to the dogs to Belgium or France with an escort and then they would only need a pet passport. However, to carry out the latter was impossible during lockdown owing to personal transport restrictions as, of course, the safety of our volunteers had to be the priority. However, despite these challenges, I still managed to welcome 40 dogs to the UK during this financial year which is about 25 percent down on previous years.

In the meantime, we have continued regular financial and moral support to several groups in Athens and others in Aegina, Agistri, Corfu, Kalamata, Kavala, Pyrgos, Corinth, Poros and Kos. Additionally, we have helped others when in crisis. Our largest single donation went to KEPZ Corfu where a young group took over an existing, dilapidated shelter which had to be demolished and rebuilt.

My hopes are very much with young Greek people who are becoming more aware of animal welfare via social media and education so I truly think there is some hope in the future.

I must conclude by thanking our Trustees, supporters, owners and volunteers for their dedication to our cause.

Friends of the Strays of Greece Summary Registered Charity Number 1064238.

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Receipts and Payments accounts for the year ended 31[st] . March.

Receipts New Member Membership Renewals Donations inc’ of standing orders Homing donations Fundraising Events Gift Aid & Miscellaneous Interest received Everyclick Ltd receipts Reigning cats and dogs Less expenses Total Net Receipts	13,602. 36 - 2,333.6 5	2021 Nil 4,710.1 0 83,486. 44 20,110. 00 17,248. 47 17,629. 19 30.71 15.80 11,268. 71	39,232. 32 - 25,284. 11	2020 40.00 5,315.1 0 74,757. 11 14,576. 00 28,357. 42 16,975. 18 46.55 53.96 13,948. 21
		154,499 .42		154,069 .53

Friends of the Strays of Greece Summary Reg’ed Charity Number 1064238.

Payments Advertising Homing & dog collection Van & fuel expenses Postage & Shipping Telephone Printing / Stationary Fundraising Expenses UK vet fees Vets & drugs etc to Greece Sundries Bank charges for money transfers Money transfers to Greece Total Payments Net of Receipts/Payments Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end Comprising of:- Current account Deposit account	2021 179.18 16,730. 89 1,694.5 5 865.10 720.29 225.23 1,873.6 0 693.53 11,605. 50 300.00 313.55 91,998. 83 127,200 .25 27,299. 17 216,438 .54 243,737 .71 102,228 .56 118,144	2020 355.93 11,663. 89 2,830.4 0 2,188.5 0 805.37 477.17 2,474.4 2 1,185.1 1 13,475. 94 165.45 307.93 106,147 .91
		142,078 .02
		11,991. 51 188,500 .20 216,438 .54
		86,244. 61 118,098

Shop/rafe account Total cash funds	.68 23,364. 47 243,737 .71	.17 12,095. 76
		216,438 .54

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Notes to the accounts:

There are no other assets and liabilities in the charity other than the cash funds

All funds are restricted to the general purposes of the charity – no additional restrictions have been imposed

Related Party Transactions: Money transfers to Greece are made to a bank account held in Greece in the name of Linda and Mark Purden, who are both trustees, before onward transmission to the local causes in Greece.

These accounts were approved by ………………. on behalf of the trustees on …………………

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The Trustees The Friends of the Strays of Greece Clifford Cross Cottage Drewsteignton Exeter Devon EX6 6QD

8[th] October 2021

Dear Trustees

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Friends of the Strays of Greece (the Charity) for the year ended 31 March 2021.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the Charity’s accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3. the accounts do 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.

Tim Daunt, Merriefield Limited

Tim Daunt, ACA

64 Merriefield Avenue, Broadstone, Dorset, BH18 8DB

T: 01202 603905 | M: 07764 452840 | E: [e-mail] | W: www.aims.co.uk

AIMS is a National Association of Independent Accountancy Practices operating under licence granted by AIMS Partnership Ltd. Merriefield Limited t/a AIMS Accountants for Business, 64 Merriefield Avenue, Broadstone, Dorset, BH18 8DB (Registered Office). Registered in England No: 13286793.

Philip Catherall ACA 21 Brunel Way, Honeybourne, WR11 7GJ

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-AIMS Accountants for Business Chartered Accountant