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2020-12-31-accounts

League Against Cruel Sports 2020 Annual Report and Financial Statements

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Contents

Introduction

Introduction
A message from our Chairman 2
A message from our Chief Executive 3
Our Focus
Strategic Approach 5
2020 - At a Glance 6
How funds are raised and spent 8
Goal One: End hunting with dogs 9
Goal Two: End shooting of animals for ‘sport’ 10
Goal Three: End fghting of animals for ‘sport’ 11
Goal Four: Win the hearts and minds of a broader audience 12

Trustees’ Strategic Report

Trustees’ Strategic Report
End hunting with dogs 14
End shooting of animals for ‘sport’ 16
End fghting of animals for ‘sport’ 18
Win the hearts and minds of a broader audience 19
People Reporting 20
The impact of the Covid-19 21
Sustainability Statement 22
Fundraising Governance 23
Structure, Governance and Management 24
Financial Review 24
Internal Controls and Risk Management 26
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities 27
Financial Statements
Independent auditors report to Members and Trustees 29
Financial Accounts 31
Corporate Directory 41

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League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020
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Message from the Chairman, Dr Tim Holmes

In the introduction to our Annual Report last year, I wrote about a future of light and hope for the welfare and protection of animals. The devastating impact of Covid-19 and a year of lockdown has changed us all and had a profound impact on our daily lives, and our future remains uncertain. However, if there has been a single positive to this most extraordinary of years, it is perhaps that the wildlife that surrounds us has had some respite from the brutalities routinely subjected to it.

We will have all seen the reports during the first lockdown of wildlife moving into areas with reduced human activity. Who can forget the footage of grazing fallow deer in suburban London gardens or wild goats moving into the town of Llandudno? More than ever during this enforced isolation, we are spending more time in nature and benefitting from the positive impacts on our wellbeing. We must do everything we can to make sure that when the impact of the virus reduces, society does not return as a destructive force to our natural environment. The protection of biodiversity is important for its own sake, but human survival depends on it.

The League Against Cruel Sports continues to play its part in ending the barbarism and destruction of the blood sports industry and its devastating impact on our wildlife and the environment. In 2020, the shooting and hunting industries suffered one of their worst years on record and I am proud of the role we have played in hastening their demise. We have led much of our work but have also successfully collaborated with other charities and individuals to achieve our objectives across all four countries of the UK. The end of the year saw a police investigation launched in response to the leaking of “training” webinars. In these films, senior members of the hunting community called ‘trail’ hunting nothing but a smokescreen – the same language we have used to describe their activities over many years.

Now the hunting community’s mask has slipped, we asked major landowners to stop hunting taking place on their land. In response, over 2.3 million acres were removed from the hunter’s use. Could 2021 finally see hunting consigned to the history books?

My greatest praise and thanks are reserved for you, our loyal and generous supporters. We have had many successes this last year despite the extreme difficulties of Covid-19, of all of which are only made possible by your continued support, and I am delighted to share them with you in this report.

...the League Against Cruel Sports continues to play its part in ending the barbarism and destruction of the blood sports industry and its devastating impact on our wildlife and the environment...

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

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Message from the CEO, Andy Knott MBE

2020 illustrated that not all things go as planned. For us, the Covid-19 pandemic substantially changed the way we could operate. The challenge was to mitigate the negative effects without losing the focus on our animal welfare outcomes, all the while keeping our responses agile and our people safe.

With the incredible help and trust from all quarters of our Charity and beyond, we did just that. Some of our successes were in the making for some time, others taken when the moment arose; some were a mix of both. Land denial for instance, be it to the hunts or shoots, has been our operational ‘main effort’ for a few years now. Following revelations released from the Hunting Office, the opportunity arose to focus our expertise and make substantial gains. As a result, more animals than ever thrive in hunt free zones, at least for the present. Our aim remains to live in a country where there is no hunting, shooting or animal fighting taking place – permanently.

In turning to that future, it is as well to remember the past. In 1967, a legal drink driving limit was introduced. However, it wasn’t more police standing outside pubs at closing time that eventually called time on drink driving. Rather it was effective campaigning, leading to an increasingly aware and outraged public withdrawing any tolerance or social licence from those intent on flouting the law, whether they lived in the town or countryside. You could say that it brought everyone together, united in a common cause that seems so obvious to us now.

Could the same now be true for cruel sports, be they illegal or plain unacceptable to our nation of animal lovers? Our reconnection with nature and animals presents an opportunity to open more eyes, win more hearts, and change more minds than ever before, and we will invest heavily in making it so in 2021 and beyond.

I hope you enjoy reading this report, whether you have been supporting us your whole life, or are new to our burgeoning supporter base. In a year of accolades, mine goes to ‘Team League.’ Independently rated the 12th best charity to work for we emerged from a testing year stronger than ever. We will continue to ensure your voice for animals will be heard.

...our reconnection with nature and animals presents an opportunity to open more eyes, win more hearts, and change more minds than ever before...

Our Focus

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Strategic Approach

Our Vision

Our Mission

Empowered by knowledge and driven by compassion, we protect animals from being persecuted in the name of ‘sport’.

A kinder society where persecuting animals for ‘sport’ is in the past.

United, we aim to redefine what is acceptable and inspire change.

Our Working Priorities

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End End
hunting shooting of
with dogs animals for
‘sport’
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End Win the
fighting of hearts and
animals for minds of
‘sport’ a broader
audience
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Our Enablers

Infrastructure Governance Operations & Support Sanctuaries & People & Education Culture

Our Values

We are Compassionate

We are ethical and committed to creating a world that is caring towards animals and people.

We are Credible

We are law abiding, rely on evidence and have years of expertise.

We are Courageous

We have the confidence to challenge those who believe in killing animals for ‘sport’.

We are Collaborative

We unite with others through honesty to achieve a common goal.

We are Catalysts for Change We create opportunities to make change happen.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

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2020 - At a Glance

January: Hunting or pest control?

At the beginning of the year, we released new footage showing a pack of hounds on the scent of an exhausted fox and reported the incident to Police Scotland. We believe the Jed Forest Hunt was encouraging its hounds to search for, and chase foxes, which would be illegal. The footage was released 12 months after the Scottish Government announced its intentions to bring forward a Bill to strengthen the current fox hunting legislation to ‘really ban fox hunting in Scotland’ as it believes the current law is too weak. The Jed Forest Hunt Trial is scheduled for April 2021.

March: On the high street

In March, our staff, League volunteers and the Gloucestershire Outreach Advocacy Team campaigned and spoke to members of the public ahead of the first day of the horse racing festival at Cheltenham.

On Gold Cup day we returned with a headstone commemorating all the horses that have died at the festival in recent years. The Cheltenham Festival in 2019 saw the tragic deaths of Invitation Only, Sir Eric and Ballyward. A total of 67 horses have lost their lives at the Festival since 2000.

One horse death is one too many. With horses regularly dying on racetracks, and Cheltenham among the worst offenders, it’s clear the racing industry needs to take animal welfare more seriously.

February: Uniting with farmers to protect our countryside

Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom without a ban on hunting with dogs. In February, pre Covid-19 restrictions, we organised an event, with the help of Alliance Councillor Patrick Brown, for County Down farmers to meet local councillors to try and find a way to deal with the impact trespassing hunts and their hounds have on their land.

Hunts have been accused of damaging property, worrying livestock and engaging in anti-social behaviour as they chase wild animals across the countryside. The farmers are growing increasingly concerned about individual terrier men and men with lurchers terrorising the countryside as they seek to hunt foxes and hares. Similarly, the farmers have reported these men to the police for making threats and behaving in an abusive manner.

April : Fox saved thanks to Sir Paul McCartney

In April, our professional Investigators filmed a fox escaping onto a League wildlife sanctuary donated by Sir Paul McCartney as hounds chased.

The incident took place at St John’s Wood, a nature reserve set up thanks to the donation of land by the former Beatle, to protect animals such as foxes and deer from being hunted in West Somerset. The fox was fleeing from the Dulverton Farmers Foxhounds.

Our Head of Conservation and Education, Paul Tillsley, filmed the hounds in full cry in fields adjacent to St John’s Wood, where we own the sporting rights which prevents hunts from operating. Our professional Investigators filmed the fox escaping onto our sanctuary land.

The incident follows on from another case in the West Country earlier in 2020 where the Four Burrow Hunt ran amok on two other wildlife sanctuaries.

May: Can we trust the National Trust to really ban ‘trail’ hunting?

In May, we launched our publicity campaign to urge members of the National Trust to back a motion to ban ‘trail’ hunting on its land.

The National Trust issues ‘trail’ hunting licences in which hunts are supposed to follow pre-laid scents rather than real foxes.

We launched our first film which asked the question, if ‘trail’ hunting is real, then why are animals still being chased and killed by hunting hounds? This was the first of a series of films created to raise awareness of the utter destruction ‘trail’ hunting causes to our countryside, wildlife and even domesticated pets.

The motion was lodged by a member of the National Trust, with the help of more than 200 of our own supporters who signed to support it. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, the Trust’s AGM was postponed, and the motion will carry forward to 2021.

June: Protected status for the iconic Scottish mountain hare

An amendment to the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill to protect mountain hares was passed in June. The amendment, tabled by Green MSP Alison Johnstone, was voted for in the Scottish Parliament gaining 60 votes for and 19 against.

The League is part of Revive, the coalition for grouse moor reform, and has supported the amendment which will offer protected status to mountain hares, ending recreational killing and mass culling of the iconic species. Scottish Government figures show that on average 26,000 are killed every year on grouse shooting estates, and last year their conservation status was elevated to ‘unfavourable’ due to declining numbers.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

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2020 - At a Glance

July: Trespassing terror

In July, two wildlife sanctuary managers in South England contacted us to describe how they face ongoing issues with hunts and their hounds trespassing on their land.

Talking to us they both recounted seeing their local hunts chasing live foxes, despite the hunts claiming they are ‘trail’ hunting.

September: Partnering with the police

Our Head of Conservation & Education, who has run our wildlife sanctuaries for almost 20 years said: “There’s absolutely no visible difference between what they’re doing now and what they were doing back before the hunting ban. The hunts have never accepted our right to be here because they think they can hunt where they like, and to an extent they still do. We have to be on our guard the whole time if we know that there’s a hunt around.”

In September, campaigning group Action Against Fox Hunting launched a report which highlighted an inconsistent approach by police forces across the UK in response to reports of illegal hunting activity.

Our dedicated members of staff who train police officers in wildlife crime understand this all too well. We continue to work with forces across the country to help them understand how to apply the current legislation to suspected incidents of illegal fox hunting.

Not only does there need to be greater investment in police training on all aspects of legislation that covers hunting-related issues, but the police need to be assisted in their investigations by the Hunting Act 2004 being strengthened to remove the current exemptions and a recklessness clause being introduced. Our work to strengthen the Act will help the police achieve this.

August: A ruined cycle ride in the countryside

In August, Georgina, aged 16 and her mum decided to go on a bike ride in the Suffolk countryside. After getting lost but finding what looked like a path to the main road, the pair made a gruesome discovery.

The girl found a ‘stink pit’ – used by gamekeepers to lure predators like foxes to their deaths to protect pheasants being reared on a game estate nearby. Pheasants that will be shot anyway. She reported what she saw to our supporter-funded Animal Crimewatch service, and our professional investigators swooped into action, monitoring the pit for evidence of illegal activity.

There were dozens of carcasses in the pit, and snares to trap hungry animals at each entrance, so they had no chance of getting away. This is the dark side of shooting that most taking part have no idea takes place. We will continue our campaigning to see all snares banned, as well as an end to commercial ‘game’ shooting.

October: Professional

Investigators capture sickening scenes of brutality

Our professional Investigators filmed riders from the Devon and Somerset Staghounds chasing and cracking a whip over a deer’s head during a hunt in October.

The footage taken on Exmoor showed sickening scenes of animal cruelty by the riders who chased an exhausted stag, surrounding it and tormenting it, in a bid to either hold it down and shoot it or steer it to where it could be shot.

The deer is seen hurtling across a road to escape the riders despite the screams and hollering of hunt supporters trying to head it off. The stag is believed to have been shot shortly afterwards.

December: Appalling scale of fox cub hunting during Autumn 2020

November: Fox hunting lobby admit ‘trail’ hunting is a smokescreen

At the end of the year, we released new figures showing the appalling scale of fox cub hunting taking place in the countryside during autumn.

In November, we launched a major campaign calling on land owners to sit up and pay attention after senior figures within the fox hunting lobby were caught on camera appearing to admit that ‘trail’ hunting is a “smokescreen” for the chasing and killing of foxes.

Between the middle of August and the end of October, there were 300 reported incidents of suspected illegal fox cub hunting across England and Wales. These included 15 eye-witness reports of foxes being chased and killed, despite the fox hunting ban.

The explosive revelations were contained within a leaked Zoom training meeting involving those involved at the very heart of hunting and more than 100 hunt masters, representing more than half of the country’s fox hunts.

The suspected illegal hunting took place in 56 different counties and involved 108 different hunts.

We have always dismissed ‘trail’ hunting as a smokescreen for illegal hunting ever since it was created in the wake of hunting with dogs being banned 15 years ago.

The total number of highly suspected illegal fox cub hunting incidents includes kills, but also chases of foxes, and behaviour that is in line with traditional cub hunting practices as used before the ban.

Now the hunters have been caught out admitting trail hunting creates “the element of doubt” that has allowed them to get away with hunting wild animals even when taken to court. Thanks to our campaigning the revelations led to five of England and Wales’ largest landowners suspending ‘trail’ hunting and more than two million acres of land taken away from hunts. A huge victory for animals.

Gloucestershire was the county with the highest number of suspected illegal hunting incidents with 43 cases in less than a three-month period.

The Duke of Beaufort’s Hunt topped the hall of shame as the hunt across England and Wales with the highest number of suspected illegal hunting incidents with 21 cases.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

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How funds are raised and spent

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Legacies: 55%
INCOME Donations & Gifts: 32%
Membership: 3%
Other Income: 10%
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TOTAL INCOME: 3,253,207

EXPENDITURE

End hunting with dogs: 36% End shooting of animals for ‘sport’: 15% End fighting of animals for ‘sport’: 4% Win the hearts and minds of 31% a broader audience: Fundraising, publicity & trading: 12% Governance: 2%

TOTAL EXPENDITURE: 3,032,972

HISTORIC FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE & RESERVES £000

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£1
SPENT
Charitable Objectives: 86p
Fundraising: 12p
Governance: 2p
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7,000.0
Income
6,000.0
Expenditure
5,000.0 Reserves
4,000.0
3,000.0
2,000.0
1,000.0
0.0
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
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League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

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GOAL ONE: End hunting with dogs

End hunting with dogs

Our stated riorities and achievements in 2020 p

2021 Priorities

Support members to secure a motion to National Trust members at the AGM to end ‘trail’ hunting on their land

We overhauled our plans at the start of the Covid-19 crisis, as our original plans had a high degree of grass roots campaign activity located at major public events across the country. With social distancing and the cancellation of virtually all events, this was no longer feasible. To counteract these restrictions, we pivoted to primarily digital and social media driven campaigns. With lockdown restrictions in place, achieving the requirements for the submission of a motion was not easy. A Proposer for the motion was identified and a new motion was written, and we secured the necessary signatures (50 were required, we secured 230+) and the motion and signatures were submitted. 2020 was scheduled to be the first opportunity for a new motion to ban ‘trail’ hunting to be presented to their AGM. With the situation unclear regarding the status of the AGM, we did all we could to organise and submit a supporter motion that met the Trust’s governance requirements. Whilst the AGM was ultimately cancelled, the motion will roll over to 2021 AGM.

Successfully lobby the Scottish Government to strengthen the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act in time for the next Scottish election in 2021

Political connections began to revive in September, and we met with Government and political parties. We are pleased to see that the resolve to really ban fox hunting in Scotland has not gone away and we look forward to seeing that resolve in their political manifestos in advance of the 2021 election.

Lobby local authorities to end hunting on their land

The biggest event of the year was the leaking of the Hunting Office’s Zoom meeting in November. The webinars exposed ‘trail’ hunting to be nothing more than a “smokescreen”, language we have used for many years, being used by the hunting community themselves. We launched our campaign urging some of the country’s largest landowners to ban ‘trail’ hunting on their land; five immediately acting to suspend hunting. The webinars were reported on extensively through the media. We worked very closely with ITV News, which ran pieces on three consecutive nights. The BBC, The Times, The Mirror, Daily Mail, and Telegraph all published items and continue to report on the webinars.

The National Trust, United Utilities, Forestry England, National Resources Wales, The Church Estate, Lake District National Park have all suspended ‘trail’ hunt activities. Peterborough and Cheshire West councils were also proactive in starting the process of banning hunting from their jurisdictions. A police investigation is ongoing into the contents of the webinar.

Whilst we secured ground-breaking commitments from the Conservative Party during the 2019 General Election, we will continue to press for a strengthened Hunting Act 2004

Despite legislation being in place to stop animals being hunted in the name of ‘sport’ we have continued to make a compelling case for the Hunting Act 2004 to be strengthened, making sure it has remained on the agenda at Westminster.

It can now only be harder to deny that loopholes and exemptions in the ban must be removed to stop hunts getting away with killing animals for ‘sport’. We have presented politicians from across the political spectrum with the case for change in a variety of ways. We ensured that the lie of ‘trail’ hunting and the imperative to strengthen the law were debated in Parliament and met with Ministers and Shadow Ministers on the need to stamp out illegal hunting.

Thousands of supporter emails were delivered calling for change, prompting many MPs in turn to press Ministers for answers. Our message against the flouting of the law by hunts appeared in the leading publication for MPs and peers, new opinion polling showed that most of the public want ‘trail’ hunting banned, and we ensured that illegal hunting was included for the first time in an annual report on wildlife crime delivered to elected representatives.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

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GOAL TWO: End shooting of animals for ‘sport’

End shooting of animals for ‘sport’

Our stated riorities and achievements in 2020 p

2021 Priorities

Influence Scottish political manifestos to include policies that will reform grouse moors and lead towards the end of driven grouse shooting

Revive’s own manifesto was published and sent to all MSPs, as well as Revive members meeting with Manifesto teams from all political parties.

End cage rearing in Wales by the time the Assembly elections happen in May 2021

We made good progress towards ending the suffering caused to gamebirds by the use of cages. We await the full result of the review of the ‘game’ bird rearing code of practice, which began in summer 2019 but which has still not yet been fully concluded. We have kept the issue on the agenda in Wales by way of Senedd questions and our recent petition calling for a ban on cages. The petition is in the process of being scrutinised by the Senedd Petitions Committee and we are pleased that the Committee agreed to ask the Minister why the Welsh Government is content to allow the current system of using cages to raise ‘game’ birds to be used in Wales at all. As we move towards the Senedd elections, planned for May 2021, we will continue to press for commitments from all Welsh political parties to end the cruelty and to ban the use of cages for rearing ‘game’ birds in Wales

End transport of live birds and ready-to-hatch eggs into and out of the UK, focusing on Eurotunnel and Stena

Following the outbreak of Covid-19, the decision was taken to streamline our output, which meant this priority was paused. This was also partly due to the impact of Covid-19 on a court case taking place in France that was due to be heard involving Brittany Ferries and their ban on the transport of ‘game’ bird chicks. The global pandemic resulted in the court date being postponed. We are monitoring the situation and will return to this issue in due course.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

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GOAL THREE: End fighting of animals for ‘sport’

End fighting of animals for ‘sport’

Our stated riorities and achievements in 2020 p

2021 Priorities

Present Animal (Sentencing) Bill to new Parliament

In June 2019, we led a delegation of animal welfare charities to Number 10 to urge the government to stand by its promise to push the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill through parliament. We worked hard throughout 2020 to keep this bill on track, collaborating with other like-minded charities. After several postponements, the Second Reading took place on 23 October. On the day a compelling editorial written by our CEO and appearing in House Magazine, and the front page of Politics Home, was read out by the Shadow Defra Minster, Daniel Zeichner MP, to frame the debate. The Bill passed Second Reading the same day and progressed to Committee Stage on 3 February 2021. On 12 March 2021, the Bill passed Third Reading in Parliament and has moved to the House of Lords. Lord Sir John Randall is sponsoring the Bill as a Private Members Bill, with Her Majesty’s Government support. At the time of writing, it is scheduled for Second Reading on 16 April 2021.

Along with others in our delegation, we are still fighting for it to become law. When passed it will raise the maximum sentence for the worst animal cruelty offences from six months to five years.

Compile a piece of work to investigate and determine the level of cruel ‘sports’ in the UK to raise awareness of its prevalence

We launched a ground-breaking interactive map as part of our new campaign to show the territory of the 299 hunts still operating in the British countryside and the species they target – foxes, hares or deer.

Over time, the map will continue to grow to show other cruel animal sports.

Research and enrich intelligence on known dog and cock fighters

Our intelligence team is responsible for developing information and investigation leads received through our supporter-funded Animal Crimewatch reporting service relating to animal fighting.

Much of the information is referrals from social media or more community-based information. Using our specialist intelligence team, we endeavour to progress all reports to confirm those that may be involved in dog fighting and when possible develop an intelligence package to share with the relevant police force. This work is complex and specialised which can take time to develop using our various capabilities.

This year, we developed three dog fighting cases which we passed to enforcement agencies. Due to the global pandemic, the incidence of animal fighting crime reported to us and our operations to address it, were seriously impacted.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

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GOAL FOUR: Win the hearts and minds of a broader audience

Win the hearts and minds of a broader audience

Our stated riorities and achievements in 2020 p

2021 Priorities

Build more and stronger relationships with like-minded organisations

The year was spent strengthening our relationship with other charities and the coalitions we are involved with. In Scotland, our Revive Coalition is strong and thriving. We work with a wide array of charities lending our support to a range of other initiatives calling on the Government to make legislative changes and introduce other initiatives that advance animal welfare. Our coalition calling for the Animal (Welfare) Sentencing Bill is more determined than ever, and we were also able to bring a smaller coalition together before Christmas to call on the Government to suspend hunting on its land. This resulted in a meeting on 4 March 2021, led by our CEO, with Environment Secretary George Eustice and the members of the coalition.

In December 2020 we reignited a coalition of animal welfare intelligence practitioners called AIM (Animal Intelligence Meeting), which had been in existence some years ago but ended.

The concept is to unite intelligence practitioners to share common experiences and exchange best practice with an overall objective of ensuring we are all working to a similar standard. It enables us to build relationships and work towards the common aim of helping animals.

There are currently ten organisations and is led by our Head of Intelligence.

These monthly meetings enable us to discuss a range of topics including modern day slavery, GDPR and data protection, intelligence sharing, intelligence training and investigation software.

Increase our reach through new fundraising campaigns

Last year we continued with our Digital Acquisition Campaign, successfully recruiting 2,262 new regular giving supporters. Our fundraising campaign achieved online impressions of over 19 million, helping to raise awareness of our work across hunting, shooting and animal fighting to a broader audience.

Representation of the League across a broad range of Wildlife and Countryside LINK working groups

The League currently has representatives on the following LINK working groups: Wildlife Crime, Legal Strategy, Animal Welfare, and Land Use planning group. Our CEO plays an active role within the CEO’s group and several of our Directors sit on the Policy Directors and Media groups.

Trustees. Strategic Report

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

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GOAL ONE: End hunting with dogs

An owner of an animal rescue centre based in South East England also described to us an incident of hounds worrying livestock. Many of her rescue animals were left “very distressed” after hunting hounds trespassed onto her small-holding whilst in pursuit of a fox, despite claims they were ‘trail’ hunting.

Fox hunting is illegal in England, Scotland and Wales. It is still legal in Northern Ireland.

During the last full hunting season, we received reports of 65 incidents of livestock being worried by hunts; 12 involved hounds chasing and attacking livestock - sometimes fatally.

Fox hunting was banned by the Hunting Act 2004 in England and Wales, and the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 in Scotland. But while these were both welcome and hard-fought pieces of legislation, overwhelming evidence suggests both are either being ignored or exploited by hunts on a regular basis.

Sadly, beloved pets are the latest casualties of reckless hunting in Britain. We received 18 reports of hunting hounds disturbing domestic pets during the last full hunting season. Ten of these incidents involved pet dogs and four involved cats, during which the animals were chased and sometimes killed.

We believe this shows hounds are both out of control and are still being trained to kill.

Hunting Hounds

In what we believe is a first under a Conservative Government, on 4 March 2021 our CEO attended a meeting with Environment Secretary of State, George Eustice MP. Talks centred around the permanent banning of Hunting on Government Land, and Strengthening the Hunting Act, with other animal charities also attending in close support of our position. Further meetings are planned and a Paper presenting our arguments and calling for action will be presented shortly.

In January 2020 we received reports from passengers and staff about 30 loose hounds on a main line at Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire. Some hounds were sadly struck by a train and killed.

The hounds belonged to the Beaufort Hunt, which was involved in a similar incident in 2010. The hunt apologised but we secured national press coverage in the Daily Mirror online, as to why the hounds were there in the first place.

Northern Ireland

Hunting is still legal in Northern Ireland. It’s now the only nation within the UK that has not introduced a complete ban on fox and stag hunting. The farming community in Northern Ireland reached out to us due to the overwhelming amount of harassment they were experiencing from local mounted hunts, and lurcher and terrier men trespassing on their land.

Before Covid-19 restrictions, we organised an event in County Down with help from Alliance Councillor Patrick Brown for local farmers and councillors to try and find a way to deal with the impact trespassing hunts and their hounds have been having on their land and the countryside.

Hunts have been accused of damaging property, worrying livestock and engaging in anti-social behaviour as they chase wild animals. Research shows that hunting with hounds also presents a significant biosecurity threat to livestock when hunts trample across farmland.

We provided each farmer with a support pack containing legal fact sheets regarding hunt trespass, anti-social behaviour and public order offences along with supporting materials to assist them in gathering evidence and how to ensure each incident is properly reported to the police.

The reception helped forge stronger working links between farmers and their local councillors which will enable them to work together to overcome the threat to the farming community associated with hunt havoc.

Scotland

Fox hunting in Scotland is currently controlled by the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act, which came into force in 2002. This in effect banned hunting with dogs, but included an exemption allowing them to be used to flush foxes out of cover so they can be shot as a ‘pest’ control measure.

In January our professional Investigators captured footage showing the Jed Forest Fox Hunt chasing an exhausted fox with a pack of hounds in the Scottish Borders. We reported the incident to Police Scotland, as we believe the Jed Forest Hunt was encouraging its hounds to search for, and chase foxes, which would be illegal. A trial has been set for April 2021.

At the start of the year, we held meetings with Government Ministers and senior civil servants about how the fox hunting ban in Scotland would be strengthened before the end of the year. We met with opposition Labour, Conservative and Green politicians and they were all on side with our programme of work. We even had our first meeting with the Deputy First Minister in the diary for mid-March.

But, as we feared might happen, due to Covid-19, in April the Government announced that the Bill to strengthen the hunting ban was one of six Bills being delayed until after the May 2021 Scottish election. Obviously, this is a huge disappointment, but as political connections began to revive in September we again met with Government and political parties. We are pleased the resolve to really ban fox hunting in Scotland has not gone away and look forward to seeing that resolve in their political manifestos in advance of the 2021 election.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

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Map of Cruel Sports

Police Partnership

In February, fifteen years after the Hunting Act 2004 came into force, we launched a ground-breaking interactive map as part of our new campaign to show the territory of the 299 hunts still operating in the British countryside and the species they target – foxes, hares or deer.

At the end of the year a meeting chaired by the National Wildlife Crime Unit, discussed whether hunting with dogs might become a national wildlife crime priority. Our Intelligence Team produced extensive materials and evidence to support the case for it to be included. It was a productive meeting, and whilst this is still under review, a working group has been established to consider the issues further. We are yet to hear who the delegates of this group are, but we are hopeful we will be invited to participate and influence this decision.

We encouraged all members of the public and our supporters to contact their local council to urge them to table a motion calling for an end to ‘trail’ hunting, exempt hunting and the exercising of packs of hounds on their land – all excuses used by hunts to justify their behaviour.

A safe haven

In February, the Dulverton Farmers Foxhounds were caught hunting on land where we own the sporting rights. The hunted fox managed to escape by running to the adjacent League-owned St John’s Wood sanctuary and the hunt was forced to call off the hounds because of the presence of League staff.

Our map allows the public to find out what hunts are local to them, which animals are being targeted, and how much land is still being used for this brutal blood sport. Click HERE to view the Map of Cruel Sports

Enough is enough

In September 2020, when everyone was under Covid-19 restrictions, the Devon and Somerset Staghounds met next to our flagship sanctuary, Baronsdown, and hunted with a large crowd of supporters. League sanctuary staff were able to capture images and footage, which made the national press.

Coronavirus may have signalled an early end to the fox hunting season in 2020, but we have compiled eyewitness reports relating to 485 incidents of suspected illegal fox hunting activity last season between October 2019 and early March 2020. One gruesome report also included a ginger kitten being ripped apart by hunt hounds.

The location of the League’s wildlife sanctuaries makes them a constant thorn in the side of the hunts and the sanctuaries directly saved the lives of many animals during the year.

In total, we received reports of 38 foxes witnessed being killed by the hunts during the past season and 15 reports of highly suspected fox kills.

Footage and images of wildlife living free from persecution on the wildlife sanctuaries have been used to support our campaign to ‘End hunting with dogs’ through online and printed publications.

Backed up by these figures, we commissioned new polling, undertaken by Survation, which shows that more than two thirds of the British public believe hounds still hunt foxes.

Research & Observation?

In October, our professional Investigators filmed riders from the Devon and Somerset Staghounds chasing and cracking a whip over a deer’s head during a hunt.

The footage, taken on Exmoor, showed sickening scenes of animal cruelty by the riders who chased an exhausted stag, surrounding it and tormenting it, in a bid to either hold it down and shoot it or steer it to where it could be shot.

The deer is seen hurtling across a road to escape the riders despite the screams and hollering of hunt supporters trying to head it off. The stag is believed to have been shot shortly afterwards.

This is animal cruelty at its most shocking. The stag was clearly exhausted and suffering. It would have been running for miles. The film shows the hunt cracking a whip over its head, urging it on while baying supporters stand in the road to harass and confuse the stag some more to prevent it from escaping.

The Devon and Somerset Staghounds meet three times a week and are the largest of three deer hunts operating in the west country. The hunts involve between 30-40 riders and 70-100 vehicles with hunt supporters, despite the restrictions on gatherings due to Covid-19.

They also received a taxpayer-backed £50,000 Government coronavirus loan and a £10,000 small business grant by the local district council in 2020.

‘Trail’ Hunting Smokescreen

We secured shocking footage showing hounds from the Duke of Beaufort’s Hunt chasing a fox. Three of our professional Investigators followed the hunt throughout the day to monitor its activities to establish they were hunting foxes. The fox was filmed running for its life and jumping through a barbed wire fence with hounds following closely behind.

The incident was filmed on Hawkesbury Common in Gloucestershire. The main body of the hunt was seen pursuing the fox, and no attempt was made to call the hounds back. This footage was also shown on ITV West Country and we have passed it to Avon and Somerset Police for them to investigate.

At the end of the year explosive revelations were made from a leaked Zoom training meeting. It involved those at the very heart of hunting and more than 100 hunt masters, representing over half of the country’s fox hunts.

We worked very closely with ITV News to expose the cover up in a hard-hitting news story to show the notion of ‘trail’ hunting is being used by hunts to deceive the police, the courts, the media and the public about their fox hunting activity.

We have consistently dismissed ‘trail’ hunting as a smokescreen for illegal hunting ever since it was created in the wake of hunting with dogs being banned 15 years ago. Now the hunters have been caught out admitting ‘trail’ hunting creates “the element of doubt” that has allowed them to get away with hunting wild animals even when taken to court.

After the news story aired, we began a targeted campaign, urging large landowners and local councils to suspend ‘trail’ hunting on their land. Nearly 10,000 emails were sent by our supporters to their councils urging them to act.

We secured many victories from those who allow ‘trail’ hunting on their land. Responses to our letters requesting action from the following landowners were immediate:

26th November

National Trust, Forestry England and United Utilities suspend ‘trail’ hunting

27th November

Lake District National Park and National Resources Wales suspend ‘trail’ hunting

9th December

Councillors in Peterborough took a landmark decision and voted to ban ‘trail’ hunting on public land.

10th December

Councillors at Cheshire West and Chester Council voted for a motion which paves the way for a ban on ‘trail’ hunting on public land. The motion calls on the council’s cabinet to develop a policy on ‘trail’ hunting which considers the threat posed by hunts to the environment and animals.

To date, nearly two and a half million acres of land has been taken away from hunts. A huge victory for animals.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

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GOAL TWO: End shooting of animals for ‘sport’

Grouse Moor Reform

‘Game’ bird shooting appears to many as a classic British countryside sport, where wild birds are skilfully shot by marksmen and eaten as part of a delicious home-cooked meal.

The League, one of the founding members of Revive - a coalition for grouse moor reform - became the first group in Scotland to publish a manifesto, exactly one year ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections. We also commissioned a major land reform report in Scotland leading the way for better land uses than grouse moors.

We compiled stunning data from thousands of photographs taken during our long-term survey of traps and snares on seven Scottish shooting estates and had booked a thousand-seater auditorium for the second Revive public conference in August, which sadly had to be cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

However, investigations, undercover filming, scientific research and economic analysis have all revealed that perceptions of commercial ‘game’ bird shooting in the UK are deceptive and the reality is very different.

We premiered a Dragon’s Den-inspired film to a group of cross party MSPs, before launching to the public, which imagined what would happen if driven grouse shooting hadn’t been invented and someone tried to suggest it. So far it has been viewed 100,000 times – Click HERE to watch the Government’s Den.

The financial benefit to the economy is exaggerated, whilst animal welfare laws are exploited, and our environment and landscape are put at risk.

In terms of the numbers of animals persecuted and killed, no other cruel sport in the UK has such a devastating impact on animals as commercial ‘game’ bird shooting.

In September we published two reports, Hanged by the Feet until Dead, an in-depth scientific analysis, and a shorter summary report called Calculating Cruelty. They are the most comprehensive and robust field studies of ground predator control on Scotland’s shooting estates. Over 15 months, a surveyor, with over 20 years’ experience of ‘game’ management recorded the scale, distribution and use of legal grouse moor management equipment and practices across seven shooting estates to calculate the true extent of animal killing as a result of predator control to sustain the driven grouse shooting industry. The reports showed that around 200,000 foxes, stoats, weasels and mountain hares are being killed each year to make sure there are more grouse to shoot. Watch the video HERE

Camille Bently said: “My husband and I oppose all forms of animal cruelty and abuse of wildlife as our family foundation focuses on grant making to wildlife protection causes worldwide. We have every intention for Kildrummy to operate at the highest ecological and wildlife conservation standards and to be a positive example of supporting a healthy, biodiverse environment while taking all possible measures to protect threatened species. We applaud the study done by the League Against Cruel Sports and support their mission to create greater transparency and accountability for the treatment of wildlife”.

We ran polling on the subject and revealed that 71 per cent of the Scottish public were against this “War on Wildlife”. Later in the year, working closely with 38 Degrees, around 53,000 people signed a petition calling on the Scottish Government to stop this needless killing.

The media coverage around the report was greatly assisted when the new owners of one of the estates, Kildrummy, announced it was no longer going to manage the land for grouse. The estate was purchased by American couple Chris and Camille Bently, Directors of the Bently Foundation. The couple plan to rewild much of the estate, bringing it to a more natural state to create a better habitat for wildlife wherever possible.

In December, our League Director of Scotland, was asked to make a case for banning grouse shooting and to debate with the chairman of Scottish Land estates. Watch our case to decide for yourself HERE

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

17

Mountain Hares

In June, an amendment to the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill to protect mountain hares was passed. As part of the Revive coalition, we worked on supporting the amendment to offer protected status to mountain hares, ending recreational killing and mass culling of the iconic species. Scottish Government figures show that on average 26,000 hares are killed every year on grouse shooting estates, and last year their conservation status was downgraded to ‘unfavourable’ due to declining numbers.

This was a real victory for animal welfare and the League is hugely grateful to Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for bringing this important issue back onto the political agenda.

Beautiful Birds

The League’s wildlife sanctuaries provide a home for hundreds of pheasants and red-legged partridge that have been released to be shot on adjacent shooting estates.

Throughout 2020, the League’s wildlife sanctuaries continued to protect species of mammals and birds, such as badgers, foxes, stoats, pied flycatchers, redstarts, wood warblers and buzzards, that are heavily persecuted on the neighbouring shoots.

Footage and images of pheasants and red-legged partridge living happily on the League’s wildlife sanctuaries were used to for marketing and campaigns purposes.

Campaigning for Change

In 2019 we campaigned with Ban Bloodsports on Yorkshire’s Moors against driven grouse shooting because of the cruelty inflicted on the birds and because we agree with research by the University of Leeds that burning grouse moors degrades peatland habitat, releases climate-altering gases, reduces biodiversity and increases flood risk.

Our campaign was a success and Yorkshire Water agreed it would tighten up its licensing arrangements. In 2020, Yorkshire Water, United Utilities and the National Trust estates of Marsden, Braithwaite Hall and Dark Peak should be commended for banning routine heather moor burning on their land. This decision, by three major landowners means that 30 tracts of land are now unavailable for commercial grouse shoots.

Not only does this mean protection for the birds, but it’s also good news for the ecology of these areas.

We will be continuing our work in 2021, urging these landowners to make this ban permanent.

Supporters Story

Speaking to the League after the evidence had been gathered, Georgia said she cried when she found the massive pit.

In August, Georgina, aged 16, and her mum decided to go on a bike ride in the Suffolk countryside. After getting lost but finding what looked like a path to the main road, the pair made a gruesome discovery.

Our professional Investigators were shocked by what they saw, so it’s no surprise a teenager, stumbling across it, was reduced to tears by what she saw.

The girl found a ‘stink pit’ – used by gamekeepers to lure predators like foxes to their deaths to protect pheasants being reared on a ‘game’ estate nearby. Pheasants that will be shot anyway.

Stink pits are the dark side of commercial shooting that most people don’t see. This one had snares placed carefully at each corner which meant no hungry animal could escape unscathed. This stink pit shows how easily the Defra guidelines on snares are ignored – it’s time these cruel traps were outlawed completely.

She reported what she saw to our supporter-funded Animal Crimewatch service, and our professional Investigators swooped into action, monitoring the pit for evidence of illegal activity.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

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GOAL THREE: End fighting of animals for ‘sport’

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Of the
suspected dog
fighting suspected
records....
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Many find it surprising that dog fighting was outlawed nearly 200 years ago. Sadly, it continues in the 21st century and is a significant animal welfare issue for the UK.

It’s one of the most horrific forms of organised animal cruelty, not only for the violence the dogs endure during fights but because of the trauma they suffer throughout their lives.

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intelligence reports
were sent to 24
different police forces.
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Dogs forced to fight suffer terrible injuries, both from the fights and at the hands of their vicious ‘owners’. Most will ultimately be killed in the ring or die soon after from their injuries. Those who can no longer fight are often brutally killed.

Of the 129 reports recorded, 49 were received from our Animal Crimewatch service, the remaining were selfgenerated by our Head of Intelligence following Animal Crimewatch investigations and from our own research.

The importance of Animal Crimewatch

Our Intelligence Team is responsible for developing information and investigation leads received through our supporter-funded Animal Crimewatch reporting service. Most of these reports relate to suspected dog fighters.

We also prioritised our efforts towards uncovering a suspected dog fighter and organiser who is believed to be networked across the UK and wider, with access to potential banned breed American Pit Bull terriers. This complex investigation was challenging, and we are grateful to our specialist contractors who provided the much-needed information verification that enabled us to deliver to a police force for their review. Despite our every effort to ensure an operational outcome, the police still have not taken any action. We have now begun a formal complaint process.

Much of the information we receive are leads from social media or the community. Using our specialist team, we endeavour to progress all reports to confirm those that may be involved in dog fighting and when possible develop an intelligence package to share with the relevant police force. This work is complex and specialised which can take time to develop using our various software capabilities.

Our dog fighting intelligence gathering and investigations feeds into our public affairs work and provides the valuable background on dog fighting in the UK to facilitate discussions from a standpoint of knowledge and experience with influential stakeholders.

Dog Fighting Reports

In 2020 we recorded 129 dog fighting related reports into our intelligence system. This was the second largest animal cruelty reported and represents seven percent of the total reports in 2020. Fox hunting remains the number one animal cruelty reported with 1,158 incidences.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

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GOAL FOUR: Win the hearts and minds of a broader audience

Animal Crimewatch

Despite the uncertainty caused by a global pandemic, the restrictions placed on our usual supporter facing events and the anxiety of being isolated from family and friends, our supporters remained steadfast in their determination to protect persecuted animals.

Our supporterfunded Animal Crimewatch reporting service allows people from across the UK

to report animal crimes. Last year we received 706 calls from members of the public who were concerned about animal cruelty in the name of sport. Suspected illegal fox hunting continues to be the number one concern, accounting for 62 per cent of all intelligence submissions.

It is our pleasure and passion to protect animals, but none of our work could happen without an incredible group of people: our supporters. It’s their support that fuels our ambition to end hunting, shooting and animal fighting in the name of ‘sport’.

Growing awareness

Our Intelligence Team published a suite of information leaflets, available on our website, that gives general information and legal advice on a range of subjects about which we often receive calls to our Animal Crimewatch. These resources have been used to grow awareness of the lesser-known cruelty inflicted by snares, traps, fox baiting and hare coursing.

Educating the police

Growing our reach

We continued our conversations with police forces across the UK, providing training in the Hunting Act 2004. Frustrations remain around some investigating officers’ ability to identify offences of illegal hunting when viewing footage and trying to apply pertinent legislation. This was highlighted when one case review showed a clear disparity between the film and the report submitted. A formal complaint by the witness was raised and it featured on BBC South East news. Issues like this exemplify why police liaison remains a crucial part of our work to ensure fewer mistakes are made by law enforcement.

We featured in 3,573 separate media articles or TV and radio news bulletins in 2020. ITV News at Ten featured the League on two separate occasions as well as running two other pieces on the leaked webinar revelations in which the hunt lobby appeared to admit that ‘trail’ hunting was a “smokescreen” for the chasing and killing of animals. We reached over 4.8m viewers.

We reached an audience of over four million after The Times ran an article of the footage captured on camera by our professional Investigators of a stag being chased and whipped on Exmoor. The Guardian online also ran a story on Boxing Day featuring the suspension of ‘trail’ hunt licences by major landowners and councils curtailing the traditional Boxing Day hunts, which has a monthly reach of 37.5m (due to links with the New York Times).

Countryside Collaboration

Our Director of Investigations now chairs the Wildlife and Countryside Link wildlife crime working group. LINK is a coalition of 57 larger NGOs and charities that lobby parliament and others, providing a louder voice for nature. The Wildlife Crime Working Group is responsible for putting together LINK’s annual crime report. The 2019 report, launched in 2020, contained a chapter on Hunting with the Dogs. This is the first time this has been included and was due to our involvement and is significant as the report goes to every MP at Westminster.

League Leaders

In December 2020 we reignited a coalition of animal welfare intelligence practitioners called AIM (Animal Intelligence Meeting), which had been in existence some years ago but ended.

The concept is to unite intelligence practitioners to share common experiences and exchange best practice with an overall objective of ensuring we are all working to a similar standard. It enables us to build relationships and work towards the common aim of helping animals. There are currently ten organisations and is led by our Head of Intelligence.

We also sit on the National Badger Persecution Priority Delivery Group and the National Wildlife Cyber-Crime Priority Delivery Group.

These monthly meetings enable us to discuss a range of topics including modern day slavery, GDPR and data protection, intelligence sharing, intelligence training and investigation software.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

20

People Reporting

Our approach to remuneration of staff is designed to ensure we can attract and retain people with the passion, commitment and talent we need to deliver our mission. We aim to pay competitively in the not-forprofit sector within the context of affordability, using external salary survey to benchmark our salaries against other similar charities.

We believe we should be honest and open with our supporters about how their donations are used to ensure we can protect animals at greatest risk from hunting, shooting and animal fighting for ‘sport’. The information in this report highlights some of the key benchmarks we monitor to ensure everyone can access a fair wage.

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Pay Gap (minus CEO) National Average Pay Gap League 2020
Gender 17.3% 13.84%
Disability Pay Gap 12.2% 15.2%
Ethnicity Pay Gap White and
BAME (Black, Asian, and 21.7% 19.9%
minority ethic)
2019 2020
Highest paid salary (£’000) 91,350 89,279
Median (£’000) 29,196 29,866
Ratio 3.1 2.97
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*CEO took a temporary voluntary reduction in salary for three months during 2020

Pay figures on the above tables are based on actual staff pay during the financial year

Annual Salary entitlements

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90,001 – 100,000 Key
Female 31
80,001 – 90,000
Male 22
Total no. of staff: 53
70,001 – 80,000
60,001 – 70,000
50,001 – 60,000
40,001 – 50,000
30,001 – 40,000
20,001 – 30,000
Up to 20,000
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Annual Salary (£’000)
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
Staff numbers
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Salary figures are based on the full time equivalent of staff salary entitlements as at 31 December 2020

Living Wage Statement

The League became an accredited Living Wage employer in 2020. This is our commitment to pay all employees and third party contracted staff the real Living Wage. We voluntarily choose to pay the real Living Wage because we believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. The government minimum wage ‘national living wage’ is based on a target to reach 66 per cent of median earnings by 2024. The real Living Wage rates are higher because they are independently calculated based on what people need to get by, ensuring employees earn a wage that meets the genuine cost of living.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

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The impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak on our people

The arrival of Covid-19 was an unprecedented time in terms of people. Pre-empting the official lockdown in March 2020, we had already taken the decision to close the office, putting the safety of staff first and moved to remote working, which for many was a first with various challenges. The pandemic has been an exceptional circumstance for all. In 2020 the furlough scheme was used for some staff, with those affected brought back to work in a phased way as circumstances allowed. The last remaining staff member returned from furlough on 21 September 2020.

As testimony to our team’s resilience, operational and technological hurdles were taken in their stride, but physical and mental wellbeing, of both furloughed and active staff has remained a top priority. Our first step was making sure there were adequate communication channels, ensuring the whole team had transparent and regular information through regular contact within teams, weekly emails from the CEO and monthly allorganisation video meetings.

We also utilised manager 1:1s and periodic check-in calls from both HR and the CEO to ensure everyone had an opportunity to speak about their situation and needs. A safety-first, flexible, open and individual approach was paramount to helping everyone through. We ensured our regular communication gave staff access to guidance and support for the many challenges they might face.

One difficulty has been the loss of social interaction with colleagues, due to the office closure throughout the pandemic, outside of the daily work remit. To address this, we held a range of online activities from virtual quiz nights and coffee breaks to pet and wildlife photo competitions, shared our desert island discs and some even took part in a weekly fitness class. In such an extraordinary time it has been important to draw on our team spirit, and our united purpose to end animal cruelty in the name of sport makes this all the easier.

Like many other animal welfare and charities in the Third Sector, we were concerned with the impact that Covid-19 would have on our income. It is testament of our loyal supporters that, despite seeing an early drop in charitable donations, we were able to regroup and finish the year in a slightly stronger financial position than when we started. This, together with and a range of other measures taken early on in the pandemic, helped to assure the future of the League and the animal welfare objectives we work so hard to secure.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

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Sustainability Statement

We recognise the importance of combatting climate change and are committed to be an environmentally responsible organisation, understanding that this is an ongoing and continuous process. We incorporate environmental factors into business decisions and promote environmentally responsible ways of working to our staff and suppliers.

1

Managing our wildlife sanctuaries

As far as possible we follow sustainable practices, generally interfering with nature as little as is possible, whilst maintaining the sanctuaries in suitable condition for a wide diversity of wildlife and complying with the relevant legislation.

When it is necessary to carry out forestry operations on the sanctuaries, we follow the UK Forestry Standard to ensure protection of biodiversity, soil, water, landscape and the historic environment.

2

Reducing energy consumption

The electricity on Baronsdown, our flagship wildlife sanctuary, is supplied by a company that uses 100 per cent renewable energy and plans include investment in solar PV panels. The water supply comes from a spring located on-site.

Our head office electricity is 100 per cent green – made from the sun, wind and sea. We utilise features to help reduce energy use such as on-demand hot water boilers and future plans include LED lighting.

We will seek to reduce the amount of energy used as much as possible. We encourage all staff to switch off all electrical items at the end of the day and during the day when not in use and using power save settings to do this automatically where possible. We use the most energy efficient settings on devices where possible and turn off unnecessary lighting and heating, adjusting the heating/air conditioning with energy consumption in mind and when using ensuring windows and doors are closed.

3

4

Reducing our impact from travel

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

We encourage staff to reduce consumption of materials as a priority, aiming to reuse materials and when things must be thrown away, we recycle as much as possible. There are clearly labelled waste and recycling bins at all of our premises.

We promote alternatives to travel such as the use of email, phone and video conferencing for meetings and will restrict travel to necessary trips only. Where possible we will use public transport. We encourage staff to use green travel alternatives, our main office is situated near public transport links, we provide bicycle racks and will favour ‘green’ vehicles when required for business use.

Paper is our biggest consumable: we will minimise the use of paper by using electronic methods where possible, utilising double-sided printing, reducing packaging as much as practicable and we only use licensed and appropriate organisations to dispose of waste.

5

Changing behaviour

We foster a ‘think green’ culture, providing staff with relevant environmental training and this year initiated a Green Team. Their role is to improve the environmental responsibilities of the League’s operations, promote across staff and encourage a greater adoption of environmentally beneficial practices. The Green Team is responsible for making recommendations and improvements to the League’s policies and working environment to reduce our environmental impact.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

23

Fundraising Governance

We are registered with the Fundraising Regulator and are committed to the Fundraising Promise and adherence to the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIoF) Code of Fundraising Practice. All donors to the League can be assured that we comply with the regulatory standards for fundraising. This report covers the requirements charities must follow as set out in the Charities Act 2016.

We receive no government funding, and all our income is from fundraising, including gifts in wills.

We use a range of fundraising activities to generate income. These include sending letters and emails to our supporters, running online acquisition campaigns, holding three raffles per year, monthly League Lotto, legacies, applications to trusts & foundations, corporate partners and building relationships with philanthropists. We complete thorough due diligence before entering any new partnerships to ensure associates are aligned with our mission and vision. In 2020 we continued with our successful digital acquisition campaign using social media platforms to recruit new supporters, achieving exceptional results even in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. This initiative will continue in 2021.

We use third-party suppliers to help us raise funds, particularly where we do not have the in-house expertise. We have safeguards in place when working with suppliers, so we protect our supporters and the reputation of the League.

Our website outlines our complaints policy for the public and clearly explains how an individual can make a complaint. We received six complaints about our fundraising activities in the 2020 financial year. In contrast, in 2019 we received eight, representing a 25 per cent decrease in 2020.

We responded to all complaints within three working days. Complaints are dealt with in line with our Supporter Care Policy and we report to the Fundraising Regulator on the total number of complaints received. We are also signed up to the Fundraising Preference Service to enable individuals to opt-out from receiving fundraising communications from us. We actioned 12 requests from this service in 2020, a 33 per cent decrease from the previous year.

We are committed to ensuring that we always treat the public sensitively, fairly and respectfully, taking special care to protect people who may find themselves in vulnerable circumstances. Our Supporter Care Team are fully trained to recognise potentially vulnerable people they may speak to. This approach is in line with the requirements of the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016 and the CIoF Treating Donors Fairly guidance.

We have a robust General Data Protection Regulation framework in place to ensure we are compliant. Our Privacy and Cookies Policies are regularly updated to ensure supporters are fully informed as to how, when and where we use their data.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

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Structure, Governance and Management

Trustees are appointed by a majority of the voting members at the AGM for a term of up to three years or can be co-opted by the Board of Trustees until the next AGM. A comprehensive recruitment exercise is undertaken for the appointment of new Trustees to ensure the Board have the depth and breadth of skills and experience necessary to be an effective Trustee of The League Against Cruel Sports. The Board appoints a recruitment panel which undertakes the selection process, carries out interviews, and makes recommendations to the Board for their approval.

The League Against Cruel Sports is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Registration No. 1095234) and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (Registration No. SC045533). It is also a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (Company Registered No. 04037610). Its objects and powers are set out in its Memorandum and Articles of Association.

A new Memorandum and Articles were successfully adopted by the membership on 6 April 2019.

The Charity has a wholly owned subsidiary the League Against Cruel Sports (UK) Limited, which is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales (Company Registered No. 02880406). Its principle activities have been to receive and administer legacy entitlements and manage its portfolio of land and buildings.

New Trustees attend an induction day at the League’s headquarters, to learn about the charity’s mission, strategy and objectives. They also learn about their role and responsibilities as a Trustee. We also use the opportunity for them to meet and speak with the League staff.

Remuneration Policy

In 2019 we undertook a corporate restructuring whereby the subsidiary transferred the ‘rights’ to future donated income and the company’s land and buildings, and most of the cash at bank assets to the parent charity. The League Against Cruel Sports (UK) Limited now acts solely as a subsidiary company for carrying out trading activities on behalf of The League Against Cruel Sports charity.

The Board of Trustees determines the Chief Executive’s salary and reviews this each year, in line with the charity’s pay policy. The Board also approves recommendations made by the Chief Executive on any pay changes to the Senior Management Team salaries, and other staff pay changes as a result of the annual staff pay review.

The company results and financial position are detailed in note 17 to the accounts.

Our approach to remuneration of staff is designed to ensure we can attract and retain people with the passion, commitment and talent we need to deliver our mission. We aim to pay competitively in the not-forprofit sector within the context of affordability, using external salary survey to benchmark our salaries against other similar charities.

The governing body of the charity is the Board of Trustees, comprising of not fewer than three nor more than twelve unpaid members. The Board meet at least three times a year to review performance against its plans, approve future financial plans based on the agreed strategy, setting policies and to make any decisions necessary to its governance and strategic direction. The Board has ultimate responsibility for the conduct and financial stability of the charity group. The Finance, Risk And General purposes Committee is a sub-committee of the Board and also meets regularly to consider issues appertaining to the charity group and informs the wider Board.

The annual pay increases are awarded in January each year taking into account pay inflation, organisational affordability, and any mandatory statutory increases. Our remuneration policy approach is applied consistently across the organisation, through our annual pay review process.

The League has now committed to paying our employees no less than the real living wage and as such is accredited by the Good Business Charter.

Day-to-day financial responsibility and managerial control are delegated by the Board to the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive and Senior Management Team meet twice monthly to discuss operations and financial performance.

Financial Review

2020 has been a challenging year for the League, with previously agreed financial plans having to be re-written early in the year and planned investments put on hold in light of the impact of Covid-19. Every new financial year presents uncertainties, but Covid-19 added a significant additional layer of concern not only in whether we would be able to achieve our fundraising targets, with evidence of donation income plummeting generally across the charity sector, but also whether would we be able to deliver on our necessary programmes and operations to meet our strategic objectives given the government imposed lockdown restrictions.

Our revised business plans were agreed with new more prudent income targets and expenditure budgets reflecting our analysis of the expected impact of Covid-19 specifically on the League, but still providing the necessary resources to allow us to deliver on our objectives, albeit in a more unconventional, creative manner; whilst retaining confidence in the stability and sustainability of our finances.

By the end of the year our renewed fundraising efforts and prudent budgeting has paid off as we achieved a surplus of income over expenditure of £220k, increasing our reserves further and providing even greater stability for the League as we enter 2021; which continues to be challenging period for the sector and the League.

With the Board’s confidence in the League’s financial strength, we start 2021 as a continuing viable, long-term sustainable organisation with ambitious future growth plans; and we hope to bring some of these plans to fruition in the coming year by building on our fundraising successes and investing some of our surplus reserves despite ongoing Covid-19 economic difficulties.

Income

Total group income for the year was £3.3m, an increase of £351k or 12 per cent on last year. The League reports on three key areas of income generation performance: legacies, donations and memberships. Although we also generate income from our trading activities and investment income from cash deposits.

Legacy income was £1.8m, an increase of £240k, or 15 per cent on last year; this represented 55 per cent of our total income for the year. Legacy income is a significant income source and is crucial to the League in achieving its ambitions and over the last three years we have benefitted from year on year increases. However, legacies are difficult to predict in terms of the amount and timing of receipt thereby making accurate forecasting somewhat problematic and we take a prudent approach when setting annual budget targets. In order to reduce this uncertainty risk on achieving our overall annual income target, we continue to develop of our fundraising goals prioritising the building of our regular giving, supporter and member generated income potential over the five-year period of our financial plan.

Donations and gifts income were over £1m for the year, the same as for last year. These are excellent results given that early in 2020 sector predications were for a 48 per cent downturn in fundraised income. The League was less impacted than other charities who were more dependent on public fundraising events, sponsorships etc. Adapting quickly to new fundraising strategies coupled with an expansion in our pro-active supporter acquisition campaign, we have managed to maintain a healthy, sustainable level of fundraised income for the year.

Our other 2020 fundraising campaigns included: fostering new trust and major donor relationships and developing our supporter appeal programme with four themed appeals in the year: Not fair game; Caught in the Act; Running for their lives; No place like home, we sent out two issues of our Protect magazine to inform and encourage supporter action and League Life, launched during lockdown.

In the year we received grants of £143k in connection with the Government Job Retention Scheme funding to help support the costs of staff not fully utilised during 2020 due to lockdown restrictions.

Income from membership fees decreased by £6k, as some supporters have chosen to move to our regular giver supporter package. We continue to value our loyal members alongside our regular giver supporters and appreciate their enduring commitment to help the League achieve its charitable objectives through their day-to-day support of our work and their participation of ‘on the ground’ action.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

25

Other trading income was £138k, a decrease of 20 per cent on the previous year. Most of the decrease was due to significant funds generated last year from timber sales in connection with tree management on our sanctuaries. Income from our three annual raffles and monthly lotto decreased slightly by £4k in the year. We upgraded our Lotto programme to improve the experience and prize fund and expect the new format will appeal to a wider supporter group.

Investment income increased by £10k, or 55 per cent on the previous year, despite the significant decrease in bank interest rates over the year. This increase has been generated primarily from more effective cash and bank deposit management.

Expenditure

Total resources expended in furtherance of our charitable objectives for the year was over £3m, a decrease of £203k or 6 per cent on the previous year; a significant factor in this reduction is the impact of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions on the League’s field operations and the temporary head office closure. Including allocated support costs, expenditure on charitable activities was £2.67m, a decrease of 8 per cent on the previous year, and raising funds was £362k, an increase of 7 per cent.

Direct expenditure on our four core charitable activities increased by 2 per cent, with the overall proportion of expenditure on direct charitable programme delivery increasing by 8 per cent, to 76 per cent of total spend in 2020. Support costs decreased by £278k or 27 per cent. Year on year decreases in support costs are providing additional funding for our charitable activity delivery.

Balance Sheet

As at the year end the group had total net assets of £4.26m; represented by fixed assets of £1.67m, current assets of £2.8m and current liabilities of £0.21m.

Group funds consist of £4.14m unrestricted funds (2019: £3.9m) and £0.12m of restricted funds (2019: £0.14m). At the year-end there were no designated funds by the Board of Trustees (2019: £0.39m).

The funds are detailed in note 13 to the financial statements.

Total reserves/Net assets continue to provide the group with a strong working capital base for the start of 2021 and beyond.

Reserves Policy

Reserves are key in ensuring the long-term viability of the charity. The Board of Trustees regularly monitors the level of retained reserves, when reviewing financial performance in the management accounts, and reviews the overall reserves policy annually as part of the fiveyear financial plan review.

Our reserves policy is based on a risk identification approach calculating an appropriate level of unrestricted reserves to cover our contractual commitments, working capital requirements, and to manage possible fluctuations in future income levels; this calculation also takes into account our fixed asset holdings. Our five-year financial planning aims to achieve a target level of reserves to cover all these identified risks and ensure we have long-term financial stability.

Based on our reserves policy, at their meeting in December 2020 to approve the 2021 five-year financial plan, the Board agreed to set a free reserves target at an average of four months planned operating expenditure for the term of the plan.

At the financial year end the amount of free unrestricted reserves available for general purposes was £2.5m, equivalent to over eight months operating expenditure. Particularly at this time of economic uncertainty, and until the Government indicates the country is emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Board feels it is appropriate to maintain a level of reserves comfortably in excess of the five year target whilst at the same time encouraging our continuing ambitious expansion plans. Our policy remains in line with the Charity Commission’s advice on managing charity reserves over the pandemic.

On the other side of the pandemic the Board are keen to expand the investment of reserves into delivery programmes and further funding initiatives.

The Board will continue to regularly monitor the League’s performance against its agreed plans.

Investment Policy

Going Concern

The trustees, having reviewed the latest financial information and forecasts, and considered the main risks facing the charity are confident that the League Against Cruel Sports is financially secure and that it is appropriate for the Report & Accounts to be drawn up on a going concern basis.

With the continuing instability of the stock markets the Trustees have agreed that shares and stock given to or left to the League should be sold at the earliest beneficial opportunity. There was no loss on any investments received or sold during the year. The ongoing uncertainty of the markets has led to the Trustees continuing their policy of holding reserves in either property or cash deposits and not by investing in the stock markets. The policy will be reviewed by the Trustees during 2021 with due regard to our forecast cash flow requirements.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

26

Internal Controls and Risk Management

The Trustees are responsible for ensuring the League group has a sound system of internal control to safeguard its assets and funds, and for ensuring that its assets and funds are used only in furtherance of the League’s objectives. The system of internal control is intended to manage appropriately rather than to eliminate risks and to provide reasonable rather than absolute assurance. The Charity is one that arouses strong passions and potential threats to it are ever present, particularly from those who challenge its credibility and direction.

Trustees have developed an effective risk management framework for the assessment of major risks to which the charity is exposed, which has been used successfully throughout the year. The assessment and documentation of risk is carried out by the Senior Management Team led by the Chief Executive Officer, supported by the Finance Director, both of whom have considerable expertise in this area. Risk factors are identified and assessed for scale, and each risk is assigned to a member of the Senior Management Team to take responsibility for identifying the steps needed to manage or mitigate the risk. These risk assessments are documented in a risk register and are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that new risks are identified and that actions proposed to mitigate or manage risks are being undertaken. The risks to the charity are also assessed and reviewed by the Trustees twice yearly, with quarterly updates to the Finance Risk And General (FRAG) Committee. The CEO also raises specific risks at his weekly call with the Chairman and Honorary Treasurer.

Risk to the charity has diminished considerably for the third year running, with the League reaping the rewards of the necessary changes in governance and management made in 2018. The consistency and courage in our approach to malicious trolls and fake stories has proven highly effective and illustrates what can be done when staff and Trustees are protected from harm. As a result, trolling has moved from near pandemic levels experienced in the past, to near zero during the reporting period. Sickness and absence rates (half of which is generally accepted as related to poor mental health/stress) has decreased eight-fold since 2017, decreasing steadily year on year and ending at 0.5 per cent in 2020. This reflects the safe space that working for the League affords staff, and is a fraction of the 3.3 per cent charity sector average. The net result is that the charity can now focus solely on its charitable objects without distraction.

Despite the challenges of Covid 19, the charity seems to be bucking the general trend. Covid safety measures, including much of the year spent with staff working from home and for some, on furlough, were adopted early on. The health and jobs of all staff have been preserved, including through the continued careful stewardship of our finances and the generosity of our supporters. Despite facing a significant budget deficit forecast at the start of the pandemic, fundraised income was unchanged from 2019 and along with other measures, we finished the year with a modest surplus. Throughout the year, the Senior Management Team acted early, decisively and with good judgement to ensure the needs of the charity, its people and its charitable outcomes were both met and balanced, and the future of the charity assured.

Our top three risks are considered to be:

1. Reputational. False allegations and/or reporting that

unnecessarily malign or diminish the charity or those therein. This includes from fake websites, social media, officials outside of the Charity, and from those formerly associated with the Charity, or through the use of knowing or unwitting proxies. Careful consideration is made on a case by case basis, with risks associated with each circumstance considered and actions, including legal and using the regulatory process, adopted.

2. Breaches in data protection. This includes

IT security, software vulnerabilities, and GDPR. Considerable investment has gone into assuring our systems and processes, including multilayer IT security, training and the adoption of best practice. These have protected us. Individuals that have engaged in malicious actions designed to breach GDPR protocols have failed.

3. Health, Safety and Coronavirus. New procedures, the continuing strengthening of policies, tighter managerial oversight, together with the continued inculcation of strong safety culture that includes safety training, have all been effective. Safety measures and precautions, in line with Government guidelines has protected staff against the virus. Close and meaningful engagement with staff, access to a variety of mental health support and a general pulling together of an already close-knit team has minimised the incidence of sickness and absence and has ensured our individual and collective well-being.

Moving in to 2021, the League has a robust five-year financial plan in place, based on achievable income targets and built-in flexibility within its spending plans, backed by a strong reserves base which is slightly higher than the same time last year. There has been no churn in the Board and Senior Management, the latter now well into their fourth year working together. Corporate knowledge and team resilience is well proven and relationships up, down and external to the charity are very strong and morale is generally high. Early indications suggest that legacy income and fundraised income are rising, with a 20 per cent increase in regular givers in 2020, together with other incomes streams, showing no sign of abating. The defensive positioning of the charity throughout most of last year has already given way to a more forward leaning stance focused on growth, including the recruitment of the additional staff required to maintain our current momentum. Our actions are designed to continue our outperformance, taking advantage of the strength of our position and our ever growing influence in the sector, so as to further the welfare of animals.

27

Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

The Trustees, who are also the directors of The League Against Cruel Sports for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company Law requires the Trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year. In preparing these accounts, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Auditors

A resolution proposing that Haysmacintyre LLP be reappointed as auditors of the company will be put to the members. This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees

Dr Tim Holmes

Chair Dated: 12th April 2021

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League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020
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Financial Statements

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

29

Independent auditor’s report to the members and trustees of the League Against Cruel Sports

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of the League Against Cruel Sports for the year ended 31 December 2020 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities, the Group and Charitable Company Balance Sheet and the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Trustees’ Report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ Report (which incorporates the directors’ report).

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 and the Charity Accounts (Scotland) Regulations (as amended) require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees for the financial statements

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 27, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the group’s and the parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the group or the parent charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

30

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League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020
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Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of noncompliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

Based on our understanding of the group and the environment in which it operates, we identified that the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations related to fundraising regulations, GDPR and Charities Act 2011, and we considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect on the financial statements. We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Charities Act 2011 and the application of FRS 102, income tax and payroll tax.

We evaluated management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of controls) and determined that the principal risks were related to posting inappropriate journal entries to revenue and management bias in accounting estimate. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org. uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006, section 44(1) (c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and regulation 10 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Adam Halsey (Senior Statutory Auditor)

For and on behalf of Haysmacintyre LLP, Statutory Auditors

League Sanctuary - Cowley Wood A field of Bluebell plants provides a wealth of nectar for insects and bees alike

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

31

The League Against Cruel Sports

Consolidated statement of financial activities Including income and expenditure account

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

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Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Notes Funds £ Funds £ 2020 £ 2019 £
INCOME FROM:
Donations and legacies 2 3,084,385 2,711 3,087,096 2,710,283
Other trading activities 3 138,490 - 138,490 174,261
Investments 4 27,621 - 27,621 17,840
Total income: 3,250,496 2,711 3,253,207 2,902,384
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds
Fundraising and publicity
5 277,195 - 277,195 277,980
costs
Costs of trading activities 5 84,684 - 84,684 61,798
-
361,879 361,879 339,778
Charitable activities
End Hunting with Dogs 5 1,106,795 3,894 1,110,689 1,075,444
End Shooting of Animals
5 462,794 2,748 465,542 660,531
for ‘Sport’
End Fighting of Animals
5 140,418 301 140,719 287,170
for ‘Sport’
Win Hearts and Minds 5 938,440 15,703 954,143 873,101
2,648,447 22,646 2,671,093 2,896,246
Total expenditure 3,010,326 22,646 3,032,972 3,236,024
Net income/ (expenditure) 240,170 (19,935) 220,235 (333,640)
Fund balances at 1 January 3,900,752 143,850 4,044,602 4,378,242
Fund balances at 31 December 4,140,922 123,915 4,264,837 4,044,602
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The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.

The League Against Cruel Sports

Consolidated Balance Sheet

AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2020

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Notes 2020 £ £ 2019 £ £
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets 7 1,667,725 1,697,813
CURRENT ASSETS
Stocks 9 14,284 17,042
Debtors 10 603,972 369,040
Cash deposit investments 2,000,052 1,980,108
Cash at bank and in hand 188,782 270,401
2,807,090 2,636,591
LIABILITIES
Creditors: Amounts falling
11 (209,978) (289,802)
due within one year
Net current assets 2,597,112 2,346,789
Total assets less current
4,264,837 4,044,602
liabilities
Creditors: Amounts falling
due after more than one year - -
Total net assets 4,264,837 4,044,602
INCOME FUNDS
Restricted funds 13 123,915 143,850
Unrestricted funds 13
-
Designated funds 390,000
General unrestricted funds 4,140,922 3,510,752
Total unrestricted funds 13 4,140,922 3,900,752
Total group funds 4,264,837 4,044,602
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The financial statements were approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 12th April 2021 and signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees by

Dr Timothy Holmes Trustee Company Registration No. 04037610

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

32

The League Against Cruel Sports

Charitable company balance sheet

AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2020

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Notes 2020 £ £ 2019 £ £
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets 7 1,667,725 1,697,813
Investment in subsidiary 17 12 12
1,667,737 1,697,825
CURRENT ASSETS
Stocks 9 14,284 17,042
Debtors 10 604,183 369,040
Cash deposit investments 2,000,052 1,980,108
Cash at bank and in hand 136,930 218,315
2,755,449 2,584,505
LIABILITIES
Creditors: Amounts falling
11 (209,978) (289,802)
due within one year
Net current assets 2,545,471 2,294,703
Total assets less current
4,213,208 3,992,528
liabilities
Creditors: Amounts falling
due after more than one year - -
Total net assets 4,213,208 3,992,528
INCOME FUNDS
Restricted income funds 13 123,915 143,850
Unrestricted funds
-
Designated funds 390,000
General unrestricted funds 4,089,293 3,458,678
Total unrestricted funds 4,089,293 3,848,678
Total charity funds 4,213,208 3,992,528
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The League Against Cruel Sports

Statement of cash flows

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

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Notes 2020 £ £ 2019 £ £
CASHFLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net cash used in operating
a (89,296) (197,937)
activities
CASHFLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Interest from investments 27,621 17,840
Opening balance adjustment -
20,120
fixed assets
Purchase of tangible fixed -
(37,644)
assets
Net cash provided by
27,621 316
investing activities
Change in cash and cash
equivalents in the (61,675) (197,621)
reporting period
Cash and cash equivalents at
the beginning of the 2,250,509 2,448,130
reporting period
Cash and cash equivalents
at the end of the reporting b 2,188,834 2,250,509
period
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The financial statements were approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 12th April 2021 and signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees by

Dr Timothy Holmes Trustee Company Registration No. 04037610

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

33

a. Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure) to net cash from operating activities

Notes 2020 £ 2019 £
Net income / (expenditure)
for the reporting period (as
per the Statement of
Financial		 220,235 (333,640)

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ADJUSTMENTS FOR:
Depreciation 7 30,088 31,447
Interest from Investments 4 (27,621) (17,840)
Decrease in stocks 2,758 2,606
(Increase) in debtors (234,932) (17,748)
(Decrease)/increase in
(79,824) 137,238
creditors current
Net cash used in operating
(89,296) (197,937)
activities
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b. Analysis of cash and cash equivalents

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2020 £ 2019 £
Deposits 2,000,052 1,980,108
Cash in hand 188,782 270,401
Total cash and cash
2,188,834 2,250,509
equivalents
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The cash deposits are invested over a wider range of regulated financial institutions to improve the security of the cash reserves. The majority of deposits have notice periods of less than 6 months and all are repayable within 12 months.

The League Against Cruel Sports

Notes to the financial statements

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Charity Information

The League Against Cruel Sports is a registered charity in England and Wales (charity number 1095234) and in Scotland (OSCR charity number SC045533), and a company limited by guarantee (Company Registered Number 04037610) and domiciled in the UK, and is a public benefit entity.

The address of the registered office is: New Sparling House, Holloway Hill, Godalming, Surrey , GU7 1QZ.

1 Accounting Policies

1.1 Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) – (Charities SORP 2015 (Second Edition, effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

The League Against Cruel Sports meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102.

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost of transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

1.2 Basis for consolidation

The financial statements consolidate the results of the Charity and its wholly owned subsidiary League Against Cruel Sports (UK) Limited on a line by line basis. A separate statement of Financial Activities and income and expenditure accounts are not presented for the Charity itself following the exemptions afforded by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and paragraph 397 of the Statement of Recommended Practice.

1.3 Key judgements and assumptions

In the application of the Charity’s accounting policies the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

1.4 Going concern

Based on the level of reserves held at the year end and the latest five year financial plans the Trustees are confident that The League Against Cruel Sports is financially secure in its immediate future for the next 12 months and that on this basis the Charity is a going concern.

The Trustees regularly review detailed financial budgets and forecasts, which are adjusted to take into account revised assumptions and events. Where such forecasts indicate a potential problem corrective action is taken to protect the future viability of the Charity. The key risks assessed are described in the Trustees’ Annual Report.

1.5 Charitable funds

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the accounts.

Designated funds are amounts of unrestricted funds which have been earmarked at the discretion of the Trustees for particular future purposes.

Unrestricted funds are available for the use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the objectives of the Charity.

1.6 Income

All income is accounted for when the criteria of entitlement, measurement and probability are met.

Legacy income is recognised when the group is advised by the personal representative of an estate that a payment will be made or property transferred and the amount involved can be reliably quantified.

Pecuniary legacies - the group recognises pecuniary legacies once probate has been granted and receives confirmation from the executor that there are sufficient assets in the estate, after settling any liabilities, to pay the legacy and the amount involved is notified by the executor.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

34

The League Against Cruel Sports

Notes to the financial statements

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Residuary legacies - the group recognises residuary legacies once probate has been granted and at the earlier of the estate accounts being settled or cash received, such that the amount involved can be quantified or can be reasonably estimated.

For the purpose of calculating legacy income to be accrued for in the year end accounts, the group applies a cut-off date of the end of February for any legacies received after the year end. Any further receipts beyond that date are only considered for inclusion in the year end accounts if the amount received is deemed to be material to the financial statements.

1.7 Expenditure

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and allocated between the expenditure categories of the SOFA on a basis to reflect the use of the resources. Where support costs cannot be directly attributed they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of the resources as shown in note 5.

Fundraising and publicity costs represent direct and apportioned costs relating to supporter recruitment and maintenance and fundraising activities and events.

Costs of trading activities represents direct and apportioned costs relating to the sale of merchandise and other sales of goods.

Charitable activity expenditure represents direct and apportioned costs relating to carrying out our strategic objectives as set out in the Trustees Annual Report.

Support costs include governance, staff, office and general management costs including human resources, IT and the finance function incurred to support income generation and delivery of the charitable activities. Support costs also include irrecoverable VAT where it is not able to be directly attributed to specific activities, where this is not possible irrecoverable VAT costs are apportioned.

Governance costs represent direct and indirect costs incurred relating to strategic management and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

1.8 Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently stated at cost less depreciation.

The Group’s capitalisation threshold is £5,000, such that fixed assets costing less than this amount are not capitalised and are therefore included in resources expended under the appropriate heading.

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:

Buildings 2% straight lineper annum
Refurbishments 10% straight line per annum
Plant, equipment,
fxture and fttings		 25% reducing
balanceper annum

Motor vehicles		 25% reducing
balanceper annum

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset and is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.

When freehold land is disposed of, but sporting rights are retained the value of these rights is written down to £1 as they have no residual or realisable value for the group.

At each reporting end date, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss.

1.9 Stock

Stock is stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour costs and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing the stock to their present location and condition. Items held for distribution at no or nominal consideration are measured at the lower of replacement cost and cost.

Net realisable value is the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.

1.10 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held on call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank Overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities. During the year the Group had no bank overdrafts.

For the purpose of the cash flow statement, cash comprises cash in hand and short-term deposits.

1.11 Financial instruments

Financial instruments are recognised in the Group and Charity balance sheets when the Group or Charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

The League Against Cruel Sports group has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Financial assets held at amortised cost comprise cash and bank in hand, together with trade and other debtors. Financial liabilities held at amortised cost comprise trade and other creditors.

Financial assets and Financial liabilities classified as receivable or payable within one year are not amortised. Investment in the subsidiary undertaking is held at cost less impairment.

1.12 Leases

Rentals incurred under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease. Incentives are treated as income and are credited to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

1.13 Employee pensions

The group operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions are charged in the accounts as they become payable in accordance with the rules of the scheme.

1.14 Value Added Tax

Value Added Tax is partially recoverable by the group, and as such the irrecoverable portion of VAT is included as a cost in the Statement of Financial Activities and asset values.

1.15 Taxation

The League Against Cruel Sports charitable company is exempt from Corporation Tax on the grounds that it is a charity and all of its income is applied for charitable purposes.

League Against Cruel Sport (UK) Limited is not operated for profit and is taxable only on its investment income.

1.16 Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the amount due after any discount offered. Prepayments are values at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

1.17 Creditors

Creditors are recognised where the Charity has a present obligation resulting from past events that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at the settlement amount allowing for any trade discount due.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

35

2. Donations and Legacies

Unrestricted
Funds
£		 Restricted
Funds
£		 Total
2020
£		 Total
2019
£
Legacies receivable 1,796,910 - 1,796,910 1,556,488
Donations andgifts 1,030,499 2,711 1,033,210 1,033,793
Grants receivable 143,354 - 143,354 -
Membership fees 113,622 - 113,622 120,002
3,084,385 2,711 3,087,096 2,710,283

4. Investment Income

Unrestricted
Funds
£		 Restricted
Funds
£		 Total
2020
£		 Total
2019
£
Interest receivable 24,015 - 24,015
Rental income 3,606 - 3,606
27,621 - 27,621

2019 income includes restricted funds of £Nil Legacies receivable and £48,807 Donations and gifts.

At 31 December 2020, in addition to legacy income that had been included in the accounts, the League expected to benefit from a number of legacies from estates for which the administration had yet to be finalised. The League’s future income from these legacies is estimated at £1.4m (2019: £0.8m).

Grants receivable relates to the Government Job Retention Scheme funding claimed during the year.

3. Other Trading Activities

Unrestricted
Funds
£		 Restricted
Funds
£		 Total
2020
£		 Total
2019
£
Raffe and lotto ticket sales 90,224 - 90,224 93,917
Timber sales 7,524 - 7,524 47,000
Merchandise and other sales
of goods		 40,742 - 40,742 33,344
138,490 - 138,490 174,261
There were no restricted funds received in 2019.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

36

5. Expenditure

----- Start of picture text -----
Direct Staff Direct Support Total Total
costs costs costs 2020 2019
£ £ £ £ £
RAISING FUNDS
Fundraising and publicity costs 130,900 76,557 69,738 277,195 277,980
Costs of trading activities 15,708 68,976 - 84,684 61,798
146,608 145,533 69,738 361,879 339,778
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
End Hunting with Dogs 665,247 166,010 279,432 1,110,689 1,075,444
End Shooting of Animals for ‘Sport’ 252,037 96,382 117,123 465,542 660,531
End Fighting of Animals for ‘Sport’ 66,129 39,187 35,403 140,719 287,170
Win Hearts and Minds 454,095 260,001 240,047 954,143 873,101
1,437,508 561,580 672,005 2,671,093 2,896,246
Total expenditure 1,584,116 707,113 741,743 3,032,972 3,236,024
----- End of picture text -----

ANALYSIS OF SUPPORT COSTS

Governance
costs
£		 Staff
costs
£		 Offce and
admin. costs
£		 Total
2020
£		 Total
2019
£
RAISING FUNDS
Fundraisingandpublicitycosts 5,154 34,912 29,672 69,738 89,282
Costs of tradingactivities - - - - -
5,154 34,912 29,672 69,738 89,282
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
End Huntingwith Dogs 20,653 139,888 118,891 279,432 345,411
End Shootingof Animals for ‘Sport’ 8,657 58,633 49,833 117,123 212,150
End Fightingof Animals for ‘Sport’ 2,617 17,723 15,063 35,403 92,233
Win Hearts and Minds 17,742 120,171 102,134 240,047 280,422
49,669 336,415 285,921 672,005 930,216
Total expenditure 54,823 371,327 315,593 741,743 1,019,498

6. Employees

6. Employees
2020
£		 2019
£
STAFF COSTS
Wages and salaries 1,671,780 1,551,452
Social securitycosts 153,132 140,846
Otherpension costs 130,532 122,565
1,955,444 1,814,863
2020
Number		 2019
Number
THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES DURING THE YEAR WAS:
Fundraisingandpublicity 5 5
Charitable activities 43 42
Support 6 6
54 53
2020
Number		 2019
Number
THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WHOSE EMOLUMENTS EXCEEDS £60,000 IN THE YEAR WAS:
£60,001 - £70,000 2 -
£70,001 - £80,000 - -
£80,001 - £90,000 1 -
£90,001 - £100,000 - 1

During the year a total of 7 (2019: 7) staff were recognised as key management personnel. At the year end there were 7 key management personnel in post.

The total remuneration and benefits received by senior management personnel in the year was £405,894 (2019: £380,912) and pension contributions paid by the charity in respect of these employees during the year was £32,212 (2019: £29,073).

Trustees

None of the Trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any renumeration during the year (2019: Nil). One Trustee was reimbursed expenses relating to travel totalling £102 (2019: Four Trustees reimbursed £4,812).

Support costs are allocated on the basis of % of time spent in proportion to direct costs.

Governance costs includes statutory audit fees of £12,090 (2019: £11,625).

2019 expenditure is analysed in note 18.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

37

7. Group and Charity Fixed assets

----- Start of picture text -----
Office and
Freehold land Computer Motor
and buildings Equipment Vehicles Total
£ £ £ £
COST
At 1 January 2020 1,847,925 14,350 45,457 1,907,732
Additions - - - -
Disposals - - - -
At 31 December 2020 1,847,925 14,350 45,457 1,907,732
DEPRECIATION AND IMPAIRMENT
At 1 January 2020 166,435 6,278 37,206 209,919
Charge for the year 26,006 2,018 2,064 30,088
Disposals - - - -
At 31 December 2020 192,441 8,296 39,270 240,007
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 December 2020 1,655,484 6,054 6,187 1,667,725
At 31 December 2019 1,681,490 8,072 8,251 1,697,813
----- End of picture text -----

As at 31 December 2020 there were capital commitments of £7,308 (2019: £nil) not included within fixed assets.

In 2019 the League Against Cruel Sports (UK) Limited transferred all of its land and property assets to its parent entity The League Against Cruel Sports charity.

8. Financial instruments

Financial assets measured at amortised cost
Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost
Total interest income for fnancial assets
held under amortised cost		 Group
2020
£		 2019
£		 Charity
2020
£		 2019
£
2,617,505 2,631,116 2,565,653 1,437,027
126,926 124,850 126,926 122,913
27,621 14,282 24,015 10,152

For further details please refer to Accounting Policy note 1.11.

9. Stocks

Group Charity
2020 2019 2020 2019
£ £ £ £
Finishedgoods andgoods for resale 14,284 17,042 14,284 17,042

10. Debtors

Group
2020
£		 2019
£		 Charity
2020
£		 2019
£
Prepayments and accrued income 554,309 341,502 554,309 341,502
Amounts owed by groupundertakings - - 211 -
Tax recoverable 49,359 25,608 49,359 25,608
Other debtors 304 1,930 304 1,930
603,972 369,040 604,183 369,040

Debtors include £43,750 (2019: £87,500) due after one year in respect of land held in trust for the League.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

38

11. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

13. Funds

The income funds of the group and Charity include unrestricted and restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust for specific purposes:

Group
2020
£		 2019
£		 Charity
2020
£		 2019
£
Trade creditors 69,803 50,905 69,803 50,905
Accruals and deferred income 122,989 235,725 122,989 235,725
Other taxes and social security 14,836 1,715 14,836 1,715
Other creditors 2,350 1,457 2,350 1,457
209,978 289,802 209,978 289,802

12. Pension costs

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the charity to the fund. Contributions payable by the charity for the year amounted to £130,532 (2019: £122,565); as referred to in note 6.

Movements in funds

----- Start of picture text -----
Balance at 1 Balance at 31
January 2020 Income Expenditure Transfers December 2020
£ £ £ £ £
RESTRICTED FUNDS
Wentworth Sanctuary legacy 53,729 - (8,794) - 44,935
Wentworth Godalming office legacy 58,038 - - - 58,038
Greyhounds 13,000 - - - 13,000
Links Research work 11,410 - (11,410) - -
Cove Down Sanctuary 9,386 - (1,444) - 7,942
General Election 2019 (1,713) 2,061 (348) - -
Other small restricted funds - 650 (650) - -
Total Restricted funds 143,850 2,711 (22,646) - 123,915
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
Designated funds:
Programmes and fundraising growth 390,000 - - (390,000) -
General funds 3,510,752 3,250,496 (3,010,326) 390,000 4,140,922
Total Unrestricted funds 3,900,752 3,250,496 (3,010,326) - 4,140,922
Total funds 4,044,602 3,253,207 (3,032,972) - 4,264,837
----- End of picture text -----

Restricted funds

The Wentworth legacies are restricted for use on the sanctuaries property at Baronsdown and the Godalming premises respectively.

The Greyhounds project is being funded by an individual supporter to enable us to undertake special investigations work into Greyhound puppy farming.

The Links Research work relates to a donation received to fund research work linking violence to animals and human violence.

Cove Down sanctuary project is in respect of funding received from the Lister Charitable Trust for development of the sanctuary; involving habitat restoration and rewilding on a protected area of land as a sanctuary for wildlife.

We received many individual donations from members of the public in support of our General Election 2019 campaign work, to ensure the Hunting Act remained a high priorty in the general election debate.

Other small restricted funds represents funding received towards charitable activities where the individual restricted funds total under £1,000 and their associated expenditure. These activities were in respect of: Malta wild birds appeal; Dog Fighing campaign and equipment for our sanctuaries.

Designated funds

No funds have been designated at the end of 2020.

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

39

14. Analysis of net assets between funds

Unrestricted funds

General
funds
£		 Designated
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total
£
FUND BALANCES AT 31 DECEMBER 2020 ARE REPRESENTED BY:
Fixed assets 1,616,421 - 51,304 1,667,725
Current assets 2,734,479 - 72,611 2,807,090
Current liabilities (209,978) - - (209,978)
Non-current liabilities - - - -
4,140,922 - 123,915 4,264,837

15. Commitments under operating leases

At 31 December 2020 the Charity had lease payment commitments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows:

17. Investment in subsidiary

The investment of £12 represents 100% of the ordinary £10 share capital in League Against Cruel Sports (UK) Limited, the principle activity of which historically was to receive and administer legacy entitlements and manage its portfolio of land and buildings. League Against Cruel Sports (UK) Limited is a private company limited by shares registered in England and Wales.

In 2019 the Investment in subsidiary was revalued to £12 reflecting the transfer of all the fixed assets and most of the cash at bank assets from League Against Cruel Sports (UK) Limited to the parent charity.

The total income for the year ended 31 December 2020 of the League Against Cruel Sports (UK) Limited amounted to £Nil (2019:£Nil), expenditure totalled £445 (2019: £2,957). Net payments, cash and asset transfers totalling £Nil (2019: £1,538,351) have been made from League Against Cruel Sports (UK) Limited to its parent company, and registered charity, The League Against Cruel Sports which is treated as a gift aid donation.

As at 31 December 2020 League Against Cruel Sports (UK) Limited had fixed assets of £Nil (2019: £Nil) and net current assets of £51,641 (2019: £52,086). Its reserves amounted to £51,629 (2019: £52,074) with a reported deficit of £445 (2019: Deficit £42) for the year ended 31 December 2020.

Details of the Charity’s subsidiaries at 31 December 2019 are as follows:

Name of undertaking Registered
offce		 Nature of
business		 Class of
shares held		 Percentage held Percentage held
Direct Indirect
League Against Cruel Sports
(UK)Limited		 England and
Wales		 See above Ordinary £1
shares		 100.00 -
Land and buildings Land and buildings Offce equipment Offce equipment
2020
£		 2019
£
2020
£		 2019
£
PAYMENTS DUE:
Within oneyear - - 1,300 11,365
Between two and fveyears - -
3,900		 5,200
Over fveyears - -
-		 -
- -
5,200		 16,565

16. Related party transactions

There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2019: none).

Donations, memberships subscriptions, lottery plays and purchases of goods made by the Trustees in the year totalled £781 (2019: £884).

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

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18. Comparative 2019 Expenditure

----- Start of picture text -----
Direct Staff Direct Support Total
costs costs costs 2019
£ £ £ £
RAISING FUNDS
Fundraising and publicity costs 117,510 71,188 89,282 277,980
Costs of trading activities 14,101 47,697 - 61,798
131,611 118,885 89,282 339,778
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
End Hunting with Dogs 505,113 224,920 345,411 1,075,444
End Shooting of animals for sport 301,788 146,593 212,150 660,531
End Fighting of animals for sport 136,170 58,767 92,233 287,170
Win Hearts and Minds 389,640 203,039 280,422 873,101
1,332,711 633,319 930,216 2,896,246
Total expenditure 1,464,322 752,204 1,019,498 3,236,024
----- End of picture text -----

Comparative 2019 Analysis of Support costs

Governance
costs
£		 Staff
costs
£		 Offce and
admin. costs
£		 Total
2019
£
RAISING FUNDS
Fundraisingandpublicitycosts 5,338 30,698 53,246 89,282
Costs of tradingactivities - - - -
5,338 30,698 53,246 89,282
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
End Huntingwith Dogs 20,652 118,765 205,994 345,411
End Shootingof animals for sport 12,684 72,944 126,522 212,150
End Fightingof animals for sport 5,515 31,713 55,005 92,233
Win Hearts and Minds 16,767 96,420 167,235 280,422
55,618 319,842 554,756 930,216
Total expenditure 60,956 350,540 608,002 1,019,498

Support costs are allocated on the basis of % of time spent in proportion to direct costs.

19. Comparative 2019 funds

----- Start of picture text -----
Balance at 1 Balance at 31
January 2019 Income Expenditure Transfers December 2019
£ £ £ £ £
RESTRICTED FUNDS
Wentworth Sanctuary legacy 79,657 - (25,928) - 53,729
Wentworth Godalming office legacy 70,450 - (12,412) - 58,038
Links Research work 11,410 - - - 11,410
Greyhounds 13,000 - - - 13,000
Cove Down Sanctuary 9,802 - (416) - 9,386
General Election 2019 - 43,363 (45,076) - (1,713)
Baronsdown Education Centre - 5,000 (5,000) - -
Other small restricted funds 500 444 (944) - -
Total Restricted funds 184,819 48,807 (89,776) - 143,850
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
Designated funds:
Programmes and fundraising growth 800,000 - - (410,000) 390,000
General funds 3,393,423 2,853,577 (3,146,248) 410,000 3,510,752
Total Unrestricted funds 4,193,423 2,853,577 (3,146,248) - 3,900,752
Total funds 4,378,242 2,902,384 (3,236,024) - 4,044,602
----- End of picture text -----

20. Comparative 2019 Analysis of net assets between funds

Unrestricted funds

General
funds
£		 Designated
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total
£
FUND BALANCES AT 31 DECEMBER 2019 ARE REPRESENTED BY:
Fixed assets 1,637,230 - 60,583 1,697,813
Current assets 2,161,609 390,000 83,267 2,634,876
Current liabilities (288,087) - - (288,087)
Non-current liabilities - - - -
3,510,752 390,000 143,850 4,044,602

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

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THE LEAGUE AGAINST CRUEL SPORTS CORPORATE DIRECTORY

The information shown below is correct as of 1 January 2020 to 12 April 2021 the date of signing the accounts

Trustees

Tim Holmes (Chair) John Hughes (Honorary Treasurer) Alan Tapp Astrid Clifford Caroline Hawkins Ashleigh Brown (Appointed July 2020)

Senior Management Team

Chief Executive Andy Knott, MBE Deputy Chief Executive Chris Luffingham Director of Scotland Robbie Marsland Director of Marketing & Fundraising Emma Smith Director of Investigations Martin Sims Director of Finance Neal Soleil Director of HR Kelly Hack

Charity Number 1095234 Company Number 04037610 Company Secretary Andy Knott Principal and registered office New Sparling House Holloway Hill Godalming GU7 1QZ

Principal professional advisors

Auditor

Haysmacintyre LLP 10 Queen Street Place London EC4R 1AG

Bankers

The Co-Operative Bank Plc 1 Balloon Street Manchester M60 1GP

Legal Advisors Brabners LLP Horton House Exchange Flags Liverpool L2 3YL

86

League Against Cruel Sports / Annual Report 2020

League Against Cruel Sports New Sparling House Holloway Hill Godalming GU7 1QZ

01483 524 250

supportercare@league.org.uk www.league.org.uk

The League Against Cruel Sports is a registered charity in England and Wales (no. 1095234) and Scotland (no. SC045533), and is registered in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee (no. 04037610).