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2022-12-31-accounts

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Message from the Chair 6
Message from the CEO 8
What we do 10
Our strategic approach 12
Goal One - End hunting with dogs 16
Goal Two - End shooting of animals for sport 24
Goal Three - End fighting of animals for sport 28
Goal Four - Win the hearts and minds of a broader audience 32
2023 Priorities 40
People Reporting 42
Sustainability Statement 46
Fundraising Governance 48
Structure, Governance and Management 50
Financial Review 52
Internal Controls and Risk Management 56
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities 58
Independent auditor’s report to Members and Trustees 60
Financial Statements 64
Corporate Directory 84
Contents
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I am delighted to be able to bring you this, my first report as Chair of the League Against Cruel Sports, a charity that is needed now more than ever. In a world where man-made issues continue to dominate, it is even more vital that we don’t forget animals as they have no voice of their own. We must not accept their large-scale persecution for the entertainment of a small section of society.

In 2022, the challenges confronting us went way beyond the hunting, shooting, and other cruel sports groups, to include the cost-of-living crisis and delays in the probate system for legacies which affected so many charities. As a result, we took the necessary corrective action to readjust our budgets and refine our focus. Nevertheless, our resolve to protect animals remains undiminished.

This resolve was most evident in the actions of our loyal supporter base. I want to recognise the sacrifices many have made at a time of rising inflation. By digging deep and prioritising animals we were able to continue to deliver our aims and charitable objectives, and through our wider collaboration in the animal charity sector, help others deliver theirs too.

Coalition building and collaboration, which we do so well, has become the best way of achieving meaningful change at scale. During 2022 we worked behind the scenes to assemble what promises to be our most powerful coalition yet. Our new Time for Change Coalition Against Hunting, counting many millions of the public amongst its number, will launch officially in 2023. We are very privileged to have the trust and support of the sector who recognise that hunting is indeed the totem for cruelty to animals in the United Kingdom. Together we will work hard to see it confined to the history books over the coming months and years, and in doing so, elevate the cause of animal welfare in general.

I am looking forward to playing my part in changing the dynamic for animals in this country, as is your board, staff, and the army of volunteers and supporters that make everything we do possible. Cruel ‘sports’ have had their time – it’s now time for change! My thanks go to everyone involved in this great endevour.

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Each year seems to bring yet more challenges for the League Against Cruel Sports. Be it Covid 19 or high inflation, the business of sustaining our charity and delivering on our promises continues to test us like never before. Despite these headwinds, we have kept winning for

animals.

At times relying on our financial reserves, as detailed in our report on page 52, we transitioned to a smaller but more agile operating model necessary to thrive in the current uncertain economic environment. We are in a strong position to tackle the big-ticket issues, such as changing the law, that will bring the strongest protections for the most animals throughout the United Kingdom.

As the most recent example, our work strengthening the law on hunting in Scotland resulted in the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill passing into law in January 2023. To much acclaim both north and south of the border, we have rendered hunting in Scotland unviable. In Wales, we now provide the Secretariat to the Cross-Party Group on

Animal Welfare in the Senedd with a ban on the use of snares there expected soon. In England and Wales, we picked up another gold medal for our campaigning, with 2.3 million acres of land now permanently denied to the hunts. The United Kingdom’s shooting industry continues to be in our sights, especially caged game bird breeding and the circle of destruction that enables more birds to be shot.

Our most dangerous activity remains the interdiction of animal fighting gangs. Using our intelligence section and specialist investigators, two dozen fighting dogs were saved from a torturous life and a horrible death in 2022. This sort of work shows the League at its most courageous, and I extend our heartfelt thanks to our supporters, without which none of this would be possible.

Whilst 2023 is sure to be another challenging year for the country and charities alike, nevertheless we enter it well placed to maintain and strengthen our finances and with them, deliver some of our biggest wins yet. Our groundbreaking Time for Change Coalition Against Hunting will be front and centre of that as, together with our friends across the Sector, we seek to end hunting in England and Wales. With your support, we will do just that, and much more besides.

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Andy Knott MBE, CEO
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We know that every action brings us one step closer to ending cruel sports and our passion drives us forward. Together, with our committed supporters, we are working towards bringing about real change for animals across the UK.

As a charity we want to redefine what is acceptable and inspire change. We do this by:

Campaigning for change

We stand up for those who don’t have a voice and demand changes to legislation to protect them. Our hard-hitting campaigns inspire actions.

Educating the public and policy makers

Our high-profile work in the media and expert behindthe-scenes lobbying across the devolved nations, ensures we can create awareness of the plight our wildlife faces.

Providing our

Animal Crimewatch service

Our supporter-funded confidential service enables the public to report acts of suspected animal cruelty in the name of sport for us to investigate.

Providing intelligence to law enforcement

Our in-house intelligence team provides packages for local law enforcement about those suspected of illegal activity to bring them to justice.

Maintaining wildlife reserves

Our ten wildlife reserves provide a safe haven for animals to roam free from those who persecute them.

Working with other animal welfare charities

We work in partnership with others to raise our collective voices and inspire change, such as increasing sentences from six months to five years for those found guilty of animal welfare crimes as part of the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021.

Sharing our research and evidence

We strive to share our knowledge and highlight the plight that hunting, shooting and animal fighting has on our society and landscape.

Working with schools

Our League of Animals educational resource enables younger generations to be curious about the world around them, from our wildlife to our natural world.

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Our Strategic Approach

Our Vision

Our Working Priorities

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End hunting
with dogs
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A kinder society where persecuting animals for ‘sport’ is in the past.

End fighting of animals for ‘sport’

End shooting of animals for ‘sport’

Win the hearts and minds of a broader audience

Our Enablers

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Operations
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Infrastructure
& Support
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Our Values

We are Compassionate

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

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We are Credible
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We are law abiding, rely on evidence and have years of experience

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

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

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

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What we said we’d do this year and what we did:

We worked hard to improve the knowledge of both the police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), training 295 key staff in the Hunting Act 2004 and wildlife crime. We hope this better understanding of the law and their vigour to ensure these crimes are prosecuted, will have a long-lasting effect, and more perpetrators of wildlife crime offences will be brought to justice.

Develop stakeholder and partnership relationships

In Scotland, we developed our relationship and engagement with the Rural Affairs, Island and Natural Environment (RAINE) Committee convenor, clerks and Members of Scottish Parliament (MSP), which included giving oral evidence and participating in a roundtable discussion about the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill.

Working with the wider animal charity sector, we’ve also played a pivotal role in facilitating animal welfare protections that go beyond cruel sports, including areas such as the Kept Animals Bill, trophy hunting and poor animal welfare abroad, such as the promotion of elephant rides. We also played our part as an active member of the Wildlife and Countryside Link, having led the Wildlife Crime & Trade Sub-Committee for the majority of the year, and supported all manner of animal and environmental protections sought by this influential group. We believe in clean habitats in which wildlife can thrive as well as just survive, striving for an environment that everybody can enjoy and be proud of.

In Wales, we were delighted to be invited by a number of Members of the Senedd from across the political spectrum to provide the Secretariat to the Cross-Party Group on Animal Welfare. In this role we’re collaborating with all parties and across the full range of animal welfare charities in Wales.

We also worked with external Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), law enforcement and other third parties, developing our relationships so that more wildlife is protected. We partnered with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) on numerous occasions during the year to bring those involved in animal crime to justice.

Working at Secretary of State and Ministerial level, ours is a strong voice for all animal welfare within the sector, and this is often reciprocated in the support we receive from our friends in the sector. We assembled a wide and varied coalition of NGOs, ranging in size and charitable objectives, all brought together to campaign on a single issue – hunting. When measured by supporter base, we estimate that our Time for Change Coalition Against Hunting could be the biggest coalition campaigning on a single issue ever seen in the UK.

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Launch nationwide panel debate Enough is Enough roadshows with leading figures

Our Enough is Enough panel debates were held in Plymouth, Cheltenham, and Peterborough as part of our national Enough is Enough campaign.

The campaign launched at the tail end of 2021 in the wake of the amazing result at the National Trust AGM when it banned trail hunting on its land. The campaign was designed to harness supporter power in key locations in England and Wales.

The campaign was supported by a series of panel events, the first of which was in Plymouth in December 2021. It was a lively debate chaired by former BBC journalist and producer Sam Smith, and included Luke Pollard MP, former shadow secretary of state for the environment, who is also Plymouth MP; and Paul Netherton, former chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police who was in overall charge of the investigation into the Hankinson webinars.

These events were well received and provided a muchneeded forum for local supporters and activists to come together. New supporter groups were formed across the regions where the events took place.

The Lake District National Park Authority became the latest landowner to suspend ‘trail’ hunt licences indefinitely, which was another major landowner we’ve been lobbying for some time as part of the Enough is Enough campaign. It’s a hugely significant area with many well-known hunts resident and will likely have a devastating effect on their ability to operate.

Our online action targeted supporters asking them to call on their MPs to show their support to strengthen the Hunting Act. Last year 25,000 actions were taken by supporters to contact their MPs to ban fox hunting as part of the campaign.

Campaign for the successful implementation of a Bill that really bans fox hunting in Scotland

Almost 20 years ago, the Scottish Parliament introduced new legislation which tried to prevent registered mounted hunts using packs of hounds to chase and kill foxes in the Scottish countryside. Sadly, this legislation hasn’t been effective and has done little to stop the cruelty of hunting. Instead it’s created a series of loopholes which allow hunters to ride roughshod over the law.

We’ve worked tirelessly to secure a Bill that will really ban fox hunting in Scotland. We’re thrilled to report that the Bill has been passed and the Act should come into force in the Autumn 2023.

League staff participated in extensive meetings with government officials, Members of the Scottish Parliament and government ministers to bring this about. We gave oral evidence to the government committee scrutinising the Bill and took part in a roundtable discussion with committee members, together with representatives of the hunting community. We worked very closely with OneKind and others in assisting a number of MSPs in tabling amendments to the Bill as it went through the parliamentary process. The League was acknowledged as being the main driving force behind the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill.

We co-organised the For the Foxes march and rally to show the widespread support of residents to really ban fox hunting in Scotland. More than two hundred people attended the march and League ambassador Megan McCubbin joined our supporters too.

We’ll continue working with the Scottish Government and Nature Scotland to ensure the new Act is implemented and adequately monitored and upheld.

For the foxes of Scotland, this looks to be a very promising year indeed and we’ll focus on ensuring that any breaches of the new legislation are brought to the attention of the police and the Scottish Parliament.

Produce enhanced intelligence packages to provide to law enforcement groups and others

Our Intelligence team continued to develop and enhance information received from our supporter-funded Animal Crimewatch, which was shared with law enforcement and other NGOs.

Using our state-of-the-art technology, in-house expertise, and specialist investigators, three intelligence packages that were shared with the police and RSPCA led to successful search warrants, with arrests and multiple dogs rescued.

During 2022, we shared 376 intelligence packages with more than 50 law enforcement partners. This included 10 different NGOs and councils, and more than 40 police forces.

Support the new nationwide police working group on hunting with dogs

At the end of 2021 we were pleased to announce the creation of a new national police priority group focusing on hunting with dogs. However, while the group met at least three times, we were only invited to attend one meeting. We’re very disheartened at the lack of engagement and also upon hearing the priority delivery group has now been downgraded to a working group, indicating this area of crime won’t be a priority for the police. Unfortunately, this is typical of the approach we see across the multiple police forces we engage with and we’re working hard to rectify this.

This event was followed up by similar events in Cheltenham and Peterborough. The former is a hot spot for hunting and the latter being where the Festival of Hunting is held and where, in 2021, we successfully lobbied the council to ban hunting on its land.

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In addition to what we said we’d do, we also:

Generated more support in Gloucestershire

Launched our Ministry of Defence Campaign

Late in December 2022, we received a letter from Ben Wallace, the Secretary of State for Defence, stating that he was unilaterally terminating our long-standing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Defence (MoD), without the pre-requisite three months notice. We still aren’t sure why, as no evidence was offered to support his view that we present a security risk to the MoD, and no other details were given to support his decision. What we do know is that this sort of summary justice is not acceptable. More than 10,500 of our supporters agreed with us and emailed Ben Wallace to express their anger too.

Despite a fox hunting ban coming into force in 2005, we’ve compiled a series of eyewitness reports showing Gloucestershire to be one of the counties that’s the most affected by activity relating to suspected illegal hunting.

Our most recent report from August to October 2022 – the period when fox hunts train their hounds to kill by targeting fox cubs – showed 19 reports of suspected illegal fox cub hunting in the county. There were also 21 reports of hunts wreaking havoc in local communities, including marauding on public and private land and chasing livestock and pets.

In addition, new polling commissioned by us and conducted independently by Find Out Now and Electoral Calculus, showed that three-quarters of voters (76 per cent) in Gloucestershire back moves to strengthen hunting laws.

We’ve written to him to ask him to explain and evidence his personal actions but are yet to receive a response, as have the media, and it’s a story that’s continued well into 2023. Wildlife and Countryside Link has also asked for an explanation, and we are particularly interested to see if any fair process was used in his decision, given that no complaints against our monitoring of hunts on MoD land have ever been received.

Given the prevalence of hunting still taking place in the county, we’ve chosen the area as a major focus for campaign activity. Following on from the successful Enough is Enough event in Cheltenham, new supporter groups were established in the county. Supporters have been really engaged setting up street stalls and interacting with members of the public to inform of the hunting activities that are still taking place.

The truth is that the hunts will now be able to go about their business without the same level of scrutiny. Indeed, the MoD is the only major landowner in the UK that has banned hunt monitors rather than the hunts themselves. This is a very concerning development and one we will campaign on in 2023.

Significantly, we’ve gained the support of Dale Vince, the founder and CEO of Ecotricity, and staged a campaign event on match day at Forest Green Rovers, the football club that he owns. Initial activity has been concentrated in Stroud before moving to other locations across the county over the course of 2023.

Launched our campaign to stop cruel sports in Somerset

Together with Action Against Fox Hunting, we handed in letters to councillors and the four main party leaders at the County Hall in Taunton calling for fox and deer hunting to be banned on Somerset Council land. We also took the opportunity to speak to shoppers on the high street about our campaign. Taunton residents were also invited to sign a petition, which calls for an end to trail hunting, exempt hunting, hound exercise and hunt meets on public land in Somerset.

Somerset, as a hunting hotspot, has always been high on our areas of interest. Despite the hunting ban, in the last four years alone we have received reports of nearly 300 incidents in Somerset – marking it out as being in the top five counties in Britain affected by hunting incidents. Significantly, Somerset is also one of only two counties which see deer being hunted, with three stag hound packs based there.

Supporter groups in the region have been very keen to get involved and we held a number of street stalls throughout 2022. Activity in the county stepped up in the last couple of months of the year after it initially looked as if commitments that were made to us by county councillors were being watered down. We’re continuing to lobby Somerset Council to uphold its promises to ban hunting on its land. It’s a bit early to assess the impact of the most recent activity, but 2023 could be a hugely significant year for the campaign to ban hunting in the county.

Continued with our Parliamentary engagement

We engaged frequently with politicians on hunting, resulting in questions being raised in Parliament and our calls for the law to be strengthened and hunting ended on government land echoed in debates.

We published a briefing which was posted to every MP containing the results of new polling that we commissioned and detailed analysis of its political implications. The polling provided a breakdown on public opinion in each constituency and by party affiliation. It showed that, in every one of the constituencies in Great Britain, there is a majority in favour of strengthening the Hunting Act – irrespective of party affiliation.

We held a follow up drop-in session in parliament that proved popular and our Public Affairs team were able to speak directly to Members about the numbers and what it meant for their constituency. This resulted in further activity such as MPs pressing the government for answers about the havoc caused by hunts on the rail and road network.

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Launched our Hunt Havoc report

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Hunt Havoc: the human cost of hunting with hounds
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Over the Relevant Period, the highest number
of reports for public mental distress were in
Somerset (3) and Cornwall (3).
Number of
public mental
distress
incidents per
county
Denbighshire Somerset Lincolnshire Avon Warwickshire Powys 131111 Cornwall Berwickshire Gloucestershire Oxfordshire Cambridgeshire Devon 312112 Shropshire Essex Leicestershire Northumberland 1111
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Hunt Havoc: the human cost of hunting with hounds
#EndHunting
October 2022
Hunt Havoc:
the human cost of
hunting with hounds
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Launched our Time for Change campaign

In anticipation of the next general election, we’ve launched our Time for Change programme of activity which has one aim: to unify our anti-hunting campaigns to ensure that commitments are made at the general election by the next party in power to properly ban hunting.

The campaigns that sit underneath the programme build on the foundations our successful land denial and Enough is Enough campaigns have given us, especially in developing new and existing supporter groups in two geographical areas.

Somerset and Gloucestershire are two of the most prominent hunting counties in England (arguably the UK) and our Regional Campaign Managers have been embedded within these communities with their impact and groundwork starting to bear fruit. Early indications of the Time for Change programme activities suggest both counties will provide the opportunity for multiple wins over the next 12-18 months, but we’ll be adding new campaigns to the programme during the next year and beyond.

Furthermore, our Time for Change programme enjoys the support of a considerable proportion of the animal welfare and environmental sector, which understands the importance of really banning fox hunting in this country. With its nine exemptions and the havoc it causes to communities and other species of animals, the Hunting Act is in desperate need of strengthening and improving. Last year was spent building the Time for Change Coalition Against Hunting, and 2023 will see us working together to achieve long overdue changes to the law that will finally see a proper end to hunting with dogs in this country, including the smokescreen of trail hunting.

Exposed the cruelty of stag hunting

We secured damning footage showing the Quantock Staghounds chasing a stag for three hours before the exhausted animal was executed. First it was shot, and then it had its throat slit. At least eight hunters milled around the body, and onlookers soon gathered.

Hunting animals with dogs was outlawed by the Hunting Act, but there are exemptions which allow hunters to get around the law. One of those is hunting the animal for research or observation purposes, if the hunters only use two dogs at a time to track and chase the animal.

But those hounds can be changed continuously during a chase, and no-one has ever seen any research being published following a hunt. Deer are also not adapted to long periods of running.

The sickening killing of a stag clearly demonstrates why the government needs to strengthen the Act. Hunting with dogs is still going on in the UK despite the ban, with the hunts cynically abusing exemptions in the hunting laws.

Those who hunt these animals with dogs often try and describe it as deer management, but there’s only one reason you’d chase a stag for hours before killing it - just for the thrill. It’s time for change.

Continued our calls to ban hunting in Northern Ireland

We welcomed support from Belfast City Council for a ban on hunting wild mammals with dogs in Northern Ireland. The motion, End of Hunting for Mammals with Dogs, tabled by Councillor Peter McReynolds and seconded by Councillor Nuala McAllister, was supported with 30 for, and 18 against.

We were delighted the council has put its support on record to end the barbaric cruelty of hunting wild mammals with dogs and it shows they are far more in touch with public opinion than Stormont, which voted down a Bill to end hunting with dogs last year.

The Hunting of Wild Mammals (Northern Ireland) Bill, which was intended to prohibit hunting wild animals with dogs, prohibit trail hunting, and to prohibit terrier-work, work failed at stage two after Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) voted 38 for, and 45 against.

Sinn Fein blocked the Bill after being whipped to vote against it, and this pattern continued when Sinn Fein councillors failed to support Councillor McReynolds’ motion.

Northern Ireland is way behind its UK counterparts when it comes to legislating to end the cruelty of hunting wild mammals with dogs. Last year we had an historic opportunity to rectify this but sadly the attempt failed.

We’d like to applaud Belfast City Council, which has sent a clear message that this is an issue which is not going to go away quietly. Public support is firmly in favour of ending this cruelty and we’ll continue to campaign to end this cruel blood sport in Northern Ireland once and for all.

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What we said we’d do this year and what we did:

Work with the Welsh Government to implement manifesto commitments on the snaring and game bird breeding

Work with the REVIVE coalition and the Scottish Government, towards a licensing system of shooting estates to reduce the possibility of grouse shooting

In 2021 we secured commitments from the Labour-run government in the Senedd to ban snares. We began 2022 with a major push to accelerate the progress of the promised Agriculture (Wales) Bill and with it, the ban on snares. Throughout the first half of the year, we worked closely with policymakers in the Senedd and conducted grass roots activity across the nation and staged a series of roadshow events designed to engage the Welsh public in key areas.

Last year the Scottish Government announced a consultation on the licensing of shooting estates. Our response was to call on the Scottish Government to tackle the circle of destruction surrounding grouse moors. Vast areas of heather are burned, chemicals are spread across the moors and hundreds of thousands of foxes, stoats, weasels and crows are killed - all to ensure an overabundance of grouse that can then be shot for entertainment. And it’s not even as if there’s any great financial benefit as the grouse shooting industry contributes a tiny pittance to the Scottish economy.

We were invited to provide oral evidence to the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee in the Senedd specifically on the use and banning of snares. This is a major milestone on the passage of legislation. We are recognised as being a major driver of this specific element of the legislation and as such we were a key contributor for the committee.

Over the year we continued building our relationships and increasing engagement with government ministers and officials about the new legislation. The REVIVE coalition continues to be recognised as the major stakeholder in the national debate about shooting estates. The Scottish Government consultation of their intention to license shooting estates closed in December 2022.

As a result, it is now anticipated that new legislation banning snares will be passed in late summer/autumn 2023. This will be truly historic.

REVIVE’s draft licensing scheme has had considerable coverage in the media and was a part of the REVIVE submission as part of the consultation.

It will also add to the pressure in Westminster to finally start addressing this issue and with it the broader subject of the shooting industry. The example set in Wales featured heavily in a recent debate on snares in the House of Commons, alongside mentions of our work on the issue. Success in Wales will likely see a reaction from the shooting industry in England. This will be particularly true if we also make progress in Scotland.

We also held a Play Your Cards Right stand inside the members’ area of the Scottish Parliament which illustrated the circle of destruction surrounding grouse moors and how little this ‘industry’ contributes to the Scottish economy. We are very concerned about the environmental impacts that go hand in hand with the shooting industry, such as polluting effects of muir burn, the use of lead shot and its potential impact on the water supply and humans, and the use of medicated grit.

We also continued to raise awareness of the cruelty of game bird breeding cages, securing the backing of politicians at a reception at the Senedd and presenting our investigative findings to the Senedd’s Cross Party Group on Animal Welfare. Our activity resulted in the issue being raised in the debating chamber, with the Rural Affairs Minister acknowledging the importance of the issue and signalling that the Welsh Government will examine it further in the coming year.

We launched a campaign in partnership with REVIVE about the hundreds of thousands of animals that are killed each year so that there can be an over-abundance of grouse to shoot for support. To highlight this ‘killing to kill’ every MSP was sent a toy fox, hedgehog or badger with a label reminding them of how many animals are killed just so more grouse can be shot. As a result, we had several meetings with Scottish Government ministers and many MSPs and officials on this issue.

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In addition to what we said we’d do, we also:

Exposed the shocking world of shooting

Our team obtained damning video evidence showing dozens of dead ‘game’ birds being dumped into a mineshaft on the Dyfi Falls shooting estate in mid-Wales. The footage was captured at the Welsh beauty spot in Powys.

We reported this shocking incident to Natural Resources Wales and police amid strong concerns that the dead pheasants and partridges will contaminate water flowing into the nearby River Llyfnant and potentially pose a risk to human life.

The video was taken on a trail camera set up by the mineshaft and shows what is believed to be a shoot employee dumping at least 45 dead pheasants and partridges into the cavern, with more loaded up on his quadbike ready for disposal.

Exposed shooting on Unilever-owned land

Following a report made to our supporter-funded Animal Crimewatch, consumer goods giant Unilever ended game bird shooting on its land following our subsequent investigation.

We were contacted about a suspected game shooting site on a farmland in Bedfordshire, thought to be owned by the multinational company.

Our team visited the site and found release pens and feeders. Our intelligence team confirmed the farm was part of Unilever’s estate, and our CEO Andy Knott wrote to the company to ask it to clarify its position on commercial game bird shooting and commit to ceasing its operation on its land.

To its credit, Unilever speedily agreed and is committed to ending the so-called sport on its land. Unilever acted swiftly, and as a result many animals will now be able to live free from harm.

Exposed shooting estate shame

We obtained footage showing game birds illegally trapped and killed on the Chargot Shooting Estate, Somerset, during the closed shooting season.

Our undercover footage shows the birds being caught and killed during the closed shooting season on one of Britain’s most prestigious shooting estates. Pheasants can be seen entering a funnel cage – designed to trap birds – and a man entering the cage several hours later. He’s believed to be an employee of the Chargot Estate and is seen swinging each male bird by the neck to kill it, leaving some dead and others visibly distressed and flapping about.

On another occasion a different man and a woman are seen stuffing female birds into crates, treating them roughly and holding them by the wings. Catching up, as collecting the pheasants is known, is illegal outside of the shooting season.

We prepared a file which was passed to Avon and Somerset Police in May 2022 and, much to our disappointment, the suspects made no admissions to the allegation and no further action was taken. This is another example of the barriers we face when providing intelligence to police forces to progress to bring those guilty to justice. Another reason why it’s time for change and the law to be strengthen and enforced.

Behind the genteel façade often portrayed by the shoots and some parts of the media, there lies enormous cruelty, and the effects extend from the animals to the environment and humans. Indiscriminate trapping and snaring results in slow deaths, including pets, and their carcasses are thrown in stink pits where the stench is used to lure in yet more animals, which are then caught and killed. This poses a risk to human health, including through the water course, as does the use of lead shot. Be it the carbon dioxide emissions derived from the transportation of game bird eggs or the burning of moorland, to the noise pollution from shooting, that can also scare domestic animals, all are avoidable negative impacts of this cruel and unpopular industry.

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Aerial view of cramped pheasant pens at Bettws Hall, Wales.

What we said we’d do this year and what we did:

Manage and enhance the supporter-funded Animal Crimewatch reporting service to enable more members of the public to be aware of the service to report suspected dog fighting

Animal Crimewatch information also led to an investigation into a suspected dog fighter and supplier of fighting dogs. Our intelligence package was passed to the police who raided the location in December. The suspect was arrested and nine dogs were seized. During the raid, equipment and related material associated with dog fighting were also found. This case is currently still under investigation.

Reports into our Animal Crimewatch reporting service led to a long-term investigation over several years. The culmination was a raid by the police, accompanied by the RSPCA on a suspected dog fighter, resulting in numerous dogs and dog fighting equipment being seized. Five people have been charged with multiple offences, and if convicted at crown court, this could be the first time that the new powers of the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act, which we led the campaign for, are used. The suspects will go on trial in March 2024.

Raising awareness of Animal Crimewatch

We launched a social media campaign to raise awareness of our supporter-funded Animal Crimewatch service. It was shown to people online nearly 300,000 times, thanks to people liking and sharing it, and achieved higher than average engagement rates across all our content.

aware that their activities may be reported. Hotspot areas of the UK were chosen, and again, thanks to people liking and sharing it, it was shown more than 220,000 times, reaching a wide section of the public in our identified priority areas.

We also launched a targeted social media campaign focusing on raising awareness of cock fighting which reached 12,300 people. Many people only associate dogs with animal fighting, but this illegal activity is also sadly very popular, and we want to raise awareness so more people report suspected incidents to our Animal Crimewatch reporting service for us to investigate.

In September, we ran a Facebook advertising campaign to raise awareness of dog fighting, asking for anyone with information to report it to Animal Crimewatch. Our campaign aimed to encourage those who have witnessed dog fighting to report it and make those who are involved in dog fighting

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In addition to what we said we’d do, we also:

Worked to secure a sentence for a known dog fighter

Built powerful partnerships

Through our work with the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA), we uncovered one of the worst cases of animal cruelty inspectors had ever seen.

A gamekeeper who worked for one of Scotland’s leading grouse shooting estates was jailed after pleading guilty to animal cruelty charges. It followed his exposure for arranging animal fighting with dogs including badger baiting.

Callum Muir, 25, used his three pet dogs to fight badgers and foxes and was seen in videos encouraging his dogs to attack wild animals as they screamed in pain. He also failed to seek veterinary treatment for any of the injuries his three dogs - terrier Pip, lurcher Bella and bull lurcher Mig - sustained as a result of the fights.

Rhys Davies, who was employed at Milden Estates in Angus, was sentenced to eight months imprisonment. He was also banned from keeping or owning animals for 15 years.

He was exposed as being part of a dog fighting ring after sending 58 grotesque trophy photographs of dogs, badgers and foxes that had been the victims of organised animal fighting to be developed.

He was jailed for just six months and has been banned from owning and keeping animals indefinitely.

We would like to commend the SSPCA for such a comprehensive investigation which was critical in bringing this abuser to justice.

Again, working with the SSPCA and police, we were able to offer our expertise and support in delivering crucial intelligence which saw the imprisonment of the offender. Our Intelligence team are leading experts in their field who support other charities and NGOs to bring suspected animal offenders to justice.

Secured badger baiter footage that lead to a conviction

A badger baiter was caught by our investigators mistreating dozens of animals and convicted of animal welfare offences.

Hunt master David William Lloyd Thomas, 56, and his son Carwyn Lloyd Fazakerley, 18, both of Cwm Bowydd Farm, Blaenau Ffestiniog, were charged following our covert investigation.

Both men pleaded guilty to offences under the Animal Welfare Act in relation to the dogs, which led to the seizure of a whole pack of hunting hounds – the first time this has ever happened.

Thomas was originally sentenced to 24 weeks in prison, just two weeks more than when he was convicted of dog fighting and badger baiting in 2018. He was also given a second ban from owning dogs for 10 years, having breached his original ban handed to him when he was convicted of badger baiting.

Fazakerley was sentenced to 160 hours community service, to be served over 12 months. He also received a 10-year disqualification order from owning dogs.

Sadly, on appeal, Thomas’ sentence was reduced to 13 weeks, suspended for 12 months. Worse, the additional 10-year ban on keeping dogs was lifted despite him breaching his original ban.

Thanks to our work all the animals on his farm are now safe, but this sentence is nowhere near enough to deter those who would do harm to animals.

Worked with law enforcement agencies

Dog fighting is secretive and operates deep underground. It’s difficult and often dangerous to find information about what’s going on and who’s involved. It’s an extremely challenging and dangerous world to operate in. Our confidential supporter-funded Animal Crimewatch service is at the forefront of our work.

Last year we received 34 Animal Crimewatch reports relating to animal fighting, representing five per cent of the total information received.

Overall 32 per cent of all intelligence gathered was related to animal fighting and shared with law enforcements and NGOs.

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Launch the League Corporate Pledge

Following on from our successful lobbying of wellknown firms such as KAYAK and EasyJet, asking them to stop the use of blood sports imagery in their advertising, we’ve long aspired to having our own corporate pledge organisations can sign up to.

After the pandemic delayed our original launch, we’ve now begun to recruit businesses to join our Business Without Blood Sports pledge with a view to officially launching later in 2023.

The pledge is a way to create a community of organisations that not only refuse to use blood sports in their materials, but which also adhere to ethics around both animal welfare and the environment.

The pledge states: “We share the belief of the overwhelming majority of the British public that animals should be defended from persecution in the name of ‘sport’, and therefore we pledge to ensure we will never allow, promote or otherwise enable blood sports such as hunting, shooting or animal fighting.”

So far we’ve signed up more than 100 businesses, including energy giant Ecotricity. We have high hopes many more will join us both at our launch and within the pledge community going forward.

Sadly we weren’t immune to the economic pressure which gripped the country last year. After carefully considering the financial constraints on the general public, we decided to pause our supporter acquisition programme.

During the year we sadly lost the regular support of five per cent of our supporters who donate regularly. We know this won’t have been an easy decision, as our supporters are the most loyal and committed group of people dedicated to ending cruelty in the name of sport. For many, it would have been the choice between heating, eating and us.

We would like to thank those supporters for their gifts and the support of current donors during a very difficult time. This has also included incredible support of our cash appeals, gaming products and purchases from our Gifts Against Cruel Sports online shop.

Last year we focused on creating engaging content across all our platforms.

Our League of Animals channel produced teacher-specific content available on our online educational platform.

Our Instagram channel engagement rates increased by 130 per cent over the year as we designed more lively content to engage with a younger audience. We launched our podcast, called Leaguecast, and created a variety of engaging content aimed at a diverse audience. Collectively, Leaguecast’s social media content has reached nearly 70,000 people since its launch.

We’ve focused on bringing content creation in-house to drive down costs while also maintaining our high engagement rates. Our organic video content was well received, and thanks to being shared by influencers such as Chris Packham, Megan McCubbin and Gemma Atkinson has reached people who might not already follow our own social feeds.

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Last year we were fortunate to secure the support of a number of high-profile celebrities and influencers. Special thanks to the below for their unrivalled support during the year.

Our successful podcast, Leaguecast, hosted a wide range of topics from the difficulties in attracting diverse groups

of people into the environmental sector to politicians and barristers on how best to really ban fox hunting. Our youth ambassador, Megan McCubbin, also answered questions posed by our supporters in a very lively and engaging edition.

Top row (L-R): Vanessa Mae, Chris Packham, Megan McCubbin, Michaela Strachan

Second row (L-R): Minnie Driver, Josh Widdicombe,Gemma Atkinson, Dr Amir Khan,

Third row (L-R): Carl Bovis, Andy Parkinson, Carol Royale, Mike Dilger

Bottom row (L-R): Kate Stephenson, Indy Greene

We were an active member of the Wildlife and Countryside Link , having led the Wildlife Crime & Trade Sub-Committee for the majority of the year. We played a significant role in the production of the Annual Wildlife Crime Report which covers hunting with dogs as an area of concern. We also supported the work on a wide range of environmental issues, including its efforts to stop government plans to scrap or weaken a host of environmental regulations.

As part of our efforts advocating for racial diversity in the environment sector, we’ve taken part in the Link RACE (Racial Action on Climate Emergency) for Nature initiative and signed up to the Route Map on Ethnic Diversity, as we believe we must try harder to become more representative of our community.

At the end of the year, we launched a photography hide hire programme at our wildlife reserves, giving people the opportunity to observe and capture the beautiful wildlife that lives there. This new initiative gives people who may not have had access to our reserves the opportunity to observe wildlife in their natural environment free from persecution.

Photography hides can be booked for half or full days, to give you the opportunity to take some of the best wildlife photography you may ever capture.

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In addition to what we said we’d do, we also:

Launched the UK’s first Fox Day

Launched our Animals in Action

photography competition

We held our annual photography competition with the theme Animals in Action, which called for supporters to submit their best animal images ranging from beautiful birds, wild mammals and beloved dogs. We received 678 entries, and our image library is now full of outstanding images to share across our materials, celebrating all the animals we strive to protect through our work.

Last year we launched Fox Day, a day to celebrate everything we do to protect foxes, from campaigning, to investigating acts of cruelty, managing wildlife reserves for them to live free from persecution, and raising funds to support our work. As part of the celebrations, our CEO, Andy Knott, took on a gruelling 10km run whilst carrying a 10kg weight, feeling his lungs close to bursting just as many wild mammals do when fleeing for their lives. Andy raised an incredible £35,000 to support our work.

Our celebrity judges this year included Andy Parkinson, Carl Bovis and Michaela Strachan.

We reached more than 250,000 people across social media with 3,000 of those signing our official record to show their support for foxes across our countryside. We also secured the support of a number of high-profile influencers. Our supporters also joined in our celebration of foxes by sharing fox images and wearing orange for the day, as well as taking on fundraising challenges. The inaugural Fox Day was a great success and we’re looking forward to a bigger, bolder, brighter orange fox day in 2023.

Launched our Forever Free Campaign

Gifts in wills play a huge part in all that we achieve to protect animals at risk from hunting, shooting and animal fighting. Gifts in wills have enabled us to maintain wildlife reserves that offer safe havens for wildlife at risk. They have supported the campaigning that has achieved protection for wildlife through landmark legislation and social change. A gift in your will gives a lasting gift of freedom to animals threatened by cruel sports.

Last year 58 people kindly remembered us in their will and pledged to support our work to protect our wildlife – now and in the future. We’re extremely grateful for their lasting support.

Last year, we launched Forever Free, a campaign to highlight how gifts in wills make it possible for us to give animals a voice and enact positive, permanent change in animal welfare. We also spoke to our supporters at a legacy event in London and, for the first time, our supporters in Scotland at an event in the Falkirk Wheel.

Continued promoting our essential Animal Crimewatch service

Our supporter-funded Animal Crimewatch service continues to be a valuable source of intelligence and a vital service for members of the public to report suspected cases of illegal activity relating to cruel sports.

Over the year, contacts to our service increased by 37 per cent. Hunting with dogs remains the most common reason people contacted us with 65 per cent of all contacts relating to this barbaric cruel sport.

Shooting animals for sport accounted for 10 per cent of all calls and animal fighting five per cent. The remaining calls related to other aspects of cruel sports.

During the year we’ve increased the visibility and visits to our Animal Crimewatch webpage. During the year we saw a 500 per cent increase in traffic from the previous year.

Our information leaflets have proved to be an invaluable resource with a 93 per cent increase in visitors from 2021. You can view our leaflets HERE.

Continued protecting more animals on our wildlife reserves

Whereas elsewhere in the country we’ve seen hunts closing, amalgamating, or switching to drag hunting, on Exmoor, Dartmoor and the Quantock Hills deer hunting, fox hunting and hare hunting have continued unabated. These are also the areas where most of the League’s wildlife reserves are situated. Exmoor and Dartmoor are designated National Parks and the Quantocks is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which makes the inability of the relevant authorities to take action to enforce the law even more bewildering.

The three stag hunts have caused us the most problems during the year, with hounds chasing deer onto the reserves on numerous occasions. Hunted deer are saved from the hounds by our reserves every season, where they go to seek sanctuary. However, sometimes it’s difficult to stop hounds or hunt supporters from chasing the hunted deer off again. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does it’s both devasting and infuriating.

Despite the avian flu epidemic and outbreaks of the disease on Exmoor shoots, pheasant and partridge shooting carried on. With local shoots seemingly taking on customers from other shoots that had been forced to cancel days or to close altogether, shooting around the reserves was relentless from October onwards.

Launched our campaign to improve horse welfare

Our campaign to see higher standards for racehorse welfare stepped up a gear in 2022 after the Cheltenham Festival claimed the lives of four horses in as many days.

A month later we launched our campaign targeting the Grand National at Aintree, a race similarly notorious for horse fatalities. Ahead of the festival we released a press release to national media and renewed our urgent calls for stronger animal welfare standards as four horses died during races – two in the Grand National itself. We received national coverage, as well as huge engagement on social media, which shows us what an important issue this is to the general public.

Using a national betting company’s own Grand National branding we had our own static advert outside Aintree racecourse called Fail to Finish, though instead of promising to pay out on bets if a horse didn’t finish, our advert showed why horses might not finish their races due to injury or death.

Around 150,000 people attend the three-day Aintree Festival, and more than 6,000 people saw the picture of our advert on our social media platforms. We also relaunched a compelling film which we sent to supporters to view and share.

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Continued our campaign to ban greyhound racing in Oxford

Last year our campaign to stop greyhound racing coming back to Oxford went from the city centre and the council chamber to campaigning outside the track on its opening weekend in August.

We’ve been campaigning to stop greyhound racing in Oxford since 2018 but sadly in August racing returned to the Oxford Stadium in Blackbird Leys. Collaborating with Oxford Vegan Action, PETA and sympathetic Green and Labour councillors, we continued to campaign about the cruelty of greyhound racing on the streets, talking to local residents and supporting Oxford Vegan Action’s petition calling on the council to support leisure facilities at the stadium that don’t include greyhound racing and gambling.

The petition was heard in July in the council chamber but with no move from the council to support our calls.

On the opening weekend the coalition and supporters joined together for a protest outside the stadium. We’re now planning our next steps to spread awareness that cruel greyhound racing should be banned in the city, and the UK.

Celebrated our National Trust Campaign success

Last year we won Gold in the Chartered Institute of Public Relations’ PRide awards for our National Trust - End Hunting campaign, which won the Regional Campaign of the Year award. We also won silver in the same category for our Lifting the Smokescreen campaign, which focused on the Hunting Office webinars and ensuing trial. Our National Trust campaign also won silver in the Best NotFor-Profit category.

We were also selected as finalists in the national CIPR Excellence Awards in both the Best Integrated Campaign and Best Publication categories, for our Lifting the Smokescreen campaign and for our 2021 League Impact Report, which showcased the achievements of the League and our incredible supporters.

Amplified our voice to reach more people

In 2022 we were mentioned 1,883 times in separate media articles.

On TV and radio our name and key messages were mentioned 232 times including frequent prime-time coverage on BBC News, ITV News and Sky News.

On Boxing Day our articles in the Mirror and Guardian newspapers and websites alone had a combined audience reach of 49.8 million. Along with our inclusion in The Times, decision-makers at government level couldn’t miss our key message that it’s time for change. In fact, that message was repeated 566 times across all media both at home and abroad.

We had advertorial content in the House Magazine and Conservative Home ensuring our messages to end socalled trail hunting were put in front of those in power. We also booked a series of advertorials in Welsh media to promote our campaign to end caged breeding and snaring, again ensuring Members of the Senedd were aware of our campaign.

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End hunting with dogs

End shooting of animals for sport

End fighting of animals for sport

----- Start of picture text -----
Win the hearts and minds
of a broader audience
• Attract new Leaguecast listeners with
topical and engaging content
• Launch engaging eco-tourism at the
League Wildlife Reserves
• Raise the profile of Fox Day and our work
to protect foxes across the UK
• Attract new supporters to take our
campaigning actions
• Increase the number of supporters
donating to the League
----- End of picture text -----

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Organisational restructure

When the cost-of-living crisis started to negatively impact us, we took early action to combat rising costs and a reduction in income. This included early and transparent communication with staff so they could make informed decisions, a rigorous non-staff budget review, an invitation for hours reduction and voluntary redundancies and finally, a redundancy programme. These measures combined to reduce staff headcount from 58 to 46 as at 31 December 2022 (ultimately decreasing to 44 in early 2023), and was necessary to bring costs to a level sustainable with the reduced income and inflation.

During the staff consultation all views were carefully considered and factored into plans and despite the headcount reduction the new structure lends itself to a more agile and collaborative team approach.

The restructure process was challenging for all involved but our strong purpose and dedicated staff (the staff survey saw 100 per cent of respondents saying they would give extra effort to the League) helped maintain our focus and efforts on our animal outcomes throughout. Our staff benefits package was reviewed and can be viewed HERE.

Fair Pay

Ensuring fair remuneration for our staff is a key element of being an excellent employer and ensuring organisational success. The wider financial situation has meant we are unable to increase staff salaries at this time. However, we continue to commit to pay staff the Real Living Wage as a minimum and have been able to make a nonconsolidated payment to assist staff navigate the costof-living crisis. We have also raised staff awareness of the available benefits working at the League has to offer and external avenues for support.

----- Start of picture text -----
Pay Ratio 2020 2021 2022
Highest paid
89,279 93,451 88,778
salary (£,000)
Median
29,866 30,034 31,810
(£,000)
Ratio 2.99 3.1 2.79
----- End of picture text -----

The highest salary is showing as a reduction as the CEO took a voluntary pay decrease to assist in cost reduction. Pay figures in the above table are based on actual staff pay during the financial year.

----- Start of picture text -----
2022
90,001 – 100,000
80,001 – 90,000
70,001 – 80,000
60,001 – 70,000
50,001 – 60,000
40,001 – 50,000
30,001 – 40,000
20,001 – 30,000
female: 27 male: 19
Total 46
----- End of picture text -----

Staff numbers and salary figures are based on full time equivalent of staff salary entitlements as at 31 December 2022.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

Our staff Diversity and Inclusion Group, established in 2020 to champion EDI, seeks to improve the inclusivity of our policies and processes and encourage greater adoption of inclusive practices. Results of this work can be seen in our annual engagement survey results:

of staff feel the of staff believe the of staff feel valued and organisation treats organisation enables a able to provide input to them like a person, not culture of diversity leaders a number

Gender split 59% female / 41% male

Our gender pay gap is significantly better than benchmark and when the senior leaders are removed the gap decreases further to 1.78%

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Disability

19 per cent of our staff have declared a disability, higher than the national average of 14 per cent. Our disability pay gap, a negative percentage figure, reveals that overall employees without a declared disability have lower pay than employees that have declared a disability.

Ethnic origin

Despite the positive work internally on inclusion, we recognise that people of colour and racially or ethnically marginalised groups are underrepresented in our organisation at 6.5 per cent against a national average of 12.2 per cent.

----- Start of picture text -----
National
Pay Gap
Average 2020 2021 2022
(minus CEO)
Pay Gap
Gender 17.3% 13.84% 12.06% 9.68%
Pay Gap
Disability 17.2% 15.2% 4% -23.88%
Pay Gap
Ethnicity Pay Gap 21.7% 19.9% 6.78% -2.28%
(white ethnicities
and those
identifying as
people of colour
and racially
or ethnically
marginalised group
or mixed ethnicities)
----- End of picture text -----

Research commissioned by Wildlife and Countryside Link shows that the environment, climate, sustainability and This year we took part in the inaugural RACE (Racial Action on conservation sector is one of the least Climate Emergency) Report which aims to progress diversity in the diverse in the country. As part of our environment sector. Participation required some additional EDI efforts advocating for racial diversity in the data collection, having more complete information has resulted in environment sector we have signed up to some changes to our disability and ethnicity pay gaps. With a total Link’s Route Map on Ethnic Diversity as headcount of 46 staff, any changes to personnel can significantly we believe we must try harder to become impact the statistics . In all three cases our pay gaps have narrowed more representative of our community. (improved).

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Our focus, led by our staff Green Team, continues to be two-fold: changing our organisation behaviours to decrease the impact of our actions on the environment and protecting the natural environment at all at our wildlife reserves.

Changing Behaviours

All electricity at our premises continues to be allocated to renewable energy sources and we continue to seek energy savings across the organisation by reducing the lighting in use and by replacing life-expired light fittings with new LED systems.

Embedding our new ways of hybrid working postpandemic has also reduced energy use in our premises. Recent research has shown the energy used at home has been calculated to be less than that used in offices in terms of heating and equipment, and the additional reduction in travel emissions adds up to an overall reduction in carbon emissions. By going digital we’ve also greatly reduced both our paper (recycled) usage and our travel. We also expected our office commute to increase in 2022 as our hybrid working settled in with no enforced lockdowns, but in fact our office commute has reduced a further 67 per cent on 2021 which is a massive 90 per cent less than pre-pandemic levels. In addition to this huge decrease on staff commuting, 75 per cent of board meetings have moved from in-person to video conferencing, reducing travel significantly.

We’ve also continued to look at more sustainable travel options – promoting e-cars, relaunching a cycle to work scheme, and our investigations team in Northern Ireland and Scotland use eBikes to get around.

Managing our wildlife reserves

Recent research by University College London has revealed that the value of mature trees as carbon sinks has been greatly underestimated. On our wildlife reserves we have more than 250 acres of semi-natural ancient woodland, with many trees well over a century old, so their capacity to store carbon from the atmosphere is massive. Old permanent grassland, like that found on Baronsdown and Cove Down reserves, is also effective at capturing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it away in the soil.

In May our staff each planted an additional tree on our reserves to offset our annual carbon emissions.

The collaborative Cove Down wilding project with three neighbouring landowners stretches over 300 acres and incorporates fields, woodland, streams, and ponds that have been given back to nature to allow natural processes to take charge. The removal of cutting and grazing regimes on our reserve has seen more areas of tussocky grass form on the fields, which favours small mammals and invertebrates that in turn attract larger predators. The huge numbers of butterflies on the fields during the summer was quite extraordinary. In time, small patches of scrub will form that will provide nurseries for trees to propagate and the eventual aim is to create a patchwork of wildlife habitats across the project.

One of our neighbours has introduced a few longhorn cattle, which can roam over our land using no fence collars, to add some variety to the grazing provided by wild deer and rabbits. They also have some iron age pigs that are kept in a large enclosure where they do a good job turning over the grass. One of the ponds our neighbours have created has been taken over by a pair of beavers that soon got busy building dams and raising the water level. The pond has attracted

many other species, including otters, kingfishers and dragonflies. There are plans to introduce a breeding programme for white storks on the site in the near future.

The beavers at Cove Down have done more than create a valuable wildlife habitat. When water comes gushing down the stream that feeds the pond at times of high rainfall, it is full of sediment and pollutants from farmland upstream. The water is held back in the pond, reducing the risk of flooding downstream, and the sediment settles, so the water that seeps out through the beaver dams is cleaner. These free services provided by the beavers can save local authorities and water companies money that they would usually spend on flood prevention and water purification. We plan to replicate leaky beaver dams on Baronsdown in places where spring water cuts runnels down the hillside, using tree thinnings cut on-site.

During the summer we brought in contractors to fell trees in St Johns Wood that had been badly damaged by the storms. The work was carried out to UK forestry standards to protect biodiversity, soil, water, landscape and the historical environment. Whenever we take out blocks of trees we are compelled to plant more, and sometimes budget constraints mean that we have to replace conifers with conifers. However, our eventual goal is to replace all conifers with deciduous trees.

Once again, we were able to work with the Somerset Badger Group to vaccinate badgers on Baronsdown. It is a sad fact that badger populations have been devastated by a combination of illegal persecution by gamekeepers and farmers, and legal persecution through culling. We are a pleased that we are able to maintain a healthy badger population on the reserve.

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Our Donor Approach

We value every person with whom we come into contact. We’re committed to providing a high-quality service across all areas of the League and working in an open and accountable way. All supporters donating to us can be assured we comply with the regulatory fundraising standards.

We receive no government funding and raise funds from individuals through one-off donations, regular donations by direct debit and standing orders, payroll giving, gifts in wills and gaming such as our lotto and raffle. We also raise income through corporate partnerships and trusts and foundations. We regularly communicate with our supporters through a selection of mailings and emails, updating them on how their donations allow us to continue to protect our wildlife from the cruelty inflicted by so-called ‘sport’. We also share resources with supporters to help them understand how they can support wildlife in their local communities.

We recruited new donors during the year through online activity including direct debit payment collections. As a charity, we incur expenditure to raise income and expenditure incurred in 2022 not only resulted in income being raised in the year but will also generate future income. We worked with third party providers to use their skills and expertise that we don’t have in-house.

We strictly adhere to the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice and all relevant Chartered Institute of Fundraising rulebooks and guidance. We have safeguards in place to protect our supporters and the reputation of the League.

We’re committed to ensuring we always treat the public sensitively, fairly and respectfully, taking care to protect people who may find themselves in vulnerable circumstances. Our Supporter Services Team are fully trained to recognise potentially vulnerable people we may speak to and offer other ways in which they could support us, such as volunteering or campaigning, if they are unable to commit to a financial gift. Our approach is in line with the requirements of the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016.

Our complaints policy is published on our website and clearly outlines how an individual can make a complaint. We’re committed to dealing with all complaints constructively, impartially and effectively and will make every effort to ensure all complaints receive a complete, accurate and timely response. No complaint is ever disregarded.

During the financial year, we received three complaints relating to our fundraising activities (a very small increase from two complaints from 2021). We’re also signed up to the Fundraising Preference Service to enable individuals to opt-out from receiving fundraising communications from us. We actioned five requests from this service during the year (compared to six requests from the previous year).

Our General Data Protection Regulation Framework is robust, and our Privacy and Cookies policies are regularly updated on our website so donors are fully informed as to how, when and where we use their personal data in our work.

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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.

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 activity is to act solely as a subsidiary company for carrying out trading activities on behalf of The League Against Cruel Sports charity. The company did not trade in 2022.

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. As at December 2022 the Committee members were Dan Norris, John Hughes, Alan Tapp and Astrid Clifford.

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 monthly to discuss operations and financial performance.

Trustees are appointed by a majority of the voting members at the Annual General Meeting (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. During the year two long serving trustees resigned and we recruited three new trustees.

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. The Trustees receive regular, in house training on new policies and initiatives, and are provided with on-line resources regarding Trustee governance training/ guideline updates.

The Charitable Company has made qualifying third-party indemnity provisions for the benefit of its directors which were made during the year and remain in force at the date of this report.

Remuneration Policy

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 staff pay changes as a result of the annual staff pay review.

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-for-profit sector within the context of affordability, using external salary survey to benchmark our salaries against other similar charities.

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

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Exiting the Covid restrictions in 2021 the League was in a strong financial position, alongside huge positive achievements on our charitable aims and expansion of our resources and operations supported by growth in our fundraising programmes. Accordingly, for 2022 the Board of Trustees planned an annual expenditure budget in excess of the target income for the year in order to further invest a proportion of the League’s retained reserves into expanding our charitable activity operations; in line with Charity Commission guidelines on managing reserves.

In the first months of 2022 we saw increasing legacy and fundraised income, in excess of our targets, however global economic uncertainties largely resulting from the conflict in Ukraine manifested itself into unprecedented UK cost of living increases. This had the adverse impacts of increasing our running costs but also many of our supporters were not able to donate as generously as they had in the past. Coupled with protracted probate completions at HMRC, from mid-2022 we started to suffer a downturn in our funding as did many other charities over this period and for many charities this continues to date.

Fortunately, we had sufficient reserves to provide us with the headroom to make necessary, bold financial decisions in order to protect the stability and sustainability of the Charity. As a consequence of these financial measures regrettably we were forced to reduce the staff complement and restructure the remaining team in order to optimise our outcomes with fewer staff. Despite these major changes we have rallied around the new organisational structure and are continuing to deliver for animals, as can be read about in the Annual Report above.

As a result of the impact from these unprecedented global economic issues, we are reporting an excess of expenditure over income of £587k for the year which we have funded from our reserves. But with our new structure and strategic refocus the board has confidence in our finances to continue to support the vital charitable work of the League into the future.

Our financial stability could not be achieved without the commitment and resilience of our members and supporters, who individually have all been impacted by the cost of living crisis. These economic difficulties may be with us for some time and we value our continuing public support, and in return we will not be complacent in ensuring the League continues to be the voice for animals persecuted in the name of sport supported by robust financial management and future financial sustainability.

At the start of 2023 we are still in a relatively financially strong position and have clear, robust five year financial plans in support of our strategy, but we are mindful that the world economy will continue to be challenging, particularly for the Charity sector and the League. We take comfort knowing that we have the necessary reserves and adaptability to help us deal with any further financial challenges ahead.

Income

Total group income for the year was £2.9m, a decrease 6 percent 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 5 percent lower than last year at just under £1.6m and represented 54 percent of our total income for the year. This performance is disappointing and lower than expected. Charity sector reports continue to be optimistic about increasing supporter legacies generally, however we are aware of continuing issues around probate completions which has resulted in income delays to those charities. Our legacy data indicates that the League has been impacted by this issue; our supporter legacies pipeline remains strong but there have been increasing delays to legacy income materialising as cash. Legacy income is a significant income source and is crucial to the League in achieving its ambitions. At any time, legacies are difficult to predict in terms of the amount and timing of receipt, so we are working hard to redress this situation as best as we can.

Donations and gifts income amounted to just under £1.1m for the year, a decrease of 4 percent on last year, and represents 37 percent of our total income for the year. As mentioned above, we appreciate that our supporters will have been impacted by the economic issues but despite this so many continue to generously donate what they can, as they can see the achievements the League are still able to make even through these testing times. Our 2022 fundraising campaigns included: Forever Free legacy campaign, three major donor appeals and four themed appeals in the year: Enough is enough, Animal Crimewatch – business as usual, Andy’s appeal – In it together and A home in your heart Christmas appeal, and three issues of our Protect magazine to inform and encourage supporter action.

Income from membership fees reduced slightly to £100k as some supporters continue to move to our regular giver

supporter package. We always 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.

Other trading income was £143k, 2 percent higher than last year. This increase is from merchandise and other sales, as we continue to explore new, improved product offerings. Raffle and Lotto sales were reduced in the year as we trialled a new more environmentally conscious Lotto scheme.

Expenditure

Total resources expended in furtherance of our charitable objectives for the year was £3.5m, an increase of 11 percent on last year. Almost all of this increase was expenditure on charitable activities. Including allocated support costs, charitable activities expenditure was £3.1m, an increase of 12 percent on the previous year, and fundraising costs were £403k, an increase of 6 percent.

Expenditure on our four core charitable activities amounted to 88 percent in total with 11 percent spent on fund raising publicity and trading, and 1 percent on governance. During the year the average number of staff employed increased from 56 to 58. However, by the year end the staff complement had decreased to 46 as a result of the necessary cost cutting measures and restructure.

The League continues to exercise strict cost control supported by robust financial processes and procedures. We are always mindful to obtain the best value for money when spending every penny of our supporter donations on our charitable aims, but also to spend within the parameters of our ethical procurement policy.

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Balance Sheet

As at the year end the Group had total net assets of £3.6m; represented by fixed assets (mainly freehold land and buildings) of £1.6m, cash deposits of £1.3m, other current assets of £0.8m and current liabilities of £0.1m.

Group funds consist of £3.5m unrestricted funds (2021: £4.1m) and £0.1m of restricted funds (2021: £0.1m). At the year-end there were no designated funds by the Board of Trustees (2021: Nil). The funds are detailed in note 13 to the financial statements.

Despite the challenging year, with robust future financial plans in place, total reserves/net assets continue to provide the Group with a strong working capital base for 2023 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 policy remains in line with the Charity Commission’s advice on managing charity reserves over the current economic climate.

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 longterm financial stability.

At the financial year end the amount of free unrestricted reserves available for general purposes was £1.9m. This is more than our customary target level of reserves, but is within our target range of reserves required to provide sufficient financial stability given the current risks the League is potentially exposed to, as detailed in the Risk Management section on page 56. With the continuing economic uncertainty and sustained high inflation, the Board feels it is appropriate to maintain this relatively higher level of reserves to ensure the stability and sustainability of the Charity until the economy recovers and funding confidence returns to previous levels.

policy of holding reserves in either property or cash deposits. Cash deposits are spread over a number of authorised firms to take advantage of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and to reduce the potential risk of any losses occurring. As at the year end, 27 percent of these funds are available for instant access, and the remaining deposits have notice periods and are repayable within five months.

The policy will be reviewed by the Trustees during 2023 with due regard to our forecast cash flow requirements.

Public Benefit

The Charities Act 2011 requires that Trustees explain in their annual report how it is that their activities demonstrate the public benefit of their work within the meaning of the Act.

In charity law the advancement of animal welfare is recognised as a charitable purpose. The League’s main objective is to prevent or reduce cruelty to animals in the name of sport. Whilst the League may use a number of different means to further this objective and will strive to push at boundaries, it is careful to ensure that it remains within the remit of its charitable objectives and within the strict parameters of charity law at all times.

Examples of the League’s work are:

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

Investment Policy

With the continuing instability of the stock markets, the Trustees have agreed that stocks and shares 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

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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 very existence, credibility, and direction.

Trustees have developed an effective risk management framework for the assessment of major risks to which the Charity is exposed, that 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 experience and 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 quarterly through the Finance Risk and General (FRAG) Committee, with a subsequent update to the full Board at their quarterly meeting. The CEO also raises specific risks at his weekly call with the Chair and Honorary Treasurer.

The Charity continues to reap the benefits of strong and consistent management and governance. This was tested during the very severe challenges that the War in Ukraine and effects of the cost-of-living crisis brough to the country and the charity sector in general. Key indicators of the strength of the Charity include retention, sickness and absence rates being a fraction of the national average, with now long serving directors providing the firmest of foundations on which the Charity can operate effectively. Staff engagement also rose to record levels, showing the very high degree of trust placed in the Charity’s senior management throughout the organization.

The Charity maintains a risk register that outlines all of the risks it is facing and what actions we have in place to mitigate these risks. These mitigations vary according to the type of risk and although mitigations can be put in place, they cannot eliminate the risk completely.

The register is reviewed regularly by management and quarterly by the Board.

Our current top risks are considered to be:

1. Impact of economic uncertainty on our fundraising

income. As is widely reported in the press, global instability which has been particularly keenly felt in the UK, has introduced high levels of uncertainty in the economy. Low growth, coupled with high inflation and increases in taxation are weighing on the minds of the public and the risks to the Charity from a decline in donations remains high. This makes it difficult to predict future income with certainty and with it, the ability to plan beyond the very near term.

2. Delays to legacy income. The risks to our income are compounded by well-known delays in the granting of probate affecting the charity sector. Although the quantum of legacies remains largely unaltered, lengthy delays in releasing monies continue to impact our cash flow. HMRC have hired an additional 100 staff to alleviate matters, but it is not known how long it will be until we see an improvement in the granting of probate, and at what rate those improvements will show in our balance sheet. Until then, the previously reliable forecasts in our legacy income remain highly uncertain and affect our medium-term planning.

After over a decade 3. Inflation impact on expenses.

of low inflation, the UK is experiencing high levels of inflation which increases our purchasing costs as well as our payroll costs. If inflation is not brought under control this will put severe pressure on the real value of the money we have available to deliver our charitable objects.

4. Ability to maintain reserves. 2022 saw a decline in our financial reserves, mainly as a result of unexpected events in Ukraine and political events both at home and abroad. This followed the unexpected pandemic in 2020/2021.The world now seems to be a much more uncertain and dangerous place and unexpected events could have a significant impact on our reserves and the ability to continue operating at our current level.

5. Data security. Well publicised increases in the

incidence of hacking and other data breaches, and the significant penalties they attract, are a risk to the Charity. Included in these risks are ransomware attacks and the hacking of accounts, which threaten both the finances and the reputation of the Charity. The Charity remains committed to data protection and is fully aware of the potential impacts any breaches could have on our ability to deliver our charitable objects.

6. Reputational. The Charity operates in a friction environment where opinions are strong, and where some third parties actively seek to diminish the reputation of the Charity for their own ends. We are fully aware of these risks and we will actively seek to challenge those individuals or organisations that seek to unfairly, or unlawfully, diminish the Charity or those therein.

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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.

In so far as the Trustees are aware:

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

Dan Norris

Chair

Dated: 19 June 2023

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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 2022 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).

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

In our opinion, the financial statements:

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Trustees’ Report and the Chair’s statement. 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.

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.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

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

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of

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 strategic report and 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 58, 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.

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 noncompliance 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:

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Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

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. 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 LL P, Statutory Auditors

Dated: 27 June 2023 10 Queen Street Place

London

EC4R 1AG

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The League Against Cruel Sports

Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities including income and expenditure account for the year ended 31 December 2022

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Notes Funds £ Funds £ 2022 £ 2021 £
INCOME FROM:
Donations and legacies 2 2,722,822 16,193 2,739,015 2,940,760
Other trading activities 3 143,073 - 143,073 139,689
Investments 4 19,538 - 19,538 15,150
Total income 2,885,433 16,193 2,901,626 3,095,599
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds
Fundraising and publicity
5 310,563 112 310,675 312,889
costs
Costs of trading activities 5 92,470 - 92,470 68,480
403,033 112 403,145 381,369
Charitable activities
End Hunting with Dogs 5 1,417,366 9,158 1,426,524 1,212,257
End Shooting of Animals
5 605,390 673 606,063 412,765
for ‘Sport’
End Fighting of Animals
5 115,020 5,597 120,617 97,623
for ‘Sport’
Win Hearts and Minds 5 922,444 10,071 932,515 1,039,418
3,060,220 25,499 3,085,719 2,762,063
Total expenditure 3,463,253 25,611 3,488,864 3,143,432
Net income/(expenditure) (577,820) (9,418) (587,238) (47,833)
Fund balances at 1 January 4,107,962 109,042 4,217,004 4,264,837
Fund balances at 31 December 3,530,142 99,624 3,629,766 4,217,004
----- End of picture text -----

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 2022

----- Start of picture text -----
Notes £ 2022 £ £ 2021 £
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets 7 1,632,610 1,660,484
CURRENT ASSETS
Stocks 9 20,512 14,022
Debtors 10 460,971 945,352
Cash deposit investments 1,328,827 1,472,299
Cash at bank and in hand 293,546 252,604
2,103,856 2,684,277
LIABILITIES
Creditors: Amounts falling
11 (106,700) (127,757)
due within one year
Net current assets 1,997,156 2,556,520
Total assets less current
3,629,766 4,217,004
liabilities
Creditors: Amounts falling
due after more than one year - -
Total net assets 3,629,766 4,217,004
INCOME FUNDS
Restricted funds 13 99,624 109,042
Unrestricted funds 13
- -
Designated funds
General unrestricted funds 3,530,142 4,107,962
Total unrestricted funds 3,530,142 4,107,962
Total group funds 3,629,766 4,217,004
----- End of picture text -----

The financial statements were approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 19 June 2023 and signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees by

Dan Norris Trustee Company Registration No. 04037610

Dan Norris

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The League Against Cruel Sports

The League Against Cruel Sports

Charitable Company Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2022

----- Start of picture text -----
Notes £ 2022 £ £ 2021 £
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets 7 1,632,610 1,660,484
Investment in subsidiary 17 12 12
1,632,622 1,660,496
CURRENT ASSETS
Stocks 9 20,512 14,022
Debtors 10 461,029 945,768
Cash deposit investments 1,328,827 1,472,299
Cash at bank and in hand 242,470 200,859
2,052,838 2,632,948
----- End of picture text -----

LIABILITIES

LIABILITIES
Creditors: Amounts falling
due within one year		 11 (106,700) (127,757)
Net current assets 1,946,138 2,505,191
Total assets less current
liabilities		 3,578,760 4,165,687
Creditors: Amounts falling
due after more than one year		 - -
Total net assets 3,578,760 4,165,687
INCOME FUNDS
Restricted income funds 13 99,624 109,042
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds - -
General unrestricted funds 3,479,136 4,056,645
Total unrestricted funds 3,479,136 4,056,645
Total charity funds 3,578,760 4,165,687

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended 31 December 2022

----- Start of picture text -----
Notes £ 2022 £ £ 2021 £
CASHFLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net cash used in operating
a (122,067) (452,008)
activities
CASHFLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Interest from investments 19,538 15,150
Purchase of tangible fixed
(1) (27,073)
assets
Net cash provided by/
19,537 (11,923)
(used in) investing activities
Change in cash and cash
equivalents in the (102,530) (463,931)
reporting period
Cash and cash equivalents at
the beginning of the 1,724,903 2,188,834
reporting period
Cash and cash equivalents
at the end of the reporting b 1,622,373 1,724,903
period
----- End of picture text -----

The financial statements were approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 19 June 2023 and signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees by

Dan Norris Dan Norris Trustee Company Registration No. 04037610

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

Notes 2022 £ 2021 £
Net income/(expenditure) for
the reporting period (as per
the Statement of
Financial Activities)		 (587,238) (47,833)

ADJUSTMENTS FOR:

----- Start of picture text -----
Depreciation 7 27,875 34,314
Interest from Investments 4 (19,538) (15,150)
(Increase)/decrease in stocks (6,490) 262
(Increase)/decrease in debtors 484,381 (341,380)
Increase/(decrease) in
(21,057) (82,221)
creditors current
Net cash used in operating
(122,067) (452,008)
activities
----- End of picture text -----

b. Analysis of cash and cash equivalents

----- Start of picture text -----
2022 £ 2021 £
Deposits 1,328,827 1,472,299
Cash in hand 293,546 252,604
Total cash and cash
1,622,373 1,724,903
equivalents
----- End of picture text -----

The cash deposits are invested over a wider range of regulated financial institutions to improve the security of the cash reserves and to take advantage of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme protections. At the end of the financial year all deposits have notice periods of less than five months and are repayable within five months. The movements in net debt are all shown in the main cashflow statement.

The League Against Cruel Sports

Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022

Charity Information

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 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.

The key judgments and assumptions are legacy accrual and depreciation which 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 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.

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.

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.

The trustees believe there are no material uncertainties concerning the going concern status of the charitable group.

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.

1.5 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.

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The League Against Cruel Sports Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022

1.6 Income

All income is included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income, the amount can be measured with reasonable accuracy and its receipt is probable.

In respect of legacy income, the Charities SORP requires legacy income to be recognised when it is receivable unless it is incapable of financial measurement. The Charity mainly receives pecuniary and residuary legacies and accounts for them as receivable when (i) entitlement has been established (ii) receipt is probable and (iii) the sum involved is measurable. All three tests must be met for the League to accrue a legacy. Entitlement exists when grant of probate has been received evidencing that a gift has been left to the Charity and the executor is satisfied that the property in question will not be required to satisfy claims in the estate. Probability exists when there is grant of probate, the executor is satisfied that there are sufficient funds to pay and in the case of residuary legacies that final accounts have been agreed. Measurability is the estimate of the fair value of the income receivable based on the information available, but measured or estimated with sufficient reliability.

Donations income and membership subscriptions are recorded when received.

Grant income is accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance.

Investment income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities on a receivable basis.

Income derived from other trading activities are recognised when the goods are dispatched. Income derived from trading relates to primary purpose trading which is acceptable under charity law and exempt from taxation.

1.7 Expenditure

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and allocated between the expenditure categories of the Statement of Financial Activities (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:

2% straight line per Freehold buildings annum

10% straight line per Refurbishments annum

Plant, equipment, 25% reducing fixture and fittings balance per annum 25% reducing Motor vehicles balance per 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 are not considered to have a 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 SOFA on a straight line basis over the period of the lease. Incentives are treated as income and are credited to the SOFA 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 SOFA 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.

1.16 Debtors

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

1.17 Creditors

Creditors are recognised where the Group and 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 discounts.

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2. Donations and Legacies

Unrestricted
Funds
£		 Restricted
Funds
£		 Total
2022
£		 Total
2021
£
Legacies receivable 1,562,355 - 1,562,355 1,648,610
Donations andgifts 1,056,144 16,193 1,072,337 1,114,477
Grants receivable 4,103 - 4,103 72,459
Membershipfees 100,220 - 100,220 105,214
2,722,822 16,193 2,739,015 2,940,760

4. Investment Income

Unrestricted
Funds
£		 Restricted
Funds
£		 Total
2022
£		 Total
2021
£
Interest receivable 15,932 - 15,932 11,544
Rental income 3,606 - 3,606 3,606
19,538 - 19,538 15,150

There were no restricted funds received in 2021.

2021 income includes restricted funds of £1,386 Legacies receivable and £12,934 Donations and gifts.

At the end of the financial year, the Charity has been advised of a number of legacies which indicated the League as a beneficiary. These have not been included in the Statement of Financial Activities as the Charity’s final entitlement has not yet been established by the executors. The estimated values for these legacies amounts to approximately £1.6m (2021: £1.7m). Many of these legacies are residual legacies where the timing of receipt is uncertain.

Grants receivable relates to the Government Energy Support scheme £1,147 (2021: £nil), and other grants £2,956 (2021:£4,838). No Government Job Retention Scheme funding was claimed during the year (2021:£67,621).

3. Other Trading Activities

Unrestricted
Funds
£		 Restricted
Funds
£		 Total
2022
£		 Total
2021
£
Raffe and lotto ticket sales 76,647 - 76,647 91,896
Timber sales 7,284 - 7,284 4,856
Merchandise and other sales
of goods		 59,142 - 59,142 42,937
143,073 - 143,073 139,689
There were no restricted funds received in 2021.

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5. Expenditure

----- Start of picture text -----
Direct Staff Direct Support Total Total
costs costs costs 2022 2021
£ £ £ £ £
RAISING FUNDS
Fundraising and publicity costs 171,308 62,226 77,141 310,675 312,889
Costs of trading activities 20,557 71,913 - 92,470 68,480
191,865 134,139 77,141 403,145 381,369
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
End Hunting with Dogs 805,010 267,306 354,208 1,426,524 1,212,257
End Shooting of Animals for ‘Sport’ 332,521 123,056 150,486 606,063 412,765
End Fighting of Animals for ‘Sport’ 58,604 32,063 29,950 120,617 97,623
Win Hearts and Minds 552,879 148,091 231,545 932,515 1,039,418
1,749,014 570,516 766,189 3,085,719 2,762,063
Total expenditure 1,940,879 704,655 843,330 3,488,864 3,143,432
----- End of picture text -----

ANALYSIS OF SUPPORT COSTS

Governance
costs
£		 Staff
costs
£		 Offce and
admin. costs
£		 Total
2022
£		 Total
2021
£
RAISING FUNDS
Fundraisingandpublicitycosts 2,859 43,217 31,065 77,141 81,095
Costs of tradingactivities - - - - -
2,859 43,217 31,065 77,141 81,095
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
End Huntingwith Dogs 13,126 198,440 142,642 354,208 314,194
End Shootingof Animals for ‘Sport’ 5,576 84,308 60,602 150,486 106,981
End Fightingof Animals for ‘Sport’ 1,110 16,779 12,061 29,950 25,302
Win Hearts and Minds 8,581 129,719 93,245 231,545 269,397
28,393 429,246 308,550 766,189 715,874
Total expenditure 31,252 472,463 339,615 843,330 796,969

Support costs are allocated on the basis of % of time spent in proportion to direct costs. Governance costs includes statutory audit fees of £14,850 (2021: £12,933).

6. Employees

6. Employees
2022
£		 2021
£
STAFF COSTS
Wages and salaries 2,064,335 1,693,184
Social securitycosts 192,250 171,138
Otherpension costs 156,756 138,417
2,413,341 2,002,739
2022
Number		 2021
Number
THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES DURING THE YEAR WAS:
Fundraisingandpublicity 7 7
Charitable activities 43 43
Support 8 6
58 56
2022
Number		 2021
Number
THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WHOSE EMOLUMENTS EXCEEDS £60,000 IN THE YEAR WAS:
£60,001 - £70,000 3 2
£70,001 - £80,000 - -
£80,001 - £90,000 1 -
£90,001 - £100,000 - 1

During the year a total of 7 (2021: 7) staff were recognised as key management personnel. At the year end there were 6 key management personnel in post.

The total remuneration and benefits received by senior management personnel in the year was £446,050 (2021: £417,745) and pension contributions paid by the Charity in respect of these employees during the year was £35,342 (2021: £33,458).

Due to the UK economic problems during 2022 and the resultant impact on the League’s income and expenditure, it was necessary for the Charity to make a number of staff redundancies; payments in respect of these staff redundancies during the year totalled £105,543 (2021: £nil).

Trustees

None of the Trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any renumeration during the year (2021: £Nil). Two Trustees were reimbursed expenses relating to travel totalling £314 (2021: Three Trustees totalling £512).

Comparative 2021 expenditure is analysed in note 18.

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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 2022 1,874,998 14,350 45,457 1,934,805
Additions 1 - - 1
Disposals - - - -
At 31 December 2022 1,874,999 14,350 45,457 1,934,806
DEPRECIATION AND IMPAIRMENT
At 1 January 2022 219,155 14,350 40,816 274,321
Charge for the year 26,714 - 1,161 27,875
Disposals - - - -
At 31 December 2022 245,869 14,350 41,977 302,196
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 December 2022 1,629,130 - 3,480 1,632,610
At 31 December 2021 1,655,843 - 4,641 1,660,484
----- End of picture text -----

As at 31 December 2022 there were capital commitments of £Nil (2021: £Nil) not included within fixed assets.

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
2022
£		 2021
£		 Charity
2022
£		 2021
£
1,964,568 2,537,524 1,913,492 2,485,779
77,008 107,515 77,008 107,515
19,538 15,150 15,932 11,543

For further details please refer to Accounting Policy note 1.11.

9. Stocks

Group Charity
2022 2021 2022 2021
£ £ £ £
Finishedgoods andgoods for resale 20,512 14,022 20,512 14,022

10. Debtors

Group
2022
£		 2021
£		 Charity
2022
£		 2021
£
Prepayments and accrued income 423,775 901,221 423,775 901,221
Amounts owed by groupundertakings - - 58 416
Tax recoverable 36,495 42,869 36,495 42,869
Other debtors 701 1,262 701 1,262
460,971 945,352 461,029 945,768

Prepayments and accrued income include accruals for legacies where, in accordance with the Charities SORP, we are satisfied that we have entitlement, probability and financial measurement. Accrued legacy income incudes £43,750 (2021: £43,750) due after one year in respect of land held in trust for the League.

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11. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

Group
2022
£		 2021
£		 Charity
2022
£		 2021
£
Trade creditors 35,922 72,266 35,922 72,266
Amounts owed togroupundertakings - - - -
Accruals and deferred income 70,692 52,009 70,692 52,009
Other taxes and social security - 754 - 754
Other creditors 86 2,728 86 2,728
106,700 127,757 106,700 127,757

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 £156,756 (2021: £138,417); as referred to in note 6.

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:

Movements in funds

----- Start of picture text -----
Balance at 1 Balance at 31
January 2022 Income Expenditure Transfers December 2022
£ £ £ £ £
RESTRICTED FUNDS
Wentworth Sanctuary legacy 38,398 - - - 38,398
Wentworth Godalming office legacy 52,038 - (1,221) - 50,817
Greyhounds 10,489 - (2,660) - 7,829
Cove Down Sanctuary 1,732 15,000 (14,152) - 2,580
Other small restricted funds 6,385 1,193 (7,578) - -
Total Restricted funds 109,042 16,193 (25,611) - 99,624
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
Designated funds - - - - -
General funds 4,107,962 2,885,433 (3,463,253) - 3,530,142
Total Unrestricted funds 4,107,962 2,885,433 (3,463,253) - 3,530,142
Total funds 4,217,004 2,901,626 (3,488,864) - 3,629,766
----- 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 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.

Other restricted funds represents funding received towards charitable activities where the individual restricted funds total no greater than £5,000 and their associated expenditure, this includes a £5,000 donation towards our dog fighting work.

General unrestricted funds

The general unrestricted funds are used to support our reserves policy on page 54 and provide additional cover for unexpected risks.

No funds have been designated at the end of 2022.

General funds include the trading subsidiary League Against Cruel Sports (UK) Limited reserves of £51,006, please refer to note 17 for further information.

Comparative 2021 figures are detailed in Note 19.

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14. Analysis of net assets between funds

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 is administer the trading activites of the group. League Against Cruel Sports (UK) Limited is a private company limited by shares registered in England and Wales.

Unrestricted funds

General
funds
£		 Designated
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total
£
FUND BALANCES AT 31 DECEMBER 2022 ARE REPRESENTED BY:
Fixed assets 1,594,809 - 37,801 1,632,610
Current assets 2,042,033 - 61,823 2,103,856
Current liabilities (106,700) - - (106,700)
Non-current liabilities - - - -
3,530,142 - 99,624 3,629,766

Comparative 2021 figures are detailed in Note 20.

15. Commitments under operating leases

At 31 December 2022 the Charity had lease payment commitments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows:

The total income for the year ended 31 December 2022 of the League Against Cruel Sports (UK) Limited amounted to £Nil (2021: £Nil), expenditure totalled £311 (2021: £312). Net payments, cash and asset transfers totalling £Nil (2021: £Nil) have been made from League Against Cruel Sports (UK) Limited to its parent company, and registered charity, The League Against Cruel Sports.

As at 31 December 2022 League Against Cruel Sports (UK) Limited had fixed assets of £Nil (2021: £Nil), net current assets of £51,018 (2021: £51,329) and reserves of £51,006 (2021: £51,317). In 2022 it reported deficit of £311 (2021: Deficit £312).

Details of the Charity’s subsidiaries at 31 December 2021 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
2022
£		 2021
£
2022
£		 2021
£
PAYMENTS DUE:
Within oneyear - - 8,304 8,321
Between two and fveyears - -
8,395		 16,698
Over fveyears - -
-		 -
- -
16,699		 25,019

16. Related party transactions

There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2021: none).

Donations, memberships subscriptions, lottery plays and purchases of goods made by the Trustees in the year totalled £1,037 (2021: £769).

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18. Comparative 2021 Expenditure

19. Comparative 2021 Funds

Movement in funds

----- Start of picture text -----
Direct Staff Direct Support Total
costs costs costs 2021
£ £ £ £
RAISING FUNDS
Fundraising and publicity costs 157,664 74,130 81,095 312,889
Costs of trading activities 18,920 49,560 - 68,480
176,584 123,690 81,095 381,369
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
End Hunting with Dogs 645,665 252,398 314,194 1,212,257
End Shooting of Animals for ‘Sport’ 189,893 115,891 106,981 412,765
End Fighting of Animals for ‘Sport’ 41,303 31,018 25,302 97,623
Win Hearts and Minds 553,065 216,956 269,397 1,039,418
1,429,926 616,263 715,874 2,762,063
Total expenditure 1,606,510 739,953 796,969 3,143,432
----- End of picture text -----

Comparative 2021 Analysis of Support costs

Governance
costs
£		 Staff
costs
£		 Offce and
admin. costs
£		 Total
2021
£
RAISING FUNDS
Fundraisingandpublicitycosts 2,223 40,294 38,578 81,095
Costs of tradingactivities - - - -
2,223 40,294 38,578 81,095
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
End Huntingwith Dogs 8,612 156,116 149,466 314,194
End Shootingof Animals for ‘Sport’ 2,932 53,156 50,893 106,981
End Fightingof Animals for ‘Sport’ 693 12,572 12,037 25,302
Win Hearts and Minds 7,384 133,857 128,156 269,397
19,621 355,701 340,552 715,874
Total expenditure 21,844 395,995 379,130 796,969

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

----- Start of picture text -----
Balance at 1 Balance at 31
January 2021 Income Expenditure Transfers December 2021
£ £ £ £ £
RESTRICTED FUNDS
Wentworth Sanctuary legacy 44,935 - (6,537) - 38,398
Wentworth Godalming office legacy 58,038 - (6,000) - 52,038
Greyhounds 13,000 - (2,511) - 10,489
Cove Down Sanctuary 7,942 - (6,210) - 1,732
Dog Fighting - 8,000 (3,000) - 5,000
Silent Enemy - 4,688 (4,688) - -
Other small restricted funds - 1,622 (237) - 1,385
Total Restricted funds 123,915 14,310 (29,183) - 109,042
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
Designated funds: - - - - -
General funds 4,140,922 3,081,289 (3,114,249) - 4,107,962
Total Unrestricted funds 4,140,922 3,081,289 (3,114,249) - 4,107,962
Total funds 4,264,837 3,095,599 (3,143,432) - 4,217,004
----- End of picture text -----

20. Comparative 2021 Analysis of net assets between funds

Unrestricted funds

General
funds
£		 Designated
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total
£
FUND BALANCES AT 31 DECEMBER 2021 ARE REPRESENTED BY:
Fixed assets 1,615,615 - 44,869 1,660,484
Current assets 2,620,104 - 64,173 2,684,277
Current liabilities (127,757) - - (127,757)
Non-current liabilities - - - -
4,107,962 - 109,042 4,217,004

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The League Against Cruel Sports corporate directory

The information shown below is correct as of 1 January 2022 to 19 June 2023 the date of signing the accounts

Trustees

Dan Norris (Chair) (Appointed April 2022) John Hughes (Honorary Treasurer)

Alan Tapp

Ashleigh Brown Astrid Clifford Michelle Berry (Appointed April 2022) Viktoria Petrova (Appointed April 2022) Caroline Hawkins (Resigned May 2022) Tim Holmes (Resigned May 2022)

Senior Management Team

Chief Executive Andy Knott, MBE Deputy Chief Executive Chris Luffingham Director of Operations Emma Smith Director of Scotland and Northern Ireland Robbie Marsland Director of Finance Neal Soleil Director of People & Culture 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

Bankers

Legal Advisors

Haysmacintyre LLP 10 Queen Street Place London

EC4R 1AG

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

Marshalls Solicitors LLP 102 High Street Godalming Surrey GU7 1DS

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