Report of the Directors and
Financial Statements
For the period 1[st] April 2020 to 31[st] March 2021
For
DOGS IN NEED
Charity number 1098870 Company number 4678335
Dogs in Need
Report of the Directors for the year ended 31[st] March 2021
The Directors present their report and examined financial statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2021
Reference and Administrative information
Charity Name: Dogs in Need Charity Registration number: 1098870 Company Registration number: 4678335 Registered Office: PO Box 648 Gateway House Tolgate Chandlers Ford Eastleigh Hants SO50 0ND Operational Address: Chelston Guildford Road Chobham Surrey GU24 8EA
Directors:
Mr M. H. Mallinson Chairman Mrs A. Mallinson Executive Trustee Mr N.E.H. Coode Mr B.J. Franklin Mr R Powles Mrs M B Russell
Secretary
Mr N. A. Colwell
Accountant
N. A. Colwell & Co, Keyham, Beech Lane, Normandy, Guildford, Surrey GU3 2JH
Banker
National Westminster Bank Plc, 9 High Street, Cobham, Surrey KT11 3DJ
Investment Adviser
Premier Wealth Planning, Corinthian House, 17 Lansdowne Road, Croydon, CR0 2BX
Solicitors
Moore Barlow, Concord House, 165 Church Street East, Woking, Surrey GU21 6HJ
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Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Documents
Dogs in Need is a company limited by guarantee operating under a Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 26[th] February 2003. In the event of the company’s being wound up, members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 towards any deficit. The Company was also registered as a Charity on 5[th] August 2003.
Directors/Trustees
The directors of the Company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company one third of the directors must retire each year but are eligible for re-election.
Under these provisions, Mrs A Mallinson and Mr B Franklin retire by rotation and, being eligible, offer themselves for reelection.
Although the board of directors is small, care is taken to ensure that, amongst the directors, the necessary skills to manage both the corporate and operational affairs of the Company are present.
Risk Management
The Directors keep under constant review the risks that might threaten the Company. These primarily reside around our ability to find suitable kennelling for dogs in our care, the management of health issues arising from dogs that come to us from insecure surroundings, and behavioural risks from dogs in our care. We use commercial kennels, Heathrow Kennels, Horton. We are satisfied that the owners and staff of these kennels share our values and will care properly for dogs placed with them. Some dogs, however, go into foster homes. In such cases we transfer ownership temporarily to the foster-carer so that they assume responsibility. We have management practices designed to control the risks involved backed up by Third Party insurance.
Our funds are held in accounts with National Westminster Bank. Our investments are managed by Brewin Dolphin with a ‘low risk’ remit.
Organisational Structure
The day-to-day activities of the Company are largely managed by the Executive Trustee. The Board has agreed, and keeps under review, Operational Guidelines within which she works. All the Directors play some part in the operational activities of the Company and therefore, as well as formal board meetings, there is an ongoing routine of mutual consultation.
Objectives
The Company’s objects are to:
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provide care and protection for dogs or animals in need,
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find suitable homes for unwanted animals,
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assist financially owners unable to afford proper care for their animals,
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prevent unwanted breeding of animals,
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advance public education in the care of animals.
Although the Company may work with all animals, the present principal activity of the Company is to provide care and protection for dogs no longer required by their owners, and to find suitable homes for such dogs.
Public Benefit
The Charity Commission requires that all charities should maintain and publish a Statement of Public Benefit that demonstrates that charity status is merited. The Board considers that Dogs in Need delivers public benefit in at least five respects:
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It enables people who can no longer keep their dogs to place them in secure surroundings in which the dogs will be properly cared for, and from which they will be found a suitable new home.
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It cares for dogs which might otherwise have to be destroyed, ensuring that they receive the correct veterinary attention.
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It finds homes for unwanted dogs that meet proper standards of security and that will provide good standards of ongoing care.
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In carefully selected cases, it provides financial support for major veterinary treatment which an owner could not otherwise afford.
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Being a small charity, it is able to be flexible in its homing rules, making dogs available to people, particularly elderly people, who would not meet the requirements of other organisations, thus bringing to them the benefits of animal ownership.
Activities
Whilst we advertise our presence and the services we offer on the internet and Facebook, we now obtain almost all our dogs from Mo Chara: an Irish Charity. They operate in a manner very similar to Dogs in Need. In particular they take many dogs from overflowing local Pounds. Our arrangement with them is that they will carry out all necessary medical treatment, including spaying of bitches, for which they make no charge. They either kennel the dogs through the quarantine period for which they make a charge of 200 euros per dog, or they pass the dogs to Cappamurragh Kennels who make a concessionary charge of 8 euros per day. We also take some dogs direct from Cappamurragh. They arrange for necessary veterinary treatment at our expense and kennel the dogs through the quarantine period. The dogs are then brought to England either by a transporter who charges £75 per dog. This arrangement enables us to match dogs more closely to those for which we have homes, meaning that they spend little or no time in kennels in the UK.
Homes are found by our website, advertisement and through general networking.
Due to our strict policy of pre-homing visits, the Company operates almost entirely in the counties south and west of London. On occasion, special arrangements will allow us to home outside this area.
During the year under review, we homed around 87 dogs. The overwhelming majority of these came from Ireland. Because of the time they have to spend in kennels in Ireland, it is quite usual that we shall have a home waiting for them when they arrive. Where this does not happen, we use Heathrow Kennels. The ladies there offer us concessionary rates. With dogs from England, we do our best to move them directly from their old to their new home; where that is not possible, we use Heathrow Kennels or foster homes. Generally, the dogs from Ireland will be in good condition, having been cared for by Mo Chara.
We do not have a ‘no destruction’ policy; we only put dogs down if their behaviour is threatening to humans, thus making them impossible to home responsibly. If they are not already neutered, it is our policy to neuter all bitches or to secure their neutering as a condition of the transfer to their new owner. We do not insist on the neutering of dogs save for behavioural or health reasons. Some dogs do come with serious problems. Our policy is to procure whatever treatment they need and we have been able to fulfil this, without exception.
Beyond this, we commonly give advice to owners who have problems with their dogs and are thinking of re-homing them, thus enabling them to keep them. We also direct some owners towards breed specialists; we do this particularly where the dog is of a breed that experience tells us we would have difficulty in re-homing.
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The Company runs a strong policy of co-operation with others operating in the same line. We pass on names of those willing to give homes to dogs to other Groups, and we seek homes for dogs held by other Groups. In this way we build up a network of contacts that enhances the prospects of each dog. The only restriction to this networking is that we only work with those who follow a policy on the suitability of new homes that reflects our own, especially on issues of garden security and on dogs not being left on their own for extended periods. Nevertheless, by this route a considerable number of other dogs will have benefited from our efforts.
Finance
The Company’s Accounts show a profit for the year of £43,312. This very favourable outcome derives from a bequest of £23,000 and from a strong rebound in the value of our investments as markets have recovered from their covid doldrums. If those are stripped out, there was an operating deficit of £6,751. This is in line with our policy.
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Responsibilities of the Directors
Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year that give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the Company at the balance sheet date, and of its incoming resources and expenditure. In preparing these financial statements, the Directors should follow best practice and:
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select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently,
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent and
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prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is appropriate to consider that the Company will not continue on that basis.
The Board is responsible for maintaining proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Acts. The Directors are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company, and thus for taking reasonable steps for the prevention of fraud and other irregularities.
Volunteers and support
The Company is a charitable enterprise and, whilst we necessarily make payments to kennels and vets, all these offer us discounted rates. The Company refunds expenses to its Trustees and volunteers if requested but has no paid employees. It achieves its objectives by virtue of the freely-given efforts of a large number of volunteers who check homes, make follow-up visits, provide foster care and perform the thousand and one services that are necessary for our work. We are particularly grateful to Debbie Spear who liaises with our Irish contacts, but more than that: she is in constant contact with Sandy on the day-to-day affairs of the Charity, and together they make a great team. Her son, Sam, offers great help in many ways: transporting dogs for example. We are also very dependent upon the kennels already mentioned. As well as favourable terms, they give us sympathetic support that addresses the individual needs of the dogs in their care. The reputation of Dogs in Need derives from all these people, and they do us proud; the Board is grateful to each and every one.
On behalf of the Trustees
M H Mallinson…………………………………………………………………
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DOGS IN NEED
Statement of Financial Activities including Income & Expenditure Account
for the year ended 31st March 2020
| Incoming Resources Adoption and release fees Bequest Sundry donations Investment Income Bank refund Total Incoming Resources Resources Expended Caring for animals Volunteer expenses Administrative expenses Bank charges Sundry Total Resources Expended Other recognised movements Profit/(loss) on revaluation of investments Net Movement in Funds Reconciliation of Funds Total funds brought forward Total Funds carried forward |
2020/21 £ 14,645 23,809 4,285 2.183 1,026 |
2019/20 £ 14,504 - 4,116 2,965 - |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 45,942 | 21,585 |
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| 21,005 7,215 1,020 77 376 |
26,466 5,497 1,512 147 276 33,898 (17,905) (30,218) __ _141,400 111,182 |
||
| 29,693 | |||
| 27,063 | |||
| 43,312 | |||
| 141,400 154,494 |
This statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses in the year. All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities
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DOGS IN NEED
Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2021
| Fixed Assets Current Assets Cash at Bank & in hand Investments Debtors Current Liabilities Creditors falling due within 1 year Net Current Assets Net Assets and Total Funds |
2020/21 £ Nil 26,070 129,084 193 |
2019/2020 £ Nil 8,977 102,021 1,813 112,811 1,629 111,182 111,182 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 155,347 | |||||
| _ | 853 ___ 154,494 154,494 |
These Accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions in part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to smaller companies and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards for smaller companies
For the year ending 31[st] March 2021 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006
The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts
Approved by the Trustees on 2021
and signed on their behalf by: M. H. Mallinson Chairman
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Notes to the Financial Statements For the year 1[st] April 2020 to 31[st] March 2021
1. Accounting policies
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The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective March 2000) and the Statement of Recommended Practice for Accounting and Reporting by charities issued in March 2005.
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All income is included in the Financial Statements when the Company is entitled to the income and the amount can be identified with reasonable accuracy.
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Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT that cannot be fully recovered, and this is reported as part of the expenditure.
2. Taxation
No liability to UK corporation tax arose on ordinary activities for the period 1[st] April 2020 to 31[st] March 2021.
3. Director’s Remuneration & Related Party Transactions
No directors received any remuneration during the year. The Company meets the telephone costs of Mr and Mrs Mallinson amounting to £443 (2019/20 £448); this line is referred to on our website.
The Company’s Secretary acts as Examiner of the Accounts for which he makes a small professional charge - £75 (2019/20 £75).
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DOGS IN NEED
Examiner’s Report
I have examined the books, vouchers and other relevant documents of Dogs in Need produced to me, and I confirm that the Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet set out on the preceding pages are in accordance with such information.
N A Colwell
N A Colwell & Co Keyham, Beech Lane, Normandy, Guildford, Surrey GU3 2JH
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