Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 5[th] April 2023 Period start date To 4[th] April 2024 Period end date
Charity name: APPLEDOWN RESCUE AND REHOMING KENNELS
Charity registration number: 1116848
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | For the benefit of the public to relieve the Suffering of dogs in need of care and Attention. In particular to provide and maintain rescue kennels, daily care and medical/behavioural attention. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
T provide kennel facilities and staff so that such dogs can be offered shelter and sanctuary. To provide any medical treatment required by these dogs. To actively seek new homes for aged and infirm dogs, if safe to do so and if a god quality of life is still an expectation. To promote humane behaviour towards dogs. To give advice regarding dogs and their needs to the public. To offer free behaviour help and dog food to those who are struggling to keep their dog during this period of shortage of rescue spaces. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the commission’s public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | |
|---|---|
| Para 1.38 | |
| Policy on grant making | |
| Para 1.38 | |
| Policy on social investment | |
| including program related | |
| investment |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 |
Our volunteers are an essential part of the rescue and the Charity would not be able to function without them. We continue to add to their number and we have volunteers helping with the day to day care of the dogs, dog walking, fundraising, washing up, admin, social media, home checking and maintenance. We would never be able to cover the costs of employing people to do what they do and their presence also adds to the atmosphere and excellent people friendly reputation that we have created. |
|---|---|---|
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | 2023 – 2024 continued on from the previous year in terms of being difficult but we found a way to cope better financially and managed t almost break even. The strays just kept on coming and many of them were not the type of dog that families want to adopt. In addition we had the XLBully crisis to deal with, which got worse and worse as the year went on. We were able to home all but one of those who came to us before the legal deadline and that one we have exempted and he flew the flag in TV interviews etc. He will live happily at the rescue for life. For mush of the year we continued with a difficult staff turn over but that was balanced by the growth in volunteer numbers and the support our existing volunteers gave. Our fundraisers were incredible, particularly when we had to make the difficult decision to postpone a big event because of the heat. They immediately set to work and organised an extra online auction, which was a huge success, and rescheduled the postponed fun day. As it happens, the extra funds these difficult events raised were a true silver lining. As well as the extra income, we really felt the huge amount of warmth the people in our area and those who have adopted feel towards the rescue. We do continue to feel the pinch because of the numbers of dogs that we are dealing with but we homed 180 dogs and made sure all of the dogs who came in had their needs fully met, so we continue to keep our heads properlyabove water. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | Finding our dogs homes has continued to be very successful and we have kept our return rate low. We still feel that we are not as strong as we would like to be financially but we held our own this year and very nearly broke even, which feels much better than the previous year. The atmosphere at the rescue has also managed to stay surprisingly positive, even though the XLBully crisis has made for some verydifficult days. |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | The fundraisers have excelled themselves this year, in particular when we had to postpone our September show. They have brought some of our dog walking volunteers into the group and this has added some fresh ideas, spreading the word and getting our name known a little further afield. I think that, considering we know times are hard, we have done remarkablywell. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | N?A |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The charity did spend more than it received, but only by a small amount. Considering this was a year where costs seemed to be continuously moving upwards for everybody, we were fairly relieved to have not suffered more. We still, however, need a much stronger financial base. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Our plans to increase the reserves seem to be scuppered each year at the moment, thanks to the economy and the vast number of dogs being discarded. We continue to look for ways to build upour security. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £12480 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | The main costs we are dealing with are a direct result of the number of stray dogs arriving: the vet bills and staff costs. We did, however, do a better job this year of keeping the funds coming in and we almost matched the expenses. |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | We are confident that the charity is not at risk, but we do know that we have to continue to work hard at fund raising and watching the costs where we are able. |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | Private donations and the sponsoring of kennels continue to be our main source of income, and also our online auctions which are run by our fundraising committee. This year we also received a grant from Support Adoption for pets, which was an enormous help towards the vet bills. Having a large proportion of the dogs’ food donated saves a lot of money over the course of the year and is very gratefully received by us. |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | N/A |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | The principal risks to the charity would be something like another pandemic that made fundraising untenable or too many more years of endless numbers of dogs, many of whom are in need of a lot of veterinary or behavioural work. |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed,royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association,CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Trust |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Appointed by existing trustees |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charityname | Appledown Rescue and RehomingKennels |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | Appledown Rescue |
| Registered charity number | 1116848 |
| Charity’s principal address | Appledown Kennels Harling Road Eaton Bray Bedfordshire LU6 1Q& |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julie Shelton | Chair | |||
| Laura Shelton | Secretary | |||
| MarySmallwood | Treasurer | |||
| Edward Smallwood | ||||
Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR APPLEDOWN RESCUE AND REHOMING KENNELS YEAR ENDED 4[TH] APRIL 2024
INCOME Rehoming Donations 39875 Petplan 13931 Kennel Sponsors 18370 Support Adoption for Pets 17751 Surplus from May Show 8319 Surplus from October Show 6898 Collection Pots 692 Online Auctions 29970 Donation Sites 9015 Donations 61238 Fundraising 3942 EBAY & Facebook Sales 4925 Interest 115 Bequests 8441 TOTAL INCOME 223482 EXPENDITURE Vets 88095 Wages 86436 Rent 24420 Electric 3174 Food 10644 Cleaning 3901 Bank 845 Stationery 744 Motor 2625 Maintenance 2566 Fundraising 850 Sundries 218 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 224518 EXCESS OF EXPENDITURE OVER INCOME £1036 Bank Balance @ 05/04/22 1989 Savings Balance @ 05/04/22 13481 Cash Balance @ 05/04/22 590 16060 Bank Balance @ 04/04/23 1973 Savings Balance @ 04/04/23 12480 Cash Balance @ 04/04/23 571 15024 EXCESS OF EXPENDITURE OVER INCOME £1036
Declarations The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg SeCtsry, Chair, etc) UIL NJ SrféLT Date 13/-,/ 25