Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 5[th] April 2024 Period start date To Period end date 5[th] April 2025
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 |
To 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | |
| Contribution made by | 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 |
| volunteers | 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. We have individual and groups of volunteers, including those who are supported by their employers and these particularly help with larger projects such as ensuring that our grounds remain in appropriate condition for the dogs to use on a daily basis. |
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|---|---|---|
| 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 | The Charity had a good year in continuing trying circumstances. Firstly, thanks to the enormous generosity of our supporters, some kind bequests and a large, for us, donation, our income was a few thousand pounds more than our expenditure. This was so even though we were able to replace a number of dilapidated kennel fronts and beds and improve life for our residents. The stray numbers continued to be overwhelming at times but we built up some good contacts with breed rescues and were able to use them to create movement, over and above the 173 dogs that were adopted permanently during the year. Staffing has been difficult during the year with finding new employees who are resilient and able to travel a real challenge. We have, however, taken on two apprentices who are a bonus for the charity and benefitting from the amount they can learn. Once again our fundraisers have kept things going and ensured that we are never without the wherewithal to meet the dogs’ needs. They work tirelessly to spread the word and to find new and interesting ways to raise money and have clearly been incredibly successful. We changed vets at the end of 2024 and have really felt the benefit of this as they are very like minded and have a huge interest in animal welfare. They are a small independent and only 8 minutes |
from us, so our dogs are very lucky to have them on our side. This year has definitely felt like a year of building relationships with other organisations and creating a network of like minded charities and small businesses that support each other. It has been a huge help and is something we hope to carry forward.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | We have done incredibly well to place 173 dogs into homes, where they remain, and to help many get to breed rescues who are in a better position to find the homes those dogs need. This also helps those still with us by giving more time and resources for us to provide everything they need until it is their turn to be adopted. |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | Our fundraisers have spread their net wider this year and achieved more than ever. They have also been able to include some of the dogs in some activities, showcasing the fact that rescue dogs are a good choice as pets and talking about the laws around straying and permanent identification. |
| 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 | We are still nowhere near being a rich charity but we have ended the year with more money in our accounts than last year and we managed to improve some of the kennels. Considering the large increases in wage rates and utility bills it feels like we ended on a positive note. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Our deposit account has a little more in it this year compared to last and our plan, as we deal with ever rising costs, is to follow that path, whilst still meeting all of the dogs’ needs. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £14123 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | We do not feel the charity is at risk as we are slowly improving its overall financial position. We are not, however, blasé about this and continue to do everything to grow more support and a higher profile to help our fundraisers achieve everything they want. |
| 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 kennel sponsorship are our biggest sources of funds besides the rehoming donations, but bequests are growing and our online auctions are always a major success. |
| 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 | We still feel that something of the magnitude of the pandemic would be the biggest risk to the charity, although further breeds being added to the DDA list would also have a detrimental effect. |
| 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 |
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|---|---|---|
| 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
| Charity name | Appledown Rescue and Rehoming Kennels |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | Appledown Rescue |
| Registered charity number | 1116848 |
| Charity’s principal address | Appledown Kennels Harling Road Eaton Bray Bedfordshire LU6 1QY |
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 2025
INCOME Rehoming Donations 42500 Petplan 16211 Kennel Sponsors 26462 Pets Foundation (Pets at Home) 7037 Surplus from May Show 9025 Surplus from September Show 7475 Collection Pots 945 Online Auctions 21237 Donation Sites 27104 Donations 74618 Fundraising 6534 EBAY, Facebook Sales & Shop 5472 Microchipping, Nail trimming etc 1873 Interest 156 Bequests 27650 TOTAL INCOME 274299 EXPENDITURE Vets 96603 Wages 104471 Rent & rates 36374 Electric 4006 Food 6139 Cleaning & waste 2741 Bank 862 Office expenses 694 Motor 2623 Maintenance 9427 Fundraising 390 Sundries 13 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 264343 EXCESS OF INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE £9956 Bank Balance @ 05/04/24 1973 Savings Balance @ 05/04/24 12480 Cash Balance @ 05/04/24 571 15024 Bank Balance @ 04/04/25 10472 Savings Balance @ 04/04/25 14123 Cash Balance @ 04/04/25 385 24980 EXCESS OF INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE £9956
Declarations
Fe
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) ) i) Full name(s) Tuue scorn StiLzon) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Crh, eR.
Date
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