COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER 05926205 REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1117372 btw IIDURHAM DOGS&CATS HOME STRAY AID TRADING AS DURHAM DOGS AND CATS HOME LTD (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 31ST MARCH 2025 BELL TINDLE WILLIAMSON LLP Chartcred Accountants and Re￿stered Auditors The Old Post Office 63 Saville Street North Shields Tyne & Wear NEJO IAY STIUY AID TRADING AS DURHAM DOGS AND CATS Ho￿lE LTD A CONIPANY LIINIITED BY GUARANTEE FOR THE YEAR EINDED 31ST NI IARCH 20?5 CONTENTS Report of tlie Tnistees Independent Exa]niner's Report to the Trustees io Sialement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet 12 Notes lo the Financial Sialen]ents Thefollowingpage5 do noiform payt of thefinatteial slatein¥ntS Detailed Analysis of Incotne and Expenditure Page I STRAY AID TRADING AS DURHAM DOGS AND CATS HOME LTD A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUAIL4NTEE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST IMARCH 2025 The Iruslees are pleased to present their a]lliLEal direLtors' report together with the tinancial statement% of rhe Lharity For the year endinu 31 %1 Nlarch ?0?5 ￿,￿ich are al%0 prepared lo meet Ibe requiremenis for a direciors, report and financial $taleinen15 lor Conipanies Act purposes. The financial slalemenls Cotnply with the Charities Act 201 I, the Companies Act ?006, the Memorandum and ArtiLles of Association. and the charities Statement of Reconunended Practice (applicable io charities preparing their finaiicial stateillents in aLcordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable ill the UK aiid Republic of Ireland: FRS I O?) issued in Ociober ?019. ForeTrvord This haq been another very challenging year for Att[￿￿1 Welfare, with more animals being relinquished and animal resLue Lentres al full bapacily. Sadly thi% bas led lo moTe animals bein(r deliberately abandoned, n]any with medical and behak'ioural problems. The number of people looking lo open their homes lo rescue animals has also dropped, as people face continued pressure on their Finances and lime. Our dedicated team are working barder than ever lo try and oet dogs out of kennels and inio neiv homes. The board of trustee4 remain extremely grateful to the many SLLPPOrters whose donations help the charity to continue it's vital work, offering a lit"eline to hundreds of animals in need across the North East of England. Our Pur oses and Activities Piirpose The objects of the charity are for the benefit of the public lo provide and maitltain rescue homes or other facilities for the reception, care and treatment of stray and abandoned dogs aiid unwanted cats in need of Lare and attention. Siray Aid Trading as Durhajn Dogs and Cats Home Lid also promotes hunmne behaviour towards animals by providing appropriaie care. proteLlion, treatment and security For anrmalb wbich are in need of care and attention by reason ol sicknes%, mal treatn]ent, poor circumstances or ill usaoe. It also educates the public in matters pertaining lo animal weltare in general ttnd in the prevention of crnelty and suffering among animals. The charity also actively 5eek8 lo reduce the number of strav dogs pul to ileep by re-homing them. This is achieved by taking care of the dogs welfare by provkdin(J a secure and >afe entrironmenl until such times a5 they can be re-bomed. Eiisiiring Oiir Work Delivers Oiir Aipns We review our aims: objectives and activities each year. This review looks at what we have achieved and the outCOTnes of our work in the preTr'ious l ? Enonibs. The review looks at the success of each key activity and the benefits that they have brought lo Ih05e tsroups of people we are set up to help. The review al80 helps us lo ensure Ibal OLir aims, objectives and activities have remained focused on our slated purpose%. We have ￿et"e￿ed lo guidance contained in Ihe Charity's Commission's (reneral guidance on public benetil when reviewing our aims and objectives and in plaiining our tuture activities. In particular. the trustees consider how planned aLtivilies will contribute to Ibe aims and Objecti￿eS the! have set. Page ? STIL4Y AID TRADING AS DURHAM DOGS AND CATS HOME L'fD A COINIPANY LINIITED BY GUAtL4NTEE REPORT ofi THE TRUSTEII S FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST INIARCH 202) Our Pur oses and ALtivities (É'tsiEiinitedJ Tlie Focus of oiir Ivork Our main objectives tor the year continued to be the promotion of the safety and welfare of animals. The slr&legies uscd to meet these objectives included.. Rescuing and re-hominu a substantial number of cats and stray dogs. Pron]oting the issues and problem% concerning cats and 4tray dogs and holding events to make the public aware of these issues. Micro chipping doos in the County Durham Area, to provide a profile of these dogs. Holding a nuniber of fiindraising activities throughout the year to raise much needed fund5. to provide high standard facilities for the rescued animals. Running charity shops and selling donated goods to members of the public to raise additional tunds for the charity. Usinil social media, including Facebook. X, Instagrarn and Tik Tok lo raise the profile of the charity. How Our Activities Deliver Publie Benefit Our main activities and who we try lo help are described below. All our charitable objectives focus on lielping animals in need. Itho Used und Benefiftedfyom Our Services. There are many people and animals during tbe last year who have benefitted from the services offered by the charity. A lai'(Fe nuniber of anitnal% were either successfiLlly re-united with their owners or were rescued and successfully re-homed wilh other Families. hilsl staying al the rescue centre, all animals are extremely well looked after. livkng in modem Facilities and receiving all of the medical treatment that they require. For more information aboui the service% offered by the charity or for details on tbe stray animals cutrenily ai the re%cue centre then please visit the charitys website al www.strayaid.or(F uk. Achievements and Pertormance The charity continues to tirow and is pleased with the progress il has made during a year that has seen the UK in continued Financial and political uncertainty. Stray Aid Trading as DurhaLn Dogs and Cat5 Hotne Ltd never forgeis how fortunate we are lo have such loyal and generous supporters who continue to donate and raise fund5 for the cbarity. At a lime when a lot of charities are having lo make significant cuts to their services, and rnany are not able lo continue. As the North East Dogs & Cats Home, we are proud to have rehottled 350 dogs and io cats this year. This year we have continued to Jnake improvements to our facilities as we strive to continually Improve the care and aLcommodation we offer our animals. We are extremely pleased with our new veterinary suite, which was mainly funded by a Eenerous uranl from The Petplan Charitable Trust. The new suite provides a bright and airy veterinary spaLe where our animals Lan receive health checks, neuiering, dentals and more. Imany of the anitnals we receive arrive in need OF veterinary attention. and ihe ability 10 exatnine and rreal animalb on site is invaluable and reduces the need to travel lo off-site vets, which many dogs and especially cats find extremely 5tresstul. Page 3 STRAY AID TIL4DING AS DURHAM DOGS AND CATS HOME LTD A cO￿1PANy LIIIIITED BY GUARALNTEE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST NIARCH 2025 Achievements and PerforniAllce (cukilirt14ed) Our vets hawe been kept busy pro￿.[ding essential treatment tor ￿0￿e very distressing cases. Thcse are often the result of conditions which have been left untreated and have developed into conditions whicli now require much niore iii depth and someliines invasive Irealmelll. This has been exasperated by the cost of living crisis, which has resulted in people not seeking veteriiiary treatment al an early Stage. Our veterinary team work haid 10 ensure that all animals in our care receive tlie treatment they need. Community Fuiidraisinu has remained dityiculi in ali ever ehanuing landscape and a largely cashless society. Whllst income generation is challenging, our team have still managed to connect witli the local community ai a number ot Fundrai4ing events across the region. We had our third Great North Run Team this year, willi 35 runners raising over £14,000 for the charity. We remain very grateful lo Pedigree for their generous support, ￿'hICh help5 to provide ineals for tlie dog% in our care. Our partiiership w'ith Pets at Home Hartlepool and Coulby Newham have also lielped to bring in miich needed donations as well an opportunity lo coniiecl with animal lovers and pel owners to promote allimals looking tor homes. ab well as discussing the work the clwity does. Our digital fundraising is (Yrowing and is profv'iding a vital income as well as helping us lo reach a new generation of supporters. Building regular donations 15 a vital source of income, especially iii these cballenging lin)es where financial pre%sures are h1￿h. Our fErst onliiie Christmas Raffle proved a big success and we would like to thank all the businesses and supporters who donated prizes and bought IiLkets. Our dog friendly charity shops aiid online Vinted store continue lo provide a valuable %ource ol" income generation and we opened oiir new supersize uharity shop in Che%ter le Street in September. The shop was wannly welcomed and has beconie a popular place for sboppers Éll the town. We are extremely lucky to have such a fanta4tie and dedicated team OF volunteers who give their titne lo help the charity. We could noi operate our shopg withoui them and we are extremely appreciative of all they do lo help. The shops rilso provide a link lo our local communities and belp lo connect the cliarily with a diverse audience. We are also proud io interact with schools and childrell's groups lo educate the younger tseneration around caring for and respectit]g animals. We hope that with education, we are making a small contribution towards reducing animal cruelly and neglect in the tuture. Financial Re￿e The cbarity reports a surplus for the year ot £??7,906. Principal Fiiii£ling Soiirces One of the main Sources of income for the charity was donaliolls and legacies. The trustees would like lo that￿ everyone wbo has made personal donations and legacies towards the operating costs of the charity. The appeals tnade lo people throupecification, larger kennels. The new kennels will allow us lo safely acconunodate dogs of all sizes, whilst ensuring their welfare ind living conditions are of a good standard. The mental wellbeing of our animals is as important as tbeir pbysical wellbeing and we are alway8 looking al ways to make their tin]e in our care as stimulating and eiuicbing as possible. Our team are looking ai new ways to introduce kennel enrichment and outdoor exerci4e for our dogs and we are slowly building our team of volunteers to belp $ocialise our rehoming dogs. Page 5 STIL4Y AID TIL4DING AS DURHAM DOGS AND CATS llO￿lE LTD A cO￿1PANy LIfvIITED BY GUAIL4NTEE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST ￿lARCH 2025 Plans for Future Periods (COllflPRiied) Our rehominx teain will continue lo develop ways of promotiiig dogs needing honies as well aq developiniT tlie rehoming proces% lo make it as acLes5ible for people a% possible. Becoming rnore proactive in trying lo match dogs to the right hoiDes whilst Irealing people aiid dogs as individuals. We look to continue growing ihe size of our Great North Run Team a inajor ￿ndraiser aiid encourage supporters of all abilities to lake parl and raÉ.4e vital life saving tunds for the animals. We introduLed our fLrst sponsored dog walk this year which was very warmly recieved and well attended, we look fonvard lo hosting more dog walks throughout the year. Corporate voliinleeTS have a lot to offer and we are excited to be welcoming teams of volunteers from a variety of ortrani4ations 10 help with ta%k5 ai both the rehoming centre and our charity .shops. Tlie tyharity will contiiiue lo provide a temporary place of safety tor doos and cats in need. offering then] the Care and compassion they deseTr'e until we can find them loving forever homes, as we strive lo create rewllrding futures tor dogs and eiils in the North E25t of England. Volunteers and Other Tliank5 The trusteeg wish to thank the bharity's dedicated staly members and volunteer5 for their hard work and dedication over this and previous years, who truly conttibute greatly lo the work ot the charity. 'e reniain indebted to oroanisalions who have awarded us orants and bope that the successful way we have utilised these monie% will encourage Ihese Iu"nders to continue with their support. Reference and AdmiIiistrative Details Charity Naine.. Stray Aid Trading as Durhatn Dogs and Cats Hotne Ltd Chai'ity Regis(rution Niiiptbei.: 1117372 Coiiipany R¥gistration Iviiinber.. 059?6?05 RLpoFiSteYvil Offii'e ulld Opevalionul,4ddre.fs.' Durham Doir's & Cats Home Coxhoe Durham DH6 4EL Buitkeys '. Lloyds TSB Skinneruate Branch Darlitltslon County Durharll DL3 7Tr Iiidependent E.rumirter.' E. J. Hartshorne-Ferouson BA FCA Bell Tindle Williamson LLP The Old Post Office 63 Saville Strcet North Shields Tyne and Wear NE30 IAY Page 6 STRAY AID TRADING AS DURHAM DOGS AND CATS HOME LTD A CO￿IPA￿l Y LI￿IlTED BY GU.￿lL&￿TEE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST ￿IARCH 20?5 Reference aiid Administrative Detai15 (coiitiiitsed) Directors and Truslees.. The directors of the charitable company (the cbarity) are its Iruslees for the purpose of charity law and throughout this report and the financial statements are collectively reterred to as the trustees. The trustees who >erved dunno the year were tollows.. Resi ElgLted TrzisÈ##s.' Mrs S. Bielby liss S. Voul D. A. Clarke Cllr J. Blakey M. Owens Mrs A. R. Dickson 04.06 ?4 Structure Governance tsnd INIaiia etnent Governing Dociiiiient Stray Aid Trading as Durham Doos and Cats Home Ltd is a registered charity (regi8tered number l117372} and a conipany liniited by tsuarantee established under a ￿[emorandUrn of Association which states the objects and powers of Ibe charitable CO￿pany. It is governed under its Articles of Association dated 6d] September 2006. In the event of ihe charitable company being wound up, Ibe trustees would be required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 O. Appointment of Trustees The directors ot the con]pany are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law. Under the requirements of the Memoranduln and Articles of Association, one-lhird of trustees rnusl retire by rotÉltiun. The trustees to retire by rotation shall be Ihose who have been lunge5t in ofFice since their la%t {re) appoinlmeni. If the vacancy ot the retirin(r trustee cannot be tilled by another candidace then ihty can be reappointed in their origiiial role. Trnslees are voted onto the com]nitiee at the Annual General fvleeting. They can also be co-opted onto the con]mirtee by Ihe Board itself between Annual General Imeetings. All of the Iruslees give their lime voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Trustgv Svl#etion Trusiees are not actively bouohi as Stray Aid Trading as Durham Do(rs and Cats Home Ltd 15 content with the nuinber of Trustees it has. Should a potential Irnstee approach the chariry or if the charity wishes lo recruit a trustee onto the board there are formal proLedures tn place lo ensuie a good candidate is seleLted. Tbere is no specitic age group or experience required lo becotne a trustee but the person tnusl bave a clean criminal record and must be willing and able to de￿Onstrate that they can add to the range of skills present in the current trustees. Trn.ftee Inductivn und Training Any new Iruslees are likely lo be Fatniliar with the practical work of Ibe charity before tbey Join the board bul are still likely to attend a series of short training sessions to fully leam about the cELarity. Page 7 STII4Y AID TRADIING AS DURHAM DOGS AND CATS HOfvIE LTD A CONIPANY LINIITED BY GUARANTEE REPORT OF THE I'RUSTEES FOR TFIE YE.4R ENDED 31ST IWIARCH 2025 Structure Governauce and LNlan enient fcoiiliiiiied) Tr115tee Induction Training (coiifiiiiied) The main docurnents whicb set out the operational Framework of the chariry, including the Memorandurn and Articles of Association are also dibcussed with any new InLslees. They are also briefed oil the Lurrent finaiicial position of the cliarity with Ilie aid of the latest set ot t-malltiial state￿entS. Finally the current resources, grant Funding and oiher revenue slreanib are dibcussed as well as the future planb and objectives of the charity. New Iruslees will also be referred to the Charity Commission's guide the Essential Trustee Organisation The board ot trustees administers the charity. They meet regularly to di%LUSS tbe needs of the charity and plan any actio ro be taken. A s¢hen]e of delegation is in place and day lo day responsibility for the proviskon of the services rest with a Chief Executive appointed by the board of Irubtees. The Chief Executive is responsible for ensuring that the charity delivers the services specified and Ibat all key performance indiLators are met. Related Parties In as far as il is complementary lo rhe chdrity's objects. the charity is guided by local policy and partnerships. Pay Policyfor Senior Stuff The majority of the board of directors, who al'e Ibe charity's trustees, give their time freely and receive Do remuneration. wilh the exception of Mrs S Bielby who received a salary for her work 89 a veterinarian. The pay of senior staff is reviewed anriually. Senior staff salaries are considered in line with the organisalion's size, Ibe complexity ot the roles and the responsibilities that the %lalT carry. When recruiting lo new senior Inanagement roles salaries are benchmarked agaÉnst siinilar roles and responsibilities and we also consider the market and availability Ot skn.lls in letting salaries. Risk IPI(IncigevienÉ Tbe trustees have conducted a review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed. Particular attention bas been focused on non financial risks and in particular health and safety risks. Strong inter[￿1 contro15 have llow been developed to deal with such ii%ks. Ab parl of the risk management process, the Iruslees have implemented a risk n]anatsetllent strategy which compriqes of the following.. anllual review of the risks that Ibe charity rnay face; Detailed actioD plans to Mit1(ra￿ Ihose risks identified; and Imple]nentalion procedures designed to minimise any potential impact on the charity should any of these risks materialise. The INsiees are salisfLed that they have taken all the necesbary steps 10 lessen the risks affecting Stray Aid Tradinu as Durham Dogs and Cats Home Lid. Page 8 STRAY AID TRADING AS DURHAM DOGS AND CATS Ho￿IE LTD A CONIPANY LINIITED BY GUAIL4Ni TEE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST ￿lARcll 2025 Triistees, Res on5ibilities ill Relation to the Fillancial Statemellts The charity Iruslees (who are also the director% of Srray Aid Trading as Durham Dogs and Cats Horne Lid for the purposes of conipany lawl are responsible for pi'eparing a trustees, ailliual report and financial statement5 in accordance WLth applicable law and United Kingdoin ALLOUIlttng Standards (United Kingdoni Generally ALcepted Actiouniing Practice). Company law requires the charity Irusiees lo prepare tinancial statements for each year which uive a truc aiid tair view of the ylate ot uffairs ol tlie charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, includin