Shy Lowen Horse and Pony Sanctuary Annual Report 2023
Reference and Administration Details
| Charity name | Shy Lowen Horse and Pony Sanctuary |
|---|---|
| Registered Charity Number | 1122891 |
| Charity’s principal address | 18 Back Lane |
| Thornton | |
| Merseyside | |
| Postcode | L29 7WD |
| Trustee Name | Ofce (if any) | Dates acted (if not for whole year) |
|---|---|---|
| Bernadete Langfeld | Chair | |
| Eric Langfeld | ||
| Michelle Irving | ||
| Patricia Sheridan | ||
| Kellie O’Shea | ||
| Elouise Jones | ||
| Nanete Cox | ||
Structure, Governance and Management
Description of the Charity’s Trusts
Type of governing document: Trust Deed How the Charity is constituted: Trust Trustee selection methods: Appointed by The Board of Trustees the charity operates with a Child and Vulnerable Adults Protection Policy and Trustees, staff and adult volunteers are DBS (CRB) checked every three years.
The Charity works closely with Carla Lane’s Animals In Need, military veteran charity Tom Harrison House and local education providers
The trustees recognize that public interest in the riding establishment activities are improving future economic sustainability. Continuation in the future sustainability will be dependant upon improvements to the infrastructure. The infrastructure improvements are proving to be impossible to achieve without securing a long lease (minimum 25 years) of the sanctuary site. Difficulty in negotiating a suitable lease with the land owner Sefton Council has been ongoing. As a result we engaged property specialist solicitor Stephen Breen in September 2022 following a second petition to seek a resolution with the land owner Sefton Council. This situation is ongoing.
Objectives and Activities
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC TO RELIEVE THE SUFFERING OF ANIMALS (IN PARTICULAR EQUINES) IN NEED OF CARE AND ATTENTION AND TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN RESCUE HOMES OR OTHER FACILITIES FOR THE RECEPTION, CARE AND TREATMENT OF SUCH ANIMALS.
TO PROMOTE HUMANE BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS ANIMALS BY PROVIDING APPROPRIATE CARE, PROTECTION, TREATMENT AND SECURITY FOR ANIMALS WHICH ARE IN NEED OF CARE AND ATTENTION BY REASON OF SICKNESS, MALTREATMENT, POOR CIRCUMSTANCES OR ILL USAGE.
TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC IN MATTERS PERTAINING TO ANIMAL WELFARE IN GENERAL AND THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY AND SUFFERING AMONG ANIMALS.
TO PROVIDE OPEN SPACE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES TO ENJOY AND RESPECT NATURE AND WILDLIFE.
TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH THE USE OF HOLISTIC THERAPIES.
TO PROVIDE INCLUSIVE AND AFFORDABLE ETHICAL EQUESTRIAN RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE PURSUITS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
Whilst organising and arranging activities and events the trustees had regard for the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on Public Benefit.
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We were able to host eight of the open days in this financial year—there are 7 annually but this financial year had 2 Easter open days owing to Easter being late in 2022 and early in 2023. The open days were all very well attended even though the events in May and June were affected by unseasonal heavy rain and the dog show planned for the August event was postponed to September owing to excessive heat. The events were attended by a total in excess of 1400 people and raised over £10,000
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During April as the post Covid 19 recovery gained momentum we began to recruit new volunteers and the young volunteer Care Committee meetings started again.
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We are very grateful to all of the following people and organisations for their huge contribution in funding this charity throughout the pandemic crisis and the recovery through from 2020 to the present day. Without their help we would not survive.
Monty Roberts Kelly Marks Roger Lyon Mike Badger Joyce Lund Trust Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust Sefton MBC Discretionary LCR Cares Petplan Charitable Trust Royal Sun Alliance Ravensdale Trust Sylvia Waddilove Trust Marchig Animal Welfare Trust Marchig Foundation CAF Resilience Fund Hilda Holmes Charitable Trust Elise Pilkington Charitable Trust The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Sefton CVS Community Foundation for Merseyside Blue Sky Foundation Crosby Rotary Club Hemby Charitable Trust Liverpool One Foundation
Activities relating to aims and objectives
Horses and ponies come to Shy Lowen for a number of reasons: owner's redundancy or other economic problems; illness of owners; animal behavioural problems or animal age or infirmity; abandoned animals etc with re-homed horses who are in new homes with permanent loan adoption contracts remaining the property of Shy Lowen as they have been guaranteed a home for life.
New homes are inspected prior to placement and these are subject to contracts
requiring specific care standards including agreement not to sell or pass the animal on to others.
Those who re-home an animal must donate a minimum of £10.00 a month as a Friend of Shy Lowen. Successful re-homing is due, in large part, to the work undertaken by volunteers.
Horses who are not rehomeable and those who are retained for working within the ‘No Kicks, No Sticks’ horse riding offering become permanent residents who be sponsored for as little as £10.00 a year and regular supporters come from far and wide to visit their adoptees.
Shy Lowen is sited on the edge of an urban area surrounded on three sides by social housing estates scoring highly for indices of deprivation. Volunteers come mainly from the local area and have few other opportunities to interact and care for horses and ponies. These people are able to enjoy open space, nature and be introduced to equestrianism.
Our volunteers range in age from 11 to over 80 years old. They are involved in all aspects of running the organisation from caring and training the resident animals, book-keeping, building and land management, fund-raising, machinery maintenance and any other ad hoc tasks.
We launched a second petition in an attempt to secure the holding of our HQ at Buckley Hill Lane
Social media
Shy Lowen makes active use of social media through its webpage htp://www.shylowen.com/
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- htps://www.facebook.com/pages/Shy Lowen Horse Pony Sanctuary/105853832819403
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And X (formerly known as Twitter) htps://twiter.com/shylowen
Social Media remains the most effective way to inform and educate the public about the Sanctuary and equine-related issues and advertise horses and ponies suitable for re-homing.
It is also the medium preferred by most young people and it is important to adapt to their communication style when working and educating young people.
The funding stream through Facebook has continued to be popular and is a great resource as it is completely free of charge both to hold as a platform and for donations.
We utilize these platforms to keep people up to date with the animals at Shy Lowen by showing regular videos and photographs of the activities and are exploring how we can make further use of them in the future
This leads to more donations being made as we are able to appeal for support. The Shy Lowen Community were delighted to receive a visit on 23rd March from the Liverpool FC goalkeeper Adrian San Miguel with his family. Adrian very kindly gave over his social media page to Shy Lowen for several days to support our work.
Achievements and Performance
We were honoured that our Chair Bernadette Langfield received one of the 490 Royal Voluntary Service Platinum Awards to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
Rehoming of horses and ponies has remained very slow this year as the effects of lockdown furlough bite people’s finances.
Donations have remained steady .
We have continued to receive significant grant funding which has allowed the charity to survive.
Financial Review
Our vulnerability owing to lack of reserve funding continues to cause serious issues. We are continually exploring means to improve this situation to ensure that the charity survives in the short term and thrives in the long term.
No funds are in deficit.
Declaration
The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees Report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s Trustees.
Signature(s)
Full Name(s) Bernadette Langfield
Position Trustee
Date 20/1/2024
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2023
| RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2023 |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Total Funds | Total Funds | ||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Receipts | |||
| loan horses | 7581 | 4800 | |
| fundraising | 14169 | 8126 | |
| sponsor horses | 7680 | 6020 | |
| gift aid | 7276 | 9664 | |
| friends of Shy Lowen | 7884 | 1450 | |
| donations | 77581 | 69524 | |
| grants | 42865 | 42250 | |
| silent whispers | 32060 | 22415 | |
| tack sales | 1770 | 657 | |
| loanfrom clain | 7000 | ||
| Total Receipts | 205866 | 164906 | |
| Payments | |||
| wages | 89996 | 84686 | |
| capital equipment | 9840 | 6950 | |
| hard feed | 15559 | 12976 | |
| hay | 30940 | 29120 | |
| bedding | 4250 | 3900 | |
| farrier | 5375 | 5380 | |
| rent | 1395 | 1395 | |
| electric | 353 | 0 | |
| manure | 5200 | 4160 | |
| transport | 340 | 120 | |
| tack | 72 | 98 | |
| water | 3726 | 3960 | |
| generator petrol | 1820 | 2912 | |
| insurance | 11838 | 8800 | |
| tools | 1987 | 272 | |
| skip hire | 1250 | 1250 | |
| cleaning | 4183 | 2900 | |
| fundraising | 2204 | 921 | |
| vet | 9525 | 5320 | |
| repairs | 7272 | 420 | |
| road tax | 704 | 576 | |
| bank | 660 | 0 | |
| stationery | 193 | 165 | |
| website | 65 | 65 | |
| reward and recognition | 70 | 0 | |
| vehicle fuel | 2269 | 3255 | |
| vehicle repairs and MOT | 372 | 1340 | |
| ICO fee | 35 | 0 | |
| Licensing | 664 | 0 | |
| SAGE Payroll | 202 | 0 | |
| passports | 45 | 160 | |
| Total Payments | 212404 | 181101 |
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Unrestricted | Restricted | |
| Net receipts (payments) | -6538 | -16165 | ||
| Cash balances as at 1/4/22 | 6963 | 23158 | ||
| Cash balances as at 31/3/23 | 425 | 6963 |
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Shy Lowen Horse and Pony Sanctuary – Charity number 1122891
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 March 2023, which are set out on pages 01 to 02.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 43 of the 1993 Act;
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 43(7)(b) of the 1993 Act; and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the 1993 Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act have not been met; or
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(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signature
Name: Kari Hansen
Address: Newstead Farm Quarry Street Liverpool L25 6DY
Date: 22/01/24