## **COCKER AND ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL RESCUE** ## **TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT** Registered Charity Number 1137589 The Trustees' report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 ## **CHARITY'S PRINCIPAL ADDRESS** The address of the Charity Secretary is: C/o Old Mother Redcap Duddon Tarporley Cheshire CW6 OEL ## **OBJECTIVES** The Rescue was set up in March 2010 with the aims of: - Putting in place a network of volunteers and supporting procedures to facilitate the rehoming and rescue of Cocker and English Springer Spaniels. - Where necessary, providing veterinary and training support for the dogs placed in our care. - Providing on-going support for veterinary care where necessary in order to facilitate the rehoming of elderly or infirm dogs. - Where appropriate, encouraging responsible owners to persevere with their problem dogs by providing information, advice, support and guidance. - CAESSR was set up by John and Pat Powell and Ian and Di Harrison. ## **ADVISERS** The principal advisers of the charity are: **Banker Charity Setup** The Coperative Bank Clive Denny IP, F.C.A. P.O. Box 250 14 Rue des Primeveres, Skelmersdale 66180 Villeneuve de la Raho Lancashire France WNB 6WT clivedenny@aol.com ## **TRUSTEES AND GOVERNANCE** Cocker And English Springer Spaniel Rescue (CAESSR) is governed by its constitution that was adopted on 11[th ] June 2010. The Rescue became a Charity on 26[th ] August 2010 and the trustees from that date are listed below: **Name Position (Re)Appointed Resigned** John Powell Chairman 16:01:2022 Ian Harrison Secretary 29:03:2024 Pat Powell Treasurer 26:08:2015 23:12:2015 (Dec’d) Diana Harrison Homing Officer 15:01:2023 Lisa Guthrie Treasurer 29:03:2024 Emma Downing Trustee 15:01:2023 Page 1 ## **ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS** CAESSR was initially set up to cover the Midlands, however, with our growing band of helpers, we are now able to re-home Cockers and Springers to most parts of the country. Our main base is in Staffordshire. We use Hardiwick Kennels, which is a private Boarding Kennels. We have a block set aside for CAESSR dogs with an excellent staff member, who works closely with all the dogs and gets to know them. Most of our dogs are taken into these kennels for assessment before they are rehomed. All dogs with health problems are given any necessary veterinary treatment prior to rehoming. During CAESSR's 14th year, we rehomed 47 new dogs plus one dog from a previous year who needed to be rehomed again. We had 4 dogs still awaiting homes in kennels on 1st April 2024. During the year, 3 dogs were P.T.S. Two due to aggression issues and one elderly Springer with no quality of life. Our statistics for the year show that the average number of days each dog spent at kennels rose from 31 days to 46 days. At the beginning of the year we had very little help at kennels and the kennels were extremely busy with boarders. Accessing some of the more difficult dogs and giving them some behavioural help to prepare them to be rehomed successfully was difficult. Getting dogs to the vets for health checks and treatment was also difficult due to the lack of volunteer help and the availability of appointments. Our finances were also hit with the expensive veterinary treatment needed by a puppy needing heart surgery. Also, two dogs needing costly dental treatment and two needing eye surgery. All trustees and volunteers of the charity are unpaid helpers. Out of pocket expenses are paid to trustees and volunteers but in many cases these expenses are not reclaimed. ## **DOG CARE** The Homing Officer works closely with the Chairman. Diana Harrison is largely responsible for the matching process to ensure each dog gets the right home. John Powell handles the home vetting of prospective new owners. They handle spaniel adoption and general enquiries received by the charity. Mandy at Hardiwick Kennels can provide basic grooming. Some of the dogs that come to us are in such a mess we don't have any choice as we couldn't rehome them without being groomed. In May Emma Downing appealed via Facebook for volunteers living close to the Kennels to become dog walkers for CAESSR. We had a good response and a reliable team was built. Some volunteers started to help take the dogs for Veterinary appointments. John Powell still attended Kennels to supervise adoptions. In January Emma started to help Diana Harrison with the matching of dogs to new homes. ## **VOLUNTEERS** The charity is still more than ever reliant on volunteers to help with the work of CAESSR e.g. vetting new homes and helping with transport. ## **WORKING WITH OTHER CHARITIES** We have established a good working relationship with many other dog rescue centres, sharing home checkers. We especially value our contacts with English Springer Spaniel Welfare. We have also made contact with a new Spaniel Rescue where one of the Trustees is a previous CAESSR adopter. We work closely with the City Dogs home in Stoke-onTrent, who approach us to take unwanted and stray Spaniels that they can’t rehome and shouldn’t be destroyed. Page 2 ## ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING Accounts for the year 2023/24 have been completed by Lisa Guthrie and independently verified by William Thompson. This year we have continued to feel the effects of the national cost of living crisis seeing Veterinary fees reach an all-time high in the UK. We had a number of dogs which required major surgeries/operations upon having their health assessments. These really impacted our veterinary fee expenses and this has eaten away our current reserves. The charity ended the year with a deficit of -£13,394.11 (income £40,992.08 and Expenditure £54,386.19). This left total assets carried forward and ending balance for the year of just £2,617.26 of unrestricted funds, to be carried forward into the new fiscal year. We aim to hold a minimum reserves level of £5,000, these funds are held to cover a minimum of a month’s operational costs in the event of a loss of income, two months foster dog cover and to meet any unforeseen expenditure that may occur. This year, we experienced significant veterinary bills which ate into our reserves, bringing it below the minimum. We ran an Emergency Appeal for donations on 28/03/24 and conducted a ‘going concern’ evaluation 3 weeks later once we had the results of the appeal. We received an amazing response, our supporters donated over £12,000, which falls into the new fiscal year. We have also appointed a new fundraising team and made enquiries in the likely hood of securing grant funding to assist with the veterinary costs. Therefore, we concluded that it was appropriate to continue to adopt a going concern basis in preparing the financial statements which assumes that the charity will continue in operation for the foreseeable future. To bolster the reserves further, the Trustees have secured a grant to help with the Veterinary fees, receiving a further £3,500 within the new year. Veterinary charges will continue to be reviewed by Trustees each month and any large cases will be promoted via JustGiving and social media to help ensure costs are recovered, where possible. Our main source of funds for 2023/24 has been through Adoption and general donations from our supporters. We use these funds to cover rehabilitation costs for the dogs in our care. The majority of income is applied to Veterinary treatment for the dogs in our care and kennelling fees. The secretary for the charity undertakes all statutory issues relating to the charity. He also maintains the Charity's website and submits any Gift Aid claims. ## **PUBLICITY** Facebook continues to grow in popularity and is a great resource to show the dogs we are anxious to rehome and brings in many donations and new volunteers. ## **FUNDRAISING AND FUTURE PLANS** In this our fourteenth year, funds have been raised mainly by donation, Gift Aid and sponsored events held by supporters. We produced and sold a 2024 calendar and Christmas Cards, orders handled by Emma Downing. Very popular are sponsored events through the ‘Just Giving’ facility. Our Sponsor-a-Spaniel scheme is also being managed by Emma and we are looking to expand our fund raising. The coming year we will be focusing on attainment of grant funding to assist the Charity with high veterinary costs. We will be adopting a new policy of pre-screening dogs before they arrive, to help budget/plan for the costings. ## **ACTION PLAN FOR THE RECOVERY OF CAESSR** Since April 2024 after observations made by the Independent Examiner, CAESSR is now recovering well from the impact on our finances with the balances returning to pre-Covid levels. The financial help from our supporters and adopters has resulted in new regular Page 3 donations. The hard work of our new team has resulted in new fund raising ideas and action. The new volunteer work at the kennels has had the effect of increasing the number of dogs being rehomed, hence more adoption/surrender donations have been received and the time each dog spends in kennels has helped to bring down the kennel bills. The founder Trustees are advancing in years and are passing their skills on to the new younger team who are keen to take the Charity into the future. 2025 will be crucial to see if they are able to manage. ## **SIGNATURE AND DECLARATION** I declare in my capacity of charity trustee that the trustees have approved the report above and have authorised me to sign it on their behalf. Secretary Ian Harrison Page 4 ACCOUNT OF FINANCIAL AcfiviTIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 2024 2023 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS Note Incoming Resources Donations and Gifts 28,392.19 12,599.89 31,618.31 9,764.64 Other income Total Incoming Resources 40,992.08 41,382.95 Resources Expended Direct Charitable Expenses Fundraising and Publicity Management and Administration Total Resources Expended 50,536.15 1,807.92 2,042.12 54,386.19 46,883.36 1,687.08 1,898.15 50,468.59 NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR Net Movement in funds during the period Balance brought forward at l April 2023 13,394.11 16,011.37 9,085.64 25,097.01 Balance carried forward at 31 March 2024 2,617.26 16,011.37 All the funds accumulated are classified as unrestricted NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS I. ACCOUNTING POLICIES The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and on a receipts nd payments basis. 2024 2023 2. DONATIONS AND GIFrs Adoption donations Surrender donations Other donations and gifts Gift Aid 14,040.00 1,300.00 10,271.69 2,780.50 11,470.00 1,885.00 12,109.54 6,153.77 Legacies 28,392.19 31,618.31 3. OTHER INCOME Bank Interest/commision Calendar/cards/promotional sales Fundraise stamps 9,101.14 3,498.75 6,771.64 2,993.00 12,599.89 9,764.64 4. DIRECT CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE Veterinary Fees Kennels 33,622.56 16,704.00 31,218.31 15,625.90 Training Dog Food Goodwill payments Microchip supplies Grooming costs 209.59 39.15 50,536.15 46,883.36 5. FUNDRAISING AND PUBLICITY Newsletter and Calender postage Calendar/Car sticker printing Promotional items Event costs / equipment 424.02 389.28 1,383.90 1,297.80 1,807.92 1,687.08 6. MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION Website / Software Stationery & Printing Insurance 384.33 239.20 301.98 521.33 Transport Sundry Expenses Bank/Pay Pal/Just Giving Charges Legal Post 717.65 513.90 9.99 600.88 572.70 27.29 51.12 Security 2,042.12 1,898.15 There are no wages costs as all personal services to the charity are carried out on a voluntary basis STATEMENT OF ASSETS AS AT 31 MARCH 2024 CURRENT ASSErs Cash at Co-op Bank (Statement as at 31st March 2024) 2,079.63 Funds to be Banked 537.63 Less Cheques to be presented 0.00 TOTAL ASSETS 2,617.26 REPRESENTED BY: FUNDS Unrestricted 2,617.26 23.1.o.I |.20.25..., Approved by the Board of Trustees on ..... lan Harrison, Secretary lan Harrison, Secretary Lisa Guthrie, Treasurer Lisa Guthrie, Treasurer Independent examlnerfs report to the trustees of "Cocker and Engllsh Sprln8er Spanlel Rescu¢" We report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31st March 2024, which are set out on pa8es I to 4. R¢spertlve responslbllltles of trustees and exèmlner The charity's trustees are respon51ble for the preparatlon of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not requlred for thls year under settlon 43121 of the Charlties Act 1993 (the 1993 Artl and that an independent examlnation Is needed. It Is our responslblllty to: examine the accounts under sectlon 43 of the 1993 Act.. to follow the procedu￿$ lald down in the general Dlrectlons glven by the Charity Commlsslon under sectlon 4317llbl of the 1993 Act,. and to state whether partlcular matters have come to our attentlon. Basls of Independent examlner'$ report Our examlnatlon wa5 carrled out In accordance wlth the 8eneral Dlrectlons glven by the Charfty Commlsslon. An examination includes a revlew of the accountlng records kept by the charlty and comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also Includes conslderatlon of any unusual item5 or disclosures In the accounts, and seekln8 explanatlons from you as trustees concernlng any such matters. The procedures undertaken do. not provlde all the evldence that would be requlred In all audlt and consequently no oplnlon Is glven as to whether the accounts present a 'true and falr vlew, and the report Is Ilmited to those matters set out In the statement below. Indep¢nd•nt •xamlner'$ Statement In connectlon with our examlnatlon no matter has come to our attentlon, whlch 8lves us reasonable cause to belleve that In any materlal respect the requlrements: to keep accountin8 records In accordance wlth sectlon 41 of the 1993 Act; and to prepare accounts whleh accord wlth the accountlng records and comply wlth the accountln8 requlrements of the 1993 Act have not been met. Name: W J Tho son Relevant professional qualification or body: BSC, FCMA, GCMA Addre55: 30 Rowley Hall Drive, Stafford, ST17 9FF Date: 24th January, 2025