Company Llmlted by Guarantee Rogistration Number: 08273985 (England and Wales) Charity Commisslon Reglstratlon Number. 1149884 WADARS Annual Report and Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 December 2022 WADARS LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Trusteos C Mcmahon (Chairman) A Davis J Silk S Stirling K Walder Chief Executive J Toben MIOD MlnstF Dlrector of Operations T Cadman Principal and registered offlce Hangleton Lane Ferring Worthing West Sussex BN126PP 01903 247111 www.wadars.co.uk Company registration number 08273985 Charity registrallon number 1149884 Audltorn TC Group The Coutyard Shoreham Road Upper Beeding Steyning West Sussex BN44 3TN Bankers CAF Bank Limited 25 Kings Hill Avenue King5 Hill Wesl Malling Kent ME19 4JQ Charity Bank Limited Fosse House 182 High Street Tonbridge Kent TN9 1BE Solicitors Sherrards Employment Law Solicitors 4 Alboume Court Henfield Road bourne West Sussex BN6 9DB WADARS CONTENTS Page Trustees. Rewrt (Incorporating the Directors, Report) statement of Trustees, Responsibilllles Independent Auditorfs Report 8-11 Statement of Financial Activities 12 Balance Sheet 13 Cash Flow Slalement 14 Notes to the accounts 15-23 WADARS TRUSTEES, REPORT (INCORPORATING THE DIRECTORS, REPORT) The Trustees pres8nt th8lr annual report {ineluding the Directors, Report) for the yéar end&d 31 Decemb&r 2022. The accounts comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and Accounting and Reporbng by Charities= Statement of Recornrnended Practice applicable to chartbes preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland {FRS 1021 {effectivg 1 January 2019}- Strucluret gov8rnanto and management The original charity, the Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service. was an unincorporated charity established under a Charitable trust deed on 27 March 1974. In 2012, Wadars was established as a ¢ompany limited by guaranleg to £1 per member {r￿iStratiOn number 082739851 under its Memorandum of Association, which establishes the objects and powers of the charitable company and is govemed under its Articles of Associaiion. Wadars was registered as a charity on 23 November 2012 (number 11498841. The assets, liabilities and undertakings of the Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service, were transferred to Wadars on 31 March 2013. Following the formal approval of its members. the Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service was closed and merged with Wadars in 2016. The Articles ofAssocialion of Wadars have been reviewed to make them fit for purpose following the closure and merger of the unincorporated charity. Recruitment and oppointment of trustees When complete. the Board of Trustees consists of no fewer than five and no more than 9 Trustees. Trustees are appolnted for their relevant skllls as identified by the Board from time to time. The term of office for Trustees is three years and are eligible lo serve up to a further tem$. The Trustees who seNed during the p￿0d were.. C Mcmahon (Chalrman) J Brock Iresigned 6 December 20221 A Davis J Silk S Stirfing K Walder Organt8atlonal structure The Trustees are responsible for the overall governance of the Charity. They meet on 8 quartet1y basis to discuss and make decisions in relation to all aspects of the Charity's management, including financial planning and control. staffing levels, animal care and welfaTe. homing and policies. The daY-l￿daY operations of the Charity are delegated to the Chief Executive through a Scheme of Delegation, taking instructions from and reporting directly to the Trustees. Expert legal, financial and other adwce is sought where necessary. WADARS TRUSTEES, REPORT (INCORPORATING THE DIRECTORS, REPORT) Pay policy for Senior staff The Charity aims to recruit and retain talented individuals to lead and further develop a rapidly growing organisalion. Pay for senior staff reflects the market for comparable jobs in comparable organisations, the level of knowledge. skills and experience required, the responsibilities and accountabilities associated with each role, the performance of the Charity and the individual contribution of each executive. The pay of senior staff is reviewed annually and is dependent on delivery against individual annual objectives and the Charity's ability lo pay. Principal risks and uncertainties The Twslees ￿gUladY assess the major risks to which the Charity is exposed, both operalw)nally and financially, and a formal risk register was maintained during the year. This includes animal weEfare, income generation, investments, organisational Change, remuneration, health and safety of staff and volunteer8, major projects and opefational needs. The register continues lo be reviewed regularfy by the Truslees to ensure appropriate governance and the Charity ha5 a range of controls and procedures in place to mitigate these risks and to manage the major risks to which the Charity is exposed. The Charity's response to the Covid 19 crisis was well planned and responsive through dynamic risk assessments and business continuity planning however, it dramatically restricted the amount we could inleracl with our local community. Whilst we can never be Sure of factors affecting legacy income, we believe that a greatly reduced presence in the community. may have impacted on our legacy income in 2022 and beyond. Wadars has a dependency on high levels of legacy income and it is always difficult to predict in the shortlmedium term, but we have run scenarios to understand how we would manage income reduction. The economic context is rapidly changing with inflation and Interest rate experienclng upward movement month on month,. this combined with surging energy pricing., shortages in the supply of materials and labour land associated cost increases) and the potential for further initiatives lo claw back revenue through taxation have been tracked closely and factored into forward planning. The increase in donor support through the last three y8ars is giving us further confidence that our financial plan is robust, but we are not complacenL Our plans and strategies for managing risk include maintaining effective internal controls, risk registers, a considered risk appetite, incident-reporting and monitoring systems and insurance cover where appropriate. It is recogni5ed that Systems provide reasonable bul not absolute assurance that major risk5 have been adequately managed. ObjKtives, activities and public ban•frt The Charty's objects are the care and protection of animals of all kinds in need of care and attenlion by reason of sickness, mallrealment. poor circumstances or other similar causes. The Trustees have paid due regard to public benefit guidance issued by the Charity Commission in their approach lo the work undertaken by Wadars and to ensure that the Charity's staled aims and objectives are achieved. These activities Centre on the rescue and ￿hOMIng of stray and unwanted domesti¢ pets. including dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs, the rescuè and rehabilitation of wildlife in peril, the provision of appropriate veterinary Ireatmenl for both, the rehoming of pets into suitable homes. and the release of wildlife back into their natural environment. The Charity also undertakes an awareness. education and communty engagement programme to promote responsible pet ownership and the prolection of wildlife in its nalural environment. Maintsining the financial stability of the Charity continued lo be a priority for the Trustees. This was achieved through our robust financial framework for the daY-l￿daY management of the Charity. WADARS TRUSTEES, REPORT {INCORPORATING THE DIRECTORS, REPORT) Atthough Covid restrictions were lifted, in 2022 we Continued to undertake Covid risk assessments across all of our activities and very strict Cleaning ￿gime$ continued. Slaff relumed to the Centre in 2022 and we were able to welcome back volunteers. However, due to a change in staff, fvndraising did not recommence until towards the end Of 2022 and our communlty a¢Jvlty has had to grow from zero. To support the melal health and wellbelng of the team, we Contlnued to provlde the Bupa 'Healthy Mlnds, programme, which provides a confidential 1..1 advice line, 24 hours a day and other professional advice. The Trustees wish to record their thanks to all of the staff for going above and beyond in such difficult circumstances and ensuring that, unlike many charities during the pandemic, Wadar5 continues to b8 a strong and healthy charity. Anlmal welfare activity Wildlife A total of 403 birds and other small wildlife were cared for in our on-site Wildlife Unit during 2022. including 95 hedgehogs, 117 pigeons and 55 gull chicks. Thi5 number wa5 down on previous years largely due to the ongoing sf(uation regarding avian influenza (bird flul and restrictions being placed on centres such as Wadars regarding the intake of birds. By autumn 2022, we started taking in garden birds and corvids again, but were unable to admit any water birds to site since the summer. In early 2023, restrictions were lffted and we resumed normal wildlife activity- Mobile ￿Scue service Whilst avian influenza meant Ihat the number of water birds being brought tt) our wildlife unit was far lower than in previous years, the Animal Rescue Officers IARO's} Continued to resF)ond to calls from the public who were concemed about si¢k and injured wildlrfe, including gull chicks. During late Spring and Summer, a key part of an AROS day inVo￿eS Ihem res¢uing and Whe￿ possible retuming gull chicks to roof tops that they have fallen from or taking them to vets if they are injured. In 2022 AROS dealt wth 568 gulls, of which 217 were chicks. Rescue officers also responded to callouts to 143 foxes,. 102 hedgehogs; 79 ducks & swans., more than 250 pigeons, and even the occasional snake. In total the AROS dealt with 1.480 sick and injured wildlife. uests to lake in com nion animals in 2022 We continue to receive requests lo take in companion animals (pets} that far exceeds our capacty. In 2022, we wer8 asked lo take in over 600 cats and dogs of which, we were only able lo help around a third. We were also asked to taken in around 200 small companion animals and were only able to help around one in 5. This number is in¢￿asIng. In January 2023 alone, we receNed 37 requests to take dogs, 23 requests to take cats and 19 requests to take small animals. Requests to lake in 'pandemic pups, remained an issue throughout 2022. with many of the dogs we were asked to take in being born during Covid and exhibiting a range of behavioural problems due to them not being propedy $￿Iall$ed with either people or other dogs. Our current structure means that we are unable lo provide full behavioural assessments for dogs that we are asked to tske in, and the same goes for ongoing work that the dogs might need before they are suitable to be placed in a new home. When we can constwct our own kennels, we will be better placed to help rn0￿ dogs with pre-existing behavioural issues. Animal ado ion Early 2022 saw the lrfbng of Covid restrictions in the UK, which meant that we could begin to invite potential adopters lo meet animals in person before adopting them, ratherthan doing so via a virtual video introduction. Dog intake and homing was particularfy slow again in 2022. There were a number of reasons forthis including periods of staff sickness resulting in not being able to guarantee enough resources to carry out the homing of animals, and long spells {which in total add up to more than a quarterof the yearl when the private boarding kennels where our dogs are cared for had no availability for Wadars animals because, following two years of very limited business during the pandemic, many more people were choosing to board their pets again. Not only were we very limited on space for dogs for the 13 weeks of school holidays, but the weeks in the run up to those periods were also blocked as we could not guarantee how quickly we could rehome a dog WADARS TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCORPORATING THE DIRECTORS, REPORT) once we had taken it in. and the kennels needed to know that the dogs would be gone by Ihe time that boarders were booked in for. Cat homing was also down on previous years, but thls was often due to staff shortages limthng the number of animals that we could care for al one time. In addition, 11 was particularly noticeable how rnany of the cats that wè were askèd to take in were over 10 years old and due tc their age, many of them remained in our care for far longer than the younger cats {effectively 'bed-blocking'). Numbers of other small animals homed was quite low which was due to only having h¥0 volunteer fostsrers and no facilities to care ft)r them on our All of our dogs. cats and rabbits are vet checked, vaccinated, neutered, receive flea and worm treatments and are microchipped before being rehomed. We also strongly encourage owners to neuter and microchip other animals in their home. A total of 55 dogs12021=53}. 82 cats (2021..97} and 19 other small animals (2021.'29) were homed during the year. The Charity continues ils policy not to destroy any healthy animal and only does 50 on the advice of a vet. A total of 8 pets12021'.2} were put to sleep during the year: there were three dogs {for aggression) plus 4 cats and one rabbit, all for medical ￿aSonS. Lost & found During 2022 we enabled owners to upload information vta our website for lost pets which included the option lo upload photos which we could then postto our Facebook page. In addition, we took stray cats and tortoises with all but one being successfully being reunited with their grateful owners. Klck8tart We were very pleased to be able to offer six month placements to three young people under the under the Government's Kickstart Scheme, which provided funding to employeTS to create jobs for 16 to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit. In the aulumn we reinstated our programme of taking on work placement students from animal welfare Colleges such as Brinsbury and Plumpton. Volunteers Following the removal of Covid restrictions in March, we were able to bring more volunteers back to the Centre, and by the end of the year we had over 50 volunteers working on sile every week, including in the cattery, wildlife unil. the office, and around the site. The appointment of a part time Volunteer Coordinator in mid-2022 enabled us to push ahead and fill all vacant volunteering slots. In 2023 we will look at what other volunteer roles might be needed, including people to help out at a range of fundraising events and activities, corporate volunteering on site, and a small team of volunteer rescue officers lo support the AROS. Partnershlp worklng We have continued to benefit from close working relationships with other anima5 rescue charities including Ballersea, two RSPCA centres, Raystede, Dogs Trust and Cats Protection. This has enabled the sharing of best practice and training opportunities. Development of the Centre There were a number of changes at the Centre during 2022. Historically, we had offered stables and grazing for a small number of horses.. these left the site mid 2022. Following their departure, it became evident that the stables were no longer fil for purpose and were demolished. These were replaced with a small animal unrt in early 2023 which will house other small mammals such as gerbils, hamster8. and rats. We also now have five outdoor rabbit enclosures with which we can bond pairs of rabbits. Work could not start on the wider development of the Centre until the local planning authortiy had approved a detailed surface water drainage system. The original design was not practical as it involved discharging surface water into a 'riparian way, along Hangleton Lane. The bettemient works required by the planning department rnade this both cost-prohibitive and impraclical. Our civil engineer subsequently designed an altemative plan utilising various shallow soakaways, permeable surfaces and a large pond for natural overfow. Before this design could be submitted to the planners, infiltration testing across multiple locations had trj be undertaken across many months lo prove the effectiveness of the design. WADARS TRUSTEES, REPORT (INCORPORATING THE DIRECTORS. REPOR Testing took place throughout 2022 and continued into 2023 to conclude the winter infiltration testing. The results proved that the design would be effecttve and was subsequenUy submitted to and approved by the planning department in August 2023. This enabled u5 to 'break ground, before the expiry of the planning pemiission granted in 2020. Future Plans The further development of the animal rescue and rehoming Centr8 in Hanglelon Lane, Ferring remains a priority for the Twstees. In September, 2020 we obtained detail planning pemiission for all of our future plans for the wider rescue and rehoming Centre at Hangleton Lane. This includes intake, homing and isolations units for dogs, a wildlwe unit and associated aviaries and pens, additional cattery units, a training and education centre plus basic staff accommodation for overnight care. The total cost of the entlre project is estimated as £3.6 million, based upon a phased development of the various units. There are significant civil works to be undertaken including road access to our paddocks where Ihe wildlife unil will be situated and also extensive drainage which must be Completed in the first phase as part of the planning approval. Our priority for 2023 was to make a signfficant slart on the developrnent of the Centre once the plannlng pre- condition in relation to surface water drainage was dis¢harged. Regrettably, in June 2023, Ihe Centre had an outbreak of avian influenza {bird flul. As a result, all birds on site were culled by Defra (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs). Thankfvlly, the cats and other small mammals were spared but the entire wildlife department was closed and wll remain so for the time being. The rest of 2023 will be the long, arduous and cosuy task of cleansing and disinfecting to enable the unrts to be released for use. Despite this, we were able to lay the foundations for the cattery store and laundry, along with a start to the drainag8. In the wake of bird flu, our priorities are to increase homing of dogs, cats and other small mammals such as rabbits, gerbils and hamsters, especially with the support of volunteer fosterers. We are also increasing our presence in the community with the mobile animal rescue unit, to provide wildlife seNices, working in conjunction with other wildlife Gentres, whilst our own is closed. Flnancial Review General Overall. the Charity finished the period wth a deficit of £117,584 against a planned deficit of £99,574 j2021= surplus £312,001). This was due to legacy income of£309,808 being under tsrget12021- £677,313). The Trustees have always recognised that legacy income is volats'le, historically ranging from £1,000 to over £800,000 in any one year. The Trustees also recognise that in keeping with other animal welfare charities, inevitably they will be heavily reliant on legacy income for day-tfyday expenditure. However, the pragmatic approach to budgeting legacies ovgr a rolling seven-year average has meant that the Charity has been able to weather reduction in legacy income this year. The Trustees reviewed this method of budgetlng legacies during the year and feel that this remains the most practical way of budgeb'ng this income source and fell able to maintain a legacy budget to £42D,OQO for2023. It is noted that, had legacies performed as budgeted. the planned deficit for 2022 would have resulted in a small net surplus. The community continued to respond well during the pandemic and overall. donations received were £55,15512021: £74,492> . Whilst this was lower than the previous year. 2021 included a major donation of £20,000. There was no fundraiser in post for the majority of 2022 and Ih8refore, fundraising in the community and trading lotalled just £27,180 {2021= £31,068}- Rehoming fe88 remained similar at £15,355 {2021'. £15,863). WADARS TRUSTEES, REPORT (INCORPORATING THE DIRECTORS, REPORT) In 2022 we saw the full yeareffect ofour previous yearfs investment in animal welfare provision,. this included additional staff in animal weEfare, increased personal protective equipment. and a review of all salaries. These. along with signrficant increases in utility costs, account for the overall increase in expenditure of 10.4QA. Strong management of costs continued lo improve sustsinability. Reserves Pollcy The Trustees conSide￿d their reserves policy during the year and concluded that the Charity's reserves policy is that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use, should be maintained al a level equivalent to 12 month's expenditure. The Trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in legacies, they will be able to continue the Charity's current activities while consideratK)n is given to ways in which addkional funds may be raised. The total a55ets ofWadar5 of £3,006,790 (2021.. £3,124,374) includes £1 million whlch has been deslgnated by the Trustees towards the next stage of the development of Hangleton Lane. The free reserves (which excludes the designation above and restricted funds) of the Charity a £873,36112021- £993,789). This equates to 17.5 months planned expenditure and meets our reserves policy. Inv8Stmont polky and pgrfonnanG Operational cashflow and that required for short lemi needs a￿ entrusted to the Charity's bankers, currently CAF Bank. To dThiersify risk whi15t maintaining the most secure fomi of investment, the Trustees deposited £250.000 of reserves with Charity Bank Limited on an instant access basis. The Trustees considered this 10 be the safest fomi of investment for operational cash and for the preseNation of capital in nominal tsrm5. Statgmont as to disclosuro of infomiation to auditors So far as the Trustees are aware, there is no relevant audit information las defined by Section 418 of the Companies Act 2006) of which the charity's auditors are unaware. and each Tnjstee has taken all the steps that they ought lo have taken as a Trustee in order lo make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and lo establish that the companls auditors a￿ aware of that information. This report, including the Directors, Report, was approved by the board of Trustees of Wadars on 19.1.t3 and signed on their behalf by.. C Mcmahon (Chairman WADAR5 STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES, RESPONSIBILITIES The twstees, who are also the directors of WADARS for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees. Report and the accounts In acwdanca wlth applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards {United Kingdom Generally Acceptsd Accounting PraGtice), including Financial Reporting Standard 102 'Thg Financial Reporting Standard for the UK and Republic of Ireland,. Company law requires the Trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and ofthe incoming resources and application of resources, Including the income and expenditure, of the Charitable company for that year. In preparing these accounts, the Trusiees are required to.. select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently,. observe the methods and principles in the Charilies, SORP., make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent and prepare the accounts on the going concem ba8is unless it is inappropriate lo presume thatthe charity will continue in operation. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose wlth reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charty and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets ofthe charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and olher irregularities. WADARS INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF WADARS We have audited the financial statements of WADARS (the 'charitable company,) for the year endgd 31 December 2022 which compromise the Slalement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet. the Cashflow Slatement and notes to the financial ￿ateMents. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Slandards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK (United Kingdom Generally AC￿ptedACcountlng Praclice). In our opinion, the financial statements.. give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 December 2022 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expendilure, for Ihe year then ended., have been propedy prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice" and have been prepared in accordan￿ wilh the requirements ofthe Companies Act 2006. Ba515 of opinlon We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Audrf(ing {UK) IISAS IUK)} and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditovs responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements Ihat are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC'S Ethical Standard, and the provisions available for small enttties, and we have fulfilled our ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. Conclu8lons relatlng to golng concern In audrting the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustee's use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is approprlate. Based on Ihe work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or Conditions Ihat, individually or collectively, may cast doubt on the charitable company's abilty to continue as a going concern for a period of at least ￿e1ve months from when the financial $talements are aulhorised for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibilf(ies of the ttustee's with respect to going concem are described in the relevant sections of this report. other Information The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, including the trustee's report, other than the finan¢ial statements and our auditors report thereon. The trustees, are responsible for the other infonnation. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and. excepl to the extenl otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any fomi of assurance conclusion thereon. In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibilty is lo read the other Information and, in doing so, consider whether the other informalion is materialty inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or othemise appears to be materially misslaled. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements. we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements ora material misslalemenl ofthe other information. If, based on the work we have performed. we condude th* there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to reportthat fact. WADARS INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF WADARS We have nothing to report in this regard. Oplnlons on other mattèrs prgscrlbed by tha Companles Act 2006 In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit.. Ihe information given in the trustees, report linGorporating the directors report) lor the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements- and the directors. report have been prepared In accordance with applicable legal requirements. Matters on whi¢h we are requlred to report by exceptlon In the light of our knowledge and understsnding ofthe charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report and the directors, rep We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relalion lo which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion- adequate accounting records hav9 not been kept, or retums adequate for our audit have nol been received from branches not visited by us. or the financial ststements are not in agreement wtth the accounting records and returns., or certain disclosures of directors, remuneration spectfied by law are not made., or we have not received all the information and explanations we require.. or the directors were not entilled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small ompanies regime and take advantage of the small companies, exemptions in preparing th8 trustees. report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report. Respon8lbllltles of tsustOgS As explained more fijlly in the trustees. responsibilitles statement, the trustees{who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law} are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the govemors ¢Jetemiine is necessary lo enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud orerror. In preparing Ihe financial statements. the truslees are responsible for assessing the Charitable compan￿$ ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, a5 appliGable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accountng unless the govemors either intend to liquidate the charitsble company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative to do so. Audltotrs responsibllltles for the audit of the flnanclal statements Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statemen15 as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due lo fraud or error. and to Issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audf( conducted In accordan￿ wth ISAS (UK) wll always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisbons of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. Ir￿gularitieS, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulalrons. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud. is detailed below. Extent to whlch the audit was consldered capablè of dotsrtlng Irregularities. includlng fraud The objactives of our audit, in respect to fraud, are.. to identify and ass8sS the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud- to obtsin sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud, through designing and implementing appropriate responses,. and to respond appropriately to fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit. However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with both those Charged with govemance of the entity and its management. WADARS INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF WADARS Our approach was as follows: We identified areas of laws and regulations that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the financial statements from our general sector experience, and through discussion with the govemors and other management las required by auditing standards), and discussed with the governors and other management the policies and procedures regarding compliance with laws and regulations Isee below)., We identified the following areas as those most likely to have such an effect.. health and $8fety', General Data Protection Regulation {GDPRI,' fraud,. bribery and corruption. DBS checks, and employmenl12w. Auditing standards limit the required audit procedures to identify non-compliance with these laws and regulations to enquiry of the trustees and other management and inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any. The identified actual or suspected non-compliance was not sufficienuy significant to our audit to result in our response being identified as a key audit matter. We considered the legal and regulatory frameworks direGtly applicable to the financial statements reporting framework {FRS 102, the Companies Act 2006 and the ChBrities Act 2011) and the relevant lax compliance re9ulations in the UK. We consrdered the nature of the charitable company's operations, the Control environment and financial pertomiance. We communicated identified laws and regulations throughout our team and remained alert to any indicattons of non-compliance throughout the audit. We considered the procedu￿$ and controls that the Charitable company has established to address risks identified. or that otherwise prevent. deter and delect fraud., and how senior management monitors those programmes and controls. Based on this understanding we designed our audit procedures to Identify non-compliance with such laws and regulations. Where the risk was considered to be higher, we performed audit procedures to address each identified fraud risk. These procedures included.. testing manual journals,. reviewing the financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation., performing analytical procedures., and enquiring of management, and were designed to provide reasonable a55urance that the financial statements were free from fraud or error. Owing to th8 inherent limitations of an audic there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even Ihough we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance wtth auditing standards. For example, the further remved non- compliance with laws and regulations lirregularitiesl is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statemenls, the less likely the inherently limited procedures required by audits'ng standards would identify it. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due lo fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation. We are not responsible for preventing non