## **Annual Report** ## **September 2019 to September 2020** ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS** **Charity name: Ash Rescue Centre Registered charity number: 1153339 Principal address: Ash Tree Farm, Dartmouth, TQ6 0LR** ## **Charity trustees who manage the charity** Julie Tomkinson – Chair Ian Whatley – Treasurer – September 2019 – 17 February 2020 Jenny Rogers – Treasurer – Appointed 17 February 2020 David Wilding Craig Irons ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** **Type of governing document:** Trust Deed adopted 6th August 2013 **How the charity is constituted:** Charitable Trust **Trustee selection methods:** Trustees are appointed or reappointed every three years by a resolution of the trustees passed at a special meeting. ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** **Summary of objects of the charity set out in the governing document:** To relieve the suffering of elderly equines and other animals by providing care, rehabilitation and a permanent sanctuary facility. To provide people with learning opportunities in animal care and welfare matters through information sharing, volunteering and courses. **Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects:** In planning our activities for the year we kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit at our trustee meetings. Our main activities are as follows: - Working through the application process to amend our trust deed to expand our charitable objects - Maintaining health and providing habitat enrichment for the animals in our care - Inducting and retaining new volunteer team members • Managing financial stability through COVID-19 restrictions. These activities benefit not only the animals in our care but the families, organisations and individuals that approach us for help. Horses come into our care from many different backgrounds: abandonment, homelessness due to owner’s death, rescues from cruelty/neglect cases. Our volunteering opportunities provide people with a variety of ways to get involved and help, boosting self-esteem, combatting isolation, and encouraging social interaction while learning and becoming part of a team. We are grateful for the many hours that our volunteers have committed to the charity in these unprecedented times. Their hard work, time and support has been invaluable through this incredibly challenging time. ## **ACTIVITIES AND PERFORMANCE** ## **Summary of the main Achievements of the charity during the year:** October -December 2019 Volunteers ran a fundraising stall at Dartmouth Food Festival, engaging with the local community and raising funds. Throughout November and December various Christmas markets were attended to sell our handmade Christmas wreaths as 2 day the Candlelit Dartmouth event was cancelled due to high winds. We took in a guillemot for a couple of days as an interim rehab until the RSPCA were able to accommodate and we sadly lost one of our own resident horses, Polly. We ended the year with our entry at the local Christmas Tree Festival and attended the Community Christmas Fair. ## January – March 2020 This quarter brought us four new arrivals. Heidi & Rosie, whose elderly owner could no longer care for them, joined us in January and Badger an ex RDA pony at the grand age of 34. We also responded to a plea through The Hugs Foundation and provided a permanent retirement home for Sioux in February, an elderly mare who had had an abandonment notice placed on her. Her transport was funded in full by donations. Our pony herd relocated for a short while to assist our neighbour at Fast Rabbit Gardens, carrying out conservation grazing of a wildflower area for a few weeks. We sadly lost Joy at the age of 30 and Fred the elderly collie. A large hedge laying project and new fencing was completed along the road boundary. All horses’ feet were trimmed and maintained. ## April – June 2020 Due to COVID restrictions, activities offsite were restricted. Energy was concentrated on clearing, painting, general housekeeping of the yard and buildings. We purchased a shipping container to enable feed to be purchased in bulk with trade discount. Fresh apples and carrots were regularly donated by Dartmouth Co-op for the horses. All horses had their annual dental treatment over a two-day session and treatments were donated monthly as required by MJ Equine Therapy & Massage. We hand reared and released some orphaned pheasant chicks and the first of our resident swallow broods hatched. We received a donation of £1000 from two ladies making fabric masks within the community and in June retired police horse Charlie joined us from South Wales Police to begin his medical retirement. ## July – September 2020 We successfully produced our first cut and bailing of our own hay and completed outstanding passports and microchips for horses. A request for a lockdown 10[th] birthday treat led to a new volunteer family joining us on a regular basis on top of two additional new volunteers who joined the team after a visit. We carried out a wildlife and nature survey to gain data and opinions from local groups, individuals and professionals which has been used to inform decision and directions for future projects. We took delivery of our winter straw and received an additional donated 35 bales from a local wedding. All horses received hoof trimming/care and monthly donated treatments from MJ Equine Therapy and Massage. 40 Swallow chicks counted onsite. A further donation of £2000 was received from local ladies making masks in the community, all 2020 weddings were postponed. Online fundraising initiatives discussed for next quarter. ## **In Summary** In this unprecedented year we have concentrated on maintaining financial stability of the charity. Fundraising opportunities have had to be replaced with smarter working and money saving initiatives to safeguard finances for the future. Our connection with the public during lockdown has mainly been through social media, providing regular photos, videos of our animals and nature and updates to keep in contact and provide some relief during isolation. Through the hard work and diligence of our Treasurer/Manager we have ended the year in a financially stable position in spite of enforced restrictions. We are extremely grateful to our hard working and dedicated team of volunteers who have proved to be flexible and adaptable over the last unpredictable year. **Created by: Julie Tomkinson – Chair Date: 5[th] June 2021** ARC ASH RESCUE CENTRE- DARTMOUTH TREASURER'S ANNUAL REPORT- 2020 BANK 8ALANCE As at 3Q10912019 RECEIPTS 0111012019 TO 3010912020 '. PAYMENTS . 0111012019 TO 30m9￿020 18ANK BALANCE i As at 3010912020 6,759.76. 49,096.58,. 41.738.521 14.117.821 RECEIPTS 2020 PAYMENTS 2020 DONATIONS FUND RAISING EVENTS HMRC GIFTAID 36.S24.85 6.892.93 5.678.80. . ANIMAL WELFARE BANK CHARGES FEED I NAYLEDGE I FUNDRAISING COSTS fFIÉLD I FARM LAND COSTS I SEEOS I INSUPANCE ' MED￿ COSTS ' PAYROLL COSTS '. RENTIMANAGEMENT CHthGES I SALARIES .' SUBSCRIPTIONS . MISCELLANEOUS 5.295.421 105,54 1 8,848.53. 89.59., 7,602.e8:. 1,423.61 1,1S4.46 540.00 354.00. 900,00. 8.400.00. 6S4.98 6.369.71 49.096.S8 41.738.52 . PREPARED 9Y (PRINT NAME) _1 DA FISHBURN DATEL.-. 17110120 'CHECKED BY PRINT NAME) SIG CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Sectlon A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the trusteesldirectorsl members of CC7xJT£e- On accounts for the year ended Charity no.: Cornpany no.: Set out on pages I report to the charity trustees on rny examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended&c> CA ZOLO Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees of the Company (who are also the directors of the company lor the purposes of company law). you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 {"the 2006 Act"). Having satisfied myseff that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited for this year under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination. I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Acl 2011 {"Ihe 2011 Act"). In carrying out my examination, I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 14515}(b} of the 2011 Act. Independent examiner's statement tThe ¢ompany's gross income exceeded £250,000 and l am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of linsert name of applicable listed bodyll. Delete I l if not applicable. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material mallers have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ') which gives me cause lo believe that.. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006., or the accounts do not accord with such records- or the accounts do not comply with relevant accounting requirements under section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination., or .the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the Charits'es SORP {FRS1021. IER October 2018 I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. e delete Ih words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signe Date: Name: Relevant professional qualification{s) or body lif any}: Address: l.A.W J Hi'(le Road. Pil nton 4 iljll. paignrnnf. xrrniip.t.?llri- c?.Jk Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts= directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brfef details of any iterns that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018