## **Annual Report** ## **September 2020 to September 2021** ## **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: - Maintaining health and providing habitat enrichment for the animals in our care - Inducting and retaining new volunteer team members including a regular group via the local Social Prescribing network - 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 2012 October brought our first funeral to ARC, an outdoor event in line with COVID restrictions which was a beautiful and fitting event for a long-term supporter of the charity. Our ex-service horses were captured in a photoshoot with Deborah Haynes Photography and the pony herd joined neighbouring Fast Rabbit Gardens as conservation grazers in the wildflower meadows for six weeks. The charity received a large donation of rugs and tack from Keith and Sarah Evans (our Equine Dentist), to sell to raise funds and the annual wreath making took place throughout November and December which were available to order and sold locally in markets due to the lack of fundraising events being held. On 21 December a new horse arrived – Edward, who was due to be euthanised due to the death of his elderly owner; ARC was pleased to be able to help the family out at such a sad time. On Christmas Eve, a festive storm took the roof off our straw bale barn and we ended the year with a seagull themed entry at the annual Christmas Tree Festival. January – March 2021 The year started with the sad passing of resident elderly Dartmoor pony Rosie, who died on 13[th] January after a short illness. We experienced an outbreak of Campylobacter at the yard, requiring the immediate adoption of strict biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of the zoonotic disease, to safeguard our animals and people. The measures taken were efficient and effective in dealing with the outbreak. Snow and freezing temperatures made January a testing time for volunteers and animals but thanks to expert land management and efficient forward planning by Manager Jenny Rogers, all animals were kept well fed, comfortable and healthy. All horses had their feet trimmed. Approval was granted by The Charity Commission to amend our charitable objects; enabling us to expand our work into working with people and conservation projects. ## April – June 2021 Land management included fertilising our hay field and ploughing and seeding the bird seed mix meadow. The first nesting swallows of the year were seen, and our elderly sheep were shorn. On 1[st] June we had to make the decision to say farewell to resident horse Serrano who had enjoyed seven years of retirement with us. We spent 2 days with Keith Evans Equine Dentist onsite, who checked and treated every horse’s teeth. On 18[th] June we took in our first herring gull chick to rehabilitate. We took delivery of our winter straw. ## July – September 2021 During this quarter we started work with our first volunteer group via the local Social Prescribing network which became a regular, permanent Friday activity. Local house building company – Baker Estates – donated Heras panels to enable us to create a large outdoor area for gull juveniles to move into, numbers had climbed to over 100 from the first intake in June. We cut our own hay, resulting in 64 round bales. July brought the first wedding since COVID restrictions and August brought a weekend conference to the site; both providing good funding for the charity. On 19[th] August Cally died, a special old mare who was one of the original 9 that the charity was set up to care for. In September we took delivery of a large order of Mud Control Mats, enabling us to create further mud free standing space in and around field shelters and we had our first volunteer team from EE in Plymouth resulting in us becoming one of their approved charities for further activities in the future. On 14[th] September we took in two new equines - William and Cracker, neglect cases through World Horse Welfare. ## **In Summary** With continued limited fundraising opportunities we have continued to apply ourselves to working smarter. Money saving and streamlining initiatives are continually being identified to safeguard the charity’s finances. We have made bold steps forward with wildlife rehabilitation and received good support from the local and wider community and have quickly become the ‘go to’ organisation to contact for injured or orphaned wildlife, particularly sea birds. Our initial work with people through the Social Prescribing network has proved successful for both the charity and the volunteers engaging through the programme and we look forward to expanding and building upon this in the future. The hard work and diligence of our Treasurer and Manager Jenny Rogers has resulted in the charity ending the year in a financially stable position. We are extremely grateful to our hardworking, dedicated team of volunteers and community of supporters for their contribution over the past year. **Created by: Julie Tomkinson – Chair Date: 30[th] September 2021** ARC ASH RESCUE CENTRE ~ DARTMOUTH TREASURER'S ANNUAL REPORT - 2021 BANK BALANCE % at 30/09J2ff20 OU1012020TO 3010912021 OU1012020TO 3010912021 As at 3010912021 14,117.82. 54,564.72 43,5B8.53 25.094.01 '. RECEIPTS ' PAYMENTS ' 8ANK BALANCE RECEIPTS 2021 PAYMENTS 2021 I OONATK)NS 42,202.25 10.691.27' 1.671.20 VERTISING .' FUND PAISING EVENTS ANIMALWELFARE BANK CIIARGES 4.780.60 189.48 IHMRC GIFf AID FEED/ HAYLEDGE Fu14D￿s1NG cosrs 10,414.03, 4.025.48 1.745.481 1,394.02 1.573.24 FIELDI FARM LAND cosrs SEEDS INSURAN MEDIA COSTS 360.00 PAYRC*LCOSTS 349.(KJ MAItrtrENA￿É 33Q26 lo.￿.£￿) SAIARIES STATIONERY SVBSCRIMNS 534.99 mIs￿LANEoUs 7,(*7_95 PAYEJ NI CONTROLACC 54.564.72 43.588.531 PREPAREO BY (PRINT NAME) D A FISHBURN I￿GN1-. IDATEI.. 24110121 ECKED BY IPRltff NAME) 151GNI-. CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of On accounts forthe year ended Charfty no (rf any} Sel out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charyty {Yhe Trust? for the year ended20 CA 2<£1 Responslbllltles and basls of report As the chartys tnbslees, you a￿ responsible for the preparation ofthe accounts in accordanee wilh the requirements of the Chariiies Act 2011 (Ihe Act). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have ft)Ilowed all the applicable Directions gNen by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent ￿he charty's gross income exceeded £250,000 and l am qualified to examinerfs statement undertake the examination by being a qualrfied member of linsert name of applicable listed bodyll. Delete l ] rfnot applicable. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have me to my attention in connection with the examination {other than that disclosed below ) which gives me cause to believe that in, any maierial respect: the ac¢ounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charrties Acl., or Ihe a¢¢ounts did not accord with thg accounting ￿Ords. or the accounts did nol compty with the applicable requlrements concerning the fom and content of accounts set oul in the Chartties (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2(108 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Irue and faiff view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no Gon￿m$ and have come across no olher matters in conn8Ction with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be rea¢hed. ' Please delete the words in the brad(ets rfthey CS) not apply. Signed: Name: Relevant professlonal qualjflcatlonls) or body IER Oct 2018 Ilf any): Address: l￿w Accouothwy Services 5 Hi'de Road. Paignton Pai￿10n￿lam'￿co￿n[ann..co.uk Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matenal matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charty accounts.. dire(Aions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief detalls of any items that the examiner wishes to dlsclose. IER Oct 2018