Promoting, preserving and providing the power of animal companionship
**Annual Report 2021 - 2022**
_THANK YOU TO ALL OUR DONORS We would not exist without your generous support_
|CONTENTS||
|---|---|
|**Tribute to Rolo**|**_4_**|
|**Chairman’s Foreword**|**_5_**|
|**Our Vision, Mission, and Goals**|**_6_**|
|**Case Study: Maureen and Tate**|**_7_**|
|**CEO’s Report**|**_8_**|
|**Case Study: Andrea and Her Cats**|**_12_**|
|**Case Study: The Atkins Family and Cody**|**_13_**|
|**Volunteer Support Manager’s Report**|**_14_**|
|**Volunteer Story – Ann and Kasha**|**_16_**|
|**Volunteer Story – Sophie and Fenton**|**_18_**|
|**How We Make a Difference**|**_20_**|
|**The Year Ahead**
**Financial Review**|**_22_**
**_24_**|
|**Financial Report**|**_25_**|
|**Governance and Special Advisors**|**_34_**|
_Front cover: Maureen having a special moment with Wiggo Above: Ruby Lee enjoying a visit from Bentley!_
2
3
## **CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD 2022**
Our Special Friends has had a really strong year helping a significant number of new clients and their companion animals. This was in no small part due to the addition of two new members of the team, Gemma Reid (Animal Companionship Practitioner) and Frances Roach (Volunteer Support Manager), whose roles have enabled our CEO Bin Johnston to continue to lead on service delivery and drive the charity’s strategy.
The two new team members have taken on more of the day to day interactions with clients and volunteers which has expanded Our Special Friends’ capacity and reach, allowing the charity to help many more beneficiaries. The increase in the volume and speed at which cases can be managed this year has also resulted in a wider appreciation of the work of Our Special Friends in the local area from its excellent location at the British Racing School in Newmarket.
Financially, the charity has also had a robust year thanks to the increasing financial support from private individuals, Trusts, corporate supporters, legacies and local authority. The Trustees believe that the charity is now in a position to further develop the committed team and to recruit and appoint a charity manager in the next financial year to take on the overall operational management of the charity and ensure its future sustainability while also enabling its scaling into a wider geographic area.
With the uncertain economic times ahead, the cost of living increases and a possible recession we are acutely aware that those that are most in need will also be those most affected. The follow-on from this will undoubtedly be an increasing need for the services provided by Our Special Friends.
_Belinda and Rolo_
## **TRIBUTE TO ROLO** AND ALL THE ANIMAL COMPANIONS THAT WE LOST THIS YEAR
_We would like to pay tribute to Rolo (2008- 2022), who was the inspiration behind our visiting dog programme which we call Animal-Assisted Activity (AAA). He was such a character who loved people and encouraged interaction. It was a delight to see how he brightened the lives of the people that we visited; and met at events or in the office. We wish that we could have an endless supply of available dogs like him. He certainly created lots of smiles and happiness._
_RIP Rolo_
Having supported people and their companion animals throughout the pandemic, Our Special Friends has proven that supporting people at times of vulnerability through promoting, preserving and providing animal companionship is hugely beneficial to both the person and the animal involved.
Whether we help people look after their pets when they are unable to, make regular calls with a visiting dog or arrange for temporary fostering, our interventions are relatively low cost and immensely powerful. Our services are free at the point of delivery and our ethos is non-judgemental, caring and driven by empathy. It’s what we believe makes us special.
Finally, a big “Thank you” from myself and all the Trustees to all our supporters, volunteers, team members - both two legged and four!
Mark Johnston - Chair of the Trustees
4
5
## **OUR VISION**
A world in which the power of animal companionship is recognised and integrated into effective care and support plans for people and animals.
## **OUR MISSION**
To identify, develop, promote and deliver animal companionship support services which secure the benefits of animal companionship for people experiencing times of vulnerability, improving welfare for both.
## Case Study **Maureen and Tate**
Our Special Friends (OSF) received a referral in February 2021 from a Red Cross support worker concerning Maureen, an elderly lady who lived alone with her dog, Tate, and two cats. Maureen was extremely frail, in poor health and was being supported by a care company who visited her four times a day. The support worker had grave concerns over the welfare of Maureen’s animals which were reported to be defecating and urinating in the home. Also, Tate, an elderly cocker spaniel, was not getting any exercise.
OSF contacted Maureen’s nephew, who was sympathetic to his aunt’s situation and he understood the strong bond Maureen had with her pets, especially Tate whom she had cared for since he was a puppy. Maureen’s nephew lived in London and was not able to visit regularly but he did telephone his aunt daily. Other family members who had previously helped Maureen were tired
and wanted Maureen to rehome Tate, but her nephew felt rehoming Tate would ‘kill’ his aunt.
## **OUR GOALS**
1. To **develop** and **demonstrate** the **role** of an **Animal Companionship Practitioner** (ACP) and the effective application of **Animal Companionship Support Services** (ACSS) to vulnerable people in society as a functioning unit in its current location.
2. To **deliver** and **evidence** outstanding ACSS in our current location
3. To **expand** the adoption and provision of ACSS locally, through outreach, education, training and partnerships with like-minded organisations and agencies and secure budgetary support from them.
4. To **ensure** financial stability.
a. To ensure our sustainability as a provider of ACSS in the current locality.
b. To enable the expansion of properly resourced animal companionship support services in other locations.
OSF visited and confirmed that Maureen was living in unsanitary conditions and was unable to care for her pets. Tate was found to be in poor health and the cats were not able to freely enter/exit the house, which led to them urinating and defaecating in the house.
OSF arranged veterinary treatment for Tate and set up a volunteer dog walking rota in collaboration with a professional dog walker to ensure Tate got the exercise he needed. Unfortunately, the OSF volunteers found themselves helping with Maureen’s personal care which was not appropriate. They also reported that Tate’s water bowl was found to be empty on multiple occasions; the cats were not being fed and there was evidence of animal faeces and urine on the floors - despite the care agency’s agreement to undertake these tasks. OSF provided cat food and contacted the care agency and community matron to report their findings. In August, Maureen was admitted to hospital and, at short notice and out of hours, OSF arranged emergency foster care for Tate, and provided food to the neighbours so they could continue feeding Maureen’s cats. Although Maureen was happy to be reunited with her animals upon discharge from hospital, it was clear to OSF that she was still not able to provide the care they needed. Indeed, it was not long before she was re-admitted to hospital.
OSF arranged further foster care, during which time Maureen deteriorated and it became apparent she would not return home. Fortunately, a family member was able to permanently adopt Tate, and the cats were rehomed locally. Maureen was subsequently discharged from hospital into a care home where she receives the support she needs – and best of all, visits from her family and Tate.
This is a summary of an exceedingly complex case that required input from multiple agencies and services, of which OSF was a key component. OSF liaised regularly with the community health care professionals, hospital, veterinary practice, the professional dog walker and Maureen’s family to optimise outcomes for Maureen and her pets.
6
7
Age Range of People Needing Our Support*
_From left: Councillor Margaret Marks and Belinda Johnston_
## **CEO’S REPORT**
Having moved into our new office at the British Racing School, Newmarket, in April 2021, our primary aim was to re-establish our core office team and further support our volunteers and clients across the local region. This new stable base for Our Special Friends is very important as having the team all under one roof makes working on our cases much more effective. As many of our cases are complex with interrelated issues, including mental and physical health, domestic violence, homelessness, addiction and isolation, it is great to have an office base where our team can work together to provide our signature holistic response to the people and animals we support.
overwhelming our capacity so we encouraged the support agencies we work with to contact us on their client’s behalf, rather than signposting them directly to us. This effectively added a layer of triage which has facilitated and increased our collaboration and made our case management process easier to navigate.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without very significant gifts of people’s time, compassion, skills and funding. I am hugely grateful to our wonderful volunteers both office-based and out in our communities, without whom this charity, like so many others, just would not exist.
I am immensely grateful to everyone who has helped us to develop and deliver our animal companionship support services (ACSS), allowing us to adapt to the needs of our beneficiaries and to grow throughout the year. We reviewed our strategy in March 2022 and continue to focus on delivering our vision, mission and key goals. One of the key goals was around capacity internally and we were joined in August by two new fulltime colleagues, who by working closely together have enabled Our Special Friends to respond to the increased number of requests for help.
As always, we now look forward to the year ahead supporting more people and their animal companions, and others who have a love of animals, but sadly cannot have their own pet and appreciate our friendly visits. Undoubtedly the need for our range of animal companionship support services, led by our Animal Companionship Practitioners, will continue to grow and Our Special Friends will remain committed to helping all those that seek our help.
We are indebted to Councillor Margaret Marks who nominated Our Special Friends (along with SARS) as her chosen charity for which to raise funds during the year.
Not surprisingly, direct requests for financial help also increased throughout the year and these were
**----- Start of picture text -----**
No of Cases
**----- End of picture text -----**
_Over 50% of the people we support are over 65, but we support people across all age ranges and have seen growth in all demographics this year, highlighting the increasing need across the region._
_* Only includes clients for whom we have age data_
## Reasons People Need Our Support
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Animal Health and Welfare
Physical Ill Health
Financial Stress
Mobility
Mental Ill Health
Loneliness
Social Isolation
Hospitalisation Involvement
Bereavement Related
Change in Circumstances
Housing Related
Dementia
Animal Behaviour
Sensory
Environment Related
Caregiver Burden
Domestic Abuse
No Transport
Autism
Digital Exclusion
Covid Support
Homeless
Other
Victim of Crime
Learning Disability
Hoarding
Addiction
Prison or Probation
No of Cases
Reason Type
**----- End of picture text -----**
_The main reasons that people needed the help of OSF last year related to the health and welfare of their animal companion, their own physical ill health and financial worries. Many of the cases we supported involved multiple characteristics from the chart above._
8
9
Services Requested
## Sources of Referrals
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Self
OSF Community
Family and Friends
Health Care Professional
Veterinary Professional
Human Related Charity
Animal Related Charity
Social Services
Animal Related Services
Social Prescribing Linkworker
Multiple Referral
Housing Association/Services
Social Care Social Enterprise
Lawyer
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
No of Cases
Referral Type
**----- End of picture text -----**
Self-referrals are the principal source of our cases but we have also seen a significant rise in all the secondary referral routes this year. Notably, we have seen an increase of over 140% in our referrals from human related and animal related charities which we believe is due to our engagement and networking within the sector.
## Where We Work - East Anglia
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Financial Assistance
Pet Fostering
Veterinary Care
Advice, Information & Guidance
Dog Walking
Pet Rehoming
Animal-Assisted Activity (Dog)
Adoption Species Unknown
Bereavement Support
Emotional Support
Adoption (Dog)
Transport
Pet Care
Pet Boarding
Accompanied Dog Walking (AAA)
Dog Training
Neutering
Dog Walking - Accompanied
Dog Grooming
Advance Care Planning
Animal-Assisted Activity (Other)
Practical Help
Adoption (Cat)
Pet Sitting
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
No of Cases
Services Requested
**----- End of picture text -----**
We had a broad range of our services requested again this year with financial assistance, pet fostering, veterinary care, advice and support making up the majority of the requests. We are also very proud of our work around rehoming, AAA, fostering and adoption where the aim is to respect the human animal bond in the first instance
## Outcomes
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Enhanced Human Wellbeing
Enhanced Animal Welfare
Other
Increased Community Support
Influenced Organisational Change
No of Cases
Outcome Type
**----- End of picture text -----**
As always it is encouraging to see that we increased our outcomes across the board this year, with enhanced human and animal welfare/wellbeing at the forefront of our work promoting, preserving and providing the benefits of animal companionship.
10
11
## ***** Case Study **Andrea and Her Cats**
Our Special Friends (OSF) was contacted by a lady on behalf of her friend Andrea, who had fled an abusive relationship, along with her 8-year-old son, who is neurodiverse. Andrea owned four cats, two of which she took to her mother’s house, however, this caused problems due to her mother’s allergies. Andrea’s other two cats still lived in and around Andrea’s expartner’s flat, and although Andrea and her friend had visited several times when they knew her ex-partner was not there, they had not been able to capture the cats. Alongside her own situation, Andrea was very distressed about the welfare of her cats, two of which she had raised from birth, as her expartner had threatened their lives. She was desperate to find a temporary home for them until her housing application had been processed and she had somewhere safe for herself, her son and the cats to live.
Sadly, OSF is seeing an alarming rise in the number of referrals involving domestic abuse. Parting with an animal that may be the victim’s sole source of comfort during dark times can be heartbreaking and can cause a delay in them seeking help or attempting to flee. Providing foster care with the aim of reuniting pets with their owners in cases like Andrea’s can sometimes make the crucial difference to enable someone to permanently escape domestic abuse.
OSF immediately worked to find a solution for Andrea and her beloved cats. Sadly, there were no fostering options available over the Christmas period. Finding a cattery that would take them was also a challenge because the cats were not up to date with their vaccinations. Fortunately, OSF identified a cattery who could keep and isolate all four cats until they were vaccinated. As Andrea was struggling with finances, OSF agreed to contribute to the boarding costs from our Animal Welfare Support Fund. OSF also advised Andrea to contact Cats Protection to borrow a trap, and eventually she successfully captured both cats from where her ex-partner lived and took them to the cattery.
Although boarding resolved the initial crisis, it was not an ideal situation for the cats’ welfare, and not knowing how long it would be until Andrea was safely housed raised funding concerns. Therefore, after the Christmas holidays OSF initiated a new search for a foster home. This time a possible volunteer was identified - a vet who was known to OSF from a previous case and who had recently had to have her own cat ‘put to sleep’. After appropriate checks, the match was made and the volunteer collected Andrea’s cats from the cattery. It was a hugely successful foster placement and so reassuring to know the cats were in the hands of a capable volunteer and vet! Throughout the subsequent two months, the volunteer sent regular messages and pictures of the cats to Andrea, which she found very reassuring.
After being separated for a total of nearly four months, Andrea found pet friendly accommodation and she and her son were able to be reunited with their cats. Throughout this difficult time, Andrea was extremely comforted, knowing that her cats were being safely looked after. Temporary fostering saved her from having to make painful rehoming decisions during an already distressing time. None of this support would have been possible without the help of OSF’s volunteers and our Animal Welfare Support Fund. The cats are such an important part of Andrea’s life, and to see how happy her son was to be reunited with them was incredibly moving.
_Andrea’s cats settled in quickly at their foster home_
_**Throughout this difficult time, Andrea was extremely comforted, knowing that the cats were being safely looked after.**_
_*Andrea’s name has been changed to protect her identity_
## Case Study **The Atkins Family and Cody**
Mr Atkins called OSF in distress because his family’s beloved cat, Cody, had been hit by a car and had suffered an eye injury. Having taken Cody to the vet, the Atkins family were told that Cody’s eye needed to be removed at a cost of around £500. As it was, the family were struggling to make ends meet. Mrs Atkins had only just returned to work in her NHS role after suffering from Long Covid, and Mr Atkins’ salary put them just above the threshold for claiming benefits. There was no way they could afford this essential treatment, even with a payment plan. Furthermore, the RSPCA and Cats Protection had not responded to the family’s request for help. They were facing the very real possibility of having their otherwise healthy cat put to sleep.
Luckily, Cody’s vet knew about Our Special Friends, and gave the Atkins family our contact details. OSF agreed to finance the operation, and later on the very same day Mr Atkins called to tell us that Cody underwent a successful operation. When we were in touch a few days later, Cody was recovering well at home and seemed much happier. In the meantime, the RSPCA West Suffolk had pledged £100 towards the operation, reducing the amount OSF had to pay – however, the RSPCA’s support alone would have been both too little and likely too late to have saved Cody’s life.
It took a while for Cody to get used to having one eye, but as the photos below show, he is back to his happy self. The Atkins family say that he now enjoys a bit more fuss than previously… and amazingly can still hunt, bringing mice back as ‘gifts’!
_**“Cody is back to his happy self … he’s such a wonderful character and it seems to have added to his personality! We cannot thank you enough for helping us in our hour of need, it’s greatly appreciated. Thank you.”**_
12
13
## **VOLUNTEER SUPPORT MANAGER’S REPORT**
## **An overview**
Our annual volunteer survey received a record 57 responses. The anonymous survey encouraged volunteers to share their activities, thoughts, and feelings about volunteering with Our Special Friends. Responses were very positive and we are pleased to introduce our case review process as a direct response to volunteer feedback. It is wonderful that many of our volunteers are re-engaging with OSF and that our supportive community continues to grow.
_Frances Roach_
## **Supporting our volunteers**
This year we have been delighted to re-introduce face-to-face meetings, offering direct support for volunteers. We encourage volunteers to drop into our offices whenever they want/need to and have the opportunity to discuss any case-related or personal issues. This has also helped build relationships between volunteers and myself as Volunteer Support Manager and Gemma, our Animal Companionship Practitioner, who are both new in role this year. From the beginning of 2022, we ran a monthly volunteer training with topics including Animal-Assisted Intervention, Animal First Aid and Safeguarding. These sessions have been delivered by our in-house team as well as third-party agencies. We have also supported new recruits with three ‘Welcome to OSF’ induction sessions, although there seems to be an increased preference for this being accessible online. In June we held our first volunteer celebration event since Covid, to thank our volunteers. We continue to keep in touch with our volunteers via our volunteer bulletin, The Monthly Paws. Here we share information, welcome new volunteers, and offer opportunities for volunteer development and support.
## **Recruitment and resignations**
In 2021/22 we fully recruited 39 volunteers. With the absence of many local animal-centric events which would usually attract new volunteers, we had to think creatively about how to attract new members to our volunteer team. Appeals on social media have been successful with 38% of our new recruits hearing about us on Facebook. Our volunteer application form is now accessible online, meaning we are also receiving more completed application forms via the website. The past year we have also focused on ‘cleaning’ our data so that it is a true reflection of our volunteers’ activity and capacity. As a result of this we have been able to re-engage volunteers who were on hold during Covid, but also have confirmed the resignations of 16 volunteers.
## **Challenges and plans for the year ahead**
Despite recruiting a good number of new volunteers, the need for our volunteer support grows evermore. Our team has worked closely together to identify our need and recruit volunteers accordingly. We anticipate that living in uncertain times, individuals may not have the capacity to volunteer. In the next year we hope to develop our induction training to ensure that all new recruits are able to access information easily and readily. This will be codesigned, involving volunteers and staff, both of whom can enact change.
**.**
14
15
**VOLUNTEER STORY – Ann and Kasha**
_“It is so rewarding to see her face light up when we arrive...”_
Ann first learnt about Our Special Friends through a local charity event, and thought that our AnimalAssisted Activity (AAA) service would be perfect for her rescue Chocolate Labrador, Kasha, who was a happy dog but often bored. Ann said “The job specifications for Kasha – to laze around being admired, brushed and fed tit-bits by lonely elderly people – ideally suited her laid-back temperament.”
After an induction, Ann and Kasha began their weekly Animal-Assisted Activity (AAA) home visits to a client who was unable have a pet of their own, providing some much needed animal companionship and also some regular human interaction. Soon Ann took on other tasks for OSF, including walking clients’ dogs when the owner had mobility issues, providing foster care for pets in her own home when their owner was facing crisis, taking another AAA client for walks with Kasha, and taking a pet to a vet appointment during lockdown. She became a regular at our monthly Volunteer Meet-ups in Sudbury, and even introduced us to a friend who has now become a volunteer herself.
_Ann and Kasha taking a rest during a walk_
For their AAA visits, Ann and Kasha were matched with a lady who can only move about her home slowly using a walking frame, who needs help with showering and requires meals to be delivered. They visited every Monday morning, and Ann said: “It is so rewarding to see her face light up when we arrive. We stay an hour, and as she has slight hearing loss I pull up a stool and sit directly in front of her to aid communication, with Kasha between us to stop her searching the house for biscuit crumbs. I enjoy learning about [the client’s] past, especially her experience of living in Iran, or Persia as she still calls the country. We swap books and sometimes sit in her pretty garden. Our client has both happy and sad recollections, some involving the dogs she has owned, and hopefully telling me about them helps to maintain those memories.”
But all of a sudden, things changed very quickly for both Ann and Kasha. After a serious car crash, instead of visiting her client, it was Ann who was, in her words, “shuffling around with a walking frame due to fractures, and needing my husband Brian’s help with showering and dressing. Meals from the same caterers my client uses were ordered as we could not cope with buying and cooking food.” Ann and Brian were struggling with their situation: overwhelmed by the trauma, regular liaison with officials and the insurance company, having to cancel a holiday and other engagements, and even by the constant flow of kind phone calls, cards and flower deliveries. Brian had been fatigued since catching Covid three months previously, and with Ann
needing so much support, walking Kasha had now become an additional chore rather than a pleasure. Due to the stressful situation, Ann and Brian sometimes snapped at Kasha, who couldn’t understand why they weren’t paying her the usual amount of attention.
In distress, Ann contacted OSF for help. We were able to find a short-term foster home for Kasha the very same day, giving Ann and Brian the space they needed to concentrate on the essentials and come to terms with what had happened. Four days later, a happy Kasha was returned to Ann and Brian, who were now in a position to enjoy her companionship. During her recuperation, attending the Volunteer Meet-ups was one of the few social things Ann felt able to do, and she has also found great support from the local network of OSF volunteers. Ann and Kasha resumed their AAA visits a month later, “with an increased appreciation of client needs and of OSF’s work.”
_**“I enjoy learning about [the client’s] past, especially her experience of living in Iran, or Persia as she still calls the country. We swap books and sometimes sit in her pretty garden. Our client has both happy and sad recollections, some involving the dogs she has owned, and hopefully telling me about them helps to maintain those memories.”**_
**----- Start of picture text -----**
17
**----- End of picture text -----**
16
## **VOLUNTEER STORY – Sophie and Fenton**
_“Many people shared stories about the different ways in which their beloved cat, dog, guinea pig or even budgie had improved their lives...”_
During the height of the pandemic, I spent some time working at my local vaccination centres around Suffolk, administering Covid vaccines to members of the public. It was during these busy weekend shifts that I started to gain more insight into some of the physical and mental health challenges that many people face in their day to day lives, and to understand the value that animals bring to those who are more vulnerable in society.
In my ‘normal’ career I am a qualified veterinary surgeon, and when patients asked me what I did as a ‘day job’ the conversation often naturally moved on to talk about their own pets and their importance to them. Many people shared stories about the different ways in which their beloved cat, dog, guinea pig or even budgie had improved their lives. For some of the more vulnerable, isolated patients their animal companion had often been their only company throughout the period of lockdown, and it was clear that many would not have got through this time without them.
Not long after I had started at the centre I became aware of the work of Our Special Friends, through their excellent Facebook page. I had been fortunate to be the owner (or ‘dog Mum’ as I believe it’s known these days!) of Fenton, a five year old Irish terrier. I felt that perhaps there were some other people out there who would appreciate meeting him, particularly if they were not in a position to be able to have a dog themselves.
It is difficult to describe in words how much Fenton means to me. He is a true friend; kind and warm-hearted, affectionate, and a furry body to cuddle up on the sofa with at the end of a long day at work. Equally, he makes me laugh most days with his silly antics, swirling round in high speed circles in anticipation of a walk, or barking in apparent jealousy when my husband kisses me on the cheek! He has taught me that even with several years of clinical training under my belt, animals will teach you something new every day, and contrary to what we might think, they can indeed speak – you just have to listen to them in the right way.
Having passed the canine and human assessments, Fenton and I were ‘matched’ by OSF to a lady called Jenny, who lives in Bury St Edmunds. I was somewhat nervous ahead of our first visit, unsure what to expect and whether she would even like us. I need not have worried; after we arrived and sat down all together with a cup of tea, Fenton took a few minutes to sniff around and make himself at home. Seemingly understanding his new role, he quickly settled down at Jenny’s feet, appreciative of some tummy rubs and a small handful of treats. I relaxed, and knew things would be fine at that point.
Over the course of our visits, Jenny has become a friend too, telling me stories about her life and about the pets she was fortunate to have herself growing up and as an adult. I have come to realise the times when she feels like chatting, and those when she would rather just sit more quietly; gently stroking Fenton and telling him ‘you are a special boy, aren’t you’. The condition of Dementia can make it harder for her to remember some things, but she almost always is able to recall his name which I hope is a small indicator of what he brings to her life.
We have really enjoyed the experience of supporting OSF and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in AAA. There is always support available at the end of the phone and there is a very friendly network of people to support you too. I have learned so much working with the charity and Fenton and I look forward to continuing in our partnership with OSF together.
_Sophie Ignarski & Fenton_
18
1919
## **HOW WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE**
## **Agency**
## **From an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor at a local Domestic Abuse Service**
_Foster care and boarding to enable owner to escape while her emergency housing did not allow pets._
“I just wanted to let you know the difference that this made to my client’s life.
She had been in an abusive relationship for several years and each time we tried to get her out she would not leave without the cats. She had become extremely unwell, and I was concerned for her mental and physical health. Our Special Friends’ help and support has enabled us to get her out of the property safely, and with the support of her family she is gradually getting stronger each day away from a high-risk perpetrator.”
## **From a client whose dog passed away and OSF visited regularly with a volunteer dog**
## _Care planning, bereavement support, alerting her GP and Animal-Assisted Activity_
89-year-old lady living in warden assisted living was signposted by her vets wanting advice on what would happen to her dog, Daisy, if something happened to her. OSF kept in touch after creating an advance care plan to document her wishes and provided support when Daisy had to be ’put to sleep’ over a year later. Once when she was feeling unwell, our volunteer encouraged her to seek medical advice, her GP was contacted and she was taken to hospital for tests before returning home. She subsequently received regular AAA visits over the next two years until her death in October 2022.
“Thank you so much to Our Special Friends for the flowers and for your kindness over the years to myself and Daisy”
“Our Special Friends were so helpful and I feel they went above and beyond to help my client”
## **From a Rough Sleeper Outreach Worker**
_Helping a homeless person and animal companion through referral and access to veterinary care_
“(Our Special Friends) assisted my client to get her dog veterinary treatment.
She has peace of mind that her dog is well and now vaccinated and she been offered further treatment from the vets. It is hard to find negatives (with Our Special Friends).. excellent”
## **From a man with mental health issues facing urgent hospital admission who was concerned about his beloved cat**
## _Transport, access to veterinary care, financial support, enhanced mental health, prevention of hospital admission_
“Thank you very much. Jemima is much better and much happier. She’s been playing like she’s a kitten which I haven’t seen her do for a while now. I’m ever so grateful for all your help and I’ll be singing your praises every opportunity I get! Thanks for the everything, the flea spray, the trip to the vets, the ear drops, the cat food and your efforts in finding her somewhere to stay if she needed it. You have made a big difference to my baby. Thank you so very much.”
## **From an Addiction Support Worker**
## _AAA leading to adoption_
“Our Special Friends was been an integral part of my client’s recovery journey. … a volunteer visited her each week with their own dog: a befriender to talk to and the company of an animal was a perfect combination for her. I was delighted to hear later that she then adopted her very own dog. My client’s low mood/outlook on life drastically improved.”
## **From a Community Psychiatric Nurse**
_Foster care and boarding to reunite, urgent mental health admission_
“Our Special Friends helped to house 3 dogs which needed to be taken from their home whilst their owner was admitted to hospital for treatment. It allowed the person to be reassured that her dogs would be looked after and possibly saved the dogs from a person who was likely to abuse /neglect them.
## **Volunteer**
## **From a volunteer on the benefits of visiting in the community, dog walking, emotional support**
“For me and my dog – developing a special bond through contact with clients. He enjoys the attention from them all and is always excited when we go to their homes.
I have been deeply touched by the life stories which emerge when we visit. My clients are keen to talk on a wide range of topics. This client’s isolation is very worrying and our weekly visits relieve it somewhat. With her daughter’s consent (and via the office) I have referred the client to Adult Social Services to see if they can offer her any assistance in any way. Her daughter is feeling under pressure to care for her which puts a strain on their relationship. If her daughter is there when we attend she likes to off-load to me I’m happy to listen.”
‘As a community psychiatric nurse, the work you do makes my job a lot easier”
## **From a Volunteer and their dog Bailey**
## **Client**
## **From clients who had never had a dog before where Our Special Friends provided adoption**
## **support**
_Millie needed to be rehomed due to her owner’s critical frailty even after several months of OSF support to keep them together. Initial referral from their social worker._
_Compassionate support for an owner needing to relinquish their beloved dog; accessing veterinary care and matching dog to new owners. Advice, guidance and support throughout the journey._
Four years later: “OSF introduced us to Millie, our wonderful dog, and to the brilliant concept of Our Special Friends. Millie is a lovely companion to us both, giving us the great opportunity to meet other dog walkers, make good friends and of course, daily exercise in these difficult times. OSF cannot improve, it is perfect for us. We would rate the service 6 (out of 5) if we could. Millie is such a sociable girl and very loving and she has added another dimension to our lives and those of our extended family.”
## _Visiting in the community_
“I have been a volunteer at Our Special Friends for some 6 years, shortly after I retired. Bailey has always had a keen interest in people and other animals and is a particularly bright, special dog with a determined personality. His drive and sociability is the backbone to our working relationship. I have enjoyed taking him to meet a variety of people in a range of situations knowing that seeing us regularly has made a difference to both the people we visit and our day. I get great pleasure learning about other people’s lives and Bailey always helps people feel more at ease. Bailey enjoys being the centre of attention whether he visits an individual client or retirement home and the staff also enjoy his company. Overall the experience benefits everyone: I get out more enjoying meeting new people, Bailey enjoys extra company (and biscuits) and we hope that we make a bit of a difference to our clients’ lives.”
_Maureen enjoying volunteer Bee and Wiggos’s visit_
20
21
## **THE YEAR AHEAD**
Our Special Friends started 12 years ago, from one case and a belief that people with a love of animals were hidden away in our communities, invisibly vulnerable and struggling with several issues including financial stress, mental and physical health, loneliness and isolation. It became clear that these people were not able to be supported by veterinary clinics or rehoming centres. Over 1900 cases later, we know that the role of an Animal Companionship Practitioner and Our Special Friends’ range of animal companionship support services make a difference, often a transformative one. Therefore, we have continued to develop and define our collaborative and holistic approach.
Looking forward to the year ahead we expect further increases in demand for Our Special Friends’ services. We are monitoring the global increase of inflation due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the negative economic effects of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. Coupled together these issues have led to the UN’s Global Food Price Index rising to its highest ever level since its inception in 1990. These substantial costs of living increases will undoubtedly mean hardship for our current and future beneficiaries as the most basic of household costs increase.
With the economic outlook being so bleak, the charity has never been more focused on growing our capacity, strengthening our team, building a sustainable infrastructure and helping as many people and animal companions as we can.
We will recruit our first Charity Manager next year to deliver operational resilience and ensure the future financial sustainability of the charity. We will build on our Animal Companionship Practitioner role and further support our invaluable volunteers through the new Volunteer Support Manager role. As our requests for support expands geographically we will also look at how we best scale OSF to manage these new cases.
As a charity that relies on voluntary funding we know that being able to demonstrate the impact of our support continues to be a high priority and we will develop
feedback forms to enable anonymous responses from clients and third parties involved in our cases. We are also acutely aware that we need to be able to accurately record, store and analyse the data related to our work, so we will focus on our information systems in the coming year so that we have robust systems in place. This will allow us to evidence our impact and successfully apply for further funding to support our beneficiaries. We are thankful that we also have a wealth of powerful case studies which we will endeavour to share widely to help explain what we do. We have identified that we need to invest in marketing and communications so this will be an objective for 2022-23.
We believe that this year ahead will be challenging and for those that enjoy animal companionship, the presence of animals will be all the more important in helping people to cope. Unfortunately, these supportive relationships will be at greater risk as the cost of living crisis escalates and wellbeing and mental health deteriorates. We are aware that the complexity of our cases is ever increasing and that there is a lack of mental health and social care support in the community. The people that we are accessing have significant health issues and/or disadvantages. Their network of support is often either non-existent, at a critical point or lacking in effective resource.
We all need to take a radical cross-society holistic approach to promoting wellbeing, reducing the impact of mental health conditions, intervening earlier, improving treatment and supporting people to live well while pushing a vision for change that can be ‘made real’ in each local area, transforming lives and livelihoods and levelling up the country.
There is much to do and Our Special Friends will continue promoting, preserving and providing the power of animal companionship to all who need it.
Picture (right): Volunteer dog Blue wearing her OSF bandana with pride at our Volunteer Celebration Event
**----- Start of picture text -----**
23
**----- End of picture text -----**
22
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
Total income for the year ended 30 April 2022 was £237,478 which was slightly down on the previous year (2021: £240,487). We continue to rely primarily on grants, and the average amount of each grant is still relatively low. We therefore rely on a constant flow of successful applications to fund our services and maintain reserves.
While a broad spread of funders reduces the risk inherent with just one or two major providers, the time and effort required to apply, secure and report on these grants is significant for a small charity. Our future growth will therefore depend on securing income from a wider range of sources.
The value of the services we provide is increasingly being recognised by statutory bodies responsible for the welfare of the vulnerable people we work with. While this is encouraging, we receive very little statutory funding for our services. In the future, we believe this should change but we are realistic about the challenges involved.
Expenditure for the year increased by 46% to £204,922 (2021: £140,160). This was in line with our budget and primarily reflects the recruitment of a full-time Volunteer Support Manager and a second Animal Companionship Practitioner.
Reserves at 30 April 2022 were £202,746 (2021: £170,190). Our budgeted expenditure for 2022-23 is just over £250,000 but we are more cautious about increases in income during the current year and so expect reserves to reduce to a level closer to six months forecast spend. This is the line with our reserves policy.
24
25
Our Special Friends
Financial statementsfor the y&3r ended ) April 2022
Our Speclal Friends
Financial statemen15 for the year ended 30 April 2022
Statement of ffinancial activities (including summary income and
expenditure account)
Resttlcted
Income
funds
Report to the trustees of Our Special Friends
I report lo the chaiity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year
ended 30 April 2022 Sel out on pages 4 to 10.
Untesttlded
Iwds
P)ryear
funds
Not05
Total funds
Inc¢me
Dcmab"ons 1gJaaes
crfjrrtable ac*Mkn"es
Interest
Totsl i10
184.685
24
14
184.723
52.755
237.440 239.399
24
1.057
14
31
237 478
240.487
As the Charity's trustees of the Company (who are also the directors of the company for the
purpose5 of company lawl, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in
accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 20LK Dhe 20(K Acn.
52,755
Having satisfied myseff that the accounts of Ihe Company a N)1 required to be audited for this
year under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination. l K)rt in
respect of rny examination of your charlS accounts as carried oui under section 145 of the
charleS Act 2011 {'the 2011 Act"). In Carrying oui my examination. I have followed the
Directions given by the Charity Commission (under sectton 14515}Ib) of the 2011 Act.
ExpeNIItute
Raisiru funds
Clritable atxmties
Totsl expendire
28.489
97,644
126.133
8,673
70,116
78,789
37.1S2
167,760
204 922
28.649
111.511
140. 160
I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matters have come to my attention
which gives me cause to believe that..
. accounting rectsids were not kept in acu*rdance wlh section 386 of the Companies Act 2LTh:
or
Net inconrfexpendiiurel
Transfers betwee funds
Net Thb)vernent in fu15
,5a¢ I 126,0341
32.5% 100,327
s8.7 126.034)
32.5 100,32T
. the accounts do not accord with-suth records., or
Reconciliation rf funts:
T(rtal funds twoughl forward
Total funds carried fonvard
. the accounts do not comply with relevant accounling reqU1mentS under section 396 of the
Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the accounls give a'true and fairf view
which is not a matter Considered as part of an independent examinalion.. or
103,582
162.172
66,608 170,190
69,865
40,574 202,746 170.190
. the a¢counts have not been prepared in 8¢cordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102}.
I have no concerns and havè come across no other matters in conneciion with the examination
to which attention should be dT8wn in this report in order lo enable a prowf understandiThJ of the
accounts lo be reached.
Marguerite EM Nice ACA ATA
Chartered Accounlanl, Charted Tax Advisor
Thè Green Farmhouse
The Green
Barrow
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP29 SAA
18 jthJ (J
26
27
Our Special Friends
Financial stslemenls for the year
Our Special Friends
Finanaal statements for the year ended 30 April 2022
Balance sheet
Notes tothe accounts
Rostrlcted
Incomg
bJnds
Basis of preparation
Llnr051rf¢t?d
funds
Totaf thls Tothlwknr
year
year
Not05
TtrEse alxounts have tEen prepared under the hist1¢81 rx)st ¢x>nvention wrth items rectJgni8ed at cost
or Irar6a¢XJon value.
Current assets
Debtors
Cash at tsnk and in hand
Total Current a55ets
a(xx)unts have tEen ptEpared in a((dan wrth the Statement (* Recommended Pra1..
AccountirvJ and Rewrtirg by Charits'es preparing their aOunts in acrdanCe with the Financial
RetK)rb'ng Standard ap1¢able in the UK and Republic crf Irdand IFRS 1021 issued on 16 July 2014,
and wlh the Charities A& 2011
540
169.969
540
3.303
40,610 210,579 175.397
11.11
178, 700
cred[to.. aTrunts falling due
within one year
8,337
8,373
8,510
2 Accounting policies
Net current assets
1,172
40,574 202,746 170, 190
RecognNlon of IK¢)
Inc(xne is incIed in the Statement of Financial Acb"vrties when."
the charity t*MeS enlrtled lo the resources,.
r( is more likeW ttron not that the trustees will receive the resources.,
the metsry value txn iE measured with sufficient reliability.
There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilits. or income and
exFEnses. unless requir8J (X Fkymttted by the FRS 102 SORP or FRS
102.
Total assets less current Ilabilitles
162.172
40,574 202,746
170,1
Total net assets
162,172
40574 201746 170.190
Funds ofthe Charity
Restricted incx)me funds
Unrestricted fun
Grdnts and dorAtions
40,574
40.574
66,608
1.172 103 582
40,574 202.746 170.190
Grants and donab.ons are only Ir1led in ttTre Statement of Winanci
Actwilies when the general iome recc¥Jnilion criteria are mel.
Legacies are included in the Statement of Financial Activits'es when
receipt is protoble, that is, when there has ken grant of probate, the
eXecut(S have established that there are sufficient assets in the estate
and any condib.ons attached to ttro18Jacy are either wthin the control of
the charity or have tEen rnet
The value d any voluntary help received is not induded in the CoUnts
bul Is denbed In the trUstS. annual report.
1&.172
162,172
Total funds
Legacies
the year ded 30 April 2022, the company was entilled to exempb'on fr£ audr( under
seckn.on 477 of the CoM[nieS Act 2(KE relating to small cc¥npanies.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts the year in
question in accordance with sert1 476 of the Q)mpanies Ad 2(K
The directors ackncwledge Ih8r reSt$1b111kn.es for complying the rquirements of the
Companies Act with respEct to accounting recx>rds and the preparation of acuunts
These accounts have been prepared ln accordance wrth the provisiorts applicabk lo small
c(mpanies subject lo small companies, regime and in )rdance wth FRS102 SCRP
Volunteer help
Liability recognition
LiatAlilEs are reo)gni%ed vthere it is more likely tron not that there is a
legal or (x)nstrucb"ve d)ligab"on wmmrtting the charity to pay out
resour(Es and the amount of the obligation can be rneasured wrth
reasonable certainty.
Governance a1 support Sutwrt o)sts have b*n allThzted tEln governan costs and other
gJPtK)rt. Governance costs comprise all $ts involving public
acuuntabilty ol the charity and its Wmplian wrth regUlatic and good
pra(*ice.
These are capxlalised rf they can be used for more than one year, and
(x)st al least
They are valuaj at c(6t and depreated over 3 years.
Appr
by the Board and Jwjned
ky
30 0(1c• ?h?.?
ha
Tangible fixed assets for
use by charty
Robert F
Director
28
29
Our Special Friends
Financial stslemenls for the year ended 30 April 2022
Our Special Friends
FirrarKral stslpments turthe year ended 30 Awl 2022
Notes to the accounts
Plotes to accour
3 Analysis of incoTh
Unrestrlcted
Restrlcted
funds Incprne fund5
Total funds
Prforyear
Th15 year
Prforyear
Donations and
legacies..
thnaliorts and gifts
Gift Aid
General grants pmided by
vuother charrties
Ckher
Total donab.ons and legacies
67,240
5,045
112.400
1,726
24.284
5.444
208.784
5,045
163,429
Salaries aThY wa
Sctial securty costs
Pensv)n $ts l(kfined c0ntrft10n scheme)
Seifempbyed staff costs
91.840
3.801
1,726
51.719
63.665
2221
1, 168
45,65T
51,029
887
239.399
184.685
52.755
237.440
Siaff trainiry and exFen5es
2.506
151 592
1. 759
114 4q70
Charrtable
activities:
Fundraising evwts
24
24
1.057
J em)yeeS recew•l emYee tnefits (excluding employer pertsion costs) for rewrting rIOd of more than £fjO.000.
The company wovkaes persion LEnefits Undert1 NEST scheme
The full time equlvant numter of staff worknng forthe charty durirvJ the yearwas 5 12021. 41
other IncoTrw:
Interest
14
14
31
Tcrtal Income
184.723
52,755
237,478
240,487
$ D*btors and Ppayments
Th15 year Prforyear
Prepayments and acCrd IrMe
540
540
3.303
3,303
4 Analysis of expenditure
Unrestrlcted
Re5trlcted
funds Income funds
Total funds
prtoryear
7 CredttoTs and accruals
Expenditure on
raising funds
Amounts falllng due
thIn one year
Thls year
Prforyear
Staff cx)sts
Advertising, marketing, direct
mail and publicffcy
Total expenditure on raising
funds
25,602
8.673
34.275
26.991
2.887
2.887
1.658
AceruaL8 deferred irorne
TaXan and 50cral security
6,(2
2,311
8,373
6863
1647
8,510
28,489
8.673
37.162
28.649
Expendrture on
charitable
activities
Volunteer cctsts
Animal care costs
OF[1 expertses
staff msts
Total expendithre on
charitable activities
2.856
2.856
19.725
27,862
117,317
653
9.413
13.966
8T.479
19.725
11,624
38,767
16,238
78,550
97.644
70.116
167.760
111.511
Total expenditure
78.789
204 922 140 160
No fees were paid in respect d the Independent Examinati( cl the finanual statements in the current or
prior year.
No trustee exper6es were incurred In the current or prior year.
30
31
Fund
bèlances
Expendliur caNTlÈd
fonva*TI
balaNJ¢es
bnw9ht
Our Special Friends
Finala1 ststemeTrts forthe year en¢J8d 30 Awl 21YZ2
Notes to the accounts
Restrlcted fund5
The Hobtst Ch¥ity
Mrs Smrfh & Mount Tmst
IndNkYual Gr8nt
GtErnsey CharKable Trust
stEdmunds Trust
Vetsfees
Anmal-AssistedAciNty
Funthatsersalary
AnAm&l-AssistedAcbvty
IT fvnlling
(J7re renÈ
1,212
(1,212)
i.soo
5,000
18,514
7,426
5.000
5,000
1.000
i.0
Fund
baances
brou
Fund
balaKBs
¢ath•J
(5.000)
(18.514?
(7.426)
(453?
(452)
(1.000)
(0)
CuThent Year
Pwpose and Restrlctlons
4,547
4,548
NewmarketFestrval
West Suifolkcounc
Suff Cornmunty Foundatx)n
Fonn¥eau Rtsgd Heath R>undati)n AJ>iinal-AssffstedActivty
Suifolk Communty Trust
Ctx& costs
Coronavrus Fund
Ccye costs
Mwtsne8u FfAnd
S&l8rEs
RevNg Communty
CL2 costs
Maurken Fuftjd
C(xe ¢osts
Èst Suifolk Coun¢
Companionshlp PctK)ner
Indivxjual GRnt
Funrk8wsalary
Roll Cfvar
Volunte8rsuppyt
Animal Weffare SupF Fund
Petplan Charrtabk Trust2020
The Hc>iwn Charrtabk Trust
Petplan charitab Trust 2021
Kennel Cknb Chanlabk Tmst
Anrnal-Assffst&dAcbvty
Lcralty fvndffng
Mr5 Smith & Mount Trust
G01th1n
1ndividual Grant
Suffolk Comtllunity Foundation
Fonnereau Road Heatth FoundatKJn
David & Jill SimpEon Fund
Pargrter Trust Fund
Miller Trust Fund
Sil George Ear Benevolent Fund
Sha(*¥ell Trust Fund
Helen Roll Charity
West Suffolk Council
West Suffolk Council
St Edmunds Trust
Individual Grant
Individual Grant
Charles Hayward Foundation
Helen Roll Charity
Animal Wewaie Supwrt Fun
Petplan Chartrdble Trust 2tY20
The Hot60n Charity
Petplan Charftable Trust 2021
Kennel Club charitsb Trust
Anim81- Assisted Activty
orrice Rent
orfice Rent
{1,8CKII
(4,547)
(4,5481
4.547
4,548
s,0
5,000
5.000
zooo
5,000
I,0
25,000
io,ooo
s.0
(3,427)
(5.000?
(5.000)
(2.000?
(5,000)
[1.0?
1,573
Animal_ Assistsd Acb"vty
Cole costs
Core costs
Core Costs
Core costs
Core Costs
Animal companioh[P Practit[[
Volunteer SupFOrt Manager
Animal Companioh1P Practit[[
work stations
Fundraiser salary
Fundraiser salary
Anim81- Assisted Activty
Volunteer supwrt
1,573
(1,573)
{3,0(Kll
(7,SCOI
(1,5CKII
{3.OCOI
4,OtK)
10.0(KI
2.OtKI
3,OC
5CK)
5,OLM)
10.0(KI
1.oc
2.5(Kl
25,(QO
6,070
2685
5(M)
5.OCrf)
10.OLK)
7,2
f3.930}
P.315)
25.(XM)
{17,7101
(2,5291
(2,6031
(6,0701
Anm7al I1Èffa Supp
5.WO
s,0
10,000
looo
(4,615)
385
4000
io,(oo
5,000
2.529
10.OtK)
7.397
knimal 14èff8 Sup
Weltare
6,070
4.0(K)
2.685
(2,6851
rotal Restrlcted Funds
1,212
132,740
66,608
Animal v¥Èifare SuprKIrt
Animal VI*re Supwrt
Animal SuppK)rt
Dty Weltsre
Total Restrlcted Funds
385
5,CQO
10.000
5,000
13851
(5,OCOI
110,OCQI
2,613
2.387
66.608
51.029
77,C63
40.574
32
33
## **GOVERNANCE AND SPECIAL ADVISORS**
## **Patron**
Lord Fairhaven DL KStJ
## **Board of Trustees**
Robert Ferguson, Treasurer Mark Johnston, Chair Elizabeth Ormerod Carolyn Bradburne David Wright Jill Gurney
**Accountant Bankers** Marguerite Nice Barclays Bank plc The Green Farmhouse 20/21 Cornhill Barrow Bury St Edmunds Bury St Edmunds Suffolk Suffolk IP33 1DY IP29 5AA
## **Team**
Belinda Johnston, CEO and Founder Susan Bradwell, Financial Support Mark Toller, Financial Director Sally Bycroft, Marketing and PR Anna Hunt, Fundraising Gemma Reid, Animal Companionship Practitioner Frances Roach, Volunteer Support Manager Linda Sadler, Animal Welfare Support Bil Thorn, Office Administrator
## **Supported ‘in the office’ by volunteers:**
Rebecca Clarke, Marketing and PR Karen Mallett, Christine Singleton, Service Delivery Jan Webb, Eva Shipp, Catherine Guy, Sophy Day, Volunteer admin
## **THANK YOU TO ALL OUR DONORS**
_We would not exist without your generous support._
_We are very grateful to our corporate sponsors who have donated their time or products which, amongst others include:_
_Barking Bags_
_Co-op Local_
_Caseron_
_Everything Answered_
_Fish4Dogs Ltd_
_Pet Remedy_
_Pitpat_
_Royal Canin_
## **Voluntary Advisers**
Jeremy Bradburne Deidre Carson BVSc(Syd) MRCVS Deborah Rook Nicki Glen, NGM Helen Crawford Lisa Dickson, Caseron John Grossart
Janet Littlewood MA PhD BVSc(Hons) DVR DVD MRCVS, Veterinary Dermatology Referrals Christopher Mayer, Consultant Psychiatrist Philippa Morphew FCIPD Alan Reynolds
_Pets at Home_
_Our very special thanks to Vetstream for the pro bono design services towards the production of this Annual Report._
© Copyright 2022 Our Special Friends
34
35
## **THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS**
Our thanks go to all our volunteers for their continued support and commitment over the years. It goes without saying that Our Special Friends would not exist without them