Trustees' Annual Report for the period
Period start date
Period end date
From 6[th] April 2020 To 5[th] April 2021
Reference and administration details
Charity name The Last Chance Hotel
Other names charity is known by LCH
Registered charity number (if any) 1157684
Charity's principal address
14 Westdown Road Delabole Cornwall Postcode PL33 9DS
Names of the charity Trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Franks | Secretary | |||
| Beth Scott | Chair | |||
| Lisa Chambers | Treasurer | |||
| Theresa Lydford | ||||
| Nigel Lunt | ||||
1
Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Type of governing document Constitution adopted 4[th] May 2011
- (eg. trust deed, constitution)
How the charity is constituted Unincorporated association registered Charity (eg. trust, association, company)
Trustee selection methods
- (eg. appointed by, elected by)
New Trustees are elected and appointed by existing Trustees in the majority agreement based on their passion, commitment, integrity, knowledge and experience.
After appointment, the Trustees continue to serve the Charity unless they voluntarily resign or their position is terminated in the interest of the charity.
Additional governance issues
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policies and procedures
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adopted for the induction and training of Trustees;
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the charity’s organisational
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structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
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relationship with any related
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parties;
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Trustees’ consideration of
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major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
LCH is governed by a board of voluntary Trustees. The Board of Trustees carries ultimate responsibility for the financial operations and legal obligations of the charity, along with a responsibility to ensure the delivery of its charitable purposes as stated in the charity’s governance documents. The Trustees are highly dedicated to the work of Last Chance Hotel (LCH), with many of them voluntarily performing vital operational roles within the organisation giving them experienced insight into the day to day running of the charity.
The Trustees regularly actively review operational and business risks and are responsible for safeguarding the assets of LCH. The Trustees take reasonable steps to provide sufficient resources to maintain the charity’s integrity and establish systems to mitigate significant risks.
LCH is a member of the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH), and as such is bound by the ADCH Minimum Welfare & Operational Standards. These standards focus on the five welfare needs of animals and cover admission and intake of animals, care of animals, housing conditions and animal departures. They also cover areas beyond animal welfare, including legal and administrative practices.
The charity benefits from working relationships with the RSPCA’s local officers, with the two organisations co-operating on local animal welfare issues.
LCH continues to maintain reputable relationships with Cornwall Council’s Dog Welfare and Enforcement Service, and with equivalent bodies in other councils across the UK, enabling the charity to work directly with UK pounds to provide rescue and rehoming for stray, abandoned and confiscated dogs. The charity has an established involvement with Cornwall’s social service and police departments and is regularly asked to help with local animal cases in the knowledge, borne out of experience, that LCH provides safe, responsible and reliable support. LCH’s grass roots, frontline rescue work helps to alleviate the pressure, resources and finances of the County Council and town councils as it successfully carries out its objectives within Cornwall with the support and co-operation of local animal welfare enforcement officers.
2
For the benefit of the public to relieve the suffering of all animals (in particular but not exclusively dogs) in need of care and attention and, in particular, to provide and maintain rescue homes or other facilities for the reception, care and treatment of such animals. Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its To promote humane behaviour towards animals by providing appropriate care, governing document protection, treatment and security for animals which are in need of care and attention by reason of sickness, maltreatment, poor circumstances or ill usage and to educate the public in matters pertaining to animal welfare in general and the prevention of cruelty and suffering among animals. Last Chance Hotel is a grass roots volunteer run animal rescue charity based in Cornwall and operating across the UK. We rescue, rehabilitate, care for, rehome, safely release and provide sanctuary to animals of any kind including domestic and farm animals, as well as wildlife. LCH plays its part in the broad spectrum of animal rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming activity and in doing so brings a number of unique and valuable attributes to the local sector. These include, most notably: ~ a non-selective intake policy (most other rescue organisations in Cornwall are limited to a relatively small range of species, either as a result of their constitution or by practical constraints of space and available expertise); LCH’s ability to adopt such a policy is aided by (i) its broad fostering network, (ii) its wide range of contacts that allow the charity to draw upon specialist advice and support when needed, and (iii) its 24.5 acre site, which provides space for Summary of the main larger and wild animals and for development of specialised facilities when activities undertaken for the required public benefit in relation to these objects ~ a primarily foster-based rehabilitation system for dogs ~ expertise in rehabilitating and rehoming, or providing a lifetime sanctuary home for, dogs with severe trauma and behavioural issues (including ex-fighting and baiting dogs) that other local rescue organisations are not able to accommodate
The Trustees are aware of the guidance issued by the Charity Commision on public benefit, regardng the need for them to excercise their powers or duties for the benefit of the public, and every Trustee has complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance as the charity conducts its activities. All of these attributes contribute to LCH being a vital component in Cornwall’s support structure for unhomed animals, injured wildlife and the broader community.
3
Additional details of objectives and activities
LCH is run by volunteers, including Trustees, sanctuary workers, animal transporters, fosterers and fundraisers. Along with some of the Trustees, the key current volunteer personnel include
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contribution made by
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volunteers.
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Administrators who bring to the charity a high level of organisational skills and attention to detail; responsibilities including all aspects of the charity’s administration, including management of incoming rescue calls, administration of the charity’s veterinary requirements (micro chipping, neutering, health checks, etc.), stock orders (medication, animal food, etc.), maintenance of records of all animals supported by LCH, foster and adoption liaison, social media marketing, bid writing, legal support and accounting.
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A holistic dietician with a lifetime’s experience of working with horses, who oversees all aspects of care of the sanctuary’s horses and farm livestock.
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Hands on volunteers who attend the sanctuary helping with the daily care, welfare and husbandry of the wildlife.
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Dedicated volunteers who manage and organise the charity’s shop.
4
Achievements and erformance p
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year
April 2020 to March 2021 was one of the most difficult years Last Chance Hotel had experienced to date. Due to the start of the covid pandemic and the first lockdown in March 20, we were faced with an unprecedented and immediate requirement to change our day to day operations to be able to continue to meet our objectives while legally operating within government guidelines and safeguarding volunteers. Our volunteers and supporters were invaluable in helping Last Chance Hotel stay active during the worrying, unpredictable and financially uncertain times. We worked constantly throughout the pandemic, within government guidance relating to animal welfare, helping pets and their owners who asked us for help whilst facing their own mental health challenges, and financial and health issues. We provided treatment and care for pets at risk during this crisis, including abandonment and death of owners, in order to prevent any unnecessary suffering. Inevitably an element of our income stream from donations decreased. And along with not being able to undertake our usual face to face fundraising activities, we had to rely on fundraising events online and supporters recognising how we were still continuing to help animals, both publicly through our social media posts, and behind the scenes as we worked confidentially. Our online auctions were successful, virtual quiz shows were held, local companies got involved in sponsorship and fund raising and individuals raised funds through their own initiatives such as making and selling face masks. Having the resources and promoting assistance to the public encouraged people to ask for help for their pets, which safeguarded their pet’s health and wellbeing and prevented unnecessary relinquishment and overburdening the already existing rehoming issues within our rescue. This in turn benefited the charity through future savings from avoidable neglected compounded medical issues and rehoming costs. Our charity shop was closed for half the financial year, resulting in a loss of 60% income compared to the previous year of sales. And adoption fees decreased by over 50% due to the impact of not being able to home check alongside assessing the merit of adopting out animals to people whose home, work and financial circumstances were likely to be changeable in the near future. Our continued expenses during the pandemic included monthly repeat medication, telephone/video consultations and emergency treatment. We continued to look after over 60 domestic animals in our rescue at this time, either for lifetime foster under LCH support and financial care or remaining in our guardianship for future adoption. We also had over 100 animals at our sanctuary. Our wildlife sanctuary received and treated more wildlife casualties than ever. An increase in injured animals being found has been attributed to people being furloughed with more spare time, exercising outdoors and social media awareness of appreciating and protecting wildlife. Last Chance Hotel continuously and successfully reviewed and adapted its lockdown survival and exit strategies and we remained solvent and operational throughout the pandemic and 20/21 year.
Financial review
Brief statement of the
charity’s policy on reserves
We continued to hold cash at the bank to the amount of at least 3 month’s running costs throughout the year, all of which are uncommitted reserves. These funds were held in order to ensure financial obligations could be met in the event of any unforeseen circumstances beyond the charity’s control, or the winding down of the charity should it have been necessary.
Further financial review details
the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
Last Chance Hotel successfully applied for a number of emergency grants made available due to the pandemic from: Support Adoption for Pets, Hobhouse Trust, Kennel Club, Vera Howarth Trust, Animal Rescue Foundation, Co-Op and Cornwall Council.
The grants awarded supported our activities throughout the first year of the pandemic and prepared us in anticipation of the inevitable impact on animal rescue into the following year resulting from many issues including: ~ People returning to work and looking to rehome animals they adopted/bought whilst they were furloughed
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~ People losing their jobs as the furlough scheme tapered down and employers being unable to continue to employ them
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~ Continued knock on effect from the pandemic of long term illness, domestic abuse, animal cruelty and neglect
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~ Veterinary practices continuing to prioritise emergency treatments
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~ High cost animals such as horses being relinquished
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~ Unwanted/abandoned litters of animals from people breeding as a way to make money
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~ More wild animals being injured as travel restrictions ease and an increase in traffic causes more casualties
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~ Other charities being overburdened, or becoming insolvent, and signposting people to us
Declaration
The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s Trustees
Signature:
Full Name:
Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc.): Date:
Lisa Chambers Treasurer 29[th] January 2022
6
The Last Chance Hotel
Profit And Loss Account
For the year ended 5 April 2021
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | ||||||
| Income | Adoption Fees | 3,050 | 7,044 | |||
| Donations and other income | 70,392 | 62,923 | ||||
| Fundraising various | 72,549 | 91,914 | ||||
| Grants | 32,373 | 7,663 | ||||
| Legacy | 23,489 | |||||
| 201,853 | 169,544 | |||||
| Gross profit | 201,853 | 169,544 | ||||
| Expenses | ||||||
| Animal Care (food, accessories, etc.) | 27243 | 22,915 | ||||
| Office and Administration | 3830 | 3,882 | ||||
| Dog Walking and Training | 8 | 100 | ||||
| Fuel for volunteers and misc expenses | 7077 | 5,679 | ||||
| Fundraising | 8629 | 12,820 | ||||
| Insurance - LCH Liabilities | 1079 | 1,136 | ||||
| Kennelling | 2822 | 18,679 | ||||
| Legal and professional | 0 | 12 | ||||
| Sanctuary Running Costs | 50942 | 44,052 | ||||
| Training courses & materials | 64 | |||||
| Van fuel and expenses | 5806 | 7,122 | ||||
| Veterinary | 44959 | 46,372 | ||||
| 152,459 | 162,769 | |||||
| Net (loss)/profit | 46,879 | 6,775 |
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE LAST CHANCE HOTEL
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 5 April 2021, which are set out on the attached pages.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act
follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act
state whether particular matters have come to my attention
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met or
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(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached
Date: 4[th] February 2022
Signature:
Name of Examiner: Zoe Patterson
Address of Examiner: 17 Hunters Drive, Kingswood, Bristol, BS15 4DU
Qualifications: MSc, BSc, MIBMS