## The Last Chance Hotel Report and Financial Statement Year Ended 5[th] April 2024 Charity No.: 1157684 ## **Reference & administrative information** The trustees and officers who served during the year and up to the date of this report, unless stated otherwise, were as follows: **Trustees** Lisa Chambers Theresa Lydford Louisa Blum David Franks (resigned 18[th] February 2024) **Charity No** . 1157684 **Registered Office** 14 Westdown Road Delabole Cornwall PL33 9DS ## **Report of the trustees for year ended 5[th] April 2024** The trustees are pleased to present their annual report and financial statement for the year ended 5[th] April 2024 for The Last Chance Hotel. ## **Structure, governance and management** The charity is an unincorporated association registered charity, governed by a constitution adopted on 4[th] May 2011. New trustees are elected and appointed by existing trustees in the majority agreement based on their passion, commitment, integrity, knowledge, skills 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. The Board 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 all of them performing vital operational roles within the organisation, giving them experienced insight into the day to day running of the charity. With the trustees being directly involved in the rescue and care of beneficiaries, including fostering, rehabilitating wildlife and being the first point of contact to the public, supporters are assured that their hands on running of the charity ensures its services are effective. LCH is a member of the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH), which sets out ‘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 has working relationships with the RSPCA’s local officers, with the two organisations cooperating on local animal welfare issues. The charity works 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 is responsible and reliable. ## **Risk management** The trustees regularly actively review operational and business risks which the charity faces. The trustees take reasonable steps to provide sufficient resources to maintain the charity’s integrity and resilience and establish systems to mitigate significant risks. ## **Acknowledgements** LCH is run by volunteers, including trustees, sanctuary helpers, animal transporters, fosterers and fundraisers. We cannot stress our ongoing appreciation of our volunteers. We know that without their unpaid contribution to Last Chance Hotel around their personal and working lives we would be unable to continue our work. Key regular volunteer contributions include hands on volunteers who attend the sanctuary helping with the daily care, welfare and husbandry of the wildlife, and dedicated volunteers who manage and run the charity’s shop. ## **Objectives and activities for the public benefit** 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. To promote humane behaviour towards animals by providing appropriate care, 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. 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 larger and wild animals ~ a primarily foster-based rehabilitation system for dogs - Last Chance Hotel relies on a network of dedicated fosterers to provide the all-important home environment and rehabilitation process for incoming domestic pets ~ expertise in rehabilitating and rehoming, or providing a lifetime sanctuary home for, dogs with severe trauma and behavioural issues that other local rescue organisations are not able to accommodate The trustees are aware of the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit, regarding the need for them to exercise 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. ## **Achievements and performance** With the ongoing effects of the Covid-inspired surge in pet ownership, combined with rising costs and the start of the ‘cost of living’ crisis, there was increased demand on our services to provide support whilst pets were still in their owner’s care and our assistance was crucial in ensuring animal’s health and welfare needs were protected at the soonest opportunity. By being flexible in meeting the needs of animal rescue; through medical treatment, rehabilitation, rehoming and working with other experienced rehabilitators, we brought a number of valuable services to the local community. This approach not only encouraged people to ask for help and safeguard their pet’s welfare, but it also prevented unnecessary relinquishment, or PTS, and overburdening our resources. By working with individual owners, the need for rehoming was avoided, so we were able to free up our capacity for other emergencies. Adoptions were in line with the previous year, although taking older animals into our permanent care for life long foster increased. Our wildlife rescue activities continued by offering guidance and advice to members of the public, signposting to other appropriate organisations and working alongside and co-operating with other knowledgeable species-specific rehabilitators. Throughout the year we cared for a widespread spectrum of wildlife and other animals, including doves, coots, corvids, foxes, ducks, badgers, rabbits, swans, mustelids and other small mammals. Our rescue activities, face to face public fundraising, social media PR and continued local support helped generate awareness and visibility, so our services were known and accessible to beneficiaries. This enabled the public to feel connected and have access to information and support, improving their knowledge and choices. We continued to offer free health care and behavioural advice to the public, as well as hosting our popular ‘Sit Happens’ training courses which are free for dog our fosterers to attend. After a successful run of 8 years, we had to make the difficult decision to close our charity shop. Despite its popularity and support, the decision was underlined by financial restraints and the need for our dedicated shop manager Heather to resign due to her declining health. Its doors closed in January 2024. Our popular fundraising fun dog shows continued to be held, bringing together LCH adopted and foster dogs old and new. And we have been very fortunate to have supporters whose efforts and generosity supported our activities, with fundraising events such as plant sales, table to sales, quiz nights, Facebook birthday fundraisers, raffles and bingo events. ## **Financial review** The charity’s two main sources of income continued to be donations and fundraising. Whilst we saw a decrease in our donations, there was an increase in fundraising, which aligned with our followers recognising the challenges we were facing and were motivated to support our activities. We continued to see an increase in the cancellation of monthly donations, and anticipate this to continue as people intend to reduce their charitable donations in order to ease the effects of the cost of living. Whilst we were not fortunate to receive any grants awards, we did receive a generous legacy. Overall, we saw a decrease in our total income of approx. 15% from the previous year. Our main expense continued to be veterinary, as we took on many animals needing urgent medical treatment. This has been an increasing trend, due to owners not being able to finance or offer even basic veterinary attention and we expect this to be ongoing. Not only has Last Chance Hotel been impacted by increased demand and fewer donations, the charity has also had to face continuous increases in running costs, including veterinary expenses, animal food and fuel, and this year we are showing a net loss in our accounts. Looking forward, we will continue to rescue, rehabilitate, rehome and care for as many animals as our resources allow us to, whilst meeting welfare standards. And to enable this we will need to concentrate on overcoming the loss of income from the closure of our charity shop as we continue to work to increase income, raise public awareness and responsibly manage our expenditure. ## **Reserves policy** We closed the year with our cash holding at the bank to the amount of approx. 6 month’s running costs of the charity. These reserves were held in order to ensure financial obligations could be met in the event of any unforeseen or adverse circumstances beyond the charity’s control, or the winding down of the charity should it have been necessary. ## **Declaration** The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Lisa Chambers Treasurer 1[st] February 2025 ## 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 2024, 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: - (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met or - (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached Date: 26[th] January 2025 Signature: Name of Examiner: Zoe Patterson Address of Examiner: 51 Birch Grove, Underwood, Gwent, NP18 2HZ Qualifications: MSc, BSc, MIBMS ## The Last Chance Hotel ## Profit And Loss Account For the year ended 5th April 2024 |Income
Donations
Charitable activities
Grants
Legacies
**Gross profit**
Expenses
Animal care
Office and administration
Volunteer fuel & misc costs
Fundraising
Insurance - LCH Liabilities
Sanctuary running costs
Vehicle running costs
Veterinary
**Net (loss)/profit**|34,612
79,135
30,312|2024
£
28,737
3,790
2,667
12,715
1,232
39,136
4,705
77,485
170,466
**-26,408**|50,740
69,526
50,000|2023
£
21,011
4,087
3,091
12,084
1,428
32,562
2,893
49,357| |---|---|---|---|---| ||144,059||170,266|| ||**144,059**||**170,266**|| |||||126,513| |||||| |||||**43,753**|