**Charity registration number 1161554**
**Company registration number 08443724 (England and Wales)**
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
**ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
|**Trustees**|Mrs C Maclellan||
|---|---|---|
||Miss H Campbell||
||Mr M Field||
||Mr M Bestwick||
||Mr C R Maclellan||
||Mrs K Dalton-Fyfe|(Appointed 1 March 2022)|
|**Charity number**|1161554||
|**Company number**|08443724||
|**Registered office**|2 Northleigh House||
||Thorverton Road||
||Exeter||
||Devon||
||EX2 8HF||
|**Independent examiner**|Mr J L Coombs MA (Cantab) FCA||
||Simpkins Edwards LLP||
||Michael House||
||Castle Street||
||Exeter||
||Devon||
||United Kingdom||
||EX4 3LQ||
|**Bankers**|HSBC Bank Plc||
||Tavistock Branch||
||Bedford Square||
||Tavistock||
||Devon||
||PL19 0AH||
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **CONTENTS**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' report|1 - 8|
|Independent examiner's report|9|
|Statement of financial activities|10|
|Balance sheet|11|
|Notes to the financial statements|12 - 22|
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019).
## **Objectives and activities**
- The training of assistance dogs for current and former service personnel of the British Armed Forces with mental health disabilities.
- Providing training, education and support services for the relief of mental health disabilities with the partnership of dogs.
- Improving quality of life and achieving greater independence by increasing confidence and self-esteem, bringing companionship, a sense of security and increased opportunities for social interaction.
- Develop links and foster partnerships with other organisations who share our aims of supporting Veterans and those promoting responsible dog ownership.
- Implement fundraising and educational initiatives in support of VWD objectives and operations.
- Undertake any such work that the trustees may agree, from time to time, consistent with the overall objectives of the charity.
## **Our vision**
To improve the quality of life for veterans who are living with mental health disorders with the support and companionship of one of our specially trained assistance dogs via our unique and pioneering programme.
(A Veteran is defined by the Government as any person of any age who has served in the British Armed Forces).
## **Our mission statement & philosophy**
“To support former members of the British Armed Forces, whose psychological or physical wellbeing may have suffered due to difficult past experiences and challenging life circumstances, via engagement with dogs.”
Veterans with Dogs works to support Veterans who are aspiring to increase their general level of functioning and independence by helping them to regain their sense of purpose, (self) worth and engagement with their communities and sense of value to society, helping them develop new skills, revive old ones and realise their potential.
Veterans with Dogs aims to provide a supportive, comfortable environment where people may find an opportunity to socialise with others, capitalise on shared learning experiences, develop their coping strategies, and build new friendships and lasting support networks.
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit and in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
- 1 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
## **Achievements and performance International Accreditation**
Since the foundation of Veterans With Dogs we were clear and specific about the intended route of becoming internationally recognised and accredited to bring the intervention of assistance dogs for mental health into main focus here in the UK.
There had been no provision for using dogs for the benefit of mental health in a recognised way that was accessible to people beyond individual efforts. It was clear from our own experiences that those benefits could be extended to a wider audience by creating and formalising a programme to address those needs, and in particular for us the focus was to be beneficiaries who had served in one of the British Armed Forces.
Our PALS programme was built from the ground up – by those with previous and lived experience of the benefit of dogs as a canine intervention, and with the input of industry specific expertise in both animal behaviour and mental health.
We acknowledged at the time there were efforts internationally by programmes moving into the area of mental health, but none that we were aware that had taken the same path as we had.
Our success was clearly evident from those early days and encouragement was found throughout the assistance dog industry in working to achieve the high standards we had set out to achieve.
This year saw the culmination of everyone’s hard work, diligence and passionate involvement in our development come to fruition when we undertook the accreditation process of Assistance Dogs International.
The rigorous process of scrutiny was both challenging and extensive, nothing short of what would be expected of an accrediting international body.
We were delighted that we were successful in achieving accreditation and had some amazing feedback throughout the process.
We now proudly take our place amongst peer organisations of Assistance Dogs (UK) and Assistance Dogs (Europe) respectively, under the umbrella of Assistance Dogs International. This formalises the recognition of Veterans With Dogs and our assistance dogs for mental health and the value that we add to the assistance dogs industry.
## **Continued Digital Transition**
Digital transition continues to be major investment both financially, in time and development, and in staff training throughout the year. Whilst we have been tech-savvy from the outset, we conducted an in-depth review of our technology stack, and more importantly how we could leverage better automation of processes to compliment exiting working practices, and to improve managing the increased volumes of data we find ourselves having to process nowadays.
We made significant efforts to embrace technology to create exciting new virtual ways of working both within the charity and to support our clients and volunteers that will aid our future operations. This included virtual interactive sessions and enrichment activities presented and hosted online. We also designed and implemented aftercare support virtual ‘visits’ that allowed us to continue to support our assistance dog partnerships.
As we have returned almost entirely to in-person interactions we have been able to adopt some of those changes into standard working practices, but importantly only where we consider those practices to be of value to the work we do as a valuable adjunct.
The transition to new database platforms and cloud technology stacks has enabled much better data capture and recording, with improved insight and data analysis. This became very apparent when presenting client accountability to the assessors of Assistance Dogs International and we are able to track the exact route of beneficiary involvement from initial contact throughout the whole client journey.
- 2 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
An extensive security audit has been carried out since the changes to GDPR post-Brexit and new security hardware purchased to manage the ever-evolving cyber threats. All cloud services comply with new requirements and hosting facilities have been upgraded to ensure continued access to services and automatic failover.
We were delighted to receive a donation of IT equipment including desktop pc’s and laptops from Virgin Money which has enabled us to replace end of life machines and allows for better remote access through the introduction of road warrior type working with the use of organisation owned devices.
## **Challenging Times**
2021 - 2022 was certainly an extraordinary year when all of us faced challenges unlike any we have before. Inevitably, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic caused disruption to Veterans With Dogs’ work in every part of the organisation, but it was incredibly heartening to see how everyone connected with the charity, staff, volunteers, clients, and indeed dogs, all rose to the challenges and overcame them in ways that will have a lasting positive impact on our work.
Our top priority continues to be the health, safety and wellbeing of our staff, volunteers, clients, and dogs. Some of the people we support are already clinically vulnerable adults, which necessitates a cautious approach to ensure we protect everyone connected with the charity.
In describing the significant role our dogs play in supporting our clients who can often face social isolation, we ask people to imagine what it might feel like not to leave their home for several years; the reality for many of the people we work with before our wonderful dogs start to support them. Dogs give us a reason to go out, help us feel less isolated and always manage to bring a smile to our faces during tough times. It has been brought into sharp focus that the work we do really does make life-changing differences; it enables people to go out safely and with confidence, live more independently and experience far greater social interactions thanks to the support and devotion of our expertly trained dogs. This is even without the added benefit of task-specific training for mental health difficulties.
We developed new ways of working to enable us to provide a range of virtual services and support to our clients, volunteers, and dogs when they needed it most. These new virtual ways of working have been well-received and will be valuable going forward. We certainly do not want to replace face-to-face meetings, support sessions or workshops but there is a positive place for virtual support where it can deliver help and advice in a more timely and responsive way. This certainly puts us in an exciting position for growing our support for people in the future.
## **Assistance Dogs**
- 6 puppies brought into the PALS Puppy Programme in 2022.
- 20 dogs in training at the end of 2022.
- 4 dogs newly qualified as assistance dogs throughout the year.
- 363 service deliveries of training and support provided by the charity throughout 2022.
- 130 training sessions delivered directly with clients in 2022.
## **Clients**
- A total of 148 clients receiving support or services from the charity in 2022.
## **Volunteer support**
## We have:
- 28 active Approved Trainers providing training and support to our socialisers and clients.
- 18 active fundraising volunteers supporting us.
- 18 Puppy Socialisers giving our puppies the best start in life.
- 3 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
## **Assistance Dog Training**
Right throughout the organisation, changes had to be made to all our processes to accommodate the previous pandemic and its effects. Our training department underwent a huge change to the normal ways of working and it was imperative that these changes were made rapidly and thoroughly to ensure the safety of our dogs and staff.
Our training team put together resources demonstrating training techniques to help volunteers and clients keep up with elements of their dogs’ training where possible. In addition, we created a new publication “Enrichment Ideas for Your Dog” for volunteers and clients to provide enrichment activities for their dogs which has now become a staple publication and was recently requested by Assistance Dogs International as an example of best practise.
## **Paws4Life**
Improving education comes from our expert understanding of dogs built over many years of experience bringing dogs and people together. Paws4Life encourages people to build a strong bond with their dog based on an understanding of dog behaviour and well-being that will ensure their dog is happy and healthy.
In response to the recognition that not all Veterans are able to have an assistance dog but can still reap the benefits of canine companionship with a pet dog. To address the shortfall in services available to these Veterans we created the Paws4Life service, which is designed to help educate owners whilst providing a means to access wellbeing activities with direct involvement from the Charity.
## **Fundraising**
The year 2022 has been described by many as a trial period for charities, as we emerge from the pandemic and reassess the various adaptations the charity sector adopted to deal with it. Since 2020, fundraising changed immensely, accelerating the use of digital technology to receive and process donations.
Alongside the increased pace of digital adoption, we’ve also seen growing recognition in the charity sector of the importance of donor journeys. Being able to provide supporters with a simple, convenient donation experience can vastly increase the number of people who donate and crucially, the number of people who return to donate again in the future.
But as we approach 2023, taking on the lessons from the pandemic does not mean forgetting the fundraising fundamentals that preceded it. We have had to adapt to combine the two experiences to build a fundraising strategy that will fit the future and remain fit-for-purpose as we continue to face the challenges of the changing face of diversifying income streams.
All the charity’s fundraising is conducted by charity staff and volunteers. Volunteers operate under the careful guidance of staff. The charity does not conduct telephone, door-to-door fundraising or use consultants to carry out fundraising on the charity’s behalf.
The charity operates to the code of Fundraising Practice as applied by the Fundraising Regulator. Veterans With Dogs is registered with the Fundraising Regulator.
The charity had no compliance throughout 2022 in terms of meeting the Code of Fundraising Practice.
The charity supports it fundraising volunteers through induction sessions, training, and ongoing support. The charity does not use external fundraisers or commercial participators.
The charity did not receive any complaints regarding fundraising in 2022.
- 4 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
## **Our Supporter Promise**
VWD’s commitment to treating our supporters fairly, protecting our young supporters, and safeguarding.
Fundraising is really important to us, and we are proud of what it helps us achieve. We will constantly review our fundraising practices to make sure they are fair, sensitive, and appropriate.
Veterans With Dogs is committed to ensuring the highest quality of experience for our supporters. In the interest of empowering and protecting our supporters, Veterans With Dogs trains and supports its staff, volunteers and thirdparty organisations that work on behalf of Veterans With Dogs to recognise, and appropriately respond to vulnerability without discrimination or judgement.
Veterans With Dogs works to ensure supporters are treated fairly and treated as individuals at all times, and not exploited or treated in any way which might bring them harm as a result of their interaction with Veterans With Dogs.
Veterans With Dogs’ approach to supporters in vulnerable circumstances is informed by the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice and the Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s guidance.
We make sure all staff are trained in and follow our Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.
## **About your donation or the money, you have raised**
Your donation will be used responsibly to help people with mental health problems get support and respect.
We will keep administration costs to a minimum without jeopardising the quality of Veterans With Dogs’ work. As much of your donation as possible will be spent directly on our life-changing work.
We will answer any question you have about how your donation is spent, and clear financial information will be available.
We might turn down a donation if we feel that accepting it would damage our independence or reputation. If we do, we will explain why.
## **Our use of your personal details**
We sometimes use carefully selected suppliers to help us deliver our communications and services. We will keep any personal information safe, only using your details to contact you in the ways you have agreed to.
We will always respect your right to privacy and adhere to laws around the use of data.
When necessary, we may share data with our own carefully regulated and monitored external suppliers, for processing purposes. We will ensure their use of the data is in line with our own data protection policies and not kept or used by them for any other purposes.
## **Suppliers we work with**
Sometimes we collaborate with external suppliers to contact you, simply because our team is not big enough. This might be an agency that helps us send and receive our mailings, or an organisation who stores and delivers our fundraising materials.
We will only work with professional organisations that meet our high standards.
We will train, monitor, and regulate our external suppliers to meet our standards and will act quickly if they do not meet the high standards we set.
Everyone we work with that has contact with our supporters takes part in mental health awareness training.
- 5 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
## **Our accountability to you**
You can contact us with feedback or to make a complaint if you are unhappy with anything we have done while communicating with you.
We will respond honestly and promptly to your questions and complaints. It is our responsibility to ensure we are using our resources as effectively as possible. That is why we make this promise to you.
We are passionate about our work, the people we help and the way we train our dogs. We tell their stories in a positive and respectful way to help share how we make a difference. We are proud of the relationship we have with our supporters. We have always been and will always be clear and honest with you. Our relationship with you, our supporters, is critical to the work we do, and we are truly grateful for your support.
Our values are at the heart of how we operate.
## **With grateful thanks …**
We receive funding from individuals, corporate partners, trusts and community groups.
We are so grateful for the continued support from many trusts and corporate partners which have helped us continue our vital work during 2022.
Our sincere thanks go to:
- Armed Forces Covenant
- Veterans Foundation
- Morrison Foerster
## **Financial review**
## **Income**
During the year ended 31 March 2022, we received income of £145,564 (2021: £230,356 ), a decrease of £84,792.
## **Expenditure**
Charitable activities expenditure amounted to £165,575 (2021: £127,136), an increase of £38,439.
Costs of raising fund amounted to £969 (2021: £891), an increase of £78.
Other costs amounted to £9,231 (2021: £9,945), a decrease of £714.
## **Fund balances**
Unrestricted funds amount to £77,943 (2021: £94,903), a decrease of £16,960.
Restricted funds amount to £37,728 (2021: £50,979), a decrease of £13,251.
## **Overall position**
The combined effect of the above has seen a net deficit of £30,211 (2021: £92,384 surplus).
- 6 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
## **Reserves policy**
## **Our Beneficiaries**
The beneficiaries of Veterans With Dogs are current and former service personnel of the British Armed Forces with mental health disabilities. Providing training, education and support services for the relief of mental health disabilities with the partnership of dogs.
Our Charity needs to have sufficient reserves to cover the diverse expenditure commitments to our beneficiaries and have ascertained that a minimum of £38,395 reserves needs to be held to ensure the charities future expenditure objectives can be met.
## **Rationale of the Reserves Policy**
Veterans With Dogs provides lifetime partnerships between Veterans and Assistance Dogs, helping our beneficiaries to lead more independent lives by mitigating the symptoms their disability presents. Our services cover the whole of the UK.
Our Reserves Policy is to maintain sufficient level of reserves to enable and protect normal operating activities to continue over a period of up to 4 months should a shortfall in income occur and to take account of potential risks and contingencies that may arise from time to time. Our current beneficiaries continued support and services are vital to their well being.
Excluded from the Reserves Policy is income associated with:
- •Endowment Funds
- •Restricted Funds (Earmarked Income)
In order to demonstrate transparency, accountability and sound financial management the Veterans With Dogs Reserves Policy clearly justifies the amount of reserves kept back each year.
## **Establishing our level of reserve**
The Trustees have reviewed our charities risks and commitments in respect of expenditure, unrestricted income and where appropriate restricted income.
The Trustees have taken into consideration are any external identified potential major risks to income and expenditure during the year under consideration.
A risk assessment has been undertaken for the period 1st April 2020 and the following has been determined using the Risk Identification approach:
- •Unrestricted Income: Medium Risk
- •Restricted Income: Low Risk
- •Expenditure: Low Risk
- •External Potential Major Risks:
- Current lack of diversity and long term income streams
- Dogs purchased fall ill or fail
- Fluctuating Charity rent costs
- Covid Pandemic restrictions on fundraising
- 7 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
## **Level of reserve required by Veterans With Dogs**
Veterans With Dogs should hold in reserve approximately 4 months operating capital which within the current budget period equates to £38,395.
We continue to have a sound strategy diversifying our income streams over the next financial year as well as potential forthcoming corporate partnerships which will secure longer term financial stability.
It is the Trustees responsibility to continue to diversify Veterans With Dogs income streams over the coming year, Our reserves target will be met.
It is essential that all current partnerships can be supported should income fall or subsequently that funds be available should additional activity become necessary due to the impact of unforeseen external events on our beneficiaries.
## **Reviewing and monitoring the Reserves Policy**
This policy will be reviewed at each Trustee meeting and reserve levels adjusted as risk or other factors change. The CEO will present the Trustees with a draft document and supporting details that enables them to make an informed decision about levels of Reserves aligning with the approval and subsequent reviews of our Strategic plan and Operating Budgets.
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
## **Structure, governance and management**
The charity is a company limited by guarantee, registered under the Companies Act. The charity is controlled by its governing document and Articles of Association.
The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Mrs C Maclellan
Mrs S J Pierechod (Resigned 22 October 2022) Miss H Campbell Mr M Field Mr M Bestwick Mr C R Maclellan Mrs K Dalton-Fyfe (Appointed 1 March 2022)
The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Mrs C Maclellan **Trustee**
27 January 2023
- 8 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF VETERANS WITH DOGS**
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Veterans With Dogs (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2022.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the Trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
The Okehampton office of Simpkins Edwards LLP has been instructed by the Trustees to provide bookkeeping services for the Charity. I have followed the Charity Commission’s guidance under direction two to ensure that I provide an objective independent opinion and maintain the appropriate segregation of duties.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
- 1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
- 2 the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
- 3 the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
- 4 the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
## **Mr J L Coombs MA (Cantab) FCA**
for and on behalf of Simpkins Edwards LLP
Michael House Castle Street Exeter Devon EX4 3LQ United Kingdom
Dated: 27 January 2023
- 9 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2022**
**2022**
**Notes**
**£**
**£**
**Income from:**
Donations and legacies
**3**
73,648
64,550
Charitable activities
**4**
5,651
-
Other trading activities
**5**
1,715
-
**Total income**
81,014
64,550
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
**6**
969
-
Charitable activities
**7**
87,774
77,801
Other
**8**
9,231
-
**Total expenditure**
97,974
77,801
Gross transfers between
funds
-
-
**Net (expenditure)/income for**
**the year/**
**Net movement in funds**
(16,960)
(13,251)
Fund balances at 1 April 2021
94,903
50,979
**Fund balances at 31 March**
**2022**
77,943
37,728|**Total Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2022**
**2021**
**2021**
**£**
**£**
**£**
138,198
109,846
88,250
5,651
31,319
-
1,715
941
-
145,564
142,106
88,250
969
891
-
165,575
80,268
46,868
9,231
9,945
-
175,775
91,104
46,868
-
21,028
(21,028)
(30,211)
72,030
20,354
145,882
22,873
30,625
115,671
94,903
50,979|**Total**
**2021**
**£**
198,096
31,319
941|
|---|---|---|
|||230,356|
|||891|
|||127,136|
|||9,945|
|||137,972|
|||-
92,384
53,498|
|||145,882|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.
- 10 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## _**AS AT 31 MARCH 2022**_
|**Notes**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
**12**
**Current assets**
Stocks
**13**
Debtors
**14**
Cash at bank and in hand
**Creditors: amounts falling due within**
**one year**
**15**
Net current assets
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Income funds**
Restricted funds
**16**
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
**17**
General unrestricted funds|**2022**
**£**
4,019
18,915
87,213
110,147
(14,817)
600
77,343|**£**
20,341
95,330
115,671
37,728
77,943
115,671|**2021**
**£**
3,448
7,045
120,467
130,960
(6,430)
600
94,303|**£**
21,352
124,530|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||145,882|
|||||50,979
94,903|
|||||145,882|
The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2022.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 27 January 2023
Mrs C Maclellan
**Trustee**
**Company registration number 08443724**
- 11 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Charity information**
Veterans With Dogs is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 2 Northleigh House, Thorverton Road, Exeter, Devon, EX2 8HF.
## **1.1 Accounting convention**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's [governing document], the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
## **1.2 Going concern**
At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
## **1.3 Charitable funds**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Designated funds comprise funds which have been set aside at the discretion of the Trustees for specific purposes. The purposes and uses of the designated funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
## **1.4 Incoming resources**
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Grants: See separate policy note 1.9.
## **1.5 Resources expended**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
- 12 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **(Continued)**
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **1.6 Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Leasehold improvements Plant and equipment 33% to 50% straight line per annum Fixtures and fittings 20% straight line per annum Computers 33% straight line per annum Motor vehicles 10% to 20% straight line per annum
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
## **1.7 Stocks**
Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price.
Net realisable value is the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.
## **1.8 Retirement benefits**
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
## **1.9 Grants**
Government grants are recognised at the fair value of the asset received or receivable when there is reasonable assurance that the grant conditions will be met and the grants will be received.
Other grantsa that specify performance conditions are recognised in income when the performance conditions are met. Where a grant does not specify performance conditions it is recognised in income when the proceeds are received or receivable. A grant received before the recognition criteria are satisfied is recognised as a liability.
## **2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements**
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
- 13 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
## **3 Donations and legacies**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2022**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
Donations and gifts
66,981
-
Grants received
2,140
64,550
Giftaid income
4,527
-
73,648
64,550
**Charitable activities**
**Other**
**revenue**
**Government**
**grants**
**2022**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
Other income
114
5,537|**Total**
Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
**2022**
2021
2021
**£**
£
£
66,981
98,214
-
66,690
2,995
88,250
4,527
8,637
-
138,198
109,846
88,250
**Total**
**2022**
**Other**
**revenue**
**Government**
**grants**
**2021**
**2021**
**£**
**£**
**£**
5,651
220
31,099|Total
2021
£
98,214
91,245
8,637|
|---|---|---|
|||198,096|
|||**Total**
**2021**
**£**
31,319|
## **4 Charitable activities**
## **5 Other trading activities**
||**Unrestricted**|Unrestricted|
|---|---|---|
||**funds**|funds|
||**2022**|2021|
||**£**|£|
|Shop income|1,715|941|
|**Raising funds**|||
||**Unrestricted**|Unrestricted|
||**funds**|funds|
||**2022**|2021|
||**£**|£|
|Fundraising and publicity|||
|Other fundraising costs|969|891|
||969|891|
## **6 Raising funds**
- 14 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
## **7 Charitable activities**
||**Charitable**|
**Charitable**|
|---|---|---|
||**Expenditure**|**Expenditure**|
||**2022**|**2021**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Staff costs|67,921|60,418|
|Puppy purchases|25,455|12,652|
|Admin services|440|-|
|Trainers' fees and residential costs|18,963|6,080|
|Travel and subsistence|10,779|6,692|
|Consultancy and training|6,131|6,095|
|Registration fees|68|34|
|Software and IT consumables|5,226|6,197|
|Volunteers expenses|1,888|622|
|Shop purchases|1,729|273|
|Insurance|3,060|2,440|
|Telephone|141|585|
|Postage and stationery|2,066|863|
|Advertising|229|1,660|
|Sundries|3,019|4,562|
|Repairs and maintenance|921|44|
|Subscriptions|1,246|267|
|Rent and rates|16,293|17,652|
||165,575|127,136|
|**Analysis by fund**|||
|Unrestricted funds|87,774|80,268|
|Restricted funds|77,801|46,868|
||165,575|127,136|
|**For the year ended 31 March 2021**|||
|Unrestricted funds|80,268||
|Restricted funds|46,868||
||127,136||
- 15 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
## **8 Other**
||**Unrestricted**|Unrestricted|
|---|---|---|
||**funds**|funds|
||**2022**|2021|
|Depreciation|3,283|3,358|
|Accountancy and legal fees|5,082|5,332|
|Other expenditure|866|1,255|
||9,231|9,945|
## **9 Trustees**
During the year, two trustees received reimbursements of expenses totalling £3,393 (2021: £4,332).
## **10 Employees**
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
||**2022**|**2021**|
|---|---|---|
||**Number**|**Number**|
||4|4|
|**Employment costs**|**2022**|**2021**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Wages and salaries|66,051|59,511|
|Social security costs|650|-|
|Other pension costs|1,220|907|
||67,921|60,418|
There were no employees who received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) of more than £60,000 (2021 - none).
There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000.
## **11 Independent examiner's remuneration**
|Independent examination of the annual accounts
**Other services**
All other non-assurance services|**£**
2,400
2,232|**£**
2,260|
|---|---|---|
|||1,908|
- 16 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
## **12 Tangible fixed assets**
|**Leasehold**
**improvements**
**Plant and**
**equipment**
**Fixtures and**
**fittings**
**Computers Motor vehicles**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Cost**
At 1 April 2021
-
788
3,770
3,310
20,919
Additions
1,418
284
-
570
-
At 31 March 2022
1,418
1,072
3,770
3,880
20,919
**Depreciation and impairment**
At 1 April 2021
-
147
3,290
2,038
1,960
Depreciation charged in the year
-
327
171
819
1,966
At 31 March 2022
-
474
3,461
2,857
3,926
**Carrying amount**
At 31 March 2022
1,418
598
309
1,023
16,993
At 31 March 2021
-
641
480
1,272
18,959|**Total**
**£**
28,787
2,272|
|---|---|
||31,059|
||7,435
3,283|
||10,718|
||20,341|
||21,352|
- 17 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
|**13**
**Stocks**
Finished goods for resale
**14**
**Debtors**
**Amounts falling due within one year:**
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
**15**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Other taxation and social security
Trade creditors
Accruals and deferred income|**2022**
**£**
4,019
**2022**
**£**
8,938
9,977
18,915
**2022**
**£**
3,529
6,656
4,632
14,817|**2021**
**£**
3,448|
|---|---|---|
|||**2021**
**£**
4,354
2,691|
|||7,045|
|||**2021**
**£**
1,981
1,665
2,784|
|||6,430|
- 18 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
## **16 Restricted funds**
The income funds of the charity include restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust for specific purposes:
|||**Movement in funds**|**Movement in funds**|||**Movement in funds**|**Movement in funds**||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Balance at**|**Incoming**|**Resources**|**Transfers**|**Balance at**|**Incoming**|**Resources**|**Balance at**|
||**1 April 2020**|**resources**|**expended**|**1 April 2021**||**resources**|**expended**|**31 March**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**2022**
**£**|
|ICAP- Corporate Support donation|30,625|-|(3,835)|-|26,790|-|-|26,790|
|Veterans Foundation UK|-|30,000|(15,000)|-|15,000|-|(15,000)|-|
|Awards for All, Lottery|-|10,000|(8,163)|(1,028)|809|-|-|809|
|Forthglade UK|-|5,000|(936)|(4,000)|64|-|-|64|
|Exeter Chiefs Foundation|-|10,000|-|(10,000)|-|-|-|-|
|Armed Forces Covenant|-|33,250|(18,934)|(6,000)|8,316|58,750|(57,001)|10,065|
|BFBS|-|-|-|-|-|5,800|(5,800)|-|
||30,625|88,250|(46,868)|(21,028)|50,979|64,550|(77,801)|37,728|
- 19 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
## **16 Restricted funds**
## **(Continued)**
## **ICAP**
The ICAP donation was used to fund residential activity and courses.
## **Veterans Foundation UK**
The Veterans Foundation UK donation was used for salary support.
## **Awards for All, Lottery**
The Awards for All, Lottery donation was used for reducing isolation.
## **Forthglade UK**
The Forthglade UK donation was used for charity vehicle support.
## **Exeter Chiefs Foundation**
The Exeter Chiefs Foundation donation was used to purchase the charity vehicle.
## **Armed forces Covenant**
The Armed forces Covenant donation was used for the Paws for Life Project and salary support.
- 20 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
## **17 Designated funds**
The income funds of the charity include the following designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes:
||||||**Movement**||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||**in funds**||
|||**Balance at**|**Resources**|**Balance at**|**Incoming**|**Balance at**|
||**1**|**April 2020**|**expended**
**1 April 2021**||**resources**|**31 March**|
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**2022**
**£**|
|Laura Mazzara- Standard Life||15,000|(14,400)|600|-|600|
|||15,000|(14,400)|600|-|600|
## **Standard Life**
The Standard Life donation was to fund 2 dogs which have been purchased and socialised. The remaining funds will be for the partnerships to be placed.
## **18 Analysis of net assets between funds**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**2022**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
Fund balances at 31
March 2022 are
represented by:
Tangible assets
20,341
-
Current assets/(liabilities)
57,602
37,728
77,943
37,728|**Total**
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
**2022**
2021
2021
**£**
£
£
20,341
21,352
-
95,330
5,655
118,875
115,671
27,007
118,875|Total
2021
£
21,352
124,530|
|---|---|---|
|||145,882|
- 21 -
## **VETERANS WITH DOGS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022**_
## **19 Operating lease commitments**
At the reporting end date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
|Within one year
Between two and five years|**2022**
**£**
15,612
-
15,612|**2021**
**£**
15,612
15,612|
|---|---|---|
|||31,224|
## **20 Related party transactions**
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2021 - none).
- 22 -