**TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] AUGUST 2024** ## **CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT** During the last year the charity has continued its emphasis on education and training, which has proven to be very successful within the local community. With the assistance of Newark and Sherwood District Council there has been a reduction in welfare cases. The charity remains busy with calls and the welfare officers have been on call outs and providing advice and support where necessary. Whilst the cost of living still bites, our Welfare officers anticipated more visits. The charity still regularly receives donations of tack, rugs and saddles as well as financial contributions. The charity continues its work in partnership with the Newark and Sherwood District Council to provide its officers with horse welfare advice and practical support. Although over the last year this has reduced somewhat due to the success of the practices put in place as a result of this partnership. The charity is considering if this could be rolled out to other local authorities. Looking to the coming year we aim to continue and promote the charity through education and training. Whilst our accounts remain healthy we are stepping back on our fundraising events for a shortwhile and concentrating on ways to raise awareness of the charity through education. Rose Wilson Chair Help for Horses UK ## 1) **Help for Horses UK Objectives** Help for Horses UK was created and continues to: - Promote humane behaviour towards horses by providing appropriate care, protection, treatment and security of those that are in need of care and attention. This includes maltreatment, ill health, poor circumstances, and responding to the growing crisis of abandoned horses. - Providing horse welfare guidance, education and support to public bodies, horse owners, and the general public, to prevent cruelty and suffering of horses. - Having in mind our strong commitment to public benefit, we work with local authority partners, the police, other public agencies, and local communities, to highlight and respond to the escalating crisis of abandoned horses, alive and dead, which cause considerable distress to the general public, and increase pressure on local authorities and the police. ## 2) **Structure, Governance and Management** ## a) Structure The charity has four trustees and four committee members with voting rights. ## b) Governance The charity is governed by the charity’s Constitution. ## c) Management There are four trustees comprising the Chair, two Senior Welfare Officers and Treasurer. The Chair and Senior Welfare Officer were the founders of the charity and there are four committee members from a variety of professions. The charity’s Constitution requires that the trustees, i.e. the Chairperson, Senior Welfare Officer, Treasurer, and Secretary may hold an office for a maximum of three terms, each term being for a period of three years. All our Trustees and Committee Members are volunteers they either run their own businesses or work full time ## d) Help for Horses UK Management Committee There are eight volunteer members, comprising four Trustees (including the Senior Welfare Officer) two Welfare Officers, and another four members with voting rights. The Management Committee meet regularly throughout the year. The format of these meetings are to discuss raising awareness of the charity and its purpose, fundraising, training and education material, future events and review of our protocol documentation as and when necessary ## e) Meetings ## Trustee Meetings The four Trustees meet formally and informally to review work in progress and any current issues. They also consider the charity’s future development, and how it can provide the best service possible. The informal meetings help to identify issues requiring discussion at formal trustees’ meetings, also those for inclusion on Management Committee Meeting Agendas. The four trustees have been in regular contract through email and telephone and Zoom meetings. During the year, the trustees met to consider a number of issues: - General management, direction of the charity and its purpose, educational and training material and the use of social media. ## 3) **Achievements During Year Ended 31[st] August 2024** We attended a very successful open day at an equestrian centre in September 2023 and in preparation of that event we did a training session with some of our rescue ponies which was very well received and attended. ‘Boggle’ attended the Southwell Ploughing Match at the end of September. With having such a wet winter we saw a flurry of calls concerning horses standing in water logged fields. Our welfare officers checked the sites, whilst the fields were very wet the horses did have water and hay so no further action was required other than leaving notices where applicable As anticipated with the costs of living crisis there were many enquiries about rehoming horses however regrettably we can only take ‘welfare’ cases due to the amount of livery spaces we have available. In April 2024 we collected Velvet and she was rehomed in May, our welfare officers visited Velvet at the end of May and she has settled very well in her new home. Our first ever rescue pony Shrimpy came back to us in March 2024 and he was rehomed, our welfare officers carried out a health check at the end of April and he was looking well. We saw our usual attendance at an equestrian centre as part of their summer camps and gave lectures on horse welfare, first aid, health and welfare of the pony, bandaging treating minor injuries and stable management, field management and poisonous plants ## 4) **Funding** We continue to receive donations regularly through our charity boxes/tins that are placed in local shops, we are continually grateful for the fundraising that people do and all donations of tack, equipment, rugs and raffle prizes. ## 5) **Conclusion** The charity has had another positive year, we are in a healthy position financially and this has meant we can continue to concentrate on education and training Our aim in the coming year is to continue with education, advice and support and maintain the public’s awareness of the charity through attending events and being more active on social media platforms Rose Wilson, BHS AI, Equine Assessor Level 3, UKCC Level 3, Vosa Equine Transporter, First Aid **Senior Welfare Officer Chair of the Trustees** Janice Dixon, B. Vet. Med. M.R.C.V.S. **Trustee** Judith Alcock, AAT **Trustee** Rachael Ashworth **Trustee** Date: 28/06/2024 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinef s Report Report to the trustees MSI R FD£ HDAtF£ UK 3110812D2Jp I h On accounts for the year ended Charity no {if any) 11& 1fr7&2 Sot out on pages I report to the trustees ￿ my examination of the accounts of the above Charity (Ihe TrusVI for the year ended Rosponsibilities and basis of report As the charivs trustees. you are resKM)nsible for the preparation of th8 accounts in accordan¢% With the r￿uIreMents of the Charities Act 2011 {Ihe Act"). I report in respecl of my examination of the Tnjsys accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given ty the Chaiity Commission under sedion 145(5Xb) of the Act. Independent rrhe charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 and l am qualtfied to oxamlnerfs statement undertake the examinatb)n by being a qualified member of linsert name of applic2ble listed body]}. Delete [ ] if not applicable. I have completed my examination. I ￿nfirn thal no malertal matters have com8 to my attention in ￿nnectIOn with the examination (other than that disclosed below") which gNes me cause to believe that in. any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance ￿ section 130 of the Charities Act. or Ihe accounts did not aco)rd with the acwunting re(xyds' or the accounts did not ccHnply with the applicable requirements conceming the fomi and content of accounts set (xrt in the Charities {Accounts and Reports) Regulats'ons 2008 other than any requirement Ihat the accounts give a Irue and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an in(Jependgnt examination. I have no (x)n(*ms and have cx)me a￿8$ no olher matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper underslandirwJ of the ac￿Unts to be reached. . Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Slgnod.- Name: Relevant profe55ional qualificatlon{s) or body 6f/iwf Ac