Charity No. 1167093
## **RABBIT WELFARE FUND**
**TRUSTEES' REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **RABBIT WELFARE FUND TRUSTEES' REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTENTS**
||**Page(s)**|
|---|---|
|Charity Information|1|
|Trustees' Annual Report|2 – 5|
|Independent Examiners' Report|6|
|Statement Of Financial Activities|7|
|Summary Income And Expenditure Account|8|
|Balance Sheet|9|
|Notes To The Financial Statements|10 – 16|
|The following pages do not form part of the statutory accounts:||
|Detailed Statement Of Financial Activities|17 – 18|
**RABBIT WELFARE FUND CHARITY INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **Charity No. 1167093**
## **Registered Office**
61 Bridge Street Kington HR5 3DJ
## **Trustees**
Rachel Walters Emma Boyd Roslyn Lamb Alan Wilson
## **Accountants**
Noakes Accounting Limited 66 South Street Taunton TA1 3AF
## **Independent Examiners**
Albert Goodman LLP Goodwood House Blackbrook Park Avenue Taunton TA1 2PX
1
## **RABBIT WELFARE FUND TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **Introduction**
The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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), as detailed in the accounting policies.
## **Administration**
Rabbit Welfare Fund Registered Charity No. 1167093
## **Trustees**
The following Trustees served during the year:
Rachel Walters Emma Boyd Roslyn Lamb Alan Wilson
## **Registered Office**
61 Bridge Street Kington HR5 3DJ
## **Accountants**
Noakes Accounting Limited 66 South Street Taunton TA1 3AF
## **Independent Examiners**
Albert Goodman LLP Goodwood House Blackbrook Park Avenue Taunton TA1 2PX
## **Specialist Vet Adviser**
Dr Richard Saunders
## **Structure, governance and management**
Rabbit Welfare Fund (the "Charity") was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 16 May 2016, charity number 1167093.
All of the trustees currently in place are the first charity trustees, and hence have been in place since the Charity was registered. As stated in the governing document, these trustees will remain in place until they resign or are removed. Any additional trustees, of which there are currently none, shall have terms of three years.
The trustees are responsible for proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity, and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Rabbit Welfare Fund was formed when the sister membership organisation Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund, a limited by guarantee company (Company No. 10044925), was receiving donations to put towards improving rabbit welfare. The two organisations still share common goals and Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund ("RWAF") still raise donations on behalf of Rabbit Welfare Fund.
2
**RABBIT WELFARE FUND TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **Aims and objectives**
These remain unchanged as:
TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN THE CARE AND OWNERSHIP OF DOMESTIC RABBITS KEPT AS PETS IN BRITAIN AND TO FURTHER ADVANCE THE KNOWLEDGE OF RABBIT MEDICINE AMONGST THE UK VETERINARY PROFESSION.
TO CONDUCT OR PROMOTE THE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH AND PUBLISH THE USEFUL RESULTS OF SUCH RESEARCH INTO SPECIFIC HEALTH PROJECTS IN ORDER TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS IN DOMESTIC RABBITS.
## **Achievements and performance for the year April 2024 to March 2025**
As a small organisation, we must focus our limited resources where they can have the greatest impact. Our efforts in education, campaigning, and lobbying are designed to support the vital and often difficult work carried out by rehoming organisations across the country.
## **Key Facts About Rabbit Welfare**
Many of you will be familiar with the following facts, but they bear repeating:
- An estimated 1.5 million rabbits are now kept as pets in the UK — a significant increase from 1 million last year. Many new owners lack experience and understanding of the species’ needs.
- When cared for properly, rabbits can live **10–12 years** , making them a long-term commitment.
- Rabbits are frequently misunderstood and are often kept alone, in inadequate housing, with poor diets and insufficient veterinary care.
- **Most commercially available rabbit housing is unsuitable.**
- **Incorrect care advice** is commonly given to owners.
- There is no legislation requiring accurate sexing of rabbits at the point of sale. This, combined with the rise in inexperienced ownership, has led to a surge in accidental litters.
- Female rabbits can become pregnant immediately after giving birth — a fact unknown to around one-third of rabbit owners.
- The COVID-19 lockdowns triggered a boom in unregulated breeding and sales.
- Online sales have increased dramatically, with little to no welfare guidance provided to buyers.
- Outside of Scotland, rabbit breeders are not licensed or inspected.
- These factors, compounded by the cost-of-living crisis, have led to a **rescue and abandonment crisis** . Pre-COVID, approximately 67,000 rabbits entered rescue annually; this figure is now estimated to be closer to **100,000** .
- Rescues report a sharp rise in rabbits being abandoned or dumped — many are overwhelmed and unable to cope.
- Rabbits are also rehomed informally online, further contributing to the abandonment crisis, which is now considered the worst in over 25 years.
- Rabbits are not only kept in homes and gardens but are also found in **farm parks, petting zoos, and agricultural shows** , where welfare standards are often inadequate, causing suffering and setting poor examples for the public.
## **The Rescue Crisis**
Currently, **anyone can legally breed and sell rabbits** , regardless of experience or knowledge. This has led to widespread irresponsible breeding, mis-sexing, and the sale of rabbits without proper checks or care information. The result is a growing number of accidental litters, abandoned animals, and overwhelmed rescue centres.
We believe that **legislative change** is urgently needed to improve welfare standards and reduce abandonment rates. Our campaign to close this loophole gained significant traction in 2025.
Our **Easter broadcast campaign** highlighted the lack of licensing requirements for breeders. We collaborated with adoption centres across the UK to share local stories with local media outlets, resulting in widespread coverage. The campaign achieved **39 million views across all media platforms** , including national radio and a prime-time television appearance — our most successful media campaign to date.
## **Education and Support**
Educating and supporting rabbit owners is central to improving welfare. Our website receives approximately **40,000 unique visitors per month** , and we work diligently to ensure the information is accurate, accessible, and comprehensive.
Our **free helpline** is available to all — from rabbit owners to concerned neighbours. We received around **2,000 calls a year** .
3
## **RABBIT WELFARE FUND TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **Empowering the Public to Take Action**
To support concerned individuals, we have added **complaint templates** to our website. These resources are designed to help animal lovers raise formal concerns about welfare standards at farm parks, petting zoos, mobile zoos, and pet shops. By making the legislation accessible and actionable, we aim to empower the public to advocate for better treatment of animals in these settings.
## **Demanding Legislative Change**
In response to the **Post-Implementation Review of the Licensing of Activities Involving Animals (LAIA)** legislation, we produced a comprehensive review and submitted three key recommendations aimed at significantly improving rabbit welfare in England:
1. **Amend the LAIA Regulations** to make rabbit breeding a licensable activity, and require that all animals sold are correctly sexed.
2. **Provide additional resources to Local Authorities (LAs)** to enable more effective enforcement of the LAIA Regulations.
3. **Elevate the Good Practice Code for the Welfare of Rabbits** to a statutory Code of Practice.
Our recommendations were shared with relevant Members of Parliament, Government Ministers, and bodies including **Defra** , and we have campaigned vigorously to ensure these proposals are considered in any future legislative updates. We also attended the **Companion Animal Sector Council (CASC) Forum** in March, where we engaged directly with key stakeholders to advocate for these changes. Our efforts will continue.
To support this campaign, we created a **template letter** and encouraged our supporters to write to their MPs. We are grateful to all who took action, your voices are vital.
In addition, we met with **DAERA** in Northern Ireland to discuss the many welfare challenges facing rabbits and to encourage their inclusion in the next iteration of the **Animal Welfare Pathway** .
## **RVHD2: Another Year, Another Strain**
In 2025, we responded to the emergence of a new strain of **Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease 2 (RVHD2-HV)** . Our work focused on combating misinformation and educating both veterinary professionals and rabbit owners about the need for an updated vaccine alongside the existing one.
This required extensive research, and we issued regular evidence-based updates to both groups. We were pleased to receive the support of the **British Veterinary Zoological Society (BZVS)** , who co-signed a joint statement endorsing our findings and recommendations.
## **Supporting Public Complaints**
Local Authorities are responsible for enforcing legislation that protects rabbit welfare. However, enforcement is inconsistent and often inadequate due to limited resources and varying priorities. In 2024, we submitted a **Freedom of Information request** to every LA in the UK. The responses revealed that only **six licensed rabbit breeders** exist nationwide — a clear indication that the **‘business test’** within current legislation is not being applied, and that breeders are operating without welfare checks.
To empower the public, we have developed a range of **complaint templates and supporting materials** , now available on our website. These resources enable individuals to report welfare concerns effectively, referencing the relevant legislation. Notably, the first use of our template resulted in the **cessation of small animal sales at a local auction** .
## **Sponsor a Rescue**
For over a decade, we have supported the invaluable work of rabbit rescues across the UK. To date, we have raised **over £60,000** , which has been distributed to support their efforts.
## **Financial review**
The Rabbit Welfare Fund is relatively small charity and the majority of the income funds our campaigning and educational work.
Income had decreased significantly from £171,273 to £105,074 during this period, due to fewer large legacies having been received compared with the previous year. Overheads have increased, leaving a net deficit of £38,274, compared with last year's surplus of £78,227. We continue to monitor our overheads and reserves to ensure that we are able to meet our obligations.
We are not large enough to have investments, other than money in our deposit bank account, so we do not have an investment policy or risk assessment in place for this. As at 31 March 2025 our funds at the bank were slightly greater than the £85,000 covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme in full.
The risks that could affect the charity are, like all charities a drop in donations. With the current economic uncertainty, we have to bear this is mind. We have considered the risk this may cause us and have come to the conclusion that the risk is minimal because the majority of the donations we receive are small. We do not take financial risk.
4
## **RABBIT WELFARE FUND TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
We generate a significant amount of donations from members of RWAF and any orders processed via our website shop.rabbitwelfare.co.uk.
We have a reserves policy in place, whereby we maintain 3 months of general unrestricted funds in our deposit account. This is to cover unforeseen drops in income. As at year end 31 March 2025 there was £83,442 of general unrestricted funds, which is in excess of that required by the policy.
## **Plans for future periods**
Our focus going forward will be educating the public on the proper care needs of rabbits. A key part of this is addressing how rabbits are presented in public spaces, such as farm parks. We will be reaching out to farm parks and asking them to:
1. Stop using rabbits in ‘pat-a-pet’ sessions.
2. Improve housing standards and provide accurate educational information so visitors learn best practices for rabbit care. In addition, we plan to bring back our annual conference and launch a dedicated educational day for professionals who work with rabbits.
## **Approval**
This report was approved by the board of Trustees on 17 January 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
Rachel Walters Trustee
5
## **RABBIT WELFARE FUND INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **Independent examiners report to the Trustees of Rabbit Welfare Fund**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts for Rabbit Welfare Fund (“the charity”) for the year ended 31 March 2025, set out on pages 7 - 16.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the 2011 Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and 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.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material 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 130 of the 2011 Act; or
2. the accounts do not comply with these records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of the accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
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 accounts to be reached.
Michelle Ferris BSc (Hons) FCA DChA Albert Goodman LLP Goodwood House Blackbrook Park Avenue Taunton TA1 2PX
28 January 2026
6
## **RABBIT WELFARE FUND STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Investments
5
Other
6
**Total**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
7
Charitable activities
8
Other
9
**Total**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Transfers between funds**
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**
16|Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
54,900
20,221
1,503
26,640|Restricted
Funds
2025
£
1,810
-
-
-|**Total Funds**
**2025**
**£**
**56,710**
**20,221**
**1,503**
**26,640**
**105,074**
**8,497**
**31,307**
**103,544**
**143,348**
**(38,274)**
**-**
**(38,274)**
**164,525**
**126,251**|Unrestricted
Funds
2024
£
131,569
11,884
591
25,173|Restricted
Funds
2024
£
2,056
-
-
-|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
**133,625**
**11,884**
**591**
**25,173**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||103,264|1,810||169,217|2,056|**171,273**|
||6,729
31,307
99,715|1,768
-
3,829||266
18,023
72,803|1,169
-
785|**1,435**
**18,023**
**73,588**|
||137,751|5,597||91,092|1,954|**93,046**|
||||||||
||(34,487)
-|(3,787)
-||78,125
-|102
-|**78,227**
**-**|
||(34,487)
129,929|(3,787)
34,596||78,125
51,804|102
34,494|**78,227**
**86,298**|
||95,442|30,809||129,929|34,596|**164,525**|
All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in Note 16 to the financial statements.
7
## **RABBIT WELFARE FUND SUMMARY INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|Income
Interest and investment income
**Gross income for the year**
Total expenditure for the year
**Net (deficit)/surplus before tax for the year**
**Net (deficit)/surplus for the year**|**2025**
**£**
103,571
1,503
105,074
(143,348)
(38,274)
(38,274)|**2024**
**£**
170,682
591|
|---|---|---|
|||171,273
(93,046)|
|||78,227|
||||
|||78,227|
8
## **RABBIT WELFARE FUND BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|**Current assets**
Stocks
13
Debtors
14
Cash at bank and in hand
**Liabilities**
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
15
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Net assets excluding pension asset or liability**
**Net assets**
**The funds of the charity**
**Restricted funds**
Restricted income funds
16
**Unrestricted funds**
General funds
16
Designated funds
16
**Total funds**|**2025**
**£**
2,000
30,768
96,858
129,626
(3,375)
126,251
126,251
126,251
126,251
30,809
30,809
83,442
12,000
95,442
126,251|**2025**
**£**
2,000
30,768
96,858
129,626
(3,375)
126,251
126,251
126,251
126,251
30,809
30,809
83,442
12,000
95,442
126,251|**2024**
**£**
10,000
112,040
46,940
168,980
(4,455)
164,525
164,525
164,525
164,525
34,596
34,596
121,929
8,000
129,929
164,525|**2024**
**£**
10,000
112,040
46,940
168,980
(4,455)
164,525
164,525
164,525
164,525
34,596
34,596
121,929
8,000
129,929
164,525|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||30,809||34,596||
|||126,251||164,525|
||||||
|||126,251||164,525|
|||126,251||164,525|
|||
30,809
95,442||
34,596
129,929|
||83,442
12,000||121,929
8,000||
||||||
|||126,251||164,525|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 17 January 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
Rachel Walters Trustee
9
**RABBIT WELFARE FUND NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **1 Accounting policies**
## _**Accounting basis**_
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
## _**Change in basis of accounting or to previous periods**_
There has been no change to the accounting policies (valuation rules and method of accounting) since last year and no changes have been made to accounts for previous years.
## _**Fund accounting**_
Unrestricted general funds These are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objects of the charity.
Unrestricted designated funds These are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.
|Restricted income funds|These are available for use subject to restrictions imposed by the donor or|
|---|---|
||through terms of an appeal.|
|**_Income_**||
|Recognition of income|Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the|
||charity becomes entitled to, and virtually certain to receive, the income and the|
||amount of the income can be measured with sufficient reliability.|
|Income with related|Where income has related expenditure the income and related expenditure are|
|expenditure|reported gross in the SoFA.|
|Donations and legacies|Voluntary income received by way of grants, donations and gifts is included in|
||the SoFA when receivable and only when the charity has unconditional|
||entitlement to the income.|
|Tax reclaims on donations|Income from tax reclaims is included in the SoFA at the same time as the|
|and gifts|gift/donation to which it relates.|
|Donated services and|These are only included in income (with an equivalent amount in expenditure)|
|facilities|where the benefit to the charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable, and|
||material.|
|Volunteer help|The value of any volunteer help is not included within the accounts.|
|Investment income|This is included within the accounts when receivable.|
|Gains/(losses) on revaluation|This includes any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market|
|of fixed assets|value.|
|Gains/(losses) on investment|This includes any gain or loss of the sale of investments.|
|assets||
|**_Expenditure_**||
|Recognition of expenditure|Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis. Expenditure includes any VAT|
||that cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which|
||it relates.|
|Expenditure on raising funds|These comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income,|
||fundraising trading costs and investment management costs.|
|Expenditure on charitable|These comprise the costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities|
|activities|and services in the furtherance of its objects, including the making of grants and|
||governance costs.|
|Grants payable|All grant expenditure is accounted for on an accrual paid basis plus an accrual|
||for grants that have been approved by the trustees at the end of the year but not|
||yet paid.|
10
**RABBIT WELFARE FUND NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## Governance costs
Other expenditure
These include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity, including any audit/independent examination fees, costs linked to the strategic management of the charity, together with a share of other administration costs.
These are support costs not allocated to a particular activity.
## _**Stocks**_
Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value after making due allowance for obsolete and slow-moving stocks. Cost includes all direct costs and an appropriate proportion of fixed and variable overheads.
## _**Taxation**_
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
## _**Trade and other debtors**_
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
## _**Cash and cash equivalents**_
Cash and cash equivalents comprised cash at bank and on hand, demand deposits with banks and other shortterm highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts. In the Statement of Financial Position, bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings or current liabilities. In the Statement of Cash Flows, cash and cash equivalents are shown net of bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the charity's cash management.
## _**Trade and other creditors**_
Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has as present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
## _**Financial instruments**_
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised in the balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Basic financial assets, including trade and other receivables, cash and bank balances and investments in commercial paper, are initially recognised at transaction price. Such assets are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Basic financial liabilities, including trade and other payables, bank loans, loans from group companies and preference shares that are classified as debt, are initially recognised at transaction price. Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
## **2 Charity information**
Rabbit Welfare Fund is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission in England & Wales. The registered office address is 61 Bridge Street, Kington, HR5 3DJ.
11
## **RABBIT WELFARE FUND NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|**3**
**Income from donations and legacies**
Donations
Fundraising
Sponsor A Rescue
Gift Aid
**4**
**Income from charitable activities**
Charitable activities income
**5**
**Income from investments**
Bank interest
**6**
**Other income**
RWAF management fee income
**7**
**Expenditure on raising funds**
Fundraising
Sponsor A Rescue
**8**
**Expenditure on charitable activities**
Charitable activities expenditure|Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
37,135
16,027
-
1,738|Restricted
Funds
2025
£
-
-
1,810
-|**Total Funds**
**2025**
**£**
**37,135**
**16,027**
**1,810**
**1,738**
**56,710**
**Total Funds**
**2025**
**£**
**20,221**
**20,221**
**Total Funds**
**2025**
**£**
**1,503**
**1,503**
**Total Funds**
**2025**
**£**
**26,640**
**26,640**
**Total Funds**
**2025**
**£**
**6,729**
**1,768**
**8,497**
**Total Funds**
**2025**
**£**
**31,307**
**31,307**|Unrestricted
Funds
2024
£
113,234
17,291
-
1,044|Restricted
Funds
2024
£
-
-
2,056
-|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
**113,234**
**17,291**
**2,056**
**1,044**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||54,900|1,810||131,569|2,056|**133,625**|
||Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
20,221|Restricted
Funds
2025
£
-||Unrestricted
Funds
2024
£
11,884|Restricted
Funds
2024
£
-|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
**11,884**|
||20,221|-||11,884|-|**11,884**|
||Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
1,503|Restricted
Funds
2025
£
-||Unrestricted
Funds
2024
£
591|Restricted
Funds
2024
£
-|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
**591**|
||1,503|-||591|-|**591**|
||Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
26,640|Restricted
Funds
2025
£
-||Unrestricted
Funds
2024
£
25,173|Restricted
Funds
2024
£
-|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
**25,173**|
||26,640|-||25,173|-|**25,173**|
||Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
6,729
-|Restricted
Funds
2025
£
-
1,768||Unrestricted
Funds
2024
£
266
-|Restricted
Funds
2024
£
-
1,169|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
**266**
**1,169**|
||6,729|1,768||266|1,169|**1,435**|
||Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
31,307|Restricted
Funds
2025
£
-||Unrestricted
Funds
2024
£
18,023|Restricted
Funds
2024
£
-|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
**18,023**|
||31,307|-||18,023|-|**18,023**|
12
## **RABBIT WELFARE FUND NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **9 Other expenditure**
|Benevolent Fund Veterinary Payments
Other Expenditure - RWF Rescue Rabbits
Management and volunteer costs
Premises costs
General administrative costs
Interest payable and similar costs
Legal and professional costs|Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
-
-
70,434
2,955
7,148
25
19,153|Restricted
Funds
2025
£
372
3,457
-
-
-
-
-|**Total Funds**
**2025**
**£**
**372**
**3,457**
**70,434**
**2,955**
**7,148**
**25**
**19,153**
**103,544**|Unrestricted
Funds
2024
£
-
1,801
50,900
2,991
5,251
11
11,849|Restricted
Funds
2024
£
-
785
-
-
-
-
-|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
**-**
**2,586**
**50,900**
**2,991**
**5,251**
**11**
**11,849**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||99,715|3,829||72,803|785|**73,588**|
Included within 'Legal and professional costs' is an expense for independent examination fees of £1,670 (2024: £1,160).
## **10 Staff numbers**
The average number of employees during the year was as follows: 3 (2024: 3).
## **11 Staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses**
No employee received emoluments in excess of £60,000 (2024: None).
Rachel Walters (trustee) received payment for management services supplied to the charity during the year totalling £40,794, including benefits (2024: £40,353). Rachel was reimbursed travel, veterinary, and training expenses during the year totalling £2,024 (2024: £609). The total amount owing to Rachel Walters at 31 March 2025 was £Nil (2024: £292).
Roslyn Lamb (trustee) received payment for administrative services supplied to the charity during the year totalling £6,246, including benefits (2024: £6,543). Roslyn was reimbursed travel and training expenses during the year totalling £232 (2024: £Nil).The total amount owing to Roslyn Lamb at 31 March 2025 was £Nil (2024: £312).
Emma Boyd (trustee) was reimbursed travel expenses during the year totalling £346 (2024: £Nil).The total amount owing to Emma Boyd at 31 March 2025 was £Nil (2024: £Nil).
Alan Wilson (trustee) was reimbursed travel expenses during the year totalling £238 (2024: £Nil).The total amount owing to Alan Wilson at 31 March 2025 was £Nil (2024: £Nil).
All of the trustees received their remuneration through the payroll of the charity with effect from 1 January 2021, with Rachel Walters previously receiving her remuneration as self-employed income. All of the payments made were permitted by the charity’s governing document.
## **12 Related party transactions**
All of the four trustees of the charity also serve as the directors of Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund ("RWAF"), a company limited by guarantee, and have control over this entity.
During the year the charity became due the following donations and other monies from RWAF:
|Collected by RWAF from individual donors
Direct donation from RWAF
Debtor monies owed to the charity, received into RWAF bank account|**2025**
**£**
21,497
3,532
5,900
30,929|**2024**
**£**
22,245
5,925
-|
|---|---|---|
|||28,170|
None of the donations would be considered outside the normal course of business. There were no restricted donations from RWAF itself, or any other related party. During the year the charity received £23,503 (2024: £19,531) from RWAF in respect of amounts owing to it as above.
During the year RWAF became due the following amounts from the charity of which £1,193 (2024: £Nil) had been reimbursed:
|Advertising expenses
Vets fees, food and other rabbit welfare provisions
Share of rent of ‘lock-up’ premises
Salaries paid from RWAF in error
RWAF income received into charity bank account|**2025**
**£**
-
2,413
2,331
-
50
4,794|**2024**
**£**
3,001
1,758
2,331
1,280
24|
|---|---|---|
|||8,394|
The total amount owed to the charity by RWAF at 31 March 2025 was £27,328 (2024: £23,503).
13
## **RABBIT WELFARE FUND NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|**13 Stocks**
Finished Goods (RWF Leaflets)
**14 Debtors**
Trade debtors
Accrued income and prepayments
Other debtors
**15 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Accruals
Other taxes and social security
Other creditors|**2025**
**£**
2,000
2,000
**2025**
**£**
400
3,040
27,328
30,768
**2025**
**£**
3,375
-
-
3,375|**2024**
**£**
10,000|
|---|---|---|
|||10,000|
|||**2024**
**£**
-
88,537
23,503|
|||112,040|
|||**2024**
**£**
3,125
726
604|
|||4,455|
14
## **RABBIT WELFARE FUND NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|**16**
**Movement in funds**
**16.1** **_Current year_**
**_Restricted Income Funds:_**
Sponsor A Rescue Fund
Benevolent Fund
Total
**_Unrestricted Funds_**
**_General Funds:_**
**_Designated Funds:_**
Vet Specialist Adviser Fund
Total
**_Total Funds_**
**16.2** **_Prior year_**
**_Restricted Income Funds:_**
Sponsor A Rescue Fund
Benevolent Fund
Total
**_Unrestricted Funds_**
**_General Funds:_**
**_Designated Funds:_**
Vet Specialist Adviser Fund
Premises Fund
Total
**_Total Funds_**|**£**
2,836
31,760
34,596
121,929
8,000
8,000
164,525
**£**
1,949
32,545
34,494
31,304
8,000
12,500
20,500
86,298
**At 1 April**
**2024**
**At 1 April**
**2023**|**£**
1,810
-
1,810
103,264
-
-
105,074
**£**
2,056
-
2,056
169,217
-
-
-
171,273
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Incoming**
**resources**|**£**
(1,768)
(3,829)
(5,597)
(126,330)
(11,421)
(11,421)
(143,348)
**£**
(1,169)
(785)
(1,954)
(82,468)
(8,624)
-
(8,624)
(93,046)
**Resources**
**expended**
**Resources**
**expended**|**Transfers**
**£**
-
-
-
(15,421)
15,421
15,421
-
**Transfers**
**£**
-
-
-
3,876
8,624
(12,500)
(3,876)
-|**£**
2,878
27,931
**At 31 March**
**2025**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||30,809|
|||||||
||||||83,442|
||||||12,000|
||||||12,000|
|||||||
||||||126,251|
||||||**£**
2,836
31,760
**At 31 March**
**2024**|
||||||34,596|
|||||||
||||||121,929|
||||||8,000
-|
||||||8,000|
|||||||
||||||164,525|
15
## **RABBIT WELFARE FUND NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **Purposes and restrictions in relation to the funds:**
Represent the amount by which investments exceed their historical cost.
Revaluation reserves Represent the amount by which investments exceed their historical cost. _Restricted funds:_ Sponsor A Rescue Fund Represents sponsorship donations which are split and used to support a number of rescue shelters.
Benevolent Fund Represents grants received to enable the medical care of rescued rabbits. The source of these funds during the 2024-25 accounting year has been the Eilis Power legacy.
_Designated funds:_
Vet Specialist Adviser Fund Represents funds set aside for the provision of specialist advice required by the charity in furtherance of its core aims and objectives. Premises Fund Represents funds set aside for unexpected premises and relocation costs.
## **17 Analysis of net assets between funds**
## **17.1** _**Current year**_
|Cash at bank and in hand
Other net current assets/(liabilities)
Total|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
66,049
29,393
95,442|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
30,809
-
30,809|**Total Funds**
**2025**
**£**
96,858
29,393|
|---|---|---|---|
||||126,251|
## **17.2** _**Prior year**_
|Cash at bank and in hand
Other net current assets/(liabilities)
Total|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**2024**
**£**
12,344
117,585
129,929|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**2024**
**£**
34,596
-
34,596|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
46,940
117,585|
|---|---|---|---|
||||164,525|
16
## **RABBIT WELFARE FUND DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **This page does not form part of the statutory accounts**
|**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
Donations
Fundraising
Sponsor A Rescue
Gift Aid
Charitable activities
Charitable activities income
Investments
Bank interest
Other
RWAF management fee income
**Total Income and endowments**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
Fundraising
Sponsor A Rescue
Charitable activities
Charitable activities expenditure
Other
Benevolent Fund Veterinary Payments
Other Expenditure - RWF Rescue Rabbits
Management and volunteer costs
Wages & salaries
Employers' NI
Pensions
Training
Travel & subsistence
Premises costs
Rent
Use of home
Cleaning|Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
37,135
16,027
-
1,738|Restricted
Funds
2025
£
-
-
1,810
-|**Total Funds**
**2025**
**£**
**37,135**
**16,027**
**1,810**
**1,738**
**56,710**
**20,221**
**20,221**
**1,503**
**1,503**
**26,640**
**26,640**
**105,074**
**6,729**
**1,768**
**8,497**
**31,307**
**31,307**
**372**
**3,457**
**3,829**
**66,260**
**1,442**
**502**
**226**
**2,004**
70,434
**2,331**
**624**
**-**
**2,955**|Unrestricted
Funds
2024
£
113,234
17,291
-
1,044|Restricted
Funds
2024
£
-
-
2,056
-|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
**113,234**
**17,291**
**2,056**
**1,044**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||54,900|1,810||131,569|2,056|**133,625**|
||20,221|-||11,884|-|**11,884**|
||20,221|-||11,884|-|**11,884**|
||1,503|-||591|-|**591**|
||1,503|-||591|-|**591**|
||26,640|-||25,173|-|**25,173**|
||26,640|-||25,173|-|**25,173**|
||||||||
||103,264|1,810||169,217|2,056|**171,273**|
||6,729
-|-
1,768||266
-|-
1,169|**266**
**1,169**|
||6,729|1,768||266|1,169|**1,435**|
||31,307|-||18,023|-|**18,023**|
||31,307|-||18,023|-|**18,023**|
||-
-|372
3,457||-
1,801|-
785|**-**
**2,586**|
||-|3,829||1,801|785|**2,586**|
||66,260
1,442
502
226
2,004|-
-
-
-
-||50,539
-
34
119
208|-
-
-
-
-|**50,539**
**-**
**34**
**119**
**208**|
||70,434|-||50,900|-|50,900|
||2,331
624
-|-
-
-||2,331
624
36|-
-
-|**2,331**
**624**
**36**|
||2,955|-||2,991|-|**2,991**|
17
## **RABBIT WELFARE FUND DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **This page does not form part of the statutory accounts**
|General administrative costs
Software costs
Insurance
Printing, postage & stationery
Telephone & internet
Subscriptions
Bank charges
Interest payable and similar costs
Other loan interest
Legal and professional costs
Accountancy fees
Independent Examination fees
Solicitors fees
Other legal & professional fees
**Total expenditure**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Transfers between funds**
**Net movement in funds**|5,383
479
70
216
939
61|-
-
-
-
-
-|**5,383**
**479**
**70**
**216**
**939**
**61**
**7,148**
**25**
**25**
**1,980**
**1,670**
**11,421**
**4,082**
**19,153**
**143,348**
**(38,274)**
**-**
**(38,274)**|4,899
88
204
-
-
60|-
-
-
-
-
-|**4,899**
**88**
**204**
**-**
**-**
**60**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||7,148|-||5,251|-|**5,251**|
||25|-||11|-|**11**|
||25|-||11|-|**11**|
||1,980
1,670
11,421
4,082|-
-
-
-||1,980
1,160
8,624
85|-
-
-
-|**1,980**
**1,160**
**8,624**
**85**|
||19,153|-||11,849|-|**11,849**|
||||||||
||137,751|5,597||91,092|1,954|**93,046**|
||(34,487)
-|(3,787)
-||78,125
-|102
-|**78,227**
**-**|
||(34,487)|(3,787)||78,125|102|**78,227**|
18