Cats In Distress Charity No 1167332 Trustees Annual report for the period 1[st] January 2024 – 31[st] December 2024
Our structure and governance remains unchanged. We are governed by our Constitution dated 25[th] May 2016. The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Aside from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees
Objectives & Activities
Cats In Distress was established for the public benefit, to promote humane behaviour towards cats in Frome, Somerset and elsewhere by providing care, protection, treatment and security for cats in need of care and attention due to sickness, maltreatment, poor circumstances or ill usage, rehoming such cats where necessary. The purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document, dated 25[th] May 2016. We do this through our rescue, foster and home to home facilities.
Cats In Distress is mainly staffed by volunteers and works predominantly to rescue and rehome owned (and relinquished), stray and abandoned cats. In addition, through our partnership with other charities we work to reunite lost cats with their owners, respond to calls for assistance from the public, and work with veterinary practices, local authorities, other cat charities and animal welfare organisations. More information is available on our website at www.cats-in-distress.org
For the public benefit we promote cat welfare and good practice on our website and through our social media platforms. We provide advice to owners whose cats have gone missing and advertise lost and found cats on our social media platforms. We provide advice and information and advocate neutering and microchipping of all cats.
Only cats suitable for living in a domestic situation and have been properly socialised are rehomed to traditional home environments. All domestic cats & kittens offered for rehoming receive a health check and any necessary veterinary treatment is carried out. Cats for rehoming will be neutered, microchipped, fully vaccinated and given any veterinary treatment required. Five weeks’ free pet insurance is provided through Agria, which gives a donation to Cats In Distress for each policy subsequently taken out.
We respond to calls about feral cats. These are cats that have been born in the wild, receive no suitable socialisation between 2-8 weeks and cannot be domesticated. If left, a colony can quickly grow in size to cause problems, so we will neuter feral cats and provide health care, then either return them to their original location, or find a suitable feral placement where food and shelter is available. This is known as TNR, or Trap, Neuter and Return, which is an established welfare practice.
2024 Achievements and Performance
2024 was another challenging year, for the rescue industry in general and we were no different. The continuing economic crisis, the closure of some smaller rescues and continuing rise in vet fees continue to contribute to the number of owners reaching out for help and animals being abandoned. We continued to work both locally & nationally with other animal rescue charities, local authorities and private landlords. We have seen an increase in the number of animals needing help.
Website redesign. A local marketing company offered to give the website a much-needed re-design and complete overhaul. This has been very well received by potential adopters.
New branch – We were approached to provide support to three volunteers from another rescue that was closing in Somerset. They were keen that their knowledge & experience was not wasted, and they wanted to continue to help cats that were in need of rescuing. The Trustees discussed the funding, feasibility and practicalities and unanimously agreed to carry out a trial period. The trial was a resounding success and resulted in three new fosterers and an 8 additional rescue spaces being available
The location of these volunteers was outside our current area for the provision of veterinary services, so Newton Clarke Veterinary were approached and we are happy to be able to make use of both their services and those of Shepton & Wells Vets. Through these negotiations we have now extended our veterinary care to cover Somerset, Wiltshire & Dorset
The charity was a finalist in the BBC Make a difference awards, with our founding trustee being honoured & specifically recognised in making a difference to the lives of so many cats across the region.
Volunteer numbers remained buoyant at around 50 in total.
After ongoing communication from the CC, four new trustees were recruited and appointed to the board, their skills, lived experiences & knowledge bringing fresh ideas and new insights to the board of trustees. Ensuring the long-term viability of the rescue is paramount, with continued emphasis on our duty to further the charity’s purpose.
With increased demand, running the charity purely with volunteers has become increasingly difficult. Animal welfare is paramount and at the heart of what we do. After lengthy discussions, the trustees unanimously agreed that, with the increasing pressure being put on the charity, a new paid role, specifically for the care & welfare of the animals was needed, it was agreed that continuing to run the charity on a volunteers only basis, was no longer sustainable.
A recruitment agency was used to advertise the post and the charity received a number of interesting replies. One applicant was Mrs Parratt’s daughter, their relationship and conflict of interest was noted by the board. A short list was prepared and interviews carried out by three trustees, with the interviews all recorded and each applicant graded. The Trustees felt the most suitable candidate for the role was Miss Parratt. Although related to the founding trustee, she was deemed to be the most suitable candidate for the role and after discussion with the CC, her appointment as Animal Welfare Manager was agreed at the end of 2024.
Figures
During 2024 we admitted 237 cats,12 ferals and 106 kittens, 355 in total. Of those, 22 were euthanised on welfare grounds due to invasive and hopeless health issues and 7 died whilst in care. 16 cats received either Neutering or help with owned cat vet fees
We continued to build on our working relationship with other organisations within the rescue industry, assisting & helping on different projects with Search & Scan, RSPCA, Cats Protection & Chippenham Cat Rescue.
For the benefit of the public we continued our work in the community;
Promoting cat welfare via our website and social media and responding to calls and messages form the general public
We provide advise to any cat owner who contacted us for help & advise on all aspects of cat welfare Giving students of Frome schools and Bath & Frome Colleges access to work experience opportunities.
Continuing our association with the Duke of Edinburgh awards enabled young people to participate in volunteering opportunities.
In addition we welcomed home schooled students with extra-curricular activities.
2024 Financial Review (See accounts)
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period
The Charity holds cash in the bank and in hand of unrestricted funds, totalling £43756
Our main source of funding continues to be from donations, but we were also very active in applying for grants. We received grants from Hobhouse Trust (£3000), Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare trust (£5000), Pets at Home Foundation (£7500) and Animal Defence Trust (£1000), Our fundraising activities focussed on events that were organised & hosted by us, these raised £5107. In addition, we continued our association with Pets At Home VIP lifelines and Give as You live online donating.
All our expenditure has been to support the key objectives of the charity namely; Maintaining and expanding the rescue centre
Recruiting, managing & supporting fosterers and other volunteers in their duties Providing the appropriate care and treatment of all cats that are admitted to the charity. Assisting pet owners who are facing economic difficulties, by offering food and/or help with vet fees to enable the pet to remain with the owner.
Working with other charities, local authorities and the police to safeguard animals in critical situations.
Our largest expenditure in 2024 was for vet fees, medication and food, without these elements we would not be able to continue our work.
Name of the Trustees who manage the charity:
Ginny Parratt – Founding Trustee Claire Randall Cooke – Treasurer
Mark Cooke -Secretary
Lynette Nicholson Karen Denning Diane Oliver
Cats in Distress Registered Charity 1167332 Payment and Receipts Account for FY2024
| Income Received: Gross Expenses Donations/Adoptions 94309 0 Commission Received 3999 0 Events 5772 665 Gift Aid 11005 0 Grants 16500 0 Total Received 131585 665 Expenditure: Salary and Assoc costs Vet Fees, Meds and Microchips Cattery Consumables Admin and Running Costs Cat Eqpt Insurance, Mileage and Utilities Building maintenance Total Expenses Net Income (income less expenses) Profit for Year to Date Opening balance at Bank (1/1/24) Total Net Income Less Expenses Unbanked Cash Donations Closing Bank @ 31 Dec 24 Total Funds carried forward Bank and Cash |
Gross Expenses 94309 0 3999 0 5772 665 11005 0 16500 0 |
Net 94309 3999 5107 11005 16500 |
|---|---|---|
| 130919 1649 54042 15044 5421 882 6232 30740 114009 |
||
| 16910 | ||
| 16910 | ||
| 26846 130919 |
||
| 157765 114009 547 |
||
| 43209 | ||
| 43756 |
Restricted
Cats in Distress Registered Charity 1167332 Payment and Receipts Account for FY2024
| Income Received: Gross Expenses Donations/Adoptions 0 Commission Received 0 Events 0 Gift Aid 0 Grants 13500 0 Total Received 13500 0 Expenditure: Salary and Assoc costs Vet Fees, Meds and Microchips Cattery Consumables Admin and Running Costs Cat Eqpt Insurance, Mileage and Utilities Building maintenance Total Expenses Net Income (income less expenses) Profit for Year to Date Opening balance at Bank (1/1/24) Total Net Income Less Expenses Unbanked Cash Donations Closing Bank @31/12/24 Total Funds carried forward Bank and Cash |
Gross Expenses 0 0 0 0 13500 0 |
Net 0 0 0 0 13500 |
|---|---|---|
| 13500 0 13500 0 0 0 0 0 13500 |
||
| - | ||
| - | ||
| 0 13500 |
||
| 13500 13500 |
||
| 0 | ||
| 0 |
Unrestricted
Cats in Distress Registered Charity 1167332 Payment and Receipts Account for FY2024
| Income Received: Gross Expenses Donations/Adoptions 94309 0 Commission Received 3999 0 Events 5772 665 Gift Aid 11005 0 Grants 3000 0 Total Received 118085 665 Expenditure: Salary and Assoc costs Vet Fees, Meds and Microchips Cattery Consumables Admin and Running Costs Cat Eqpt Insurance, Mileage and Utilities Building maintenance Total Expenses Net Income (income less expenses) Profit for Year to Date Opening balance at Bank (1/1/24) Total Net Income Less Expenses Unbanked Cash Donations Closing Bank @ 31/12/24 Total Funds carried forward Bank and Cash |
Gross Expenses 94309 0 3999 0 5772 665 11005 0 3000 0 |
Net 94309 3999 5107 11005 3000 |
|---|---|---|
| 117419 1649 40542 15044 5421 882 6232 30740 100509 |
||
| 16910 | ||
| 16910 | ||
| 26,846 117419 |
||
| 144265 100509 547 |
||
| 43209 | ||
| 43756 |
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to th• truste memhys of Cats in Distress On accounts for the year 2024 Charity no (rf any) 1167332 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trusf) for the year erKled R•sponslbilitl•s and As the chanty trustees of the Trus( you are respons19 for the preparation basls (rf report of the aco)unts in a(xJxdance vAth the requirwmts of the Charilies Act 2011 nhe Acr). I report in resrEd of my examination of the Trusys accounts carried out urKler section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the awlicable Directions given by the Chanty Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the A Ind•p•nd•nt I have comfAeted my examination. I confimi that no material matters have •xaminofs statsm•nt come to my atttion (other than that disdosed below.) in conneth'on with Ihe examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any matsrial accounting recorfs not kept in accordan¢% with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no concems arxl have come a(XDSS no olher matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable proper UndendIng of the accourrts to be reached. ' Please delete the woffls in the brackets rfthey (kn not appty. Slgn•d: 6 Feb 2025 Jemy Usher Relevant profvssional qualifioation(s) or body (rf any)= Retired CMI Servant Address: 39 Osprey Road Warminster Wiltshire, BA12 IER October 2018