REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 2022
Objectives & Activities
Our objective is to help people in mental and physical need by the provision of therapy dogs to both children and adults, people with disabilities and additional needs, people of all ages with health conditions and those with difficult social circumstances. We provide assessed dogs and their owners to visit schools, hospitals, hospices, care homes, prisons, and similar institutions where the need for a therapy dog is perceived. In addition, we support initiatives for good mental health and wellbeing when requested. As a Charity we continually strive to enhance the lives of both children and adults. We advocate responsible dog training methods, canine education, healthy dogs, and caring ownership.
Achievements & Performance
Therapy Dogs Nationwide continues to grow as well as build awareness and gain more volunteers who are helped and encouraged by established TDN volunteers.
The 2021/2022 period remained to be challenging in light of the continuing COVID pandemic, but our volunteering teams remained cheery and optimistic. We have slowly, but surely, seen normality returning.
We started to see an increase in interest and registrations towards the end of the period, we opened our registration process again.
Although many virtual visits continued, face to face visits started to return.
Many of our volunteers have continued using the new technologies learnt during the pandemic, and have still offered virtual visits, this has enabled the establishments to connect with their regular volunteers again, but has also meant some volunteers have been able to offer a “visit” to other establishments, from a dog that under normal circumstances they would not normally meet due to locations.
Therapy Dogs Nationwide Registered Charity No. 1167622
Trustees: Eileen Slattery (Chair), Eileen Hodge, Mary Oliver MBE, Leisl de Lafontaine, Jo Blake Patron: Tony Hodge
The enquiries office is back to full capacity.
Financial review
Our fundraising abilities have continued to be affected during this financial period as most monies are raised in a face-to-face environment during social interactions which has not happened.
As we have been able to return to visiting, we have received smaller donations from our volunteers visiting their establishments.
Although our face-to-face collections have been affected, we have received great support from other business resulting in a few substantial donations. We have received £5000 from Tangle Teezer, £348.00 from Adventure Road Vacations, £1050.00 from Safeguard, £500 from Apax, £300 from Hitch Marketing and £262 from Storms Kitchen.
As above, our funds have come from online raffles, collections and sales as well the PayPal Just Giving Fund (£2882) and the Amazon Smile Fund (£20)
We have also had several large donations left to us in memory of long-standing volunteers.
During this period we have adopted a 12 month rolling subscription service which has been made easier with the use of accounting software and automated invoicing.
Reserves policy
To date, our reserves have been reinvested back into the charity for the following financial year. We have updated our website design and invested in new and advanced facilities with an emphasis on a clear no-nonsense format. We have added new forms to our website with a view to automating some of our admin processes. We hope to deliver the information directly to our database in the future. Our website and social media platforms continue to drive enquiries and will be a focus for future recruitment of volunteers. We have an extremely strong supportive “volunteer only” Facebook page which includes all registered volunteers who wish to join and participate. It is monitored by 3 volunteers and is uncensored with the availability to contact a Trustee or Administrator 24/7.
We appreciate that we will need to continue to provide volunteers with the correct merchandise to use in fundraising.
We have, and will continue to provide literature, leaflets, posters, stickers, collecting tins, display boards, banners, gazebos and most of all information.
We will endeavour to provide the items volunteers request and will consult with them regularly.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustee
The Articles of Association provide for a minimum of 3 Trustees and a maximum of 12. Each Trustee is appointed by ordinary resolution passed by the Trustees as a body. New candidates are put forward and considered regarding the general contribution a person might make to the achievement of the Charity’s objectives. The Trustees appoint the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. This year Trustees have remained in post including the Chairman who was unanimously voted back in after her first 3- year term, as per our constitution. In future years we will consider a maximum term and also ask volunteers about becoming a membership organisation.
Organisational structure
The Board of Trustees is responsible for administration of the Charity. The Board meets in person at least 4 times a year to discuss matters raised by all volunteers and is in daily contact with administration volunteers and officers. During this past financial period, we have continued meeting virtually which has enabled us to action items in a more timely fashion. We have continued to have monthly virtual meetings to discuss matters arising.
Eileen Slattery – Co-Founder, Chairperson & Trustee
Eileen Hodge - Co-Founder & Trustee Mary Oliver, MBE – Trustee Leisl de Lafontaine – Trustee
| Volunteer Eileen Slattery Eileen Hodge Mary Oliver MBE Leisl de Lafontaine Jackie Brien Aileen Yorke Aimee Lindsey Paulette Hockley Caroline Wilkinson |
Responsibilities Finance, administration enquires, operational management & paperwork. Volunteer support and assessor Area Team Leader coordinator, area coordinator, operational management, enquires, paperwork and volunteer support Schools’ coordinator, school enquiries and liaison, advisor to the Kennel Club Bark & Read committee Technology, website & social media coordinator and forward planner. Liaison for vaccination and raw feeding policies. Health coordinator for canines, advisor to the Kennel Club Bark & Read committee, assessor & training consultant Senior Administration Assistant Senior Administration Assistant Administration Consultant Placement Liaison Merchandise Officer |
|---|---|
Amanda Wall Head of Assessors Training Elena Fineberg Volunteer Support & Wellbeing Officer Megan Bird Accounts and Bookkeeping Administrator
How decisions are made
The Trustees and Administration volunteers receive enquires from volunteers by emails, telephone and letter, together with queries from other interested parties. Incidental matters are dealt with by the Administration volunteers and the Chair or other Trustees, all other matters go to the board, where they are discussed, with a trustee taking charge of the enquiry according to its nature. We advise each other mutually on matters and take the consensus view for the outcome. Three trustees have daily access to the charity bank accounts and any expenditure is discussed during our formal meetings.
Tasks completed by volunteers
Volunteers have continued with the Area Team Leader Roles in an advisory capacity, and it has had a very positive impact on our new volunteers. The ATL’s can assist volunteers within a specific area to help, direct them to the Placement team to help them find a visiting establishment, fundraise, and answer questions or problem solve.
We are continuing to recruit volunteer ATL’s.
We also have a group of volunteers who are telephone advisors and mentors to anyone who does not have this on their doorstep.
Structure, Governance & Management
Our governing document is reviewed annually and at present there is no need for it to be updated.
Future Aims & Key Objectives
We aim to provide full support and back up to all volunteers, to never fail to listen and achieve great things together, to be the best we can. Our regular community visiting has continued to be part of our core values; however, we have extended our “one-offs” for events such as corporate wellbeing days and university exam support and these have been positively received, we plan to continue with these.
With have continued to improve and increase our social media presence and we are attracting enquiries from large organisations who want to work with us.
We intend to expand on this resource so that we can choose our future partnerships.
We have been approached by another large company (Bird and Blend) offering their support and choosing us as their Chari-TEA of the quarter, we expect another large donation from this in the next financial period.
Look into recruiting more help within the admin team due to our successful growth.
Appoint a new Trustee to join our board towards the end of 2022.
Continue obtaining quotes to update our IT equipment, and to consider outsourcing our IT to enable us to always have support as and when required.
Recruit more ATL’s and Assessors to allow us to help as many as our volunteers as we can.
Explore other fundraising and volunteer recruitment ideas, we are looking to have an event planned for our volunteers in different locations, each month of the year.
Re-design our admin departmental structure to enable us to deal efficiently with increasing demand.
We have no intention of charging for the visits we make or the events we attend.
Public Benefit
When planning our activities for the year we referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commissions general guidance on public benefit and complied with S17(5) of the2011 Charites Act when reviewing the aims and objectives prior to planning and developing activities.
Acknowledgements
The Trustees acknowledge TDN teams, both visiting and administrative, in making this Charity what it is.
Reference & Administrative Details
Registered Charity number - 1167622 Registered office 103 Home Farm Road Woodchurch Upton Wirral CH49 7LG
Trustees Independent examiner Miss. E. Slattery Mark Wall FCPA Mrs. E. Hodge M W Accounting Ltd Mrs. M. Oliver MBE Unit 5 Basepoint Business Centre Miss. L. de Lafontaine Caxton Close Miss J. Blake Andover SP10 3FG
Basis of Preparation:
These accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis. Previous Years Errors:
There have been no material prior year errors identified within the reporting period.
| Receipts Donations and Legacies Commercial Partnership Funds Volunteer registration fees Volunteer uniform sales Interest Received Total Payments Raising funds & Awareness at events Volunteer Uniform Stock Volunteer PPE Volunteer training Travel expenses Administration & Professional Services Independent Examiners Fee Insurance costs Stationery Postage Admin equipment costs Admin office costs (incl phone, software) Sundry expenses Total Net income/(expenditure) before investment gains/(losses) Transfers between funds Total cash funds brought forward from last year Total cash funds carried forward |
2022 2022 2022 2021 Unrestricted funds Restricted Funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ 31,022 31,022 29,556 5,000 5,000 - 2,431 2,431 3,132 10,351 10,351 1,920 7 7 113 48,811 48,811 34,720 9,783 9,783 25 9,400 9,400 2,234 3,562 3,562 1,967 180 180 - 4,665 4,665 156 - 17,964 17,964 6,570 - - 660 1,404 1,404 1,250 1,031 1,031 162 3,848 3,848 1,235 738 738 86 5,991 5,991 4,000 3,729 3,729 444 62,295 62,295 18,478 13,484 - 13,484 - 16,243 - - - 78,739 78,739 62,496 65,255 65,255 78,739 |
|---|---|
Therapy Dogs Nationwide Registered Charity No. 1167622
Trustees: Eileen Slattery (Chair), Eileen Hodge, Mary Oliver MBE, Leisl de Lafontaine, Jo Blake Patron: Tony Hodge
Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31st March 2022
| Cash Funds Cash at Bank Funds held in PayPal account Cash Floats Held Total Other Monetary Assets Refunds Due Total Assets held Uniform Stock Total Fixed Assets Computer Equipment Opening balance Additions during year Disposals during year Closing balance Liabilities Accountancy fees Consultancy Fees Independent examiner Total |
2022 2022 2022 2021 Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ |
2022 2022 2022 2021 Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ |
2022 2022 2022 2021 Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ |
2022 2022 2022 2021 Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62,874 | - | 62,874 | 77,581 | |
| 1,404 | - | 1,404 | - | |
| 976 | 976 | 1,157 | ||
| 65,255 | - | 65,255 | 78,739 | |
| - | - | - | 387 | |
| - | - | - | 387 | |
| 4,663 | - | 4,663 | 6,252 | |
| 4,663 | - | 4,663 | 6,252 | |
| 5,230 | - | 5,230 | 5,223 | |
| 738 | - | 738 | 86 | |
| 1,100 - |
- | 1,100 - |
79 - |
|
| 4,868 | - | 4,868 | 5,230 | |
| - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | 1,639 | |
| 702 | - | 702 | 696 | |
| 702 | - | 702 | 2,335 |
Approved by order of the board of trustees and signed on its behalf by:
Leisl de Lafontaine Trustee
Therapy Dogs Nationwide Registered Charity No. 1167622
Trustees: Eileen Slattery (Chair), Eileen Hodge, Mary Oliver MBE, Leisl de Lafontaine, Jo Blake Patron: Tony Hodge
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of Therapy Dogs Nationwide On accounts for the year 31 March 2022 Charity no 1167622 ended (if any) Set out on pages (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 / 03 / 2022 .
- Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
-
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Date: 09/01/2023 Signed: Name: Mark Wall Relevant professional FCPA qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: M W Accounting Ltd Unit 5 Basepoint Business Centre, Caxton Close Andover, SP10 3FG
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .