2023-12-31-accounts - Northumberland Dog Rescue

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Northumberland Dog Rescue

Registered Charity 1170022

Annual Report and Financial Statement 1 st January 2023 – 31 st December 2023

1. Administrative Details

Registered Charity Number

1170022

Working Name Rescue

Northumberland Dog

Address for charity correspondence

Patterson’s Cottage, Charlton Mires, Alnwick, NE66 2TJ

Trustees (December 2023)

David Francis Chair

Michelle Biddle

Lee Fraser

Annie Wallace

Bankers

Barclays Bank

Alnwick

Co operative Bank

Independent Financial Examiner

Ivan Smith (from 2024)

Summary of the purposes of the charity

The objects of NDR are to relieve the suffering of dogs in need of care, rescue and attention, and in particular to provide and maintain facilities and homes for the reception, care and treatment of such animals by such means that are exclusively charitable.

Structure, Governance and Management

The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, governed by a constitution which follows the Charity Commission ‘foundation model’, which means that our trustees are also the sole members of the charity.

The trustees normally meet at roughly six-weekly intervals, sometimes inperson and sometimes by video call. There are no committees.

Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees

At the start of 2023 we had 4 trustees, David Francis (Chair) Lee Fraser, Michelle Biddle and Katherine Grant.

Katherine stepped down as trustee in August 2023. Annie Wallace joined as a trustee in September 2023

David Francis (Chair) indicated his intention to retire as Chair after 7 years at the helm. David remained as chair with NDR throughout 2023.

Summary of the main activities of NDR

To provide a safe kennel or foster environment for rescue dogs

In 2023 we rescued 30 dogs. We are seeing an increase in dogs needing both medical and behavioural support meaning dogs tend to remain with us longer before rehoming. The number of dogs waiting to be rehomed has increased and we have waiting lists of 20+ dogs at any one time to come into our rescue.

To work with rescue dogs and provide rehabilitation services for the dogs in our care

During 2023 we worked with staff and our dog behaviourist to develop training programmes specific to each dog. in addition each dog has a “key worker” either staff or volunteer who is responsible for ensuring the dogs enrichment and training programme is working effectively

Work collaboratively with local services to support the dogs in our care

We continue to have good relationships with council warden services and our vets. We have developed good relationships with local businesses and services, for example;

●Two fundraising partnerships with Bamburgh castle and The pets at home foundation

●Donations of goods and services for example; building materials, internet services
●6 food donation bins
●10 collecting tins in venues across North Northumberland

To fnd suitable long term and forever homes for the dogs in or care

We have rehomed 35 dogs in 2023, this is slightly up from last year, though the aftermath of covid, the cost of living and a general consumer attitude to buying dogs is still having an impact on the amount of dogs being rehomed

We continue to offer follow up support post adoption NDR adopted Jessie the XXL bully when it became apparent new legislation prevented us from finding a home external to the kennel environment.

Support dog adopters to manage rescues in their homes

We offer veterinary support to 8 dogs in their homes due to existing conditions

All adopted dogs remain NDR dogs for life, we offer telephone and in some cases face to face support with a volunteer. Adoptees are provided with information about dog services in the area.

We maintain a Friend of NDR adopters facebook page We offer NDR guided walks 4 times a year for adopted dogs and their adoptees

Public benefit.

We work closely with vets, animal welfare and the public to provide a safe space for dogs needing to be rehomed. The Charity has 3 aims; rescue, rehabilitate and rehome each are discussed at every trustee meeting.

Volunteers

We maintain a strong volunteer base with over 35 volunteers helping at the kennel, fostering, fundraising and a plethora of administrative and practical tasks. We, in keeping with national trends, have struggled to recruit volunteers to staff our shop. We intend to recruit a new trustee to our team with a retail and volunteering background to strengthen our charity.

Fundraising activities

Our fundraising activities went from strength to strength this year. The partnership with Bamburgh Castle helped us raise much needed funds. The addition of a fundraising/ social media lead to our trustee board gave us an increase in social media presence. We introduced branded merchandise which we are able to sell during fundraising and at 2 outlets. The Charity shop did extremely well and we are now able to open 6 days a week, though this is reliant on a small but dedicated group of volunteers

Financial Review

We had a mixed year in terms of our financial successes. Our boarding income stream was reduced while the kennels were closed to do some renovation work to replace an old kennel block. We also had extensive repair work to complete on the cottage owned by the kennels and housing our kennel manager. However donations, fundraising and shop income were all up on last year. We reviewed our outgoing and managed some savings in our utility bills. Wage bills increased as we employed more kennel staff.

We were awarded 2 grants in year and we intend to complete the building work afforded to us by a legacy fund in 2024.

We ended the year with £33,916 in restricted funds and £26,146 in unrestricted funds.

Thanks

We are extremely fortunate to benefit from an enormous number of friends and supporters, who have helped in so many ways: whether with caring for the dogs, financial help, practical work at the kennels, donations of dog food, co-operation with partner organisations, governance and management, technical expertise, and so much more. Our grateful thanks, to you all.

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Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Charity Name NORTHUMBERLAND DOG RESCUE members of On accounts for the year 31 DECEMBER 2023 Charity no 1170022 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 31/12/2023 .

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 examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have 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.

Signed: Date: 19/10/2024 Name: IVAN SMITH Relevant professional ICAEW qualification(s) or body (if any):

Address: 8 LINNET COURT, CAWLEDGE BUSINESS PARK, ALNWICK, NORTHUMBERLAND, NE66 2GD

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).

October 2018

IER

Give here brief details of NOT APPLICABLE any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

October 2018

IER