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2023-07-31-accounts

FRIENDS OF FERALS (SHEFFIELD)

Caring for the feral cats in Sheffield Charity Registration Number: 1170938

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS

YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023

FRIENDS OF FERALS (SHEFFIELD)

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS

REG CHARITY NO: 1170938 PRINCIPAL ADDRESS: 3 Main Street Back of Railway Arches Catcliffe Rotherham S60 5SR WEB SITE https://www.facebook.com/friendsofferals/ TRUSTEE: Margaret Skinner (Chairperson) Joanne Gardner Nicola Speke Michael Dooley GOVERNING DOCUMENT: Trust deed dated 21 November 2016 BANK: Nat West Bank 42 High Street Sheffield S1 2GE

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS: Mrs Sarah Smith MSc BSc FCCA FCIE MNAVP TSA (Oakham) Ltd Temple House 8 Main Street Cold Overton LEICS LE15 7QA

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FRIENDS OF FERALS (SHEFFIELD)

Independent Examiners Report to the Trustee of Friends of Ferals (Sheffield)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Friends of Ferals (Sheffield) for the year ended 31 July 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of Friends of Ferals (Shefield) 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 accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination of the accounts I have followed all 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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

1) accounting records were not kept in respect of the Friends of Ferals (Sheffield) as required by s130 of the Act; or

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.

Sarah Smith

Sarah A Smith (Mrs) MSc BSc FCCA FCIE MNAVP

Sarah A Smith (Mrs) MSc BSc FCCA FCIE MNAVP 27 February 2024. TSA (Oakham) Ltd Temple House 8, Main Street Cold Overton LEICS LE15 7QA

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FRIENDS OF FERALS (SHEFFIELD)

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 JULY 2023.

The report of the trustee for the year ended 31 July 2023 includes the information given on the Reference and Administration page, (page 1).

The charity is run by trustees within the principles of a Charitable Trust Deed dated November 2016.

Objects:

-to help small rescues, with trapping advice, the use of specialist equipment and the funding of equipment, food and veterinary treatment. We have maintained our critical partnerships with small rescues in the South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire, and North Nottinghamshire areas which uphold our Mission Statement.

Activities and Achievements in support of the objects:

This year has been a very good year from a life-saving, and information-sharing point of view. The charity is stable financially and we have survived and even thrived when other rescues have closed their doors. Our volunteers have battled through, trapping and rehoming street cats in very difficult circumstances

However, despite everything that this year threw at us, we have still been able to maintain our average figure of cats helped, over 200, many placed on stables/small holdings, all neutered, bloodtested, microchipped and brought back to health.

The trustees have established a policy, whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets should be 18 months of the resources expended. However, due to the longer journeys undertaken this year resulting from the closure of other rescue organisations, the trustees decided in 2022 to purchase a second commercial vehicle. It is hoped that we will be able to increase our fundraising to cover the running costs of the VW Caddy as it is most important that our frontline trustees are kept safe. During this financial year, the trustees have sold the older vehicle (YS68 NGG) to replenish reserves.

The closure of three local rescues has been brought to our attention, we continue to work closely with those that remain.

-trapping, neutering, veterinary treatment and daily feeding of feral colonies, from online auction funding and voluntary donations

This year again has seen a further increase in cats giving birth on the streets as a lasting effect of the global pandemic. We are constantly inundated with calls for help and trapping continues on a daily basis from dawn until late at night. It is taking all the charity’s resources to keep on top of the previous week’s calls.

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FRIENDS OF FERALS (SHEFFIELD)

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 JULY 2023. (CON)

Placing ferals in stables is a lengthy process and is something most other rescues are unable to do.We have it down to a fine art after years of practice. Following the initial visit to assess suitability, chicken coops are placed to give the cats somewhere safe, secure and comfortable in which to live out their first few weeks of restriction while getting used to their new homes. Visits are carried out on a regular basis at the same time as delivering supplies to ensure the cats are settled and in good health. When assessing cats in a colony we find that not all are born feral, some are intact strays that have mixed into the colony. These cats that have been exposed to humans may stay in foster care for a long period but often make good pets and are re-homed. Feral cats are not returned to dangerous situations. Those that can't return to gardens or companies or go to stables where their safe future can be ensured, and are not rehomeable are looked after by long term foster parents who are dedicated to them for their lifetimes.

- information and advice given on our website and face book page

Our Facebook presence continues to grow and has become an excellent forum for detailing our activities, very popular with our supporters.

We are in the process of reformatting our web site with up to date information, especially regarding the importance of neutering and microchipping.

We have made great strides to increase our members on our facebook auction page which is also very popular and covers the cost of most of our veterinary and food bills, being responsible for the provision of food for over 100 cats every day at an annual cost of £10k. Our supporters also use this as an approachable medium for seeking advice and sharing their stories and experiences.

- our supporters

The trustees extend their heartfelt thanks to their loyal Friends of Ferals who have helped by running the auction site, donating, adopting or fostering cats and in the vital frontline work of trapping and feeding the colonies.

We hope that by getting our prevention messages out into the community, we can stop things from hitting crisis point in families and communities, reducing the number of emergencies we have to respond to at short notice and also reducing the number of cats that have to be destroyed in South Yorkshire every week. We know that by working with people at the earliest opportunity we can support them to access the services they need to reduce unwanted stress. Volunteers, as ever are a huge part of our organisation, we have some very dedicated supporters who have been with the charity since the very beginning of FOF. We owe them all a great debt of gratitude. There have been incredible acts of selflessness, dedication and commitment to our purpose and our cats that have further cemented our true understanding of why we do what we do, when we need it the most. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

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FRIENDS OF FERALS (SHEFFIELD)

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 JULY 2023. (CON)

Financial Review:

Inevitably the cost of living crisis has continued to affect the charity's activities including fundraising and acting in partnership with other organisations. However,support for FOF as an indovidual organsiation has remained very strong with donations and the auction bringing in £43,707 (2022: £41,376).

Expenditure was £40,057, (2022:£46,381).

The charity made a surplus of £3,650 before the sale of the commercial vehicle. The sale realised £16,000 and so the total surplus was £19,650.

The remaining free reserves of £48,753 represent approx. 14 months normal expenditure. The trustees are confident that the the reserves held are sufficent to meet the liabilities of the charity for at least 12 months from the signature date of these accounts and now approach the ideal level of reserves which the charity's trustees set at 18 months expenditure.

Public Benefit:

The trustees bear in mind the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit when making decisions regading the use of funds.

The charity helps all local communities experiencing the management problems of unwanted, abandoned and feral cats. It also helps individual cat owners of limited financial means with veterinary care particularly neutering. The management, treatment and re-homing of feral cats manifestly benefits both the human and animal populations of Sheffield and environs.

Maggie Skinner

Mrs M Skinner 27-Feb-24

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FRIENDS OF FERALS (SHEFFIELD)

Receipts and Payments Accounts

For the Period 1 August 2022 to 31 July 2023

NOTE
Unrestricted
Fund
£
Receipts
Voluntary donations and auction
39,807
Grants
0
Fundraising events and commissions paid
3,900
Sale of Van
16,000
Total Receipts
59,707
Payments
Fund raising expenses incl platform fees
337
Direct charitable costs
Veterinary fees
13,635
Cat Care and equipment
1,395
Crematorium
798
Cat food and litter
10,617
Equipment (Office/Unit)
734
Donations
2,402
Printing postage and stationery
1,225
Fuel, vehicle repairs and hire
3,903
Garage rent and storage
3,905
Website maintenance
35
Insurance (vehicle, volunteers and public liability)
521
Independent Examination
550
Purchase of Vehicles
3
0
Total Payments
40,057
Net Receipts, (Payments)
Cash Funds brought forward
Cash Funds carried forward		 TOTAL
2023
£
39,807
0
3,900
16,000
59,707
337
13,635
1,395
798
10,617
734
2,402
1,225
3,903
3,905
35
521
550
0
40,057
19,650
29,103
48,753		 TOTAL
2022
£
41,376
400
4,966
0
46,742
591
16,332
3,436
612
7,523
5,588
15
1,552
4,949
4,568
241
458
516
22,000
68,381
-21,639
50,742
29,103

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FRIENDS OF FERALS (SHEFFIELD)

Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31 July 2023

NOTE
Cash Funds
Nat West Account
Paypal Account
Tangible Assets
VW Vans and Ebikes
Equipment (cats)
Equipment (office/unit cameras)
3
Total Assets
Liabilities
Independent Examiners Fee
Annual Return		 2023
£
44,261
4,492
48,753
26,400
6,762
4,252
37,414
86,167
470
105
575		 2022
£
23,941
5,162
29,103
44,660
11,746
4,252
60,658
89,761
450
100
550

Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf.

Maggie Skinner

Name Mrs M Skinner Position Chairperson Date 27-Feb-24

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FRIENDS OF FERALS (SHEFFIELD)

Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 31 July 2023

1 Accounting Policies

These accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis in accordance with the Charities Act 2011.

2 Payments to trustees

The trustees receive no remuneration, direct or indirect benefits from the charity.

Out of pocket expenses are reimbursed to trustees and include fuel for their own vehicles in order to attend the sites, postage, cat food, equipment and veterinary fees.

3 trustees received £5,125 (4 trustees in 2022: £3,250)

3 Tangible Assets

Equipment is stated at cost.
VW Caddy Grey (GF20 AVE)
Decathlon E-bikes (2)
Pens, traps and other equipment
Large galvanised pen (protect-a-pet)
Cameras and accessories
Carried forward 31 July 2023		 22,000
4,400
4,076
2,686
33,162
4,252
37,414

Cat shelters purchased by the charity are donated to stables and small re-homing organisations to house the cats.

Historical costs are recorded without wear and tear or damage considered.

4 Funds

The charity has no Restricted Funds.

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