Charity Commission Report 2023-2024
Registered charity number 1172099
Contents
| Section | Page |
|---|---|
| 1. Chairman’s Report | 3 |
| 2. Trustees | 5 |
| 3. A Year in Focus | 6 |
| 4. Supporting Young People | 8 |
| 5. Supporting Adults | 9 |
| 6. Recognition | 13 |
| 7. Events | 14 |
| 8. Our Funders and Supporters | 16 |
Chairman’s Summary
Animal Antiks has seen another year of increased demand for the services we provide for our adult social care and wellbeing activities. This is a worrying trend which seems to have exploded during the pandemic and not yet begun to slow.
As we set out in the last report, in September 2022, the organisation was divided with educational services being separated from our social care and wellbeing activities which remain under the charity. This was to better serve our clients and give the Charity a clearer profile.
The change also enables us to donate a percentage of any profit made from the educational business to subsidise some of our wellbeing offerings.
Animal Antiks is a popular Farm Care and Animal Assisted Wellbeing provider in Buckinghamshire, and we continue to receive referrals from our own Adult Social Care team as well as those from neighbouring counties including Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire.
We see over 50 adults each week for a wide programme of activities designed to improve mental wellbeing, social interaction and physical activity.
Sadly, in our area, we are still seeing increased social anxiety, loneliness and feelings of isolation in referrals but are now seeing more cases of a complete breakdown in the ability or desire to communicate or engage in day to day activities. Clearly the local health services, hospitals and social care providers are becoming even more stretched and many are at capacity with long waiting lists for assessment, let alone support.
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Trustees
During the year we continued our work with Buckinghamshire Mind, providing walks for their service users to help improve their mental health and wellbeing, as well as giving them gentle exercise. Those who have participated found the walks to have positive benefits including friendship, feeling revitalised and something to look forward too.
Healthy Minds/Talking Therapies started the year with regular walks, funded by the charity but after six months they felt that the walks were so beneficial for their service users that they then paid for four blocks of six weeks of walks.
The walks we ran for SPACE were funded which meant they were only able to run for a given time, however, if further funding is acquired, we would be able to open up another walk for them.
Sarah Kettlety, Chair of Trustees, is at the %‘. ,* heart of everything we do at Animal Antiks.
Her love of animals and passion for enriching lives and empowering people is clear to see.
We were able to make a few visits to care homes this year but spent a lot of the year restricted by the potential TB breakout scare so we had to cancel some visits that were due and decline to accept any new bookings until the restrictions had been lifted. We were able to rebook the cancelled visits but most then fell into the following reporting year.
The first few years after the pandemic were unsettled as we all got back to ‘normal’, whatever that looked like, but I can now say that as an organisation, Animal Antiks has found its feet and is making strong progress both in increasing our offering for mental health support and moving towards our future goals.
Over the course of 2022/23, I feel that we have built on last year’s successes, learnt more about our strengths and identified areas for improvement to continue to provide support for those facing the challenges that poor mental health, isolation or learning difficulties brings to their lives. One of the main areas that we will be concentrating on is fundraising. Without grants, donations and sponsorship, we cannot expand the Charity provision we offer.
Nick Sear has taken on the role of trustee this year, following the retirement of a previous trustee.
This role is in addition to being our Farm Manager and joint owner of Animal Antiks.
Thank you to everyone who made the last year as successful as it has been.
Sarah Kettlety Chair of Trustees
Donna Daniels-Moss is our Safeguarding Trustee.
Her input and support for all of our Safeguarding needs is much appreciated.
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A Year in Focus
We are pleased to report that we have continued to widen the scope of our services and activities throughout 2022/23. There is an evident increase in demand for services for people experiencing social isolation, poor mental health and as an alternative to day care centres.
As we mentioned in our last report, the charity was successful in securing funding to introduce a breakfast club for the Education students as part of the Cost of Living funding from the National Lottery.
Work around the rest of the farm has continued under Farmer Nick’s supervision. We were relieved to have a good hay harvest as this is one of our biggest commodities and by producing a plentiful crop of our own, we are self sufficient.
The landscape of the farm attracts so much wildlife, we have been restoring and creating habitats to encourage birds, mammals and insects to make the farm their home. Great for bio-diversity and for our visitors who want to get closer to nature.
This funding has proved a vital tool in allowing our young people to learn about healthy food choices to start their day and fuel their bodies to carry out their tasks.
This lead to an improvement in their ability to focus and engage fully. We have also noticed a change in their social behaviour. Having breakfast together gave them opportunities for socialising and starting the day on a positive note.
We have also been able to provide snacks/lunch and hot drinks for those who needed it.
The funding has also enabled us to provide overalls and hoodies to all the students to help them stay clean and warm, while protecting their own clothing.
We have been busy behind the scenes too, with a lot of investment around the farm to improve facilities.
Additional warm indoor areas have been created using portacabins to enable and extend activities for our Adult Social Care placements and the Country Club members.
Log burners have been added to the main teaching/activity space and the kitchen.
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Supporting Young People
Breakfast Club
As we reported previously, the Animal Antiks Charity has been able to support the young people who attend the farm for Educational purposes by successfully applying for National Lottery funding to set up and run a Breakfast Club. The club was launched in the summer term of 2023.
With the Cost of Living issues many of our families are facing, more and more of the students were arriving at the farm for a full day of learning and working without having anything to eat before leaving home. There were also numerous students who were not bringing anything in for lunch either.
This meant that their focus on particular tasks was short-lived, their energy levels dropped significantly or were non-existent and their emotions broke free on a regular basis. Their behaviour was affected and often resulted in unnecessary disagreements with peers and staff.
The Breakfast Club has made a huge difference to students’ behaviour, focus and energy, benefiting everyone involved.
Being able to also provide lunch or snacks later in the day for those who need them has enabled students to manage their food intake accordingly, without the worry of how to pay for it.
Supporting Adults
We have had another busy year supporting adults in our community and those from neighbouring counties of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire. Our activities aim to combat social isolation, anxiety and depression for older adults.
There is so much going on these days it’s not surprising we are seeing increasing numbers of people needing help.
Covid-19 left many people missing loved ones and friends who would previously have cared for them or who would be their companions.People became used to not going out as they would have done previously, which then became a habit even after pandemic. This reduced their opportunities to socialise and many older people now struggle with the resulting isolation.
The cost of living crisis has also impacted the money available to many to enjoy hobbies or outings in the same way, again resulting in more time spent at home, often worrying about their financial situations.
More cases of stress and depression are being reported weekly yet the more traditional routes to support have not increased in proportion so are now overwhelmed by demand.
Student Uniforms
The National Lottery Funding was also used to provide items of uniform for the Students. For the start of the autumn term 2023, we were able to supply a warm hoody and a set of overalls for each student and we introduced a t-shirt for the summer months.
This has enabled students to be warmer, cleaner and more comfortable while they are working around the farm, preventing damage to their own personal clothing as well as encouraging a sense of belonging.
Animal Antiks Farm Therapy sessions for under 14’s
Sessions successfully help young people gain confidence, build resilience, learn to work as part of a team and realise how their own behaviour effects the people around them.
We focus on support and encouragement to help them cope when they are at school.
We are still supporting some parents who are selffunding Farm Therapy sessions but most sessions are paid for through a young person’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and therefore go through Education.
Adult Social Care Supported Placements
Our ASC sessions run on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. We have 16 regular participants with some attending all three sessions.
Members get involved with lots of different activities during their time at the farm. These can include animal care, crafts, baking or gardening.
Many love watching seeds they have planted grow into plants and then flower and there is always a lot of excitement when they hear there are new lambs needing bottle feeding!
Members often have learning difficulties, physical disabilities or poor mental health and their visits to the farm can provide respite for their families or carers or as a more active option to a day care centre.
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Some of our National Lottery Cost of Living funding has allowed us to give low income ASC members a hoody to help keep them warm whilst they’re at the farm.
Many were not bringing suitable clothing and were feeling cold and wanting to stay indoors.
As you can see, they have proved very popular with the members!
Wellbeing Walks
Getting out into the fresh air is a well documented therapy for those experiencing mental health issues and the gentle exercise helps release endorphins which can lift moods and provide a feeling of calm and relaxation.
Using alpacas as walk companions calms the mind and often provides moments of light relief. They choose the most inopportune moments to dive into puddles for a quick dip or the nearest dusty spot for a dust bath.
Those walking often find they can talk about their concerns more openly when they are not face to face with someone and this is key to helping them find a positive way forward.
Walks for Buckinghamshire Mind and AIM (Bicester)
Our strong relationship with Buckinghamshire Mind has seen their weekly Wellbeing Walks for adults with mental health issues continue this year. We see 16 regular walkers as well as a number of others joining in when required.
We also have 6 regular walkers from AIM, in Bicester that come to the farm and walk alongside the Mind group on Thursdays.
Thursday walks ran for 48 weeks this year.
Members of these groups say they feel much less stressed and more refreshed when they leave us.
Walks for Healthy Minds/Talking Therapies
We worked with Healthy Minds/Talking Therapies last year and were able offer them some funded walks. This year, they decided that the walks were so beneficial, they have paid for blocks of walks throughout the year. We will still bear them in mind should further funding become available as they could then increase the number of people who visit each week.
Wellbeing Walk and Talk Sessions for the General Public
We have been able to offer personal walks or small group walks on an ad-hoc basis throughout the year. Some of these have been bought as gift vouchers others are paid for directly by the participant themselves.
Any profit from these walks is used by the Charity.
“So so restorative. Just what I needed to help recoup from a few months of stress and anxiety.
I’ll definitely be back and will be recommending these walks to all of my friends. Thank you ” c.
“My family realised that I was really stressed out because of my exams. I wasn’t leaving the house and had lost my appetite, just kept myself shut in my room working away.
I was anxious about coming to the farm as I thought I would be wasting study time, but really, it was just THE BEST!” P.
Care Home Visits
This year has been a frustrating one as far as care home visits go as for several months, we were under restrictions due to the potential TB scare.
We did manage a few visits before the restrictions were introduced.
The homes we visited were some that we had been to before, so some of the residents were able to remember our last visit.
The engagement between the residents and the alpacas is always a lovely thing to see and creates positive memories for residents, care home staff and our own staff.
Staff at the homes tell us that our visits are discussed for days and weeks afterwards.
We usually see 6 walkers each week and the walks were provided for 26 weeks of the year.
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Recognition
Animal Antiks Country Club
Our popular Country Club has run on Thursdays for 36 weeks this year. We took the decision to take a break during the coldest months, where growing and gardening tasks slow right down and for the sake of our members, who often find it hard to stay warm and well in the colder weather .
Some of those who participate in the Wellbeing Walk in the morning have been staying on for the Country Club, giving them a whole day of company and fun activities, we usually have 6 staying on with an additional 4 joining them at the start of the afternoon session.
Members who attend the Country Club can be facing one or more of the following challenges:
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Isolation because of deteriorating physical or mental health or a change in social conditions
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Neurological disorders including Dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Stroke
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Mental Health issues including Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar, Post Traumatic Stress Disorders
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Other long-term health problems including Cancer, Chronic Pain and Heart and Lung Conditions
The activities are dependent on the season but include sowing seeds, planting bulbs and root stock as well as learning how to take cuttings and grow them on into new plants. For those able to be more physical, there is always ground to be dug over and mulched, weeding and watering.
Members also have craft sessions where they can make decorative items using things they have collected from around the farm. Simple twigs bound into star shapes and decorated with leaves and flowers or cones and wool.
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Good Morning Britain - 1 Million Minutes Award
Animal Antiks was approached by Good Morning Britain to advise us that we had been nominated for one of their prestigious 1 Million Minutes awards. At first we weren’t sure if someone was playing a prank but it quickly became clear that this was a genuine call.
The judging panel had shortlisted Animal Antiks for the Award for Animal Loneliness Champion in recognition of the work we do to combat isolation in our community, so after a brief chat, we arranged a date for the filming to take place.
The 21 November 2023 was absolutely freezing but a bright blue sky made for great shots around the farm. The production team met several members of staff, some students and some of our ASC members and their families. Sarah and Nick were on hand for the introduction of the video too. Who knew that a whole day of filming was needed to produce a short 2 minute video?
The production team told us that they were ‘blown away’ by what they saw on the day and were really pleased that we had been shortlisted.
Sarah and Nick had an early start to get up to the London studios where the presentation event was taking place. They took our giant rabbit Malteser as a mascot, and for good luck.
Having met the presenters and some of the celebrities who support the 1 Million Minutes project, it was time to take their seats and wait for their Award to be called. The presentation was broadcast live on that morning’s GMB programme. The announcement we had been waiting for was made - we had won!
Our beautifully edited video was shown before Ben Shephard and Charlotte Hawkins interviewed Sarah, and JLS star JB Gill presented the award.
We were so delighted to win the award and to be able to showcase the work we have done at the farm to combat loneliness through animal therapy.
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Events
Alpaca Tea Parties - Sunday 30 April
We held one of our popular Alpaca and Friends tea parties with two sittings.
Both sittings were sell-outs and everyone commented that it was a super afternoon and a really unusual but fun experience.
We raised money from ticket sales and donations on the day.
Open Farm Sunday - Sunday 11 June
We ran our second Open Farm Sunday on what turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year!
Bucks County Show – Thursday 31 August
Accompanied by Hilder, Harriet and Norman our donkeys, a selection of exotics and a handful of alpacas, we had a good day at the show.
It started off with fair weather but soon clouded over and got cooler which seemed to have deterred the visitors.
We were neighbours with our friends @yourbucksradio so received plenty of mentions throughout the day.
We welcomed over 200 visitors to the farm during the day and ran over 20 activity sessions as well as several alpaca walks.
It was great to see so many happy, if rather hot, faces enjoying their time at the farm.
Waddesdon Weekender – Sunday 9 July
We were so popular last year that we were invited back for this year’s fete day!
Our friendly alpacas and llamas attracted lots of attention, especially Tina, who was doing her best unicorn impression.
Families came to chat with us and meet the animals and we were able to collect donations from visitors to the event.
This has become one of our favourite events of the year and we hope to make it an annual opportunity to meet and greet local residents and their families.
Aston Clinton Beer Festival - Saturday 29 July
Another favourite that has become an annual event. We took some alpacas and llamas this year and enjoyed a busy day meeting residents and festival visitors.
The selection of beers available always amazes us but it’s what draws in such big crowds.
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Our Funders and Supporters
As always, we cannot do what we do without the support and funding we receive from trusts, charities and organisations as well as the private donations collected when we attend local events. With an increasing number of referrals being received, every penny counts and goes towards providing support and a safe space for as many young people and adults facing the challenges of poor mental health, isolation or age related illnesses as we can.
This year, we would like to thank the following for their continued support:
Enid Slater CT
Ammco CT
National Lottery Cost of Living
Buckinghamshire Mind
Healthy Minds/Talking Therapies
This year we received £28,433 of funding split as follows:
| This year we received£28,433of funding | split as follows: |
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| Unrestricted use | £5,750 |
| Funds Restricted to: | |
| Holiday Sessions | £900 |
| Cost of Living | £9,000 |
| Walk & Talk | £2,000 |
| Outreach no specifc area | £1,350 |
| Outreach Northants | £2,500 |
| Outreach Buckingham/MK | £350 |
| Farm Therapy General | £1,283 |
| Farm Therapy Adult | £5,000 |
| Minibus | £300 |
| Total Restricted Funds | £22,683 |
With 53 new applications for funding made in March 2024 and over 440 applications pending with Trusts, our Fundraiser is busy trying to maximise our income from grants and trusts but it is not an easy task.
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