**SAFE - Saving Abandoned Fly-Grazing Equines Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements** **Page 1 of 9** ## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** **6[th] April 2020 - 5[th] April 2021** www.safe-horses.org.uk Registered charity no 1172769 **Statements** **Financial Page 2 of 9** ## **CONTENTS** Charity Information Page 3 Trustees’ Report Page 4 Income and Expenditure Page 10 ## **CHARITY INFORMATION** **TRUSTEES:** Alison Stratford - Chair Rebecca Speed Tracey Stone **BANKERS:** National Westminster 5 High Street Bracknell RG12 1DH **ACCOUNTANTS:** Boyett Mayes Ltd. The Stables, Moneys Farm Bottle Lane Mattingley Hampshire RG27 8LJ ## **CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER:** 1172769 ## **SAFE POSTAL ADDRESS:** PO Box 3699 Wokingham RG40 9QT www.safe-horses.org.uk **SAFE - Saving Abandoned Fly-Grazing Equines Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements Page 3 of 9** ## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING, 5[TH] APRIL 2021** The trustees submit their annual report and the financial statements for the year ending 5[th] April 2021. ## **The History of SAFE:** SAFE (Saving Abandoned Fly-Grazing Equines) was founded by Alison Stratford in 2014, following the rescue of 26 abandoned and neglected horses from a field in Binfield, Berkshire. Sadly, a number of horses had to be euthanized on the spot due to their ill health being beyond any chance of survival. The rescued horses were subsequently rehabilitated to good health and rehomed. ## **Objectives & Activities** : SAFE exists to support and offer guidance to landowners, to legally rescue, rehabilitate and rehome abandoned, neglected fly-grazed horses & ponies. Keeping them SAFE. Our mission and the fundamental objective of our organisation is the 3 R’s > “Rescue, Rehabilitate and Rehome”. This applies to every abandoned horse and pony that we are made aware of, as well as to support other organisations who cannot help. SAFE offers a lifetime security to every equine in its care, this makes certain they will never experience neglect again. As a charity we also offer support in the below areas: - Advance the education of members of the public, (owners and the traveller community) in the proper care and treatment of their equines and support them with this care. - Help to fight the ever-increasing rise in cruelty to animals and continue to work with other similar minded organisations to ensure any neglected equines receives the care and medical treatment they sadly so often desperately need. - Advise and communicate steering groups and political panels to improve the laws around horse welfare. - Work with the police, RSPCA, local authorities, equine bailiffs, and members of the public to rescue abandoned, neglected, and abused horses. - Remain a leading and recognised local charity, which provides all rescued horses a secure and bright future. ## **Structure, Management, and Governance Arrangements:** Saving Abandoned Fly-Grazing Equines is a charity formed in April 2017 (started as a rescue in 2014), is a CIO and is governed by Trustees. The Charity registration number, names of trustees and other information are detailed on page 3 of this report. All Trustees remain in office for a defined term until they resign, retire, or are removed. They can be replaced during a general meeting. The individual responsible for the day-to-day running of the charity is Alison Stratford. As an organisation we ensure that we work collaboratively with other equine and animal welfare organisations, local www.safe-horses.org.uk Registered charity no 1172769 **SAFE - Saving Abandoned Fly-Grazing Equines Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements Page 4 of 9** authorities, police, veterinarians, and rescues, all working towards the same objectives, with a focus on animal welfare. SAFE continues to seek the help of local charity Involve, ensuring that the Trustees correctly run the charity in line with the requirements of the Charities Commission. This covers all areas including Safeguarding and Health and Safety. Whilst the Trustees feel that the main risks to the charity are litigation, specifically possible liabilities under employment and/or Health & Safety legislation, without a doubt we need to highlight the significant risk to our charity within this year. In April 2020, the majority of the UK were furloughed and went into lockdown. This continued for many months throughout the year, with lockdowns being reinstated national or locally. As a result, the charity suffered greatly with less volunteers for a while, though this did rise given charity work was an activity supported by the government, even during lockdowns. The biggest risk was the financial element, as there was little to no opportunity for fundraising. This really tested our resilience. Nonetheless, our wonderful followers supported us throughout and donated when we really needed their support, for example when a very sick horse was rescued and needed specific veterinary intervention. Throughout this time we were fortunate that supporters would also purchase items from our Amazon Wish List or donate towards hay bales and feed, this all made a huge difference and we were thankful for their kindness and generosity. Given the inability to carry out any of the usual fundraising events, we made time to plan a Fun Day event for summer 2021, so we were ready if we were able. In the meantime, we focused our efforts on raising awareness of the charity, asking for support for more volunteers locally and tried to grow our Facebook following, which led to others creating fundraisers for us. However, this really wasn’t enough, and we knew we needed to do more. So, in February 2021, we organised the ‘SAFE Fun Day 5000 Challenge’. As Covid-19 put a halt to our fundraising events throughout 2020 including our biggest annual event, the Fun Day, where we would usually raise circa £5000, we needed something else in its place, hence the ‘SAFE Fun Day 5000’. The target to raise £5000 through individual sponsorship challenges across February with the theme being 5000. We asked our volunteers to take on a challenge of their choice e.g., sponsored 5000 books sold, or 5000 steps, 5k walk/run etc. Supporters could challenge themselves or as a family, with the only rule being that it was compliant in line with government guidelines. We were delighted that our volunteers rallied throughout the month, and we raised more than £5,700. This worked very well and is likely something we may continue to organise annually, alongside our other fundraising events. ## **Achievements and Performance** As a small and local charity, we have worked to ensure we are establishing a professional yet discreet relationship with landowners, such as local authorities and development companies as well as many private landowners. Most were unaware of their rights to detain horses that have been either dumped or illegally fly-grazed on their land. Most often these horses are in poor health and end up in our care. We established good working relationships with the Police and are often contacted by them asking for our opinion on the welfare of a horse and asked to help and support with specific and often serious neglect cases. The Trustees are content and confident in knowing that SAFE’s objectives to “rescue, rehabilitate and rehome” are being sufficiently met despite the challenges we are faced with; we remain focused and driven to achieve this objective. Within the timeline of this report, we can confirm the below statistics in terms of equine logistics for SAFE. This summarises the number of horses in/out of our care and any unfortunate losses: www.safe-horses.org.uk Registered charity no 1172769 **SAFE - Saving Abandoned Fly-Grazing Equines Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements Page 5 of 9** |**SAFE Equine Annual Tracker**|**Total Number**| |---|---| |Horses Rescued|13| |Horses Fostered|0| |Horses Rehomed|22| |Horses Returned|5| |Horses PTS*due to irrecoverable illness|2| |Total number of horses in SAFE’s care in
that period|57| *Put To Sleep Once rescued and placed in our care, all horses are rehabilitated and rehomed, unless they have mental, physical, or age-related conditions, which would make them unsuitable for rehoming. In this instance they remain with the charity for the remainder of their days, receiving the care and love that every animal should. We are firmly committed to ensuring that every equine has the best life we can give them ensuring all their needs are met. During this period, we have gained another field without any charge of rent, however, it only accommodates 4 ponies. We would once again like to highlight that the majority of the horses we rescue are often very unwell and have either a deep mistrust of people or have not been handled by people at all, as a result the road to rehabilitation is often a long one. It is our duty to make certain these horses are not rehomed until they are comfortable with human contact, healthy, castrated and well handled. Involved in the care of our animals, we have a mix of trustees, volunteers, vets, dentists, farriers, nutritionists, and holistic care practitioners all working together to ensure the welfare and well-being of the animals. SAFE is well known in the local and surrounding areas and we are often approached by members of the public and local authorities with concerns for horse’s welfare. We have increased our followers and supporters on Facebook and when a potential welfare risk is spotted, we are often the first to be contacted. Due to our collaboration with several other animal and equine specific rescues locally and nationally, it allows us to support rescues which involve abandoned / neglected cases when we are at capacity and allows us to rescue and move them to appropriate organisations. Our veterinarians hold SAFE in the highest regard, seen as the ‘gold standard’ of rescues, going the extra mile to ensure that the horses get the best nutrition and care possible, and always giving even the most dire of cases a chance. ## Review of Objectives: ## **>Advance the education of members of the public (general owners and the traveller community) in the proper care and treatment of their equines and support them with this care.** The Trustees feel that this objective continues to be met as we continue to liaise with those that own flygrazing horses, educating them in the need for parasite control, regular farrier visits and we support when on occasion these owners voluntarily surrender horses that they cannot afford to look after before they are beyond help. ## **>Help to fight the ever-increasing rise in cruelty to animals and continue to work with other similar minded organisations to ensure any neglected equines receive the care and medical treatment they sadly so often desperately need.** The Trustees believe this objective is met adequately as we are regularly alerted by members of the public or other rescues where issues concerning identified horses at risk are highlighted so that we or the closest rescue is able to intervene and resolve any issue if possible. This objective is being met by SAFE www.safe-horses.org.uk Registered charity no 1172769 **SAFE - Saving Abandoned Fly-Grazing Equines Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements Page 6 of 9** on a daily basis as we constantly work to help animals in distress and work with other Organisations when necessary. ## **>Advise and communicate steering groups and political panels to improve the laws around horse welfare.** SAFE continues to contact and brief local MPs, councillors and police on local incidents and individual horses at risk. The laws are in place to protect these horses but no one is currently enforcing these laws. We are constantly exploring new avenues and methods to make permanent change and make the relevant bodies accountable for enforcement. ## **>Work with the police, RSPCA, local authorities, equine bailiffs, and members of the public to rescue abandoned, neglected, and abused horses.** This objective is being met by SAFE as we constantly work to help animals in distress and work with other organisations when necessary. ## **>Remain a leading and recognised local charity, which provides all rescued horses a secure and bright future.** Without any doubt we continue to overachieve in this objective, as mentioned previously we are almost always the first charity members of the public will reach out to when they have concerns for a horse’s condition and welfare. SAFE recognises what each horse in it’s care needs to be fully rehabilitated and will never turn its back on any case, even if we were unable to take them into our own care, we work with our network of rescues to help, as SAFE strives to give every horse a bright future in a caring forever home. ## **Website** Our website has remained static following its revamp last year. For now, the website remains adequate, though we do know it must remain a focus topic to continue to be as up to date as possible and to move with the social trends. This is where in future years we will look at the right infrastructure of people involved to support the evolution of the SAFE website. We continue to promote ‘shop’ to raise much needed funds, where we sell annual merchandise in the form of calendars and Christmas cards and people have the option to “ buy a bale of hay”. ## **The Rescues** We continue to be inundated by concerned members of the public asking for our help and have done our very best to help in all situations. Sadly, cruelty and neglect remains high, particularly in the case of fly-grazing horses, with many colts (young males) being taken from their mothers far too young and left in fields or on the side of roads to fend for themselves. Thankfully we are often able to respond quickly, thanks to people regarding SAFE as a charity who will get involved. We are often called to rescue herds of horses loose on land marked for development and dangerous waste lands, left with no food or water, and some with visible injuries and extremely poor condition. As we often find, they are suffering from a huge worm burden, emaciation, overgrown hooves, etc, all of which can sometimes lead to only one unfortunate option, when the issue is irrecoverable. SAFE continues to monitor and support a well-known area of an extensive herd of horses which are tethered for their entire lives and used for breeding. Many members of the local community concerned about the horses have contacted us. Sadly under the current law, there is little we can do apart from highlight any welfare concerns to the RSPCA and local authority. This year we rescued another three more horses from this site and will continue to do all we can to end their misery. ## **Equine Care – Vets, Farrier & Nutritionists, and Holistic Care Practitioners** We continue to employ the services of veterinary practice, Donnington Equine Hospital. They provide prompt veterinary care for the horses at SAFE and hospitalisation and care from experts when needed. We have a strong relationship with our vets which helps to create a highly effective treatment regime for our animals. We have a close relationship with our farrier and seeing the same farrier each time for their hoof trims means they www.safe-horses.org.uk Registered charity no 1172769 **Financial Statements Page 7 of 9** feel more comfortable with the experience and many now no longer have to be sedated for this procedure. SAFE prides itself in working with natural feeds and natural supplements to support the horses in our care. This means we build relationships with companies to ensure we have discounted access. We are also very lucky to have relationships with many holistic practitioners who volunteer time with our horses, providing physio, natural healing, reiki and thermal/red light therapy. This has been invaluable for our older equines with joint issues. ## **Volunteers** Every new volunteer undergoes a full induction before joining a shift at our yards. Health and Safety is explained and demonstrated. Each shift has a Shift Lead, an experienced person who acts as manager and coordinates activities and oversees the necessary skills to new and existing volunteers on that shift. Any children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and we do not accept children under the age of 4. Volunteers aged 16-17 are able to attend a shift alone, if SAFE have received their parent’s or guardian’s written and signed consent and they attend a shift with a Shift Lead having a current DBS check. Our volunteer numbers were stable for most of the year, however during the winter months we saw a dip in adequate support due to a ‘fair-weather approach’, where volunteers will step away until spring/summer. We reached out for new volunteers via local groups on Facebook, looking for experienced support and were very successful and on-boarded several great volunteers, some who went on to become Shift Leads. Of course COVID also affected us during this time.. Whilst we stabilised support, ensuring we had adequate cover for morning and evening shifts consistently, did on occasion become a challenge. ## **Fundraising** From April 2020 to April 2021, the period of this report, face to face fundraising has been impossible because of Covid-19. Due to lockdowns, government restrictions, job losses, people in furlough, and the economic crisis of the country, we have struggled with fundraising in its entirety. Nonetheless we reached out to our supporters for donations, investigated grants and nominated SAFE for many equine related competitions to win much needed feeds, rugs, supplements and funds. Despite the year’s challenges, our SAFE Trustees and volunteers remained extremely committed with raising awareness of competitions and nominated SAFE, keeping an eye out for free materials which can support the yard maintenance team, and all got behind the ‘SAFE Fun Day 5000’ event to raise £5000; we raised over £5,700. ## **Feed and Supplements** We remain steadfast when it comes to our approach to feeds and supplements. It is not appropriate to cut costs when it comes to feeding our horses quality hay, feeds, and supplements. We feed Agrobs products which are natural and high in quality fibre and low in sugar. We also provide foal creep to foals who have been removed from their mother far too early and abandoned, this specific feed ensures they get all the necessary nutrients at this critical stage of their lives. Supplements are incorporated into every horse’s feed to tackle individual issues and support their overall health and wellbeing, e.g., milk thistle for horses who have liver damage. This area develops every year and Alison Stratford, SAFE’s Founder and Chair Trustee, spends a great deal of time researching and working with natural feed and supplement suppliers, to have the right approach for each horse. Alison, with the support of an equine nutritionist, will establish the right feed & supplements for each horse in line with their individual requirements and review this on a regular basis. www.safe-horses.org.uk Registered charity no 1172769 **SAFE - Saving Abandoned Fly-Grazing Equines Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements** ## **Page 8 of 9** ## **Finances** The Trustees were pleasantly surprised that there was a noticeable increase in donations during this year as we were unable to fundraise in person. The generosity of our supporters was overwhelming as they rallied to help us during a pandemic. The effect of COVID-19 on SAFE as a charity was substantial and this did have a huge impact on the rescue and the work we try to carry out, nonetheless with the support of our volunteers, supporters and the Hilda Holmes Trust Charity, which has generously continued to support our work, we still managed to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome a number of horses, which was an incredible achievement. The Trustees continue to oversee, monitor, and review all efforts to reduce expenditure where possible and focus efforts on increasing income via the charitable donations, fundraising and sales of tack, cards and calendars. In previous years our expenditure has matched our income and even exceeded it, but this year we have managed to stay within our budget and carry funds into the following year. ## **Looking Ahead** The Trustees will review approaches and assess the ‘new normal’ following the adjustments to the world as we know it. Trustees remain focused to make certain SAFE continues to remain a wellrecognised rescue charity and go from strength to strength to continue. All Trustees will agree a plan of improvements which will be introduced covering all aspects of the charity, from rescue, daily care to fundraising and rehoming horses. ## **Summary** The Trustees have confidence that Saving Abandoned Fly-Grazing Equines continues to uphold and deliver on our mission statement and objectives, in line with what we have always wanted to achieve from the outset. SAFE does everything possible in no uncertainty to improve the lives of the horses that are taken into our care. That said, we recognise that there is always room for improvement and SAFE will plan for continuous improvement over the coming years. As it is important for us to continually review and adapt approaches to continually better the rescue. Given the uncertainty ahead, the Trustees are concerned how the economy and state to the country will affect the charity. However, the Trustees are happy that everything is in place to continue to do all we can to support our objectives and grow the charity in years to come. This report was approved by the Board on 3[rd ] March 2022. ## Alison Stratford Alison Stratford (Mar 3, 2022 12:28 GMT) Alison Stratford **Chair of the Trustees & Founder** www.safe-horses.org.uk Registered charity no 1172769 **SAFE - Saving Abandoned Fly-Grazing Equines Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements Page 9 of 9** www.safe-horses.org.uk Registered charity no 1172769 ## **SAVING ABANDONED FLY-GRAZING EQUINES** **Charity number 1172769** **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2021** Boyett Mayes Limited The Stables, Moneys Farm Bottle Lane Mattingley Hampshire RG27 8LJ ## **SAVING ABANDONED FLY-GRAZING EQUINES INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2021** |**INCOME:**
**Donations**
JustGiving Appeals
Donations
Fun Days
Fundraising
**Other:**
Interest Received
Other
**Fees Received:**
Rehoming fees
Other
**TOTAL INCOME**
**EXPENDITURE:**
**Running costs:**
Feed and Bedding
Fallen Stock Removal
Supplements
Horse Wear
Vet, Dentist and Medical Supplies
Farrier
Freelance Groom Fees
Transport
Foster fees
Passports
Insurance
Land Registry
**Yard and Land :**
Repair and Maintenance
Electricity
Fencing & Field Care
Rental
Waste Removal
**Other:**
Sundry
Depreciation
Accountancy
Administration and Informational costs
Fundraising costs
**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**
**SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR**|**£**
70,917
-
21,879
-
-
6,600
-
22,174
-
-
1,254
30,618
1,750
65
2,901
2,600
80
3,515
-
1,361
215
1,888
19,652
454
714
192
1,032
-|**£**
92,796
-
6,600
64,957
23,571
1,938
**2021**|**£**
**99,396**
**90,466**
**8,930**|**£**
-
58,600
-
4,862
-
-
1,500
-
18,180
414
-
-
26,107
840
5,361
1,516
4,000
-
-
-
768
212
2,160
2,100
1,480
768
288
1,121
1,300|**£**
63,462
-
1,500
56,418
6,720
3,476
**2020**|**£**
**64,962**
**66,614**
**(1,652)**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| Page 2 ## **SAVING ABANDONED FLY-GRAZING EQUINES STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2021** |**ASSETS**
Tangible Fixed Assets
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Cash at Bank - Main Account
Debtors
Total Current Assets
**CURRENT LIABILITITES**
Accruals
Loan for Vet Fees
**NET CURRENT LIABILITIES**
**TOTAL NET ASSETS**
**CAPITAL ACCOUNTS**
Balance B/Fwd
Surplus/Deficit in Year
Approved by:|**£**
7,149
10,189
39
240
4,000|**£**
2,441
10,229
4,240
**2021**|**£**
4,708
5,989
**10,696**
1,767
8,930
**10,696**| |---|---|---|---| ## Alison Stratford Alison Stratford (Mar 3, 2022 12:28 GMT) Alison Stratford Trustee Dated: 28th February 2022 Page 3 BM Jy¥ii I'YIUy￿'5 Limited Accountants, Toxolion and Business Advisers Independent examinerfs report to Saving Abandoned Ffy￿raz1ng Equines "SAFE" This report on the financial statements of Saving Abandoned Fty-Grazing Equines "SAFE- for the year ended 5th April 2021, which are set out on pages 1 and 2. is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 {the .2011 Act"}. Respective responsibilities of the Charity and examiner As members of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements,. you consider that an audit is not required for this year {under sectiorl 14412) of the 2011 Act). 11 is our responsibility.. to examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions gtven by the Charity Commission (under section 145151{bl of the 2011 Act., and to state whether particular matters have come lo our attention. Basis of independent examlnerfs statement Our examination was carried out in accordan￿ with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matter5. The prO￿dureS undertaken do not provide all the eviden￿ that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a "true and fair view. and the report is limited to those matters sel out in the statement below. Independent examiner's statement In the course of our examination, no matter has come to our attention". (11 which g¢ves me reasonable cause to believe that in. any material respect, the requirements." to keep proper acwunting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act., and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accountsng requirements of the 2011 Act have not l*en met or 121 lo which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed on behalf of Boyett Mayes Limited Dale Name LISA FINCHAM BA ACMA CTA Chartered Accountant Tel.. 01256 636 6(K) Email.. inlo@bml-occountont5.co.vk Webslle.. www.bml-accountonts.co.uk The Stobles. Moneys Farm. Bottle Lone. Mottingley. Hampshire RG27 8LJ Company Registrotion Number. 4059388 Cio Chariered Tax Advise