2023-12-31-accounts - The Mutts Nutts Rescue

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Charity number: 1176283

THE MUTTS NUTTS RESCUE UNAUDITED ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

THE MUTTS NUTTS RESCUE Contents

For the year ending 31 December 2023

	Page
Administrative details	1
Trustees report	2-7
Independent examiner's report	8
Statement of assets and liabilities	9
Receipts and payments account	10
Notes to the accounts	11

Page 1

THE MUTTS NUTTS RESCUE Administrative Details For the year ending 31 December 2023

Trustees

Jane Freeman Desmond McGurk Teresa Cook Sarah Jane Dyer Ellyn Groat Lesley Karen Beckingham

Chair

resigned 13 August 2023

appointed 15 February 2024 appointed 15 February 2024

Charity registered number

1176283

Charity contact address

28A Little Casterton Road Stamford Lincolnshire PE9 1BE

Independent examiners

Larking Gowen LLP First Floor Prospect House Rouen Road Norwich NR1 1RE

Page 2

THE MUTTS NUTTS RESCUE Trustees' Report For the year ending 31 December 2023

The Trustees present their report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Objectives and activities

a. Policies and objectives

The objects of The Mutts Nutts Rescue are: For the benefit of the public to relieve the suffering of domestic companion animals in need of care and attention in particular, but not exclusively, by:

Providing or maintaining or assisting in the provision and maintenance or support of kennels, rescue homes or other facilities for the reception and care of such animals.
Providing treatment for such animals which are sick, injured, neglected or ill-treated.
Finding alternative caring homes for such animals.

To relieve and assist elderly persons and anyone suffering from a serious or terminal illness by providing or assisting in the provision of care for their pets and to find caring homes for such pets.

b. Activities undertaken to achieve objectives

A range of charitable services under the umbrella of HOMES, namely:

The provision of dog walking services and trips to vets and groomers for cats and dogs (Hand 2 Hold Services).
The provision of temporary respite care for cats and dogs whilst their owners need help (Over 2 Us Services).
Re-homing dogs and cats and the provision and support of long - term foster care for elderly pets (Meant 2 Be Services).
Sharing, as appropriate, updates regarding pets who have been re-homed by the charity with family members and providing advice and guidance as to where further help might be accessed by those that sometimes we cannot help (Easy to Share Services).
Creating personalised legacy plans for the care of pets whose owners pre-decease them (Safe to Leave Services).

In signing this Trustee Report the Trustees have confirmed that the activities of the charity in 2023 had fulfilled its objectives of benefitting the public by advancing animal welfare.

c. Principal funding

The charity’s principal source of funds in 2023 were donations (gift aided and non-aided) of £53,012 and legacies of £38,618. A further legacy receipt of £27,000 has been classified as endowment income as it is part of a legacy received in previous years that is substantially greater thean the charity's normal outgoings. It would have been expected for the charity to invest the gift for future generation of income. Interest income of £5,877 has been earned on this legacy. Fundraising initiatives raised £5,485.

d. Investment policy

At a Meeting in July 2022 the Trustees discussed investment possibilities for the legacy monies, £203,391 of which was received in April of that year. An appropriate capital investment in land or property was the favoured option on the understanding that this would be a “mixed motive” investment and the balance between obtaining a financial return and furthering the charity’s activities and aims would require professional advice and a detailed Investment Policy. The search for a suitable plot of land locally to invest in and that could be used for dog walking and fundraising activities would be initiated and actively

Page 3

THE MUTTS NUTTS RESCUE Trustees' Report For the year ending 31 December 2023

Objectives and activities (continued)

pursued. In April 2022 the legacy monies were placed in a 32 Day Notice Deposit Account with Lloyds bank to earn as much interest as possible whilst still having easy access to the funds.

At a Trustees’ Meeting held in October 2023 it was agreed that a suitable “mixed-motive” investment had not been found. Moreover, the Trustees’ capacity to source and manage a capital investment was no longer feasible and that the sum available was unlikely to be sufficient to purchase a suitable asset. The decision was made to engage with 3 Stockbroking Firms to investigate the risks and potential income that could be generated by investing the legacy funds as an expendable endowment.

Achievements and performance

a. Review of activities

2023 was a very busy year for the Mutts Nutts Rescue. It provided support for however long it was needed and via a variety of services to 65 pets, 48 of which were new to the services that the charity offers and 17 of which were in our ongoing care at the beginning of the year. This increased activity took place in a year when many elderly and poorly members of our local community struggled not only with costs of living increases but also, in some cases, struggled to access health and social care.

Support in the form of dog walks, vet and groomer visits and respite care for pets whose owners were in hospital provided by our small team of staff, trustees and volunteers gave invaluable peace of mind to frail and vulnerable members of our local community, some of whom were very dependent upon their pets for much-needed companionship and ensured that the welfare of these beloved pets was being maintained.

Our Hand to Hold services were provided to a regular client base by our core team of two staff members, Trustees and a fluctuating number of volunteers who in total provided 1,354 dog walks, trips to the vet or to a groomer.

9 dogs received respite care, some of them on several separate occasions, whilst their owners were unable to care for them, and at the end of the year 7 cats and dogs remained in long term foster facilities, financially supported as appropriate by the charity, as these pets themselves were too old or had serious health issues which meant that they were considered to be unsuitable to be re-homed.

24 cats and dogs were however re-homed to new loving homes, and where appropriate some of these new owners were themselves elderly.

9 pets in the care of 6 elderly or poorly members of our community were assimilated into the charity’s Safe to Leave service whereby their future care is assured should the owners pre-decease their beloved pets.

The charity continued to respond to contacts from members of the public wanting help or advice about a pet, looking for a pet to rehome or wanting to volunteer or donate.

All who contacted us received a response, either via email, text message or telephone. Particularly for some elderly or isolated members of our community just a friendly voice on the end of a phone offering guidance, and being prepared to listen, was all that was needed.

To keep our telephone line available for emergencies and to free up as much time as possible needed by our two staff members to look after pets and organise volunteers and fosterers whenever appropriate new clients or their family members contacting the charity were encouraged to do so via user friendly forms found on the charity’s new, easy to navigate, website.

Page 4

THE MUTTS NUTTS RESCUE Trustees' Report For the year ending 31 December 2023

Finanial Review

a. Financial position

The year started with unrestricted funds available of £268,391, expendable endowment funds of £268,391 and no restricted funds. Legacy payments were received totalling £38,618 essentially from two grateful and generous clients whose pets we had helped.

The charity’s regular and ongoing income streams comprising donations (gift aided, non-gift aided and small cash donations) for charitable services provided and from local supporters and businesses totalled £53,012, a decrease of 10% when compared to 2022. Product sales and fundraising events raised £5,485 an increase in income of £725 when compared to the previous year. Two major fundraising events planned were rescheduled because of adverse weather. The “Pop Up Store” continued to be very successful, providing a “recycling” outlet for pre-loved pet related items and pet food to be offered to local pet lovers in return for a donation towards the veterinary fees of pets in the charity’s care and throughout the year £1,760 was raised. The charity’s essential expenses were kept to a minimum and comprised wages and associated oncosts totalling £44,232, vet fees and animal care costs of £15,227, insurance £284, professional fees £4,860 and product and fundraising expenses of £696.

b. Reserves policy

At a Trustee Meeting held 21st April 2023 the ongoing costs for the development and maintenance of our HOMES service and the number of pets and their owners that we have helped since the pandemic and to whom we have an ongoing commitment was discussed in detail.

Our Operational Strategy for 2023 was to continue to provide the HOMES services to existing and new clients but whenever possible to utilise the help of trained and committed volunteers to walk dogs and to foster dogs and cats in their own homes.

Our operations now demand an income of at least £50k per annum, with the legacy monies received in 2021/22 the Trustees’ objective as stated in our Reserves Policy of having reserves set aside that equate to 1 year of operation, was met.

At a Trustee Meeting held on 26th January 2024 It was agreed that the sum accumulating in our 32 Day instant Access a/c is now reasonable, given it is currently paying interest of 2.6%. The capital accumulated is however insufficient to purchase an appropriate capital asset such as a property with land that could be adapted as a home foster facility and charity HQ. It was agreed that our investment strategy for 2024 will be to invest the almost £286,000 in 3 separate banks or building societies and that the balance of approx. £50k in the current a/c should be maintained as a Reserve operating fund and for emergencies.

Page 5

THE MUTTS NUTTS RESCUE Trustees' Report For the year ending 31 December 2023

Financial review

c. Principal risks and uncertainties

The Trustees reviewed the risks to which they felt the charity was exposed on a regular basis throughout the year. The viability of the charity from an activity point of view, namely having the capacity to help elderly and terminally ill members of the local community with their pets when help was needed was considered to be a manageable risk, but one that needed constant evaluation as the ability to provide emergency foster care for pets and services such as dog walking and trips to the vets are dependent upon a network of fully inducted and trained volunteers.

The retention of suitable fosterers could be a challenge (mainly due to fosterers giving a permanent home to those pets that they were fostering) as was the recruitment of volunteers to help walk dogs at times that suited both the volunteers and the pet owners. The role of one of our two paid staff members has increasingly become one of attracting, inducting, and managing the recruitment of new volunteers whilst the other is focussed upon providing emergency short term foster care in her own home and providing services like dog walking to owners with more challenging dogs or owners who require regular help.

The financial viability of the charity was strengthened enormously by the large legacy received and donations received from those who had accessed our charitable services.

The Trustees continue to consider that there are no other substantial risks beyond the ongoing liabilities disclosed in the accounts and the normal risks associated with running events and working with pets for which the charity holds public liability insurance.

THE MUTTS NUTTS RESCUE Trustees' Report For the year ending 31 December 2023

Page 6

Structure, governance and management

a. consitution

The charity was incorporated on 14 December 2017 and commenced trading on that date. It is registered with the Charity Commission (charity no. 1176283).

The Mutts Nutts Rescue is a charity governed by a constitution, dated 14 December 2017, which established the objects and powers of the organisation and its trustees.

b. Organisational structure and decision-making policies

The Trustee Board of 5 Trustees take responsibility for strategic decisions to ensure that all the charity does supports its purposes and benefits the public, take responsibility for governance and managing its financial resources and sign off the charity’s Annual Return and Accounts.

All Trustees have signed the charity’s Trustee Declaration Form and fully appreciate the responsibilities incurred upon taking up such a role. Following a thorough induction process 2 new Trustees joined the Board on 15.02.2024 and fulfilled the charity's need to recruit Trustees with particular skills.

The CEO and Assistant Operations Manager take responsibility for the day to day running of the charity, particularly regarding the services it provides to the local community and their pets, answering the phone and responding to emails, publicity and promotion via social media and compiling statistics on a monthly basis for the Trustees to show activity and performance.

The CEO also takes responsibility for the induction, training and supervision of the fosterers and volunteers.

The charity has a close working relationship with a local Veterinary practice, two privately owned pet shops in local towns and liases with local care networks, for the elderly and vulnerable such as the Evergreen Care Trust.

Trustees' responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.

Page 7

THE MUTTS NUTTS RESCUE Trustees' Report For the year ending 31 December 2023

Trustees' responsibilities (continued)

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed / scheme. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

…........................... Jane Freeman, Chairman

Date: 11/03/2024 The Mutts Nutts Rescue 28A Little Casterton Road Stamford PE9 1BE

Page 8

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE MUTTS NUTTS RESCUE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023 which are set out on pages 1 to 10.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the Trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').

I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination 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 charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

2 the accounts do not accord with those records

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.

Signed:

Giles Kerkham FCA DChA

Larking Gowen LLP

Chartered Accountants 1st Floor Propspect House Rouen Road Norwich NR1 1RE Date:

Page 9

THE MUTTS NUTTS RESCUE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023

CURRENT ASSETS Stock Debtors Cash - current account Cash - 32 day deposit account Total Assets less Liabilities CHARITY FUNDS Endowment Unrestricted	2023 2023 £ £ Endowment funds Unrestricted funds 28 9,069 9,459 40,111 285,932 -	2023 £ Total funds 28 9,069 49,570 285,932 344,599 344,599 295,391 49,208 344,599 -	2022 £ Total funds 107 4,825 29,700 269,054
	295,391 49,208		303,686
	295,391 49,208		303,686
			268,391 35,295
			303,686
			-

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the trustees and were signed on their behalf by:

……………………………………………………….. Jane Freeman Trustee Date:

Page 10

THE MUTTS NUTTS RESCUE RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

RECEIPTS Legacies Donations Charitable activities Other trading activities Interest income TOTAL RECEIPTS PAYMENTS Raising funds Charitable activities – vet fees and animal care Charitable activities – payroll Other TOTAL PAYMENTS NET (PAYMENTS)/RECEIPTS Transfer between funds CASH FUNDS B/FWD CASH FUNDS C/FWD	2023 2023 2023 £ £ £ Endowment funds Unrestricted funds Total funds 27,000 11,618 38,618 53,012 53,012 - - - 5,485 5,485 - 5,877 5,877 27,000 75,992 102,992 - 696 696 - 15,227 15,227 - 44,232 44,232 - 6,088 6,088 - 66,243 66,243 27,000 9,749 36,749 - 268,391 30,362 298,753 295,391 40,111 335,502	2022 £ Total funds 233,391 58,590 154 4,760 663
		297,558 696 8,868 29,714 889
		40,167 257,391 - 41,541
		298,753

THE MUTTS NUTTS RESCUE NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Page 11

1. Transactions with Trustees

No remuneration, expenses or other benefits were paid to the Committee of Trustees or people connected with them by the charity.

There were no other transactions with or payments to trustees or connected parties.

2. Endowment Funds

Endowment funds represent legacy receipts that the Trustees intend to invest to generate future income for the charity. There are no restrictions from the donor on either holding the funds as capital or transferring to unrestricted funds to apply as revenue funding.