**Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation Charity Number: 1176322**
# **Trustees' Annual Report & Financial Statements Year to 30 November 2020**
11[th] January 2021
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## **Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements for the Financial Period from 1 December 2019 to 30 November 2020**
## **Reference & Administration Details**
**Charity Details:**
**Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation**
**Registered Charity No 1176322**
**Registered Office: ISCA Management Ltd., 31 Warren Avenue, Richmond-upon-Thames, TW10 5DZ, UK**
**TRUSTEES** Sir Richard Armstrong CBE MA (President) Dr Andrew Higgins BVetMed MSc PhD FRSB FRCVS (Chairman) Roger Clark MA FCA ATII (Treasurer) Peter Laurie MA (Secretary) Gillian Newsum BA Amy Stevens BA CFRE (appointed 23 April 2020) Jakrapob Thaotad BSc PGDip **BANKERS** Metro Bank Plc One Southampton Row London WC1B 5HA **INDEPENDENT** Thomas Absolon FCMA **EXAMINER** ISCA Management Ltd. 31 Warren Avenue Richmond upon Thames Surrey, TW10 5DZ
## **History**
The Charity was established in 2017 and constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). It was entered onto the Register of Charities in England and Wales with the Registered Charity Number 1176322 on 18 December 2017.
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
The Charity is governed by a Constitution dated 15 December 2017. The Objects of the Charity are (1) The promotion of conservation and protection for the public benefit of Asian elephants through but not limited to the establishment and support of a sanctuary or sanctuaries in Thailand that care for Asian elephants; (2) the advancement of education of the public in the conservation and protection of Asian elephants and the improvement of their natural environment; (3) the promotion of humane behaviour towards elephants by providing appropriate care, protection, treatment and security for elephants which are in need of care and attention by reason of sickness, maltreatment, poor circumstances or ill usage and to educate the public in matters pertaining to elephant welfare in general and the prevention of cruelty and suffering among elephants.
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The Charity is controlled by Trustees selected for their expertise and knowledge of elephant management, health and welfare, Thailand, finance, and other appropriate areas. Trustees who have served during the year and since the previous year end are set out on page 2. New Trustees are appointed with the specific needs of the Charity in mind in terms of skills, expertise, experience, and knowledge at the time of the vacancy. New Trustee induction involves the provision of copies of the governing documents, objectives and policy of the Charity, minutes of prior meetings, Annual and financial reports. Upon appointment, new Trustees are inducted by the Chairman and Hon Secretary. Existing Trustees are provided with training as and when required. The Trustees meet at least four times a year to review policy and progress and oversee the operation of the Charity.
The Trustees declare that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers or duties.
The Charity employed one part-time staff member on a consultancy arrangement during the year and in addition benefitted from the help of several unpaid volunteers.
## **Activities, Achievements and Plans**
The principal focus of the Charity is the ethical care and conservation of the Asian elephant, using the highest possible welfare standards, and the provision of education to increase knowledge of the elephant, its health, and cultural role in Thailand. To help achieve the Charity’s objectives in the third year of operation, the Trustees have developed exposure through social media, regular Newsletters to our supporters and News updates on the website, as well as progressing with a fundraising strategy.
The Charity sees its current core focus as assisting in the care of unwell, elderly, retired, abandoned, or abused elephants. The Trustees have prioritised the building of an Elephant Veterinary Centre in Southern Thailand by providing funds and expertise. During the financial year, the design, planning and build of the Centre was completed and a Toyota pick-up truck was converted to a Mobile Clinic for veterinary use. All veterinary facilities are owned and operated by Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation Thailand (STEFT; registered as a charity with the Governorate of Phang Nga, number พง000000003/2561 dated 27 September 2018).
The STEF Veterinary Centre was licenced as a veterinary hospital by the Thai government authorities in September 2020 and opened for clinical work in November 2020. A veterinarian and ancillary staff have been appointed by STEFT to enable the Centre to provide veterinary services, education, and advice of direct benefit to the Asian elephant. The Centre is located close to the town of Khok Kloi, Takua Thung District, on the Northern Andaman Coast of Phang Nga Province, Southern Thailand.
The Veterinary Centre meets an urgent health and welfare need in Phang Nga and neighbouring Provinces where there is presently no specialised veterinary facility to serve more than 600 elephants. The Trustees wished to create a safe, well-managed Centre to benefit elephants and as a Community Support Project. There is no charge for the veterinary services provided. In time, the Trustees may wish also to provide a rest home for old or abandoned elephants, and an Education Centre. The Trustees consider these aspirations are fully compatible with the aims and objectives of the Charity.
The Trustees believe that through veterinary care, education, science and by example the Charity can help in the protection and care of Thailand’s elephants and preserve their role in Thai culture for generations to come. Through our Place2C programme, the Charity supports sponsored visits by disadvantaged children and others to learn about elephant health and husbandry for the purposes of their education and to increase their understanding of this endangered species. However, in the current financial year these activities have had to cease due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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During the year, STEF raised over £40,000 to support an emergency appeal to feed starving elephants whose owners/carers were dramatically and suddenly deprived of income due to the impact of Covid-19 restrictions in Thailand and the cessation of tourism in mid-2020. The charity provided funds to feed 286 elephants over an eightweek period by providing 703 truckloads of food free of charge.
## **Financial Review**
## **Acknowledgements**
The Trustees are most grateful for the support received from major trusts and corporate and individual donors during the year. Particular thanks are offered to the Hawthorne Trust, the Ofenheim Trust, the Alborada Trust, the Two R’s Charitable Trust, the Bebb Charitable Trust, the Marjorie Coote Animal Charity Trust, the Marchig Animal Welfare Trust, the Animal Defence Trust, the Beryl Evetts and Robert Luff Animal Welfare Trust, Four Paws International, the Calypso Browning Trust, A & R Woolfe Charitable Trust, and many individuals.
## **Statement of the Charity's Policy on Reserves**
The Charity has a reserves policy of holding the equivalent of two months' unrestricted operating costs. This policy is reviewed regularly. At the end of the period, the charity held unrestricted reserves totalling £16,874.
## **Details of Any Funds Materially in Deficit**
The Trustees declare that the charity had no funds which were materially in deficit at the date of the statement of assets and liabilities.
## **State of the Charity’s Finances**
The attached Receipts and Payments Account shows that in the year to 30 November 2020 the Charity raised £123,324, made grants of £138,445 to STEF Thailand and spent £5,848 on social media and administration. During the year, the Covid-19 pandemic did not appear to impact on charity income. The Trustees are satisfied that STEF is in a sustainable position as we move forward into 2021, and plan to further equip the Veterinary Centre, maintain operating costs and continue to promote the work of the charity in providing veterinary care and attention to needy elephants. The Charity is entirely dependent on raising money to pursue its objectives.
## **Particulars of Any Outstanding Guarantee Given by the Charity**
The Trustees declare that the charity has given no guarantee where potential liability is outstanding at the date of the statement of assets and liabilities.
## **Particulars of Any Outstanding Debt**
The Trustees declare that the charity has no outstanding debts which are secured by an express charge on any of the assets of the charity at the date of the statement of assets and liabilities.
## **Trustees**
No trustee received any remuneration. Trustee expenses of £378 were reimbursed. The Trustees have Indemnity Insurance with AXA Insurance UK Plc at an annual premium for 2020 of £241.
## **Declaration**
The Trustees declare that they have approved this report and authorised that it be signed on their behalf.
Chair for and on behalf of the Trustees Date: 11[th] January 2021
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## Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation Charity registration number 1176322
## Receipts and Payments Year to 30 November 2020
|Receipts and Payments
Year to 30 November 2020||
|---|---|
||Unrestricted Restricted Total
Period to 30/11/19|
||£
£ £ Total (£)|
|Receipts||
|Donations and sales of merchandise
|29,422 93,457 122,879 112,119|
|Tax repayments
|445 - 445 1,025|
|Total receipts|29,867 93,457 123,324 113,144|
|Payments||
|STEF Thailand||
|Grants for site and building|4,924 81,248 86,172 70,857|
|Grants for vehicle|1,280 2,490 3,770 2,859|
|Starving elephants appeal|40,382 40,382 -|
|Running costs|8,121 - 8,121 -|
|Total|14,325 124,120 138,445 73,716|
|STEF UK||
|Merchandise|- - - 885|
|Website and IT|2,531 - 2,531 1,573|
|Fundraising|2,400 - 2,400 -|
|Insurance|241 - 241 222|
|Government fees|35 - 35 40|
|Bank charges|5 - 5 -|
|Consultancy expenses|167 - 167 -|
|Trustees’ expenses|378 - 378 -|
|Printing, stationery and postage|46 - 46 865|
|Administrative assistance|45 - 45 -|
|Sundry|- - - 395|
|Total payments|20,172 124,120 144,293 77,696|
|Balance for year|9,694 (30,663) (20,969) 35,448|
|Balance at beginning of year|6,430 31,413 37,843 2,395|
|Balance at end of year|16,124 750 16,874 37,843|
|Balance sheet as at 30 November 2020||
|Surplus receipts|16,124 750 16,874 37,843|
|Represented by||
|Cash at bank|16,124 750 16,874 37,807|
|Cash with PayPal|- - - 36|
|Total|16,124 750 16,874 37,843|
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf Andrew Higgins, Chairman Roger Clark, Treasurer 11[th] January 2021
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CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's report
on the accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
Report to the trusteesl
members of
SOIA -ns& l
JD
On accounts for the year
ended
Charity no
(if any)
IIIGILL
Set out on pages
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of th8 above
charity (Ihe Trusf) for the year ended
Responsibilities and As the charity trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the
basis of report accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe Acf).
I report in respect of my examination of the Tnjst's accounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying OLrt my examination. I
have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145{5)(b) of the Act.
Independent
pxaminerfs statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have
come Éo my attention (other than that disclosed below") in connection with
the examination which gives me cause to believe that in. any material
respecL:
the accounting records were not kept in accordance wth section 130
of the Act: or
the accounts did not accord Trmth the accounting records" or
the aecounts did not compty with the applicable requirements
conMIng the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities
{Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement
that the accounts grve a 1rue and fairf view which is not a matter
considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no (x)ncerns 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.
Please delete the words in the brackets rfthey do not apply.
Signed:
Date:
11
Name:
Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body
(if any):
IER
October 2018
Address:
Section B
Disclosure
Only wmplete rfthe examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32,
Independent examination of charity accounts". directions and guidance for
examiners).
Give here details of any
item$ that the examiner
wishes to disclose.
IER
October 2018