2024-12-31-accounts

Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation Charity Number: 1176322

Trustees' Annual Report & Financial Statements Period to 31[st] December 2024

14[th] March 2025

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Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements for the Financial Period from 1 December 2023 to 31st December 2024

Reference & Administration Details

Charity Details:

Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation

Registered Charity No 1176322

Registered Office: Lakin Rose Ltd., Cambridge house, Camboro Business Park, Girton, Cambridge, CB3 0QH, UK

TRUSTEES

Sir Richard Armstrong CBE MA (President) Dr Merry Smith MA VetMB MRCVS (Chair, appointed 14 March 2024) Dr Andrew Higgins BVetMed MSc PhD FRSB FRCVS (Senior Vice Chair) Dr Michael Seton BVetMed MSc MRCVS (Junior Vice Chair) Mrs Lisa Philpott (Hon Secretary, appointed 5 December 2024) Mr Roger Clark MA FCA ATII (Treasurer) Mrs Ros Bird MCloF (Adv Dip) (appointed 26 July 2024) Mr Brian da Cal BA MSc Ms Lorraine Miller BSc Dr Fieke Molenaar MSc GPCert(ExAP) DZooMed MRCVS Ms Esther Porta (appointed 14 March 2024) Mr Jakrapob Thaotad BSc PGDip Miss Katherine Wrench MSc (resigned 5 December 2024)

BANKERS Metro Bank Plc One Southampton Row London WC1B 5HA, UK CAF Bank 30 Old Broad Street London EC2N 1HT

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Emma Farquhar BFP FCA

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 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 include the conservation and protection of Asian elephants and the improvement of their natural environment; providing veterinary care, protection, treatment, and security for elephants in need by reason of sickness, poor circumstances or ill-usage; public education and the promotion of humane behaviour towards elephants and encouraging an appreciation of the importance of elephant welfare and the need to prevent cruelty and suffering.

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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 or been appointed during the year 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 includes providing copies of the governing documents, objectives and policy of the Charity, minutes of prior meetings, and Annual and financial reports. Upon appointment, new Trustees are inducted by the Chair, Hon Sec and other Trustees. Existing Trustees are provided with training as and when required. The Trustees meet at least three times a year to review policy and progress and oversee the operation of the Charity. Wherever possible a working visit to the STEF Veterinary Centre in Thailand is facilitated early in a Trustee’s term to gain first hand insight into STEF’s work.

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.

During the year, Merry Smith, Esther Porta, Ros Bird and Lisa Philpott were appointed as Trustees for three years, and Katherine Wrench resigned as a Trustee. Lisa Philpott was appointed Hon Secretary. At the Board meeting in March 2024, Merry Smith was appointed Chair, Andrew Higgins Senior Vice Chair, and Michael Seton Junior Vice Chair. The Charity employed a freelance part-time marketing administrator and a part time Trust and Foundation fundraising consultant during the period and in addition benefitted from the help of unpaid volunteers.

Activities, Achievements and Plans

The principal focus of the Charity is the provision of free veterinary care and the welfare of the Asian elephant, using the highest possible standards and education to increase knowledge of the elephant, its health, and cultural role in Thailand. To help achieve the Charity’s objectives in the seventh year of operation, the Trustees have continued to develop exposure through social media, regular newsletters and news updates on the website, as well as progressing a fundraising strategy. Education is a priority for STEF and in October 2024 we hosted a foot care course at STEF Veterinary Centre, which was attended by vets, support staff and mahouts from 8 different parks and sanctuaries. In 2024 further dialogue between UK Trustees and Directors at Blackpool Zoo resulted in an agreement to partner, with the zoo now promoting STEF as one of the charities it supports. We are delighted with this collaboration and are planning enhanced fundraising activities in the UK with the support of the zoo.

During the year, the Trustees prioritised providing funds and expertise to Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation Thailand (STEFT) for further work on its Elephant Hospital at its Veterinary Centre near Khok Kloi. STEFT is registered

as a charitable organisation with the Governorate of Phang Nga, number พง000000003/2561 dated 27 September 2018). The Centre was officially opened in June 2022. A Mobile Clinic is operated by STEFT veterinarians and ancillary staff, and covers 1,500-2,000 km per month, often serving remote areas. The hospital and mobile clinic provide free veterinary services, education, and advice to benefit the Asian elephant.

STEFT works closely with Thai government’s officials by helping with routine elephant health checks, providing emergency veterinary cover, offering a rapid diagnostic service for the often-fatal elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV), and in the distribution of EEHV guidelines. STEFT participates with the government Krabi Elephant Hospital in conducting yearly inspections of all elephants in the southern provinces and regularly tests juveniles for EEHV. In 2024 an official MOU was signed by all parties, furthering this collaboration.

Thanks to the support of STEF, STEFT treated 204 elephant patients during the year throughout the southern provinces (2023, 300). Conditions ranged from malnutrition, weakness, trauma, infections, eye ulceration and parasitic infestations to more specific diseases and injuries, including 1 case of EEHV in a juvenile elephant. Many elephants were provided with supplements and antiparasitic treatments for internal and external parasites. Blood tests and other laboratory investigations were conducted routinely in the STEFT hospital laboratory. Advice and guidance are always given to try and minimise injury and prevent disease. Fifty patients were admitted to the STEFT hospital (2023, 29). In 2024, the Vet Volunteer Programme welcomed 27 overseas visitors, including 6 veterinarians, 2 vet nurses and 19 veterinary students. Volunteers came from UK (12), Australia (5), USA (2), Canada (1), China (1), Greece (1), Germany (1), Republic of Korea (2), Maldives (1) and Malaysia (1).

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Regarding capital projects, building work was completed on an isolation unit for the hospital critical to minimise the risk of spread of contagious diseases such as TB; and, with an increasing number of cases of EEHV, we have progressed work on a specially designed intensive care unit for 24/7 care of these often desperately ill young elephants. In March 2024 we purchased a second mobile clinic vehicle to enable us to continue to expand our work in rural areas.

The Trustees report that the STEFT Veterinary Centre continues to meet an urgent health and welfare need in Phang Nga and neighbouring Provinces where there is no local veterinary facility for elephants, and the Centre serves to support communities, often in isolated, rural areas. The Trustees consider these aspirations to be 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 assist in the conservation of this endangered species.

Financial Review

Acknowledgements

The Trustees are most grateful for the support received from major trusts and corporate and individual donors during the period. Particular thanks are offered to Mr and Mrs Vernon and Shirley Hill, The Two R’s Charitable Trust, The Hawthorne Trust, The Ofenheim Trust, The Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust, The Marjorie Coote Animal Charity Trust, The Marchig Animal Welfare Trust, The Animal Defence Trust, The Calypso Browning Trust, The Castanea Trust, The Michael and Shirley Hunt Charitable Trust, The Robert Clutterbuck Charitable Trust, The Alice Noakes Memorial Trust, Blackpool Zoo, Mrs Julia Edge and generous contributions from many others, including during the Big Give campaign in December 2024. The Trustees thank those individuals who gave Gift Aid permissions during the period.

Statement of the Charity's Policy on Reserves

The Charity aims to hold the equivalent of six months' unrestricted operating costs as free reserves. This policy is reviewed regularly. At the end of the period, the charity held free reserves totalling £54,031

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 period to 31 December 2024 the Charity raised £82,946 (2023, £233,911), made grants of £76,675 (2023, £148,762) to STEFT and spent £14,068 (2023, £12,502) on administrative assistance. IT and website costs were £1,889 (2023, £3,543) and fundraising costs totalled £14,003 (2023, £10,030). The Charity returned a surplus of £54,031 in the period, which bolstered the free reserves and will be needed for running costs and ongoing building works at the Veterinary Centre. The Trustees are satisfied that STEF is in a sustainable position as we move forward into 2025. As a charitable organisation, STEFT actively raises funds in Thailand to support running costs and through its veterinary volunteer programme. The STEF Trustees plan to continue to support STEFT with periodic capital assistance, operating costs and in its educational objectives so promoting the work of the charity in providing veterinary care and attention to needy elephants.

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.

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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

Trustee expenses were reimbursed for meeting attendance (£995) and the sum of £4882 was expended on Trustees’ overseas travel. A further £864 was spent on Consultants travel. The Trustees have Indemnity Insurance with AXA Insurance UK Plc at an annual premium for 2024 of £386.

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: 14[th] March 2025

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Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation
Charity registration number 1176322
Receipts and Payments								Year to
Period 1 December 2023 to 31 Decemberr		2024						30/11/23
	Unrestricted			Restricted		Total		Total
Receipts
Donations		79,698		10,534		90,232		228,728
Tax repayments		3,061				3,061		5,183
Bank interest		187				187
Total receipts		82,946		10,534		93,479		233,911
						-
Payments						-
Grants to STEF Thailand		76,675		10,119		86,793		148,762
Website and IT		1,889				1,889		3,543
Fundraising		14,003				14,003		10,030
Insurance		386				386		370
Sundries		741				741		626
Administrative assistance		14,068				14,068		12,502
Consultant's travel		864				864
Trustees' meetings		995				995
Trustees' travel		4,882				4,882		4,111
Total payments		114,503		10,119		124,622		179,944
Balance for period		(31,557)		415		(31,142)		53,967
Switch between funds		10,000		(10,000)
Balance at beginning of peiod		75,588		10,000		85,588		31,620
Balance at end of period		54,031		415		54,446		85,587
Balance sheet at 31 December 2024
Surplus receipts		54,031		415		54,446	£	85,587
Represented by
Cash at Metrobank		43,884		415		44,299		85,587
Cash at CAF Bank		10,147				10,147
								-
Total	£	54,031	£	415	£	54,446	£	85,587

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of SOUTHERN THAIL4ND ELEPHANT FOUNDATION On accounts for the PERIOD ended 31 December 2024 Charity no {if any) 1176322 Set out on page8 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity l-the Trust") for the period ended 3111212024. Respon8ibilitle8 and As the charity tnjstees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {"the Act"). I report in resFect of my examination of the Twst's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5)Ibl of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confinn that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which giv88 me cause to believe that in. any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examiner's Statement I have no concerns and have come across no other malters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. ease delete the words in the brackets rflhey do not apply. Signed: Date: 0610312025 Name: EMMA FARQUHAR FCA Relevant professlonal qualification(sl or body lif any): ICAEW Address: 43 Medcalfe Way, Melbourn. Cambridgeshire SG8 6HU IER October 2018

Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of Gharity accounts: directions and guidan￿ for examinepJ). Nothing to disclose Glve here brief detalls of any itsms that the oxamlnor wlshe8 to d18¢1080. IER October 2018