## CANINE CONCERN
Annual report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2023
Charity no 1177334 (England & Wales)
1
## **Canine Concern Report and Financial Statements Contents**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|History|1|
|Legal and administrative information|2|
|Trustees annual report|3 - 6|
|Independent Examiner's report|7|
|Statement of financial activities|8|
|Balance sheet|9|
|Notes to the financial statements|10 - 12|
Registered charity (England & Wales) No 1177334
**Canine Concern History**
Canine Concern was formed in 1988 by Eve Waring, who had seen how important dog visits were to the elderly and lonely. Eve believed in reaching out to people through their dogs. She wanted to make the group friendly and supportive of each other as well as to the people, old and young, that we visited.
The group grew across England and Wales with local coordinators to support new members on their visits as well as friendship for the established members. We all need a friendly ear to tell our many success stories to as well as the challenging moments, which are few and far between. There are many stories of the successes and experiences of our members. Some sad, some happy, but all emotional and good in their own ways
Canine Concern became a successful charity, with Eve at the helm, from 1988 to the summer of 2016 when she became poorly. As she never wanted the charity to fade away, in September 2016 one of the area coordinators, Barbara Gasson, (initial Chair) and Valerie Fillery (CEO), picked up the baton to continue the good work with Eve's blessing. The Charity offices were moved from Wellington in Somerset to its current home in Pevensey in East Sussex. Sadly, on 4th April 2017, Eve passed away but knowing that Canine Concern was continuing to flourish, and her legacy would continue. In February 2018 Canine Concern became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
We are a Charity whose policy and belief was and always will be the organisation, caring for the whole community with our care dogs. This we have continued to do now for nearly 37 years.
1
## **Legal and administrative information**
|Charity name|Canine Concern|
|---|---|
|Charity registration number|1177334|
|Formation date|27thFebruary 2018|
|Establishment date|(Non-CIO) June 1988|
|Founder|Eve Waring|
|Registered office|21 Dallaway Drive|
||Stone Cross|
||Pevensey|
||East Sussex|
||BN24 5FB|
|Trustees|Chris Lovegrove|
||Colin Scott|
||Steve White|
||Amanda Morris|
||Elizabeth Permaul|
|CEO|Valerie Fillery|
||(BSc (Hon), LCSP (Phys) IHM BSYA (MT) BSYA (CMA) MCMA|
||DIP Canine Massage, Cert in Dog Psychology Dip in Pet|
||Bereavement Dip in Animal Assisted Therapy|
|Accountants|Frampton & Co (Sussex) Limited|
||13 Meads Street|
||Eastbourne|
||East Sussex|
||BN20 7QY|
|Principal Bankers|HSBC Plc|
||94 Terminus Road|
||Eastbourne|
||East Sussex|
||BN21 3ND|
2
**Canine Concern Registered number: 1177334 Trustees Annual Report**
The trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements of the charity for the period ended 31 December 2023.
## **Overview**
Over the past five years, we have grappled with a multitude of challenges, from the repercussions of COVID-19 to the strains of high inflation and the cost-of-living crisis. All this while trying to bring the charity up to date with the continual challenges of the changes from being a very small charity into a modern-day CIO and taking the membership for 70 doubtful members in 2016 into a current membership approaching 650.
We look forward to many years of serving the members and public but will be seeking to increase donations and invoiced payments to the charity to stabilize our reserves to preserve and protect our future and secure long-term financial stability.
We remain today on a sound financial foundation for the years ahead, but like most similar charities we are constantly having to find funding for our day-to-day running costs in supporting our membership in the form of donations and trading invoices.
We are most grateful for the continued support of our volunteers who gave additional donations and supported our fundraising activities throughout the year with sponsored walks in memory of Barbara Gasson, Christmas gift sales and many other events. We remain today on a sound financial foundation for the years ahead, but like most similar charities we are constantly having to find funding for our day-to-day running costs in supporting our membership in the form of donations and trading invoices.
The sphere of our operations has expanded and grown.
We are heavily involved with the three main services with very successful projects working with several ambulance trusts.
The work for residential homes, care homes, hospices, hospitals, mental health services and prisons continues, and we remain immensely proud of that. The staff of the places we visit have also benefitted from our visits, especially when they have had a particularly stressful experience and added stress from workload and deadlines.
Universities, colleges, special needs and mainstream schools and many more places benefit from the wellbeing provided by our charity work. Our read to dogs' programme in schools has grown and is highly rewarding and beneficial.
We embrace all, young and old.
Our membership is limited to 1,000 members/volunteers as the Trustees do not wish to overexpand the charity and seek to remain a friendly, supportive charity.
3
**Canine Concern Registered number: Trustees Annual Report**
**1177334**
Trust Supporters
We are very grateful to receive support from the public, our members and other establishments
We would like to thank the following
The Brothers Trust National Lottery Community Trust The James Bush Family Mrs. M O Brown BIMM Brighton Barclaycard Adur Lions Woodside Hall Nursing Home Purple Oaks Federation Gerard and Christina Storek Penny Dent Easy Fundraising University of Sussex
## **Aims and objectives**
The object of the charity was:
- 1) The object of the charity was to relieve people who are in need by reason of their age, disability, health or social circumstances, particularly, but not exclusively by the provision of therapy dogs to visits schools, care homes, hospital, hospices, libraries, courts and other similar institutions.
- 2) To relieve sickness, suffering and distress and to promote good health, especially but not exclusively amongst children and elderly people demonstrating good relationships between people and companion animals
The accounts incorporate the results of Canine Concern Fund Raising which raises funds and promotes public awareness of the charity by the holding of exemption dog shows, and giving talks.
## **Activities**
Our volunteers with their temperament-assessed dogs visit a wide spectrum of establishments, which include secure units, the three emergency services, hospitals, hospices, residential and nursing homes, and day-care centres, bringing comfort, mutual support, and beneficial care into their lives of who we meet.
We are recognized by the Kennel Club (Bark and Read sponsored dogs) with our work with children in all types of schools as well as mainstream schools through our Read-to-Dogs scheme which helps dogs to help children develop a passion for reading and alleviate the anxiety of getting words wrong.
The Charity also undertakes special work with sectors/areas of the police force, in bringing comfort and support to distressed situations and staff.
4
**Canine Concern Registered number: Trustees Annual Report**
**1177334**
## **Publicity and communication**
Through our media consultants we are daily highlighted on various media outlets such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn with a large following.
We have been often approached by local radio and TV stations across the UK who broadcast interviews with our volunteers as well as local newspapers and magazines for articles.
## **Structure governance and management**
The charity was registered with the Charities Commissioners (No. 1177334) and charitable status was granted on 27 February 2018 as **Canine Concern CIO** and incorporated Canine Concern Charity (No. 328237) which was registered in 1988.
The charity was constituted under its governing document, the Constitution dated 28 February 2018.
All of the assets and funds of the Canine Concern Charity (No. 328237) were transferred on 28 February 2018. Canine Concern (No. 328237) was then removed from the charities register on 29 March 2018
The charity was managed by the Board of Trustees. If a vacancy on the Board arose, a new member would have been co-opted by the existing trustees.
## **Trustees**
The following persons served as trustees during the year:
Chris Lovegrove Colin Scott Steve White Amanda Morris (Reisgned 11th November 2023) Elizabeth Permaul (Appointed 1st November 2023)
No further Trustees were appointed during the period.
## **Achievements and performance**
Having regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit, during the period the charity has promoted its objectives by providing therapy dogs to homes, hospitals, schools, colleges, secure units, county courts and businesses.
The Charity continues to grow with new volunteers registering during the year. The demand for our service is ever growing and our Read to Dogs programme is also expanding, being recognized and supported by the Kennel Club
We have also had several newspapers and magazines featuring our members and our work.
5
**Canine Concern Registered number: 1177334 Trustees Annual Report**
The number of members not renewing their yearly membership remains at a rock-bottom percentage and usually relates to their dogs not being able to carry out duties, due to illness or deceased or the members themselves being unable to continue.
## **Organization Structure**
The Board of Trustees is responsible for administration of the Charity. The Board meets formally at least twice a year with other informal contacts and meetings as appropriate. The Charity's Chairman is responsible for the Charity's operational management.
## **Future Plans**
The Trustees have agreed that membership/Volunteers should not become too high, this is to avoid over stretching the service we provide and to becoming ungovernable with a financial drain on its assets both current and fixed.
The Trustees believe that it is not the size of the membership that counts, but the service and devotion that the individual member brings to the charity.
Our membership fees remain the lowest possible, in order that it remain open to all regardless of income. Although many members have paid more to the charity, if they feel they can. The charity is proud in being more family and personally based and wishes to keep that status.
## **Financial review**
The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the financial information and observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP.
The trustees have reviewed the level of unrestricted reserves carried by the charity other than those invested in property, and which represent nearly 3 years' expenditure.
The trustees regard this level of reserves as appropriate in the context of uncertainty over the charity's income to cover the ongoing costs of maintaining the charity's operation.
Each month the CEO. provides a financial overview to the Trustees including budget comparisons, profit & loss statements and any extraordinary require expense required.
As the majority of work that was undertaken in the course of the fulfilling the charity's objectives was undertaken by unpaid volunteers, the recurring annual costs remain low.
Net outgoing resources for the period amounted to £30,725.
Canine Concern received money from Membership Fees, Member donations and from the income from rented property. In addition, significant funding came from individual donations, including support from Sussex Caring Pets
This report was approved and authorized for issue by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf
Chris Lovegrove Chair of the Board of Trustees Date:
6
## **Canine Concern Independent Examiner's Report**
## **Independent Examiner's report to the trustees of**
## **Canine Concern**
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2023, which are set out in pages 8 to 12.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act), and that an independent examination is needed.
If is my responsibility to:
- 1) examine the accounts under section 144 of the Charities Act.
- 2) to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
- 3) to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner's report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a 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 you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence 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 set out in the statement below:
## **Independent examiner's statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met or
(2) to which, in my opinion attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mis Yvonne O'Connor Frampton & Co (Sussex) Limited Chartered Certified Accountants 13 Meads Street Eastbourne East Sussex BN20 7QY
7
## **Canine Concern**
## **Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 December 2023**
|**Notes**
**Incoming resources**
Resources expended
**Net income/(expenditure) for the year**
2
Interest payable
3
**Net movement in funds for the year**|**2023**
**£**
62,138
(92,863)
(30,725)
‐
(30,725)|**2022**
**£**
68,779
(86,234)|
|---|---|---|
|||(17,455)|
||||
|||(1)
(17,456)|
8
## **Canine Concern**
## **Balance Sheet**
## **as at 31 December 2023**
|**Notes**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
4
**Current assets**
Debtors
5
Cash at bank and in hand
**Creditors: amounts falling due**
**within one year**
6
**Net current assets**
**Net assets**
**Funds**
Unrestricted fund
7
**Total funds**|**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
426,952
427,382
545
531
132,330
162,699
132,875
163,230
(1,930)
(1,990)
130,945
161,240
557,897
588,622
557,897
588,622
557,897
588,622|**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
426,952
427,382
545
531
132,330
162,699
132,875
163,230
(1,930)
(1,990)
130,945
161,240
557,897
588,622
557,897
588,622
557,897
588,622|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||588,622|
|||588,622|
|||588,622|
The company was entitled to exemption from audit under s477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to small companies subject to the small company regime and in accordance with FRS102 SORP.
## Chris Lovegrove
Chair of Trustees Board
Date:
9
**Canine Concern Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023**
## **1 Accounting policies**
## _**Basis of accounting**_
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with applicable United Kingdom accounting standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" (SORP 2005) and the Charities Act 2011.
## _**Incoming resources**_
All incoming resources are recognised once the charity has entitlement to the resources, it is certain that the resources will be received and the monetary value of the incoming resource can be measured with sufficient reliability.
## _**Resources expended**_
Liabilities are recognised as resources expended as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure.
## **VAT**
Value added Tax is not recoverable by the charity, and as such is included in the relevant costs in the accounts.
## _**Assets and depreciation**_
Assets are capitalised at cost and stated in the balance sheet at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:
Office equipment: 20% Straight Line
|**2**
**Net resources for the year**
This is stated after charging:
Depreciation of owned fixed assets
**3**
**Interest payable**
Interest payable|**2023**
**£**
802
**2023**
**£**
‐|**2022**
**£**
1,298|
|---|---|---|
|||**2022**
**£**
1|
10
## **Canine Concern Notes to the Accounts**
**for the year ended 31 December 2023**
## **4 Tangible fixed assets**
|**Cost**
At 1 January 2023
Additions
At 31 December 2023
**Depreciation**
At 1 January 2023
Charge for the year
At 31 December 2023
**Net book value**
At 31 December 2023
At 31 December 2022
**5**
**Debtors**
Other debtors
**6**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Other taxes and social security costs
Other creditors
**7**
**Funds**
**Unrestricted fund**
At 1 January 2023
Loss for the year
At 31 December 2023|**Land and**
**buildings**
**£**
425,000
-
425,000
-
-
-
425,000
425,000|**Office**
**equipment**
**etc**
**£**
6,213
372
6,585
3,831
802
4,633
1,952
2,382
**2023**
**£**
545
**2023**
**£**
1,082
848
1,930
**2023**
**£**
588,622
(30,725)
557,897|**Total**
**£**
431,213
372|
|---|---|---|---|
||||431,585|
||||3,831
802|
||||4,633|
||||426,952|
||||427,382|
||||**2022**
**£**
531|
||||**2022**
**£**
1,142
848|
||||1,990|
|||||
11
## **Canine Concern**
## **Schedule to Statement of financial activities**
## **for the year ended 31 December 2023**
|**Incoming resources**
Donations & trading activities
Membership subscriptions
Bank interest receivable
Investment property income
**Resources expended**
Costs in furtherance of charitable objects
Insurance
Merchandise costs
Website and software costs
Employer's NI
Staff training and welfare
Travel and subsistence
Investment property costs:
Fixtures, fittings and repairs
Property insurance
Property management fees
Governance costs
Telephone
Postage
Stationery and printing
Advertising and PR
Bank charges
Bookkeeping and administration
Employee salary
Pensions
Accountancy
Depreciation
Sundry expenses
Legal and professional costs:
Consultancy fees
Other legal and professional|**2023**
**£**
30,426
7,483
4,229
20,000
62,138
757
3,865
2,878
1,533
60
343
9,436
994
480
3,255
4,729
1,081
950
1,204
2,209
145
2,905
63,541
1,005
1,034
803
223
75,100
2,940
658
3,598
92,863|**2022**
**£**
46,721
5,155
303
16,600|
|---|---|---|
|||68,779|
|||648
2,659
2,489
1,492
‐
324|
|||7,612|
|||448
387
2,375|
|||3,210|
|||1,055
800
1,756
2,455
151
2,858
62,559
1,005
1,133
1,239
216|
|||75,227|
|||‐
185|
|||185|
||||
|||86,234|
12