REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1179111
Report of the Trustees and
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31[st] July 2025
for
HOMEWARD BOUND
Whittles LLP, Chartered Accountants
1 Richmond Road, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, FY8 1PE
HOMEWARD BOUND
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31[st] July 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 to 5 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 6 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 7 |
| Balance Sheet | 8 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 9 to 10 |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 11 |
HOMEWARD BOUND
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31[st] July 2025
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31[st] July 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1[st] January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The general objects of the Charity are to promote humane behaviour towards animals by providing appropriate care, protection, treatment and security for animals which are lost/found or stolen, and are in need of care and attention, with a view to reuniting them with their owners where possible and to educate the public in matters pertaining to animal welfare in general and the prevention of cruelty and suffering among animals including knowledge of laws and responsibilities surrounding pet ownership.
Public benefit
In planning our activities for the year we kept in mind the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit.
Volunteers
We review our aims, objectives and activities annually. We recruit volunteers who are briefed on our aims and objectives and who are provided on clear guidance of our policies and procedures. The contribution of volunteers towards the charity’s aims and objectives is also reviewed annually. Volunteers are signposted towards further training to develop their knowledge and skills in animal welfare, legislation, policies and procedures.
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
Ensuring our work delivers our aims
Homeward Bound have had an incredibly busy year in 2024 to 2025, seeing many innovative projects.
We have once again operated a companion animal pet rescue and rehoming service due to a need for this within our areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre for both cats and dogs.
Part of the reason for this need is due to larger charities restricting services within our areas, which has led to a greater demand being placed on the services offered by Homeward Bound. Another reason is our growing relationships with a number of veterinary practices in the area who seek our help in taking on pets that are presented to their surgeries for euthanasia when there is an ethical dilemma for the vets to carry out this procedure. In this past year we have taken on many pets from such circumstances who have been relinquished to our charity. Some pets have been rehabilitated and suitable homes found, or they have remained in our care with lifelong foster carers.
Our lifelong foster pets have increased enormously this year. Partly for the reasons above, as well as attending animals who have been in such terrible conditions, we have liaised with authorities to provide these animals with lifelong care rather than them face euthanasia.
Amongst these animals are Molly, a Boxer cross dog who was found in such a terrible state, thrown away over a railway fence, emaciated and covered in wounds from a period of abuse. Molly lived with an exceptional lifelong foster for another year where she experienced love and care and devotion until she became ill with cancer at age 13 and crossed Rainbow Bridge.
We also attended Daisy, a Shetland Sheepdog who was 12 years old and found in an horrific state. Daisy absolutely blossomed in the care of her amazing lifelong fosterers and lived out the last part of her life being absolutely doted on until recently passing away.
We also recently said goodbye to Paddy who was one of our lifelong foster cats. He defied all odds and lived until a ripe old age of 18, having spent the last four and half years with his lifelong fosterers.
We have also provided lifelong foster for a number of other dogs and cats this year. All of whom are thriving in their amazing homes.
These animals are a big commitment for us as they all require ongoing veterinary treatment, which we provide, but this is such a rewarding part of our work, seeing these animals absolutely thrive and living their best lives even if it’s just for a short time.
We are continually grateful for our foster carers who provide both lifelong and short term care for our animals.
Last year we hoped to increase our network of foster carers and we have achieved this goal, and our recruitment of these dedicated people continues. Many of our foster carers actually end up being adopters, which means we lose a foster carer but the animal gains an incredible home.
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HOMEWARD BOUND
Report of the Trustees (Continued)
for the Year Ended 31[st] July 2025
Over the past year Homeward Bound have also been involved in the rescue, rehabilitation and providing homes for a number of dogs, and cats whose owners have passed away. We rely heavily on our network of foster carers who enable us to help these animals.
Homeward Bound has increasingly delivered educational initiatives to the wider community on topics such as animal welfare, responsible pet ownership, microchipping and legislation applicable to companion animals. This has been achieved through providing talks in schools, further and higher educational establishments, councils and community groups, as well as through our social media platforms. We have also provided training sessions on topics such as animal handling and animal legislation to council teams responsible for stray dogs. We have also provided talks and been a speaker at community events.
Homeward Bound have provided training for members of the public, groups and organisations in subjects such as dog handling, scanning, animal behaviour and provided comprehensive advice on banned breeds, exemption criteria and legislation to owners and interested parties.
We have huge support from members of the public and many of our followers provide financial support in the way of standing orders and donations which helps us enormously, especially with ongoing veterinary costs, which continue to be our largest expense.
Policies, procedures and guidance have been reviewed and developed this financial year to aid volunteers carry out their roles efficiently and in a professional manner.
During this financial year, we were incredibly fortunate to be chosen as a Charity Partner for Lytham Festival. As well as having an incredibly enjoyable day at Lytham festival, we raised a substantial sum of money which we put back into the community, as well as continuing our usual work.
One of the things this extra funding enabled us to do was to address the increasing cat population issue at grass roots level. We did this by offering a cat neutering and chipping initiative for owned cats. This was a huge success and we facilitated the neutering and chipping of several hundred cats locally.
We have continued to provide neutering and chipping of stray and feral cats. These are either though our TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) programme, or to enable strays to be kept by finders when no owner can be found.
In the last financial year we purchased a van and a specialised dog transport crate. This was to enable secure transportation of dogs to kennels and was funded by our supporters Beaverbrooks, and one of our volunteers partners in memory of his own dog who sadly passed away, Beau.
Who used and benefitted from our services
During the financial year period ending July 2025 our services were used by the public who are residents or visitors of Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde boroughs. Once again, Homeward Bound had a very busy year. As well as going out to attend to found pets, both alive and deceased, the charity receives many, many phone calls, sometimes over 20 to 50 per day, on numerous topics from advice on injured wildlife, pet neutering, microchipping, stray cats, animal cruelty or neglect, bereavement and rehoming. This continues to be a demand due to a number of factors. The factors identified in the increase in contacts are: the current cost of living crisis; the aftermath of Covid lockdown pet acquisitions; changes in legislation to include XL Bully’s to the banned dogs breed list and limitations on vets, particularly low cost veterinary charities to meet the demands for affordable neutering and the reduction in services by larger charitable organisations.
Our TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) programme continues to help many cats in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. Our vets prices continue to increase and our vet bills continue to be the charity’s biggest expenditure by far. However, we are very grateful to our vets who continue to provide us with reduced veterinary surgery, care and advice and we have added to our list of vets who are on board with our neutering scheme and other help.
We are increasingly attending injured, neglected and abandoned pets and have helped many cats, and dogs, who have required extensive treatment. This ranges from fly-strike, broken legs, damaged eyes, Pyometra, to de-gloved and amputated tails and abscesses...The list is extensive. We continue to test each and every stray or feral cat for FIV and FeLV.
We provided advice and posters to hundreds of owners of missing pets.
The number of animals physically attended by volunteers are detailed on the following table. This shows a marked increase in the number of pets attended from previous years and our service continues to be in demand. Despite us all being volunteers who perform this service in our own free time.
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HOMEWARD BOUND
Report of the Trustees (Continued)
for the Year Ended 31[st] July 2025
We have attended many more animals who have needed the emergency vets and jobs that are increasingly time consuming. Sadly, we are still seeing increased number of dogs attended who are not chipped, or with the chip details not up to date. This continues to be an issue due to lack of enforcement procedures. The new laws surrounding microchipping of cats remains ambiguous in any enforcement surrounding this. We have approached the various councils to urge them to take action by way of issuing notices and will continue to do so.
Sadly, we are still seeing an increase in the number of deceased cats attended, possibly due to many cats being un-neutered and the increase in more silent electric vehicles. In addition, our social media audience has increased and continues to increase immensely, with us being the ‘go to’ place to advertise lost and found pets. Many pets are reunited via our social media platform without us having the need to physically attend the animal. The number of members currently heads towards 50,000.
FINANCIAL REVIEW Financial position
The financial position of the charity can be found on the main financial statements and related notes in these accounts.
The funds generated by the charity shall be applied solely in furthering the objects of the charity. The Board of Trustees review the level of cash funds on an ongoing basis and consider risks associated with the various income sources and expenditure plans for the next year.
Reserves policy
Under the requirements of Charity Law, the Trustees are obliged to define the charity's policy for holding reserves. The intention in establishing this policy for Homeward Bound is to secure continuation of its activities. The policy will:
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Preserve the viability of the charity
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In doing so, underwrite existing services against periods of deficit
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Enable the charity to meet its legal objects
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Provide confidence to supporters and donors seeking to give financial support to a prudently controlled charity
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Ensure that, consistent with objects, mission statement and values of Homeward Bound, proper ethical consideration be afforded to all matters of investment
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Ensure that the reserves are at a level sufficient to discharge all the charity's obligations should the charity cease its operations
Current levels of cash funds are deemed sufficient to meet the above obligations.
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HOMEWARD BOUND
Report of the Trustees (Continued)
for the Year Ended 31[st] July 2025
FUTURE PLANS
Plans for the future include:
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To maintain the standard of service to the public and their pets by recruitment of volunteers who are able to meet the needs of the charity and who are able to extend their knowledge of animal welfare by attending signposted courses and follow the charity’s policies and procedures.
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To utilise the charity grant funding obtained for the neutering and microchipping of un-owned cats within the local area and continue with our TNR (trap, neuter and return) programme. We are hoping to extend this initiative in the coming year and we are grateful to our veterinary practices who continue to support us in this and many other initiatives.
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We really need to prioritise to seek premises. This is so we can accommodate and house more cats needing our help, as well as provide emergency overnight care for stray dogs as Council kennels has not increased their hours post COVID.
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We will seek capital funding to this aim. Enabling the charity to grow and further meet the needs of the local community.
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To continue with the recruitment of volunteers who will continue the ethos of the charity.
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To continue with our community support and education on the responsibilities of pet ownership, including microchipping, neutering and legal responsibilities.
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To maintain productive and effective relationships and associations with community groups, professional agencies, local councils, veterinary practices and other charities.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document
Homeward Bound Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) is a registered charity governed by its CIO constitution.
Charity constitution
Homeward Bound (CIO) is a registered charity, number 1179111 and as such is constituted under the Charity Commission's regulations.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
The Executive Committee Members are elected or appointed on an annual basis.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number
1179111
Principal address
1 Richmond Road Lytham St Annes FY8 1PE
Trustees
Ms W A Embisu Mulela Mrs C Hudson
Independent Examiner
Whittles LLP Chartered Accountants 1 Richmond Road Lytham St Annes FY8 1PE
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HOMEWARD BOUND
Report of the Trustees (Continued)
for the Year Ended 31[st] July 2025
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees 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 and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed 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, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to 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. 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.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by:
............................................. Ms W A Embisu Mulela - Trustee
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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Homeward Bound
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Homeward Bound for the year ended 31st July 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees 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:
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1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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2 the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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3 the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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.
Wayne Murphy FCA Whittles LLP Chartered Accountants 1 Richmond Road Lytham St Annes Lancashire FY8 1PE
Date: .............................................
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HOMEWARD BOUND
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31[st] July 2025
| Year Ended | Year Ended | |
|---|---|---|
| 31.07.25 | 31.07.24 | |
| Unrestricted | Total | |
| fund | funds | |
| £ | £ | |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM | ||
| Donations and legacies | 43,474 | 14,360 |
| EXPENDITURE ON | ||
| Charitable activities | ||
| General charitable activities | 25,183 | 16,489 |
| NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | 18,291 | (2,129) |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | ||
| Total funds brought forward | 6,796 | 8,925 |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 25,087 | 6,796 |
The notes form part of these financial statements
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HOMEWARD BOUND
| Balance Sheet | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 31stJuly 2025 | |||
| 31.07.25 | 31.07.24 | ||
| Unrestricted | Total | ||
| fund | funds | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | |
| FIXED ASSETS | |||
| Tangible assets | 5 | 2,724 | 2,724 |
| Total fixed assets | 2,724 | 2,724 | |
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||
| Debtors | 6 | 302 | 21 |
| Cash at bank | 22,061 | 4,051 | |
| Total current assets | 22,363 | 4,072 | |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 22,363 | **4,072 ** | |
| NET ASSETS | 25,087 | 6,796 | |
| FUNDS | 7 | ||
| Unrestricted funds | 25,087 | 6,796 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 25,087 | 6,796 |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by:
......................................................... Ms W A Embisu Mulela - Trustee
............................................. Mrs C Hudson - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
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Notes to the Financial Statements
HOMEWARD BOUND
for the Year Ended 31[st] July 2025
1. STATUTORY INFORMATION
Homeward Bound is registered as a charitable incorporated organisation and is domiciled in the UK. The charity's registered number is 1179111 and its principal office is 1 Richmond Road, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, FY8 1PE.
2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
The presentation currency of the financial statements is the Pound Sterling (£).
The trustees have concluded that it is appropriate to prepare the accounts on a going concern basis as there are no material uncertainties regarding going concern.
No significant judgements have had to be made by the trustees in preparing these financial statements.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
3. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31[st] July 2025 nor for the period ended 31[st] July 2024.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31[st] July 2025 nor for the period ended 31[st] July 2024.
4. STAFF COSTS
There were no employees during the period.
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HOMEWARD BOUND
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 31[st] July 2025
5. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| 5. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor | ||||
| vehicles | Totals | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| COST | ||||
| At 1stAugust 2024 | 2,724 | 2,724 | ||
| Additions | - | - | ||
| At 31stJuly 2025 | 2,724 | 2,724 | ||
| DEPRECIATION | ||||
| At 1stAugust 2024 | - | - | ||
| Charge for year | - | - | ||
| At 31stJuly 2025 | - | - | ||
| NET BOOK VALUE | ||||
| At 31stJuly 2025 | 2,724 | 2,724 | ||
| At 31stJuly 2024 | 2,724 | 2,724 | ||
| 6. | DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR | |||
| 31.07.25 | 31.07.24 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Other debtors | 302 | 21 | ||
| 7. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS | |||
| Net | ||||
| movement | At | |||
| At 01.08.24 | in funds | 31.07.25 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
| General fund | 6,796 | 18,291 | 25,087 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 6,796 | 18,291 | 25,087 | |
| Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: | ||||
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | ||
| resources | expended | in funds | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
| General fund | 43,474 | (25,183) | 18,291 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 43,474 | (25,183) | 18,291 |
8. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31[st] July 2025.
9. VOLUNTEERS
We recruit volunteers who are briefed on our aims and objectives and who are provided on clear guidance of our policies and procedures. The contribution of volunteers towards the charity's aims and objectives is also reviewed annually. Volunteers are signposted towards further training to develop their knowledge and skills in animal welfare.
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HOMEWARD BOUND
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | ||
|---|---|---|
| for the Year Ended 31stJuly 2025 | ||
| Year Ended | Year Ended | |
| 31.07.25 | 31.07.24 | |
| £ | £ | |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS | ||
| Donations and legacies | ||
| Donations | 43,474 | 14,360 |
| Legacies | - | - |
| Total incoming resources | 43,474 | 14,360 |
| EXPENDITURE | ||
| Charitable activities | ||
| Animal supplies | 3,270 | 2,700 |
| Veterinary services | 16,245 | 10,491 |
| Microchipping | 809 | 487 |
| Volunteer expenses | 1,528 | 1,041 |
| Motor expenses | 1,470 | 726 |
| Printing, postage, stationery and other office costs | 217 | 313 |
| Miscellaneous expenses (including uniforms and prize winnings) | 1,644 | 731 |
| Total resources expended | 25,183 | 16,489 |
| Net income/(expenditure) | 18,291 | (2,129) |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
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