2024-12-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01/01/2024 Period start date To 31/12/2024 Period end date

Charity name: CAREDOGS

Charity registration number: 1181339

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The purpose of CareDogs is threefold: 1. To tackle loneliness and social isolation among older people through our 1:1 befriending service, where a local trained and DBS-checked volunteer and their dog go for regular walks and talks outdoors with an older person. 2. To provide local volunteering opportunities for people aged 18 and above to engage in meaningful community service with their dogs. 3. To host community dog-walking events in partnership with neighbouring charities and organisations to encourage outdoor activity, connection, and wellbeing. Our mission is to bring canine companionship to older people in our local communities, recognising that being around dogs increases emotional wellbeing and reduces health risks. Our vision is a future where loneliness and social isolation in older people are solved through community connections, dog companionship, and time spent outdoors.

Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	CareDogs delivers its charitable purposes for public benefit through a range of community- based initiatives and services. Our core activity is the 1:1 befriending service, which pairs trained volunteers and their dogs with older people for regular walks and social interaction.This service reduces loneliness, promotes mental and physical wellbeing, and fosters lasting community connections. We also provide a variety of volunteering opportunities for locals aged 16-and-over who wish to make a positive difference, strengthening community ties and encouraging social responsibility. In addition, we organise community dog- walking events in partnership with other charities and local organisations, bringing our service to people of all ages, particularly for those who may face barriers to participating in community activities. These inclusive walks help ensure that everyone, regardless of circumstance, can benefit from companionship, nature, and social connection. Through these activities, CareDogs advances its charitable aims of improving wellbeing, combating isolation, and building stronger, more connected communities - all contributing to public benefit. One of CareDogs' clients, MS, said: ““It has given me the confidence to go out again after being ill in hospital and unable to leave the house. I feel a lot healthier and more confident talking to other people. Meeting the volunteer and her dog has made such a difference. You are all doing a good job and I would recommend you to anyone who has been in hospital and feels lonely.”
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	In planning our activities for the year, we kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit at our trustee meetings.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	Not applicable.
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38	Not applicable.
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	We are grateful for the many hours volunteers, including trustees, have given in delivering the objectives of the charity. We are still volunteer- led and rely significantly on dedicated and committed operational volunteers to run our service.
Other

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	At the date of this report, the charity has expanded, seeing more than 60 befriending pairings and having since delivered~~o~~ver 60 community group walks. Through the hard work of its volunteers, we have identified a number of beneficiaries of the charity’s services and continue to plan and achieve our charitable objectives.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	Not applicable
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	Not applicable
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41	Not applicable
Other		Not applicable

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	Income received from donations and Grants £21,654 (2023: £6,281). Expenditure in running the charity, including delivering the services and fundraising were £26,950 (2023: £7,181).
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	Reserves are held for the purpose of future use in achieving the charitable objectives of the Charity.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£5,799 as at December 2024 (2023: £11,095)
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	Not applicable
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	Not applicable
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	No such concerns

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	Not applicable
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	Not applicable
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	Not applicable
Other		Not applicable

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	CIO Charitable Objectives
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	CIO
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	Trustees are selected based upon consensus of the existing trustees.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51	Not applicable
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	Not applicable
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	Not applicable
Other		Not applicable

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	CAREDOGS
Other name the charity uses	n/a
Registered charity number	1181339
Charity’s principal address	CareDogs Charity, CVA Resource Centre, 82 London Road, Croydon, CR0 2TB

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any)
1	Delphine Chui	Trustee (Founder) Chair	Whole period	Not applicable
2	Paloma Robinson	Trustee Compliance, Governance and Legal	Whole period	Not applicable
3	Deborah Warren	Trustee Fundraising	Whole period	Not applicable
4	Alex Scotland	Trustee Treasurer	Whole period	Not applicable
5	Felicity Winkley	Trustee HR and Volunteer Engagement	Whole period	Not applicable
6	Melanie Astbury	Trustee Communications and Marketing	Whole period	Not applicable

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name Not applicable

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name	Dates acted if not for whole year
Not applicable

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets Not applicable held in this capacity Name and objects of the Not applicable charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for Not applicable safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address adviser Not applicable

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Not applicable

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Not applicable

Other optional information

Not applicable

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Delphine Chui Alex Scotland Position Trustee and Chair Trustee and Treasurer Date 24 October 2025 24 October 2025

CHARITY COMMISSIO FOR ENGLAND AND WALE CAREDOGS 1181339 Recei For the p•rlod from tsand ments accounts 3111212023 CC16a 0110112023 To Section A Recei ts and ments Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endovwnent funds Total funds Lastyear tothe nearest to Ihe ￿arest £ to the neaiest£ to the nearest £ tot￿ nearest £ A1 Ro¢01 ts 05 17?49 05 17?49 81 5JJOO Sub *>tal{Gn)ss income for AR) 21￿54 21￿54 6281 P2 As$¢t and Inv•8tm•nt sales see table . Sub total 21,654 21fj54 6,281 P3Pa nts e cosis Volunteer thecks 22 75 377 2,771 1326 22 75 377 2,771 1326 168 3289 3,724 Adminisliatson Sub total 26950 26950 7,181 PA Asset and investment urchases see table Sub total 26,9 26?50 7,181 Nét01re￿lItslf￿JrnntsJ P5 Transfers be￿en funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash ￿n(ts Ihis yearend 8,298 5,296 5,296 5,296 )0

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestri¢ted funds to Marest & Restricted funds tTrngwgst£ Endowment funds to rKarp5t & Categorlès Detalls B1 Cash funds 5,7 Total cash funds 5,799 lawee L￿lanceS ¥¥th receipts andpayments accounl(sll Unrèstrl<ted fvnd¥ to ￿arest £ Réstrfctèd funds toneawest Endowment fvnd¥ to marest £ D•tai1s B2 Other monetary assets Fundto which ssEI CUrrent￿lUe Itwtionall D•tai1s C05t loptionall B3 Investment assets Fundlo which sseibel(thgs Currentydlue ltytloMII Dètalls Cost loptioTrall 84 Assets retain•d for th• charity'5 own use Fundto which l￿bi1y[e1ateS Pmount d (Opt￿nari W￿n the ltytiorKdll Detalls BS Llabllltles Sign8d by on8 or two Iwsleps o Signa￿re Pnnt Name D8tÈ of 221101m25