## **Trustees Annual Report**
2021 - 2022
Prepared By: Michelle Brunton
# **Trustees' Report**
2021 - 2022
Little Paws Ferret Rescue Charity No: 1182331
**2**
**3**
## **Table of Contents**
**1**
WELCOME FROM RESCUE MANAGER
YEARLY REVIEW
**4**
**5**
**6**
REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS 2021/2022 SUMMARY
TRUSTEES AND VOLUNTEERS FINANCIAL REPORTS
FUTURE PLANS
**7**
## **WELCOME**
This is our third year as a Charity and we have been very busy. We have had some development work carried out in the rescue area, changed the roof on our ferret shack, increased volunteers and survived the Pandemic!
2021 saw a record 356 ferrets through the doors. 104 (29%) of those were surrendered ferrets. We collected 18 ferrets from Bradford, who's welfare was at serious risk and the owner could not look after them. One was seriously underweight and many had severe dental issues. All needed some TLC and the volunteer group were fantastic. They rallied round to help assess and settle them in.
We took in a massive 84 kits came into rescue during the perion of June 21 to May 22. This was a result of mass breeding during the Covid 19 crisis. Many of these had swimmers disease from poor nutrition and due to the increased feeding requirements of kits, this increased expenses incrementally. Despite the rough year we managed to rehome 188 ferrets to new loving homes, including our fabulous, long term resident, Ferne, fondly known as Rotten Cotton! She had been in rescue for three years and had some personal boundary issues but she found the perfect owner to love her just as she is.
We thank you all for your support and love throughout.
Michelle Brunton Rescue Manager
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Ferne (Rotten Cotton)
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## **Yearly Review**
## F A L L O U T O F C O V I D 1 9
## A C T I V I T Y T H I S Y E A R
The pandemic has profoundly impacted the animal rescue sector and Little Paws was no exception. We saw a stark rise in demand for lockdown pets which sparked a massive increase in breeding to meet the demand. Many ferrets were sold to owners that had done little to no research and did not understand the committment that they were taking on. This led to many ferrets being dumped or surrendered when the novelty wore off or they became hormonal teenagers. The rescue took in a massive 84 unwanted kits during the year, many that were a result of overbreeding and drop in the demand post lockdown.
The demand for vet appointments increased rapidly for the new lockdown pets and this led to a shortage of appointments for regular vet visits and neutering appointments. Vets continue to struggle with the demand.
with unemployment on the rise and increased financial pressures facing many households, many of those who have taken on animals this year may find they can no longer afford to look after them.
In February 2022 we were able to host our Valentines Show, the first since 2020. This was a huge success and it was lovely to see some familiar faces.
We were able to restart our Monthly ferret walks arranged by Emma Moan. These proved very popular, especially our sunny trip to Hetton Lyons Park, where we caused quite a stir. Other venues included Plessey Woods, Wharton Park, Whitburn, Druridge Bay and Flatts Lane.
In August 2021 we had our annual camping extravaganza. Lots of fun and games were had and we all enjoyed a fun ferret show and ferret racing.
September we were able to enjoy Wolsingham Show which had been on hold during Covid 19. We had lots of interest in the ferrets and our merchendise stall was able to raise £578.
Volunteers also helped to repai and update cages. We were donated two stack of cages from a lovely lady that rescues rabbits.
## **OUR AIMS & ACHIEVEMENTS THIS YEAR**
## Charity Aims
We aim to rescue abandoned, lost and unwanted ferrets in the North East UK. We will rehabilitate and care for these ferrets until they are able to be rehomed. The rescue will carry out activities to find new homes for the ferrets in rescue and provide backup support for the lifetime of the ferret.
Little Paws Ferret Rescue is run by volunteers. We rely on the support of our members, volunteers and generosity of members of the public. We also have benefitted greatly from a grant provided by the Pets at Home Foundation to help with neutering and feeding bills.
Every pound that is donated or raised through fundraising, goes straight to helping animals in need.
We are passionate about providing advice and information to the public about caring for ferrets and the importance of neutering. We will continue to provide educational opportunities to broaden the knowledge of ferrets as a species and the benefits of owning ferrets.
## Ferrets In and Out
During the financial year June 2021 to May 2022 Little Paws Ferret Rescue took in 356 ferrets.
Around 30% of ferrets entering rescue were surrendered by their owners who could no longer care for their pets because of a return to work or financial issues. the remaining 70% were found as strays. The number of strays increased dramatically and this has been atributed to an increased in dumped pets following the spike in breeding during the Pandemic.
We rehomed 104 ferrets during 2021/2022 which is a big drop from the previous year.
## Volunteer Development
The number of volunteers increased greatly this year. We were successful in retaining the existing volunteers and managed to increase the team by 32 volunteers bringing the total number of volunteers to 54. We designed a new online volunteer application form which has proven very effective.
Volunteers engaged in many activities from attending walks, PR events, camping, show stewarding and judging, selling donated goods, transporting animals and many were involved in fostering ferrets. This support has been invaluable and we sincerely thank the volunteering team for their hard work.
## **2021/2022 Summary**
We maintained our Charity partnership with Pets at Home which brought in funding of £3344.16 as well as VIP vouchers. Through the Pets At Home Foundation we also received pallets of donated items such as shavings, etc... Rabbit food, hay, bird food and other items were donated onto other charities such as Binky Buns and Paws 4 Thought to help them out and share the good fortunes.
The rescue area was given a facelift with the brickwork raised and a new concrete area where there was once soil and weeds. This are will soon be filled with new cages and the raised brickwork makes the area more secure for ferrets to play. This work took a week to complete and the builder, Calvin, has previously adopted ferrets from the rescue so he enjoyed a few furry cuddles during his tea breaks!
## Funds Running Low
Financially this has been a very difficult and expensive year, with a massive increase in ferrets and lots of development going on.
Our accounts show a loss during this year due to funding that was secured in the previous year but expenses paid in this year. We also have had a great deal more ferrets to neuter, vaccinate and microchip and a drop in income coming in.
We continue to work hard and rescue ferrets but financial support is essential. The accounts have run very low but we have plans to apply for further funding through the Pets at Home Foundation and also Trusts and Funds so that we can continue to provide our vital service of rescuing ferrets. Please consider becoming a regular monthly donor for the Charity.
## **Rescue Stories**
## Tinsel
Tinsel, made her way to rescue just in time for Christmas after helping herself to an early Christmas dinner when she found herself in the middle of a hen house. She was desperately thin and exhausted.
## Bilbo
Bilbo was found dumped in a field in Peterlee in May last year. He was unable to move as his muscles had all gone rigid. We thought we were heading to a mercy mission and have him put to sleep but our wonderful vet agreed to try and treat him.
We helped Bilbo recover giving him hydrotherapy and medication and eventually he was able to walk and play.
## Rosa
Rosa was taken as a stray by the PDSA. She had been found on a building site with crows pecking at her eyes. As a result she had a very bad injury to the which was protruding from the socket and scabbed over. Rosa needed surgery to remove the eye however the infection needed to be under control first. Poor Rosa was unable to open her mouth to eat due to pain so we had to syringe feed until after the operation.
## **TRUSTEES AND VOLUNTEERS**
|N A M E|A P P O I N T E D O N|R O L E|
|---|---|---|
|Michelle Brunton|24th May 2018|Chair|
|Rachel Thomas|24th May 2018|Trustee|
|Emma Moan|24th May 2018|Trustee|
|Tracey Mowatt|27th November 2018|Trustee|
|Lisa Thompson-Gillett|29th February 2020|Trustee|
|Reuben Gillett|29th February 2020|Trustee|
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## Reserves Policy
The trustees' policy is to retain 3 months' worth of normal running costs in order to meet commitments and to cover any unexpected expenditure.
## Financial Review
Income for the period amount to £ with expenditure of £.
Profitability - Gross profits £ (%) and net profits are £ (%).
Assets - The charity does not hold any fixed assets. Current assets include a balance in the bank of £, Paypal Balance (including the main Paypal and Paypal Giving accounts) £ and a petty cash balance of £.
Liabilities - Trade debtors of £ and Trade Creditors £.
## Future Developments
The Trustees will continue to develop their calendar of events and will look at ways to create income from these events such as stall ideas, photo competitions, seasonal stalls, etc... They will develop more branded goods and merchandise in the future and look to supply goods such as food, oil, harnesses, bedding etc...
We will continue to develop our partnership with Pets at Home Byker as this is a good way to reach our target audience and receive donations and grants from the store.
## Trustee Statement
The Trustees consider the Charity to be a going concern and it is assumed that the Charity will continue for the foreseeable future.
## 48%
## Sales Breakdown
Donations and GiftAid
31%
Rehoming
10%
Sale of Merchandise and Donated Goods
9%
Shows, Events and Stalls (including in store events)
2%
Sales for the financial year 1st June 2021 to 31st May 2022 reached £21050.
48% of the Charity income came from donations and Giftaid. This is made up of: £3934 direct donations, donation buckets and cash donations; £2391 from Support Adoption for Pets; £3173 from Facebook donate; £392 Paypal Giving; £215 from Giftaid and £53 from Easy Fundraising.
31% of the overall income for the charity came from rehoming fees. Fees are charged at £45 for a single ferret or £40 per ferret if adopting multiple at the same time. The total income from rehoming was £6555.
Show takings, stalls and events raised £1839, 9% of the overall income for the Charity.
We raised £2060 (10%) from the sale of merchandise, including food, ferret oil, harnesses, hammocks, donated equipment, Christmas cards, hoodies, microchipping, etc... Vouchers and grants raised £374 (2%)
Vouchers and Grants
86% Direct Charitable Expenses
## £27,568
Direct Expenses Breakdown
26.3% Food, Bedding, Blankets, Oil, Treats, Meat, Suppliments, Special Dietary Food £6873
%0.1 %0.5 Bedding, Lino, etc... Volunteer Expenses £37.69 £113 3.1% Merchandise £870 20% 48% Vets General Vets Neutering Treatment £13242 £5986 2%
Microchips £484
## 14%
Overheads
£5177 Overheads Breakdown
44% 41% £2245 £2102 Repairs and Renewals General Expenses including the new including stationary, building, tools, hutches, bank charges and etc... postage.
11% 4% £219 £611 Show and Event costs Marketing including web costs
## **FUTURE PLANS**
## Building Plans
As the rescue develops and grows, we need more space for ferrets to live and exercise. As a board we have identified that we need to have some building work completed to remove a supporting wall from within the area in order to maximise space and create a hospital wing.
The rescue manager will gather quotes and we intend to apply for the Support Adoption For Pets grant to fund this and also some assistance with vets bills.
There are plans to build a new run in the garden which will be used for enrichment activities for the ferrets in care.
## Our Plans for 2021/2022
The board of trustees will meet to review our strategy, activity and identify the best course of action for the future to ensure that we meet the needs of our stakeholders, animals in our care and our community in a sustainable way.
We aim to develop new fundraising opportunities and apply for trusts and funds.
We plan to continue our partnership with Pets at Home, Support Adoption For Pets and apply for any grants available to help us continue our work to rescue and rehome ferrets.
## Event Plans
We intend to return to regular ferret shows, fayres and events that we attended pre-covid and we will look to develop those events as an opportunity to raise vital funds and promote ferret ownership.
We will hold our annual camping trip which we hope to develop and grow over the next few years.
We intend to further develop our ferret racing set and practive delivering this as an activity to raise funds and provide entertainment.
Our monthly walks will continue, organised by Trustee, Emma Moan.
We will further our educational library of information through our website and social media platforms to increase awareness of issues such as vaccinating against Canine Distemper, good ferret diets, neutering, etc...
We plan to build our support and volunteer network to allow us to help more ferrets in need.
We will provide a source of information, research and guidance for new ferret owners and we will promote adoption over private buying.
We will continue to rehome the ferrets that come into our care efficiently and ensure a high level of welfare throughout their time with Little Paws Ferret Rescue.
## **Acknowledgements**
We would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our volunteering team who have worked tirelessly this year under very difficult circumstances.
Our Trustees who have supported the rescue manager and helped to develop the charity.
Our foster carers, who have supported the rescue to increase capacity to take in the increased demand for space for the endless line of incoming ferrets.
Our volunteers who help to transport ferrets to the vets for vaccinations, who search for hours for the missing frightened and abandoned pets, who share, like and comment on social media posts.
Our partner store, Pets at Home Byker. Part of the Support Adoption For Pets Scheme, who have helped financially.
A big thank you to everyone who has supported us through the Pets At Home VIP Scheme. We receive vouchers to spend in store which really helps with costs.
Our Vets and Vet nurses at Wrights Vets and Sunderland Vets 4 Pets for their dedication and hard work, especially our vet Kerida Shook and vet nurse Tyrina Gibson who have given so much of their time to the ferrets.
Our donors who contribute regularly every month and for the one off donors, every penny helps us to rescue ferrets.
Our rehomers who give rescued ferrets a second chance at happiness.
Thank you to every supporter, donor and friend that have been a real support to us over the past year.
Without your support and care we would often find it very difficult to continue. Thank you all for helping us to make this year a success.
Little Paws Ferret Rescue www.littlepawsferretrescue.co.uk littlepawsferretrescue@gmail.com
Thank you all for your continued Support!
## **Profit and Loss**
|Sales|||
|---|---|---|
|4000 - Sales - Merchandise|858||
|4001 - Sales - Hoodies|275||
|4002 - Sales - Donated equipment (|290||
|4003 - Sales - Microchipping|128||
|4004 - Sales - Ferret Oil|509.16||
|4007 - Sales - Show Takings (class e|1,108.30||
|4010 - Income - Rehoming Fees|6,555.00||
|4011 - Income - Donations|3,202.48||
|4012 - Income - Business Sponsorsh|44||
|4013 - Income - Direct Donations fo|732||
|4014 - Income - Facebook Donation|3,172.64||
|4015 - Income - Paypal Giving Dona|391.54||
|4017 - Income - Stalls and Events|686.47||
|4018 - Income - Pets at Home (Supp|2,390.82||
|4019 - Income - Donation from othe|65.15||
|4020 - Income - Easy Fundraising|52.71||
|4022 - Vouchers (Grant in Kind)|373.95||
|4023 - Gift Aid|214.5||
|Total Sales||£21,049.72|
|Direct Expenses|||
|5000 - Cost of Sales - Merchandise|869.57||
|5020 - Cost of Sales - Food, Meat, S|6,835.25||
|5021 - Cost of Sales - Bedding, Lino|37.69||
|5030 - Cost of Sales - Vet Bills (Spa|13,242.32||
|5031 - Cost of Sales - Vets Bills (ge|5,986.11||
|5033 - Cost of Sales - Microchipping|484.24||
|5035 - Cost of Sales - Volunteer Ex|112.75||
|Total Direct Expenses||£27,567.93|
|GROSS PROFIT / LOSS||-£6,518.21|
|Overheads|||
|5080 - Show and Event Direct Expe|178.91||
|5082 - Show and Event Direct Expen|39.75||
|6000 - Marketing|578.34||
|7510 - Postage and Carriage|57.43||
|7520 - Ofce Stationery|17.7||
|7540 - Website Fees|32.4||
|7630 - Business Insurance|35||
|7800 - Repairs and Renewals|2,245.45||
|7810 - Cleaning|132||
|7900 - Bank Charges and Interest|0.58||
|7901 - Paypal Fees|4.85||
|8200 - General Expenses|1,854.61||
Total Overheads £5,177.02 NET PROFIT / LOSS -£11,695.23
## **Balance Sheet**
|Date|5/31/2023||
|---|---|---|
|ASSETS|||
|Fixed Assets|||
||Total Fixed Assets|£0.00|
|Current Assets|||
|1100 - Trade Debtors|200||
|1200 - Bank Account|4,840.70||
|1220 - Petty Cash|1,810.33||
|1230 - Paypal|2,770.21||
||Total Current Assets|£9,621.24|
||TOTAL ASSETS|£9,621.24|
|LIABILITIES|||
|Current Liabilities|||
|2100 - Trade Creditors|3,375.64||
||Total Current Liabilities|£3,375.64|
|Future Liabilities|||
||Total Future Liabilities|£0.00|
||TOTAL LIABILITIES|£3,375.64|
||TOTAL NET ASSETS|£6,245.60|
|EQUITY|||
|Net Proft / Loss|6,245.60||
|Net Proft / Loss (prior year(s))|6,245.60||
|Net Proft / Loss (current year)|0||
||TOTAL EQUITY|£6,245.60|