ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Little Paws Ferret Rescue
You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it!
Trustees' Report
2023 - 2024
Little Paws Ferret Rescue Charity No: 1182331
Table of Contents
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WELCOME FROM RESCUE MANAGER
YEARLY REVIEW
REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
TRUSTEES AND VOLUNTEERS FINANCIAL REPORTS
Achnowledgements Financial Tables
Independent Examination
WELCOME
Hello and welcome to all of our supporters and followers for Little Paws Ferret Rescue.
This year sees our rescue in its fifth year of trading.
We continue to provide the excellent care that the rescue prides itself on. Our volunteers have worked tirelessly to provide care and enrichment for each and every ferrets that has entered the rescue and we continue to provide medical interventions such as neutering, vaccinations, microchipping, etc... for the hundreds of ferrets we see every year.
Our volunteer programme has grown to include over forty active and dedicated volunteers that provide day to day care, support for collection of strays, event cover and general support.
We have attended many events throughout the year and are very grateful to our supporters for making our social media and other marketing efforts a huge success.
We thank you all for your support and love throughout.
Michelle Brunton
Rescue Manager
Yearly Review
G R A N T S R E C E I V E D
A C T I V I T Y T H I S Y E A R
This year we were luck to have applied and been accepted for a grant of £3000 from Animal Friends Insurance. This was used to help neuter the ferrets that arrive in our care. .
During 2023/24 we held a number of events to benefit local ferret owners and members of the public. We have been to a number of rescue shows such as Sara Animal Rescue in Teeside and Pawz for Thought in Sunderland.
The rescue received a grant from Animal Friends Insurance of £2500 to help with rescue running costs.
The rescue organised our annual camoing trip at Alnwick Rugby Club where we had a fun ferret show and ferret related activities.
We have been lucky to be part of the Pets At Home Foundations VIP Scheme. This has allowed us to access grants based on your spending at Pets At Home. We have used our vouchers to purchase bedding, food and toys for the ferrets.
The volunteers attended a number of diffent shows and events to raise funds, These include Wolsingham Show, Westmorland Show and Flatts Lane Summer fayre.
We have benefited from Charity discounts at Sore Paws Vets in Winlaton, Wrights Vets in Birtley and Vets for Pets in Sunderland.
Our Charity has received donations through Paypal giving, Easy Fundraising and Facebook.
We have received donated goods such as cages, bedding and toys that have helped us to generate income to fund our charity work.
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 2023 to May 2024 Little Paws Ferret Rescue took in 352 ferrets. Around 52% of ferrets entering rescue were surrendered by their owners who could no longer care for their pets. The remaining 48% were found as strays. This increase in surrendered ferrets reflects the struggles related to the cost of living crisis.
We rehomed 103 ferrets during 2023/2024 which is less than the previous year.
The rescue has 31 permanent residents. This includes or PR team who are trained and experienced in meeting the public and also ferrets that are too old or sick to find a new home.
Volunteer Development
The number of volunteers dropped this year. We retained a group of 60 volunteers. All volunteers have now completed training in understanding ferrets as a species and safe handling of ferrets.
Volunteers engaged in many activities from attending walks, PR events, crafting, show stewarding and judging, selling donated goods, transporting animals and many were involved in fostering ferrets.
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 |
| Emma Moan | 24th May 2018 | Trustee |
| Lisa Thompson-Gillett | 29th February 2020 | Trustee |
| Reuben Gillett | 29th February 2020 | Trustee |
| Vicki Hall | 15 September 2022 | Trustee |
| Jade Gardiner | 15 September 2022 | 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 £14,556 with expenditure of £18,041.
Profitability - Gross Loss £-3485 and net profits are £-5379 (This is due to funding from the previous year sustaining the charity.
Assets - The charity does not hold any fixed assets. Current assets include a balance in the bank of £3594, Paypal Balance (including the main Paypal and Paypal Giving accounts) £1557 and a petty cash balance of £919.
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 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.
44%
Sales Breakdown
Donations and GiftAid
21%
Rehoming
8%
Sale of Merchandise and Donated Goods
4%
Shows, Events and Stalls (including in store events)
23%
Sales for the financial year 1st June 2023 to 31st May 2024 reached £14556.
44% of the Charity income came from donations and Giftaid. This totals £6468 from a mixture of direct donations, donation buckets and cash donations, Support Adoption for Pets, Facebook donate, Paypal Giving, Giftaid and Easy Fundraising.
21% of the overall income for the charity came from rehoming fees. Fees are charged at £55 for a single ferret or £50 per ferret if adopting multiple at the same time. The total income from rehoming was £3031.
Show takings, stalls and events raised £561, 4% of the overall income for the Charity.
We raised £1178 (8%) from the sale of merchandise, including food, ferret oil, harnesses, hammocks, donated equipment, Christmas cards, hoodies, microchipping, etc...
Vouchers and grants raised £3318 (23%)
Vouchers, Grants and Other
90% Direct Charitable Expenses
£18,041
Direct Expenses Breakdown
36% %1.5 %0.5 Food, Bedding, Blankets, Oil, Treats, Meat, Bedding, Lino, etc... Volunteer Expenses Suppliments, Special £229 £95.70 Dietary Food £6492 1% Merchandise £179
Food, Bedding, Blankets, Oil, Treats, Meat, Suppliments, Special Dietary Food £6492
21% Vets Neutering £3812
40% Vets General Treatment £7233
0%
Microchips £0
10%
Overheads
£1894 Overheads Breakdown
16% 63% £299 £1198 Repairs and Renewals General Expenses including the new including stationary, building, tools, hutches, bank charges and etc... postage.
5% 16% £303 £94 Show and Event costs Marketing including web costs
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our volunteering team who have continued to support the development of the rescue.
Our Trustees, both old and new, 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 grant funders, 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 Sore Paws for their dedication and hard work, especially our vet Kerida Shook who has 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!
Little Paw5 Ferret Rescue CIO Prnfit Ind Loss R•p(vt s47. 4Jq.IXI 12.IXI SalES. FErtO 122.1 4NJ? . SalRJ. Strxr• Takrys Iclms v•los. *...1 i.jj 4011 . I. Oumburn 4,X45.56 4D13. Irrmw. lur sii.ji laD.IM) 4r121 . CIwioLltt Grthl i(o).00 4Tr23.GttA 413.63 Jii. Tot4 Slkns SQO. Co#d S•los. Fotyx srR1 . Sth%. Lim ÉL.. 2a.2S $030. C<ntd Salv5 . Vet 8lh ISpoyv•J Stnl . Coxd Salos . Vots <gortnl ?,233.2# XI3S. Co¥d Sales. V&mew EJrm¥s 95.70
10•. Total E•1 £ymos 14IMO. GROSS I11 I LOSS Salo. ShN rI1 Ejprn 235.71 17.2S y1. Vahth Fulll 1140. w> Fa 83.aD i•ixi. Irnl .74 7110. 7101 . PJypJl F•v5 Xtr.07 1. 147.57 T PIIOFIT I LOSS 291un 2024 14'.57 Page2of2
Balance Sheet
1100 - Trade Debtors 303.57 1200 - Bank Account 3,593.74 1220 - Petty Cash 918.85 1230 - Paypal 1,544.71 1240 - Paypal Giving 12.52 Total Current Assets £6,373.39 2100 - Trade Creditors 1,864.99 Total Current Liabilities £1,864.90 Future Liabilities Total Future Liabilities £0.00 TOTAL LIABILITIES £2,783.84
TOTAL NET ASSETS e2,670.70 EQUITY Nel Prolrt l Loss 2.670 70 Net Pmfil/Loss (&wyoor($)I 8.049.50 NerProfillLoss l¢uRrsi)tyew) 4.378 80 TOTAL EQUITY £2.870.70
Little Paws Ferret Rescue CIO Atcounts reviewed by independent auditor David Beavis on 25th March 2026 Summary of Financial Accounts for year ended 31st March 2024 Ilst April 2023- 31st March 20241 The accounts of Little Paws Ferret Rescue CIO, which are held on Sage software, have been checked and verihed. The bank balance of f 3,593.74 as at 31st March 2024 is conhrmed as correct. In my opinion the CIO continues to be a going concern and should continue to trade for the foreseeable future. In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me any cause foi concern. I believe that the requirement to keep proper accountlng records and to prepare proper year end accounts has been fully met. Davld Beavis CIA Independent AudStor 12th March 2025