Band of Rescuers North Yorkshire
Financial statements including the Trustees Annual Report
For the year ending 30 September 2025
Charity registration number: 1183369
Band of Rescuers North Yorkshire
| Index | Page |
|---|---|
| ______________ | |
| Trustees’ report | 1-4 |
| Independent examiner’s report | 5 |
| Receipts and payments account | 6 |
| Statement of assets and liabilities | 7 |
| Notes to the accounts | |
| 8-9 |
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Band of Rescuers North Yorkshire
Trustees’ Report
The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity and Independent Examiner’s Report for the year ended 30 September 2025.
Objectives
The charity’s main objectives are:
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To care for unwanted, homeless, neglected, abused and injured cats and kittens.
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To provide and maintain foster homes for the reception, care and treatment of such animals until they find their forever homes.
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To facilitate the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of cats and kittens and work to keep feral colonies controlled using a trap, neuter, release programme; re-homing any feral kittens once socialised if suitable.
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To prevent cats and kittens suffering from neglect or abuse by removing them from potentially dangerous situations; offering them a fresh start, a second chance at life.
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To provide a focus for learning, to educate and encourage the neutering and microchipping of cats and kittens along with all other welfare issues using a holistic approach.
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To help people identify safe rescue spaces as an alternative to advertising cats and kittens online, when no other alternative is possible.
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To work with partners and other organisations in developing initiatives to help safeguard and protect the lives of cats and kittens and to promote their wellbeing.
Review of Activities and Achievements
This year represents the date Band of Rescuers in its sixth year as a Charity. During the year Band of Rescuers accommodated and rehomed 127 cats and kittens using our dedicated network of volunteer foster carers, home visitors and transport volunteers. These cats and kittens included rescued strays, unwanted pets for various reasons and tamed feral kittens. We continue to provide long term foster care for a small number of cats that are unable to be rehomed, due to medical support required. These cats will live with us for the rest of their lives.
Ted and Lucy came to us as kittens in a poor state of health when their owner was unable to meet their needs, and Ted particularly was very unwell with a severe flea infestation and dehydration that was life threatening. We were able to seek emergency care, get to the bottom of his health issues over time and with the support of our vet partners, nurse him back to a good state of health. With some ongoing support he will now live a full life and is awaiting his forever home. Lucy has been settled in her new home for some time and is thriving.
Brittany, Bagheera and DP came to us when their owner sadly died. We were able to help the family find one of the cats hiding in the flat, where they had been alone for some time, and bring them into our care. With the support of our foster team at Askham Bryan College the cats were brought back to full health, rehabilitated and subsequently rehomed.
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Band of Rescuers North Yorkshire
Trustees’ Report (Continued)
We continued to support sites with feral colonies, with help to neuter cats and to rehome kittens born outside. We have seen increasing demand for helping with feral colonies in urban towns, as animal abandonment and a lack of neutering are driving significant increases in feline numbers. In one example, Miss Molly came to us as an abandoned pregnant cat living on the streets. She was able to give birth in our care to four lovely kittens, and all are now rehomed with loving families. Miss Molly and her babies are just one example of help we are asked to provide on a regular basis, often on an emergency basis. We will always prioritise these situations where we can to avoid the huge amounts of suffering cats and kittens can face living outside.
These are only a few examples of the cats and kittens that have come through the rescue and each and every one of them now has a better future ahead.
This year, Band of Rescuers has continued to support trap and neuter schemes, neutering 50 cats and either releasing back to site where appropriate or relocate to suitable placements were not. Much suffering was relieved for the cats from these trapping sites and had the charity not been involved, these cats and kittens would have had a very uncertain future. We have also prevented the spread of disease and with every cat neutered it prevents more being born and ultimately more suffering.
During this period, Band of Rescuers has been able to have a number of successful fundraising events including Rawcliffe Carnival, Wiggyfest and Copmanthorpe Carnival amongst many other fundraising events, and we are very grateful to our fundraising team who organise and manage these events. We received a £8,900 grant in the year from the Pets at Home foundation to support feral neutering and our ongoing vet costs and £1,500 gift vouchers to purchase food etc. We continue to promote other schemes such as our 100 club for regular donations, raising funds via Amazon Smile and schemes such as Easy Fundraising.
Band of Rescuers are a charity run entirely by volunteers and couldn’t do the work we do without our dedicated team of volunteer foster carers, home visitors and fundraisers. The Trustees would wish to give their heartfelt thanks to all our volunteers and to anyone who has contributed in any way to the rescue.
Public Benefit
The charity helps to relieve the suffering of cats and kittens in need of care and attention. The charity helps to control suffering cat populations and the spread of disease through vaccination, neutering and education to the benefit of the public and the health of the cats and kittens.
The Trustees confirm that they have regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.
Financial Review
The financial statements show income for the period of £46,358. The principal source of income of £14,395 is from adoption fees when rehoming the cats and kittens in our care. This fee is invaluable and not only essential to ensure the sincerity of adoptions but goes some way to cover some of the costs of the care of the cats and kittens. We ensure that all cats and kittens (when old enough) are neutered, vaccinated, chipped, treated for fleas and worms and receive any other veterinary treatment as may be required following a health check with our vets.
Much of our remaining income for the period covered came from our fundraising events and from the kind donations from the public, either one off or regular donations and a generous £10,400 grant from the Pets at Home Foundation (including £1,500 gift vouchers).
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Band of Rescuers North Yorkshire
Trustees’ Report (Continued)
The majority of our expenses for the period were for veterinary and medical costs of £28,814. The charity has agreed rates with a preferred veterinary partner and we are grateful for their ongoing support. Much of the rest of our expenses was money spent on medications, such as flea and worming treatments and for food and litter for the cats and kittens in our care.
The charity has a profit for the period of £9,464 and funds of £44,285 at the end of the year which is above the reserve level and reflects some late invoicing of veterinary costs that will fall into the following financial year. The charity aims to hold a reserve of at least £20,000 at all times to cover unexpected costs such as veterinary fees and to ensure it can care for all of the cats and kittens in their care at any time, including a small number of long residents where we anticipate costs for several years of ongoing care. With the challenging economic environment, the trustees continue to take a prudent view of reserves and intend to hold reserves to cover at least 6 months expenditure. The adequacy of the reserve level is kept under review by the trustees.
Band of Rescuers would wish to thank all fundraisers and anyone who has donated in any way to the rescue to ensure that it can continue to carry out its vital work.
Policy on Reserves
The Trustees recognise the importance of reserves and aims to hold funds in the region of £20,000 where possible. As detailed above, the Trustees intend to hold reserves to cover at least 6 months expenditure. Free reserves at 30 September 2025 are £44,285 (2024: £33,650).
The Trustees hold monthly Trustee meetings and review the financial situation on each occasion.
Structure, Governance and Management
Band of Rescuers North Yorkshire is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, governed by its constitution dated 11 May 2018 and registered with the Charity Commission on the 13 May 2019 with a board of 5 Trustees.
Appointment of Charity Trustees
Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO.
Band of Rescuers is run solely by volunteers with day-to-day decisions being made by the Trustees on a majority basis.
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Band of Rescuers North Yorkshire
Trustees’ Report (Continued)
Reference and Administrative details
Charity name: Band of Rescuers North Yorkshire Registered Charity Number: 1183369 Principal Office Address: 43 Lowfield Drive Haxby York YO32 3QT Trustees: Angela Kerry Butler Claire Louise Welsh Rebecca Louise Nurse Macfarlane Jessica Spence Kate Elliott (appointed 20 March 2025) Independent Examiner: Andrew Northern FCA Fortus Limited Equinox House Clifton Park Shipton Road York YO30 5PA
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature _______
Jessica Spence (Trustee)
4 May 2026
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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of
Band of Rescuers North Yorkshire
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 30 September 2025 comprise of the receipts and payments account, statement of assets and liabilities and notes to the accounts.
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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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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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.
Andrew Northern FCA Fortus Limited Business Advisors and Accountants Equinox House Clifton Park Shipton Road York YO30 5PA
5 May 2026
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Band of Rescuers North Yorkshire
Receipts and Payments Account
Year Ended 30 September 2025
| Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Receipts £ £ Adoption fees 14,395 - Donations 11,695 13,398 Fundraising 6,115 126 Interest receivable 629 - _ Total receipts 32,834 _ 13,524 Payments Equipment 146 216 Fundraising costs 341 - Food 2,615 1,967 Veterinary and medical 14,283 14,531 Administration costs 2,795 - _ Total payments 20,180 16,714 __ Net receipts/(expenditure) in the year 12,654 (3,190) Transfer between funds (2,019) 2,019 Movement in funds 10,635 (1,171) Cash funds brought forward 33,650 _ 1,171 ___ Cash funds at 30 September 2025 44,285 - |
Total funds 2025 £ 14,395 25,093 6,241 629 _ 46,358 362 341 4,582 28,814 2,795 __ 36,894 _ 9,464 - 9,464 34,821 ___ 44,285 |
Total funds 2024 £ 13,265 13,726 12,623 357 _ 39,971 182 166 6,253 30,275 2,109 __ 38,985 _ 986 - 986 33,835 ___ 34,821 |
|---|---|---|
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Band of Rescuers North Yorkshire
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
Year Ended 30 September 2025
Cash funds
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total funds | Total funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Bank current account | 14,076 | - | 14,076 | 19,765 |
| Fixed term deposit | 30,000 | - | 30,000 | 15,000 |
| PayPal account | 209 | - | 209 | 56 |
| _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | |
| Total cash funds | 44,285 |
- |
209 |
34,821 |
| Liabilities: Amounts falling due within one year | ||||
| Creditors | 2,155 |
- |
2,155 |
541 |
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature _______ Jessica Spence (Trustee) 4 May 2026
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Band of Rescuers North Yorkshire
Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 30 September 2025
1. Accounting Policies
Basis of Accounting
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention, on a receipts and payments basis, in accordance with Section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and following the guidance for accounting for smaller charities issued by the Charity Commissioners.
Fund accounting
Restricted funds are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the funder or when funds are raised for a specific purpose.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside by the Board of Trustees for particular purposes.
Unrestricted funds are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees.
2. Analysis of funds
| ------------------ 2025 ------------------ | ------------------ 2025 ------------------ | ------------------ 2025 ------------------ | ------------------ 2025 ------------------ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | Balance at | ||
| 01 Oct 24 | 30 | Sept 25 | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||||
| General Fund | 33,650 | 32,834 | (20,180) | (2,019) | 44,285 | |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ||
| Total unrestricted funds | 33,650 |
32,834 |
(20,180) |
(2,019) |
44,285 |
|
| Restricted funds | ||||||
| ADCH 2024 | - | 600 | (600) | - | - | |
| Finn (cat) treatment fund | - | 53 | (62) | 9 | - | |
| Ted (cat) treatment fund | - | 2,070 | (3,530) | 1,460 | - | |
| Tommy (cat) treatment fund | 1,171 | 126 | (1,495) | 198 | - | |
| Kitten Appeal 25 | - | 275 | (278) | 3 | - | |
| PAH Grant 2025 | - | 10,400 | (10,749) | 349 | ||
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ||
| Total restricted funds | 1,171 |
13,524 |
(16,714) |
2,019 |
- |
|
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ||
| Total funds | 34,821 | 46,358 | (36,894) | - | 44,285 |
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Band of Rescuers North Yorkshire
Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 30 September 2025 (Continued)
2. Analysis of funds (continued)
ADCH 2024 fund – money received toward the vaccination and microchipping of cats. Finn (cat) treatment fund – money received to cover Finn’s treatment. Ted (cat) treatment fund – money received to cover Ted’s treatment. Tommy (cat) treatment fund – money received to cover Tommy’s treatment. Kitten appeal 25 fund – money received from an appeal for food for kittens PAH Grant 2025 fund – money received toward vet bills, food, and TNR. Incubator fund (2024 only) - money received to buy new incubator.
Hector (cat) treatment fund (2024 only) – money received to cover Hector’s treatment. Hunter (cat) treatment fund (2024 only) – money received to cover Hunter’s treatment. Food appeal 2024 fund (2024 only) – money received for food expenses.
| ------------------ 2024 ------------------ | ------------------ 2024 ------------------ | ------------------ 2024 ------------------ | ------------------ 2024 ------------------ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | Balance at | ||
| 01 Oct 23 | 30 | Sept 24 | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||||
| General Fund | 33,379 | 36,764 | (35,750) | (743) | 33,650 | |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ||
| Total unrestricted funds | 33,379 |
36,764 |
(35,750) |
(743) |
33,650 |
|
| Restricted funds | ||||||
| Incubator fund | 97 | - | (97) | - | - | |
| Finn (cat) treatment fund | 359 | 60 | (494) | 75 | - | |
| Hector (cat) treatment fund | - | 200 | (817) | 617 | - | |
| Hunter (cat) treatment fund | - | 10 | (50) | 40 | - | |
| Tommy (cat) treatment fund | - | 2,732 | (1,561) | - | 1,171 | |
| Food appeal 2024 fund | - | 205 | (216) | 11 | - | |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ||
| Total restricted funds | 456 |
3,207 |
(3,235) |
743 |
1,171 |
|
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ||
| Total funds | 33,835 | 39,971 | (38,985) | - | 34,821 |
3. Related Party Note
No trustee or persons related or connected by business to them have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.
No trustee or persons related or connected by business to them have received reimbursement for expenses incurred during the year (2024: £nil).
During the year the trustees donated an aggregate £35 to the charity (2024: £nil).