TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 1[st] April 2023 - 31[st] March 2024
WAGS RETIRED POLICE DOGS Charity No: 1186608
WWW.WAGSRETIREDPOLICEDOGS.CO.UK
REFERENCE & ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION WAGS RETIRED POLICE DOGS CHARITY
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TRUSTEES (@31[st] March 2024):
Chair : Adam WEAL Vice Chair/ Events support: Trish PARKER Secretary: Deborah RUMMING-HARRIS Treasurer: Chloe WILTSHIRE Media Support: Emma YOUNG Trustee: Ashleigh GUY Trustee: Megan HALDANE Trustee: Graham HEATHFIELD Trustee: Becca RYALLS
CHARITY NUMBER: 1186608 REGISTERED ADDRESS: 4 Stradbrook Avenue, St George, BS5 8PH BANK: Lloyds Bank, 25 Gresham Street, EC2V 7HN WEBSITE DESIGNER: David CRITCHLEY CHARITY INSURANCE: Zurich Chairty & Events Insurance FUNDRAISER REGULATOR: Membership in place GAMBLING ACT LICENCE: Wiltshire Council, Trowbridge, BA14 8JN INDEPENDENT EXAMINER: Lynda Edwards
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PURPOSE, STRUCTURE & GOVERNANCE
CHARITY PURPOSE
WAGS Retired Police Dogs is a registered charity, number 1186608. WAGS (Wiltshire, Avon, Gloucestershire & Somerset) Retired Police Dogs Charity purpose is:
“To promote human behaviour towards Retired Police Dogs by providing financial assistance to the owners of Retired Police Dogs who have charge of animals that are in need to appropriate care and attention by reasons of sickness, poor circumstances or illuse”
WAGS provides financial assistance to pay the veterinary fees for emergency and on-going treatment and for medication, to ensure the Retired Police Dogs remain healthy and happy in retirement. Vet’s fees can run into thousands of pounds to treat some conditions and owners may be forced with deciding on the dog’s future based on the financial costs. It is very difficult for them to obtain pet insurance for the Retired Dogs due to the nature of protection work and the fact they may retire with existing conditions which require on-going expensive medication or further operations. WAGS provides financial assistance to ensure the treatment decisions are based only on the dog’s welfare needs and not based on cost.
STRUCTURE
The complete financial income to achieve our charity purpose is generated solely by fundraising. We attend events to collect donations and sell merchandise to raise income.
We receive regular monthly direct debit donations from supporters. We sell merchandise on our website online shop to raise income. We receive donations through JustGiving, PayPal Giving Fund, Facebook Charitable Giving, Easy Fundraising and Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) donations.
New Trustees are appointed by the existing Trustees and serve a term of 12 months, after which they may put themselves forward for re-appointment. Our Charity Commission Model Constitution requires a minimum of three Trustees with no maximum number of Trustees. On appointment, new Trustees sign the Charity Commission Trustee Eligibility Declaration form agreeing to the giving of their time and expertise. All new Trustees will receive a formal induction to the charity, including an initial meeting with the Chair and existing Trustees. The grant making policy powers and responsibilities of the Trustee board are fully explained to them. All Trustees give their time freely and no Trustee remuneration is paid. For this financial year, expenses have only been claimed by the Chair, Adam WEAL.
TYPE OF GOVERNING DOCUMENT
Charity Commission Model Constitution – Adopted 27 June 2019 Amended 20th November 2019
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OBJECTIVES and GRANT MAKING POLICY OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the charity are to provide financial assistance to the owners of Retired Police Dogs who have charge of animals that need appropriate care and attention by reason of sickness, poor circumstances or ill-use. The Trustees have determined that the priorities for financial funding are:
• Retired Police Dogs that need urgent immediate lifesaving veterinary treatment (e.g. surgery, hospitalisation etc…)
• Retired Police Dogs that need veterinary investigations to determine the cause of their illness (e.g. MRI/CT scans, blood tests, biopsies etc…)
• Retired Police Dogs that require treatment of illnesses or injuries (e.g. cancer, bladder/eye infections, upset stomach, skin allergies, injuries to legs/back/ears etc…)
• Retired Police dogs that require on-going medical drug treatments and or hydrotherapy or chiropractor sessions as prescribed by the vets, to help prolong the life and to improve the quality of life for the Retired Police Dog
The amount of Retired Police Dogs that can be supported by the charity is necessarily limited to the amount of funds that are available for distribution annually
The total number of Retired Police Dogs that may require financial assistance within Wiltshire, Avon, Gloucestershire and Somerset is currently 46. It is anticipated that over the forthcoming financial year additional dogs may retire from service, increasing the number of Retired Police Dogs who may require financial assistance although this may be offset by the unfortunate death of some dogs. Some working dogs may also retire suddenly (earlier than expected) due to illness or injury.
The Trustees are aware that just one or two dogs alone could require all our charity funds (e.g. cruciate ligaments, hip operations, spinal surgery etc…). Such operations could require financial assistance between £5,000 and £15,000. An MRI scan for a dog is currently priced at c£2,000 just to establish the cause of the problem before treatment or surgery is commenced.
Fundraising and the promotion of our charity is at the forefront of the Trustees objectives to ensure we can raise enough funds going forward into the next financial year. These dogs do an incredible job serving the communities, saving lives and catching criminals. The WAGS Trustees want to do all they can to ensure the funds are available to support all the Retired Police Dogs from Wiltshire, Avon, Gloucestershire and Somerset.
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GRANT MAKING POLICY SUMMARY
The Charity Trustees have a grant making policy. A grant is defined as the financial award WAGS makes from its funds to support the owners of retired police dogs from Wiltshire, Avon, Gloucestershire and Somerset in line with our charitable purpose defined in our governing document.
A beneficiary is a person who has taken over legal ownership of a retired police dog from Wiltshire, Avon & Somerset and Gloucestershire Constabularies only. This can either be a police dog handler who has taken over the ownership of the dog (or dogs) they have been working with or a member of the public who has taken ownership of a retired police dog (or dogs) from one of the forces listed above.
A beneficiary must complete our Application for Financial Assistance Form and send it via email to wagsretiredpolicedogs@gmail.com. They must provide written proof that the dog they are seeking veterinary financial support for was a serving police dog with either Wiltshire, Avon & Somerset or Gloucestershire Constabularies. They sign and confirm that the dog is not currently insured and attach the relevant copies of the treatment and breakdown of financial costings from the veterinary surgery. The Trustees award grants to owners subject to the financial funds available at the time. Each application for financial assistance is considered on its own merits. The Trustees will carry out sufficient due diligence to ensure the requests meet both our charitable purpose and the priorities for support detailed above in our Objectives.
The Trustees will award 100% of all financial claims if the funds available at the time are above £25,000. As soon as funds fall below £25,000, the percentage of the grant issued will be at the Trustee’s discretion and their decision is final. If funds do fall below £25,000 and a large application is made, the Trustees will make an emergency appeal through the JustGiving Fundraising Platform (and/or similar), and/or seek urgent grant funding.
It is the Trustees’ aim to ensure the active fundraising and the seeking of support grants continues throughout the year to allow WAGS to continue to pay 100% of all grants, ensuring the Retired Police Dogs live happy healthy lives in their well-earned retirement.
Trustees with Retired Police Dogs
Currently there are no registered Trustees who own Retired Police Dogs.
During the financial year 2023/24 3 payments we made in respect of dogs owned by trustees.
Where a present or future Trustee is an owner of a Retired Police Dog, they are subject to the Trustees with Retired Police Dogs Official Agreement August 2022
A copy of the policy is available on request
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Full consultation was carried out with the charity commission regarding this agreement and approval obtained.
DECLARATION OF GRANT AMOUNTS AWARDED TO TRUSTEES WITH RETIRED POLICE DOGS
During this financial year: -
£563.29 has been paid to Mr Simon Goodwin for Retired Police Dog Boris veterinary fees.
£484.52 has been paid to Mr Simon Goodwin for Retired Police Dog Fozzy veterinary fees.
- £7,837.87 has been paid to Miss Claire Todd for Retired Police Dog Stella veterinary fees.
FINANCIAL GRANTS 2023/24
During this financial year the WAGS Trustees have awarded grants to all owners of Retired Police Dogs that have applied for financial assistance from our Charity. The medical conditions of the Retired Police Dogs who have needed surgery and on-going medication are listed below:
| APRIL 2023-MARCH 2024 | APRIL 2023-MARCH 2024 |
|---|---|
| Payments Made | |
| RPD EXPENDITURE | |
| BARNEY/TODD | £464.10 |
| BORIS/GOODWIN | £563.29 |
| CHARLEY/DOUGHTY | £2,124.89 |
| DIXIE/WALKER | £4,386.75 |
| ELLA/FORD | £421.54 |
| FOZZY/GOODWIN | £484.52 |
| FRED/WARRY | £317.61 |
| HEIDI/WARRY | £1,075.37 |
| HOLLY/SHIELDS | £392.19 |
| LACEY/MANSELL | £446.76 |
| LEIA/WHEELER | £101.28 |
| MAX/DOUGHTY | £863.50 |
| NAPIER/WONG | £109.49 |
| SOLO/GOZNA | £201.24 |
| STELLA/TODD | £7,837.87 |
| TOTAL RPD EXPENDITURE | £19,790.40 |
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ACTIVITIES
The continued support of the public in making donations, enabled the Charity to award grants covering the veterinary fees of the 16 Retired Police Dogs who needed our assistance this financial year. We have achieved our charity purpose by being able to support these amazing Retired Police Dogs.
NEW TRUSTEES:
This year we have welcomed two new Trustees: Megan HALDANE and Deborah RUMMING-HARRIS. Both bring different skills and knowledge to the charity, and we are grateful to them for joining us.
WAGS VOLUNTEER SCHEME
We an average of 33 volunteers during the year 2023/24. We are so pleased to have their support at fundraising events. Their help at events and with general fundraising is making an huge difference to the money we are raising to support the Retired Police Dogs. We are now able to attend more events across Wiltshire, Avon, Gloucestershire and Somerset.
Our volunteers’ ranged in age from 21 years to 69 years and every one of them bring a vast array of skills and knowledge to our Charity. The Trustees are proud of all our volunteers from across the communities, so many dog lovers who are now committed to helping us to continue to achieve our charity purpose.
Trish Parker, our Volunteer Coordinator, says ‘We have had a fantastic season of events. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers we are able to attend more events which, in turn, raise the vital funds we need to support our retired dogs.
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WAGS ONLINE RAFFLE
Online raffles have been held via social media (Facebook and Instagram) in both October and December 2023 to raise money for WAGS. This has included a donated personalised photoshoot with the owner and dog, as well as a bundle of WAGS merchandise.
RESERVES POLICY
As detailed above, as our Charity grows the Trustees’ aim to build reserves in unrestricted funds to ensure the Charity can support all the Retired Police Dogs of Wiltshire, Avon, Gloucestershire and Somerset.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
The Trustees will be applying for additional grant funding from other Companies and Trusts in the next financial year.
WAGS volunteers will continue to assist Trustees’ by attending more community fundraising events within the next financial year, providing more opportunities to raise the Charity profile and collect more vital donations. Trustees’ and volunteers also attend community talks (e.g. WI, Lions, Probus etc…) to give talks and raise money for WAGS.
Our 3-year Strategy document, published last year, is due to be updated in 2025.
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FINANCIAL REVIEW
Our charity is entirely reliant on donations received through fundraising.
As stated on page 4 of this report, the total number of Retired Police Dogs that may require financial assistance within Wiltshire, Avon, Gloucestershire and Somerset is 46.
It is predicted that the number of Retired Police Dogs in the WAGS area will rise in 2024/25.
The total income raised this year from both unrestricted and restricted funds for this financial year was £37,534, 5% down on the previous year (restricted funds are funds to be used in accordance with specific restrictions).
The total expenditure for this financial year was £35,223, 2% down on the previous year.
The total surplus for this financial year was £2,310, 34% down on the previous year.
At the end of this financial year the charity has total cash assets of £41,504, 6% up on the previous year.
TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES IN RELATION TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards. The law applicable to charities in England and Wales 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 applications of resources of the Charity for that period. In preparing these 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 of the Charities SORP
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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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 accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ascertain to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (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.
io APPROVF,D BY THF TRUSTEFS ON DECENBER 2024 AIYD SIGNED ON THFTR BF.HALF BY: Graham HEATHFIELD- Chair and Tr Signed...... ..Date. 2nd December 2024 Patricia PARKE ce Cha '¢iJi r and Trustee . Date. 2. December 2024 Deborah RUMMING-HARRIS- Secretary and Trustee Signed.-. . Date. 2nd December 2024 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS The accounts have been prepared in line with the Charity Commission regulations. WAGS Retired Police Dogs is a small. non-company charity and has a gross income of below £?50,000 during the finaneial year. The trustees have prepared Receipts and Payments accounts in line with the Charity Commission rcquirements
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Independent I have completed my examina�on. I confirm that no material ma�ers have come to my a�en�on in connec�on examiner's with the examina�on which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: statement · accoun�ng records were not kept in accordance with sec�on 130 of the Act or
· the accounts do not accord with the accoun�ng records
I have no concerns and have come across no other ma�ers in connec�on with the examina�on to which a�en�on should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed: L Edwards Date: 5/11/2024 Name: Lynda Edwards Relevant professional qualifica�on(s) or body (if any): Address: Appt 47, Monaveen, 115 Peckham Chase, Chichester, PO20 3BD.
| Charity Name WAGS RETIRED POLICE DOGS - 1186608 |
Charity Name WAGS RETIRED POLICE DOGS - 1186608 |
Charity Name WAGS RETIRED POLICE DOGS - 1186608 |
No (if any) 1186608 |
No (if any) 1186608 |
CC16a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For the period from |
Period start date 1ST APRIL 2023 |
To | Period end date 31ST MARCH 2024 |
|||
| Section A Receipts and payments | ||||||
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 1,724 750 500 1,900 7,928 1,027 239 135 7,938 2,628 36 4,355 60 1,500 30,720 - |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ 3,000 60 11 3,742 6,814 - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 4,724 750 500 1,900 7,928 1,087 250 135 11,681 2,628 36 4,355 60 1,500 37,534 - |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|
| AMAZON/CAF/EASY FUNDRAISING/GO FUNDRAISE |
1,724 | |||||
| ANIMAL AFFAIRS DONATIONS | 750 | |||||
| AVON & SOMERSET POLICE DONATIONS | 500 | |||||
| COMPANY DONATIONS | 1,900 | |||||
| EVENT/MERCHANDISE/CASH & CHEQUE DONATIONS |
7,928 | |||||
| FUNDRAISING OTHER | 1,027 | |||||
| INTEREST ON INSTANT ACCESS SAVINGS | 239 | |||||
| INTEREST ON 32 DAY NOTICE | 135 | |||||
| JUST GIVING FUNDRAISING DONATIONS | 7,938 | |||||
| MONTHLY DIRECT DEBIT DONATIONS | 2,628 | |||||
| ONLINE RAFFLE DONATIONS | 36 | |||||
| PAYPAL MERCHANDISE/DONATIONS | 4,355 | |||||
| REFUND | 60 | |||||
| WILTSHIRE PCC | 1,500 | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | 30,720 | |||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| N/A | - | - | - | - |
- Sub total - Total receipts 30,720 6,814 - 37,534 -
A3 Payments
| A3 Payments | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWARDED GRANTS TO RETIRED POLICE DOG OWNERS |
12,955 | 6,835 | - | 19,790 | |||
| CHARITY INSURANCE/RAFFLE LICENCE | 370 | - | - | 370 | |||
| EVENT FEES | 640 | 640 | |||||
| JUST GIVING FEES | 446 | - | - | 446 | |||
| POSTAGE & PACKAGING 'DROP & GO' POST OFFICE |
825 | - | 825 | ||||
| VOLUNTEER TRAINING EVENT HIRE & EXPENSES |
433 | 433 | |||||
| WAGS PERSONALISED MERCH & STOCK ORDER |
12,237 | - | 12,237 | ||||
| WAGS VOLUNTEER PERSONALISED UNIFORM |
482 | - | 482 | ||||
| Sub total | 27,906 | 7,317 | - | 35,223 |
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
- - - 7,317 |
- - - 7,317 |
- - - - |
- - - - |
- - - 35,223 |
- - - 35,223 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | - | ||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| Sub total | - | - | |||||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
|||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| 2,814 | - 504 |
- | 2,310 | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| 2,814 | - 504 |
- | 37,534 | - |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets |
(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details RESTRICTED FUNDS A/C BANK TREASURERS ACCOUNT BANK INSTANT ACCESS SAVINGS 32 DAY NOTICE A/C Total cash funds Details N/A Details N/A |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 7,394.74 £ 20,801.61 £ 10,134.81 £ 38,331 Agreement Error Unrestricted funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs |
Restricted funds to nearest £ - 3,173.39 £ - 3,173 Agreement Error Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| OK | ||||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| N/A | - | - | ||
| - | - | |||
| - | - |
B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use
B5 Liabilities
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
| - | - | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | ||||||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
||||||
| 2X WAGS GAZEBOS & ACCESSORIES | RESTRICTED | ||||||||
| STOCK OF PERSONALISED MERCHANDISE | UNRESTRICTED | - | |||||||
| ELMO MASCOT COSTUME | RESTRICTED | - | |||||||
| VOLUNTEER CLOTHING | RESTRICTED | - | |||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Fund to which | Amount due | When due | |||||||
| Details | liability relates | (optional) | (optional) | ||||||
| N/A | - | ||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| Signature | Name | Date of approval | |||||||
| C Wiltshire | CHLOE WILTSHIRE | 05/11/2024 | |||||||
Independent I have completed my examina�on. I confirm that no material ma�ers have come to my a�en�on in connec�on examiner's with the examina�on which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: statement ·
-
accoun�ng records were not kept in accordance with sec�on 130 of the Act or
-
· the accounts do not accord with the accoun�ng records
I have no concerns and have come across no other ma�ers in connec�on with the examina�on to which a�en�on should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. * Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
| Signed: Name: Relevant professional qualifca�on(s) or body (if any): Address: |
L Edwards | 5/11/2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Lynda Edwards | ||
| Appt 47, Monaveen, 115 Peckham Chase, Chichester, PO20 3BD. | ||