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2025-03-31-accounts

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 1[st] April 2024 - 31[st] March 2025 WAGS RETIRED POLICE DOGS Charity No: 1186608

WWW.WAGSRETIREDPOLICEDOGS.CO.UK

REFERENCE & ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION WAGS RETIRED POLICE DOGS CHARITY

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TRUSTEES (2024/2025):

Chair : Graham HEATHFIELD Vice Chair/ Events support: Trish PARKER Secretary: Deborah Rumming-Harris Treasurer: Chloe Wiltshire Media Support: Emma YOUNG Shows & Events: Ashleigh GUY IT: Megan HALDANE

CHARITY DETAILS (CURRENT) CHARITY NUMBER: 1186608 REGISTERED ADDRESS: 3 Firs Hill Way Potterne Devizes SN10 5NN 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 donations from the public as well as regular monthly direct debit donations from supporters. We sell merchandise at shows and events we attend and, on our website, online shop to raise income. We also receive donations through JustGiving, PayPal Giving Fund, Facebook Charitable Giving, Easy Fundraising and Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), as well as grants from businesses and police authorities.

New Trustees are appointed by the existing Trustees and serve a term of 3 years, 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.

TYPE OF GOVERNING DOCUMENT

Charity Commission Model Constitution – Adopted 27 June 2019 Amended 20th November 2019 and 2[nd] December 2024.

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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 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 during the period of this report was c50. (previous year c46). 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.

It is well known that veterinary fees are increasing rapidly and some treatment (e.g. cruciate ligaments, hip operations, spinal surgery etc…) can put a strain on charity funds. Certain operations could require financial assistance between £5,000 and £15,000. An MRI scan for a dog is currently priced at up to £5,000 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 claims@wagsretiredpolicedogs.co.uk . They must provide 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

Where a present or future Trustee is an owner of a Retired Police Dog, they are subject to the Conflicting Interests and Trustee Conflicts of Interest Policy and Procedures (reviewed July 2025)

A copy of the policy is available on request

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

In the financial year 2024/25 there were no registered Trustees who owned Retired Police Dogs.

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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 total paid was £20,005.45.

The Retired Police Dogs who have needed assistance are listed below:

RPD EXPENDITURE 2024/25 RPD EXPENDITURE 2024/25 RPD EXPENDITURE 2024/25
MAX £ 355.89 MONTY £ 418.83
CHARLEY £ 156.45 NAPIER £ 750.89
CHARLEY £ 205.58 NAPIER £ 348.42
CHARLEY £ 199.18 NAPIER £ 118.30
CLOVER £ 511.24 NERF £ 25.52
DIXIE £ 123.30 NERF £ 25.52
DIXIE £ 127.80 NERF £ 30.61
DIXIE £ 92.00 PAN £ 339.99
ELLA £ 111.54 PAN £ 1,313.36
ELLA £ 31.98 PATCH £ 66.51
ELLA £ 31.98 QUEST £ 115.50
ELLA £ 32.98 QUEST £ 45.30
FRANKIE £ 52.70 QUEST £ 45.30
FRANKIE £ 52.70 QUEST £ 136.58
FRED £ 4,043.98 QUEST £ 44.58
GUS £ 3,500.00 QUEST £ 137.51
LACEY £ 1,311.39 SASHA £ 106.60
LACEY £ 1,120.56 STELLA £ 195.75
LEBO £ 354.48 STELLA £ 253.86
LEBO £ 865.15 STELLA £ 92.00
LEBO £ 232.93 STELLA £ 85.75
LEIA £ 105.88 STELLA £ 85.75
MAX £ 75.72 TED £ 667.87
MO £ 403.58 WILLOW £ 25.52
MO £ 269.13 WILLOW £ 25.52
MO £ 105.37 WILLOW £ 30.62

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ACTIVITIES

The continued support of the public in making donations, enabled the Charity to award grants to the 23 Retired Police Dogs who needed our assistance this financial year ( previous year 16 – up 37.5% ). We have achieved our charity purpose by being able to support these amazing Retired Police Dogs.

NEW TRUSTEES:

No new trustees were appointed during the financial year 2024/25.

WAGS VOLUNTEER SCHEME

We had an average of 34 volunteers during the year 2024/25. We are so pleased to have their support at fundraising events. The help at events with general fundraising is making a 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 70 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 can attend more events which, in turn, raise the vital funds we need to support our retired dogs.

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PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

The Trustees are continuing to apply for additional grant funding from other Companies and Trusts.

WAGS volunteers continue to assist Trustees’ by attending more community fundraising events, 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, in 2022, 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 c50.

It is predicted that the number of Retired Police Dogs in the WAGS area will rise in 2025/26.

The total income raised this financial year was £31,532, 15% down on the previous year.

The total expenditure for this financial year was £28,652, 19% down on the previous year.

Whilst income was down by 15%, expenses, including grants to retired police dogs, fell by 19% giving an increased surplus over the previous year.

The total surplus for this financial year was £3,388, 54% up on the previous year. However, it must be noted that this was only made possible by a major donation from a commercial company of over £5,000.

At the end of the financial year the charity had total cash assets of £44,893, 8.2% up on the previous year.

RESERVES POLICY

As detailed above, as our Charity grows the Trustees’ aim to build reserves in unrestricted or short notice period funds (maximum 32 days) to ensure the Charity can support all the Retired Police Dogs of Wiltshire, Avon, Gloucestershire and Somerset.

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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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.

APPROVED BY THE TRUSTEES ON 13[th] November 2025 AND SIGNED ON THEIR BEHALF BY:

Patricia PARKER – Current Chair and Trustee

Signed…………P Parker………………………………….Date 13[th] November 2025

Claire TODD – Current Secretary and Trustee

Signed………………C Todd…………………………………Date 13[th] November 2025

Graham HEATHFIELD – Current Treasurer and Trustee

Signed………………… G Heathfield ……………………….Date 13[th] November 2025

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 £250,000 during the financial year. The trustees have prepared Receipts and Payments accounts in line with the Charity Commission requirements

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Charity Name No (if any) WAGS RETIRED POLICE DOGS 1186608 CC16a

Receipts and payments accounts

For the period
from
1st April 2024
Period start date
To 31st March 2025
Period end date
Section A Receipts and payments Section A Receipts and payments Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts Unrestricted
funds
to the nearest £
Restricted funds
to the nearest £
Endowment
funds
to the nearest £
Total funds
to the nearest £
Last year
to the nearest £
AMAZON/CAF/EASY FUNDRAISING/GO
FUNDRAISE/CHARITIES
TRUST/CROWDFUNDER
1,135 - - 1,135 5,751
ANINAL AFFAIRS DONATIONS 800 - - 800 750
POLICE (CHIEF CONSTABLES)/POLICE
STAFF/PCC'S
1,066 - - 1,066 2,000
EVENTS/MERCHANDISE 6,441 - - 6,441 7,929
CORPORATE DONATIONS
JUST GIVING FUNDRAISING DONATIONS 6,530 - - 6,530 11,681
REGULAR MONTHLY DONATIONS 395 - - 395 -
CORPORATE DONATIONS 9,475 - - 9,475 1,936
OTHER DONATIONS 2,026 - - 2,026 2,628
PAYPAL MERCHANDISE SALES &
DONATIONS
2,928 - - 2,928 4,355
STELLA - - - 60
TALKS 635 - - 635 -
OTHER INCOME 100 - - 100 - 58
INTEREST ON INSTANT ACCESS SAVINGS
INTEREST ON 32 DAY NOTICE SAVINGS
Sub total(Gross income for AR)
232 28 - 260 250
247 - - 247 135
32,011 28 - 32,040 37,417
-
-
-
32,011
-
-
-
28
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
32,040
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).

N/A
-
- -
Sub total - -
Total receipts
32,011 28 - 32,040 37,417

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

17/11/2025

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A3 Payments

GRANTS TO RETIRED POLICE DOG
OWNERS
20,005 - - 20,005 19,790
CHARITY INSURANCE/GAMING LICENCE 234 - - 234 226
EVENT FEES 136 - - 136 694
JUST GIVING FEES 360 - - 360 446
POSTAGE & PACKING 359 - - 359 825
TRAINING EVENTS & MEETINGS - VENUE
HIRE & EXPENSES
277 - - 277 -
WAGS PERSONALISED MERCHANDISE &
OTHER STOCK
4,274 - - 4,274 12,237
VOLUNTEER UNIFORMS - 752 - 752 -
OTHER EXPENSES 2,074 - 2,074 144
TRUSTEE & VOLUNTEER EXPENSES 181 - - 181 379
**Sub total ** 27,900 752 - 28,652 34,741
A4 Asset and investment A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
N/A - - - - -
- - - - -
**Sub total ** - - - - -
Total payments 27,900 752 - 28,652 34,741
Net of receipts/(payments) 4,111 - 723 - 3,388 2,675
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 38,331 3,173 - 41,505 -
Cash funds this year end 42,442 2,450 - 44,893 2,675

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

17/11/2025

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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories
B1 Cash funds
B2 Other monetary assets
BANK - TREASURERS ACCOUNT
BANK - INSTANT ACCESS ACCOUNT
(RESTRICTED)
BANK - INSTANT ACCESS ACCOUNT
Details
BANK - 32 DAY NOTICE ACCOUNT
Details
Total cash funds
(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))
N/A
Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £
Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £
Restricted funds
to nearest £
Restricted funds
to nearest £
Endowment
funds
to nearest £
11,027 - -
- 2,450 -
21,034 - -
10,382
42,442 2,450 -
OK
Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
OK
Restricted funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
OK
Endowment
funds
to nearest £
N/A - - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
- - -

B3 Investment assets

Details
N/A
Fund to which asset
belongs
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
N/A - -
- -
- -
- -
- -

CCXX R3 accounts (SS)

17/11/2025

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B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use
Details
2XWAGS GAZEBOS & ACCESSORIES
STOCK OF PERSONALISED MERCHANDISE
ELMO MASCOT COSTUME
VOLUNTEER CLOTHING
Fund to which asset
belongs
RESTRICTED
UNRESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
2XWAGS GAZEBOS & ACCESSORIES RESTRICTED - -
STOCK OF PERSONALISED MERCHANDISE UNRESTRICTED - -
ELMO MASCOT COSTUME RESTRICTED - -
VOLUNTEER CLOTHING RESTRICTED - -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -

B5 Liabilities

N/A
Details
Fund to which
liability relates
Amount due
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
When due
(optional)
N/A -
-
-
-
-

Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees

Signature

Print Name Date of approval

G Heathfield GRAHAM HEATHFIELD 6TH NOV 2025

CCXX R4 accounts (SS)

17/11/2025

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Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees
On accounts for the year
ended
Set out on pages
Responsibilities and
basis of report
Charity Name
WAGS RETIRED POLICE DOGS
Charity Name
WAGS RETIRED POLICE DOGS
Charity Name
WAGS RETIRED POLICE DOGS
31st March 2025 Charity no 1186608
1-4
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended31 / 03 / 2025.
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 Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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 I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

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.

Signed:
Name:
Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body
(if any):
Address:
Lynda Edwards 15/11/25
Lynda Edwards
Legal Cashier Retired
Appt 47, Monaveen
115 Peckham Chase

1

Oct 2018

IER

Chichester

PO20 3BD

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

2

Oct 2018

IER

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees
On accounts for the year
ended
Set out on pages
Responsibilities and
basis of report
Charity Name
WAGS RETIRED POLICE DOGS
Charity Name
WAGS RETIRED POLICE DOGS
Charity Name
WAGS RETIRED POLICE DOGS
31st March 2025 Charity no 1186608
1-4
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended31 / 03 / 2025.
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 Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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 I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

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.

Signed:
Name:
Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body
(if any):
Address:
Lynda Edwards 15/11/25
Lynda Edwards
Legal Cashier Retired
Appt 47, Monaveen
115 Peckham Chase

1

Oct 2018

IER

Chichester

PO20 3BD

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

2

Oct 2018

IER