2022-03-31-accounts - Charity Buddy

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

– TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

Our activities

Charity Buddy’s core operational activities are directed towards improving the lives of animals and their habitats, whilst offering rewarding opportunities for the public to volunteer and engage with our work.

Our activities include:

Providing sanctuary and rehoming services for geriatric animals
Provision of pro bono business and creative support to animal charities and voluntary sector organisations, through our network of professional volunteers
Creation of PetRehomer, a national pet rehoming platform to help people responsibly rehome unwanted pets (due to launch in Q2, 2022)
NEW Rewilding – A 30-acre site at our HQ in Surrey. Aside from the obvious benefits of nature recovery, this is an opportunity to encourage study, research and engagement with people interested in ecology

Our impact

Sanctuary and Rehoming for Geriatric Animals

The Covid-19 pandemic has continued to impact our work in this area, however our sanctuary has provided a home to 6 horses, 6 hens, 1 cockerel, and 8 sheep. We have supported the rehoming of 9 dogs, and plans for future pet rehoming will be facilitated through PetRehomer once launched in the UK.

Pro bono Business and Creative Support

We have provided support to a wide range of animal welfare organisations through the deployment of our growing network of Charity Buddy volunteers (152). We have supported 98 organisations which span wildlife hospitals, campaigning groups, animal law, pet rehomers, pet community support groups, wildlife conservation, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, animal sanctuaries, and educational centres. The range of organisations extends from the smallest rabbit rescue centre to large, well established animal charities.

This aspect of our work continues to grow through word of mouth within the animal welfare sector. We have provided volunteers for a wide range of projects including:

Social media campaign support
Legal assistance
Executive coaching
Database creation
Fundraising consulting
Website design and development
Bookkeeping support
Audit
HR software advice and employee handbook updates
Media support
Supporting non-profit organisations to become registered charities
Marketing collateral development
GDPR support
Logo designs
Digital greeting card designs
Social media content creation
Video editing
Wordpress website support
Woocommerce support
Strategic marketing
Recruitment support ( ongoing volunteer roles, Trustees etc.)
Campaign support
Digital marketing support (email marketing etc.)
Animation creation
Help with HMRC returns
Facilitation
Payroll

Almost all of our volunteers operate remotely and use their skills to help our beneficiaries with tasks, projects or ongoing roles that they do not have the skills, experience or expertise to undertake themselves. This provides access to valuable resource which would otherwise be costly, and time consuming to identify.

Rewilding

During the last year we have extended our charitable objects to include rewilding, as we believe that nature recovery plays a crucial role in providing suitable habitats for wild animals, birds and insects whilst providing a setting for study, research and engagement with people interested in ecology.

We have a 30-acre ‘small-scale’ wilding site in Alfold, Surrey which was previously used as grazing land . This site is being managed in conjunction with our partners, Youngwilders, a volunteer-led group of ecology, conservation and environmental enthusiasts. Youngwilders is an organisation focused on accelerating the wilding of the UK, involving young people in the process.

Achievements March 2021-March 2022

Between March 2021 and March 2022 we have carried out the following activities related to the Maple Farm Rewilding Project:

Site monitoring

Baseline site monitoring (Phase 1 extended habitat survey and breeding bird survey) carried out by Surrey Wildlife Trust - site visit used for ecologist training
Advisory visits from the head ecologist and rewilding consultant at Knepp Wildland
• Wood White Butterfly Project Officer Paul Cawsey visiting to assess habitat improvements for butterflies
Fran Southgate from the Sussex Wildlife Trust visit to asses watercourse restoration and enhancement options
Visit from operations director at Heal Rewilding Hannah Needham to discuss the site and possible future collaboration

Volunteering

Hosted a volunteering day in January 2022, attracting 30 volunteers from diverse backgrounds from both the local area and further afield

Restoration

Planted 250 metres of native hedgerow and planted 41 oak trees, over 1000 trees planted total so far
Initiated an experimental eco-friendly hot water treatment program to address the invasive Giant Hogweed infestation on the site. We’re providing information to interested parties about its overall efficacy

Other Engagement

Hosted an MA researcher from Central St Martins for their final research project, featured in the public end of year show in London.
Hosted a local journalism MA student, currently making a short film on Maple Farm and the power of small-scale rewilding
Created an Instagram account for the Maple Farm Rewilding Project, with 317 followers and 31 posts to date
Publicised the project and associated opportunities through the Youngwilders Instagram, reaching 1,543 followers
Created a dedicated webpage for the Maple Farm project on Charity Buddy’s website, and a blog where we post regular updates on our work.
Launched an in-print publication, Overgrowth, featuring writing about Maple Farm

Planned Activities in 2022/3

Site Monitoring

Surrey Wildlife Trust will be returning to the site to conduct extended phase 1 habitat surveys and mapping (pro bono)

Scrape Creation

We will establish the appropriate sites for creating scrapes (depressions in the ground which will hold water and create seasonal wetlands attracting bird, amphibian, invertebrate and plant species).

Hedgerow Maintenance

We will mulch the ground around the planted hedgerow in order to reduce competition from grasses.

Youth Committee Formation and Volunteering

We’ll begin our first local volunteer youth committee cycle. It will involve five young adults between the ages of 18-25, working together to plan and execute ecological and social projects at Maple Farm. They will also receive monthly lessons and seminars from people experienced in various ecological lines of work. The idea is that they’ll finish the year with considerable practical experience gained from leading projects at Maple Farm, increased theoretical knowledge from the monthly classes and a deeper connection to their local landscape. We will be encouraging feedback from the committee throughout the year to improve and streamline the process for the next cycle.

PetRehomer

PetRehomer is the brand name of Charity Buddy’s pet rehoming and adoption website. We have a technology partner currently building our pilot platform, which will be launching in Q2, 2022. Our platform will provide a charitable alternative to the commercial pet trading sites, such as Gumtree, Pets4Homes and Facebook, currently used by many for this purpose. We will be offering a safer option for pet rehomers and adopters.

Our process will include an easy to use pet listing and pet search facility, home checks, a safe deposit and payment service, provision of animal welfare advice, and very importantly, our post-adoption support if things don’t work out. Initially, our pilot will offer rehoming support for dogs, cats and rabbits, however, we intend to accommodate a wider the range of species once established.

Overview

Charity Buddy registered as a Foundation CIO in April 2020 and does not have any employees or workers supporting the charity.

We are grateful to Maple Farm Stables Limited for the kind donation of feed and bedding for the animals within our sanctuary and to our supporters who have made donations.

Moving into 2022/3, we will need to raise more funds to enable us to continue our work and deliver our objectives.

The Trustees confirm that they comply with their duty to have regard to the guidance on public benefit, published by the Charity Commission, when exercising their powers and duties.

CHARITY BUDDY - REGISTERED CHARITY 1189284

ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD 1 JANUARY 2021 TO 31 MARCH 2022

Detailed Profit and Loss Account for the period ended 31 March 2022

INCOME: Donations Rehoming Fees Miscellaneous EXPENDITURE: Vet, Dental & Farrier Fees Consumable Equipment IT Software Consultancy Fees Travel Insurance Rewilding Stationery & Postage NET INCOME FOR PERIOD Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2022 FIXED ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS: Petty Cash Bank Balance at 31.3.22 CREDITORS DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR NET ASSETS CAPITAL & RESERVES	Unrestricted Restricted Total 9 Months to Funds Funds 31-Mar-22 30-Apr-20 £ 8260 5000 13260 2480 0 0 0 200 527 0 527 216
	8787 5000 13787 2896
	2469 0 2469 1879 214 0 214 486 1338 0 1338 513 3553 0 3553 83 0 83 552 0 552 0 2026 2026 15 0 15 18
	8224 2026 10250 2896
	563 2974 3537 0
	Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds 31-Mar-22 30-Apr-20 £ 0 0 0 0 142 0 142 376 421 2974 3395 1138
	563 2974 3537 1514 0 0 0 -1514
	563 2974 3537 0

	563 2974 3537 0