## – 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|