## **Charity Buddy** ## **Trustees’ Annual Report Year Ended 31 March 2025** ## **Chair’s Statement** As Chair of Trustees, I am delighted to present our Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2025. 2024/25 has been an incredible year for the charity. The growth experienced within PetRehomer has exceeded our expectations significantly, and our dedicated team is working around the clock to meet demand for that service. Our rewilding work is now delivering amazing results, and we are seeing just how wonderful nature is when it is allowed to recover. On behalf of the Trustees, I would like to thank all our volunteers, partners, and supporters who continue to make our work possible. Colleen Long Chair of Trustees ## **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 current activities include: - Providing a small sanctuary for geriatric animals at our HQ in Surrey - Operation of PetRehomer, a national pet rehoming and adoption service to help people responsibly rehome pets that they can no longer care for - Rewilding a 30-acre site at our HQ in Surrey to encourage nature recovery, research, and community engagement ## **Our Impact** ## **Sanctuary for Geriatric Animals** We continue to care for 12 geriatric horses, ponies, sheep and hens at the Charity Buddy sanctuary. In line with our long-term strategy, we no longer take in new large grazing animals, reducing the land needed for sanctuary purposes. By focusing on our scalable PetRehomer service and dedicating more land to rewilding, we can deliver a greater positive impact for both domestic and wild animals. ## **Pro Bono Business and Creative Support** Until September 2023, we supported a wide range of animal welfare organisations through our Charity Buddy volunteer network. These included small rescue centres, campaigning groups, animal law charities, and wildlife conservation projects. In late 2023, the Trustees made the difficult decision to suspend this work to focus resources on our two core programmes — PetRehomer and Rewilding. ## **Rewilding** Our rewilding journey began in 2022. The 30-acre site at Maple Farm in Alfold, Surrey, previously used for grazing, is being transformed into a thriving wild habitat. Managed in collaboration with our partners, Youngwilders — a volunteer-led group of ecology enthusiasts — the site now offers opportunities for research, education, and engagement. Key achievements in FY 2024/25 include the installation of eco bee hives, a series of ‘Wayfinders’ ecology training weekends for young people, habitat improvement works such as bridge installations and wildflower sowing, and preparatory work for great crested newt ponds. This year also saw our first Forest School for pre-school children, and the launch of our Artist in Residence initiative, further connecting creativity with conservation. ## **PetRehomer** PetRehomer is Charity Buddy’s national pet rehoming and adoption service — a safer, ethical alternative to commercial pet trading platforms. Through our unique direct rehoming model, we support and empower people to rehome their pets responsibly. By connecting people who need to give up their pets with suitable adopters, PetRehomer: - Helps keep animals out of rescue centres, preserving those spaces for pets in real need - Enables rehomers to choose who adopts their pet, easing the emotional burden - Encourages adoption over buying, promoting ethical pet ownership - Screens adopters and provides post-adoption support for safety and welfare Since its soft launch in late 2022, PetRehomer has successfully rehomed hundreds of pets across the UK, through mostly volunteer effort and organic growth. In 2024/25, we undertook a complete redevelopment of our rehoming platform to meet this demand. The new system, launched in early 2025, provides an improved user experience and enhanced operational capabilities. We also continued our Neuter Fund, offering financial assistance to adopters of unneutered pets, supporting responsible ownership. ## **Plans for 2025/26** Our focus for the coming year will be on consolidating and strengthening our two core areas — PetRehomer and Rewilding. We plan to complete the technical development of the new PetRehomer platform, expand our volunteer teams, and explore income-generating initiatives such as a PetRehomer Lottery to fund our Neuter Scheme. In parallel, our rewilding project will continue to grow, with further biodiversity monitoring, habitat creation, and community involvement planned throughout 2025/26. ## **Structure, Governance and Management** Charity Buddy is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered in April 2020. We have no permanent employees, but we engage temporary staff as required to meet operational needs. 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 YEAR TO 31 MARCH 2025** ## **Detailed Profit and Loss Account for the year ended 31 March 2025** |**INCOME:**
Donations inc Gift Aid
Grants
Adoption Donations
Miscellaneous
**EXPENDITURE:**
Feed,Vet, Dental & Farrier Fees
Pet Neutering Costs
Consumable Equipment
Software Subscriptions
Freelance staff costs
Volunteers travel Costs
Insurance
Electricity Costs
Rewilding
Honey Bee Project Costs
Stationery & Postage
Rehoming Costs
Pet Rehomer Platform Costs
Telephone
Professional Memberships inc ADCH
Legal & Professional Costs
Repairs & Maintenance
Depreciation (20% of Cost)
Sundry Costs
**NET INCOME FOR PERIOD**
**Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025**
**FIXED ASSETS**
Software Development - Cost
Software Development - Depreciation
Furniture & Equipment - Cost
Furniture & Equipment - Depreciation
**CURRENT ASSETS:**
Bank Balance at 31.3.25
**CREDITORS DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
**NET ASSETS**
**CAPITAL & RESERVES**
As at 1.4.24
Net Income Year to 31.3.25
**As at 31.3.25**|**Unrestricted Restricted**
**Total**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**31-Mar-25 31-Mar-24**
**£**
**£**
16662
0
16662
12654
3000
1070
4070
13934
98071
0
98071
59569
749
0
749
683| |---|---| ||**118482**
**1070**
**119552**
**86840**| ||3122
0
3122
2662
1707
0
1707
1083
151
0
151
0
3364
0
3364
2233
47549
0
47549
37123
446
0
446
202
559
0
559
806
2230
0
2230
0
0
4037
4037
3959
0
3676
3676
0
95
0
95
78
440
0
440
289
17373
0
17373
12100
411
0
411
291
161
0
161
97
2160
0
2160
0
735
0
735
0
4005
0
4005
94
0
0
0
2| ||**84508**
**7713**
**92221**
**61019**| ||**33974**
**-6643**
**27331**
**25821**| ||**Unrestricted Restricted**
**Total**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**31-Mar-25 31-Mar-24**
**£**
**£**
19200
0
19200
0
-3840
0
-3840
0
827
0
827
470
-353
0
-353
-188| ||15834
0
15834
282
52398
11653
64051
50042| ||68232
11653
79885
50324
-2230
0
-2230
0| ||70462
11653
77655
50324| ||30687
19637
50324
24503
33974
-6643
27331
25821| ||**64661**
**12994**
**77655**
**50324**| CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees CHARITY BUDDY On accounts for the year onded 311t March 2025 Charity no {if any) 1189284 Set on pages One I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (llhe Trusf) for the year ended 3110312025 Responslbllltles and basis of report As the chanty's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Ad 2011 {'the Acr). report in respeGt 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 D1￿CtionS given by the Chanty Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matter8 have examlnerfs ststement Come to my attents'on in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material resF*d. the accounting records bvere not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Chanlies Ad,. or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or the accounts did not cornply wrth th8 applicable requirements conceming the fomi and content of accounts set out in the Charits'es {A¢¢ounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Irue and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems have come across no other matters in connection wtth the examination to vthich attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable yer understanding of the accounts to b8 reached. Signod: 0510112028 Name: Petrou & Co Limrted Relevant professional quallfication(s) or body (if any): Chartered Accountants Address: 4 Heddon Court Cockfosters Road Herts EN4 ODE IER Oct 2018 Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to hi9hlighl material matters of Goncern {see CC32. Independent examination of charty accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any Items that thè 8xaminer wishos to disclos8. IER Oct 2018