THE ANIMAL ADVOCACY PROJECT ANNUAL REPORT 202112022 ## **THE ANIMAL ADVOCACY PROJECT** ## **Report of the Trustees** The Trustees have pleasure in presenting the annual report and unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 January 2022. The financial statements were reviewed by an independent examiner for the purposes of a return requested by HMRC. The accounts provided below are taken from that return. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK FRS 102 (reporting period beginning on or after 1 January 2019). ## **1. Reference and Administrative details** Charity name: The Animal Advocacy Project Charity Registration No: 1189603 Registered office: 18A Lower Road, Chinnor, OX39 4DT Secretary: Michelle Strauss Bankers: Triodos Bank UK Ltd Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5AS ## **The current Trustees are:** David Cooke _Chair and Treasurer_ Michelle Strauss _Secretary_ ## Richard Pitschmann Those who additionally served during the financial year with their dates of appointment, retirement or resignations were: Andrea Driver, resigned 4 September 2021, Caroline Storey, resigned 4 September 2021. ## **2. Overview of The Animal Advocacy Project** TAAP (“the Charity”) was established with the aim of using legal and advocacy experience to improve the lives of animals in the UK and Ireland. The charitable objectives are broadly to: - Help humans treat animals better; we aim to prevent animal cruelty and stop animal suffering; - To teach people how the law can help us to change the lives of animals, for the better; and - To give the public access to our legal expertise and knowledge by disseminating information to enable the public to pursue our objectives of helping animals and preventing suffering. ## **3. Structure, governance and management information** ## **Governing Document** The Charity is an Incorporated Charitable Organisation, incorporated on 21 May 2020. As at 31 January 2022 there were 4 members (who are also trustees) of the Charity. The Charity is governed by its Constitution dated 31 January 2020. ## **Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees** Trustees, who are also members of the Charity, are elected from a community of people who are interested in animal welfare/ rights matters. Presently the board is small and is generally made up of people known to the founders who have a demonstrated experience in animal welfare/ rights work or have particular skills that would be of use to the Charity. However, the Board is conscious that it needs to create a more diverse Trustee Board. As the Charity is still very young and its reach limited it is hoped that recruitment is an issue that can be addressed as the reputation of the Charity grows and as board members are able to dedicate more resources to this work. The Chair, Secretary and Treasurer are elected from amongst the Trustees. ## **Organisational Structure** During the financial year the Trustee Board met 3 times. As the Charity is still new and establishing itself most of the work conducted by the Charity is carried out by Trustees and volunteers. There are no employees. At present the Charity is not big enough to enable dedicated committees to be established to deal with discrete issues – however it is envisioned that as the Charity grows this structure will be adopted. Presently a full report of the activities of all the Trustees is prepared and circulated to the Board before every meeting. ## **4. Objectives and activities** The object of the Charity is to advance animal welfare. The Trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers or duties. The following sections describe the activities of the Charity that have been carried out for the public benefit in the last year. One of the concerns of the Charity is to address institutional failings and systemic problems that allow animal welfare issues to persist, despite there existing legislation to prevent such issues. To this extent the Charity has focussed on work that will introduce broad changes with a view to helping the greatest number of animals possible. The Charity is still new, and resources are limited. Consequently, the scope of the activities is limited to an extent by these factors and accordingly the type and volume of work that has been undertaken reflects this: ## **Planning objections** TAAP have objected to four planning applications for intensive animal agricultural facilities. Planning applications have been objected to primarily on the basis of animal welfare. Our position is that upholding animal welfare extends to considerations relating to climate change given that climate change has been shown to have negative impacts on habitats and animal populations. Some of the concerns that have been raised in the objections relate to a trend towards the “diversification” of traditional farms into intensive facilities; concerns around the failure to have regard to animal welfare matters at the planning stage and the legality of this; considerations around the impact of inadequately designed facilities as a disease risk and as an environmental hazard; and then broad concerns around the impact that animal farming is having on climate change and government objectives to work towards net zero. We are conscious that animal welfare arguments are often raised when objecting to agricultural facilities, but sometimes these objections are not linked to relevant planning considerations. We are hoping to reframe these concerns within planning law in order to make animal welfare a material consideration when considering planning applications for agricultural facilities. We have also been working in conjunction with likeminded organisations in order to increase the impact of our work and create a more efficient system of identifying and responding to applications. ## **Government consultations** TAAP made submissions in respect of three government consultations during the financial year: (1) the Scottish government’s consultation on the Dangerous Dogs Act; (2) the proposal to introduce a ban on the import of dogs under the age of 6 months; and (3) the proposal to ban the sale of fur. Our responses to the consultations will be available on our website and can also be provided to any party who requests them. In accordance with our charitable objectives, the responses to the consultation focussed primarily on how any proposed law change may improve animal welfare. ## **Veterinary Standards** The Charity is conscious of the important role that vets play in upholding animal welfare. Professional regulatory bodies are integral in ensuring that vets maintain these standards. TAAP is concerned to ensure that there is adequate transparency in order for the public to be able to assess whether standards are being upheld and animals are being protected in accordance with the law and vets’ ethical obligations. In respect of this issue TAAP made a complaint about a vet to the Veterinary Council of Ireland. As a consequence of this complaint concerns have arisen regarding the VCIs approach to complaints and court proceedings have been initiated with a hearing set down for November 2022. Whilst further work relating to Ireland will be undertaken by TAAP (Ireland), the Charity will also concentrate on these same issues in the UK. ## **Transparency – Freedom of Information** The Charity is concerned to ensure that legislation is being enforced and accordingly have made numerous FOI requests. The purpose of these are to understand the degree to which authorities are discharging their duties and the adequacy of their performance. There has been resistance to the release of information in respect of some industries and consequently it has been necessary to appeal decisions. ## **Education and the dissemination of information** The Charity is concerned to ensure that the public are kept informed of our activities and that they have access to information we produce or obtain. During the financial year we have improved the webpage, have a blog that is contributed to on a regular basis and publish information through social media. The Charity, as resources allow, continues hone the website and develop a social media and SEO strategy. ## **5. Achievements and performance** Many of the projects initiated by the Charity during this initial period are still in progress – in particular the litigation regarding the VCI. Two of the intensive facilities that we lodged planning objections in respect of have not been granted permissions (a rabbit farm and a pig farm). One planning objection was not successful (a pig farm in East Riding). The board sought input from a barrister following the decision to determine whether a judicial review was possible but on the particular facts on this case it was determined it would not be one to pursue. However, helpful guidance was provided to allow the Charity to hone its work in this area. Projects are underway and collaboration with other organisations have begun/ been planned in order to consolidate resources and increase impact. The social media reach of the Charity has grown, as have subscribers to the newsletter. The Trustees are pleased that there is increased engagement with the Charity’s work and wish to build on this. ## **6. Financial review** ## **Financial position** Incoming resources in the year were £9,040.83 Of this none was related to project restricted activities. There was a surplus of £8320.49 ## **Funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others** None. ## **Reserves** The Trustees elected to hold reserves to cover potential liabilities relating to litigation we believed may arise during the course of the year. At present the board has elected to hold £7,500 as a reserve for this work. ## **Risk Management** In the next financial year, the Trustees will review the major risks to which the Charity is exposed and ensure that adequate systems exist to mitigate those risks. At present the monthly outgoings of the Charity are limited and in the event of a cash flow problem it would be relatively simple to reduce expenses immediately without a major impact on the functioning of the organisation. The Trustees are however conscious that as the Charity grows a more rigorous process will need to be implemented. Presently the greatest risk the Charity faces is an adverse costs award. The risk of this occurring can be mitigated by seeking legal advice and undertaking considered review of the strengths of any potential legal action. ## **7. Thanks** The Trustees wish to thank all those people who have supported the Charity throughout the year. The Trustees are particularly grateful to those who have donated to the Charity as it has enabled us to extend the reach of the organisation and undertake legal work. We could not have achieved what we have without them. We would also like to thank the volunteers who have assisted us with research, legal work and the drafting of articles. Their generosity with their time and skills, as well as their professionalism, is appreciated and their work very gratefully received. **Approved by the Trustees by agreement on 29 November 2022 and signed on their behalf.** ## **Michelle Strauss** Secretary The Animal Advocacy Project 29 November 2022 THE ANIMAL ADVOCACY PROJECT Icharitable Incorporate(l Organisationl STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST JANUARY 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Fur¥Js Funds TOTAL 2022 TOTAL 2021 Not•¥ INCOMING RESOURCES Incomiftg Résour¢•ts from G•n•rat•d Fund8 O￿ationS & Legacios 8.942 8,942 7,455 Inv8stm8nt Incom8 ab TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 8.944 8.944 7.455 RESOURCES EXPENDED Costs off Genaratlng Fund• Cost of Chgritstde Actnithets 7.158 7.158 378 Gov8mart8 C08ts 1,118 1,118 TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 8.276 8,276 378 NET INCOMINGI IOUTGOINGI RESOUIICES 668 7.077 Total Fund8 Brought Forward 7.077 7,077 TOTAL FVNOS CARRIED FORWARD 7.745 7,745 7.077 Movernents on all rès*rv88 and 811 rwnised gains and 105$es are shown aLxwo. Al of the organL%ation's wrations are cLgsse(l as cotitinuino. Thè notès on pag88 11 to 15 form port of thesè financLql 8tat8ment& THE ANIMALADVI)CACY PROJECT 8HEEr A•AT318TJAIW4PYZ02Z 5T5 7,74S 7.74$ r,74J 7,74$ 7.740 Y.740 7.745 7,74$ 7.077 7.746 7,740 Ofvilj Coor6 THE ANIMAL ADVOCACY PROJECT ICharibbl8 IncotPDratsd Org8ntsBtlonl NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENOED 31ST JANUARY 2022 1. ACCOUNT114G POU¢IÉS B**liofPr•p•rotlon & A••wmwrtofGolryCont•rn Ba*l#of Pr•p•ratlon Thg finan￿81 statsmènts have been ryepared under ts hi•oTiCAI Ujat (X)￿n￿on ￿th kem8 recovn￿ at wst pr trAn9Action velue unb55 Otherwi8e 8tstèd In the rdevÈM n￿86. The finawal *atements hav8 b88n prepared In ￿e0rdance wth thB Statemètst of Recomm•ndad PraL*￿&." AGtx)unting Ènd R*p)rtiw by char￿￿￿ prepanng thBir accounts I acC￿￿an￿ wrth thB FinancAal Rewrtlw Standard appl￿b￿ In thè UK and Republ￿ of Irdand {FRS1021 1 JdnuAry 20151- (Charitie¥ SORP- FRS102} and the ChariiiesAct2011. Thé Ch8rty mèèts the deflnll￿￿ of a Publ￿ èntity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are Init￿lty ¢$¢¢gni9od at h*iorKal rnsl unless *Xtsd In tr* r￿eventa￿0Untsng wliw rK)t* p￿parall04 ofthe accounts ￿ on a gtsino (x)ncern b36Ls. Thotrusteps con5￿19rthat11￿g fx) mat8rf￿ unr*rt8inles about thg Chanty's èbilty to contsnue as a qoifjo conrgm. Incomlng R•Murc are IncludBd In the Statemeni of Financial Activibes ISOFAI ¥vhdn'. . the chanty becotnes 8nttladto the rèAourees'. . th9 trusteos ère virtualy certain they will rgrerrf9 tho ¢e$ources'. and . the monetary valu8 b9 m8aaufèd Wrth suffic￿t relLibilty Whore incominy resources havg related gXP8ndrturè las fu￿ra￿s1￿ or comra￿ incom91 th8 If￿0m1n9 rbsource and T¢￿ted exwnditurg rgpthd yr¢JS8 in SOFA. Grants and Donations ère only iDcJuoW in th9 SOFAW￿Th tho ¢hAdty ha6 uncondthonal en*t￿m@￿t to thè ￿t￿Ur¢￿￿. Incoming resources from tax reclaims ar9 1n¢fudBd in th& SOFA èl the Sam?￿m& a5the grft to whith théy rdlth. Glfts In k￿nts arg yccounted for at A reasonablg of th8irvaluè tts the chadty or the arnwnt actually r8ali58d. Gits In kind ftsr $sle or distribution are Indud9d In thé act￿nts as gifts onty whgn sold or distributsd by the charity. Gifts In kind for use byth* thattyaro induded in tho SOFA as Incorning r@5￿1¢&9 recofvAb￿. These only Included in Incoming resources (with an wuwalent An￿U￿ in resources exp8n(*odl W￿r8 the benefft to the Charrty is reason8￿Y quantffiobk, m&*suf8ble maleDal. Th9 vglu8 ￿at•d on thtse re60urc4$ 1$ lh9 e8timatEA Val￿ to Ih? tharty of th8 sèfviceorfètylty recgivgd. The value ofany ¥duntJry hdp rtcoW16 ￿v￿go InthB aCrXJuThts but is descdbed in tho t￿*t￿￿'s￿￿U￿l repDrt. This indud8d In thè aco)unts when r￿¥&￿8. Inv￿tm￿n Thi6 includad any oain of ioss on the sab of InvestrnBnts a*d any gain orlou resultlTVJ frorn revJluing inv*thents to m8tht value at the ènd of the year. THE ANIMAL ADVOCACY PROJECT ICharitAblb Inwrporatsd Ctynis*ionl NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continu￿} FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST JANUARY 2022 t. ACCOUNTING POLICIE$ Iconilnu•d) Exp•tsd1tUr•￿d Llabllltle• Liatslitigs arg rec￿￿1*èd aa soon 88ihere kn a *ol 0rc0nstrLK*￿Qbllgotion cr)mrnitbtothètharity to pay out reGOurc&s. Include costs of preparatiDn ¥nd gxatnin*titin of statutory acu￿Trts. ghe cost6 of the trustees mB9bng¥ gnd c(Bt of 5ny 1gu31 advvta trusts88 on oovernance or o)r&iiulional rnattgr8. whe￿ the charity gwgs a grant ¥vith canditiQng for h payment bolw 0 6￿fiC 1ov&l of 5erwce or ouw to be p￿1¢*¥¢, such yrants aré only r•(￿niSed In SOFAorKe re¢iyMgntof the grant h¥¥ provid8d thè iPèCifi6d $8Thice oroutput. These are only rwni$gd in accounts when A comNthont h85 beon And thore we DO lo bg n r¥iong to a yrantwhich rgmain In control of the tharity. 8upwrt wsts Inclu¢9 Cont￿ functKJnS beon allocated 10 Xtl¥4ty co* wonos on a bas¥ with the usè of th& regources. eg allorAllng woperty costs by fioor arga& or ppr rnpit¥l grnpiornl *¥ff ¢ts4ts by timè S￿Tht a￿1 r)th8rcosts by th8bTU3a9e. Thègè srè c8pitalis•d if they cAn be used for rThNe than om year. and cost at least £1,5tXJ. Thgy ￿1￿￿0 * or. rf giftgd. *lhé v4lL*toth8 chartyon re(*pi. Investrn8nts Quoted on a re￿￿TrIsed stod( exchanw are v&ugd at market ￿ve at Ihe year end. Othpr In¥8¥iTn8nt tys8&ts are Included at tTUSt8es' b88t sstim8t8 0fmar￿t value. 2. TA14GI8LE FIXEDA&8ETS Th8 Chanty hqld notsn91￿& fixed 0990tsor In¥e8tmeMsduringthi$orlho Ftyvlous fiMnrJ￿ pwvj. Thg annual ￿MMth￿ts und8r nofvcarthlling oparnlng le2ae9 and cApltAI o)mmttmeM9area6 folltyws.. 31st January 2022.. Non9 31st January 2021.. None THE ANIMAL AOVOCACY PROJECT {¢hantabl8 IncoTporated OrgÈnlgalon} NOTE$ TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Icontlnuadl FOR THE YEAR ENOED 31ST JANUARY 2022 3. IMCOMING RESOURCES Unrd$triCtsd Rt8trthi TOTAL Fund8 Fun 2022 TOTAL 2021 al Don•tlonJ& L•y*l•* Gifts & Donat￿n6 8.942 8.942 7,435 8,942 7,455 bl In¥e•tm•nt Incom• Bank Interesi 4. RESOURCES EXPENDED Unre&tricte(l R8¥trictsd Funds FuDd$ TOTAL 20?2 TOTAL 2021 al COtt￿ChI￿￿b1•AC￿¥lI10• AdminiStrBtfve EX￿Se5 Bank Charges 8[￿kS & pU￿leat1¢￿8 Conf&rence Costs Consult5nw Co*t8 Sundry Expengea 893 893 351 27 4(KJ 850 4,910 400 Bso 4.910 100 7,158 7.15B 378 blG¢)v*rn&nc•Co•t Ind@pendÈnt Examine¢6 Fa L•pal & PrOfe￿onal Fees 575 543 575 543 1.118 THE ANIMAL ADVOCACY PROJECT (Chartsbb Incorporated Oryanigationl NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Icontinuedl FOR THE YEAR ENOÉD 31ST JANUARY 2022 S. RESTRICTED FLINDS The ChAdty hald no Resmcted Fund5 dUn￿th￿ orthe preVI￿$fina￿￿ pgri0U. 6. CASFI ATBANKAND IN HAND unrestr￿ Restricted Funds Funds TOTAL 31￿&￿-22 TOTAL 31thnQ1 at Bank in Hand 7.077 8,320 8,320 7,077 7. DEBTORS AND PREPAYMENT$ Vnrg¥tridgU Rfjsthc￿d Funds Fund9 TOTAL 31￿￿n.22 TOTAL 31.J•n.?I Sundry Debtors 8. ¢REtyYORS *¢CRLIALSAND DEFERRED INCOME: AMOUNTSFALLIFIG PUE WIThIN ONE YEAR Unreslncrod Restrthd Furtdè TOTAL 31J•n.22 TOTAL 31.Jan*21 Independem ExamiDgrf8 F90 575 57S 575 575 . CREDITORS-LONGTERM LIA8ILITIES'. AMOUNTS FALLINS DUE IN MoAÉniAN ONE YEAR The Ch¥nty hèkj no kJfvJ tem) I&￿IrtieS dunw thB ortr* Pm*Xjsflnar￿8l perknd. 10. ANALYSIS OF NET A$$ETS BEfwEEN FUNDS Unwtrietsd Ra9trtcted Fund Fund TOTAL 31J*n-22 TOTAL 31-J*n-21 Tangible FrAod A8sets Net Current AEEets Low Term 7.745 7,74S 7.077 TofAL FUNDS 7,74$ THE ANIMAL ADVOCACY PROJECT IChBritabb Incorp￿￿ed or￿n1$￿tiOn) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS lcontlnuqdl FOR THE YEAR ENDED 318TJANUARY 2022 11. STAFFCOSTSAND NUMBERS Th8 Charity bmrAoyed DO m9rnbÈrs ofstaff during Ihis orthe provbus financial pgri¢d. 12. TRUSTEES AND ofHÉ¥t RELATED PARTIES No ￿yments wer• madg to tnJStsBS or any perSDn$ Cornr￿¢1¢d wrth Ih9m dunw this flnanoal pgriDd. No material tranSa￿lD￿toDk pkg¢• bet4W thB atrustoB or any wr6oD conng#gd wrth thpm 12021..Non•l. 13. RISK A$SESSMENT The Trustees èctlvdy review th8 major tsks which thg chality facos on o regular 8nd bèlhwe thot maints1n￿ry th8 frÈè re8ervgS StatÉo. combined th8 annual revlew of Ihg controls ov8r kèy financlal systsms ￿trIe(S OLrt on an annual ba618 11 prowde Suffi￿Ont r880urcts In the event of adv8tsè condltbns. The Trusts9¥ exarnlned Oihgr 0￿￿t￿r￿al And busineyg risks whlch th￿ tara and t￿￿r￿ thaithjy h￿8 asth￿1&h•d sy6temsto M￿9&to thD *#nthe4nt 14. RESERVE3 POU¢Y Thè Truytses have consKlgr8d the levd of reserves th8y wish to retsin. approprlate lo char￿$ needs. Thls is based on the chaiity'$ 5nd thè level of financial CDrnmth*nts held. TfU¥ta8s sirn to ansureihe charity will bg ab￿tts eontsnue to fulfll its charltable obJ"g#wg* ￿ jlthere Is a lempor3ry shorttall In Income or unexpectsd 8xpénditure. The Trustees will gnd8avour notto Strt as￿0 fund¥ unnecos58n1y. 15. PUBUC BEF4EFTrT The Cherty ackwledg84 itg reoulr&mem lo dgmonEtrate clearty that It must have chafrtabk purposes or'aims. th* ar9 for thp public benafft. Detsilsof how th8 charity has ￿h￿8d this arg PfDwd8d in Tru61ees reporL ThgTrustses conflrm thai they have paid du8 r8gèrd to the Charity Commiss￿n 9uidancfr on publrc b9ngffi b8for8 dÈcidiw what activiDes thg ch¥rty should utsdèrtake.