THE ANIMA ADVOGA PROJECT UAL REPORT
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 2023. 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: Randi Milgram (April 2022).
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:
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Help humans treat animals better; we aim to prevent animal cruelty and stop animal suffering;
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To teach people how the law can help us to change the lives of animals, for the better; and
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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 2023 there were 3 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. The Charity has started recruitment work for the 2023/2024 year to expand the Board and is in the process of appointing a new trustee. The Chair, Secretary and Treasurer are elected from amongst the Trustees.
Organisational Structure
During the financial year the Trustee Board met twice.
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. However, in early 2022 a decision was made to use some of TAAP’s funds to engage contractors for certain work.
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.
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. 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 continued work on planning related matters. 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 environmental concerns given that an unhealthy environment inevitably affects animals.
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.
In 2021 we lodged an objection to a large scale pig unit in East Riding. The matter went to a planning committee in January 2022 at which we made a submission. Planning was subsequently approved. We were concerned that due consideration had not been given to material planning considerations and sought an opinion from counsel as to whether there may be grounds for a judicial review in March 2022. On the basis of counsel’s advice we decided not to pursue the matter. However, the advice informed our approach to planning matters going forward.
One particularly successful initiative in this area related to the objection to an extension of a large dog breeding facility in Northern Ireland. In addition to TAAP’s objection, we also drafted a template objection for public use. This wording formed the basis of over 1000 objections to the Local Planning Authority. Local politicians also used this work for their own objections. The planning application has now been called in as a consequence of this campaign.
Government consultations
TAAP made one submission in respect of a government consultation on the sentencing guidelines for animal welfare offences.
In accordance with our charitable objectives, the responses to the consultation focussed primarily on how sentences should seek to address animal welfare concerns, rather than
simply being a punitive measure. We also feel strongly that broader social justice issues are relevant to sentencing for animal welfare offences and noted this in our submission.
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. The VCI dismissed the complaint and TAAP appealed this decision. A hearing was held in the Dubin Circuit Court in November 2022. Unfortunately our appeal was not successful, but no costs award was made. Whilst we considered that the decision was not in keeping with the case law or the statutory position, we elected not to appeal to the High Court. The reasons for this decision were that the appeal had consumed significant time and resources within TAAP. Further, there was very little support from organisations in Ireland, and consequently we did not feel that we had the capacity to pursue the matter further on our own. There were also costs concerns should we lose the appeal. Whilst the outcome was undoubtedly disappointing, we are proud to have raised issue and pursued a matter on which the VCI has never previously been challenged.
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, and we have also appointed a social media consultant who undertakes social media work for us one day per week. This has increased our engagement with the public and has also made more people aware of our work.
5. Achievements and performance
The 2022/2023 financial year was undoubtedly a challenging one for the charity. Significant resources and time were put towards the VCI appeal that was not successful. Nevertheless we are proud to have brought awareness to the issue and to have pursued the first appeal on this point of law. Throughout the year we have engaged increasing numbers of the public in planning processes that relate to animal agriculture and through this have brought awareness of the plight of millions of animals.
6. Financial review
Financial position
Incoming resources in the year were £12,470
Of this none was related to project restricted activities.
There was a surplus of £4,649.00
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. The board elected to hold £7,500 as a reserve for this work. At the conclusion of the litigation and following the end of the appeal period, the board released these reserves for general use.
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. The volunteers generosity with their time and skills, as well as their professionalism, is appreciated and their work very gratefully received. In particular we wish to thank Johann Strauss for all of his time, support and expertise this year.
Approved by the Trustees by agreement on 24 November 2023 and signed on their behalf.
Michelle Strauss
Secretary
The Animal Advocacy Project 24 November 2023
Statement of financial activities
| Unrestricted | Restricted | TOTAL | TOTAL |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | Funds | Funds | 2023 | 2022 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| INCOMING RESOURCES | |||||
| Incoming Resources from Generated Funds | |||||
| Donations & Legacies | 3a | 12,470 | - | 12,470 | 8,942 |
| Investment Income | 3b | 8 | - | 8 | 2 |
| TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES | 12,478 | - | 12,478 | 8,944 |
|
| RESOURCES EXPENDED | |||||
| Costs of Generating Funds | |||||
| Cost of Charitable Activities | 4a | 10,407 | - | 10,407 | 7,158 |
| Governance Costs | 4b | 5,167 | - | 5,167 | 1,118 |
| TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED | 15,574 | - | 15,574 | 8,276 |
|
| NET INCOMING/ (OUTGOING) RESOURCES | -3,096 | - | -3,096 | 668 |
|
| Total Funds Brought Forward | 7,745 | - | 7,745 | ||
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 4,649 | - | 4,649 | 7,745 |
Balance Sheet
| Notes Fixed Assets Tangible Assets 1 Current Assets Debtors & Prepayments 7 Cash at Bank and in Hand 6 Total Current Assets Creditors:Amounts falling due within one year 8 NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETSless current liabilities Creditors: Long Term Liabilities 9 NET ASSETS Funds of the Charity General Funds Restricted Funds 5 Total Funds |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds TOTAL 2023 TOTAL 2022 £ £ £ £ - - - - - - - - 4,649 - 4,649 8,320 |
|---|---|
| 4,649 - 4,649 8,320 |
|
| - - - 575 4,646 - 4,646 7,745 |
|
| 4,649 - 4,649 7,745 - - - - |
|
| 4,649 - 4,649 7,745 |
|
| 4,649 - 4,649 7,745 - - - - |
|
| 4,649 - 4,649 7,745 |
|
The Trustees are satisfied that the Charity is entitled to exemption from the requirement to obtain an audit/independent examination as the charity income for the financial year was below £25,000.
David Cooke
Trustee/ Treasurer 24 November 2023