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ANNUAL RETURN: YEAR ENDING 31 JANUARY 2024
THE ANIMAL ADVOCACY PROJECT
Report of the Trustees
The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their first annual report and unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 January 2024. 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
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 2024 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. The Board has advertised that it is actively seeking trustees. The Chair, Secretary and Treasurer are elected from amongst the Trustees.
We were delighted to welcome Maya Pardo as a trustee in early 2024.
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.
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- that said the charity is reviewing this utilitarian approach as a basis on which to assess impact.
Education
TAAP was fortunate to be awarded a grant from Sustain in March 2023 to prepare a guide for local authorities to use when considering planning applications for intensive animal agriculture facilities. The document that was produced is a user friendly and comprehensive outline of the environmental and animal welfare impacts of intensive agriculture and the legislation and case law relating to it. As the document was prepared for Sustain it was handed over to them in November 2023 together with a media strategy. TAAP has however made use of the content for social media and blog posts.
The Charity s 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 regularly contribute to pages on our website and publish information through social media.
Awareness
The England and Wales team assisted the team in Ireland with the preparation and compilation of a survey addressing the emotional cost of animal rescue of those working in the sector. We received a 171 responses in total which was an excellent return rate. Through this we were able to prepare a report that highlighted the difficulties of government policy and a lack of funding for those involved in the rescue sector in Ireland. It is proposed that in time the same survey model will be trialled in the UK. We have also recently been highlighting mental health courses offered by specialist providers for volunteer workers in the UK.
Planning objections
TAAP have objected to two planning applications for intensive animal agricultural facilities. One application is ongoing and relates to a “mega farm” in Norfolk. TAAP was approached by a group of local residents and in addition to making our own detailed objection, we put the group in contact with a number of organisations who might be able to assist them. This application is still being considered but we are proud to have gathered a number of experts together to lodge concerns and to draw attention to the significant impact of this facility.
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 and environmental impacts given these issues have been shown to have negative impacts on habitats and animal populations.
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.
One of our trustees, Michelle, delivered a seminar on how to use planning processes to advance animal welfare concerns at an ALAW seminar in October 2023.
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.
5. Achievements and performance
Significant resources were directed to work for which we received the Sustain grant. We are very proud of the document that was produced. It has also proven helpful for those involved in preparing objections – giving them a perspective into matters that planning officials can have regard to when considering applications.
This year was also a moment of consolidation and reflection given that significant time and resources had in the preceding year been directed to the VCI case in Ireland. This case provided a moment to reconsider whether litigation was the most effective intervention we could undertake – and the consensus was that it was not. For this reason the charity has taken a step back to focus on policy interventions and more cost effective ways to address systemic problems. Work is underway in this area.
Fundraising is always an issue and 2023 proved to be a difficult year. We trialled efforts to sell merchandise which unfortunately did not prove to generate the income we had hoped – but we will continue to think of new ideas.
Given the size of TAAP and the limited resources of the charity we are very proud of the impact we have had – particularly in helping to bring awareness to the planning matter in Norfolk.
6. Financial review
Financial position
Incoming resources in the year were £12,470.
Of this £5,250 related to a restricted activity – which was the grant from Sustain to produce the planning information. This was all spent within the financial year.
There was a surplus of £2,705.
Funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others
None
Reserves
The Trustees elected to hold £500 as reserve for the administrative costs of running the website and email addresses.
Risk Management
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. The greatest risk the Charity previously faced was an adverse costs award – given that the decision has been made to halt litigation in the immediate term this risk has been mitigated.
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 27 November 2024 and signed on their behalf.
Michelle Strauss
Secretary The Animal Advocacy Project
27 November 2024
Financial Activities
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Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL TOTAL
Notes Funds Funds 2023/24 2022/23
£ £ £ £
INCOMING RESOURCES
Incoming Resources from Generated Funds
Donations & Legacies 3a 6,061 0 6,061 12,470
Contributions & Grants 3b 0 5,250 5,250 0
Investment Income 3c 23 0 23 8
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 6,084 5,250 11,334 12,478
RESOURCES EXPENDED
Costs of Generating Funds
Cost of Charitable Activities 4a 7,811 5,250 13,061 10,407
Governance Costs 4b 217 0 217 5,167
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 8,028 5,250 13,278 15,574
NET INCOMING/ (OUTGOING) RESOURCES -1,944 0 -1,944 -3,096
Total Funds Brought Forward 4,649 0 4,649 7,745
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 2,705 0 2,705 4,649
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Balance Sheet
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Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL TOTAL
Notes Funds Funds 2023/24 2022/23
£ £ £ £
Fixed Assets
Tangible Assets 1 0 0 0 0
Current Assets
Debtors & Prepayments 7 0 0 0 0
Cash at Bank and in Hand 6 2,705 0 2,705 4,649
Total Current Assets 2,705 0 2,705 4,649
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 8 0 0 0 0
NET CURRENT ASSETS 2,705 0 2,705 4,646
TOTAL ASSETS less current liabilities 2,705 0 2,705 4,649
Creditors : Long Term Liabilities 9 0 0 0 0
NET ASSETS 2,705 0 2,705 4,649
Funds of the Charity
General Funds 2,705 0 2,705 4,649
Restricted Funds 5 0 0 0 0
Total Funds 2,705 0 2,705 4,649
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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 2024