2024-12-31-accounts - London Colney Hedgehog Rescue

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01-01-2024 Period start date To 31-12-2024 Period end date

Charity name: London Colney Hedgehog Rescue

Charity registration number: 1191141

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	Conservation and preservation of the hedgehog species in London Colney and nearby areas
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	To relieve the suffering and distress of hedgehogs in need of care and attention by providing a rescue, care and rehabilitation service for sick, injured and orphaned hedgehogs with the aim of releasing such hedgehogs back into the wild wherever possible and to also provide a safe refuge for non-native hedgehog species with the necessary care and treatment. To educate the public by promoting awareness of the problems hedgehogs encounter in relation to their future survival.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The Trustees are aware of the public benefit guidance and have ensured it is considered when making decisions.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	N/A
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38	N/A
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	The charity is heavily reliant on volunteers for cleaning out the hedgehogs daily.

Volunteers also help with other tasks such as manning stalls for fairs and fostering hedgehogs if needed Other

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	Every year countless hedgehogs are killed and injured. As well as the pain and suffering hedgehogs endure, many babies are orphaned and need to be hand-reared before release. Humans cause many hedgehog deaths and injuries through the irresponsible disposal of litter, habitat destruction, the use of garden tools and chemicals, through deliberate cruelty and by running them over when speeding on the roads. LCHR has continued to support hedgehogs with 232 hedgehogs admitted for treatment during 2024. LCHR has also been microchipping hedgehogs since 2016 and up to 31st December 2024, a total of 1833 have been microchipped. This practice provides useful data on the benefits of releasing to different environments/areas, particularly if any hedgehogs are returned to the rescue as it gives information on survival rates.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	where relevant about:
Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	N/A
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	Fundraising for 2024 was less than the running costs of the charity as the intention was to deliberately reduce the level of reserves in line with the reduction in activity
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41	N/A
Other

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	In line with the charity’s aims to reduce its activity, income has dropped below spend in 2024. However, there are adequate reserves to cover 12 months’spend
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	The charity’s reserves policy aims to ensure that it has sufficient reserves to maintain at least one year’s expenditure in the absence of any income. In 2024, there was a planned reduction in the level of reserves as they significantly exceeded the amount required.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	At the end December 2024 the reserves for the charity that were freely available £19,559.63 which exceeds 12 months of our planned level of expenditure for the period commencing January 2025.
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	N/A
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	N/A

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	Fundraising is primarily through donations. Funds are also raised by running stalls at local fairs – this includes the sale of hedgehog-related merchandise, activities for children (such as a lucky dip) and a tombola
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	N/A
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	None identified
Other		As the charity’s income is less than £10,000, we have not submitted accounts this year as per Charity Commission guidance.

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:		N/A
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution adopted 15thJanuary 2020
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	CIO
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	With the exception of the first charity trustees, every trustee is appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of charity trustees.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51	These have been reviewed and updated
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	N/A
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	N/A
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	London Colney Hedgehog Rescue
Other name the charity uses	N/A
Registered charitynumber	1191141
Charity’s principal address	Kings Road London Colney Herts AL2 1EN

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Esther Chant
Heather Green
Shirena Counter	Chair	Appointed 31/5/25
Gail Coles	Treasurer	Appointed 31/5/25
Jill Stevens	Secretary	Appointed 31/5/25

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name N/A

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name	Dates acted if not for whole year
N/A

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of	Name	Address
adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) N/A

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

N/A

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date
	Shirena Counter
	Chair
	26thOctober 2025
	26thOctober 2025