Saving Strays
(Registered Charity 1191852)
144 Geneva Road
Darlington Co Durham DL1 4HT
Charity Accounts (Unaudited)
Year Ended 31 March 2023
1. Charity Information
Trustees Peter Egan Maria Slough Julie Chilton Kim Powell Dr Roger Bralow Address: 144 Geneva Road Darlington Co Durham DL1 4HT Bank: Lloyds TSB Bank – Account Numbers 23045962 & 43295462 Independent Examiner: Brook & Co Accountants 1 Market Place Brackley Northants NN13 7AB
The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023. Financial statements are prepared on a receipts & payments basis and are independently examined.
The charity is overseen by a Board of Trustees and operates within its Governing document. Trustees are not remunerated for their trusteeship except for expenses relating to the course of the charity’s activities. The Trustees are elected to serve for a period of one year and are reelected and approved at the Annual General Meeting. Any new trustees are nominated and approved by the board before becoming active within the Charity. The Board seeks to ensure that they have the requisite skills between them to run the CIO.
Structure, Governance and Management
Induction and Training of new Trustees
The Trustees are already familiar with the practical work of the organisation. New Trustees are given an informed and detailed outline in writing and an in person briefing from an existing trustee to familiarise themselves with the charity and how it operates which covers:
Obligations of Trustees
The Governing Document within which the Charity operates including Policies and procedures Access to current financial position
Future plans of the Charity
Maintaining objectives and ensuring each dog is treated as an individual life within the day to day running of the organization.
Operation
The UK Charity is 100% volunteer led. No salaries are paid only expenses reimbursed relating to the course of the charity’s activites. Volunteers work remotely across the UK and the rest of the world and support the Charity’s activities with admin, adoption, social media support, homechecking and fundraising.
Volunteers when recruited are informally interviewed by either our Communications Manager and a Trustee with information on how the Charity operates. These are undertaken across various media platforms, messenger chat and zoom. We use the volunteer section of ‘Charity Jobs’ to advertise volunteer roles backed up by our social media platforms. The volunteers are then issued with a volunteer contract and once signed and returned, given access to the governing document, policies and procedures. They then undertake a period of observation within the department they have joined and are supported during this integration process.
Charitable Objects
To advance animal welfare for the benefit of the public
-
To relieve the suffering of animals in need of care and attention and, in particular, to provide and maintain a rescue and rehoming service for the reception, care and treatment of stray dogs in the UK, Bosnia & Herzegovina and such other European countries as the Trustees may decide who by reason of abandonment are in need of such care and attention.
-
To educate the public in matters pertaining to animal welfare in general and the prevention of cruelty and suffering among animals
Achievements & Performance
In the year 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023 the charity experienced some challenges that the cost of living crisis presented to all charitable entities. The cost of dog food more than doubled and donations from the public reduced. While people stayed loyal and responded to specific appeals the amounts donated were noticeably less. We started to experience a surge in requests for help with abandoned dogs in the U.K. Therefore, we took a decision to reduce the number of dogs we would bring to the U.K. for rehoming and realigned our working plans overseas. We raised funds for 49 dogs in total to travel in the 12 month period from April 2022 - March 2023. 10 of these dogs went into forever sanctuary with our sanctuary partners The Retreat Animal Rescue in Kent and Dogs4Rescue in Manchester. These are dogs that we inherited that are too traumatised for domestic life. Working with Billy Thompson and Emma Billington, we were able to rescue these dogs to an open living secure space with constant company and interaction, thanks to our sanctuary partners.
On social media we grew our following again with additional graphics created by our volunteer designer from tips approved by our veterinary trustee on how to care for your companion animals as well as top tips on how to keep your dog safe and calm during the fireworks season and how to keep them safe during the heat of the summer as well as tips on what not to let them eat at Easter and Christmas. We proposed to publish this next year as an e-book and printed book subject to sponsorship, in English and Bosnian and issue to junior schools and libraries for free.
We worked hard to grow our reach on social media growing the team and expanding to TikTok as well. We use all platforms to communicate clearly with our supporters with full transparency of our work. We use social media as a way of communicating with the public whose donations help us save these dogs and to run food appeals, funding appeals for rescue and updating on how our adopted dogs are doing in their new homes. We grew our private Adoptions Facebook group which offers support to anyone who has adopted from us and helps us keep in touch with our dogs so we can offer full rescue back up for the lifetime of the individual dog.
We took the decision to place the property on the market in Bosnia that we purchased with a combination of a grant from Anthony Martin Trust and funds raised by ourselves. As our work developed and we moved across to working independently we no longer required the house which provided back up to the land dogs we cared for, originally rescued by Milena Malesevic. The property has not yet sold at the time of writing this report. In June with the help of one donor we built large raised platforms on the land for the dogs to have a safe place to access during flood season.
We continue to support those dogs left with a clear plan for removing them all from the land to our kennel partners and sanctuary partners and giving them lifetime care. We have only 10 left on the land needing our help, having moved 16 to their new forever home.
As an organisation that is entirely volunteer led, we concentrated on building the team and keeping all our volunteers engaged with our vision for the charity moving forward. Off-line fundraising was successfully reinstated with the help of one volunteer named Steve who undertook to run tombola’s each week in markets in his area. This encouraged people back into in-person fundraising and we introduced donation buckets and tins into some trusted outlets. We rehomed through our inhouse adoptions team and with the help of our rehoming partners Just for Dogs in Derbyshire and Dogs4Rescue in Manchester, 36 dogs in the year 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023. This included our cancer survivor Bobi who found her forever home with an older lady in the U.K. who was unable to adopt elsewhere because of her age. They are living happily as best friends and we are in regular contact with them both.
Ever aware of the ongoing dog crisis in the U.K. we offered help rehoming any dog in the U.K. when asked and set a plan for more education in the area of Hadzici in Bosnia to help tackle the crisis there at source.
Long before the topic became one of concern, Saving Strays (previously Saving Suffering Strays) had already installed a rigorous in-country testing process for Brucellosis at the advice of our trustee vet, Roger Bralow MRCVS.
Full compliance and transparency in any dogs we rehome coming in from outside the U.K. is something we take very seriously and dogs were tested using full blood tests (not snap tests) at the point of rescue and then again 3 months later. We now have a written statement about our process with a plan to only use APHA for any test needed moving forward.
In December 2022 we announced our new patron, Strictly Come Dancing star and TV presenter Ian Waite. He joined existing patrons Peter Egan and Rick Wakeman and Rachel Wakeman.
We revised our working partnership with our kennel partners Mersad and Melisa Sehic in Bosnia creating a near exclusive relationship with this family run facility. Having worked with them since 2017 both parties are totally committed to the partnership and in October 2022 on a trip to Bosnia, we undertook to build a large sensory garden and adventure playground for all the dogs in our care. We achieved that late March 2023 on a second trip with a team of volunteers who helped finalise the space creating murals, planting vet approved plants and height appropriate platforms and tunnels for the dogs to play in and on. The new space has improved the lives of all the dogs there and helps support our kennel partners too as the dogs are well exercised at the end of the day and the new facility creates space in the kennels for cleaning while the dogs are enjoying secure exercise, building their sensory experience and physical strength. Fundraising & Appeals
The charity has continued to raise funds with online fundraising activities including a bi- monthly event run by the volunteers that included a Handmade auction and a very successful Compassion for Fashion fundraiser online auction with the support of Vegan Happy Clothing.
With the help of the incredible supporters they donate their time and handmade and pre loved items for the auctions and make each event, a huge success and important source of income. With Covid restrictions finally clear our volunteer Steve was able to slowly reinstate his regular tombola at local markets and helped keep a steady stream of core funds trickling in. All food and transport costs are appealed for separately. The main appeals that the charity tend to run are for food (which is purchased direct from a supplier in Bosnia) occasionally transport and for specific urgent rescues.
We also have an amazing team of volunteers who run their own fundraising events from attending car boot sales, scatchcards, raffles, making items such as snuffle mats to help dogs eat slowly and buy it now occasions cards.
Our head of day to day to fundraising and fellow trustee Jay Chilton started to develop merchandise for the charity launching with new mugs at our October 2022 Fundraiser at Burgh House in London with our patrons Peter Egan and Rick Wakeman and the support of actress Eva Pope. Peter kindly donated the costs of the event so all proceeds went to help the dogs.
In spring of 2023 a group of volunteers set about raising the balance of the fund needed to finish the sensory garden and adventure playground which was completed as noted above on the volunteer trip in March 2023.
The charity has a number of donors who regularly donate with either standing orders to its main bank account or have set up recurring donations through PayPal. Supporters are continually invited to sponsor dogs with either a full or part sponsorship and the Charity have seen a total of 13 dogs (7 who have had a full sponsorship) supported over the financial year.
Rescue Fundraising
In July 2022 we were asked to help a Mum and her puppies found in woodland in the intense heatwave of that summer. We launched an appeal to fund the rescue and thanks to the public we were able to save them. Despite ongoing medical care three of the pups didn’t make it but the Mum called Janie and the other pups survived. Janie is settled well into her forever home
with the memory of her ordeal a distant memory. 3 of her pups have been rehomed and 3 are with our rehoming partners waiting for that perfect match.
Mum Janie now in her forever home (right) and at rescue (left)
Diamond - now Lola safe in her forever home
Roxy - now Luna living her best life
On 29th March while in Bosnia to finish the sensory garden project, a group of volunteers visited a killing station with new patron Ian Waite. What they found horrified them. With no space and little funds all that could be done was to launch an appeal to raise funds to administer veterinary care to these dogs at the public asylum. Within 1 hour we raised £500 on a Facebook appeal. Within 90 minutes a donor had pledged any other funds needed to get as many out as possible. We started negotiating for the release of 8 of the dogs in dire need of help. We only received 5 dogs a few days later. More updates will follow in next year’s report but we created an ongoing Fundraiser called The Freedom Fund named after one dog rescued that trip. Another girl Grady who was very ill was saved and named after Paul O’Grady who the world has just lost.
In the U.K. Olsen Animal Trust have continued to support our rescue and rehoming efforts as had Animal Friends and the charity is always overwhelmed and extremely grateful at the support from the general public who help us achieve our goals in any appeals that are run.
Financial Review
Year Ended 31 March 2023
During this year the Charity’s total incoming resources were £104,898. The resources were mainly from donations, gift aid, adoption fees and fundraising activities. Total resources expended were £108,937. The Charity’s free unrestricted reserves as at 31 March 2023 amounted to £9,736.00 and restricted £4,485.00.
Risk Management
The trustees have examined the major strategic and operational risks which the Charity faces and confirm that systems have been established to enable regular discussions, meetings and reports so that necessary steps can be taken to lessen the risks.
The trustees’ annual report was approved on 16 April 2023 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:
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Kim Elizabeth Powell – Trustee
Maria Dawn Slough - Chair
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023
1. General Information
Saving Strays CIO is a registered charity. The registered office is 144, Geneva Road, Darlington, Co Durham DL1 4HT
2. Accounting Policies
Trustees must act within the charity’s governing document and comply with the charity law requirements that apply to the charity.
Trustees must carry out their duty of prudence making sure that the charity uses its funds only to support its purpose, acting responsibly and honestly in working to maintain the charity’s financial welfare avoiding over commitment and exposure of the charity’s assets.
Trustees have put appropriate procedures and safeguards in place and take reasonable steps to make sure these are followed.
3. Basis of Preparing the Accounts
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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 and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
This year the charity opted to use accounting software which is very new to the team which ensures our bank accounts are always reconciled correctly. This has been a huge learning curve familiarizing ourselves with the software. As previously mentioned in the Trustees Annual Report, this charity is 100% volunteer lead. Unfortunately, unforeseen personal circumstances has delayed the submission of the report and the annual accounts.
4. Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
5. Tangible Assets
All tangible assets are recorded at cost. The vehicle purchased in September 2020 is still Registered to Milena Malesevic, and is used to support her own rescue efforts, veterinary visits and the daily visits to care of rescued dogs currently residing at the sanctuary in Bosnia.
6. Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. This is usually when an invoice has been received. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:-
Expenditure on Cost of Charity Activities – any expenditure relating directly to fulfilling the charitable objects of the Charity: help or assistance needed for dogs at the sanctuary; any repairs to fencing, dog houses etc at the sanctuary; passports, vaccines, microchip, veterinary care including spaying or neutering, health checks, emergency veterinary care, emergency rescue and any food cooked for the dogs.
Kennel & transport (including quarantine, import duties etc) of dogs to the UK are shown separately.
Food – dry kibble is purchased direct from the supplier in Bosnia. We purchase high value dry kibble which is complimented with home cooked food to ensure that all the dogs get the vitamins and nutrients they need.
Admin Costs are support costs for those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. They comprise administrative and IT expenses and also governance costs. Governance costs are costs that relate to the direct running of the Charity, allowing the Charity to operate and generate the information required for public accountability. They include the costs of independent examination, insurance and any legal fees both in the UK and overseas. They are split into two categories, one which covers core operating costs and the other any administrative costs in relation to the Forever Centre.
7. Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities
8. Fund Accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
9. Financial Instruments
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the Charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. All financial assets and liabilities are initially measured at the transaction price (including transaction costs).
The Charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
10. Going Concern
The Trustees have reviewed future plans for the Charity and consider that it is a going concern.
Charity Name Saving Strays
CC16a
No (if any) 1191852
Receipts and payments accounts
For the period Period Start Date Period End Date To from 01/04/2022 31/03/2023
Section A Receipts and payments
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
Last year to the nearest £ |
||||
Donations |
41,019 | 9,445 | - | 50,464 | 75,598 | ||||
| Adoption Fees | 8,649 | - | - | 8,649 | 11,338 | ||||
| Gift Aid | 3,949 | - | 3,949 | 4,008 | |||||
| Grant Core Funds | - | - | - | - | 1,300 | ||||
| Grant Forever Centre | - | - | - | - | 20,000 | ||||
| Food Fund | 820 | 12,624 | - | 13,444 | 9,763 | ||||
| Transport Fund | 651 | 11,230 | - | 11,881 | 33,950 | ||||
| Credit Returned Foreign Payment | - | - | - | - | 195 | ||||
| Credit from Forever Centre to Core Funds | 167 | - | - | 167 | 1,126 | ||||
| SponsorshipFunds | - | 4,146 | - | 4,146 | - | ||||
| Rescue Funds | 308 | 2,289 | - | 2,597 | - | ||||
| Online Fundraiser | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Burgh House | 9,601 | - | - | 9,601 | - | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | 65,164 | 39,734 | - | 104,898 | 157,278 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Sub total | - | - | |||||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
|||||||||
| 157,278 | |||||||||
Costs of activities to achieve CharityPurpose |
4,038 | 32,355 | |||||||
| Kennel Fees | - | 14,085 | |||||||
| Rescue Costs | - | 961 | |||||||
| Sanctuary | - | 8,117 | |||||||
| Vet Costs | 6,464 | 7,490 | |||||||
| Food | - | 17,846 | |||||||
| Transport Costs | 2,163 | 33,417 | |||||||
| Funds Raised for other Charities | 450 | 572 | |||||||
| Admin and OperatingCosts | 5,869 | 8,893 | |||||||
| Facebook Fees | 718 | 1,323 | |||||||
| Fundraisingfees | - | 2,213 | |||||||
| Debit FC to Core Funds | - | 1,126 | |||||||
| Admin and OperatingCosts Forever Centre | - | 26,201 | |||||||
| Bank Charges/Payment Fees | 960 | 2,045 | |||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Sub total | 20,662 | 156,644 | |||||||
| A4 Asset and investmentpurchases, (see table) | |||||||||
| Purchase of Vehicle | |||||||||
| Purchase of Caravan | - | ||||||||
| Improvements to Land | - | 965 | |||||||
| Sub total | - | 965 | |||||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds Loss on Currency Exchange A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
|||||||||
| 157,609 | |||||||||
| 44,502 | - 331 |
||||||||
| - 41,311 - |
- | ||||||||
| 6,545 | 32,610 | ||||||||
| 9,736 | 32,280 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| CCXX R1 accounts (SS) Categories B1 Cash funds |
1 Details GBP Paypal Euro Paypal USD Paypal |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 715 - - |
26 Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GBP Paypal | 715 | - | - | |
| Euro Paypal | - | - | - | |
| 1 USD Paypal |
- | - | /04/2024 - |
B2 Other monetary assets
B3 Investment assets
B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use
B5 Liabilities
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
| - | - | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9,021 | 1,213 | - | ||||
| - | 3,272 | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| 9,736 | 4,485 | - | ||||
| OK | ||||||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
||||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| Details Details Land/Sanctuary Improvements to Land Details Improvements to Land Purchase of Caravan Purchase of Car House Purchase Signature |
Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Unrestricted 7,800 Unrestricted 6,300 Restricted 965 Restricted 3,231 Restricted 4,721 Restricted 21,642 - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Kim Powell Maria Slough |
Current value (optional) |
||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||||
| 7,800 | ||||||
| 6,300 | ||||||
| 965 | ||||||
| 2,746 | ||||||
| 4,013 | ||||||
| 21,642 | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| When due (optional) |
||||||
| Date of approval | ||||||
| Kim Powell | 26/04/2024 | |||||
| Maria Slough | 26/04/2024 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
26/04/2024
2
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Cbarily Nanie Saving Suffering Strays On accounts for the year endod Charity no (if any) 3110312023 1191852 Set out on pages Iffern to pty• d8d&knal sheels) I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above d)arity (Ihe Trust") for the year ended l ÈtKy31Y. Responsibilities and As the charity ttustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requiremenls of the Charities Act 2011 {"the Act"). I report in re$cl of my examination of the Trusl's accounts carried out under seclion 145 of the 2011 Act arnl in carying out my examination, I have followed the applicable DirectnS grrfen by the Charity Commission under section 145(5Xb) of the Ad. I have completed my examinatbon. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ') in connection with the examinakn.on whth gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect: accounting records Vre not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounls do not accord wth the accounting records Independent examiner's statement I have no concems and have come across no other matters in conneclion wth the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be Teached. . Please delet8 the words in the brackels if Ihey do nol apply. Slgned: Dale: 1110312024 Name: Anita Brook Relevant profgssional qualificatlon{sl or body (if any): FCCA Address: 1 Market Place Brackley NN13 7A8 IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs lo highlKJht matters of concern {see CC32. Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief detalls of any items thatthe examiner wishes to dls¢lose. IER October 2018