## **Ouessant Sheep Society**
**Registered Charity, No: 1195176**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report & Statement of Financial Activity for the Year Ended 31 August 2022**
## **Trustees**
Christine Bamford
Sandra Bell
Antonia Clements (Chair)
Joanne Fulham Sally Hoppins Susan Hughes Adrian Lloyd
John Mcillmurray
Michelle Mcillmurray
William Merrell
Wendy Thompson
_Ouessant Sheep Society: Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements_
_Page 1 of 10_
## **Trustees’ Annual Report & Statement of Financial Activity for the Year Ended 31 August 2022**
## **Contents**
||**Trustees’ Annual Report**
**& Statement of Financial Activity**
**for the Year Ended 31 August 2022**
**Contents**|**Trustees’ Annual Report**
**& Statement of Financial Activity**
**for the Year Ended 31 August 2022**
**Contents**|
|---|---|---|
|**1**|**Reference and Administration Details .......................................................... 3**||
||1.1|Charity Name & Registration ............................................................................ 3|
||1.2|Charity’s Address ............................................................................................... 3|
||1.3|Names of the Trustees Who Manage the Charity ............................................. 3|
||1.4|Names of Advisors & Senior Members of Staff ................................................. 3|
||1.5|Bank ................................................................................................................... 3|
|**2**|**Structure, Governance & Management ........................................................ 4**||
||2.1|Type of Governing Document ........................................................................... 4|
||2.2|Charitable Objects ............................................................................................. 4|
||2.3|Trustee Selection Methods ............................................................................... 4|
|**3**|**Activities ..................................................................................................... 4**||
||3.1|Statutory Declaration ........................................................................................ 4|
|**4**|**Achievements & Performance ..................................................................... 4**||
||4.1|Outputs and Outcomes for the Charity’s Beneficiaries .................................... 4|
||4.2|How the Public Have Benefitted. ...................................................................... 5|
||4.3|Trustee Development........................................................................................ 5|
||4.4|Plans for the Future ........................................................................................... 5|
|**5**|**Financial Review .......................................................................................... 5**||
||5.1|Details of Any Funds Materially in Deficit ......................................................... 5|
||5.2|Policy on Reserves ............................................................................................. 5|
||5.3|Principal Sources of Funding and Outgoings ..................................................... 5|
||5.4|Remuneration of Trustees ................................................................................ 6|
||5.5|Risk Management.............................................................................................. 6|
||5.6|Financial Status ................................................................................................. 6|
||5.7|Statutory Statements on Liabilities ................................................................... 6|
|**6**|**Statement of Financial Activity .................................................................... 7**||
||6.1|Report on the Accounts .................................................................................... 7|
||6.2|Receipts & Payments Accounts for the Financial Year Ended 31-Aug-21 ......... 8|
||6.3|Notes to the Accounts ..................................................................................... 10|
_Ouessant Sheep Society: Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements_
_Page 2 of 10_
# **Trustees Annual Report & Statement of Financial Activity for the Year Ended 31 August 2022**
## **1 Reference and Administration Details**
## **1.1 Charity Name & Registration**
## **Ouessant Sheep Society**
The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registration no: 1195176, registered with the Charity Commission on 14 July 2021.
The charity is registered with HM Revenue & Customs
## **1.2 Charity’s Address**
6 Patney Road, Chirton, Devizes SN10 3QT
e-mail: info@ouessantsheep.org.uk
website: www.ouessantsheep.org.uk
## **1.3 Names of the Trustees Who Manage the Charity**
||**_Role_**|**_Appointed_**|**_Resigned_**|
|---|---|---|---|
|Christine Bamford|(Secretary)|14 Jul 21||
|Sandra Bell|(Treasurer)|14 Jul 21||
|Antonia Clements|(Chair)|14 Jul 21||
|Joanne Fulham||17 Oct 21||
|Val Grainger||14 Jul 21|17 Oct 21|
|Sally Hoppins||12 Jun 22||
|Susan Hughes||14 Jul 21||
|John Kelly||14 Jul 21|17 Oct 21|
|Philip Letts||17 Oct 21|12 Jun 22|
|Adrian Lloyd|(Registrar)|14 Jul 21||
|Willow Lohr||17 Oct 21|12 Jun 22|
|John Mcillmurray||12 Jun 22||
|Michelle Mcillmurray||14 Jul 21||
|Claire Occardi||14 Jul 21|17 Oct 21|
|Wendy Thompson||17 Oct 21||
## **1.4 Names of Advisors & Senior Members of Staff**
None
## **1.5 Bank**
Lloyds Bank, 41-43 South Street, Worthing BN11 3AU
_Ouessant Sheep Society: Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements_
_Page 3 of 10_
## **2 Structure, Governance & Management**
## **2.1 Type of Governing Document**
Constitution – based on the Charity Commission’s Association model governing document for a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with voting members other than its charity trustees
## **2.2 Charitable Objects**
As defined in the Ouessant Sheep Society’s Constitution (Governing Document):
The following objects are for the public benefit:
(1) The promotion of agriculture through the conservation and preservation of the Ouessant sheep as a distinctive and viable breed for the benefit of future generations.
(2) To provide a registration and breeding programme for Ouessant sheep and to encourage and promote the improvement of the Ouessant breed.
(3) To advance the education of the public into the attributes and husbandry of Ouessant sheep, improving awareness of the breed and the welfare of its animals
## **2.3 Trustee Selection Methods**
There must be at least 5 charity trustees. The maximum number of trustees is 11.
In accordance with the Constitution, the existing committee became the first Board of Trustees on the registration of the charity as a CIO. All trustees stood down at the first AGM, on 17 October 2021, to allow election/re-election. In future, one third of Trustees will stand for re-election each year in a ballot of all members of the CIO.
There is one ex-officio Trustee, the Registrar, who is appointed by the Board of Trustees, with the appointment confirmed at the first Trustee meeting after the AGM.
In appointing Trustees due consideration is given to ensuring that the Trustees have, between them, the skills and experience necessary to manage the charity effectively and in accordance with charity law.
## **3 Activities**
## **3.1 Statutory Declaration**
The Trustees of the Ouessant Sheep Society CIO confirm that they have paid due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
## **4 Achievements & Performance**
## **4.1 Outputs and Outcomes for the Charity’s Beneficiaries**
The charity has been in existence since 2005 and now has 225 members, 179 of whom are voting members of the CIO. The national flock book has been maintained throughout the year; it now contains 2077 registered sheep, 1788 of which are owned by members of the Society. 171 sheep were birth-notified and 344 were registered in the twelve months to 31 August 2022. The second Ouessant Workshop – an educational event to improve understanding and husbandry of the breed - was held in September 2021 but a third workshop was cancelled during the fuel crisis. During the year, the charity gained zootechnical accreditation from DEFRA and was complimented on the quality of its registration regulations and management of the national flock book. The charity subsequently obtained ‘third country’ recognition by the EU, allowing the movement of sheep between the UK flock book and other EU zootechnically-approved societies. The charity is working
_Ouessant Sheep Society: Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements_
_Page 4 of 10_
alongside European societies, and good progress was made during the year towards agreeing a European standard for the breed.
## **4.2 How the Public Have Benefitted.**
Ouessant sheep have continued to be shown, and the charity will continue to provide support to members showing. The charity’s website contains information on the breed, husbandry and welfare and will continue to be developed. The charity has answered an increased number of queries from members of the public about keeping the breed and continues to provide advice and support to new keepers. The number of registered sheep continues to increase. The charity actively promotes the health and welfare of sheep, highlighting poor practices and encouraging correct breeding and husbandry. It has launched a major campaign in 2022 to raise awareness of the problems caused by some identification methods in small sheep. The charity is liaising with manufacturers and regulators, and will continue to educate on the correct application of identifiers. Additionally, the charity continues to offer checks on the lineage and kinship of all sheep, to reduce close line breeding and improve animal health.
## **4.3 Trustee Development**
In its first full year as a registered charity, the education and development of trustees has been a high priority. Resources – principally those provided by the Charity Commission and Small Charity Support – have been provided to all trustees who are encouraged to participate in development opportunities. Trustee Development is a standing agenda item for the Board.
## **4.4 Plans for the Future**
The Trustees are keen to build on the firm base of the charity’s first year as a CIO and to maintain the momentum of increased membership and greater interest in the breed. Further workshops will be held in 22/23, new online educational resources will be published and support given to publicize the breed at shows across the UK. The charity plans to hold the first-ever Ouessant online show in the second half of 2022, and establish the first Ouessant class at a physical show in 2023.
## **5 Financial Review**
## **5.1 Details of Any Funds Materially in Deficit**
The Charity has no funds which are materially in deficit.
## **5.2 Policy on Reserves**
The charity’s Reserves Policy is designed to provide a level of working capital that protects the continuity of the Society’s core work and provides cover for risks such as unforeseen expenditure or unanticipated loss of income. The Society’s core work is assessed as the provision of the online flock book, member services and other resources via the Society website. These services, plus the essentially administration required to support them currently cost around £3,000 per year. As income is mainly derived from subscription and registration fees, the Society is less susceptible to variation in income than charities which depend on fundraising. Unforeseen expenditure is unlikely to exceed £1,000, except in the event of a regional or national outbreak of a notifiable disease when the Society may be called upon to help protect and support the breed. The Trustees therefore judge that the Society must retain minimum reserves of £6,000.
## **5.3 Principal Sources of Funding and Outgoings**
The principal sources of funding are members’ subscriptions, upon which Gift Aid is claimed where applicable, and fees for services provided, principally registration fees. Major outgoings are the delivery of charitable activities, in the form of education and information via the charity’s website and events and the provision of the national flock book, breeding and inspection programmes, and
_Ouessant Sheep Society: Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements_
_Page 5 of 10_
the administration and support of the charity. Administrative costs are kept to a minimum and remain significantly less than the expenditure on charitable activities.
## **5.4 Remuneration of Trustees**
All Trustees act in a voluntary capacity and receive no remuneration or other material benefits from their services to the Charity.
Out-of-pocket expenses necessarily and reasonably incurred by Trustees in promoting the purposes of the Charity are reimbursed at cost.
## **5.5 Risk Management**
The Trustees have considered the major risks to which the charity is exposed. They review those risks regularly and take action to manage them where appropriate. Major risks include a loss of confidence in the charity, resulting in a reduction of donation and fee income, accidental or malicious compromise of IT systems, including the membership database and online flock book, and an epidemic of serious ovine disease. All the charity’s actions are designed to increase trust and confidence in the charity and its management, which will be reinforced by the charity’s recent registration with the Charity Commission and zootechnical accreditation. The Trustees place the highest importance in online security and Data Protection and have invested in the latest versions of software, and use only reputable commercial providers, to maintain the integrity of systems and reduce the risk of compromise.
## **5.6 Financial Status**
Though modest, the Ouessant Sheep Society’s current income from unrestricted donations (subscriptions) and fees for services provided are more than sufficient to meet its outgoings for at least next year.
All the indications are that this will remain the case for the foreseeable future.
## **5.7 Statutory Statements on Liabilities**
The Trustees declare that:
- The charity has given no guarantees where potential liability under the guarantee is outstanding at the date of this statement.
- The charity has no debt outstanding at the date of this statement which is owed by the CIO and which is secured by an express charge on any assets of the CIO
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf,
Antonia Clements (Chair) 11 September 2022
_Ouessant Sheep Society: Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements_
_Page 6 of 10_
## **6 Statement of Financial Activity**
## **6.1 Report on the Accounts**
## 6.1.1 **Responsibilities and Basis of the Report**
The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
The trustees note that, as the charity’s income is less than £25,000, an independent examination of the accounts is not mandated.
The trustees confirm that
1. accounting records were kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act
2. the accounts presented below accord with those records.
The trustees have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the accounts to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## 6.1.2 **Treasurer’s Report**
The accounts have been maintained in Zoho Books on a receipts and payments basis. This report has been compiled using the Charity Commission template for non-company charities with gross income of £250K or less (CC16a).
Income is broadly in line with forecasts; lower subscription income reflecting reduced fees due to the Society’s healthy bank balance. Expenditure is significantly less than forecast due to the cancellation of events and delays in a return to the Society’s full programme.
Whilst income is likely to increase slightly and expenditure significantly in the coming year, I am confident that the charity remains in a very healthy position and is a ‘going concern’.
Report Prepared by:
Sandra Bell
Treasurer
_Ouessant Sheep Society: Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements_
_Page 7 of 10_
## **6.2 Receipts & Payments Accounts for the Financial Year Ended 31-Aug-21**
## 6.2.1 **Receipts & Payments**
## 6.2.2 **Summary of Receipts & Payments Accounts**
_Ouessant Sheep Society: Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements_
_Page 8 of 10_
## 6.2.3 **Statement of Assets and Liabilities**
## 6.2.4 **Approval of the Board of Trustees**
The Trustees declare that they have approved the above Annual Report & Statement of Financial Activity.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
Antonia Clements (Chair) 11 September 2022
_Ouessant Sheep Society: Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements_
_Page 9 of 10_
## **6.3 Notes to the Accounts**
- a) Accounting Policies
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 Section 133, using the Receipts and Payments basis available to small charities and the Zoho Books accounting software.
- b) Reimbursement of Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Out-of-pocket expenses incurred necessarily, reasonably and incidentally in the course the charity’s activities are reimbursed at cost.
- c) Salaries & Professional Fees
No trustee receives any payments for the services they provide to the charity.
In the current financial year the charity employed no staff or external contractors;
## d) Fixed Assets
The charity has not purchased and has not disposed of any fixed assets in the current financial year;
- e) Creditors & Debtors
Cheques for goods or services purchased, or invoices for goods or services delivered, which are issued prior to the end of the financial year but not appearing in the end of financial year bank statement are reported as outstanding creditors or debtors respectively.
## f) Rounding Discrepancies
All amounts are recorded to the penny, but in these accounts are shown as digitally rounded to the nearest pound. This can occasionally result in a total apparently not being the sum of its constituent amounts. All individual amounts, and their totals, are nevertheless correct.
_Ouessant Sheep Society: Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements_
_Page 10 of 10_