Report of the Trustees
For the period ending 31 January 2024
period ending 31 January 2024.
The charity has been running since January 2020 and was registered as a CIO in October 2021.
Reference and administration details
Registered charity number
1196322 (England and Wales)
Registered address
35 Tarragon Place, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 8TP
Board of trustees
Miss Joanne Bray - Chairman
Miss Jacelyn Hawkey - Secretary
Mrs Melissa Lee - Treasurer
Structure, governance and management
Governing document
Constitution
Charity constitution
Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
Appointed by existing trustees at trustees’ meetings
Organisational structure
The charity is managed by 3 trustees. All volunteers report directly to the trustees. The charity works hard to connect with other rabbit rescues across the country thus enabling a greater number of rabbits in need to be helped.
Induction and training of new trustees
During the year the trustees endeavour to keep up to date with all legal and regulatory requirements. In addition, new trustees are required to read the guidance given by the Charity Commission relating to trustee duties and responsibilities.
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Trustee Report and Accounts - Year ending 31 January 2024
Objectives and activities
Objectives and aims
rabbits, and to provide and maintain rescue homes or other facilities for the reception, care and treatment of such animals, medical treatment, including vaccinations and neutering where appropriate and to educate the public in matters pertaining to animal welfare in general and the prevention of cruelty and suff ering among animals.
Our activities
We support our community by taking in, free of charge, mistreated or abandoned animals, including pets whose owners suff er ill health or fi nancial diffi culties or pass away.
Animals in our care receive veterinary treatment, are vaccinated and neutered as part of our on-going programme and are then assessed for rehoming. This work helps to control the spread of disease and population growth.
responding to enquiries from the public. The public benefi ts through the promotion of responsible pet ownership.
We provide volunteering opportunities for those who wish to support our work, including trusteeship, fostering, rescue volunteers and fundraising. This benefi ts local people and companies by providing the possibility of doing work which is compassionate and rewarding.
Some of our volunteer placements also help our local South Gloucestershire Council ‘Preparing for Adulthood Team’ and helping young people at Step Together, providing placements for young people and young people who have learning diffi culties or are neurodivergent, gain volunteer experience to build their confi dence and skill set.
mistreated or abandoned animals, including pets whose owners suff er ill health or fi nancial diffi culties or pass away. To promote humane behaviour towards animals by off ering free animal care, and to provide advice and education by giving appropriate information to adopters and responding to general enquiries. Also providing volunteering opportunities for those who wish to support our work, benefi ting the local community and companies by completing work which is compassionate and rewarding.
number of people who are using our service.
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Trustee Report and Accounts - Year ending 31 January 2024
Review of year – achievements and performance
We’ve had an extremely busy year and have managed to achieve so much more since the world has returned to normality.
The move to the new premises has seen lots of building work being carried out and new aviaries being erected to expand the centre. We also have new volunteers in place, to help every day with cleaning, feeding and looking after the welfare of the rabbits in our care. We were hoping to use some of the units for boarding but the demand for our service seems to increase year on year and so the aviaries have all been used to house the permanent residents and rabbits that been surrendered. Our Chairperson Jo has been DBS checked so we are now able to accept Duke of Edinburgh students at the weekend.
Our volunteer team has expanded and we now have a faithful fundraising team who attend many events throughout the year, which has helped boost the fundraising income.
Every year we see a huge increase in rabbits that needed rehoming but because we only have a limited number of spaces, our intake has remained steady. Our veterinary costs have signifi cantly increased compared to the previous year because unfortunately quite a few of the rabbits surrendered have been found to have health issues.
Day to day costs for the main rescue centre and our group of permanent residents remain minimal because of the hard work from our exceptional team of volunteers, who help at the rescue on a daily basis and from all the food and supplies that are donated from our dedicated supporters.
Our regular supporters have remained faithful to us and we have managed to keep our donation income steady.
Financial review
This year the net funds raised from the public to fund the rescue came to £45,678. Most of the funds have come in via donations, adoption fees, fundraising and grants. Adoption fees have dipped this year due to a decrease in rabbits being adopted.
The cash held at the end of the year is £9,901 which is similar to the previous year.
There were no trustees’ expenses paid for the year ended 31 January 2024.
Charitable activities
factors, one being the cost-of-living crisis. It has aff ected many people from job insecurity to having to move home and we have struggled to meet the demand. It has not only aff ected the number of foster families we need but unfortunately adoption enquiries. Our surrender list is disappointingly larger than ever. Despite this we have been able help 113 rabbits to fi nd new homes in the last fi nancial year.
Our permanent residents have sadly diminished in number over the last year and currently stands at 11. At Christmas all the remaining residents moved into permanent foster care with one of our Trustees, as they are all elderly and have ongoing health issues.
All our rabbits are neutered and vaccinated and receive any necessary required vet treatment. We continue to have a good relationship with Highcroft Veterinary Hospital, Vets4pets in Kingswood, Emersons Green Veterinary Practice and Vets4pets in Weston-Super-Mare. We do not discriminate against the rabbits we help based on their breed, age or medical condition. If for any reason a rabbit cannot be rehomed, we will look after them at the rescue centre or in permanent foster. We have no plans to join any new rabbits into our group of permanent residents at The Littlest Lives Rescue. They are all elderly
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Trustee Report and Accounts - Year ending 31 January 2024
and caring for such a large group has its own challenges. No adoptable rabbit is ever unnecessarily euthanised due to space or time constraint.
We have 3 dedicated trustees on the team, who also manage the rescue on a daily basis. We are continuing to work hard to keep the running of all the areas of the rescue effi cient and safe.
Again, this year our team of volunteers have excelled themselves and more than ever we are indebted to everyone, for their on-going commitment, continued hard work and support they give to The Littlest Lives Rescue. Everyone involved is key to the existence and growth of The Littlest Lives Rescue and we could not have achieved the things we have so far without their help.
Activities for generating funds
This year everything seems to have gone ‘back to normal’ after a few years of uncertainty. Local events have been very successful for raising money, gaining new supporters and raising awareness.
as they have remained popular with our dedicated followers.
We only carry out a small amount of boarding as the space we have available has been given over to the rabbits that need care.
Our bonding service has helped in rehoming the rabbits in our care much quicker than before. Now with 3 fully trained volunteers on the team it has made the adoption process much more streamlined and has increased funds at the same time.
Every Easter one of our volunteers has taken on the mammoth task of baking Easter biscuits to sell. For 2023 1,406 biscuits were baked raising £1,125! We are hoping to do this every Easter and increase sales year on year.
in 2024.
We also have a small amount of merchandise for sale, a yearly tea towel that is created by our followers and a calendar which boosts our income around Christmas.
We still utilise the Just Giving platform for any extra funds that are required for unexpected veterinary bills.
Plans for future periods
funding and connectivity with our donors. Some thoughts are to:
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Set up email marketing to keep in touch with donors/supporters
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Create a new monthly fundraising scheme, which will provide continuous funding for our permanent residents. This would include a sponsorship pack with a leafl et of who the permanent residents are, what their money will be used for, a thank you card/letter and promotional items (car sticker)
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Increase donors from the corporate sector. The majority of our fundraising at present is from individuals.
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Concentrate on applying for grant funding, so we can keep the rescue running.
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Trustee Report and Accounts - Year ending 31 January 2024
Reserves policy
The charity aims to retain reserves to cover at least one month’s running for the rescue centre, as donations are heavily relied upon in order to fund the ongoing expenditure. As it stands at the year end, free reserves of £9,901 were held, which is 3x the monthly expenditure. This is in excess of the reserve policy minimum.
without reliance on further donations.
Investment policy and objectives
The Charity does not hold long term investments as its purpose is to use the annual donations and income received for the ongoing charitable activities.
Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees.
Signature:
Full name: Joanne Bray
Position: Chairman
Date: 28-10-2024
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Trustee Report and Accounts - Year ending 31 January 2024
Independent Examiners Report
Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of The Littlest Lives Rescue
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of The Littlest Lives Rescue for the year ended 31 January 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I can confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in
connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
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the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of financial statements set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
Vicky Newham CPAA
Solutions Accountancy & Bookkeeping Ltd
1 The Mews Little Brunswick Street Huddersfield
HD1 5JL
28 October 2024
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Trustee Report and Accounts - Year ending 31 January 2024
Charitable Accounts
For period ending 31 January 2024
Section A - Receipts & Payments
----- Start of picture text -----
A1 RECEIPTS
Unrestricted Restricted
Total 2024 Total 2023
funds funds
Donations 17,437 17,437 17,868
Adoption Fees 6,300 6,300 10,235
Fundraising Initiatives 12,182 12,182 6,058
Sales 1,765 1,765 2,817
Bonding and boarding 3,481 3,481 1,358
Grants 1,644 2,833 4,477 7,167
Lease refunds 36 36 -
TOTAL RECEIPTS 42,845 2,833 45,678 45,503
A3 PAYMENTS
Veterinary Costs 29,815 2,333 32,148 25,335
Rescue Set up Costs 1,162 1,162 5,687
Cost of Sales 1,044 1.044 2,165
Waste Removal 1,258 1,258 -
Marketing & IT 708 708 1,936
Food and Animal Supplies 2,812 2,812 1,550
Professional Fees 900 900 1,005
Plant Maintenance 642 642 674
Insurance 867 867 617
Motor Expenses 4 4 542
Direct Costs 380 380 672
Payment Fees 428 428 213
Professional Partnerships 444 444 -
Subscriptions 95 95 40
Entertainment - - 42
Leases - - 1,406
SUBTOTAL A3 PAYMENTS 40,559 2,333 42,892 41,884
A4 ASSET AND INVESTMENT PURCHASES
Aviary, Gazebo, Nebuliser 2,162 500 2,662 4,029
SUBTOTAL A4 PAYMENTS 2,162 500 2,662 4,029
TOTAL PAYMENTS 42,721 2,833 45,554 45,913
NET INCREASE FOR YEAR 124 - 124 410
----- End of picture text -----
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Trustee Report and Accounts - Year ending 31 January 2024
Section B - Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Total 2024 | Total 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash held in bank | 9,901 | 9,901 | 9,960 | |
| Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Current Value | |||
| Plant & Machinery | 4,172 | |||
| Computers | 410 | |||
| Marketing Equipment | 772 |
Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the accounts. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees.
Signature:
Full name: Joanne Bray
Position: Chairman
Date: 28-10-2024
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Trustee Report and Accounts - Year ending 31 January 2024