## **Trustees’ Annual Report** for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 Charity name: The Waterfowl Sanctuary Charity registration number: 1196417 ## **Objectives and Activities** The objects of the CIO are to promote humane behaviour towards waterfowl by providing appropriate care, protection, treatment and security for waterfowl which are in need of care and attention by reason of sickness, maltreatment, poor circumstances or ill usage and to educate the public in matters pertaining to waterfowl welfare in general and the prevention of cruelty and suffering among waterfowl. The Trustees are aware of their obligation to have regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant. Our many volunteers play a hugely important role in the running of our charity by rescuing birds, assisting with patient treatment and caring for our residents. The Trustees would like to thank all our volunteers for their contribution to the success of our charity. ## **Achievements and Performance** During our second year as a registered charity we have seen further development in many areas, most notably the inclusion of our vet Gabriel Giol to the Waterfowl Sanctuary team, and our subsequent recognition as a veterinary practice. Before becoming a registered charity we had always struggled to find a commercial veterinary practice that was willing, competent and able to operate on our patients. As we continued to become widely known throughout the UK rescue community it was our priority to find a knowledgeable veterinary surgeon to associate themselves with our organisation and thus progress us to this next important stage. Gabriel Giol loved what he saw at the Waterfowl Sanctuary and so with his assistance we became registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons as a veterinary practice and began purchasing the necessary equipment to allow him to work in our hospital building. It was a proud moment when the first surgery took place during September 2023, and a pivotal development in the growth of The Waterfowl Sanctuary. Working with Gabriel has allowed our team of dedicated volunteers to learn new skills and further develop their experience in working with our avian residents. Our hospital facilities continued to expand during the year, with the completion of a second wet room in which several swans can comfortably be accommodated while under observation or undergoing treatment. Our treatment room is now fully functional, providing a clean and tidy place to assess and tend to patients. Partial progress on our operating theatre was made during the year, but in the meantime surgical operations are being capably performed in the treatment room. Climate change has proven to be an increased challenge this year, and the unrelenting rain during formerly drier parts of the year has resulted in stressful and difficult times for the team during the busy duckling season. Multiple outdoor enclosures on grass have proved effective in the past as housing for orphans and families, but new approaches are being considered for next year to provide a better structure for protecting young and delicate birds from the elements. Over 650 ducklings and goslings have been raised here throughout the year, mostly rescued from being trapped in gardens or enclosed areas and unable to walk free with their mother. Many were also brought in that had become separated from their families during their travels. Over 300 swans received our help in this period, and as a result our knowledge and experience has broadened significantly. ## **Financial Review** ## Financial Position Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the Charity generated donations of £63,741 in the period. These funds were used for the Charity’s general operating costs (feed, medical supplies and fuel costs), and to improve site infrastructure and facilities, as detailed in ‘Achievements and Performance’ above. At the end of the period the charity had generated a surplus of £30,996, which will allow us to maintain operations over the next 12 months as well as continuing the development of our hospital and accommodation facilities. The Trustees have no concerns regarding the financial stability of the Charity. ## Reserves Policy The Trustees have considered Charity Commission guidance on reserves. The Waterfowl Sanctuary aims to maintain a sufficient level of reserves to enable normal operating activities ensuring that the Charity is able to continue over a period of at least 3 months should a shortfall in income occur. It also takes account of potential risks and contingencies that may arise from time to time. Therefore, the Trustees have set a minimum reserves level of £3,000 at the end of the financial period April 2023 – March 2024. The Trustees are satisfied that the year-end surplus of £30,996 will allow the maintenance of current operations over the coming year as well as providing the resources required for the future development of the hospital facility. ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Type of governing
document|Foundation model constitution| |---|---| |How is the charity
constituted?|Charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions|Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must
be appointed by a resolution passed at a properly
convened meeting of the charity trustees. In selecting
individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the
charity trustees must have regard to the skills,
knowledge and experience needed for the effective
administration of the CIO.| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|The Waterfowl Sanctuary| |---|---| |Registered charity number|1196417| |Charity’s principal address|Clyde Farm
Silver Street
Godmanchester
PE29 2LF| |Names of trustees who
manage the charity|Graham Edward Porter (Chair)
Rebecca Mary McCaffry
Ann Margaret Porter
Rachel Olivia Young
Lesley Ann Christine Percival
Stuart Dunsby
All trustees served throughout the accounting period.| ## **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|| |---|---| ||Graham Edward Porter
Stuart Dunsby| ||
Chair
Trustee| ||30THJanuary 2025| ||30THJanuary 2025| R•eelpts and payments aeeounts CC18* 01*&7)E3 Soction A Receipts and paymenis Al Sl.2•1 Section 8 Slalernenl ¢>1 asstis and liabililies 41 the ènd of th* parlod CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts S•cllon A Independent Examlner's Report Report to the trustee31 membern of On accounts for the year ended Charlty no (if any) I19 6¥iF Set out on pago8 3 AuD 4 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above Gharily {"the Trust") for the year ended Responsiblllties and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation ba818 of report of the a¢Gounls in acGordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 1"Ihe Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed thé applicabl8 Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 745(51(bl of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matters have come to my attention ( in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in. any material respeGI'. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not aGcord with the accounting records Independent examiner's statement I h•vo no con¢em$ and have ¢om8 acros$ no other mattors in conn•ction with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete Ihe words in the brackots if thay do not apply. Slgned.. Dato: 2£1 /ai /z Name: Aq+to• I)￿- Rel￿ant profe88lonal quaiificatlon(81 or body (If any): Addre88: HfLI IER October 2018 Section B Dlsclogure Only complete If the examiner need8 to highlight matters ol GonGern (see LC32, Independent examlnalion of charity account8.' directions and guidance for examiners). Glv• here brlef detalls of any Iterns that the èxaminer wishes to dlsclose. K)c) 14gLJÈTr OE CaUCÉW ￿0￿). IER October 2018 CHARITY COMM15510 FOR INGLANO hND WALE Th• W•t•rfovA ¥•ncluiry Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the pedod from 3110312024 Section A Receipts and payments UnrestA¢ted lund8 R•*tricted fundj Endo*m•nt lund$ Totsl lun Sectlon 8 Statement of a88et8 and Ilabllltle8 at tho end ol tho perlod Unre¥trlct•d R￿trIcI@d Ivnd Endcywment lundtb ••r•*£ B1 C•¥h funds Bpthk ttcOunt• P8ypalb*anea gJ7 Tot•1 c•$h funds 30, Unreytr+ct•d funds to n¥arMt£ 6,114 Restrlct8d funds lo n••i•*t£ Endtr*mient lund$ Details Gffi ￿dI2022-2?} B2 Other monetary a¥•et• Ghl Ald (rwed1202>24 2￿17 Fundto CurWertVa￿ffj Detai15 FundtO*44th Detall% Ponds. filern. houwg, rrtthJK C¢lBt Cumlrtval￿• B4 Assets retslned for the charfty'¥ own use Gemr ntdu• Details 86 U•bllltl•• Siqned by w<*t*Y>truiw bBhdlofaM tha truot Signature Prfni Nwn• of roval CCXXR2accoufflslSSI 3rwov2025