## **Trustees’ Annual Report** for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 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** Another year has passed and the sanctuary has been busier than ever. Our reputation for excellence is spreading, and patients are being brought to us from further afield. Throughout the year, we cared for around 400 swans and over 700 ducklings. During 2024-25 our focus remained on improving the facilities and infrastructure, perhaps most notably with the completion of a new enclosure area, ‘Duckingham Palace’! Each year we care for several hundred ducklings – who mostly arrive with their mother and so separate enclosures are necessary to keep the families together prior to their release at 4 weeks of age. Duckingham Palace provides 10 rooms of 8ft x 4ft, each on a sloping concrete base to drainage with a watertight roof above allowing all ducklings to remain dry in all weathers. Increased rainfall in previous years had been a significant concern for us, and we are pleased to report that this new enclosure space has proved to be a great investment. Another milestone in our improvement roadmap was the purchase and installation of our own x-ray machine within the surgery room. This machine has been frequently used not only for bone examination but also to aid diagnosis and treatment of the sad and common occurrence of hooks and metal projectiles found within water birds. The hospital building has seen many improvements during this year. All windows and doors were replaced with double glazing which has greatly improved the insulation of the building in comparison to previous years. Oil filled radiators currently provide warmth during colder months, but the intention is to install hot/cold air conditioning which will have the added advantage of dehumidification. Each year is a challenge, but thankfully with excellent volunteers, some staff on the payroll and a steadily growing amount of financial support from our donors we continue to grow in strength and capability. There is much potential at Clyde Farm for further capacity and infrastructure improvements and we will endeavour to continue our trajectory of development and growth in future years. ## **Financial Review** ## Financial Position Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the Charity generated donations of £74,325 in the period, an increase of over £10,500 on the previous year. These funds were used for the Charity’s general operating costs (feed, medical supplies and fuel costs), as well as improvements to site infrastructure and facilities, as detailed in ‘Achievements and Performance’ above. The Charity invested £19,621 in these improvements throughout the year, drawing upon our reserves. At the end of the period the charity’s cash funds stand at £29,774, which will allow us to maintain operations over the next twelve months. We hope to continue the development of our hospital and accommodation facilities as funds allow. During the year, Charity reserves were held in a 35-day notice high-interest bank account, generating over £1000 in interest. However, this approach was incompatible with the changing needs of the Charity. In order to navigate short-term cashflow issues, two interest-free loans of £2,000 (May) and £12,000 (August) were made to the Charity by the Chair of Trustees. This strategy enabled the Charity to purchase the x-ray machine without additional delay. The loan was repaid in full in September, and a more flexible banking arrangement has been put in place for the 2025/26 financial year. 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 £6,000 at the end of the financial period April 2024 – March 2025. The Trustees are satisfied that the year-end surplus of £29,774 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** |**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 ofp 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 Porter|Stuart Dunsby| ||
Chair|Trustee| ||27 January 2026|| ||27 January 2026|| CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES The Waterfowl Sanctuary Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the perlod from To 0110412024 3110312025 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment funds Total funds Last year to the nearest to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ A1 Recel ts Voluntary receipts Inte￿st received 74,325 1,060 74,325 1,060 63,741 150 Sub total (Gross income for AR) 75,385 75,385 63,891 A2 Asset and Investment sales, (see tsble). Sub total Total receipts 75,385 75,385 63,891 A3 Payments Cost of charitable activities Cost of generatsng voluntary receipts 75,990 618 75,990 618 36,108 200 Sub total 76,607 76,607 36,308 A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) Sub total Total payments 76,607 76,607 36,308 Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 1,222 1,222 27,583 30,996 29,774 30,996 29,774 3,413 30,996 CCXX Rl accounts (SS) 2710112026 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period 4k*$ll',- Unrestricted funds to nearest £ Restricted funds to nearest £ Endowment funds to nearest £ Categorles Dotalls B1 Cash funds Cash at hand 31 Bank accounts 28,965 Paypal balance 778 Total cash funds 29,774 (agree balances with recelpts and payments account(s)) Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 545 Restricted funds to nearest £ Endowment funds to nearest £ Details Debtors B2 Other monetary assets Gift Aid outstanding (2024125) 758 Fund to whlch asset belongs Cost (optional) Current value (optional) Details B3 Investment assets Fund to whlch asset belongs Cost (optional) Current value (optional) Details Ponds, filters, bird housing, medical equipment. B4 Assets retained for the charity's own use 10,524 X-ray r.iachine (at cost) Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) When due (optional) Details B5 Liabilities Signed by one or two trustees on behaff of all the trustees Print Name Date of approval Signature 2710112026 CCXX R2 accounts (SS) CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinur's report on the accounts Sectlon A Independent Examlner's Report Report to the tru$lee•l mombers ot On accounts for th• y•ar ended 31 Charlty no {If any) 1196¥17 Set out on pages I report lo the trustees on my exarnination ol th8 account8 of the above charity ('the Tru81"I for Ihe year ended Ro8pon3lbllllle8 and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation bas1• of rèport of the aeLounts in accordance with the fequirementg of thé Cbarities Acl 20111.lhe Act") I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under sedion 145 of Ihe 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Oirection8 given by the Chanly Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. I ha ie compleled my examination. I confirm that no malerial matters havo come lo my attention (other than Ihal disclosed below ') in connection with the examination which gives me cause lo believe Ihal in, any material respect. accounting records were not kept in accordance with 8ection 130 01 the Act or the accounts do not accord with tha accounting records Indepondent •xamlnar'8 8tatom•nt I hav8 no ¢oncern8 and have come across no other matters in conneclion with the examination to whlch attention should drawn in order to enable a proper understanding ol the accounls lo be reached. Please d8161e the words in the brackels if Ihey do nol apply. Slgned: Date: IFJSW 2 Namo: Relevant profe88lonal quallflcatlonlsl or body Ilf any}: Qss<•¢rYtG CLfLt, Addre••: 57 LONJ D• KJ IER October 2018 Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner ne8d8 to highl.Ihl matters of concern Is88 CC32, Independent examinalion of charity accounts directions and guidance for examlnersl. Glvo here brlef detsll• of any Item8 that the examiner wl8he8 to dlsclose. Collo ..tS Ffte . StsJTr. -tJ borl'i -tkL lÉvLls 4 y, ri s &'tA IER October 2018