Waterlife Recovery Trust
Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 Charity Number: 1198223
Waterlife Recovery Trust
Charity Information
Trustees: Professor Tony Martin Simon Baker Msc Barend van der Berg (Treasurer) David Wege Msc Professor Bill Amos Alison Neil
Registered Office: Solo House
The Courtyard London Road Horsham West Sussex RH12 1AT
Waterlife Recovery Trust
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
OBJECTIVES, ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
To protect and conserve the water vole and other native species for the advancement of environmental protection and improvement, for the benefit of the public by, in particular but not exclusively, advancing the control of invasive alien species, notably the American mink, in Great Britain. The activities of the charity are solely focussed on eradicating American mink, and raising funds to facilitate this work. They include recruiting and training volunteers to manage traps, purchasing mink trapping equipment and distributing it to volunteers, carrying out scientific analysis of captured mink, and promoting the work via public talks, meetings and media interviews.
The main achievements of the charity in the year to 31 March 2025 were (a) to greatly expand the number of geographical spread of WRT-managed smart mink traps (43% increase over the previous year), (b) to raise substantial funds to facilitate this expansion, (c) to raise funding to allow the recruitment of staff to reduce the work burden on Trustees and improve the charity's foundation and resilience and (d) to continue to raise awareness of the Trust's work and success.
During the year the Trust, working with partners and volunteers, achieved the following:
-
Placed 743 further smart mink rafts into waterways giving a total of 2,479 active rafts by 31 March 2025.
-
Caught and humanely dispatched 1,751 mink. At a conservative estimate, this number of mink would have killed half a million native creatures had they not been removed by WRT and its partners.
-
Proved that water voles have replaced mink in Norfolk and Suffolk; a direct result of mink eradication work by the Waterlife Recovery Trust.
-
Produced 4 Newsletters, which are distributed to 1800 interested parties.
-
Carried out a post mortem examination on all mink caught, these also provided a tissue sample for genetic analysis and anal gland extract to act as lure in our traps.
-
Worked closely with the laboratory of Professor Bill Amos at the University of Cambridge on the genetics of mink, deriving much practically useful information concerning mink dispersal and familial relationships.
-
Responded to a direct approach from people in Greater Manchester seeking help in removing mink to allow recovery of their much-missed native wildlife. With WRT's help, guidance and support, this group has established smart mink traps in their local neighbourhood and removed a remarkable 36 mink in less than 12 months. At a conservative estimate, this citizen-conservationist-led campaign has already saved the lives of 10,000 native creatures.
-
Continued its support of residents on Lismore, Argyll in their attempt to eradicate mink, primarily to prevent predation on poultry, but with profound beneficial impacts on native wildlife. Evidence suggests that few, if any, mink remain on the island after less than one year of trapping effort. When completed, this will be the first successful eradication of American mink on any island within the British Isles.
-
Further developed our website, which is now widely used (56,280 unique visitors, double the number of the previous year) and elicited 876 reports of mink from the public from all over Great Britain, a 3-fold increase over the previous 12 months.
-
Further developed WRT's relational database - the means by which information on all trapping activity and catches is recorded and analysed to provide the evidence base on which WRT's strategy is founded. This database is also used by all formal partners of WRT.
RISK ASSESSMENT
The major risks faced by Waterlife Recovery Trust are identified on a risk register which is reviewed by the Board of Trustees as part of the 5 board meetings that were held during this financial year. We believe that maintaining reserves at current levels, combined with an annual review of the controls over key financial systems, will provide sufficient funds in the event of adverse conditions. The Trustees have also examined other operational risks faced by the charity, and we confirm that we have established systems to mitigate, where possible, any significant risks.
STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT
In addition to the board of six Trustees, at the end of this reporting year the charity had 10 staff on fixed-term contracts and hired 6 self-employed contractors as required. We also had a part time Account Assistant and managed some 2,600 volunteer citizen conservationists, spread across 42 counties in England, Wales and Scotland.
PLANS FOR FUTURE
The charity is now well established, and has in place robust and transparent financial and H.R. management systems. Much of the admin and development work is still dependent on Trustees, however, so the raising of funds to recruit core staff remains a priority.
Having demonstrated that landscape-scale eradication of invasive American mink is not only feasible, but more rapid and less expensive than anticipated, the objective now is to expand WRT's work across Britain as rapidly as possible. Achievement of this ambition will be dependent not only on WRT itself, but on the growing partnership of organisations that seek WRT's guidance and assistance in freeing their own local areas of American mink. The distribution of active smart rafts run by WRT and partners at the end of this FY is shown in Figure 1, with the situation pertaining one year ago shown for comparison.
Figure 1. Active smart mink rafts in England and Wales on 31 March 2024 (1,736, Left) and on 31 March 2025 (2,479, Right). The 2025 total represents a 43% increase compared to a year earlier.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The year under review produced a steady flow of income with Grants contributing 90% of the income. Grants increased year on year from £692,910.97 to £740,883.65. The charity ones again seen an increase in donations by just over double from the year before with a total of £70,736.35 donations. Closing reserves as at 31 March 2025 are at £394,714.58.
The Trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity’s trust deed, the Charities Act 2011 and 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.
By Order of the Board
Barend van der Berg
Trustee and Treasurer
Walnut Cottage,
Pymoor Lane,
Pymoor,
CB6 2EF
Date: 11 June 2025
Waterlife Recovery Trust
Statement of Income and Expenditure for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
----- Start of picture text -----
Notes Unrestricted Restricted Total 31/03/2025 Total 31/03/2024
Funds Funds
£ £ £ £
Donations 56,796.35 13,940.00 70,736.35 32,691.52
Grants 206,820.00 534,063.65 740,883.65 692,910.97
Gift Aid 6,631.46 6,631.46 1,005.25
Interest Received 1 5,639.66 5,639.66 769.82
Total Income 275,887.47 548,003.65 823,891.12 727,377.56
Staff Costs 2 21,825.67 315,172.66 336,998.33 125,013.84
Project Officers Fees 0.00 46,831.91
Rafts and Traps 64,192.88 131,449.57 195,642.45 266,402.66
Ecological Services 0.00 64,500.00
Consumables 4,763.45 21,197.48 25,960.93 26,886.23
Travel and Subsistence 432.70 31,815.98 32,248.68 30,173.86
Professional Fees 1,632.00 1,400.00 3,032.00 29,425.75
Insurance 1,858.83 1,858.83 545.59
Postage 351.97 1,679.78 2,031.75 509.38
Recruitment Fees 0.00 596.00
Advertising 0.00 833.60 833.60 -
IT Support 4,279.76 9,021.37 13,301.13 -
Office Equipment 1,792.98 6,693.06 8,486.04 4,541.33
Printing and Stationery 599.55 599.55 3,453.67
Bank Charges 60.00 60.00 60.00
Other -5,000.00 -5,000.00 28.91
Total Expenditure 101,190.24 514,863.05 616,053.29 598,969.13
Net Income / Loss 207,837.83 128,408.43
Funds Brought Forward 186,876.75 58,468.32
Funds Balance at 31 March 2024 394,714.58 186,876.75
----- End of picture text -----
Waterlife Recovery Trust
Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025
----- Start of picture text -----
Notes Unrestricted Restricted Total 31/03/2025 Total 31/03/2024
Funds Funds
£ £ £ £
Current Assets
Bank 208,290.06 203,349.68 411,639.74 104,188.50
Debtors 3 32,983.95 32,983.95 145,688.25
Long Term Loans 4 -48,000.00 -48,000.00 -63,000.00
Pension Fund -1,909.11 -1,909.11
Net Current Assets 160,290.06 234,424.52 394,714.58 186,876.75
Funds of the Charity 5
Restricted Funds 151,230.76 151,230.76 142,952.06
Unrestricted Funds 243,483.82 243,483.82 43,924.69
Total Funds 243,483.82 151,230.76 394,714.58 186,876.75
----- End of picture text -----
Waterlife Recovery Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year end 31 March 2025
----- Start of picture text -----
1 Interest Received
31/03/2025 31/03/2024
£ £
Bank Account Interest 5,639.66 769.82
2 Staff Costs
31/03/2025 31/03/2024
£ £
Salaries 302,845.96 94,868.10
PAYE and NI 23,757.25 23,049.46
Pension Costs 10,395.12 7,096.28
336,998.33 125,013.84
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
31/03/2025 31/03/2024
Direct charitable 10 8
3 Debtors
31/03/2025 31/03/2024
£ £
Amount Recoverable on Contract 32,983.95 145,688.25
4 Long Term Loans
31/03/2025 31/03/2024
£ £
Tony Martin (Trustee) 33,000.00 33,000.00
Bill Amos (Trustee) 15,000.00 30,000.00
48,000.00 63,000.00
----- End of picture text -----
----- Start of picture text -----
5 Funds of the Charity
31/03/2025 31/03/2024
£
Unrestricted Funds 243,483.82 43,924.69
Restricted Funds:
EA KENT 1,171.19 15,191.02
BEDS IDB 5,488.35 21,966.00
LINCS WILDLIFE 4,450.00 4,450.00
SRPCGS -28,142.55 -
EA LINC 1,640.03 27,036.62
NE NORFOLK/SUFFOLK 42,471.49 53,086.88
LISMORE 0.00 256.68
NORFOLK IDBS 25,000.00 12,500.00
DARRENT 0.00 6,464.86
TRENT VALLEY 1,000.00 1,000.00
SOLVE 1,400.00 1,000.00
ESSEX 79583.49 -
MINK DNA 13,949.33 -
AFFINITY 0.00 -
LONDON SOUTH -97.36 -
SCOTLAND 0.00 -
EA Trent 11,961.79 -
HIGH WEALDS -2,150.86 -
RFWRVOLELTC -6,494.14 -
394,714.58 186,876.75
6 TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits
for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
----- End of picture text -----
Waterlife Recovery Trust
Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 Charity Number: 1198223
Waterlife Recovery Trust
Charity Information
Trustees: Professor Tony Martin Simon Baker Msc Barend van der Berg (Treasurer) David Wege Msc Professor Bill Amos Alison Neil
Registered Office: Solo House
The Courtyard London Road Horsham West Sussex RH12 1AT
Waterlife Recovery Trust
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
OBJECTIVES, ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
To protect and conserve the water vole and other native species for the advancement of environmental protection and improvement, for the benefit of the public by, in particular but not exclusively, advancing the control of invasive alien species, notably the American mink, in Great Britain. The activities of the charity are solely focussed on eradicating American mink, and raising funds to facilitate this work. They include recruiting and training volunteers to manage traps, purchasing mink trapping equipment and distributing it to volunteers, carrying out scientific analysis of captured mink, and promoting the work via public talks, meetings and media interviews.
The main achievements of the charity in the year to 31 March 2025 were (a) to greatly expand the number of geographical spread of WRT-managed smart mink traps (43% increase over the previous year), (b) to raise substantial funds to facilitate this expansion, (c) to raise funding to allow the recruitment of staff to reduce the work burden on Trustees and improve the charity's foundation and resilience and (d) to continue to raise awareness of the Trust's work and success.
During the year the Trust, working with partners and volunteers, achieved the following:
-
Placed 743 further smart mink rafts into waterways giving a total of 2,479 active rafts by 31 March 2025.
-
Caught and humanely dispatched 1,751 mink. At a conservative estimate, this number of mink would have killed half a million native creatures had they not been removed by WRT and its partners.
-
Proved that water voles have replaced mink in Norfolk and Suffolk; a direct result of mink eradication work by the Waterlife Recovery Trust.
-
Produced 4 Newsletters, which are distributed to 1800 interested parties.
-
Carried out a post mortem examination on all mink caught, these also provided a tissue sample for genetic analysis and anal gland extract to act as lure in our traps.
-
Worked closely with the laboratory of Professor Bill Amos at the University of Cambridge on the genetics of mink, deriving much practically useful information concerning mink dispersal and familial relationships.
-
Responded to a direct approach from people in Greater Manchester seeking help in removing mink to allow recovery of their much-missed native wildlife. With WRT's help, guidance and support, this group has established smart mink traps in their local neighbourhood and removed a remarkable 36 mink in less than 12 months. At a conservative estimate, this citizen-conservationist-led campaign has already saved the lives of 10,000 native creatures.
-
Continued its support of residents on Lismore, Argyll in their attempt to eradicate mink, primarily to prevent predation on poultry, but with profound beneficial impacts on native wildlife. Evidence suggests that few, if any, mink remain on the island after less than one year of trapping effort. When completed, this will be the first successful eradication of American mink on any island within the British Isles.
-
Further developed our website, which is now widely used (56,280 unique visitors, double the number of the previous year) and elicited 876 reports of mink from the public from all over Great Britain, a 3-fold increase over the previous 12 months.
-
Further developed WRT's relational database - the means by which information on all trapping activity and catches is recorded and analysed to provide the evidence base on which WRT's strategy is founded. This database is also used by all formal partners of WRT.
RISK ASSESSMENT
The major risks faced by Waterlife Recovery Trust are identified on a risk register which is reviewed by the Board of Trustees as part of the 5 board meetings that were held during this financial year. We believe that maintaining reserves at current levels, combined with an annual review of the controls over key financial systems, will provide sufficient funds in the event of adverse conditions. The Trustees have also examined other operational risks faced by the charity, and we confirm that we have established systems to mitigate, where possible, any significant risks.
STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT
In addition to the board of six Trustees, at the end of this reporting year the charity had 10 staff on fixed-term contracts and hired 6 self-employed contractors as required. We also had a part time Account Assistant and managed some 2,600 volunteer citizen conservationists, spread across 42 counties in England, Wales and Scotland.
PLANS FOR FUTURE
The charity is now well established, and has in place robust and transparent financial and H.R. management systems. Much of the admin and development work is still dependent on Trustees, however, so the raising of funds to recruit core staff remains a priority.
Having demonstrated that landscape-scale eradication of invasive American mink is not only feasible, but more rapid and less expensive than anticipated, the objective now is to expand WRT's work across Britain as rapidly as possible. Achievement of this ambition will be dependent not only on WRT itself, but on the growing partnership of organisations that seek WRT's guidance and assistance in freeing their own local areas of American mink. The distribution of active smart rafts run by WRT and partners at the end of this FY is shown in Figure 1, with the situation pertaining one year ago shown for comparison.
Figure 1. Active smart mink rafts in England and Wales on 31 March 2024 (1,736, Left) and on 31 March 2025 (2,479, Right). The 2025 total represents a 43% increase compared to a year earlier.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The year under review produced a steady flow of income with Grants contributing 90% of the income. Grants increased year on year from £692,910.97 to £740,883.65. The charity ones again seen an increase in donations by just over double from the year before with a total of £70,736.35 donations. Closing reserves as at 31 March 2025 are at £394,714.58.
The Trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity’s trust deed, the Charities Act 2011 and 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.
By Order of the Board
Barend van der Berg
Trustee and Treasurer
Walnut Cottage,
Pymoor Lane,
Pymoor,
CB6 2EF
Date: 11 June 2025
Waterlife Recovery Trust
Statement of Income and Expenditure for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
----- Start of picture text -----
Notes Unrestricted Restricted Total 31/03/2025 Total 31/03/2024
Funds Funds
£ £ £ £
Donations 56,796.35 13,940.00 70,736.35 32,691.52
Grants 206,820.00 534,063.65 740,883.65 692,910.97
Gift Aid 6,631.46 6,631.46 1,005.25
Interest Received 1 5,639.66 5,639.66 769.82
Total Income 275,887.47 548,003.65 823,891.12 727,377.56
Staff Costs 2 21,825.67 315,172.66 336,998.33 125,013.84
Project Officers Fees 0.00 46,831.91
Rafts and Traps 64,192.88 131,449.57 195,642.45 266,402.66
Ecological Services 0.00 64,500.00
Consumables 4,763.45 21,197.48 25,960.93 26,886.23
Travel and Subsistence 432.70 31,815.98 32,248.68 30,173.86
Professional Fees 1,632.00 1,400.00 3,032.00 29,425.75
Insurance 1,858.83 1,858.83 545.59
Postage 351.97 1,679.78 2,031.75 509.38
Recruitment Fees 0.00 596.00
Advertising 0.00 833.60 833.60 -
IT Support 4,279.76 9,021.37 13,301.13 -
Office Equipment 1,792.98 6,693.06 8,486.04 4,541.33
Printing and Stationery 599.55 599.55 3,453.67
Bank Charges 60.00 60.00 60.00
Other -5,000.00 -5,000.00 28.91
Total Expenditure 101,190.24 514,863.05 616,053.29 598,969.13
Net Income / Loss 207,837.83 128,408.43
Funds Brought Forward 186,876.75 58,468.32
Funds Balance at 31 March 2024 394,714.58 186,876.75
----- End of picture text -----
Waterlife Recovery Trust
Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025
----- Start of picture text -----
Notes Unrestricted Restricted Total 31/03/2025 Total 31/03/2024
Funds Funds
£ £ £ £
Current Assets
Bank 208,290.06 203,349.68 411,639.74 104,188.50
Debtors 3 32,983.95 32,983.95 145,688.25
Long Term Loans 4 -48,000.00 -48,000.00 -63,000.00
Pension Fund -1,909.11 -1,909.11
Net Current Assets 160,290.06 234,424.52 394,714.58 186,876.75
Funds of the Charity 5
Restricted Funds 151,230.76 151,230.76 142,952.06
Unrestricted Funds 243,483.82 243,483.82 43,924.69
Total Funds 243,483.82 151,230.76 394,714.58 186,876.75
----- End of picture text -----
Waterlife Recovery Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year end 31 March 2025
----- Start of picture text -----
1 Interest Received
31/03/2025 31/03/2024
£ £
Bank Account Interest 5,639.66 769.82
2 Staff Costs
31/03/2025 31/03/2024
£ £
Salaries 302,845.96 94,868.10
PAYE and NI 23,757.25 23,049.46
Pension Costs 10,395.12 7,096.28
336,998.33 125,013.84
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
31/03/2025 31/03/2024
Direct charitable 10 8
3 Debtors
31/03/2025 31/03/2024
£ £
Amount Recoverable on Contract 32,983.95 145,688.25
4 Long Term Loans
31/03/2025 31/03/2024
£ £
Tony Martin (Trustee) 33,000.00 33,000.00
Bill Amos (Trustee) 15,000.00 30,000.00
48,000.00 63,000.00
----- End of picture text -----
----- Start of picture text -----
5 Funds of the Charity
31/03/2025 31/03/2024
£
Unrestricted Funds 243,483.82 43,924.69
Restricted Funds:
EA KENT 1,171.19 15,191.02
BEDS IDB 5,488.35 21,966.00
LINCS WILDLIFE 4,450.00 4,450.00
SRPCGS -28,142.55 -
EA LINC 1,640.03 27,036.62
NE NORFOLK/SUFFOLK 42,471.49 53,086.88
LISMORE 0.00 256.68
NORFOLK IDBS 25,000.00 12,500.00
DARRENT 0.00 6,464.86
TRENT VALLEY 1,000.00 1,000.00
SOLVE 1,400.00 1,000.00
ESSEX 79583.49 -
MINK DNA 13,949.33 -
AFFINITY 0.00 -
LONDON SOUTH -97.36 -
SCOTLAND 0.00 -
EA Trent 11,961.79 -
HIGH WEALDS -2,150.86 -
RFWRVOLELTC -6,494.14 -
394,714.58 186,876.75
6 TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits
for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
----- End of picture text -----
CHARttY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Report to the trustees On accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 Charlty no (rf any) 1198223 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the a¢Unts of the above d)arity (Ihe Trusf) for the y8ar ended Responslbilities and basis As the chanvs twslees. you are responsible for preparation of the of report a(xwnls in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examinats'on. I have followed all the applk2ble DireGlIor gNen by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act Independent examlnerfs charrty's gross income exeded £250,000 and l am qualified to statement undertake the examination by being a qualified member of finsert name of applicable listed bodyl}. Delete l ] rfnot applicable. I have completed my examination. I nfirM that no material matters have Jme to my attention in nneCti with the examination (other than that disdosed below") which gives me cause to believe that in. any Material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Chartbes Act" or the accounts did not accK)rd with the accounting records; or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the form and content of acUnts set out in the Charlties (Accounts and Reporls) Regulations 2008 other than any rgquirement that the ac£ounts give a 'true and faiff view which is not a matter )nsidered as part of an independent examination. I have no ¢oncems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to whith attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to b& reached. ' Please del e words in the brackets rfthey (lo not apply. Signed: 1010612025 Name: Sandeep Passi Relevant professional qualifi&*ion(s) or body (if any): FCCA IER Oct 2018
Address: 71 Squiresiwxjl Fulwood Presion. PR2 9QA Onty complete rf the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32. Independent examination of tharity accounts: directions and guidan for examiners). Glve here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018