4Vluli El Waterbird Welfare JL,. Report and ACcnts For the year ended 31 March 2025 Charity registration number 1198441
El Waterbird Welfrare Reference and Administrative Details For the year ended 31 March 2025 Trustees P F Jeffers S Crowther M P Jeffers E Donovan Registered office Flat I 26 Narrow Street London E14 8DQ "¢, Registered Charity number 1198441 HMRC Charities referen number ZD16748
El Waterbird Welfare Trustees, Report for the year ended 31 Marth 2025 The Trustees present their report and income and expenditure Statement for the year ended 31 March 2025. Strurture, governance and management. Nuture of governiry document The Charity was formed as a Charttable Incorporated Organisation {°CIO"l on 30 March 2022 having been granted charitable status by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales on that date. It is registered charlty number 1198441. RKruitmert appointmentand induction of Tn The Trustees are of the opinion that they are sufficient in numberto administer the Charitys affairs at present. given its size and the nature of sts activities. When additional or replacement Trustees are required, tt is the re5ponsibiltty of the existing/remaining Trustees to seek prospective appointees who are supporters of and in sympathy with the Charivs objectives. Such persons will be sought from among the CharlS supporters and will need to be both willing and able to make a valid contribution to the objectives of the Charity and its ongoing work. New Trustees are given a -charity Trustee Welcome Pac based on the ,. Charity Commissionerfs Guidance. Organis(rtional stmrture The Trustees meet on a regular basis throughout the year (they met three times during the year to 31 March 2025} and communicate on an ongoing basis via a dedicated WhatsApp account. All financial decisions are made by the Trustees as a group, with formal approval of all expenditure being required by at least two Trustees. The term of office for S Crowthercame to an end on 31 March 2025 and she was unanimously reappointed to continue as a trustee at the Trustee meeting on 11 February 2025. Risk assessment and management The Charity has a written risk policy which is reviewed at each meeting of the Trustees in relation to the risks associated WTth the operations of the CharÈty. The current activities of, the Charity are not considered to carry risk. Public liability insurance is taken out by the Trustees as required for running the fundraising market stall. Objertlves and artivities Objerts and aims of the Charity as set out in its constitution are osfvllows." To promote the conservation of biological diversty and the natural environment in London El and surrounding areas forthe public benefft by: l. Workingto enable the wild waterbirdsto thrive and survive in an urban environment; 2. Providing resources to facilitate rescue and rehabilitation-
- Enhancing habitat; and
- Raising awareness in the local community. Objertives strotegies and activities The Charity seeks to raise ndS and awareness to support the waterbirds of East London ... and surrounding areas. It seeks to keep the state of the habitat occupied by the local waterbirds under review, liaising with local authorities and other bodies where necessary in order to facilitate and fund improvements where needed. The Charity also works in collaboration with other appropriate organisations (i.e. waterbird rescue, rehabilitation and veterinary organisationsl and seeks to raise funds to provide grants and equipment to SUPPOrt and facilrtate the rescue and rehabilitation of injured, distressed and sick waterbirds. It maintains regular presence at local events and on social media to provide . education and to raise awareness within the local community, in particular promoting kindness and responsible behaviour around wild birds. Public benefft The Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission guidance on providing a public benefit. They are confident that the Charitys activities are in line with its charitable ob.jectives and are achieving the purposes for which the Charity has been established. The Trustees have discussed the issue of public benefft and are confident that the breadth and scope of the work the Charity undertakes, as disclosed in this report, complies with Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 and has due regard to the Charity Commission'5 general guidance on public benefit. Achievements and perfomiance Fundmising The Charity has had another very successfvl year in respect of fundraisin& with the Trustee5 continuing in their endeavours to raise rnoneyto support the running costs of the local Swan Ambulance, to purchase much needed rescue equipment and to improve the habitat of the local waterbirds where possible. Funds are primarily raised through donations of cash from members of the public and also from the sales of donated items. The Charity is regularly hosted by the organisers of Wapping Docklands Market at Shadwell Basin who very kindly provide us with a market stall pitch for free. The Charity ran six fundraising market stalls at Shadwell Basin in the year to 31 March 2025. The Charity also seeksto sell donated items of value through online platforms, such as Winted and Ziffrt and has a dedicated charity eBay account. The location of Shadwell Basin market and its local waterbird population (including an established swan pair) provides an ideal setting for awareness raising activity, with many visttors to the market stall coming to chat and seek advice regarding the local waterbirds. Storage space for donated items is very kindly donated by volunteersas is the cost1£36 per market day) of hiring a gazebofor the market stall. Donations are very kindly made by local waterbird supporters. many of whom have required assistance with waterbirds in the past. as well as visitors to the market stall. We also have
an active FaceBook page which report5 on the char5 activities. many of which are in collaboration with other wildlife and waterbird organisations, such as the Swan Sanctuary and Swan & Waterbird Rescue Service. Christmas cards and notelets were again donated by a volunteer to sell on the market stall to raise funds. Another volunteer designed the Christmas cards and notelets. The Charity is registered underthe HM Revenue & Customs Gift Aid scheme and keeps a record of cash donation5 qualifying for tax relief. The Charity is also registered under the PayPal Giving Fund through which it regularly receives donations. Distributson of Funds Whilst the local Swan Ambulance itself is provided by the Swan Sanctuary, the costs of running it are not and we continued to make grantstowardsthe running costs via Swan & Waterbird Rescue Service. A new Swan Ambulance was funded bythe Swan Sanctuary during the year and we contributed £l.ClXI towards the cost of the livery signage on the new ambulance. We also made a grant to a local Swan Sanctuary volunteer towards petrol and transportation costs and also the cost of rescue equipment. A grant of £250 was made to the Lower Regenys Canal Coalition (.LRC) as 3 small contribution towards the cost of replacing £5.) worth of equipment that was stolen or destroyed during a break in at their premises. The work of LRCC is crucial to the welfare of the local waterbirds and wildlife in general. as they play a major role in maintaining the lower end of the Regenvs Canal. includingthe maintenance of platforms forthe wildlife and organising events to clear the litter from the waterway to maintain a safe environment for the wildlife. The Charity funded numerous Other projerts, such as the provision of emergency rafts at various locations, the funding and renovation of rafts at Limehouse Marina, the provision of hazard tape and straw bales, and also various rtems of much needed rescue equipment amongst other things (see under"Projects and activities" for more detail). Pmjects and artivities El Waterbird Welfare is not a rescue organisation but volunteers are often called upon to a55i5t other wildlife organisations with waterbird rescues. often acting as first rekponders and support to shore up the safety of injured or displaced waterbirds and reporting back on rescue situations until an appropriately experienced/qualified rescuer can get to the scene. We continue to keep the local community updated on our activities via our FaceBook page which is regularly updated with news and awareness raising information. We continued to keep a constant eye throughout the year on the habitat occupied by the local waterbirds, liaising with local authorities and other bodies as appropriate to ensure the safety of and where possible the enhanrnent of the habitat of the local waterbirds. In particular to highlight a few areas:
We continued to build relationships with local Marinas. in particular Limehouse Marina and Poplar Marina. As planned last year, we engaged in a joint project during the year to improve the environment of the waterbirds occupying mehouse Marina, by funding and installing a number of floating platforms for the birds. including a large 5vn plarform. We 3150 designed and renovated two recycled floating platforms. one of which was floated in anticipation of the hatching of goslings in a location that would have been impossible for the family to return to. There are plans to renovate and install further floating platforms to replace the existing ones which are dilapidated. We received a number of reports from around the local area of nests that had been built on high inaccessible structures such as boats. in areas with little or no alternative mean5 for the newly hatched young to be able to get off the water to brood with their parents. leaving them vulnerable to getting waterlogged and unable to survive. We designed. funded and buih six small emergency rafts which . were used in situations to provide ducklings and the young of other small -. waterbirds emergency access to dry space. We also funded, designed and built a number of emergency ramps that were deployed in emergency situations to provide re-access to nesting sites inaccessible to non-flighted newly hatched youn& for example in situations where nests had been built on platforms too high forthe young to acce5S. We assisted with the rescue of and transportation of numerous young herring gulls that had fallen prematurely from their nests on high buildings in the local area. including the City of London. Volunteers transported the young gulls to South E55ex Wildlife Hospital ISEWHI. the cost of which was funded directly by volunteers. Once again, we arranged to install hazard tape at Spirrt Quay to prevent the local waterbirds lin particular the ducks) from flying into the fencing protecting the swan nest in that location. Volunteers assisted on a number of occasions in reportin& monitoring and rescuing waterbirds impacted by fuel spills and other environmental issues on local waterways. There is very little in the way of natural nesting material for the waterbirds in the local area. We funded and supplied several bales of strawto various nesting sites in the local area. including Shadwell Basin. Spirit Quay, Limehouse Marina, South Dock, and Lower Regenys Canal. Volunteers assisted with numerous duckling rescues over the Springlearly Summer where ducks had nested on high buildings, boats and other unusual places, as well as acting as first responders for swans involved in territorials or mislandings. We continued our campaign to raise awareness of the importance of keeping dogs under control around waterbirds, creating and utilising laminated signage
provided by the Metropolitan Police Wildlife Crimes UnFt in local spaces where there have been incidents involving off leash dogs and waterbirds. We participated in the Tower Hamlets "Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Orderf >;, highlighting the current dangers to local wildlife and the need to provide more protection from uncontrolled dogs. We continued to provide of public information.dos and don'ts" flyers regarding feedin8 the waterbirds and inforniation signs above swan nests. We arranged a .& litter pick at the swan nest on the Regenys Canal and a150 Spirit Quay and also removed more hazardous netting from the rafts at South Dock. We also organised the collection of unwanted bedding for use in the Swan Ambulance for transportation of injured birds. -3J Trustees and volunteers also give their time and resources freely to assist in the collettion, transportation and temporary housing of sick and injured birds land on occasion other wild animals) to al$t other local rescue organisations. Financial review The Trustees were pleased to note that a totsl of £4.774 was raised in the year against a target of £4.0(Xl. A surplus of £1.355 was brought forward from the year ended 31 March 2024 giving rise to available funds during the year of £6.129. A total of £4,905 was expended during the year leaving a cash balance at 31 March 2025 of £1.224. Policy on reserves It has been the TrtjStee aim to ensure that funds raised are eannarked and expended on matters pertainin8to its cause as soon as practicably possible. As a rule of thumb. it is the Trustees. aim to seek to retain a reserve of £500 in case of unforeseen emergencies such as the need forthe provision of emergency equipment or urgenttransportation of sick or injured birds in the absence of the availabilrty of the Swan Ambulance or a volunteer with car. Plans for future periods Alms and key objertlvesforfvtureperlods The Trustees will continue to seek to raise ndS and awdreness through local events. We will continue to rewew local nesting sites and areas frequented by waterbirds with a view to improvingthe environment forthem. The Trustees will continue to build relationships and networks with local authorities, businesses and other organisations to facilitate this. and will continue to contribute towards the cost of running the local Swan Ambulance. This report is approved by the Trustees of the Charity and signed on its behalf by: P F Jeffers Trustee
El Waterbird Welfare Receipts and payments For the year ended 31 Marth 20Z5 Balan brought forward from l April 2024 1,355 )r.. eiln.l._ Receipts Charitable donations received in the period [note 11 Donations qualifyingfor Gift Aid HMRC Gift Aid Donations (other) Sales of donated rtems [note 2] Bank Interest ¥anTr IT i-. 1,895 378 825 1,662 14 Jrri. J ii Totsl receipts .'E Total fvnds available . 6.129 10¢. l.. i.iir+V. 3niv691 Payments Grants allocated in the period [note 3] Funding of rescue equipment and supplies [note 4] Funding of floating rafts [note 4] Public liability insurance [note 5] Administrative expenses Inote 6] Total payments 3,450 141 65 Surplus carried forward }1 i'.i+J i) .1 .4 .,'1 ,-.ry .é91'.¥.ia V-
El Waterbird Welfare Year ended 31 March 2025 Supporting notes to the accounts Note I Charitable donations Throughout the year donations totalling£l,895 were made underthe Gift Aid Scheme, qualifying for tax relief. The relevant Gift Aid declarations were obtained from donors. Donations totalling £825 were made through the Charitrfs PayPal Giving Fund account. Note 2 Sales of donated items Donated ttems were sold throughout the year at local fundraising events (Shadwell Basin Market) and also on-line through relevant platfomis such as Winted and Ztffit. 2025 2024 Note 3 Grants allocated in the period Swan and Waterbird Rescue Service Local Swan Sanctuary volunteer IAM} East End Polo Club (flight defenders for goal posts) The Swan Sanctuary Lower Regents Canal Coalition 1,500 700 2,250 600 70 250 Total Note 4 Funding of rescue equipment. supplies and rafts The following items were purchased in the year= Renovation of rafts at Limehouse Marina Provision of emergency rafts One swan raft for (Limehouse Marina) Emergency ramps Bales of straw for nesting rafts Rescue nets and extending poles Emergency bird carriers/hot water bottles Hazard tape Total 334 189 317 50 iii 75 161 12 It should also be noted that other items were also donated during the year, including another new table forthe market stall. the cost of a canopy for each market stall and several sacks of waterbird pellets and food. Storage space for market stall stock is also
donated by a volunteer and the pwtch at Shadwell Basin Saturday Market was donated free by the organisers of the market. Note 5 Publlc liabllity insuran The Trustees are required to take out public liabtlity insurance to be able to participate at Shadwell Basin Market. Note 6 Administrative expenses Domain name licence (info@elNvw.co.uk) PayPal admin charges izettle charges/credit card machine Total 2025 2024 26 65 £65 20 £50 The domain name licence was cancelled duringthe year ended 31 March 2024 and exchanged for a free Gmail account. All Paypal payments are now made through the PayPal Giving Fund. io