## **E1 Waterbird Welfare**
## **Report and Accounts**
## **For the year ended 31 March 2026**
**Charity registration number 1198441**
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## **E1 Waterbird Welfare Reference and Administrative Details For the year ended 31 March 2026**
## **Trustees**
P F Jeffers S Crowther M P Jeffers E Donovan
## **Registered office**
Flat 1 26 Narrow Street London E14 8DQ
## **Registered Charity number**
1198441
## **HMRC Charities reference number**
ZD16748
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## **E1 Waterbird Welfare**
## **Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 March 2026**
The Trustees present their report and income and expenditure statement for the year ended 31 March 2026.
## **Structure, governance and management**
## _**Nature of governing document**_
The Charity was formed as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (“CIO”) on 30 March 2022 having been granted charitable status by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales on that date. It is registered charity number 1198441.
## _**Recruitment, appointment and induction of Trustees**_
The Trustees are of the opinion that they are sufficient in number to administer the Charity’s affairs at present, given its size and the nature of its activities. When additional or replacement Trustees are required, it is the responsibility of the existing/remaining Trustees to seek prospective appointees who are supporters of and in sympathy with the Charity’s objectives. Such persons will be sought from among the Charity’s 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 Pack” based on the Charity Commissioner’s Guidance.
## _**Organisational structure**_
The Trustees meet on a regular basis throughout the year (they met three times during the year to 31 March 2026) 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 P Jeffers came to an end on 31 March 2026 and she was unanimously reappointed to continue as a trustee at the Trustee meeting on 27 January 2026 for a further four-year term. The term of office for E Donovan comes to an end on 1 August 2026 and she was also unanimously reappointed to continue as a trustee for a further four-year term.
## _**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 with the operations of the Charity. 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.
## **Objectives and activities**
## _**Objects and aims of the Charity as set out in its constitution are as follows** :_
To promote the conservation of biological diversity and the natural environment in London E1 and surrounding areas for the public benefit by:
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1. Working to enable the wild waterbirds to thrive and survive in an urban environment;
2. Providing resources to facilitate rescue and rehabilitation;
3. Enhancing habitat; and
4. Raising awareness in the local community.
## _**Objectives, strategies and activities**_
The Charity seeks to raise funds 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 organisations) and seeks to raise funds to provide grants and equipment to support and facilitate 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 benefit**_
The Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission guidance on providing a public benefit. They are confident that the Charity’s activities are in line with its charitable objectives and are achieving the purposes for which the Charity has been established.
The Trustees have discussed the issue of public benefit 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’s general guidance on public benefit.
## **Achievements and performance**
## _**Fundraising**_
The Charity has had another very successful year in respect of fundraising, with the Trustees continuing in their endeavours to raise money to 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 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 a market stall pitch for free. The Charity ran six fundraising market stalls at Shadwell Basin in the year to 31 March 2026. The Charity also seeks to sell donated items of value through online platforms, such as Vinted and Ziffit, 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 visitors to the market stall coming to chat and seek advice regarding the local waterbirds. Storage space for donated items is very kindly donated by volunteers as is the cost (£36 per market day) of hiring a gazebo for the market stall.
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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. The Charity also has an active FaceBook page which reports on its activities, many of which are in collaboration with other wildlife and waterbird organisations, such as the Swan Sanctuary and Swan & Waterbird Rescue Service.
The Charity is registered under the HM Revenue & Customs Gift Aid scheme and keeps a record of cash donations qualifying for tax relief. The Charity is also registered under the PayPal Giving Fund through which it regularly receives donations.
## _**Distribution 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 grants towards the running costs via Swan & Waterbird Rescue Service. The Charity contributed £1,706 towards running costs in the year. The Charity also made a grant to a local Swan Sanctuary volunteer towards the exceptional costs incurred as a result of the devastating Avian Influenza outbreak in February 2026.
The Charity funded numerous other projects, such as the provision of emergency rafts and renovation of existing rafts at various locations. It also provided signage, straw bales and various items of much needed rescue equipment, amongst other things (see under “Projects and activities” for more detail).
## _**Projects and activities**_
E1 Waterbird Welfare is not a rescue organisation but volunteers are often called upon to assist other wildlife organisations with waterbird rescues, often acting as first responders 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 enhancement of the habitat of the local waterbirds. To highlight a few areas:
- We continued to build relationships with local organisations whose activities involve interaction with waterbirds.
- We liaised with Limehouse Marina, installing and repairing floating platforms for the waterbirds as required and agreed. The alarm was also raised on occasions where birds had nested on boats with no means for the hatched young to access the nests. Emergency ramps were installed as required. We also assisted the Swan Sanctuary with various rescues
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including issues with fishing tackle and other injuries. There are plans to work in collaboration with the Marina over the forthcoming year to refurbish and install additional floating rafts.
- We worked in collaboration with Shadwell Basin Outdoor Activity Centre (“SBOAC”) to install additional floating rafts and to check the swan raft previously installed for necessary repairs. Due to the lack of nesting material, we arranged to furnish the swan raft with straw in advance of nesting season with the assistance of SBOAC. A goodwill donation was made towards repairs needed to a kayak belonging to SBOAC that was damaged following the crash landing of an intruder swan that subsequently needed rescuing.
- We liaised with the Green Team at Tower Hamlets Council (“THC”) regarding the provision of protection for the swans nesting at Spirit Quay. This included liaison over the clearance of the old swan nest that had been in a vulnerable location and provision of enhanced nesting facilities to encourage the swans to nest in a safer spot. We also liaised with THC regarding the provision of Heras fencing to protect the swan nest.
- We also liaised THC with regard to the nesting swans on Regent’s Canal, arranging for Heras fencing to be installed to protect the nesting swans from harm.
- We intervened to help when a swan pair nested on a high platform at Poplar Marina, installing an emergency ramp to ensure the safety of the newly hatched cygnets. We subsequently built and installed a lower, accessible raft for the nesting birds to use going forward.
- We liaised with a local business who kindly agreed to fund a new swan raft at South Dock, Canary Wharf to replace the existing dilapidated one. We engaged in lengthy negotiations with Canal & River Trust (“CRT”) to obtain the necessary permissions.
- A devastating outbreak of Avian Influenza impacted the local area in February/March. We were actively involved in working with other wildlife organisations in liaising with the relevant authorities such as CRT, DEFRA, and RSPCA during the crisis, in which over 100 swans were lost. We assisted with raising public awareness via our social media channels.
- We participated in the Limehouse Cut Adoption Group, a collaboration of local organisations who have the joint objective of improving the natural environment of the Limehouse Cut. We participated in applications for grants from the Mayor’s Green Roots Fund aimed at funding improvements to the Cut.
- Every year we receive reports from around the local area of newly hatched young birds to being unable to get off the water to brood with their parents, due to
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inadequate facilities for them on local urban waterways. This leaves them vulnerable to getting waterlogged and unable to survive. In anticipation of this, we built several small emergency rafts from recycled materials which were despatched as required to provide ducklings and the young of other small waterbirds emergency access to dry space. We also built several emergency ramps, also primarily from recycled materials that were deployed in emergency situations to provide re-access to nesting sites inaccessible to newly hatched young, for example in situations where nests had been built on platforms too high for the young to access.
- We funded six specialist swan jackets (custom made by Ratsey & Lapthorn) that are needed for the rescue and transportation of swans, as well as a number of nets and poles to aid the rescue of small waterbirds.
- We assisted with the rescue of and transportation of waterbirds to and from the Swan Sanctuary. We also assisted with the transportation of numerous juvenile herring gulls that had fallen from their nests and been abandoned in the hot weather during the summer months to South Essex Wildlife Hospital. The cost of this was funded directly by volunteers.
- The Charity funded signage to encourage cyclists on a small section of towpath along the Regent’s Canal used by birds for crossing, to slow down after a gosling was struck and killed.
- Volunteers assisted on several occasions in reporting, monitoring and rescuing waterbirds impacted by fuel spills and other environmental issues on local waterways. There was a devastating diesel spill at a local Marina. Volunteers assisted with the rescue of the impacted waterbirds and participated in subsequent discussions with the Marina with the aim of minimising the impact on the waterbirds on future such incidents.
- There is very little in the way of natural nesting material for the waterbirds in the local area. We continued to fund and supply several bales of straw to various nesting sites in the local area, including Shadwell Basin, Spirit Quay, Limehouse Marina, South Dock, and Lower Regent’s Canal.
- Volunteers assisted with numerous duckling rescues over the Spring/early 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.
- Our awareness raising activities continued during the year, in particular the importance of keeping dogs under control around waterbirds, the perils of carelessly discarded fishing tackle, and encouraging local people to be vigilant and report incidents involving the illegal use of catapults on the waterbirds and wildlife in general. A concerning number of waterbirds, in particular swans, had to be rescued during the year with plastic bottle rings caught around their beaks. We continued to raise awareness of the dangers of litter to the waterbirds and wildlife
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in general with a view to encouraging local people to pick up litter and carefully dispose of anything that might cause harm to wildlife.
- Trustees and volunteers also give their time and resources freely to assist in the collection, transportation and temporary housing of sick and injured birds (and on occasion other wild animals) to assist other local rescue organisations.
## **Financial review**
The Trustees were pleased to note that a total of £5,084 was raised in the year against a target of £4,000. A surplus of £1,224 was brought forward from the year ended 31 March 2025 giving rise to available funds during the year of £6,308. A total of £4,302 was expended during the year leaving a cash balance at 31 March 2026 of £2,006.
## _**Policy on reserves**_
It has been the Trustees’ aim to ensure that funds raised are earmarked and expended on matters pertaining to 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 for the provision of emergency equipment or urgent transportation of sick or injured birds in the absence of the availability of the Swan Ambulance or a volunteer with a car.
## **Plans for future periods**
## _**Aims and key objectives for future periods**_
The Trustees will continue to seek to raise funds and awareness through local events. We will continue to review local nesting sites and areas frequented by waterbirds with a view to improving the environment for them. 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
**……………………………………………………………………….**
**P F Jeffers Trustee**
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## **E1 Waterbird Welfare Receipts and payments For the year ended 31 March 2026**
|**Balance brought forward from 1 April 2025**
**Receipts**
Charitable donations received in the period [note 1]
-
Donations qualifying for Gift Aid
-
HMRC Gift Aid
-
Donations (other)
Sales of donated items [note 2]
Bank Interest
**Total receipts**
**Total funds available**
**Payments**
Grants allocated in the period [note 3]
Funding of rescue equipment and supplies [note 4]
Provision and renovation of floating rafts [note 4]
Public liability insurance [note 5]
Administrative expenses [note 6]
**Total payments**
**Balance carried forward at 31 March 2026**||**£**
1,961
484
1,196
1,436
7|**£**
**1,224**
5,084
**6,308**|**£**
**1,224**
5,084
**6,308**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||2,062
960
1,061
189
30||||
|||||4,302|
||||||
||||**£2,006**||
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## **E1 Waterbird Welfare Year ended 31 March 2026 Supporting notes to the accounts**
**£**
## **Note 1**
## **Charitable donations**
Throughout the year donations totalling £1,961 were made under the Gift Aid Scheme, qualifying for tax relief. The relevant Gift Aid declarations were obtained from donors. Donations made through the Charity’s PayPal Giving Fund account and other non-qualifying donations totalled £1,196.
## **Note 2**
## **Sales of donated items**
Donated items were sold throughout the year at local fundraising events (Shadwell Basin Market) and on-line through relevant platforms such as Vinted and Ziffit.
|**Note 3**
**Grants allocated in the period**
Swan and Waterbird Rescue Service
Local Swan Sanctuary volunteer (AM)
Avian Influenza assistance (CL)
The Swan Sanctuary
Lower Regents Canal Coalition
Shadwell Basin Outdoor Activity Centre (Kayak)
**Total**|707
-
250
1,000
-
105
**£2,062**
**2026**
**£**|**2025**
**£**|
|---|---|---|
|||1,500
700
-
1,000
250
**-**
**£3,450**|
## **Note 4**
|**Note 4**||
|---|---|
|**Funding of rescue equipment, supplies and rafts**
The following items were purchased in the year:
Purchase of purpose-built rafts
Provision of emergency rafts
Purchase of swan jackets
Purchase of emergency cot
Bales of straw for nesting rafts
Rescue nets and extending poles
Speed awareness signage (Regent’s Canal)
**Total**||
||**£**
885
178
648
50
150
64
46
**£2,021**|
It should also be noted that other items were also donated during the year, including the cost of a canopy for each market stall, various rescue carriers, a keep net (for duck and duckling rescues) and several sacks of waterbird pellets and food. Storage space for market
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stall stock is also donated by a volunteer and the pitch at Shadwell Basin Saturday Market was donated free by the organisers of the market.
## **Note 5**
## **Public liability insurance**
The Trustees are required to take out public liability insurance to be able to participate at Shadwell Basin Market.
|**Note 6**
**Administrative expenses**
Bank charges
iZettle charges/credit card machine
**Total**|**2025**
**£**
-
65
**£65**
**2026**
**£**
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21
**£30**|
|---|---|
The Charity’s bank, Metrobank started imposing bank charges of £3 per month from 28 January 2026.
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## **E1 Waterbird Welfare Statement of Assets and Liabilities**
As at 31 March 2026
**2026 £ Assets** Bank balance 2,006 Total assets 2,006 **Liabilities** – Total liabilities _ **Net assets £2,006**
## **CIO required disclosures**
The Trustees confirm that, at 31 March 2026, the Charity had not given any guarantees to third parties where any potential liability remained outstanding, and had no outstanding debts secured by an express charge over any of the Charity’s assets.
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