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2025-08-01-accounts

OSPA CABO VERDE CATS AND DOGS CIO

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 28 FEBRUARY 2025

Charity Number: 1204295

OSPA CABO VERDE CATS AND DOGS CIO

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025

CONTENTS PAGE
Legal and Administra�ve Informa�on 1
Report of the Trustees 2 - 10
Independent Examiner’s Report 11
Receipts and Payments Account 12
Statement of Assets and Liabili�es 13

OSPA CABO VERDE CATS AND DOGS CIO

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025

Charity Number 1204295 Trustees Rachel Geary Rachael Temple Danielle Le Cornu Carol Kelly (Appointed 5[th] June 2024) 26 Novers Park Road Registered Office Address Bristol BS4 1RE Independent Examiner Joshua Kingston BSc. FCA Burton Sweet Limited 5 Farleigh Court Old Weston Road Flax Bourton Bristol BS48 1UR

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OSPA CABO VERDE CATS AND DOGS CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Status

OSPA Cabo Verde Cats And Dogs CIO is a CIO registered with the Charity Commission on 10 August 2023 governed by its cons�tu�on.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objects

The charitable objects as set out in the charity’s governing documents are as follows:

In shaping the objec�ves for the year and planning ac�vi�es, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, including the guidance ‘public benefit: running a charity (PB2)’.

Ac�vi�es

Year 2 as a UK registered charity has been very frui�ul.

OSPA UK have con�nued to ini�ate improvements and create more fundraising opportuni�es for the Cape Verde based charity, OSPA Cabo Verde Cats and Dogs (OSPA CV) in Sal and have con�nued to progress very well in other areas too.

Our main objectives and priority are to con�nue to help improve facilities and welfare for the dogs at the rehoming centre in Sal, as well as assist with day-to-day running costs and upkeep and support neutering campaigns.

posi�on at the rehoming centre in Sal and are using his skills for the maintenance and upkeep of the centre, as well as general daily du�es. We now have 3 full �me staff, the Centre Manager and 2 Caretakers, one of which celebrated her 10 years of service with OSPA in April 2025. We also have 3 part �me staff, including an Assistant Manager and 2 caretakers, one with veterinary experience.

We are happy to report that we have now reached our fundraising target for an onsite Vet Room and have monies secured for the future, thanks to fundraising, plus a large dona�on from one of our supporters.

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OSPA CABO VERDE CATS AND DOGS CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025

through no fault of their own. It will be a safe haven to tend to conditions and wounds, to provide a calm and quiet space to promote healing, as well as a clean environment to invite visiting vets to use for minor operations, neutering etc.

We also embarked on another major fundraising campaign for a mobile rescue vehicle earlier this year and have nearly reached our fundraising target for this too, thanks to a number of fundraisers and corporate co-opera�on. Our dream is to be able to transform how we respond to emergencies, perform rescues efficiently, a�end cri�cal vet visits, run life-saving mobile clinics and support essen�al neutering campaigns across the island. We are now very nearly able to make this a reality.

Following on from the success of our sponsored walk in June 2024, we held another sponsored charity dog walk in June 2025. OSPA CV staff and all the UK trustees came together for the first �me ever in CV and along with regular volunteers and tourists, led an organised sponsored dog walk in Sal, from OSPA’s Rehoming Centre to Bikini Beach, taking out nearly all 70+ of the resident dogs, in one large group walk. It was an amazing turn out. One of OSPA’s original founders joined us and greeted our dogs and their walkers at a set water sta�on on the beach. Also, UK supporters and other individuals took their own dogs for a walk with a view to raising funds and awareness for OSPA CV from their homes in UK and Europe. We raised a fantas�c amount of funds on the lead up to the day and on the day itself, all towards our rescue vehicle campaign.

As last year, supporters have held cake and samosa sales at their workplace, not only raising funds for OSPA, but also raising awareness of who we are and what we do, with the help of supplied posters and other media detailing OSPA’s informa�on.

Christmas compe��ons were launched on our social media pages to provide a special Christmas meal for the dogs at our rehoming centre once again and for each dona�on made by a supporter, OSPA UK pledged to match this with a meal dona�on for a street dog of Sal. OSPA CV purchased good quality local produce, prepared and cooked fresh meals and distributed them to the residents at OSPA CV and the strays and community dogs in the local area. This resulted in over 140 dogs receiving a nutri�ous and tasty meal over the Christmas period, where otherwise at least 70 of these dogs would have either gone without food. A vehicle was hired for the day to carry this out. We also held a ‘12 days of Christmas’ raffle with dona�ons collected from supporters and local businesses and once again produce an annual calendar to sell as merchandise.

OSPA UK con�nue to raise funds via incen�ves such as Easyfundraising and Teaming. Amazon wish lists assist in supplying general day-to-day dona�ons required by OSPA CV and more specifically, medical supplies to be used in CV for neutering campaigns. There are volunteers in the UK who maintain and update the wish lists.

OSPA UK maintains strong rela�onships with local animal-related chari�es, businesses and supporters who kindly donate supplies to support our work in Cape Verde. Through social media outreach and local connec�ons, our UK trustees and regular volunteers con�nue to build partnerships with small

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OSPA CABO VERDE CATS AND DOGS CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025

businesses, other rescue organisa�ons, larger corpora�ons and generous individuals. When dona�ons are available, our UK team proac�vely collects and organises them for transport to Sal.

Thanks to the support of TUI UK, we’re able to send these supplies via charity luggage, allowing up to 10kg per person. OSPA CV coordinates this by submi�ng a waiver request to TUI UK with details of the traveller carrying the luggage, the UK team then sends a pre-filled case if needed. Once on the island, the charity luggage is either delivered directly to the rehoming centre by the tourist or collected from their hotel by the OSPA CV team. This collabora�ve system allows holidaymakers to make a meaningful difference while travelling, and ensures vital resources reach the dogs who need them most.

Merchandise is sourced in the UK, purchased and printed. Merchandise consists of OSPA branded clothing i.e. t-shirts, hoodies and vests, tote bags, dog bandanas, caps and keyrings sourced in the UK, plus locally-cra�ed bracelets, benefi�ng local small businesses. Addi�onal items were added to the stock this year including OSPA branded pens & wallets plus sunglasses. All merchandise is available to buy locally in CV or online from the UK. We have a volunteer in the UK who holds and despatches the stock as requested. We have also now provided OSPA CV staff with branded t-shirts and long-sleeved tops to protect them from the sun’s UV rays.

One of our UK trustees provides a service to produce natural, dehydrated, healthy dog treats to sell and donates 100% of the proceeds and her own �me.

Our website is updated regularly, providing all the informa�on about OSPA CV, including details about what is done at the rehoming centre, how to get involved, fundraising efforts, details of merchandise for purchase, dogs who have been adopted, dogs who are available to be adopted, staff informa�on, links for social media and dona�ons and more. The site is maintained and updated by an OSPA volunteer and trustee, free of charge and �me.

Charity collec�on buckets are occasionally requested for a workplace. Dona�ons are received periodically by OSPA CV and UK and paid into our bank account or PayPal account.

One of our trustees walked on hot coals in April 2025 and represented OSPA at her employer’s (Heathrow Airport) annual golf day in June 2025, where all raffle proceeds were donated to OSPA giving a huge boost to our rescue vehicle GoFundMe campaign. Raffle proceeds were also donated by MACE, a construc�on company who work with Heathrow, to the same campaign making our dream of a rescue vehicle a reality!

Our rela�ons con�nue to grow with Heathrow Airport, who have pledged excess building materials to us for use at OSPA CV, which are essen�al and very much valued, due to the scarcity and costs on the island. Materials such as this allow us to achieve our goals in upgrading facili�es at our rehoming centre, to help improve the condi�ons of the dogs in our care. They have also previously donated unwanted dog travel crates from their Animal Recep�on Centre to help facilitate the transporta�on of the dogs from Sal to their new forever homes in UK/Europe. They have also offered us other ongoing support.

When our joint charity status is in place we plan to send another sea container to OSPA CV, this �me with charity, rather than commercial status meaning we will save money on customs tax.

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OSPA CABO VERDE CATS AND DOGS CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025

We con�nue to aim to increase monthly sponsorship program par�cipa�on. Our programs support ‘Sponsor a Dog’ (caring for a par�cular dog and suppor�ng their ongoing care and welfare), ‘Sponsor a Suite’ (suppor�ng improvements and upgrades to current kennel facili�es) and ‘PPP’ (Preventa�ve Parasite Program’) - promo�ng preventa�ve treatment for the dogs, by covering costs for flea/�ck and de-worming treatments specifically, especially as �ck borne illnesses are rife in Cape Verde and protec�on is essen�al to their wellbeing and health). OSPA CV & UK encourage followers to subscribe to these programs to provide reliable monthly dona�ons, which cover basic costs such as food, puppy and annual vaccina�ons, veterinary care, maintenance of the site and staffing to support the dogs and provide improvements and upgrades to their homing. These regular dona�ons help cover fixed and variable costs required by the charity to run and maintain the rehoming centre in Sal and provide for all the dogs in their care.

We are also seeing an increase in the number of the sponsors physically visi�ng OSPA CV on their holidays to meet or visit with their sponsor dogs.

A collabora�on with RIU Hotels remains secured, with RIU Hotels Group providing free accommoda�on at their hotels on the island for visi�ng vets and their staff, to provide essen�al neutering campaign support. Although there was no call to use this collabora�on in this past year, we hope that when our charity status in CV is established under the correct name we will be in a much be�er posi�on to u�lise this collabora�on.

We con�nue to create weekly posts on hotel, local and other tourist Facebook groups based in Sal, when local adver�sing is allowed and encouraged, to raise awareness of our rehoming centre, the work carried out and what visitors and guests can do to enhance their holiday experience by visi�ng, volunteering and suppor�ng our charity in UK or CV. A lot of support and interest is generated from these posts, resul�ng in raised awareness of OSPA CV and what we do as a UK charity to help the dogs and local community in CV. Visitors come to see the work we do at the rehoming centre, socialise and o�en play with/walk the dogs and bring supplies or make monetary dona�ons during their visits. This o�en creates repeat visits during their holidays and o�en beyond and repeat visits are very welcomed.

We con�nue to have regular, reliable and valued support and help from ex-pat volunteers, who either live on Sal, or who have property there and visit regularly through the year. These volunteers have supported OSPA CV for years and con�nue to be a hugely valued part of our charity, suppor�ng staff and helping with daily chores on the ground. Some visitors have been encouraged by this and have also become regular volunteers whenever they are able to visit the island or from afar, in whatever capacity they are able.

encourage supporters and donors to complete the gi� aid forms if they are UK taxpayers.

Whilst nothing has yet progressed, plans remain in place behind the scenes to provide educa�on on animal care to school age children on Sal, by visi�ng local schools and community centres etc. Once suppor�ng literature and other prepara�ons are completed and everything is in place, OSPA CV will be able to carry out essen�al educa�onal training to the future genera�on in the hope of improving the condi�ons for the animals in the coming years.

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OSPA CABO VERDE CATS AND DOGS CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025

In the mean�me, OSPA CV have also welcomed a school/community group at our rehoming centre to give them advice on caring for their pet and other dogs in the local community.

23 adop�ons have taken place over the last year, with new homes found locally on Sal, in Europe and UK, unfortunately 2 of which were returned to OSPA CV’s care, one locally and one from the UK. Sadly 13 dogs have died whilst in our care, due to illness and/or old age.

We were thrilled to know that some OSPA dog reunions were held in UK, where adopters have organised to meet up, so their OSPA dogs can play and socialise.

This year also saw the very sad loss of two of our adopted dogs through illness in the UK, Elsie and Lana.

Throughout the year we have welcomed dona�ons via personal GoFundMe’s and Facebook birthday fundraisers from our supporters.

OSPA CV con�nue to work in collabora�on with the German associa�on, Tierärztepool, who carry out regular annual neutering campaigns on Sal. Campaigns took place from 16[th] -29[th] Sept 2024, 4[th] -17[th] Nov 2024 and also 2[nd] -13[th] May 2025 resul�ng in the following achievements: -

We received support from local CV businesses for these campaigns including RIU Hotels, Pizzaart/Vista Mar, Global Africa, Tierärztepool, Camara Municipal Sal, GDRC Pretoria and Ocean Property.

By preven�ng overpopula�on, we’re not only improving animal welfare on the island but also reducing the need for unwanted interven�on from local authori�es.

When water pipes burst across Sal recently, leaving much of the island without water, we were incredibly fortunate to receive support from local business Misturod. They stepped in with an emergency supply of water for the dogs at OSPA CV, ensuring our animals stayed safe and hydrated during a challenging �me.

In April 2025, OSPA CV faced a serious challenge when one of our water storage tanks was damaged and began leaking, pu�ng our daily care rou�nes at risk. Thanks to the generosity of one of our incredible ex-pat volunteers, a replacement tank was swi�ly installed, ensuring our dogs con�nued to have access to clean water.

In March 2025, OSPA collaborated once again with My Cape Verde charity to take in a very sick dog (Koa), who had been found on the streets in a very emaciated condi�on, with the aim to treat him and nurse him back to health. Tragically he didn’t make it, but his final weeks spent in OSPA CV’s care were at least comfortable and pain free.

An OSPA dog, Jaquira, who was adopted to the UK in November 2024, was surrendered by her adopter a�er only a couple of days of arriving in the UK, due to aggression issues with the resident dog. One

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OSPA CABO VERDE CATS AND DOGS CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025

of our volunteers in the UK stepped up to foster Jaquira. Sadly, due to her medical history with incon�nence problems and con�nuous water infec�ons due to having to wear a diaper, arrangements were made in March 2025, to bring Jaquira back to CV, when a new home in the UK was unable to be found. Jaquira has se�led back into OSPA CV life remarkably well. A GoFundMe appeal covered all the costs involved.

August 2022, was taken on by Jaquira’s foster carers, with a view to providing him with a higher level of veterinary care in the UK. The foster carers have pledged to pay for Simba’s medical care. However, OSPA are now looking to fundraise to help towards these costs and have started a GoFundMe appeal.

Various fundraisers are in hand over the course of the coming weeks/months, including a�endance at a local dog sanctuary’s annual Fun Day with a stall selling items, raffle and encouraging par�cipa�on in prize winning games, plus a tea party compe��on and more to follow.

In the situa�on of both Jaquira and Simba, Forest Dog Rescue in Worcester, were on standby to support OSPA and both dogs, by providing a temporary home at their sanctuary if required and veterinary backup.

Challenges faced:-

the help of a legal representa�ve from Boa Vista. This con�nues to be a very slow and frustra�ng process, however, once this has been finalised and our charity status made official under the correct name, we will be able to move forward with many other projects i.e. Vet Room build, rescue vehicle purchase, etc.

OSPA CV s�ll face the huge challenge of being able to secure reliable local labour at a reasonable cost. OSPA CV and UK have plans in hand to make improvements to and build/re-build new/extra dog pens, strengthen/secure/replace/expand perimeter walls, paint the outer gate to the rehoming centre, build the vet room, create a sensory dog area and more.

for building work being prohibi�ve, reliability of the builders and the skill of the labour not being adequate or acceptable. Without the availability of these skills, improvements to the rehoming centre are slower to evolve than we would like.

However, in November 2024, we had a UK carpenter/builder visit who, along with other volunteers, built a new dog kennel dona�ng their �me and exper�se. Funds were raised by one of our trustees towards the cost of materials. One of the OSPA CV dogs could not socialise with the other dogs and had to be kept in the kitchen area of our front of house. He now has his own purpose-built kennel and shares with another dog he now gets along with, giving him a much be�er quality of life.

Since then, the same carpenter/builder returned in June 2025 to further assist with crea�ng and building our new Feeding Sta�on with cost of materials raised from a GoFundMe appeal.

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OSPA CABO VERDE CATS AND DOGS CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025

Another huge challenge faced at the rehoming centre is security. Without electricity and Wi-Fi, it is extremely hard being able to secure OSPA CV premises from the� and damage. Sadly, there was another break-in resul�ng in damage to the outer window security bars and smashed window. A supporter very generously paid for the window and security bars to be replaced. The security cameras con�nue to be glitchy resul�ng in a lack of footage of the incident. This challenge will con�nue un�l such �me as we have use of electricity and can install alarms and Wi-Fi.

While the weather in CV is usually hot and dry, during the rainy season in September, OSPA CV do experience a lot of issues with flooding and flood damage due to lack of drainage.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Future plans/aims/objec�ves for the next charity year:-

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OSPA CABO VERDE CATS AND DOGS CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025

FINANCIAL REVIEW

year were £18,959 (2024: £18,467).

Reserves policy

The trustees have established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds not commi�ed or invested in tangible fixed assets (free reserves) held by the charity should be 3 months of the total expenditure, which equates to £18,184 in free reserves. At this level, the trustees feel that it would be able to con�nue the current ac�vi�es of the charity in the event of significant drop in funding, allowing �me to consider how the funding would be replaced or ac�vi�es changed accordingly.

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OSPA CABO VERDE CATS AND DOGS CIO

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

accuracy at any �me the financial posi�on of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Chari�es Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regula�ons 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed/cons�tu�on. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the preven�on and detec�on of fraud and other irregulari�es.

Signed by order of the Trustees

…………………………… Rachel Geary Trustee

Date: 15 December 2025

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OSPA CABO VERDE CATS AND DOGS CIO

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of OSPA Cabo Verde Cats and Dogs CIO

I report to the trustees on my examina�on of the accounts OSPA Cabo Verde Cats and Dogs CIO (the Charity) for the year ended 28 February 2025.

Responsibili�es and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the prepara�on of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Chari�es Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examina�on of the Charity’s accounts carried out under sec�on 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examina�on I have followed all the applicable Direc�ons given by the Charity Commission under sec�on 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

connec�on with the examina�on giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other ma�ers in connec�on with the examina�on to which a�en�on should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Joshua Kingston BSc. FCA Burton Sweet Chartered Accountants The Clock Tower 5 Farleigh Court Old Weston Road Flax Bourton Bristol BS48 1UR

Date: …………………………………… 15 December 2025

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OSPA CABO VERDE CATS AND DOGS CIO

YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Total Funds
Funds Funds 2025 2024
£ £ £ £
RECEIPTS
Voluntary income to further charity's objectives
-
Donations and grants 73,225 73,225 29,083
- - -
Fundraising 10,191
-
73,225 73,225 39,274
Investment income
Bank interest 2 - 2 165
TOTAL RECEIPTS 73,227 - 73,227 39,439
PAYMENTS
Costs of charitable activities
Staff costs 38,060 - 38,060 13,525
Goods purchased for resale 3,919 - 3,919 591
- -
Repairs and renewals 6,668 6,668
-
Radio equipment 1,155 1,155
- -
Vet supplies 8,663 8,663
Printing and office 702 - 702 1,874
-
Postage and carriage 5,150 5,150 1,108
Computer expenses 309 - 309 -
Seller fees 270 - 270 126
Accountancy 1,620 - 1,620 300
- - -
Legal fees 1,560
-
Miscellaneous expenses 1,264 1,264 1,888
- -
Transport costs 4,955 4,955
-
72,735 72,735 20,972
TOTAL PAYMENTS 72,735 - 72,735 20,972
NET RECEIPTS/(PAYMENTS) 492 - 492 18,467
----- End of picture text -----

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OSPA CABO VERDE CATS AND DOGS CIO

AS AT 28 FEBRUARY 2025

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

Fixed Assets
Current Assets
Stock
Cash at bank and in hand
Total Assets
Liabilities
Accruals
Accountancy
Total Liabilities
CASH RESERVES
Unrestricted funds
Brought forward
Net receipts/(payments) for the year
Total reserves		 2025
£
866
478
18,959
19,437
19,437
2,214
2,214
18,467
492
18,959
18,959		 2024
£
-
478
18,467
18,945
18,945
1,740
1,740
-
18,467
18,467
18,467

Signed on behalf of the Trustees on…...........................15 December 2025

Rachel Geary Trustee

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