CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Trustees, Annual Report for the period
From 1 April 2024 Period start date
To 31 March 2025 Period end date
Charity name: Ponteland and District Red Squirrels
Charity registration number: 1204829
Objectives and Activities
SORP reference
Summary ofthe purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document
Para 1.17
To further the conservation and
preservation of the red squirrel species
primarily but not exclusively in the
Ponteland area and to advance the
education of the public in the study of
red squirrels and in their conservation
and habitat
reservation.
The charity is involved in monitoring the
red squirrel population in Ponteland and
engaging with the public to encourage
them to report sightings of both red and
grey squirrels in the area. We offer
advice on how to support red squirrels
and also assist in removing grey
squirrels. We have attended many
community events to educate the public
about the vulnerability to extinction of
the red squirrel and also given talks to
the public on how to help to save red
squirrels for future generations.
Summary oflhe main
activities in relation lo those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.
Para 1.17and
1.19
We make and sell squirrel feeders to
enable the residents of the area to
support the fragile red squirrel
population. We have in previous years
produced and sold calendars. This
initiative was to raise funds but more
importantly to raise the profile of the
group and also to raise awareness of
the danger that grey squirrels pose to
our native reds.
Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on publi
benefit
Para 1.18
The trustees have all reviewed the
Charity Commission statement on
public benefit found on the website.

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choose to include further statements where relevant about=
SORP referen
Nla
Para 1.38
Policy on grant making
Nla
Para 1 38
Policy on social investment
including program related
investment
The trustees oversee the day to day
running of the charity working closely
with volunteers. The charity is run by
volunteers and the trustees, who receive
no remuneration.
Para 1.38
Contribution made by
volunteers
We currendy have a pool of over 30
volunteers who regularly report
sightings of red and grey squirrels in
the area. A large number of local
residents also permit trapping of grey
squirrels in their gardens.
We have 5 volunteers trained in
despatching grey squirrels with further
volunteers to receive training.
Other
Achievements and Performance
SORP reference
Ponteland Red Squirrels was founded
by our Chair over 20 years ago when
she realised that no one was protecting
the red squirrels in the area and grey
squirrels were moving up from the
south of England bringing squirrel pox
virus with them and killing off the small
red squirrel population. Grey squirrels
had taken over many surrounding areas.
Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity's work has made to
Ihe circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.
Para 1.20
Charitable status achieved on 20
September 2023 was a step towards
raising the profile of the efforts of the
group with local residents and
businesses and in turn showing people
the plight of the red squirrels.

Educating the public about the
vulnerability of the red squirrel is one of
our main aims and we have in recent
years had a stand once a month at a
local farmer's market to enable us to
reach out and talk to members of the
public about red squirrels.
In 2023 we have given talks to the local
Rotary group and the Ponteland Guides
and Brownies. We plan to give more
educational talks in the future.
During this period, we managed to have
published several articles in our local
press about red squirrels and our
conservation work.
The charity has been harnessing social
media to help monitor sightings of
squirrels in the area. We have set up a
public Fa¢ebook Group and Facebook
Page for the community in the area to
post photographs, questions and
comments about squirrels and
conservation. This presence has helped
information to be spread to a wider
audience.
We have also created watts app groups
to enable the community to
communicate more easily and report
sightings.
The distrlbution of flyers at events,
delivering door to door and providing to
local businesses has assisted in
spreading information about squirrels
and the work we do to protect them for
people to enjoy in the future.
Similarly producing our own calendar
has enable us to disseminate
infomiation and engage local and wider
support. We ran a competition asking
people to submit their photographs of
red squirrels. We selected the winners
and then have produced and sold
calendars. We had one calendar
featuring photographs of the local red
squirrels taken by local photographers
and a second calendar of photographs
of red squirrels of the British Isles. The
calendar, as well as having delightful
pictures of our red squirrels, provides
infomiative facts and figures about red
and grey squirrels. We sold calendars
every week in the run up to Christmas at
our local shops and at Christmas
markets as well as online.

Again, in an attempt to raise awareness
of the red squirrels that still live in our
area we have squirrel costumes which
our volunteers wear at various events
and when selling calendars. Pictures
can also then be posted on social
media.
We also provide live traps to residents
who agree to allow u5 to trap grey
squirrels in their gardens. By removing
the grey squirrels, we are trying to
reduce the risk of transmission of
squirrel pox virus to the red squirrels.
We have removed many hundreds of
grey squirrels from Ponteland and the
surrounding area in the period 1 April
2024 to 31 March 2025.
A number of trail cameras are deployed
in the area, and these are checked
regularly to monitor squirrel activity. It
is hoped that remotely activated squirrel
traps can be purchased in the future to
reduce the cost in both time and money
of the need to check live traps on a
regular basis.
Any red squirrels found dead orwhich
have to be euthanised are preserved
and statistics taken and catalogued. The
body is also sent to the laboratory for
testing in situations where squirrel pox
or another virus is suspected. We also
support academic researchers by
providing our statistics.
In an attempt to reduce the number of
road deaths involving red squirrels we
have designed and printed signs for
drivers to be made aware of the risks of
squirrels crossing the roads. These
signs have been erected in particular
areas where a number of road fatalities
have occurred. An initiative for the
future is to raise funds to erect a
squirrel bridge to try and reduce road
deaths.
Next year we would like to create our
own website to provide an accessible
platform to share information about
squirrels. We would also like to have a
patron as a figure head to support our
work.

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Achievements against
objectives set
Par¥ 1.41
Our main fundraising stream is the one-
off and regular donations we receive
from our supporters. To supplement this
income, our volunteers have manned
stalls at various fairs and charity events.
selling squirrel feeders which we make
ourselves from recycled materials,
squirrel nuts and our calendars.
Performance offundraising
activities against objectives
set
Para 1.41
This also assists in raising awareness of
our cause.
Further community events are planned
and the charity intend to purchase
branded banners etc to make their stand
more eye catching. Flyers and posters
will be printed to offer advice about
helping red squirrels and these will be
distributed at all such events.
Fundraising events as well as raising
money also increase awareness of the
vulnerabilities of red squirrels. The
charity will continue to have a visible
presence at as many local community
events as
ossible.
Investment performance
against objectives
Para 1.41
Other

Financial Review
Review of the charity,
financial position at the end
of the period
Para 1.21
The charity had a £4,802 credit cash
balance as at 31 March 2025 with no
large expenses predicted for the coming
financial year. Expenses were the cost
of purchasing the calendars and squirrel
food as well as operational costs of the
volunteers, expenses. The charity has
no large assets. Some minimal stock
remains and crossing signs which were
purchased during this period will be
used b the ¢hari
in the comin
ears.
Reserves are held to cover volunteer
expenses such as petrol.
Statement explaining the
policy for holding reseNes
statin
are held
Amount of reserves held
Para 1.22
Para 1.22
Reserves of approximately £4,802 were
held in March 2025.
Reasons for holding zero
reserves
Details of fund materially in
deficit
Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern
Para 1.22
Para 1.24
Nla
Para 1.23
No concerns
Additional information loptionall
You ma
choose to include further statements where relevant about..
Funds come from donations made by
supporters and funds raised from
selling calendars, squirrel food and
feeders.
The charity's principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)
Para 1.47
Tabletop sales at local community
events raise a small amount of funds,
although time consuming are still
worthwhile to raise awareness.
A small amount of donations are
generated from educational events and
talks.
Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted
Para 1.46
A lack of volunteers is a problem
especially finding volunteer5 willing and
able to despatch grey squirrels. This is
also an emotive issue and many people
are unwilling to trap or report sightings
because of the legal requirement to
euthanise the greys.
A description of the principal
risks facing the charity
Par# 1.46

We anticipate that soon there will be no
red squirrels in our area despite our
best efforts and then there will be no
motivation or incentive for fund raising
to support red squirrels when there are
none around. Unless there is
government support and funding made
available for various methods to control
grey squirrels. we will not be able to
continue with what we do.
Other

Structure, Governance and Management
Description of charily's
trusts..
Type of governing document
Para 1.25
Constitution adopted 20 September
2023
cio
How is the charity
constituted?
Para 1.25
rated
Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constilulional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees
Para 1.25
New trustees are appointed by the
existing trustees at a scheduled trustee
meeting.
The proposed person is nominated then
seconded by trustee members and
appointed by a simple majority.
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Trustees are provided with written
information on their role and
responsibilities. This information
includes links to all the Charity
Commission advice and guidance. The
role of a trustee is then explained and
reinforced at the trustees, inaugural
trustee meeting.
Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees
Para 1.51
The charity is a small organisation with
a chair, treasurer and secretary who are
responsible for running the charity.
The charity is run entirely by volunteers.
The charity's organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works
Para 1.51
The charity meets regularly and
communicates with other local red
squirrel groups under the umbrella of
the Northern Red Squirrels. We share
good practice and support each other to
raise awareness of the vulnerability of
red squirrels nationally.
Relationship with any
related parties
Para 1.51
Olher
Reference and Administrative details
Charit
name
other name the charil
uses
Re
istered charit
number
Ponteland and District Red S
Ponteland Red S
uirrels
1204829
uirrels

Charity's principal address
75 Errington Road
Darras Hall
Ponteland
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE20 9LA

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
Dates acted if not forwhole
ear
Trustee name
Office lif any)
Name of person lor bodyl entitled
toa
oint trustee
if an
Sally Margaret
Hardy
Donna Ann Hazard
Jane-Louise
Hodson-Hamilton
Chair
Treasurer
Secretary
10
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Cor
orate trustees - names of the directors at the date the re
ortwasa
roved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name
Dates acted if not for whole
ear

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets
Nla
held in this capacity
Name and objects ofthe
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity's objects
Nla
Details of arrangements for
safe custody and
segregation of such assets
from the Gharity's own
assets
Nla
Additional infomiation loptionall
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional infomiationl
Type of
Name
Address
adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of ke
ersonnel details
Other o
tional information

Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees
Signaturels)
Full name{s)
Position leg Secretary,
Chair, etc)
Jane Hodson-Hamilton
Secretary
Date
30 January 2026

CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Ponteland and District Red Squirrels
1204829
Receipts and payments accounts
CC16a
For the period
from
01-Apr-24
31.Mar-25
To
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted
funds
thè nÈare$t
Restrlcted
funds
Endowment
funds
Total funds
Last year
to the neare5t£
¢0 the noare8t£
to tho nearest£
to the neare5¢£
A1 Rèceipt5
Volunt8ry re¢6iPts
2,752
1,993
2,752
1.953
Sub total(Gross income for
AR)
4.745
4.745
A2 Asset and Investment sales,
(see table).
Sub total
4.745
4.745
A3 Paymet)ts
Operaiion of the charity
Purchases
8afik charges
fte￿nd
1,e61
1.480
63
45
1,661
Sub total
3.249
3.249
A4 Asset and investment
purchase5. (see table
Sub total
Totalpayments
3,249
3,249
Net of receipts/(payments)
A5 Transfer5 between funds
A6 Cash funds last year end
Cash funds this year end
1,496
1.496
3,305
4.801
3,305
4.B01
CCXX R1 accounts ISSI
3010112026

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Unrestricted
funds
to nearESt £
Restricted
fund5
to neaTe5t £
Endowment
funds
to nparest£
Categories
Details
B1 Cash funds
cash in bank
4,801
Cash In Paypal Account
rotal cash funds
4,601
14ree b￿8n¢t$wrth recei￿Sand payment$
acC￿￿(SI>
Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £
Restricted
funds
to nearest E
Endowment
funds
to nearest£
Details
B2 Other monetary assets
Fund to whi¢h
asset belon
Detail¥
ostloptiothall
Current value
Fund to whleh
a55et belon
Current value
Details
051 loptlonall
B4 Assets retained for th•
charity's own use
Fund to whlch
rÈlatOS
Amount due
When due
Details
B5 Liabilities
Signed by one or N¥0 trustees On
behalf of all the Iruslees
Dale of
roval
Signature
Print Name
Jane Hodson-Harnilton
3010112026
CCXX R2 accounts ISSI
20101r2026