2025-08-31-accounts

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BRIGHT HORIZON HAMSTER RESCUE Annual Report & Accounts 24/25

Registered Charity 1210796

Copyright 2026 Bright Horizon Hamster Rescue. All rights reserved. No part of this document, its format, design or wording, including the use of AI to adjust, may be reproduced without written permission. Plagiarism will result in legal action.

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2 | Annual Report 2024/25 Bright Horizon Hamster Rescue
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Copyright 2026 Bright Horizon Hamster Rescue. All rights reserved. No part of this
document, its format, design or wording, including the use of AI to adjust, may be
reproduced without written permission. Plagiarism will result in legal action.
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04 05 06 08

Chair’s welcome 15 Who we are 18 Our vision 19

Our mission 24 Our strategy 26

What we do

A day in the life of a Bright Horizon volunteer

Statistics

Case studies Meet the vet Our plans for the future Structure and governance Annual report and unaudited accounts

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Chair’s welcome

A warm welcome to our Annual Report; our first and a landmark opportunity to share the impact of our work from the position of a registered charity.

In November 2024, Bright Horizon was proud to become the first hamster species-specific UK rescue to successfully register as a charity. We are pleased to have opened the door to rodent rescue allies who have since become registered charities themselves.

Formal recognition of the need for our work is critically important for the welfare of the species we rescue, rehabilitate and rehome. It symbolises a growing acknowledgement of the value of little lives and the acceptance that standards in UK welfare, care and ethics for hamsters is desperately inadequate.

Most significantly, it signposts an appetite for change: our work is helping to address standards of care and the “disposable toy” mentality that causes suffering to hundreds of thousands of hamsters bred into the companion animal trade every year.

With every adopter who raises their care to the scientifically proven minimum care standard; with every rescued hamster whose story resonates; with every harmful myth dispelled about hamsters’ basic needs, we save and improve lives.

Who we are

Bright Horizon is an entirely volunteer run national charity focused completely on the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of hamsters in the UK. We foster within our own homes and to the highest ethical standards based on the latest species research.

Founded in 2022 and initially within the South East only, we expanded rapidly as the urgent need for our work became apparent.

We are now formed of three teams - South East & London, South West and Midlands, with a growing volunteer network in the North.

We partner with other rescues that demonstrate ethical care and share our values, increasing our impact and creating opportunities for partnering to manage large-scale rescues of many animals.

Our team includes qualified veterinary surgeons, vet nurses and biochemists, animal nutrition specialists and collectively many decades of animal welfare experience, with many more learning and developing within our volunteer membership.

Alongside our direct rescue work, our team research and educate the public on hamster welfare and care, raising the norm for these much-misunderstood animals and providing a welcoming space for people with companion hamsters who have received misinformation about their care and need support.

Whenever possible, we rehome our rescued hamsters; we also have facilities for long-term residency due to age, health or temperament.

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Our vision

Rescue Rehabilitate Rehome Research

Ethical care for every hamster, regardless of origin or the value placed on their life by humans.

A future where every hamster in the UK is treated with care, kindness and respect and provided with safe, suitable housing.

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Our mission

Reduce the number of unwanted or abandoned hamsters in the UK, in particular but not exclusively by providing safe rescue spaces for hamsters from poor care to recover, rehabilitate and find a responsible home.

Prevent hamsters prematurely dying through abuse, neglect and/or inadequate welfare information, or entering the animal rescue system, in particular but not exclusively by campaigning for change, providing education and by the promotion of responsible ownership and ethical care.

Research, evidence and promote optimal hamster health, nutrition and care, in particular but not exclusively through independent research by qualified scientists, joint work with other rescues, scientists and veterinarians and the collection of empirical data within Bright Horizon.

Campaign to regulate the welfare standards required to breed hamsters in the UK, in particular but not exclusively by campaigning for legislative change that regulates and enforces higher welfare conditions.

Campaign to improve the safety and suitability of products and equipment commonly sold for hamsters in the UK, in particular but not exclusively by awareness campaigns that provide evidence of harm caused by unsafe and unsuitable items.

Contribute to the core infrastructure of a united credible and externally respected species-specific welfare community in particular but not exclusively by modelling best practice in human and animal interactions, demonstrating integrity, promoting equality and mutual respect, assisting organisations and individuals with shared aims (wherever welcomed and within our means), offering knowledge and resources and acting reasonably and fairly with absolute focus on actions and behaviours which support our Mission Statement.

Improve the quality of species-specific research, in particular but not exclusively by improving the general understanding of what constitutes thorough research, offering the services of our Research Team to wider projects and in offering checks & balances on existing widely circulated misinformation and/or insufficiently evidenced research.

Alice, South West Team and Le Count

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Bright Horizon aims to be...

Inspiring

Experts not leaders

We aspire to a healthy, attractive community that reaches beyond those already invested in ethical hamster care and welfare and effectively communicates the full welfare needs of hamsters as animal companions to the general public, welcoming entry-level participation and promoting a safe, kind and equal space to learn and redress popular misunderstanding.

We will empower, equip and encourage all who can and wish to contribute to better hamster welfare, supporting and collaborating, demonstrating fairness and professionalism and enabling others who share our values to contribute as equals.

Accessible

We are a majority-neurodiverse organisation and we aim to make our services and resources fully accessible to every individual. We humbly accept suggestions for improved accessibility and work constantly to achieve this.

Factual

We are led by evidenced science, founded on principles of frankness and respect and will operate with integrity and transparency, ensuring we can evidence that we are at all times fulfilling our charitable aims whilst positively contributing to national efforts to build a better quality of life for every hamster in the UK.

Consistent

We are a recognised legal entity and we operate within the framework of charitable law, answer to it and respond with it. Our approved policies state how we operate and our Trustees will ensure that we adhere to them, both to meet the legal requirements of a charity and to provide a reliable conduct model where all who interact with us can understand what we do, how we do it and the action we will take in response to different situations.

Our strategy

The number of hamsters needing rescue continues to grow, as the UK’s challenging economic situation puts pressure on companion animal owners.

Hamsters are especially vulnerable to abuse, neglect and abandonment as they are mass bred, cheaply available, sold in retail alongside unsuitable equipment and commonly regarded as disposable pets.

Mixed species rescues are often forced to focus their resources on larger animals and funding is easier to find for rescues whose priority is dogs, cats and horses. Rodents are critically underrepresented in rescue, yet there are more hamsters purchased in the UK each year than any other companion animal species.

Bright Horizon will use every resource to change this and ensure the smaller animals in desperate need are not forgotten and left to suffer.

300 rodents were saved from one UK site in January 2025, thanks to the immediate action and teamwork of multiple rescues. Situations like this and these terrible conditions are far from rare.

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What we do

It happens on a smaller scale than larger animal rescue, where space and land is required. Each of our teams’ homes is a miniature sanctuary, where hamsters recover and re-learn the natural behaviours of their species under the watchful care of dedicated and passionate people for whom size and public perception does not matter.

Every day, we encounter situations of neglect, abuse and harm caused not only intentionally, but by misinformation and lack of understanding of hamsters’ needs.

From individual cases of poor care, to mass rescues from out-of-control breeding or hoarding, to specific veterinary cases needing expert knowledge of hamster anatomy and pathology: saving lives against a backdrop of indifference and a disposable mentality is gruelling and constant work.

From large home hubs with multiple, high-care hamsters to single-hamster fosters, every space in every location is a life saved, or improved beyond measure.

With over 30 member-volunteers across the UK

and many more volunteer transporters and active supporters our team is always on their toes.

Pebbles, survivor of a mass hoarding case, safe with her pups. Pebbles sadly succumbed to MSRA from the horrific conditions in which she was kept. Her litter live on as a legacy to every survivor.

Our inboxes are volunteer-staffed seven days a week, from early til late.

Our assessment periods and adoption processes are rigorous, ensuring bright futures in ethical care for adoptable hamsters.

Our in-team communications ensure a vet expert is always on hand for health advice.

We provide lifelong support to all of our adopters and a community in which hamster lovers can learn and grow in their knowledge and care.

Our intake is constant and we often have substantial waiting lists for surrendered hamsters. Emergency cases often need to jump the queue.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A Bright Horizon Volunteer

Early in the morning, after my coffee (put your own mask on first and all that) I go into the hamster room and give everyone a onceover.

One of my duties as part of Bright Horizon is staffing the inbox - I take queries from the public on surrender requests, adoption enquiries or just general hamster care advice. I’ll monitor this for a 5 hour shift.

I give fresh water (especially in summer: I try and do this a few times a day to keep it cool) and I have a mini spot clean - putting substrates back in their proper place and taking any leftover fresh food from the night before.

Today, I’m also getting a new intake! So I give my enclosure another wipe down and set up the new enclosure. I ensure there’s deep bedding, heavy items on platforms, plenty of hides and tunnels and then food and water. Once that’s done then I go and pick him up and bring him home. I do a health and weight check, (he was a big boy!) and then leave him to settle in.

One of the hamsters in my care needs twice-daily meds so about 9:30 I get those prepared and go in to give her those. She will usually come out when she hears me, but I may have to go searching for her!

After 6pm, night time duties start. I go and give everyone fresh water and food, a good scatter of their Hammykins mix. I give my personal hamster her second dose of medication. Then I free-roam those that need or want it (I have a very demanding Syrian female!) while I do spot cleans. I will also try and work on building trust with foster hamsters that may be a bit nervous.

Once everyone has either been out, or had a quick check over (this doesn’t always mean handling, sometimes just observing them and making sure they’re acting normally, i do full health checks once a week) I can go and relax.

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Statistics

Nov 24 Dec 24 Jan 25 Feb 25 Mar 25 Apr 25 May 25 Jun 25 Jul 25 Aug 25

Total

Intake

Intake
Total Intake	24	25	40	17	29	22	23	24	17	12	233
Syrian	9	18	16	9	22	13	17	13	9	6	132
Dwarf	6	1	4	4	6	2	3	6	8	3	43
Robo	9	6	20	4	1	7	2	5	0	2	56
Chinese	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	2

Adopted

Total Adopted	13	14	21	22	24	19	16	14	10	24	177
Syrian	8	9	9	11	14	9	8	7	6	12	93
Dwarf	4	2	8	5	0	2	4	2	0	6	33
Robo	1	3	4	6	10	8	4	4	4	6	50
Chinese	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1

Volunteer adoption / Bright Horizon residents

Total	6	4	7	7	5	5	2	6	3	4	49
Volunteer	6	4	7	7	5	4	2	2	1	1	39
adoption
Resident	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4	2	3	10
In Foster/Assessment				(Data	begins in Jan 2025)
Total Syrian			64 25	52 20	52 23	52 22	53 27	48 24	53 26	40 18	233
Dwarf			7	2	7	8	5	9	14	14	Total intake
Robo			32	30	22	22	20	14	13	8
Chinese			0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0
Average Total Average	number		of hamsters in our care 58 58 56 48 46					(2025) 43	51	47	177
Syrian			24	22	23	21	19	22	25	22	Hamsters
Dwarf			9	4	6	6	7	6	14	13	adopted
Robo			23	31	26	21	19	14	13	11
Chinese			0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0

Case studies

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Emmett Lilligant Moley
Emmett was an afterthought; Beautiful Lilligant arrived with us in Moley was found wandering in
forgotten and roaming a house full a tiny cage full of urine and faeces. a garage, blind and starving.
of predator pets, he was handed She was delighted to be clean, He was brought to us and given
over during the rescue of other safe and in a wonderful enclosure, critical care to stabilise him but
hamsters after our volunteer packed with enrichment. remained terrified and stressed.
spotted him, loose and overlooked, His distinctive eye condition was
falling from a high table. Her carer immediately noticed diagnosed as retinal dysplasia: he
that her cheek pouches were is completely without sight, either
Emaciated, in clear pain, his coat always full: even when she had just through trauma or congenitally.
matted and filthy, we rushed him emptied her food. We investigated
to our volunteer vet. and discovered that her trachea With time, patience and veterinary
and oesophagus were connected, care, Moley began to recover
Emmett had severely damaged so every time she breathed, her physically and psychologically
incisors and his gut was full of pouches inflated. and he is now a confident and
indigestible fabric fibres which he charming resident, navigating his
had attempted to eat to survive. We will never know if a previous safe and familiar space well using
He had internal and external injury or a genetic issue from poor his other senses.
parasites and was dangerously breeding caused her unusual
underweight. We didn’t think he’d physiology but her small system He has built a deep bond with his
make it. He surprised us all. struggled to cope. Lilli passed, as a carer, demanding attention and
much loved resident, a few months playpen time: he is still frightened
With round-the-clock care, after entering our care. We’re of anything unfamiliar and reacts
medication and dietary support, honoured to have given her the in terror to the scent of petrol (as
Emmett is now thriving as a rescue best life she could have. his carer accidentally discovered
resident. His long fur will never fully when entering the room to wash
recover, but he loves his carer and their hands!).
now has the attention, respect
and safe suitable environment he
always deserved.
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Emmett was an afterthought; forgotten and roaming a house full of predator pets, he was handed over during the rescue of other hamsters after our volunteer spotted him, loose and overlooked, falling from a high table.

Emaciated, in clear pain, his coat matted and filthy, we rushed him to our volunteer vet.

Emmett had severely damaged incisors and his gut was full of indigestible fabric fibres which he had attempted to eat to survive. He had internal and external parasites and was dangerously underweight. We didn’t think he’d make it. He surprised us all.

With round-the-clock care, medication and dietary support, Emmett is now thriving as a rescue resident. His long fur will never fully recover, but he loves his carer and now has the attention, respect and safe suitable environment he always deserved.

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Tink Patty
Tink’s is a true survivor’s story. Patty was rescued from a neglect
Rushed from a situation where situation where multiple Syrian
she and her mis-sexed “sisters” hamsters - solitary animals -
were co-housed and in immediate were cohabiting and breeding
danger of being sold to a “live out of control. From the damage
feeder” of predator pets, she was to her body, Patty had given birth
discovered on intake to be mid- multiple times and was covered
labour, with two pups born in the in old injuries from fighting in
carrier en-route. overcrowded conditions.
Against the odds, Tink raised Her recovery took time, but with
seven pups, a huge litter for a the solitude and respect she
Russian dwarf. Due to inbreeding, needed, she learned trust and
many of her litter have genetic came to love human company
issues with sight. Her son Mycroft (and attempting to steal human
has remained a resident at one food!). Against the odds, she
of our high-care vet-supported reached nearly 2 and a half
locations: Mycroft is blind, with years before an aggressive and
significant neurological issues and inoperable bone cancer - visible in
gigantism with genetic obesity. these x-rays - made it necessary
to prevent further suffering.
Tink’s eye problems developed
into dangerous cataracts putting Patty is an iconic hamster for our
pressure on her brain and to save charity: she survived an all-too-
her life her eyes were surgically common catalogue of abuse to
removed. Her quality of life live a rich, meaningful life to an
remained high until an aggressive exceptional age.
form of lymphoma caused rapid
deterioration and she sadly
passed at nearly 2 years old. Her
legacy lives on in her big, bold
offspring.
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Her recovery took time, but with the solitude and respect she needed, she learned trust and came to love human company (and attempting to steal human food!). Against the odds, she reached nearly 2 and a half years before an aggressive and inoperable bone cancer - visible in these x-rays - made it necessary to prevent further suffering.

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Natsu
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We wish Natsu’s story was shocking. But Natsu is a survivor: a hamster found and rescued from trying to survive outside after escape or abandonment and who got the care he needed to experience a meaningful life. Very few are as lucky.

On intake, Natsu had lost nearly all of his fur. Barely alive, infested with parasites and critically undernourished, he was not expected to make it.

It took weeks to stabilise Natsu: we received many public donations towards his care and were thus able to go to extraordinary lengths to get him to the best specialist vets. He was strong and bold throughout and despite the almost constant medication, creams and surgeries he kept his cheeky spirit.

Tragically, his health didn’t last. He was diagnosed with cutaneous lymphoma, a progressive skin cancer caused by exposure to the HaPv polyavirus, likely whilst trying to survive outside. His carer worked round the clock to maintain his quality of life until it was no longer possible.

Natsu embodies the message so poorly understood: hamsters cannot survive the UK climate and will suffer a painful and terrifying death.

Lucky Natsu was saved. How many more are not?

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Hobnob Oriya
Hobnob was a 4 month old
hamster who arrived as part of a
20 Syrian hamster rescue from a
neglect case.
He came to us with a penetrating
chest wound which caused
a collapsed lung and a chest
Oriya came to us in a tiny,
infection. Adult Syrian hamsters
cramped cage. She was severely
are solitary and his terrible wounds
malnourished and in immense pain.
were caused by cohabitation
fighting. He had a broken toe, a
She was estimated to be around 8
head tilt and broken teeth. He was
blue and lifeless; unable to move months old even though she was the
or drink or eat alone. size and weight of a 6-8 week old
pup. She was 30% of her ideal body
weight.
With intensive nursing -
nebulisation three times a day,
injectable fluids, tube feeding and Her lower incisors had grown
medications - Hobnob defied through the roof of her mouth and
the odds, survived and went on into her nasal cavity- eroding her
skull bones and pushing towards
to have a long and happy life as
her brain through her sinuses.
a permanent resident at Bright
She couldn’t eat or drink properly
Horizon where he was very loved
and she had a severe respiratory
by his carer.
infection. From the length of the
overgrown teeth, she had not been
He had mobility issues due to
able to eat for at least 2 months.
his head tilt and needed teeth
trimming every 6-8 weeks due to
We do not know how she had
the damage done to his incisors.
survived up till that point and
He lived till nearly 2 years old and
was a true fighter. didn’t think she would survive an
anaesthetic to trim her teeth and
assess the damage in her mouth-
but amazingly she did.
Oriya’s hard palate never healed
and she had a permanent hole
between her oral and nasal cavity,
meaning any food she ate could
enter her airway and she could
choke or inhale it into her lungs.
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With expert care Oriya recovered from the initial respiratory infection: she was fed by a special syringe. She put on weight, gained strength and for the first time in her life was able to burrow, dig, run on her wheel and be loved by her carer.

During her care with us she went from a petrified, malnourished, weak hamster who was in permanent severe pain, to thriving and learning to love life. Seeing the transformation in her face from being so close to death and only knowing a life of pain, to being pain-free and able to express normal behaviours was an absolute honour and is at the heart of what we do.

Unfortunately the decision was

made to let Oriya go when she eventually inhaled some food which caused another severe respiratory infection.

Though we didn’t have much time with little Oriya we were able to give a few months of love and a painfree existence to a hamster who only knew neglect and suffering.

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Meet the hamster vet

Dr Adam Horton MRCVS BVM BVS BVMEDSCI

I joined Bright Horizon in 2024 and since then have become a practicing Royal Veterinary Surgeon in Hampshire. I foster hamsters as well as provide veterinary care and assistance to our residents and fosters. I currently have 2 residents in my permanent care who are very spoilt. My overall aim is to use my expertise to help advise and assist Bright Horizon in our mission to shape a brighter future for hamsters across the UK.

online animal communities are rife with viral misinformation, unevidenced assumptions and the influence of marketing claims on AI-generated advice.

3. Optimising our charity’s vet funds - I help prevent unnecessary vet costs to the charity, by avoiding multiple trips to vets who may not be sufficiently experienced in the complex physiology and pathology of hamsters to offer accurate and swift diagnosis and treatment.

1. Expert vet care, one message away - I’m first contact, alongside our qualified veterinary support team, in directing the vet treatment of our residents and fosters.

Hamster welfare desperately needs a completely reliable source of information that is wholly accurate, evidence-based and uninfluenced by care trends.

2. Focused care for every

hamster - My team oversee all veterinary care, ensuring all treatment plans are the most appropriate for the individual. We need to ensure that every avenue is explored and our hamsters aren’t being unintentionally “written off” by the vets they see in a culture where it’s often assumed that hamster carers won’t pay to try and save such small animals’, short lives.

Visiting more general vets can prolong the suffering of hamsters under our care, rack up costs and increase mortality and morbidity rates.

Our “VET VERIFIED” stamp guarantees the public a safe space to come for advice they can trust.

4. “Vet verified” vs internet speculation - We want the public to see and know that all of Bright Horizon’s educational materials are vet-verified. All species-specific

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Our plans for the future

our own A place of

Our charity currently relies entirely on the space our volunteers are able to give in their own homes. This limits our capacity, carries risk to foster spaces and results in major issues with storage.

It is our long term aim to secure capital funding for a bricks-and-mortar, purposefitted premises from which we can base our operations, store our equipment and increase the number of hamsters we can save.

We will continue to apply for capital funding to realise this goal, but face a funding bias towards larger companion animals, reinforced by significant public misconception about the space and enrichment hamsters are scientifically proven to need to thrive, not just survive.

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Matching the cost of every little life in our care

Improving the welfare learned from internet searches

Our online resources are extensive and some of the best researched on the internet. However, significant time and monetary restrictions currently hinder us from progressing further with the viral process of replacing poor information with good.

Currently, an internet search on a hamster care issue will condense a significant amount of outdated and inaccurate advice; some of this is dangerous misinformation actively causing harm to hamsters.

We are currently under-resourced to invest in technology infrastructure, with all funds needed for frontline rescue and veterinary care.

We aspire to change this through search engine optimisation, AI and technology, ensuring scientifically proven and ethical advice gains the most exposure and replaces the incorrect information that people see first and that can lead to harm.

We are seeking a grant that will enable this work and “clean up” the information the public see first.

The average cost of care for a Bright Horizon hamster is impossible to calculate.

At one end of our duty of care: a young, healthy animal who is assessed and adopted swiftly. At the other: a complex veterinary case leading to residency and ongoing vet costs.

We can’t predict what will come our way; we ensure that we can cover all emergency medical costs and our passionate team make sacrifices in terms of what they reclaim for bedding and food to ensure we can save lives when we need to.

As our young charity grows, our priority is to ensure that we can cover the basic cost of care consumables for all of our team. We hope to secure a grant for core costs that will enable us to retain veterinary reserves whilst also providing each foster carer with a monthly allowance per animal that ensures their dedication is never at their own expense - however much they resist the assistance!

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Helping hamsters stay home

Research, research, research

Our charity has scientific research at its heart and our volunteer team includes qualified vet surgeons, RVNs, biochemists and medical doctors.

Diabetes is a disease that causes blood sugar imbalances. It especially affects dwarf hamsters. It is dangerous but can be managed with the right diet and care.

The surge in hamsters entering the rescue system because their carers can no longer afford their care needs to be addressed directly.

This evidenced skillset has attracted the support and interest of many other veterinarians and scientists who contribute to our constant and detailed research into our focus species. We are in a unique position to conduct, collate and publish credible, evidencebased humane studies which will inform future generations of hamster carers. We will constantly strive to eliminate misinformation and provide a permanent, science-based foundation on which our fellow rescues and the wider public can access and promote correct care.

If you suspect your hamster has diabetes contact a vet immediately- our care guide offers more information about diabetes.

It is common for misleading marketing and misunderstanding of welfare needs to lead people to take on hamsters whose true needs are beyond their means, space or time.

What are the symptoms? Increased water intake Excessive urination Change in activity levels

Many of these animals are loved and reluctantly surrendered when people realise they cannot keep them in an ethical way or meet their welfare requirements.

Our team works tirelessly to transfer what we learn into accessible and appealing formats to reach newcomer hamster carers and engage them with the health and happiness of their companions.

Bright Horizon is grateful to receive many donations of safe, suitable equipment; beyond the needs of our team. We want to focus on distributing this to people who love their animals, but need assistance with the initial costs of upgrading unhappy hamsters to meet welfare standards.

From in-depth infosheets on common health concerns, to infographics and educational videos on our social media, our content is amongst the mostshared and respected due to the trust that readers are able to place in its source.

We will be developing this process and promoting it further as an operational priority, reaching more people and making it possible and affordable for more hamsters to stay with their committed and loving human friends.

Q: How do I know that my Hamster is happy and safe? A: They copy what they do in the wild! Hamsters are burrowing animals - they live underground.

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Structure and governance

Legal structure

Trustees

Bright Horizon Hamster Rescue is a foundation charitable incorporated organisation, registered with Charity Commission for England & Wales. It is governed by the Articles of Association set out in the charity’s objects and powers.

	Polly Child Kaylee Angus Janice Merry	Chair Secretary Treasurer

Kathleen Johnson Trista Clifford

Stephanie Dahm

The charity is governed by its trustees below and who meet regularly throughout the year. Decisions are aimed to be taken by consensus but can be determined by a simple majority vote, unless otherwise stated in the Articles of Association.

Stacey Peacock Bjurstrom

Thomas Merry Dr Bean Kemp

Dr Adam Horton

Professional advisors

Charity Governance Code

	Rebecca Bailey	Nutrition; Executive to the Trustees
	Graham Steed	Accountant
	Melanie Hersey Sasha Weaver	Fundraising Data Analysis

Bright Horizon recognises that good governance is fundamental to our success in delivering for hamsters and their carers.

Volunteering continues to be incredibly important to Bright Horizon and we have no mid-term aims to instate paid roles. We want to continue to provide a consistently rewarding experience for volunteers

across the charity, where the work itself provides fulfilment and access to opportunity in the field of animal welfare and care.

Risk management is taken very seriously by trustees. They carry out regular reviews of the risks facing the charity and ensure that appropriate treatments are put in place.

We are grateful to every volunteer and supporter within our team, without whom our charity could not exist and grow. Every informal role, every hour given and inch of personal space sacrificed to our work is of immeasurable value to the animals we serve and the public benefit. The fulfilment of operational roles, the wealth of expertise and the selfless commitment of our entire team is Bright Horizon’s primary strength.

Policies and decision making

The trustees are responsible for formulating the strategy and policies of the charity as a whole. This includes exercising financial control through regular financial reporting. Trustees act on advice and information from regular meetings with its executive team and professional advisors as required. It also retains a number of professional advisors in conjunction with the operation of the charity. The advisors currently appointed are listed in this report.

Reference and administrative

details

Bright Horizon Hamster Rescue is a registered charity, 1210796.

The registered office is: The Old Tuck Shop, 4 Church Street, Steyning BN44 3YB.

The charity operates across multiple home based sites.

24 | Annual Report 2024/25 Bright Horizon Hamster Rescue

Docusign Envelope ID: D41D7CC6-27BF-8670-83F6-1E9E7DDF2880

Annual report and unaudited accounts

Bright Horizon Hamster Rescue 1210796 Receipts and payments accounts - For the period from 04-Nov-24 to 31-Aug-25

Section A - Receipts and payments

Section B - Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Endowment Funds Total Funds Last Year
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ Categories Details Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Endowment Funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Donations 7911 457 8368 B1 Cash funds
Funds introduced 82 82 Cash at bank 717 - -
Subtotal 7993 457 8450 Total cash funds 717 - -
(Gross income for AR)
A2 Asset and investment sales B2 Other monetary assets
- - - - - Debtors 64
- - - - -
Subtotal
Total receipts 7993 457 8450 Fund to which asset belongs Cost Current value
B3 Investment assets
A3 Payments
- - - -
Purchases 696 696
Rescue and adoption costs 1460 1460
Fund to which asset belongs Cost Current value
Veterinary costs 2183 440 2623
Travel 2346 2346 B4 Assets retained for charity’s own use
Internet 18 18 - - - -
Bank charges 71 71
Insurance 123 123 Fund to which asset belongs Cost Current value
Equipment expenses 143 143
B5 Liabilities
Inter rescue costs 23 17 40 - - - -
Other admin and regulatory 149 149
Subtotal 7212 457 7669
Fund to which liability relates Amount due When due
B5 Liabilities
A4 Asset and investment purchases
- - - -
- - - - -
Total payments 7212 457 7669
Net receipts/(payments) 781 781
Trustees’ signatures
Polly Child - Chair Janice Merry - Treasurer
- - - - -
A5 Transfers between funds
- - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end
Cash funds this year end 781 781
Date: 6/29/2026 Date: 6/29/2026
----- End of picture text -----

Copyright 2026 Bright Horizon Hamster Rescue. All rights reserved. No part of this document, its format, design or wording, including the use of AI to adjust, may be Bright Horizon Hamster Rescue Annual Report 2024/25 | 27 reproduced without written permission. Plagiarism will result in legal action.

26 | Annual Report 2024/25 Bright Horizon Hamster Rescue

Docusign Envelope ID: D41D7CC6-27BF-8670-83F6-1E9E7DDF2880

brighthorizonhamster.co.uk bright_horizon_hamster_rescue

Bright Horizon Hamster Rescue

Registered Office: The Old Tuck Shop, 4 Church Street, Steyning BN44 3YB

Table of Contents

Chair’s welcome

Who we are

Our vision

Our mission

Alice, South West Team and Le Count

Bright Horizon aims to be...

Inspiring

Experts not leaders

Accessible

Factual

Consistent

Our strategy

What we do

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A Bright Horizon Volunteer

Statistics

Intake

Adopted

Volunteer adoption / Bright Horizon residents

Case studies

Unfortunately the decision was

Meet the hamster vet

Dr Adam Horton MRCVS BVM BVS BVMEDSCI

Our plans for the future

our own A place of

Matching the cost of every little life in our care

Improving the welfare learned from internet searches

The average cost of care for a Bright Horizon hamster is impossible to calculate.

Helping hamsters stay home

Research, research, research

Structure and governance

Legal structure

Trustees

Stephanie Dahm

Professional advisors

Charity Governance Code

Policies and decision making

Reference and administrative

details

Annual report and unaudited accounts

Section A - Receipts and payments

Section B - Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Bright Horizon Hamster Rescue