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2024-12-31-accounts

ANNUAL REPORT 2024

Barely more than a kitten, beautiful stray Nutmeg was brought to our attention by a kind finder concerned about her limp, soreness on her right back leg, and a peculiar sitting posture. We funded x-rays to rule out any fractures requiring treatment, and thankfully, none were found. We think she most likely sustained tendon damage to her tail and back end, possibly from being trapped and struggling to free herself.

We were delighted when she found a loving new home in 2024.

CONTENTS

Some of the animals we rescued in 2024

Introduction

Useful contact details

Trustees’ report

  1. Reference and administration details

  2. Introduction by the Chair

  3. Structure, governance and management

  4. Objectives and activities

  5. Achievements and performance

  6. Financial review

  7. Plans for the future

Some of the animals we rehomed in 2024

Financial statements

Inspectorate report

Some of the animals we helped in 2024

SUCCESSES IN THE YEAR - some of the animals we rescued in 2024

S eb the tuxedo cat (on the left)

was reported to us as a stray who was getting injured from fighting with the resident cats. We think he was just desperate to come inside as he immediately settled into his foster home and was very easy to pick up and fuss over. Here he is in his adopted home with his new ginger pal.

In 2024, we expanded our foster network to include a new dedicated carer for guinea pigs. Almost immediately we were able to place three guinea pigs with fosterer Isobel.

Michael and Fredo are best friends… 👉🏼

but…

👈🏼 Sonny is not so keen on the other two!

Lavender was found as a stray in the

Spectrum car park in Guildford and had a significant five-inch wound on her side. After a thorough vet check, it was a relief to discover the wound was old and healing well. However, the vet noted some sensitivity in her tail, which we monitored closely while she was neutered and in foster care. Thankfully, no further issues with her tail developed.

INTRODUCTION

The RSPCA is the world’s oldest and largest animal welfare charity, with much of its direct animal welfare work being carried out through its branches.

We are the RSPCA Guildford and Epsom Branch; a self-funding branch of the RSPCA. We raise money locally to fund our animal welfare work to prevent cruelty, promote kindness and rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals in need in our branch area . All of our work, including managing the Branch, is carried out by volunteers. We rehabilitate and rehome animals in our care (the majority of which are cats and rabbits) through fosterers and private boarding establishments.

In 2024, we financially assisted 350 welfare (veterinary) treatments for pets. We also contributed towards 292 neuters and 146 microchips. In addition to this, we paid for any necessary treatments for the 44 animals we took into branch care, and paid for specialist veterinary aid for 92 rescued wild animals.

Animal welfare needs and therefore our branch's activities can vary significantly from year to year, influenced by factors such as availability of vet resources, economic trends, and community initiatives. We saw fewer animals requiring our support for welfare assistance cases in 2024 but we increased our contributions to preventative measures, with more neutering and microchipping procedures funded. Our direct intake of animals requiring branch care was considerably reduced, but the number of wild animals needing specialist veterinary help nearly quadrupled.

OUR VISION

We support the vision of the national Society which is to live in a world where all animals are respected and treated with kindness and compassion. We believe that:

USEFUL CONTACT DETAILS

COMPLAINTS AND ADVICE

Anyone suspecting cruelty or mistreatment to animals should report the incident to the RSPCA by contacting the Cruelty Line via www.rspca.org.uk/reportcruelty or telephoning 0300 1234 999. For wildlife, calls should be made to 0300 123 8967 instead.

BRANCH CONTACT DETAILS

Telephone: 07906 924002 Email: info@rspcaguildfordepsom.org.uk

However, if your enquiry is related to volunteering, please contact:

volunteer @rspcaguildfordepsom.org.uk

rehoming@ rspcaguildfordepsom.org.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/rspcaguildfordepsom Website: www.rspcaguildfordepsom.org.uk

LOCAL ANIMAL CENTRE CHIEF INSPECTOR RSPCA Millbrook Animal Centre The Chief Inspector Guildford Road RSPCA Millbrook Animal Centre Chobham, Surrey Guildford Road, Chobham, Surrey GU24 8EH GU24 8EH Tel: 0300 123 0740 Email: millbrook@rspca.org.uk BRANCH PARTNERSHIP MANAGER Email: supportercare@rspca.org.uk Animal viewings and introductions by appointment only.

POSTCODES COVERED BY THE BRANCH

GU1 1, GU1 2, GU1 3, GU1 4, GU2 4, GU2 5, GU2 6, GU2 7, GU2 8, GU2 9, GU3 1, GU4 7, GU4 8, GU5 0, GU5 9, GU6 7, GU6 8, GU7 1, GU7 2, GU7 3, GU8 4, GU8 5

KT4 9, KT9 1, KT9 2, KT9 9, KT17 1, KT17 2, KT17 3, KT17 4, KT17 6, KT17 9, KT18 5, KT18 6, KT18 7, KT19 0, KT19 7, KT19 8, KT19 9, KT20 5, KT20 6, KT20 7, KT20 9, KT21 1, KT21 2, KT22 0, KT22 2, KT22 7, KT22 8, KT22 9, KT23 3, KT23 4, KT24 5, KT24 6, KT24 7

SM7 1, SM7 2, SM7 3

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

1. Reference and administration details 1. Reference and administration details
Charity Name The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals, Guildford and Epsom Branch
Other names charity is known by RSPCA Guildford and Epsom Branch
Registered charity number 203608
Charity’s principal addresses The Branch does not have an address for members of
the public to visit but can be contacted via email or
telephone.
Charity’s principal bankers Lloyds Bank plc
Independent examiner Jim Halliday FCA – Chartered Accountant

Names of the trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name Ofce (if any) Dates acted if not for whole
year
Alessandra Cappai Appointed 29 January 2024
Steven Hooke Hon. Treasurer
Abbi Moore*
Cat Pilbeam Resigned 8 June 2024
Lucy Pollard Hon. Chair
Katrina Tully Hon. Secretary
Rebecca Verne Membership Secretary
Sarah White
Ann Winter

*Abbi is employed by the RSPCA national Society. We obtained its approval before co-opting her as a trustee, as required by branch rule 7.4.

Other support provided by

Other support provided by

Trasna Palmer		 President
Victoria Robson Branch Partnership Manager (until 31 January 2025)
  1. Introduction b the Chair y

2024 was yet another busy and demanding year for the Branch, but we are delighted to report that we have been able to take 44 animals into our care and find loving new homes for the majority of them in our local area. Our commitment to preventative care continued through subsidised cat neutering, rabbit neutering subsidies for vaccinated rabbits, and case-by-case dog neutering contributions. In total, we facilitated the neutering of 292 pets, a crucial step in reducing hormone-related diseases and unwanted litters.

Strong partnerships are key to our work. We've established a system for collecting and distributing pet food to local food banks, helping owners facing financial hardship keep their beloved animals. We have supported the newly established Joanna Wildlife Hospital in our branch area with donated food and equipment that we otherwise would be unable to use. Additionally, we ensure our dedicated Inspectorate team has the resources they need, including flea and worm treatments and essential kit, to carry out their invaluable work in preventing suffering and rescuing animals. We are very grateful to RSPCA Millbrook Animal Centre and RSPCA Woking and District Branch for their assistance and continued support.

Further details about all of these activities and their positive impact on animal welfare can be found in section 5 of this Trustees’ Report.

In the first quarter of 2025, as part of a national Society programme to modernise the governance of its branches, we created a new legal entity known as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). This contemporary charity structure (used by 75% of new charities) allows the organisation to enter into contracts directly, limiting personal liability for trustees. We believe this will help us attract and retain trustees. The transition will occur over the coming months, but our supporters and volunteers are unlikely to notice any changes in our day-to-day operations.

On behalf of the committee I’d like to say a huge thank you to Cat Pilbeam, who stepped down from the committee after more than 10 years. Cat's dedication and amazing insights into cat behaviour have made a real difference for local animal welfare, and she deserves to be very proud of all she's accomplished. The good news is, Cat isn't going anywhere – she'll still be helping us with events, fostering, and all things cat-related!. I‘d also like to thank Chief Inspector Rob Jackson for his invaluable hard work and partnership with the Branch. We are truly sorry to see him move on to a new position at the RSPCA, but he goes with our sincere best wishes for success in his new role.

All of the work the Branch does, including the governance and running of the charity, is performed by volunteers. The more people we can inspire to get involved, the more impact we can have for animals, now and for many years to come. The ripple effect of your generosity extends far beyond the immediate care of individual animals. Each act of kindness, whether the donation of time or a financial gift, is a testament to the power of collective action. When we unite in our compassion, we create a world where every creature is treated with the respect and kindness they deserve. It is because of you that this vision gets closer to reality every day. Thank you.

Lucy Pollard, Chair

3. Structure, governance and management 3. Structure, governance and management
How the charity is
constituted		 We are a separately registered charity, constituted as an unincorporated
association, working within the Rules, Policies and Guidelines of the national
RSPCA. Our governing document is the RSPCA Society’s Branch Rules. The
charity operates as an autonomous branch, responsible for our own
fundraising and for managing local animal welfare work.
Trustee selection
methods		 The committee consists of a maximum of 17 individuals, being:
(1) at least 5 and not more than 14 elected committee members, all of whom
must be eligible branch members, elected at the AGM and
(2) up to 3 co-opted committee members, who may also be branch members.
How trustees are
recruited and
appointed		 Elected from branch members at every AGM to carry on the Branch work for
the forthcoming year. Potential trustees are recruited via various methods
including volunteer agencies, RSPCA websites and Head Ofce enquiries,
advertising and appeals to members. Potential new trustees are vetted in
accordance with Charity Commission guidelines and sign the recommended
declarations upon appointment.
Policies and
procedures
adopted for the
induction and
training of
trustees		 All trustees are briefed on their responsibilities prior to their acceptance of
the role.
New trustees receive appropriate training in RSPCA and Branch Policies and
Procedures, in line with Information Commissioner’s Ofce and Charity
Commission guidance. They also receive support from other trustees,
guidance from Head Ofce and Branch Partnership Managers and handover
from retiring ofcers if applicable.
The charity’s
organisational
structure and any
wider network
with which the
charity works		 Some services such as those of the Inspectorate are carried out by the
national Society whereas others are carried out by a network of branches
which are independently registered charities operating in defned local areas.
Our branch is the Guildford and Epsom branch, which is a member of the
South East Regional Board area.
All the work of the Branch is carried out by volunteers, so we have no paid
staff. Decisions are made by the trustees at committee meetings, usually held
every 4 to 6 weeks. The Branch works with Head Ofce staff, the Inspectorate,
RSPCA Millbrook Animal Centre and other branches and animal centres in its
day-to-day work.
Trustees’
consideration of
major risks and
the system and
procedures to
manage them		 The main risks facing the Branch are:
People.We continue to have difculties in fnding volunteers willing to act as
trustees and carry out welfare and fundraising work. We use volunteer
recruitment bureaux and other methods as described above to publicise our
requirements.
Financial.Income generation is vital for us to continue our work. Despite
pressing need, we must evaluate what we can afford to fund. Insufcient
income levels mean that we will have to reduce or cease welfare activity to
remain a viable branch. New demands and requests for fundingare a key

discussion item at every committee meeting. Spending is controlled through delegated limits and required approvals. Levels of pet ownership grew during the pandemic, and whilst owning a pet is a great boost to both mental and physical health it also comes with a substantial financial responsibility, which places additional pressure on charities when owners are unable to meet the costs of pet ownership. The vets we work with continue to struggle with significant shortages in staff, set against a huge demand for their services. Many practices are not accepting new clients or giving appointments to people who have previously got into payment difficulties. This impacts our ability to access veterinary treatments and negotiate on price, and it may mean that non-urgent procedures such as neuters are delayed. This has led to more unwanted litters and conditions that require emergency treatment such as tumours that are hormone-related. Public opinion. The RSPCA is a well-known and respected “brand”, and we must ensure that we do not tarnish it. Mitigating activities include screening/induction of volunteers, together with appropriate training. For trustees there is ongoing learning and instruction (specifically on their responsibilities as branch officials), and potential conflicts of interest are discussed at every meeting. Health and Safety. We have a duty to take reasonable care of our volunteers’ health and safety and that of others who may be affected by our actions. Safeguarding matters are reviewed at every meeting. All volunteers are covered by the RSPCA’s liability and personal accident insurance and are provided with appropriate information on our health and safety policies and guidelines. The committee has identified and evaluated risks affecting the Branch and has set in place policies and procedures based on guidelines issued by RSPCA Head Office and the Charity Commission to mitigate the risks where possible. The operation and relevance of these policies and procedures is reviewed regularly. The Branch complies with the Branch Rules as issued by the national Society and has a number of related financial transactions with this organisation. Abbi Moore is also a paid employee of the RSPCA (national Society).

4. Objectives and activities
Summary of the
To promote the work and objectives of the national Society; Royal Society for
objectives of the
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (registered charity number 219099), with
charity
particular reference to the area of the Branch, in accordance with the policies
set out in its
of the society.
governing
document
The objectives of the Branch remain unchanged from previous years.
Charity’s aim
The RSPCA as a charity will, by all lawful means, prevent cruelty, promote
kindness to and alleviate suffering of all animals.
Summary of the
The Branch promotes animal welfare in the local area primarily through
main
veterinary assistance, neutering and rehoming.
activities in
relation to
●
We offer discretionary support to people in need to help pay veterinary
these objects
bills.
●
We respond to enquiries from the public about animals and offer free
animal care advice by phone, social media, via leafets and at our
events, which promotes responsible pet ownership.
●
Where funds permit, the Branch takes in abandoned animals, including
pets whose owners suffer ill health or fnancial difculties, or pass
away. We also support the national RSPCA by caring for animals taken
in by the Inspectorate if there is no space at the national animal
centres.
●
We support the Inspectorate as a priority.
●
We undertake educational presentations and workshops with local
groups and schools.
More detail on our activities can be found in section 5 of this report.

5. Achievements and erformance p

A. Animal welfare

Rehoming, adoption support and fostering

We rehome animals to people who can meet the needs of a companion animal in an appropriate environment.

Most rehoming in the local area is done by Millbrook Animal Centre, which is the nearest RSPCA animal centre to the Branch. The Branch also has space in foster homes and private boarding establishments for cats and rabbits who have been found abandoned or stray or have been taken in via the RSPCA Inspectorate when there is no room for them in an animal centre. They are cared for and rehabilitated, while we search for loving new homes. There are few dogs mentioned in our reports because stray dogs are the responsibility of the local council, and we do not have the facilities or expertise to take dogs into our direct care so we use other RSPCA branches and animal centres or other rescue organisations wherever possible. Animals in our care receive veterinary treatment, vaccinations, neutering and microchipping. Flea and other parasite treatments are kept up to date. This helps to control the incidence and spread of disease and suffering.

In 2024 the Branch rehomed 33 animals that came into our care (compared with 45 in the previous year). In addition to this, we took on responsibility for a number of other animals before finding them places in RSPCA animal centres. We advertise animals for rehoming on our branch website and Facebook page, as well as the national Society’s main website, allowing us to reach a larger audience of prospective adopters. Unfortunately, more and more often all our facilities are full, yet it is very important that we can take in animals in need and give them a chance of a loving home.

Our animals can be loud, quiet, big, small, or three-legged: they all come with a personality and a past that's unique to them and it's our mission to find the perfect adopter to match them with. We support rehoming activity by recruiting and providing volunteers who undertake home suitability assessments as part of adoption support. Their role is to understand each animal's need (for space, stimulation, safety etc.) and ensure that what potential adopters can provide matches these needs. They then follow up with the adopter later to ensure that the adoption has been a success. In 2024 we carried out 41 adoption visits (compared with 44 the year before).

We have cat fosterers who give the special care and attention that is often much easier to provide in a foster home than in a cattery. If we have spaces in this preferred home environment, we can socialise and nurture cats meaning that they are more quickly restored to good health and are able to be rehomed earlier.

Our outdoor rabbit fosterers have provided a great resource for the Branch, the Inspectorate, and the wider RSPCA needs, by taking in rabbits. Our indoor rabbit fosterers obviously have more limited capacity but provide an essential environment to those rabbits that cannot be housed outdoors - especially in the colder months. All of our fosterers have been invaluable in their work to rehabilitate rabbits in their care and progress them to rehoming with wonderful new forever homes.

We are always keen to speak to potential fosterers, including kitten fosterers, who will have support from our co-ordinator. This enables us to take more animals into branch care and reduces the costs of boarding overall.

Welfare assistance

We provide support to people in need to help pay their vet bills. The service is offered in certain circumstances to assist with difficulties experienced by pet owners faced with veterinary costs which they will struggle to meet. This helps to promote responsible pet ownership, prevent suffering, and reduce the number of unwanted cats, dogs and rabbits. In 2024 we gave financial help for 350 animal welfare treatments (compared with 384 in 2023 and 268 in 2022).

We also helped to get 292 animals neutered (compared to 279 in 2023). 211 of these were cats, where we offered subsidised neutering to owners under our World Spay Day initiative.

44 animals came into our care during 2024 and we paid for all their necessary checks and treatments. Our thanks go to the local veterinary community for their help and support throughout the year.

We also paid for the care of 92 wild animals at Wildlife Aid in Leatherhead, typically hedgehogs, foxes and pigeons (25 animals in the previous year). These cases originated in our branch area and were taken to this specialist centre by the Inspectorate.

Supporting the Inspectorate

The Branch continued to support the Inspectorate in their vital and sometimes distressing work. We do this through fostering or boarding and paying for veterinary treatment for animals signed over to the RSPCA. We also provide welfare assistance for veterinary treatment and neutering where the Inspectors find owners in need. We paid for flea and worm treatment supplies to be held in their vans (helping owners improve care and keep their pets). The Inspectorate report is in a later section of the Annual Report.

Other welfare activities

We take in, free of charge, lost animals and take steps to reunite them with owners. This work benefits our local community (including local authorities) by preventing animals from straying and posing a risk to themselves and to people through road accidents. We respond to enquiries from the public about animals in the Branch area. The public benefits by knowing that we can and will intervene to assist animals in need.

We advertised a number of lost and found pets through the year but microchipping is our best resource to help return missing animals to their relieved and delighted owners. Microchipped pets, where contact details are kept up to date, are easily reunited with their families, avoiding heartache for the owners and costs for the RSPCA. Unfortunately, the care of unidentifiable, stray animals adds significantly to our work.

For many years it has been the law that you must have your dog microchipped and your details kept up to date. We welcome the new legal requirement (in force from June 2024) for cat owners to microchip their cats before 20 weeks old and to ensure their contact details are kept up to date in a pet microchipping database. This new law means that more lost cats can be easily identified

and reunited with their owners, rather than being handed to rehoming charities like ourselves that are struggling with overflowing waiting lists.

We believe all cats, dogs and rabbits should be chipped to ensure that a pet can be reunited with their owner, and to aid this we will pay for chipping where required. We microchipped 171 animals in 2024: 25 that were Branch animals and 146 pets.

B. Education

Education events

Our education events look at the work of the RSPCA, the welfare needs of animals and the action young people can take to help them; at home, at school and in the local community. They are tailored to the audience following consultation with their teachers/youth leaders.

This year, our activities included school talks in Cranleigh and Burpham, a Rainbows talk, and a return visit to Cranleigh C of E school for a stall at one of their fundraising events.

We want everyone to understand that – whatever their age or circumstances – they have the power to change animal welfare for the better. By understanding the causes of neglect or cruelty, we can prevent them from happening in the first place. We are looking at new ways to engage with schools to secure more invitations in future.

We also engage children in educational activities at our fundraising events; for example we take a “spin the wheel” game for an animal welfare quiz.

RSPCA Head Office have online educational facilities which we have promoted on our social media sites. Our welfare line operated throughout the year and provided advice to the general public to help with pets, wildlife, and farm animals.

Social media

Our social media content can be found at www.facebook.com/rspcaguildfordepsom and www.rspcaguildfordepsom.org.uk. You can see more about the Branch trustees and our work, find out about our welfare services, and learn about forthcoming campaigns and events. You can also obtain useful help and advice and contact us via these links.

Other educational activities

We continued to heavily publicise and support World Spay Day and Early Neutering Awareness by running a social media campaign to offer low-cost cat neutering and free microchipping for both male and female cats in the Branch area.

We remain committed to supporting Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW) promotions. We continued our previous initiative focussed on getting rabbits vaccinated against the deadly RHD2 disease. The virus causes internal bleeding and is highly contagious. There is no specific treatment, which makes vaccination essential. Alongside the education campaign we offered subsidised vaccines in the Branch area.

C. Fundraising

Fundraising events and activities

Our fundraising efforts this year included 14 events (compared with 13 in 2023) and the sale of E-cards.

Beyond our branch events, we're incredibly grateful to volunteer Lorna and our President, Trasna. Their individual fundraising efforts brought in an impressive £859 combined. Lorna channels her creativity into knitting and selling delightful, vibrant catnip mice. Trasna dedicates her time to making and selling dog beds, as well as selling donated goods at car boot sales, fetes, and online via Facebook. Throughout the year, both Lorna and Trasna generously use their talents to raise vital funds for our cause and, in doing so, help spread awareness of our work within their communities. As in previous years, s everal members of the committee sold second-hand items and home grown plants through social media or at vintage fairs/car boot/table top sales to bring in extra funds.

Event type 2024 2023
Town centre collections £695 £312
Store collections £414 £373
Fetes and local fairs £659 £1,058
Car boot sales £229 £143
Educational NIL £75
E-cards and online events £317 £425

The money raised by these activities is disclosed in the accounts against the following categories: “Branch Fundraising Events” and “Other Donations”. However, “Other Donations” also includes monies raised through fundraising platforms such as Easyfundraising and Paypal, ticket sales through the Guildford Community Lottery and donations made via our website.

Collection boxes

We would like to have more boxes out in the local area and continue to look for people to manage these boxes; recruits do not need to be branch members although we would encourage them to join our membership. In particular, we would like to increase the number of collection boxes in Epsom and its surrounding areas. We welcome suggestions for new locations and for people to manage collection boxes in the Branch area.

D. Public benefit

Our objectives and activities are outlined in section 4 of this report. Performance against those objectives is detailed above. Our current short-term and long-term aims can be found in section 7 of this report.

The trustees have reviewed the outcomes and achievements of our objectives and activities for the year to ensure they remain focussed on our charitable aims and continue to deliver benefits to the public. We have complied with the duty under the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.

6. Financial review

Overview

Total expenditure in 2024 increased by £2,389 to £100,851 compared to £98,462 in 2023. The Branch continues to experience inflationary pressures, particularly on veterinary treatments which account for most of our cost base.

The percentage of total expenditure spent in the Branch area on animal welfare has reduced from 95% in 2023 to 92% in 2024, due to slightly higher levels of donations outside of the Branch area in the current year.

Income fell from £142,002 in 2023 to £69,274 in 2024, a decrease of £72,728. The decrease is mainly due to legacy income being zero in 2024 compared to £69,796 in 2023. The share of donations raised by the RSPCA HQ door-to-door fundraising campaign, which amounted to £43,632 in 2024 makes up 63% of the income in the current year (2023: £46,188 and 33%). The Branch also received lower contributions from the South East Regional Board (SERB), following a SERB policy change to target contributions at those branches in most need. Investment income increased by £1,396 compared to the prior year, due to higher average investment balances and the benefit of higher interest rates.

Overall, there was a net deficit for the year of £31,577 compared to a surplus of £43,540 in 2023. The Branch continues to hold significant reserves but aims to reduce these in line with the policy below.

The full accounts are provided later within the Annual Report.

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

Reserves are those funds which are freely available for general purposes and have not been designated for specific projects or activities.

The reserves policy of the Branch is to hold general reserves to a level that, should all income cease, there would be sufficient funds in hand to run the Branch for approximately 24 months. Based on this measure the Branch currently has excess reserves. The Trustees aim to reduce reserves over time by targeting increased levels of annual expenditure on activities or donations that further the animal welfare aims of the Branch .

The Branch invests surplus funds in capital-safe bank and deposit-based savings accounts where the deposits are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

7. Plans for the future 7. Plans for the future
Aims and objectives
for the future		 Our overriding aim is to continue to provide and promote animal welfare
for the local area by providing fnancial assistance for those on low
incomes, continuing with our fostering and rehoming work to ensure a
healthy and happy lifestyle for adopted animals, and to support the
national Society.
In January 2021 the committee agreed our short and medium-term
priorities and we aligned our goals with the RSPCA strategy.
Our main area of focus is to increase animal welfare across the Region by
continuing and extending collaboration with other branches and
organisations, and supporting more people with animals in need. This is
dependent upon and supported by 4 additional pillars:
●People
●Revenue Generation
●Strong Governance
●Public Engagement
The Plan is reviewed regularly and adapted to refect changing
circumstances andpriorities.
Activities planned to
achieve the objectives
1. People
2.Revenue Generation
3. Strong Governance
4. Public Engagement		 ●Expand and effectively manage, utilise, and retain our volunteer
network and membership
●Defne clear roles and responsibility for trustee and volunteer roles
with a focus on succession planning
●Set up a fundraising working group to provide a dedicated focus on
revenue generation ideas
●Develop a fundraising plan (including an emphasis on digital) to rely
less on door-to-door income
●Empower and engage members and volunteers to spread our
messages and support fundraising efforts
●Diversify income generation by exploring and evaluating alternative
revenue streams
●Continue our robust approach to managing and refreshing policies,
procedures and processes
●Foster stronger connectivity, sharing and leverage of best practices
across the Branch Network
●Build and enhance positive relationships with the public and our
communities, including amplifying national RSPCA advocacy areas
●Build our existing and/or adopt new digital channels to communicate
branch activities and successes
●Analyse ‘Audience Profle’ for each message/campaign/activity to
ensure we are targeting the right demographic

Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ Report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Lucy Pollard Hon. Chair DATE: 27 May 2025

SUCCESSES IN THE YEAR - some of the animals we rehomed in 2024

The RSPCA is facing a significant increase in the volume of animals needing help which has resulted in the national Society operating well above their capacity to care for the animals brought in by the Inspectorate. In these situations, private boarding facilities may be used until a space becomes available within the RSPCA network of branches and animal centres

Rosie the Rabbit was taken in by us from a

multi-animal household where rabbit numbers had spiralled out of control as they had not been neutered (unfortunately, a common situation).

She was easily and happily bonded with Finn, another rabbit in our care, and they were then advertised for rehoming as a pair. Tragically, Finn developed health complications and died, so Rosie was left sad and lonely. She was then bonded again with Womble, but after a few weeks, Womble became aggressive, and we had to separate them.

Bonded pairs of rabbits can sometimes fall out, and once that has happened, it can be difficult to keep them together.

Rosie was then advertised as a single rabbit, and fortunately, an adopter came along quickly who was looking for a female to bond with their male rabbit.

This bond has been very successful, and the two are enjoying a happy life together.

Look at them now.. . 😀

👈🏼 This is Pickle (now Barney) in his 'found' picture

A true ginger tom, Pickle was a wanderer. Unneutered and with no microchip, unfortunately, he relied on his cuteness to lure a kind woman in the neighbourhood to offer him food.

However, the finder's own cat was unimpressed by Pickle's charms, and she eventually had to cease her support. It was at this point that Pickle was reported as a stray, leading to our involvement. We advertised on lost and found pet websites and our own local social media posts. We also asked the finder to enquire locally and put up notices/posters. As no one came forward to claim Pickle, we commenced the non-urgent vet treatment to prepare him for rehoming. He was tested for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) [ 1 ] . As an unneutered male cat, Pickle was deemed to be at

1 FIV is a virus in cats that is similar to the human virus, HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus. However, FIV does not infect humans, and HIV does not infect cats. FeLV is a more serious virus that causes a fatal disease in cats by affecting the immune system and can cause vulnerability to other infections, anaemia or tumours. Cats can be vaccinated against it (annually), but there is no cure once infected.

high risk of contagion [ 2 ] . Fortunately, his tests were negative, so after vaccination, neutering and microchipping, the rehoming process started.

Ginger cats are very popular with adopters and Pickle was soon snapped up. He is now called Barney and is very content in his forever home.

Look at Barney here, happy in his new home 👉🏼

Ivy & Dora appeared in our 2023 annual report. It can take a long time to find new homes for rabbits and sometimes this is made even longer by their circumstances. After Ivy arrived and was taken to the vet to be spayed, we discovered she was pregnant. This was because the owner who gave her up had kept her with her brother rabbit who had been wrongly sexed as a female. This is a fairly common mistake – sometimes even vets get it wrong! This is why we recommend early neutering to prevent unwanted litters.

So, we had to wait for Ivy to give birth (which is called kindling in rabbits) and then for her babies to be at least 8-9 weeks old before she could be rehomed.

Sadly Ivy lost all except one of her kits, who we called Dora. She was another female so we did not have to worry about separating the two of them for fear of Ivy getting pregnant again – a male rabbit can often be capable of impregnating a female from 2-3 months old. Ivy and Dora became a very close pair of rabbits, which is not always the case with two female rabbits. So, we decided to rehome them together. This meant we had to wait another four months until Dora was ready to be neutered, which we recommend not just to prevent pregnancy but also to lower the risk of suffering from womb infections and uterine cancer. By the time the pair were ready to be rehomed, Ivy had been in our foster care for eight months. It was then another 10 months before we actually found the perfect forever home for the pair. The sometimes lengthy duration of an animal's stay in our care means we are hugely dependent on our wonderful and patient foster carers.

The pair (now called Mippin & Skadi ) happily settled in their new home… ❤

2 As a stray, Pickle was likely to have been in a fight with another cat or cats, which is the most common cause of infection.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF RSPCA GUILDFORD AND EPSOM BRANCH

I report on the accounts of the Charity (Registered Charity number 203608) for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on the following pages.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act), and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to

Basis of independent examiner’s statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

JIM HALLIDAY, FCA

Chartered Accountant 74 Holly Hill, Southampton, SO16 7EY 27th May 2025

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

RSPCA GUILDFORD AND EPSOM BRANCH

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

NOTE
INCOMING RESOURCES
Collectng Boxes
Branch Fundraising Events
Branch Adopton Fees
Donatons via HQ Door to Door Fundraising
Contributons From Regional Board
Other Donatons
Legacies
Membership Subscriptons
Investment Income
3
RESOURCES EXPENDED
Charitable Actvites
Veterinary Treatment on Branch Voucher Scheme
Neutering on Branch Voucher Scheme
Veterinary Treatment and Neutering of Unowned Animals
Boarding and Food
Wildlife
Donatons
Branch Contributon to RSPCA Headquarters and Region
Other Charitable Expenses
Cost of Generatng Funds
4
Governance Costs and Depreciaton
AGM/Annual Reports
Administratve Expenses
Depreciaton
Insurance
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS FOR THE YEAR
TOTAL FUNDSBalance Brought Forward
TOTAL FUNDSBalance Carried Forward		 Total
funds
2024
£
194
2,314
3,701
43,632
2,062
5,164
-
328
11,879
69,274
40,348
29,577
12,283
3,674
4,975
3,357
3,308
1,689
99,211
130
294
397
-
819
1,510
100,851
(31,577)
310,314
278,737		 Total
funds
2023
£
344
2,386
3,435
46,188
4,061
4,948
69,796
361
10,483
142,002
40,524
21,460
18,429
6,642
5,350
211
3,308
647
96,751
91
259
755
60
726
1,800
98,462
43,540
266,774
310,314

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

RSPCA GUILDFORD AND EPSOM BRANCH

BALANCE SHEET

AT 31 DECEMBER 2024

NOTE
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible fxed assets
6
Investment Bank Accounts
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
7
Investment Bank Accounts
Cash at bank - Current Account
CREDITORS (falling due within 1 year)
Creditors
NET CURRENT ASSETS
NET ASSETS
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS		 2024
£
-
-
-
7,802
272,500
7,332
287,634
(8,897)
278,737
278,737
278,737		 2023
£
-
135,000
135,000
10,217
170,001
5,682
185,900
(10,586)
175,314
310,314
310,314

Approved by the Trustees on 27th May 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

__________ Hon. Chairman

__________ Hon. Treasurer

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

RSPCA GUILDFORD AND EPSOM BRANCH

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

  1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

A General

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting by Charities.

The accounts have been prepared on an accruals basis.

B Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably.

Donations are recognised when the Charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that those conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.

Legacies are recognised on the earlier of either (a) the date that probate is granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor(s) to the Charity that a distribution will be made, or (b) when a distribution is received from the estate. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition has not been met, then the legacy is disclosed in the notes to the accounts. Legacies received via the Branch legacy scheme are grossed up for the administration charges deducted, with the associated charges shown as expenditure in the year the legacy is credited.

Investment income is recognised on an accruals basis.

C Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

D Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided on equipment at a rate of 25% per annum to write off the assets over an estimated useful life of 4 years.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

RSPCA GUILDFORD AND EPSOM BRANCH

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

D Tangible fixed assets (continued)

The Trustees have a policy that only items over £500 are capitalised and depreciated. Lower value items are included in the Statement of Financial Activities.

E Investment bank accounts

The Branch invests surplus funds in investment bank accounts including instant access accounts, notice accounts and fixed rate bonds. Where the maturity date of the investment bank account is greater than one year from the balance sheet date, these investments are included within fixed asset investments. Where the maturity date is less than one year from the balance sheet date, the investments are included within current assets.

F Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Designated funds represent those unrestricted funds which have been ring-fenced by the trustees for a specific purpose.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes, within the objectives of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

  1. STATEMENT OF BRANCH COMMITTEE’S RESPONSIBILITIES

Charity law requires the branch committee, as trustees, to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the charity’s financial activities during the year, and the financial position at the end of the year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

3. INVESTMENT INCOME

Interest on Investment Bank Accounts:
Fixed assets
Current assets		 2024
£
-
11,879
11,879		 2023
£
3,972
6,511
10,483

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

RSPCA GUILDFORD AND EPSOM BRANCH

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

4. COST OF GENERATING FUNDS

2024 2023
£ £
Pitch fees and licences 130 91
  1. COMMITTEE MEMBERS’ EXPENSES AND REMUNERATION

No committee member received any remuneration, and the Branch has no paid staff. Five committee members were reimbursed a total of £2,465.57 for costs incurred.

6. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

EQUIPMENT
COST
At 1 January
At 31 December
DEPRECIATION
At 1 January
Charge for year
At 31 December
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 December
7. DEBTORS
Prepayments and accrued income
Other debtors		 2024
£
469
469
469
-
469
-
2024
£
6,956
846
7,802		 2023
£
469
469
409
60
469
-
2023
£
6,654
3,563
10,217

8. POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS

The Branch received £190,000 from an interim distribution of a legacy on 24 February 2025, which will be accounted for as incoming resources in 2025.

RSPCA Surrey Inspectorate Team - Annual Report 2024

Surrey team news

The Surrey team was delighted to welcome back Inspector Nat Kitchin in March of this year after her maternity leave following the birth of baby Sofia in January 2023. Nat certainly ‘hit the ground running’ on her return, for which we’re all very thankful.

We have continued to increase the number of Animal Rescue Volunteers (ARVs) in the team - up to 18 at one point. I would like to thank Inspector Sandy Barlow (ARV Group Coordinator) for her great efforts in terms of engagement with, and support of, our ARVs. That has included organising social events and quiz nights, which have been very well received.

The work that ARVs can take on is increasing all the time, and several of our volunteers have recently been trained to deal with foxes, birds of prey and some wading birds. They have also joined our officers to assist with incidents involving multi-animal collections and transfers. Some of our ARVs have helped with moving animals for postmortem to the Royal Vet College which, although not a pleasant job, is really helpful in keeping my officers on the road. All of this ARV work frees up my Inspectorate officers to focus on their core role of knocking on doors and dealing with complaints of neglect and cruelty. So on behalf of the team, I would like to thank all of our ARVs for the hard work they have put in in 2024.

Case & significant complaint work in 2024

Surrey Inspectors submitted 24 case files to our Prosecution team in 2024 for their consideration. That is a considerable increase from the previous year when 13 files were submitted, and a part of that is because of the assistance my officers have provided with case work in neighbouring groups. Of those 24 case files, 10 resulted in court proceedings, and a further 10 resulted in a Caution being issued.

Here is a selection of just some of those cases which were concluded this year:

March finally saw the conclusion of a case that originally started in 2021 for Inspector Jo Bowling. The case involved 2 Shar Pei dogs in the Epsom area which were confirmed to be in a suffering condition. One of the dogs had a broken leg which had not been treated, causing him to walk on his elbow for 2 years.

Sadly, both dogs had to be put to sleep. The female owner pleaded guilty and received a fine of £180, costs of £200 and a 10 year disqualification from keeping all animals. The male owner

also pleaded guilty and was issued with a 12 week custodial sentence (suspended for 18 months), 300 hours unpaid work, an 18 month supervision order, £700 costs and the same 10 year disqualification from keeping all animals.

Inspector Liz Wheeler secured an adult written Caution against a man from Godstone after she was called to his three ponies in Redhill. All three were found to be in a suffering state due to him failing to provide adequate nutrition and regular worming. The owner signed them over where they went to one of our partner agencies, World Horse Welfare, for continued care.

Inspector Sandy Barlow secured an adult written Caution against a lady in Esher after being called in by World Horse Welfare over concerns of a heavily pregnant, emaciated mare. The vet supported suffering and the horse was seized. The mare (and subsequent foal) were signed over and are slowly recovering from their ordeal. The photos here show the ‘before’ and after’ images of the horse in question - a dramatic transformation indeed.

In October 2024, Inspector Leanna Hone investigated an individual in the Guildford area who had sold a young bulldog-type dog which had an untreated shoulder fracture for several weeks. The new owner immediately took the dog to a vet, who certified that the dog would have been suffering as a result of this untreated injury. Following the conclusion of the investigation, the original owner agreed to accept a Caution. The dog stayed with the person who had bought him off the original owner and, happily, he has made excellent progress.

In May, Inspector Lauren Evans secured a Caution for the owner of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier-type dog which was found to be underweight and with open pressure sores on her legs. The owner signed the dog over to the RSPCA during her interview, but sadly she had to be euthanased due to advanced kidney failure.

In August, Inspector Nat Kitchin secured a Caution in respect of the owner of a cat which had died in the owner’s care. The owner took the body of the cat to a Blue Cross vet in London, where the vets discovered that the cat was emaciated and had a heavy flea burden. The owner accepted a Caution for allowing her cat to be in this condition and causing unnecessary suffering.

As always I would like to thank my officers for their dedication in resolving these types of incidents. They can be distressing and difficult to deal with, and only a professional and resolute approach can resolve the issues in the best possible way.

Not all serious investigations turn into prosecution cases. For various reasons, there are some that we are unable to pursue further and some where we work with the owners to improve the situation. Here are some examples:

Inspector Liz Wheeler, Animal Rescue Officers (AROs) Chloe Wilson and Sam Matthews helped to secure a brighter future for three dogs living in a stable in Dorking. The dogs appeared never to be let out and inside the stable there were very poor hygiene standards. Happily, after working

hard with the owner, all three dogs were eventually signed over and put up for rehoming.

Sadly we are all used to jobs involving animals that have been abandoned when the owners move. Cookie, an elderly tortoiseshell female cat, was one such animal. She was left behind when the owners moved out and ARO Ben Fitzcosta and Inspector Jo Bowling had her removed by the police as her needs clearly were not being met under the Animal Welfare Act. Cookie was taken to a private boarding establishment but, frustratingly, her owner was never tracked down. However, Cookie has since found a new home.

ARO Chloe Wilson was called to a 5yr old sheepdog called Barney when his elderly owner was taken into hospital. Barney was completely matted and had never left the house. A relative of the owner signed him over and he was taken to Millbrook for a much-needed trim (his clipped fur weighed over 5kg!) He was soon rehomed to an owner more able to look after him appropriately.

Some incidents are particularly distressing and stay with us. One example was when Inspector Nat Kitchin had a late night call about a tiny puppy found at the side of a road in Sunbury. Later named Puzzle, Nat rushed him to a local vets where he was found to have a cleft palate as well as a wound to his head and nose. It was suspected that Puzzle had been dumped out of a car, probably due to his health issues. He was kept overnight to warm up and get some vital nutrition. Initially he did really well, taking on puppy milk but sadly, as is often the grim reality of hand rearing an animal so young, he passed away a few days later. Frustratingly, despite an extensive press appeal, we were never able to track down who had so callously dumped him.

Collections & Rescues in 2024

Surrey officers have continued to deal with all manner of animal rescues. Here are some of the more unusual or complex ones:

ARO Louis Horton organized a great multi-agency rescue between ourselves and Folly Wildlife in rescuing this deer caught between metal railings and a brick wall. The deer had to be sedated in order to free it and, after it was finally freed, it spent the evening recuperating at the wildlife charity to ensure there were no after effects. Happily the deer made a full recovery and was successfully released. A great example of partnership working.

After 16 years of service, Inspector Leanna Hone finally got to tick off “aerial platform” on her RSPCA bingo card, reaching dizzying heights to rescue a cat stuck on a hot roof in Guildford! The cat had become stranded up there for over 24 hours and after negotiating cables and chimneys, Guildford Fire and Rescue managed to get Leanna into a position to catch it! Unharmed, it was returned to his grateful owner. Another great example of partnership working.

Inspector Lauren Evans was called to Ashford for this poor fox cub who had managed to get his nose stuck in some sort of trap. We were unsure if it was a mole trap or a rodent trap but the device had latched on, forcing the cubs jaws shut. Lauren rushed it to Wildlife Aid in Leatherhead but sadly it had been on for such a long time and had caused some extensive injuries so the decision was made to euthanize the cub. It was not clear where this trap had originated from.

ARO’s Louis Horton and Chloe Wilson were called to a cob pony in Dorking that had managed to get caught up in some barbed wire fencing and was unable to walk. Luckily, the pony was very compliant and waited patiently for Chloe and Louis to cut the wire out. Having only been caught in his feathers and tail there were no injuries. The owner was given advice about the dangers of loose fencing, a common issue we deal with.

One definite highlight of our year was the video of a supposedly injured fox stealing ARO Ben Fitzcosta’s phone! You can see the footage at https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ALdBECbQr7Y

Thank Yous

As always, I would like to thank all of our external partner organisations who have continued to assist us in working for animals. This includes local Police, Fire and Rescue, vets, local authorities and other animal charities / wildlife rescues. It is amazing and encouraging that so many different agencies work together for the same cause.

I would also like to express my particular gratitude, on behalf of the whole Surrey team, to all of our local Branches for their help and support during 2024. As always, it really is a team effort and I am delighted that we have continued to work closely with all of them throughout the year. Whether it be assisting with veterinary invoices, funding wildlife treatment, arranging boarding or taking on and rehoming animals, we could not have done all of the things we have done this year to alleviate animal suffering and improve welfare without the assistance of all of the Branches we work alongside.

Finally, this will be my last Surrey Annual Report as I am shortly taking up a new role within the RSPCA. So I would like to thank all of the Surrey team for their support and hard work over the five years since I became Chief Inspector - I wish you all the best under your new Chief Inspector and I am sure that the Surrey team will continue to go from strength to strength in the years ahead.

Thank you to all,

Rob Jackson

Chief Inspector, Surrey

SUCCESSES IN THE YEAR – some of the animals we helped in 2024

Next in our featured animals are ‘ The Stoke Park 5’

Five young, defenceless cats were callously dumped in Stoke Park in September 2024. Abandoned in the early morning cold with just a box of food, the busy and dog-frequented park would have been a frightening experience for them.

Thanks to the swift action of some incredible locals who began catching the abandoned cats and alerted us, we were able to intervene. They had already secured three, and their photos of the group allowed us to set a trap for the remaining two. We initially believed they were the mother and a very young kitten.

In a display of determined effort, local hero Alex spent a considerable time kitted out in sturdy work gear crawling through brambles until he successfully located the terrified little one.

We are pretty sure they were one family group, as they “stuck together” and have very similar black, white and grey markings. Four of them were estimated to be about 11 months old. The fifth (who we called ‘Spotty’) was much smaller and estimated to be 3 months old.

At first the whole group was fostered together by one of our volunteers. All were health checked, given flea and worm treatments, then vaccinated, neutered, and microchipped. This, together with their food and litter, cost the Branch £1,400. This is a large expense, and yet these were straightforward to treat, with no complicated issues or dental work required. Donations are therefore vital to our rescue efforts, and we also depend greatly on the goodwill of certain veterinary practices in keeping our expenses as low as possible.

Noodle 👉🏼 is that rare breed: a lap cat!

H ere are some close-ups of ‘ The Stoke Park 5’

👈🏼 Noodle ♂ & Bella ♀ 👉🏼

Doodle ♂ and … Missy Moo ♀ were very much a pair so they have been rehomed together by adopter Ben (who fostered them before falling for their charms)

👇🏼 They are now called Dexter & Roxy

and finally… Spotty

👉🏼

(male ♂ , the youngest one, about 3 months old)

Unsurprisingly, young and gorgeous Spotty was the first to find a forever home! But we're thrilled to report that all five cats were adopted and settled into new lives just a few weeks after we took them in.