CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 208111
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Unaudited Financial Statements
31 December 2023
BURGESS HODGSON LLP
Chartered accountants
Camburgh House
27 New Dover Road
Canterbury
Kent
CT13DN
Royal Soclety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Flnanclal Statementg
Year ended 31 December 2023
Page
Trustees, annual report
Independent examinerfs report to the trustees
Statement of financial activities
10
Statement of financial position
11
Notes to the financial statements
12
The followlng pages do not form part of the financial statements
Detailed statement of financial activitie8
22
Notes to the detailed stalement of financial activities
24
Page 1
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford. Tenterden and District Branch
Trustees, Annual Report
Year ended 31 December 2023
The trustees present their report and Ihe unaudiled financial slatements of the charity for the year
ended 31 December 2023.
Ro1oronc• and admlnl*tratlvo detall8
R•gl$l•r•d charlty namè
Royal Society for Ihe Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and Di8lrid Branch
Charlty regl8trntlon number
208111
Prln¢lpal offS¢?
34 Stali¢Jn Road
Ashford
Kent
TN23 1 PH
Tho tru8t•••
S C Stoker (Chairl
L A Kendall ITrea8urerl
S Moir (Secretary)
GEHoad
l Brant
C 818ckledge
Icsmrth
MLI
A Sheriff
T Rodgers
K Farnell
L Kemp
(Resigned 2Th1 January 20231
(Resigned 22nd April 2023)
(Resigned 28th June 20231
(Resigned 28th June 20231
(Appointed 131h September 20231
(Appointed 131h September 20231
(Appointed 281h February 20241
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
The Truslee8 present their report and financial slatemenl8 of the charity lor Ihe year ended 31
December 2023. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recnmmended
PraCte (SORPI 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities. {FRS 102) In preparing the gnnual report
and financial stalemenls of the (tharity.
The financial slalemenls have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in
notes to the aexounts and comply with the ¢harity'S governing documenl. the Charilies Acl 2011 and
Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Ststemenl of Recommended Practice applicable to charities
preparing their accounts in aOrdanCe with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in Ihe UK and
Republic of Ireland (FRS 1021 {ChaTities SORP IFRS 10211 (as amended for aOUntIng peri8
commencing from 1 January 2019).
Consideration has also been given to the additional guidance issued by the Charili6$ SORP
Committee in March 2020. enlilled 'lmpiications of COVID-19 conlrol measures and charity fi'nancial
r8POrting'.
Page 2
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Trustees, Annual Report
Year ended 31 December 2023
OBJECTIVES ANO ACTIVITIES
Purpo80
The RSPCA Kent, Ashford, Tenlerden & District Branch Is a registered charity. The object of the charty
is to "promote kindness and to prevenl and suppress cnjelty to animals. and do all such lawful act8 as
Ihe branch may consider to b8 conducive or incidental to the attainment of these objects"
Maln Aetlvltle*
The main aclNilies of th• charty during 2023 were.
Running the Ashford Cattery with the associated income. Including through our sponsorship
scheme
Running the charty shop in Ashford
Fundraising, donations and membership
Managing our investments
Supporting the local RSPCA Inspedors, Animal Welfare Officers and Animal Collection Officers
Supporting and Wofking wilh the other branches Wrthin the RSPCA neOrk
Supporting the Communities wthin our branch areas with initsatives such as the pet food bank
Publle Boneflt Statement
The Trustees confimi that they have referred to the guidance contained In the Charity Commission's
general guidance on public benefit when raviewiNJ ihe charity'8 aims and objectNes and in planning
lulure activities.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Slgnlllcant A¢tlvlll•*
Despite three really difficult years, 0e again w8 enlered a new financial year on 1 •1 January 2023
optimislic about the futur8. We have amazing staff, volunteers and supporters who Wofk hard
together to make u8 8 success and this aayS gives us cau8e to be IKJpeful. We were looking to
den our reach nel only in terrns of our gec*Jraphical area within the branch boundaries, which goes
beyond Ashford and Tenterden, wering parts of Romney Marsh elc.. but also changing the layout of
the cattery to enable us to meet licencing conditions for other small animals. As ever, we planned lo
continue with Ihe work we do to provide essential support to Ihe wider RSPCA.
During the year we received a very generous legary and support trom the national society in terms of
rK)t only the door-to4oor grant bul 8150 grants from the region81 b08rd to support the work we do in
relation to neutering and welfare support. The shop had an amazing year, which continues in 2024.
We were also lucky enough to receive a large donation from Batlersea Dogs and Cats Home, as
lollowing generous public donations in Paul O'Grady's name, and lo mark 11 years since Paul was
made their Ambassador, Battersea chose to honour five animal ¢harilie$ close to Paul's heart. which
included us. We would like to thank 8altersea for this extremoly kiThJ donalion and Paul for the support
he generously gave us over the years.
We reiVed income of £51,936 in 2023 from the cattery (£29,416 in 2022).
The combination of these income stream5 ha8 meant that income increased by almost 70V•.
Allhough costs, as expected. also increased this was only by 6%. We are so pleased and proud to
note that this means the charity has made a surplus in 2023.
Page 3
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Trustees, Annual Report
Year ended 31 December 2023
Our achievements for 2023 are somethng lo be extremely proud of and are as follows (2022 figures
are given in brackelsl
We look in 244 cats (2581 and rehomed 244 (2391-,
W8 neul8red 131 animals11681 In¢ludin9 24 {36} owrffjd by members of the public..
We microchipped 98 anmals (143) m¢luding 3135) owned by members of the public,. and
We provided help with velerin8ry care through our Wellare Assistance Scheme for 24 animals
(181.
We would lik8 to thank all those people who Contribule to the success of the charity and support us
through time, fundraising 8clivilie$. financial discounts or advertising. They include local busin@sse$,
veterinary surgeries, vets. branch members. staff and volunteers and local pre$s. We would also like
to thank the RSPCA Regional Board lor the gr8nls given during the year and other organisations who
continue to support our work. Lastty we would like lo thank the public for their on90ing 3UPPOrt ol the
d)arity. Our success would not be possible wilhoul Ihem, whatever Ihe economic conditions. We
¢onlinue to be Iruly humbled by Ihe contributlons made, whether fanCIal, tlme or in terms of
encouragement through social media.
The Branch Charlty Shop ¢¢st.2003)
The shop had an extremely good year with sales outstripping pre-pandemic levels. Income increased
by 45%. This has beén vital lo tha charrty's Income stream adding e$¥enlial cash lo our revenue.
Whilst not directty working wrth animals the cash from the shop 15 a large part ol the charity being able
to run our rehoming centre plus all the olher anKnal welfare work we undertake.
Th8 Trvstees would like to thank all the volunteers in the shop for thdr tlme and dedication. We know
working in 8 ielail environment 18 not easy at times. We would also like to thank our staff for their
support in ensuring the shop continues to be suceesslul, Last bul not least we thank all our
Customers foi supporting us in the last year.
The shop raised £55,274 during 2023, compared to £38,1e1 for 2022.
Fundralslngi Donallon• and M•mb•rshlp
During 2023 we continued to ulilise social media lo make appeals and for lundraising. Our
tsce-to-face events also look place. Total money faised from fundraising events during the year were
£8,202 (£6,257 in 2022). In addition. tolal donations amounled to £27,096, Including the £20.1)JO
donation from Battersea1£8,034 in 20221. We would like to thank ev8ryona who has responded so
generously lo our appeals and to our slaff who work extremely hard on the design of the campaigns
and monitor the response. We would like to Ihank the members of the Fundraising Commillee for the
lime they give up and enthusiasm they have for raising money for the charty. As akvays it is much
appreciated. It is heartening to see fundraising increase after the last few diffKult years.
During the year we were grateful lo be awarded grants from the Regional Board of the RSPCA The
Regional 808rd continues lo support the charity In 2024. We would like to thank the National Sociéty.
the Regional 808rd 2nd all the relevant staff and Iruslees across the RSPCA family for their support.
We continue to run our sponsorship scheme, currenlty known as Blake's Fund, named after a kitten
that wo hand reared al the cattery during lock-down. During 2023 Ihis raised £4.544 (£4,892 in
2022}.
We also continue to receive the RSPCA Ooor to Ooor income, which during 2023 amounted to
£23.094 (£23,218 in 2022).
Page 4
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Trustees, Annual Report
Year ended 31 December 2023
Managlng our Inv••tments
During 2023 we continued to use an investment manager to oversee our Investmenl portfolio and
provide professional advice as and when required. The yeaf4nd Investment portfolio sat at £110,214
(£112,769 in 2022). Income from Investments was £8.962. compared to £9.077 in 2022. The
expecled income yield lor 2023 was 5.58%. The actual yield was higher at 6.32%.
8upportlng the local RSPCA Inspectorn, Anlmal Welfare Olll¢•rs and Anlmal Collectlon
Offlcers
AS with previou8 year3 we continued 10 8upporl the work ol the local RSPCA In¥pe¢tors. Anlmal
Welfare Officers and Animal Collection Officers, working on complaints of cruelty to animals and
helping With Ihe colledions and rescues of animals in di$lre88. During 2023 we supported the
collection of injured and 8tray cats and provided financial aid lo a number of domestic animals that
needed veterinary treatment.
Impact ol COVID.19
Whi18t the impact Of COVID-19 on the main activities ol the charity was less during 2023 than the
previous years. the charity still have to work within a difficult economic Situation. We believe that
the cost of livin9 crisis and vel shorta9e had and continues to have a greater Impa on the
organisalion now Ihan COVID-19 relaled re$lriclion8, which are no longer enlorced from a legal point
of view. We are hopeful therefore that this will be the last report that indudes this sects'on.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Ineome for th8 year amounlad lo £231,9071£138.518 in 20221, which is an increase of almost 70110
and an absolute increase of £93.389. This reflects an extremely positive move forward. For the first
'me in 7 years the charity made a surplus for the year.
The main 80ur¢es ot income chan9ed Irom 2022, wilh legacies and donations seeing a large increase.
The main sources of income were callery Income of £51.936 (£29,416 in 2Q22), total lundraising ol
£31,2*1£29,475 in 2022}, shop takings of £55,274 (£38.181 In 2022). donation3 of £27,096 (£8,034
in 202218nd bequests and legacies of £39,8281£215 in 2022}.
Total expendrture for the year amounted to £226.925. compared lo £214,795 in 2022.
This re8ulted in a surplus for the year of £4,982 {defi¢it £76,277 in 2022). After taking acUnt ol
movements on the charity's investments this resulted in an overall incraasa in fijnds of £2.427 (derlt
£78.160 in 2022).
The board of trustees continued, as In previous years. to VIeW Ihe finances ol the Charity on a
regular basis. Board meelings are held 11 limes a year as a matter of course however during 2023
number of additional meetings were held to discuss strategic and operational issue8. Ouring ihe8e
meetings numerous issues were discussed. which included although were not limited to, the Teview of
expenditure and income streams. and the polential of collaborating with organisations suc* as RSPCA
branches on particular work strearns, for example th8 expansion of fos18ring schemes to cover other
animals in addition to cats.
Page 5
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Trustees, Annual Report
Year ended 31 December 2023
R•serv•$ Policy
The Trustees would ideally Ilke lo keep bebNeen 6 and 9 months average general expenditure
equivalenl to between £106 000 and £159.QCw) (£98,000 8nd £146.000 in 2022), as unfeslricted
reserves. This 13 based on an average of the last three years expentjilure. The unrestrict8d
resee8 of th8 charity at 31 D8cember 2023 amount £49.969 (£35,199 in 2022) In addition to this.
the charlty holds inv8stmenls of £110,214. The total of these exceed th& 9 months of av8r8ge
general expenditure threshold.
It is believed that should operatlon$ draslicalty redu al the ¢attery. Ihat this level of reserves and
investments would allow sufficient time to vnnd up the operation In a professional and reasonable
manner, enabkng the meeting of Its legal and moral obligallons lo Its suppliers and slaff. The policy is
reviewed and updated on an annual basis and has been reviewed In light of COVID-19.
Funds relating io flxed 8s8ets and inve8tmenls al 31 December 2023 amounted to £421.062
(£433.405 in 2022). Total charlty funds. whlch are all unrastricled amounted to £471.031 (£468.804
in 2022).
Investment Pollcy
The investments held by the charity were inherited from prevlous Tru81ees and committees. No
change is foreseen by the current Board of Trustees In lerms ol the inveslmenl$ held. In acwrdance
with Charity Commission guldance the Trustees conllnue to use an Investment Manager and
accordingly rely on the advice provided.
Rlak Pollcy
The Trustèes understand and a¢Pt that the management and control of risk re$t$ with us. Ag such
we work on a daY-tdaY basis with both the staff and volunteers of the charity. together with
professional advisers where necessary, to ensure risks are managed to within an acceptable level.
We aro also supported by the National Society and our Branch Partnership Manager in Ihis vital area.
During 2023 and to date the Board of Tru$tee$ conlinued to go Ihrough a period of Change, with a
number of Trustees Tesigning. We continued to review organisational governance. in light of the
potential changes in the current relats'onship with the National Society and the impact on the charty of
issues such as the vet shortage and reduc£d service l increased veterinary costs. To facililate this
work we have come 109elher for additional m88tings. including ones lo discuss the overarching
strategy and have worked with colleagues across the RSPCA family on polenti31 proiecls such a¥
introducing 2 small animal rehoming r2ntre.
We believe Ihal the risks fa¢ing the Charity have remained consistent with previous years in the main.
The main risks facing the charity are..
Los3 Of trustee8 I skills and e%peri8nce of trustees
Loss of income l increased demand on the charity as a result of the difficult economic climate
Increased cost I negative impact on animal welfare as a result of the Current vel Shortage
Failure to understand the impact of planned changes in relationship wilh RSPCA
Failure lo recover from the impact of COVID-19, including the loss of suppori, financial and
otherwis&, from the Nation81 Society
Contingency and disasler recovery
Financial and budgetary control
Loss of income through fraud or error
Compliance with legislation and regulations
Page 6
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and Distrlct Branch
Trustees, Annual Report
Year ended 31 December 2023
The8e ri8ks are mitgated through tralning. Int8rnal pollcies and procedures. use of soaal media and
all appropriaté avenues to reach potential Irustaès. volunteers, donor$ and supporters, bringing In
extra skilled resources when necessary and worknng closely with colleagues across Ihe RSPCA tsmily.
Pay Poll¢y lor Key Management Personnel
The Trustees consider that it Is the Truslees that make-up the key management personnel of the
charity. The Tru81ees are in charga of direcllng and controlling, running and operating the charity on
a day to day basi5 and all execullve function8 Srt with us. All Trusteés glve of their tlme freely and no
trustee received r8muneralion in the year.
There is a Remuneration Polity in place for the chanty, whlch covers all members of staff.
P•n•lon Llablllty
The pension rJJntril)utions made are for an auto enrolment scheme and are therefore defin8d
contribulion and nol a defined benefit scheme. As such these are all individual employee pots rather
than an entity pension schéme and therefore there is no Imp8cI cn the charty In this respect.
Pl•n8 for th• futur•
The Trustees plans for the next 12 months are..
Recruit more trustees and volunteers to support charity
Reach a greater proportion of the branch area
Increase impact in terms of opening a small arNmal rehomin9 centr6
Expand th6 food bank and welfare support $8rvice
Continue to develcp $lralegie$ to increa$e lega¢ie8
Develop strategies lo increase lundraising and marketing opportunllies
Sel a strategy in relation lo the charity shop, including exploring Optn3 for online Jales
Review fundraising oplions. induding Increasing the use of social medla
Continue to work on the g)vern8nce and administration structures, includlng improving
Informalion systems and increasing use ol social media for fundralsing
COVID-19 and golng con¢•rn
As already noted in the TTu$tees' Report there has been an impact on income as a result of the
COVID-19, There has been an additional pressure placed on the charity through the Increases in
costs as a result of inflation and a vet $hortage. We belbeve we have work¢d to mibgate Ih¢se
influences as far as possible and the yearryend results show the charity ha8 moved Into a surplus
position.
A large amount of work has been untaken by members of staff to increase donations through 80cial
media camPan8, which contsnue to be well supported. Grants from varlous organisations have
been applied for, some of which have been successful. The shop conts.nues to briThJ in a good
income. which is now oulstrippin9 pre-pandemic levels. In addits'on an unexpecled legacy and largo
donation were received.
The investments we hold are for the medium to long-temi and therefore expect lo see a recovery from
the current impaci on value and income. The return on these investments is Still strong at
approximately 6% and we hope to see additional capital growth in the coming months.
The charity, as a branch ol the RSPCA, does receive 8UPPOrt. financial and otheThvise, Irom other
branches, the Regional Board and the Naknonal Society.
Page 7
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Trustees. Annual Report
Year ended 31 December 2023
We are satisfied. based on past results, thal we are robust as a stand-alone organisation and will
continue to work during 2024 to mitigate any legacy impacts. As a result, as al date of this report,
the Board of Trustees are confident that the charity will ¢ontsnue to be able to operate during the nexl
12 months and is Iherelore cuirenlty a going concern. As such we believe that the accounts give a
true and fair view and that there are no Changes required for post balance sheet events.
STRUCTURE
charity, which is register with thè Charity Commission undar numbef 208111. is established
under the RSPCA Branch Rules effective 18 February 2009.
GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The Trustees of The Roy81 Society for the Prevenllon of Cruelty to Animals {Ashford. Tenterden &
District Branch) are responsibk for the gen&r81 control and management of th8 administration of the
During the year and up to Ihe date of the approval of the Report of the TTUStees, the following were
Trustees of the Ch8rty'.
S C Stoker (Chair)
L A Kendall (Treasurer)
S Moir (Secretary)
GEHoad
l Brant
C Bl&kledge
I C Smith
MLI
A Sheriff
T Rodgers
K Farnell
L Kemp
(Resigned 2r* January 2023)
(Resigned 22nth April 2023)
(Resigned 281h June 2023)
{Re8igned 281h June 2023)
(Appointed 131h September 20231
{Appoinled 131h September 2023)
(Appointed 281h February 2024)
The Board ol Trustees must rA)nsi8t of bebNeen five and fourt8en members. which was the case
during 2023. It was acknowledged that a wider rarKJe of experience would be an advantage in light of
the plans for the charity, especially around fundraising and information technology. We therefore
used our trustee skills audit to continue to look for new trustees. Recruitment of new truslees is In
lin8 With Ihe Trustee Recruitment Policy. All trustees are subject lo election at the Annual General
Meeting.
Page 8
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Tru8tee$' Annual Report
Year ended 31 December 2023
TRUSTEES, RESPONSIBILITIES
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Annual Report and the financial statements In
a¢cordan¢e with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom
Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The 18w applicable to charrties in Engi8nd & Wal8s requires the Trustees lo prepare financial
statements for each fInala1 year which give a true and fair view of the slate of affairs of the charity
and of the InCoMng resources and application of resour¢es of the charily lor that peri¢xI. In prepariThJ
these finanoal statements. the Trustees are required to..
select suitable accounling policies and then apply them consistently-
observe the methods and principles in tha Charities SORP 2015 (FRS 102),.
make judgem8nts and estimates that are reasonable and prudent,
slate whether applicable accountsng standard$ have been followed. subject to any material
departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements, and
prepare Ihe fin8n¢ial 51atements on the going concern basis unle88 it 18 inapproprTrate to presum¢
that Ihe chanty will continue in operation.
The Tw8tees are re8pon81ble for keeping proper accountlng records. which disclose wilh reasonable
aur4¢Y at any time the financial position of the chanty and to enablé them to ensure that the
financial statements comply wilh the Charitses Act 2011. They are al80 responsible for safeguarding
the assets of the charity and hence for laking reasonable sleps for Ihe prevention and ettIOn of
Iraud or olher lrre9ularille8.
11.lo
The tru$tee$' annual report wa$ approved on .................
Iruslee6 by
8nd signed on behalf ol the board of
S C Stoker
Trustee
L A Kendall
Tru8lee
Page 9
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Royal Soclety for the
Prevention of Cruelty to An5mals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and Dlstrlct Branch
Year ended 31 December 2023
I report to the truste88 on my examination of the finarKial slatemenls of Royal Sorjety for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashlord, Tenterden and Distnct Branch I'the charity'l for the
year 6nded 31 December 2023.
Re8pon8lbllltle8 and bas18 of report
As Ihe twstee8 of the charity you are respon¥ible for the preparatron of the fi'nanctal slalement8 In
accordance with the requiremenls of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act.).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity's fina181 ststemenls cerried out under section 145
of th8 2011 Act and in earrying out my examination I h8ve followed all the applicable Directsons glven
by the Charity Commission under section 145(5llbl ot the Act.
Ind¢p•nd•nt •xamln•rf8 8talemonl
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come lo my Attention in
connection with the examinatron giving me cause to believe that in any material respect
accounting records were not kept in respect of the chariiy as required by sectlon 130 of Ihe
Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with Ihose records., or
the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning Ihe
form and Content of accounts set out in the Charities {Accounls and Reports) Regulations
2008 other than any requirament that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view whic* is not a
matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no nCernS and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to
%thi¢h altenlion should be drawn in Ihis report in order lo enable a proper understanding ol the
accounts to be reached.
&sss
Burgess Hodgson LLP
Independent Examiner
Camburgh House
27 New Dover Road
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 3DN
1910612024
Pag• 10
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
ststement of Flnanclal Actlvities
Year ended 31 December 2023
2023
Unrestricted
fund8 Total fund* Total funds
2022
Not
In¢omo and •ndowmenl8
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Other Iradwig activities
Inveslmenl income
80,585
56,480
87,880
6,962
80,585
56.480
87.880
6.962
26,273
34,308
68,860
9,077
Totsl Income
231,907
231.907
138,518
Exp6ndltur•
Expenditure on charilable activrtles
Total expendlture
226,925
226.925
214,795
226,925
226,925
214,795
Net Ios8esllgaln8) on Investments
11
2,655
2.555
1,883
Net Incomel(expendllure) and net movement In fund•
2,427
2.427
178.160)
Rèconclllatlon of fund$
Total funds brought forward
Total fund8 ¢arrlod forward
468,604
488,61)4
546,764
471,031
471.031
488,604
The statement of finana81 acbvitTres Includes all gains 8rKI108se8 recognised In Ihe year.
All Income and expenditure derive from continuing acts'vities.
The nolos on pag•$ 12 to 20 Iofm part of the¥¢ fln•n¢lal ¥t4t¢menlS.
Page 11
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford. Tenterden and District Branch
Statement of Financlal Posltion
31 December 2023
2023
2022
Flxed a?s¢ts
Tangible fixed assets
Investments
16
17
310.848
110,214
320,638
112,769
421.062
433.405
Currfjnt a8$et•
Debtors
Cash at bank and In hand
18
12.584
60.805
8,496
50.448
73,389
58.944
crlt01$. amount• lalllng duo wlthln one year
Net current assets
19
23.420
23.745
49.989
35.199
Total a8gèt8 hs8 current Ilabllltlè*
471.031
468,604
Net a•80t•
471.031
488,604
Funds of the charlty
un$trICted lund$
471.031
488,604
Total charlly funds
21
471,031
468,604
These finanaal statements were approved by Ihe board of tru51ees and authorised for issue on
.17,. kn...3W. and are swned on behalf of the board by
S C Stoker
Trustee
L A Kendall
Trustee
The notos on pa9 12 to 20 lorm part ol these finaneio18lalements.
Page 12
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Notes to the Flnanclal Statements
Year ended 310ecember 2023
Goneral Infomatlon
The charity 1$ a public bènefrt entty and a registered charty in England and Wa16s and is
unincorporated, The address of the principal office is 34 Station Road. Ashlord, Kent. TN23 1 PH,
Statement of ¢ompllan¢e
These financial slatements have been prepared in compliance wth FRS 102, 'The Financial
Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of IrelaThJ'. the Statement of
Recommended Practice applicable to charilies preparing Iheir accounts In accordance with the
Financial Reportin9 Standard applKable in the UK and RepubliG of Ireland {FRS 1021 (Charlties
SORP IFRS 1021) and the Charities Acl 2011.
Accountlng poll¢l•i
Ba818 Ot preparatlon
The financial ststements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, a8 modified by the
revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and inveslment propertie$ measured at fair
value through income or expendlture.
The financial statements are prepared in sterl'ng. which is the lurtionBI currency of the enlily.
Golng concern
The fi'nancial statements have been prepared on a going CL)ncern basis as the Trustees believes
that no material uncertainties exist. The Trustee8 have nSIdered thé level of fund$ held and the
expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authori8ing ihese financial
statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level ol reserves
including investments for the charity to be able to continue as a going nCern.
As 81ready noled In the Trustees, Report there ha8 been an impact on income 8$ a fesull of
COVIO-19. and there has been additional pressure placed on the charty Ihrou9h the Increases in
costs as a result of inllation and a vet shortage. The Trustees believe we have worked to
Mitale these influences as far as possible and the year-end re$ult8 show Ihe charity ha8 moved
Into a surplus position.
A lafge amount of work has been vntaken by member$ of glaff lo increase donalions through
80¢ial media campaigns, which contsnue to be well Supported.
Grants from variou8
organisations have been applied foi, some of which have been successful. The Shop continues
to bring in 8 good income, which is now outstripping pre.panderniG levels. In addition an
unexpected legacy large donation were received.
The Investments we hold a for the medium lo long-term and Iherelore expect to See a recovery
from the Current impact on value and income. The retum on these Investments Is still strong al
approximately 6% and we pe to $68 additional capital growth in the coming months.
The charity, as a branch of the RSPCA. does receive support, finanGial and otherwise, from other
branches. the Regional Board and the National Socjety.
We are satisfied, based on past results, Ihat we are robust as a sland-alone or9anisatyon and will
Continue lo work during 2024 to miligale any legacy impacts. As a result, as at the dale of this
report, Ihe Board of Trustees are Mnfidenl that the chanty will continue to be able lo operale
during the next 12 months and IS Iherefore currenlly a going concern. As such we believe that
Ihe accounts give a true and fair view and that there are no changes required for post balance
sheet events.
Page 13
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Notes to the Financial Staternents (conllnu•dJ
Year ended 31 December 2023
Accounllng poll¢lo8 f¢onUnuodl
Judg•m•nts and key source8 0108tlmatlon uncertalnty
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements.
estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. Th8se estimates and judgements
are conts'nually reviewed and are basad on experience and other factors, including expectations
of future 8vents that 8re b81ieved lo be reasonable under the circumstances.
Fund accountlng
Unreslricled funds are avalabla for use at the discretlon of the trustees to further any of the
charity's purposes.
Designated funds are unrestricted lund8 earmarked by the Iw8tees lor particular fulure projecl or
¢ommilment.
Restrictéd funds are subjected lo reslrictions on Iheir expenditure declared by Ihe donor or
through the terms of an appeal. and fall into one of Iwo sub-classes.. re$tricled income funds or
endowment funds,
In¢omln9 r••our¢••
All Income ¢ included in the Slalement of Financial Activitiej ISOFAI when the ch8rity i¥ legally
entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been mel, the amount can be
measured relrably and it 18 probable that the income will be réceived,
For don2lion8 lo be recognised the charity will have been notsfied of the amounts and the
settlement dale in bvfiting. If there are conditions altad)ed to the donation and this requires a
level cl performance before entitlement can be oblained Ihen income is deferred until Ihose
conditions are fully mel or the fulfillment of Ihose conditions is within the control of the charity and
It 18 probable thal they will be fulfilled.
For legaciés, enlitlement 18 the earlier of Ihe charity being notified ¢1 an impending distribution or
the 18gacy being receNed. At this point income is recognised. On occasion legacies will be
nolified to the ¢harily however it is not possible to measure the amount expected to be
dislributed. On these occasion¥. the legacy Is treated as a contingenl asset and disclos8d.
Incom8 from trading activitse$ includes Income earned from fund raising events to rai8e funds for
th8 eharity. Income is raceived in exchange lor supplying goods and services in order lo raise
funds and is rKognised when entitlement has occurred.
Investment income is earned through holding assets for Invèstment purposes such as shares
and propety. It InclLJdes dividends, in18rest and rent Interest Income is recognised using the
eff8ctive interest method and dividend Income is recognised as the charity's right lo receive
paymènt Is established.
Income from dinic charge8. collections 8fKI other fundraising Is recognised on an accruals basis.
Page 14
Royal Soclety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Notes to the Flnanclal Statements (eonttnu•dJ
Year ended 310ecember 2023
A¢¢ountlng pollcle8 (coniinuedj
R•8our¢es expended
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basi8 and has been classified undar headings
that aggregate all costs related to th8 cat890ry. Expenditur8 is recogniséd where there a legal
or conslruclive obligation to make payments lo third parties, rt is probable that the settlement will
be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably, It Is categorised under
the following headings..
Costs of raising funds Includes the ¢08tJ involved In putting on ftJndrai8ing evenl8 and co818
Involved in funning the charity Shop,
Expenditur8 on tharitable activities includes comprises thosè costs Incurred by ihe charity In
the delivery of its activrties and services for ils beneficiaries. 11 includes both costs allocated
diraclty to such activities and those costs of an indirect natura necessary lo support them, Th&
purchase of Cards and brochures 18 included in the Slalemenl of Finanaal Activities In the year of
purchase. Costs ol printing publicalions and card$ are expen88d In year they are Inajrred,
Other expenditure represents thos8 Item5 not falling into tre cate9oneJ above.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as an expense against the activity for which expenditure aro88.
Tanglble a8•ot•
Tangible assets are initialty rerded at cost, and subsequenlty stated at cost less any
accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Any tangible assets carried al revalued
amounts are recorded at the fair value al the dale ol revaluation less any subsequent
accumulated deprKiation and subsequent accumulated irnpairmenl losses.
Oapreclatlon
Depreciation is calculated so as lo write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its re8Ual
value. over the useful economic life of that asset as follows..
Freehold property
Fixtures and fittings
Motor vehicles
Equipment
2% straight Ilne
33Vo straight lir
25°h straight line
5% slraighl line
Investments
Unlisted equity investments ar8 initially recorded at cosl, and subsequenlly measured al fair
value. If lair value cannot be reliably measured, assets are measured at ¢ost16ss impairmenL
Llsled Investments are measured at fair value wilh changes in fair value being recognised in
income or expenditure.
Impalrment of flxod ag8ets
A review for indicators ol impairment is carried out at each reporting date, with the recoverable
amount being estimated where such indicators exisl. Where the carrying value exceeds the
recoverable amount. the asset is impaired am)rdingly. Prior impairments ale also r8viewed for
possible r8vef381 at each r8POrting date.
Page 15
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Note8 to the Financial Statements (¢oniinu•d)
Year ended 31 December 2023
Accountlng pollcle8 (¢onUnuedJ
Fln•ncl41 Instruments
Financial liabilities and equty in$lrumer)l$ are classified according lo the substance of the
conlractual airangemenls entered Into.
Debtors and creditor8 wilh no slated interest rale and receivable or payable within one year are
recorded al transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in the profit and
1088 accounl in olher administrative expenses.
Loans and borrowings are initially recognised at the transaction price induding transaction Costs.
Subsequently, they are measured al amortised Cost using the effective Interèst rate method, less
impairment. If an arran9emenl constitutes a finance transaction it is measured at present value.
Dellned conlrlbutlon plan8
Contributions lo defined contribution plans are recognised as an expense in the period in which
the related service is provided. Prepaid contributions are recognised as an assel lo the exlenl
that the prepayment will lead lo a reduction in future paymen1¥ or a Cash refund.
When ¢onlribulions are not expected lo be settled wholly within 12 months of the end of the
reporting date in which tha •mployées render tha related Service. Ihe liability is measured on
discounted pre$ent value basi8. The unwinding of tho discount is racognisad as an expense in
the period in which il arises.
Donatlon8 and logacle8
Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds
2023
Funds
2022
Donatlons
Membership subscriptsons
Donalions
Bequests and leg8cies
161
27.098
39.828
161
27.096
39.828
183
8.034
215
8,034
215
Grants
RSPCA Grant
Pets al Home Foundation Grant
13.500
13,500
9,156
8,685
26.273
9,156
8.685
80,585
80.585
26.273
Charllable actlvltles
Unrestrled Total Fund$ Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds
2023
Funds
2022
Cattery
Safe Haven
51.936
4.544
51.938
4,544
29,416
4,892
29,416
4,892
56,480
56.480
34,308
34,308
Pago 16
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ken(
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Noteg to the Flnanclal Statements (¢ondnu•d)
Year ended 31 December 2023
Other tradlng actlvltles
Unieslnd8d Total Fund• Unrestrided Tot81 Funds
Funds
2023
Funds
2022
Shop takings
Fundraising evenl8
RSPCA Door to Door
Other
55,274
8,202
23,094
1,310
87,880
55.274
8.202
23.094
1.310
38,161
6,257
23,218
1.224
38,161
8.257
23.218
1,224
68.860
87.880
88,860
Inve$tm•nt In¢ome
Unrestricted Total Funds Unre$triCted Totsl Funds
Funds
2023
Funds
2022
Income from other Inve81menl8
8.962
6.962
9,077
9,077
Exp•ndltur• oft eharltabla attlvltl•s by fund typ
Unrestricted Total Fund$ Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds
2Q23
Fund8
2022
Shop
Cattery
Other
Support ¢o¥ls
6,771
51,745
568
167,841
6.771
51.745
568
167.841
6,864
53.183
1,873
152.875
8.864
53.183
1.873
152.875
226,925
226.925
214.795
214.795
Expendltur• on charltabl• a¢tlvltl•• by actlvlty typ•
Activities
undertaken
directly
Support Total fund*
costs
2023
Tolal fund
2022
Shop
Cattery
Other
Governance costs
8,771
51.745
4,010
153.584
6.398
3,849
10,781
205,329
6,966
3,849
7.535
195.940
7.495
3,825
59.084
167.841
226,925
214.795
Page 17
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruèlty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Notes to the Flnanclal Statements Iconthu•dJ
Year ended 31 December 2023
10. Analys1* of 8UPPOrt costs
Shop
Cattery
ottror ToLIl 2023 Total 2022
Staff costs
R8les, water and
$eVrage
Light and heat
Motor expenses
Telephone
Insurance
Legal and professional
faes
Other oifice costs
Governence costs
129.973
129,973
124,696
2,357
1.092
4.408
8.499
6,765
9,591
1,911
1,757
817
3,686
6,854
2.914
1,436
1.141
1,911
476
1.281
817
1,$87
2,920
3,849
1,567
11,611
3,849
730
7,593
3,825
85
8,606
4,010
153.584
10,247
167,841
152,875
11. N9t108•eIoa1n•) on Inv•8lm•nt•
Unrestflcted Total Fund8 Unrestricted Tolal Funds
Funds
2023
Funds
2022
IGains)I losses on other Investment
assets
2,555
2.555
1,883
1,883
12. Net expend6turo
Net expenditure Is stated after chargin91{crediling1'.
2023
2022
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
9,788
13.517
13. Independent examlnatlon foe8
2023
2022
Fees payable lo the independent examiner for..
Independent examination of the financBI 8tstements
1,850
1.825
14. Staff costs
The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are an8tysed as lollow8'.
2023
2022
Wages and salarS
Social security costs
Employer contributions to pensK)n pn9
124,841
3.485
1.647
120,222
2,941
1,533
129.973
124,696
The average head count of employees durrf)g the year was 7 {2022'. 71.
No employee fecerved employee benefits of more than £60,0 during the year (2022.. Nil}.
Pag¢ 18
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Note9 to the Flnanclal Statements fconthiu•dJ
Year ended 31 December 2023
15. Trust•• remunoratlon and •xpen$89
No member of staff eamed more than £60,000 during the year (2022. Nill.
16. Tanglbl• flxad a•••ts
Freehold Fixtures and
propety
fittlngs
Motor
vehides Equipment
Total
Cost
At 1 January 2023 and
310ecember 2023
375,000
28.751
5.995
84,805
492.551
Depro¢latlon
At 1 January 2023
Charge for Ihe year
At 31 Oècèmbér 2023
eO.QKIO
7.500
26,489
2e2
1.671
1,499
83,755
527
171.915
9.788
67.500
26.751
3.170
84,282
181.703
Carrylng amount
At 310•c•mb•r 2023
307,500
2.825
523
310 848
At 31 December 2022
315,0
262
4.324
1.050
320.838
17. Inv•¥tm•nt•
other
InvMlm•nt*
C08t or valuatlon
At 1 January 2023
Additions
Fair value movements
112.769
12,555)
110.214
At 31 Dfj¢emb¢r 2023
ImpaSrment
At 1 January 2023 and 31 DOrnber 2023
Carrylng amount
At 31 December 2023
110.214
At 31 December 2022
112,769
All Inve$lments shown above are held at valuatn.
18. D•btor•
2023
2022
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
Other debtors
1,731
3,856
6.997
157
3.771
4.568
12,584
8,496
Page 19
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Notes to the Flnanclal Ststements (conllnu¢d)
Year ended 31 Oecember 2023
19. Credltors: amounts falllng duo wlthln one year
2023
2022
Trade creditors
Accruals and deferred Income
Social security arKf other laxe5
Other creditors
11,473
4.809
2,025
5,113
23,420
12.108
3,441
585
7,611
23,745
20. Pen•lon• and oth•r po8t retlrem•nt benefSt•
Deflned contrlbutlon plans
The amount recognised in income or expeThlilure as an expense In relation lo defined
Contribution plans was £1,647 (2022 £1.5331.
21. Analy818 of charltabl• fun
Unre$trl¢lod fund$
Al
Gains and 31 D•¢ 202
losses
Al
1 Jan 2023
Income Expendllure
Transfers
General funds
Fixed asset
reserve
Investment
reserve
35,199
231.907 (226,9251
12.343
<2,555)
49,969
320,6
(9,788)
310,848
112,769
(2,555)
110.214
468,604
231,907
1226,9251
(2,555)
471,031
At
Gain8 and 31 Dec 202
losses
At
1 Jan 2022
IrKome Expenditure
Transfers
General funds
Fixed assel
reseNe
Inveslmenl
reserve
27,593
138,518 (214.795}
85,766
11,8831
35.199
334,153
(13.517)
320.636
185.018
(72.249)
112,769
546.764
138,518 {214,7951
(1.8831
488,604
Page 20
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Notes to the Financlal Statements (eonttmmdj
Year ended 31 December 2023
22. Anatysl$ of n¢1 assets b•lw•¢n lunds
Unrestricled Total Fund8
Funds
2023
Tangible fad ass8ts
Inv8Stm8nt8
Current assets
Creditors less than 1 year
N•t a•8•ts
310,848
110,214
73.389
(23,420>
471.031
310,848
110.214
73.389
(23,420)
471.031
Unrestncled Total Funds
Funds
2022
T8ngible fixed assets
Inv@stments
Current assets
Creditors less than 1 year
N•t 4889ts
320.636
112.789
58.944
(23,7451
468.604
320,636
112.789
58.944
(23,745)
468.e04
Page 21
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Management Informatlon
Year ended 31 December 2023
Th• followlng pageg do not form part of Ihe flnan¢lal •taiement•.
Page 22
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Detailed Statement of Financlal Actlvltles
Year endod 31 December 2023
2023
2022
In¢ome and endowments
Donatlons and legacles
Membership subscriptions
Donalion$
Bequests and lega¢ie$
RSPCA Grant
Pels at Home Foundation Grant
161
27.096
39,828
13,500
183
8,034
215
9,156
8,885
26,273
80.585
Charltabl• a¢tlvltl•g
Cattery
Sale Haven
51,936
4.544
29.416
4,892
56.480
34.308
Other tradlng actfvltlo•
Shop takings
Fundraisiro evenls
RSPCA Door to Door
Olher
55,274
8,202
23,094
1.310
38,181
6,257
23,218
1.224
87.880
68.860
Inva8tm•nt Ineomo
Income Irom other investments
8,982
9,077
Total Incom•
231.907
138.518
Page 23
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Detailed Statement of Financlal Actlvltles rcondnu•dJ
Year ended 31 December 2023
2023
2022
Expendlture
Expendlturo on ¢harltable acllvltl08
Purchases
Wag8s and salaries
Employer's NIC
Pension costs
Rent
Rates and walef
Light and heal
Repairs and m8inten8nce
Insuranc8
Motor vèhicle expenses
Legal and prof8sskJnal faes
T818phone
Other oflica costs
D8pr8ciation
39,577
124,841
3,485
1,647
6,750
8.571
9,591
1.163
817
1,911
5,416
1,757
11,611
9,788
228,925
31,194
120,222
2.941
1,533
6,750
5.299
6,854
8,846
1,141
2.914
4.555
1,436
7,593
13,517
214,795
Tolal axpendlturo
226,925
214,795
Net1088esllgalnsl on Inve8tmont8
(Gains)I losses on other investment assets
2.655
1,883
Not Ineomell•xpendlture)
2,427
(78,160}
Page 24
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Notes to the Detalled Ststement of Flnanclal Actlvltles
Year ended 31 December 2023
2023
2022
Expendlture on charltable actlvhle8
Shop
Actlvltles undertaken dlrectly
Shop - rent
Strp- repairs & maintenance
8.750
21
6,750
114
8.771
6.864
Support eo$ts
Shop - rates & water
Shop - li9hl & heat
Shop - telephone
Shop - olher office costs
2.357
1,092
478
85
{1.063)
141
4.010
671
C•tt?ry
Actlvltles und•rtak•n dlre¢tly
Cattery - purthases
Cattery - rates & water
Cattery - repairs & maintenance
Cattery - Depreciation
39.009
1,806
1,142
9.788
29,366
1,613
8.687
13.517
51,745
53.183
Support costs
Cattery - wages & salaries
Cattery - employers NIC
Cattery - pension costs
Cattery - rates & water
Cattery - light & heal
Cattery - insurance
C8ttery - telephone
Cattery - other office costs
124,841
3,485
1,647
4,408
8,499
817
1,281
8,808
120,222
2,941
1,533
4,749
5.948
1,141
749
5,474
153.584
142.757
Othef
Actlvltles undertaken dlreetly
Other- purchases
Other- repairs & maintenance
1,828
45
Carried f(yward
1.873
Page 25
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent,
Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
Notes to the Detailed Statement of Flnanclal Actlvltles f¢ondnu•dJ
Year ended 31 December 2023
2023
2022
Brought forward
588
1,873
1,873
Support costs
Other - motor &xpanses
Other- legal and prclessional fees
Other - other Offi costs
1,911
1,587
2,920
8.398
2,914
730
1.978
5,622
Governance costs
Governance costs - accountancy fees
Governance costs - finanaal advice
1,850
1.999
1.826
2,000
3,849
3.825
Expendllur• on ¢harfiable acUvltle$
226,925
214,795
**CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 208111**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch Unaudited Financial Statements**
## **31 December 2023**
## **BURGESS HODGSON LLP**
Chartered accountants Camburgh House 27 New Dover Road Canterbury Kent CT1 3DN
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Financial Statements**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' annual report|**1**|
|Independent examiner's report to the trustees|**9**|
|Statement of financial activities|**10**|
|Statement of financial position|**11**|
|Notes to the financial statements|**12**|
|**The following pages do not form part of the financial statements**||
|Detailed statement of financial activities|**22**|
|Notes to the detailed statement of financial activities|**24**|
**Page 1**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Trustees' Annual Report**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023.
## **Reference and administrative details**
**Registered charity name**
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
**Charity registration number**
**Principal office**
208111 34 Station Road Ashford Kent TN23 1PH
## **The trustees**
S C Stoker (Chair) L A Kendall (Treasurer) S Moir (Secretary) G E Hoad I Brant C Blackledge (Resigned 2[nd] January 2023) I C Smith (Resigned 22[nd] April 2023) M Li (Resigned 28[th] June 2023) A Sheriff (Resigned 28[th] June 2023) T Rodgers (Appointed 13[th] September 2023) K Farnell (Appointed 13[th] September 2023) L Kemp (Appointed 28[th] February 2024)
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
The Trustees present their report and financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (FRS 102) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in notes to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2019).
Consideration has also been given to the additional guidance issued by the Charities SORP Committee in March 2020, entitled ‘Implications of COVID-19 control measures and charity financial reporting’.
**Page 2**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Trustees' Annual Report**
**Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Purpose**
The RSPCA Kent, Ashford, Tenterden & District Branch is a registered charity. The object of the charity is to "promote kindness and to prevent and suppress cruelty to animals, and do all such lawful acts as the branch may consider to be conducive or incidental to the attainment of these objects".
## **Main Activities**
The main activities of the charity during 2023 were:
- Running the Ashford Cattery with the associated income, including through our sponsorship scheme
- Running the charity shop in Ashford
- Fundraising, donations and membership
- Managing our investments
- Supporting the local RSPCA Inspectors, Animal Welfare Officers and Animal Collection Officers
- Supporting and working with the other branches within the RSPCA network
- Supporting the communities within our branch areas with initiatives such as the pet food bank
## **Public Benefit Statement**
The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities.
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Significant Activities**
Despite three really difficult years, once again we entered a new financial year on 1[st] January 2023 optimistic about the future. We have amazing staff, volunteers and supporters who work hard together to make us a success and this always gives us cause to be hopeful. We were looking to widen our reach not only in terms of our geographical area within the branch boundaries, which goes beyond Ashford and Tenterden, covering parts of Romney Marsh etc., but also changing the layout of the cattery to enable us to meet licencing conditions for other small animals. As ever, we planned to continue with the work we do to provide essential support to the wider RSPCA.
During the year we received a very generous legacy and support from the national society in terms of not only the door-to-door grant but also grants from the regional board to support the work we do in relation to neutering and welfare support. The shop had an amazing year, which continues in 2024.
We were also lucky enough to receive a large donation from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, as following generous public donations in Paul O’Grady’s name, and to mark 11 years since Paul was made their Ambassador, Battersea chose to honour five animal charities close to Paul’s heart, which included us. We would like to thank Battersea for this extremely kind donation and Paul for the support he so generously gave us over the years.
We received income of £51,936 in 2023 from the cattery (£29,416 in 2022).
The combination of these income streams has meant that income increased by almost 70%. Although costs, as expected, also increased this was only by 6%. We are so pleased and proud to note that this means the charity has made a surplus in 2023.
**Page 3**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Trustees' Annual Report**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
Our achievements for 2023 are something to be extremely proud of and are as follows (2022 figures are given in brackets):
- We took in 244 cats (258) and rehomed 244 (239);
- We neutered 131 animals (168) including 24 (36) owned by members of the public;
- We microchipped 98 animals (143) including 3 (35) owned by members of the public; and
- We provided help with veterinary care through our Welfare Assistance Scheme for 24 animals (18).
We would like to thank all those people who contribute to the success of the charity and support us through time, fundraising activities, financial discounts or advertising. They include local businesses, veterinary surgeries, vets, branch members, staff and volunteers and local press. We would also like to thank the RSPCA Regional Board for the grants given during the year and other organisations who continue to support our work. Lastly we would like to thank the public for their ongoing support of the charity. Our success would not be possible without them, whatever the economic conditions. We continue to be truly humbled by the contributions made, whether financial, time or in terms of encouragement through social media.
## **The Branch Charity Shop (est.2003)**
The shop had an extremely good year with sales outstripping pre-pandemic levels. Income increased by 45%. This has been vital to the charity’s income stream adding essential cash to our revenue. Whilst not directly working with animals the cash from the shop is a large part of the charity being able to run our rehoming centre plus all the other animal welfare work we undertake.
The Trustees would like to thank all the volunteers in the shop for their time and dedication. We know working in a retail environment is not easy at times. We would also like to thank our staff for their support in ensuring the shop continues to be successful. Last but not least we thank all our customers for supporting us in the last year.
The shop raised £55,274 during 2023, compared to £38,161 for 2022.
## **Fundraising, Donations and Membership**
During 2023 we continued to utilise social media to make appeals and for fundraising. Our face-to-face events also took place. Total money raised from fundraising events during the year were £8,202 (£6,257 in 2022). In addition, total donations amounted to £27,096, including the £20,000 donation from Battersea (£8,034 in 2022). We would like to thank everyone who has responded so generously to our appeals and to our staff who work extremely hard on the design of the campaigns and monitor the response. We would like to thank the members of the Fundraising Committee for the time they give up and enthusiasm they have for raising money for the charity. As always it is much appreciated. It is heartening to see fundraising increase after the last few difficult years.
During the year we were grateful to be awarded grants from the Regional Board of the RSPCA. The Regional Board continues to support the charity in 2024. We would like to thank the National Society, the Regional Board and all the relevant staff and trustees across the RSPCA family for their support.
We continue to run our sponsorship scheme, currently known as Blake’s Fund, named after a kitten that we hand reared at the cattery during lock-down. During 2023 this raised £4,544 (£4,892 in 2022).
We also continue to receive the RSPCA Door to Door income, which during 2023 amounted to £23,094 (£23,218 in 2022).
**Page 4**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Trustees' Annual Report**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **Managing our Investments**
During 2023 we continued to use an investment manager to oversee our investment portfolio and provide professional advice as and when required. The year-end investment portfolio sat at £110,214 (£112,769 in 2022). Income from investments was £6,962, compared to £9,077 in 2022. The expected income yield for 2023 was 5.58%. The actual yield was higher at 6.32%.
## **Supporting the local RSPCA Inspectors, Animal Welfare Officers and Animal Collection Officers**
As with previous years we continued to support the work of the local RSPCA Inspectors, Animal Welfare Officers and Animal Collection Officers, working on complaints of cruelty to animals and helping with the collections and rescues of animals in distress. During 2023 we supported the collection of injured and stray cats and provided financial aid to a number of domestic animals that needed veterinary treatment.
## **Impact of COVID-19**
Whilst the impact of COVID-19 on the main activities of the charity was less during 2023 than the previous years, the charity did still have to work within a difficult economic situation. We believe that the cost of living crisis and vet shortage had and continues to have a greater impact on the organisation now than COVID-19 related restrictions, which are no longer enforced from a legal point of view. We are hopeful therefore that this will be the last report that includes this section.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
Income for the year amounted to £231,907 (£138,518 in 2022), which is an increase of almost 70% and an absolute increase of £93,389. This reflects an extremely positive move forward. For the first time in 7 years the charity made a surplus for the year.
The main sources of income changed from 2022, with legacies and donations seeing a large increase. The main sources of income were cattery income of £51,936 (£29,416 in 2022), total fundraising of £31,296 (£29,475 in 2022), shop takings of £55,274 (£38,161 in 2022), donations of £27,096 (£8,034 in 2022) and bequests and legacies of £39,828 (£215 in 2022).
Total expenditure for the year amounted to £226,925, compared to £214,795 in 2022.
This resulted in a surplus for the year of £4,982 (deficit £76,277 in 2022). After taking account of movements on the charity’s investments this resulted in an overall increase in funds of £2,427 (deficit £78,160 in 2022).
The board of trustees continued, as in previous years, to review the finances of the charity on a regular basis. Board meetings are held 11 times a year as a matter of course however during 2023 a number of additional meetings were held to discuss strategic and operational issues. During these meetings numerous issues were discussed, which included although were not limited to, the review of expenditure and income streams, and the potential of collaborating with organisations such as RSPCA branches on particular work streams, for example the expansion of fostering schemes to cover other animals in addition to cats.
**Page 5**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Trustees' Annual Report**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **Reserves Policy**
The Trustees would ideally like to keep between 6 and 9 months average general expenditure equivalent to between £106,000 and £159,000 (£98,000 and £146,000 in 2022), as unrestricted reserves. This is based on an average of the last three years expenditure. The unrestricted reserves of the charity at 31 December 2023 amount £49,969 (£35,199 in 2022). In addition to this, the charity holds investments of £110,214. The total of these exceed the 9 months of average general expenditure threshold.
It is believed that should operations drastically reduce at the cattery, that this level of reserves and investments would allow sufficient time to wind up the operation in a professional and reasonable manner, enabling the meeting of its legal and moral obligations to its suppliers and staff. The policy is reviewed and updated on an annual basis and has been reviewed in light of COVID-19.
Funds relating to fixed assets and investments at 31 December 2023 amounted to £421,062 (£433,405 in 2022). Total charity funds, which are all unrestricted amounted to £471,031 (£468,604 in 2022).
## **Investment Policy**
The investments held by the charity were inherited from previous Trustees and committees. No change is foreseen by the current Board of Trustees in terms of the investments held. In accordance with Charity Commission guidance the Trustees continue to use an Investment Manager and accordingly rely on the advice provided.
## **Risk Policy**
The Trustees understand and accept that the management and control of risk rests with us. As such we work on a day-to-day basis with both the staff and volunteers of the charity, together with professional advisers where necessary, to ensure risks are managed to within an acceptable level. We are also supported by the National Society and our Branch Partnership Manager in this vital area.
During 2023 and to date the Board of Trustees continued to go through a period of change, with a number of Trustees resigning. We continued to review organisational governance, in light of the potential changes in the current relationship with the National Society and the impact on the charity of issues such as the vet shortage and reduced service / increased veterinary costs. To facilitate this work we have come together for additional meetings, including ones to discuss the overarching strategy and have worked with colleagues across the RSPCA family on potential projects such as introducing a small animal rehoming centre.
We believe that the risks facing the charity have remained consistent with previous years in the main. The main risks facing the charity are:
- Loss of trustees / skills and experience of trustees
- Loss of income / increased demand on the charity as a result of the difficult economic climate
- Increased cost / negative impact on animal welfare as a result of the current vet shortage
- Failure to understand the impact of planned changes in relationship with RSPCA
- Failure to recover from the impact of COVID-19, including the loss of support, financial and otherwise, from the National Society
- - Contingency and disaster recovery
- Financial and budgetary control
- Loss of income through fraud or error
- - Compliance with legislation and regulations
**Page 6**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Trustees' Annual Report**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
These risks are mitigated through training, internal policies and procedures, use of social media and all appropriate avenues to reach potential trustees, volunteers, donors and supporters, bringing in extra skilled resources when necessary and working closely with colleagues across the RSPCA family.
## **Pay Policy for Key Management Personnel**
The Trustees consider that it is the Trustees that make-up the key management personnel of the charity. The Trustees are in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating the charity on a day to day basis and all executive functions sit with us. All Trustees give of their time freely and no trustee received remuneration in the year.
There is a Remuneration Policy in place for the charity, which covers all members of staff.
## **Pension Liability**
The pension contributions made are for an auto enrolment scheme and are therefore defined contribution and not a defined benefit scheme. As such these are all individual employee pots rather than an entity pension scheme and therefore there is no impact on the charity in this respect.
## **Plans for the future**
The Trustees plans for the next 12 months are:
- Recruit more trustees and volunteers to support the charity
- Reach a greater proportion of the branch area
- Increase impact in terms of opening a small animal rehoming centre
- Expand the food bank and welfare support service
- Continue to develop strategies to increase legacies
- Develop strategies to increase fundraising and marketing opportunities
- Set a strategy in relation to the charity shop, including exploring options for online sales
- Review fundraising options, including Increasing the use of social media
- Continue to work on the governance and administration structures, including improving information systems and increasing use of social media for fundraising
## **COVID-19 and going concern**
As already noted in the Trustees’ Report there has been an impact on income as a result of the COVID-19. There has been an additional pressure placed on the charity through the increases in costs as a result of inflation and a vet shortage. We believe we have worked to mitigate these influences as far as possible and the year-end results show the charity has moved into a surplus position.
A large amount of work has been untaken by members of staff to increase donations through social media campaigns, which continue to be well supported. Grants from various organisations have been applied for, some of which have been successful. The shop continues to bring in a good income, which is now outstripping pre-pandemic levels. In addition an unexpected legacy and large donation were received.
The investments we hold are for the medium to long-term and therefore expect to see a recovery from the current impact on value and income. The return on these investments is still strong at approximately 6% and we hope to see additional capital growth in the coming months.
The charity, as a branch of the RSPCA, does receive support, financial and otherwise, from other branches, the Regional Board and the National Society.
**Page 7**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Trustees' Annual Report**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
We are satisfied, based on past results, that we are robust as a stand-alone organisation and will continue to work during 2024 to mitigate any legacy impacts. As a result, as at the date of this report, the Board of Trustees are confident that the charity will continue to be able to operate during the next 12 months and is therefore currently a going concern. As such we believe that the accounts give a true and fair view and that there are no changes required for post balance sheet events.
## **STRUCTURE**
The charity, which is registered with the Charity Commission under number 208111, is established under the RSPCA Branch Rules effective 18 February 2009.
## **GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
The Trustees of The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Ashford, Tenterden & District Branch) are responsible for the general control and management of the administration of the charity.
During the year and up to the date of the approval of the Report of the Trustees, the following were Trustees of the Charity:
S C Stoker (Chair) L A Kendall (Treasurer) S Moir (Secretary) G E Hoad I Brant C Blackledge (Resigned 2[nd] January 2023) I C Smith (Resigned 22[nd] April 2023) M Li (Resigned 28[th] June 2023) A Sheriff (Resigned 28[th] June 2023) T Rodgers (Appointed 13[th] September 2023) K Farnell (Appointed 13[th] September 2023) L Kemp (Appointed 28[th] February 2024)
The Board of Trustees must consist of between five and fourteen members, which was the case during 2023. It was acknowledged that a wider range of experience would be an advantage in light of the plans for the charity, especially around fundraising and information technology. We therefore used our trustee skills audit to continue to look for new trustees. Recruitment of new trustees is in line with the Trustee Recruitment Policy. All trustees are subject to election at the Annual General Meeting.
**Page 8**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Trustees' Annual Report**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES**
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2015 (FRS 102);
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud or other irregularities.
The trustees' annual report was approved on .............................. and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:
s=— S C Stoker Trustee
L A Kendall Trustee
**Page 9**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2023.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
3. the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and 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.
## Burgess Hodson bP
Burgess Hodgson LLP Independent Examiner
Camburgh House 27 New Dover Road Canterbury Kent CT1 3DN
**Page 10**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
|||**2023**||2022|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Unrestricted|||
|||funds**Total funds**||Total funds|
||**Note**|**£**|**£**|£|
|**Income and endowments**|||||
|Donations and legacies|**4**|80,585|80,585|26,273|
|Charitable activities|**5**|56,480|56,480|34,308|
|Other trading activities|**6**|87,880|87,880|68,860|
|Investment income|**7**|6,962|6,962|9,077|
|||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Total income**||231,907|231,907|138,518|
|||================================|================================|================================|
|**Expenditure**|||||
|Expenditure on charitable activities|**8,9**|226,925|226,925|214,795|
|||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Total expenditure**||226,925|226,925|214,795|
|||================================|================================|================================|
|Net losses/(gains) on Investments|**11**|2,555|2,555|1,883|
|||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Net income/(expenditure) and net movement in funds**||2,427|2,427|(78,160)|
|||================================|================================|================================|
|**Reconciliation of funds**|||||
|Total funds brought forward||468,604|468,604|546,764|
|||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Total funds carried forward**||471,031|471,031|468,604|
|||================================|================================|================================|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
**The notes on pages 12 to 20 form part of these financial statements.**
**Page 11**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Statement of Financial Position**
## **31 December 2023**
|||**2023**||2022|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Note**|**£**|**£**|£|
|**Fixed assets**|||||
|Tangible fixed assets|**16**||310,848|320,636|
|Investments|**17**||110,214|112,769|
||||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
||||421,062|433,405|
|**Current assets**|||||
|Debtors|**18**|12,584||8,496|
|Cash at bank and in hand||60,805||50,448|
|||----------------------------||----------------------------|
|||73,389||58,944|
|**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**|**19**|23,420||23,745|
|||----------------------------||----------------------------|
|**Net current assets**|||49,969|35,199|
||||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Total assets less current liabilities**|||471,031|468,604|
||||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Net assets**|||471,031|468,604|
||||================================|================================|
|**Funds of the charity**|||||
|Unrestricted funds|||471,031|468,604|
||||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Total charity funds**|**21**||471,031|468,604|
||||================================|================================|
These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on ........................, and are signed on behalf of the board by: 12.to..2@af
S C Stoker Trustee
L A Kendall Trustee
**The notes on pages 12 to 20 form part of these financial statements.**
**Page 12**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **1. General information**
The charity is a public benefit entity and a registered charity in England and Wales and is unincorporated. The address of the principal office is 34 Station Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 1PH.
## **2. Statement of compliance**
These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Charities Act 2011.
## **3. Accounting policies**
## **Basis of preparation**
The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.
## **Going concern**
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the Trustees believes that no material uncertainties exist. The Trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves including investments for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.
As already noted in the Trustees’ Report there has been an impact on income as a result of COVID-19, and there has been additional pressure placed on the charity through the increases in costs as a result of inflation and a vet shortage. The Trustees believe we have worked to mitigate these influences as far as possible and the year-end results show the charity has moved into a surplus position.
A large amount of work has been untaken by members of staff to increase donations through social media campaigns, which continue to be well supported. Grants from various organisations have been applied for, some of which have been successful. The shop continues to bring in a good income, which is now outstripping pre-pandemic levels. In addition an unexpected legacy and large donation were received.
The investments we hold are for the medium to long-term and therefore expect to see a recovery from the current impact on value and income. The return on these investments is still strong at approximately 6% and we hope to see additional capital growth in the coming months.
The charity, as a branch of the RSPCA, does receive support, financial and otherwise, from other branches, the Regional Board and the National Society.
We are satisfied, based on past results, that we are robust as a stand-alone organisation and will continue to work during 2024 to mitigate any legacy impacts. As a result, as at the date of this report, the Board of Trustees are confident that the charity will continue to be able to operate during the next 12 months and is therefore currently a going concern. As such we believe that the accounts give a true and fair view and that there are no changes required for post balance sheet events.
**Page 13**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **3. Accounting policies** _**(continued)**_
## **Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty**
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.
## **Incoming resources**
All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.
For donations to be recognised the charity will have been notified of the amounts and the settlement date in writing. If there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained then income is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfillment of those conditions is within the control of the charity and it is probable that they will be fulfilled.
For legacies, entitlement is the earlier of the charity being notified of an impending distribution or the legacy being received. At this point income is recognised. On occasion legacies will be notified to the charity however it is not possible to measure the amount expected to be distributed. On these occasions, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset and disclosed.
Income from trading activities includes income earned from fund raising events to raise funds for the charity. Income is received in exchange for supplying goods and services in order to raise funds and is recognised when entitlement has occurred.
Investment income is earned through holding assets for investment purposes such as shares and property. It includes dividends, interest and rent. Interest income is recognised using the effective interest method and dividend income is recognised as the charity’s right to receive payment is established.
Income from clinic charges, collections and other fundraising is recognised on an accruals basis.
**Page 14**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **3. Accounting policies** _**(continued)**_
## **Resources expended**
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. It is categorised under the following headings:
- Costs of raising funds includes the costs involved in putting on fundraising events and costs involved in running the charity shop;
- Expenditure on charitable activities includes comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. The purchase of cards and brochures is included in the Statement of Financial Activities in the year of purchase. Costs of printing publications and cards are expensed in the year they are incurred;
- Other expenditure represents those items not falling into the categories above.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as an expense against the activity for which expenditure arose.
## **Tangible assets**
Tangible assets are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Any tangible assets carried at revalued amounts are recorded at the fair value at the date of revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
## **Depreciation**
Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:
|Freehold property|-|2% straight line|
|---|---|---|
|Fixtures and fittings|-|33% straight line|
|Motor vehicles|-|25% straight line|
|Equipment|-|5% straight line|
## **Investments**
Unlisted equity investments are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently measured at fair value. If fair value cannot be reliably measured, assets are measured at cost less impairment.
Listed investments are measured at fair value with changes in fair value being recognised in income or expenditure.
## **Impairment of fixed assets**
A review for indicators of impairment is carried out at each reporting date, with the recoverable amount being estimated where such indicators exist. Where the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount, the asset is impaired accordingly. Prior impairments are also reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date.
**Page 15**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **3. Accounting policies** _**(continued)**_
## **Financial instruments**
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into.
Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in the profit and loss account in other administrative expenses.
Loans and borrowings are initially recognised at the transaction price including transaction costs. Subsequently, they are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method, less impairment. If an arrangement constitutes a finance transaction it is measured at present value.
## **Defined contribution plans**
Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as an expense in the period in which the related service is provided. Prepaid contributions are recognised as an asset to the extent that the prepayment will lead to a reduction in future payments or a cash refund.
When contributions are not expected to be settled wholly within 12 months of the end of the reporting date in which the employees render the related service, the liability is measured on a discounted present value basis. The unwinding of the discount is recognised as an expense in the period in which it arises.
## **4. Donations and legacies**
||Unrestricted|**Total Funds**|Unrestricted|Total Funds|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Funds|**2023**|Funds|2022|
||£|**£**|£|£|
|**Donations**|||||
|Membership subscriptions|161|161|183|183|
|Donations|27,096|27,096|8,034|8,034|
|Bequests and legacies|39,828|39,828|215|215|
|**Grants**|||||
|RSPCA Grant|13,500|13,500|9,156|9,156|
|Pets at Home Foundation Grant|–|–|8,685|8,685|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
||80,585|80,585|26,273|26,273|
||============================|============================|============================|============================|
## **5. Charitable activities**
||Unrestricted|**Total Funds**|Unrestricted|Total Funds|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Funds|**2023**|Funds|2022|
||£|**£**|£|£|
|Cattery|51,936|51,936|29,416|29,416|
|Safe Haven|4,544|4,544|4,892|4,892|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
||56,480|56,480|34,308|34,308|
||============================|============================|============================|============================|
**Page 16**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **6. Other trading activities**
||Unrestricted|**Total Funds**|Unrestricted|Total Funds|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Funds|**2023**|Funds|2022|
||£|**£**|£|£|
|Shop takings|55,274|55,274|38,161|38,161|
|Fundraising events|8,202|8,202|6,257|6,257|
|RSPCA Door to Door|23,094|23,094|23,218|23,218|
|Other|1,310|1,310|1,224|1,224|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
||87,880|87,880|68,860|68,860|
||============================|============================|============================|============================|
|**Investment income**|||||
||Unrestricted|**Total Funds**|Unrestricted|Total Funds|
||Funds|**2023**|Funds|2022|
||£|**£**|£|£|
|Income from other investments|6,962|6,962|9,077|9,077|
||=======================|=======================|=======================|=======================|
## **7. Investment income**
## **8. Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type**
||Unrestricted|**Total Funds**|Unrestricted|Total Funds|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Funds|**2023**|Funds|2022|
||£|**£**|£|£|
|Shop|6,771|6,771|6,864|6,864|
|Cattery|51,745|51,745|53,183|53,183|
|Other|568|568|1,873|1,873|
|Support costs|167,841|167,841|152,875|152,875|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
||226,925|226,925|214,795|214,795|
||================================|================================|================================|================================|
## **9. Expenditure on charitable activities by activity type**
||Activities||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||undertaken|Support|**Total funds**|Total fund|
||directly|costs|**2023**|2022|
||£|£|**£**|£|
|Shop|6,771|4,010|10,781|7,535|
|Cattery|51,745|153,584|205,329|195,940|
|Other|568|6,398|6,966|7,495|
|Governance costs|–|3,849|3,849|3,825|
||----------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
||59,084|167,841|226,925|214,795|
||============================|================================|================================|================================|
**Page 17**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **10. Analysis of support costs**
||Shop|Cattery|Other|**Total 2023**|Total 2022|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||£|£|£|**£**|£|
|Staff costs|–|129,973|–|129,973|124,696|
|Rates, water and||||||
|sewerage|2,357|4,408|–|6,765|3,686|
|Light and heat|1,092|8,499|–|9,591|6,854|
|Motor expenses|–|–|1,911|1,911|2,914|
|Telephone|476|1,281|–|1,757|1,436|
|Insurance|–|817|–|817|1,141|
|Legal and professional||||||
|fees|–|–|1,567|1,567|730|
|Other office costs|85|8,606|2,920|11,611|7,593|
|Governance costs|–|–|3,849|3,849|3,825|
||-----------------------|--------------------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
||4,010|153,584|10,247|167,841|152,875|
||=======================|================================|============================|================================|================================|
## **11. Net losses/(gains) on investments**
|||Unrestricted|**Total Funds**|Unrestricted|Total Funds|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Funds|**2023**|Funds|2022|
|||£|**£**|£|£|
||(Gains)/ losses on other investment|||||
||assets|2,555|2,555|1,883|1,883|
|||=======================|=======================|=======================|=======================|
|**12.**|**Net expenditure**|||||
||Net expenditure is stated after charging/(crediting):|||||
|||||**2023**|2022|
|||||**£**|£|
||Depreciation of tangible fixed assets|||9,788|13,517|
|||||=======================|============================|
|**13.**|**Independent examination fees**|||||
|||||**2023**|2022|
|||||**£**|£|
||Fees payable to the independent examiner for:|||||
||Independent examination of the financial|statements||1,850|1,825|
|||||=======================|=======================|
## **14. Staff costs**
|The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as|The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as|follows:|
|---|---|---|
||**2023**|2022|
||**£**|£|
|Wages and salaries|124,841|120,222|
|Social security costs|3,485|2,941|
|Employer contributions to pension plans|1,647|1,533|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
||129,973|124,696|
||================================|================================|
The average head count of employees during the year was 7 (2022: 7).
No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2022: Nil).
**Page 18**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **15. Trustee remuneration and expenses**
No member of staff earned more than £60,000 during the year (2022: Nil).
## **16. Tangible fixed assets**
||Freehold|
Fixtures and|Motor|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||property|
fittings|vehicles|Equipment|**Total**|
||£|£|£|£|**£**|
|**Cost**||||||
|**At 1 January 2023 and**||||||
|**31 December 2023**|375,000|
26,751|5,995|84,805|492,551|
||================================|============================|=======================|============================|================================|
|**Depreciation**||||||
|At 1 January 2023|60,000|
26,489|1,671|83,755|171,915|
|Charge for the year|7,500|
262|1,499|527|9,788|
||--------------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**At 31 December 2023**|67,500|
26,751|3,170|84,282|181,703|
||================================|============================|=======================|============================|================================|
|**Carrying amount**||||||
|**At 31 December 2023**|307,500|
–|2,825|523|310,848|
||================================|============================|=======================|============================|================================|
|At 31 December 2022|315,000|
262|4,324|1,050|320,636|
||================================|============================|=======================|============================|================================|
## **17. Investments**
||**Other**|
|---|---|
||**investments**|
||**£**|
|**Cost or valuation**||
|At 1 January 2023|112,769|
|Additions|–|
|Fair value movements|(2,555)|
||--------------------------------|
|**At 31 December 2023**|110,214|
||================================|
|**Impairment**||
|**At 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023**|–|
||================================|
|**Carrying amount**||
|**At 31 December 2023**|110,214|
||================================|
|At 31 December 2022|112,769|
||================================|
All investments shown above are held at valuation.
## **18. Debtors**
||**2023**|2022|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|Trade debtors|1,731|157|
|Prepayments and accrued income|3,856|3,771|
|Other debtors|6,997|4,568|
||----------------------------|-----------------------|
||12,584|8,496|
||============================|=======================|
**Page 19**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **19. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
||**2023**|2022|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|Trade creditors|11,473|12,108|
|Accruals and deferred income|4,809|3,441|
|Social security and other taxes|2,025|585|
|Other creditors|5,113|7,611|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|
||23,420|23,745|
||============================|============================|
## **20. Pensions and other post retirement benefits**
## **Defined contribution plans**
The amount recognised in income or expenditure as an expense in relation to defined contribution plans was £1,647 (2022: £1,533).
## **21. Analysis of charitable funds**
## **Unrestricted funds**
|||||||**At**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||At||||Gains and|**31 Dec 202**|
||1 Jan 2023|Income|Expenditure|Transfers|losses|**3**|
||£|£|£|£|£|£|
|General funds|35,199|231,907|
(226,925)|12,343|(2,555)|
49,969|
|Fixed asset|||||||
|reserve|320,636|–|
–|(9,788)|–|310,848|
|Investment|||||||
|reserve|112,769|–|
–|(2,555)|–|110,214|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------------|
||468,604|231,907|
(226,925)|–|(2,555)|
471,031|
||================================|================================|================================|============================|=======================|================================|
|||||||At|
||At||||Gains and|31 Dec 202|
||1 Jan 2022|Income|Expenditure|Transfers|losses|2|
||£|£|£|£|£|£|
|General funds|27,593|138,518|
(214,795)|85,766|(1,883)|
35,199|
|Fixed asset|||||||
|reserve|334,153|–|
–|(13,517)|–|320,636|
|Investment|||||||
|reserve|185,018|–|
–|(72,249)|–|112,769|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------------|
||546,764|138,518|
(214,795)|–|(1,883)|
468,604|
||================================|================================|================================|============================|=======================|================================|
**Page 20**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **22. Analysis of net assets between funds**
||Unrestricted|**Total Funds**|
|---|---|---|
||Funds|**2023**|
||£|**£**|
|Tangible fixed assets|310,848|310,848|
|Investments|110,214|110,214|
|Current assets|73,389|73,389|
|Creditors less than 1 year|(23,420)|
(23,420)|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Net assets**|471,031|471,031|
||================================|================================|
||Unrestricted|Total Funds|
||Funds|2022|
||£|£|
|Tangible fixed assets|320,636|320,636|
|Investments|112,769|112,769|
|Current assets|58,944|58,944|
|Creditors less than 1 year|(23,745)|
(23,745)|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Net assets**|468,604|468,604|
||================================|================================|
**Page 21**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Management Information**
**Year ended 31 December 2023**
**The following pages do not form part of the financial statements.**
**Page 22**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
||**2023**|2022|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|**Income and endowments**|||
|**Donations and legacies**|||
|Membership subscriptions|161|183|
|Donations|27,096|8,034|
|Bequests and legacies|39,828|215|
|RSPCA Grant|13,500|9,156|
|Pets at Home Foundation Grant|–|8,685|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|
||80,585|26,273|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|
|**Charitable activities**|||
|Cattery|51,936|29,416|
|Safe Haven|4,544|4,892|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|
||56,480|34,308|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|
|**Other trading activities**|||
|Shop takings|55,274|38,161|
|Fundraising events|8,202|6,257|
|RSPCA Door to Door|23,094|23,218|
|Other|1,310|1,224|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|
||87,880|68,860|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|
|**Investment income**|||
|Income from other investments|6,962|9,077|
||-----------------------|-----------------------|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Total income**|231,907|138,518|
||================================|================================|
**Page 23**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Detailed Statement of Financial Activities** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
||**2023**|2022|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|**Expenditure**|||
|**Expenditure on charitable activities**|||
|Purchases|39,577|31,194|
|Wages and salaries|124,841|120,222|
|Employer's NIC|3,485|2,941|
|Pension costs|1,647|1,533|
|Rent|6,750|6,750|
|Rates and water|8,571|5,299|
|Light and heat|9,591|6,854|
|Repairs and maintenance|1,163|8,846|
|Insurance|817|1,141|
|Motor vehicle expenses|1,911|2,914|
|Legal and professional fees|5,416|4,555|
|Telephone|1,757|1,436|
|Other office costs|11,611|7,593|
|Depreciation|9,788|13,517|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
||226,925|214,795|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Total expenditure**|226,925|214,795|
||================================|================================|
|**Net losses/(gains) on Investments**|||
|(Gains)/ losses on other investment assets|2,555|1,883|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
||-----------------------|----------------------------|
|**Net income/(expenditure)**|2,427|(78,160)|
||=======================|============================|
**Page 24**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
||**2023**|2022|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|**Expenditure on charitable activities**|||
|**Shop**|||
|**_Activities undertaken directly_**|||
|Shop - rent|6,750|6,750|
|Shop - repairs & maintenance|21|114|
||-----------------------|-----------------------|
||6,771|6,864|
||-----------------------|-----------------------|
|**_Support costs_**|||
|Shop - rates & water|2,357|(1,063)|
|Shop - light & heat|1,092|906|
|Shop - telephone|476|687|
|Shop - other office costs|85|141|
||-----------------------|-----------------------|
||4,010|671|
||-----------------------|-----------------------|
|**Cattery**|||
|**_Activities undertaken directly_**|||
|Cattery - purchases|39,009|29,366|
|Cattery - rates & water|1,806|1,613|
|Cattery - repairs & maintenance|1,142|8,687|
|Cattery - Depreciation|9,788|13,517|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|
||51,745|53,183|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|
|**_Support costs_**|||
|Cattery - wages & salaries|124,841|120,222|
|Cattery - employer's NIC|3,485|2,941|
|Cattery - pension costs|1,647|1,533|
|Cattery - rates & water|4,408|4,749|
|Cattery - light & heat|8,499|5,948|
|Cattery - insurance|817|1,141|
|Cattery - telephone|1,281|749|
|Cattery - other office costs|8,606|5,474|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
||153,584|142,757|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Other**|||
|**_Activities undertaken directly_**|||
|Other - purchases|568|1,828|
|Other - repairs & maintenance|–|45|
-----------------------------------568 1,873
Carried forward
**Page 25**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Detailed Statement of Financial Activities** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
||**2023**|2022|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|Brought forward|568|1,873|
||--------------|-----------------------|
||568|1,873|
||--------------|-----------------------|
|**_Support costs_**|||
|Other - motor expenses|1,911|2,914|
|Other - legal and professional fees|1,567|730|
|Other - other office costs|2,920|1,978|
||-----------------------|-----------------------|
||6,398|5,622|
||-----------------------|-----------------------|
|**Governance costs**|||
|Governance costs - accountancy fees|1,850|1,825|
|Governance costs - financial advice|1,999|2,000|
||-----------------------|-----------------------|
||3,849|3,825|
||-----------------------|-----------------------|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Expenditure on charitable activities**|226,925|214,795|
||================================|================================|
**CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 208111**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch Unaudited Financial Statements**
## **31 December 2023**
## **BURGESS HODGSON LLP**
Chartered accountants Camburgh House 27 New Dover Road Canterbury Kent CT1 3DN
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Financial Statements**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' annual report|**1**|
|Independent examiner's report to the trustees|**9**|
|Statement of financial activities|**10**|
|Statement of financial position|**11**|
|Notes to the financial statements|**12**|
|**The following pages do not form part of the financial statements**||
|Detailed statement of financial activities|**22**|
|Notes to the detailed statement of financial activities|**24**|
**Page 1**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Trustees' Annual Report**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023.
## **Reference and administrative details**
**Registered charity name**
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch
**Charity registration number**
**Principal office**
208111 34 Station Road Ashford Kent TN23 1PH
## **The trustees**
S C Stoker (Chair) L A Kendall (Treasurer) S Moir (Secretary) G E Hoad I Brant C Blackledge (Resigned 2[nd] January 2023) I C Smith (Resigned 22[nd] April 2023) M Li (Resigned 28[th] June 2023) A Sheriff (Resigned 28[th] June 2023) T Rodgers (Appointed 13[th] September 2023) K Farnell (Appointed 13[th] September 2023) L Kemp (Appointed 28[th] February 2024)
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
The Trustees present their report and financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (FRS 102) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in notes to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2019).
Consideration has also been given to the additional guidance issued by the Charities SORP Committee in March 2020, entitled ‘Implications of COVID-19 control measures and charity financial reporting’.
**Page 2**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Trustees' Annual Report**
**Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Purpose**
The RSPCA Kent, Ashford, Tenterden & District Branch is a registered charity. The object of the charity is to "promote kindness and to prevent and suppress cruelty to animals, and do all such lawful acts as the branch may consider to be conducive or incidental to the attainment of these objects".
## **Main Activities**
The main activities of the charity during 2023 were:
- Running the Ashford Cattery with the associated income, including through our sponsorship scheme
- Running the charity shop in Ashford
- Fundraising, donations and membership
- Managing our investments
- Supporting the local RSPCA Inspectors, Animal Welfare Officers and Animal Collection Officers
- Supporting and working with the other branches within the RSPCA network
- Supporting the communities within our branch areas with initiatives such as the pet food bank
## **Public Benefit Statement**
The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities.
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Significant Activities**
Despite three really difficult years, once again we entered a new financial year on 1[st] January 2023 optimistic about the future. We have amazing staff, volunteers and supporters who work hard together to make us a success and this always gives us cause to be hopeful. We were looking to widen our reach not only in terms of our geographical area within the branch boundaries, which goes beyond Ashford and Tenterden, covering parts of Romney Marsh etc., but also changing the layout of the cattery to enable us to meet licencing conditions for other small animals. As ever, we planned to continue with the work we do to provide essential support to the wider RSPCA.
During the year we received a very generous legacy and support from the national society in terms of not only the door-to-door grant but also grants from the regional board to support the work we do in relation to neutering and welfare support. The shop had an amazing year, which continues in 2024.
We were also lucky enough to receive a large donation from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, as following generous public donations in Paul O’Grady’s name, and to mark 11 years since Paul was made their Ambassador, Battersea chose to honour five animal charities close to Paul’s heart, which included us. We would like to thank Battersea for this extremely kind donation and Paul for the support he so generously gave us over the years.
We received income of £51,936 in 2023 from the cattery (£29,416 in 2022).
The combination of these income streams has meant that income increased by almost 70%. Although costs, as expected, also increased this was only by 6%. We are so pleased and proud to note that this means the charity has made a surplus in 2023.
**Page 3**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Trustees' Annual Report**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
Our achievements for 2023 are something to be extremely proud of and are as follows (2022 figures are given in brackets):
- We took in 244 cats (258) and rehomed 244 (239);
- We neutered 131 animals (168) including 24 (36) owned by members of the public;
- We microchipped 98 animals (143) including 3 (35) owned by members of the public; and
- We provided help with veterinary care through our Welfare Assistance Scheme for 24 animals (18).
We would like to thank all those people who contribute to the success of the charity and support us through time, fundraising activities, financial discounts or advertising. They include local businesses, veterinary surgeries, vets, branch members, staff and volunteers and local press. We would also like to thank the RSPCA Regional Board for the grants given during the year and other organisations who continue to support our work. Lastly we would like to thank the public for their ongoing support of the charity. Our success would not be possible without them, whatever the economic conditions. We continue to be truly humbled by the contributions made, whether financial, time or in terms of encouragement through social media.
## **The Branch Charity Shop (est.2003)**
The shop had an extremely good year with sales outstripping pre-pandemic levels. Income increased by 45%. This has been vital to the charity’s income stream adding essential cash to our revenue. Whilst not directly working with animals the cash from the shop is a large part of the charity being able to run our rehoming centre plus all the other animal welfare work we undertake.
The Trustees would like to thank all the volunteers in the shop for their time and dedication. We know working in a retail environment is not easy at times. We would also like to thank our staff for their support in ensuring the shop continues to be successful. Last but not least we thank all our customers for supporting us in the last year.
The shop raised £55,274 during 2023, compared to £38,161 for 2022.
## **Fundraising, Donations and Membership**
During 2023 we continued to utilise social media to make appeals and for fundraising. Our face-to-face events also took place. Total money raised from fundraising events during the year were £8,202 (£6,257 in 2022). In addition, total donations amounted to £27,096, including the £20,000 donation from Battersea (£8,034 in 2022). We would like to thank everyone who has responded so generously to our appeals and to our staff who work extremely hard on the design of the campaigns and monitor the response. We would like to thank the members of the Fundraising Committee for the time they give up and enthusiasm they have for raising money for the charity. As always it is much appreciated. It is heartening to see fundraising increase after the last few difficult years.
During the year we were grateful to be awarded grants from the Regional Board of the RSPCA. The Regional Board continues to support the charity in 2024. We would like to thank the National Society, the Regional Board and all the relevant staff and trustees across the RSPCA family for their support.
We continue to run our sponsorship scheme, currently known as Blake’s Fund, named after a kitten that we hand reared at the cattery during lock-down. During 2023 this raised £4,544 (£4,892 in 2022).
We also continue to receive the RSPCA Door to Door income, which during 2023 amounted to £23,094 (£23,218 in 2022).
**Page 4**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Trustees' Annual Report**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **Managing our Investments**
During 2023 we continued to use an investment manager to oversee our investment portfolio and provide professional advice as and when required. The year-end investment portfolio sat at £110,214 (£112,769 in 2022). Income from investments was £6,962, compared to £9,077 in 2022. The expected income yield for 2023 was 5.58%. The actual yield was higher at 6.32%.
## **Supporting the local RSPCA Inspectors, Animal Welfare Officers and Animal Collection Officers**
As with previous years we continued to support the work of the local RSPCA Inspectors, Animal Welfare Officers and Animal Collection Officers, working on complaints of cruelty to animals and helping with the collections and rescues of animals in distress. During 2023 we supported the collection of injured and stray cats and provided financial aid to a number of domestic animals that needed veterinary treatment.
## **Impact of COVID-19**
Whilst the impact of COVID-19 on the main activities of the charity was less during 2023 than the previous years, the charity did still have to work within a difficult economic situation. We believe that the cost of living crisis and vet shortage had and continues to have a greater impact on the organisation now than COVID-19 related restrictions, which are no longer enforced from a legal point of view. We are hopeful therefore that this will be the last report that includes this section.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
Income for the year amounted to £231,907 (£138,518 in 2022), which is an increase of almost 70% and an absolute increase of £93,389. This reflects an extremely positive move forward. For the first time in 7 years the charity made a surplus for the year.
The main sources of income changed from 2022, with legacies and donations seeing a large increase. The main sources of income were cattery income of £51,936 (£29,416 in 2022), total fundraising of £31,296 (£29,475 in 2022), shop takings of £55,274 (£38,161 in 2022), donations of £27,096 (£8,034 in 2022) and bequests and legacies of £39,828 (£215 in 2022).
Total expenditure for the year amounted to £226,925, compared to £214,795 in 2022.
This resulted in a surplus for the year of £4,982 (deficit £76,277 in 2022). After taking account of movements on the charity’s investments this resulted in an overall increase in funds of £2,427 (deficit £78,160 in 2022).
The board of trustees continued, as in previous years, to review the finances of the charity on a regular basis. Board meetings are held 11 times a year as a matter of course however during 2023 a number of additional meetings were held to discuss strategic and operational issues. During these meetings numerous issues were discussed, which included although were not limited to, the review of expenditure and income streams, and the potential of collaborating with organisations such as RSPCA branches on particular work streams, for example the expansion of fostering schemes to cover other animals in addition to cats.
**Page 5**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Trustees' Annual Report**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **Reserves Policy**
The Trustees would ideally like to keep between 6 and 9 months average general expenditure equivalent to between £106,000 and £159,000 (£98,000 and £146,000 in 2022), as unrestricted reserves. This is based on an average of the last three years expenditure. The unrestricted reserves of the charity at 31 December 2023 amount £49,969 (£35,199 in 2022). In addition to this, the charity holds investments of £110,214. The total of these exceed the 9 months of average general expenditure threshold.
It is believed that should operations drastically reduce at the cattery, that this level of reserves and investments would allow sufficient time to wind up the operation in a professional and reasonable manner, enabling the meeting of its legal and moral obligations to its suppliers and staff. The policy is reviewed and updated on an annual basis and has been reviewed in light of COVID-19.
Funds relating to fixed assets and investments at 31 December 2023 amounted to £421,062 (£433,405 in 2022). Total charity funds, which are all unrestricted amounted to £471,031 (£468,604 in 2022).
## **Investment Policy**
The investments held by the charity were inherited from previous Trustees and committees. No change is foreseen by the current Board of Trustees in terms of the investments held. In accordance with Charity Commission guidance the Trustees continue to use an Investment Manager and accordingly rely on the advice provided.
## **Risk Policy**
The Trustees understand and accept that the management and control of risk rests with us. As such we work on a day-to-day basis with both the staff and volunteers of the charity, together with professional advisers where necessary, to ensure risks are managed to within an acceptable level. We are also supported by the National Society and our Branch Partnership Manager in this vital area.
During 2023 and to date the Board of Trustees continued to go through a period of change, with a number of Trustees resigning. We continued to review organisational governance, in light of the potential changes in the current relationship with the National Society and the impact on the charity of issues such as the vet shortage and reduced service / increased veterinary costs. To facilitate this work we have come together for additional meetings, including ones to discuss the overarching strategy and have worked with colleagues across the RSPCA family on potential projects such as introducing a small animal rehoming centre.
We believe that the risks facing the charity have remained consistent with previous years in the main. The main risks facing the charity are:
- Loss of trustees / skills and experience of trustees
- Loss of income / increased demand on the charity as a result of the difficult economic climate
- Increased cost / negative impact on animal welfare as a result of the current vet shortage
- Failure to understand the impact of planned changes in relationship with RSPCA
- Failure to recover from the impact of COVID-19, including the loss of support, financial and otherwise, from the National Society
- - Contingency and disaster recovery
- Financial and budgetary control
- Loss of income through fraud or error
- - Compliance with legislation and regulations
**Page 6**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Trustees' Annual Report**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
These risks are mitigated through training, internal policies and procedures, use of social media and all appropriate avenues to reach potential trustees, volunteers, donors and supporters, bringing in extra skilled resources when necessary and working closely with colleagues across the RSPCA family.
## **Pay Policy for Key Management Personnel**
The Trustees consider that it is the Trustees that make-up the key management personnel of the charity. The Trustees are in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating the charity on a day to day basis and all executive functions sit with us. All Trustees give of their time freely and no trustee received remuneration in the year.
There is a Remuneration Policy in place for the charity, which covers all members of staff.
## **Pension Liability**
The pension contributions made are for an auto enrolment scheme and are therefore defined contribution and not a defined benefit scheme. As such these are all individual employee pots rather than an entity pension scheme and therefore there is no impact on the charity in this respect.
## **Plans for the future**
The Trustees plans for the next 12 months are:
- Recruit more trustees and volunteers to support the charity
- Reach a greater proportion of the branch area
- Increase impact in terms of opening a small animal rehoming centre
- Expand the food bank and welfare support service
- Continue to develop strategies to increase legacies
- Develop strategies to increase fundraising and marketing opportunities
- Set a strategy in relation to the charity shop, including exploring options for online sales
- Review fundraising options, including Increasing the use of social media
- Continue to work on the governance and administration structures, including improving information systems and increasing use of social media for fundraising
## **COVID-19 and going concern**
As already noted in the Trustees’ Report there has been an impact on income as a result of the COVID-19. There has been an additional pressure placed on the charity through the increases in costs as a result of inflation and a vet shortage. We believe we have worked to mitigate these influences as far as possible and the year-end results show the charity has moved into a surplus position.
A large amount of work has been untaken by members of staff to increase donations through social media campaigns, which continue to be well supported. Grants from various organisations have been applied for, some of which have been successful. The shop continues to bring in a good income, which is now outstripping pre-pandemic levels. In addition an unexpected legacy and large donation were received.
The investments we hold are for the medium to long-term and therefore expect to see a recovery from the current impact on value and income. The return on these investments is still strong at approximately 6% and we hope to see additional capital growth in the coming months.
The charity, as a branch of the RSPCA, does receive support, financial and otherwise, from other branches, the Regional Board and the National Society.
**Page 7**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Trustees' Annual Report**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
We are satisfied, based on past results, that we are robust as a stand-alone organisation and will continue to work during 2024 to mitigate any legacy impacts. As a result, as at the date of this report, the Board of Trustees are confident that the charity will continue to be able to operate during the next 12 months and is therefore currently a going concern. As such we believe that the accounts give a true and fair view and that there are no changes required for post balance sheet events.
## **STRUCTURE**
The charity, which is registered with the Charity Commission under number 208111, is established under the RSPCA Branch Rules effective 18 February 2009.
## **GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
The Trustees of The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Ashford, Tenterden & District Branch) are responsible for the general control and management of the administration of the charity.
During the year and up to the date of the approval of the Report of the Trustees, the following were Trustees of the Charity:
S C Stoker (Chair) L A Kendall (Treasurer) S Moir (Secretary) G E Hoad I Brant C Blackledge (Resigned 2[nd] January 2023) I C Smith (Resigned 22[nd] April 2023) M Li (Resigned 28[th] June 2023) A Sheriff (Resigned 28[th] June 2023) T Rodgers (Appointed 13[th] September 2023) K Farnell (Appointed 13[th] September 2023) L Kemp (Appointed 28[th] February 2024)
The Board of Trustees must consist of between five and fourteen members, which was the case during 2023. It was acknowledged that a wider range of experience would be an advantage in light of the plans for the charity, especially around fundraising and information technology. We therefore used our trustee skills audit to continue to look for new trustees. Recruitment of new trustees is in line with the Trustee Recruitment Policy. All trustees are subject to election at the Annual General Meeting.
**Page 8**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Trustees' Annual Report**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES**
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2015 (FRS 102);
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud or other irregularities.
The trustees' annual report was approved on .............................. and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:
s=— S C Stoker Trustee
L A Kendall Trustee
**Page 9**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2023.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
3. the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and 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.
## Burgess Hodson bP
Burgess Hodgson LLP Independent Examiner
Camburgh House 27 New Dover Road Canterbury Kent CT1 3DN
**Page 10**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
|||**2023**||2022|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Unrestricted|||
|||funds**Total funds**||Total funds|
||**Note**|**£**|**£**|£|
|**Income and endowments**|||||
|Donations and legacies|**4**|80,585|80,585|26,273|
|Charitable activities|**5**|56,480|56,480|34,308|
|Other trading activities|**6**|87,880|87,880|68,860|
|Investment income|**7**|6,962|6,962|9,077|
|||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Total income**||231,907|231,907|138,518|
|||================================|================================|================================|
|**Expenditure**|||||
|Expenditure on charitable activities|**8,9**|226,925|226,925|214,795|
|||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Total expenditure**||226,925|226,925|214,795|
|||================================|================================|================================|
|Net losses/(gains) on Investments|**11**|2,555|2,555|1,883|
|||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Net income/(expenditure) and net movement in funds**||2,427|2,427|(78,160)|
|||================================|================================|================================|
|**Reconciliation of funds**|||||
|Total funds brought forward||468,604|468,604|546,764|
|||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Total funds carried forward**||471,031|471,031|468,604|
|||================================|================================|================================|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
**The notes on pages 12 to 20 form part of these financial statements.**
**Page 11**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Statement of Financial Position**
## **31 December 2023**
|||**2023**||2022|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Note**|**£**|**£**|£|
|**Fixed assets**|||||
|Tangible fixed assets|**16**||310,848|320,636|
|Investments|**17**||110,214|112,769|
||||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
||||421,062|433,405|
|**Current assets**|||||
|Debtors|**18**|12,584||8,496|
|Cash at bank and in hand||60,805||50,448|
|||----------------------------||----------------------------|
|||73,389||58,944|
|**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**|**19**|23,420||23,745|
|||----------------------------||----------------------------|
|**Net current assets**|||49,969|35,199|
||||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Total assets less current liabilities**|||471,031|468,604|
||||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Net assets**|||471,031|468,604|
||||================================|================================|
|**Funds of the charity**|||||
|Unrestricted funds|||471,031|468,604|
||||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Total charity funds**|**21**||471,031|468,604|
||||================================|================================|
These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on ........................, and are signed on behalf of the board by: 12.to..2@af
S C Stoker Trustee
L A Kendall Trustee
**The notes on pages 12 to 20 form part of these financial statements.**
**Page 12**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **1. General information**
The charity is a public benefit entity and a registered charity in England and Wales and is unincorporated. The address of the principal office is 34 Station Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 1PH.
## **2. Statement of compliance**
These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Charities Act 2011.
## **3. Accounting policies**
## **Basis of preparation**
The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.
## **Going concern**
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the Trustees believes that no material uncertainties exist. The Trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves including investments for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.
As already noted in the Trustees’ Report there has been an impact on income as a result of COVID-19, and there has been additional pressure placed on the charity through the increases in costs as a result of inflation and a vet shortage. The Trustees believe we have worked to mitigate these influences as far as possible and the year-end results show the charity has moved into a surplus position.
A large amount of work has been untaken by members of staff to increase donations through social media campaigns, which continue to be well supported. Grants from various organisations have been applied for, some of which have been successful. The shop continues to bring in a good income, which is now outstripping pre-pandemic levels. In addition an unexpected legacy and large donation were received.
The investments we hold are for the medium to long-term and therefore expect to see a recovery from the current impact on value and income. The return on these investments is still strong at approximately 6% and we hope to see additional capital growth in the coming months.
The charity, as a branch of the RSPCA, does receive support, financial and otherwise, from other branches, the Regional Board and the National Society.
We are satisfied, based on past results, that we are robust as a stand-alone organisation and will continue to work during 2024 to mitigate any legacy impacts. As a result, as at the date of this report, the Board of Trustees are confident that the charity will continue to be able to operate during the next 12 months and is therefore currently a going concern. As such we believe that the accounts give a true and fair view and that there are no changes required for post balance sheet events.
**Page 13**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **3. Accounting policies** _**(continued)**_
## **Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty**
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.
## **Incoming resources**
All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.
For donations to be recognised the charity will have been notified of the amounts and the settlement date in writing. If there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained then income is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfillment of those conditions is within the control of the charity and it is probable that they will be fulfilled.
For legacies, entitlement is the earlier of the charity being notified of an impending distribution or the legacy being received. At this point income is recognised. On occasion legacies will be notified to the charity however it is not possible to measure the amount expected to be distributed. On these occasions, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset and disclosed.
Income from trading activities includes income earned from fund raising events to raise funds for the charity. Income is received in exchange for supplying goods and services in order to raise funds and is recognised when entitlement has occurred.
Investment income is earned through holding assets for investment purposes such as shares and property. It includes dividends, interest and rent. Interest income is recognised using the effective interest method and dividend income is recognised as the charity’s right to receive payment is established.
Income from clinic charges, collections and other fundraising is recognised on an accruals basis.
**Page 14**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **3. Accounting policies** _**(continued)**_
## **Resources expended**
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. It is categorised under the following headings:
- Costs of raising funds includes the costs involved in putting on fundraising events and costs involved in running the charity shop;
- Expenditure on charitable activities includes comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. The purchase of cards and brochures is included in the Statement of Financial Activities in the year of purchase. Costs of printing publications and cards are expensed in the year they are incurred;
- Other expenditure represents those items not falling into the categories above.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as an expense against the activity for which expenditure arose.
## **Tangible assets**
Tangible assets are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Any tangible assets carried at revalued amounts are recorded at the fair value at the date of revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
## **Depreciation**
Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:
|Freehold property|-|2% straight line|
|---|---|---|
|Fixtures and fittings|-|33% straight line|
|Motor vehicles|-|25% straight line|
|Equipment|-|5% straight line|
## **Investments**
Unlisted equity investments are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently measured at fair value. If fair value cannot be reliably measured, assets are measured at cost less impairment.
Listed investments are measured at fair value with changes in fair value being recognised in income or expenditure.
## **Impairment of fixed assets**
A review for indicators of impairment is carried out at each reporting date, with the recoverable amount being estimated where such indicators exist. Where the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount, the asset is impaired accordingly. Prior impairments are also reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date.
**Page 15**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **3. Accounting policies** _**(continued)**_
## **Financial instruments**
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into.
Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in the profit and loss account in other administrative expenses.
Loans and borrowings are initially recognised at the transaction price including transaction costs. Subsequently, they are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method, less impairment. If an arrangement constitutes a finance transaction it is measured at present value.
## **Defined contribution plans**
Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as an expense in the period in which the related service is provided. Prepaid contributions are recognised as an asset to the extent that the prepayment will lead to a reduction in future payments or a cash refund.
When contributions are not expected to be settled wholly within 12 months of the end of the reporting date in which the employees render the related service, the liability is measured on a discounted present value basis. The unwinding of the discount is recognised as an expense in the period in which it arises.
## **4. Donations and legacies**
||Unrestricted|**Total Funds**|Unrestricted|Total Funds|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Funds|**2023**|Funds|2022|
||£|**£**|£|£|
|**Donations**|||||
|Membership subscriptions|161|161|183|183|
|Donations|27,096|27,096|8,034|8,034|
|Bequests and legacies|39,828|39,828|215|215|
|**Grants**|||||
|RSPCA Grant|13,500|13,500|9,156|9,156|
|Pets at Home Foundation Grant|–|–|8,685|8,685|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
||80,585|80,585|26,273|26,273|
||============================|============================|============================|============================|
## **5. Charitable activities**
||Unrestricted|**Total Funds**|Unrestricted|Total Funds|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Funds|**2023**|Funds|2022|
||£|**£**|£|£|
|Cattery|51,936|51,936|29,416|29,416|
|Safe Haven|4,544|4,544|4,892|4,892|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
||56,480|56,480|34,308|34,308|
||============================|============================|============================|============================|
**Page 16**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **6. Other trading activities**
||Unrestricted|**Total Funds**|Unrestricted|Total Funds|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Funds|**2023**|Funds|2022|
||£|**£**|£|£|
|Shop takings|55,274|55,274|38,161|38,161|
|Fundraising events|8,202|8,202|6,257|6,257|
|RSPCA Door to Door|23,094|23,094|23,218|23,218|
|Other|1,310|1,310|1,224|1,224|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
||87,880|87,880|68,860|68,860|
||============================|============================|============================|============================|
|**Investment income**|||||
||Unrestricted|**Total Funds**|Unrestricted|Total Funds|
||Funds|**2023**|Funds|2022|
||£|**£**|£|£|
|Income from other investments|6,962|6,962|9,077|9,077|
||=======================|=======================|=======================|=======================|
## **7. Investment income**
## **8. Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type**
||Unrestricted|**Total Funds**|Unrestricted|Total Funds|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Funds|**2023**|Funds|2022|
||£|**£**|£|£|
|Shop|6,771|6,771|6,864|6,864|
|Cattery|51,745|51,745|53,183|53,183|
|Other|568|568|1,873|1,873|
|Support costs|167,841|167,841|152,875|152,875|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
||226,925|226,925|214,795|214,795|
||================================|================================|================================|================================|
## **9. Expenditure on charitable activities by activity type**
||Activities||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||undertaken|Support|**Total funds**|Total fund|
||directly|costs|**2023**|2022|
||£|£|**£**|£|
|Shop|6,771|4,010|10,781|7,535|
|Cattery|51,745|153,584|205,329|195,940|
|Other|568|6,398|6,966|7,495|
|Governance costs|–|3,849|3,849|3,825|
||----------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
||59,084|167,841|226,925|214,795|
||============================|================================|================================|================================|
**Page 17**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **10. Analysis of support costs**
||Shop|Cattery|Other|**Total 2023**|Total 2022|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||£|£|£|**£**|£|
|Staff costs|–|129,973|–|129,973|124,696|
|Rates, water and||||||
|sewerage|2,357|4,408|–|6,765|3,686|
|Light and heat|1,092|8,499|–|9,591|6,854|
|Motor expenses|–|–|1,911|1,911|2,914|
|Telephone|476|1,281|–|1,757|1,436|
|Insurance|–|817|–|817|1,141|
|Legal and professional||||||
|fees|–|–|1,567|1,567|730|
|Other office costs|85|8,606|2,920|11,611|7,593|
|Governance costs|–|–|3,849|3,849|3,825|
||-----------------------|--------------------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
||4,010|153,584|10,247|167,841|152,875|
||=======================|================================|============================|================================|================================|
## **11. Net losses/(gains) on investments**
|||Unrestricted|**Total Funds**|Unrestricted|Total Funds|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Funds|**2023**|Funds|2022|
|||£|**£**|£|£|
||(Gains)/ losses on other investment|||||
||assets|2,555|2,555|1,883|1,883|
|||=======================|=======================|=======================|=======================|
|**12.**|**Net expenditure**|||||
||Net expenditure is stated after charging/(crediting):|||||
|||||**2023**|2022|
|||||**£**|£|
||Depreciation of tangible fixed assets|||9,788|13,517|
|||||=======================|============================|
|**13.**|**Independent examination fees**|||||
|||||**2023**|2022|
|||||**£**|£|
||Fees payable to the independent examiner for:|||||
||Independent examination of the financial|statements||1,850|1,825|
|||||=======================|=======================|
## **14. Staff costs**
|The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as|The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as|follows:|
|---|---|---|
||**2023**|2022|
||**£**|£|
|Wages and salaries|124,841|120,222|
|Social security costs|3,485|2,941|
|Employer contributions to pension plans|1,647|1,533|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
||129,973|124,696|
||================================|================================|
The average head count of employees during the year was 7 (2022: 7).
No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2022: Nil).
**Page 18**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **15. Trustee remuneration and expenses**
No member of staff earned more than £60,000 during the year (2022: Nil).
## **16. Tangible fixed assets**
||Freehold|
Fixtures and|Motor|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||property|
fittings|vehicles|Equipment|**Total**|
||£|£|£|£|**£**|
|**Cost**||||||
|**At 1 January 2023 and**||||||
|**31 December 2023**|375,000|
26,751|5,995|84,805|492,551|
||================================|============================|=======================|============================|================================|
|**Depreciation**||||||
|At 1 January 2023|60,000|
26,489|1,671|83,755|171,915|
|Charge for the year|7,500|
262|1,499|527|9,788|
||--------------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**At 31 December 2023**|67,500|
26,751|3,170|84,282|181,703|
||================================|============================|=======================|============================|================================|
|**Carrying amount**||||||
|**At 31 December 2023**|307,500|
–|2,825|523|310,848|
||================================|============================|=======================|============================|================================|
|At 31 December 2022|315,000|
262|4,324|1,050|320,636|
||================================|============================|=======================|============================|================================|
## **17. Investments**
||**Other**|
|---|---|
||**investments**|
||**£**|
|**Cost or valuation**||
|At 1 January 2023|112,769|
|Additions|–|
|Fair value movements|(2,555)|
||--------------------------------|
|**At 31 December 2023**|110,214|
||================================|
|**Impairment**||
|**At 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023**|–|
||================================|
|**Carrying amount**||
|**At 31 December 2023**|110,214|
||================================|
|At 31 December 2022|112,769|
||================================|
All investments shown above are held at valuation.
## **18. Debtors**
||**2023**|2022|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|Trade debtors|1,731|157|
|Prepayments and accrued income|3,856|3,771|
|Other debtors|6,997|4,568|
||----------------------------|-----------------------|
||12,584|8,496|
||============================|=======================|
**Page 19**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **19. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
||**2023**|2022|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|Trade creditors|11,473|12,108|
|Accruals and deferred income|4,809|3,441|
|Social security and other taxes|2,025|585|
|Other creditors|5,113|7,611|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|
||23,420|23,745|
||============================|============================|
## **20. Pensions and other post retirement benefits**
## **Defined contribution plans**
The amount recognised in income or expenditure as an expense in relation to defined contribution plans was £1,647 (2022: £1,533).
## **21. Analysis of charitable funds**
## **Unrestricted funds**
|||||||**At**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||At||||Gains and|**31 Dec 202**|
||1 Jan 2023|Income|Expenditure|Transfers|losses|**3**|
||£|£|£|£|£|£|
|General funds|35,199|231,907|
(226,925)|12,343|(2,555)|
49,969|
|Fixed asset|||||||
|reserve|320,636|–|
–|(9,788)|–|310,848|
|Investment|||||||
|reserve|112,769|–|
–|(2,555)|–|110,214|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------------|
||468,604|231,907|
(226,925)|–|(2,555)|
471,031|
||================================|================================|================================|============================|=======================|================================|
|||||||At|
||At||||Gains and|31 Dec 202|
||1 Jan 2022|Income|Expenditure|Transfers|losses|2|
||£|£|£|£|£|£|
|General funds|27,593|138,518|
(214,795)|85,766|(1,883)|
35,199|
|Fixed asset|||||||
|reserve|334,153|–|
–|(13,517)|–|320,636|
|Investment|||||||
|reserve|185,018|–|
–|(72,249)|–|112,769|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------------|
||546,764|138,518|
(214,795)|–|(1,883)|
468,604|
||================================|================================|================================|============================|=======================|================================|
**Page 20**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
## **22. Analysis of net assets between funds**
||Unrestricted|**Total Funds**|
|---|---|---|
||Funds|**2023**|
||£|**£**|
|Tangible fixed assets|310,848|310,848|
|Investments|110,214|110,214|
|Current assets|73,389|73,389|
|Creditors less than 1 year|(23,420)|
(23,420)|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Net assets**|471,031|471,031|
||================================|================================|
||Unrestricted|Total Funds|
||Funds|2022|
||£|£|
|Tangible fixed assets|320,636|320,636|
|Investments|112,769|112,769|
|Current assets|58,944|58,944|
|Creditors less than 1 year|(23,745)|
(23,745)|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Net assets**|468,604|468,604|
||================================|================================|
**Page 21**
# **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Management Information**
**Year ended 31 December 2023**
**The following pages do not form part of the financial statements.**
**Page 22**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
||**2023**|2022|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|**Income and endowments**|||
|**Donations and legacies**|||
|Membership subscriptions|161|183|
|Donations|27,096|8,034|
|Bequests and legacies|39,828|215|
|RSPCA Grant|13,500|9,156|
|Pets at Home Foundation Grant|–|8,685|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|
||80,585|26,273|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|
|**Charitable activities**|||
|Cattery|51,936|29,416|
|Safe Haven|4,544|4,892|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|
||56,480|34,308|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|
|**Other trading activities**|||
|Shop takings|55,274|38,161|
|Fundraising events|8,202|6,257|
|RSPCA Door to Door|23,094|23,218|
|Other|1,310|1,224|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|
||87,880|68,860|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|
|**Investment income**|||
|Income from other investments|6,962|9,077|
||-----------------------|-----------------------|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Total income**|231,907|138,518|
||================================|================================|
**Page 23**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Detailed Statement of Financial Activities** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
||**2023**|2022|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|**Expenditure**|||
|**Expenditure on charitable activities**|||
|Purchases|39,577|31,194|
|Wages and salaries|124,841|120,222|
|Employer's NIC|3,485|2,941|
|Pension costs|1,647|1,533|
|Rent|6,750|6,750|
|Rates and water|8,571|5,299|
|Light and heat|9,591|6,854|
|Repairs and maintenance|1,163|8,846|
|Insurance|817|1,141|
|Motor vehicle expenses|1,911|2,914|
|Legal and professional fees|5,416|4,555|
|Telephone|1,757|1,436|
|Other office costs|11,611|7,593|
|Depreciation|9,788|13,517|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
||226,925|214,795|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Total expenditure**|226,925|214,795|
||================================|================================|
|**Net losses/(gains) on Investments**|||
|(Gains)/ losses on other investment assets|2,555|1,883|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
||-----------------------|----------------------------|
|**Net income/(expenditure)**|2,427|(78,160)|
||=======================|============================|
**Page 24**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
||**2023**|2022|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|**Expenditure on charitable activities**|||
|**Shop**|||
|**_Activities undertaken directly_**|||
|Shop - rent|6,750|6,750|
|Shop - repairs & maintenance|21|114|
||-----------------------|-----------------------|
||6,771|6,864|
||-----------------------|-----------------------|
|**_Support costs_**|||
|Shop - rates & water|2,357|(1,063)|
|Shop - light & heat|1,092|906|
|Shop - telephone|476|687|
|Shop - other office costs|85|141|
||-----------------------|-----------------------|
||4,010|671|
||-----------------------|-----------------------|
|**Cattery**|||
|**_Activities undertaken directly_**|||
|Cattery - purchases|39,009|29,366|
|Cattery - rates & water|1,806|1,613|
|Cattery - repairs & maintenance|1,142|8,687|
|Cattery - Depreciation|9,788|13,517|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|
||51,745|53,183|
||----------------------------|----------------------------|
|**_Support costs_**|||
|Cattery - wages & salaries|124,841|120,222|
|Cattery - employer's NIC|3,485|2,941|
|Cattery - pension costs|1,647|1,533|
|Cattery - rates & water|4,408|4,749|
|Cattery - light & heat|8,499|5,948|
|Cattery - insurance|817|1,141|
|Cattery - telephone|1,281|749|
|Cattery - other office costs|8,606|5,474|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
||153,584|142,757|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Other**|||
|**_Activities undertaken directly_**|||
|Other - purchases|568|1,828|
|Other - repairs & maintenance|–|45|
-----------------------------------568 1,873
Carried forward
**Page 25**
## **Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kent, Ashford, Tenterden and District Branch**
## **Notes to the Detailed Statement of Financial Activities** _**(continued)**_
## **Year ended 31 December 2023**
||**2023**|2022|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|Brought forward|568|1,873|
||--------------|-----------------------|
||568|1,873|
||--------------|-----------------------|
|**_Support costs_**|||
|Other - motor expenses|1,911|2,914|
|Other - legal and professional fees|1,567|730|
|Other - other office costs|2,920|1,978|
||-----------------------|-----------------------|
||6,398|5,622|
||-----------------------|-----------------------|
|**Governance costs**|||
|Governance costs - accountancy fees|1,850|1,825|
|Governance costs - financial advice|1,999|2,000|
||-----------------------|-----------------------|
||3,849|3,825|
||-----------------------|-----------------------|
||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|**Expenditure on charitable activities**|226,925|214,795|
||================================|================================|