ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS HERTFORDSHIRE EAST BRANCH
ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2021
Registered Charity Number: 208244
RSPCA HERTFORDSHIRE EAST BRANCH REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 December 2021
## IMPORTANT NOTICE
Anyone witnessing, or having knowledge of acts of cruelty or neglect to animals or birds should immediately contact the RSPCA National Call Centre Tel: 0300 1234 999
Complainants may rest assured their names will not be divulged without their consent
The Trustees prepare their annual report with the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31st December 2021.
TRUSTEES: Ms H Nicholls, Hon. Chairperson (resigned 31Dec 2021) Mr D Briance Ms S Burke, Hon.Treasurer Mrs P Cope Mrs K Fletcher Mrs A Harvey, Hon. Secretary Ms L Jeffrey Ms J White Ms Samantha Cuffin (appointed 1[st] March 2021) Mr Brian Butcher (appointed 13[th] September 2021)
CHARITY NUMBER: 208244
PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
Ground Floor, Room 5 Units 11 & 12 Baldock Industrial Estate London Road Baldock SG7 6NG
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER: Mr M Ebrahim
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## RSPCA HERTFORDSHIRE EAST BRANCH Trustees report
## For the year ended 31 December 2021
## Structure, governance and management
The RSPCA Hertfordshire East Branch is a registered charity, registered on 22 September 1962 and governed by the RSPCA Branch rules dated 1 January 2012.
The Trustees are elected by the members at the Annual General Meeting. Following a new appointment, the appointed trustee receives a pack of rules and guidance from RSPCA Head Office.
The charity is organised so that the board of trustees vote in order for decisions to be made. Trustees meet monthly, including the Annual General Meeting. Ad hoc expenditure is authorised by the charity secretary or treasurer. The board approves all major expenditure.
## Objectives and activities
The charity’s objectives in the year under review were that of promoting the work and objectives of the R.S.P.C.A. (charity number 219099). This entails preventing cruelty, promoting kindness, and alleviating suffering of animals, in particular within the area of the branch.
The charity aims to achieve this through providing a telephone helpline, taking in and rehoming signed over and stray animals, and providing financial assistance towards veterinary treatment for those on lower incomes.
## Public benefit
The Trustees have read the general guidance provided by the Charities Commission with regard to a statement on the benefit of the public. The charity has established activities to achieve its objectives for the public benefit. The charity aims to achieve these objectives by promoting the work and objectives of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, by providing support and financial assistance to those people whose animals are in need and who are unable to finance it themselves, promoting good care and welfare of animals, and re-homing abandoned or abused pets, all within the area of the branch.
## Achievements and performance
The impact of the Coronavirus pandemic has continued to affect the branch. The shop was required to close for approximately three and a half months and in person fundraising activities are still proving difficult. However, Government support has enabled the branch to bridge the gap from lost income. Animal rehoming was still affected in the early part of the year although it is starting to recover with rehoming income +345% year on year.
## During the year the charity:
- provided 138 (2020: 99) financial support vouchers for animals in the East Herts area towards financial support for veterinary costs.
- took in and treated 62 (2020: 44) animals, including strays and abandoned pets, 59 (2020: 43) of which were rehomed, reunited with owners or transferred to other RSPCA areas. As a branch we never euthanise a healthy animal, only on welfare grounds by vet recommendation.
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## RSPCA HERTFORDSHIRE EAST BRANCH Trustees report (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2021
## Principal risks
A key risk to the future of the branch is recruitment and retention of experienced staff, volunteers and trustees. To mitigate this we are regularly revieiwng succession planning to avoid over reliance on any one individual. Another risk is a general cost base increase. Rising lnflation will potentially impact vet fees, rents ,utility costs etc and will need to be carefully monitored and managed.
## Financial review
Income exceeded expenditure by £25,977 (2020: £6,919 deficit). Income was boosted by a very welcome legacy of £25,893. Sales income from the branch shop totalled £47,685 (2020: £33,927), whilst this saw an increase year on year, this is lower than pre pandemic years and is still impacted by the restrictions imposed on opening due to Covid-19.
Veterinary costs of treating animals in RSPCA care and providing financial assistance to those that cannot afford it totalled £16,936 (2020: £12,576); boarding and fostering RSPCA care animals until permanently re-homed totalled £9,196 (2020: £11,413). Re-homing income amounted to £3,039 (2020: £880), with a lot of the restrictions being lifted during 2021, our operations team were able to re start this activity. The costs of running the shop amounted to £55,773 (2020: £55,900) which meant the shop sustained a pre-grants deficit of £8,088 (2020: pre grants deficit of £21,973). Grant income received in respect of the shop activities amounted to £20,594, meaning the shop contributed £12,506 to welfare activities after receipt of grant income.
## Reserves Policy
The current designated capital reserve is £180,000 designated for branch expansion, and during the year the committee has been working towards our ambition of a small animal clinic. The committee have also approved the purchase of a branch van to support the movement of more animals around our region. £10,000 has been designated towards shop capital costs and commitments, and the remaining reserves of £68,692 represent 6 months operating expenditure, within our policy to hold 3-6 months in reserves.
## Future Developments
The coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt our fundraising and welfare work. The shop remained closed in the early part of 2021. Whilst 2022 will still be a challenging year for the branch, with potential government support and careful cash management the Trustees are confident the branch will be able to continue to operate through a continued difficult period.
Despite these challenges we continue to work on our aim to expand the capacity and reach of the branch through establishing a small animal clinic. With veterinary costs increasing we believe this will be of greatest welfare benefit in our local area by assisting those on low incomes to obtain essential veterinary care for their animals. Please do contact the branch if you think you can help with this or any other voluntary role.
## ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD:
S Burke – Treasurer
DATE 3[rd] March 2022
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## Independent Examiner’s Report to the trustees on the unaudited accounts of RSPCA Hertfordshire East Branch
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of RSPCA Hertfordshire East Branch for the year ended 31 December 2021 which comprise the receipts and payments accounts, the statement of assets and liabilities and the related notes.
## Responsibilities and basis of report
As the Charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trustee’s accounts 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 s. 145(5)(b) of the 2011 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 accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
- (2) the accords do not accord with those records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
M Ebrahim FCA Date: 15[th] March 2022
## Embee Oak Chartered Accountants
Basing House, 46 High Street, Rickmansworth, Herts, WD3 1HP
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## RSPCA HERTFORDSHIRE EAST BRANCH Receipts and Payments account For the year ended 31 December 2021
|Receipts
Branch Fund Raising (Note 1)
Subscriptions
Bank interest
Legacies
Donations
EBay sales
Pet Insurance/Recycling
Door to Door Grant
Other Grant Income
Rehoming
Shop income
VAT refunded
Gift aid receipts
Other income
Payments
Shop (Note 4)
Fundraising expenses
Region 5 contribution
Branch insurance
Veterinary costs & C4 scheme
Boarding & fostering
Grants & donations paid
Office assistance, NI & pension
Office rent, heat & light
Sundry expenses (Note 3)
Telephone & internet
Postage expenses
Stationery and computer expenses
Advertising
AGM & meeting costs
Travelling expenses
Independent examination
VAT paid
Equipment purchases
Excess of receipts over payments|Unrestricted
2021
£
3,702
29
615
25,893
9,472
2,895
205
24,134
23,156
3,039
47,685
1,989
5,107
3
147,924
55,773
-
551
615
16,936
9,196
-
27,273
1,954
541
766
19
2,187
-
50
1,345
1,230
3,197
314
121,947
25,977|Unrestricted
2020
£
1,657
602
1,306
-
5,741
886
60
25,173
44,620
880
33,927
4,557
6,344
22|
|---|---|---|
|||125,775
55,900
322
456
620
12,576
11,413
5,000
32,127
4,013
528
1,403
65
2,126
455
42
1,079
600
3,713
256|
|||132,694|
|||(6,919)|
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## RSPCA HERTFORDSHIRE EAST BRANCH Statement of assets and liabilities As at 31 December 2021
||2021|2020|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|**ASSETS RETAINED FOR THE**|||
|**CHARITY'S OWN USE (AT**|||
|**COST)**|||
|Shop fxtures and fttings|13,265|13,265|
|Ofce computers and furniture|1,010|696|
||**14,275**|**13,961**|
|**CASH FUNDS**|||
|Bank accounts|258,417|230,646|
|Cash and credit card receipts|275|2,069|
|**Total cash funds**|**258,692**|**232,715**|
|**OTHER MONETARY ASSETS**|||
|VAT refund|973|696|
|Gift aid|1,433|6,500|
|Rent and insurance paid in|6,477|6,372|
|advance|||
|Subscriptions & donations|137|658|
|receivable|||
|Grants receivable|716|651|
|Commissions|-|-|
||**9,736**|**14,877**|
|**LIABILITIES**|||
|Suppliers accounts not yet paid|(2,137)|(1,133)|
|Independent Examiners Fee|(600)|(600)|
|December PAYE|(1,998)|-|
|December pension|(254)|-|
||**(4,989)**|**(1,733)**|
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
………………………………………………… S Burke – Treasurer
DATE 3[rd] March 2022
## RSPCA HERTFORDSHIRE EAST BRANCH Notes to the financial statements As at 31 December 2021
|**Note 1 – Branch fundraising**
**Breakdown by area**
Baldock
Harpenden
Hertford
Letchworth Garden City
Stevenage
Ware
Other fundraising
Marketing team|**2021**
**£**
55
60
-
-
-
-
426
3,161
**3,702**|**2020**
**£**
197
-
80
55
118
83
-
1,124|
|---|---|---|
|||**1,657**|
## **Note 2 – Reimbursements**
During the year 4 trustees (2020: 2) were reimbursed expenses totalling £780 (2020: £813) in respect of mileage, fostering expenses, computer expenses and items bought for shop.
|**Note 3 – Sundry expenses**
Bank charges
Accountancy - payroll
Miscellaneous costs
**Note 4 – Shop expenses**
Goods purchased
Staf costs
Premises costs
Cleaning and refuse
Telephone & stationery
Consumables
Repairs & renewals
Other costs
Bank and credit charges||**2021**
**£**
96
360
85
**541**
**2021**
**£**
321
26,064
24,616
837
280
126
1,855
682
992
**55,773**|**2020**
**£**
133
90
304|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**528**|
||||**2020**
**£**
556
22,627
26,159
834
526
755
2,391
1,300
752|
||||**55,900**|
## RSPCA HERTFORDSHIRE EAST BRANCH Notes to the financial statements As at 31 December 2020
## **Note 5 – Unrestricted fund balances**
||**2020**|**Surplus**|**Transfers**|**2021**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**for year**|**2021**||
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**General**|||||
|**funds**|||||
|General funds|**42,715**|**25,977**||**68,692**|
|**Designated**|||||
|**funds**|||||
|Grant funds|**-**|-|-|**-**|
|Capital|**180,00**|-|-|**180,000**|
|reserve|**0**||||
|Shop reserve|**10,000**|-|-|**10,000**|
|**Total cash**
**funds**|**232,71**
**5**|**25,977**|**-**|**258,692**|
General Funds of £68,692 represent approximately 6 months expenditure.
Funds of £165,000 have been designated to fund a capital project, such as a clinic, within the branch's area, in memory of Mrs Diana Russell and Pat Trussell.
Funds of £15,000 have been designated to buy and maintain a Branch van which will be used to transport more animals between veterinary appointments, boarding facilities and foster care.
Funds of £10,000 have been designated to fund potential capital costs or commitments on the shop lease.
## **Note 6 – Legacies, donations & in memoriam**
The branch would like to extend grateful thanks to all those who have donated during 2021