Kent West Branch
Caring for animals since 1893
Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2021
This is Lottie the border terrier with our Chair, Jean. Lottie was signed over to us with a deformed front right leg and a broken front left leg. It wasn’t certain that she would survive but her broken leg was treated, and she is thriving in a loving foster home as she continues her treatment.
One of the numerous wildlife rescues undertaken by our Kent Inspectorate team each week. This duckling was stuck with its siblings near a lock. They were taken to nearby Folly wildlife rescue centre for treatment and care.
Contents
| Legal and Administrative Information | 3 |
|---|---|
| Trustees Annual Report | 4 |
| Independent Examiners Report | 7 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 8 |
| Balance Sheet | 9 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 10 |
RSPCA, KENT WEST BRANCH
(Registered Charity 209193)
Legal and Administrative Information
Legal Status
The organisation is a branch of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (“RSPCA”) and is a registered charity governed by the model rules issued by the RSPCA.
| Trustees and Officers | Ms J Selmes – Branch Chair |
|---|---|
| Mrs S Newman – Branch Secretary and Membership Secretary | |
| Mrs L Hill – Branch Treasurer | |
| Mrs L Brown – Branch Welfare Officer | |
| Mrs A Dawson (Resigned 17 Sept 2021) | |
| Mrs P S L North | |
| Ms M Chavez | |
| Mrs P Lloyds | |
| Mrs G Hughes (Appointed 14 June 2021) | |
| Principal Address | 8 Hawden Close |
| Hildenborough | |
| Kent | |
| TN11 9BP | |
| Independent Examiner | Stephen Pocock FCCA |
| BSR Bespoke Chartered Accountants | |
| Linden House | |
| Linden Close | |
| Tunbridge Wells | |
| Kent | |
| TN4 8HH | |
| Bankers | NatWest Bank Plc |
| 67 High Street | |
| Sevenoaks | |
| Kent | |
| TN13 1LA | |
| Barclays Bank Plc | |
| Leicester | |
| LE87 2BB | |
| Shawbrook Bank Plc | |
| Lutea House, Warley Hill Business Park | |
| The Drive | |
| Great Warley, Brentwood | |
| Essex CM13 3BE |
RSPCA, KENT WEST BRANCH
(Registered Charity 209193)
Trustees Annual Report
For the Year Ended 31 December 2021
The Trustees present their annual report together with the annual financial statements and report of the Independent Examiner of the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021, as required by the Charity Commission. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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) (effective 1 January 2015).
Structure and Governance
The RSPCA Kent West Branch, (the “Branch” or “Kent West Branch”), was established on the 3 October 1893. The Branch is an unincorporated charitable association and a separately registered branch of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (the “Society” or “RSPCA”), carrying out its direct animal welfare work in the areas defined by the following post codes: TN8 5&7, TN9 1&2, TN10 3&4, TN11 8&9, TN13 2&3, TN14 5, 6&7, TN15 0,8,9&6, TN16 1&2.
The Branch is administered by a Committee. The Committee members, elected at the AGM, or coopted by the Committee, are its Trustees for the purpose of charity law and are referred to as Trustees throughout this report. All Trustees are briefed on their responsibilities as trustees prior to their acceptance of the role. The Committee meets regularly for the purpose of dealing with the branch affairs and to receive reports from its Officers.
The Trustees review the risks that the charity faces on a regular basis. The major risks to the Branch as identified by the trustees have been reviewed and steps taken to mitigate them are:
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Loss of income, including through error or fraud
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Insufficient trustees for the branch to continue
It is the opinion of the Trustees that the Branch’s policies, procedures, and controls are adequate to mitigate financial loss through error or fraud and to maintain the future financial viability of the Branch.
The Branch is run entirely by volunteers and all funds are either raised by volunteers or come from donations or legacies, except a small rebate of membership subscriptions from the Society’s central funds and reimbursement from the Regional Board as and if agreed, for specific projects. The Branch takes part in the activities of the South East Regional area and along with other branches, attends the Regional Board meetings.
Branch Objectives and Public Benefit Statement
The objectives of the Branch are to promote the work and objectives of the Society that are to promote kindness to and to prevent or suppress cruelty to animals by all lawful means – with particular reference to the area of the Branch, in accordance with the policies of the Society.
Trustees Annual Report (continued)
For the Year Ended 31 December 2021
The trustees have reviewed the outcomes and achievements of the objectives and activities for the year, to ensure they remain focused on their charitable aims, and continue to deliver benefits to the public. We have complied with the duty the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Commission.
Advancement of Animal Welfare
Under the Charities Act 2011, the advancement of animal welfare is recognised as a distinct statutory charitable purpose. This legislation and the Animal Welfare Act of the same year indicate an acceptance by society that treating living creatures with compassion has a moral benefit for the public as a whole. Whilst this public benefit is clear, it is sometimes difficult to quantify and must be balanced against any detriment.
The Branch's animal welfare work, although local in nature, benefits society at large, and aims to help people in need with the care of their animals. All our charitable activities focus on promoting kindness and preventing or suppressing cruelty to animals and are undertaken to further these purposes for the public benefit.
Charitable Activities pursued for the Public Benefit
We provide veterinary treatment for animals that are sick or injured and belong to local people on low incomes. We do this through the operation of a voucher scheme. This work provides assistance to those on means tested benefits by giving them financial help to obtain care for companion animals in need of veterinary treatment. We also help on an exceptional basis to pay veterinary bills for unowned animals involved in accidents that are emergency cases.
The Branch is also focused on the active promotion of neutering and microchipping for companion animals for those in the Branch area on low incomes. We do this through the issue of vouchers and previously provided financial support for the Southeast Region Mobile Cat Neutering Unit when that was in operation.
We provide re-homing and fostering services where possible for both unowned and companion animals that come via the Inspectors, members of the public or local veterinary practices.
We respond to enquiries (both direct and via the Society’s national call centre) from the public about animals in our area. The public benefits from knowing that we will help animals in need, where possible.
We offer free animal care advice by holding events and answering enquiries. The public benefits through the promotion of responsible pet ownership.
Within the terms of our governing document, we support the National Society, other Branches, the RSPCA Inspectors, local veterinary practices and other local animal charities.
We provide volunteering opportunities for those who wish to support our work, including trusteeship, fostering, and fundraising. This benefits local people and companies by providing the possibility of doing work which is compassionate and rewarding.
Trustees Annual Report (continued)
For the Year Ended 31 2021
Achievements and Performance Review
The global COVID 19 pandemic that started in 2020 continued to have a significant impact across the world during 2021. Lockdown restrictions in the U.K. began to ease in the second half of the year with the introduction of the vaccination programme. Many people continued to work from home and acquire new pet dogs and cats but then with a return to work for many, there was an increase in the number of people putting many of those animals up for adoption and taking them to animal rescue centres.
The RSPCA National Society continued to implement the operational changes from the reorganisation that had been announced the previous year as part of a series of cost cutting measures designed to help provide financial stability where fund raising activities had been curtailed by the pandemic. Our new Kent Chief Inspector Nick Wheelhouse and his team of Animal Rescue Officers and Inspectors working in our area have done a great job working through these operational changes whilst continuing to provide the much-needed front line services in responding to animal welfare concerns. This includes the rescue of all kinds of wildlife trapped or injured from a number of hazards. These have included ducks and birds trapped in fishing lines, foxes caught in discarded football netting, deer roaming on streets and seals injured by plastic toys. We have continued to support Nick and his team during the year wherever possible.
One of the main activities of our Branch is the provision of welfare assistance to people on low incomes in our area whose pets need veterinary treatment. Linda Brown, our Welfare Officer, has continued to receive a lot of calls from the public where incomes have been reduced due to the pandemic. For the full year, we issued 143 (2020: 104) welfare vouchers for 153 (2020:101) sick or injured animals in our area. For the vouchers issued this year, they related to 87 dogs, 63 cats, 1 rabbit and 2 pet rats and worked with many different veterinary practices in our area. The most used vets continue to be Vets4Pets, Priory Lodge, Abbotsley Vets (now Pennards) and Portland Vets. The last two used to offer the branch a discounted neutering scheme but unfortunately, they have not renewed this.
We are pleased that during the year Linda has established and increased our relationship with another animal rescue charity in our area, Rescued Animals in Need or “RAIN”. We work together in support of members of the public on financial welfare cases and in the rescue of stray cats and kittens.
The Branch had a busy year with animal rescue, fostering and adoptions with the help of our branch volunteers. We helped 4 stray cats and their separate litters of 18 kittens who were all stray and successfully rehome them, 6 cats, 2 rabbits, 2 African land snails and Lottie, the border terrier puppy who was born with a deformed front left leg and then broke her right leg. Lottie survived and had her broken leg fixed and is now enjoying life with her foster family.
Our cattery has remained closed in the year as our volunteer cattery manager continued her recovery back to good health. We continue to try and increase our volunteer fosterers in our area and will use the services of a local private boarding establishment as needed to support animals requiring care in our area. Subsequent to the year end, the Committee have agreed to sell the cattery pens for £250 reflecting the age and condition of the pens to the cattery manager and we will look to donate the related equipment to another RSPCA branch.
Trustees Annual Report (continued)
For the Year Ended 31 December 2021
We were pleased to be able to attend the local Great Comp garden event and have stalls at both Otford fete and the Shoreham heavy horse show to help raise funds and increase public awareness of our activities in the local area.
We were sorry to say goodbye to Alex Dawson as a Trustee who has supported the branch for many years. We welcomed a new Trustee to our Branch, Mrs Geraldine Hughes through a campaign to help increase our Branch members and volunteers. Mrs Hughes has helped with our fundraising events.
We did receive our annual share of the National Society’s house to house collections and donations in 2021 as collections are carried out two years prior. We do expect to have a significant fall in our income in 2022 as these collections were not allowed in 2020 due to COVID restrictions. Therefore, we have determined one of our key objectives for 2022 is to increase our donations and fundraising where possible.
Financial Review
Financial Performance
The Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2021 will be submitted for adoption at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 13 June 2022.
The Financial Statements (including the Notes to the Accounts) show a position which the Trustees consider to be sound.
During the year the Branch recorded a net income of £4,269 compared to a deficit of £3,571 the prior year. This increase in net income of £7,840 was due primarily to a £10,000 donation made in the prior year by the Branch to the National Society’s Branch Emergency Fund (“BEF”) and a refund of £3,045 of this amount received in 2021. We had been advised that not all of BEF was required and therefore that all Branches that contributed received a refund of a pro-rata share of their donation. In the Statement of Financial Activities the donation made in the prior year is included in expenditure on charitable activities and the refund received in the current year is included in donation income.
Income in 2021 increased by £2,375 to £30,403. The increase was due to higher donation and rehoming income which increased by £3,032, mainly due to the refund of the BEF noted above as well as the Branch beginning to receive store vouchers from Pets At Home. This increase in donation income was offset by a reduction in the Branch’s share of the central allocation received of the Society’s house to house collections compared to the prior year. This initiative, which uses professional fundraisers, generated £24,134 (2020; £25,173). As noted above, we do expect this latter source of income to decline in 2022. Income from Events and donated goods income increased by £704 as we had a presence at local community fete and other events that were not permitted with the pandemic in 2020.
Expenditure on charitable activities includes veterinary fees, animal care and donations made to the RSPCA National Society. Veterinary fees and animal welfare spend increased by £7,450 to £18,497. This increase is due to the prior year being lower as veterinary practices temporarily restricted services during lockdown to emergencies only. It is also due to the continued increase in the costs of veterinary visits and treatment year on year – approximately 10% increase in the spend per animal. The Branch continued to spend animal welfare through the branch voucher system for veterinary fees and the cat rehoming activities.
Trustees Annual Report (continued)
For the Year Ended 31 December 2021
The Branch contributions made to the RSPCA National Society reduced by £15,895. The prior year included the £10,000 BEF contribution noted above as well as a donation to the Regional PAWS Scheme of £2,100 in support of an elderly animal requiring ongoing veterinary costs post adoption. This scheme was put on hold due to the National Society’s restructuring that took place, but we have expanded this in 2022 to allow animals from our Branch area to be included in the scheme.
Branch financial plan – include designated funds details
Reserves policy and risk management
The policy of the Trustees is to have a minimum of £5,000 in unrestricted reserves to ensure that our public interest welfare work can continue in a managed way should the income reduce significantly for any reason. The Branch ended the 2021 financial year with £79,810 (2020; £75,541) in reserves. We are actively seeking opportunities to reduce the carried forward reserves year on year but will also give consideration to the expected reduction in our share of the National Society’s house to house collections in the next few years and higher welfare spend.
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Funds were designated by the Trustees for a total of £17,000 to support the following 3 initiatives:
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i) Cattery Fund - £2,000 was designated to the Branch cattery facilities to support closure or re-purposing. Subsequent to the year end, the cattery pens have been sold as noted above.
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ii) Equine Fund - £5,000 is designated in support of the Local, regional or National Society’s equine work
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iii) PAWS Fund - £10,000 is designated in support of the expanded PAWS scheme as outlined above.
The Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the Charity is exposed. The Trustees continually review the risks and systems which are in place to minimise them. Both external and internal risks are reviewed to ensure that they meet the needs of the charity.
Thank you
To conclude this report, I would like to thank each of the Trustees and volunteers who have all continued to give generously of their time and efforts which have contributed to the success of the Branch again this year. We are particularly grateful to Linda Brown, our Welfare Officer for her work supporting the pets of members of the public on low incomes. On behalf of the Committee, I would also like to thank Chief Inspector Nick Wheelhouse and his team who continue to do such invaluable work towards improving animal welfare in our area. In addition, our thanks go to Sarah Piggott as our Branch Partnership Manager for all the invaluable help she continues to provide, to R.A.I.N and all the other local services and organisations that have also assisted us when called upon.
Approved by order of the committee on 23 May 2022
Ms J Selmes, Branch Chair
RSPCA. KENT WEST BRANCH {Registered Charity 209193) Independent Examiners Report Indepen¢lenl exuminer's reporl lo ilie Trusleu of RSPCA Keni Wesi Brnnch I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts for the year ended 31 Decetnbei 2021, iYhi¢h are sel out on th¢ next pages. Respon5ibililies andbasis of reporl As the charity trustecs you are reswnsible for the pparatIOn of the acwunts in acwrdan¢e with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011('the Act'}. I report in respect of my examination of the Trustee's aonIS carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my exaTnination I have follow¢d all ihe applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5Xb) of the 2011 Act. Independenl examiner'5 sllllemenl I have complcted my exatnination. I confirtn that no material mall¢rs have come to my attention in coniieclion witli the examination giving me cause to belicvc that in any material respect.. a¢¢ounling words w¢r¢ not k¢pl in res1cl of the Trust as r4uired by section 130 01 the Act. or the ac¢ounls do nol oc¢ord with those records" or the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements con¢erning the fomi and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accoiints give a 'true and fair view. which is not a matter ¢onsid¢red as part of an independent examination. I have no Concerns and hav¢ come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention shoiild be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding ol the accounts to be reached. Stephen Pocock FCCA BSR BESPOKE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS LINDEN HOUSE LINDEN CLOSE TUNBRIDGE WELLS TN4 8HH 7 2fJL2
RSPCA, KENT WEST BRANCH (Registered Charity 209193)
Statement of Financial Activities
RSPCA, KENT WEST BRANCH
(Registered Charity 209193)
Balance Sheet
Balance Sheet As at 31st December 2021
| Note Fixed Assets Tangible assets 2 Current Assets Stock Cash at bank 3 Debtors 13 Current Liabilities Amount falling due within one year 14 Net Current Assets Net Assets Funds Unrestricted Funds: General Purposes Designated |
Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds £ £ - - 175 85,058 - 334 - (5,757) - 79,810 - 79,810 - 62,810 17,000 79,810 - |
Total Total Funds Funds 2021 2020 £ £ - - 175 90 85,058 77,458 334 755 (5,757) (2,762) 79,810 75,541 79,810 75,541 62,810 45,541 17,000 30,000 79,810 75,541 |
|---|---|---|
The notes pages form part of these accounts
Jean Selmes Branch Chairperson
Lynne Hill Branch Treasurer
date 23rd May 2022 On behalf of the Committee (Trustees)
RSPCA, KENT WEST BRANCH (Registered Charity 209193)
Notes to the Financial Statements
RSPCA, KENT WEST BRANCH (Registered Charity 209193)
Notes to the Financial Statements contd.
RSPCA, KENT WEST BRANCH (Registered Charity 209193)
Notes to the Financial Statements contd.
RSPCA, KENT WEST BRANCH (Registered Charity 209193)
Notes to the Financial Statements contd.
RSPCA, KENT WEST BRANCH (Registered Charity 209193)
Notes to the Financial Statements contd.