**Trustees’ Report and Accounts For The Year Ended**
**31 March 2021**
**Charity number: 231022**
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## **Catholic Concern for Animals Chair’s Introduction**
## **For The Year Ended 31 March 2021**
**Despite the significant challenges that the covid-19 pandemic has posed for many charities, CCA has had a very successful year, detail in this report.** Its Officers have responded to the circumstances promptly and flexibly, taking full advantage of the capabilities afforded by digital media to ensure that the Charity could continue to meet its objectives while reducing its costs.
For example, the use of digital media for meetings and conferences has secured a wider participation of the public and representatives from relevant organisations in the Charity’s activities, as well as made possible an increased participation of the Charity’s Officers in the activities of the organisations with which CCA collaborates worldwide. The transformation of CCA’s flagship magazine _The Ark_ from a printed to a digital publication has enabled its wider distribution by eliminating shipping costs, has increased its accessibility for people with visual impairments and has improved its usability through the provision of links to external information sources. Savings made on travelling expenses have been invested in the continuing development and implementation of a digital strategy, including a free fortnightly newsletter, which provides regular updates for all subscribers, a YouTube channel, which features contributions from key international exponents of the animal advocacy world, and increased social media activity, which is especially aimed at a younger audience.
Savings have also enabled CCA to significantly increase, via its Phyllis Mary Trust, support for struggling frontline charities who provide immediate relief for the suffering of animals around the world; while the pandemic has dramatically increased the need for such relief, for many frontline charities the various lockdowns have drastically reduced their capacity to provide it, which has made CCA’s support vitally important.
This year, CCA’s global reach and influence were recognised by its admission to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) as an observer non-governmental organisation; it is worth noting that CCA is the first faith-based organisation to ever be granted such a position within the United Nations. Another example of the Charity’s growing influence is the Vatican’s participation in and contribution to CCA’s Fish and Marine Welfare Conference, funded by the Eurogroup for Animals of which CCA is also a member.
These major achievements have been the result of CCA Officers’ exemplar dedication to the Charity’s mission, and of their strategic and careful investment of supporters and members’ donations, for which we continue to be very grateful. Thanks to the effective use of membership contributions and supporters’ legacies, the year concludes with a significant financial surplus, which leaves CCA in excellent stead for the coming years to conduct the much needed work that is still needed to advance Christian respect and responsibility for the animal creation.
**6[th] November 2021**
**Dr Clara Mancini Chair of the Board of Trustees**
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## **Catholic Concern for Animals**
## **Chief Executive’s Statement For The Year Ended 31 March 2021**
**The financial year ended 31[st] March 2021 has been very difficult for CCA due to the Covid-19 pandemic.** However, I am delighted to say that we managed to navigate the difficulties successfully in terms of both our financial performance and also the continued delivery of our charitable objectives. As you can see from the formal accounts, we had a very healthy surplus of over £70,000, which is a great result for CCA in any normal year, but a truly fantastic one in the circumstances of Covid-19 when many charities and other organisations made heavy losses.
We are delighted to have also done so in a year when we increased our Phyllis Mary Trust (PMT) donations to try and help animal sanctuaries struggling with increased Covid-19 pressure. Equine sanctuaries were particularly badly affected by the pandemic and we more than tripled our support from PMT to such worthy causes in 2020/21 compared to 2019/20.
We have continued our “digital transformation” programme and invested heavily in this area and launched new initiatives, which are designed to reach more people throughout the world, and we will build on this in the years ahead. Global communication has never been easier via the internet but this world is constantly changing and evolving and we have to keep up to date to ensure that we fulfil our charitable objectives as well as we can and I sense that we will never be able to “stand still” in the field of digital communication.
We need to be constantly investing in these areas of work and this will be a theme of future years’ expenditure. We had to take the difficult decision to cease production of the printed Ark which was not proving cost effective. The new digital Ark has been a major success and is an improvement on the old printed copy and we are seeing a great increase in our support throughout the world, including many more members and subscribers to the digital Ark following its launch.
We held our first ever Zoom AGM because of the Covid-19 lockdown and this was very welcome to many members throughout the world who had previously been unable to attend the physical AGM held in London. We will continue to hold AGM’s digitally, although we will investigate a hybrid model.
We are approaching the new financial year with confidence, although the on-going pandemic makes financial planning difficult and, as I said last year, the pandemic will have a profound, but as yet unclear, effect on CCA going forward for a number of years to come.
**6[th] November 2021**
**Chris Fegan Chief Executive**
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## **Catholic Concern for Animals**
## **Trustees’ Report**
**For The Year Ended 31 March 2021**
## **Mission**
Catholic Concern for Animals’ mission is the advancement of Christian respect and responsibility for the animal creation with special reference to Catholic teachings and beliefs.
## **Activities**
The charity meets its objective of advancing Christian respect and responsibility for the animal creation through the production of its members’ magazine _The Ark_ which is now issued digitally four times a year, through its fortnightly newsletter, and through its website and social media outreach. The Chief Executive promotes the work of the charity by engaging with other organisations.
## **Main Achievements**
The highlights of the year were undoubtedly CCA’s _Fish and Marine Welfare Conference_ and our new official membership of the _United Nations Environment Programme_ (UNEP) and also the _United Nations Environment Assembly_ (UNEA). The Fish and Marine Welfare Conference was a major success and the involvement of the Vatican was hugely important to CCA, and was much appreciated by the delegates and CCA members and supporters. All the contributions were published in _The Ark_ and the recording of the Conference is still available on the CCA YouTube Channel at: - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC18C3BjisEUbiBicck9 bJQ
The launch of the CCA YouTube channel, along with our regular digital newsletter and improved social media output, has brought the work of CCA to a whole new audience, and these aspects of the digital transformation, along with the digital Ark has been a major success, and we will continue to grow our worldwide reach in the year ahead.
## **Financial Review**
Total reserves increased from £192,322 last year to £265,309 this year, due to increased legacy income and cost cutting as a result of the Covid-19 restrictions.
Legacy income for the general fund was £134,650 this year (2020: £16,411) and total expenditure was £62,617 (2020: £87,648). Costs have been cut back in 2021, as CCA ceased to travel for UK and overseas activities due to the Covid-19 restrictions, and instead held meetings online. CCA has fully digitalised its operations in response to the Covid-19 restrictions, including ceasing printing and distributing _The Ark_ by post.
A legacy of £15,000 was also received by the Phyllis Mary Trust which granted £14,520 (2020: £4,810) to small animal rescue organisations which were struggling particularly badly this year due to the lockdowns.
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## **Structure, Governance and Management**
The charity, which was founded in 1929, is governed by a board of trustees who meet four times a year, in addition to the AGM, to develop strategy and make decisions about the operations of the charity. It complies with the Charity Governance Code for smaller charities. It employs a Chief Executive and a part-time Finance Manager to manage the day to day affairs of the charity and will also engage specialist contractors as delivery tasks require. Trustees are not remunerated but can be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred on behalf of the charity. During the year trustees were reimbursed £nil (2020: £520). There have been no related party transactions with trustees.
## **Reserves**
The Charity holds three types of reserves – restricted, designated and free. Restricted reserves are those funds which are restricted to the activity specified by the donor. The _Phyllis Mary Trust_ is a restricted reserve and is only to be applied to provide grants for small and struggling animal rescue organisations. Designated reserves are those funds applied by the trustees for specific purposes. The _Laudato Si’_ fund is a designated reserve and is to be applied for the purposes of promoting the teachings on Pope Francis’ encyclical “ _Laudato Si: On Care for our Common Home”_ , with particular reference to care for our fellow creatures. The free reserves are the total funds less the restricted and designated reserves. This is the _General Fund_ .
The reserves policy is to aim to hold an average of two years’ operating expenditure in free reserves, where possible, to ensure the continuity of the charity. This is because of the infrequent nature of the charity’s main source of income, which is legacies.
A further £75,000 was transferred from the _General Fund_ to the _Laudato Si_ ’ Reserve. This was because there had been a good level of legacy income in the year, and the trustees wished to devote extra effort to the promotion of Laudato Si’, and felt able to do so whilst remaining within the limits of the free reserves policy.
## **Investment Policy**
It has been the policy of the board of trustees to hold the charity’s funds in a low risk, interest bearing account. This safeguarded the charity’s funds during the financial crash caused by the Covid-19 crisis during March 2020. The trustees hold funds at two banks in order to minimise risk of losing funds should any one bank collapse.
## **Public Benefit Statement**
The charity provides a public benefit by producing educational material and giving talks on the empathetic treatment of animals, based on the teachings of the Catholic Church, which gives a moral benefit to the human community.
## **Risk Management**
The board of trustees have considered the major risks to the charity and have developed a risk register which includes risks relating to governance, operations, finance, external threats and compliance with law and regulation, in line with the Charity Commission’s document CC26. The trustees regularly review the risks and have implemented structures to control them. One of the major risks to the
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charity is a decline in legacy income. Without legacy income, CCA cannot continue to operate at its current levels beyond the next three years. To mitigate this risk, CCA has been focusing on fundraising.
## **The Impact of Covid-19 on Going Concern**
The trustees have reviewed the three year forecasts as part of their six monthly review and are satisfied that the charity remains a going concern. The latest forecasts indicate that there are sufficient reserves to cover existing levels of activity for the next three years. The charity is not reliant on shop income or fundraising events which would have been hit by the Covid restrictions. Staff have continued to work from home as normal and there has been no furloughing of staff. Costs have been cut as travel has ceased and the charity has digitalised its operations and communications.
## **Future Development**
The financial year 2021/22 is dominated by major UN Conferences such as COP26 on Climate Change, COP15 on biodiversity loss, the Food Systems Summit and UNEA 5.2. CCA will engage with all of these crucial events to ensure that the needs of the non-human creation are heard loud and clear at the highest levels.
We will continue the CCA digital improvement and we are now in the area of “digital consolidation” after our initial huge and very successful digital transformation.
We are hoping to get back to face to face meetings if we can and to try and hold our St Francis and St Hubert Award ceremonies, which had to be cancelled last year.
We will continue to make increased payments from the Phyllis Mary Trust to support animal sanctuaries and we are also hoping to start a CCA archive programme to fully catalogue and record the Charity’s history.
**Signed:**
**Dated: 6[th] November 2021**
**Dr Clara Mancini Chair of the Board of Trustees**
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## **Catholic Concern for Animals**
**Independent Examiner’s Report For The Year Ended 31 March 2021**
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Catholic Concern for Animals**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2021 which are set out on pages 1 to 10
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’s 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 charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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 accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts 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.
Mr Philip W Soutter, FCCA, ATT Wills Accountants Ltd Chartered Certified Accountants 2 Endeavour House Parkway Court Longbridge Road Plymouth PL6 8LR
**Signed: …………………………….…. Dated: 6[th] November 2021**
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## **Catholic Concern for Animals**
**Income and Expenditure Statement For The Year Ended 31 March 2021**
|**2021**
**£**
**£**
**General Fund (Unrestricted)**
**Income:**
Legacies
134,650
Membership Fees
2,131
Donations
1,969
Sales of literature
137
Interest from investment
127
139,014
**Expenditure:**
Publication & distribution of_The Ark_
2,598
Literature and cards
0
Digital Transformation
1,195
Website & social media
7,916
UK & overseas activities & conferences 1,908
Prizes & awards
250
Governance costs
0
Remuneration
44,374
Recruitment and Training
0
Fundraising costs
0
Accountancy & Audit
695
Member & Donor Admin
1,841
Insurances
566
Subscriptions & advertising
209
Stationery & sundry items
462
Bank charges
173
Depreciation
430
62,617
**Net Income/(Expenditure)**
76,397
Balance brought forward 83,026
Transfer (to)/from the_Laudato Si’_Designated Fund(75,000)
Balance carried forward
**£84,423**|
**£**
16,411
2,380
1,738
35
313
10,077
3,438
2,957
570
13,478
5,397
1,865
46,241
339
145
738
0
527
604
730
112
430
|**2020**
**£**
21,327
87,648
**(**66,321)
149,347
0
**£83,026**|
|---|---|---|
|**Designated Fund**
**Laudato Si’ Fund**
Balance brought forward
Transfer (to)/from General Reserve
Balance carried forward
|**£**
75,000
75,000
**£150,000**
|**£**
75,000
0
**£75,000**|
|---|---|---|
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## **Restricted Funds**
|**The Phyllis Mary Trust**
**Income:**
Legacies received
Donations received
**Expenditure:**
Donations granted
FX Charges
Balance brought forward
**Balance carried forward**
**Eurogroup Fish Project Fund**
**Income:**
Donations received
Refunded Expenditure
**Expenditure:**
Fish & Marine Welfare Conference
Balance brought forward
**Balance carried forward**
**Total Restricted Funds**|**2021**
**£**
**£**
15,000
0
15,000
14,520
82
14,602
398
23,810
**£24,208**
**2021**
**£**
**£**
0
1,440
1,440
5,248
3,808
10,486
**£6,678**
**£30,886**|**2020**
**£**
**£**
0
5
5
4,810
0
4,810
4,805
28,615
**£23,810**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
13,830
0
13,830
3,344
10,486
0
**£10,486**
**£34,296**|**2020**
**£**
**£**
0
5
5
4,810
0
4,810
4,805
28,615
**£23,810**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
13,830
0
13,830
3,344
10,486
0
**£10,486**
**£34,296**|
|---|---|---|---|
||
|||
||||**£10,486**|
||||**£34,296**|
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## **Catholic Concern for Animals**
## **Balance Sheet**
## **For The Year Ended 31 March 2021**
|
**Funds:**
**Unrestricted Funds**
General Fund
**Designated Funds**
Laudato Si’ Fund
**Restricted Funds**
Phyllis Mary Trust
Eurogroup Fish Project
**Total Funds**
**Represented by:**
**Fixed Assets**
Computer Equipment
**Current Asset**
Debtors and Prepayments
Cash at Bank
**Current Liabilities**
Creditors
**Net Current Assets**
**Total Assets**
|**2021**
**£**
84,423
150,000
24,208
6,678
30,886
**£265,309**
430
0
267,816
267,816
2,937
264,879
**£265,309**
|**2020**
**£**
83,026
75,000
23,810
10,486
34,296
**£192,322**
860
0
192,849
192,849
1,387
191,462
**£192,322**
|
|---|---|---|
**The trustees declare that they have approved the accounts above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:**
**Signed: Dr Clara Mancini Chair of the Board of Trustees**
**Dated: 6[th] November 2021**
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## **Catholic Concern for Animals Administrative Information**
## **For The Year Ended 31 March 2021**
**PRESIDENT:** Rt Rev. Malcolm McMahon OP, Archbishop of Liverpool
## **TRUSTEES:**
**Chair:** Dr Clara Mancini **Treasurer:** Sheila Thomas **Membership Secretary:** Sarah Dunning **Retreats Secretary:** Irene Casey **Trustees:** Judy Gibbons Rev. Michael Holman Ann Moody Wanda Oberman Graźyna Stenak-Czerny (from 7[th] November 2020)
## **STAFF:**
**Chief Executive:** Chris Fegan **Publications and Finance Manager:** Barbara Gardner
## **ADVISERS:**
**Theological Adviser** - Dr Deborah Jones **Scientific Adviser** - Dr Richard D. Ryder
## **PATRONS:**
Sir David Amess MP Rt Hon. Jon Cruddas MP Bruce Kent
## **BANKERS:**
**CAF Bank** , 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Mailing, Kent, ME19 4JQ.
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS:**
**Wills Accountants Ltd** , Chartered Certified Accountants, 2 Endeavour House, Parkway Court, Longbridge Road, Plymouth, PL6 8LR.
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