**& F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S**
**2021**
**CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 269442 COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1204694**
ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## _Contents_
_**Our goals**_ 4 _**A message** from our Chairman_ 5 _**A message** from our Chief Executive Officer_ 6 _**A message** from our Director of Finance_ 7
8 _Promoting_ 17 _Securing_ 20 _Delivering_ 28 _Recognition_
_**Financial Review**_ 31 _**Governance**_ 33 _**Independent Auditors Report**_ 35 _**Statement of Financial Activities**_ 37 _B_ _**alance sheet**_ 38 39 _**Statement of cash flows**_ 40 _**Notes to the financial statements**_
_**RBST Corporate Directory**_ 53
_**Cheesemaker Jonathan Crump’s Gloucester cattle. Photograph: Nick Turner.** www.rbst.org.uk_
_Cover photograph: Oxford Sandy & Black piglets at Tom’s Farm._
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## _**Our goals** and what we’re doing to achieve them_
_**Goal: A reverse in the decline of all livestock breeds on the Watchlist**_
## _**Goal: A comprehensive up-to-date Gene Bank**_
**What:** We aim to have all the breeds on the Watchlist stable by 2028
## **How:**
- We are refocusing our messaging showing the economic, social and environmental relevance of native breeds.
- We use the latest technology to save our rarest breeds, as with the British Lop Pig Project. What we learn from this project will be applied to the benefit of other breeds.
- We will continue to equip breeders and potential breeders with the knowledge they need to keep animals through our Grazing Animals Project courses and online resources.
- We are identifying ‘Priority Breeds’ and creating Conservation Plans for each of them.
**What:** The RBST Gene Bank is the charity’s single biggest investment and a key national asset. We will work towards making this a National Gene Bank, supported by government
## **How:**
- We are implementing a clear strategy which will support the maintenance and acquisition of animals to ensure the future of our native breeds.
- We need to ensure that the original genetics are preserved and can be drawn on in the future.
- We are actively promoting the importance of the Gene Bank to potential donors and funders and will ensure that its importance is widely understood.
_**Goal: Livestock genetic diversity recognised by government and wider society as a fundamental element of agricultural and biodiversity policy**_
**What:** We lobby for genetic diversity to be recognised in government policies such as the Agriculture Act, Rural Development Policy and Biodiversity Policy
## **How:**
- We are joining formal partnerships and networks to highlight the many benefits of our native breeds.
- Our strategic work will build on our good media profile to ensure that native breeds are recognised in policy as being crucial to bringing greater sustainability to modern farming and land management practices.
- Our volunteer network represents us at shows and highlights the range of rare breeds that exist and their many and varied uses to the public.
_www.rbst.org.uk_
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**John Atkinson** Chairman
## _**A message** from our Chairman_
government support for the breeds. Spending hours on Zoom and Teams meetings can be a bit tedious, but it’s vital that we have input into the new agricultural vision being developed within government.
**I was honoured to be elected RBST Chair after the 2021 AGM, taking over from Gail Sprake, and am now working with my fellow Trustees, staff and our dedicated volunteers throughout the UK to ensure the Trust’s activity is making the greatest positive impact for the future of our wonderful rare and native breeds of livestock and equines.**
The more strategic approach RBST adopted for its breed conservation work in 2021 is paying off too. With the new Watchlist methodology, which takes account of the level of inbreeding and other relevant factors, alongside the numbers of animals, we are much better placed to identify the specific challenges facing the breeds and what needs to be done to put things right.
As a Cumbrian livestock farmer, with a business based on native breeds, ensuring they thrive is essential for me. With growing consumer interest in provenance of food and an increasing focus on the environmental impacts of farming and land management, the agricultural landscape is changing. Alongside the move from CAP to payment based on public goods and the massive increase in input costs, RBST has a golden opportunity to show why native breeds can and should play a major role in a sustainable future for food, farming and the environment. For a long time agriculture has focused squarely on volume production, but the current shift towards greater consideration of the cost of inputs and wages is shining a light on the commercial attraction of native livestock breeds.
I have been impressed by the extent to which RBST members have stepped up to help extend our influence at a local and regional level. RBST’s Scottish Forum has done wonders in achieving its stated aim for “improving RBST’s influence in Scotland, and Scotland’s influence in RBST”. The new Young RBST, set up to provide a forum for younger members to engage with one another should help secure the next generation of RBST and give a voice for our younger members.
If you are a long standing member you will be pleased to see that 2021 saw significant improvements in RBST’s financial internal administration. Income was up 13% on the previous year and, as a direct result of our significantly improved budgeting and cost control, notwithstanding the improved operational delivery, total spend has declined to its lowest level since before 2018,
As Chairman I am determined the RBST should become ever more focussed on showcasing why our native breeds of livestock and equines matter, and how we can work for their survival long into the future. For example, when I took part in some bench-marking analysis locally, our business came out well when we looked at the gross margins, but it jumped into the top five when we added in unpaid labour and fixed costs. Native breeds have been bred for centuries to live and thrive in our environment with little input; we can use these attributes to provide a much more sustainable future for British agriculture.
Finally though, everything comes down to people, and I have been delighted to have such an extremely supportive Patron, an engaged and articulate board of trustees, an incredibly able and hardworking staff team and so many loyal and enthusiastic support groups and members. I was particularly delighted that 2021 saw Baroness (Sue) Hayman of Ullock agree to become our new President. I want to conclude by giving them all my deepest thanks.
Covid may have limited our ability to meet people face-to-face in 2021, but we have more than made up for it through our use of the media. I have been delighted by the number of mentions of RBST making the case for native breeds I see in the farming, national and regional press, I am sure this is partly why we are seeing more enquires for native breeds from farmers and estate managers looking for a more sustainable business model. We have also been devoting time to making the case in Westminster for native breeds and the devolved administrations. With each of the UK countries drafting new agriculture policies RBST has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure
_www.rbst.org.uk_
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
**Christopher Price** CEO
## _**A message** from our Chief Executive Officer_
**In 2020 RBST produced its first comprehensive conservation strategy. 2021 saw us roll it out.**
And as Director of Finance Claire McNicol makes clear, all this means we are making the best use of the money we raise.
The strategy has three parts, and the details are set out on page 9. Firstly, we promote the reasons for which the animals were initially bred, whether to provide food, fibre or transport; secondly, we lobby for government to invest in the public benefits provided by the breeds; and thirdly, where there is a clear need, RBST will carry out its own bespoke conservation projects.
Of course, we cannot do everything ourselves. RBST depends on its members to get things done, some as individuals, some as members of Support Groups – the groups set up by the board to help RBST deliver its objectives.
I recognise that changing the way we do things has been a challenge for some Groups, but I’ve been delighted by the extent to which so many have stepped up and looked at new ways of delivering for both RBST and the breeds.
2021 saw us make significant headway in promoting the benefits of native breeds and their produce to both farmers and consumers, as shown by the wonderful coverage we secured in the agricultural, national and local media.
RBST Scotland has shown itself to be particularly dynamic, running both physical and online events to raise the profile of native breeds north of the border. In the coming months I hope we will see similar levels of activity in Wales and Northern Ireland.
We need to be making it easier to keep native breeds. In particular we need a network capable of processing small numbers of non-standard animals to the highest welfare standards. So we’ve been working hard through the newly formed Abattoir Sector Group to alert Government to the plight of the small sector calling on it to take steps to address the challenges.
In response to demands from younger members we set up Young RBST, a group for members aged up to 35 wanting a network of like-minded breeders keen to find new ways of doing things. You can read more about them on page 24.
When it comes to working with individual breeds, we depend to a significant extent on the support and engagement of the relevant breed society. Without them many of the specific projects mentioned in this report would be difficult if not impossible.
As the UK leaves the EU and the CAP, we are working with Defra and, increasingly, the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure that our native breeds are properly supported under the new agricultural policies. It’s going slowly, and it will be a few more years before the final decisions are made, but we are in there making the case.
So huge thanks to everyone involved: trustees, members and, in particular, our wonderful staff team: Claire McNicol, Tom Blunt, Andrea Parry Jones, Jo Linford, Rachel Peckover, Jean Henderson and Hilary Young, and our two communications advisers Linda Trotman and Isobel Davidson.
Finally, there are those breeds that will struggle to be viable commercially and whose situation is such that they will not benefit from Government support. 2021 was the first year in which we used the new methodology for compiling the Watchlist, taking account of the level of inbreeding as well as population numbers. This meant that we could have a much better understanding of the breeds under threat, and what steps were needed to turn things around.
We would not be able to achieve nearly so much unless RBST itself was being run in a professional and business-like way. 2021 saw RBST implement its first fully costed 5 Year Business Strategy. This, together with proper budgeting and financial controls, means that the organisation is now being run as efficiently and effectively as it should be. We work out what we need to do, and how we can pay for it.
_www.rbst.org.uk_
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**Claire McNicol** Director of Finance & Operations
## _**A message** from our Director of Finance and Operations_
In addition, RBST has replenished its restricted funds through considered and targeted grant applications and we are poised to increase our conservation spending over the coming years, while continuing to ensure projects are properly budgeted for and deliver the most amount of impact for each pound we raise and each pound we spend.
**2021 was yet another year of considerable success for RBST. The time and effort spent addressing financial and procedural controls has paid dividends and RBST now has a strong, stable foundation from which to focus its time and resources on delivering leading conservation.**
That said, we find ourselves continuing to be in a period of economic turmoil. The impacts of Covid still weighed on 2021 and as we have entered 2022, inflation and global supply pressures have made the financial management of any organisation all the more critical to its survival.
The overall impact of RBST’s increased income and decreased expenditure can be seen clearly through the improvements in the operating surplus, which is once more a surplus and no longer a deficit. RBST’s detailed budgeting and planning process takes into account the long-term, average performance of items such as legacies, as well as investment gains, to ensure whilst there may be fluctuations in operating performance from year to year, on a long term basis the Trust is working to a sustainable level of activity.
From an income perspective 2021 was a strong year for RBST with total income up 12.1% and at its highest level since before 2018. Whilst RBST’s membership income remained broadly in line with 2020 and 2019, the efforts to diversify income sources has begun to pay off. One of the most important and defining features of RBST as a charity is that we are a membership organisation. The breadth and depth of that network, with years of experience and rich knowledge that our members bring, will always be one of our most cherished assets. However, we do need to recognise that the environment within the charitable sector, particularly in regard to membership, is a challenging one. Management continues to target an increase in membership numbers, whilst recognising the need to insure against a difficult backdrop and ensure RBST is not overly dependent on membership income. Further work to continue this diversification is ongoing.
The final thing left for me to say is that none of this would have been possible without a fantastic staff team, who work tirelessly to deliver the objectives of the charity and all those we partner with, from our wonderful members, to fantastic corporate supporters, to those who so generously chose to remember RBST in their will. Our sincerest thanks to you all, we simply could not do it without you.
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Total income (£s)
800,000
700,000
600,000
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
-
2018 2019 2020 2021
Operating deficit/surplus (£s)
200,000
100,000
0
2018 2019 2020 2021
(100,000)
(200,000)
(300,000)
(400,000)
Charitable activity spend from each £1 (pence)
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
2018 2019 2020 2021
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Following the introduction of the strategic conservation plan RBST has be able to focus its time and money on the areas of greatest concern, ensuring that the breeds most in need are prioritised and both staff time, funding applications and other resources target the areas most in need, thus generating the most impact. As well as breed specific projects, RBST has also embarked upon overarching conservation projects to ensure we are at the forefront of leading scientific research to guarantee RBST’s messages, regarding our breeds and their place in government policy considerations, climate change debates, ecological and biodiversity improvements and sustainable food, are heard by the public and relevant audiences with decision making power. All this was done whilst continuing to focus on managing expenditure. Notwithstanding our improved operational delivery, total spend has declined to its lowest level since before 2018, from both a total perspective and an unrestricted perspective.
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# _Promoting_
## _Conservation Strategy_
_**2021 saw RBST rolling out its first comprehensive conservation strategy. The aim is to ensure all its resources, both time and money, are being used efficiently and effectively to secure the best results for our native livestock and equines.**_
We built on this through a series of media initiatives, promoting native breed products and the wider benefits they provide.
## _**The role of Government**_
## _**Removing obstacles**_
We have continued to work hard alerting Government to the plight of the small abattoir sector, and we are now working through the newly formed Abattoir Sector Group. The decline in the number of small local abattoirs capable of dealing with native breeds is a major concern. Government needs to make one off investment to ensure the remaining small abattoirs are “match fit” for the unsubsidised more market-facing world. Where the abattoirs have disappeared, the investment needs to be in mobile or temporary units.
## _**Public support**_
We are working with Defra in England and the Devolved Administrations in Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland on the new post Brexit agricultural support schemes that replace the CAP. We have two specific objectives. Firstly, a shift to the sort of extensive low input farming systems that encourage the keeping of native breeds and secondly specific policies to support the most threatened native breeds. Progress is slow, the scale of change envisaged, particularly in England, is significant, but we continue to make the case.
**The strategy has three parts. Firstly, we promote the reasons for which the animals were initially bred, whether to provide food, fibre or transport; secondly, we lobby for government to invest in the public benefits provided by the breeds; and thirdly where there is a clear need, RBST will carry out its own bespoke conservation projects.**
## _**RBST’s own projects**_
## _**Commercial opportunities**_
Finally, there are those breeds that will struggle to be viable commercially, and whose situation is such that they will not benefit from Government support.
Our native breeds were bred for particular commercial purposes, to meet human needs, whether that be the production of meat, wool, milk, or eggs or to provide practical services such as grazing or transportation.
The revised Watchlist methodology announced in 2020 which takes account of the level of inbreeding as well as population size, has made it easier to identify both those breeds facing the greatest challenges and what needs to be done to improve their fortunes. For example, the 2021 Watchlist highlighted the plight of Gloucester cattle and we are now working with the breed society on a strategy to address the challenges.
As the UK leaves the EU, and farmers face an unsubsidised, more market-facing world in which people are increasingly concerned about the provenance of their food and its environmental impact, niche, low input products with a good story to tell, like native breed meat, will become more attractive to consumers.
With a view to bringing home the commercial benefits of keeping native breeds to farmers and smallholders, we carried out our first ever commercial survey of people already keeping native breeds to demonstrate they can form the basis of a viable business.
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## _Promoting The commercial picture for native breeds_
**However, the survey also found that the lack of suitable abattoirs is seen as a key barrier to future business growth.**
_**An online survey carried out by RBST in 2021 revealed that farmers and smallholders who sell rare and native breed products and services can obtain a premium price while spending less on input costs in relation to continental breeds.**_
**RBST undertook the survey to examine commercial trends with rare and native breed livestock and equines. It revealed that:**
- **49% of respondents sell their rare or native breed products for a higher price than continental alternatives, while 43% said they sell it for the same price and 8% said they sell it for a lower price.**
- **Of those who keep both native and continental breeds, or who have switched from continental breeds to native breeds, 71% thought that overall costs with native breeds were lower than with continental breeds. The main cost differences related to feed and supplements, the type of land required, housing/shelter, and veterinary costs.**
- **38% of respondents said that the commercial potential of offering a superior product was one of the reasons why they chose a native breed, and 36% said lower input costs was a reason for their native breed choice.**
- **42% of respondents warned that ‘lack of suitable abattoir’ is one of their top three greatest barriers to growing their rare breed business.**
_www.rbst.org.uk_
10 _**Welsh Black cattle**_
**These results show that there is a breadth of opportunity for those keeping native breeds of livestock and equines, with commercial activity deriving from meat, wool, breeding stock and dairy with the addition of conservation grazing, hides and horns, and more.**
**However, the results also show very clearly the need for urgent action on the other key barrier for rare breed businesses looking to grow – access to suitable abattoirs. RBST is campaigning for Government to commit to the support and collaboration which will help reverse the decline of the local abattoir network.**
## _**Survey results:**_
**LONGEVITY: 51% of respondents have been operating their rare or native breed business for more than 10 years, and 27% for more than 20 years.**
**INCREASED TURNOVER: 59% of respondents saw the turnover of their rare or native breed business increase in the previous five years, with another 27% saying it had stayed the same. 13% said turnover has increased by more than 50% over the last 5 years.**
**INVESTMENT: 86% of respondents had made investments in their rare or a native breed business in the previous five years. 22% had made investments of more than £10,000, and 73% were planning to make investments in their business over the next 5 years.**
## **FUTURE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES:**
**Respondents saw the following as the greatest opportunities for growing their rare breed businesses: increased consumer concern for the environment and animal welfare (66%); consumers re-connecting with local businesses and valuing local provenance of products (61%); growing consumer preference for quality of meat (56%); ELM and public payment for native breed conservation work (29%)**
**GO NATIVE: The top five reasons for choosing rare/native breeds were:**
- **To support the breed’s survival (85%)**
- **To support the natural environment (56%)**
- **To maintain local heritage (43%)**
- **Commercial potential of superior product (38%)**
- **Lower input costs (36%)**
**23% of respondents keep both continental and native breeds, while 11% have switched from native to continental. 66% chose only native breeds from the start.**
**LOWER INPUT COSTS: Of all respondents, 64% thought that overall costs with native breeds were lower than with continental breeds. This compares with 6% who thought native breed costs were higher and 16% who thought costs were the same.**
**Of those who keep both native and continental breeds, or who have switched from continental breeds to native breeds, 71% thought that overall costs with native breeds were lower than with continental breeds.**
**SELLING FOR A PREMIUM: 49% of respondents sell their native/rare breed meat for a higher price than continental alternatives, 43% for the same price, 8% for a lower price. The top 5 selling points for native or rare breed meat were: taste (76%); local produce (66%); supporting a rare breed’s survival (61%); environmental sustainability (56%); animal welfare (53%).**
_**The results are taken from the responses to the RBST Commercial Trends survey conducted in July 2021 with 259 farmers and smallholders who sell rare or native breed products or services taking part.**_
**BARRIERS TO GROWTH: Respondents saw two factors being the greatest barriers to growing their rare breed business: consumers unwilling to spend more for high quality or high standards (48%); lack of suitable abattoir (42%).**
_www.rbst.org.uk_
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
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Cattle in Epping Forest (copyright City of London Corporation
Yvette Woodhouse).
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## _Promoting_
_GPS-tracked native breed cattle move in to bring conservation boost to ancient Epping Forest_
**In a project run by the City of London Corporation and RBST, Native English Longhorn cattle fitted with state-of-the-art GPS collars have been moved into parts of Epping Forest and its accompanying Buffer Lands, some 8,000 acres in total, where livestock has been absent for more than a century. The native breed’s reintroduction to these parts of the Forest is designed to bring ecological revival to ancient woodland through Conservation Grazing. Epping Forest is one the largest tracts of land in the UK to seek conservation benefits through Fenceless Grazing and has been a pioneer of fenceless grazing in the UK for the past 10 years.**
The significant extension of Conservation Grazing is being enabled following successful trials of the GPS collars at Epping Forest in 2020. The collars allow flexible and scalable landscape management through cattle tracking and containment using Geofences and Nofence Grazing technology without the need for physical fencing. When an animal crosses the Geofence zone, it gets an audio warning prompting it to return back towards the herd to turn off the sound. If it keeps going out of the zone, it receives a low-level pulse. This is a high animal welfare approach using a lower level pulse than an electric fence. The cattle adapt to the system quickly and their welfare is monitored carefully.
As a native breed with a thrifty, hardy nature and which evolved in our native landscapes, English Longhorn cattle are ideal for Conservation Grazing to improve habitats and promote biodiversity. The breed became rare and was listed on the RBST’s first Watchlist in 1976, but thanks to renewed appreciation for the quality of its beef and placid temperament, English Longhorn numbers have seen an impressive recovery in more recent times. This recovery is now being supported by growing recognition of native breeds’ importance for Conservation Grazing.
**RBST Chief Executive Christopher Price said:** “Over centuries our native breeds of cattle adapted to the habitats around them, and in turn their natural activity helped forge the landscapes and environments of the UK. English Longhorns are an ideal choice for No Fence Grazing at Epping Forest and I look forward to seeing the results of their work over the coming months and long into the future. This approach is well suited to supporting the environmental revival of large habitats, and I anticipate we will soon see other land management authorities and landed estates adopting this exciting technology.”
Epping Forest is an immensely important wood‐pasture site, one of the largest in the UK and of recognised international importance. It is hoped Conservation Grazing with English Longhorns will bring back lost structure and complexity of the wood-pasture and allow a large number of species to be supported including a range of scarce species in the Forest and local region such as Lousewort, Heather and Cross Leafed Heath.
Epping Forest was grazed by free roaming cattle, ponies and other animals for over 1,000 years but this declined dramatically in the 20th Century. Grazing was reintroduced by the Epping Forest charity to small areas of the Forest in 2002, and the impacts of the animals has allowed habitat and diversity of vegetation to flourish at those sites. The GPS collars are designed to enable precise and flexible grazing that allows sites to be grazed without or in conjunction with physical fencing. It also allows a more scientific approach to data collection and assessment, enhancing understanding of how grazing shapes habitats and influences species distribution.
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## _RBST Borders Group at COP26_
_**RBST is playing its part in promoting the role of native livestock in addressing the challenges of climate change.**_
**RBST Borders Support Group helped promote the role of rare breeds in sustainable farming at the UN Climate Change Conference - COP26 – held in Glasgow in November 2021.**
The Group was invited to provide sheep as an exhibit in an event for pastoral farmers. The invitation came via a contact of RBST Chairman John Atkinson and Borders Group Secretary Zoe Burn took on co-ordination of the
organisational challenge at short notice. This involved arranging everything from risk assessments, to location, to Animal Health permits and the go-ahead to have the sheep there was only received the day before the event after the application went all the way to the top for Scottish Government approval.
As farmers from all around the world were attending, the Group saw this as a good opportunity to promote RBST and the work it does in the UK. After a call to Fernando Garcia-Dory, Regional Coordinator of the World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous Peoples – WAMIP, Zoe put out an email to members to ask if anyone would be interested in attending the event with sheep, or sheep produce, to promote the use of non-intensive farming for a sustainable future, and try to change the narrative of livestock being a major cause of environmental degradation.
Gordon Johnson from Biggar volunteered to take four horned Hebridean to the sheep and his wife Juliet prepared a hogget stew and home-baked wholemeal loaves for the event. The exhibit received many visitors and Gordon answered a lot of questions from attendees and participated in press interviews.
_**Benjamin Mutambukah, Fernando Garcia-Dory and Hijaba Ykhanbai of WAMIP.**_
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## _Growth for farm parks network_
**Since its inception, RBST has been associated with farm parks. Founder Chairman Joe Henson had started opening his farm gates to the public in 1971 so that the growing collection of rare breeds that his family had amassed at Bemborough could help pay their way. When RBST was launched in 1973, the Cotswold Farm Park was already proving that rare breeds could attract the interest of the general public when displayed in a farm setting and the first RBST Council agreed to encourage the establishment of farm parks around the country, ultimately introducing its approved farm park scheme.**
The defining features of RBST approved farm parks have been their active breeding groups of Watchlist breeds and the fact
that they are open to the public. They are a diverse group, varying in size and style. Some are council owned, some charity and others are privately owned. Together they provide a shop window for RBST, giving the general public the chance to meet and learn about our native breeds.
Following the introduction of a new farm park structure in 2020, the network saw substantial growth in 2021, which included the addition of the first two establishments in the Educational category. With RBST accreditation regarded as an important endorsement of farm parks’ role in preserving and showcasing rare breeds, there is a growing number of parks seeking to join the network.
## _**New Farm Parks in 2021**_
## _**Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park**_ ,
situated just outside Ipswich, became the first Associate member of the RBST farm park network. The park, which already held official zoo status, is a centre for the conservation of both native livestock breeds and rare and exotic wildlife, with over 80 species and breeds on site.
Jimmy Doherty originally founded the Essex Pig Company out of a vision of using traditional, free-range meat production practices rearing British rare breeds – and, in fact, the business still trades under that name. While they now share the stage with a wide range of wild animals, the native livestock breeds remain an essential part of Jimmy’s Farm and its team manages a number of breeding programmes.
Pigs formed the foundation of Jimmy’s Farm and remain an important element of the working farm, which is home to Large Blacks, British Saddlebacks, Middle Whites, Tamworths, Gloucestershire Old Spots, and Oxford Sandy and Blacks.
Other species include British White, Riggit Galloway and Highland cattle, Bagot and Golden Guernsey goats, Embden geese, Buff Orpington chickens and two Suffolk mares.
continued a _**Chatsworth Farmyard**_
long-established relationship between Chatsworth in Derbyshire and RBST. The farmyard at Chatsworth in Derbyshire has provided agricultural education and entertainment for almost half a century. It is a collection of small yards and buildings designed to tell the story of estate farming and sits alongside the broader Chatsworth estate.
Deborah, the late Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, was a longstanding supporter of RBST who brought a unique brand of enthusiasm to her service as both a Vice President and later President of the Trust. She was a great advocate for RBST’s cause and an effective ambassador for livestock conservation. She linked this with a burning desire to educate people about “good food and good farming”. She was particularly fond of her poultry and thrilled to receive a trio of rare Derbyshire Redcaps as a gift from RBST Patron HRH The Prince Charles.
Since joining the RBST network, Chatsworth has increased its inventory of registered pedigree rare breeds with Bagot goats, agisted Landrace gilts and the RBST-owned Eriskay mare Linton Linnet and her foal Survival Lizzie. The Farmyard’s Suffolk mare foaled in 2021 and there are also registered Gloucestershire Old Spots in residence.
_www.rbst.org.uk_
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_**Capel Manor College**_ is London’s only specialist environmental college, offering a wide variety of land-based education with a range of teaching resources for London students covering agriculture, animal care, horticulture and countryside management. Students gain hands-on experience at the College’s certified organic Forty Hall Farm in Enfield and at Mudchute, the RBST approved farm park on the Isle of Dogs.
The cattle breed of choice at Capel Manor College is the Red Poll, the herd having been established around 10 years ago. Sheep breeds include Lincoln Longwool, Norfolk Horn, Boreray, Manx Loaghtan and Jacobs. Pig breeds include Berkshire, Tamworth and Oxford Sandy and Black.
Forty Hill Farm has very varied grazing, which lends itself to native breeds and as well as grazing its own land, the college is involved in a number of conservation grazing projects, including one for the Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, where grazing pigs have helped create the ideal environment for wading birds. The College’s Red Polls have also been used on a nature reserve in Essex where their natural grazing techniques have helped improve land that was overgrown with long grass and shrubs.
_**Tom’s Farm**_ is located in the London Borough of Wandsworth and is part of Nightingale Community Academy, a school for boys aged 5-19 with social, emotional and mental health needs, and also works with a variety of schools in the wider community. The farm utilises its work to support the conservation of rare and native breeds of livestock both as a tool for land-based and animal care qualifications as well as a therapy resource for young people. It offers a field-to-fork educational experience for students, parents, staff and the wider community aimed at reconnecting people with farming and the origins of their food.
_**Melsop Farm Park**_ is a family-run farm park in Norfolk, opened by Keith and Sue Stone in 2002 with day-to-day management now in the hands of son Jordan.
An important element of Melsop’s stocking policy is the inclusion of breeds local to Norfolk, including Norfolk Horn sheep, Norfolk Black turkeys and what is thought to be the UK’s largest breeding group of Norfolk Grey chickens. The farm park is also playing an important role in increasing the effort to improve the geographic distribution of some of RBST’s highest priority breeds, such as the Gloucester and Albion cattle.
Tom’s Farm is home to a number of ‘Priority’ and ‘At Risk’ rare breeds including Border Leicester sheep, Derbyshire Gritstone sheep, Oxford Sandy & Black pigs, Golden Guernsey goats, Bagot goats, and Norfolk Black turkeys. Other native breeds cared for at the farm include Shetland ponies, Welsh ponies, and Shetland and Southdown sheep. Tom’s Farm works with other school farms and rare breed farm parks including Jimmy’s Farm and Hadleigh Farm, and it is currently running a UK-wide breeding and education programme supporting rare breed Oxford Sandy and Black pigs.
Melsop is also home to Belted Galloway cattle, Middle White, Tamworth and Berkshire pigs and Golden Guernsey and Bagot goats. Sheep breeds include the local Norfolk Horns plus Ryeland, Leicester Longwool, Grey Face Dartmoor, Balwen, Castlemilk Moorit, North Ronaldsay, Boreray and Jacob and there is also an impressive range of poultry and waterfowl.
_www.rbst.org.uk_
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
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Gail Sprake
Helen Wray
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## _Promoting The 2021 Marsh Award_
_**The 2021 RBST Marsh Awards for unsung heroes went to three people who have made significant contributions to the work of RBST.**_
for a number of years and was elected as its Chairman at the beginning of 2021. Helen’s Support Group Volunteer award reflects the work she has done to revive the Group with a wide range of activities in support of RBST.
**The award for Conservation in Genetic Bio-Diversity went to Professor Stephen Hall, the Lifetime Achievement Award to Gail Sprake and Support Group Volunteer 2021 was Helen Wray of RBST Dales.**
Helen farms at Gam Farm at Grassington, near Skipton in North Yorkshire and is a dedicated champion for rare breeds, farming a wide range of livestock including 180 Whitefaced Woodland sheep and 50 Northern Dairy Shorthorn cattle, as well as Wensleydale sheep, Bagot goats and Tamworth and Middle White pigs. She is also involved in the Poultry Project, with breeding groups of Marsh Daisy chickens.
Gail Sprake stepped down from the role of RBST Chairman at the 2021 AGM, after eight years in the position. Gail first became an RBST Trustee in 2011 and, with her husband Michael, has been a member of RBST since the mid-1980s. She is a long-standing member of the East Anglia Support Group, for which she acts as secretary, and is heavily involved in all of their activities. She has been unswerving in her championing of the RBST cause for many years, and has been instrumental in the Trust taking advantage of the changes in the political landscape following Brexit. As Chairman, she travelled the length and breadth of the country to promote RBST and has been unstinting in her support of the management team and fellow Trustees.
Professor Stephen Hall is a long-standing and active supporter of RBST. He is an Emeritus Professor of Animal Science at the University of and has served on the UK Government’s Farm Animal Genetic Resources Committee. He has a particular interest in native breeds of livestock and has been involved in research into rare breeds since his student project on the seaweed-eating sheep of North Ronaldsay in 1973. He is currently a Trustee of the Chillingham Wild Cattle Association. Stephen joined RBST in 1977 and in 2002 was co-opted onto the Trust’s Council. He is a member of RBST’s Expert Advisory Panel and during the 2021 review of the RBST Watchlist methodology, his experience and expertise was particularly invaluable.
Helen Wray has been a member of the Dales Support Group
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VRBST
Securing
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## _Securing_
at last accept that the abattoir situation is one that needs to be addressed. As a result of the research the Group has carried out and the information it has been able to provide, in 2021 the agenda shifted to looking at how the situation should be improved, not whether it needs to be.
_**As the UK leaves the EU agriculture will be changing, and in each of the four home nations, RBST is working with the government to ensure that policies to address the needs of our native livestock and equines are properly recognised and addressed in the new policies.**_
## _**Ensuring public support**_
Native breeds do not just provide benefits for their owners, they benefit everyone.
To ensure all these benefits are recognised, RBST is lobbying on two fronts, first for a shift to the sort of extensive low input farming systems that encourage the keeping of native breeds. Thankfully Defra in England is supportive of this approach, and we are making headway. The devolved administrations are at an earlier stage of policy development, and progress is slow, but we are engaged and pressing the agenda.
Secondly, we are calling for specific policies to directly support the most threatened native breeds. This requires recognition of the importance of the breeds themselves, as part of biodiversity, and of the various benefits they provide.
Native breeds play an important role in the development and maintenance of natural habitats and increasing biodiversity. Bred for our landscape, native-breed cattle helped create the pastures and meadows we now cherish; native pigs can be used in woodland management to increase biodiversity and play a key role in arable rotations. We need incentives to encourage farmers and other land managers to use them in preference to larger commercial breeds.
## _**Removing obstacles**_
RBST has long recognised that the lack of a comprehensive network of abattoirs able to process small numbers of non-standard animals to the highest welfare standards and returning the fifth quarter is one of the biggest obstacles to keeping native livestock.
Then there is the cultural side; native breeds are part of our national identity and heritage. Many say White Park cattle, featured in the Rare Breeds Survival Trust logo, were brought to Britain when it was still joined to the European mainland – well before Stonehenge was built. The Large White pig is the cornerstone of pig breeding across the world. We expect Government to help promote and conserve our built heritage, why not our livestock heritage too?
Government needs to make one off investment to ensure the remaining small abattoirs are “match fit” for the unsubsidised more market-facing world. Where the abattoirs have disappeared, the investment needs to be in mobile or temporary units. In addition, Government and the FSA must commit to regulation that is proportionate whilst compatible with the maintenance of standards.
Then there is the vitally important task of maintaining genetic diversity. If UK farming is to have a secure future over the long term in the face of climate change and increased disease risks, we need to maintain the full range of genetic resources to help us respond.
In 2020 together with allies in the Sustainable Food Trust and The Craft Butchers Association, we established the Abattoir Sector Group; an alliance intended to make the case for small local abattoirs as widely as possible.
RBST is working with politicians and officials across the UK to address all of these issues, ensuring that the vital role carried out by the keepers and breeders of native livestock is fully recognised.
The Group has proved a game changer; all four governments
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## _RBST has been working to promote native breeds across the UK_
## _**Wales**_
## **In Wales RBST set out how celebrating native breeds could help support the delivery of Sustainable Land Management, a package of measures intended to address the need for Welsh agriculture to have a sustainable future:**
_The sheep of Wales are famous across the world for their hardiness and ability to thrive and rear lambs in almost any environment. The Welsh Mountain in all its forms provides a significant contribution to the UK lamb trade. Its regional variants such as the Torwen and Torddu have connections believed to date back to the time of St Idloes._
We also highlighted the need for Welsh Government to invest in the abattoir network:
_As part of its new agriculture policy, Welsh Government should invest in ensuring that the existing network is able to meet the changing demands on it. In particular, more abattoirs need to be able to take small numbers of non-standard animals and return the fifth quarter._
## _**Scotland**_
**In Scotland RBST showed the role that native breeds have to play in the local a food agenda. Scottish Government’s concern was with Local Food, and again RBST engaged constructively with the agenda highlighting the role that native breeds could play.:**
_These have the potential to be an important part of the solution to the challenges facing Scottish agriculture. Lower inputs, less environmental impact, cultural significance, localised, high welfare production are all traits that are well established and recognised. These traits could have a positive impact on meeting our biodiversity goals, lowering our agri-environmental footprint, enhancing our agritourism offering and building Scotland’s reputation as a ‘good food nation’_
Again, we highlighted the importance of abattoir provision:
_The lack of a comprehensive local abattoir network is one of the biggest challenges faced by native breed farmers seeking to provide local products to local people. … According to Scottish Government, there are many areas of even mainland Scotland,_
_including parts of Caithness, Sutherland, Ross & Cromarty, Argyll and Bute, where abattoir locations involve moving animals more than 100 miles from the farm._
Finally, we emphasised the importance of greater honesty in food labelling and for consumers to sure of what they are getting:.
_Consumers need to be sure that what they are buying is what it claims to be. …Meat should only be permitted to be described as “native” or “traditional” if it is from a pedigree herd or flock … The use of breed names should only be permitted in respect of meat from herds registered in the herd book for that breed. If the meat is from a crossbred animal, the cross breeding should be expressly referred to._
## _**Northern Ireland**_
**In Northern Ireland RBST fought back against proposals for shortening the life of all beef cattle to a maximum of 24 months, saying the policy would be counter-productive to Irish Government’s aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from beef production:**
We explained a 24 month limit would discourage farming with the slow-growing native cattle breeds which produce high quality beef to high environmental standards. This would in turn, thwart the consumer trend towards supporting the environment by eating less but better meat:
_Breeds such as the Irish Moiled were bred for these landscapes and they bring together commercial viability with environmental value, including their fantastic support for biodiversity through conservation grazing. They are slow-growing breeds and an obligatory slaughter limit of 24 months does not suit this type of farming. If we lose our native breeds, we lose all their genetic and natural capital value too._
_In a future where people are eating less but better meat, slow-grown native breeds are the obvious choice for consumers wanting high quality local produce coming from animals which have been kept to high welfare standards on minimal inputs._
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## _Delivering_
20 _**Dartmoor Pony**_
## _A Watchlist addition in 2021_
The Badger Face Sheep’s historic name Defaid Idloes suggests links to a 7th Century figure, Saint Idloes of Mid Wales. The majority of today’s Torwen flocks are still found in Wales, but flocks have also been established in England and a small number in Scotland.
_**Joining the RBST Watchlist marks a call to action for a native breed in decline.**_
The distinctive markings of Torddu and Torwen Badger Face Sheep have been a feature of the Welsh Mountains for centuries but with numbers dwindling, action is needed to prevent Torwens from disappearing. Not only are these sheep an irreplaceable part of Britain’s national heritage but, as hardy native breeds that produce delicious meat, both the Badger Face Sheep breeds should play an important role in Government’s post-Brexit vision of a sustainable future for farming that works in harmony with the natural environment.
**Whilst signalling serious concerns over the future of a breed, it also puts the spotlight on the breed and ensures that breed societies and breeders will have the support of RBST in their conservation efforts.**
Torwens are very useful on farms and smallholdings alike thanks to their hardy nature, medium size and excellent mothering. They are good for crossing, popular in meat boxes and ideal for conservation grazing work, but they are not as well-known as their Torddu cousins. Just 491 Badger Face Torwen breeding females were registered in 2019, down from 681 in 2013.
In 2021, the rare Badger Face Torwen, a Welsh Mountain sheep breed whose numbers have declined nearly 30% since 2013, was added to the Watchlist, which means the breed now benefits from focused RBST support to help its revival. RBST will work in partnership with the Badger Face Welsh Mountain Sheep Society to increase Torwen breeding numbers, prevent inbreeding, and safeguard the breed’s future.
Torwen and Torddu have previously been categorised as one breed but the Badger Face Mountain Sheep Society has traced evidence that shows the two breeds have long been bred separately, with a genetic history and inherited characteristics that clearly distinguish the two breeds. With breeding numbers having increased significantly, the Torddu is no longer categorised as rare but the Torwen is lower in number. Crosses between the Torwen and the Torddu are called a Wendu and they are not considered to represent either breed.
Torwen sheep have a black face with white facial markings, and a black fleece with a white belly (Torwen means ‘white belly’). Their legs are tan with a black stripe, the underside of their tail is white and the rams have dark spiralled horns. Their markings are the reverse of the Badger Face Torddu breed.
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
_Delivering The Native Poultry Project - a step towards pedigree registration_
subsequently identified six more poultry breeds with breeder groups keen to engage with the project: Spanish, North Holland Blue, Norfolk Grey, Old English Pheasant Fowl and Campine.
_**The Native Poultry Project aims to restore the numbers of the most threatened avian breeds.**_
Breeders are being selected to form a ‘Breed Project Group’ for each breed. These will be required to set up pens with separate cockerels and hens to introduce a clan breeding approach, which involves keeping distinct groups with no exchange between separate flocks.
Success is dependant on two key factors: identification of individual birds and record keeping. Identification is significant because administration of the project depends on being able to identify the birds involved and the breeding ‘clan’ to which they belong. It also reflects the need to identify the birds as being members of a ‘breed at risk’ in the event of an outbreak of avian flu to which the government responds by culling; there is a rebuttable presumption that breeds at risk will not be culled in such circumstances.
**The project has grown out of an initiative launched by the Marsh Daisy Society (MDS) which, in turn, built on the previous Andalusian project headed by Andrew Bowden. Seven breeds of chicken are currently involved in the project and there are plans to extend it to turkey and waterfowl breeds.**
Record keeping will be managed via the Cloud-Lines specialist avian breed society registration system, which RBST has agreed to fund, and the project will provide a secure platform from which to ensure the survival of the breeds involved.
The MDS initiative, co-ordinated by breed registrar Serena Eustice, began with a Facebook census in 2020 which was returned by 39 members and established that between them, they had 460 Marsh Daisies, although it was recognised that the number of potential breeding females would present a very different picture. Recognising that the breed needed serious help, the Breed Society put together a plan with specific aims and objectives which will lead to an increase in the number of Marsh Daisies meeting the breed standard in the UK, produced by a co-ordinated breeding programme to maximise the breed’s genetic diversity. This will also pioneer a system to award pedigree certificates to those birds meeting breed standard.
As RBST had piloted the project with the similarly endangered Andalusians, the MDS suggested working with RBST and others to extend the model to more poultry breeds and other avian species. RBST has
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Rare Breeds Survival Trust
Watchlist 2022-23 **The methodology used by RBST to prioritise breeds compares population size with measures of inbreeding and takes into account both females and males and the internationally recognised effective population calculation. RBST would like to thank Defra and UK Breed Societies for their help producing the Watchlist.**
_**Sheep Cattle Equine Pigs Poultry**_ **PRIORITY PRIORITY PRIORITY PRIORITY** _**Chickens Turkeys**_ **Lincoln Longwool Albion Cleveland Bay Horse Berkshire PRIORITY PRIORITY North Ronaldsay Chillingham Wild Cattle Dales Pony British Landrace Andalusian Blue Whitefaced Woodland (feral) Dartmoor Pony British Lop Brussbar Burmese Bourbon Red British White Welsh Mountain Pedigree Dairy Shorthorn (Original Eriskay Pony Large Black Campine Bronze Population) Exmoor Pony Large White Derbyshire Redcap Buff AT RISK Gloucester Hackney Horse and Pony Middle White Dorking Cröllwitzer (Pied) Balwen Border Leicester Boreray Northern Dairy ShorthornVaynol Suffolk HorseAT RISK TamworthAT RISK Hamburgh Malay Marsh Daisy Modern Game Harvey SpeckledNarragansett Norfolk Black Slate Castlemilk Moorit AT RISK Clydesdale Horse British Saddleback Modern Langshan Cotswold British White Fell Pony Gloucestershire Old Spots North Holland Blue** _**Ducks**_ **Derbyshire GritstoneDevon and Cornwall Irish Moiled Lincoln Red (Original Highland Pony New Forest Pony Oxford Sandy and Black Welsh Old English Pheasant Rhodebar Fowl PRIORITYOrpington Pekin Longwool Population) Shire Horse Rumpless Game Shetland Devon Closewool Native Aberdeen Angus Scots Dumpy Silver Bantam Dorset Down Dorset Horn ShetlandTraditional Hereford UK NATIVE BREEDSShetland Pony** _**Goats**_ **Scots Grey Sicilian Buttercup Spanish Stanbridge White Welsh Harlequin Greyface Dartmoor White Park Welsh Pony and Cob (all Sultan UK BREEDS Hill Radnor Whitebred Shorthorn sections) PRIORITY Sussex Abacot Ranger Leicester Longwool IRISH BREEDS IN THE UK English Goat Welbar Aylesbury Black East Indian Llanwenog Lonk Manx Loaghtan Norfolk Horn UK NATIVE BREEDSAberdeen Angus Ayrshire Beef Shorthorn* Connemara pony Irish Draught horse Old English GoatAT RISK UK BREEDSAncona Australorp British Araucana Campbell Cayuga Crested Hookbill Oxford Down Portland Soay Belted Galloway* British Friesian Dairy Shorthorn BagotGolden Guernsey British Faverolles Buff OrpingtonCochin Cream Legbar Magpie Rouen (Exhibition) Silver Appleyard Teeswater Devon Croad Langshan** _**Geese**_ **Torwen Badgerface Welsh Dexter Indian Game PRIORITY Ixworth Wensleydale Whiteface Dartmoor Galloway - Including White Guernsey and Riggit Legbar Leghorn Minorca Brecon Buff Buff Back Embden in the UK)(as standardised UK NATIVE BREEDS Hereford Nankin Grey Back Beulah Highland Norfolk Grey Pilgrim Black Welsh Mountain* Blackface (Scottish) Blueface Leicester Jersey Lincoln RedLonghorn* Old English Game Orpington (non Buff) Rosecomb Sebright Roman Sebastopol Shetland Steinbacher Brecknock Hill Cheviot Luing Toulouse (Exhibition) Clun Forest Red Poll* West of England Dalesbred South Devon Exmoor Horn Sussex Hampshire Down Welsh Black Hebridean* IRISH BREEDS IN THE UK Herdwick Jacob* Kerry Kerry Hill*** _***[These breeds were formerly considered to be ]**_ **Llandovery Whiteface Hill** _**Priority or At Risk breeds**_ **Lleyn* North Country Cheviot Poll Dorset Romney Rough Fell Ryeland* Shetland* Shropshire* Southdown* South Country Cheviot South Wales Mountain* Suffolk Swaledale Torddu Badgerface Welsh Welsh Hill Speckled Welsh Mountain Wiltshire Horn* IRISH BREEDS IN THE UK Galway**
_Gloucester cattle. Photograph courtesy of Cotswold Farm Park._
**Help save rare and native breeds: join or donate at www.rbst.org.uk**
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Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England No 1204694
Registered charity number: 269442
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## _Delivering British Lop project - genomic work complete_
**In 2019, RBST secured major funding from the Gerald Fallowes Discretionary Trust for a project designed to take pig genetics’ conservation to a new level. In 2021, a ground-breaking element of the project came to its conclusion with the completion of a genomic characterisation study that revealed that the British Lop can be clearly defined as distinct from other pig breeds.**
The project was led by Professor Georgios Banos of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and Dr Enrique Sanchez-Molano of the University of Edinburgh, with the support of Giles Eustice and Celia Upchurch of the British Lop Pig Society who co-ordinated the collection of hair samples for genotyping and the provision of pedigree data. The project set out to achieve three key objectives:
- An assessment of the British Lop genomic population structure, including levels of genetic diversity and inbreeding.
- The calculation of the genomic relatedness of British Lops with other pig breeds.
- The identification of specific genomic (molecular) markers that uniquely characterise and distinguish the British Lop from other pig breeds.
The results of the study revealed that there is genetic diversity within the current breeding Lop population, but that levels of inbreeding and the estimated effective population size indicate that prompt measures are needed to safeguard and enhance this diversity. The study also identified genetic markers unique to the Lop which can be used to distinguish members of this breed from others.
This work demonstrates the genetic uniqueness of the British Lop pig and used modern technologies and data to derive information that may be used as a practical breed purity test and also inform breeding strategies aiming to safeguard the integrity of the breed.
## _Work starts on North Ronaldsay_
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Billy Muir
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**One of the projects identified in RBST’s conservation plan focuses on preserving and maintaining the genetics of the North Ronaldsay sheep breed. The first step was to take nasal pharyngeal swabs from the island’s sheep population which was carried out by RBST Chairman Gail Sprake on a visit to North Ronaldsay.**
islander Billy Muir hit the national headlines when he was heralded as ‘Britain’s hardest working man’, winning a Pride of Britain Award. Billy ‘banked’ his £5,000 prize with RBST to await a suitable North Ronaldsay sheep project and it is that money, together with money from RBST’s Linga Holm fund that has enabled this project to go ahead.
Key to the success of this project is collaboration between RBST and the North Ronaldsay islanders. Although the sheep are in individual flock ownerships, decisions concerning them are made collectively by the Sheep Court, which was first created in 1839. The Court is fully engaged in the project, which has the support of the Laird, Caroline Traill Tindall, and island vet Dr Leona Robertson, who is also a member of the Sheep Court.
With the results of the study, RBST will work with the keepers to devise breeding plans to secure the island flock’s long term future. The research will provide useful information on the state of the island flock and together RBST and the islanders will consider what, if anything, needs to be done to ensure that the island flock continues to thrive.
Funding for the project is also collaborative. In 2016
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## _Consultancy advice and training_
## _**New consultancy service from RBST**_
2021 saw RBST launch a new consultancy service to support farmers and land managers wanting to keep native livestock and equines on larger holdings.
As the only organisation dedicated to the conservation, preservation, and support of our native breeds, RBST is using a combination of conservation breeding and research programmes, population monitoring, education, advocacy and grass roots practice to provide leading advice to landowners to help them achieve their ecological and commercial goals for a more regenerative farming future.
With its expertise in the selection, use and management of native livestock RBST can assist with scoping a project, based on a landowner’s vision for their land and its existing features, advising on appropriate breeds and species, managing their welfare needs, registrations, any infrastructure requirements and sourcing the animals.
This expertise developed over the years since its foundation in 1973 has ensured that no native livestock breed has been lost in the intervening years. RBST is offering its consultancy service at competitive rates and all the proceeds will go towards RBST’s charitable work to secure a future for the UK’s native breeds.
To date projects are underway in Yorkshire, the East Midlands, the South West, Wales and Ireland.
## _**Grazing Animals Project (GAP) courses**_
RBST runs two LANTRA accredited courses, Livestock Checkers and Conservation Grazing in Practice.
The Conservation Grazing in Practice course, run over two days, provides an introduction to conservation grazing and the use of livestock to achieve environmental objectives, The course covers grazing and grazing systems, different species and how they graze, animal health, welfare and behaviour, the key legislation, the different roles and responsibilities associated with livestock, health & safety and risk assessments and how to safely and effectively carry out livestock handling techniques.
The one-day livestock checkers’ course provides a basic introduction to stock checking in a conservation context for beginners, volunteers or anyone with limited experience of livestock. It covers animal health and welfare, the key legislation, the role and responsibilities of a stock checker and how to safely and effectively check livestock.
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## _Delivering_
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Vic Hargreaves.
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_Young RBST - a new voice for young members_
structure for young members would give them what they are looking for in an extremely positive move for RBST.
_**A round of online meetings with Support Groups in early 2021 revealed**_
_**a number of younger**_
_**members keen to have their own forum within RBST.**_
**As RBST has long recognised that it needs to engage more with the next generation, the Board gave its support to the establishment of Young RBST, a formally constituted group for RBST members aged between 18 and 35.**
The need to reach out to young people was highlighted by the fact that a membership survey carried out by RBST revealed that just 2 per cent of members are aged below 34. However, in Support Group discussions, an impressive degree of commitment was shown by the younger members taking part. It was felt, therefore, that establishing what is effectively a Support Group
To help prepare the ground, a group of 10 young members was formed, all engaged with Support Groups. Three of the prime movers at the Support Group meetings were Zoe Burn, Kelsey Ann Williamson and Tegan Dowler, who provisionally led the group. Terms of reference were established and guidelines set up for governance arrangements and Young RBST held its first AGM in the autumn, when officers were appointed.
Zoe, Tegan and Kelsey were confirmed as Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary and Vitoria Hargreaves became Treasurer with Holly Norton taking on social media. Young RBST ended the year with just over 50 members in its Facebook group and a programme of events will be held throughout each year. Virtual meetings and social media will make national membership viable and the group will also have the opportunity to meet up at major shows and RBST farm parks.
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Kelsey Anne Williamson.
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Ledingham Chalmers solicitors and supported by the Eriskay Pony Society.
_**RBST’s Scottish Forum held its first major event in March which took the form of an online conference to promote the key attributes of rare and native breeds.**_
**The audience included decision makers and influencers, keepers old and new and RBST members, all interested in the critical issues facing livestock and farming in Scotland.**
A total of 168 people signed up for the event to see a range of talks held during the morning culminating in a live Q&A session with all the speakers. The event was sponsored by
Following a welcome by RBST VP Martin Beard, Linda Tinson, Partner at Ledingham Chalmers took the audience through the opportunities rare breeds give for diversification, and talked about some of the pitfalls people may encounter. This was followed by a talk highlighting the benefits of conservation grazing and its impact on the landscape from members James and Nikki Yoxall of Grampian Graziers. George Peart, from Promar International was up next with an excellent discussion on the genetic advantage of native breeds drawing on his degree dissertation.
There then followed a discussion on native breeds and their history as part of the land, with a particular focus on native equine breeds from RBST Farm Parks Officer Andrea Parry-Jones. Leading chef and renowned Scottish foodie Wendy Barrie from the Scottish Food Guide then told everyone why we should be eating native breed produce.
The focus then moved onto the vital question of local abattoirs and short supply chains with Flora Corbett, Mull Slaughterhouse. This was described as perhaps the most pressing issue for rare breed keepers in Scotland and was highlighted as one of the key messages in the RBST Scotland Manifesto, which was delivered by RBST CEO, Christopher Price in time for the Scottish elections.
ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
_Recognition_
28
_**Old English Goat**_
## _Our Patron_
**RBST continues to enjoy the Patronage of HRH The Prince of Wales whose decades of advocacy for British farming was recognised when he was awarded the Farmers Weekly 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award.**
The award citation stated that: “In tandem with supporting great organisations including the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, he’s someone who’s prepared to speak up on important topics such as local food networks, village services and rural regeneration.” In his response, HRH included reference to the work of RBST, saying: “The proof is in the numbers. I am told that there are now 30, 000 herds and flocks of native breeds in the UK, contributing £700 million to local economies.”
## _Our President_
**Baroness (Sue) Hayman of Ullock became the latest President of RBST, taking up the reins of the role by chairing the Trust’s AGM in November. She took over from farmer and TV personality Jimmy Doherty, who agreed to continue with RBST as Vice President.**
A Labour Life Peer, Baroness Hayman of Ullock has sat under the title in the House of Lords since September 2020 and she is Shadow Spokesperson for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs. Sue Hayman previously served as Member of Parliament for Workington between 2015 and 2019, becoming Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in 2017.
In her role as RBST President, Baroness Hayman will help make the case for securing a sustainable future for native livestock and equines in Parliament and across the wider political world.
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## _Recognition Recognition and positioning_
## _**A planned and sustained campaign**_
## _**RBST Classes at the Norfolk Equestrian Show (July)**_
- **Horse & Hound** – launch article & results article (23,211 readers per issue, online unknown)
Through a planned and sustained communications campaign, RBST has extended its reach across a wide range of media platforms. Total reach through media coverage for the Watchlist launch alone was estimated at more than 8 million.
- **Eastern Daily Press** – launch article & results article (daily print circulation of 22734, daily print readership of 60,679)
- **Your Horse** – launch article and results article (reach unknown)
## _**RBST Watchlist Launch (April 2021)**_
## _**RBST Commercial Trends Survey - inaugural results (August)**_
- **BBC Breakfast** – TV interview (average daily reach of 5.7 million)
- **BBC England News** – online article (specific reach data not available but there are more than 20 million visits to bbc. co.uk / bbc.com each day)
- **BBC Farming Today** interview (listeners estimated as approximately 1 million)
- **Farmers Weekly** online (766,000 web users per month) & print (circulation 38,347 per issue)
- **BBC Points West News** – online article (reach data not available)
- **Farmers Guardian** online (168,900 web users per month) & in print (circulation 28,149 per issue)
- **BBC Radio Suffolk** – radio interview (reach data not available)
- **Scottish Farmer** (print and online audience of more than 100,000 per week)
- **BBC Radio Wiltshire** – radio interview (reach data not available)
- **Farming Life (NI)** (reach unknown)
- **BBC Radio Gloucestershire** – radio interview (reach data not available)
- **Country Smallholding** (reach unknown)
- **The Smallholder** (reach unknown)
- **The Daily Telegraph** print (1,346,000 readers per day) & online (401,938 digital subscribers)
- **Pig World** (4,100 readership per issue)
- **Farmers Weekly** online (766,000 web users per month) & print (circulation 38,347 per issue)
- **Farming UK** (173,172 unique visitors per month)
- Regional media including **Eastern Daily Press** , **Western Daily Press** , **Western Morning News**
- **Farmers Guardian** online (168,900 web users per month) & print (circulation 28,149 per issue)
- **The Scottish Farmer** (print and online audience of more than 100,000 per week)
- **Country Life** (40,317 readers per issue)
- **Horse & Hound** (23,211 readers per issue)
- **Your Horse** magazine (reach unknown)
- **Pig World** (4,100 readership per issue)
- **The Smallholder** (reach unknown)
- **Country Smallholding** (reach unknown)
- Regional print and online including **Western Morning News** , **the Press & Journal** , **Gloucestershire Echo** , **Salisbury Journal**
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## _**Financial Review**_
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2021 2020
Operating Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total Total
statement funds funds funds
£ £ £ £ £
Income and endowments from:
Grants and Donations 28,542 - 134,342 162,884 87,713
Legacies 211,135 - - 211,135 243,443
Membership Subscriptions (inc Gift Aid) 178,326 - - 178,326 179,765
Charitable Activities 49,456 - - 49,456 20,190
Advertising Revenue 13,487 - - 13,487 14,795
Investments 97,258 - - 97,258 89,780
Total income and endowments 578,204 - 134,342 712,546 635,686
Expenditure on:
Raising funds 141,745 - - 141,745 151,490
Investment management fees 18,017 - - 18,017 15,863
Charitable activities 314,476 57,939 74,972 447,387 534,601
Other - - - - -
Total expenditure 474,238 57,939 74,972 607,149 701,954
Net gains/(losses) on investments 383,886 - - 383,886 (33,789)
Net income/(expenditure) 487,852 (57,939) 59,370 489,283 (100,057)
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## _Income_
Total income from 2021 was £712,546 compared with £635,686 in 2020. The increase was predominantly driven by an increase in grants and donations. Legacies are inherently difficult to forecast and have a tendency to be volatile. 2021 saw a slight decrease in legacies, however levels remain above the long term average and continues the prior reversal of the poor performance experienced in 2019.
Income from charitable activities in 2021 was £49,456 compared with £20,190 in 2020. The increase was predominantly linked to the success of RBST’s newly launched consulting service, combined with a significant increase in RBST’s conservation grazing GAP courses.
In line with accounting requirements, we revalue our investments at each year end. In 2021 our investments returned a net positive movement in funds of £383,886, a swing of £417,675 from the loss of £33,789 experienced in 2020. It must be remembered that this figure is simply a snap shot of our investments at a point in time and is highly dependant on the markets at that moment. RBST’s ongoing budgeting and financial management uses long term averages of large volatile items such as investments and legacies to ensure the charity manages its funds appropriately.
## _Expenditure_
Expenditure for 2021 totalled £607,149 compared with £701,954 in 2020. The decrease was driven by a reduction in charitable activities due to a reduction in spend from designated and restricted funds.
The spend on charitable activities from unrestricted funds was broadly in line with the prior year. The spend on charitable activities from designated funds decreased. Whilst there was an increase in spend on the gene bank, no other charitable spend was made from designated funds. This was a positive development as RBST ensured that projects were delivered to budget and only commenced projects once funds were in place. This negated the need for designated spend to fill unbudgeted gaps, as had been the case in the past. Spend from restricted funds was also down, which was the result of more efficient and targeted spending. RBST ensured funds were spent in accordance with the newly introduced strategic conservation plan, which targeted the most important projects for breeds most in need. This also ensured that RBST generated the greatest impact for its charitable spend, meaning more can be done to conserve those most in need. In 2021 overall restricted funds increased and RBST is continuing to work to ensure the most meaningful impact is produced for they way RBST directs both its funds and staff time.
Overall spend reduced 14%, and importantly unrestricted spend reduced 4% as management continued to closely monitor RBST’s cost base. It is expected expenses will increase in 2022 as a full staff team will be in place, and the Farm Park officer post will no longer be funded by a grant from The Princes Countryside Fund. This is expected to compounded by the general rise in costs being experienced globally as a result of the rise in inflation and global supply pressures. However, it is also anticipated that spend on charitable activities will increase as RBST has replenished its restricted funds and is focused on executing high quality conservation projects in 2022.
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## _**Financial Review** (continued)_
## _Balance Sheet_
The Balance Sheet remains robust and net assets have increased by 15% to £3,695,353 at the end of 2021.
The strong performance of legacies and investment gains has further increased the Trust’s unrestricted funds and the Trust is well placed to withstand any future turbulence.
Whilst Covid-19 has clearly impacted the accounts over the last two years we would further reiterate the Trust’s ability to withstand a period of economic turbulence. Furthermore, we would highlight the continued improvements in managing the day to day finances of the Trust, an unrestricted net income of £487,852, in what has been exceptionally challenging times demonstrates the robust position of RBST. The Staff Team and Board are working hard to secure future grants and increase fundraising, alongside seeking out alternative sources of income in 2022. There is no doubt that there will be continued challenges in 2022, particularly as inflation rises and the general economic outlook are expected to weigh on charitable giving. However, we are continuing to work hard to execute high quality meaningful conservation projects, directly aimed at securing the future of the animals we seek to conserve, whilst continuing to offer support to our members and the wider public. We remain confident we have the financial strength to survive the ongoing period of turmoil and believe we have clearly demonstrated RBST has a strong foundation from which to deliver further exciting and innovative conservation work.
|~~_Reservespolicy_~~|31 December 2021|31 December 2020|% Increase/
(Decrease)|
|---|---|---|---|
|Unrestricted funds(Free Reserves)|1,300,420|840,436|54.7%|
|Unrestricted funds(Tangible Fixed Assets)|104,727|119,936|-12.7%|
|Total Unrestricted funds|1,405,147|960,372|46.3%|
|Designated Funds:||||
|- Gene Bank|2,000,000|2,000,000|0.0%|
|- Conservation – Breed stock|24,779|33,559|-26.2%|
|- Linga Holm|12,812|12,812|0.0%|
|- Sandringham Charitable Trust|19,237|19,237|0.0%|
|- Propertyimprovement fund|132,000|132,000|0.0%|
|- LopFund|8,951|3,751|138.6%|
|Restricted Funds:||||
|- Cattle Conservation|2,487|1,747|42.4%|
|- Equine Conservation|23,001|11,285|103.8%|
|- Goat Conservation|2,659|2,659|0.0%|
|- PigConservation|14,439|11,039|30.8%|
|- SheepConservation|27,026|15,125|78.7%|
|- Otherprojects|22,815|11,264|102.5%|
|Ratio of Free Reserves to Annual
OperatingExpenditure|2.1 years|1.2 years||
The charity maintains a large investment portfolio in order to create an income, currently in the region of £100,000, to help fund its charitable activities.
Free reserves are shown in accordance with Charity Commission guidance CC19.
One of the prime objectives of the charity is to ensure the preservation of breeds. Therefore, a Gene Bank is maintained to ensure the characteristics of old and current breeds are conserved. This Gene Bank is treated as a heritage asset, which is irreplaceable. The Trustees have therefore designated £2million to maintain and develop the Gene Bank for the next generation.
The reserves that the Trustees have set aside provide financial stability and the means for the development of our principal activity. The Trustees’ aim is for free reserves to always cover at least the annual operating expenditure.
The Trustees regularly review the amount of reserves that are required to ensure that they are adequate to fulfil our continuing obligations
## _Investment policy_
A medium-risk approach describes the investment policy. Assets are held in the RBST Portfolio which is managed by Smith and Williamson, and which invests in a combination of segregated equities and collective funds. The portfolio targets are initial income yield of 4%; in 2021 it achieved 3.0%, which was acceptable given market conditions. The investment aim is to achieve this income target without detriment to the growth and without incurring unnecessary risk. The value of the RBST portfolio as at 31 December 2021 was £3,540,072 compared with £3,051,652 as at 31 December 2020.
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## _**Governance**_
## _Structure_
RBST is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Registration No. 269442). It is also a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (Registration No. 01204694). It was founded in 1973. Its objects and powers are set out in its Memorandum and Articles of Association.
## _Trustees_
The Board of RBST is comprised of unpaid trustees, with no fewer than six elected from its membership and up to five co-opted. The trustees are also the directors of RBST for the purposes of company law. The Board is responsible for setting policy, agreeing strategy and approving major commitments based on advice from senior management, and the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer. Day-to-day operations are delegated by the Board to the Chief Executive Officer, who leads the executive and volunteer teams. RBST’s Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that elected trustees may be appointed for two periods of up to four years, with years being defined by AGMs, at a time and must then take a minimum break of 24 months. Co-opted trustees may be appointed for two periods of up to three years, with years being defined by AGMs, at a time and must then take a minimum break of 24 months. The Board has two principal committees: the Conservation and Research Committee and the Finance and Governance Committee. Membership of these committees along with a full list of trustees and staff at the time of writing of this report are provided at the end of this report. The Conservation and Research Committee advises the Board of trustees on strategic issues concerning conservation programmes and related activities. The Finance and Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing RBST’s financial performance and matters relating to management, organisation, governance, investments and risk management. Each new trustee is provided with training and an induction, where s/he learns about the organisation and the role and responsibilities of a trustee. The induction includes a pack containing the Charity Commission guidance ‘The Essential Trustee’; RBST’s governing documents; and the most recent annual report and financial statements. Trustees receive ongoing training, receive charity law updates, and are involved in strategic sessions relating to the operations during the year.
## _Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities_
The trustees (who are also directors of RBST for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom generally accepted accounting practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards). Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and the group and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company 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 2019 (FRS 102);
- make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK 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 charitable company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company’s transactions, disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006, and the provisions of the Charity’s constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
In so far as the trustees are aware:
- there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware; and
- the trustees have taken all reasonable steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information. The trustees are also responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website.
Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## _**Governance** (continued)_
## _Grant making policy_
RBST occasionally makes donations or grants, in line with its charitable and strategic objectives, to partners in the RBST network, the outcomes of which are reviewed at regular periods.
## _Public benefit_
In reviewing our charitable objectives and as part of planning our future programme of work, the trustees of RBST have taken account of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and have considered how the planned programme of work will consistently contribute to the Charity’s aims and objectives.
## _Remuneration policy_
Our approach to remuneration across the organisation is designed to ensure we can attract and retain the talented and motivated people we need to deliver our mission.
## _Fundraising Regulator Statement of Compliance_
The charity does not contract with a third party to undertake any fundraising on its behalf. The charity does employ a fundraising officer who initiates campaigns and supports fundraising activities.
The charity only makes fundraising approaches to contacts who have given explicit consent to receive such campaign documentation under GDPR guidelines. We have received no fundraising complaints during the year.
## _Risk management_
The trustees have reviewed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and confirm that systems have been established to mitigate those risks. Particular attention has focused on Support Groups and the review of the risk register was rolled over due to covid and competing commitments, though most of the key issues that would be expected in a risk register have been addressed.
## _Trustees Indemnity_
The charity has Trustees’ indemnity insurance in place.
## _Our employees & volunteers_
The delivery of our mission relies on our talented and motivated people, and we are proud of the performance of our staff and volunteers across the UK. The trustees and Chief Executive Officer encourage widespread consultation and exchange of information at all levels of the organisation and we continue to work together on a range of actions to improve employee and volunteer engagement, ensuring that RBST remains a great place to work and volunteer.
## _Diversity, Equity & Inclusion_
The trustees are committed to addressing equality, diversity and inclusion, recognising that doing so helps a board to make better decisions and means RBST is more likely to stay relevant to those it serves and to deliver its public benefit. Trustees will work to recognise and counter any imbalances in power, perspectives or opportunities in RBST, and in the attitudes and behaviour of trustees, staff and volunteers, so helping to make sure RBST achieves its aims.
The trustees’ report (including the directors’ report) was approved by the Board of trustees on xxxxxxxxxx and was signed on their behalf by:
John Atkinson Chairman of the Board of trustees Date: 16th June 2022
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## _**Independent Auditors Report**_ Year Ended 31 December 2021
## Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 December 2021 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet, Statement of Cashflows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
- give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 December 2021, and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
## Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
## Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
## Other information
The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility
is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
## Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
- the information given in the trustees’ report (incorporating the directors’ report) for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
- the directors’ report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
## Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors’ report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
- certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
- the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies’ regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the directors’ report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.
## Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 33, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern,
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## _**Independent Auditors Report** (continued)_
disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
## Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The specific procedures for this engagement and the extent to which these are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
- Enquiry of management, those charged with governance around actual and potential litigation and claims;
- Enquiry of entity staff in compliance functions to identify any instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations;
- Reviewing minutes of meetings of those charged with governance;
- Reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Performing audit work over the risk of management override of controls, including testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business and reviewing accounting estimates for bias.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK), we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:
- Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
- Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the charitable company’s internal control.
- Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the trustees.
- Conclude on the appropriateness of the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the charitable company to cease to continue as a going concern.
- Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
## Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Geoffrey Cox BA FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of Dafferns LLP, Statutory Auditor One Eastwood Binley Business Park Coventry, CV3 2UB
Date: 16th June 2022
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## _**Statement of Financial Activities**_ (Including Income and Expenditure Account) Year Ended 31 December 2021
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total Total
funds funds funds
Note £ £ £ £ £
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies 2 418,003 - 134,342 552,345 510,921
Charitable activities 3 49,456 - - 49,456 20,190
Other trading activities 4 13,487 - - 13,487 14,795
Investments 5 97,258 - - 97,258 89,780
Total income and endowments 578,204 - 134,342 712,546 635,686
Expenditure on:
Raising funds 141,745 - - 141,745 151,490
Investment management fees 18,017 - - 18,017 15,863
Charitable activities 6 314,476 57,939 74,972 447,387 534,601
Total expenditure 474,238 57,939 74,972 607,149 701,954
Net gains/(losses) on investments 15 383,886 - - 383,886 ( 33,789)
Net income/(expenditure) 487,852 (57,939) 59,370 489,283 (100,057)
Transfers between funds 20 (43,077) 63,139 (20,062) - -
Other recognised gains/(losses):
Gains/(losses) on revaluation of fixed assets 13 - (8,780) - (8,780) (12,640)
Net movement in funds 445,775 (3,580) 39,308 480,503 (112,697)
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward 20 960,372 2,201,359 53,119 3,214,850 3,327,547
Total funds carried forward 20 1,405,147 2,197,779 92,427 3,695,353 3,214,850
**----- End of picture text -----**
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities. Activities relating to the Gene bank are disclosed in note 14.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised during the year.
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## _**Balance sheet**_
## Year Ended 31 December 2021
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
Note £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 13 104,727 119,936
Heritage assets 14 - -
Investments 15 3,540,072 3,051,652
3,644,799 3,171,588
Current assets
Stocks 16 7,360 7,860
Debtors 17 35,490 46,969
Cash at bank and in hand 53,330 34,810
96,180 89,639
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 18 45,626 46,377
Net current assets 50,554 43,262
Net assets 3,695,353 3,214,850
Charity Funds
Unrestricted funds 20 1,405,147 960,372
Designated funds 20 2,197,779 2,201,359
Restricted funds 20 92,427 53,119
Total charity funds 3,695,353 3,214,850
**----- End of picture text -----**
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board on 16th June 2022.
Signed on behalf of the Board of trustees
John Atkinson, Chairman of Trustees,
Alison Pope, Treasurer
The notes on pages 40 to 51 form part of these financial statements
Company registration number: 01204694
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_**Statement of cash flows**_ Year Ended 31 December 2021
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
£ £
Cash flow from operating activities 27,296 (116,862)
Cash flow from investing activities
Payments to acquire tangible fixed assets (1,500) (6,743)
Payments to acquire investments (354,467) (349,068)
Receipts from sales of investments 249,933 362,847
Interest received 7,399 2,723
Dividends received 89,859 87,057
Net cash flow from investing activities (8,776) 96,816
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents 18,520 (20,046)
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 2021 34,810 54,856
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December 2021 53,330 34,810
Cash and cash equivalents consists of:
Cash at bank and in hand 53,330 34,810
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December 2021 53,330 34,810
2021 2020
£ £
Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure) to net cash flow from
operating activities
Net income / (expenditure) for year 480,503 (112,697)
Dividends received (89,859) (87,057)
Interest receivable (7,399) (2,723)
Depreciation and impairment of tangible fixed assets 16,709 22,532
(Gains) / losses on investments (383,886) 33,789
(Increase) / decrease in stock 500 (990)
(Increase) / decrease in debtors (11,478) 34,810
Increase / (decrease) in creditors (750) (4,526)
Net cash flow from operating activities 27,296 (116,862)
Analysis of changes in net debt
31/12/20 Cashflows 31/12/21
£ £ £
Cash and cash equivalents 34,810 18,520 53,330
**----- End of picture text -----**
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## _**Notes to the financial statements**_ Year Ended 31 December 2021
## 1 Summary of significant accounting policies
## (a) General information and basis of preparation
Rare Breeds Survival Trust is an incorporated charity registered in England. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity. The address of the registered office is Avenue Q, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG. The nature of the charity’s operations and principal activities are:
- For the benefit of the public to ensure the preservation of breeds and breeding groups of domestic farm livestock of importance in the promotion of agriculture being breeds at risk, and having characteristics worthy of preservation in the interests of zoological research and education to ensure the preservation of genes of special or potential value in hybridisation or other work; and
- To conduct, carry out and promote research within all areas of the Trust’s interest to increase knowledge and to publish the results of such research.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.
The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value. The financial statements are presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest £1.
The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.
A network of volunteer support groups is constituted within the Trust and accordingly the accounts include their financial activities.
## (b) Funds
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements. The cost of raising and administering such funds is charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
## (c) Income recognition
All incoming resources are 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.
Subscriptions are included in the Income and Expenditure Account in the accounting period in which they are received.
This treatment is also adopted for the limited number of subscriptions received from new life members.
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 fulfilment of those conditions is within the control of the charity and it is probable that they will be fulfilled.
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Donated facilities and donated professional services are recognised in income at their fair value when their economic benefit is probable, it can be measured reliably and the charity has control over the item. Fair value is determined on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity, for example the amount the charity would be willing to pay in the open market for such facilities and services. A corresponding amount is recognised in expenditure.
No amount is included in the financial statements for volunteer time in line with the SORP (FRS 102). Further detail is given in the Trustees’ Annual Report.
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 for which 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 fundraising events and trading activities 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. Where it is not practicable to identify investment management costs incurred within a scheme with reasonable accuracy the investment income is reported net of these costs. It is included when the amount can be measured reliably. Interest income is recognised using the effective interest method and dividend and rent income is recognised as the charity’s right to receive payment is established.
## (d) Expenditure recognition
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 fundraising and non-charitable trading activities;
- Expenditure on charitable activities includes costs of services and of grants, also support costs and depreciation on related assets; and
- 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.
## (e) Support costs allocation
Support costs are those that assist the work of the charity but do not directly represent charitable activities and include office costs, governance costs, and administrative payroll costs. They are incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity and include project management carried out at Headquarters. All support costs have been allocated on the basis of number of employees. Fund-raising costs are those incurred in seeking voluntary contributions and do not include the costs of disseminating information in support of the charitable activities.
The analysis of these costs is included in note 7.
_www.rbst.org.uk_
41
ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## _**Notes to the financial statements** (continued)_
Year Ended 31 December 2021
## (f) Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost (or deemed cost) or valuation less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Cost includes costs directly attributable to making the asset capable of operating as intended. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset on a systematic basis over its expected useful life as follows:
Leasehold land and buildings Over the period of the lease Office and Computer Equipment 10%-33% according to the nature of the asset Conservation Breeding Stock (agisted) Annual Revaluation
## (g) Heritage assets
The Gene Bank is a collection of semen and embryos obtained from rare breeds of cattle, horses, sheep, goats and pigs. It acts as an archive to preserve bloodlines of breeds. Each year additions are made to the archive to ensure that it includes the current characteristics of a breed. The archive is regarded as an irreplaceable resource which cannot be valued with any degree of accuracy and will never be sold. As such it generates no income and so has no realisable value. Therefore it does not have a carrying value in the balance sheet. The costs incurred in maintaining the archive for conservation purposes are written off each year.
## (h) Investments
Investments are recognised initially at fair value which is normally the transaction price excluding transaction costs. Subsequently, they are measured at fair value with changes recognised in ‘net gains / (losses) on investments’ in the SoFA if the shares are publicly traded or their fair value can otherwise be measured reliably. Other investments are measured at cost less impairment.
## (i) Stocks
Stocks comprise genetic resources, which are not part of the Gene Bank, and goods for resale. Genetic resources are valued at the lower of cost of production and market value. Retail stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.
## (j) Debtors and creditors receivable / payable within one year
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 expenditure.
## (k) Impairment
Assets not measured at fair value are reviewed for any indication that the asset may be impaired at each balance sheet date. If such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset, or the asset’s cash generating unit, is estimated and compared to the carrying amount. Where the carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount, an impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss unless the asset is carried at a revalued amount where the impairment loss is a revaluation decrease.
## (l) Leases
Assets acquired under finance leases are capitalised and depreciated over the shorter of the lease term and the expected useful life of the asset. Minimum lease payments are apportioned between the finance charge and the reduction of the outstanding lease liability using the effective interest method. The related obligations, net of future finance charges, are included in creditors.
Rentals payable and receivable under operating leases are charged to the SoFA on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.
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## (m) Employee benefits
When employees have rendered service to the charity, short-term employee benefits to which the employees are entitled are recognised at the undiscounted amount expected to be paid in exchange for that service. The charity operates a defined contribution pension plan for the benefit of its employees. Contributions are expensed as they become payable. The Trust agrees to pay a defined contribution into the employee’s own personal pension scheme for eligible employees. The pension charge represents contributions payable by the Trust for the period. The Trust’s liability is limited to the amount of the contribution. The liability for meeting future pension payments rests solely with the employee’s personal pension scheme.
## (n) Tax
The charity is an exempt charity within the meaning of schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011 and is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes.
## (o) Financial instruments
The Trust enters into only basic financial instrument transactions that result in the recognition of financial assets and liabilities like trade and other amounts receivable and payable and loans to related parties. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## (p) Going concern
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe 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 for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.
## 2 Income from donations and legacies
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
£ £
Grants and donations 162,884 87,713
Legacies 211,135 243,443
Membership Subscriptions (including gift aid) 178,326 179,765
552,345 510,921
**----- End of picture text -----**
Of the income from donations and legacies of £374,019 (2020 - £331,156), £134,342 (2020 - £42,193) was attributable to restricted, and £239,677 (2020 - £288,963) was attributable to unrestricted funds.
Income from membership subscriptions was attributable entirely to unrestricted funds.
_www.rbst.org.uk_
43
ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## _**Notes to the financial statements** (continued)_
Year Ended 31 December 2021
|3|Income from charitable activities|2021|2020|
|---|---|---|---|
|||£|£|
||Conservation activities (includingSupport Groups)|49,456|20,190|
||Income from charitable activities includes £nil (2020 - £nil) in respect of restricted funds and £49,456 (2020 - £20,190)
of unrestricted funds.|||
**----- Start of picture text -----**
4 Income from other trading activities 2021 2020
£ £
Advertising revenue 13,487 14,795
**----- End of picture text -----**
Income from other trading activities was attributable to unrestricted funds in both years.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
5 Income from investments 2021 2020
£ £
Dividends - equities 89,859 87,057
Interest - fixed interest securities 7,399 2,723
97,258 89,780
**----- End of picture text -----**
Income from investments was attributable to unrestricted funds in both years.
## 6 Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities
||2021|2021|2021|2021|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Activities
undertaken
directly|Grant
funding of
activities|Support
costs|Total|
||£|£|£|£|
|Conservation Activities (includingSupport Group)|238,898|-|154,266|393,164|
|ARK Magazine|54,223|-|-|54,223|
||293,121|-|154,266|447,387|
£74,972 (2020 - £108,153) of the above costs were attributable to restricted funds. £57,939 (2020 - £103,344) of the above costs were attributable to designated funds. £314,476 (2020 - £323,104) of the above costs were attributable to unrestricted funds.
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|7|Allocation of support costs|2021|2021|2021|2021|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Raising
funds|Conservation
Activities|ARK
Magazine|Total|
|||£|£|£|£|
||Governance|-|23,895|-|23,895|
||Management salaries and expenses|20,864|73,026|-|93,890|
||Offce operational costs and utilities|8,163|28,572|-|36,735|
||Depreciation|1,763|6,167|-|7,930|
||Professional charges|2,863|10,019|-|12,882|
||Irrecoverable VAT|1,987|6,953|-|8,940|
||Other|1,609|5,634|-|7,243|
||Total|37,249|154,266|-|191,515|
Supports costs, except governance costs, have been allocated based on staff time.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
8 Governance costs 2021 2020
Note £ £
Trustees’ remuneration 11 - -
Trustees’ expenses 11 293 962
Cost of Trustees’ meetings and the AGM 3,092 1,110
Auditors’ remuneration 10 5,620 5,750
Legal fees 14,890 8,412
23,895 16,234
9 Net income / (expenditure) for the year 2021 2020
£ £
Net income / (expenditure) is stated after charging / (crediting):
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 7,929 9,892
Operating lease rentals 2,244 2,014
Loss/(gain) on fair value movement of investments (383,886) 33,789
**----- End of picture text -----**
## 10 Auditors’ remuneration
The auditors’ remuneration amounts to an audit fee of £5,620 (2020 - £5,750) and other services of £12,881 (2020 - £10,682).
_www.rbst.org.uk_
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## _**Notes to the financial statements** (continued)_
Year Ended 31 December 2021
## 11 Trustees’ and key management personnel remuneration and expenses
The Trustees neither received nor waived any remuneration during the year (2020 - £nil).
The total amount of employee benefits (these benefits include employer’s national insurance and pension costs) received by key management personnel is £160,029 (2020:£155,282). The Trust considers its key management personnel to comprise the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Finance and Operations.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
One trustee (2020: six) was reimbursed expenses as follows: 2021 2020
£ £
Travel 293 962
Subsistence - -
Accommodation - -
Other - -
293 962
**----- End of picture text -----**
## 12 Staff costs and employee benefits
The average monthly number of employees and full time equivalent (FTE) during the year was as follows:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2021 2020 2020
Number FTE Number FTE
Raising funds 2 2 2 2
Charitable activities 5 3 5 3
Governance 2 2 2 2
9 7 9 7
The total staff costs and employees’ benefits was as follows: 2021 2020
£ £
Wages and salaries 267,549 258,629
Social security 23,697 22,680
Defined contribution pension costs 12,638 11,775
303,884 293,084
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The number of employees receiving total employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) of over £60,000 per year was as follows:
|year was as follows:|||
|---|---|---|
||2021|2020|
||No.|No.|
|£60,001 - £70,000|1|1|
|£70,001 - £80,000|-|-|
|£80,001 - £90,000|1|1|
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|13||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||Tangible fxed assets|Short
Leasehold|Offce &
Equipment|Conservation
Breeding
Stock
(Agisted)|Total|
|||£|£|£|£|
||Cost or valuation:|||||
||At 31 December 2020|221,443|152,992|33,560|407,995|
||Additions|-|1,500|-|1,500|
||Revaluation|-|-|(8,780)|(8,780)|
||At 31 December 2021|221,443|154,492|24,780|400,715|
||Depreciation:|||||
||At 31 December 2020|141,825|146,234|-|288,059|
||Charge for the year|4,440|3,489|-|7,929|
||At 31 December 2021|146,265|149,723|-|295,988|
||Net book value:|||||
||At 31 December 2021|75,178|4,769|24,780|104,727|
||At 31 December 2020|79,618|6,758|33,560|119,936|
## 14 Heritage assets
Heritage assets held are The National Archive Gene Bank and no value has been placed on this asset.
These assets are significant to the charity in order to safeguard the future of rare breeds. Expenditure to acquire, preserve and develop The National Archive Gene Bank in the year was £100,894 (2020 - £125,140).
|||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Fixed asset investments|||Listed
Investments|
||||£|
|Cost or valuation||||
|At 31 December 2020|||3,051,652|
|Additions|||354,467|
|Disposals|||(249,933)|
|Revaluation|||383,886|
|At 31 December 2021|||3,540,072|
|Investments at fair value comprise:||||
|||2021|2020|
|||£|£|
|Equities & unit trusts||3,423,948|2,867,103|
|Cash within investment portfolio||116,124|184,549|
|Fixed interest securities||-|-|
|||3,540,072|3,051,652|
## 15 Fixed asset investments
The fair value of listed investments is determined by reference to the mid-market value of the unit trusts or quoted share price.
_www.rbst.org.uk_
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## _**Notes to the financial statements** (continued)_
Year Ended 31 December 2021
**----- Start of picture text -----**
16 Stocks 2021 2020
£ £
Semen for sale 7,360 7,860
17 Debtors 2021 2020
£ £
Trade debtors 3,753 4,250
Amounts owed by support groups 13,377 19,316
Prepayments and accrued income 14,405 16,114
Taxes recoverable 3,955 7,289
35,490 46,969
18 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 2021 2020
£ £
Trade creditors 10,496 11,373
Other tax and social security 7,498 7,644
Other creditors 57 1,702
Accruals 27,575 25,658
45,626 46,377
19 Leases
Operating leases – lessee
Total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases
are as follows: 2021 2020
£ £
Not later than one year 2,353 2,353
Later than one and not later than five years 9,072 9,412
Later than five years 24,156 26,169
35,581 37,934
**----- End of picture text -----**
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|20|Fund reconciliation|Balance at
31
December
2020|Income|Expenditure|Transfers|Gains /
(losses)|Balance at
31
December
2021|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||£|£|£|£|£|£|
||Unrestricted funds|||||||
||Unrestricted|960,372|578,204|(474,238)|(43,077)|383,886|1,405,147|
|||||||||
||Designated Funds|||||||
||Gene Bank|2,000,000|-|(63,139)|63,139|-|2,000,000|
||Conservation – Breed Stock
(Agisted)|33,559|-|-|-|(8,780)|24,779|
||Linga Holm|12,812|-|-|-|-|12,812|
||Sandringham Charitable Trust|19,237|-|-|-|-|19,237|
||Property improvement fund|132,000|-|-|-|-|132,000|
||Lop Fund|3,751|-|5,200|-|-|8,951|
|||2,201,359|-|(57,939)|63,139|(8,780)|2,197,779|
## Unrestricted funds description
Unrestricted funds are those funds available for use, at the discretion of the Trustees, in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
## Designated funds description
The archive Gene Bank is held to maintain the Heritage Assets for the benefit of the next generation.
The Conservation Breeding Stock (Agisted), reserve is the value of RBST rare breed stock on loan to livestock keepers to increase rare breed population numbers.
The Linga Holm Fund derives from the sale of certain assets in 2000. It is available for the conservation of North Ronaldsay sheep in the first instance.
Sandringham Charitable Trust was created from legacies received for the pursuance of conservation projects.
The Property improvement fund relates to the proposed refurbishment of the premises at Stoneleigh Park.
The Lop Fund was created to help support the work in regard to British Lop pigs, along with the donation received from the Gerald Fallowes Discretionary Trust.
## Restricted funds and Trusts
We are extremely grateful to the charitable trusts and foundations that support our work. Some trusts provide general funding, while others prefer to sponsor specific projects as detailed on page 50.
_www.rbst.org.uk_
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## _**Notes to the financial statements** (continued)_
Year Ended 31 December 2021
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Balance at Balance at
31 Income Expend Transfers Gains / 31
December -iture (losses) December
2020 2021
Restricted funds £ £ £ £ £ £
Fund Descriptions
Restricted cattle conservation
2019 - Cattle Campaign 20 - (20) - - -
N Bailey Albion Fund 727 760 - - - 1,487
- - - -
Vaynol project 1,000 1,000
Restricted equine conservation
- -
Houserace Betting Levy Board 4,887 (3,051) (562) 1,274
- - - - -
Cleveland bay N Bailey 1,500 1,500
- - -
Heavy Horse Appeal 2017 7,150 10,442 17,592
- - - -
Marjorie Coote Animal Charity Trust 2,634 2,634
The Saintbury Trust 1 - - - - 1
Restricted goat conservation
- - - -
Goat Appeal 1,196 1,196
- - - -
John Spedan Lewis Foundation 1,463 1,463
Restricted pig conservation
Gerald Fallowes Discretionary Will Trust (received in 2017) 57 - - - - 57
- - - -
Gerald Fallowes Pigs BPA 2,582 2,582
- - - -
Henry Robert Bull Charitable Trust 2,100 (2,100)
PG Fallowes Lop Project - 18,900 (14,300) - 4,600
- - -
The Saintbury Trust 3,000 (1,800) 1,200
PF Charitable Trust 3,300 - (3,300) - - -
PF Charitable Trust - 6,000 - - - 6,000
Restricted sheep conservation
- -
Love a Longwool Appeal 12,579 11,985 (84) 24,480
- - - -
Rosie Green Wool Sheep Fund 2,546 2,546
Restricted poultry conservation
Poultry general 531 240 (480) - - 291
Luton & District Poultry Group 75 - - - - 75
Restricted Other projects
Somerset Conservation Fund 2 - - - - 2
- -
Conservation general 1,801 2,000 (437) 3,364
- - -
North Ronaldsay Dyke Appeal 5,050 (600) 4,450
Farm Park - Princes Charities Fund 3,805 64,200 (38,428) (18,000) - 11,577
- - -
Epping Forrest Fenceless Grazing 14,928 (10,372) (1,500) 3,056
53,119 134,342 (74,972) (20,062) - 92,427
**----- End of picture text -----**
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50
## 21 Analysis of net assets between funds
||Unrestricted
funds|Designated
funds|Restricted
funds|Total|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||£|£|£|£|
|Fixed assets|1,447,020|2,197,779|-|3,644,799|
|Cash and current investments|(31,738)|-|85,068|53,330|
|Other current assets / liabilities|(10,135)|-|7,359|(2,776)|
|Total|1,405,147|2,197,779|92,427|3,695,353|
## 22 Pensions and other post-retirement benefits
Defined contribution pension plans
The charity operates a defined contribution pension plan for its employees. The amount recognised as an expense in the period was £12,638 (2020 - £11,775).
The defined contribution liability is allocated to unrestricted funds being raising funds £38 and conservation activities £62.
_www.rbst.org.uk_
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ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021
## **Leaving a gift in your Will could be the greatest difference you ever make!**
## **Planning for the future**
RBST depends heavily on voluntary donations. Without the incredible generosity of our members and supporters, we simply couldn’t continue our vital work in research, conservation and saving rare breeds. We know that with the help of generous donors like you, RBST can continue striving to achieve its crucial goal, to ensure that the genetic diversity represented by our native breeds is safeguarded for many years to come. Our vision is a secure future for each of the UK’s native breeds of livestock to ensure long-term food security, the conservation of important habitats and landscapes and the preservation of the UK’s culture. Help ensure our native farm animals have a secure future and can be enjoyed by generations to come.
## **What to do?**
If you have already made a Will but you are considering including a gift to RBST, your solicitor will advise you on the correct wording to update your Will. You will need to provide your solicitor with our charity details. For your convenience, we have provided this here:
**The Rare Breeds Survival Trust, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG. (Registered Charity no. 269442).**
Please also state that you wish to make the gift for the ‘general purposes’ of Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
## **Our promise**
RBST will always respect your privacy. Your information will be handled with the utmost confidentiality and we will never ask the amount of your legacy. We understand and respect that you will want to remember family and friends first when planning for the future, but we hope that once you’ve taken care of your loved ones, you’ll consider leaving a legacy gift in your Will, as a lasting way to support the future of RBST.
## **No Will yet?**
Have you thought about leaving a gift in your Will to RBST? This year we have partnered with Free Wills Month. They bring together a group of well-respected charities to offer members of the public aged 55 and over, giving you the opportunity to support RBST and have a simple Will written or updated for free, by using one of their participating solicitors. The next campaign opens on 1st October 2021, you can register your interest here **www.freewillsmonth.org.uk/** and receive an email reminding you that the campaign has started. An up-to-date Will written by a solicitor ensures your wishes are respected. It also avoids difficult decisions and legal complications for your loved ones.
## Rare Breeds Survival Trust
**If you have any questions, visit our website, call 02476 69551 or email fundraising@rbst.org.uk.** Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST), Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG Registered Charity Number 269442 (England and Wales)
## _**Corporate Directory**_
Charity Reference and Administrative Details: As at the date of this report Charity registration number 269442 Company registration number 01204694
Rare Breeds Survival Trust
## Patron
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, KG, KT, GCB, OM, AK, CD, QSO, PC.
## Registered office
Avenue Q, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG
## President
Baroness Hayman of Ullock
## Vice Presidents
Martin Beard Miss Elizabeth Buchanan, C.V.O, FRAgS J Alan C Black The Earl De La Warr, DL Jimmy Doherty Lord Iliffe
## Chief Executive Officer
## Honorary Ambassadors
Peter Hayford, Poultry Nigel Oakley, Heavy Horses Cyrus Todiwala OBE, DL, Chef John Wilkes, North America
## Auditor
Dafferns LLP One Eastwood Harry Weston Road Binley Business Park, Binley Coventry, CV3 2UB
Christopher Price
## Legal advisors
## Trustees
John Atkinson Tom Davis James Fanshawe Clifford Freeman (elected AGM 4 November 2021) Kate Green (co-opted 25 February 2021) Catherine Lascelles (stood down 18 January 2022) Catherine Le Grice-Mack (co-opted February 2021) Prof Tim Morris Sir Roderick Newton (co-opted March 2022) Ryan Perry Alison Pope Claire Saunders Gail Sprake (stood down AGM 4 November2021)
Lodders LLP 10 Elm Court Arden Street Stratford upon Avon Warwickshire, CV37 6PA
## Bankers
Barclays Bank, 48/50 The Parade, Leamington Spa CV32 4DD
Investment managers Smith and Williamson 25 Moorgate London, EC2R 6AY
## Conservation and Research Committee
John Atkinson, Tom Davis, James Fanshawe, Kate Green, Catherine Le Grice-Mack, Tim Morris, Ryan Perry, Claire Saunders, Marcus Bates (British Pig Association - in attendance)
In attendance: Christopher Price (CEO), Tom Blunt, Andrea Parry-Jones, Clifford Freeman, Sir Roderick Newton
## Finance and Governance Committee
John Atkinson, Catherine Le Grice-Mack, Alison Pope, In attendance: Christopher Price (CEO), Claire McNicol (Dir F&O), Clifford Freeman, Sir Roderick Newton
## Staff
Claire McNicol – Director of Finance and Operations and Company Secretary Tom Blunt – Senior Conservation Advisor Rachel Peckover – Office Administrator and Accounts Assistant Andrea Parry – Conservation Adviser Jean Henderson – Conservation Assistant Jo Linforth – Head of Members and Partnerships Hilary Young – Customer Services Assistant
_www.rbst.org.uk_
53
_RBST is incredibly grateful for every single penny donated to its cause by members, donors and supporters, both individuals and organisations. RBST simply would not exist without their generosity._
_Whilst we would like to be able to thank everyone by name, due to space and data protection limitations this is not possible._
_We would however like to take the opportunity to make special reference to the Trusts who donated funds to RBST in 2021 and all those who so kindly remembered RBST in their Wills._
## Trust Income Received 2021
The Hutchinson Charitable Trust Registered Charity Number 1155643 H R Bull Charitable Trust Registered Charity Number 296133
PF Charitable Trust Registered Charity Number 220124
Percy Gerald Fallowes Discretionary Will Trust
Duncan Norman Trust Fund Registered Charity Number 250434
The Horserace Betting Levy Board
The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Foundation Registered Charity Number 269442
## University Hospitals Birmingham Charity
Donation in memory of Colin McAllister Registered Charity Number 1165716
City of London Central Grants Programme – Epping Forest Registered Charity Number 232990
Mrs D M France-Hayhurst Foundation Registered Charity Number 1160394
## Legacy Income Received 2021
Mr James Westley BLANDEN
Caroline Patricia SCOTT
Evelyn DAVIS
Miss Sheila Leslie ALDERSON
Mrs Rosemary Janet St Ledger STEWART Miss Joan Neville MARTIN
Daphne Joan WAYNE Mrs Norma A ALLAN
_**RBST’s Corporate Supporters**_
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Birch Farm White Park Financial Skyeskyns Ltd Yorkshire Agricultural South of England Marsh Charitable
Solutions Society Agricultural Society Trust
Peter Hunter Edge & Son Farm Business Dumfries House Dengie Crops Ltd Little Beau Sheep
Seeds Ltd Butchers Innovation Show Home Farm Ltd
Kelly Bronze Royal Ulster Old Hall Farm Incredible Eggs Wychwood Statkraft
Turkeys Agricultural Society Woodton Franchise Ltd Farm
**----- End of picture text -----**
**& Glebe Meadow** Fishery
Rare Breeds Survival Trust
_rbst.org.uk enquiries@rbst.org.uk 024 7669 6551_
**Patron: His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales KG KT GCB** Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England No.01204694 Registered Charity No.269442
## _#GoNative_