## **The Colchester and District Cat Rescue and Homing Society**
_**Charity Number 275238**_ **Unaudited Financial Statements Year Ended 31 December 2024**
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Coichester Cat Rescue.org L,
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**The Colchester and District Cat Rescue and Homing Society Trustees Report**
**Year Ended 31 December 2024**
The trustees are pleased to present their report together with the financial statements for the period ending 31 December 2024.
## **Objectives and activities**
The Charity’s main aim is to rescue and rehome cats and kittens in the Colchester area. However, there are so many in need now that we cannot cope with the number of requests that we get. We fully vet check all new arrivals to give them the best future; we neuter, vaccinate and microchip all the cats.
We can look after up to 50 cats and kittens, and we have a non euthanasia policy, never putting a healthy cat to sleep. Any cats that we have been unable to rehome, due to ongoing medical, infirmity or behavioural problems, continue to live out their lives at the Sanctuary for as long as they need a home. We have about 10 of these cats at any time, they have large spacious cat runs in our quiet meadow to enjoy the outdoors, and heated accommodation and veterinary treatment whenever needed.
## **Public benefit**
The Trustees have given careful consideration to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public
- To provide a sanctuary or sanctuaries for the care and protection of cats and kittens in need of care and attention by reason of sickness, maltreatment, poor circumstances or other similar cause.
## **Achievement and performance Financial review**
- The Trustees’ policy is to ensure that the Charity has sufficient reserves to cover the running costs of the Sanctuary for twelve months. This was particularly important due to the Covid-19 pandemic from March 2020, as the Charity’s income virtually dried up overnight - our former Charity Shop was required to close immediately due to the Government’s Covid restrictions.
- The Trustees’ policy is to ensure that the Charity has sufficient reserves to cover the running costs of the Sanctuary for twelve months. This was particularly important due to the Covid-19 pandemic from March 2020, as the Charity’s income virtually dried up overnight - our former Charity Shop was required to close immediately due to the Government’s Covid restrictions. We moved our Charity Shop out of the town centre to the Prettygate shopping parade in Colchester. It opened in April 2021 after the final lockdown, and has proved to be very successful. It is much more spacious, being three times the size, for the same rent as in the town. The premises had recently housed Prettygate Post Office, which we applied to reinstate. We reopened Prettygate Post Office within the shop in August 2021, giving us an additional income stream, and proving to be very popular with the local residents. We are very well supported there, and get a lot more donations as we now have a wider catchment area.
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**The Colchester and District Cat Rescue and Homing Society Trustees Report**
**Year Ended 31 December 2024**
- As well as all the usual Post Office services (ie. draw out/pay in cash to most High St bank accounts, pay in cheques, local banking of takings for other nearby businesses, buying Euros or pre-ordering other currencies, mobile phone/gas/electric meter top-ups) we provide Royal Mail and Parcelforce customer returns and collections. Since April 2023 our Post Office also offers DPD and Amazon customer returns and collections. The new shop came with a large flat above it, which has been rented out from the start to bring in more income. Our late founder’s house “Lyndhurst” also continues to be let out, providing valuable income and overnight presence at the entrance of our site.
- Any legacy we receive is very welcome, as these continue to secure the future of the Sanctuary, and we hope that people will think of leaving us a legacy in their will. However, by their very nature legacies are often unexpected and cannot be relied upon. We hope that if we receive future legacies we will be able to increase the number of cats that we can help. Thank you to all our supporters.
## **Structure governance and management**
The Colchester and District Cat Rescue and Homing Society was established by a declaration of trust dated 06 February 1978 and registered with the Charity Commission (registration number 275238) on 13 March 1978.
The Trustees who served during the year up to the date of the signature of the financial statements were:
Amanda Carrington Chair Linda Coleman
Alison Milne
The charity has three Trustees. Additional Trustees must be appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity Trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as charity Trustees, the charity Trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the charity.
Approved by the trustees
Amanda Carrington Chair Date: 31/10/2025
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**The Colchester and District Cat Rescue and Homing Society Trustees Responsibilities**
**Year Ended 31 December 2024**
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
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**The Colchester and District Cat Rescue and Homing Society Independent Examiners Report Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The Colchester and District Cat Rescue and Homing Society**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Colchester Cat Rescue (‘the charity’) for the period ended 31 December 2024 which comprise the summary of income and expenditure and the statement of assets and liabilities.
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity’s trustees those matters I am required to state to them in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for my work, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
An independent examination does not involve gathering all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently does not cover all the matters that an auditor considers in giving their opinion on the accounts. The planning and conduct of an audit goes beyond the limited assurance that an independent examination can provide. Consequently I express no audit opinion on the accounts and my report is limited to those specific matters set out in the independent examiner’s statement.
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**The Colchester and District Cat Rescue and Homing Society Independent Examiners Report Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section
- - 130 of the Act; or
- the accounts do not accord with those records.
- I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Simon Pinion FCA FCCA Independent examiner Scrutton Bland LLP 820 The Crescent, Colchester Business Park, Colchester, CO4 9YQ
Date: 31/10/2025
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## **The Colchester and District Cat Rescue and Homing Society Financial Activities**
## **Year Ended 31 December 2024**
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Unrestricted Restricted
funds funds Total 31-Dec-23
Income from
Donations and legacies 152,510 - 152,510 36,394
Shop income 100,106 - 100,106 107,312
Rents received 25,242 - 25,242 15,800
Post Office commission 27,507 - 27,507 23,366
Insurance commission 5,766 - 5,766 5,932
Interest received 987 - 987 661
Total income 312,118 - 312,118 189,465
Expenditure on
Rates & water 2,305 - 2,305 1,690
Insurance 2,292 - 2,292 5,202
Light & heat 12,661 - 12,661 14,031
Telephone 1,724 - 1,724 2,131
Printing, postage & fundraising costs 5,407 - 5,407 8,423
Cleaning & waste disposal 11,575 - 11,575 11,277
Vet expenses 25,343 - 25,343 26,200
Food & litter 9,294 - 9,294 10,441
Wages, social security & pension 141,368 - 141,368 136,185
Rent 26,000 - 26,000 26,000
Travel 3,203 - 3,203 2,707
Repairs & renewals 5,169 - 5,169 5,711
Accountancy & professional fees 3,782 - 3,782 282
Bank charges 318 - 318 282
Card machine fees 931 - 931 868
Depreciation 3,499 - 3,499 1,250
(Profit)/loss on disposal of assets (2,450) - (2,450) -
Total expenditure 252,421 - 252,421 252,680
Net income/(expenditure) for the year 59,697 - 59,697 (63,215)
Funds b/fwd 917,179 - 917,179 980,394
Funds transferred - - - -
Funds c/fwd 976,877 - 976,877 917,179
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**The Colchester and District Cat Rescue and Homing Society Balance Sheet**
## **Year Ended 31 December 2024**
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31-Dec-24 31-Dec-23
Fixed Asset
Land and Buildings 157,300 157,300
Plant and Machinery 16,540 11,495
Total Fixed Asset 173,840 168,795
Cash at bank and in hand
Shop account 39,087 110,271
Sanctuary account 123,787 400
Instant access account 89,211 88,224
Lloyds account 552,795 551,949
Total Cash at bank and in hand 804,879 750,844
Current Assets
Stock - -
Total Current Assets - -
Net current assets 804,879 750,844
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Current Liabilities
Payroll Liabilities 1,842 2,460
Total Current Liabilities 1,842 2,460
Total Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 1,842 2,460
Net current assets (liabilities) 803,037 748,384
Total assets less current liabilities 976,877 917,179
Total net assets (liabilities) 976,877 917,179
Charity funds
Unrestricted funds 976,877 917,179
Total Charity funds 976,877 917,179
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**The Colchester and District Cat Rescue and Homing Society Notes to the accounts Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **1 Accounting convention**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities"
## **2 Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Land and buildings Not depreciated Plant and machinery 25% straight line
## **3 Charitable funds**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
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