THE ROMFORD GREYHOUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st OCTOBER 2020
Registered Charity Number 0279956
EDMUND CARR LLP Chartered Accountants 146 New London Road Chelmsford Essex CM2 0AW
THE ROMFORD GREYHOUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION
YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2020
CONTENTS
| Charity information | 1 |
|---|---|
| Trustees' report | 2 |
| Independent Examiner's report to the Trustees | 4 |
| Receipts and payments | 5 |
| Statement of assets and liabilities | 6 |
THE ROMFORD GREYHOUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION CHARITY INFORMATION
YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2020
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
| Charity Name | The Romford Greyhound Owners Association |
|---|---|
| Charity Number | 0279956 |
| Address | Romford Greyhound Homing Kennels |
| Suffolk House Yard | |
| Unit 9 | |
| Ashwells Road | |
| Pilgrims Hatch | |
| Brentwood | |
| Essex | |
| CM15 9SG | |
| Trustees | Mrs M West |
| Mr D Hayes | |
| Mr M Elks | |
| Independent Examiner | Colin Barker FCA |
| Edmund Carr LLP | |
| 146 New London Road | |
| Chelmsford | |
| Essex CM2 0AW |
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THE ROMFORD GREYHOUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION
TRUSTEES' REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2020
The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 October 2020.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The objects of the Trust, as set out in the governing document, are to provide care and protection by means of temporary shelter and suitable homes for greyhounds whose racing life has been terminated by their age, infirmity, injury, disease or other sufficient reason and whose need for such facilities cannot be satisfied by their owners.
The Trustees confirm that the activities of the charity are undertaken to achieve the charity’s aims with regard to the public benefit guidance.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
One very positive consequence of a very tough COVID affected year in 2020 was a sharp increase in homing numbers, not only for the Charity but nationwide. Increased homeworking and what is looking like a permanent shift in lots of peoples working circumstance has increased the Charities “target audience” for our greyhounds. A massive 139 greyhounds were homed by the charity during the year, compared to 61 in the previous year. Not only was this so fantastic to see for our greys, but it also allowed us to find homes for some of our longer-term residents and there were some really heartfelt stories during 2020. The Charity acknowledges this may be a 18-24 month boost to homing, and are conscious of the risks this may provide over the coming months when some do return to a more normal working pattern, however as we stand here today we are pleased to report the number of dogs returned to us in 2021 who were homed during 2020 is less than 5%.
As we alluded to above, 2020 has been a very tough year for so many. Many of us have lost someone very close to us and it is for this we are so thankful for our volunteers, who during these times continued to support the Charity in any way they could and it is our volunteers who keep us going. We were very fortunate as a Charity to have been bequeathed the estate of the late Mr. Peter James Arnold, as it those funds which have allowed the Charity to function as it did pre-pandemic with very little means to raise additional funds during the year via our usual channels. COVID has restricted our ability as a Charity to celebrate Mr Arnold but we will be looking to do so during 2022 as the world hopefully starts to return to.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Receipts for the year ended 31 October 2020 amounted to £62,511, which was £466,798 lower than the prior year when Mr Arnold's legacy was received. Payments in the year totalled £104,437 (2019 - £94,795). This resulted in net payments for the year of £41,926 (2019 - net receipts of £434,514).
Consistent with the previous year, dog welfare including vets' fees, kennel rent and rates and kennel wages were the main areas of expenditure for the charity.
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THE ROMFORD GREYHOUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION
TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued) YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2020
Reserves Policy
It has been the policy of the Charity to maintain cash reserves of at least £40,000 which is sufficient to cover 6 months of fixed costs for the Charity. The reserves at 31 October 2020 totalled £444,887, boosted by the legacy received during 2019. The strong reserves position at the year-end will ensure the security of the Charity for the future as well as allow the charity to increase marketing activities and pursue capital projects in the next 12 months as planned.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The Trust is constituted under a Declaration of Trust dated 10[th] April 1980 and was registered as a charity on 14[th] May 1980.
Trustees are appointed by invite from the existing board of Trustees. A Trustee will be appointed if there is unanimous agreement of all existing Trustees. New Trustees will be given a copy of the Charity Commission's guidance for Trustees "The Essential Trustee" (CC3).
Approved by the Trustees on 21 December 2021 and signed on their behalf by:
Mary West
Trustee
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THE ROMFORD GREYHOUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES
YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2020
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 October 2020 which are set out on pages 5 and 6.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records.
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.
Colin Barker FCA
Edmund Carr LLP 146 New London Road Chelmsford CM2 0AW
22 December 2021
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THE ROMFORD GREYHOUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION
RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2020
| YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2020 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2019 | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| Receipts | ||||||
| General donations | 45,636 | 52,228 | ||||
| Rehoming donations | 8,258 | 5,400 | ||||
| Legacies | - | 463,380 | ||||
| Fundraising | 8,617 | 8,301 | ||||
| Total Receipts | 62,511 | 529,309 | ||||
| Payments | ||||||
| Dog welfare | 40,759 | 22,285 | ||||
| Wages and volunteer expenses | 34,397 | 33,079 | ||||
| Rent | 10,338 | 10,620 | ||||
| Rates and water | 2,588 | 5,135 | ||||
| Insurance | 1,987 | 1,260 | ||||
| Light and heat | 1,815 | 1,732 | ||||
| Equipment and repairs | 1,391 | 5,131 | ||||
| Telephone | 1,344 | 1,411 | ||||
| Printing, postage, & stationery | 22 | 21 | ||||
| Advertising | 755 | 1,386 | ||||
| Motor expenses | 722 | 1,952 | ||||
| Fundraising expenses | 4,129 | 4,909 | ||||
| Sundry | 1,406 | 3,426 | ||||
| Accountancy and examination fees | 2,160 | 1,980 | ||||
| Legal and professional fees | 624 | 468 | ||||
| Total Payments | 104,437 | 94,795 | ||||
| Net (Payments)/Receipts | (41,926) | 434,514 | ||||
| Cash funds brought forward | 486,813 | 52,299 | ||||
| Cash funds carried forward | 444,887 | 486,813 |
All funds are unrestricted
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THE ROMFORD GREYHOUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES
AS AT 31 OCTOBER 2020
| 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Cash funds | 444,887 | 486,813 |
Approved by the trustees on 21 December 2021 and signed on their behalf by:
Mary West
Trustee
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