## **THE ROMFORD GREYHOUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION** ## **ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS** **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st OCTOBER 2023** ## **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 2023** ## **CONTENTS** **----- Start of picture text -----**
||| |---|---| |Charity information|1| |Trustees' report|2| |Independent Examiner's report to the Trustees|4| |Receipts and payments|5| |Statement of assets and liabilities|6| **----- End of picture text -----**
**THE ROMFORD GREYHOUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION CHARITY INFORMATION** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2023** ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION** **----- Start of picture text -----**
||| |---|---| |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|Sandra Morrell FCCA| |Edmund Carr LLP| |146 New London Road| |Chelmsford| |Essex CM2 0AW| **----- End of picture text -----**
1 ## **THE ROMFORD GREYHOUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION** ## **TRUSTEES' REPORT** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2023** The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 October 2023. ## **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** Julie Coney, our kennel manager, along with the volunteers has been busy looking after our greyhounds 365 days of the year. At any one time we have 45 greyhounds in the kennels looking for a forever home. We never give up looking for that right home and were pleased to see 3 longtermers (those that have been with us over 2 years) find their forever home. Having experienced fosterers is a huge asset to us as they can help settle a dog ready to move onto their forever home, which for some dogs is a huge step. With the help of our volunteers all the dogs needs are met and we are always working to enrich their lives while they are with us. Our grass runs have been completely overhauled and two of our volunteers take a couple of dogs to an enclosed field so they can have a good gallop twice a month. Both dogs and volunteers come back smiling. Our facebook page is kept up-to-date by our volunteer, Tina Jarvis, who also does meet and greets at Pets at Home with her dog Sparrow, raising funds and telling people how greyhounds make a wonderful pet. Our popular quizzes are run by Dave and Gill Brown - not only a good fundraiser but great fun, with the biggest raffle ever organised by our kennel manager Julie Coney, who also organises bootsales to boost our funds. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** Receipts for the year ended 31 October 2023 amounted to £60,716 (2022 - £76,052). Payments in the year totalled £102,769 (2022 - £106,170). This resulted in net payments for the year of £42,053 (2022 £30,118). Consistent with previous years, dog welfare including vets' fees, kennel rent and rates and kennel wages were the main areas of expenditure for the charity. In addition this year expenditure increased on repairs and maintenance at the kennels. Our focus going forward is to use our funds wisely and to retain reserves during this difficult economic environment . 2 ## **THE ROMFORD GREYHOUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION** ## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued)** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2023** ## **Reserves Policy** It has been the policy of the Charity to maintain cash reserves of at least £60,000 which is sufficient to cover at least 6 months of fixed costs for the Charity. The reserves at 31 October 2023 totalled £339,091 boosted by the legacy received during 2019. The strong reserves position at the year-end will help to ensure the security of the Charity for the future. ## **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 14th 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 29 August 2024 and signed on their behalf by: ............................... **Mary West** Trustee 3 **THE ROMFORD GREYHOUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2023** I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 October 2023 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: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. 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. ## ........................... ## **Sandra Morrell FCCA** Edmund Carr LLP 146 New London Road Chelmsford CM2 0AW 29 August 2024 4 ## **THE ROMFORD GREYHOUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION** ## **RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2023** |**RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS**
**YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2023**|||| |---|---|---|---| |**£**
**Receipts**
General donations
Rehoming donations
Fundraising
**2023**|**£**
38,341
14,499
7,876|**£**
**2022**|**£**
46,893
22,482
6,677| |**Total Receipts**
**Payments**
Dog welfare
Purchases - items for dogs
Wages and volunteer expenses
Rent
Rates, water and waste disposal
Insurance
Light and heat
Equipment and repairs
Telephone
Printing, postage, & stationery
Advertising
Motor expenses
Fundraising expenses
Sundry
Accountancy and examination fees
Legal and professional fees
Bank Charges|60,716
24,924
2,343
32,056
10,576
7,298
2,190
4,889
13,602
1,109
31
737
1,388
215
723
600
-
88||76,052
36,200
3,049
30,737
10,772
6,179
2,355
2,353
2,938
982
250
299
735
178
2,795
6,264
-
84| |**Total Payments**
**Net (Payments)/Receipts**
Cash funds brought forward|102,769
(42,053)
381,144||106,170
(30,118)
411,262| |**Cash funds carried forward**|339,091||381,144| All funds are unrestricted 5 ## **THE ROMFORD GREYHOUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION** ## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES** ## **AS AT 31 OCTOBER 2023** **----- Start of picture text -----**
|||| |---|---|---| |2023|2022| |£|£| |Cash funds|339,091|381,144| **----- End of picture text -----**
Approved by the trustees on 29 August 2024 and signed on their behalf by: …....................... **Mary West** Trustee 6