2024-03-31-accounts

HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE

(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

COMPANY NUMBER: 01964878 CHARITY NUMBER - ENGLAND: 293358 CHARITY NUMBER - SCOTLAND: SC040486

HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE CONTENTS TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

	Page
Trustees’ Report	1 – 6
Strategic Report	7 – 13
Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities	14
Auditors’ Report	15 – 18
Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities	19
Balance Sheet	20
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows	21
Notes to the Financial Statements	22 – 38

HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The Trustees (who are also Directors of the Charitable Company for the purpose of Company law) present their annual report together with the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Reference and administrative details of the charity

Company number: 01964878 Charity number: England: 293358 Scotland: SC040486 Registered office: The Grange Wycombe Road Saunderton Princes Risborough Buckinghamshire HP27 9NS Royal patron: HRH The Princess Royal President: Sir Stuart Hampson CVO Life vice-presidents: F B Clark MBE D A McInnes Vice-presidents: R Bourne Air Vice-Marshal D Crwys-Williams CB FCIPD FCIM Dr H Harris MB ChB FRCGP K W Keir OBE Dr B Fogle MBE DVM MRCVS Trustees: E M Burness R Casey BVSc DipECAWBM FRCVS M S Coote BSc (resigned 16 July 2024) P R G Davis BSc FCA BFP B S Downes LL.B FSHAA K A England RVN DipCIM D L Hay (resigned 16 July 2024 S E Heath BVSc PgCertVE DipECAWBM(BM) CCAB FHEA FRCVS A M Horsley JP DL (resigned 16 July 2024) C McKay S Marshall (appointed 16 July 2024) K B Milsom BHSc Hons MSc H Self MA, FCA, CTA(Fellow), FRSA T Schultz-Jagow (appointed 16 July 2024) Professor R T Ramsden MBE FRCS

The Trustees each guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up.

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Reference and administrative details of the charity (continued)

Executive team:

Chief Executive T Griffin (appointed 3[rd] July 2023) Interim Chief Executive M Farrow (13[th] December 2022–3[rd] July 2023) Finance & IT Director (and Company Secretary)

C M Hedley BA ACMA Director of Operations J Tommey BSc Director of Services & Partnerships A Platten Director of Quality & Human Resources J Gray MBA VN (resigned 17 May 2024) Director of Fundraising and S Heyes BSc (resigned 25 April 2024) Communications

Principal bankers:

Barclays Bank plc PO Box 885 Mortlock House, Vision Park Histon, Cambridge CB24 9DE

Solicitors:

Penningtons Manches LLP 9400 Garsington Road Oxford Business Park Oxford, OX4 2HN

Wilsons Solicitors Alexandra House St Johns Street Salisbury, SP1 2SB

Auditors: Crowe U.K. LLP Aquis House 49-51 Blagrave Street Reading Berkshire RG1 1PL

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity. The charity was incorporated on 26 November 1985 and its governing document is its Articles of Association which were adopted on 11 November 2015 and as amended by special resolutions passed 25 July 2017, 18 February 2020 and 03 September 2020.

Governing Body

Overall responsibility rests with the Board of Trustees who are also appointed as Directors of the charitable company. The appointment of Trustees is made in accordance with the Articles of Association including receipt and approval of an application for membership.

The Trustees meet formally four times a year, with Trustees also forming four sub-committees: Finance, Governance and Audit, Remuneration, Canine Services and Hearing Loss Services sub-committees. The Finance Governance and Audit sub-committee meets four times a year and the Canine Services and Hearing Loss Services sub-committees meet at least twice a year. The Remuneration sub-committee meets at least once a year primarily to review the salary of the Executive Board. In addition, the Trustees hold ad hoc ‘away days’ where governance and the future strategy of the charity are discussed. All sub-committees report into the Trustee Board. From time to time, certain authority from the Trustees is delegated to the Chief Executive, who is responsible for the day-to-day running of the charity.

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Structure, Governance and Management (continued)

Recruitment and Training of Trustees

The selection of Trustees is designed to supplement the existing skills and expertise of the Board and is governed by an informal skills assessment. The Trustees have a formal approach to selection, induction and training, of new trustees which includes the declaration of eligibility to serve as a Trustee, including notification of any potential conflicts of interest, introduction of a code of conduct and deaf awareness training. DBS checks are also carried out on all Trustees who also undergo safeguarding training every two years. Applications to fill vacancies are advertised and shortlisted candidates are interviewed and references taken up before they are proposed as new Trustees. Outside recruitment agencies are sometimes used to widen the search for specifically skilled Board members.

The Trustees consider it to be best practice to make every effort to have representation of the charity’s beneficiaries on the Board of Trustees.

Pay policy for senior staff

The pay of the Executive Board is reviewed annually by the Remuneration Committee. Increases are based on agreed benchmarks. Additionally, the percentage annual pay award to all staff is taken into consideration.

Organisation and Structure

The charity employs 201 (2023: 196) members of staff (full-time equivalent) who are involved in the labourintensive process of creating and supporting hearing dog partnerships and supporting people affected by hearing loss.

Group structure and relationships

The charity has a wholly owned subsidiary which is incorporated in the UK, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People (Trading) Limited. The subsidiary sells promotional and other goods and operates a restaurant/café from premises owned by the charitable company. It donates its taxable profits to the charitable company.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a member of Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK) and plays a full and active role in this umbrella organisation which is open to assistance dog charities. Under the auspices of ADUK collaboration takes place on several fronts including access, public relations and training issues. The charity is also a fully accredited member of Assistance Dogs Europe (ADEu) and Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and is therefore involved with assistance dogs organisations worldwide. Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is also a member of the UK Council on Deafness, a national infrastructure organisation for voluntary sector organisations working with deaf people. Other collaborative relationships with which the charity is actively involved include the Deaf Alliance and the Microchipping Alliance

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Structure, Governance and Management (continued)

Risk Management

The Trustees of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People recognise and accept their responsibility for ensuring that risks to which the charity is exposed are reviewed, and steps taken to mitigate the impact of adverse factors through the application of appropriate preventative controls and corrective actions. An Audit, Governance and Audit sub-committee is in place and a risk management strategy has been implemented which comprises: -

• An annual review of the risks which the charity may face

• The establishment of systems and procedures to mitigate identified risks

• The implementation of procedures designed to minimise any potential impact on the charity of adverse factors

• Reporting on the level of risk remaining after implementing the systems and procedures above.

The most significant risks to the organisation have been identified as: -

• A shortage of suitable dogs to enter the training program.

• A shortage of skilled staff to train the potential hearing dogs.

• Financial disruption associated with macro economic factors including investment performance and the recent cost of living rises.

• Threats to the IT systems including cyber security, misuse of systems and the cost of continual investment in systems and hardware.

The Finance, Governance and Audit sub-committee oversees formal reviews, meets at least four times annually and monitors the ongoing operational management decisions which make suitable adjustments and amendments to systems and procedures as and when risks are identified in everyday operations. The Finance, Governance and Audit sub-committee reports into the Trustee Board

Objectives, Aims and Activities

Charitable Objectives

The charity’s objects as set out in the Articles of Association are the promotion of health and the relief of sickness in particular by training, providing and supporting animal assisted intervention in the relief of human deafness, disability, sickness, suffering or distress, and collaborating with other charities where appropriate.

In addition to the objects, the charity is aligned to the following strategic aims as set by the charity’s Trustee Board:

‘To offer greater independence, confidence and companionship to deaf people by providing dogs trained to support them at home and out and about whilst raising awareness of deafness and by providing an even wider range of services, through Hearing Link, to support those with hearing loss.’

‘A commitment to provide highly trained hearing dogs for deaf people and life-long support for the partnership between a deaf person and their hearing dog.’

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty of Section 17(5) of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. The charitable purpose for the charity within the meaning of the Act is enshrined within its objects as stated above.

Aim and Intended Impact

The aim of the charity is to provide suitably trained assistance dogs to deaf or hard of hearing people as identified by our applications process, backed by agreed audiology guidelines.

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Objectives, Aims and Activities (continued)

Our principal aim is:

‘Helping deaf people to leave loneliness behind and reconnect with life through the provision of hearing dogs and/or by providing advice and support services to those affected by hearing loss.’

The effect on the individual through the provision of a practical means of identifying important sounds and danger signals will be greater independence and security. However, the impact typically goes far deeper than this with the introduction of a hearing dog often bringing further life-enhancing results.

Principal activities of the year

The charity’s main programme has continued to be the provision of trained and accredited hearing dogs for deaf and hard of hearing people including the provision of hearing dogs for deaf children. A small but important supplementary activity sees some hearing dogs working in conjunction with other ADUK charities to provide dogs to meet dual disabilities. The charity also provides a number of support dogs to deaf adults and children.

In addition, the charity’s activities include reaching out to people with hearing loss and their families to help them improve their lives. This is achieved by connecting people with one another, providing information, advice and training and raising awareness and understanding of the profound impact of hearing loss on every aspect of life.

All other activities have been undertaken to support the current programmes and to ensure the future development and expansion of the charity and its capacity to meet the growing demand for trained dogs.

The charity’s core values underpin everything we do with consequential benefits for beneficiaries, volunteers and staff alike. These values are Kindness, Professionalism and Courage.

Activities in Scotland – Registered Charity Number: SC040486

Hearing Dogs has one member of staff permanently based in Scotland, supplemented as necessary by management and staff from both the northern and southern training centres. Operational needs are covered by a partnership instructor who supports some 70 Scottish partnerships, while fundraising activities are undertaken by a full-time fundraiser based in the North of England and a local branch run by volunteers. Fundraising activities include the generation of funds some of which are restricted for use in Scotland.

The Hearing Loss Services team have 3 staff members operating from Scotland in roles related to communications, community support and volunteer engagement. We receive a partial contribution to their salaries through the Scottish government project funding.

Volunteer Support

The charity had 3,083 (2023: 3,046) volunteers at 31 March 2024 which includes 256 micro volunteers (2023: 235).

Overall volunteer numbers remain static at just over 3,000 however, for the first time since the Covid pandemic, there is a tiny increase of 16 (2023: -147) in the number of registered volunteers (i.e. those who have entered into a formal agreement with the charity) to 2,827 (2023: 2,811), however this net increase masks volunteer turnover which recorded 451 (2022: 337) new volunteers and 435 (2022: 484) departures.

These static figures reflect the nationwide downturn in formal volunteering reported by the Office of National Statistics and NCVO, plus related socioeconomic factors.

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Volunteer Support (continued)

As such, volunteer recruitment, especially into long-term commitment roles, has remained challenging post Covid pandemic and the pipeline of available, full-time dog care homes is of major strategic importance across the organisation.

Analysis and evaluation were key to the year. Experian were commissioned to conduct Mosaic profiling of our volunteers’ data. We learnt that 67% of our volunteers fall into the Prestige Positions, Country Living and Senior Security categories, reflecting a wealthy, educated, mostly retired demographic that corresponds with the location and home-owning criteria of many of our volunteer roles.

The pinnacle of the year was volunteer Sarah Bond, with hearing dog Albert, being crowned as one of The King and The Queen Consort’s Coronation Champions in April 2023. The recognition, at this momentous point in history, was bestowed upon just 500 of the UK’s most exceptional volunteers.

Provision of information to auditors

Each of the persons who are Directors at the time when this Directors' report is approved has confirmed that:

• so far as that Director is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company's auditors are unaware, and

• that Director has taken all the steps that ought to have been taken as a director in order to be aware of any information needed by the Company's auditors in connection with preparing their report and to establish that the Company's auditors are aware of that information.

Auditors

In accordance with Section 485 of the Companies Act 2006, a resolution proposing the reappointment of Crowe U.K. LLP as auditors of the company will be put to the Annual General Meeting.

Approved by the board on 16 July 2024 and signed on their behalf by

……………………………………. C M P O’Donovan-Rossa (Chairman)

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE STRATEGIC REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Review of the charity, and its achievements and performance for the year

Objectives for the year

The charity maintains a balance between the resources required to meet its commitments to the people with hearing loss it seeks to serve and those required to train and support the dogs which are an integral and vital part of the success of the organisation. The key aspects of the charity’s plans in 2023/24 were to:

1. continue to help people experiencing hearing loss across the range from mild to profound hearing loss.

2. train up to 200 dogs per annum for core deaf support roles.

3. maintain the charity’s financial performance and its strong balance sheet by developing and expanding new and existing income streams, constraining costs and ensuring all charity assets are fully utilised.

4. increase public awareness of the charity and maximise the resulting fundraising opportunities.

5. work on the performance of The Grange restaurant so as to return the trading subsidiary to profitability and create a sustainable income stream for the charity in the longer-term.

6. build on the existing volunteer network and expand the breadth and depth of the charity’s services including further development of micro-volunteering.

Strategies to achieve the year’s objectives

The following strategies for achieving the objectives stated above were put in place or worked on to:

1. extend the charity’s Hearing Loss Services through Hearing Link including self-help resources, the helpdesk, LiveChat, the online shop and specific projects and events run by both staff and volunteers.

2. build on the charity’s operations which are made up of two national teams namely Canine Services and Hearing Loss Services. Continue the review and refinement of operational processes and procedures working closely with staff and volunteers. Improve productivity and quality assurance through improving standards of welfare, training and assessment.

3. develop new income streams including expansion of the puppy sponsorship regular giving scheme using all media channels particularly direct marketing, regular communications and appeals to new and longer-term supporters. Constrain revenue and capital expenditure through tight budgetary control and the streamlining of operational and supporting activities.

4. implement a detailed programme of communications and events including the provision of information on all fundraising opportunities and events via social media channels and the charity’s website.

5. build our relationships with suppliers and our outsourced caterer to deliver high quality goods and services, attracting new customers, and increasing income and controlling costs.

6. recruit new volunteers and communicating with all volunteers primarily through in-person and virtual events, social media, regular updates and online portals.

What we achieved during the year

The following progress was made towards achieving the objectives stated above:

1. Total number of dogs completing training during the year was 138 ( 2023: 156 ). Each hearing dog takes some 18-24 months to train.

2. 1,144 Hearing Dog Partnerships were supported throughout the UK.

3. Over 200,000 people accessed our Hearing Loss Services for support.

4. The number of volunteers continued to exceed 3,000. Their support in all areas of our work is vital and very gratefully received.

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE STRATEGIC REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Fundraising practices and performance

At Hearing Dogs, we know that choosing to support a charity is a very personal decision, and we value each and every one of our supporters.

Everything we do is driven by our desire to help as many deaf people as we can. Every donation, sponsorship or gift in a Will is put to use as effectively as possible to help more deaf people. Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is registered with the Fundraising Regulator, and we follow the Regulator's Code of Practice which sets out the standards members are expected to adhere to when raising money, taking all reasonable steps to protect vulnerable people from persistent approaches, unreasonable intrusion or undue pressure.

Much of our fundraising is carried out by dedicated volunteers who have been through a thorough application and vetting process. They are all required to sign an ‘agreement and understanding’ with Hearing Dogs that they will adhere to the charity's policies, procedures, data protection and confidentiality guidelines. Each registered volunteer fundraiser is allocated a volunteer co-ordinator and regional contact who is a member of Hearing Dogs staff. The volunteer co-ordinator is responsible for ensuring that their volunteers are inducted into the charity and carry out their activities in an appropriate manner. Furthermore, Hearing Dogs has a dedicated Volunteering Department and central Fundraising Team who uphold best practice and offer further support, training and guidance.

We work with an external company to run 2 or 3 raffles a year, as well as our Weekly Lottery. The company is accredited by the Gambling Commission, Institute of Fundraising, the Lotteries Council and Responsible Gambling Trust.

We make sure that all our marketing materials carry clear messaging about how our supporters can contact us to change the way we communicate with them, and we make every effort to respect our donor's preferences. We respond quickly to resolve any complaints we receive about our fundraising.

During the financial year, the charity received no complaints requiring action by the Fundraising Regulator. Our IT team also works very hard to make sure that we understand and remain fully compliant with GDPR requirements.

Operational performance

Canine Services (Hearing Dogs)

In the last financial year, we trained 138 dogs for deaf clients.

This is slightly less than the number originally aimed for. The effect of not breeding at times during Covid-19 has meant that there has been a smaller pool of suitable dogs for training. During the year we had 177 puppies born.

In 2024/25 we aim to train 185 dogs for deaf clients.

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE STRATEGIC REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Hearing Loss Services

All departments within the Hearing Loss Services team have focused on working closely together to ensure that we take every opportunity to engage with potential beneficiaries effectively and where possible, identify future pathways for support. This has meant diversification in some roles and investment in our digital platforms.

We have reintroduced many 1-1 sessions now named ‘Hearing Support Sessions’ and opened the ‘Hearing Hub’ for technical and emotional support sessions. The launch and success of the online ‘Helpful Hours’ webinar has been a great achievement as one of our newest services as well as the growth of community outreach to 9 locations.

Objectives for the Year:

• Engage with more potential beneficiaries through succinct and enhanced communication of the services the charity has to offer

• Grow our services both 1-1 and in the Community.

• Launch the new Helpful hours as an online webinar.

• Investment in our staff and volunteers learning and development.

• Grow our external networks and build new professional relationships.

Tactics to achieve this year’s objectives:

• Produced new assets which complement the range of services including new graphics, marketing materials and digital resources.

• Hearing Support Sessions running both online and in person supported by staff and volunteers. • Community Support Days throughout the UK including some welcoming members of the public.

• National Information Days held in 2 key locations, welcoming members of the public as well as our potential beneficiaries to come and learn about the support available for people with hearing loss.

• Helpful Hours sessions launched a new online service, focusing on key topics which our beneficiaries can access and engage with

• 12 new videos and tutorials on various topics including ‘How to get the most from your Audiology appointment’

• Recognise the important of good volunteer training and development and therefore new training modules developed to enhance their preparation and understanding including safeguarding and professional boundaries.

• Attended major sector events to showcase our work and build relationships including the British Academy of Audiology, Association of Teachers of Lipreading to Adults and The Association of Independent Hearing Healthcare Professionals.

Outcomes:

• 1,144 Hearing Dog Partnerships successfully supported in the community, including 53 children.

• • 2,838 people attended our community events or information and essential social interaction. • 197,629 visitors to the Hearing Loss Services website, 13,714 click-throughs on social media platforms and 836 customers bought communication support products in the shop.

• 6,396 Information downloads from people accessing useful information and viewing support videos.

• 550 people benefitted from 446 Hearing Support Sessions conducted.

• 153 Linkup group participants benefitted from 10 sessions across the UK and online.

• 146 people accessed one of our 9 Helpful hours webinars

• 1,057 enquiries for support managed

• 627 Helpdesk cases received

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE STRATEGIC REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Human Resources

The charity employed an average of 201 FTE staff (2023: 196 FTE) throughout the financial year and ended the year with a turnover rate of 11%. The charity had 207 staff at 31 March 2024. Hybrid working has become entrenched in the organisation. This has strengthened the charity’s commitment to staff wellbeing and employee engagement.

A detailed pay review is regularly undertaken benchmarking against similar organisations and organisations in the wider working environment. Our HR Management systems continue to be strengthened to respond to the needs of our growing hybrid, regional roles. 2023/24 saw the initial stages of the installation of Sage People an HR management system.

Recruitment for a new permanent CEO was successful, with Tracy Griffin starting in position in July 2023.

Investment performance

Evelyn have been the charity’s investment managers for the last nineteen years having been re-appointed in 2018 after conducting a tendering process. The table below records the performance of the Income and Growth Portfolio valued at £8.6 million ( 2023: £7.9 million ), including cash awaiting investment, against four indices for last year and the last twenty years.

Growth Portfolio valued at £8.6 million ( indices for last year and the last twenty	2023: £7.9 million), inclu years.	ding cash awaiting investment
	Year 2023/24	Twenty Year Period
	(Total Return)	(Total Return)
Income and Growth Portfolio	9.41%	214.59%
MSCI WMA Private Investor Balanced	12.16%	156.67%
ARC Balanced PCI	7.19%	148.15%
ARC Balanced ACI	7.22%	176.20%
MSCI United Kingdom TR	8.53%	276.48%

The favoured benchmarks are currently the ARC Balanced indices as these are comparable with the underlying asset allocation of the Hearing Dogs portfolio. Performance over the past nineteen years has exceeded the benchmarks and a satisfactory result was achieved in 2023/24, given the cautious growth investment strategy which has been followed for some time. Comparative figures are also shown for the MSCI WMA Private Investors Balanced and MSCI United Kingdom TR indices. The charity has reviewed its investment strategy for the coming year and will continue to monitor performance against the agreed benchmarks.

In addition, the charity has invested in more recent years in a more aggressive Growth Portfolio. The table below records the performance of this portfolio valued at £1.3 million ( 2023: £1.2 million ), including cash awaiting investment, against four indices for last year and the nine years since inception.

	Year 2023/24	Nine Year Period
	(Total Return)	(Total Return)
Growth Portfolio	10.81%	69.56%
MSCI WMA Private Investor Balanced	14.73%	96.16%
ARC Balanced PCI	9.25%	52.79%
ARC Balanced ACI	9.38%	59.40%
MSCI United Kingdom TR	8.53%	70.78%

A satisfactory result considering the market conditions was achieved in 2023/24 and the charity has reviewed its investment strategy for the coming year and will continue to monitor performance against the agreed benchmarks.

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE STRATEGIC REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Financial review, including results for the year and position at the year end

The charity recorded a net excess of £615,166 ( 2023: £335,870 deficit ). Expenditure exceeded income by £176,379 ( 2023: £101,593 ) and investment gains amounted to £791,545 ( 2023: £234,277 losses) .

The primary reasons for the change in results are:

• 1) A year-end accounting adjustment relating to legacies not yet received at the year end. In 2023 the accounting accrual was £417,578 whereas the accrual at the end of 2024 was £1,275,762. This equates to an increase in accrual of £858,184 between the two years.

• 2) The performance in the investment portfolio moved from a loss of £234,277 in 2023 to a gain of £791,545 in 2024, a positive swing of £1,025,822.

• 3) Spend on charitable activities during the 2023/24 year increased by £1,089,138. Payroll related costs increased by over £700,000 primarily due to salaries keeping pace with the cost of living and a small increase in the number of staff.

Total income increased by £1 million to £13.1 million ( 2023: £12.1 million ). The major movements were an increase in legacies of £1.3 million - partially due to year end accounting adjustments, an increase in dividends and interest received from investments of £0.2m and a decrease in trading and fundraising of £0.4m. We remain very grateful to all our supporters who provide us with the financial resources we need to continue to maintain and develop our work. Their many contributions are essential given that there is continuing demand for the charity’s hearing dog and hearing loss services for which it receives only a relatively small amount of government funding.

Total net assets increased by £0.6 million to £25.8 million ( 2023: £25.2 million ) at the year end. Total fixed assets increased by £0.8 million to £17.4 million ( 2023: £16.6 million ) principally due to investment loss. Net current assets decreased by £0.2 million to £8.4 million ( 2023: £8.6 million ).

Designated funds increased by £0.3million to £17.8 million (2023: £17.5 million ) and the operational reserve and restricted funds amounted to £6.9 million ( 2023: £6.6 million ) and £1.1 million ( 2023: £1.0 million ) respectively.

Reserves policy

The charity operates to provide immediate benefit to hearing dog deaf partners followed by a lifetime of partnership support for them and their families. With plans to increase the number of dogs being trained each year and 1,050 ( 2023: 1,019 ) working partnerships located throughout the country this level of support is expensive to maintain and will require both capital and revenue expenditure as a continuing investment for the future. In addition, it is dependent on voluntary income, principally legacies, which can be subject to considerable fluctuation from year to year.

The Trustees continue to monitor and review annually the level of reserves in conjunction with the setting of annual budgets and the development of the long-term strategy to meet the changing nature of demand.

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE STRATEGIC REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Reserves policy (continued)

The charity’s policy has been reviewed during the year and is to maintain the following unrestricted funds:

Designated Funds for Tangible Fixed Assets.

This represents unrestricted reserves set aside by the Trustees for the functional fixed assets and capital commitments of the charity required to carry out its principal activities. At 31 March 2024 this reserve stood at £7.5 million ( 2023: £7.5 million ).

Designated Funds for Existing Partnerships.

These funds have been set aside to cover future long-term commitments, principally relating to existing hearing dog partnerships, which as at 31 March 2024 were estimated at £6.8 million ( 2023: £6.4 million ) over the next 10 years.

Property Development Fund

There are plans currently being formulated to alter parts of the sites in Buckinghamshire and Yorkshire. The operating environment has changed since the Coronavirus pandemic and neither site now use their kennel buildings. It is hoped that the areas no longer used can be redeveloped to provide enhanced welfare for the dogs that are vital to the assistance that we provide. It is integral to everything that we do that Hearing Dogs ae well trained and cared for during their lives. A fund of £3.5m has been established to support the plans.

Operational (Free) Reserve.

The policy of the Trustees is to hold an operational reserve equivalent to 6-12 months operating expenditure. At 31 March 2024 this reserve stood at £6.9 million ( 2023: £6.6 million ) which represents 6.4 months running costs, based on the 2024/25 expenditure budget. The objective is, therefore, to maintain this reserve to ensure that sufficient funds are available at all times to cover the charity’s operating expenditure.

Investment policy

For the last nineteen years, the Trustees have given their appointed investment managers, Evelyn (formerly Tilney), discretion to manage the Income and Growth Portfolio with a cautious growth risk profile providing both income and capital growth. The Trustees have also invested additional funds in a more aggressive Growth Portfolio which is also managed on a discretionary basis by Evelyn. Decisions are taken in accordance with the charity’s investment policy document which has been approved by the Board of Trustees. The charity’s overriding policy remains to maximise returns whilst ensuring that as far as possible the funds invested are adequately safeguarded.

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE STRATEGIC REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Future plans

Underpinning the charity’s strategic plans are its objectives which are set out on pages 4-5.

The charity plans to build on its 2021-26 strategy with the key aspects of the plan being to:

1. increase the charity’s impact in helping people experiencing mild to moderate hearing loss as well as those with profound hearing loss.

2. continue training some 200 dogs per annum for core deaf support roles.

3. maintain the charity’s financial performance and its strong balance sheet by developing and expanding new and existing income streams, constraining costs and ensuring all charity assets are fully utilised.

4. increase public awareness of the charity and maximise the resulting fundraising opportunities. 5. return the trading subsidiary to profitability so as to deliver a sustainable income stream for the charity in the longer-term.

5. build on the existing volunteer network so as to expand the breadth and depth of the charity’s services.

Approved by the board on 16 July 2024 and signed on their behalf by

……………………………………. C M P O’Donovan-Rossa (Chairman)

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The Trustees (who are also Directors of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report, the Strategic 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 group 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.

• 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, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and the provisions of the charity’s constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and the group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

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Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members and the Trustees of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People (‘the charitable company’) and its subsidiary (‘the group’) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities, the Group and Charity Balance Sheets, the Group Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including 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 group’s and the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 March 2024 and of the group’s 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 and the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and Regulations 6 and 8 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (amended).

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 group 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 trustee's 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 or the group’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 contained within the annual report. The other information comprises the information included in the 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.

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other.

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Other information (continued)

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 this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. 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 our audit

• the information given in the trustees’ report, which includes the directors’ report and the strategic report prepared for the purposes of company law, for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

• the strategic report and the directors’ report included within the trustees’ report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and charitable company and their environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the directors’ report included within the trustees’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

• adequate and proper 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 trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or

• we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 13, 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, 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.

16

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and under the Companies Act 2006 and report in accordance with the Acts and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

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.

Details of the extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations are set out below.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We identified and assessed the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements from irregularities, whether due to fraud or error, and discussed these between our audit team members. We then designed and performed audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks within which the charitable company and group operates, focusing on those laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The laws and regulations we considered in this context were the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011 and The Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, together with the Charities SORP (FRS 102). We assessed the required compliance with these laws and regulations as part of our audit procedures on the related financial statement items.

In addition, we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compliance with which might be fundamental to the charitable company’s and the group’s ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty. We also considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the charitable company and the group for fraud. The laws and regulations we particularly considered in this context for the charitable company were Charity Commission regulations, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), cyber security, Equality Act and Animal Welfare Act, whilst also acknowledging that the charitable company works to comply with all other relevant legislation such as Employment law.

Auditing standards limit the required audit procedures to identify non-compliance with these laws and regulations to enquiry of the Trustees and other management and inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

We identified the greatest risk of material impact on the financial statements from irregularities, including fraud, to be within completeness and timing of recognition of income from certain income streams and the override of controls by management. Our audit procedures to respond to these risks included enquiries of management about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities, sample testing on the posting of journals, sample testing related income streams, reviewing accounting estimates for biases and reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance.

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Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. For example, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations (irregularities) is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the inherently limited procedures required by auditing standards would identify it. In addition, as with any audit, there remained a higher risk of nondetection of irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. We are not responsible for preventing noncompliance and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations.

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, and to the charitable company’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Regulation 10 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 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 and the charitable company’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Alastair Lyon Senior Statutory Auditor For and on behalf of Crowe U.K. LLP Statutory Auditor, Reading

Date 30 July 2024

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Note Income from: Donations and legacies 4 Grants receivable 4 Charitable activities 4 Trading and fundraising 4 Investments 4 Other 4 Total income Expenditure on: Raising funds 5 Charitable activities 5 Total expenditure Net gains / (losses)on investments Net income Transfers between funds 17 Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward 17	Unrestricted Funds £ 8,579,803 500 11,157 791,221 464,980 61,118 9,908,779 2,962,672 7,247,745 10,210,417 791,545 489,907 - 489,907 24,188,403 24,678,310	Restricted Funds £ 3,183,766 - - 3,445 - 8,846 3,196,057 - 3,070,798 3,070,798 - 125,259 - 125,259 991,970 1,117,229	Total 2024 Total 2023 £ £ 11,763,569 10,451,141 500 - 11,157 89,417 794,666 1,203,577 464,980 271,999 69,964 74,350 13,104,836 12,090,484 2,962,672 2,688,224 10,318,543 9,503,853 13,281,215 12,192,077 791,545 (234,277) 615,166 (335,870) - - 615,166 (335,870) 25,180,373 25,516,243 25,795,539 25,180,373

The notes on pages 21 to 38 form part of these financial statements

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE

BALANCE SHEET

31 MARCH 2024

COMPANY NUMBER: 01964878

Note Fixed assets: Tangible assets 9 Investments 10 Total fixed assets Current assets: Stocks 11 Debtors 12 Short term deposits Cash at bank and in hand Total current assets Liabilities: Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 13 Net current assets Total net assets 14 Funds: Restricted funds 17 Unrestricted funds: Designated funds 17 Operational reserve 17 Total funds 17	2024 2023 £ £ 7,459,727 7,476,054 9,962,520 9,092,117 17,422,247 16,568,171 26,410 45,307 1,817,107 761,520 7,214,865 8,487,014 111,371 18,431 9,169,753 9,312,272 (796,461) (700,070) 8,373,292 8,612,202 25,795,539 25,180,373 1,117,229 991,970 17,802,853 17,539,339 6,875,457 6,649,064 25,795,539 25,180,373 The Group	2024 2023 £ £ 7,459,727 7,476,054 9,962,520 9,092,117 17,422,247 16,568,171 - - 2,036,306 882,558 7,214,865 8,487,014 109,263 14,140 9,360,434 9,383,712 (787,405) (688,289) 8,573,029 8,695,423 25,995,276 25,263,594 1,117,229 991,970 17,802,853 17,539,339 7,075,194 6,732,285 25,995,276 25,263,594 The Charity

The excess in the year relating to the parent charity was £731,682 (2023: deficit £329,228)

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board on 16 July 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:

………………………………………. C M P O’Donovan-Rossa Chairman

………………………………………. H Self Honorary Treasurer

The notes on pages 21 to 38 form part of these financial statements

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASHFLOWS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Notes Cash flows from operating activities: Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities 18a Cash flows from investing activities: Dividends and interest from investments Proceeds from the sale of tangible assets Purchase of tangible assets Proceeds from the sale of investments Purchase of investments Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period 18c Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period 18b Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period 18b	2024 £ 464,980 8,339 (347,207) 1,607,833 (1,820,018)	2024 2023 £ £ (1,226,463) 164,034 271,999 6,550 (120,837) 1,573,624 (1,530,173) (86,073) 201,163 (1,312,536) 365,197 8,767,812 8,402,615 7,455,276 8,767,812

The notes on pages 21 to 38 form part of these financial statements

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. Accounting policies

a) Basis of preparation

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a charity registered in the UK (charity number 293358 (England) and SC040486 (Scotland)) with its registered office at The Grange, Wycombe Road, Saunderton, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, HP27 9NS.

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 (FRS 102) (effective January 2015) – (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Consolidated financial statements (“group accounts”) have been prepared in respect of the charity and its wholly owned subsidiary, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People (Trading) Limited. The parent has taken exemption from presenting its unconsolidated profit and loss account under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and as permitted by FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

b) Income

Voluntary income received by way of donations and gifts to the charity is included in full in the statement of financial activities when received.

Legacy income is included in the financial statements when the charity is satisfied that the conditions of entitlement, probability and measurement have been met. Pecuniary legacies are accounted for when notified. Residuary legacies are accounted for when notification of impending distribution is received and/or receipt occurs within one month of the year end. Residuary legacies subject to a life interest held by another party are not included in income until the conditions associated with payment have been fulfilled.

Income generated from the supply of goods or services is included in the statement of financial activities in the period in which the supply is made.

Grants receivable are accounted for under the performance model as permitted by the Charities SORP. Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme grant income is therefore recognised so as to match the furlough period of each relevant employee. The grants from the local council were due to the business needing to be closed or restricted as a result of government guidance during the Covid-19 pandemic and have been recognised on a receivable basis in this accounting period.

c) Volunteers

In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the time given by volunteers is not recognised in the accounts. Information about the contribution of volunteers is contained in the trustees’ annual report.

d) Unrestricted funds

Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources to the charity, received or generated for its charitable purposes.

e) Designated funds

Designated funds are funds set aside out of unrestricted funds by the Board of Trustees and applied towards specific purposes as identified by the Board of Trustees.

f) Restricted funds

Restricted funds are to be used for specified purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged against the fund, together with a fair allocation of overheads and support costs.

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. Accounting policies (continued)

g) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

Expenditure on raising funds comprises the costs of the central and community fundraising teams and the trading subsidiary and their associated support costs.

Expenditure on charitable activities comprises all costs relating to the provision of hearing dogs for deaf people including the costs of the supply and training, partnership services and quality assurance teams and their associated support costs.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

h) Allocation of support costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include back-office costs comprising facilities, general management, legal and professional, IT and governance costs which support the charity’s activities. These costs have been allocated between expenditure on raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities on the basis set out in note 5a.

i) Operating leases

All leased property and equipment are considered to be operating leases, and rentals are charged against revenue on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease. No assets are held under hire purchase agreements.

j) Fixed assets and depreciation

Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost of each asset over its estimated useful life, as follows:

Motor vehicles 25% per annum on a straight-line basis Furniture and equipment 20% per annum on a straight-line basis Freehold property 2% per annum on a straight-line basis

Fixed assets costing under £1,000 are not capitalised and treated as revenue expenditure.

k) Investments

Listed investments are stated at market value. Investments in subsidiaries are included in the charity accounts at cost.

l) Stocks

Stocks of goods held for resale are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value, after making due allowance for obsolete or damaged goods.

m) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

n) Short term deposits and cash at bank and in hand

Short term deposits and cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. Accounting policies (continued)

o) Creditor s

Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

p) Branches

The branches of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People are run independently under their own constitutions. Net income from branches is included in the SOFA on an accruals basis.

q) Pensions

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The charge in the Statement of Financial Activities is the amount of contributions payable to the pension scheme in respect of the accounting year.

r) Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

2. Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The key sources of estimation uncertainty that have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements are as follows:

Residuary legacies are recognised on notification which therefore requires an estimation of the amount receivable as described in note 1b).

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. In the view of the Trustees, no assumptions concerning the estimation uncertainty affecting assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date are likely to result in a material adjustment to their carrying amounts.

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

3. Comparative statement of financial activities

Income from: Donations and legacies Grants receivable Charitable Activities Trading and fundraising Investments Other Total income Expenditure on: Raising funds Charitable activities Total expenditure Net gains on investments Net income Transfers between funds Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward	Unrestricted Funds £ 7,578,341 - 89,417 1,203,577 271,999 74,350 9,217,684 2,688,224 6,749,434 9,437,658 (234,277) (454,251) - (454,251) 24,642,654 24,188,403	Restricted Funds Total 2023 £ £ 2,872,800 10,451,141 - - - 89,417 - 1,203,577 - 271,999 - 74,350 2,872,800 12,090,484 - 2,688,224 2,754,419 9,503,853 2,754,419 12,192,077 - (234,277) 118,381 (335,870) - - 118,381 (335,870) 873,589 25,516,243 991,970 25,180,373

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

4. Income

Donations and legacies Donations Income from branches Sponsorship Legacies Gift Aid Grants receivable Local Authority Grants Charitable activities Sale of hearing equipment Services to other charities Trading and fundraising Fundraising events Trading subsidiary income Investment income UK listed securities UK bank interest Other income Rent received Profit on sale of tangible assets Other income Total income	Unrestricted Funds £ 1,341,851 116,672 6,678,688 442,592 8,579,803 500 500 11,157 - 11,157 182,432 608,789 791,221 134,198 330,782 464,980 46,163 5,375 9,580 61,118 9,908,779	Restricted Funds £ 1,420,814 1,284,805 478,147 3,183,766 - - - - - 3,445 - 3,445 - - - - - 8,846 8,846 3,196,057	Total 2024 Total 2023 £ £ 2,762,665 2,344,377 116,672 19,614 1,284,805 1,390,536 7,156,835 6,466,300 442,592 230,314 11,763,569 10,451,141 500 - 500 - 11,157 13,313 - 76,104 11,157 89,417 185,877 441,932 608,789 761,645 794,666 1,203,577 134,198 84,918 330,782 187,081 464,980 271,999 46,163 48,495 5,375 6,550 18,426 19,305 69,964 74,350 13,104,836 12,090,484

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

5. Expenditure

Expenditure on: Raising funds: Donations and legacies Fundraising trading Investment management Charitable activities: Provision of hearing dogs Supporting people affected by hearing loss Total expenditure 2024 Total expenditure 2023	Direct Costs £ 830,280 649,933 41,682 1,521,895 1,546,596 23,755 1,570,351 3,092,246 3,060,510	Staff Costs £ 1,036,094 47,211 - 1,083,305 6,320,869 253,666 6,574,535 7,657,840 6,989,176	Depreciation £ 46,356 2,624 - 48,980 292,435 19,155 311,590 360,570 376,068	Support Costs £ 271,650 36,842 - 308,492 1,763,318 98,749 1,862,067 2,170,559 1,766,323	Total 2024 Total 2023 £ £ 2,184,380 1,799,276 736,610 833,649 41,682 55,299 2,962,672 2,688,224 9,923,218 9,165,425 395,325 338,428 10,318,543 9,503,853 13,281,215 12,192,077 12,192,077

5a. Support costs

Support costs included in the above are analysed as follows:

Raising funds: Donations and legacies Fundraising trading Charitable activities: Provision of hearing dogs Supporting people affected by hearing loss Total expenditure 2024 Total expenditure 2023	Facilities £ 74,844 11,548 86,392 589,675 32,575 622,250 708,642 600,763	General Management £ 102,517 20,400 122,917 628,040 26,758 654,798 777,715 535,640	Legal & Professional £ 45,400 2,383 47,783 264,091 21,123 285,214 332,997 270,752	IT £ 48,889 2,511 51,400 281,512 18,293 299,805 351,205 359,168	Total 2024 Total 2023 £ £ 271,650 121,897 36,842 27,713 308,492 149,610 1,763,318 1,547,685 98,749 69,028 1,862,067 1,616,713 2,170,559 1,766,323 1,766,323

Total governance costs included above are £102,036 ( 2023: £77,418 ).

Costs have been allocated across activities based on a combination of direct allocation and where appropriate apportionment based mainly on the average number of employees. The cost percentage allocated to each cost heading is as follows:

Raising funds: Donations and legacies Fundraising trading Investment management Charitable activities: Provision of hearing dogs Supporting people affected by hearing loss	2024 2023 % % 16.5 14.7 5.5 6.8 0.3 0.5 74.7 75.2 3.0 2.8

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

6. Net income

This is stated after charging/(crediting):

Profit on sale of fixed assets Depreciation Auditors' remuneration - audit -other services Operating lease rentals - equipment -property	2024 2023 £ £ (5,375) (6,550) 360,570 376,068 25,685 23,365 1,800 3,835 34,017 12,182 2,511 2,832

7. Staff costs and numbers

Staff costs were as follows: Salaries and wages Social security costs Pension contributions	2024 2023 £ £ 6,726,552 6,074,679 670,942 613,118 260,346 266,791 7,657,840 6,954,588

There were termination costs in the year of £91,044 ( 2023: £154,693 ). Termination costs include any payments in lieu of notice and pension contributions paid on termination.

The number of employees whose emolument exceeded £60,000 fell within the following ranges:

£60,001 - £70,000 £70,001 - £80,000 £80,001 - £90,000 £90,001 - £100,000 £100,001 - £110,000 £140,001 - £150,000 £160,001 - £170,000	2024 2023 Number Number - 1 2 2 2 1 - - 2 1 - - - 1

Contributions to the charity’s defined contribution pension scheme for the highest paid employee amounted to £5,729 ( 2023: £40,058 ).

The key management personnel of the charity are the trustees and the executive team led by the Chief Executive. One (2023: None) member of the executive team earned a salary of less than £60,000 and is not included in the table above. Total employee benefits (gross salaries, employers NI and employers pension contributions) of all the key management personnel of the charity and the group were £628,854 ( 2023: £739,617 ).

The Trustees did not receive any remuneration during the year to 31 March 2024 ( 2023: £Nil ). Trustees received reimbursed travel and subsistence expenses in 2024 of £1,031 ( 2023: £1,742 ).

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

7. Staff costs and numbers (continued)

Hearing Dogs: supply, training, welfare and aftercare Hearing Link: supporting people affected by hearing loss Fundraising Communications and marketing Management and administration Total	Average FTE 157 146 6 4 22 21 11 10 22 20 218 201 2024 Number	Average FTE 147 132 16 15 20 18 12 11 21 20 216 196 2023 Number

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all eligible employees which was set up in April 2014 in order to comply with auto-enrolment regulations. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund. The pension charge represents contributions payable by the charity to the fund. Pension contributions outstanding at 31 March 2024 amounted to £Nil ( 2023: £Nil ).

8. Taxation

The charitable company is not in receipt of any income that is subject to corporation tax.

9. Tangible assets – Charity and Group

Cost At 1 April 2023 Additions Disposals At 31 March 2024 Depreciation At 1 April 2023 Charge for the year Disposals At 31 March 2024 Net book value At 31 March 2024 At 31 March 2023	Freehold property £ 9,696,565 119,099 - 9,815,664 2,642,916 195,711 - 2,838,627 6,977,037 7,053,649	Motor vehicles £ 255,913 143,577 (79,505) 319,985 235,715 23,755 (79,505) 179,965 140,020 20,198	Furniture and equipment Total £ £ 1,963,177 11,915,655 82,795 345,471 (456,845) (536,350) 1,589,127 11,724,776 1,560,970 4,439,601 141,104 360,570 (455,617) (535,122) 1,246,457 4,265,049 342,670 7,459,727 402,207 7,476,054

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

9. Tangible assets (continued)

Net book value At 1 April 2023 Additions at cost Disposals at net book value Depreciation charge Net book value at 31 March 2024	Beatrice Wright Centre The Grange Total £ £ £ 2,008,293 5,045,356 7,053,649 46,796 72,303 119,099 - - - (57,605) (138,106) (195,711) 1,997,484 4,979,553 6,977,037

All of the tangible fixed assets of the charity are used for direct charitable purposes.

10. Fixed asset investments

Quoted investments Market value at 1 April Purchases Sales Net investment (losses)/gains Market value at 31 March Cash awaiting investment Total at 31 March	2024 2023 £ £ 8,829,750 9,107,478 1,820,018 1,530,173 (1,607,833) (1,573,624) 791,545 (234,277) 9,833,480 8,829,750 129,040 262,367 9,962,520 9,092,117 Group

In addition to the above, the charity accounts included an investment of £2 in its wholly owned trading subsidiary (see note 16).

The historic cost of quoted investments at 31 March 2024 was £7,847,794 ( 2023: £7,643,870 ). Included in the operational reserve shown in the balance sheet (see page 20) is a revaluation reserve of £1,985,686 ( 2023: £1,185,880 ) which is calculated by comparing the historical cost of quoted investments with their market value as shown above.

These investments are basic financial instruments which are held for investment return and measured at fair/market values. The consolidated entity’s income, expense, gains and losses in respect of financial instruments are as follows:

Total dividend and interest income for basic financial assets Total gains / (losses) in respect of basic financial assets	2024 2023 £ £ 464,980 271,999 791,545 (234,277)

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

11. Stocks

12. Debtors Goods for resale Trade debtors Loan to subsidiary Other amounts due from subsidiary Prepayments Other debtors and accrued income	2024 2023 £ £ 26,410 45,307 Group 2024 2023 £ £ 6,870 8,186 - - - (11) 256,852 195,461 1,557,414 557,884 1,821,136 761,520 Group	2024 2023 £ £ - - Charity 2024 2023 £ £ 2,434 - 136,510 85,010 84,080 45,421 255,868 194,243 1,557,414 557,884 2,036,306 882,558 Charity

12. Debtors

Total debtors include £136,510 ( 2023: £85,010 ) receivable after more than one year. This represents the loan to the subsidiary trading company that is secured by a fixed and floating charge over the assets of that subsidiary, with interest charged at 2% over Barclays Bank base rate.

All debtors are basic financial instruments measured at amortised cost, with the exception of prepayments.

13. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors Taxation and social security Other creditors and accruals	2024 2023 2024 2023 £ £ £ £ 396,229 265,343 394,794 264,952 174,820 158,494 174,820 158,494 229,441 276,233 217,791 264,843 800,490 700,070 787,405 688,289 Group Charity

All creditors are basic financial instruments measured at amortised cost, with the exception of taxation and social security.

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

14. Analysis of group net assets between funds

~~2~~024 Tangible fixed assets Investments Current assets Current liabilities Group funds at 31 March 2024 Add: Subsidiary net liabilities Charity funds at 31 March 2024 ~~2~~023 Tangible fixed assets Investments Current assets Current liabilities Group funds at 31 March 2023 Add: Subsidiary net liabilities Charity funds at 31 March 2023	Restricted funds £ - - 1,117,229 - 1,117,229 1,117,229 - Restricted funds £ - - 991,970 - 991,970 991,970	Unrestricted designated funds £ 7,459,727 9,962,520 380,606 - 17,802,853 17,802,853 Unrestricted designated funds £ 7,476,054 9,092,117 971,168 - 17,539,339 17,539,339	Unrestricted operational reserve Total funds £ £ - 7,459,727 - 9,962,520 7,671,918 9,169,753 (796,461) (796,461) 6,875,457 25,795,539 199,737 199,737 7,075,194 25,995,276 Unrestricted operational reserve Total funds £ £ - 7,476,054 - 9,092,117 7,349,134 9,312,272 (700,070) (700,070) 6,649,064 25,180,373 83,221 83,221 6,732,285 25,263,594

15. Other financial commitments

At 31 March 2024 the ageing of total minimum lease payments was as follows:

Property leases £ Operating leases due: Within one year 3,897 Between 2 - 5 years - 3,897	Other £ 6,717 16,716 23,433 2024	Total Property leases £ £ 10,614 2,832 16,716 - 27,330 2,832	Other Total £ £ 1,092 3,924 1,277 1,277 2,369 5,201 2023

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

16. Subsidiary undertaking

The charity has a wholly owned subsidiary which is incorporated in the UK, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People (Trading) Limited (Company number 02786252). The subsidiary operates from premises owned by the charity, its principal address being The Grange, Wycombe Road, Saunderton, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, HP27 9NS, from which it operates a restaurant and café and sells promotional items. It donates its taxable profits to the charity.

Trading and profit and loss account Turnover Cost of sales Gross profit Grants receivable Administrative expenses Operating loss Interest payable (Loss) / Profit on ordinary activities Retained losses brought forward Retained losses carried forward Balance sheet Total assets Total liabilities Net liabilities Share capital Retained losses Capital and reserves	2024 2023 £ £ 621,180 761,645 (581,729) (567,788) 39,451 193,857 - - (145,936) (194,388) (106,485) (531) (10,031) (6,111) (116,516) (6,642) (83,223) (76,581) (199,739) (83,223) 34,250 59,002 (233,987) (142,223) (199,737) (83,221) 2 2 (199,739) (83,223) (199,737) (83,221)

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

17. Movement in funds

Restricted funds: Hearing Dogs: By project / activity Physical Facility Hearing Dogs for Deaf Children Purchase & Training of HD Hearing Dogs Training Partnerships Training, partnership and salaries Puppy Socialising Areas Operations Development Team Upgrade: The Grange Farmhouse Upgrade: Kennels Lifetime Partnership Support Training and / or name a dog Name a puppy Training Runs Other projects less than £10,000 By location Scotland Greater Manchester Jersey Merseyside Norfolk South East England Sussex Amounts £5,000 or less Hearing Dogs Total Hearing Link: By project / activity Hearing Link Hearing Link Total Total restricted	2023 £ 290,000 - 65,000 - - 231,628 - - 300,000 10,000 25,000 52,500 - 8,424 - - - 9,418 - - - - - 991,970 - - 991,970	Total Income £ 15,000 25,000 2,144,090 277,955 50,000 20,000 7,688 30,650 405,480 8,000 - 10,000 39,620 15,000 6,000 117,294 3,171,777 24,280 24,280 3,196,057	Total Expenditure £ (15,000) (2,144,090) (509,583) (29,169) (10,000) (25,000) (52,500) (20,000) (16,112) (30,650) - (8,000) - (10,000) (39,620) (15,000) (6,000) (115,794) (3,046,518) (24,280) (24,280) (3,070,798)	Investment Gains / Transfers 2024 £ £ 290,000 - 90,000 - - - - 20,831 300,000 - - - - - - 405,480 - 9,418 - - - - 1,500 - 1,117,229 - - - - 1,117,229

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

17. Movement in funds (continued)

Unrestricted funds: Designated funds: Freehold - BWC Freehold - The Grange Other functional fixed assets Sub-total fixed assets Capital commitments Total fixed assets Partnership commitments Property development fund Total designated Operational reserve Total unrestricted Total funds	2023 £ 2,008,293 5,045,356 422,405 7,476,054 119,917 7,595,971 6,443,368 3,500,000 17,539,339 6,649,064 24,188,403 25,180,373	Total Income £ - - - - - - - - 9,908,779 9,908,779 13,104,836	Total Expenditure £ (57,605) (138,106) (164,859) (360,570) (119,917) (480,487) - - (480,487) (9,729,930) (10,210,417) (13,281,215)	Investment Gains / Transfers 2024 £ £ 46,796 1,997,484 72,303 4,979,553 225,144 482,690 344,243 7,459,727 - - 344,243 7,459,727 399,758 6,843,126 - 3,500,000 744,001 17,802,853 47,544 6,875,457 791,545 24,678,310 791,545 25,795,539

Restricted funds are those where the donor has imposed restrictions on the use of the funds.

The charity operates dog and puppy sponsorships schemes to sponsor the costs of partnerships between deaf people and hearing dogs. Typically amounts between £5,000 and £10,000 are received as sponsorship donations. Puppy sponsorship donations are mostly given on a regular monthly basis. Costs associated with the selection, socialising, training, welfare, placement and aftercare of dogs are charged to these sponsorship funds as appropriate.

The charity also has a number of restricted funds where donors have specified the specific project/activity or geographical area for which the funds are to be used.

Restricted funds are shown in two parts; those relating to Hearing Dogs and those relating to Hearing Link.

Designated funds of £7,459,727 (2023: £7,476,054) have been set aside from the group’s unrestricted funds by the Directors for the functional fixed assets required to carry out the principal activities of the charity. No contractual commitments existed at 31 March 2024 (2023: £Nil) . An amount of £344,243 (2023: £120,837) was transferred from general funds to designated funds in respect of fixed assets during the year.

The Directors have also designated the following funds for specific use:

An amount to cover the charity’s future long-term commitments relating to its existing hearing dog partnerships. At 31 March 2024 this amount was calculated at £6,843,126 ( 2023: £6,443,368 ) representing the projected costs over a 10-year period. An amount of £399,758 (2023: £574,386) was transferred from general funds to designated funds in respect of future partnership liabilities during the year.

The operating environment has changed since the Coronavirus pandemic, and it is planned to redevelop parts of both sites that are no longer used. A designated fund of £3.5m was established in 2022/23 to support the plans. The redevelopments are currently in the pre-planning permission stage.

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

17. Movement in funds (continued)

Restricted funds: Hearing Dogs: By project / activity Physical Facility Hearing Dogs for Deaf Children Purchase & Training of HD Hearing Dogs Training Partnerships Training, partnership and salaries Puppy Socialising Areas Operations Development Team Upgrade: The Grange Farmhouse Upgrade: Kennels Lifetime Partnership Support Training and / or name a dog Elderly - Scotland Other projects less than £10,000 By location Bedfordshire Buckinghamshire Devon & Cornwall Dorset Gloucestershire Greater Manchester Hampshire & West Sussex Jersey Kent Leicestershire Merseyside Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire Scotland York Yorkshire Amounts £5,000 or less Hearing Dogs Total Hearing Link: By project / activity Hearing Aid Liaison Outreach Hearing Link Website Development By location Northern Ireland Hearing Link Total Total restricted

2022 Total Income Total Expenditure Investment Gains / Transfers 2023 £ £ £ £ £ 290,000 - - 290,000 - 68,667 (68,667) - - 65,000 - 65,000 - 1,390,534 (1,390,534) - - 586,789 (586,789) - 277,955 (46,327) 231,628 25,000 - (25,000) - - 46,000 (46,000) - 300,000 - - 300,000 10,000 - - 10,000 150,000 - (125,000) 25,000 40,000 50,000 (37,500) 52,500 - 10,000 (10,000) - 8,424 15,886 (15,886) 8,424 - 14,000 (14,000) - - 13,000 (13,000) - - 52,451 (52,451) - - 5,500 (5,500) - - 5,000 (5,000) - - 9,000 (9,000) - - 5,500 (5,500) - 9,418 - - 9,418 - 6,000 (6,000) - - 5,500 (5,500) - - 7,000 (7,000) - - 5,500 (5,500) - - 9,710 (9,710) - - 9,000 (9,000) - 6,673 2,500 (9,173) - - 69,792 (69,792) - 839,515 2,730,284 (2,577,829) - 991,970 8,498 - (8,498) - - 75,883 (75,883) - 25,576 (25,576) - - 66,633 (66,633) - 34,074 142,516 (176,590) - - 873,589 2,872,800 (2,754,419) - 991,970

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

17. Movement in funds (continued)

Unrestricted funds: Designated funds: Freehold - BWC Freehold - The Grange Other functional fixed assets Sub-total fixed assets Capital commitments Total fixed assets Partnership commitments Property development Fund Coronavirus Recovery Fund Total designated Operational reserve Total unrestricted Total funds

2022 Total Income Total Expenditure Investment Gains / Transfers 2023 £ £ £ £ £ 2,050,515 - (56,578) 14,356 2,008,293 5,163,560 - (136,698) 18,494 5,045,356 517,210 - (182,792) 87,987 422,405 7,731,285 - (376,068) 120,837 7,476,054 - - - 119,917 119,917 7,731,285 - (376,068) 240,754 7,595,971 5,868,982 - - 574,386 6,443,368 - - - 3,500,000 3,500,000 1,704,575 - (425,000) (1,279,575) - 15,304,842 - (801,068) 3,035,565 17,539,339 9,337,812 9,217,684 (8,636,590) (3,269,842) 6,649,064 24,642,654 9,217,684 (9,437,658) (234,277) 24,188,403 25,516,243 12,090,484 (12,192,077) (234,277) 25,180,373

18a. Reconciliation of net income to net cash flow from operating activities

18b. Analysis of cash and cash equivalents Net income / (expenditure) Adjustments for: Depreciation charges (Gains) / Losses on investments Dividends and interest from investments Profit on sale of tangible fixed assets Decrease / (increase) in stock (Increase) / decrease in debtors Increase / (decrease) in creditors Net cash provided by operating activities Cash awaiting investment Short term deposits Cash at bank and in hand		2024 2023 £ £ 615,166 (335,870) 360,570 376,068 (791,545) 234,277 (464,980) (271,999) (5,375) (6,550) 18,897 (7,152) (1,053,153) 758,656 93,957 (583,396) (1,226,463) 164,034 2024 2023 £ £ 129,040 262,367 7,214,865 8,487,014 111,371 18,431 7,455,276 8,767,812

18b. Analysis of cash and cash equivalents

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HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

18c. Movement in net funds

Short term deposits Cash at bank and in hand Cash held awaiting investment Total net cash	At 1 April 2023 £ 8,487,014 18,431 262,367 8,767,812	Cash flow At 31 March 2024 £ £ (1,272,149) 7,214,865 92,940 111,371 (133,327) 129,040 (1,312,536) 7,455,276

19. Capital commitments

Contracted capital commitments for the group and the charity

2024 £ £ -	2023 £ £119,917

There were no capital commitments as at 31 March 2024 (2023: £119,917 relating to the purchase of four motor vehicles).

20. Related parties

In the year to 31 March 2024 the following transactions took place between the charity and its wholly owned trading subsidiary:

a. Management charges from the charity to the trading subsidiary £18,000 ( 2023: £60,000 b. Interest payable by the trading subsidiary to the charity £10,031 ( 2023: £6,111 ).

At 31 March 2024 the amount owed by the trading subsidiary to the charity amounted to £84,080 ( 2023: £42,626 owed by the charity to the trading company ).

In addition, the charity has loaned the trading subsidiary £136,510 which has no fixed repayment date, but which is secured on its assets, attracting interest at 2% over bank base rate.

Mr P Davis (charity trustee) and Mr C Hedley (charity Company Secretary) are directors of the charity’s wholly owned trading subsidiary.

During the year the charity has used a veterinary practice owned by Ms S Heath (charity trustee). Invoiced amounts totalled £3,474.

Jane Tommey’s husband Paul Tommey is employed by the charity as a dog trainer under a standard contract of employment and is paid at the same rate as other dog trainers. Jane Tommey, Director of Operations, was not involved in the recruitment process and the appointment was approved by the Trustees.

£25 ( 2023: £496 ) of donations from Trustees were received during the year.

21. Contingent assets – Legacies

At the balance sheet date, the charity had received notification that it is a beneficiary of a number of legacies. It is not possible to quantify these accurately or to ascertain the date on which the charity will receive them. The estimated value of the legacies notified as at 31 March 2024 was £8.4 million ( 2023: £6.1 million) and is not included in the accounts .

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