CAT ACTION TRUST 1977
ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 801245
CAT ACTION TRUST 1977
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The committee presents its annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s trust deed and the SORP – 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 (FRS102) issued on 16 July 2014 and the Charities Act 2011.
Reference and administrative information
Patrons
Dame Eileen Atkins Ms Stephanie Cole Mrs Daphne Fowler Ms Lesley Anne Ivory
Executive Committee and Trustees
The executive committee members who served during the year were as follows:
| Chair | Kim Kelly |
|---|---|
| Trustee | Nigel Waddy (Vice Chair) |
| Trustee | Karen Stevenson |
| Trustee | Elke de Vries (Retired October 2020) |
| Trustee | Judith Roberts |
| Trustee | Helen Lamb (Membership Secretary) |
| Trustee | Trudie Farrell (Honorary Secretary) |
| Trustee | Malcolm Godden (Honorary Treasurer) |
| Trustee | Tim Street |
| Trustee | Alex Yates (Co-opted 11 November 2020) |
| Branches and branch leaders | |
|---|---|
| Ayrshire | Flora Fleming |
| Bewdley | (Branch closed October 2020) |
| Central London | Elke de Vries |
| Doncaster South | Karen Beevers |
| East Kilbride | Joan Docherty |
| Jersey | Jean Falk |
| Leeds | Sheila Pickersgill |
| Nuneaton and Hinkley | Sybil Brown |
| Shaw | Patricia Bowers |
In addition to cat rescue work, the branch leaders also deal with administration and fundraising for their respective branches.
CAT ACTION TRUST 1977
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (contd)
Headquarters address
Brookside, Lustleigh, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ13 9TJ
Charity number: 801245
Main Bankers
Barclays Bank Plc Pinner Branch 15/17 Bridge Street Pinner Middlesex HA5 3HU
Independent Examiner
Margaret Anne Payne Payne & Co Chartered Accountants 16 Ingham Road London NW6 1DE
Structure, governance and management
The charity is constituted as an unincorporated association under a trust deed dated 14 February 1989, as amended.
The charity is administered by a management committee who have a shared and statutory responsibility to ensure that the charity functions according to its constitution. Committee members are elected at the Annual General Meeting to hold office for a period not exceeding three years, after which time they retire and are eligible for reelection. One third of the committee members from those longest serving, retire from office each year. Members are elected on receipt of not less than 51% of the votes of the members present and voting. New committee members must be a member of the trust for not less than two consecutive financial years immediately preceding the date of the annual general meeting at which the election is held and either have been recommended by the committee or submitted a letter to the chair fourteen clear days before the annual general meeting signifying their willingness to serve, such letter to be counter-signed by at least five eligible members of the trust in support. Committee members are briefed on their responsibilities as trustees prior to the acceptance of the role.
The committee meets as required, but not less than eight times a year. All executive committee members are obliged to attend at least six committee meetings a year and to contribute to the efficient and proper management of the charity. The charity does not have an office and the committee members work from their own homes. All committee members are unpaid volunteers.
CAT ACTION TRUST 1977
3
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (contd)
A copy of the charity’s constitution, the latest AGM minutes and accounts and a leaflet about the charity are available from the Headquarters address. Information about the charity and advice about feral cat care are available from the charity’s website www.cat77.org.uk
Overview of the year
CAT ACTION TRUST 1977
4
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (contd)
Statistics
Risk management
The major risks to which the charity is exposed have been identified by the trustees as below. The trustees actively review the risks the charity faces on a regular basis, covering operational and financial aspects.
The trustees consider that the main risk to the charity’s objective of the humane control of feral cats by neutering, providing necessary veterinary care and finding permanent homes for kittens and tame stray cats, is recruiting and maintaining effective volunteers and ensuring sufficient continuing finance to cover the costs of all the charity’s activities.
A further risk identified by the trustees is the geographical spread of the charity’s areas of operation and the need to have effective systems in place, and sufficient resources to assist the branch leaders, in compliance with the charity’s laid down procedures.
As the average age of the charity’s volunteers in certain branches increases, and the number of un-homeable cats in the hands of these volunteers also increases, the trustees are mindful of the need to assist with the recruitment of additional, younger, volunteers and to ensure that adequate back-up is available.
CAT ACTION TRUST 1977
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (contd)
Objectives and activities for the public benefit
The charity’s principle objective continues to be the relief of suffering of feral cats which are in need of attention by reason of homelessness, poor circumstances, ill-usage or other similar cause and to encourage the prevention of unwanted breeding among such cats. The objective of humane control of feral cats is achieved by limiting their numbers through neutering and returning to site, by providing veterinary care, where necessary, and by finding homes for kittens and tame stray cats. The charity is totally opposed to killing for expediency.
This work benefits local communities by controlling the population of stray cats, controlling the incidence and spread of disease and suffering, preventing stray animals from posing a risk to themselves and to people through road traffic accidents and providing companion animals that are healthy and suited to their environment.
The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the trust’s aims and objectives.
The activities and achievements of the charity during the year are set out on pages 3 and 4.
Financial review and reserves policy
The charity’s accounts are an amalgamation of nine branch accounts and headquarter’s accounts.
Direct expenditure on cats (i.e. on vets bills, shelter, food, transport and equipment) remained high, at £380,186 (2020 £202,659) and 86.56% (2020 82.58%) of the charity’s total outgoings was spent directly on the cats.
The reserves that the charity has set aside provide financial stability and the means for the development of its principle activity. The charity intends to maintain reserves at a level that is equivalent to at least two times its annual expenditure, with regard to charity commission guidelines, so that the charity’s core activity could continue during a period of unforeseen difficulty. For the current year, the charity’s expenditure was £439,209 and its reserves were £1,179,202 exceeding the target level as a result of legacies received in recent years.
The trustees review the amount of reserves at every meeting of the executive committee, to ensure that they are adequate to fulfil the charity’s continuing obligations and not excessive.
Annual general meeting
The charity’s annual general meeting was held on 17 October 2020. Draft accounts for the year to 31 March 2020 were presented. Margaret Anne Payne of Payne & Co was retained as the charity’s independent examiner.
CAT ACTION TRUST 1977
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (contd)
Statement of trustees’ responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees’ report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees of the charity to prepare accounts each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing those accounts the trustees are required to:
-
select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
-
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP
-
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
-
state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the account, and
-
prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of accounts may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Approved by the executive committee on 27 January 2022 and signed on its behalf
Karen Stevenson - Trustee
CAT ACTION TRUST 1977
7
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF CAT ACTION TRUST 1977
I report on the accounts of the trust for the year ended 31 March 2021, which are set out on pages 8 to 13.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Charities Act”) and that an independent examination is needed. The Charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.
It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act;
-
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act; and
-
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and the seeking of explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that, in any material respect:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
-
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
-
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of the accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I 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.
Margaret Anne Payne BA FCA Payne & Co Chartered Accountants 16 Ingham Road London NW6 1DE
27 January 2022
CAT ACTION TRUST 1977
8
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
| Notes Income Donations and legacies 3 Membership income Fundraising activities Income from investments (interest income) Total income Expenditure 4 Charitable activities Expenditure on raising funds Total resources expended Net movement in funds Total funds brought forward at 1 April 2020 Total funds carried forward at 31 March 2021 |
2021 2020 £ £ 233,170 138,596 2,431 3,125 20,753 16,465 4,039 4,940 260,393 163,126 433,609 237,478 5,600 7,997 439,209 245,475 -178,816 -82,349 1,358,018 1,440,367 1,179,202 1,358,018 |
|---|---|
The notes on pages 10 to 14 form part of these accounts
CAT ACTION TRUST 1977
9
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 MARCH 2021
| Notes Fixed assets Tangible assets 5 Current assets Debtors 6 Cash at bank and in hand Current liabilities Creditors falling due within one year 7 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Funds of the charity Unrestricted funds |
8,224 1,167,187 1,175,411 -19,988 |
2021 2020 £ £ 23,779 20,067 7,659 1,349,815 1,357,474 -19,524 1,155,423 1,337,950 1,179,202 1,358,017 1,179,202 1,358,017 |
|---|---|---|
Approved by the trustees on 27 January 2022 and signed on their behalf by:
Karen Stevenson – Trustee
Malcolm Godden - Trustee
The notes on pages 10 to 14 form part of these accounts
10
CAT ACTION TRUST 1977
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
1 Basis of preparation
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to the accounts.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with:
-
the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014
-
and with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)
-
and with the Charities Act 2011
The Charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
The presentation currency of the accounts is the pound sterling (£). The accounts have been rounded to the nearest pound.
2 Accounting policies
Incoming resources
Incoming resources are recognised once the receipt of income is probable and the amount can be measured with reasonable accuracy.
Grants and donations are recognised when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
Legacy income is recognised in the year in which the charity becomes entitled to the income where the amount receivable can be established with reasonable accuracy.
Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise.
Investment income is included in the accounts when receivable.
Life membership subscriptions are accounted for in the year of receipt.
Voluntary help is invaluable to the charity but is not included in the accounts, since the monetary value is impossible to quantify. The value of assets and facilities donated, where impossible to quantify, is not included in the accounts.
Offsetting
There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilities, or income and expenses, unless required or permitted by the FRS 102 SORP or FRS 102.
CAT ACTION TRUST 1977
11
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (contd)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
2 Accounting policies (contd)
Resources expended
Liabilities are recognised as resources expended as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.
Governance and support costs
Governance costs comprise all costs involving public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice. Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Basic financial instruments
The charity accounts for basic financial instruments on initial recognition as per paragraph 10.7 FRS 102 SORP. Subsequent measurement is as per paragraphs 11.17 to 11.19, FRS 102 SORP.
Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
Tangible assets costing more than £250 are capitalised and valued at historic cost. Purchased assets are recorded at purchase price and donated assets, where the value can be determined, are valued at market value on receipt.
Depreciation is charged on a reducing balance basis at a rate of 25% per annum on motor vehicles, shelters and computer equipment. Impairment reviews are carried out annually.
Debtors
Debtors (including trade debtors and loans receivable) are measured on initial recognition at settlement amount after any trade discounts or amount advanced by the charity. Subsequently, they are measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be received.
Funds structure
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by the donor.
Unrestricted funds comprise those funds which the trustees are free to use for any purpose in furtherance of the charitable objects. Unrestricted funds include designated funds where the trustees, at their discretion, have created a fund for a specific purpose.
Donations made to headquarters in favour of individual branches are paid out to the branches concerned, together with any gift aid claim, as soon as is reasonably practicable. Since the funds paid out to individual branches each year exceed the amount of the specified donations, the trustees have not accounted for these separately as restricted funds. The trustees review this policy, and the accounting disclosure, annually, to ensure that the treatment remains appropriate.
CAT ACTION TRUST 1977 12 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (contd) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
| 3 Donations and legacies Donations Legacies 4 Charitable activities Veterinary fees Veterinary fees - Funded Neutering Shelter, food and transport Equipment expensed Donations Depreciation Profit / loss on disposal Governance costs (below) Support costs (below) Expenditure on raising funds Merchandise, stalls etc Newsletter, printing and PO Box Advertising Governance costs Independent examination Legal and professional fees Meetings Travel Other resources expended Telephone Insurance Storage costs Computer software Bank charges and Interest Other Analysis of resources expended |
2021 2020 £ £ 104,349 102,783 128,821 35,813 233,170 138,596 2021 2020 £ £ 161,484 135,460 151,167 63,557 62,028 3,978 5,171 23,245 3,364 7,926 6,689 255 9,806 13,112 12,191 11,654 433,609 237,478 153 657 3,326 6,127 2,121 1,213 5,600 7,997 5,000 5,000 1,004 2,119 205 3,802 5,788 9,806 13,112 3,246 3,164 2,459 2,145 1,649 1,621 2,312 560 273 543 2,252 3,621 12,191 11,654 |
|---|---|
CAT ACTION TRUST 1977
13
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (contd)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
5 Tangible fixed assets
| 5 Tangible fixed assets |
||
|---|---|---|
| £ £ 40,377 8,865 11,316 -10,087 -500 30,290 19,681 24,721 6,170 3,854 3,501 -9,847 -493 18,728 9,178 11,562 10,503 15,656 2,695 6 Debtors and prepayments Other debtors (gift aid tax reclaim) Prepayments Accrued income 7 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Vets fees Shelter, food and transport Independent examiner’s fees Other creditors Disposals At 31 March 2021 At 1 April 2020 Additions Cost Motor vehicles Shelters At 31 March 2021 At 31 March 2020 Net book value Disposals At 31 March 2021 At 1 April 2020 Charge for the year Depreciation |
£ 8,865 11,316 -500 Shelters |
£ £ 4,749 53,991 577 11,893 -447 -11,034 4,879 54,850 3,033 33,924 571 7,926 -439 -10,779 3,165 31,071 1,714 23,779 1,716 20,067 2021 2020 £ £ 2,280 5,500 2484 917 3,460 1,242 8,224 7,659 2021 2020 £ £ 8,913 7,002 2,148 4,214 5,000 5,000 3,927 3,308 19,988 19,524 Computer Equipment Total |
| 19,681 6,170 3,501 -493 |
8 Related party transactions and trustees’ remuneration
No member of the executive committee, nor any person connected with them, has received, or is due to receive any remuneration for the year, or the previous year, nor obtained any financial benefit in either year, directly or indirectly, from the charity’s funds. One trustee incurred reimbursable fostering costs on behalf of the charity of £3,361 during the year (2020 £5,025) and this amount is included in creditors.
14
CAT ACTION TRUST 1977
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (contd)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
9 Contingent asset
Last year the charity became entitled to a legacy receivable from the estate of the late Mr David Patrick George McKeon, who died on 2[nd] April 2019. The legacy consisted of the proceeds of sale of property currently estimated to the value in excess of £960,000. Probate was granted on 18th June 2020 and the property has been sold but the disbursement has not yet been made owing to a potential challenge to the will. The trustees do not believe that the ultimate sale proceeds can be determined with sufficient accuracy to accrue this amount in the accounts for the year.