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← The Wild Animal Welfare Committee

2024-09-30-accounts

Wild Animal Welfare Committee Scottish Charity No. SC045958 Trusteeg Annual Report and Accounts Year ended 30 September 2024 Wild Animal Welfare Committee (WAWCI SCIO The Wild Animal Welfare Committee IWAWCI Trustees present their report together with the financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2024. l. Reference and Administrative Infomiation Charity name Wild Animal Welfare Committee SCIO Charity No SC045958 Address clo 9 Craighill Gardens, Edinburgh EHIO SPY Current Trustees 2. Structure, Governance and Management Constitution The Charity is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation ISCIOI. It was registered in its current legal form on 4 September 2015. It has a two-tier structure. Appointment of Trustees and Members WAWC appoints Trustees by consensus. after assuming the chair following the retirement o and ecame full members during the period and with a view to potential appointment as a full member in 2025. ined the committee Objerts The organisation's Objects are to advance animal welfare by: Providing an independent evidence base for evaluating. monitoring. asse55ing and improving decision5 affecting the welfare of free-living wild animals in the UK:

Activities

In furtherance of these Objects, the WAWC:

3. Achievements and Performance

The WAWC continued its programme of engagement with the public policy agenda, by way of expert responses to consultations, events and own-initiative papers. Members met four times between October 2023 and September 2024, twice in Edinburgh and twice online.

At its meeting on 3 October 2023, members considered the inter-relationships between One Health, Equality Diversity Inclusion (EDI) and the need to embrace “other-than-human” animals in developing a more holistic and less anthropocentric view of wild animal welfare. Some of this shift in thinking – from objects to processes and relationships, from hierarchies to networks, from objective knowledge to contextual knowledge – informed the committee’s approach to its conference in May 2024, and subsequent follow-up work.

In February 2024, WAWC signed a letter from welfare and conservation NGOs to Steve Barclay MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, calling on the UK government to consult on regulations to give effect to the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023. The Act allows Ministers to prohibit the sale and advertising in England and Northern Ireland of cruel and abusive activities overseas, such as elephant riding and dolphin shows, that would be illegal in the UK. However, implementation depends on the introduction of regulations specifying the relevant activities and these have not been produced by either the previous or the current administration. NGO lobbying continues.

In March 2024, WAWC responded to a Scottish Government consultation on deer management. While acknowledging that increased lethal control may be required for both environmental and, to some extent, welfare reasons, WAWC stressed the ongoing need to strengthen competence requirements for the shooting of deer, including third-party assessment of ability. WAWC also welcomed the inclusion of “fitness” criteria in the government’s proposed register of authorised persons and stressed the general expectation that shotguns should not be used to kill deer.

A full-day international online conference Translating wildlife welfare into practice: wildlife management in the 21st century was held on 16 May 2024. Distinguished speakers from around the world discussed how and why wild animal welfare could be integrated into wider contexts, such as land management and conservation projects. There were 149 registrations for the conference,

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from over 30 countries, of which 23 were free places allocated to delegates from global south countries.

The aims of the 2024 Conference were to:

· focus on developing more inclusive, integrative systems thinking, so that wildlife managers value and consider the welfare of individual wild animals as part of wider land stewarding

· shift the paradigm to ensure wildlife ethics, welfare and flourishing are at the centre of decision-making by organisations and others responsible for the ecosystem health of the land that they manage

· start to develop approaches to help engagement with those who hold differing views or are unaware of how individual animal welfare considerations can be incorporated into management practices

· explore routes to enhanced engagement with organisations with wildlife management responsibilities, to encourage more awareness of and concern for wildlife welfare.

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All presentations were later made available on the WAWC YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIQ7Oz0g2mQ&t=1417s

One week after the online conference, an in-person follow-up seminar was held in Edinburgh with invited guests and speakers from NGOs, government agencies and academia. Representatives from RSPB and the National Trust discussed in more detail how they apply the international consensus principles of ethical wildlife control, and how this has affected practice across their organisations. Dr Penny Hawkins from the RSPCA and Dr Stephen Wickens of UFAW, a WAWC member, discussed existing ethical review bodies in scientific establishments and UK zoos, and how these approaches could apply to wildlife management decisions.

Following this meeting, work began on a toolkit for environmental NGOs, building on the experience of working with RSPB and the National Trust and including model terms for an ethical review body. The toolkit has now been completed and used in an approach to a Scottish rewilding charity, where it was well received and is expected to facilitate an ethical principles approach to deer management and translocations.

Also in May, WAWC submitted a critical response to DEFRA proposals to evolve badger control policy for England and introduce additional cattle measures, strongly disagreeing with the UK government’s targeted badger intervention policy due to its focus on culling. Following the UK general election in July 2024, the incoming government stated that it would replace culling with a vaccination strategy to protect both cows and badgers, including a new "badger vaccinator field force" as well as a survey of the badger population and TB infection rates. However, it was also announced that culling would only be phased out by the end of the current parliament, and this has been criticised for allowing the ongoing killing of thousands more badgers. WAWC will continue to contribute to this debate.

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A prompt end to the badger cull was one of 14 recommendations in the WAWC “manifesto” for improving and promoting the welfare of wild animals in the UK after the 2024 general election. Some recommendations covered longstanding issues, such as strengthening the Hunting Act 2004, consolidating outdated wildlife legislation and banning snares outright in England, as well as a wholesale review of the use of lethal and non-lethal wild animal traps in the UK. Others were intended to improve the welfare of marine mammals in UK waters and around the world, by addressing bycatch, unregulated wildlife tours, and the problem of commercial whaling. The need to apply ethical principles of wildlife control to interventions affecting free-living wild animals was stressed throughout.

In August 2024, NatureScot invited WAWC to comment on the draft grouse moor licensing code created under the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024. Options for improving welfare provision were limited by the terms of the legislation but both WAWC and the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC) drew attention to an anomaly whereby the draft code referred to predator control guidance that had not been published (and still has not, as WAWC regularly reminds officials).

WAWC was also given sight of the proposed content of training courses for licensed crow cage and spring trap users in Scotland, introduced in autumn 2024 prior to the expected commencement of the relevant sections of the Act in early 2025. WAWC responded that the courses promoted lethal predator control (rather than alternative approaches) and missed opportunities to improve welfare. At the same time, it was noted that the eventual implementation of trap licensing – which is now significantly delayed – would provide a further opportunity to introduce welfare conditions, and WAWC began work with the animal welfare organisation OneKind to draw up suggestions for conditions to promote and protect wild animal welfare in trapping activities. Implementation of these provisions has been delayed due to other pressures on NatureScot, but discussions continue.

WAWC and OneKind continue to meet quarterly with the Scottish Government and NatureScot.

4. Financial review

As in previous years, meetings expenses have constituted the main ongoing cost of the WAWC. Hospitality was provided for speakers at the in-person seminar in Edinburgh in May. WAWC manages an extremely frugal budget, and fundraising remains a constant priority. The online conference in May 2024 generated income of over £3,400 which will allow continued operation for at least two more years, although other sources of funding will continue to be sought.

5. Reserves policy

The Trustees do not currently have a reserves policy as the income to date has been fully expended in furtherance of the Organisation’s Objects.

6. Plans for future period

The Trustees intend to continue organising meetings and directing a work programme of research and publications covering the state of wild animal welfare in the UK, with the aim of improving the welfare of sentient individual wild animals. Following the conference and workshop in May 2024, ethical review materials have been produced for NGO use and are being promoted through individual outreach, building on successful engagement with the National Trust and RSPB. WAWC will continue to work with official and non-governmental partners to promote the International Consensus Principles for Ethical Wildlife Control, which underpin much of its work.

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7. Accounts

The charity has income below £250,000 and as such is eligible to prepare its accounts on a Receipts and Payments Basis. The governing document does not require the charity to prepare fully accrued accounts and neither does it require an audit.

(Signed)

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May 2025

Wild Animal Welfare Committee

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APPENDIX 3

’ Independent examiner s report on the accounts V2

Report to the
trustees/members of		 Report to the
trustees/members of		 Charity name
WILD ANIMAL WELFARE COMMITTEE		 Charity name
WILD ANIMAL WELFARE COMMITTEE
Registered charity Registered charity SC045958 SC045958
number number
On the accounts of the On the accounts of the
charity for the period Day
Month
Year
Day
Month
Year
1 1
OCTOBER
2023
to
30
SEPTEMBER
2024
Set out on pages 1 - 6 1 - 6
(remember to include the page
numbers of additional sheets)
Respective
responsibilities of
trustees and examiner		 Respective
responsibilities of
trustees and examiner		 The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance
with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) 2005 Act and the
Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). The charity trustees
consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1) (d) of the Accounts Regulations
does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section
44(1) (c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent Basis of independent My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts
examiner’s statement examiner’s statement Regulations. 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 seeks
explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken
do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently, I do
not express an audit opinion on the viewgiven bythe accounts.
Independent examiner’s Independent examiner’s In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention [other than that
statement statement disclosed on the attached page*]
1.
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the
requirements:
•
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and
Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations, and
•
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with
Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
have not been met, or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:** Signed:** Date:
5 June 2025
Name: Name:
Relevant professional Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body qualification(s) or body
(if any): (if any):
Address: Address:

*Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. If the words do apply, set out those matters which have come to your attention on the following page.

** OSCR will accept digital or typed signatures

APPENDIX 3 Disclosure section Only o)mplete rf the examiner rwls to high1￿ht material prcOle￿6. Glv• here brlef detalls of any ltsms that th• éxamlnér wlshos to dlsclos•

Enter SC No. below

APPENDIX 2

Enter charity name below

SC

SC
Receipts andpayments accounts
Period start date Period end date Period end date
For the period
from		 Day Month Year to Day Month Year
Section A Statement of receipts and payments
Unrestricted
funds		 Restricted
funds		 Expendable
endowment
funds		 Permanent
endowment
funds		 Total funds
current period		 Total funds last
period
to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
A1 Receipts
Donations - - -
Legacies - - -
Grants - - -
Receipts from fundraisingactivities - - -
Gross tradingreceipts - - -
Income from investments other than
land and buildings - - -
Rents from land & buildings - - -
Gross receipts from other charitable
activities 3 456 3 456 3 456 414
- - -
A1 Sub total A1 Sub total - - - - - - - - - - - 3 456 3 456 3 456 414
error
A2 Receipts from asset &
investment sales
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets
Proceeds from sale of investments
A2 Sub total -
-
-
Total receipts -
-
-
A3 Payments
~~—~~
~~= == SS~~		 -
-
-
-
-
-
3 456
414
error
~~SS~~
Expenses for fundraising activities - - -
Gross trading payments - - -
Investment management costs - - -
Payments relating directly to charitable Payments relating directly to charitable
activities 3 273 3 273 3 273 579
Grants and donations
- - -
Governance costs:
- - -
Audit / independent examination - - -
Preparation of annual accounts - - -
Legal costs - - -
Other Other Other
- - -
- - -
**A3 Sub total ** - - - - - - - - - - - 3 273 3 273 3 273 579
error
A4 Payments relating to asset and
investment movements
Purchases of fixed assets
-
Purchase of investments
-
A4 Sub total -
-
-
-
-
-
Total payments -
-
-
-
3 273
579
~~————————~~
error
Net receipts / (payments)
A5 Transfers to / (from) funds
Surplus / (deficit) for year		 -
-
-
-
3 456
414)
(
-
-
-
-
-
183
165)
(
~~=——————~~
error

APPENDIX 2

SC

Section B Statement of balances

Categories
Signed by one or two trustees
on behalf of all the trustees
B3 Other assets
B5 Contingent liabilities
B4 Liabilities
B1 Cash funds
B2 Investments		 Details Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £
1 876
183		 Restricted funds
to nearest £		 Expendable
endowment
funds
to nearest £		 Permanent
endowment
funds
to nearest £		 Total current
period
to nearest £		 Total last period
to nearest £
Cash and bank balances at start of year 1 876 2 041
Surplus / (deficit) shown on receipts and
payments account		 183 165)
(
-
-
Cash and bank balances at end of year
(Agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
Details		 2 059 - - - 2 059 1 876
183 -
-
-
-
-
Fund to which asset belongs Market valuation
to nearest £		 Last year
to nearest £
Details Fund to which asset belongs Total
Cost (if available)
to nearest £		 -
-
Current value (if
available)
to nearest £		 Last year
to nearest £
Details Total
Fund to which l		 -
-
-
iability relates Amount due
to nearest £		 Last year
to nearest £
Details Fund to which l Total
iability relates		 - -
Amount due
(estimate)
to nearest £		 Last year
to nearest £
Signature* Print Name Total -
-
Date of
approval
LibbyAnderson LIBBY AN DERSON 20 May2025

/ Statement of balances

2

December 2007

APPENDIX 2

SC

Section C Notes to the Accounts

C1 Nature and purpose of funds (may be stated on analysis of funds worksheets)

Income was generated by an online conference in May 2024. Funds were used for meetings including an inperson workshop, also in May 2024 - members' travel expenses and subsistence, room hire and catering etc. Other expenses included website domain hosting.

C2 Grants

C3a Trustee remuneration C3b Trustee remuneration - details

Type of activity or project supported Individual /
institution		 Number of grants
made
£		 Number of grants
made
£
Total -
If no remuneration was paid during the period to any charity trustee or person connected to
a trustee cross this box (otherwise complete section 3b)		 X
Authority under which paid £

C4a Trustee expenses

C4b Trustee expenses - details

C5 Transactions with trustees and connected persons

If no expenses were paid to any charity trustee during the period then cros
(otherwise complete section 4b)		 If no expenses were paid to any charity trustee during the period then cros
(otherwise complete section 4b)		 s this box X
Nature of transaction Number of
trustees
£
Nature of relationship Transaction
amount (£)
Balance
outstanding at
period end (£)

C6 Other information

/ Notes

3

December 2007

APPENDIX 2

SC

Additional analysis (1)

Analysis of receipts and payments

1 Donations

1 Donations
Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £		 Restricted funds
to nearest £		 Expendable
endowment
funds
to nearest £		 Permanent
endowment
funds
to nearest £		 Total current
period
to nearest £		 Total last period
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
Total
2 Grants		 - - - - - -
-
Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £		 -
Restricted funds
to nearest £		 - - -
Total current
period
to nearest £		 -
Total last period
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
Total
-
-
Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £
3 Gross receipts from other charitable activities		 - - - -
-
Restricted funds
to nearest £		 Expendable
endowment
funds
to nearest £		 Permanent
endowment
funds
to nearest £		 -
Total current
period
to nearest £		 -
Total last period
to nearest £
3 456 414
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Total - - - - 3 456 414
- - - - - -

4 Payments relating directly to charitable activities

Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £		 Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £		 Restricted funds
to nearest £		 Expendable
endowment
funds
to nearest £		 Permanent
endowment
funds
to nearest £		 Total current
period
to nearest £		 Total current
period
to nearest £		 Total last period
to nearest £
3 273








579
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Total - - - - 3 273 579
- - - - - -

Additional notes (1)

December 2007

APPENDIX 2

SC

Additional analysis (2)

5 Breakdown of unrestricted funds

5 Breakdown of unrestricted funds
Receipts Unrestricted
fund 1 - enter
name of fund
below		 Unrestricted
fund 2 - enter
name of fund
below		 Unrestricted
fund 3 - enter
name of fund
below		 Unrestricted
fund 4 - enter
name of fund
below		 Total
unrestricted
funds		 Total
unrestricted
funds last
period
Donations -
Legacies -
Grants -
Receipts from fundraisingactivities -
Gross tradingreceipts -
buildings -
Rents from land & buildings -
Gross receipts from other charitable activities 3 456 414
Sub total
Receipts from asset & investment sales		 - - - - 3 456 414
cross ref error
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets -
Proceeds from sale of investments -
Sub total
Total receipts
Payments		 - - - - - -
- - - - 3 456 414
cross ref error
Expenses for fundraisingactivities -
Gross trading payments -
Investment management costs -
Payments relatingdirectlyto charitable activities 3 208 579
Grants and donations -
Governance costs: -
Audit / independent examination 65
Preparation of annual accounts -
Legal costs -
-
-
Sub total
Payments relating to asset and investment
movements		 - - - - 3 273 579
cross ref error
Purchases of fixed assets -
Purchase of investments -
Sub total
Total payments
Net receipts / (payments)
Transfers to / (from) funds
Surplus / (deficit) for year		 - - - - - -
-
- - - - 3 273 579
cross ref error
- - - - 183 165)
(
-
- - - - 183 165)
(
cross ref error
Nature andpurpose of funds

Additional notes (2)

December 2007

APPENDIX 2

SC

Additional analysis (3)

Receipts
6 Breakdown of restricted funds		 Restricted fund
1 - enter name
of fund below		 Restricted fund
2 - enter name
of fund below		 Restricted fund
3 - enter name
of fund below		 Restricted fund
4 - enter name
of fund below		 Total restricted
funds		 Total restricted
funds last
period
Donations -
Legacies -
Grants -
Receipts from fundraisingactivities -
Gross tradingreceipts -
Income from investments other than land and
buildings		 -
Rents from land & buildings -
Gross receipts from other charitable activities -
Sub total
Receipts from asset & investment sales		 - - - - - -
-
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets -
Proceeds from sale of investments -
Sub total
Total receipts
Payments		 - - - - - -
- - - - - -
-
Expenses for fundraising activities -
Gross trading payments -
Investment management costs -
Payments relating directly to charitable activities -
Grants and donations -
Governance costs: -
Audit / independent examination -
Preparation of annual accounts -
Legal costs -
-
-
Sub total
Payments relating to asset and investment
movements		 - - - - - -
-
Purchases of fixed assets -
Purchase of investments -
Sub total
Total payments
Net receipts / (payments)
Transfers to / (from) funds
Surplus / (deficit) for year		 - - - - - -
-
- - - - - -
-
- - - - - -
-
- - - - - -
-
Nature andpurpose of funds

Additional notes (3)

December 2007