## **Hogwatch Dumbarton Hedgehog Rescue** Registered Charity Number SC052600 **Trustees’ Annual Report** Period 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025 ## **Charity contact information** Hogwatch Dumbarton Hedgehog Rescue Scottish Charity Number: SC052600 1c Barnhill Road Dumbarton G82 2SD Website – www.hogwatchdumbarton.co.uk Social media - https://www.facebook.com/share/1FkK9FF3us/ ~~a~~ **2** ## **Charity Trustees** in the rescue for the back page of the 2024 fundraising calendar hands on treating a newly admitted patient **3** ## **Objectives and activities** The charity was set up to provide rescue and rehabilitation to wild European Hedgehogs through means of displacement, habitat destruction, injuries, abandonment, becoming trapped, or unable to continue to live in the wild without assistance to recover, whatever the cause. The European Hedgehog has seen a reduction in it’s populations particularly in rural areas of the UK by over 30% in the past decade, meaning that they are at serious risk of becoming extinct. They are listed as ‘near threatened’ on the IUCN Red List. The charity aims to repatriate these creatures back to the wild to enable them to increase their populations and help to bring a turnaround in their recovery. In addition to this immediate aim, the charity focuses on training volunteers up to a competent level, to enable a resilient practice to be provided in and for the rescue. Further, the charity assists set up of new Hedgehog Rescues through training provisions, thus providing more places for Hedgehogs in need in rescues which follow best practice. Once established, new and existing rescues are provided with ongoing training opportunities, mentorship and support. The charity operates an inclusive service, open to all, and aims to enhance the environment and people’s appreciation of mammals and insects living around us, such that these habitat indicator species can contribute to the recovery of our ecosystems and enhance the life of us all, as a chance encounter with a Hedgehog out at night brings much joy to those who experience it. Our rescue provides a public service as anyone who has found a Hedgehog in need of help will testify, it is a real relief when they find that a licenced rescue is on hand to help. This also applies to Vet practices who wish to help Hedgehogs handed into them by members of the public, but do not have the facilities to do so. The charity Trustees feel that we have achieved our objectives in year, going above and beyond merely looking out for our own charity but also reaching out to enhance the community around us and to help other Hedgehog and wildlife charities to achieve their aims. **4** ## **Structure, governance and management** The charity is formed via a Trust deed Trustee recruitment and appointment No Trustee recruitment has occurred since the inception of the charity. All original members are still in place. ~~ee~~ **5** ## **Achievements and performance** Founding member of the Scottish Hedgehog Rescue Alliance, which is an inclusive and collegiate group of independent Hedgehog Rescues working to ensure any Hedgehog requiring help finds a rescue space. Associate Organisation and Associate Member of the British Wildlife Rehabilitation Council. Licenced by West Dunbartonshire Council to rescue and rehabilitate up to 60 Hedgehogs at any one time. Visits to construction sites and housebuilders to offer advice as to the risk to Hedgehog habitat and practices which may assist in allowing safe dispersal. Established a core group of ‘Hands On’ volunteers with reliable shift coverage for all morning shifts in place. Trained volunteers to undertake hand feeding of Hedgehogs, with the maximum capacity covered in a 24 hour period of 76 hand feeds being achieved competently in year. With each feed taking around 15 minutes, this required a concerted effort to co-ordinate and it is testimony to the reliability of our volunteer group that this huge capacity was achieved. Treatment protocols and standard operating procedures created and approved, along with improved processes to mitigate against the risk of infection/zoonotic diseases spreading. Design improvements on our Hedgehog Hotels and feeding stations have made these products desirable to purchase, and whilst we are insufficiently equipped currently to enable at scale production, it is on our radar of possible options for future fundraising opportunities. In year, admissions numbered 143 patients. High success with fractured limbs, working with a local Vet to establish best practice to enable a complete recovery. Undertook educational visits to schools, youth groups, hosted adults with learning disabilities and occasional opportunities to visit the rescue. Hosted stalls at fetes and events wherever we had the capacity to do so, focusing on providing information and education to the public. Every Hedgehog released went with a Hedgehog Hotel and support feeding being available for at least two weeks after release. Wherever possible, on release, each Hedgehog was repatriated back to the location it was found. **6** Conducted hands on practical training for the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals staff at the Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross, on Hoglet rearing, with feedback that success rates in rearing hoglets had improved greatly as a result. Commenced use of a bespoke online platform called ‘WRMD, which enables electronic records to be kept of admissions, releases and identification tag numbers. This database also hosts finder and volunteer detail in a system which is GDPR compliant and will enable greater analysis of the data collected to further enable one of our ambitions to provide valid data for PHD studies. Concluded the close supervision elements early in 2024 of the two recently established Hedgehog Rescues, moving to a ‘hands off’ model and mentorship. Both of these rescues are now very successful in their own right. Recruited and trained a ‘Hogwatch Ambulance Driver’ team numbering 30 individuals all equipped to transport Hedgehogs to and from the rescue as required and accessible via a group call out system. Commenced Identity tagging Hedgehogs brought into care and released using an approved heat shrink visible tagging system with associated recording on the database. This enables advancement of our knowledge of post release range and health, if they are either found dead, or re-admitted. Application and approval gained from HMRC to claim Gift Aid. Readiness for capacity increase application is on track, enabling the licence from West Dunbartonshire Council to be raised to 100 Hedgehogs at any one time. Our volunteers have formed quite the community with many opportunities arising for further training and development. A natural progression of the rescue has been the support that it provides for those who feel isolated in the community. In year 6 volunteers have become competent to hand feed Hedgehogs, and 4 volunteers have achieved competence in our ‘Technician’ role. We on schedule in our resilience plan, in enabling competent volunteers to manage the rescue independent of Trustees direct management. The rescue facility has continued to improve each year since the charity has been established. Photos on next page show the progress over the past four years; **7** Critical care rescue area in 2025 Critical care rescue area in 2024 Critical rescue area in 2023 Critical rescue area in 2022 **8** ~~a~~ **8** Some of our hand made Hedgehog Hotels One of our visitors of the human kind & some of Hedgehog patients Financial review Income /////// Expenditure 16.IXX).(X) 14.IXX).(X) I2.1￿.(X] i0.(m.￿] 8.(MX).IX) 6.CMXJ.IJ) 4.CMKJ.IJ) 2.ClXI.IJ) statement of the charity's policy on reser￿eS The charity planned to run wth a minimum of £500 in the account in any month, with a forecast income of at least £1,000 per month. This was exceeded in each month of operation over the FY 2024125. Details of any defictt There were no deficits in any of the funds within the financial year. Donated facilities and services 10 The rescue building is attached the Trustee’s family home and it’s entire use is currently donated without cost. Additionally all mileage incurred by the Trustees is not claimed, nor are the Rescue’s mobile phone, internet, laundry or any other bills specific to the rescue passed on. Recent repairs to the rescue roof following Storm Eowyn bringing down a 75 foot tree from a neighbouring property were settled by the Trustees with no expense to the charity, safety incident or loss of operation to the rescue facility. A new double glazed window was also installed at the expense of the Trustees in order to, not only provide weather resilience, but also to facilitate an additional fire escape. Preparation and verification of accounts was undertaken without cost via volunteering. All training courses have to date been provided free of charge to all attendees. ## **Future plans** In 2025/2026, the charity will undertake enhanced Foster Care recruitment in order to provide further competent capacity to enable more patients to be admitted. The operating model enabling stable patients moving onto foster care, to release critical care places. Additional hutches will be purchased to facilitate fostering out in suitable housing, and a concerted effort will be made to increase the volume of Hedgehog Hotels which are available to members of the public either to purchase or to take on loan. Microchip tagging in addition to the current visual tagging to commence if funding allows in FY 2026/27. Chargeable training to commence in the latter stages of FY 2025/26 in order to generate much needed funds for the charity. Continue to engage and encourage other rescues to set up competently by offering free Training and mentorship where there is a serious interest and investment in setting up. **11** ITEM SECTION A- STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS UNRESTRICTED FUNDS Al RECEIPTS to nearest£ Donations 25.373 Legacies Grants 1.500 9.004 Receipts from fundraising activities Gross trading receipts Income from investment other than land or bulldings Rents from land & buildin Gross receipts from other charitable activities Al Subtotal £35,877 RECEIPTS FROM ASSET& INVESTMENTSALES Proceeds from sale of fixed assets Proceeds from sale of investments A2 Subtotal £0 PAYMENTS Expenses from funraising activities Gross tradin payments Investment management costs Payments relating directly to charitable activities Grants & donations 1,604 34.092 Govemance costs 530 Audiulndependent examination Preparation of annual accounts Legal costs Other A3 Subtotal £36,226 PAYMENTS RELATING TO ASSETS & INVESTMENT MOVEMENTS Purchases of fixed assets Purchase of investments A4 Subtotal £0 Total payments Net receipts I Ipayentsl £36,226 TRANSFERSTOI (FROM) FUNDS Surplus I deficits forthe year 12 ITEM SECTION B - STATEMENT OF BALANCES UNRESTRICTED FUNDS DETAILS CASH FUNDS Cash and bank balances at start ofyear Surplusl Ideficitl shown on receipts and payments account Cash and bank balances atthe end ofyear (Agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) to nearest £ Bl 935 586 B2 INVESTMENTS B3 OTHER ASSErs LIABILITIES B5 CONTINGENT LIABILITIES 13 ## **Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees** ## **Signature*** _* Please note - OSCR will accept digital or typed signatures_ **14** ## **Declaration** Signed on behalf of the charity trustees: Date 23[rd] December 2025 **15** Unqualified report lor 8 non*ompany charity preparing receipts and payments accounts Independent Examiner's Report to the Truslees of Hogwatch Dumbarton Hedgehog Rescue I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 st March 2025 which are set out on pages 1 to 15. Respectlve responslbllllles of Iruslees and examlner The charity's Irustees are responsible for Ihe preparalion of the accounts in accordance with Ihe lenns of the Charities and Trustee Inveslmenl (Scollandl Act 2005 and Ihe Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2cKI6 (as amended). The charity trustees wnsider that the audit requirement of Regulation 1011) {d} of the 2006 Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibilty to examine the a(￿Unts as r￿Uired under section 44{1) (c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basls of Independent examlner's statement My examination is carried oul in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2￿6 Accounts Regulations. An examination includes a review of Ihe accounling records kepi by the charity and a comparison of Ihe accounts presented with those records. 11 also includes consideration of any unusual tlems or disclosures in the accounls, and seeks explanations from the Irusle8s conceming any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do nol express an audit opinion on the vi8w gN8n by the accounts. Independent examiner's statement In the course of my examination. no matter has come to my attention lolher than disclosed below"] which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any malerial respect the requirements: to keep accounting reeords in aecordance with Section 44(1 } la) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulats'ons to pr8pare accounts which accord with the accountirKJ records and comply with Regulation 9 of lh8 21x16 Accounts Regulations have not been met. or 2. to which. in my opinion. attentron should be drawn in order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.