East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service

2003 Accounts Summary

East Sussex WRAS's Annual General Meeting took place on Thursday 4th March at the United Reformed Church Hall in Seaford.

The evening started with the standing down and re-election of the Management Committee and the appointment of officers. There were several changes to the committee most noticeably the standing down of Lindy King who wants to concentrate her efforts on running her unit at Telscombe Cliffs. Kevin McIntyre has resigned at Director but is staying on board as a “Silent Member”. David Elliott has been asked to step down due to a lack of time and work commitments.

Peter Mortimer, also gave notice of standing down his post as Member, Treasurer and Director, due to family commitments, but agreed to continue in the short term until a replacement is found.

However, East Sussex WRAS welcomed on board Senior Rescuer Sue Wilkinson who was appointed as a Member and Director, as well as Kersty Saunders who was also voted on as a Member. Existing Member Julia Bond also agreed to stand as a Director.

The current Management Committee now stands as:

Chairman	Murrae Hume
Director	Sue Wilkinson
Director	Julia Bond
Company Secretary	Gill Pawson
Rescue Co-ordinator	Trevor Weeks
Administrator	Trevor Weeks
Committee Secretary	Paula Bond
Members	Kirsty Saunders
	Georgina Chapman
	Val Hume
	Kevin McIntyre
Temp Treasurer	Peter Mortimer

Peter Mortimer has given notice of standing down from his position. He has kindly agreed to continue with the accounting until we find a replacement. Anyone interested in taking on this role should contact Trevor Weeks (07815) 078234, Murrae Hume (01323) 743926 or Peter Mortimer on (01323) 442198.

Amount	Income Categories

£8154.13	Donations
£5574.00	Hospital Appeal Donations
£779.10	Goods Sold
£722.00	Subscriptions
£303.05	Miscellaneous
£166.04	Vets Bills Paid/Reimbursed
£149.50	Fundraising
£150.00	Grants
£26.68	Investment Income (Bank Interest)

£16024.50	Income Total

	Expense Categories

£3215.00	Hospital Appeal Expenditure
£2836.18	Veterinarian Costs
£2505.17	Telephone Bill
£1724.52	Fuel Bill
£1471.25	Equipment and Protective Clothing
£504.59	Printing, Postage and Stationary
£390.71	Animal Food
£363.54	Medication
£134.00	Books and Training
£63.90	Goods for Sale
£43.00	Venue Hire
£25.00	Subscriptions
£49.00	Charitable Donations
£16.55	Materials

£13343.21	Expense Total

£2681.29	Net Surplus for the year

Income Notes

Expense Notes

The year saw an encouraging growth in income from a number of categories.

Income overall grew by 62%, from £9,860.40 in the year ending 2002, to £16,024.50.

As in the previous year, donations were by far the largest contributor. Out of total receipts of £13,728.13 the highly successful Hospital Appeal raised £5,574.00. The remainder £8,154.13, compares with a total income from donations in the previous year (before the launch of the Hospital Appeal) of £6,576.73, an increase of £1,577.40 or 24%. Three people became Life Supporters in the year, contributing £250.00 each.

As at year-end the number of Standing Order Supporters stood at 27, bringing (at year end) a total monthly income of £211.50, which would yield £2,538.00 in a full year. All except one of the year's supporters are set to continue into the new year; the other (£50.00 per month) was set up to run for 12 months only and is due to cease in April 2004. The income from these sources in the year was £1,194.00. In the previous year 6 supporters made contributions totaling £346.00.

Subscriptions and income from sales of goods rose slightly.

The year compared to the previous year saw a 20% rise in expenditure, to £13,343.21. This figure however includes payments from the Hospital Appeal Fund of £3,215.90 leaving for the comparison a balance of £10,127.41: year ended 2002 saw expenditure of £11,115.79. There was a net fall, therefore, of £988.38.

There was a significant rise in expenditure on vets' bills, which rose from £1,346.70 in 2002 to £2,836.18 in 2003; this was due to a rise in the number of casualties treated and to the greater need to use the services of specialist vets.

Similarly, telephone bills rose considerably, more than doubling from £1,147.15 to £2,505.17.

Motor expenses fell from £3,211.81 to £1,724.52. partly due a) to the absence in the year of maintenance costs (£737.63 in 2002) and b) to a reduction in claims made by individual drivers.

Out of the total of £5,574.00 raised by the Hospital Appeal, expenditure on equipment and expenses was £3,215.80, leaving a balance carried forward of £2,358.20.

The account has remained healthy throughout the year. There are procedures in place should there arise a perceived threat to WRAS' financial stability. These involve three cut-off points, where our bank account balance falls below certain levels. When these points are reach, spending on certain operations is curtailed, reduced or cancelled. At no time in the year have we needed to invoke the procedures.

The year ahead appears to have a satisfactory financial outlook and achieving charity status would give the organisation further stability and opportunity.

I should like to express my thanks to Ainsley Gill, of McPherson & Partners, Bexhill-on-Sea, who prepared these accounts so courteously and efficiently.

Further Information

If you would like more information on East Sussex WRAS's income and expenditure, you are welcome to contact WRAS's treasurer by e-mail by clicking here.