Annual Report 2024
Annual Report 2024
JARJEER MULE AND DONKEY TRUST
TRUSTEES REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2024
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The Charity’s accounts have been prepared by Cranleys Chartered Accountants and comply with the charity’s Declaration of Trust, the Charities Act 2022 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) for charity accounting published by the Charity Commission.
Trustees
Katharine Beasley - appointed 1 March 2019 Susan Machin MBE - appointed 7 May 2019 Julie Greene - appointed 23 August 2019 Mark Anthony Tyson - appoint 20 July 2024
Objectives and Activities
To provide grants, financial support and other support necessary for the welfare or abused, neglected or orphaned working animals in Morocco.
To promote and provide education and support in Morocco for the humane care of mules, horses and donkeys.
To build a community in Morocco that respects animal welfare and contributes to the humane welfare of working animals.
Public Benefit
The trustees make every effort to comply with the Charity Commission guidelines regarding their objectives and activities.
Progress and Activities
We receive reports from the Jarjeer Mule and Donkey Refuge in Morocco on a monthly basis including their financial position, statement and needs. The Refuge is registered as an association in Morocco and they submit returns ago the Moroccan Government every month in compliance with l'Article 3 de la loi n° 75-00. It is recognised that the Refuge is the major charity in Morocco rescuing and delivering care to the Kingdom’s working animals.
Our short-term objectives were very much as set as out above however we very quickly realised that the role we played in terms of grants we made to the Refuge and other areas where there was a financial need had resulted in excellent relationships with the local community in Morocco. The jarjeer Refuge currently employ 22 people which falls under the responsibility of the Moroccan association and law - we have no control over staffing issues. However we are assured that UK standards are applied and everyone employed in Morocco is subject to a police check as children and vulnerable adults will visit Jarjeer.
As a result of the grants we make to the Refuge they are able buy wheat locally which has resulted in local people remaining at home to grow wheat rather than having to travel into Marrakesh for labouring work. This is obviously to the public benefit as the community feels connected directly with the welfare of the animals. Jarjeer has become the biggest consumers of equine food in Morocco. We have all had the opportunity to visit the Refuge during the past year and we are satisfied in the competence of the staff who show incredible skill and kindness towards the animals. The Refuge also enjoys the services of a local vet who is compassionate and supportive.
It is on that basis and with the help of supporters worldwide that the Trust has been able to assist the Refuge grow into a very large project. They in turn, and with our permission, have been able to make internal grants to others caring for working animals. For example, a vets bill will be paid when an owner cannot afford to do so and the animal may have otherwise died. In terms of our long-term objectives we realise that we have to continue to to support the Refuge to grow as it appears to be, at the moment, that they are the only facility that can offer care for animals who would have no hope elsewhere save being euthanised. We have also learned that many equines who are quite seriously disabled, live fulfilling lives at the Refuge and the relationship between those animals and the Moroccan staff have resulted in enhanced human awareness of what caring really means which in turn spreads throughout the community.
That position became very clear during the pandemic. This year is the second following the complete lockdown in Morocco. The Refuge was the only equine facility that remained open in that time. Jarjeer Refuge started to admit working horses who’re staring. We assisted them to build emergency shelters and stables and have continued to do so. Numbers have trebled since 2019 and it was prudent and economic to fund the building of an operating theatre. That is now completed.
We have assisted in saving several carriage horses from Marrakech and they are being rehabilitated at the Jarjeer Refuge. The staff at the Refuge continue to have a very good relationship with many of the owners of the carriage horses in Marrakech.
We also hope to have some corporate funding in the future which would take pressure off individual donors to some extent and allow us to develop in the best possible way. As we have built more stables we have also tried to improve the facilities for visitors so that our land remains attractive and sympathetic to the landscape and indeed to Moroccan culture. This, in turn, has increased donations.
The grants we have made have assisted the staff’s ability to treat the animals, including making splints for broken legs (Berber splints) and repairing damaged hooves which is groundbreaking in a country where such an animal would normally be left to die either by the ravages of wild dogs or by euthanasia for those who can afford it.
Support
We are delighted that our work both the Trust and the Refuge has become internationally recognised and the numbers of visitors to the Refuge is continuing to increase. We always explain the relationship between the Trust and the Refuge and not take cash donations to avoid any implications as to corruption. There are so many charities in Morocco that are not registered and concern is often expressed about the use of donations. We avoid any such concerns and remain fully transparent. The benefit of visitors is that they can attest to our authenticity which strengthens our social media image and that has the effect of increasing donations. We are now actively looking at applying for grants on the basis that we have developed a good relationship.
We are grateful to Patricia Bell, Anna Walker, Charles Hantom and Youness Irhirhi, the trustees in Morocco, and the two managers at the Refuge, Ayoub Halgan and Mohamed Ait Tagzoult for keeping us involved and being very clear about the situation and the needs at the Refuge and elsewhere for working animals.
Sadly our former trustee, James Cutting, passed away in November 2022. We were shocked and devastated. A memorial was arranged by the trustees at the Refuge the following March where a tree was planted in his memory. We all miss you James.
Finance
Our donations and income has kept up well. We keep the equivalent of £20,000 in reserve in case of a drop in donations but we are actively looking at raising further funds. It is very important hat we are now registered with the Fundraising Regulator in the UK.
The trustees’ report was approved by the Board of Trustees