OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2022-12-31-accounts

Charity no. 1001081

British American Security Information Council

Report and Unaudited Financial Statements

31 December 2022

British American Security Information Council

Reference and administrative details

For the year ended 31 December 2022

Charity number 1001081
Registered office and Work + Play
operational address 11 Seven Sisters Road
London
N7 7FN
Trustees The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this
report were as follows:
Andrew Cottey Chair
Peter Jones Treasurer
Stuart Warner Resigned February 2022
Anita Friedt Resigned January 2023
Thomas Hajnoczi Appointed February 2022
Melissa Ullom Resigned June 2022
Helena Harding
Laicie Heeley
Daniel Johnson
Togzhan Kassenova
James Madeley
David Pritchard
Sam Walton Resigned January 2022
Executive directors Marion Messmer Resigned September 2022
Sebastian Brixey-Williams
Principal bankers Metro Bank
One Southampton Row
London
WC1B 5HA
UK
Independent examiners Godfrey Wilson Limited
Chartered accountants and statutory auditors
5th Floor Mariner House
62 Prince Street
Bristol
BS1 4QD

1

British American Security Information Council

Report of the trustees’

For the year ended 31 December 2022

The trustees present their report and the independently examined financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022.

Reference and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the Trust Deed and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities (effective from January 2019)

Structure, Governance and Management

The Trustees, chaired by Dr Andrew Cottey, govern the organisation through quarterly board meetings. The Director / Co-Directors are responsible for day-to-day operation and are responsible to the Board. BASIC is governed by a trust deed which is available upon request.

The Board appointed Ambassador Thomas Hajnoczi in February 2022. Three board members stepped down in 2022: Stuart Warner, Sam Walton and Melissa Ullom (née Hanham) and Anita Friedt stepped down in February 2023.

New Board members are identified by the existing Board in conjunction with the Director / Co-Directors. Prospective Board member’s skills and experience are comprehensively reviewed to assess their ability to support and contribute to BASIC’s mission and activities and roles and responsibilities are fully discussed with prospective Board members. Diversity is an important consideration in identifying Board members. New Board members are confirmed at a normal board meeting and are provided with an induction pack and a one hour session with the Chair and the Director / Co-Directors to introduce them to the role and the organisation.

Sebastian Brixey-Williams and Marion Messmer worked together as Co-Directors until September 2022, when Marion departed BASIC to take up a role as Senior Policy Fellow at Chatham House. Immediately thereafter, Sebastian Brixey-Williams was appointed Acting Executive Director and then confirmed as Executive Director in November 2022. The Director / Co-Directors’ salary is reviewed by a board sub-committee made up of the Chair of the Board, the Treasurer and at least two additional board members with financial, HR or management experience. The Director / Co-Directors’ performance is assessed on an annual basis.

Objectives and Activities

Who We Are

BASIC is an independent, non-profit think tank based in London, working to safeguard humanity and Earth’s ecosystem from nuclear risks and interconnected security threats, for generations to come. Our vision is for a global security consensus founded on multilateralism, recognition of the indivisibility of security, consideration of future generations, and respect for planetary boundaries.

Founded in 1987, we have been at the forefront of international efforts to build trust amongst nations and to control and reduce weapons stockpiles. To do this, we work with governments and experts globally to convene inclusive dialogues and produce original research and thought leadership that aim to challenge orthodoxy and zero-sum thinking, and open pathways towards cosmopolitan security.

2

British American Security Information Council

Report of the trustees’

For the year ended 31 December 2022

How We Aim to Address Nuclear Risks

When it comes to nuclear risk reduction, BASIC seeks to take a holistic approach that operates on multiple parallel timescales. We simultaneously seek to reduce the immediate symptoms of nuclear risk in the short term, stabilise the international system in the medium term, and ultimately foster preventive or transformative measures to address the root causes of nuclear risk in the longer term.

BASIC operates in this manner because there is a dual imperative to minimise the chances of nuclear weapons use in the near future, and to facilitate a meaningful transition to a more safe, secure, and sustainable system of global security. Any nuclear weapons use would break the longstanding ‘nuclear taboo’ and fundamentally alter the global nuclear order, in ways from which it might never recover, meaning that we must work to prevent near-term nuclear use. Yet, it is especially important that longerterm measures – such as the development of politically-salient positive visions of a non-nuclear future – attract a far greater focus of the multilateral agenda, without which the international community will continue to take a rudderless and incrementalist approach to nuclear diplomacy.

We believe that working across these timescales makes BASIC’s work more strategic, innovative, and ambitious. This is because BASIC’s advice in the short term is informed by its longer-term institutional vision and objectives, and vice versa. The outcome, in practical terms, is that BASIC has a balanced and integrated portfolio of programmes that seek to address different aspects of those timescales. Each of these timescales is explained in more depth below, with examples in bullet points of how BASIC’s programmes contribute to their achievement.

How We Work

BASIC is an agile organisation that is able to rapidly acquire new skills and ways of working in order to best achieve our mission. As such, we do not consider ourselves limited to certain ways of working. However, there are five core services in which we have expertise and an established reputation, as set out in the table below:

Intervention Description Recent Examples
Thought Leadership
and Research		 Development or mainstreaming of new visions,
approaches, conceptual frameworks, strategic
analysis and policy proposals.		 Stepping Stones Approach;
Nuclear Responsibilities
Approach; Gender Toolkit
Dialogue Facilitation Tracks 1, 1.5 and 2 dialogues for distrust
reduction and trust-building; building shared
visions, understanding and agreements.		 Europe-Russia risk
reduction dialogues;
Nuclear responsibilities
dialogues
Initiative
Co-Piloting		 NGO partnership to governments, international
organisations, and academic institutions providing
advice, methodologies, proposals, networks,
convening power, political energy, legitimacy etc.
to such efforts.		 Stockholm Initiative
Network
Development		 Track II bilateral contacts between nuclear-armed
states; global youth network development;
breaking out of nuclear silos.		 Emerging Voices Network;
BASIC-N
Square
UK
Network Mapping; APPG;
Gender Breakfasts

3

British American Security Information Council

Report of the trustees’

For the year ended 31 December 2022

Capacity-building
&
Training		 Training governments on new frameworks and
approaches; building capacity of younger people
in the field.		 Nuclear Responsibilities
Collective Introspections

Thematic Focuses

BASIC has six programmes, which can be clustered into four key areas:

1. Advancing International Disarmament and Arms Control

We are a key NGO actor in the international disarmament and non-proliferation machinery, such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Cycles and the TPNW Meetings of States Parties. We helped form and now provide ongoing diplomatic support to the Stockholm Initiative, an important and diverse grouping of 16 states working to advance achievable disarmament goals in the NPT context. BASIC hosts the Secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Security and Non-Proliferation, which convenes MPs and Peers to discuss pressing global security issues.

2. Building Regional Trust and Security

We lead sustained ‘quiet diplomacy’ dialogue processes in two key geographical regions – the EuroAtlantic and Asia-Pacific – in order to build trust and reduce conventional conflict and nuclear escalation risks. In the Euro-Atlantic, we convene officials and experts in both NATO and CSTO states to identify mutually-agreeable steps for risk reduction. In the Asia-Pacific, our focus has been on fostering a shared dialogue on states’ responsibilities in relation to nuclear weapons, with a special focus on states in the South Asian subcontinent.

3. Supporting Early-Career Professionals

We run a leading international network of early-career professionals – the Emerging Voices Network (EVN) – whose purpose is to build trust between members at the start of members’ careers, strengthen their policy skills, and inspire members to see the connections between nuclear risks and wider, interconnected security issues.

To do this, we set up member-led policy development cycles and facilitate their presentation to senior UN officials, provide skills masterclasses from established experts, and foster regional consultations to build local relationships and joint action. We have worked closely with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) for a number of years to strengthen this network and advance the Youth, Non-Proliferation and Disarmament agenda.

4. Assessing Geopolitical and Technological Risks

We undertake deep-dive studies into emerging or developing risks emanating from geopolitical or technological changes to the strategic landscape, with a particular maritime focus. This includes a sustained area of focus on peace and security in the evolving Arctic region, and on the impact of a number of technological advances in anti-submarine warfare on submarine operations.

4

British American Security Information Council

Report of the trustees’

For the year ended 31 December 2022

How We Measure Success

At a high level, success for BASIC is about fulfilling our mission to safeguard humanity and Earth’s ecosystem from nuclear risks and interconnected security threats, for generations to come. In practice, this usually comes down to: a) changes to government rhetoric, policies, or practices (e.g. nuclear deterrence or disarmament policy) based on our advice; b) fostering distrust reduction or trust building between key stakeholders (e.g. officials / experts working across political divides) through our dialogue work; or c) understanding- or capacity-building among key stakeholders (e.g. early career professionals) through our training and education efforts.

BASIC has an internal monitoring, evaluation, and impact measurement approach that assesses a range of factors at four levels: 1) organisational, 2) programme, and 3) project levels, as well as monitoring the performance of 4) individual staff members. Each of our projects are assessed against their project innovation, design, delivery, outcomes, resourcing, budgeting, and the level of diversity of participation. Programmes are assessed according to the aggregate of the projects that fall under them, as well as against the clarity of their strategy and delivery of their strategic objectives. Organisationally, we assess BASIC’s leadership and management, strategy and delivery of strategic objectives, Board governance, financial performance, and reputation.

Key indicators that we look for when we assess the impact of our work include, but are not limited to:

  1. Confirmation from key stakeholders such as government officials that our work has impacted their policies or practices;

  2. Evidence of our recommendations or our language being picked up and implemented by key stakeholders and shaping their discourse or behaviour;

  3. Attendance at our events: number of participants, seniority, engagement, etc;

  4. Traffic to our website, downloads of our publications, and engagement in the media and social media; and

  5. Quotations or references in publications.

The trustees consider that they have complied with the duty in the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.

Achievements and Performance

Inclusive International Security

The Inclusive International Security (IIS) programme is uniquely placed in our field, in that it asks fundamental questions about the processes and outputs of the international relations community using an inclusive and intersectional lens, and provides substantive outputs and recommendations in order to work towards a truly inclusive, accessible, and equitable decision-making space.

Between January and March 2022, the Inclusive International Security programme ran a short project and capstone event on ‘The Emerging Voices Network: A focus on the Asia-Pacific’ funded by Global Affairs Canada. The project included consultations and a survey with organisations and experts based in the Asia-Pacific region, a recruitment round for the EVN focussed on the region, and culminated in a 2-part capstone event. The purpose of the project, and the event, was to promote engagement of young, emerging, and early career researchers from the region with ‘status quo’ nuclear fora, to increase AsiaPacific participation in the EVN, and to platform and promote the concerns and priorities of the region. The project, survey and event were met with positive feedback from the funder and from participants.

5

British American Security Information Council

Report of the trustees’

For the year ended 31 December 2022

Organisations in the region have since reached out to BASIC to collaborate with the EVN to fortify the network of next-generation and early career experts in the region.

In September 2022, the Inclusive International Security Programme ran a virtual side event series on ‘Advancing the Youth, Disarmament, and Non-Proliferation Agenda’ at the Tenth Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in collaboration with UNODA and the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The events culminated in a working paper written by global early career researchers providing recommendations to senior NPT officials on how to improve the NPT process, and these recommendations were also presented at a well-attended online side event by working group leaders. At this event, the leaders presented the work of the working groups to HE Ambassador Gustavo Zlauvinen, Ambassador Rafael Grossi, Executive Secretary Dr Robert Floyd, and Director and Deputy to the High Representative Mr Thomas Markram. The senior leaders all provided feedback and expressed their gratitude and support for the events, and have copies of the recommendations in their offices.

We were proud to have won funding from the very competitive Ploughshares ‘Equity Rises’ Fund on a one-year EVN policy cycle based around nuclear weapons and their relationship with climate change, social justice and racism, alongside other themes. The project focuses on recruitment in the Middle East and Africa, and the cycle, entitled ‘ "De-siloing Existential Threats: challenging identity, power, and inclusivity in the nuclear policy field", involves peer-peer seminars, masterclasses, and a publication. We also won a three-year project funded by the Norwegian Government focusing on the longevity and sustainability of the EVN and its impact, as well as funding some activities such as expert masterclasses and more policy cycles.

Nuclear Disarmament

The Nuclear Disarmament (ND) programme aims to facilitate the global transition to a post-nuclear weapons world. In the short-medium term, the programme supports national and multilateral efforts towards nuclear elimination. In the long term, the programme uses futures and foresight methodologies to craft and implement compelling visions of a secure and sustainable global security system not based on the threat of nuclear violence.

The Nuclear Disarmament Programme continues to provide intellectual thought and policy advice to the Stockholm Initiative. Project activities in 2022 supported the Swedish policy agenda focussed on the Stockholm Initiative and built upon previous success to deliver an informed and inclusive policy framework, identifying opportunities for progress towards nuclear disarmament. BASIC convened a sequence of activities that critically assessed the fast-moving nuclear policy environment, and collated the views of policy officials and experts on the near, mid- and long-term assessments for the Stockholm Initiative. We also expanded the range of think tank, civil society, and NGO experts in nuclear diplomacy to find practical and credible proposals to make progress on nuclear disarmament.

6

British American Security Information Council

Report of the trustees’

For the year ended 31 December 2022

The activities and roundtables included, in chronological order: (I) an online workshop on the future of the Stepping Stones Approach with civil society experts and other key disarmament players from Stockholm Initiative states; (II) an online roundtable on implications of the Russia-Ukraine war on the RevCon, with disarmament diplomats from Stockholm Initiative States; (III) an in-Person RevCon side event on the main achievements of the Stockholm Initiative and the Stepping Stones Approach to date, with diplomats from Stockholm Initiative States and China; (IV) a short confidential briefing delivered by Co-Director Marion Messmer to Swedish diplomats at the RevCon and; (V) a virtual roundtable examining the priorities for the Stepping Stones Approach in building the alignment over the next review cycle with disarmament diplomats from Stockholm Initiative states based in Geneva.

In addition, we produced the following roundtable briefing paper that provided a critical assessment of the nuclear policy environment, as well as expert ideas and recommendations for Sweden to feed into the tactics at Review Conference negotiations in August 2022: ‘The Stepping Stones Approach at RevCon: Obstacles and Opportunities: Briefing Paper, BASIC (May 2022)’. Off the back of the work in 2022, we delivered the following report on future possibilities and trajectory for the Stockholm Initiative: ‘Nuclear Diplomacy Crossroads: What Future for the Stockholm Initiative in the Eleventh NPT Review ’ Cycle?, BASIC, (March 2023) .

The activities we convened surfaced some important interpretations of developments in the last Review cycle and ideas that could be built upon in this one. There was strong consensus that the 2010 Action Plan remains highly relevant, reflected explicitly in the 2022 draft Final Outcome Document of the Tenth Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, as well as in its many items that developed the 2010 themes.

Nuclear Responsibilities

The Programme on Nuclear Responsibilities (NR) works to stimulate a global conversation about states’ and other actors’ responsibilities in relation to nuclear weapons. Run jointly between BASIC and the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) at the University of Birmingham, the programme works with policy communities to assist them in thinking and talking through their nuclear responsibilities.

In 2022, the Programme on Nuclear Responsibilities engaged with nuclear policy communities in India, Pakistan, and a range of Asia-Pacific states through three in-person and one virtual track 1.5 nuclear responsibilities dialogues, and follow up writings and dialogue reports. The in-person dialogue included, in chronological order: one multilateral dialogue focused on shared nuclear responsibilities with participants from ASEAN countries, Australia, India, and Pakistan; one bilateral India-Pakistan dialogue on nuclear responsibilities and crisis communication mechanisms (report co-authored with dialogue participants forthcoming ); one multilateral dialogue focused on maritime nuclear responsibilities with participants from India, Pakistan, and a range of different states in the Asia-Pacific. The virtual dialogue was a roundtable to explore maritime security issues with early career experts from India, Pakistan, and a range of different states in the Asia-Pacific.

The Programme also encouraged indigenous writing on nuclear responsibilities and risk reduction in India and Pakistan. All articles are published on the Programme on Nuclear Responsibilities webpage. Finally, in 2022 the Programme published “Exploring the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Responsibilities”, a report of a dialogue held in 2021 to explore the United Kingdom’s nuclear responsibilities with the UK’s nuclear policy community.

7

British American Security Information Council

Report of the trustees’

For the year ended 31 December 2022

Nuclear Weapons Law

BASIC’s Nuclear Weapons Law (NWL) programme critically discusses arguments that are brought forward about the lawfulness of use and the threat of use of nuclear weapons. Its core objectives are: a) to critically analyse the nuclear doctrines of nuclear-armed states and their arguments that nuclear weapons use could be deemed legal under certain circumstances under international law; b) to forecast how international law in relation to nuclear weapons could evolve over the next half-century, and the effect that such changes could have on nuclear weapons possession and doctrines; c) to advance customary international law and jurisprudence in ways that constrain possibilities for any nuclear weapons use, reduce actual or potential nuclear harms, and increase legal accountability; d) to increase literacy in nuclear weapons law and raise awareness of the importance of compliance within nuclear deterrence communities.

In 2022, the Nuclear Weapons Law programme was somewhat dormant, although it continued its study to explore the legality of the UK’s Letters of Last Resort and of delegated authority to fire nuclear weapons, which it expects to launch in 2023.

Risk Reduction

The purpose of the Risk Reduction (RR) programme is to research and identify the risk of conflict or escalation of conflict between states, including the risk of nuclear use during conflict, with a primary focus on the Euro-Atlantic area. The programme responds through the development of research-based policy advice on risk reduction tools, confidence-building measures, and implementation strategies.

In 2022, the RR programme was very busy in 2022. Our project Phase2: Applying a Systematic Approach to NATO-Russia Risk Reduction funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs underwent substantial change following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. BASIC no longer had any contact with Track 1 level in Russia, but maintained contact with Track 2 level in Russia. The participating states also expanded from the North-eastern flank countries to include participation from Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria as well as NATO applicants Sweden and Finland. In total, the NATORussia risk reduction project held five workshops in 2022 with track 1.5 participation and we published five workshop reports with policy recommendations, including the project’s final report Clashes of Perceptions: Bridging Perspectives on Security in Europe. The project’s results have directly fed into NATO’s deliberations on risk reduction and de-escalation. We also held a side event at the 2022 NPT RevCon and briefed the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs at their so-called NW Academy. The project’s Final Narrative and Final Financial Report was approved by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

With our NATO-Russia risk reduction work BASIC has put itself on the map as a significant institution in the field. BASIC was asked to present at the Pugwash conference Regional Security in the North, Nuclear Risks and Possible Solutions , invited to submit an article for a special issue for the Journal of Autonomy and Security Studies on NATO-Russia risk reduction as well as BASIC was asked to produce a column for the BRE Review: Baltic Rim Economies’ special issue on security. Finally, a conglomerate of universities in the EU, led by Vilnius university has again asked BASIC to be part of the EU HORIZON MSCA Doctoral Networks call as a non-academic partner underscoring the importance of BASIC’s work for the Eastern European region.

8

British American Security Information Council

Report of the trustees’

For the year ended 31 December 2022

The risk reduction programme has also manifested itself in the Arctic. We have published two reports on risk and risk reduction in the region both funded by a Targeted Engagement Grant from the Department of National Defence (DND) in Canada. The reports were produced as the Russian invasion of Ukraine unfolded in the Spring and Summer 2022 and are a unique contribution to the emerging policy work and scholarship on the impact of the Russian invasion on state relations in the Arctic. DND also invited BASIC to present at their expert briefing series and the project's final Policy Brief is currently in peer-review in the International Journal. DND approved both project’s final reports.

Technological Risk

The purpose of the Technological Risk (TR) programme is to assess extant, evolving, and emerging technological trends that might threaten global security, with a particular focus on nuclear weapons and their ancillary systems. The programme aims to provide remedial policy proposals for all relevant stakeholders to address the upstream drivers of technological threats to our shared security.

In 2022, the TR programme worked under three grants, with all three workstreams finalised before the end of the calendar year. 1) Countering the Impacts of Emerging and Advanced Technologies on Antisubmarine Warfare and Strategic Stability in the South China Sea. 2) Canadian Submarine Recapitalization within the Context of Climate Change. 3) Mapping the UK Nuclear Threat Community.

The project, “Countering the Impacts of Emerging and Advanced Technologies on Antisubmarine Warfare and Strategic Stability in the South China Sea”, was funded by the Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction, partnering with CRDF Global, who were the implementation partners. During this calendar year, the BASIC project team finalised the report products, prepared and conducted the associated workshop in Kuala Lumpur. This workshop was conducted over the course of two days, with track 2 attendance from across the region, building skills and generating buy-in for the research outputs which aimed to reduce the threats arising from the interplay between strategic ASW and new technologies.

The project, “Canadian Submarine Recapitalization within the Context of Climate Change”, took a look at how shrinking Arctic sea ice over the coming decades might influence Russian SSBN posture, and therefore how the Royal Canadian Navy’s under-ice capability might need to change in order to effectively meet this new posture. The project was funded by the Canadian MINDS Targeted Engagement Fund.

The project, “Mapping the UK Nuclear Threat Community”, funded by the New Venture Fund and N Square, mapped the loose collection of scholars and organisations that work on nuclear policy in the UK, and received extremely positive feedback from stakeholders and users, with new collaborative partnerships cultivated – such as the desire from industry to be better represented at nuclear policy events, and to contribute more to the discussion.

9

British American Security Information Council

Report of the trustees’

For the year ended 31 December 2022

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Security and Non-Proliferation

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Global Security and Non-Proliferation has the aim to exchange information and increase understanding of arms control and non-proliferation issues among British parliamentarians, with a view to more effective participation in public and political debate on security issues in Britain. The APPG has the aim to exchange information and increase understanding of arms control and non-proliferation issues among British parliamentarians, with a view to more effective participation in public and political debate on security issues in Britain. The group is composed of MPs and Peers and is convened in Parliament by Lord Hannay of Chiswick and Sir Peter Bottomley MP. In 2022, the APPG held the following meetings:

Financial Review

2022 has been a year of consolidation following the uncertainties of the previous COVID period and one where BASIC has taken the time for strategic reflection of its future. This has been evidenced in the new strategy and mission statement, which are being implemented in a progressive, forwardthinking programme of organisational development, in order to grow BASIC in a controlled and managed way for the benefit of current and future stakeholders. Our total income in 2022 was £661,291, an increase of 2% on the previous year. Total spend increased by 73% to £758,203, this was primarily the result of team growth, inflation-based salary lifts (10%), a return to in-person travel, and an increase in project costs due to new income. By contrast, costs in 2021 were unusually low because the COVID lockdowns prevented many of our planned in-person meetings from going ahead.

In 2022 we are reporting a £96,912 deficit of income over expenditure, of which £195,866 is a deficit on restricted funds and a surplus of £98,954 on unrestricted funds. This is due to the receipt near the end of 2021 of several grants in advance of work starting in 2022.

10

British American Security Information Council

Report of the trustees’

For the year ended 31 December 2022

Our principal source of both restricted and unrestricted income is grant income from governments and trusts. All the income is raised on the basis of spending that money directly or indirectly upon the mission of the organisation. Expenditure is planned to ensure the organisation maintains a positive reserves balance.

Total funds and reserves policy

BASIC’s operations are supported by a healthy balance of unrestricted and restricted funding. Unrestricted funding enables BASIC greater political independence and agility to adapt rapidly to a changing policy environment, take potentially-rewarding risks, plan for the longer-term and explore new, innovative programmatic directions. Restricted funding provides the primary financial backing behind our programme activities.

While the organisation does not aim to build up savings for their own sake, it is desirable to possess a minimum level of reserves to give the organisation some level of confidence in continued operations. Our objective is to ensure that BASIC possesses general reserves in the range of two to four months of operational costs.

BASIC ended 2022 with £219,199 in reserves, made up of £61,470 restricted reserves and £157,729 unrestricted reserves. This is sufficient general reserves to cover around 4.3 months of operating costs.

The charity holds funds for the autonomous All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Global Security and Non-Proliferation. These form part of our restricted funds, and are £1,569 at the end of 2022.

Principal risks and uncertainties in 2022

The Board of Trustees review and update the organisational risk register on a quarterly basis to ensure they are responding rapidly to any new risks and uncertainties arising through the year. The principal risks identified by the Trustees are shown below:

Risk Mitigation and control measures
The invasion of Ukraine by
Russia negatively impacting
efforts towards nuclear risk
reduction and elimination		 1. Develop a stronger-than-ever set of arguments in support of risk
reduction, nuclear responsibilities, and nuclear disarmament
efforts.
External
shocks
impact
upon availability of funds in
the field.		 1. Strong relationships with existing funders to increase likelihood of
follow-on funding.
2. Continuing to diversify our funding streams.
3. Developing alternative sources of income.
4. Control charity costs.
Competition from similar
organisations.		 1. Developing projects for BASIC with a strong USP.
2. Investing in partnerships with other organisations.
3. Putting in the research to stay at the forefront of innovation in the
field.
4. Clearly showing our impact.

11

British American Security Information Council

Report of the trustees’

For the year ended 31 December 2022
Travel restrictions keep civil
society reps from meetings.		 1. Regularly checking in with our network via email and video call,
to maintain it.
2. Think of alternative ways to socialise remotely.
3. Proactively using opportunities to expand our networks while
working remotely, through online workshops or by reacting to
new publications.
4. Reviewing how we have impact with a view to expanding that.
Lockdown impact on team
mental health.		 1. Being clear about the support available at BASIC.
2. Regularly scheduling team socials.
3. Asking line managers and project managers to keep an eye out
for any warning signs so that we can intervene early to ensure
team members get the support they need.
4. Having strong project management processes in place so that
work can be handed over to other team members.
5. Being flexible with annual leave and sick leave so that team
members can take time off if necessary.
Loss of key staff members. 1. Have an effective off-boarding, handover, and on-boarding
process in place.
2. Have a practice of written documentation at all project stages.
3. Have recruitment materials ready to be prepared to recruit
quickly once a team member hands in their notice.
Losing data or access to the
server.		 1. Use a reliable IT provider with a strong backup policy.
2. Regularly review that IT solutions are fit for purpose.
3. Have contacts on hand in case of an IT emergency.
4. Explore cybersecurity training for staff.

Plans for future periods

In recognition of the increased tensions in global security, BASIC has been on a growth trajectory that has included growth in terms of income, as well as in terms of incorporating new strands of work. In order to ensure high levels of impact and the close alignment of our work with our mission, vision and values, we began a review of BASIC’s organisational strategy in 2021, which was completed in 2022. This strategy determines BASIC’s priorities for the next five years.

A major outcome of our strategy review has been the updates to BASIC's mission and vision statements. Our mission statement now reads: 'BASIC is an independent, non-profit think tank working to safeguard humanity and Earth’s ecosystem from nuclear risks and interconnected security threats, for generations to come.’ In framing our mission in this way, we hoped to draw greater attention to the humanitarian, more-than-human, and environmental motivators for our work, as well as to clearly and publicly express that we believe that nuclear risks must be addressed in tandem with other pressing global priorities; attempts to address nuclear risks in a silo is an outdated model that is almost certain to fail. We also hoped to signal the longtermist considerations of our work, thinking not just about those who are alive today but also about how we can be 'good ancestors' to those who will live in decades and centuries to come. More information on our new mission statement is available here:

12

British American Security Information Council

Report of the trustees’

For the year ended 31 December 2022

https://basicint.org/basics-new-mission-statement/.

Our new vision statement reads: 'We envision a global security consensus founded on multilateralism, recognition of the indivisibility of security, consideration of future generations, and respect for planetary boundaries.' The focus here is around cooperation over competition, and broadening understandings of security to challenge zero-sum approaches and to include non-traditional security issues. As we see it, a world without nuclear weapons will be structured very differently from the world today. While weapons more generally may continue to play a limited role in ensuring the defence of states, in such a world such considerations will be superseded by a global recognition that security is ultimately provided for by first ensuring that we have resilient communities and ecosystems, upon which human society is entirely dependent worldwide.

BASIC's five year strategy is a framework document that charts our overarching course ahead, and is supplemented by a number of sub-strategies addressing individual programmes and core functions, some of which are now undergoing further development. In developing our strategy, we conducted a number of exercises involving the staff and Board of Trustees, including: a) undertaking a horizon scan of our field, based on the PESTLE and Three Horizons frameworks, b) developing an activity system of BASIC as an organisation, c) completing a framework of BASIC's responsibilities, and d) producing a month-by-month timeline of how we plan to implement our strategy, which is now reviewed quarterly. Having completed these exercises, we set about visioning BASIC in the year 2027 (our 'Third Horizon'), when we will celebrate BASIC's 40th anniversary. This was an illuminating process that has paid significant dividends in our present thinking and planning. Subject to the economic conditions of the field, we plan to continue to grow and consolidate BASIC's team, reputation, and impact over the coming years leading up to 2027.

Statement of Responsibilities of the Trustees

The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and the incoming resources and application of resources, including the net income or expenditure, of the charity for the year. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:

13

British American Security Information Council

Report of the trustees’

For the year ended 31 December 2022

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees 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 corporate and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Independent examiners

Godfrey Wilson Limited were re-appointed as independent examiners to the charity during the year and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity.

Approved by the trustees on 31 July 2023 and signed on their behalf by

Andrew Cottey

Andrew Cottey, Chair of the Board.

14

Independent examiner's report

To the trustees of

British American Security Information Council

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of British American Security Information Council (the charity) for the year ended 31 December 2022, which are set out on pages 15 to 26.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

I have no concerns and 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.

Alison Godfrey

Date: 1 August 2023 Alison Godfrey FCA Member of the ICAEW

For and on behalf of:

Godfrey Wilson Limited

Chartered accountants and statutory auditors 5th Floor Mariner House 62 Prince Street Bristol BS1 4QD

15

British American Security Information Council

Statement of financial activities

For the year ended 31 December 2022

Restricted
Unrestricted
Note
£
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
-
6,464
Charitable activities
4
550,813
104,014
Total income
550,813
110,478
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
8,331
11,524
Charitable activities
738,348
-
Total expenditure
6
746,679
11,524
Net income / (expenditure)
and movement in funds
7
(195,866)
98,954
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
257,336
58,775
Total funds carried forward
61,470
157,729		 2022
Total
£
6,464
654,827
661,291
19,855
738,348
758,203
(96,912)
316,111
219,199		 2021
Total
£
9,310
637,851
647,161
14,523
423,489
438,012
209,149
106,962
316,111

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed above and in note 13 to the financial statements.

16

British American Security Information Council

Balance sheet

As at 31 December 2022

Note
Current assets
Debtors
10
Cash at bank and in hand
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts due within 1 year
11
Net current assets
Net assets
12
Funds
13
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds:
General funds
Total funds		 £
114,517
137,375
251,892
32,693		 2022
£
219,199
219,199
61,470
157,729
219,199		 2021
£
51,131
292,217
343,348
27,237
316,111
316,111
257,336
58,775
316,111

Approved by the trustees on 31 July 2023 and signed on their behalf by

Andrew Cottey

Andrew Cottey, Chair

17

British American Security Information Council

Statement of cash flows

For the year ended 31 December 2022

Cash used in operating activities:
Net movement in funds
Adjustments for:
Decrease / (increase) in debtors
Increase / (decrease) in creditors
Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities
Increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year		 2022
£
(96,912)
(63,386)
5,456
(154,842)
(154,842)
292,217
137,375		 2021
£
209,149
(3,316)
9,128
214,961
214,961
77,256
292,217

The charity has not provided an analysis of changes in net debt as it does not have any long term financing arrangements.

18

British American Security Information Council

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2022

1. Accounting policies

a) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities in preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

British American Security Information Council meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

b) Going concern basis of accounting

The accounts have been prepared on the assumption that the charity is able to continue as a going concern, which the trustees consider appropriate having regard to the current level of unrestricted reserves. There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

c) Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from grants, whether 'capital' grants or 'revenue' grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

d) Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity: this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

e) Funds accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity's work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity. Expenditure which meets these criteria is identified to the fund, together with a fair allocation of management and support costs.

f) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

19

British American Security Information Council

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2022

1. Accounting policies (continued)

g) Allocation of support and governance costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the charity, including the costs of complying with constitutional and statutory requirements and any costs associated with the strategic management of the charity’s activities. These costs have been allocated between cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities on the following basis:

vities on the following basis:
2022 2021
Raising funds 3.4% 4.3%
Charitable activities 96.6% 95.7%

h) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

i) Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

j) Creditors

Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

k) Financial instruments

The trust only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are recognised at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

l) Pension costs

Pension costs charged in the financial statements represent the contribution payable by the charity during the year.

m) Foreign currencies

Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the exchange rate ruling on the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities are retranslated at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. All differences are taken to the SOFA.

20

British American Security Information Council

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2022

1. Accounting policies (continued)

n) Accounting estimates and key judgements

In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

There were no key sources of estimation uncertainty that would have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements.

2. Prior period comparatives: statement of financial activities

Income from:
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
Net income
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds		 Restricted
£
£
-
9,310
594,251
43,600
594,251
52,910
-
14,523
402,236
21,253
402,236
35,776
192,015
17,134
12,272
(12,272)
204,287
4,862
Unrestricted		 2021
Total
£
9,310
637,851
647,161
14,523
423,489
438,012
209,149
-
209,149

21

British American Security Information Council

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2022

3. Income from donations and legacies

Income from donations and legacies
Donations
Gifts in kind
Total income from donations and legacies*		 2022
Total
£
1,736
4,728
6,464		 2021
Total
£
3,628
5,682
9,310

All income from donations and legacies in the current and prior year was unrestricted. * Gifts in kind relate to consultancy and legal fees.

4. Income from charitable activities

Grants and fees > £10,000:
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Netherlands Government
Swedish Government
Plough Shares
The Marmot Charitable Trust
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
CRDF Global
Grants and fees < £10,000
Total income from charitable activities		 Restricted
£
£
272,968
-
75,995
-
62,332
-
61,373
-
-
46,060
35,168
-
-
35,000
32,580
-
-
20,000
10,397
-
-
2,954
550,813
104,014
Unrestricted		 2022
Total
£
272,968
75,995
62,332
61,373
46,060
35,168
35,000
32,580
20,000
10,397
2,954
654,827

22

British American Security Information Council

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2022

4. Income from charitable activities (continued)

Prior period comparatives:

Prior period comparatives:
Grants and fees > £10,000:
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Government of Canada
Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
CRDF Global
The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
New Venture Fund
Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Grants and fees < £10,000
Total income from charitable activities		 Restricted
£
£
176,302
-
128,318
-
89,723
-
75,076
-
73,323
-
-
35,000
18,296
-
6,000
6,000
10,390
-
16,823
2,600
594,251
43,600
Unrestricted		 2021
Total
£
176,302
128,318
89,723
75,076
73,323
35,000
18,296
12,000
10,390
19,423
637,851

5. Government grants

The charity receives government grants, defined as funding from UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (2021: UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme) to fund charitable activities. The total value of such grants in the year ending 31 December 2022 was £272,968 (2021: £176,302). There are no unfulfilled conditions or contingencies attaching to these grants in either period.

23

British American Security Information Council

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2022

6. Total expenditure

Total expenditure
Raising
funds
£
Wages and salaries (note 8)
13,517
Other staff costs and consultancy
2,938
Office running costs
240
Meeting and travel expenses
161
Audit and accountancy
-
Other expenses
686
-
Sub-total
17,542
2,313
Total expenditure
19,855
Total governance costs were £3,120 (2021: £2,450)
Allocation of support and
governance costs
Loss/(gain) on foreign exchange		 Charitable
activities
£
388,833
95,033
-
180,143
-
7,814
-
671,823
66,525
738,348		 Support and
governance
costs
£
29,251
4,775
18,475
8,811
6,645
47
834
68,838
(68,838)
-		 2022 Total
£
431,601
102,746
18,715
189,115
6,645
8,547
834
758,203
-
758,203

Prior period comparatives

Prior period comparatives
Wages and salaries (note 8)
Other staff costs and consultancy
Office running costs
Meeting and travel expenses
Audit and accountancy
Other expenses
Sub-total
Total expenditure
Allocation of support and
governance costs
Loss/(gain) on foreign exchange		 Raising
funds
£
12,017
-
240
-
-
-
-
12,257
2,266
14,523		 Charitable
activities
£
268,901
86,850
-
13,419
-
3,893
-
373,063
50,426
423,489		 Support and
governance
costs
£
24,298
6,455
14,328
952
5,153
1,878
(372)
52,692
(52,692)
-		 2021 Total
£
305,216
93,305
14,568
14,371
5,153
5,771
(372)
438,012
-
438,012

24

British American Security Information Council

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2022

7. Net movement in funds This is stated after charging:

Trustees' reimbursed expenses
Trustees' remuneration
Independent examiners' remuneration:
Independent examination (inc. VAT)
Other services		 2022
£
Nil
Nil
3,120
800		 2021
£
Nil
Nil
2,100
650

8. Staff costs and numbers Staff costs were as follows:

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2022
£
384,030
30,266
17,305
431,601		 2021
£
269,942
26,475
8,799
305,216

The number of employees whose annual emoluments were £60,000 or more were:

£60,000 to £70,000

2022 2021
£ £
1 -

The key management personnel of the organisation comprise the trustees and Executive Directors. The total employee benefits received by the key management personnel during the year were £127,079 (2021: £116,828).

The average head count during the year was 9.8 (2021: 9.3). The average number of employees (full-time equivalent) during the year was 8.5 (2021: 7.6)

25

British American Security Information Council

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2022

9. Taxation

10. Debtors

Debtors
Trade debtors
Prepayments		 2022
£
113,377
1,140
114,517		 2021
£
49,241
1,890
51,131

11. Creditors: amounts due within 1 year

Trade creditors
Accruals		 2022
£
-
32,693
32,693		 2021
£
56
27,181
27,237

12. Analysis of net assets between funds

Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 December 2022
Prior period comparatives
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 December 2021		 £
77,095
(15,625)
61,470
£
257,336
-
257,336
Restricted
funds
Restricted
funds		 £
174,797
(17,068)
157,729
£
86,012
(27,237)
58,775
Unrestricted
funds
Unrestricted
funds		 Total
funds
£
251,892
(32,693)
219,199
Total
funds
£
343,348
(27,237)
316,111

26

British American Security Information Council

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2022

13. Movements in funds

Restricted funds:
Nuclear Disarmament
Risk Reduction
Nuclear Responsibilities
Nuclear Weapons Law
Total restricted funds
General funds
Total funds
Total unrestricted funds
APPG on Global Security
and Non-Proliferation
Technological Risk
Inclusive International
Security		 At 1
January
2022
£
6,771
75
181,356
39,451
-
5,818
23,865
257,336
58,775
58,775
316,111		 Income
£
£
-
(5,202)
62,332
(62,407)
75,995
(229,459)
272,968
(312,419)
10,397
(38,289)
-
(5,818)
129,121
(93,085)
550,813
(746,679)
110,478
(11,524)
110,478
(11,524)
661,291
(758,203)
Expenditure		 Transfers
between
funds
£
-
-
(27,892)
-
27,892
-
-
-
-
-
-		 £
1,569
-
-
-
-
-
59,901
At 31
December
2022
61,470
157,729
157,729
219,199

Transfer between funds

The transfer between funds was made to correct the risk classification of a project.

Purposes of restricted funds

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Security and Non-Proliferation

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Global Security and Non-Proliferation has the aim to exchange information and increase understanding of arms control and non-proliferation issues among British parliamentarians, with a view to more effective participation in public and political debate on security issues in Britain.

Nuclear Disarmament

To provide advice and policy support for the Stockholm Initiative, a grouping of 16 states inside the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

Risk Reduction

To advance the risk reduction agenda across Europe.

Nuclear Responsibilities

To advance interest in and adhere to the Nuclear Responsibilities Approach in the Asia-Pacific.

Technological Risk

To deepen understandings of the development of anti-submarine warfare technologies and their relevance in the South China Sea.

27

British American Security Information Council

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2022

13. Movements in funds (continued)

Nuclear Weapons Law

Programme area exploring international law in relation to nuclear weapons.

Inclusive International Security

To advance our Emerging Voices Network (EVN) in order to prompt fresh thinking on security and bring early-career voices into the non-proliferation and disarmament regime. Previously called the Gender, Youth and Diversity fund.

Prior period comparatives

Prior period comparatives
Restricted funds:
Nuclear Disarmament
Risk Reduction
Nuclear Responsibilities
Nuclear Weapons Law
Gender, Youth and Diversity
Total restricted funds
General funds
Total funds
Total unrestricted funds
APPG on Global Security
and Non-Proliferation
Emerging Technologies		 At 1
January
2021
£
1,808
64
7
35,073
8,792
2,700
4,605
53,049
53,913
53,913
106,962		 Income
£
£
9,500
(4,537)
75,076
(75,065)
212,540
(31,191)
176,302
(171,924)
80,823
(89,615)
5,824
(2,706)
34,186
(27,198)
594,251
(402,236)
52,910
(35,776)
52,910
(35,776)
647,161
(438,012)
Expenditure		 Transfers
between
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
12,272
12,272
(12,272)
(12,272)
-		 £
6,771
75
181,356
39,451
-
5,818
23,865
At 31
December
2021
257,336
58,775
58,775
316,111

14. Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions recorded in the year (2021: Nil).

28